Strange Bedpersons

"Very funny take on a conventional "opposites attract" theme: Tess is a commune-raised liberal do-gooder, Nick a by-the-bootstraps conservative lawyer. Their love for each other is never in doubt, but can it ever surmount their differences? Like many similar stories, this one survives on the strength of amusing secondary characters: Nick's icily efficient secretary with the deadpan delivery; his feckless, rich boy law partner Park; and best of all, Norbert Welch, the ultra conservative author Nick's firm is courting who has an unexpected affinity for Tess. The dinner party which brings this disparate cast together (including Park's ludicrously snobbish parents and Tess's working class Italian best friend Gina) is hilariously camera ready.<br/><br/>I haven't read a true "romance" in years, so it took a while to adjust to the constant lingering over Nick's biceps and the solidity of his abs. Yet what bothered me most was the inevitable ideological cop-out. Crusie can't afford to take sides on the values gulf between Nick and Tess, so she focuses on the superficial: Tess likes bright colors and vintage, Nick prefers monochrome and Armani.Of course such "differences" are easier to resolve than questions of distribution of wealth and privilege or whether one should work primarily in service of self or to serve others. Perhaps it's unrealistic to expect more from this genre, but I was disappointed nevertheless that the big "values" crisis turns on whether or not Nick will give in to having sex in public. I felt the characters deserved better."

"Book was too dated for me. Couldn’t attach to the characters and honestly the writing style was just not for me. I was relieved when I finished it."