Honestly, I liked this book. Surprised!
584529
But someone do tell: Why does Mrs. Frankel place herself on the cover if this is fiction 0.o ??? I was/am slightly confused. And, okay, I admit I still have like a third of the book to finish...however I honestly cannot put it down [except of course if I am shopping/browsing/chatting/etc. on Amazon ha ha]...as I only purchased this a week ago/ received it a few days ago. Thus, I suppose I have yet to get my answer to WHY the novel is called "skinnydipping?" Am I missing something? Does that mean something that I am not 'in the know' of? Or have I not yet gotten to that part of the book? In either case, Frankel is all acclivous on the cover...which I suppose goes with the character as she 'grows' in her [what is it twenties?] but the fact you cannot see her head makes me think she thinks the character is rather... dumb/ditzy/stubborn but stupidly somehow stoic? If that at all makes sense lmao. WOW this is the most ridiculous review I have ever written and have READ and YES I JUST JUDGED A BOOK BY IT'S COVER! But I still gave it five stars FOR THE READING. The cover?--Four stars. Oh Frankel, you are too pretty to NOT get a five!

EDIT/ UPDATE: 1/20/2013: So, I finished the book like a day or two ago. I get why it is called skinny dipping now. Personally I would not have gone with that title but whatever. What confuses me is why there is a PART ONE and a PART TWO. I mean, yeah I understand build up of characters but REALLY? This could have been two completely different books! Could have just mentioned a name and said then and there in part two 'oh i know so and so from blah blah blah'... sort of feel cheated out of wasting time in the middle third of the book. Note: not to say I think part one was bad and unnecessary, it still fit. Just a little awkward. And I still enjoyed that but I would give part one a three and part two a five if I could break it down like that. 0.0

HOWEVER, I have got to hand it to Mrs. Frankel: GIRRRRRRRRRRL I DID NOT KNOW YOU COULD WRITE LIKE THAT! I mean, there is good writing, but then there is GOOD WRITING! Which makes me wonder how much of this is based on reality or how much is strictly fiction. In the end it doesn't matter, really, as I was so engrossed and entertained towards the end, I was literally covering the lines below the one I was reading so as not to 'spoil' anything for myself!

Yeah...Imma dork...BUT GREAT JOB!

yeah ABSOLUTELY I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO A FRIEND. But probably not to anyone, as I think this takes a kind of personality/humor to really get involved in.

STILL GOOD/GREAT/GRAND JOB! *SNAPS* For Frankel!
3411616
I would actually say this book was between steady, and fast paced, and the characters were just a bit complex, but not in a bad way. My version of the meaning of those words, can differ, so don't weigh too much weight to my choice of wording. However, I can usually predict several things, in books, but this one had a couple interesting events that surprised me. Yes, some things were predictable, but they were meant to be, so it was fine. I also loved the characters, and how the writer played many events out. This book took me by surprise. Almost too much angst, but it read beautifully.
3365900
I wasn't expecting this to be a good book. I was pleasantly surprised. I plan on buying the others and reading it them as well.
1106125
This book has been in my elibrary for some time, and I finally read it just because nothing else I had looked appealing.  I had no expectations for the book - I actually assumed I would never finish it.  I was surprised to find it quite enjoyable, and I actually did finish it.  Now I'm looking forward to reading book 2.

I read the book for the pleasure of reading, not for its historical accuracy nor for its epic battle scenes.  I found it well written and more meaty than most contemporary novels.  The storyline was intriguing, and when the book ended, I was left thinking, "Wait!  What about....."
1772514
I'm not a fan of the genre but I thought I'd give this romance novel a read.  Needed to restore my trust in LOVE, I suppose, yet I came to this book with a skeptical eye.  I was pleasantly surprised, however, after reading the first chapter.  I liked the main character, Hope, and felt a bit curious to learn more about her.  The book held my interest until the midway point when I met George.  I didn't know what to make of him, and, after reading the book, I still don't. I prefer more complicated characters.  George appeared complicated but he didn't hold my interest.  I also longed for a new setting, anyplace but an airport, but that's where the book takes us before the sparks "fly" between Hope and George. This reluctant reader didn't want to be in an airport during the arc of the story.  The ending seemed a bit rushed.  I'm still not convinced that there's a "happily ever after" but the innocence and sweetness of this story made it refreshing, not too over-the-top sentimental.  Furthermore,  reading a love story without steamy sex scenes was a welcome surprise.  I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read.  Very well written.  This author knows how to string his sentences together--a beautifully crafted book, even through this reader's cynical eyes.
4150636
Well that was a surprise. A pleasant one, but still a surprise.

Why you ask?

Because I didn't expect to become so immersed in the story. I had a good inkling that I'd enjoy it, since I've enjoyed other books by the author and my interest was definitely peaked due to the promise of a true mnage happening. But I didn't expect that upon starting the book that I'd become so invested in the the journey the characters travel that I'd have to force myself to put the Kindle down because my lunch break was over.

I really liked Mikey, Krissy and Rafe and the chemistry between them from the start.  They all had such distinct personalities that ended up melding well together once they got a little more comfortable together. But what held my interest the most was how each of them was at a crossroads in their lives. None of them were truly settled into who they are supposed to be, whether it be because they questioned their sexuality and how it would impact their lives, what they wanted for their future and how they wanted to live it, or simply fighting to be who they wanted to be while walking that fine line of being who others thought they should be so they wouldnt rock the boat. All of these are generally the same, but each of them had a different path and it was really interesting to be apart of it as they each dealt with what deviance meant to them and the impact theyd allow it to have.

Things progress quickly with their relationship and though it is, it didn't necessarily feel like it. With the knowledge that Krissy and Mikey had kept in almost constant contact with each other since meeting at her sisters wedding and had spoken about almost everything it gave it a believability that things could escalate as fast as it did. I thought it was sweet, sexy and I liked how they all ended up finding a connection with each other outside of the physical attraction they felt for each other.

The writing was engaging and I liked the pacing of the story. I loved seeing things through Mikey and Krissys eyes, but do wish wed gotten a bit of Rafes POV tossed into the mix since he was pivotal in moving the story along. I also liked how the issue of religion and belief was handled in the story. It never felt preachy, it was more contemplative where a character was reexamining what God and religion meant to him and how he could still maintain a relation with them while following his heart.

~ ARC received from RockStar PR LC in exchange for an honest review ~
3269857
I take a lot of free books when offered, in the hope that I will find new authors that I like.  It took me a while to get around to reading this book, because the cover made me think that it would be one of those boring books with lots of sex and no story. I finally decided to try it, thinking I would end up deleting it before I had finished the first chapter.  Instead, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed reading it.

 There were some problems with grammar, that would upset a purist.  I didn't find them to be too  distracting and they did not affect my enjoyment of the story. Overall, I liked the story. It flowed well and held my interest.

After the first part of the book, I began to dislike the heroine. I probably would have liked her and found her to be a very romantic  and tragic figure if I had read this when I was younger; Sort of in a "Wuthering Heights"  vein, but with a happy ending. My older, more jaded self, wanted to shake some sense into her.  Some of her actions were forgivable because they could be attributed to youth. Everyone makes mistakes when they are young.  As she grew older, though, her actions seemed to stem from immaturity and narcissism. I still enjoyed the book, but I didn't like the heroine.

The hero was a more likeable character. He seemed weak at times, because he allowed the heroine to manipulate him. Still, he always tried to do the right thing and regretted it when he felt he failed to do so. He had a conscience and forgave easily. He was simply a "nice man".

I have problems categorizing this book, but I think "contemporary fiction" best describes it. There is some romance, some mystery, some tragedy, and some coming of age in it. It is not literature in the "depth and meaning" style. What it is, is a book that tells a story in an entertaining manner.  It was an enjoyable book with which to while away an afternoon.

One reviewer complained about profanity. It was probably there, but it must have fit well within the story line and dialogue because I didn't notice it. Obviously, if profanity and pre-marital sex offends someone, this is not the book for them.  If someone doesn't mind a bit of profanity and a few mild sex scenes in a contemporary novel, then this book would probably suit.

This was a good book, but it could have been better.  An editor who could check for grammar mistakes and who could point out where to tweak things to improve the book, would have been of benefit.  However, as it stands, I still recommend it to those who like this genre and just want an entertaining story.
3397849
This is not my normal reading material, so I did not expect to like it.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The characters were quite likeable and the book kept me interested all the way to the end.  It had a little bit of everything:  suspense, hope, drama, laughter, mystery and a touch of romance.
4042535
This was a pleasant surprise. i don't like rom-coms, but it was a book club book, and i really enjoyed it. it was a fast read, the characters were surprisingly well developed, given the whole book was written in emails. I thought that might be gimmicky, but it really makes sense. think about how much of our conversations are email or text. i liked it
2957535
Wow, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that this was not at all what I was expecting!

I was surprised at just how good this book was as I was not expecting such a complex and in depth story with an equally complex and in depth cast of characters.

The book covers several emotive subjects at the same time...some quite disturbing...yet it never gets lost or bogged down in the way it is able to blend these events into the overall story.
The author does this by skillfully ascribing and blending emotional backstories to each of the key characters, so that the reader becomes invested in the outcome of each individual as well as the overall story...thus making this a fascinating as well as compelling read.

It is a hard book to review without alluding to facts which would be considered spoilers, so rather than risk that, my advice would be to read the blurb and then dive right in as I did.
*Be aware though that the book does involve some quite confronting issues, having said that, I think it covers them in a most realistic light.

If I have one issue with this book it is the cover, I don't believe it does anything to sell this book for what it is, and possibly gives a misleading first impression.

"Confronting, amusing and compelling, this is a story about choices and how they shape who we become."

5s
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
3064239
I didn't expect this book to get to me as much as it did. I can honestly say it was a pleasant surprise.
1517779
This was a pretty decent book.  I don't often expect that much from free books.  I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
2729871
When it was suggested that I read this book I was a little apprehensive.  Its not really the genre that interests me.  Surprisingly, I really liked it!  It was an easy read and well edited.  The storyline was engaging, the characters were likeable and the science stuff was imaginative.  I actually found I wanted to keep reading instead of doing other things.

I found a few Easter Eggs.  Youll have to have at least one nerd gene in your DNA to find them.

I liked Max but my favorite character was Alastair.  It was easy to forget he was AI at times.  I especially loved the conversation he had with Max about parents and their children.  That really made him seem less mechanical and more human.  Kind of reminding me of Data from Star Trek.

The idea of a science park was interesting.  I admit I was a little confused at first when Max was leaving for Scientopia.  It seemed more like he was heading off for a day at school instead of two months away from home.  I would have expected more hugging and don't forget to call home every day or don't forget to brush your teeth before bed.  I also expected him to take more than a backpackwhere are his clothes? (Mom gene at work, I guess).  But then I remember this is a kids book not an adults book and I have to turn that stuff off in my head.  Kids wouldnt care.

Here are a couple things that I didn't likesorry.

I didn't understand the necessity of a certain entertainer character.  Unless they are going to play a more prominent role in future books, I could have done without them.

I wouldve liked to have more description with feelings and environments, mostly in the more dramatic scenes.  I think it would help to make the reader feel more like they are there, in the moment, with the characters.  For instance, The room is cold and darkmaybe add that it was so quiet you could hear the heating blowing air through the vent above.  Another example would be Max was sad.  Was he sad like, I just lost my $5 in lunch money or his heart was just ripped out of his chest.  These are the extremes in the spectrum but you get the idea.  Again, maybe this is the adult opinion and for kids it wouldnt matter.

Over all, I really enjoyed the book and I will definitely read the next one.
1609743
I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  I read the synopsis on this multiple times over the last year or so and just never was interested.  Finally, picked it up and I can't stop thinking about it. No spoilers:

--There are some ethical challenges with the characters that really made me think and question my current way of thinking.  I like that.  Not that it overall changed my mind, but truly though-provoking.  Read the book, you'll know what I'm talking about.  This made the book memorable for me.
--I loved Lou's family.  They are quirky and refreshing to me.  They obviously all love each other, but there's such a real-life, fun dynamic going.  The ups and downs of sisterhood.  Taking care of an elderly loved one.  Strong parental bonds.  I just enjoyed the family dynamic here and there were many situations where I laughed out loud.
--I felt like the author really captured the anguish that can be felt through individual struggles and challenges.  I'm not saying that I agree with what happens overall, but I was impressed with the feeling here.  I really had some empathy for these characters.

NOTE:  There is some language that could be bothersome to many and there are also some romance scenes, but nothing explicit.

I know this is popular right now because there's a movie coming out.  This was just surprisingly good to me!
1887122
This was a surprisingly good book i stumbled across. The characters were well put together. What was refreshing was you didn't have to focus on only the two main characters, but also got to "know" future characters. Overall a good read!
423506
Was surprised by this book. It was a book offered through my prime account. I didn't think it would be something I was really interested in, but I was wrong. I couldn't put it down. I finished it in about 3 days, and I have a toddler. I recommend this book, just give it a try :)
1923820
Liked the story, it kept me entertained.  I don't guess well at the "bad guy", but this one totally surprised me!  Not the best book I've ever read, but certainly not the worst!  I would try another book by this author!