Reviewed by Berls on
Actual rating 3.5 stars
My Initial Reaction...
As expected Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men was hilarious. This is one of those books that people start looking at you like you're crazy because you can't help laughing your ass off, regardless of what public place you're in.
The Narration...
Amanda Ronconi, how I love thee! I've said it a bazillion times, but if you want a guaranteed great listen, pick out a book Ronconi narrated. She just brings those characters to life and she's particularly great at making the sarcastic wit of Jane come through. I have a feeling I wouldn't love Nice Girls quite as much without Ronconi.
The Characters...
Jane is wonderful. I love her sense of humor; it's sarcastic and perfectly timed. It also helps that she's a total book worm like me - in Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men she has this running comparison of herself to Eleanor from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (one of my all-time favorite books!). I think she's way off, but I love the comparison anyway. Seeing her deal with Jolene's family was particularly great in this one.
Gabriel, on the other hand, really isn't doing anything for me. I don't trust him, for one. But perhaps more importantly, I forget about him. I liked him in Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs but I feel like we see a lot less in him in Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men. And I really don't have anything else to say about him - he's just there sometimes and sometimes he's not.
Thankfully the cast of supporting characters more than make up for my bland reaction to Gabriel. They are a colorful, dramatic, and hilarious group from Zeb and Jolene with their Titanic themed wedding to meddlesome parents to the just downright hilarious Aunt Jedi and spacey Mr. Wainwright. And who could forget Dick? I mean his name alone tends to bring along a few chuckles, particularly the way Ronconi says it.
The Story...
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men centers around Zeb and Jolene's upcoming nuptials. Have I mentioned how much I love Jolene? She's just so blunt and country and lovable. But the wedding is bringing out some serious stress for her, Zeb and Jane. Jane mostly because she's the one Zeb's mom has always wanted her to marry and she's making it no secret. Zeb and Jolene have it coming from both sides and Zeb is starting to crack. But who wouldn't when some members of your fiancee's family are welcoming you with attempts on your life that are called "playful"? Perhaps a wedding with Titanic as its theme was doomed?
Ultimately Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men was a lot of fun, but nothing earth shattering. There was more of a mystery to it then in Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs but, once again, I found it entirely too predictable. There was one moment that surprised me a little and had me tear up a bit, but I should have seen it coming. This isn't a book you read for the amazing plot, but for the really great interactions between the characters.
Concluding Sentiments...
If your looking for a complicated plot, keep on looking. But if you're looking for a light, fun, hilarious read Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men is exactly what you're looking for.
Get it on Amazon
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 4 August, 2013: Finished reading
- 4 August, 2013: Reviewed