Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton & A Giveaway

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I’ll just say right off that I really enjoyed Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton that I read for the May Blog Tour with Hachette Book Group! What a great book and totally perfect for that summer beach read that you may be still searching for! This is a light, fun and entertaining read with some romance thrown in and exactly what I like about chick-lit.

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP had me from this quote…

  • ‘The man didn’t move. “Excuse me,” she croaked louder, and tapped him again, then jiggled his arm. Nothing happened. I’m practically middle-aged, Peggy thought. She hadn’t done anything like this in her twenties, when it might have been excusable. She was thirty-four and mortified.’ (pg 5, Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton)

This came from Peggy who had innocently gone to Vegas for a bachelorette party for one of her friends and somehow ends up waking up to a strange man the next morning with absolutely no recollection of how she or they got there. She boots it out of there for home and her fiance only to get a phone call from the stranger who turns out to be Luke, a few days later. What does Luke have to say? Well it turns out that during their shared drunken stupor in Vegas they went and tied the knot—you got it, they went and got married!

Off to New Nineveh Peggy goes to get her marriage to Luke annulled. However, Luke’s Aunt Abby makes them an offer that if they stay married a year, they will inherit the Sedgwick Estate. Both say no way and agree to go their separate ways. Yet, when Peggy gets home she starts rethinking her decision. Luke comes from an old and important WASP (White Anglo Saxon Protestant) family whose history goes back forever. That house could be worth millions and she could sure use the money since her shop that she runs with her best friend Bex, is on the verge of shutting down. She contacts Luke again and strikes up a deal with him to go ahead with this charade of a marriage.

What Peggy didn’t expect was to become so taken with New Ninevah and the people. Nor did she expect to become so attached to Aunt Abigail, a ninety-something spunky old lady or to be attracted to Luke. She’s kept very busy juggling New York and her life there during the week and then heading out on the weekends to spend it with Aunt Abby and Luke while trying to keep it all a secret from everyone, especially her fiancee. Then the unexpected, her fiance Brock finally proposes after seven years. What will Peggy do? Will she go ahead and marry Brock? Will she stay and try to make a life with Luke? Decisions, decisions.

I really liked the character of Peggy and Luke although at times I wanted to give them both a slap upside the head. There were so many instances where things could have been resolved had they just talked to each other but then there wouldn’t be a novel right. Aunt Abby was hilarious and I just loved her; she really brings a spark to this novel. So, yes this is a predictable story in classic chick-lit style but still it’s so worth the read. It grabbed my attention from the beginning all the way to when I turned the last page. I’d love to read more from Lauren Lipton.

AUTHOR INFO

Lauren Lipton is the author of two novels, It’s About Your Husband (2006) and Mating Rituals of the North American WASP (2009). She is also a freelance journalist who specializes in style, business and trend stories.

She is currently fashion, beauty and lifestyle editor at ForbesWoman magazine. She has also contributed features on society and media to the New York Times Sunday Styles section. A former Wall Street Journal staff writer, she reported on copycat brides who steal their friends’ wedding ideas, pajama parties for grown women, and luxury homes with his-and-hers garages.

Her work also has appeared in Conde Nast Portfolio, In Style Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Best Life, Glamour, Marie Claire, Fit Pregnancy and Working Mother, and on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. She began her career at the Los Angeles Times.

Born in Providence, R.I., Lauren grew up in the North County of San Diego and in Los Gatos, Calif., before moving to Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and anthropology from Occidental College and a master’s degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California.

She lives with her family in New York City and in Litchfield County, Conn.

Check out this Q&A with Lauren here, Lauren’s website here, Lauren’s blog here and her Facebook fan page here.

GIVEAWAY

I think you should add it to your summer reading list and to help you do that I’m going to offer up a great giveaway to my readers with 3 copies up for grabs courtesy of Miriam at Hachette Book Group. To enter…

  • Leave me a comment for one entry with a way to contact you please!
  • For 2 entries comment on my review.
  • 3 entries if you blog or tweet the giveaway to spread the word.

The giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winners on Monday, June 15, 2009. The books will be coming directly from the publisher. Good luck everyone!

Check out the other stops on this great Hachette Blog Tour here.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hachette really don’t like doing international comps! I wonder if they have a branch in England – shall have to investigate. Sounds like a fabulous book – the title is really funny.

  2. Love the premise and love the title! You could have alot of fun with this one at the movies. Please sign me up Dar!

  3. I was going to skim right over this because the book cover didn’t grab my attention (I guess I do judge a book by it’s cover!), but something about your review made me stop and read. Now I want to read the book. It sounds like the perfect book to take our minds off of our current troubles, doesn’t it?

    Margay

    Margay1122 (at) aol (dot) com

  4. I would like to enter this contest.

    Was going to skip over the review because the title did not appeal to me. But my the end of the review you had me wanting to read this book. It was the part of juggling the two lives and keeping it a secret that got me. 🙂

    beachlover20855ATyahoo.com

  5. The title of this book threw me off as well! Then I read your review and I was hooked! Include me please!

    This sounds like an great book! Your review was interesting and detailed and now I can’t wait to read the book. I would love to know how and if the girl ends up telling her fiancee what she did! Aunt Abby sounds like a fun character too, just like aunts should be!

    I found the author’s life to be intriguing as well. I have not read any of her books, but I definitely will now! Thanks for a great review!

    Cindy
    Socmom213@aol.com

  6. Don’t enter me. I think you’re the first person to mention Abby – you’re right, though, she is a terrific character. I think we all know someone like her.

  7. Your review makes this sound like such a fun book! I’d love to add this to my TBR shelf! Please count me in. Thanks!

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

  8. Good morning Dar! Great review and this book does sound like fun reading (don’t enter me though…with all that HF reading keeping me busy…)

  9. Thanks for featuring this unique and delightful book. It interests me greatly and I enjoyed reading the review. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

  10. Great review, this sounds really funny!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    mlb108[at]gmail.com

  13. Hi Dar.. no need to enter. I like Abby. He had a lot of spark. Very well done review.

  14. (don’t enter me)I enjoyed this one too.. it was a light quick read.
    I wanted to let you know that I have a Guest Post on my blog and a giveaway also going on.. and I put a link on the post to your blog also as part of the tour…
    (So tell your readers to enter at The Burton Review too)
    Thanks!
    Marie

  16. What a great review! Your review changed my mind about this book. Maybe I should pick it up!

    I’d love to win!

    Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

    kysmom02 AT hotmail DOT com

  17. I thought your response about wanting to smack them was so funny. 🙂 It’s fun sometimes to become so engaged with a character that you would even feel like doing that!

    I’d love to get in on this giveaway! Thanks. 🙂

    mjmbecky@gmail.com

  18. No need to enter me.

    I just stopped by to check out the review. I appreciated your comment about smacking them upside the head. I often feel that way with the characters in a chick lit’ish novel.

  20. I tweeted about this giveaway (ID= faith42love)
    I would like to be entered in the giveaway~ khal5671 at mwcc dot edu
    I enjoyed your review, I have seen this book around and never really paid attention to it but your review has interested me and made me want to check it out. I like chick lit and would enjoy another summer beach read to add to my pile.

  25. Terrible cover-if I saw it on a shelf at the book store I’d pass, but your review has me wanting to read it.

    southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

  26. It’s a great review Dar…I always enjoy reading books that make we want to smack the characters around a bit!
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

  28. Fantastic review, Dar! It sounds like a wonderful story, and perfect for the lazy summer days I see in my future!

    I’ve been seeing this book around a lot lately, and I would love to be entered in the giveaway. I definitely want to read this book.

    Also, I’ve tweeted this giveaway. 🙂 Username: jessicaleigh4

  33. Looks like a good one, thanks for hosting this giveaway.

    jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com

  35. Sounds like an interesting book. Please enter me in the giveaway

    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    “Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
    CoolCanucks.ca”

  37. This sounds like such a fun read!

    +2 You make this sound like such the summer read. I particularly liked your description of Auntie Abby, who sounds like the glue in the novel.

    Please count me in!

    gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

  38. Please enter me in the giveaway. The quote you picked at the beginning of your review got me curious, and after reading the whole review, I now want to read the book!

    vtgoat[at]gmail[dot]com

  39. Originally, I wrote this book off because of it’s title. I thought it was about bugs, and I’m SO glad that I finally read the premise. I thought that there was no way that a bunch of bloggers would be interested in reading about bugs, so I realized there was much more to the book than the title! Shame on me for judging a book by it’s title. I’d love to enter for it 🙂

    jaam121388 at yahoo dot com

  41. Great review. I’d love to be entered in this one.

    yvone473[at]optonline[dot]net

  42. All the reviews I’ve read on this one give it good ratings so I can’t wait to read it.

    Lauren sounds like she’s got a great sense of humor.

    msboatgal at aol.com

  44. Since I’m loving all the reviews I’m seeing on this one, I’ll enter. 😀

    fizzybeverage at gmail dot com

    Thanks!

  45. Please enter me! I’d love to get my hands on a copy!

    danunepthys(at)hotmail(dot)com

  46. I like your review – although I think the third paragraph goes into too much detail for me. I like being almost completely surprised by a book. That said, the review was by no means a spoiler, asked questions that started me pondering, and was funny in and of itself. All in all, a resounding success!

    danunepthys(at)hotmail(dot)com

  47. Doesn’t that seem to be a common problem in relationships? People just don’t talk to each other. I would probably want to slap the main characters too after a bit. LOL This does sound like a fun book, and I’m glad you enjoyed it. Please do enter me!

    literaryfeline AT gmail DOT com

  49. Hi Dar!!! Remember me?!!!!!!!

    🙂 🙂 I hope you do 🙂

    First of all, awesome NEW look of the blog 🙂 i love it… i m seeing it today 🙂 🙂 Lovely colour!

    And I just read about about this book at Nely’s. 🙂

    Awesome Review 🙂 it really sounds entertaining… a good break from heavy reading 🙂

    My old blog got deleted 🙁 and i have started a new one… hopefully this one will last 🙂

    pleaseeeee update your blogroll with this new address! 🙂

    thanks!

  50. Please enter me!

    This one has been on my tbr list for a few months. It’s great to finally read a review of it and I’m glad you liked.

  54. I’d love to be entered. my email is bibliophile at bostonbibliophile dot com. thanks!

  56. Thanks so much for the great giveaway! I love the cover.

    shhhimreading(at)hotmail(dot)com

  58. I had heard of this book previously but it was your review that made me want to read it. I like your straight out approach describing the main plot threads.

    edeliz@gmail.com

  59. I’d love to read this book – please count me in!

    Thanks,
    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

  60. Your review makes me want to read this book – it sounds funny yet romantic.

    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

  62. This sounds like a good read, please enter me in your giveaway. I like the sound of the Aunt and your review suggests you liked her as well. I’ve read so many reviews on this book on many a blog. I hope it’s as good as it sounds.
    jessica(at)fan(dot)com

  66. Please enter me – it looks really funny and the title is so clever!

    Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  67. I have heard a lot of buzz about this book, and all of it has been good. Thanks for adding your review of it.

    It sounds like a delightful summer read. I love the title, too! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

    castings[at]mindspring[dot]com

  68. Sounds like great summer reading, please enter me 🙂

    lavery328 at yahoo dot com

  69. You don’t have to enter me. I just wanted to say, I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes to slap people upside the head 🙂
    Have a great weekend!

  71. Please count me in for the giveaway!
    quzy(AT)mac(DOT)com

    And as usual your review was great! The title really didn’t catch my attention, but your review sure did! Thanks!

  72. I keep hearing tons about this one lately. I just know I’ll want to slap a couple of characters but I still want to read it 🙂

    Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

  76. Don’t enter me, I just reviewed it too. I thought this was a light, fun read, too. Definitely predictable, but still fun. I can agree with being frustrated with Peggy and Luke at times! I loved the whole WASP culture, something I wasn’t familiar with before. Lots of fun.

  77. I would really love to win this book. I have read a number of other reviews and everyone feels it is a light summer read.

    Yes, those two do seem to need a slap every once in awhile. Why can’t more people speak up rather than keep everything bottled inside until sometimes it is too late.

    roylsue(at)telpage(dot)net

  79. I really want to start a small collection of a few TBR books to take to the beach. This looks like a good read! Thanks for the chance.

    espressogurl at hotmail dot com

  80. Your review is about the best and the most balanced of all the reviews surfacing in blogs. I like it when I’m forwarned that this isn’t a deep and thought provoking book–like Testimony (Shreeve) for example. I think light reading has it’s time and place and has a purpose to serve. Thanks for the excellent review.

    espressogurl at hotmail dot com

    (extra entry)

  81. This book title reminds me of the course I took one summer during my undergraduate degree – Animal Behaviour – which delved into the intricacies of bee behaviour – very complicated but interesting.

    pboylecharley@hotmail.com

  83. I would love to win a copy of this one–thanks!

    lesleymfan(at)gmail(dot)com

  85. Loved your review, when you said you could just “slap them up side the head”. I have actually yelled out loud “Just tell her already!”. My DH thinks I’m crazy when I do that. Sounds like a fun, predictable, perfect by the pool read. Count me in. rebecca.cox@charter.net

  88. What a fantastic title.
    Please count me in on this one.

    libneas[at]aol[dot]com

  93. Please enter my name in your draw.

    I liked your review because it gave me a better understanding of what the book is about. Sounds fascinating!

    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

  94. I've been really wanting to read this book. I've heard great things about it. Please enter me. Thanks!

    tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com

  96. This sounds like a great summer read, full of romance, and exploring possibilities. I originally thought this book was actually about WASPS (yes, I'm that dumb LOL) so wasn't very interested. But your review makes it sound great. Thanks so much!!

    pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net

  97. Please enter me – I've seen this book around and it looks really good.

    crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

  102. Reading a review is like reading a couple chapters of a book, it gets me into the book so much.

    Thanks

    SamantharaeM at GMAIL dot COM

  104. Would love to read this! Would love to win this! Thanks for the chance!

    geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

  106. I like that you said you like the characters of Peggy and Luke even though sometimes they need a whack upside the head! Isn't real life like that, too?

    geebee.reads At gmail DOT com

  107. I read Sophie Kinsella's Remember Me, and enjoyed it. Your review makes me think that I will like this one too. Please enter me to win. Thanks for hosting!

    I tweeted too-@bookchickdi

    email:laruediane2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

  115. Dying to read this book! I'm going to see her speak next month, yay!
    allygotts567[at]hotmail[dot]com

  120. I think this books sounds like a really fun summer read. Thanks so much for offering it in a giveaway!

    reaganandromeo(at)yahoo(dot)com