tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post6872017527482973525..comments2024-03-29T03:17:15.473-04:00Comments on Romance Novels for Feminists: No More Mrs. Nice Girl? Kristan Higgins' IF YOU ONLY KNEWJackie C. Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04146684628443152376noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-83646586827877593622015-10-01T15:34:08.836-04:002015-10-01T15:34:08.836-04:00Thanks, StlScrib, for sharing your take on the boo...Thanks, StlScrib, for sharing your take on the book. Jackie C. Hornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04146684628443152376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-24851982637416174872015-09-30T14:14:58.582-04:002015-09-30T14:14:58.582-04:00After reading If You Only Knew I sadly have to tak...After reading If You Only Knew I sadly have to take Higgins off my TBR author list. I agree totally with Jennifer's comment above. Higgins' heroine Jenny fantasizes about every man she meets (including a stranger in the park who turns out to be engaged - ha ha on her!), her ovaries literally twitch when they see Leo, and despite the fact that this obviously troubled man tells her that he is "for recreational purposes only," she's sure she can save him if she loves him enough. Ugh, no thanks. I loved the strong relationship between the two sisters, and Rachel's dilemma about preserving her marriage in the face of her husband's infidelity was portrayed with a fair amount of nuance, but I'm still out. There are other contemporary romance/women's fiction authors out there whose heroines want lives that are enhanced by love, not saved. StlScribhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389545674460507158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-85791278904138741242015-09-21T00:35:11.072-04:002015-09-21T00:35:11.072-04:00I really loved the first few books I read by Higgi...I really loved the first few books I read by Higgins, then, last year, I read Just One of The Guys. The lead guy in it has no real identifying traits except to be absolutely awful to the heroine who acts like his doormat until the very end when he suddenly announces his love. At that point (the last five pages) I had had it up to here with both characters and the only thing that could have redeemed the story line would have been the heroine suddenly developing enough self-esteem to publicly humiliate the shmo and then leave town. I literally felt disgusted by the book and the fact that I'd read it until the end. I did read the most recent one and enjoyed the sister relationship but I can no longer stand the old 'babies or my life is worthless' routine of the heroines she writes (and yes that old chestnut is alive and well in If Only You Knew). Sad, because I also love The Next Best Thing. Its like she crossed the line with her heroines from self-deprecating to doormat and can't come back from it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09932968078966139955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-19433424854497154152015-09-21T00:33:39.546-04:002015-09-21T00:33:39.546-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09932968078966139955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-24090710776446350502015-09-17T10:10:02.419-04:002015-09-17T10:10:02.419-04:00I'll be interested to hear what you think of t...I'll be interested to hear what you think of the new book, SusanS.Jackie C. Hornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04146684628443152376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-90442843788870124432015-09-16T16:46:22.718-04:002015-09-16T16:46:22.718-04:00Thanks for finding the words that I couldn't t...Thanks for finding the words that I couldn't to explain why I have grown increasingly uncomfortable with Kristan Higgin's recent books (and have completely skipped the last two). I enjoyed her earlier efforts, but the Blue Heron series especially seemed to feature heroines who were so desperate to get married and plop out babies that they would tolerate all kinds of B.S. from their families, friends and especially the so-called hero. <br /><br />Looking forward to reading If You Only Knew to see if it brings me back into her fold.<br />SusanSStlScribhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10389545674460507158noreply@blogger.com