Belong to Me
by Marisa de los Santos
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Book Reviews of Belong to Me
Book Review: Smarter than most ChickLit ... but not as good as "Love Walked In"
Summary: 4 Stars
I absolutely adored "Love Walked In" because it was a bit smarter than most Chick Lit. No, it was a LOT smarter than most chick lit. Marisa de los Santos is a beautifully talented writer. She has a way of stopping the dialogue so that you know why the character thinks/behaves the way she does. Plus, her stories have so much depth.
As I loved her first novel so much I was excited to read "Belong to Me", but it was a bit of a disappointment. It is still a beautifully written novel, however it seemed like de los Santos was trying to fit too much into one story.
I liked Piper's story and would have wanted to hear more about her life. There could have been a novel about Piper and Elizabeth's lives before Elizabeth got sick, and how Piper's life changed so dramatically after Elizabeth died.
There were some disconnects between the first novel and the second, specifically Ollie's relationship with Teo.
In summary, I did enjoy this book but it didn't quite meet my expectations. Still, I'll read her next novel!
Book Review: Always fun to reconnect with a favorite character
Summary: 4 Stars
I was drawn to de los Santos' first book, Love Walked In, because of the cover. (still one of my favorite covers). This cover speaks to me too, but I got this one because my friend, Jan, who knows me well, emailed to say, "this is a Kathie book." It is. I didn't want to put it down and I cried in parts (always a good sign...as my husband says, "if you don't cry, it's not a great book or movie." I loved reconnecting with Cornelia and Clare and Theo. I especially love all the references and life comparisons to movies and movie characters. I'd give her first book, Love Walked In, a 5 star plus. Somehow I connected a bit more with that one than this one. I think the side-stories here got a bit confusing at times and some of them seemed a bit too contrived and inevitable to me. That said, I'd still recommend it to any girlfriend who likes books about women's relationships with other women, but I'd definitely recommend she read Love Walked In first.
--Kathie Hightower, co-author of Help! I'm a Military Spouse -- I Get a Life Too!
Book Review: Great sequel- but be sure to read Love Walked In first!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a sequel to the fabulous Love Walked in that I read recently. Once again I was completed captivated by the characters established in that book and the new ones introduced here.
Cornelia Brown is now married and has moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia after deciding to leave New York City in the wake of September 11th. Here Cornelia seems to run into a brick wall- usually able to make friends without a problem she struggles to fit in with the very cliquey women in her new town, especially Queen Bee Piper Truitt. As each of these women struggle with personal problems, both within their marriages and within themselves a most unexpected friendship is born.
I love De Los Santos' way with characters, words, images, friendship and marriage; the whole nine yards. She writes about people we all wish we knew, but gives them real life problems to deal with. I can't believe it will probably be another year or two before I can read another one of her books.
Totally delightful!
Book Review: I wish I knew Cornelia
Summary: 5 Stars
You do not want to miss this book. Cornelia and Teo Sandoval are two of the most likeable characters in modern fiction. I wish I knew them in real life. The dialogue is unbeatable, as are the metaphors which provide whimsical insights into family, life, love, loss.
Marisa De Los Santos creates such vivid characters. Reading Dev's chapters (a brillant boy who describes his life through the cosmos and science most of the time) is also so endearing yet so real and adolescent.
The most intricate character is that of Piper who the reader wants to hate, yet is so complex, and so human, that you can't help but love her.
Belong to Me might be accused of being "chick lit". Yet it is so much better written than that genre, so poetic in its word choices and messages that I found myself deeply engrossed throughout.
Love Walked In (Santos first book) is equally as good. Belong to Me can stand alone, but if you have not yet read Love Walked In, you're in for a treat.
Book Review: I loved this!
Summary: 5 Stars
In Belong to Me we are able to visit with Cornelia, Clare and Teo again. This book is set about 2 ½ years after Love Walked In. In this book we are also introduced to Piper (who would fit well as a character in Desperate Housewives) and Dev (a 14 year old genius). The author is fairly skilled at communicating the complex emotions and reactions that accompany both minor challenges and catastrophe (yes, there were a few tear jerking moments). The characters are lovable and real (personality flaws, bad decisions and all). I loved that the author spoke in the narration of a 14-year-old boy, then switched to a 40-something suburban wife, and so forth. Ms. De Los Santos once again enthralled me with her words... she writes in such a style that I can't help but just want to keep reading and reading. This is one of those books where you totally get immersed in their world and are sad when you have to leave it.