Diary of a Mad Bride

Laura Wolf

How much can I possibly say about this book that doesn't boil down to “my god, you women are REALLY like this?” It's the fictional diary of a thirtysomething woman who is absolutely against the idea of marriage…until she is proposed to. After that, she sinks into exactly the emotional mess for which she criticized friends earlier. Murphy's Law reigns throughout. Hilarity ensues.

The main good thing about the book: it's a fast, easy read. Excellent beach material.

The two main bad things about the book (they tied for first): the stereotypical treatment of women (and the inferred belittling of those who choose to stay single) and the homily- and cliché-laden last few pages.

Thankfully, the stereotyping is mostly at the beginning and the cliché flinging is mostly at the end, so the bulk of the book can be read without fear that you're going to turn the next page and be offended by a particularly bad choice of words. You still run the risk of being offended by Wolf's neurotic protagonist's actions, but try to remember: this is comedy. It really IS funny. There are overtones of My Big Fat reek Wedding, but with Andrea Martin (long may her career suffer) as a scheming, evil grandmother instead of a maiden aunt. And no members of ‘N Sync show up anywhere in the novel, which is always a big plus.