This story is told from the point of view of two totally different independant women and the lead character's daughter. I was not sure if I would like the style but after a couple of chapters I was totally captivated by the story and the different points of view by the ladies. I would definitely recommend this book. Yes it fits into the Chik Lit area of style but it is at its very best.

This book was pleasant but dull and predictable. I did finish it, but as a mother and a chick-lit fan I had some issues with it.

It's supposed to be about a "struggling" single mother. One who has access to expensive private schools, and an endless parade of lessons and classes for her second grader. And a nearly free swanky apartment in Manhattan.

Instead of realizing that the world around her is shallow, and that she doesn't need to complete with the other parents to be a good mother, she becomes successful in their eyes. She can't get a full time job because she has to "pick up her daughter from school every day." Has this woman ever heard of after school? You can combine all those pesky lessons and not have to pick your kid up every day. This kid was seven, not seven months. She's not going to die if you get her at five thirty instead of three. It makes no sense.

I found those pesky details really got in the way of my enjoyment of the book. The characters were funny, likeable and completely unbelievable. A sister leaving another sister in the lurch for childcare because she didn't want to bump into a guy she was seeing? Come ON. It made no sense in the context of who these two women were, and how devoted they were to each other. I loved Claire's family, they were funky and fun. I would have liked to see more of them.

Also, the scenes with the teachers were completely absurd. Any normal parent would have pulled their kid out of that school after the first irrational argument with them.

I thought the book came to the wrong conculusions. She's still in this idiotic shallow world of mommy-status-symbols, but instead of rising above it, she gets a boyfriend and suddenly, it's all OK.

Grrr. Argh

This chick lit is different. The story is about a twentysomething woman who gets dumped relative to the rest of the world.

It works. Its funny and because the storyline is unusual for chick lit, there are lots of stories to tell. The writing is very well done and the book is kind of divided between the main characters. Also, cute little diary entries, written by Zoe, the 6 year old girl are wonderful and kind of insightful.

I think the only thing I don't like is that the author portrays Zoe as extremely spoiled and VERY whiny. Kind of irritating, but does not remove from the great story.

Buy it.