All the Single Ladies: A Novel Paperback – May 10, 2016

I just started reading this book and realized it seemed familiar. I have read all of Dorothea Benton Frank's books and I keep each and every one in my library of books I have read. I looked at my other books and found that this is the same book as "All the Single Ladies". How can anyone promote this book as a new release and not mention that has been published before under another name. There should be a law against this - perhaps fraud?

In my opinion, readers will quickly become disenchanted with- and disengaged from- this book, due to the very juvenile dialogue and behavior throughout the long-winded and tedious story about women 'of a certian age', banding together to solve a "mystery" (although it's an insult to GOOD mysteries everywhere to label it as such!). The bland, formulaic, uninspired, and amateur-level prose (from an author who is NOT a novice), just renders it all the more disappointing.The 'plot' (although I use that term loosely here!) is completely contrived, and thoroughly ridiculous! (***SPOILER ALERT***) Are we to believe that a group of grown, allegedly educated and 'mature' adults, would even entertain the idea of breaking and entering into an elderly woman's home, as if they are self-appointed superheroes who are above the law? Really???!!!And then, in the meantime, we are subjected to enduring pointless descriptions of food and its preparation; shopping lists and shopping trips; and women in their fifties speaking and acting in age-inappropriate ways in regard to 'middle age dating', as if they are adolescents experiencing 'boys', dating, sex, and love for the first time.Then throw in the PSA (public service announcement)-type, biased, and condescending "lectures" in regard to substance use and abuse, and the 'appropriate' behavior of southern men and women, along with the sugarcoated version of a senior care facility, and it becomes a tangled mess of sub-plots, all without much- if any- direction.Perhaps the author needs to take a break from writing for a while? Or maybe the "well has run dry", and she should pursue other interests, and/or alter her career path: consider writing books for young adults or children, rather than continuing to attempt and fail with adult-themed offerings in regard to topics about which she has no personal, firsthand knowledge (in this case, middle age dating)?(Two additional points to ponder: Was the editor in a hurry? The editing in this book leaves much to be desired. And, one has to wonder why Lisa was such a "jellyfish" about being thrown out of her rental home? Most people would have immediately been on the phone with a good lawyer!)

Did not read it under this title. It is the same book as All The Single Ladies. I think the author and or distributors of her books should disclose this...

I'm a huge fan of this author. I've read many of her books, and I've admired her ear for dialect. This book is dreadful. The dialogue is corny. I missed the sass usually found in her characters. Once again, there's a grandmother in a beach house, and this time there are 3 middle aged wornen without men living there. By the end of the book, all three have men. She often described the women "giggling." It was corny .

After waiting with great anticipating for the release of Dorthea Benton Frank's newest novel...I regret to say this book was a true disappointment! Yes, ladies... I'm in my fifties and hardly found anything to relate to while reading this book. I never once experienced the "Oh I can't put this book down or I can't wait to see what happens to the main character in the next chapter." Previously, Frank's books have been a true beach read for me, while mixing in lowcountry charm that would wisp me away while reading on the beach. This book starts out dark with a death almost from the very beginning of the book and then transitions to a desperate woman on the prowl in search of a meal ticket! I mean really...are there that many women still so desperate in today's society? Unfortunately, I could relate to children being unappreciative, but the pot smoking plot and men barging in demanding material objects at a total strangers house was also a stretch for me. At various times, I found myself thinking...did she really write this book or did someone else pen the novel and she simply allowed her name to be put on the jacket. I ordered the book first and then realized I would be at the beach where she was scheduled to do a book signing. I've always wanted to attend and get an autographed copy. However, that would have been another 50 dollars on top of the original book purchased. Basically, after finishing the novel, I'm glad I didn't waste additional money. My aunt has met Frank and talked with her at a restaurant on Sullivan's Island, so naturally I felt compelled to attend a book signing or luncheon after listening to her rave and rant about the opportunity to meet and talk with her personally. Overall, I can't help but wonder if one of my favorite author's hasn't ran out of material to write about concerning South Carolina. Has she lost touch with reality and women? Essentially, I find it hard to believe that I'm so off base concerning this novel compared to other readers that gave outstanding reviews of the book! Are these readers just continuing to blow hot air or did they really enjoy a bad attempt of a mystery? In the future, her books won't be considered an automatic purchase!

excellant book love the South Carolina USA talk and a wonderful story

Great & Prompt

Don't get me wrong: I LOVE Dorothea Benton Frank! I own almost all of her books and have a few favourites that I read and re-read regularly. "All the Single Ladies" however is NOT going to be one of those as it is completely lacking alround. It meanders along very predictably, doing no harm but enticing no passion or involvment with either the story or characters at all either. The 'Ladies' are all very bland and very stereotypical, and none of them draws me in or really arouses my interest. Miss Dorothea can create wonderful characters one cares deeply about, such as Grace, heroine of that name in my favourite "Full of Grace"; so I wonder what went wrong here... The story bumps along without much of a plot, apart from the rather stilted and constructed mystery of 'Wendy, The Thief' - and by golly is it repetitive in it's descriptions and subject matters! I think that might have been meant to create atmosphere, but it just doesn't and makes the whole story feel even more flat and long-winded. The whole thing feels like Miss Benton-Frank was obliged to churn out another novel for her publishers and had to meet a deadline. - So sorry to give this only one star, but it really isn't up to what this author is capable of at her best form. If you want to read something truely wonderful by her, choose "Full of Grace", "Shem Creek" or the brilliant, fresh and original "Folly Beach". These will not disappoint.

Summer is definitely here when Dorothea Benton Frank publishes a new novel. These ladies work hard and enjoy the good things that come to them. They just do with a great sense of humour.

Large print books are hard to find....good price too