[.ca] Best Day of Someone Else's Life, The

I miss Vi already!:
I started reading this book on a plane ride, and a few chapters in, I was hooked. A couple hours later, and I did not want the plane to land and break into my time with Vi -- the main character. Having gotten this book from a friend, I knew this book would be funny, but I was genuinely surprised at how much Vi stayed with me every time I put the book down. The wedding stuff is great narrative, but what you'll enjoy the most is the author's character development. I loved Vi's clever yet sweet relationship with the Sid Dickens guy - it developed in such a cute way. And to the reviewer who remarked about a few typos here and there, that is hardly something to hold against the story!

Weddings, weddings, and more weddings:
This is the story of Vi - perennial bridesmaid and wedding attendee. Vi chronicles her attendance at numerous weddings, her ungodly bridesmaid dresses and the wedding, marriages and divorces of family and friends. I enjoyed the wedding brawl between Vi's family and her soulmate's family, Niall. The book is sometimes tedious in the number of characters in the story and the many weddings that take place. However the story is still worth reading. I would like to have seen a different outcome for the ending with Niall and Vi but the story is still enjoyable.

So good!:
It's hard to believe that this is Ms. Reichs's first book - it is really good! I read it in one sitting, mostly because I didn't want to put it down. I'm generally indifferent toward "chick lit" and only go by what others recommend, but I would say that this book is far from chick lit. While the central story-line is about an essential perpetual bridesmaid, the larger issue is certainly the more compelling one - the status of relationships (friendly, familial and romantic) as we get older and start to settle down. This book is a great exploration of those relationships, both for those who are the perepetual bridesmaid themselves, or the dating/engaged/married crowd. It genuinely feels like you're hearing a story from one of your closest friends. Enjoy!

Funny, REALLY FUNNY and insightful:
My first foray into chick-lit was Bridget Jones Diaries. I found it witty and refreshingly honest so I wanted to read another book in the same genre. Since they made a movie out of Bridget Jones Diaries I expected it would be hard to find another book AS funny and candid but it wasn't. The Best Day of Someone Else's Life is all that and more. It IS funny..I mean really funny. Not just the smile type of funny but the laugh out loud until your belly aches funny. It also makes you evaluate, along with the main character, the logic of some of Anglo Saxon society's most enshrined social norms and traditions. I'm only sorry this is the author's first novel so I can't run out and buy the sequel.

A MUST read:
I am smitten - and I do not fall in love with authors easily - in fact - I am rather critical. Kerry's voice comes through loud and clear in her down to earth, hysterical, raving protagonist, Vi. From page 2, I wanted to get to know and hang out with Vi and her friends. Her dry wit and quirky, bright voice is refreshing and fun. Once I started reading, I could not put this book down. The message - I wont spoil it for the reader - is profound and so close to home for me. You must read this book - you can't be disappointed.