Unbecoming Behavior (ISBN 084395406X)

3.5 stars:
Shannon McCormick finds lawyers repugnant, but still,she works as the social director for a prestigious law firm. Her job of managing the interns and juggling egos as well as events becomes intolerable when a handsome new guy comes on the scene, appropriating all her secretary's time and making not only her work life difficult, but also her home life. He begins dating her roommate, driving a wedge between the long-time friends. The latest crop of interns is nothing if not pushy, demanding, whiny, and manipulative, on their best days. Shannon's ex-boyfriend refuses to accept his ex status, and her family is on his side. When she finds her friendship turning to something hotter with a long - time family friend, the guy realizes he would lose her entire family if they broke up, and she is just not worth the risk. The only one who understands Shannon and who is always there for her is Van, the security guard who is handsome, kind, and always has chocolate. Could there be something there? After all, what more could a girl want? A popular store's commercials open with the classic rock song, Under Pressure; a feeling common to the heroine and the readers of her story. When that becomes your theme song, this is the perfect escape hatch. Everything is always going wrong for Shannon, and who hasn't felt things have gone so for them? Her story mirrors our own and offers a ray of hope. Amanda Killgore

Sorry I wasted the time and the money:
Initially this seemed like the kind of romance that I usually like. Quirky, funny heroine with a quirky best friend, overbearing parents, seemingly perfect siblings, stressful job, and horrible luck with previous men. That is the humorous romance formula. Problem is, other authors use that formula much more effectively than Stephanie Rowe did in this book. Rachel Gibson and Katie MacAlister and Jane Green pull this off with more panache. I got two chapters into this book and asked myself "why is this main character so self-centered and thoughtless?" She works as the social director of a prestigious law firm in Boston and has a vivacious roommate who is living off of pin money from her parents. Her name is Shannon, by the way, but after a while I didn't really care what her name was...Her whole world seems to crumble with the arrival of a new herd of interns and a new senior partner in the law firm that she is initially attracted to, but who she thinks has it in for her. She proceeds to give him ample reason and manages to place herself into multiple situations to embarrass herself in front of him. None of the characters are very likable here. And there are too many of them. Shannon's roommate Emma just kind of used Shannon to date the senior partner, Shannon kind of used the senior partner to impress her parents at her sister's engagement party, then Shannon proceeded to use her ex-boyfriend (who's stalking her) to get over being dumped by her brother's best friend. There's too much using going on here. Shannon's parents aren't lovable, either. I kept asking myself why she wanted to impress them if they were so adamant about putting her down, and so constantly. I also couldn't figure out why she never told her sister and brothers to stick it where the sun don't shine, they didn't seem to support her at all, or know her very well. Katie MacAlister's heroines are occasionally flighty and venture into self-indulgence and high-maintenance behavior, but at least they grow up a little as the story progresses. Rachel Gibson's heroines aer flighty but not wishy-washy users that complain all the time. I would recommend any of their books before any of Rowe's after reading this one. You won't root for any of the characters. You won't want a happy storybook ending. You will want the heroine to grow up, quit complaining and using other people, and to just get a life. Don't read this unless you are just browsing the library one day, do not waste a penny buying it, even used.

Really entertaining!:
This book was great! The characters were very real and the love interests in the story were very convincing as well. Rowe is a great writer and I can't wait to check out her other books!

FROM BACK COVER:
It all begins with two little words: unbecoming behavior. Shannon McCormick is only one step away from being fired from her job at a snobby Boston law firm. So what if she accidentally flashed the newest hotshot attorney? The egomaniac spent his first day slamming doors in her face, usurping her secretary, and then going home with her roommate. And it's her behavior on trial! Just to confirm there's no justice in the world, her younger sister, fresh out of college and starting Harvard Medical School in the fall, is about to become Mrs. Rich Plastic Surgeon; her mom invites her ex-boyfriend to all the wedding festivities to give Shannon one more chance at "Mr. Perfect"; and her crush for the last twenty years suddenly - now of all times! - notices her as a woman. And the only nice guy she knows - and her one true friend at the moment - she realizes she doesn't know at all. Before she winds up unemployed and living in a cardboard box in the park, Shannon will have to take a stand and make a case for living on her terms. She's going to prove how far a little unbecoming behavior can take her.

A Must Read:
I absolutely loved this book. Read it in 3 days. I laughed out loud and got very attached to the characters. I'm actually going to miss them a little. I absolutely suggest this book to anyone looking to bring a smile to their face and lighten their mood. I am a forever fan!