Let Them Eat Fruitcake

By Melody Carlson

Book Overview

It's the holiday season, and each of the roommates at 86 Bloomberg Place is a little blue . Megan's got the boss from hell, and now her mom is going on a cruise, leaving Megan alone for Christmas for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1589191064
• ISBN13: 9781589191068
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: David C Cook
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

2nd in 86 Bloomberg Place series another chick lit hit

Let Them Eat Fruitcake by Melody Carlson is the second book in the 86 Bloomberg Place series. The four mismatched roommates: Kendall, Megan Leilani, and Anna are back and still trying to work through their various troubles. Kendall falls in love with a married Hollywood star after a drunken one-night stand, much to the other girls' dismay and disgust. Anna's ex Jake is back in the picture, and she's confused as to who holds her heart: Jake or Edmond. Leilani is still aching over leaving her baby girl behind in Hawaii and keeping that secret from her friends. And Megan is still fighting with her boss as well as wondering whether it's ok to date a man outside of her faith. Kendall hasn't matured much from the last book, but the other three are all women you'd love to be friends with, and their worries are ones Christian woman face regularly. Carlson, as always, writes with great humor and heart. In the end, the roommates all learn something about faith and friendship. The last 50 pages or so are especially powerful as all four women come clean with each other and make major emotional growth. A must read for Christian chick lit fans.

Entertaining, earnest, sometimes over-the-top

If you liked "I Heart Bloomberg," you'll love its sequel "Let Them Eat Fruitcake." The four housemates of Bloomberg Place are back with new storylines. **This review contains mild spoilers** MEGAN: I like Megan, but she's getting a little holier-than-thou. (After all, she can't stand that girl Gwen for the same thing!) Not really the same topic, but a scene where she witnesses to Lelani was awkward, tense, and almost unpleasant--it seemed out of place since Meg is usually an in-your-face Christian. She has a sweet story about working with an elderly interior design client. Also we see more of Marcus. (Megan's vicious boss Vera is a little over-the-top though, bordering on cartoonish.) LELANI: Quickly becoming my favorite, Lelani spends time with Gil and seeks inner peace. A sweet and gentle plotline. ANNA: Anna is starting to get interested in sweetheart co-worker Edmond, but her two-timing ex Jake comes back into the picture. Her story is okay, if not predictable. (Also, be prepared to get beat over the head with Latino stereotypes.) KENDALL: Don't get me wrong, she's interesting to read, but Kendall's story in this book was silly and unbelievable. It seems out of place among the more down-to-earth, everyday-life kind of stories the other girls have. I personally hated the "big twist"--what's the literary equivalent of "jumping the shark"? The series could jump with this one. Kendall amid the other girls is like suddenly switching to a zany soap opera in the middle of a sitcom. (And not to mention the "big twist" too much resembles something this author has already done in this series.) Overall, fun and delicious reading. Inject some mundane reality into Kendall and you're pushing toward a chick lit masterpiece.

deep look at twentyish year old single females

The four young women of 86 Bloomberg Place are not feeling joyous even as the holiday season approaches. Kendall is having an affair with a married actor in spite of knowing she should not. Megan fears she will soon lose her job while seeing no opportunities. Leilani feels she is not just in a rut; she is glued in place and has no earthly idea how to get moving. Finally Anna's boyfriend has returned, but she is not sure she wants him back. With everyone despondent, the quartet of twenty something roommates know they are spiraling deeper into depression and instead of lifting each other up they seem to be increasing the downward spiral. They debate throwing a party but are unsure that will bring cheer into their lives. The sequel to 86 BLOOMBERG PLACE continues the deep look at twentyish year old single females. Each of the members of the quartet is unique and fully developed with a bit more maturity although they make mistakes in relationships. Fans who appreciate an ensemble character study, sort of an all female Friends, will enjoy Melody Carlson's fine contemporary, but those who like action need to find a different address. Harriet Klausner