Book Review: 'Dangled Carat' by Hilary Grossman

by - April 28, 2014



Blurb:

Hilary had gotten used to dating the commitment-phobic Marc, thirteen years her senior. They had a great relationship—why rush into things? She saw no need to pressure him for marriage, believing that when the time was right, he would propose. But after they had been together for four years, their friends decided to take matters into their own hands, pushing Marc to propose and making Hilary realize how much she really did want to marry the man that she loved. Unfortunately, Marc still wasn’t ready—and their friends’ meddling in the form of a faux engagement party led to a disastrous New Year’s Eve that brought their relationship to an inevitable turning point.

In this relatable, lighthearted, and playful memoir, Hilary reminisces about her life before Marc—from the insecure and awkward teenage years she spent in a back brace and dealing with the loss of her father, to her early relationships and, finally, to the day she met Marc and realized that she really wanted to see him again. Through their first date—even though Hilary was technically seeing someone else at the time—and the ease of their early time together until Marc first decided that they were moving too quickly, up until that fateful New Year’s Eve, Hilary shares the details of their relationship and how Marc’s inability to commit led her to find an inner strength and confidence she didn’t know she possessed.

For anyone who has ever dated a commitment-phobe, who has found their patience wearing thin with the one they love, or who has sat around wondering if he is ever going to pop the question while trying to remain the very picture of patience and grace, Hilary’s humorous and honest story will hit home.

Dangled Carat sparkles with humor and shines with wisdom. It is a gem of a book.” – Christina Baker Kline – New York Times Best Selling Author of Orphan Train.

“Fans of Sex and the City—Grossman makes a reference to Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big—will enjoy the story, but its real-girl charm should draw an even wider crowd.” – Kirkus Reviews


Review:

I was excited when I found out that Hilary Grossman's Dangled Carat was a memoir, rather than fiction, as it always brings a whole new element to a story. I was intrigued to find out how Grossman approached turning her real life experiences into a novel without it becoming too personal and almost uncomfortable.

Grossman has done an incredible job with Dangled Carat - the story is very real and honest without feeling awkward for delving into someone's real personal life. You feel completely connected to the characters, especially knowing that they stem from real people, rather than just from the author's imagination. It makes the story so much more authentic and meaningful.

Grossman's writing style really hooks the reader in - with the flashbacks to different times in her life which help to connect the dots along the way, emphasising how events in someone's past really can affect your future. These flashbacks help maintain an excellent pace throughout the story and Grossman's ability to leave a flashback on a little cliff hanger makes for a real page-turner.

Marc - the commitment-phobe of the story - isn't your typical 'bachelor-type, afraid of being tied down to one woman' kind of man. The reader gets to see that there are genuine reasons for Marc's fear of commitment, and that this fear takes nothing away from the way he feels about Hilary. It definitely approaches the subject that so many people are all too ready to jump into marriage just because 'it's what they're supposed to do'. I really admired Marc's decision to make sure that it was the right thing to do and when they were both ready. There are all too many marriages that don't survive because of this need to rush.

Grossman explores the very important truth in life, that you must always stay true to yourself and to your relationship. Don't let the opinions and comments of others affect how you behave or treat your relationship, otherwise someone always ends up getting hurt.

I loved this book - Grossman was extremely brave sharing her story with the world, but has done it in such a gentle and truthful way as only a talented writer can! I would definitely recommend this to any chick-lit lover who fancies something a little different, and to anyone who enjoys reading memoirs that open your eyes to a common truth.

 Dangled Carat is a beautifully real and honest memoir.


About the Author:



Hilary Grossman dated a guy so commitment-phobic that she was able to write a book about their relationship. She is currently the CFO of a beverage alcohol importer and lives on Long Island.

Author Links:

Blog
Facebook - author page
Facebook blog page
Twitter


Buy the Book!

Amazon
Barnes & Noble (print)

Enter the giveaway here!





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2 comments

  1. such a terrific book, glad you enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much for reviewing and being part of my tour! I am so glad you enjoyed the book! You made my day!

    ReplyDelete

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