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Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Why can't a woman be more like a man? Be careful what you ask for, as Lynn Wyman learns in Heller's (Sis Boom Bah; Name Dropping) rollicking new comedy, a sendup of female-centric pop therapy and alpha male behavior. Lynn is the linguist mastermind behind the Wyman Method, whereby manly men are taught the fine art of communicating in Womenspeak. Her husband, Kip, seems to be the poster spouse for what she preaches he has lasagna on the table when she returns home, asks how her day was, cries at the drop of a hat. But then Lynn discovers he's been unfaithful, and her ensuing loss of credibility results in a sharp decline in her multimedia fortunes. What's a Wyman to do? Humbled by her error in judgment, Lynn remains committed to the Method and hatches a plan. Hunky but boorish Brandon Brock has just made Fortune's cover for a feature on "America's Toughest Bosses"; if Lynn can turn him into "America's Most Sensitive Boss," she figures she'll be back on top. How she goes about it, particularly once she realizes that she's falling for him, is the stuff romantic comedies are made of. Good lines plus precision timing add up to a lot of laughs as the author trains her sense of cultural irony on the complex contradictions between what women say they want, what they think they want and what they really want. Heller has always been adept at devising clever premises, and this is no exception. Agent, Ellen Levine. Author tour. (Apr. 21) Forecast: Sis Boom Bah was just optioned by Julia Roberts's Shoelace Productions. If produced, the film will boost sales of all of Heller's titles, including this one; meanwhile, Female Intelligence seems ripe for the plucking by a production company. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
The author of Name Dropping (2000) spins a feminist plot with a few decidedly retro twists. Gorgeous linguist Lynn Wyman teaches men how to communicate with women, and her methods get results. She's rich, famous, and married to a sensitive, caring, hunky carpenter who likes to chat about his feelings . . . but not only with her. Lynn throws hubby out after she picks up an extension phone and overhears his whispered conversation with a ladylove. She's crushed, but at least the whole world won't know her perfect mate has been fooling around. Then a tell-all article appears in a supermarket tabloid, and Lynn is furious. She assumes her soon-to-be-ex wrote it for revenge and for the money she's not about to give him. Her career is in jeopardy, until she accepts the professional challenge of a lifetime, egged on by four loyal girlfriends. America's Toughest Boss," Finefoods CEO Brandon Brock, has just made the cover of Fortune . But his multimillion-dollar company is losing prized female executives right and left because Brandon believes in speaking his mind. Full-speed-ahead-and-damn-the-torpedoes has always been his philosophy, and it's gotten him where he wants to go. Normally, Lynn wouldn't give someone this arrogant the time of day. True, he's handsome, sexy, and masterful, but those macho qualities don't interest her. Well, maybe they interest her just a teeny bit. In fact, she doesn't mind going out with him now and then to unbelievably expensive restaurants and being treated like a queen, even if he doesn't like her friends. Actually, Brandon seems to think that one of them wrote the article, and all hell breaks loose when Lynn finds out he's right. Entertaining, lightweight satire. Author tour
Booklist Review
Heller's novel takes its cues from Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (1992). Her heroine, Dr. Lynn Wyman, has developed a unique approach to repairing damaged male-female relationships. Unfortunately, her celebrated and lucrative program dive-bombs when news of her husband's infidelity is leaked to the tabloids. After months of scraping by and existing on iceberg lettuce, she devises a plan to snag America's Toughest Boss, Brandon Brock, as a client and restore her former reputation. Brandon proves resistant, but Lynn perseveres and ingratiates her way into his business acumen and his heart. His only request is that she not disclose to the press that he is her client. When once again her private life becomes public, Lynn woefully acknowledges that one of her best friends is betraying her. What's worse, Brandon assumes she's the one who betrayed him. Can Lynn and Brandon resolve this loss of trust? Although her primary character is whiny and mean-spirited, Heller's style is witty and lighthearted, and her observations about men are dead-on and hilarious. --Deborah Rysso
Library Journal Review
Linguist Dr. Lynn Wyman becomes a media celebrity and best-selling author by teaching men to speak to their spouses and female co-workers in "Womanspeak." She's flying high until she discovers that her husband (and prize pupil) is having an affair with another woman and their subsequent breakup hits the papers. How can a professional communicator justify such a major personal failure? Suddenly, there are no Good Morning America bookings for her. Not ready to concede defeat, Wyman sets her sights on the biggest male chauvinist boss in the business world, lines him up as a client, changes his behavior Pygmalion-style, and falls in love. But can she master "Menspeak" well enough to tell him? This first-person narrative is a breeze to read, full of laughs, and solidly built upon an intricate, suspenseful plot. Heller (Sis Boom Bah) weaves messages about style, substance, and loyalty to oneself and one's friends into the humorous dialog. Enthusiastically recommended for public libraries.DJoyce Smothers, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Manalapan, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.