I read "Confessions of an ex-girlfriend" by Lynday Curnyan in September and I didn't think that novel was that bad so I decided to pick up "Engaging men". The book wasn't too bad but it's stick to the chick-lit formula so if you've read a lot of chick-lit novels, you'll probably figure out the ending by the end of the second chapter as I did. But getting to the predictable ending was enjoyable. I enjoyed the characters of Angie, Grace, and Justin and of course I got annoyed at the characters that we readers are supposed to get annoyed at. It was great to read a novel where the main character is an actor and she's not obnoxious like some of the other chick-lit novels where the main character is an actress(such as "You have to kiss a lot of frogs"). I didn't mind Lynda Curnyn reminding us about how great New York City because it is a great place.
So even though I knew how the story would end, I still enjoyed reading "Engaging Men". It was also a relatively quick read for me as I read it in three days. So if you've enjoyed one of Lynda Curnyn's other novels-I'm sure you'll enjoy "Engaging Men" as well.

Engaging Men is just that - engaging. Curnyn seamlessly guides the reader through the desperate, yet sometimes hilarious, scenerios Angie DiFranco finds herself in when she becomes determines to not let this boyfriend have his lid popped off by another girl. The characters are endearing and the situations are those that any girl who has had her share of dating tribulations can relate to. By far one of the best books I have read thus far!

I have had this book on my shelf for some time and deicided to give it a shot. I could not put this book down last night and read it in one sitting. I got so engrossed in the characters and wanting so badly for Angie to tell someone to take a hike!
I really think you should give this story a shot. I now can't wait to read Bombshell and Lynda Curnyn's other book Confessions of an ex-girlfriend. I'm definitely going to check out these out!

I had read BOMBSHELL by this author which is actually very good, so thought I'd give this a shot.

Angie is an actor who works for half an hour every morning in her acting gig, then slobs around the house for the rest of the day, before going round to her boyfriend Kirk's house in the evening, scoffing his take out and jumping on him for sex. Get the picture? Basically this character is not likeable, just comes across as self-centred and immature. And then (laughably!) Curyn tries to make a case in this book that we should cheer on Angie's efforts to get her boyfriend to propose marriage. When she finally does get him to propose it is beyond me why he would. Anyhow, apart from the fact I couldn't get into this at all, it is very long winded. Curyn has a compulsion to put every detail of Angie's life into her text, even though at least fifty per cent of said details are neither entertaining nor drive the plot forward.

I'm afraid I had to give this one up after two thirds of the way through, the characters were just so every day and normal and totally stereotypical that I just didn't get anything out of it.

Angie is a struggling actress in New York. She also has a penchant for dating men, dumping them, then getting invited to their weddings. After the third boyfriend in a row calls to advise he is on his way to the altar, Angie decides that she is tired of "loosening the lid" for other women to pop open, and sets out to make her current beau, Kirk, her betrothed. Though they have been dating for nearly two years, Angie has yet to meet his family who live near Boston.

She enlists advice from an old friend from work, who later turns out to not really know what she is talking about. From day one, she plays games with Kirk to become more elusive. It works, and he starts to take the bait. Then Angie wonders, "what was I thinking" as she evaluates whether or not they are meant to be. She is still trying to find herself and not ready to start a family, while Kirk is a workaholic, driven to succeed with his start up software company, and he is not really supportive of her chosen profession.

Angie's family is a hoot - a loud, proud, Italian family from Brooklyn - especially her 84-year old grandmother who is tired of being widowed and steps out with the local butcher, much to Angie and her family's chagrin. They are the polar opposite of Kirk's frosty parents.

Is Angie really ready to settle down and settle all for the sake of being married? Is there perhaps someone else she has had feelings for all along? Maybe someone right under her nose...

The only flaw in the book was the lack of depth of some of the characters - particularly Justin and Grace. But given that the book was first person - it is probably understandable. Looking forward to reading the follow up - Bombshell - which highlights Grace's romantic struggles.