Fat Fridays

Fat Fridays Group, Book 1

By: Judith Keim

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

When Sukie's husband shacks up with her Pilates instructor, her domestic drama becomes the talk of her small Georgia town. Friends from her married life prove fickle, and Sukie hides at home, terrified of encountering the town gossips at the grocery store. Betsy, Sukie's neighbor, invites her to join "Fat Fridays", a weekly gathering at a local café where the women order whatever they crave - no calories counted. Over sausage pizza and sage advice, Sukie gets a grip on her new life and learns to love her freedom.

Judith Keim's warm, funny novel offers moving glimpses into each of the five women's very different lives. As they struggle to deal with cruel exes, frustrating families, and forbidden love, the women offer one another the kind of friendship that is as rich and nurturing as their Friday feasts.

©2016 Judith Keim. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Needs work

This book had potential but just wasn't executed well. Most of the time it felt like important character developments were rushed through. For example, one of the girls sees her cute new neighbor for 30 seconds, then he randomly shows up at her door to ask this stranger for help with his daughter who needs to take her (basic) medicine and she ends up staying for dinner. He asks her to dinner after that and after a seemingly unremarkable date she's magically in love and they have some amazing "connection". But I never really understood how or why they felt this connection. It doesn't go deep enough into this. I felt all of of the characters were under developed and rolled my eyes a lot at some of the ridiculous stuff. Some lady at her work seems to hate her for something the second she meets her but we don't really know why until they mention something about the guy she's now seeing. (Seems like a bit of an overreaction). Scary Notes with one word on them (bad words) result in the woman immediately calling a group meeting after work to talk about things instead of just telling them what the note said over the phone. I don't know. The whole thing felt like it had potential but didn't go deep enough. Don't see how it got 5 stars from anyone.

Cute All Around!

I was immediately pulled in by this cover, then the narrator Joyce Bean ...calm and peaceful voice. I've never read Judith before … this is the type of read you will talk back, there are moments where will be amazed, confused, laughing your head off and for me I was like I want friends like these ladies. I think judging is a huge problem in this world … we all need 2 step back and think before we go there … trying to remember that we are all walking a totally different life and there need to be more understanding, compassion and love. it is a daily item we have to be more mindful of. Well said. I will looking more into bot the author and narrator. ( :

The bitter girls club

I started this book thinking it would be an empowering book about sisterhood. I though it would be like the Jane Austen Book Club or Young Wives Club, or Bridget Jones Diary, or Fried Green Tomatoes, or the Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisters. I was surprised to see how unkind and unhappy all the characters were and how they all seemed to dislike anyone who was not in their Fat Friday club. Instead of lifting each other up all these woman did in the first five chapters was tear others down. It was so negative that I stopped listening during chapter 5. One woman hates her in-laws and thinks her husband is unsupportive, another hates her daughter in-law and doesn't miss her husband who passed away because he was boring, a third only married her husband because she became pregnant in college and didn't really like him and then can't understand why he would leave her for "a bimbo who can't even put together a simple dinner", and a fourth hates her parents who are too needy and "like stones around her neck." I just didn't like how unhappy all the characters were with their lives and the constant complaining. I thought they would form a club to lift each other up not to complain about others.

Strength of Friendship

Instantly immersed into this story. Very well written, excellent blend of humor, bittersweet, and drama. This tells the tale of the strength and power of friendship as it blossoms between four women. Love this book!

Almost a Cozy Mystery

The story of a group of women with struggles, weaknesses and the strength they find with their friendship.

Eh

This was just ok. Some of the story was predictable. I struggled to stay interested in parts. Overall it did the job of passing the time.

Great story!

I loved this story. The empowerment of friendship was amazing. I liked that it gave me a chance to see the different sides and levels women experience when dealing with the same or similar situations. It made my drive time less stressful.

Great book!!

I really enjoyed this book. Didn’t know if I would from the start, but I’m glad I continued listening. It had surprises that I didn’t see coming. Read/ listen to this book, you won’t be disappointed.

Great Humerous Book

This is about a group of five lonely women with issues who meet on Fridays at a local restaurant to destress, share and help each other. This takes place in the small town of Williston. Sukie who quickly becomes the central character who they all seem to confide in has been left by her husband for a much younger woman. A woman not much older than her daughter and she is pregnant. With each of these women having problems they bond and all become true friends like a close knit family. Sukie decided to take a computer class, her Neighbor Cameron who has a three year old daughter. Things start going well with Cameron but she has issues with him being younger. There are many side stories going on. You have to read to fully appreciate this book. The characters are believable, likable and interesting. The storyline maintains your interest with Joyce Bean Narrator. I highly recommend this book.

My new best friends

I have listened to all three books in this series and am sad they are leaving me. While I loved Sukie I didn't understand why she was treated so badly when she caught her husband in her bed with another woman, said woman claimed she was pregnant and her husband left her. It just didn't make sense to me. Also, I didn't understand (and it was never explained) why the library board member (Edith) disliked her so much and made her life as the temporary children's librarian so uncomfortable.
Other than these areas, I loved these books. How the women related and stepped up for each other was heart warming. I really will miss them.
The narrator certainly helped to bring the characters/stories to life. I have become a big fan of audible books.