Reviews
Four Stars
"Remember slumber parties? A gaggle of giggling girls who did each others’ hair and nails, chattering deep into the night about boys was a rite of passage for many of us. Slumber parties gave way to lunch dates or girls’ nite out as we aged, but the fundamentals stayed the same. The generations since the Baby Boomers have put their own stamp on slumber parties. Many of them have gone beyond same-sex gossip fests into asexual get-togethers to stave off loneliness or offer support. Often guy friends are included - in the most platonic of ways. Contemporary author Stacey Ballis explores this new version in Sleeping Over. She introduces us to a circle of women, and the men in their lives - both romantic and platonic. As the lives of these women undergo radical changes, the nature of their relationships also change. What happens when your rock, the one man who you can always count on gives you a clear signal that he is interested in more? What if the signals you are sending to your favorite bed buddy are being misinterpreted as mere friendship? What if your reasons for starting a relationship suddenly change? All these scenarios and more are explored in this sparkling novel. The author skillfully keeps us abreast of all the key characters without abrupt chapter shifting. I found the multi-layered novel easy to follow and interesting. I laughed and cried along with the women as they stumbled their way to love, and in some cases, into new relationships. I related to the characters, even though they are a generation removed because I see my daughter’s friends in similar straits. The author made the characters likeable and the stories were moving. Sleeping Over is not your average chick-lit novel."
Paula Klug
10 out of 10!
"In Chicago, it has been two years since the five young single women held a 'circling up' to discuss men and other problems. However, now that Jess has returned home from two years overseas with the Peace Corps, the quintet agrees it is time. Jess wants to talk about her platonic relationship pediatrician Harrison with whom she lives platonically but wants to make it more. Robin cherishes her friendship with her boss, restaurant owner Michael, but fears exploring what she really wants from him. Lilith enjoys the performing arts more than she does her businessman boyfriend Martin. Sisters Beth and Ann have opened up a clothing store, but the former has Jeff while the latter has Chris; two men coming in the way of their loving, sibling camaraderie. Five friends struggling to spice up their relationships with the men in their respective lives, but will it mean the end of Circling Up. Fans of relationship dramas will appreciate this fine, character driven tale that provides unique protagonists approaching similar male issues in radically different manners. The storyline is more a series of vignettes as the focus switches from one woman to another. Though Stacey Ballis does a remarkable job of keeping the personalities of her Circling Up stars different yet consistent, readers will find the switching perspective difficult to keep track of anyway. Still sub-genre fans will appreciate this female Friends tale because the women seem real and their loneliness woes and fears feel genuine. "
Harriet Klausner
