Fun! Quite the conundrum. Some good laughs and quirky characters. I was very happy for the epilogue that filled in how it all turned out years later. ( )

I enjoy this author, as she puts a face on what has been underground, lesbian literature. She does not sanitize it for heterosexual consumption, but writes a story (or fairy tale) as it progresses. The characters are a bit idealized, as is the epilogue. It is the Disneyfication of lesbian love. Rarely are any love stories so happily ever after. In a way, it would make a better movie than book. I expect more torment in my books. It would be interesting if there was a sister-book told in Chris's perspective. She seems a more complex character, but the author does not delve into her life story as much. I believe that would be much more interesting, and perhaps less fairy-tale. A quick read - read it in one afternoon/evening. ( )

Both too long and too short. I kept thinking: Break up with Charley already. The characters are funny and could have lived with them in sequels (are there any?). Instead there is an epilogue. ( )

A story in the same vein as Rubyfruit Jungle and Southern Discomfort, merging the homosexual themes of the former with thesouthern atmosphere of the latter.
Vic Sevedge is starting last year of her bachelor, with a longterm boyfiend and a large social circle when she meets Chris and falls in love. This is complicated by her father having lost his money, everybodys expectations that she marry her rich boyfriend , and Chris being a woman.
Vics family is endearingly excentric, and the southern atmophere created in the book goes a long way to justify the archaic behaviour and perceptions of the characters.
This is a nice little story of growing up, describing a romance that is untraditional without becoming too mired down in the details of the romance, instead letting it develop against a backdrop of the Sevedge family saga, in between the crises that their odd family and neighboors causes.
The thing I found the most trying about the book was the way Brown writes scenes; describing a charactes action, then tacking on a description of the characters feelings. So during a conversation the reader gets the conversation and the interactions, and the internal emotions/ observations of several of the participating characters.
The epilogue seemed rushed, and I wonder what the purpose of letting Vic become one of the "Old Boys" is?
The southern excentricity may seem a bit forced and intentionally 'cute', which reduces the storys impact. ( )

Although I am a fan of Rita Mae Brown, this one left me cold. Ended up in the recycle to the used bookstore box. ( )