I think this would have been a lot better had I read the first in the series. Gives me something to do down the road
I liked the friendships of the ladies glad they have each other I can't wait to read the others

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sassy Saturdays is a very well written book. I loved the plot and the characters.

When I finished reading Ms. Keim's Fat Fridays, I was longing for more. Lucky for me this title, the sequel to the other, was at the ready.

Continue seeing how a group of women who initially got together for a diet free Friday lunch have grown as friends who support each other. Unlike the first title, this one does bring some closure to the lives of some of the women. Yet, there is enough left open for another book to continue where this one ends.

Is it all plausible? Probably not. But, it makes for a great chick lit read.

Author: Judith Keim

Publisher: Lake Union publishing

Source: NetGalley

TL:DR Review: Tiffany Wright is trying to rebuild her life after leaving her abusive, alcoholic husband at the end of Fat Fridays. However, Beau (like his parents), doesn’t know when to quit and installs a “minder” next door. When tragedy strikes, Tiffany stands up for herself against the all-powerful Wright family. Meanwhile, Carol Ann hits the stupid stick again and Lynn/Grace is rejected by the only person she truly loves, her daughter.

Verdict: Better than the prequel but definitely chick-lit. Darker themes and outcomes this time but still a beach read.

I can’t believe I’m about to write this, but here goes: this sequel will frustrate the hell out of you.

It’s not frustrating because of the material: Alcoholic husband, overbearing and obnoxious in-laws, unplanned and somewhat unwanted pregnancy, great girlfriends, and a sexy guy next door. No, in the hands of other writers, this has been fodder for GOLD. That’s what makes this sequel so disappointing. Sassy Saturdays takes this material and goes, meh.

Let me level with you now: This entire post is nothing but spoilers.

Sassy Saturday’s picks up a few months after the end of Fat Fridays. Suki’s now engaged to Cam (would’ve loved to see that proposal). (spoiler) Betsy has moved to Miami with her girlfriend (that was Betsy’s big secret). Carol Ann is still looking for love in all the wrong trousers (and getting robbed in the process). Lynn, now known as Grace, is trying to reconnect with her daughter. Lynette is the newbie, a single mother of two teenage boys.

Let’s start with the first spoiler: Beau ends up dead. Yup, killed himself on a mountain climbing expedition in Peru. So I’d say the last third of this book involves the fall-out from his death, a death I cared so very little about. Fat Fridays had established Beau as a man who kowtowed to his parents. I did, however, appreciate the way Keim portrayed Tiffany’s confusion and grief. She loved the memories of the man she met and married and mourned the man he’d become. That felt real.

Tiffany’s need to protect her daughter from her in-laws felt very real. After all, look at what they’d done to their own child. The Wright’s threats to sue for custody felt very real. Keim did an excellent job portraying Tiffany’s in-laws as the sort of people who would use every trick, underhanded or not, to get their way. The custody threats definitely had a David vs. Goliath feel to them.

However, I was over the Wrights showing up whenever they pleased and bullying their way into Tiffany’s home. No ma’am. Time to set some boundaries.

Second spoiler: Kevin was planted next door by Beau. Why? No earthly idea and it was never really explained. Beau hired Kevin to look after his interests and, if something happened to him, to ensure his parents didn’t abuse Tiffany. However, why did Kevin need to move next door? Was he just in the market for an apartment? Couldn’t he do his job from wherever he was? Kinda convenient that he ended up next door just when Tiffany needs him. I appreciated that Kevin didn’t become a love interest. He might morph into that later but he felt kinda shady until his real role in Beau’s life was revealed.

OK, that’s enough about Tiffany. Let’s get to the two interesting stories in this book: Carol Ann and Lynn. I’ll start with Lynn who, at the end of the last book, had just taken bullets for Suki thanks to the random appearance of her ex-husband. Now that Lynn, now known as Grace, is on the mend, she contacts her cousin to reestablish contact with her daughter.

Her daughter rejects her, saying the story of stalking and abuse sounds unlikely and far-fetched. Turns out, Lynn/Grace’s cousin has poisoned her daughter against her and is now moving to adopt the girl. Lynn/Grace is blindsided and upset. I, personally, could see the daughter’s side of it (you left me!) and Lynn’s (I kept you safe!). The cousin’s rationale eludes me: Your cousin, who has been on the run from her dangerous ex and hid her daughter with you for just that reason, contacts you and tells you he’s now dead and you respond, “A likely story.”

Who makes that up? No, seriously, who makes up that kind of story? She ended up in the hospital because the man tried to kill her friends! I can’t wait to hear the rationale on that.

Finally, Carol Ann. Oh, Carol Ann. Poor, deluded, I-wanna-be-loved-and-a-man-will-make-everything-better Carol Ann. You just want to slap her.

Hard.

In Fat Fridays, she let herself get sweet-talked out of all the money she’d saved to buy a house. Her kind, comforting, super-understanding boss Ed helped her out of a jam. Instead of appreciating what’s in front of her face, she’s back at it again, this time on a cruise. She comes back from the Caribbean minus her money and jewelry and with someone’s child. She’s too embarrassed to report the theft (and rape, which she rationalizes) and slinks home. Her momma’s not raising grandchildren so out the house she goes!

After all the advice the women of Fat Fridays have given her, she still thinks salvation is found in some man’s pants and I get it: she was raised in an emotional desert. She wants to know someone loves her. She wants to feel loved and any man who says I love you will do. She would prefer a man who is also rich or at least on his way to being rich.

I hope she understands this: babies don’t love you. They need you, they want you, they can’t live without you, but love you? Nope. You love them. They need you to survive.

Overall, Sassy Saturdays is a meatier update to the series, but mostly because you’re fully invested in Tiffany and Carol Ann (and Lynn/Grace to a lesser extent).

Overall Opinion: Darker themes, frustrating as hell.

Would I read it again? If waiting in a doctor’s office, sure.

Would I buy it for someone? Since you need the prequel to understand it, probably not.

I love this group of supportive friends, great dialogue, great attitude, great chemistry!