The Widow's Guide to Sex and Dating: A Novel Paperback – October 20, 2015

A very enjoyable read. Radziwell is an acute observer of other people and of her environment, and NYC natives will enjoy the setting of the novel.When it comes to her main character, Claire, however, the author is strangely dispassionate. We see things through the character's eyes, but never quite know how she feels, or if she feels at all.I found this to be the book's major flaw..one does not feel much of anything for the narrator, who remains something of a cypher and seems rather cold.

Bits of wisdom sprinkled along Claire's journey. It's so refreshing reading a well written book. I was caught up from page one.

I got this book for two reasons. First, I had read Carole's book, "What Remains" a few years ago, just as my friend's husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I was engrossed in that book for a few reasons. The insight into the Radziwill/Kennedy families, the childhood histories ( I, too, worked at Caldor!) and the unvarnished look at how life and death affected Carole. In fact, after giving it away to a friend I bought it again when I purchased this one and re-read it.So, after having seen Carole on "The Housewives...", I was curious to see which direction her writing had taken. I am still reading "The Widow's Guide to Sex and Dating: A Novel," not because I am a slow reader, but because it's a book I can put down , and go back to- not a book that I just have to finish. I kind of got that impression about the writing, that it was something she put down and picked up. I love Carole's blogs, very insightful and tongue-in-cheek, but this novel seems to be stretched too thin.

This book was unbelievably boring. Widow in her 30's, married to an older, successful man, is just lost. Looking for men after 6 months. Sorry sista, it doesn't work that way.

I thought this was a pretty stellar read. I enjoyed the main character, and I felt like the all of the characters experienced very natural progressions. There were some definite OMG moments, and then there were a few moments that were predictable. That said, I loved how the story ended, and it was a very different ending than what I expected.I haven't read What Remains, but after reading Widow's Guide, I plan to pick up What Remains in the near future!!

It was not what I expected. Thought it was going to be a funny contemporary romance (as in light and airy), but it ended up a more thought provoking read. I enjoyed it but definitely not what I would consider a "beach" read. I will definitely read her fiction again.

Light, fun reading with a bit of reflection. I certainly a great second book and am looking forward to more from Carole.

If you enjoy sarcastic, irreverent, black humour, chances are you'll enjoy Widow's Guide. While Carole more than proved her talent as a writer with 'What Remains' I liked this book because although it is a novel, I feel as though there were places where she was able to infuse the book with a realism that is often lacking in other novels of a similar genre. Perhaps this was her version of therapy2.0, and if so, I hope it too was cathartic.What sets Carole's writing apart is that she has the ability to use her wit and dark humour while keeping the heavier emotions in place as well. No easy task for any writer, yet she's mastered it.If you're hoping for anything like What Remains, you'll be disappointed. If you're hoping for typical, Jennifer Weiner/Emily Giffin chick-lit, you'll be disappointed. If you like witty and smart with a dash of blink-and-you-miss-it humour, Widow's Guide should be one of the next books on your list.

Love it it’s a good satire

read her other book thought id try this. totally different genre, is very chic lit

okay, but not as good as What Remains

Ich mag die coole, leichtfüßige Art in der Carole Radziwill schreibt. Leider war die Geschichte nicht überzeugend gestrickt.Claire (34) ist mit dem älteren, sehr erfolgreichen Autor Charlie verheiratet. Als der durch einen Unglücksfall ums Leben kommt, bricht Claires Welt zusammen. Sie stürzt in eine tiefe Depression, weil sie plötzlich nichts mit ihrem Leben anzufangen weiß. Charlie hat vorher den Ton angegeben und ihr Leben dirigiert. In diesem Teil des Romans hatte ich echte Schwierigkeiten am Ball zu bleiben. Claire schien so desinteressiert am Tod ihres Mannes, dass ich mich fragte, wieso ich weiterlesen soll. Da Claire durch ihr großzügiges Erbe nicht arbeiten muss, vegetiert sie ohne Struktur von einem Tag zum nächsten. Sie probiert auf verschiedene Art und Weise (hier wird es wieder unterhaltsam) eine Richtung zu finden. So richtig Fahrt nimmt die Geschichte auf, als sie sich in einen berühmten Hollywoodstar verliebt. An dieser Stelle wird der Roman lebendig und mitreißend. Da die Autorin eine Affäre mit George Clooney hatte, musste ich bei der Beschreibung des Schauspielers an ihn denken;)Schade, dass der erste Teil des Buches so lustlos wirkt, ab der Mitte wurde ich gut unterhalten. Von mir gibt es dreieinhalb Sterne dafür.

I love Carole on the RHONYC and had enjoyed her first novel, a memoir . I expected, from the title, for this to be a fun romp a la sex & the city...and easy, but intelligent chick lit read, what a disappointment. Slow, boring plot....,.by 50% in we were still on the subject of her husbands death, no sex or dating in sight. The writing style seemed contrived, and...perhaps like Carole herself actually.....Deliberately and self-consciously " hey, look how intelligent, well-read yet cute and kooky I am". The main character read like Carole yet wasn't at all interesting or likeable. The plot was thin, the pacing was slow, and i just really struggled to get through it. It tried too hard to come across as 'smart'. Sorry Carole, but this was a major disappointment for me, and I really cannot see how a future tv series could be anything like the book..maybe the title will be the only similarity.