If you can imagine, Jen Lancaster only gets better with each book. You will find yourself laughing out loud and nodding along with the stories Jen tells about her life in the 80's and 90's in this book. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Jen Lancaster keeps her humorous bit alive with her third novel, Pretty In Plaid. Lancaster takes readers on the ultimate flashback in time, traveling back through the `80s and `90s and revealing her journey to show just how she got to where she is now. I enjoyed reading about the disastrous birthday dinner when Lancaster was eight and realized how to eat a lobster, her Greek years in college and how she struggled to fit in, and how she came to meet her future husband, Fletch.
Pretty in Plaid was a fun read, mainly because I was learning even more about one of my favorite authors. I like how Lancaster lets readers into her life, and her humor and honesty through each saga keeps me laughing throughout the novel. I do have to be honest and say this wasn't my favorite novel from Jen Lancaster; it just didn't give me the same pull as the others I have read. I think maybe because there was not really a "true" plot, it was just basically story-telling and I wasn't sure where the story would stop. Still an entertaining read and I would recommend to all chick lit fans, just not a personal favorite of mine.

I had read all four of Jen Lancaster's books and occasionally read her blog. I think she's funny and I'm amused by her sense of humor, however, I did not love this. It felt forced; like she was reaching to think of funny things to talk about. I still chuckled at some points, but its definitely not her best book ("Bitter" is). I will probably continue to read her books, but I certainly won't be paying $25 for a brand new hardcover. Next time I'll buy it used or wait for it to come out in paperback.

I have over time become a huge fan of Jen Lancaster. Her humor is definitely sarcastic and may not be for everyone, but it's definitely worth a try.

In this book, she details her life through school and her early jobs - revisiting the 80s - how fun!

Having been in a reading slump after weeks of books that just could not catch my interest or were so badly written, so depressing, so off-putting I was using them as kindling in the fireplace, I remembered Jen Lancaster had put out Pretty in Plaid. Normally I shy from "pre-quels" as they are never as good as the original stories you fell in love with - can we say Star Wars? I finished a book for the first time in 3 weeks and ENJOYED IT!!! Yea me - yea Jen! Wonder if this is what guys with the little blue pill feel like? Sorry.... I digress.

This book is a nice walk.... jog... no, it's a stumble through Jen's childhood into teen angst and many years of college (really Jen? how many years? Party much? LOL) as she finds her way to the book where we all made her acquaintence for the first time. If you are from the generation before Jen's or the one after ours, then you probably won't care for her story or her voice much. However, for those of us born in the early '70's (or so) Mrs. Lancaster's journey rings true on many levels, for many reasons. Not the least of which is the burning need to fit into a size 6 Jordache jeans with no panty lines and making our mothers understand that spending the same for a pair of said jeans as she spent on two week's worth of groceries was not unreasonable. Her European trip as a junior was a SCREAM! Oh and thank you for reminding me of the awful first car - the Toyota Tercel and it's evil GM twin, the Geo Prizm. I love that we now have a glimpse of the real reasons Jen is who she is.

Granted, parts of this book aren't quite as funny as her previous efforts and in fact there are sections that do feel rushed and stretched, but heck, no author is perfect and when you have multiple books out, there will always been one that isn't as good as the rest. Hopefully her next one will be focused again on the present which is where her current observations on life and people are their snarkiest and thus funniest.

I enjoyed learning about Jen's formative years but I didn't think this book was as laugh out loud funny as her previous books. If you haven't read any of Jen's other books, I would read them first. I don't think this book would be very interesting to someone who didn't know about Jen's rise and fall in the corporate world as an adult.

I very much agree with other reviewers. In fact, I am struggling to finish this book so I wanted to verify my thoughts and feelings - and I did so by reading the other reviews. I would, without a doubt, read the other books again. I purchased this hardcover, hot off the press and I am disappointed in the investment. It just doesn't have the same wittiness and sarcasm that I ate up in the first books. Lancaster's blog indictes she is working on writing more - I hope she goes back to the style of the first three.

I grew up in this "cow-town" that she frequently talks about; I find it hilarious, and very true (Sorry Jen, if you're from the town, it's blatantly obvious what place you're talking about). The things that she talks about - the pagents, the cheerleaders - is all still true and it's almost 2010. Things never change in a small town - just take a visit there.
The humor and the words that she uses makes a person laugh so hard they might wet their pants. It's blunt, sometimes crude, but honesty isn't always nice. An outstanding book!

This book chronicles Jen Lancaster's love affair with all things stylish. It goes from her elementary school years all the way through to her college years and beyond. Very cute book, I laughed out loud the entire way through. Well done.

I have read all her books and enjoyed them. However this one is hard to stick to and I have found myself skipping pages just to get to the end quicker. (I know, I could just stop reading:))
It doesnt have her usual wit. Almost as if she wrote it in a weekend to make some money...

Pretty in Plaid was my first Jen Lancaster book and I loved every moment of it! She is so funny and witty. Seriously, she's my new BFF (no, I am not a stalker)! I am a Preppy at heart and have been since 1982, so I could totally relate. I was so bummed when the book ended that I immediately picked-up her first book, Bitter is the New Black (highly recommend that one too)! Jen, you have so inspired me to wear my pearls with my Lacoste shirts, Merci!

I have read all of Jen Lancaster's books and it's like reading a train wreck. Through her books I have yet to understand her sense of superiority. She claims she was an average student, she's okay looking, she has no ability to save money or invest, no sense of compassion, people do not like her, she can't train her dogs or get along with her neighbors etc etc...

In every situation presented, she wants to be the queen bee. The problem: she's not qualified. She is not smart, glamorous, friendly or compassionate. Who would want to make her in charge of anything? She is socially inept and she keeps trying to reach the pinnacle of whatever her desires are but never learns the rules. If she would have gained some insight into herself, this would have been a better book. It comes off as a person who is bitter because she doesn't fit in socially the way she deems appropriate. In the footnotes (which are ridiculous on a kindle) she writes that she wanted to be Blair from Facts of Life. Maybe she should have faced the truth and realized she is Natalie.

I think that Jen Lancaster is the funniest writer ever. Not only is she my favorite author, but book after book she just proves she's getting better and better. I think she's hilarious and I will pre-order every book she ever writes.

This isn't really a review b/c I haven't read the book -- I just saw it in the bookstore and was perplexed as to how this cover art got approved. I thought argyle was pretty recognizable...

I have read everyone of her books. From one smart ass to another, Jen Lancaster gets better every book she writes. I can just only hope she will keep us wondering what she will bluntly say next. But, I will bluntly say this, "if you can't appreciate her wittiness or her rudeness then you are probably one of the dumb ass people she has encountered in her life that she has wrote about!" If you want to laugh all the way through a book and want more when your done, then this is a book you need to read!

Do you associate fashion with childhood memories? Do you reference situations in life from what you wore? If so, you can relate to Jen Lancaster's latest funny memoir.

Each chapter focuses on a different trend in fashion. It will take you back to your own childhood memories and favorite fashions. The stories will have you busting the seams of your Jordache jeans. We realize how Jen became the witty adult she is today.

While I enjoyed the stories, this was my least favorite of the memoirs. I enjoy the smart-mouthed adult Jen more. Nevertheless, it's a quick funny read.

July 1, 2009

L Marie

The publisher got greedy and the author got lazy. (Success can do that to you.) With the triumph of three books, someone got itchy to make some more dough and I guess a prequel sounded like a good idea, as well as a surefire moneymaker.
JL's grammar and high school years are a bore. It also reads like she made it up -- so much for the memoir part.
The book gets going more than half way through when JL goes to college, but didn't really capture my interest until the story about the yellow argyle sweater. That is class Jen.
The stories of her professional life don't hold a candle to her temp stories from the second book.
Then the book just sort of ends with..."and you know the rest...Bitter Is The New Black...blah, blah, blah."
I understand she has three more books in the works. I hope she puts effort back into those.

Jen Lancaster is the kind of author I'd want to be (if I were into writing books). She is witty, insanely hilarious, and relatable. Pretty In Plaid starts off with Jen's childhood, and progresses to when she moved to Chicago with Fletch. Reading this book brought back lots of memories of when I was growing up (sadly, not all fond and happy). And her fashion faux-pas? Hilarious. Especially in her sorority years.

However, the best part was near the end, when she finally moves the Chicago. I think lots of people can relate (especially in today's job market and economy) to branching out on your own, trying to land that first gig. Although she's this fab writer, she wasn't always this way. I think its refreshing to know that she struggled with her career, she absolutely hated some of her jobs, but she made the best of it and finally moved on to better things.

I definitely recommend this book. Its a quick stroll down memory lane, but Jen's is way funnier than mine could ever be.

The book came really quickly and was in good condition - plus a hilarious read! Thanks.

The book came when promised, though a few pages in the middle of the book were torn, it seemed more like a publishing error then the sellers error. Once again Jen Lancaster has us laughing out loud with her hilarous tales of fashion. Can't wait for another book :)

I am a huge Jen Lancaster fan. I have read her first three "hard to put down" books and eagerly awaited number four. Pretty In Plaid was a big disappointment. After reading the first chapter and skimming thru parts of the others chapters, I sent the book back. This was a hurriedly written book by someone under a book contract having to meet a deadline. Not Jen's wonderful snarky, sarcastic usual humor. Read Jen's first three books and skip this one.

thoroughly enjoyed all the Lancaster books that preceded this one but, i think she tried to stretch the material a little thin to come up with this latest "pre-quel". There were of course humorous situations and great sarcasm but, the book flew through twenty years in less than 400 pages. Not worth the price of a hardback. wait and buy it second hand after it is released in paperback.

I bought this book with such excitement. First chapter was great, and then the book slowed down as if it hit a freeway at rush hour. I am the reader who will keep plowing through thinking it will get better. It didn't and for once I put a book down midway through the read. I was disappointed. It seems she was under pressure to write a follow up and went for a prequel. The only thing is the stories are not so different from my own childhood. I hope she finds her groove again...it just wasn't with this effort.

PiP was another great book that tells the tail of how Jen came to be pre-Bitter is the new black. If you like Jens writing and humor then you'll enjoy this book. Yes, this book isn't jam packed with her uber-bitchyness and crazy downfalls but that's because this book is telling us who she was pre-unemployment line. Everyone has to have a beginning and this is Jens. I loved this book very much and I love that I got to read about how Jen was as a teenager. I also LOVE having all the fashion flashbacks because if you were even a small child in the 80's you can appreciate how horribly dressed we all were in neon baggy shirts, high waisted jeans, loafers and rubber band bracelets.

Also, if you read this you may have an incurable urge to listen to Journey's Greatest Hits. (you've been warned)

I loved Jen's first two books, read parts aloud to willing (and unwilling) audiences, and even recommended them to friends. When her third book was due, I was quite excited. Unfortunately, I had to force myself to finish it. The same is true with this fourth book. The material covered in this book is either a rehash of events in her first two books or a seemingly a "forced" memory of childhood events.

As a woman in my mid 40s, I can totally relate to almost everything Jen wrote about in PIP. (Except the location details). I've read all of her books, and enjoyed PIP as much as the others. Kudos for the insight into the background of her formative years. And...thanks for the sometimes painful stroll down memory lane (laying down to zip up way too small jeans)! Thanks for another great read Jen. I am absolutely looking forward to more from you!

I hesitated in buying this book thinking that going back to Jen's childhood could not be nearly as Snarky and hillarious as doing such adult things as pretending you have a homeowner's association and that you are the president. I saw that other readers didn't love this one as much, so that made me hesitate too. Boy, was I wrong and I'm so glad I read it.

I found this book delightful and HILLARIOUS! Now, that could be because I think Jen and I are about the same age, with a very practical, middle class up-bringing, therefore have we have many of the same experiences and perspectives. If you are a child of the 70's & 80s and remember Kristy McNichol, Jordache Jeans, Polo shirts and Michael Jackson, you may relate too. She walks readers through her real first job and how she though she was RICH! Didn't we all? When you hit the 20k's in salary.. woo hoo!! until you have to pay rent and a car payment. Then the first time you heard people talking about "Their Lewie" - not know ing it wasn't a dog or an uncle, but a Louis (As in Louis Vuitton).

Jen feels like a Facebook friend I don't personally know very well, but because I read her posts and see her photos, I feel like we are BFFs. I think this book is worth the read. Just be prepared to remember who you were at that time. The entertainment lies not only in Jen's story, but who the reader was at that time in their own history.

I've read her first three books and loved them all. This one I was definitely disappointed in. There were a couple of funny parts, but for the most part it was fairly dull. I'm glad I borrowed it from the library and didn't spend the money on this one. I would recommend her first three books but this one, I'd pass on.

I am a big fan! Have read all of Mrs.L's books. My personal opinion is that they just keep getting better! So entertaining and hard to put down! Great walk down memory lane with this one! Looking forward the next one!

Very good funny book...just read Bitter is the new Black and liked that one even better..getting ready to order the other two

Jen's other books have been delightfully, laugh out loud funny. This book was dry and forced. It seems she has run out of material.

I love Jen Lancaster let me say that I read her other 3 books one after another b/c there were so much fun and I probably have never laughed out loud reading a book before hers, really I am not the type to do that. Pretty in Plaid is not as funny as the other 3 books but still I give it 4 stars, glad I bought and read, and totally recommend. She writes as if she is going through the time periods as herself rather then reflecting back which is what I thought she would have done. I would have thought her chapters on college would have been funnier but I think that was the weakest part when she goes through all her sorority rush info, letters to the other sisters etc. Surely she had more dirt and gossip but it didnt reflect in the book. anyway, I still love her, and if and when she writes another book I will be in line to buy! Next I think Jen should travel the world on vacations and then write a book about her experiences with international travel and leisure.

I am a huge fan of Jen Lancaster's, but I did not get the belly laughs out of this one that I did out of the first two. It seemed like Jen was trying a little too hard.

I'm a huge fan of Jan Lancaster, but I totally agree with what's been written here. Definitely not her best work. Still funny at points, but I don't feel like she went 100% with this one.

...but quickly fades. The first entry was funny enough, but subsequent entries wear thin very quickly. I think she is trying to come off as Adrian Mole, but her life isn't that interesting nor her comments that clever. I got a third of the way through and then-enough. Might appeal to twelve-year-olds though.

From the very opening chapters of Pretty in Plaid, I became infatuated with the sash-wearing, Girl-Scout cookie totin' 8-year-old Jen Lancaster whose snark and smarts had me laughing out loud through every chapter thereafter. But then I had a quiet observation, thinking back to my own 8-year-old insecure self, wondering, "Would she have wanted to be my friend?"

Fortunately, for my now 40-year-old self, that doesn't matter now, because I do have the pleasure of being friends with the person behind the words! And Jen's as real in life as you find her in her books - charming, witty, and so personable, it won't matter if you pick up a truffle from the floor and eat it in front of her. I know this, because that's exactly what I did the first night we met.

Pretty in Plaid, Jen's latest memoir, takes the reader through three decades of clothes and controversy. From early days of knee highs and Girl Scout attire, through her teen years pining for a pair of Jordache jeans and Gucci gear, to her love of Lacoste, and a navy suit and crocodile shoes that rocked her into her career, this memoir conjures so much humor and nostalgia, every girl who ever wanted a pair of designer jeans will commiserate. While cracking up of course, because Jen is just that funny.

If I hadn't read Jen's other books and nearly put myself into a coma with laughing, I would think this was hilarious. In comparison, it's just OK. It's still worth buying and reading, but I just like her adult books better. The memoir stuff is all right, but the timeline fast-forwarded at the end and felt disjointed.

happy reader!! product was as described and arrived quickly. reasonable shipping costs; item arrived quickly.

I liked this book, did not love it though. I have loved Jen's previous books, read them cover to cover and did not want to see the end. But with this one, I couldn't wait for the end. I first got it on Kindle but couldn't see the footnotes. The footnotes contain alot of her humor and additional comments to a particular story, so you need them. So I received a refund on my Kindle purchase and bought the paperback. It's a funny story, don't get me wrong. If it's your first Jen Lancaster read, you'll like it, but if you're a fan like me, you'll be left expecting more. I went to to meet-and-greet in Nashville and met Jen. She mentioned to the crowd that she already has 2 additional books in the works and is already writing one. Hopefully it will be a tad better than this one. Love her though!

'Pretty in Plaid' was quite a disappointment. The quirky, quick-witted quips we've come to love Jen Lancaster for are few & far between in her newest project. Usually with her books, I am laughing out loud every few pages, however with 'Plaid' I could count those occasions on one hand. Perhaps she should stick to writing about the myriad of people and situations she comes in contact with in her great city of Chicago, because the "wonder years" she described in the book just didn't seem that extraordinary. I believe there was enough insight into her childhood with the references she gave in her previous work, especially in her debut, Bitter is the New Black. This installment just didn't seem necessary. It pains me to write a negative review, because I am a huge fan of Jen's writing otherwise.

This book was nothing short of fabulous. I laughed out loud once again as I usually do with her books. If you're between the ages of 28-40, you will love the 70's and 80's references! I was seriously cracking up and did not want this book to end.

If youre a Jen Lancaster Fan you must read this book, If youre not, then what is wrong with you?!?
Jen is a fantastic writer and story teller and so easy to identify with. As any "Girl from the 80's" can tell you, we all remember the JEAN JACKET, Gunne Sax Prom dresses, and Cover Girl blue eyeliner!
Just wait until you read about her trip to Vegas! Couldnt stop laughing! What I loved most about this book is that it wasnt totally snarky, you hear stories about Jen that helped her identify who she really is. I cant wait until the next one! If you have a chance to go to one of her signings, GO! She is excellent in person as well. Shes a girl that you would love to go and drink Martini's with!

A gift for my wife, who has read and enjoyed all of Lancaster's previous books. She consumed this immediately, and has announced it as good as the rest, even reading sections out loud to me.

This book explains where the blogger turned author came from, telling the stories of turning points through her early life illustrated with her typical fashion sidelights. If you've liked her work before, you'll like this.

I'm sorry to say, but I have to keep it real..this book was a little hard to get through at certain points. I have read and re-read and read aloud (to my boyfriend's delight ) all of Jen's other books. They were all great, hilarious......couldn't put them down...but this one just doesn't compare. I agree with another reviewer though..I hope Jen gets a movie deal and it does her books justice !!!

I'm a big fan of Jen and I have all her previous books, follow her blog, and laugh hysterically at things she writes. That being said, I ran out to buy this book as soon as I could and it took me a lot longer to finish than her previous ones. Her previous ones I had great difficulty putting down, this one I'd put down and wouldn't feel impatient to pick it up again.

Don't mistake me, this book wasn't bad and it was an easy read. It got better for me as it went along, but it lacked a lot of the laughter of previous books. Her traveling through the decades of her life was fine but some parts were just not very exciting or entertaining. Her early life wasn't as exciting, for me, until we got through the 80's.

Jen's writing is great and I'm a big fan of the footnotes which have been constant in all her books, but if I were to recommend a Jen book I'd recommend her previous ones before I recommend PIP.

Like everyone else, I'm a big fan of Jen Lancaster~ I've read all her other books ( and her blog)and always laughed until I cried! This one didn't have the same effect. It really is one of those books you can put down and forget about for a while~ the complete opposite of her previous books (I read them cover to cover and laughed until my sides hurt!) I hate that I didn't love this book, I really wanted to.

I have read all of Jen's books. Bitter was amazing! I told tons of people to read it and not one was disappointed. Pretty in Plaid sadly I will not be giving a hearty recommendation for. I agree with another review, chapter one was a gas! And there were moments of great stuff in this book, but not enough to make you want to turn the page. I am sad this book did not live up to my Jen standard. Read her first two, maybe her third but take a pass on this one.

I love Jen Lancaster and I love my new Kindle so I thought the combination would be great - not so much.

The first few pages are in a unique font that is supposed to look like a child's handwriting. Smart idea but the font is EXTREMELY difficult to read on the Kindle.

As previous fans of Lancaster know, hilarious footnotes are peppered throughout all her novels - Pretty in Plaid is no exception. Unfortunately, reading footnotes on the Kindle is VERY irritating. You have to slowly scroll over and click on each footnote which takes you to the "end" of the book. You then have to click on the footnote again to get back to where you were. Several times I clicked on the wrong place and was taken to the Epilogue and had to spend time clicking through chapters to find my original place.

I usually will tear through one of Jen's books in a matter of hours - this one is taking me much longer bc of the Kindle. (I still love my Kindle and have zipped through several other books - their footnote programming is just not that great.)

As for the actual novel - it's solid. Not as entertaining as some of her earlier work but still a good read.

There were so many unanswered questions before this book came along. Was Jen always like this? How did she come to be the authentically honest, hilariously sarcastic woman we know and love today? As a fellow Jersey girl myself, I always found her to be comfortingly "east-coast" and alas, to find that she was born in Jersey and then moved to the midwest made so much sense to me.

The book is hilarious and honest as always. I loved every minute of it. A new twist on her current concepts- it was nice to see how the woman who sends her neighbors letters from the "neighborhood association" got her start.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It took me straight back to high school (not that I want to go back there!). I enjoy Jen's self-depricating humor and sarcasm. The only part of this book that I didn't care for was all the sorority talk. I guess I just didn't personally relate to that, but I'm sure others will. If you liked Jennifer's previous books, then I'd highly recommend this one. Best one yet!