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Manhunting
A timeless tale from the first name in romantic comedy - Jennifer Crusie!
OBJECTIVE: Find Man
Must be Rich, Handsome, and Successful
Kate Svenson is attractive, successful, a brilliant businesswoman - and miserable. After three failed engagements, she realises it's time for a PLAN...and organised, detailed agenda with a clear goal: finding Mr. Right.
The Cabins resort is ripe with eligible bachelors, all rich, distinguished and ambitious - just her type. And they're dropping like flies around her...at least, that's how Jake Templeton views the situation. After he's stuck pulling her latest reject out of the swimming pool, Jake's convinced this femme fatale is trouble. Especially for him.
But can a man who's sworn off ambition for good and a woman hanging from the top of the corporate ladder find common ground in the unpredictable territory called the heart, where the word proposal takes on a very different meaning...?
OBJECTIVE: Find Man
Must be Rich, Handsome, and Successful
Kate Svenson is attractive, successful, a brilliant businesswoman - and miserable. After three failed engagements, she realises it's time for a PLAN...and organised, detailed agenda with a clear goal: finding Mr. Right.
The Cabins resort is ripe with eligible bachelors, all rich, distinguished and ambitious - just her type. And they're dropping like flies around her...at least, that's how Jake Templeton views the situation. After he's stuck pulling her latest reject out of the swimming pool, Jake's convinced this femme fatale is trouble. Especially for him.
But can a man who's sworn off ambition for good and a woman hanging from the top of the corporate ladder find common ground in the unpredictable territory called the heart, where the word proposal takes on a very different meaning...?
328 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Jennifer Crusie
78 books7,587 followersJennifer Crusie is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of twenty-three novels, one book of literary criticism, miscellaneous articles, essays, novellas, and short stories, and the editor of three essay anthologies.
She was born in Wapakoneta, a small town in Ohio, and then went on to live in a succession of other small towns in Ohio and New Jersey until her last move to a small town in Pennsylvania. This may have had an impact on her work.
She has a BS in Art Education, an MA in literature, an MFA in fiction, and was ABD on her PhD when she started reading romances as part of her research into the differences between the ways men and women tell stories. Writing a romance sounded like more fun than writing a dissertation, so she switched to fiction and never looked back. Her collaborations with Bob Mayer have pretty much proved everything she was going to say in her dissertation anyway, so really, no need to finish that.
For more information, see JenniferCrusie.com and her blog, Argh Ink.
She was born in Wapakoneta, a small town in Ohio, and then went on to live in a succession of other small towns in Ohio and New Jersey until her last move to a small town in Pennsylvania. This may have had an impact on her work.
She has a BS in Art Education, an MA in literature, an MFA in fiction, and was ABD on her PhD when she started reading romances as part of her research into the differences between the ways men and women tell stories. Writing a romance sounded like more fun than writing a dissertation, so she switched to fiction and never looked back. Her collaborations with Bob Mayer have pretty much proved everything she was going to say in her dissertation anyway, so really, no need to finish that.
For more information, see JenniferCrusie.com and her blog, Argh Ink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 938 reviews
February 16, 2011
Manhunting is a five star read if there ever was one. If you're feeling blah and want a good laugh - along with a wonderful romance - you can't get better than this!
Kate Svensen is thirty-five, gorgeous and has a successful career. She's the kind of heroine we all love to hate. But wait a minute this is a Crusie heroine after all and not your standard perfectly coifed heroine. Not at all. Kate may be more successful than most of us ever dream of becoming but she's also insecure and more than a little bit unhappy. Her job bores her, her breasts are starting to droop and she's given up on love after dating a string of losers who only want her for her money. Despite this Kate still wants a husband, a compatible husband who is as successful and driven as she is. And what better place to find him than at an exclusive golf resort catering to singles?
But instead of meeting a decent hard-working man Kate only finds more losers at the resort. The trip isn't a total bust however because she does meet Jake and the two strike up an instant friendship. Jake is beautiful and they have a ton of fun together. But he's also totally unmotivated, admittedly lazy, and just about the slowest moving person Kate has ever come across. He's so not what Kate is looking for.
Jake had been married to a cold, self-centered woman and now wants to settle down with a nice, dumb bimbo who thinks he's the end-all be-all of her world. Definitely not Kate. But the two are honest with each other and begin spending a lot of time together because they believe they are "safe" with each other.
All their well-laid plans are blown to shreds when love takes over and then the fun really begins!
Manhunting is a classic Jennifer Crusie tale filled with humorous situations, tons of witty dialogue that is simply about two people who love spending time together. The conflict is believable and never feels contrived and the book doesn't get weighed down with subplots. There are a few great secondary characters who add to the fun but never take over the spotlight. "Manhunting" is the book to choose if you need a quick "pick-me-up".
Kate Svensen is thirty-five, gorgeous and has a successful career. She's the kind of heroine we all love to hate. But wait a minute this is a Crusie heroine after all and not your standard perfectly coifed heroine. Not at all. Kate may be more successful than most of us ever dream of becoming but she's also insecure and more than a little bit unhappy. Her job bores her, her breasts are starting to droop and she's given up on love after dating a string of losers who only want her for her money. Despite this Kate still wants a husband, a compatible husband who is as successful and driven as she is. And what better place to find him than at an exclusive golf resort catering to singles?
But instead of meeting a decent hard-working man Kate only finds more losers at the resort. The trip isn't a total bust however because she does meet Jake and the two strike up an instant friendship. Jake is beautiful and they have a ton of fun together. But he's also totally unmotivated, admittedly lazy, and just about the slowest moving person Kate has ever come across. He's so not what Kate is looking for.
Jake had been married to a cold, self-centered woman and now wants to settle down with a nice, dumb bimbo who thinks he's the end-all be-all of her world. Definitely not Kate. But the two are honest with each other and begin spending a lot of time together because they believe they are "safe" with each other.
All their well-laid plans are blown to shreds when love takes over and then the fun really begins!
Manhunting is a classic Jennifer Crusie tale filled with humorous situations, tons of witty dialogue that is simply about two people who love spending time together. The conflict is believable and never feels contrived and the book doesn't get weighed down with subplots. There are a few great secondary characters who add to the fun but never take over the spotlight. "Manhunting" is the book to choose if you need a quick "pick-me-up".
January 11, 2016
This is her first novel?!? There's the cutest note at the front of this book that says it's her first and a favorite as a result. I can totally see why. Jake is cool enough (besides the name, I mean) and I really liked how... dimensional, I suppose... that he was. His attachment to Toby's Corner was endearing, even while his lay about lifestyle is mildly off-putting. His brother, Will, helped that a bit as their relationship and shared insights into Jake actively showed us that he had more depth than might appear on the surface.
But I really liked Kate. She's a hot mess of contradictions, a high-profile career woman looking for a man to settle down with (without settling down), and that's just for a start. I really liked her learning to parse her own interior preferences and emotional landscape, even as she's trying to figure out the men around her.
But what sold the book was combining all of that with some truly laugh-out-loud moments—and I don't mean the slapstick (though that wasn't out of place, either, really, even though I'm not usually a fan). Kate and Jake and those around them were witty and in situations that were rife with emotional byplay and that was fertile ground for Crusie to mine for humor.
This was a solid four stars, but the humor bumped my entertainment up to a stretched, but valid, five. I can't believe this is her first published book.
A note about Steamy: On the high side of mild with two and a half explicit scenes and a few flirty episodes of varying degrees of sexy.
But I really liked Kate. She's a hot mess of contradictions, a high-profile career woman looking for a man to settle down with (without settling down), and that's just for a start. I really liked her learning to parse her own interior preferences and emotional landscape, even as she's trying to figure out the men around her.
But what sold the book was combining all of that with some truly laugh-out-loud moments—and I don't mean the slapstick (though that wasn't out of place, either, really, even though I'm not usually a fan). Kate and Jake and those around them were witty and in situations that were rife with emotional byplay and that was fertile ground for Crusie to mine for humor.
This was a solid four stars, but the humor bumped my entertainment up to a stretched, but valid, five. I can't believe this is her first published book.
A note about Steamy: On the high side of mild with two and a half explicit scenes and a few flirty episodes of varying degrees of sexy.
July 2, 2008
There are times when I crave a night of romantic comedies. Manhunting fulfills this hunger in book form.
Is it mindless? Yes.
It is predictable? Yup.
Is it for everyone?Probably not. But that's okay!
For those of you that adore a cute little love story, this is it! I don't know if it's because I haven't read any chick lit lately, but I let my emotions rush with Kate (the main character). I swooned, I hoped for the best and got what I/she wanted.
I guess I was in that type of mood. :)
Is it mindless? Yes.
It is predictable? Yup.
Is it for everyone?Probably not. But that's okay!
For those of you that adore a cute little love story, this is it! I don't know if it's because I haven't read any chick lit lately, but I let my emotions rush with Kate (the main character). I swooned, I hoped for the best and got what I/she wanted.
I guess I was in that type of mood. :)
February 21, 2016
4.5 stars
At 35 years of age, Kate Svenson seemed to have it all except a fulfilling personal relationship with....Ta Da!......a man. She needed a good man. Someone to love and accept her for who she was. Convinced by her BFF, she took the plunge and set off to vacation at The Cabins in Kentucky and find her dream guy.
The author has fine-tuned a formula and MANHUNTING had it all. Some insecurity with the H and h. Silly antics with stupid-goofy moments. Crisp dialog that sparkles at select times. Wonderful chemistry and enjoyable secondary characters.
At times, her romances have reminded me of Kristan Higgins' stories. They contain a like-able H/h but you still want to throttle them.
If you enjoy the opposites-attract trope and are willing to ignore some minor datedness (it was first published in 1993) MANHUNTING might be something you would enjoy. I liked Anyone But You, I enjoyed Bet Me but, by far, this is my favorite Crusie romance.
At 35 years of age, Kate Svenson seemed to have it all except a fulfilling personal relationship with....Ta Da!......a man. She needed a good man. Someone to love and accept her for who she was. Convinced by her BFF, she took the plunge and set off to vacation at The Cabins in Kentucky and find her dream guy.
The author has fine-tuned a formula and MANHUNTING had it all. Some insecurity with the H and h. Silly antics with stupid-goofy moments. Crisp dialog that sparkles at select times. Wonderful chemistry and enjoyable secondary characters.
At times, her romances have reminded me of Kristan Higgins' stories. They contain a like-able H/h but you still want to throttle them.
If you enjoy the opposites-attract trope and are willing to ignore some minor datedness (it was first published in 1993) MANHUNTING might be something you would enjoy. I liked Anyone But You, I enjoyed Bet Me but, by far, this is my favorite Crusie romance.
January 26, 2012
This book was a total hoot because it had two characters who practiced self-delusion perfectly, the heroine with her corporate life and three engagements she broke off, who wanted to have a companion, someone smart and successful and definitely not like the hero Jake who does nothing, ever since he quit his job as a tax attorney in the city and invested all his money in the resort run by his brother and that is where these two meet.
The hero doesn't want to do anything or so he tells himself as he pretends to fish and manages the outside of the resort, he is totally not looking for someone like Kate instead he doesn't want anybody after all his marriage was a disaster with a wife who tried to make him more ambitious.
Seeing Kate's date was so hilarious, all of them ended up injured in some way, then there was the young engaged Penny. I loved seeing Kate come on to her own and felt like laughing so badly when these two on their boat ride tried to tell themselves they felt brotherly towards each other and finally when Kate is working at the bar enjoying feeling sexy, they are hit over their head with their attraction.
And that boat drowning/sex scene was hilarious as hell. I also liked the end quite a bit, these two were totally awesome and the book hilarious.
The hero doesn't want to do anything or so he tells himself as he pretends to fish and manages the outside of the resort, he is totally not looking for someone like Kate instead he doesn't want anybody after all his marriage was a disaster with a wife who tried to make him more ambitious.
Seeing Kate's date was so hilarious, all of them ended up injured in some way, then there was the young engaged Penny. I loved seeing Kate come on to her own and felt like laughing so badly when these two on their boat ride tried to tell themselves they felt brotherly towards each other and finally when Kate is working at the bar enjoying feeling sexy, they are hit over their head with their attraction.
And that boat drowning/sex scene was hilarious as hell. I also liked the end quite a bit, these two were totally awesome and the book hilarious.
June 27, 2018
Stretching this to 3 stars. Cute, maybe a little too cute. Not as good as Maybe This Time
January 28, 2010
4.5* This book was so much fun! I loved every minute of it. The characters (all of them) were well done, the writing was hilarious without being slap-stick, and the dialog was sharp and witty. I only wish it was twice as long! Crusie is sort of hit-and-miss with me, I loved Bet Me, and enjoyed Anyone But You. However, I didn't care for parts of Fast Women (too cynical about marriage) and I have attempted and not finished Welcome to Temptation twice. After reading Manhunting, I'll definitely be giving more of Ms. Crusie's books a try, and I might even go back to the highly praised Welcome to Temptation.
September 3, 2014
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this one!
It's part of my "Conquer all Jennifer Crusie's books quest" !
If you needed a little motivation to read this one...
Here is what I had the surprise to find in it...
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I really enjoyed this one!
It's part of my "Conquer all Jennifer Crusie's books quest" !
If you needed a little motivation to read this one...
Here is what I had the surprise to find in it...
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March 3, 2008
This book was hilarious! It is so hard to write a good romantic comedy. This is the first book I've read by this author and checked it out simply because I wanted to read a pink book. Usually I read books where there is a really good romance but not much of a plot, or a really good plot without much of a romance. I felt like this book had both. There were some major steamy scenes, so watch out, but this was one of the funniest books I've ever read.
November 13, 2015
This book was hilarious. You pretty much guess how it’s ending from page 5 or 6… but getting there is truly funny!
The bantering is great, witty, and irresistible.
This book is a quick, happy, and easy read. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a literary romantic gateway.
There’s one xrated scene towards the end, if you’re not into that skip a few pages, the story is great anyway.
The bantering is great, witty, and irresistible.
This book is a quick, happy, and easy read. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a literary romantic gateway.
There’s one xrated scene towards the end, if you’re not into that skip a few pages, the story is great anyway.
April 22, 2017
Lucy McGillicuddy looks for a husband. What could go wrong goes wrong for every man who tries to get close to the heroine, finally the hero tries his luck. That by itself would have made a good story but Crusie steps it up a pace with angst and true love pushing itself forward.
Great story!
Great story!
September 28, 2015
I loved this book. I always like a good love-hate relationship, this was particularly witty and enjoyable. All her dates made me laugh so hard! Great RomCom!
February 14, 2009
Cute, fluffy, and predictable, this is very definitely early Crusie. While it is rather clichéd, and the writing is not technically strong—and I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll ever find a man with a moustache attractive—there is still enough spark in the banter and creativity in the humour to make it more than just a run-of-the-mill Harlequin romance novel. It passed an enjoyable hour or so in work, and if you like Crusie or romance novels in general, you'll probably enjoy this—just don't pick it up expecting to engage your brain.
December 15, 2021
Well, this book was delightful to read!
I loved the banter and the chemistry between Kate and Jake, and the lightness of the story.
Jake's lethargy until the end was a bit of a mistery for me, I didn't really feel this character trait as genuine. Because of this I rate this book 4,5 instead of 5.
All in all it was a great way to spend a few hours, and I'll definitely reread it again.
I loved the banter and the chemistry between Kate and Jake, and the lightness of the story.
Jake's lethargy until the end was a bit of a mistery for me, I didn't really feel this character trait as genuine. Because of this I rate this book 4,5 instead of 5.
All in all it was a great way to spend a few hours, and I'll definitely reread it again.
May 10, 2013
Really good story!
Loved Kate!
Jack certainly took his time getting his head out of his ass, but in the end it well worth the wait!
Loved Kate!
Jack certainly took his time getting his head out of his ass, but in the end it well worth the wait!
April 19, 2023
Most of the books I read aren’t exactly mentally or emotionally taxing, however well written and enjoyable many or most of them are. But I was in the mood for something even less challenging than usual. I picked up this one by the lauded award-winning Jennifer Crusie knowing that this one was one of her early “category” romances re-marketed as a mainstream if short novel. Its first iteration was as Harlequin Temptation # 463 way back in 1993. Digression Warning! So many best-selling novelists first got their start writing old Harlequins and Silhouettes, Candlelights, or Loveswepts. I am sure they must be gratified when their publishers bring back their old very lightly regarded series or category books as “legitimate” novels. Pro tip: if you are a former reader of these “catagories” be sure to do your research before purchasing an unfamiliar-looking book by Debbie Macomber, Jayne Ann Krentz (or her many pen names), Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown, or many others. You may have already read it. In fact, I probably had read this particular book 30 years ago, but of course, I didn’t remember any of it this go-round, so it didn’t matter.
Kate has a high-powered career as a business consultant to multinational corporations at her father’s firm. She specializes in businesses that are in trouble and she is very very good at it. But she is a little sick and tired of the people she has to deal with and feels like her life is slipping away. She wants marriage and a family along with her career. She has been engaged three times to suitable men (successful and ambitious, handsome, and good guys) but all 3 times she broke it off. Something wasn’t right. Encouraged by her best friend Jessie, she decides to apply her business acumen to getting a husband. She determines that a resort catering to her type of man in Tobey’s Corners, Kentucky is just the ticket and books a 2-week vacation there. Unfortunately, every time she goes on a date with a man there that fits her profile, he ends up badly injured or almost dying. This is much to the amusement of the resort owners laconic and very attractive brother who is the groundskeeper.
They actually hit it off and become friends because they are as far away from each other's romantic types as can be. He is a lazy and unambitious underachiever, and she is the type of woman who will try to change him and make him move to the big bad city.
It pretty much plays out romantically as you think it will but with some interesting side trips. Kate decides to help a local country bar owner increase her profits and ends up bartending there which she is excellent at, thank you very much. She unexpectedly makes friends with a young Barbie Doll-like fellow vacationer who is there to sow her wild oats before settling down with her rich much older fiance. Things don’t go according to plan. Of course, we have an antagonist, Valerie, who is sleeping with Will, Jake’s brother. She is the ambitious social director who has a much-inflated opinion of herself and her future both with Will and the resort.
Times have changed a lot since 1993. Some aspects of Jake and Kate's relationship are dated and will not sit well with modern sensibilities. Some are quite ahead of their time and would warm the hearts of progressive feminist-leaning type readers. I was really surprised when Kate takes up for Valerie when her “just deserts” time arrives near the end. She is a bitch and Kate very much dislikes and disapproves of her and her schtick but it didn’t negate the fact that she was treated shabbily by nice Will. When she delivers some home truths to the brothers, it leads to some drama and complications which weren’t easily or totally predictably resolved. But Kate always has the high road and doesn’t back down.
It met all my expectations. It was very funny with a hero and heroine who were well-developed and somewhat unusual. It wasn't what I would call “gripping” or a page-turner by any means. You pretty much know how it will play out, with some surprises and tensions here and there in the journey to the happy ending. Leisurely read in between other activities, it took me 2 1/2 weeks to finish it. And the book was an enjoyable pressure-free 2 1/2 week “something to read” which really hit the spot.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
Kate has a high-powered career as a business consultant to multinational corporations at her father’s firm. She specializes in businesses that are in trouble and she is very very good at it. But she is a little sick and tired of the people she has to deal with and feels like her life is slipping away. She wants marriage and a family along with her career. She has been engaged three times to suitable men (successful and ambitious, handsome, and good guys) but all 3 times she broke it off. Something wasn’t right. Encouraged by her best friend Jessie, she decides to apply her business acumen to getting a husband. She determines that a resort catering to her type of man in Tobey’s Corners, Kentucky is just the ticket and books a 2-week vacation there. Unfortunately, every time she goes on a date with a man there that fits her profile, he ends up badly injured or almost dying. This is much to the amusement of the resort owners laconic and very attractive brother who is the groundskeeper.
“We gave him CPR. He’s going to be all right,” Kate said. “The doctor said so.” “Dating you is like dating death,” Jake said. Kate looked exasperated. “Nobody has died.” “Not yet.”
Later, she couldn’t remember whether she had tried to stop or Donald’s trying to ruin her potatoes the way he’d ruined everything else had made her temporarily insane. Whatever the reason, she stabbed him with the sharp, narrow, old-fashioned fork and hit a vein in the back of his hand. Donald screamed, and she shoved his hand away so he wouldn’t get blood on her potatoes. “I’m so sorry, Donald,” she said and took another bite…
“What’d you do, bite him?” “He should be so lucky,” Kate said. “I stabbed him.” Jake handed her a drink. “Try not to injure anybody else, okay?” “He deserved it,” Kate said. “I’m sure he did. But if you go around wounding every guy who deserves it, you’ll be taking out most of the hotel.”
They actually hit it off and become friends because they are as far away from each other's romantic types as can be. He is a lazy and unambitious underachiever, and she is the type of woman who will try to change him and make him move to the big bad city.
It pretty much plays out romantically as you think it will but with some interesting side trips. Kate decides to help a local country bar owner increase her profits and ends up bartending there which she is excellent at, thank you very much. She unexpectedly makes friends with a young Barbie Doll-like fellow vacationer who is there to sow her wild oats before settling down with her rich much older fiance. Things don’t go according to plan. Of course, we have an antagonist, Valerie, who is sleeping with Will, Jake’s brother. She is the ambitious social director who has a much-inflated opinion of herself and her future both with Will and the resort.
“…I’m indispensable.” “Lucky you,” Kate said uneasily. She felt a sudden need to get far away from Valerie, as if she had something contagious that she might catch. Like maybe ruthless ambition and a total lack of humanity.
Times have changed a lot since 1993. Some aspects of Jake and Kate's relationship are dated and will not sit well with modern sensibilities. Some are quite ahead of their time and would warm the hearts of progressive feminist-leaning type readers. I was really surprised when Kate takes up for Valerie when her “just deserts” time arrives near the end. She is a bitch and Kate very much dislikes and disapproves of her and her schtick but it didn’t negate the fact that she was treated shabbily by nice Will. When she delivers some home truths to the brothers, it leads to some drama and complications which weren’t easily or totally predictably resolved. But Kate always has the high road and doesn’t back down.
It met all my expectations. It was very funny with a hero and heroine who were well-developed and somewhat unusual. It wasn't what I would call “gripping” or a page-turner by any means. You pretty much know how it will play out, with some surprises and tensions here and there in the journey to the happy ending. Leisurely read in between other activities, it took me 2 1/2 weeks to finish it. And the book was an enjoyable pressure-free 2 1/2 week “something to read” which really hit the spot.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
February 19, 2017
Manhunting is like comfort food. No, this isn't a usual justification of those who try to play down how entertaining something is only because it's a genre some people tend to look down on. Hell, at one point fantasy and science fiction, even horror were looked down on. That right there should tell you something.
Anyway, back to comfort food statement. With the exception of a couple of tiny distractions (moustache), there isn't much here to make you feel anything but good.
After three failed engagements to Derek (insisted on premarital agreement), Paul (informed her that her success threatened him) and Terence (wanted her to quit her job because her social duties 'as his wife would be too pressing'), Kate books a holiday at the Cabins resort, Kentucky. She is determined to get married. I love how unapologetic she is about that. The resort is full of men who fit all her requirements. Well, almost all as her stay there would show. You see, she forgot a couple of things to put on that list.
The phone calls from her best friend Jessie are funny.
Both are smart, funny and entertaining. Others vary (as far as smart goes). The men Kate dates are all over the place in a good way. I never knew what would happen with the next guy. Some of them are horrible, others are great, but each was given enough time to show who they are. Not just them either.
I loved Penny, the young woman whom Kate meets at the Cabins resort. They couldn't be more different even if they tried. I loved how Kate recognized her own social flaws compared to Penny's way of socializing.
Overall, if you are in the mood for something light and funny, this is it.
Anyway, back to comfort food statement. With the exception of a couple of tiny distractions (moustache), there isn't much here to make you feel anything but good.
After three failed engagements to Derek (insisted on premarital agreement), Paul (informed her that her success threatened him) and Terence (wanted her to quit her job because her social duties 'as his wife would be too pressing'), Kate books a holiday at the Cabins resort, Kentucky. She is determined to get married. I love how unapologetic she is about that. The resort is full of men who fit all her requirements. Well, almost all as her stay there would show. You see, she forgot a couple of things to put on that list.
The phone calls from her best friend Jessie are funny.
"Well, this place is crawling with secure guys, You shouldn't have any problems finding one." "So far, crawling is the right word for the men I've met," Kate said.Kate and Jake form a comfortable friendship, which doesn't keep them from trading barbs.
Both are smart, funny and entertaining. Others vary (as far as smart goes). The men Kate dates are all over the place in a good way. I never knew what would happen with the next guy. Some of them are horrible, others are great, but each was given enough time to show who they are. Not just them either.
I loved Penny, the young woman whom Kate meets at the Cabins resort. They couldn't be more different even if they tried. I loved how Kate recognized her own social flaws compared to Penny's way of socializing.
Overall, if you are in the mood for something light and funny, this is it.
February 15, 2019
Po knygos "Lažinamės" ši truputi nublanko. Tai jau antra Jennifer Crusie mano skaitoma knyga. Pradėjus skaityti, kaip ir knygoje "Lažinamės" autorė labai gerai perteikia veikėjus per dialogus, kuria aiškius personažus. Nežinau ar tai būdinga visoms jos knygoms, bet ji kuria intrigą ir dramą suvesdama du žmonės, kuriems atrodo, kad jie vienas kitam netinka, bet galiausiai jie atsiduoda aistrai.
Na, nors man ir labai patiko "Lažinamės", bet ten kaip ir čia man kažko pritrūko. Skaitant ir taip aišku, kad jie liks kartu, bet tokia riebi ir saldi pabaiga man prastai virškinasi. O "Vyrų medžioklėje" jau nuo pusės viskas pasidarė blankoka.
Bet man be galo patinka jos rašymo stilius: lengvas, konkretus, gyvas ir tikrai šmaikštus. Skaityti Nicholą Sparksą ar Jojo Moyes man truputi prailgdavo dėl sausoko (palyginus su Jennifer Crusie) stiliaus. Bet čia mano asmeninė patirtis. Žodžiu, tikrai dar skaitysiu jos kūrinių.
Na, nors man ir labai patiko "Lažinamės", bet ten kaip ir čia man kažko pritrūko. Skaitant ir taip aišku, kad jie liks kartu, bet tokia riebi ir saldi pabaiga man prastai virškinasi. O "Vyrų medžioklėje" jau nuo pusės viskas pasidarė blankoka.
Bet man be galo patinka jos rašymo stilius: lengvas, konkretus, gyvas ir tikrai šmaikštus. Skaityti Nicholą Sparksą ar Jojo Moyes man truputi prailgdavo dėl sausoko (palyginus su Jennifer Crusie) stiliaus. Bet čia mano asmeninė patirtis. Žodžiu, tikrai dar skaitysiu jos kūrinių.
May 1, 2021
This was my first audiobook ever and third read by the author and I.... very much liked it!
The story was about Kate making a plan to find a man. Of course, plans go south in books, just like in real life but we do get funny memories and scenes from both.
I loved reading about her misadventures and the side characters like Will, Penny were great.
The thing that kept me giving it full stars was a rather fast end and the transmission of friends to lovers in the trope. The main lead is Jack, and I loved them as friends but really think, that a little more signs and flirtation had to be there to make them my top OTPs.
Other than that, loved the narrator, the book and the setting, will definitely read or listen it again in the future.
The story was about Kate making a plan to find a man. Of course, plans go south in books, just like in real life but we do get funny memories and scenes from both.
I loved reading about her misadventures and the side characters like Will, Penny were great.
The thing that kept me giving it full stars was a rather fast end and the transmission of friends to lovers in the trope. The main lead is Jack, and I loved them as friends but really think, that a little more signs and flirtation had to be there to make them my top OTPs.
Other than that, loved the narrator, the book and the setting, will definitely read or listen it again in the future.
August 6, 2020
This is a funny romance by Jennifer Crusie. I didn’t know this is her first book, and it shows a bit. Not her strongest novel, but still witty with hilarious scenes and dialogues that we have come to know and love.
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August 23, 2024
I’m a fan of Jennifer Crusie. I’ve already read everything written by her, so this charming little novel, one of the author’s earlier books, is a re-read. I picked it off my shelf after I read MrsJ’s review. Thanks, MrsJ.
Like many Crusie’s novels, this story is a romance, but it doesn’t conform to all the romance tropes. Most bookstores shelve Crusie with regular fiction, and I know why.
The protagonist Kate wants to get married. She is tired of being alone. As a very successful and rich businesswoman, she decides to go after her goal with a business plan: to find a tall, successful, distinguished and rich businessman who would love her. To bring her plan to life, she takes a vacation and drives to a top-notch golf resort.
The resort teems with tall, successful, distinguished and rich businessmen, but none of them engages her heart, until Jake shows up: a tall, unkempt, disreputable groundkeeper, lazy but restful. As the two of them fish on a lake every morning in companionable silence, with their fishing hooks cut off the lines, so the fish would have no incentive to get suicidal, Kate starts to revise her business plan, and the man of her dreams begins resembling Jake, although she knows he is all wrong for her. He is not successful, not distinguished, not rich, and not a businessman. Or is he?
The book was by turns side-splitting funny and insightful, populated by vivid characters and studded with witty dialog, bright descriptions, and absurd situations. It felt as if the author enjoyed writing it as much as I enjoyed reading it. It felt as if we laughed together. My one objection: it was too short. I wanted to prolong the pleasure. The other Crusie’s books beckon.
Here are a couple of my favorite quotes.
Before Jake met Kate, his brother berates him for his laziness:
After a few days of her association with Jake, Kate revises her plan:
An enchanting book.
Like many Crusie’s novels, this story is a romance, but it doesn’t conform to all the romance tropes. Most bookstores shelve Crusie with regular fiction, and I know why.
The protagonist Kate wants to get married. She is tired of being alone. As a very successful and rich businesswoman, she decides to go after her goal with a business plan: to find a tall, successful, distinguished and rich businessman who would love her. To bring her plan to life, she takes a vacation and drives to a top-notch golf resort.
The resort teems with tall, successful, distinguished and rich businessmen, but none of them engages her heart, until Jake shows up: a tall, unkempt, disreputable groundkeeper, lazy but restful. As the two of them fish on a lake every morning in companionable silence, with their fishing hooks cut off the lines, so the fish would have no incentive to get suicidal, Kate starts to revise her business plan, and the man of her dreams begins resembling Jake, although she knows he is all wrong for her. He is not successful, not distinguished, not rich, and not a businessman. Or is he?
The book was by turns side-splitting funny and insightful, populated by vivid characters and studded with witty dialog, bright descriptions, and absurd situations. It felt as if the author enjoyed writing it as much as I enjoyed reading it. It felt as if we laughed together. My one objection: it was too short. I wanted to prolong the pleasure. The other Crusie’s books beckon.
Here are a couple of my favorite quotes.
Before Jake met Kate, his brother berates him for his laziness:
“…get your life moving before you turn into a potted plant and the help starts watering you.”
After a few days of her association with Jake, Kate revises her plan:
Maybe she should focus her plan better. What she wanted was somebody distinguished and successful who was also caring and honest. Sort of a cross between her father and Jake. She tried to imagine what that cross would look like and couldn’t. It was like trying to cross a shark with a teddy bear.
An enchanting book.
December 17, 2011
Ms. Crusie is now officially one of my go-to authors whenever I feel like reading purely for comfort. Her books are always very solidly good reads for me. This one was no different. It was sweet and funny and sexy. Not an angsty, teaching life's lessons contemporary, just a nice easy read that left me with warm fuzzies when I put it down.
August 25, 2015
This book was a fluffy, adorable thing. It is funny and light!
August 4, 2018
I really love this book. It is another of my go-to books for when I'm feeling very depressed or having a bad panic/anxiety attack. Like Getting Rid of Bradley, it's a short and quick read that gives me "all the feels." I laugh. . .I cry. :-) Also like Getting Rid of Bradley, it's a favorite book o'mine by Jennifer Crusie. It's sometimes in a tie for first place in my affections, but usually it's my very-close-second favorite, as I think I always read Getting Rid of Bradley first. :-)
I've read this book many, many times over the years. I don't know how many times, and I can't remember when I bought it, but I know that I last read it in January or February (Februray 18ish?) of 2015 and I'm finally reviewing it after my umpteenth reading on March 27, 2016. :-)
In this book, we have Kate, who is wonderful, and Jake, who is also pretty wonderful. The setting is a small town in Kentucky, where The Cabins resort is located and one can experience a wide variety of outdoor activities, including horseback riding, tennis, swimming, and vertical golf. ;-) Jessie, Kate's oh-so-delightful best friend, sends Kate there to find a husband. Kate is armed with a plan and Jake does not fit the plan, but you know what they say about plans, right? Well, Kate's plan falls apart and Jake turns out be what Kate needs. ;-) (And that one sentence sums up the whole book, lol, but you have to read it for yourself to see how Kate's plan fails - it's such fun! - and how Jake turns out to be what Kate needs - it's so delightful!) :-)
I laugh out loud a LOT every time I read this book. I took notes this most recent time through it, and I laughed out loud at least 12 times. :-) I also cried twice (I always cry twice).
I'll share a couple of the "feels" moments, starting with the first LOL one: On page 12, Kate is having breakfast with Jessie and they're talking about Kate's lack of marriage prospects and Jessie is giving Kate advice, but . . .
I always cry on pages 223-224, when Kate's It's such a sad and poignant scene.
Another, huge, LOL moment happens on page 122, when Kate And I laugh hysterically every time. lol!!! ;-)
There's a scene I really love just a few pages later, on page 137: Jake and Kate are out on the lake, and we have this back and forth:
My second moment for crying is always at the scene, almost at the end (on page 248), when :-)
In the end, Jake and Kate have their happily ever after. It's so beautiful. This whole book is so beautiful. Jennifer Crusie has a wonderful gift for writing; her stories always come so alive for me. And this story. . .Well, I've read it so many times that Kate and Jake are, like Lucy and Zack (from Getting Rid of Bradley), among my bestest friends. I can just think of them and their story comes alive in my head. And I never tire of it. :-)
I've read this book many, many times over the years. I don't know how many times, and I can't remember when I bought it, but I know that I last read it in January or February (Februray 18ish?) of 2015 and I'm finally reviewing it after my umpteenth reading on March 27, 2016. :-)
In this book, we have Kate, who is wonderful, and Jake, who is also pretty wonderful. The setting is a small town in Kentucky, where The Cabins resort is located and one can experience a wide variety of outdoor activities, including horseback riding, tennis, swimming, and vertical golf. ;-) Jessie, Kate's oh-so-delightful best friend, sends Kate there to find a husband. Kate is armed with a plan and Jake does not fit the plan, but you know what they say about plans, right? Well, Kate's plan falls apart and Jake turns out be what Kate needs. ;-) (And that one sentence sums up the whole book, lol, but you have to read it for yourself to see how Kate's plan fails - it's such fun! - and how Jake turns out to be what Kate needs - it's so delightful!) :-)
I laugh out loud a LOT every time I read this book. I took notes this most recent time through it, and I laughed out loud at least 12 times. :-) I also cried twice (I always cry twice).
I'll share a couple of the "feels" moments, starting with the first LOL one: On page 12, Kate is having breakfast with Jessie and they're talking about Kate's lack of marriage prospects and Jessie is giving Kate advice, but . . .
"Jessie," Kate said. "You're even more inept with men than I am. . . ."lol!!! Every time I read this I think back to the line in Getting Rid of Bradley when Lucy says, "Watch your mouth. We never Yup." lol!!! :-)
"Yes, but that's because I don't care," Jessie said. "When I care, I will be ept."
I always cry on pages 223-224, when Kate's It's such a sad and poignant scene.
Another, huge, LOL moment happens on page 122, when Kate And I laugh hysterically every time. lol!!! ;-)
There's a scene I really love just a few pages later, on page 137: Jake and Kate are out on the lake, and we have this back and forth:
"Good." Jake bit off another chunk of apple. "I think it's important for a woman to have a career."lol :-) I LOVE this scene. :-)
"That's real liberated of you, Jake."
"Yeah. I'm a nineties kind of guy." He looked up at the sun and sighed. "Time to go back in." . . .
. . . As he reached for the oars, he asked, "How come I always have to row?"
" 'Cause I'm a fifties kind of gal," Kate said. . .
My second moment for crying is always at the scene, almost at the end (on page 248), when :-)
In the end, Jake and Kate have their happily ever after. It's so beautiful. This whole book is so beautiful. Jennifer Crusie has a wonderful gift for writing; her stories always come so alive for me. And this story. . .Well, I've read it so many times that Kate and Jake are, like Lucy and Zack (from Getting Rid of Bradley), among my bestest friends. I can just think of them and their story comes alive in my head. And I never tire of it. :-)
February 4, 2016
4.5 stars!
This is one of my favorite chick lit books. It's one that I turn to when I'm in a slump or when I'm in the mood for a funny and cute romance book. I've read almost all of Jennifer Crusie's books and I love that her female characters are always so realistic and a little bit on the crazy side. Kate is a character that I normally wouldn't like. She has a good job and has good money and all she wants is to find a rich and successful guy to marry. This isn't as cold and calculated as it sounds, it's just how she was raised.
Kate isn't getting any younger and she's losing hope on finding Mr. Right. Her best friend convinces her to approach dating like she does any other aspect of her life, by creating a plan. Armed with a checklist of her perfect guy, Kate makes her way to a resort in hopes of finding the guy that meets all her requirements. Unfortunately, Kate's 'no bullshit' attitude is no match for any of the guys at the resort. Even if they do happen to meet all the requirements on her checklist. Every date she goes on ends badly, either with the guy being a grade-A asshole or with the guy somehow getting hurt. It even becomes a running joke with the people in town: All guys better watch out for Kate!
“I have a date this afternoon."
"Oh, Lord." Jake closed his eyes. "Who are you going to destroy now?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"The hotel would appreciate it if you'd just throw back the men you don't like without maiming them."
"I haven't maimed anyone."
"You almost drowned Lance, you scared Peter into heart palpitations, you stabbed Donald with a fork, and you hit Brad over the head with a bottle." Jake shook his head. "And they still ask you out.”
Kate somehow finds herself spending more and more time with the hotel groundskeeper manager/hotel co-owner who does not meet any of her requirements. I looooved the friendship these two had and how they loved to tease each other. Every interaction between them left me with a smile on my face and made me eager for them to finally realize their feelings for each other. Let me tell you, that moment is worth the wait! I loved the slow burn romance, the humor of this book, the small town setting and the supporting characters of this book. No matter how many times I've read this book, it doesn't get old. If you like chick lit romances, you definitely need to try out Jennifer Crusie's books! Manhunting meets all of our chick-lit requirements!
***
Read full review & more of my reviews at Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist
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This is one of my favorite chick lit books. It's one that I turn to when I'm in a slump or when I'm in the mood for a funny and cute romance book. I've read almost all of Jennifer Crusie's books and I love that her female characters are always so realistic and a little bit on the crazy side. Kate is a character that I normally wouldn't like. She has a good job and has good money and all she wants is to find a rich and successful guy to marry. This isn't as cold and calculated as it sounds, it's just how she was raised.
Kate isn't getting any younger and she's losing hope on finding Mr. Right. Her best friend convinces her to approach dating like she does any other aspect of her life, by creating a plan. Armed with a checklist of her perfect guy, Kate makes her way to a resort in hopes of finding the guy that meets all her requirements. Unfortunately, Kate's 'no bullshit' attitude is no match for any of the guys at the resort. Even if they do happen to meet all the requirements on her checklist. Every date she goes on ends badly, either with the guy being a grade-A asshole or with the guy somehow getting hurt. It even becomes a running joke with the people in town: All guys better watch out for Kate!
“I have a date this afternoon."
"Oh, Lord." Jake closed his eyes. "Who are you going to destroy now?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"The hotel would appreciate it if you'd just throw back the men you don't like without maiming them."
"I haven't maimed anyone."
"You almost drowned Lance, you scared Peter into heart palpitations, you stabbed Donald with a fork, and you hit Brad over the head with a bottle." Jake shook his head. "And they still ask you out.”
Kate somehow finds herself spending more and more time with the hotel groundskeeper manager/hotel co-owner who does not meet any of her requirements. I looooved the friendship these two had and how they loved to tease each other. Every interaction between them left me with a smile on my face and made me eager for them to finally realize their feelings for each other. Let me tell you, that moment is worth the wait! I loved the slow burn romance, the humor of this book, the small town setting and the supporting characters of this book. No matter how many times I've read this book, it doesn't get old. If you like chick lit romances, you definitely need to try out Jennifer Crusie's books! Manhunting meets all of our chick-lit requirements!
***
Read full review & more of my reviews at Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist
Follow me at:
Bloglovin │ Twitter │ Tumblr │ Pinterest │ Polyvore
April 7, 2010
Highly entertaining!! This book is all about Kate and her need to find the perfect man for her. She's already been engaged 3 times and never married. She keeps leaving the men after realizing that they aren't right for her. Her and her friend Jessie decide that Kate needs to attack marriage as if it were a business plan. After all, that's what Kate does for a living, so this should be the same thing right? No. Kate comes up with her plan of what the perfect man will be, and Jessie sends her out to a resort in the middle of nowhere in a small town to find that perfect man. When Kate gets there, she slowly becomes disillusioned with her plan but continues on through hilarious situations and a funny problem that Kate discovers about herself. The only bright spot in her trip is meeting Jake. The financial backer in his brother Will's resort. Jake has taken to sleeping on rowboats, ordering people to mow the lawn and otherwise moving at a turtle like pace. He wants nothing to do with Kate's plan and is relieved when she says she isn't interested in him. But is he really relieved?
This was what I thought was another classic book by Crusie. Very funny, no weird stalkers in it, and hilarious characters who get stuck in ridiculous situations. Fast paced, easy read that kept me entertained until I finished it.
This was what I thought was another classic book by Crusie. Very funny, no weird stalkers in it, and hilarious characters who get stuck in ridiculous situations. Fast paced, easy read that kept me entertained until I finished it.
June 29, 2011
On the shorter side, but very cute and sweet. I liked both characters, and especially the inner conflicts they faced. Normally I prefer romances that play over a longer period, but I think Crusie made up for the fact that falling in love in a week is not staying in love forever, by letting the characters aknowledge that and worry about it.
Kate's encounters with potential partners were quite funny, though the last one seemed a bit contrived to me. I loved her early encounters with Jake though, and could have spent plenty of pages more with the both of them on the lake.
I did feel that Kate went through bigger inner growth than Jake, and especially after his dicklike behavior in the last conflict, I wished for him to make a bigger turn around at the end.
I liked all side-characters, but was slightly surprised how HUGE a dick Will turned out to be. Was pleasantly surprised when Kate and co. called him out on it, because Valerie wasn't liked.
So yeah, I liked the characters, their personal problems/situation, and their relationship, but I wished for a bit more length and a bit more depth. Still very much a Crusie fan though.
Kate's encounters with potential partners were quite funny, though the last one seemed a bit contrived to me. I loved her early encounters with Jake though, and could have spent plenty of pages more with the both of them on the lake.
I did feel that Kate went through bigger inner growth than Jake, and especially after his dicklike behavior in the last conflict, I wished for him to make a bigger turn around at the end.
I liked all side-characters, but was slightly surprised how HUGE a dick Will turned out to be. Was pleasantly surprised when Kate and co. called him out on it, because Valerie wasn't liked.
So yeah, I liked the characters, their personal problems/situation, and their relationship, but I wished for a bit more length and a bit more depth. Still very much a Crusie fan though.
March 14, 2017
Kate Svenson is on a mission. Her goal is to obtain one successful, non-jerk of a man to make her husband. The hunting ground of choice is a resort in Kentucky called Cabins. When Kate gets to the resort she soon finds out that her plan has too many holes that she didn’t take into account. There’s also the fact that all the men who go out with her usually have something bad happen to them before the end of the date... like heart attacks, etc. Then there’s Jake who doesn’t fit into her plan, but Kate finds herself spending an awful lot of time out on the lake with him wasting time that she should be spending on putting her plan into action.
I love Crusie’s writing, her books always promise a fun time. Manhunting was another short one by her, only about 250 pages. Jake and Kate were great to watch interact and it was fun to see them both gradually changing. The side characters were all fun too, I especially liked Nancy and the atmosphere of her bar. Kate’s interactions with her failed dates was another plus in the story.
I love Crusie’s writing, her books always promise a fun time. Manhunting was another short one by her, only about 250 pages. Jake and Kate were great to watch interact and it was fun to see them both gradually changing. The side characters were all fun too, I especially liked Nancy and the atmosphere of her bar. Kate’s interactions with her failed dates was another plus in the story.
September 5, 2017
**Audiobook Review**
(Yet another Kate and Jake character book. Are authors contracted to do at least one book with these character names? There are literally millions of names out there - why these over and over?!)
Kate has a plan for falling in love, and successful businesswoman that she is, she's sure it will work too. All she has to do is stay one step ahead of an apparent dating curse and make sure she keeps slow-moving, lazy Jake squarely in the friend zone. But what's that saying again about best-laid plans...?
This is a nice, easy romance read that will leave you feeling like maybe finding true love when you least expect it is absolutely possible - if you're a rich, successful, hot blonde with a great set of boobs - AND if you vacation in a town with a goo-gob of hot, successful single men.
(Yet another Kate and Jake character book. Are authors contracted to do at least one book with these character names? There are literally millions of names out there - why these over and over?!)
Kate has a plan for falling in love, and successful businesswoman that she is, she's sure it will work too. All she has to do is stay one step ahead of an apparent dating curse and make sure she keeps slow-moving, lazy Jake squarely in the friend zone. But what's that saying again about best-laid plans...?
This is a nice, easy romance read that will leave you feeling like maybe finding true love when you least expect it is absolutely possible - if you're a rich, successful, hot blonde with a great set of boobs - AND if you vacation in a town with a goo-gob of hot, successful single men.
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