Some Assembly Required

by Lynn Kiele Bonasia

Book Overview

Thirty-nine-year-old Rose is content with her safe life: both her job writing manuals for appliances and her long-term boyfriend are reasonably satisfying. But when Mr. Almost Right betrays her, Rose decides there has to be more to it than writing succinct descriptions about how to use the timer on a Pause 'n Serve coffeemaker. Lured by the therapeutic promise of Cape Cod's sand, salt, and waves, Rose abandons her careful past and leaves the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416550593
• ISBN13: 9781416550594
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A MUST READ

Witty, intelligent, compasssionate, profound writing down to the last line. Her sense of detail is amazing. Lynn knows these characters like the back of her hand and brings them to life so vividly you feel like they are your friends by the end. I've never been to the Cape, but after reading this I feel like a native. Hands down, one of the best new novels of the year. I can't wait for the next one!!!

Buy this book! Really enjoyable.

I highly recommend this book. I always enjoy Cape Cod settings and figured this for a fun, light read. Which it is. But it is much more. The characters are so well drawn that I cared about all of them and wanted to know more about where they came from...and where they would end up. Cape Cod is captured with clarity and affection. Various subjects (autism, alcoholism, faith, coastal development, coping with grief and setbacks, relationships)are touched on with intelligence and sensitivity. There are unique touches that add significant humor as well as extra layering to the characters and story. Finishing this book was bittersweet. I couldn't wait to find out what happened; but I didn't want it to end!

Unexpected Fun

This is a fun, smart, clever novel and the kind of book you really don't expect from a first time author. The characters, plot, dialogue all remind me of a John Irving novel. Quirky, imaginative, engaging and fun. My wife bought the book and encouraged me to read it -- I was afraid it was going to be "woman's literature" and when I saw that it was a first time author, probably overwrought. It turned out to be a great book for everyone. I'm hoping this author has another one on the way soon.

dive in this summer

got this book a few weeks ago, before going on vacation, and couldn't wait to dive in. when i finally had the time to read, i was sure i'd tear through it, but i found myself reading it much more slowly than anticipated because each sentence is like a gem. love her unique ability to be cuttingly funny and tragic in the same small constellation of words. loved simon's rising from the ashes, literally & figuratively, and rose's thawing...romantic optimist/sucker that i am, and wacky segundo...having had the great good fortune to spend a lot of time at the cape over many, many years, i recognized the vibe, the curmudgeonly but engaging characters, the settings (even though fictionalized). love it, can't wait for the next effort by this wonderful new author!

A Great Book!

I HIGHLY recommend "Some Assembly Required". I encountered this book quite by accident while bored one day and was instantly charmed by the author's writing, quirky characters, and sense of humor. Although it's a "character driven" book that will appeal to many readers on its own, it also has a mystery woven in for us "plot driven" people. It's the best of both worlds and a great first novel. I can't wait to read her next book. STRONGLY recommended!