Whatever You Want: We Write, You Decide: A Pick-Your-Own-Ending Escapade

by Rachel Timms and Laurence Hayes

Book Overview

Welcome to the world of Whatever You Want , a novel that turns twentysomething London into a fantasyland of endless possibilities. Play the game as Barbarella -- alluring, flirtatious, and sharp as the lash from a bondage whip -- or as Barnaby, with his insatiable attraction to beautiful women and danger. Armed only with your quick wits and social expertise to navigate through the minefields of drunken gratification, easy conquests, and ruthless adversaries,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060591633
• ISBN13: 9780060591632
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Length: 519 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.5" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Don't you get it?

I remember this book coming out to national acclaim last year, but staying away. However, borrowed it off a friend and read it over the weekend. This book is original, witty and riddled with clever references. My theory is that half of you people who read it, didn't even get it - the base of the novel was beyond you. I expect that this has been branded as just another 'chick lit' book, but how wrong a judgement this is. I would go so far to say that this book is a stroke of genius, and frankly any novel which mentions Becky Sharpe is undoubtedly written by very clever people. So I would urge you all to read it again, and switch your brains on this time. A novel of its time - and almost, but not quite, a classic.

Chick Flick - try Dick Flick!

No names allowed as I'm a guy and as my girlfriend keeps telling me, I'm not allowed to read these kind of books - they're for girls, right? Wrong. Stop hogging all the good stuff, I tell her, what other reads have you been hiding from me? I hit this book last Sunday morning after a big night out, ladies close your eyes, sitting on the john passing the time, as you do. Maybe one hour later, she's like knocking on the door, wondering what's wrong with me, but if you have read this book, you'll know what I'm talking about. I chose to be Barnaby to start with, as I'm a guy and wanted to be a guy in London for a change - thought it'd be interesting to see if I could pull a British chick. As it happens I couldn't and I didn't make the 'perfect ending' either, but who cares? I had way too much fun mixing Viagra in other girls drinks, speeding on a ducatti pass the Queen's house, and taking part in a real 'Sting'. Now that's the way to spend your time! And the funniest thing is that my girlfriend's started acting all different on me, including some manouvres in the bedroom department which I swear she must have picked up from Barbarella. Guys, get your girls this book, leave them for a night, then come back and ENJOY my friends!

KICK ASS!!!

This book is just awesome! From the moment I saw the cover, I knew it would be a winner. Unlike the choose your own adventures of the past, or those more dweeby fantasy versions, this one propells you into the urbane delights of London, England. You can be male (Barnaby) or female (Barbarella) and get up to some naughty fun with their friends and enemies. All taken place during one night. At first I thought some of the stories (40 endings) were a bit unbelievable but then I read some of the magazine articles on these two guys, and it turns out the book is based on true stories which is hillarious. Who said the British were stuffy! There is also a very clever gender insight if you can step away from the frivoloties and occasional light patina. This book is not to be underestimated, there is definately more than meets the eye! Well done Rachel & Laurence. I'm totally addicted and hope you do some more! God save the queen!

A really sexy read

When one of my friends recommended Whatever You Want to me, it took me a while to get my but to the book store and buy it. I'm definatly not someone who likes to read. But when I started reading it, I was immediatly hooked. I could totally relate!!!! I loved how Timms & Hayes talked about London and made it seem like Barbie & Barnaby were real! I mean, which girl can't relate to Barbarella in some way. And such great character names! Although it's not really suspensful, Laurence & Rachel have you hooked. I couldn't stop reading it. Another thing I liked about this book, is that there are not many like it. How many authors would base a book on two such differnet characters? This book is hilariously funny and I recommend it to anyone who really wants so know what the other sex is thinking!

What I want? I want more!

Whatever you want is the type of book you either hate or love. The book is written as a Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) Novel. These novels were very popular in the 80's when adventure games like Dungeon & Dragons were on their peek. This book is different, most CYOA novels are set in a fantasy / SF world where the reader has to make choices until he finds the end of the dungeon and gets out alive. But "Whatever you want" is a real gem, no monsters to fight (with exception of the blue elephants in your head after a night out), no dungeons to escape from (with exception of the bedroom of the ugly blond you ended up with yesterday evening), and no dice to roll. Whatever you want is set in modern day England, where you decide how the story goes. Male and female can read the book, since there is an ingenious way in the start of the book to determine if you are M/F. The plot then continues, where you decide after each paragraph, either to: Kiss the girl .... Drink more ... or ...The book is not for those with high-moral standards, but on the other hand, if you come on a page that maybe a bit more arousing than your taste would be ... remember you made the choice that made you turn to this page. The story is good; it's fun to read (even if it would not be a CYOA novel). There could be some more roads - alternative plots - in the story, which would make it more interesting to read it the 8th time.