Book Review: Sundays at Tiffany’s by James Patterson

This was my first book by James Patterson. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I knew this was one of his favorite books, mentioned often enough by friends and book groups.

It’s co-written by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet, which I only discovered when I looked very closely (the second name was mentioned in rather a small font).

It was an easy paperback for holiday reading and taking around. Indeed, I read it during my holidays in Spain, early July.

Sundays at Tiffany’s: What it is about

As a child, Jane Margaux had an imaginary friend, Michael, a handsome man who helped her cope with the world and especially with her Broadway producer mother Vivienne, who had very little time and interest to spend with her daughter.

But when Jane was 9 years old, Michael had to go. Since imaginary friends cannot stay when the child becomes 9 years old, Michael was assigned a new pupil. Jane was supposed to forget Michael ever existed.

Years later, aged 32, Jane is still lonely and getting the wrong kind of attention from her mother (now she’s interfering and suffocating Jane). Jane has a boyfriend whose only priority is himself. Then she meets a man who is very like the Michael from her childhood, whom she has not forgotten, somehow. Has he come back to her?

Sundays at Tiffany’s: What I thought

Entertainment value: 4 stars (I was on holiday, ideal!), literary value: about 2 stars.

How does it work when a book has two writers? I didn’t actually know there were two authors until I had a good look at the book. The second author was mentioned only in much smaller print. Did they write the book together? Did she write it and he approved of it, then put his name on it for marketing purposes?  I’m not sure how that works. Anyway, as this was my first book by James Patterson, I couldn’t say whether this is or is not his writing style.

The book is very easy to read, my eyes would just fly down a page and I’d have read it, 15 seconds maybe per page. So, the 280 pages didn’t take long.

I enjoyed reading the story, especially the concept that children who need it, are assigned a real “imaginary” friend, who only they can see, and who they forget as soon as they turn nine years old when the imaginary friend has to leave.

The mother, Vivienne, was awful and it was satisfying to read how Jane at 32 years of age finally rebels and goes her own way.

On the other hand, I found it rather dodgy that  a man would fall in love with a woman that he knew as a small girl. But even worse, what was (adult) Jane’s love for Michael based upon? Was it her childhood memories of him (not good!) or the fact that he was handsome (not good either)? True love? I don’t know. I thought there was something not quite right about a relationship like that.

Of course there are some twists and turns to the story and it’s a quick and fun read.

Rating: 3.5/5

I got this book: from a recent book swap

I read this in: English, the original language

Number of pages: 280

First published: 2008

Genre: romance, contemporary fiction

Extra: See also my review of Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson