Very cute story and exactly what I needed when I was looking for some sappiness. If you're looking for the next great American novel, this is not it. But for some mindless entertainment while you're laying by the pool, look no further!

"The Smart One and the Pretty One" lived up to my expectations as a fun, spunky piece of chick-lit and then surpassed it. I quickly devoured this book in three days, so involved did I become in both the story and the characters.

Both sisters, Ava and Lauren, are relatable - - they are witty, they are competitive, they are flawed. Both could be more annoying than amiable - - Ava, the conservative, buttoned up attorney who has some preconceived notions of relationships and men; Lauren, the flirty, flighty spendthrift who acts before she thinks and doesn't think too often of the future. I think most of us have aspects of both sisters in our personalities and that is what made them more endearing to me than aggravating. They have a strong bond, which they realize and identify during the novel, and act like typical sisters.

Typical, too, in a sense, are their romantic relationships during the book. I could tell exactly where the story was headed for both sisters, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment with the book. I liked both their male counterparts and I liked the fact that they were as equally flawed as the sisters themselves.

While "The Smart One and the Pretty One" made Lauren's financial woes and her poor handling of money a source of humor and one of the bases for the eventual contract disputes between her and Ava, it handles the sisters' mother's cancer diagnosis with much more seriousness but still keeps the overall tone of the book as bubbly as a glass of champagne. As a bit of an aside, a peripheral character who is also being treated for cancer at the same hospital as Nancy (the sisters' mother) is shown to be quite ill and there is certainly nothing lighthearted about it. In fact, some of the best dialogue (wittiness aside) in the book is between Lauren and the character of Daniel, speaking about dealing with a family member suffering from cancer and trying to make jokes during a depressing, demoralizing time.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Nickerson sisters and lamented the ending of the book. I can only hope that Ms. LaZebnik found the sisters worthy enough for a sequel.

This was a wonderful story about sisters. I plan on sending the book to my sister so that she can enjoy the read as well.

I didn't know what to expect from this book. Out of desperation to find something to read at the bookstore, I saw the cover, the title, and the subtitle reading "A novel about sisters", and I bought it. =] Simple as that. Very good & easy read, I finished it in about 2 1/2 days and got sucked in within an hour.
LaZebnik totally, in my opinion, captured a sisterly relationship. It was witty, realistic, & relatable! By the last page I was smiling & in this day & age, if you're reading words on a page and they make you smile, you know you're reading something good! I look forward to reading more of LaZebnik's work!

I really loved this book. I wont go into what its about because everyone can read all of the other comments. But it was a fun, happy book that made me laugh. Yes there were sad moments, but its a perfect chick-lit book!!

This book was a great find on Amazon.com and a fantastic read. It was enjoyable from the first page to the last and kept me entertained and interested. The characters were well developed and the sisterly inteaction was well written. Great book!

Knitting Under the Influence is one of my favorites, and I was so excited when I saw this book. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I love the story, and I loved the characterization of everyone, especially Lauren. As "the pretty one", I started the book expecting her to fall into the stereotypical role of shallow and super bitchy. And I was pleasantly surprised. While she was shallow, she also really loved her family. She returns home when she finds out her mother has cancer after being fired from her job and evicted from her apartment. Her sister Ava (the smart one) pushes her to get her finances in order and to live more like an adult. The financial contract Ava forces Lauren to sign comes back to bite her in the butt when Lauren finds a long forgotten "contract" involving Lauren from long ago.

This story is light and such a fun read. All of the characters are so well written and come off as much more than the stock character you typically see in chick lit. I highly recommend this book!

I received this book from Santa in my stocking, and boy did Santa pick a good one for me. I couldn't put the book down and read it in one day. The characters are well developed and have a relationship that as woman with two sisters, I could relate to. The looking like your sister and yet being so different. Ms. LeZebnik does an incredible job in reeling you in and keeping your interest throughout the book. It made me laugh, cheer for the characters and surprised me when I least expected it. I'm hoping for a sequel to this book, I must admit. Thank you!

If you enjoy a good book about sisters, you will love this. I spent the weekend reading this book and found myself laughing out loud and relating to the complex sisterhood bond.

Sure, the sister stories have been told before, but this has a new spin on it in a very refreshing way! I picked up this book after I read and enjoyed Knitting Under the Influence. I didn't want to put it down (although I had to ..I have babies!).... Its a quick read that is still deep, compassionate and leaves you feeling great. I immediatley passed it on to my own sister.