This One Is Mine: A Novel

I was pulled into this story immediately and began to care so much about the two main characters that I was constantly thinking about them and worried for days about them. I would have ordinarily read this wonderful book in one or two sittings, but really couldn't get the free time, so I just kept trying to figure out what was going to happen, and I was never right! Maria has a way of looking at things and telling things that is completely original. What a treat.

I LOVE this book!! Maria Semple does a fantastic job making the characters so believable, multi-dimensional, and always developing throughout the novel. I love how her books cleverly end. I can't wait for her 3rd book.

I bought Semple's first book because I loved Where'd You Go Bernadette so much. But this book was a let down. The characters were vapid, self-centered, and the plot meandered. I saw glimmers of the author's brilliance that was evident in WYGB, but just did not enjoy anything about This One is Mine.

The characters in this book were just plain unlikable. I bought this book because I enjoyed "Where'd You Go, Bernadette?" and I was very disappointed. The storylines didn't connect very well and by the end, I was just reading to see what the heck these terrible characters would do next.

So painful. I bought this book after loving Where'd you go Bernadette, and man, was this a disappointment. The main characters are vapid, the plot weak, and the whole story just generally meaningless. I can't see why anyone would even want to write a story like this in the first place. Just quit while you're ahead if you just read WYGB, and move on to a different writer.

After reading other reviews I purchased this book and thought it would be a lovely summer book to read. Unfortunately, the author spends a great deal of time developing the character Violet and her thoughts with little effort to develop a plot. Even one third of the way through the book all we know is that Violet is unhappy in her marriage, her husband David is oblivious to her needs and desires, and Violet fantasizes about a street musician who is a former drug addict with Hepatitis C. It seems to go nowhere. The reader is not engaged in a story, but rather lost in a hodgepodge of characters with differing needs yet no suggestion by the author as to whether any will interact in a truthful way with the other characters so that they can be fulfilled. While the book wasn't expensive, it wasn't worth what I paid for it.

Although the characters were unlikeable I stuck with the book because I LOVED "Where'd you go, Bernadette" and I'm glad I did. The characters were redeemed for the most part towards the end and the last chapter was worth the whole book. I have been thinking about it all day.

I couldn't finish this book.
Should have paid more heed to the other negative reviewers' comments.
The characters were unlikable to the point that I couldn't bring myself to care about their miserable, lonely lives.
I really expected better from the author of Bernadette.

LOVED Maria's second novel, Where'd You Go, Bernadette? and thought this would be a fun read too. Turns out, Maria breaks my usually totally rock solid rule regarding first novels, and this is not up to snuff. Usually, debut novels are tight, well crafted, and nearly perfect due to the ridiculous amount of editing and polishing they undergo. This book left me wondering what happened to the editor and how the author possibly lived to fight another day to novel #2.

I don't know when I have disliked characters more. And, not real "hate" or "passion" just "annoyance" is more apt to describe my level of dislike. Self-involved, fake, pathetic, stupid, vapid people live in Semple's LA in This One is Mine. Wait a sec. That is really LA. OH, except its not in this book. This is a silly pretend vapid, pathetic not quite fleshed out vision of LA. You don't feel sorry for the characters or experience their emotion because they are too cookie cutter "weird" and made up to be realistic. Or even interesting. Its like watching a bad made for TV movie where suspension of disbelief never really happens and you're left feeling hollow for not changing the channel faster. Or, like reading student material from a creative writing seminar. So "literary"-ish but a complete miss.

So read Bernadette and laugh it up. Fabulous read. But on this book, P-A-S-S. Its not worth your time.

Who are the people giving this book any more than 1 star? Are they the author's friends? Are they drunk? This book from beginning to end was ludicrous and contained characters with no redeemable qualities. The whole time I'm reading the book thinking "seriously?!". The Teddy character an ex-junkie with Hepatitis C treats the main character Violet like crap and oh yeah has a girlfriend, listen I love a bad boy as much as the next lady but this is just so implausible! I kept waiting for it to get funny or witty nope and as for the melodramatic moments they were so contrived they came across laughable. I came looking for a fun summer read and instead found a steaming pile of words. I'm forever turned off from this author's work. Look elsewhere for a fun read that has substance to it.

This felt like an awful combination of chick lit and literature. Neither really works.

From a chick lit perspective, what I'm looking for is well...something light and funny. And while I get that the story was *trying* to be funny, it felt like it was trying too hard. The whole thing was written in a very affected way, with character so loathsome it was hard to find the least bit of sympathy for any of them.

(SPOILER: The plot revolves around Violet, a stay at home Mom who's farmed out all of her duties to a woman known as LadyGo - yeah, she's not even willing to call the woman who's raising her kid by her real name. Violet is bored and eventually decides to start an affair with an IV drug user who's involved with another woman and doesn't particularly like her. But, hey, she's still determined to have the affair anyway.)

So amusing beach read, it isn't.

And for something literary, well...I'd expect good solid writing. And the writing in "This One is Mine" is both, as mentioned above, very affected and kind of rambly. There are no deep insights (other than that maybe Semple knows some terrible people who she's basing the characters on) and no deeper meaning that I can discern. It's just really bad trash.

I'd strongly recommend something else instead. Maybe "Bridget Jones"? Or a good romance? Just...not this.

Her other book (Where'd You Go, Bernadette) is great. But this one is a dud. Not a compelling plot, boring or unlikable characters, lots of irrational nonsense that just doesn't help the book along. Skip it.

Reviews said this was pretty amusing. I didn't think so. I gave it three stars because I finished the book. I was hoping that something might happen that would make me care about the characters in the end. Turns out. . I didn't.

After reading Where'd You Go Bernadette which I enjoyed and found humorous I thought to give her first book a try. Very different type of story. I did not enjoy it at all. Actually raunchy is the word that comes to mind.

Decided to read this after I read, Where are you Bernadette?, Unfortunately, this book reminded me of the movie "This is 40", and not the Bernadette book. Characters are slick and unlikable in unsympathetic situations.

If possible, I'd give this book '0' stars. Someone in the book club suggested reading it; no one liked it even a little bit. We even decided NOT to read "Where...Bernadette?" by the same author. No one found it at all 'hilarious' or 'wickedly funny', much closer to 'trashy', borderline porn.

Decided to read this after I read, Where are you Bernadette?, Unfortunately, this book reminded me of the movie "This is 40", and not the Bernadette book. Characters are slick and unlikable in unsympathetic situations.

I read this after reading "Where'd You Go Bernadette." I think that was my error. I loved "Where'd You Go Bernadette" so much that I was hoping for something similar. I suppose there are elements that are similar, but I didn't fall in love with it.

If possible, I'd give this book '0' stars. Someone in the book club suggested reading it; no one liked it even a little bit. We even decided NOT to read "Where...Bernadette?" by the same author. No one found it at all 'hilarious' or 'wickedly funny', much closer to 'trashy', borderline porn.

This rating pertains to the seller rather than the book itself. I received a beaten up (think Chris Brown level beaten) and it was also a library book. I never intentionally buy old library books. There is a reason the libraries sell them for a buck, it's jack nasty. Otherwise another great book by Ms. Semple. I read 'Where'd you go, Bernadette' first because I live my life in reverse.

In the ongoing saga that is my wife buying horrid books (she has a voracious reading appetite, but unfortunately keeps filling up at the cheap casino buffet as opposed to sitting down for a haute cuisine meal), This One Is Mine: A Novel has become This One Is My Wife's: Latest Crap Book. I do not recall if I actually read the first page of this one or not, but given some of the other reviews and the fact my wife didn't gush about it I am guessing it is pretty boring. Normally I can tell what the story is by looking at the cover of the book (totally accurate thing to do guys) but This One is a bit tricky. From what I can infer, the story involves someone floating in a swimming pool, but they lose their flotation tube. When someone else comes in to the pool and attempts to use the tube, the owner snaps at them: no, This One Is Mine. I am guessing a tussle ensues and someone is drowned and then their body hidden in the rose bush. Ultimately the murderer is found out when they freak out as they are being questioned by the cops; however, it is not because of some clever story telling device like in The Tell Tale Heart, because Poe was awesome and this writer clearly cannot even come up with a title for their book as cool as The Tell Tale Heart, or even The Raven for that matter. No, here the murderer freaks out because one of the cops goes to grab the tube and the protagonist flips out and goes after the cop screaming, no, This One Is Mine!

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? was the break-out book of the time, and one of my most beloved books ever!! I've been meaning for so long to read her first novel, and I feel heartsick after doing so. IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.
Semple's books are so full of heart, and humanity, and compassion, that you actually stop reading midsentence, your heart hurting, and you ponder how you can be a better person. How you can love more. How you can BE BETTER. MORE GOOD. How many books can wash feelings over you like that?? Not many!! This author has SKILLS, so much skills my heart aches and I want to reach out to someone, anyone, and love them hard. She makes you feel this way. And so easily too, with just words.
Some parts are so funny, like the truly lovable Bernadette novel, but some scenes and people are so bad you want to scream!! The husband-turned-bad-turned-good-again character, aargh!!! I went from loathing him, his behaviour towards poor Violet damn well breaking me, to loving him again, and his love and support of his wife uplifting me. My heart literally broke in one scene - 'Lots of women would gladly get called a dumb ---- a couple times a week in exchange for not having to work.' Utterly broke. I put the book down and sobbed at this. Wide issues are in the spotlight in this book, little peeks of it pop up grandly amongst the pages till you weep. Things like do all relationships over time go bad...domestic violence. That every villain is human too and is just a person walking around with so much pain. God. Semple knows human nature too well. Cause she has heart.
Just like this book.

I had read, loved, and recommended this author's second novel, "Where'd You Go, Bernadette", and happened upon this earlier novel, assuming I would have a similar great experience reading her work. Boy, was I wrong! We're accosted with racial slurs and stereotypes in the opening chapters, and it never lets up. Especially regarding African-Americans. The love interest throws around the "n" word as if it's going out of style; the immigrant maid "doesn't like the company of Los Negros"; the sister-in-law and fiancé run from the "scary black people" who just want to take selfies with the man they've seen on TV. 'm assuming (and hoping) the author was simply trying to portray these attitudes as they exist within these particular characters, but as an African-American (and professional, I might add--that's where some black folks get "that type of money" (another reference in the book where characters wonder how black folks are able to eat in a nice restaurant--)), I couldn't help but feel picked on and am regretful that I purchased this book. It went directly into our blue bin--yes, "scary black folks" do recycle! Shame on this author!

This One Is Mine largely follows two unhappy women, sisters-in-law Violet and Sally. Violet is a middle-aged, plump, bored housewife with a toddler. She’s married to the uber-rich David Parry, a famous and successful music producer. She loves Stephen Sondheim, grew up rich (she’s “a snob masquerading as a nice person”), and spends her husband’s money freely and lavishly. Sally is David’s younger sister and a bit of a mess. She’s a type-1 diabetic who lost part of a toe (and subsequently her career as a ballerina) to the disease. She is an unapologetic gold-digger, who is suffering from massive amounts of credit-card debt, and is trying to find a rich husband to take care of her. Neither Violet nor Sally realizes how horrible or unlikeable or unreasonable she is. The book follows their follies and transgressions and encourages you to laugh at them in a “That’s schadenfreude!” kind of way.

This One Is Mine is the first book by Maria Semple, author of the hugely popular and very enjoyable Where’d You Go, Bernadette. Bernadette is cute and playful and creative. The characters are likeable and whimsical and weird. It’s no surprise, therefore, that, if you look at the one- and two-star the store reviews for this book, you will see a lot of “I got this book because I loved Where’d You Go Bernadette” and “I am a huge fan of Where’d You Go, Bernadette” followed by comments about how horrible This One Is Mine is because of the awful (“shallow, self-centered, greedy,” “boring or unlikable,” “horrible, selfish, manipulative”) characters. And, they’re right: the characters in This One Is Mine are intentionally unlikeable and pathetic and sad. They make horrible decisions. They do stupid, wrong, and downright mean things.

And they’re even more unlikeable because they get themselves into some really bad (and intentionally shocking) situations. In fact, the situations are too provocative to mention in this review (but, if you'd like additional details, you can check out my full review here: [...]. It’s easy to see how Semple’s use of “bad” words, unlikeable characters, and provocative situations come as an unpleasant surprise if you’re expecting another book like Bernadette. In fact, I have a feeling a lot of the negative reviews are due, at least in part, to misplaced expectations.

Bernadette represents Semple’s softer side. Ellen and Mad About You are on that side of the spectrum (Semple was a writer for both shows). This One Is Mine represents the other side of the spectrum. It’s the biting, sometimes mean humor that is more like Arrested Development (for which Semple was both a writer and producer). I like both of Semple’s sides. But, overall (and despite the fact that I enjoyed the profanity and brash humor in This One Is Mine), I’d say Bernadette is by far the better book. Like Bernadette, This One Is Mine is a very quick read. And, in parts, it is hilariously funny. But it’s not as creative or stylized as Bernadette, you can’t root for any of the characters (they really are that unlikeable), and the ending is rushed.

Violet Parry lives in LA with her wealthy rock manager husband David, baby daughter Dot and nanny, LadyGo. David is much admired, successful and driven – while Violet has given up her career as an Emmy-winning writer after the birth of her daughter, has plunged her entire savings into the house she wanted to refurbish and now feels trapped by her home, motherhood and marriage. Meanwhile, David’s sister Sally lives as a ballet workout trainer, organises children’s parties, struggles with debt and diabetes and is desperately on the lookout for a wealthy husband. Both Violet and Sally will have their entire lives changed by a man. Sally by Jeremy White, the up and coming sports caster, and Violet by a chance meeting with Teddy Reyes; bass player, alcoholic and definitely not financially in her league.

I imagine that many people will struggle with this book, as the characters are not immediately sympathetic. David appears brash and insensitive, frankly Violet seems to have nothing to complain about, and Sally seems so one-minded about marrying a successful man that she comes across as more than a little crazed by material desire and a quest for security regardless of the cost. However, this is a novel which is worth persevering with, as it has so much more depth than first appears to be the case.

As Violet falls bewildering in love with Teddy Reyes, she stands on the brink of losing her marriage, family and lifestyle. Sally, meanwhile, plots and plans for Jeremy to propose and give her the success and wealth she craves. The author paints a less than flattering portrait of LA and its citizens, although, of course, beneath the surface people are far more complicated than they first appear. Despite appearances, both David and Jeremy are both more complex and resilient than Violet and Sally realise, and there will be many twists and turns before the end of the book. I began unsure of whether I would enjoy the storyline and characters – but, by the end, I was sorry to finish. This would be ideal for reading groups, with so much to discuss. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
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Like other reviewers, I read this book after enjoying "Where'd You go, Bernadette," unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book. I read the whole thing, so it's not the worst book I've ever picked up, but I just found the characters to be unlikeable and the relationships didn't seem realistic to me at all.

Having just inhaled Where'd You Go, Bernadette, I was eager to read anything else burger author.

I knew quickly this boom was NOT going to hit the same themes (except, of course, for the abundance of architectural descriptions,diagnosably mentally unstable characters with too much money, and prominent featuring of humans-as-real,not as pretty).

Look. I didn't like a single moment of this book. The former had me laughing out loud and startling flight attendants, this one had my husband worriedly inquiring what was making me so sad.

The characters are awful. I'm not sure I by one but of the wrap up. But the portraits of human desperation was spot on, and after staying up far too late to finish I can say that while I don't LIKE this book, I appreciate it.

I have read all three of Semple's books, starting with her newest and finishing with this one. It really is a love hate thing! The obvious pattern of brilliant successful woman no longer creatively employed and long-suffering brilliant, incredibly rich husband gets truly infuriating, but just as I'm about to throw the book across the room, she'll write something laugh-out-loud funny that keeps me reading. She's obviously a terrific writer, but I wish she'd try another subject.

Two couples... four people on the path to destruction.

Stay at home mom Violet Parry has the perfect life on the surface but when it comes down to it she's unhappy. Her rock band manager husband, David, is totally self-absorbed. He could care less what Violet has to say yet when she doesn't share anything with him he gets moody.

During a Beverly Hills charity event she meets the ex-alcoholic and druggie, Teddy. A down and out bass player with poor hygiene yet she's mesmerized by him. Soon she's consumed by thoughts of him while David finds fault in everything she does and doesn't hesitate to let her know it.

David's little sister, Sally, is walking the thin line in between love and obsession. On her quest to find a rich husband she sets her sights on the next big thing in sports, Jeremy. He's just made the crossover from writing a successful newspaper column to broadcasting on ESPN. But Sally quickly learns that Jeremy's strange behavior is more serious than quirky.

I'm sure I've mentioned before that I mostly read fluff. My husband is always trying to get me to read more "intellectual" books but I truly enjoy the fluff and just can't get into the books that make me over-think the story. That being said, I enjoyed This One is Mine but I really feel it was a little over my head.

I was expecting a typical chick lit book but the characters and the story had a lot more depth than I expected. I'm sure that someone who reads deeper books than I do would probably get more meaning out of the writing than I did. If you enjoy those serious reads then I highly suggest you make this one yours.

This One Is Mine is a smart and entertaining debut novel. Ms. Semple deals with serious issues - a disintegrating marriage, a search for love and happily-ever-after, heartbreak and addiction - with a sense of humor, honesty and compassion. The author has plenty of love and understanding for her imperfect characters. Nothing is merely black-and-white in this story. In the many shades of gray, Maria Semple masterfully shows that people can make mistakes but still find forgiveness and have a shot at happiness. For some of the characters in this book, having everything means nothing - until they discover they already had all they needed. And while This One Is Mine takes place in L.A., with all the Hollywood and Beverly Hills riches and celebrity name dropping, its topics are universal.

I came to read this book after reading a thoroughly enjoyable book by this author "Where'd You Go Bernadette". This is not at all the same in anything except talented writing. With such cringe-worthy characters I just could not read anything more after getting through half the book because Violet and Sally were so unlikeable mainly due to their actions, although Violet has some redeeming personality traits it made me ill to wade through bad acts one after the other.

Yuck. Perhaps others enjoy reading about people doing stupid things but I don't. Just made me sad and then mad to waste my time with people like this. Shallow, self-centered, greedy.

Maria Semple's debut novel This One is Mine sounded like it would be just my thing when the publicist offered me a review copy. Then I read it, and learned that while Semple's characters are vivid, and her writing voice easy to read, her book wasn't quite my thing after all.

This One is Mine is the story of Violet, who has violets tatooed behind her ear, and was once a television writer/producer, but who quit working when she became a mother, choosing to focus on raising her baby and caring for the huge L.A. home she and her music producer husband (David) live in. She does this, not on her own, but with the help of the nanny, whom is called LadyGo (which clueful readers figure out about two-thirds of the way into the book comes from the nanny's habit of retelling conversations with liberal use of the phrase, "Lady go, "blah blah blah..."). In the opening chapters, however, we see a home with a dead rodent in the hot tub, and honey leaking through the kitchen ceiling, two items that are never resolved in the story.

Violet is restless, and feels trapped, and ends up having a short-lived affair with a D-list bass-player named Teddy. It would be wonderful if this affair stirred Violet from her stupor, and sent her either back to the office, or back home to really take charge, but Teddy is so unlikeable - he's a loser with bad hygiene and a drug habit who pretty much only cares about music, sex, and his car - that this relationship left me feeling as slimy as Violet should have. Seriously, I like to read in the bath, but this book made me want a shower.

Then there's Sally, David's sister. 36, beautiful and completely neurotic, she's latched onto a sports statistician who is about to become famous and successful in a whole new way - she thinks - and when their relationship isn't everything it seems, doesn't talk to him the way reasonable adults do, but hides her problems.

Still the book ends on an up note, and despite the overdramatic characters and implausible situations, it's important to remember that author Semple is, herself, a producer/writer, and this novel is meant to be social satire. And it succeeds well at this. I especially enjoyed David's trip to a sweat lodge - I laughed so hard at THAT scene that the laughter served in place of allergy relief. I mean, seriously - sinus-clearing laughter.

Is it outright funny? I suspect only if you live in L.A. or are close to people who do, will it generate belly laughs. Do I wish I hadn't read it? No. It was interesting, just...not particularly my thing. I do think its likely to be quite enjoyable for most women, however.

Except for the tattoos of violets behind the main character's ears. Those, I really liked. And I do look forward to what Ms. Semple writes NEXT.

This One is Mine is about the never-ending journey to find complete happiness (even when it's staring you right in the bloody eye) and the disastrous choices made in the pursuit of that happiness.

Violet is a 40-something bored housewife. (She gave up her career as a television writer to start a family.) She's got it all: a successful husband, David, who's a rock-n-roll manager, a beautiful daughter, financial security, a massive house with staff, and yet she's miserably unhappy.

Then Violet meets Teddy Reyes, a bass player who's battling his own demons. She becomes immediately infatuated with him, even with all his faults. Teddy is epitome of the-one-to-stay-away-from. He screams DANGER in every possible way. Although Violet isn't oblivious to the warning signs, she just chooses to ignore them. I found myself screaming at Violet NO! Don't do that! What were you thinking?!! There were a lot of red flags that she just blatantly ignored. Teddy's past and vices don't deter Violet, instead it only makes her want to help him in every possible way. (And made me want to smack her.) But he sparks her sexuality in a new and different way and she doesn't want to lose that. She's looking to find herself and she tries doing so with Teddy as her vessel.

Sally, Violet's sister-in-law and David's sister, has had a rough life. Having been a type-one diabetic since she was three, she's always had to look to David for financial support and she's determined to cut that string. Unfortunately for Sally, she has a massive debt thanks to a good-for-nothing ex-boyfriend. Now she's single, which to Sally is unacceptable and just won't do. She is on the prowl to find her future, successful husband and only the best will do. Enter Jeremy. He's basically what Sally is looking for, even with his weird quirks, and the two date and later get married. Sally makes a poor, selfish decision (for all the wrong reasons) and jeopardizes their marriage.

Teddy's presence in Violet's life brings these characters all together. Everyone's paths seem to eventually cross and intertwine with Teddy's. Makes you wonder what if Violet and Teddy never met...?

Reading This One is Mine wasn't at all what I had expected from reading the book blurb. This is not your typical novel about an extra marital affair. These are not your run of the mill characters. These characters are gritty, shallow and fun to read. Their lives are like a train wreck; you're afraid to look at the horrific mangled mess but your curiosity gets the best of you and you have to take a peek. I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next, and to see where these character's lives were going to go. I may not have agreed with Violet's choices but I certainly wanted to know where her two feet were going to land. Violet is one character that I won't soon forget.

Semple has a great ability to take a simple, streamline plot and turn it into an unforgettable story.

Violet Parry and Sally Parry have little in common, except that Violet is married to David Parry and Sally is his sister. The two are at odds through most of the story, each misunderstanding the other and resenting aspects about each other.

Violet seemingly has it all. A gorgeous house in the hills above LA; a full-time nanny; and money enough to buy almost everything she desires. So why is she so unhappy, disgruntled, and vulnerable to Teddy Reyes, the somewhat seedy musician who gives her a bit of attention? Is it, perhaps, because her husband is so focused on giving her everything that he doesn't really notice her? Or that he only wants her to listen to him, but fails to reciprocate?

What woman wouldn't feel neglected, since women mostly want to be understood? However, for whatever reasons, Violet is unable or unwilling to express her needs.

Then we have Sally, whose story alternates with Violet's...She just wants a lot of the same things that Violet already has. A rich husband and enough money, since she's plagued by credit card debt. She is also diabetic, a bit neurotic, and extremely demanding, but hey, what guy wouldn't want her? She manipulates constantly to achieve her goals.

David, caught in the middle, seems totally clueless and feels misunderstood and unappreciated. Then, for whatever reason, he seems to get a clue and does an about-face, even though he has discovered his wife's affair. For someone so successful, he seems to have few people skills. Or maybe it's just women he doesn't get.

What I most enjoyed about This One Is Mine: A Novel were the rich details that painted the LA lifestyle in such a way that I could visualize it. I could picture the homes, the clothes, and especially the characters. I liked that none of the characters were picture-perfect. Violet was still a tad overweight from the pregnancy; Sally was thin and could have been attractive, but her personality rendered her tense and almost fake; and Teddy--well, he is portrayed as someone scuzzy and a little bit unclean, which is how I viewed his character.

I also liked the part in which Violet and Sally actually begin to talk to one another and clear up some major misunderstandings they have.

I didn't really buy David's turnabout, and found it a bit unbelievable, but it did bring the story to a tidy conclusion.

This is a book for those who enjoy LA stories, or stories about what is going on behind the perfect façade that cloaks the rich and famous. I would give it a 4.5, deducting a bit for how the story ended.

Maria Semple presents a delicious delight for spring in THIS ONE IS MINE. David and Violet Parry live the high life with their beloved daughter Dot in a fabulous mansion in Bel Air. David is a rock-and-roll manager with a lucrative career. He seems to have the golden touch for talent and trends that have made him wealthy and well-known far more than he ever would have imagined. Violet is David's rock and the one person he trusts more than anyone else and also relies on to see that things get done right. She is talented and a wonderful mother to their darling Dot. However, Violet is slightly overweight and has become depressed after she gave up her career to be this wonderful wife and mother. Real problems start when Violet comes across Teddy Reyes, who is currently trying to fight a drug and alcohol addiction. He has been playing bass in some small time dives but none the less, something clicks for her. This unanticipated meeting with Teddy is the beginning of a self-indulgent obsession for Violet. It took me a while to understand this attraction but once I began to understand the depth of her character, it began to make sense.

The other character who plays an important part in this tale is Sally. She is David's almost 40-year old, dazzling but domineering, sister. She desperately wishes she could find a husband to care for her and provide financial security and support her exclusive way of life. Sally meets Jeremy, a gifted sportswriter, and is so set on marrying that she totally overlooks any of his shortcomings.

What at first glance may appear to be purely chick-lit material (and I have no problem with that but it isn't), THIS ONE IS MINE goes beyond that in several ways all related to Maria Semple's talented writing. THIS ONE IS MINE is delightfully droll, fabulously fresh, sometimes sarcastic, and most all of the time real and witty. The characters are surprisingly multi-layered more than you first might think and have hopes and dreams as we all do. They are heartfelt individuals that come with their own insecurities and weaknesses and find a way of getting your attention before you know it. Their dialogue is cleverly written and always rings true to the character speaking. I am delighted that Maria Semple's first novel took me by surprise and was such a pleasure to read. I look forward to what she writes next with great anticipation. THIS ONE IS MINE is one you will want to make your own as I think it is a candidate for the "Read More Than Once" shelf in my library!

In This One is Mine, Maria Semple does something remarkable - she takes what would normally be unlikeable characters and makes me care about them.

Semple is a former writer of superb t.v. shows such as Mad About You and Arrested Development, so already you know you're in good hands in terms of realistic relationships, smart dialogue, and zany situations (two words: sweat lodge - could not stop laughing!). Done, done, and done.

David Parry, a music producer in Los Angeles, at first glance seems like an egotistical, career-driven jerk. Violet Parry, his stay-at-home wife, has help with a nanny and anybody else her husband's millions can buy. Despite being rich and pampered, however, Violet finds that her connection with her husband has grown distant and being a mother to her toddler is not fulfilling enough.

In the midst of Violet's existential crisis, she has a chance encounter with alcoholic, down and out musician Teddy Reyes. Their ensuing affair upends everything and everyone in her life.

David, Violet, Teddy, and David's sister, Sally, all seem like shallow Hollywood stereotypes - the uncaring husband, the lonely housewife, the bad boy musician, and the Type A bitch. They are all lost in a way in the beginning of the book. Yet to my surprise, as the story progressed and Semple revealed surprising depth and complexity to each of them, I became fully invested in their plight. This is not a shallow book about shallow people - but in the end, a book about how even in our most misguided moments, we still have the ability to find our way to where and with whom we belong.

I knew I was in for something different when This One is Mine opened with a poem by Hafiz which is so beautiful that I just have to reproduce it below. The book also ends with a poem, fittingly enough.

Someone put
You on a slave block
And the unreal bought
You.

Now I keep coming to your owner
Saying,

"This one is mine."

You often overhear us talking
And this can make your heart leap
With excitement.

Don't worry
I will not let sadness
Possess you.

I will gladly borrow all the gold
I need

To get you
Back.

Answering the question of what happens after "happily ever after" is This One is Mine by Maria Semple. The novel follows the lives of two women: Violet Parry, a "have" as in have a rich husband, beautiful toddler, elaborate mansion with a full household staff, and lots of free time; and Sally Parry, Violet's sister-in-law and a "have not" as in no money, husband, mansion/wait staff or copious leisure hours. Neither woman is happy with her lot in life. Violet is at loose ends, because although she loves her daughter, being a mom it isn't enough. Moreover, her husband David, the ultra powerful music industry executive, treats her like an incompetent servant. Meanwhile Sally will do anything to have Violet's life. She pines for a deep pocketed hubby who can pay off her crushing credit card debt and score invitations to Hollywood's A list parties.

Both women resolve to change their lives in all the wrong ways. After a chance encounter, Violet embarks on an affair with a broke, hepatitis C infected, recovering addict, musician Teddy Reyes. Fate, on the other hand, has little to do with Sally's elaborate plans to snare in matrimony, Jeremy White, a man she barely knows and doesn't love, but who will soon be a rich and famous sportscaster.

This One is Mine is a witty send up of LA life while simultaneously unfolding an intricate story of complex people making very poor choices. Neither woman is particularly likeable. Nor are the men any more appealing with the loser-jerk Teddy and the Scarface quoting type A David. Amazingly, however, by the story's conclusion I was rooting for the whole gang! In spite of or maybe because of the bad decisions, the characters gain a bit of insight by the end of the novel. Along the way Semple satirizes the lifestyles of Hollywood's rich and clueless.

This One is Mine is a smartly written and hilarious debut novel!

Publisher: Back Bay Books (March 24, 2010), 320 pages.
Advance Review Copy Provided Courtesy of the Publisher.

*Warning: Spoilers*

Maria Semple was a television writer for many years. She wrote for the shows Arrested Development, Mad About You, and Ellen. Her knowledge of show business and of Hollywood forms the basis for her first novel: This One is Mine. Her novel is a tragi-comic tour de force.

In case you're thinking of reading a superficial novel about Hollywood, this is not it! When I first started reading the novel, I didn't like some of the characters. They seemed like self-involved and shallow Hollywood types. But then Maria Semple surprises you, and all of her characters become real people who just happen to live in Los Angeles.

The main character is Violet Parry, who is married to David Parry, an extremely successful rock band manager. Violet and David have a beautiful little daughter, Dot, are very rich, and have a glamorous lifestyle that most people would envy. But Violet is desperately unhappy. She seems to be suffering from a prolonged post-partum depression, and her mansion has become a gilded cage. Her husband has become increasingly frustrated with her depression and has become quite angry with her. He doesn't listen to her or ask for her opinions, and never asks her how she really feels. Her opinions seem worthless to him. He seems to be deliberately cruel. It's very upsetting to her, because they had a very close marriage for a long time. Violet gained a quite a bit of weight during her pregnancy, and has been unable to shed the weight since her baby was born, thus exacerbating her depression. She is ripe for the attentions of another man.

His name is Teddy Reyes, and he is a small-time bass player. He is the exact opposite of David, who is extremely responsible and loyal to his family. Violet is immediately attracted to Teddy, probably because he actually listens to her. Violet may also be attracted to the bad-boy side of Teddy, because he has long-standing drug and alcohol addictions. There is a strong physical attraction between them.

I don't want to give away the entire plot of the book because I want you to enjoy reading it yourself!

This book was sent to me for review.

Violet Parry has everything she should ever want; a gorgeous house, a famous music producer husband, and a cutie pie little girl. However, Violet Parry doesn't know what she wants, but she knows she's not happy here. Her husband speaks and she tunes him out except for the occasional "uh-huh" or "that's nice honey". She finally has a little girl of her own, but for some reason her now picture perfect life is not so perfect. Out for a little drive, Violet meets a small time musician struggling to make his way, Teddy. Without realizing that her actions will have consequences, Violet decides "what the heck" and falls head first into what she thinks is happiness. After all, he seems into her.

Disregard for consequences seems to be a recurring theme throughout Semple's novel as the other main character, Sally Parry, David's sister, seems to be throwing her life around wildly as well. Sally is determined to meet and marry Jeremy, a scary smart sports newswriter who is on his way to becoming a sportscaster, aka: television star. Sally wants to be sure that they are together, preferably married before he becomes famous.

I think this novel is going to knock your socks off. I felt a little uncomfortable reading it at first. The language is a little strong for my tastes so I wouldn't hand this one to my 15 year old sister. However I really enjoyed the power behind the words. You really got a sense of the characters and I truly think that the characters were fantastically written. I could really see this as a movie!

Reading This One Is Mine was an unexpected pleasure. The book tackles some painfully messy situations that come up in family relationships with a light humor that keeps the book from becoming depressing. Every character is unhappy. Each is desperate to find one thing they believe will cure all of their problems.

Violet finds herself obsessively infatuated with Teddy, a recovering drug addict. He's clearly not good for her and she's willing to throw her family and all of her money away to be with him. This was the one aspect of the book I didn't find realistic. Not that a woman would give everything up in an unhappy relationship to get the affection she craves, but that she would chose someone so very unattractive. He's missing a tooth and kind of dirty. It can be thrilling to be involved with someone from "the other side of the tracks," but Teddy is more disgusting than edgy.

Every other aspect of this novel felt authentic, from Violet's unhappiness in her marriage, to David's longing for the woman she used to be, to Sally's desperation to be married. Each of the characters deal with heart-breaking emotional situations that make you see past their flaws and eventually root for them.

Maria Semple shows the ugly side of relationships and does it with a highly enjoyable mix of lightheartedness and gritty reality. This One Is Mine is a fresh debut novel marking Semple as an author is keep your eye on.

Violet Parry is bored. She is bored with what her life has become. Once vibrant and full of life (her rock and roll manager husband David used to call her "Ultra Violet") Violet is now a stay at home mom. Sure, life is good, she hand-picked the house they live in and money is certainly not an issue, but Violet has lost her zip. Their toddler Dot has become an anchor holding her back from living, and she still has not lost the baby weight around her middle... and possible her thighs... and for sure her rump... and David? Well David is busy being David. Closing deals, running around the country.....

So when Violet meets Teddy, small time rock and roller with a bad boy image who seems to take an interest in Violet, she suddenly recalls a bit of her old spark...

Then there is Sally, David's sister who is determined to land the perfect husband on her schedule. When her eyes land on Jeremy who she foresees hitting the big time soon, she sets her plan in motion. FAST motion... as in she has given herself a few weeks to meet (yeah, did I mention they had not met yet?), fall in love and get the ring... er, I mean get married.

Both women throw caution to the wind and disaster awaits around every corner.

So... This One Is Mine. It has been a long long time since I have disliked a book so fully. From the very beginning I found Violet to be spoiled and selfish... yes, I agree her marriage needed work - but she never gave it the opportunity to work. Poor poor Violet *laced with sarcasm*

And then there was Sally. Almost more unlikable then Violet. Almost. Depends on the chapter. Selfish and determined to have her way no matter who was in her path. Sally's actions time and again throughout the book were not funny to me, but despicable, horrifying, and just down right gross. There was nothing - NOTHING redeeming about her.... each page made me groan a little more.

Now I don't have to like characters to enjoy a book.... but this one left so little to even hope for I just turned page after page hoping there would be something... but in the end, I found nothing. I was reading this at our cabin recently and another girl from my book club was with me... I was about 50 pages in front of her and she kept asking, "does it get better".... it did not.

My only found in the book was 3/4 of the way through when an event went terribly wrong and by this time my mind was so filled with the sick that was Violet and Sally that I evilly wanted to rejoice.... but then... even that poofed out before I was satisfied.

Now I get that this is a harsh review, but it is an honest one. I loathed this book. Now, if you look at the store reviews... I am in the minority, others loved this and found it hilarious. I do not get these people. :) Perhaps they were thinking of a different book...

Now all that said... this author has a new book out called Where's You Go Bernadette that I have been hearing good things about. I have this one on my shelf and plan to read it soon. A few in the book club have started this one on their own and have said it was good.

This well-written novel was surprisingly engaging, especially given that I didn't much like the characters when I started reading. As the story unfolded however, the motivations behind their actions became more clear, and I found myself reacting to them with much more empathy. Parts of the book were tragic while others were tragically funny; only in a book about Hollywood could entire plotline not seem a bit contrived.

Though I never fully understood Violet's attraction to Teddy, I could understand her frustration with her marriage and the life she found herself living. Sally initially appeared cold-hearted and calculating, but revelations about her health and the profound impact that had on her outlook on life gave her character unexpected depth. The revelation about her insurance, so life-altering to her and so unimportant to David, struck me as the most poignant moment in the book- I almost cried for Sally.

Semple has the voice and flavor of Hollywood life down pat, and this first novel tells a wonderful yet cautionary tale about the teeming depths beneath the surface lives of these characters. A strong 4 stars, I hope this novel is not the last we see from Semple.

I bought this book because I enjoyed "Where'd you Go, Bernadette" so much. Sad to say, "This One is Mine" was a huge disappointment. None of the characters feel real or important--I had little sympathy for Violet's ridiculous, self-absorbed angst. I found it impossible to imagine the depressed, insecure Violet as ever having been the success she supposedly once was. Her liaison with the down and out Teddy is unbelievable and tedious. David, the husband, feels like a necessary prop in the book. Dot, the child, never really seems very charming but we're told over and over how totally precious she is. Sally, Violet's "unstable" sister-in-law, turns out to be the only character that comes to life.

I just recently read the latest book by this author Where'd You Go, Bernadette and I loved it, so thought I would try this one. Unfortunately, I didn't like it nearly as much. The author creates compelling characters (and I can see the Arrested Development link - the author wrote for the show) but they are not very likable, and the story doesn't go anywhere. Violet is a well-off former television writer who now stays at home with her baby daughter, and is married to Dave, a well-known music producer. Violet is bored, and feels unfulfilled, and takes up with a recovering addict for excitement (or something.) Sally is her sister-in-law, a diabetic ballerina searching for the perfect (rich) husband, and who seems to find it in a geeky sports statistician. Their stories are told with a lot of wit, and effectively pokes fun at the Los Angeles/Hollywood scene. But in the end, it all kind of collapses, and we're not really left with anyone to root for. I admire this author's character development and writing, but this particular book on the whole wasn't satisfying. Read Where'd You Go, Bernadette instead!

Maria Semple has written for some really smart, clever television shows (Mad About You, Arrested Development) so it's no surprise that 'This One is Mine' is a smart, clever book. It's just that I felt the need to completely go upside the heads of its female protagonists. Both Violet and Sally left me a bit cold. Violet is wrapped in the trappings of wealth and security but isn't feeling 'the love' from husband David, who is initially portrayed as somewhat of a tool who verbally assaults Violet at any given opportunity. I was first sympathetic to Violet but at about 50 pages in I veered into total disdain as she falls for a clearly manipulative skeevy bass player from a Rolling Stones tribute band. At about the same time we learn that David may appear somewhat toolish, he is a totally giving, responsible, and somewhat indulgent man who has given his wife free rein. In futile anger he rages that his wife finally has the child she has longed for but has turned her over to a nanny to raise; she has a need to express her creative side by restoring their home but can't deal with the contractors and the cost overruns.
David's sister Sally is certainly the more predatory of the two women. She has set her sights on Jeremy, a numbers phenom who is on the cusp of stardom for his sports predictions. But when she finds out that her target is 'damaged goods,' a socially inept, undiagnosed 'Aspie' she cruelly rejects him (much to his relief as it turns out).

The last 30 pages are filled with plot twists and revelations that help redeem the characters, and it's a tribute to Semple's writing skills that she can develop characters so unlikeable yet have the reader cheering for them by the end of the book.

Is is possible to hate every character in a book, but still enjoy the book? This One Is Mine proves that it is. Everyone is wretchedly selfish. I had hope for David after the yoga retreat, but then he got smacked in the face by Violet's infidelity again. Violet's attraction to Teddy was almost incomprehensible, but I guess it was good sex. Sally's reckless actions and pursuit of Jeremy were almost understandable given what she faced as a child, but I still couldn't garner sympathy for her since she never learned from her mistakes. Although she never learned, Sally did at least have moments where she seemed to genuinely care such as when she protected Jeremy after an embarrassment.

So how could I possibly enjoy the novel? I suppose that speaks to Semple's excellent writing and character development. Even though I hated the characters, particularly the three main ones, I wanted to find out what they would do next and what the consequences might be. I also appreciated Semple's use of music/song lyrics throughout the book.