Fancy Pants

I read this book ages ago, and recently borrowed the Kindle version through my library, which goes through the store.com. I enjoyed the book the first time, and enjoyed it again this time. I am giving the stars rating based on the story itself.

HOWEVER, be advised that the Kindle version is loaded with spelling and punctuation errors, and sometimes random little words that make no sense. I do not know if this is the fault of the publisher, or whoever, but there is no excuse for it. At times, it detracted from enjoying the story (which is a fun read).

If the library Kindle version that was obtained through the store is the same Kindle version sold here, brace yourself. The first 1/3 of the book was fine, but after that, the errors and typos were pitiful.

I did not laugh during the book which surprised me since some of her books have me laughing a lot. But it was still a good story. Francesca was spoiled rotten and did stupid things, but she faced her problems and changed herself, with wonderful success. Dallie refused to deal with his problems. But he eventually changed. I liked how that happened and his motivations.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 497 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words but not often used. Sexual language: strong but not often used. Number of sex scenes: 11, most of them were brief or referred to. Setting: mostly 1955 to 1986 London, Texas, New York and other. Genre: contemporary romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Susan Elizabeth Phillips books, see my 5 star review of "Glitter Baby."

As I was reading this book, I kept telling myself, poor Francesca's life can't possibly go any further down the tubes. But low and behold, she just gets deeper and deeper. I laughed and I cried BIG buckets, and the tears are well worth the the time and effort to read this book!
I couldn't believe how strongly emotional I became involved in this story. One thing I have learned since this intro into SEP's works is that all of her books will make you feel the same rollercoaster of emotions that this one inspires.
I know I haven't given much detail as to this particular story, but trust me, If I got started I dont think I would be able to sum up what I would say without giving too much away.
Francesca and Dallie have one of the rockiest relationships that end up as one of the most endearing couples I can remember. Be sure to read "Lady Be Good" after this one. It picks up with two new characters that lead off from Dallie and Francesca's story.
MS. Phillips---if you ever write another book, please, PLEASE give us Theodore's story!

SEP's books normally are winners to me but unfortunately not this one. I agree with a previous reviewer who wrote that this book has too much back information. While I understand the need for an author to fill in her readers with some background info about the main characters, SEP certainly went overboard with this book. I kept skipping pages & pages of useless (to me) information about Francesca's grandmother, mother, etc.. and remember thinking "Just get to the point & give me more of Dallie and Francesca already..!"

But then again, that's ok.. since this was written quite a long time ago, and by comparing this book with her more recent ones I can see the amazing growth SEP has gone through as an author.

If you're a first time SEP reader, I would suggest you pick up her more recent ones: Match Me If You Can, Ain't She Sweet, etc.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my favorite authors, and this was the first book I read by her so it remains my favorite. More often than not, I find romance novels boring, unbelievable, silly and completely by the numbers. It would do SEP's novels an injustice to simply refer to them as romance novels. Her stories are fun, intelligent, unpredictable and bittersweet. She can have you laughing out loud on one page and on the next have you in tears. She creates these wonderful, fascinating, complex, and FLAWED characters...as opposed to the simplistic, boring, goody-goody perfection of most romantic leads. And perhaps no characters in all of her novels are so flawed as Francie and Dallie. Francie is a silly, spoiled little girl whom you can't help but feel sorry for when she's left on her own with no idea how to take care of herself. Dallie appears to be stronger and more put together than Francie but hides a world of self-loathing and pain; it eventually becomes apparent that he is in fact the weaker one. It is a delight watching these two grow up into strong individuals of worth and merit. Some readers didn't like or see the need for the telling of Dallie and Holly's romance but I loved it. It was great insight into the character of Dallie and it moved me to tears. Unlike in most romance novels, in SEP's books you can actually understand what the characters see in each other and why they need the other so. Also, one thing I hate in most romances is when the leads fall in love (or at least all-consuming lust) with each other within days of meeting; SEP never tries to pull this and I appreciate it so much. Her books are more realistic but still light and warm enough to be considered fairy tales. I really wish there were more romantic novels like this.

I know many people either love or hate this novel but it is not your typical story. First off it is LONG. There are many pages but the story is deep and goes for many years. Kind of like an epic novel. The heroine (Francie) is a royal *female dog*. Spoiled to the core, rude, lazy, shiftless, arrogant etc. But she is physically beautiful but the reader realizes this only gets her so far before she falls on her face. Our hero (Dallie) is also gorgeous but he's bored with life and isn't too ambitious. Somehow these two idiots find each other..but wait!

I won't give too much away but suffice it to say that these two people get transformed in the "School of Life" (aka, the hard way!) and become two unforgettable characters that will find their way into your heart. Life knocks them down and they find better people within themselves and find REAL romance with each other & live happily ever after:) One of my favorite romances.

Fancy Pants is the first book in the Wynette, Texas series written by author Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I've wanted to read this story forever. It's excellent, as is the whole series. SEP is one of my favorite authors.

This is my first encounter with Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and I was not disappointed. The first couple of chapters had me wondering, but I tramped on not letting them dissuade me for which I am happy. Ms. Phillips captured me with her story and I am now a fan.

At first I kept thinking, 'how am I ever going to get through this story' but at the end of it I thought, 'why does this have to end?' I finished the book 4 days ago and I still keep wondering about Francie, Dallie, Teddy, and Holly Grace and wonder what they're up to. That in itself stresses to me what a good book this is. Maybe I am easily entertained, but I don't think so because I am a seasoned reader. I liked 'Fancy Pants' and I am sure you will too.

Really liked this love story. Would have given it five stars except that it was unnecessarily long, giving background on characters that were not integral to the story. I suspect that because this was the first book of the series, Phillips was perhaps laying the character groundwork for books later in the series, but it became cumbersome at times...

Having said that...The background on Dallie and Francesca made the reader invest deeply in these characters and the outcome of the story... Loved Francie's evolution and how she helped Dallie become a man.... And wow, those last 100 pages almost made me pee my pants! I never thought a golf tournament could give me heart palpitations, but SEP succeeded in making me care about a sport I had no interest in.... Oh, and who can forget Teddy: Mr. Irresistible....#love.

Really, this book has it all...I laughed, I cried, and was in suspense till the very end...satisfying.

In Fancy Pants, Susan Elizabeth Phillips introduces us to two excellent characters - the spoiled rich witch and the down-home down on his luck golfer. Unfortunately, I found it a real slog to actually get to where these two are introduced! I realize the necessity of a well-developed back story, but I felt rather smothered by it in this book. Sparks fly when Francesca and Dallie are together, but they're not together often enough or early enough. As always, Ms. Phillips' writes a thoughtful book, with lovely secondary characters, and vibrant leads. But I find her books erratic - "Nobody's Baby" had a delightful wit and charm which I missed in the sequel. Here, there seems a combination of humor and desperation! Perhaps I have become used to books requiring less involvement by the reader, but I would not recommend this book to a friend who had not read any of Ms. Phillips' work - start with "Nobody's Baby"!

writers in the field with their best offerings. With that being said I have to say that "Fancy Pants" entertains but it is not one of her better books. Francesca and Dallie are ablaze but only in the first half of the novel. I have to admit once they part after their road trip the novel kind of stumbles. I actually put it down only to pick it back up later and I was glad I gave it another go because you do see how these two characters are able to grow up and face their demons.(Although it does take Dallie a little longer.) I think some of the other reviewers said this novel lacked the trademark humor of other SEP books but I have to disagree. I loved the bar bathroom fight!!! I also found the secondary characters Skeet and Holly Grace to be very funny. I still like this book better than "Breathing Room" and "Honey Moon" which got four star ratings. SEP fans should still give this one a go so long as you go in knowing it's not as much fun as her Chicago Stars books, just a bit of a miss but not to be missed.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes an engrossing contemporary romance. Fancy Pants is a wonderful example of a story well told. While a little longer than some of the SEP books I have read; the magnificent job she does of creating a well rounded character is evert present in this book. The relationship between Francesca and Dallie is well done and how can anyone help but love little Teddy. I highly recommend this story... its one of life and love and the ever desired happily ever after.

After the disappointment with Just Image, I was hoping a better result at my next SEP try. No such luck. Granted, this one is not as bad and contrived as Just Image, but it wasn't that much better either. I can see why so many reviewers here kind of lost patience with the story and had to force themselves to finish. I think the problem is that the author took too much time setting up the stage for Francesca's transformation. For over half of the book, the readers have to endure her childish, self-centered, immature, shallow, vain, and spoiled girl act. We are so tired of her by this time that we really don't care whether she redeems herself or not. But the worst part is after her transformation I dislike her even more. When Dallie confronted her about hiding his child from him, her reason was that so she could grow up. She essentially deprived her child of a father because of her own benefits. Later, when she found out her child did not like Dallie, she felt no remose or gulit to the fact that she was the reason father and son disliked each other. God, what a selfish woman she was!@There is also all that back stories about Dallie that takes up more pages. Consequently, there is very little room left for romance. In fact, I really was pulling hopelessly for Holly Grace and Dallie. Their story has so much potential. They have been through something so painful together that their bonds are endearing and heartfelt. Dallie and Francesca's relationship paled in comparison to what Dallie and Holy Grace shared. SEP later wrote books with similar themes where heroines transformed themselves beautifully. The most recent one is Aren't She Sweet and I think she did a much better job with that one.

From the back cover:
"Until I wrote Fancy Pants, I didn't know I could make readers laugh. But laugh they did, and I finally found my voice as a writer".

Beautiful blonde teenaged woman beaten and molested.

Beautiful blond teenaged man beaten.

Beautiful blond toddler dies by drowning.

Blond parents badly traumatized and mated to not-blonds in what author apparently thinks is happy ending.

Mother of stupid obnoxious heroine in designer clothes killed by vehicle after stupid obnoxious heroine's father killed in auto accident.

What exactly is supposed to make me laugh?

I wanted a good read. This was a stressful waste of time and money.

Even though I thought this was slow off the starting block, it turned out to be a fantastic read, re-read & re-read as well as listening to the book on tape. These individuals seemed like real people-not characters in a book and I could identify with them. I loved Dallie & Francie and their son Teddy and their relationships with each other. I loved the secondary characters too. I really liked Holly Grace & Gerry's story. I pick up this book about once a month and read it just because it is such a "feel good" story.

Everyone knows SEP is a good writer, able to come up with interesting characters from wildly disparate backgrounds who somehow get together, but this book is not one of her greats. First off, it suffers what I consider an "80's disease" - a Sidney Sheldon/Judith Krentz - like obsession with designer names, foreign princes, descriptions of yachts, and lots of pre-AIDS catting around. Secondly, its characters are not all that endearing: our heroine is obsessed with looks, money, and success, and our hero is obsessed with bimbos and failure. He neglects to tell her he's married; she neglects to tell him she had his son. I had a hard time liking these people, wondering if it was worth the effort to sort through several relationships and lots of confusing flashbacks. I don't feel I'm giving away too much here--if you like SEP, you'll struggle through it anyway--I just wish someone had warned me what I was in for.

The back of this book says "Come enjoy the adventure of a lifetime, an irresistible story that's touching, hilarious and passionate, all at the same time." I'm not sure what book the were reviewing but it sure wasn't Fancy Pants! I managed to get 150 pages into the book before calling it quits. I could not imagine trying to wade through 350 more pages of these horrible, totally unlikeable characters. Don't waste your time or your money on this book. I wouldn't even check it out of the library. I am going to go and throw this book in the trash, something I have only done one other time in 50 years.

Funny, touching, satisfying. Only criticism of this story is that it takes so long for the main characters to meet although within the context of the story there is good reason. SEP writes children's parts well. And there are layers of color in the story like a mangy cat that Francy adopts that add to its delicious flavor.

I loved all the books in the Chicago Stars/Bonner family series so I thought I would feel the same about this one. While a bit drawn out, I did like Francesca's transformation from spoiled brat to a woman supporting her child on her own. I had a particular fondness for parts of this book that took place in Lake Charles because it's near where I was born and where my own parents grew up.

After having read 'This Heart of Mine' by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, I decided to read Fancy Pants next. I was disappointed. The book is very dated in the 80's. I lived through shoulder pads as fashion once already! The characters are rather easy to dislike. By the end I could have cared less if they got together or fell off a cliff. If you are trying to decide on buying a book, choose something else of Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

This is the third Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books I've read. This was not the usual "stay up all night and read" kind of book. I found it slow getting into and hard to get interested in the characters. The book was complicated as far as characters go...Francie and her European ties/Dallie with ties to golfing and Holly Grace having been married to Dallie at one time and now Francie's best friend. It captured my interest midway in the book; however, after that I really thought it was good. If you are a devoted Susan Elizabeth Phillips fan, this is not her typical book. Her other works are great. This book is mediocre in my eyes.

Reading about this book in a Self Magazine article, I decided to read it for myself.I nearly didn't finish the book. By the second chapter I nearly put the book down as the characters were so repulsive to me. Still I forced myself to read on. Halfway through the book I finally had to just skim through the rest of it so that I could get to the end. Too long, too convoluted with rather crude characters and no where near enough romance or even sex for that matter. The sex that happens is some of the most mediocre I've ever read. The book almost redeems itself in the last couple of chapters by actually getting a little bit interesting but you shouldn't have to wait until the end of a book to finally get interested. Just overall a very trying book that I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

I did not like this story. Dallie was so insensitive and cruel. And he slept with hundreds of women and Francesca knew this but she STILL gives herself to him. SEP gave him all the advantages over her and she had none over him. The story was too one-sided. He treated her like dirt and she accepted it. I was so thrilled when she left him. Unfortunately the story did not end there. I kept hoping she'd never see or think of him again. Maybe bring in another love interest who was worthy of her and who could love her. But no. SEP apparently still had unrealistic hopes for Dallie being the love interest. The book had a lot of boring parts, too. Who cares about Dallie and Holly's romance? Why bother to tell their entire story? What is the point? I REALLY HATED that part of the story. Dallie did not deserve Francesca. He was so unfeeling toward her. I thought it very improbable that she could fall for him with the way he treated her. And then when she left him (for years) he never bothered to look for her...he hardly even thought of her. This does not redeem him at all in my mind. This does not convince me that he loves her or that his feelings might change. Of course, she pines for him and thinks about him often. How utterly pathetic. He didn't suffer when she was out of his life. Then all of a sudden their back in each other's company and they are in love? I don't think so. I didn't care about Dallie and I especially didn't see the point of rehashing his old romance with Holly. Maybe those two should've gotten back together since he thought more about her than about Francesca. I'll never read this story again and wish I'd never read for the first time.

This book is, without a doubt, the absolute worst, most horrid book I have ever read in my entire life. I wish I'd read the dictionary or something instead. The hero and heroine were also the worst characters I have ever heard of in anything (including movies poems, television, etc.) I read this book like 2 years ago, and I still remember, with great clarity, exactly how horrendous this book was.
*SPOILERS!*
There was a part in the book where people actually had to HOLD the hero back because he was about to beat the crap out of the heroine! PHYSICALLY resrain him! Who does he think he is? Chris Brown? I was appalled.

Now, here is yet another "secret baby" plot. Only the heroine doesn't keep the baby away because she thinks he'd be a bad father. NOOO... She allowed her pride to keep her child away from its father. And she did it for YEARS! And although he didn't know where she was, she could have told the man where she was at any time because she knew where he was staying! And she wasn't even sorry about it! And she did this KNOWING that he had a child who had died! What kind of insensitive, selfish...Anyways, the child was also unattractive. OKAY Susan, we get it. The boy is ugly. You do not have to shove it down our throats by telling us 50 times a page! I'm amazed that anyone oculd have actually liked this trash! Someone needs to tell the author that it's never okay for a guy to put his hands on a woman, and it's never, ever okay to be so selfish as to keep your child from its father. Ugh. I couldn't have picked out a worse book if I had tried.

Reading about this book in a Self Magazine article, I decided to read it for myself.I nearly didn't finish the book. By the second chapter I nearly put the book down as the characters were so repulsive to me. Still I forced myself to read on. Halfway through the book I finally had to just skim through the rest of it so that I could get to the end. Too long, too convoluted with rather crude characters and no where near enough romance or even sex for that matter. The sex that happens is some of the most mediocre I've ever read. The book almost redeems itself in the last couple of chapters by actually getting a little bit interesting but you shouldn't have to wait until the end of a book to finally get interested. Just overall a very trying book that I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

I did not like this story. Dallie was so insensitive and cruel. And he slept with hundreds of women and Francesca knew this but she STILL gives herself to him. SEP gave him all the advantages over her and she had none over him. The story was too one-sided. He treated her like dirt and she accepted it. I was so thrilled when she left him. Unfortunately the story did not end there. I kept hoping she'd never see or think of him again. Maybe bring in another love interest who was worthy of her and who could love her. But no. SEP apparently still had unrealistic hopes for Dallie being the love interest. The book had a lot of boring parts, too. Who cares about Dallie and Holly's romance? Why bother to tell their entire story? What is the point? I REALLY HATED that part of the story. Dallie did not deserve Francesca. He was so unfeeling toward her. I thought it very improbable that she could fall for him with the way he treated her. And then when she left him (for years) he never bothered to look for her...he hardly even thought of her. This does not redeem him at all in my mind. This does not convince me that he loves her or that his feelings might change. Of course, she pines for him and thinks about him often. How utterly pathetic. He didn't suffer when she was out of his life. Then all of a sudden their back in each other's company and they are in love? I don't think so. I didn't care about Dallie and I especially didn't see the point of rehashing his old romance with Holly. Maybe those two should've gotten back together since he thought more about her than about Francesca. I'll never read this story again and wish I'd never read for the first time.

This book is, without a doubt, the absolute worst, most horrid book I have ever read in my entire life. I wish I'd read the dictionary or something instead. The hero and heroine were also the worst characters I have ever heard of in anything (including movies poems, television, etc.) I read this book like 2 years ago, and I still remember, with great clarity, exactly how horrendous this book was.
*SPOILERS!*
There was a part in the book where people actually had to HOLD the hero back because he was about to beat the crap out of the heroine! PHYSICALLY resrain him! Who does he think he is? Chris Brown? I was appalled.

Now, here is yet another "secret baby" plot. Only the heroine doesn't keep the baby away because she thinks he'd be a bad father. NOOO... She allowed her pride to keep her child away from its father. And she did it for YEARS! And although he didn't know where she was, she could have told the man where she was at any time because she knew where he was staying! And she wasn't even sorry about it! And she did this KNOWING that he had a child who had died! What kind of insensitive, selfish...Anyways, the child was also unattractive. OKAY Susan, we get it. The boy is ugly. You do not have to shove it down our throats by telling us 50 times a page! I'm amazed that anyone oculd have actually liked this trash! Someone needs to tell the author that it's never okay for a guy to put his hands on a woman, and it's never, ever okay to be so selfish as to keep your child from its father. Ugh. I couldn't have picked out a worse book if I had tried.

I just finished Fancy Pants and got online to read some of the comments of others. I am very disappointed with some of them! I found this book extremely well written. The message and meanings revealed in this book are brilliant! I loved Dallie, loved Francesca, loved Holly Grace, Skeet and Teddy! I seriously recommend reading Fancy Pants. This was my first SEP book. I definitely plan to read more of her work.

I have read almost all of Susan E. Phillips books and was eager when her earlier ones are reprinted...Af far as Fancy pants is concern it should stay out of print. Dissapointment does not even covers it. The relationship between Dallie and Francesca left me feeling somewhat disgusted. If you want to read SEP's best try her Kiss an Angel and Nobody's Baby But Mine......don't even glace at this one.

The first book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips I read was "Nobody's Baby but Mine," which I found very enjoyable escapism. However, this book of hers is loads better, it is just wonderful, I enjoyed it tremendously and will definitely be buying more books by this author. Keep up the good work.

You have the main character of Francesa who really grabs your attention. What she winds up doing with her life is truly inspirational. But, she falls for a guy who I don't find particularly interesting. And, I don't really see how they fit together. He is angry and treats her like dirt. I didn't care much for him at all, and couldn't picture these 2 together. SEP has a habit of always having angry men in her novels, who these woman have to tame. Still, in true SEP traditon, there is always a happy ending.