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Slightly #3
Slightly Engaged
There are a lot of things worse than being SLIGHTLY ENGAGED…being entirely broke, completely alone and wholly perplexed.
It's been a year and a half since Tracey and Jack moved in together, and everything's totally perfect—well, okay, almost perfect. There's still Tracey's mom, who says they're "living in sin," and her friends, who are all smug, married and totally sure that there would already be a ring on Tracey's finger if she hadn't been in such a rush to cosign a lease. Even Tracey is beginning to wonder whether Jack really is looking for a permanent relationship, or whether she's just renting space in his heart.
But just when Tracey's doubts are seriously raging out of control, Jack's mom lets her in on a secret--he's just taken an heirloom diamond out of the family's safe-deposit box, which must mean that he's going to propose any day now.
Okay, any week now�
Any month now?
It's been a year and a half since Tracey and Jack moved in together, and everything's totally perfect—well, okay, almost perfect. There's still Tracey's mom, who says they're "living in sin," and her friends, who are all smug, married and totally sure that there would already be a ring on Tracey's finger if she hadn't been in such a rush to cosign a lease. Even Tracey is beginning to wonder whether Jack really is looking for a permanent relationship, or whether she's just renting space in his heart.
But just when Tracey's doubts are seriously raging out of control, Jack's mom lets her in on a secret--he's just taken an heirloom diamond out of the family's safe-deposit box, which must mean that he's going to propose any day now.
Okay, any week now�
Any month now?
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
16 people are currently reading
1,160 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Markham
37Ìýbooks201ÌýfollowersNew York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than seventy published novels and has sold more than three million books worldwide. Under her own name, Wendy achieved New York Times bestselling status with her single title psychological suspense novels. Those novels and the women's fiction she writes under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also frequently appeared on the USA Today, Barnes and Noble Top Ten, and Bookscan bestseller lists.
Wendy grew up in a large, close-knit family in rural southwestern New York State and decided she wanted to become an author while in third grade. She worked in two independent bookstores during college, then moved alone to New York City at 21 to pursue her dream. After stints as a book editor for a Manhattan publishing house and an account coordinator for a major advertising agency, she sold her first novel, the supernatural young adult thriller SUMMER LIGHTNING. Early in her writing career, she published in various genres including suspense, horror, historical and contemporary romance, television and movie tie-in, and biography. She also co-authored a mystery series with former New York City mayor Ed Koch and has ghost-written for a number of bestselling authors and celebrities.
Wendy now lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband of nineteen years and their two children. A 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, she proudly delivered the keynote commencement address at her alma mater in May 2008 and is serving a three-year appointment to the Dean's Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Wendy grew up in a large, close-knit family in rural southwestern New York State and decided she wanted to become an author while in third grade. She worked in two independent bookstores during college, then moved alone to New York City at 21 to pursue her dream. After stints as a book editor for a Manhattan publishing house and an account coordinator for a major advertising agency, she sold her first novel, the supernatural young adult thriller SUMMER LIGHTNING. Early in her writing career, she published in various genres including suspense, horror, historical and contemporary romance, television and movie tie-in, and biography. She also co-authored a mystery series with former New York City mayor Ed Koch and has ghost-written for a number of bestselling authors and celebrities.
Wendy now lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband of nineteen years and their two children. A 1986 graduate of the State University of New York at Fredonia, she proudly delivered the keynote commencement address at her alma mater in May 2008 and is serving a three-year appointment to the Dean's Advisory Council for the College of Arts and Sciences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 12, 2012
Guess I'm getting too old for this genre of ChickLit. I just wanted to keep smacking her with a 2x4. Characters need to grow and progress and, though it seemed like she made progress at the end of the first book, apparently she actually didn't because every single one of her neuroses was in full bloom throughout the second and third book.
I give up on this series (but not on the author).
I give up on this series (but not on the author).
April 3, 2011
Tracey was too whiny. I finished it just to see how Jake ended up proposing, but I really didn't want to read it. I think I'll take a break from this series for a while.
March 17, 2016
Oof. How in the world can I sympathize with a 25 year old who can't believe she's not engaged yet? I wanted her to stop complaining and accept that she had a good job, great family, and an apartment in Manhattan.
December 19, 2015
In ‘Slightly Engaged�, Tracey is obsessed about getting engaged to Jack. Yeah, that’s it. Seriously. Be prepared to be constantly bombarded with Tracey’s endless expectations of Jack proposing to her. It happens on almost every page.
It could have been hilarious or made you root for their engagement but neither of those were the case because the repetition was extremely unbearable. Plus, it also made Tracey turn into a very annoying protagonist whose life revolves around acquiring a ring on her finger. At least in the previous book, there were other elements such as her job and her friend Buckley to keep things interesting. In this installment, all you get to read about is Tracey speculating when Jack would finally get down on one knee and ask her that coveted question.
By the time it happens, you wouldn’t even care anymore. The relief is so welcoming that the significance of the scene fails to register. This time, Buckley is only mentioned and as for Tracey’s job, you’d forget she even has one. There’s barely any scene featuring her working or doing anything else that doesn’t involve thoughts of a ring. Even her quest for a promotion appears to be an afterthought and it was so poorly shoehorned into the mess of a story that once more, you wouldn’t even care. As always, I never feel that her friends Kate, Brenda, Yvonne and Latisha are truly her friends because they hardly show up and when they do, they serve more as props or advisors.
Overall, it was a disappointingly repetitive book featuring a protagonist who excels at being annoying and whiny.
It could have been hilarious or made you root for their engagement but neither of those were the case because the repetition was extremely unbearable. Plus, it also made Tracey turn into a very annoying protagonist whose life revolves around acquiring a ring on her finger. At least in the previous book, there were other elements such as her job and her friend Buckley to keep things interesting. In this installment, all you get to read about is Tracey speculating when Jack would finally get down on one knee and ask her that coveted question.
By the time it happens, you wouldn’t even care anymore. The relief is so welcoming that the significance of the scene fails to register. This time, Buckley is only mentioned and as for Tracey’s job, you’d forget she even has one. There’s barely any scene featuring her working or doing anything else that doesn’t involve thoughts of a ring. Even her quest for a promotion appears to be an afterthought and it was so poorly shoehorned into the mess of a story that once more, you wouldn’t even care. As always, I never feel that her friends Kate, Brenda, Yvonne and Latisha are truly her friends because they hardly show up and when they do, they serve more as props or advisors.
Overall, it was a disappointingly repetitive book featuring a protagonist who excels at being annoying and whiny.
August 22, 2014
In this installment of the "Slightly" series, Tracey's inner monologue is wordy. Copious. Skim-worthy. So let me just break it down so you can skip Slightly Engaged like I wish I had:
The End.
The End.
June 5, 2023
3.5 stars. This was a good follow up to the first 2 books, but its not my favorite because it got a little repetitive. Jack and Tracey are together and the whole time she is waiting for him to propose. There are some things that hint at trouble in paradise but they never really come to fruition. I really liked getting to see her family as they traveled home for Thanksgiving. Upstate NY in November was a scene and I loved it. I also loved the big Italian family. As with the other books, there are a lot of very fat phobic comments and she quits smoking and takes up some mindless snacking and her thoughts and attitudes about gaining a few pounds were hard to read. In the very end, they do get engaged (on Valentine's Day right after Raphael's wedding) and it was sweet, but the problems that were hinted at feel weird.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2011
This book was cute, just like the rest of the "slightly" series!! I enjoy reading about Tracey's escapades...especially because she reminds me a lot of me when I was single and young. I remember that anticipation of "will we ever get engaged?"--especially after my now husband, then boyfriend, picked a fake (which turned into real) fight with me at the jeweler as we were trying on rings. Oy.
I really enjoy how Tracey has to keep reminding herself to take charge in her life...too many of us have sat on the sidelines or in the backseat as other people choose our life's direction. It's something I find myself, and many other women, have struggled, and continue to struggle, with.
Like the other books in the series, this one is a quick, easy, girly read...I finished it in less than 10 hours again. Looking forward to reading the next in the series..."Slightly Married." In fact, as soon as I finish this post, I'm diving into it!
I really enjoy how Tracey has to keep reminding herself to take charge in her life...too many of us have sat on the sidelines or in the backseat as other people choose our life's direction. It's something I find myself, and many other women, have struggled, and continue to struggle, with.
Like the other books in the series, this one is a quick, easy, girly read...I finished it in less than 10 hours again. Looking forward to reading the next in the series..."Slightly Married." In fact, as soon as I finish this post, I'm diving into it!
February 8, 2008
This book was okay...not great, not terrible, but somewhere in the middle. It seemed like every other sentence out of Tracey's mouth was, "Oh maybe he's going to propose to me now." It got SO repetitive it was annoying. If she wasn't so occupied with getting engaged and just going with the flow, the rest of the storyline would have made for a great book. Tracey just had to ruin it! :-P It took me a while to get through just because Tracey was frustrating me so much, but still a fun read.
December 29, 2009
This is the third book in the series, and so far my least favorite. I found the main character, Tracey, irritating as she whined and wallowed in pity for all 320+ pages, waiting for her live-in boyfriend Jack to propose. Each chapter and section is the same. Tracy builds up every upcoming event and holiday, and then complains when the proposal doesn't come. I just wish there were other story lines to complement this one.
December 19, 2024
It was very hard to get into and like this book. Tracey complained non-stop which made it hard to like/ connect with her. I didn't believe she'd be engaged in the end but at the last minute, he finally proposes. Don't recommend unless you literally have nothing better to do and even then, a nap would be better.
March 21, 2017
Very easy read. The story line in the series is very light. I did want to continue right away with the next book in the series to see how her planning progresses...
August 6, 2019
I am so glad this book is over! I couldn't stand all the incessant complaining from Tracey about Jack not proposing to her yet. While I didn't care much for this book in the series, I'm still planning to read the other two remaining books. I do agree with another reviewer that it's a shame this book was drug out, and the proposal doesn't happen somewhere in the middle. In some ways, I felt this book a little predictable too.
This review is also posted on the LibraryThing website.
This review is also posted on the LibraryThing website.
August 31, 2023
3.75/5 libby kindle
3rd book in series. I didn't enjoy this one as much. Tracey was just too much. The whole book seemed to focus on if and when Jack was gonna propose to her. So much so that I didn't really feel the chemistry between them anymore.
3rd book in series. I didn't enjoy this one as much. Tracey was just too much. The whole book seemed to focus on if and when Jack was gonna propose to her. So much so that I didn't really feel the chemistry between them anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2018
Not a good read for me and other then well, I finished it, and since I can't say something good, I won't say anything all all.
February 19, 2018
Cute book but too redundant to me! Tracey is waiting and waiting and waiting for her boyfriend to pop the question through the whole book.
November 12, 2019
There is something engaging about these books. Very funny but repetitive.
June 26, 2022
ci ho provato, ma non è proprio il mio genere
March 8, 2017
Fun read.
May 13, 2010
I think I should have read the book that goes in this series before this one. But, I wanted to read this one becuase of how I could relate to it a bit.
The premise of the book is that Tracey hears from her boyfriend Jack's mother that he picked up a family heirloom diamond. So, she is just waiting for him to propose. I related in I had told Chris he had to wait 6 months to ask me to marry him again, but once I knew of the ring and where it was I kind of wanted it too. So, I could understand the wait he has it, why don't I have it yet feeling. By the end of the book both Tracey and I had the sparkly on our finger, no it's true I finished it the day after on our way home from the beach.
Anyway, so in the book before it is about Tracey and getting together with Jack so I don't have the background there. Tracey isn't happy in her job, but is stuck in a rut so not challenging it though she has the opportunity. She attends a friend's wedding and is ready to prepare for her own once she knows that Jack as the diamond she just sits and waits. The problem is that Tracey doesn't do anything about any of the ruts she is stuck she just let's the status quo go, while silently/just to outside people her friends complain about how they aren't changing for her. In the end Tracey comes to some realization that she has to be in control of her own destiny and get's thing, but she has to go through alot of trying to be patient and complaining first.
I think that I am going to still read the rest of this series, mostly to get the back story and see where it goes. She makes some interesting mentions of her ex boyfriend from the first book. But, if you aren't into chick lit this is not the book for you and probably not a good intro to chick lit since there is not to much plot movement.
The premise of the book is that Tracey hears from her boyfriend Jack's mother that he picked up a family heirloom diamond. So, she is just waiting for him to propose. I related in I had told Chris he had to wait 6 months to ask me to marry him again, but once I knew of the ring and where it was I kind of wanted it too. So, I could understand the wait he has it, why don't I have it yet feeling. By the end of the book both Tracey and I had the sparkly on our finger, no it's true I finished it the day after on our way home from the beach.
Anyway, so in the book before it is about Tracey and getting together with Jack so I don't have the background there. Tracey isn't happy in her job, but is stuck in a rut so not challenging it though she has the opportunity. She attends a friend's wedding and is ready to prepare for her own once she knows that Jack as the diamond she just sits and waits. The problem is that Tracey doesn't do anything about any of the ruts she is stuck she just let's the status quo go, while silently/just to outside people her friends complain about how they aren't changing for her. In the end Tracey comes to some realization that she has to be in control of her own destiny and get's thing, but she has to go through alot of trying to be patient and complaining first.
I think that I am going to still read the rest of this series, mostly to get the back story and see where it goes. She makes some interesting mentions of her ex boyfriend from the first book. But, if you aren't into chick lit this is not the book for you and probably not a good intro to chick lit since there is not to much plot movement.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2014
God, I want to like this book series!!
I LIKE the writing. I do. It's well written, the plot is fun, most of the characters are a lot of fun but I walked away from this one much like the last one. I actually sped read through it just to get it over with but I wanted to like it.
Here's the thing...I didn't know it in the 1st or 2nd book but this one made it clear to me.
I don't like Tracey.
Everything else about this book WOULD work for me. I just...don't like Tracey. This ENTIRE book was her obsessing about Jack proposing. Nothing else seemed to matter to her, and anything that did just annoyed her because she wasn't engaged yet. I just read quickly through it for no other reason than to find out how exactly he did it because I had more faith it was going to happen than she did.
But she was...just as weak as she was in the first. She couldn't be happy in her life until he proposed, right to the point she was willing to dump a great guy and end a great relationship so she didn't have to wait.
Just..no, no. No. There's more to life than getting engaged and she never figured that out.
So...it's well written. And funny. And a great ensemble of characters that make most of it enjoyable...Tracey ruins it for me though.
I LIKE the writing. I do. It's well written, the plot is fun, most of the characters are a lot of fun but I walked away from this one much like the last one. I actually sped read through it just to get it over with but I wanted to like it.
Here's the thing...I didn't know it in the 1st or 2nd book but this one made it clear to me.
I don't like Tracey.
Everything else about this book WOULD work for me. I just...don't like Tracey. This ENTIRE book was her obsessing about Jack proposing. Nothing else seemed to matter to her, and anything that did just annoyed her because she wasn't engaged yet. I just read quickly through it for no other reason than to find out how exactly he did it because I had more faith it was going to happen than she did.
But she was...just as weak as she was in the first. She couldn't be happy in her life until he proposed, right to the point she was willing to dump a great guy and end a great relationship so she didn't have to wait.
Just..no, no. No. There's more to life than getting engaged and she never figured that out.
So...it's well written. And funny. And a great ensemble of characters that make most of it enjoyable...Tracey ruins it for me though.
May 7, 2014
Woah! This was quite a change from book two. In book two Tracey was her own woman, and she loved Jack but she had her own life. In this one - her life suddenly seemed to revolve entirely around whether or not he was going to propose. In essence, her whole life revolved around whether or not a man was going to be in it. That's quite disappointing Tracey. You let me down chicka.
That being said, it was written well enough that Tracey managed to get me riled. I didn't like her behaviour - ignoring her friends because of her preoccupation with this - but it was written in such a way that I got passionately angry at her. If this book hadn't been written well I would have just shrugged it off and thought Tracey was an idiot. Instead I got mad!
Given that the next book is called Slightly Married, I think you can tell how this ended. I'm a bit saddened by this change in character. I like women who kick ass and can take care of themselves. Or at the very least, can focus on the rest of their lives when one thing is going wrong.
Bah! This leaves me feeling torn....
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September 1, 2008
The reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because I just can't stand when current events in Hollywood are discussed in fictional literature. When the characters are talking about Julia Roberts' twins, many people won't get that.
If I ignore every reference to a celebrity, I really enjoyed the book. It was a quick read, and it actually gave a really good message to young women who are waiting on the man to get engaged. It really speaks about how you can't wait for others actions to influence your life, you have to create your own oppotunities and destiny.
I'm also glad it's part of a series!
If I ignore every reference to a celebrity, I really enjoyed the book. It was a quick read, and it actually gave a really good message to young women who are waiting on the man to get engaged. It really speaks about how you can't wait for others actions to influence your life, you have to create your own oppotunities and destiny.
I'm also glad it's part of a series!
December 25, 2008
Well, I know I did get engaged at some point, but I honestly don't think it was the issue it is here, so I'm finding it a bit hard to relate to this need to validate happiness by turning it into marriage. Seems like any fiancé would do... almost. She does at some point say she'd rather not be married to will than living un-engaged to Jack, but seems to forget that sentiment by the following thought. Ah well, the value of chicklit is its lightness, right? Give me Jennifer Crusie any day.
Ending a bit better than the beginning...
Ending a bit better than the beginning...
July 20, 2011
This is seriously THE BEST SERIES I have ever read! I highly recommend it to everyone! I love the characters, especially Tracey. I could relate to her on so many levels it was scary, at some points I was convinced author Wendy Markham had somehow gotten into my brain and wrote about my life! I breezed through the book and was eager to start the next, and the next - by the time Suburban ended I was so sad to have to say goodbye to the storyline and characters! I still say there needs to be a final book Slightly Parents or Slightly Pregnant ... so far no luck!!! :-)
October 20, 2015
This third book to the series disappointed me a bit. She complained way too much about how her boyfriend had not proposed yet. I find those people very annoying and it was way too much whining for me. So, I put the book down, forgot about it for a year, and thought it was time to finally wrap it up. Finally it started to feel more like the other books in the Slightly series. I even found myself laughing or smiling to myself like I did with the others. I have a feeling Slightly Married will be similar to this one. I fear she will probably be a Bridezilla! Ugh...
November 21, 2016
I really wanted to like this series, but this book drove me a little nuts. I struggled with liking the main character (or any of the characters, for that matter) and I found myself only finishing to see how it turned out. Also, I noticed that the author bio on the back of the book matches the plot EXACTLY and completely ruins the ending of the entire series. Don't read it unless you want to know what happens. I'll finish the series, but only because I already bought the last two books.
November 21, 2007
I did not enjoy this book. I only finished it because I wanted to find out how it ended without just flipping to the end of the book. The main character, Tracey, was utterly annoying with her obsession to get engaged. She also displayed boneheaded behavior at times when she probably could have gotten a proposal if she wasn't so self-involved.
January 24, 2008
All of the "Slightly" books are hysterical. Their cutesy and girly but sometimes you need an easy read. These books really try to encompass the crazy thoughts that go through our twenty somthing minds when we're single/engaged/married. If you're looking for a great read on the beach, this one's it.
July 14, 2008
This was a pretty cute book! Unfortunately, I thought it was the 1st of two novels, turned out to the be 2nd of three novels. To say the least, I'm kind of caught in the middle -- but delighted to be so. I'll probably start reading the next book tonight..just too many books to read. I can't keep up with what my mind has in store.
I bid you good reading!!
I bid you good reading!!
September 10, 2011
So far this is my least favorite of the series. Maybe I'm just reading them too close together, but certain things got on my nerves. For instance, Kate. She was driving me crazy. And attempting to book a place for the wedding before you are even engaged -- come on! I still like the series though, and I want to read the next one. :)
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