Review: Hit Reply by Rocki St. Claire

Title: Hit Reply
Author: Rocki St. Claire
Genre: Chick-lit, women's fiction, adult
Publication: 2004
Source: Library

Summary: Amber and Stephanie are best friends living in different states who keep in constant contact over IM and e-mail. Former co-workers at an ad agency, Stephanie and Amber were separated when Steph and her traveling businessman husband and two young children moved to Florida where she is now a stay at home mom. Amber, 28 and single, has just reconnected with a high school boyfriend over e-mail and can feel herself falling for him, despite the fact that he doesn't seem to match her expectations for the perfect guy, and he lives in another state... with another woman. Stephanie, feeling neglected and unloved by her husband who is never home, has reconnected with an old coworker who claims he is in love with her, and is constantly propositioning compromising "positions" for them to partake in together. Then Amber get hits hard with some bad news that could change her life forever. Through it all, these two friends confide in each other about their relationships, love, and life.

My Thoughts: This book was fun and fast! It was written entirely in IMs and e-mails, a style of writing that I tend to really enjoy. I loved the friendship and constant banter between Amber and Stephanie. It reminded me a lot of my own best friend and I, always joking around, but always there for each other too. I love books that feature strong friendships because I can relate completely.

I thought the romance between Amber and Gray was really cute and charming. Gray's a country songwriter, which doesn't appeal to Amber, until he starts writing songs for her that he sends via e-mail. Don't you wish your man would write you songs or poems? I do. That's got to be the most romantic thing in the entire world.

Stephanie's relationships were more frustrating. She and her husband had been drifting apart due to his constant traveling, so she has an innocent flirtation with an old coworker, Tom. Tom, however, doesn't see it that way. He too is married but madly in love with Stephanie who only wants to repair her marriage. Will she give in to temptation, or will she work things out? Hmmm.

While I wasn't totally riveted or on the edge of my seat while reading, I did start to become quite invested in these ladies lives. I found myself reading it for great lengths at a time because it was just so cute and light. I also enjoyed that it had a bit more substance than a typical romance, with the addition of Stephanie's potentially life-threatening discovery later on in the story. I'd definitely recommend this one to fans of chick-lit.

My Rating: 3.5/5