Rating: 
Summary: This is like a soap opera SPOOF.
Review: Assuming you've already read the book description, I won't rehash the plot, as it would just make me dizzy. So many things going on, so many coincidences, so many unlikable characters. Still, I kept reading, knowing that the author was going to have somehow make these people redeem themselves. And they do, sort of. By the end of the book everyone was happy. That is, everyone except for me.When I picked the book up, it was just for light reading. The description was cute. But the angry, vindictive main character turned me off right from the beginning. There were many times I wondered how the editor, let alone the author, could read this book and think it plausible enough to be published. Talk about twisting a plot. This book was much too contrived to be believed.
Rating:
Summary: This is like a soap opera SPOOF.
Review: Assuming you've already read the book description, I won't rehash the plot, as it would just make me dizzy. So many things going on, so many coincidences, so many unlikable characters. Still, I kept reading, knowing that the author was going to have somehow make these people redeem themselves. And they do, sort of. By the end of the book everyone was happy. That is, everyone except for me. When I picked the book up, it was just for light reading. The description was cute. But the angry, vindictive main character turned me off right from the beginning. There were many times I wondered how the editor, let alone the author, could read this book and think it plausible enough to be published. Talk about twisting a plot. This book was much too contrived to be believed.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Enough
Review: Author Saralee Rosenberg is a good writer. Without a sufficient command of language on her part, A LITTLE HELP FROM ABOVE would be unreadable. Still, Rosenberg's use of language, and the voice that she has created for her heroine, Shelby, are enough to make this novel a facile read, albeit an implausible one. The angel-from-above narration is a device that either is accepted by a reader--or it feels totally unacceptable, as well as disruptive to the art of telling the tale. And the premise about the surrogate mother and the artificial insemination--okay, it's not fair to give the story away in a review, but this subplot, too, strains credulity. The part of the novel that I liked best was the author's depiction of the North Shore of Long Island. She communicates a wonderful sense of place. Of course, I grew up nearby myself so, for me, the setting resonated. I cannot help wondering what other readers who do not relate as well to the locale thought about A LITTLE HELP FROM ABOVE. As a first novel, certainly A LITTLE HELP FROM ABOVE is good enough, though it's not really good. Ms. Rosenberg's second novel, then, will be the test of her skill as an author.
Rating: 
Summary: " A MUST READ"
Review: I could not put this book down until I finished!! I can't wait until the next book comes out from Saralee Rosenberg easy reading kept me laughing, crying, and also rethink the way I treat my baby sister!! I truly identified with Shelby. I have given a copy to all I know and love!!
Rating: 
Summary: Still Smiling
Review: I had so much fun reading this book that I couldn't put it down. I woke up early in the morning (before work) just to have time to read. It was a really quick read that conjured emotions from me. Some parts I liked so much I read twice. Being a Jewish girl, from the same area of the globe, who also lost a parent, and who also moved away from her family -- I could relate to several aspects of this book. The late mom's connection with her family was how I imagine my deceased dad affects my own family. The book made me happy and for that simple reason I look forward to Saralee's next book.
Rating:
Summary: The Predictable Soap Opera
Review: I have to agree with several of the previous reviews that stated that this was just like a soap opera. The first 50-100 pages were tedious to read, but it amuses me that the author even takes the time to make a comment about how the novel drones on for 73 pages about our heroine. The story was predictable, the coincidences were too much, and how many times did he "need to push her bangs back from her face." We got it, really. It almost appears that the author ran out of things to say to perpetuate the novel to the end so she needed to regurgitate the same lines and descriptions over and over again. The aspect that irritated me the most about the novel was the way that Shelby was portrayed as selfish, yet Lauren was the one with selfish motives all along and came out smelling like roses.
Rating:
Summary: Highly entertaining
Review: I learned today that one should never judge a book by its clever cover! The day I picked up this book, I was prepared to read a lighthearted story about relationships with a mother on the other side. My own mother being on the other side is why I was drawn to it. Then I started to read it and became increasingly disturbed by the mean-spiritedness of the main character, Shelby, and the author's sad attempt at humor through obvious prejudice.) The author is doing a great job of alienating anyone who might be overweight and Christian. I am particularly referring to the "shikseh nailed to the cross" comment, which someone must have told her was funny. It's not. Especially in the context in which she uses it. In the author's world everyone may be primarily Jewish, but the real world who would buy her book is not. If she is wondering why the New York Times bestseller list is escaping her efforts, she doesn't have to look further than her own book. If this author hopes to publish a next book in the future, she might want to think about not making jokes at the expense of others. She might also want to have characters with at least some redeeming qualities.
Rating: 
Summary: NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS CLEVER COVER!
Review: I learned today that one should never judge a book by its clever cover! The day I picked up this book, I was prepared to read a lighthearted story about relationships with a mother on the other side. My own mother being on the other side is why I was drawn to it. Then I started to read it and became increasingly disturbed by the mean-spiritedness of the main character, Shelby, and the author's sad attempt at humor through obvious prejudice.) The author is doing a great job of alienating anyone who might be overweight and Christian. I am particularly referring to the "shikseh nailed to the cross" comment, which someone must have told her was funny. It's not. Especially in the context in which she uses it. In the author's world everyone may be primarily Jewish, but the real world who would buy her book is not. If she is wondering why the New York Times bestseller list is escaping her efforts, she doesn't have to look further than her own book. If this author hopes to publish a next book in the future, she might want to think about not making jokes at the expense of others. She might also want to have characters with at least some redeeming qualities.
Rating:
Summary: bring on the tissues!
Review: I lost my mother a year ago. I picked this up and debated on whether or not I actually could read it. It was great. I was so engrossed. I sat and cried for an hour after I finished it. Yes it made me sad, but it also made me hopeful that my mom is out there watching over me as well. I sent a copy to my sister!
Rating:
Summary: bring on the tissues!
Review: I lost my mother a year ago. I picked this up and debated on whether or not I actually could read it. It was great. I was so engrossed. I sat and cried for an hour after I finished it. Yes it made me sad, but it also made me hopeful that my mom is out there watching over me as well. I sent a copy to my sister!
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