Forks, Knives, and Spoons: A Novel

As I sat to write this review, I found myself smiling as I thought about the characters in this book, and I noticed I was actually missing them a bit. It’s always a sign of a good author when you feel nostalgic upon finishing a book!The novel begins in the late 80’s with Amy. She is stepping out on her own as a college student in Syracuse, New York and her father leaves her with some advice about the opposite sex. He explains that every man can be categorized as a fork, knife, or spoon. The plot steadily picks up pace as we meet Amy’s roommate Veronica and follow them through their four years at college. A steady stream of boys come into the plot…some turn out to be arrogant forks, some are nerdy yet lovable spoons, and a rare few are dateable knives. I admit that reading this part of the novel made me a bit nostalgic, as I could totally relate to the fashion and music trends that DeCesare references.As the book continues and the years move on, Amy and her friends add more utensils to their list. For example plastic forks…men who are arrogant and fake, always trying to impress to cover their fragile egos. Who of us hasn’t meet a few of those over the years?As I read this book I really became emotionally involved with the characters. I don’t want to give too much away, but I found myself telling one character over and over “You’re better than this!” While reading as fast as I could to find out if another woman would finally tell her boyfriend the truth about her life! When a character from the past returned I gasped out loud, and mentally congratulated DeCesare on her creative plot twists.This book is a wonderful read with a quick moving plot and characters you can’t help but relate too. The ongoing theme of labeling men and trying to find the right one, is something that we all can admit to, and it’s done in a creative and thoroughly enjoyable way.Forks, Knives and Spoons is definitely deserving of all the awards that it has received!

This book was the latest pick by my book club. I would compare this book to the literary version of watching reality tv such as the Bachelorette. Fun, lighthearted, easy to enjoy, entertaining drama. While I definitely rolled my eyes a bit, I truly cared about Veronica and Amy. I loved some of the 80’s flashbacks and enjoyed the college memories triggered by this book. It was a fun trip down memory lane to what life was life before kids.Perfect weekend read.

FORKS, KNIVES, AND SPOONS by Leah DeCesare is a charming and nostalgic story of friendship, family, love and life during and after college. Set in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the book is full of fun references to the music, movies, fashion and pop culture of the times. I enjoyed the unique and creative concept of the “Utensil Classification System” that was woven through the book. The reader gets to follow two college roommates, Amy and Veronica, from the day they meet at the start of freshman year through graduation and on to their first jobs. We get to see them as they forge strong friendships, fall in and out of love and make crucial life decisions. The characters are perfectly portrayed and very relatable. Though the story is told with wit and humor, there are some important underlying themes, with valuable life lessons learned by all of the characters. I really enjoyed this heartfelt and entertaining book and look forward to reading more from Leah DeCesare.

This book was ok. It was a cute story and certainly brought you memory lane if you grew up in the 80’s. The characters were not really relatable and often got whiney at times.

I'm no literary critic, but I like what I like - and this novel was a fun read, full of nostalgic moments - a comment many professional and novice reviews have mentioned. The writing is fluid and visual, and I had no problem getting into the story and characters, and turning it into a little movie in my head. When I can get myself intertwined into a book like this, it becomes a keeper for my shelves. The only bummer (for me!) is that when I find a book this enjoyable, I want to buy and read all of the author's works - and this is Leah's first novel! So, until then...I've added her to my "follow" list.

To be honest, I never write reviews. But this book was painful to get through. It’s boring, naive, and adolescent. It’s was all, yay college sororities, everyone’s so great, rah rah. It wasn’t in the least bit realistic, interesting, or a reason to cause you to think or self-reflect. I just wanted to get to the end since I paid for it. Boring. Not what a woman goes through in finding herself during college, early 20s. Rather, it was an idealistic, ridiculous accounting of a charmed existence where the worst thing that happens is you spend some years with the wrong person, albeit one that is still living a charmed life. (Except for the two page realistic college encounter in which Mr. Perfect “saves” our damsel.) Eh. I feel bad being this cruel to the author, but it really is a terrible book unless you are all for perfect existences with minor road bumps in the way while you “find yourself.”

I was tremendously entertained by this book! It’s a lighthearted story of two friends, Amy and Veronica. It follows their adventures and romantic encounters, covering their college years at Syracuse University and early adulthood. I too went to college in the 80s (yes, don’t count the years…) and I felt a nostalgic kinship with the characters as they navigated school, jobs, and relationships. I knew what I wanted for Amy and Veronica, and cheered them on as they remained unfailingly positive and determined to find happiness. While still young and naïve, their cheerful personalities couldn’t help but win me over as they matured over the years. It’s a sweet read that flows easily. While I was never a sorority girl and didn’t made a list of the qualities I was looking for in a guy, I remember the ups and downs of dating, and that time of life when finding the “right guy” seemed so important. I was hooked until the end. It was fun being transported back to the time of landline phones for a little while.

I had first requested the novel on NetGalley but wasn’t quick enough to download the file that was archived shortly after. Anyway, I was really keen on reading it because I was curious about the whole kitchen utensil classification of men. So, months later, I finally took the time to buy a copy online and read it.Overall, I thought the novel was endearing and entertaining. It was fun to read about the American college experience. The fraternity and sorority societies are culturally foreign to me, but I enjoyed reading about them. Somehow, the action unfolding in Syracuse University made me think of the US show Felicity also set at a time when people didn’t have smartphones or Internet and still used letters and audio tapes. There’s a real sense of nostalgia for this decade.It’s a well-paced novel with a deep message for girls. It’s moving to watch the main characters navigate college life, love life and friendships. Even though there were some lengthy moments when I slightly disconnected from the intrigue, I had a very good time seeing Amy, Veronica and Jenny grow into mature women, laughing with them during their attempts to categorize men and find their right match, their steak knife! 😊I like that the story starts at the end of the eighties and then covers a vast period of time. It gives enough time to watch the protagonists evolve in a credible way. The relationships between Andrew and Amy, but also Amy and Matt are a major highlight of the book. But I must say that I have a soft spot for Joey and Veronica who are an unusual but heart-melting pair.All in all, if you’re looking for a heartwarming, fun and witty novel, I really recommend Forks, Knives and Spoons.

When writing narratives, I was always taught 'show - don't tell'. However, that is an adage which has not been applied well in this novel. It spans a broad time period and the two protagonists are engaging enough, however the story lacks depth and emotion.There's a lot that happens but the reader is whisked so quickly from one love interest to another that there is no real space to emotionally connect with the characters.As an Australian, the whole college/ greek culture is a completely foreign concept to me, so the sheer ridiculousness of the status attached to sorority and fraternities added entertainment value. It was good enough that I finished it but it is a story I am likely to forget quickly.

An interesting take on ‘categorizing’ potential partners, but it took the main character rather long to figure out her own rating system and choose the ‘right’ guy.