Overall I felt that this was a good book. However, I not did feel the need to stay up all night turning the pages. I was easily able to put it down. I felt that the story moved at too slow a pace.

I wished that there had been more development to the Sandy character and I would have liked to have known more about Dashay's mother. It was hard for me to beleive that a mother could leave her baby like that. I know it happens, but it's hard to beleive. More development as to why that happened would have made me happy.

I cried at the end when Isaac proposed to Bebe. I was very happy that things had worked out for them.

I did believe in the characters. Ms. Joe was able to make me feel like these characters were people that I knew. Ms. Joe had the ability to make the characters real. I feel that that is the most important thing an author can do. As I said, I felt that overall the book was a good read. I look forward to reading future projects by Ms. Joe.

Yolanda Joe has captured the cadence and movements of her lively CHARACTERS in this novel about a second chance at love. Each chapter is written in the first person of one of four main subjects: Bebe, a mid-forties female who has never been married; Sandy, Bebe's late twenty-something best friend; Isaac, Bebe' mid-forties love interest; and Dash, Isaac's 14 year-old daughter.

The story flows easily as Yolanda Joe describes how Bebe and Isaac meet, become interested in one another and, despite the obstacles thrown up by Dash and by Isaac's insecurities, manage to etch out a relationship that works for them. The character descriptions in this novel are wonderful! Each person is so well described that I could hear them speak and see them move as I read. And I can honestly say that I have not laughed this much reading a book since...Do Right Man (Omar Tyree), and I didn't laugh that much then.

Topics that read well and rang true:

Isaac asking Bebe if she had ever been in love (pg. 147 - 148) and Bebe responding that she had been "in like, in stupid, in comfort and then in suspense" was just eloquent!

Bebe describing traveling from Chicago to Mississippi (pg. 142 - 145): "In the country.... The sun would sit its fat butt on the window, legs spread, and I'd have to turn away 'cause, ooh, chile, the view would be hurting my eyes!" Who hasn't felt that way? I was thinking Zora Neale Hurston before I reached the part of the book where Isaac talks about giving Dash a copy of "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Reading this book while lying out on my back porch trying to squint the sun away, I shouted, "Yolanda Joe is a writin' somebody!!"

Bebe telling Isaac that his lovemaking could be improved (pg. 203 - 204): Wow! A tough thing to do, but handled realistically. I don't think anyone would take that type of criticism well, no matter how "tactfully" it is presented. And I don't think that is a topic that a couple would feel comfortable discussing. The author handled this sticky situation with candor, and I could not ask for more than that. Isaac's response to the labeled diagram (pg. 235): I know I fell on the floor! Bebe had a sense of humor that just killed me! Brah man was very intelligent and well-read so the diagram sufficed. He didn't need a "Speak 'N Say", as some folks would.... Isaac describing Bebe to Alicia (pg. 267): It was realistic, but it hurt to read. I don't think that anyone would want to hear that the person they love doesn't think that they are pretty/handsome, but his response was REAL. I don't know if I would have reacted in the positive manner that Bebe did, but she had a self-confidence that is surpassed by none.

I've not read Joe's other works, so the Sandy character was a bit sketchy for me and I could not develop any kind of attachment to her, except for when she put Richard in check on affirmative action (pg. 160 -161) - that made my day! I understand that I need to read He Say/She Say to get more depth on her.

The comical writing and the age/generation appropriate lingo was well-choreographed. No deep topics to muddle the mind, no just cause to make one jump to action. Just a relaxing form of escapism that will keep you smiling long after the book is closed.

When I finished reading He Say, She Say, I just had to find Bebe's By Golly Wow. And I am so glad I did find and read it. Bebe is truly a trip! I like her a lot. Sometimes I wish that I had the wit and "in your face" attitude that she has. I would definitely recommend this book to all of my friends and family. Actually, I already have. I'm waiting for the next one to come out. Hopefully it will be soon!