Four of a Kind by Valerie Frankel

Photo courtesy of Borders.com

Release Date: February 2012

Valerie Frankel has written several novels and series geared toward women and teenage audiences. Four of a Kind is her latest novel.

Dreamworld's Synopsis

While attending a routine "Diversity Committee" meeting for their children's private school in Brooklyn, New York, 4 bored women that couldn't be more different from one another size each other up and decide to lighten the mood by sharing a few drinks and playing a round of Texas Hold'em poker. However, once the women loosen up, traditional Texas Hold'em rules are thrown out the window and "Brooklyn Hold'em" is introduced; a game in which every player must gamble by revealing deep, dark secrets about themselves.


Four of a Kind then segues into the individual, enrapturing stories of all 4 women. There is Alicia, a sex-crazed and horny married woman whose husband no longer indulges in sexual activity with her; Robin, an obese-turned-skinny woman struggling to keep the identity of her daughter's father secret; Bess, a beautiful head-turner with the hottest, sexiest husband on the planet who gives her too MUCH sex; and finally, Carla, an African-American doctor married to an over-bearing and chauvinistic husband.

When their weekly Brooklyn Hold'em games become the main activity each woman eagerly looks forward to, they develop powerful relationships with one another that eventually influences each woman in the group to become better and stronger than ever before.



Dreamworld's Review

Four of a Kind is guaranteed to please all women readers of all ages, and will have you hooked completely by the end of chapter 1. Since each character is completely different from the other, you'll find yourself connecting with or relating to at least one of the women in the book. In addition to having a rich plot, Four of a Kind is deliciously raw and naughty, and will definitely satisfy your every craving if seeking an exemplary chick-lit novel.

Each chapter in the book is told from a specific woman's point of view, so we get to know each main character quite intimately. Texas Hold'em poker fans will absolutely eat this one up! I could hardly believe my luck when I stumbled upon Four of a Kind, being an avid player and tournament participant myself! It was hard for me not to like this book just from the poker standpoint alone.

Frankel even includes a poker game guide and glossary of terms at the end of Four of a Kind, which is very helpful (and entertaining) for those readers needing tips about poker rules and guidelines.



Dreamworld's Recommendation

I loved Four of a Kind, and recommend it to all readers meeting the following criteria: chick-lit fans, mainstream fiction and literature fans, Texas Hold'em junkies, and women specifically between the ages of 30 and 50. This book will cheer up anybody in a low or bad mood, which is always a bonus.

This novel has been compared to Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik and Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani. Since I haven't read either of these novels, I can't really endorse or clarify the comparison. However, if you enjoyed Beth Harbison's Shoe Addicts Anonymous and Secrets of a Shoe Addict, you will definitely enjoy Four of a Kind.

Click on the images of any of the books below to review them in more detail on Amazon.com.



Here are our reviews of Beth Harbison's books:
Dreamworld Book Reviews - Shoe Addicts Anonymous
Dreamworld Book Reviews - Secrets of a Shoe Addict

Have you read any other books by Valerie Frankel? If so, what did you think? Did you enjoy reading Four of a Kind?