Vinegar Girl

by Anne Tyler
Vinegar Girl cover
Good Books rating 3.1
Contemporary Fiction
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Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 8351
  • Added: 2025-12-21
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9781448190171
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2016-06-16
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Kate Battista is stuck in a rut, taking care of her eccentric father and infuriating sister. When her father's brilliant lab assistant, Pyotr, faces deportation, a ludicrous plan is concocted to keep him in the country, involving Kate in ways she never expected. Anne Tyler's retelling of The Taming of the Shrew explores whether a modern woman like Kate would sacrifice herself for a man, with surprising results. Tyler, a master of the human heart, has sold over 8 million books worldwide, and her unique ability to make the ordinary sing shines through in this captivating tale.

Reviews
Judith McKinnon's Blog · Judith McKinnon · 2023-01-27
delightful 4.50

The book is described as a quick, light, and delightful read that brightens the day. The reviewer enjoys the fun and engaging nature of the story, finding it a pleasant and easy read.

Judith McKinnon from Judith McKinnon's Blog finds 'Vinegar Girl' to be a charming and enjoyable read. She appreciates the lighthearted and fun nature of the book, which she finds refreshing and uplifting. The reviewer thinks the characters are well-developed and engaging, making the story a pleasure to read. She also notes that the book's humor and wit add to its overall appeal. The reviewer finds it a quick read that can be completed in a single day, making it perfect for a relaxing afternoon. Overall, she highly recommends it to anyone looking for a delightful and entertaining read.

Quick quotes

    Vinegar Girl is a quick, light read but so delightful and fun it really brightened my day.

    It only takes a day to read it.

    The characters are well-developed and engaging.

Changing Pages · Changing Pages · 2017-11-01
engaging 3.50

The reviewer praises the engaging and well-developed characters, as well as the unexpected humor found in the story. They find the book to be a quick and worthwhile read.

The reviewer from Changing Pages highlights the engaging and well-developed characters in Vinegar Girl, which they find to be a strength of the book. They also appreciate the unexpected humor found in the characters and situations, making the story more enjoyable. The reviewer recommends the book as a quick and worthwhile read, praising Anne Tyler's ability to bring a modern twist to Shakespeare's classic while maintaining the essence of the original story.

Quick quotes

    As expected, characters are engaging and well developed.

    Perhaps more unexpected was the humour found in the characters and the situations.

    This is a quick book and it's worth a read.

The Guardian · Stephen Romei · 2016-06-12
disappointing 1.00

The review critiques the book as a skilled but ultimately pointless retread of Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew.' The reviewer finds it challenging to engage with the story. The reviewer thinks the modern adaptation falls flat and feels like a missed opportunity.

The reviewer from The Guardian finds 'Vinegar Girl' to be a well-written but ultimately unfulfilling adaptation of Shakespeare's classic. They appreciate Anne Tyler's skill as a writer but feel that the modern retelling lacks the depth and impact of the original. The reviewer thinks the characters, particularly the modern interpretation of Kate, are not as compelling as they could be. The story feels like a shallow update rather than a meaningful reinterpretation. The reviewer also notes that the book's humor and charm are not enough to overcome its fundamental flaws. Overall, they find it a disappointing read that doesn't live up to the promise of Tyler's previous works.

Quick quotes

    Poor Anne Tyler had an uphill job getting this reader on board.

    It’s a skilled but pointless Shakespeare retread.

    The modern adaptation falls flat and feels like a missed opportunity.

Goodreads · Goodreads Community · 2016-06-01
enjoyable 3.40

The book is praised for its engaging and well-developed characters, as well as the humor found in the characters and situations. The reviewer enjoys the overall reading experience.

The Goodreads community finds 'Vinegar Girl' to be a well-crafted and enjoyable read. They appreciate the engaging and well-developed characters, which make the story compelling and enjoyable. The reviewer also notes the humor found in the characters and situations, which adds a layer of entertainment to the book. They find the overall reading experience to be pleasant and satisfying. The reviewer thinks the book's adaptation of Shakespeare's classic is successful in its own right, offering a fresh and modern take on the story. Overall, they highly recommend it to fans of contemporary fiction and Shakespeare adaptations.

Quick quotes

    As expected, characters are engaging and well developed.

    Perhaps more unexpected was the humour found in the characters and the situations.

    It's a sunny book, a novel in which the characters are agreeable and the mood benign.

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