In "Gingerbread," I liked Cyd Charise, our narrator. She wasn't exactly a very likable person, but Cohn wrote so that I accepted her and liked her in a way I never would if I actually knew here. (Think "Ferris Buehler's Day Off." In real life, you wouldn't like Ferris Buehler, but in the movie, you couldn't help but like him.)
In "Shrimp," Cyd grated on me a little more than in the first book. She's extremely self absorbed, and so boy-obsessed she could be a nymphomaniac in the making.
Primarily, this book is about Cyd and her old boyfriend, Shrimp, trying to get to know each other again after breaking up in "Gingerbread." Though there are some meaningful episodes, much of the book is rambling along with various sub-plots and receiving everything through Cyd's snarky, cynical viewpoint. All that said, the last chapter redeemed her a little.
If you just loved "Gingerbread," then you'll enjoy "Shrimp." But if you just kind of liked "Gingerbread," you probably should stop there. ( )

I'm too old for this book... I know... But after reading Gingerbread ten times, I have to read the second part.

A satisfying sequel to Gingerbread, this book has Cyd Charisse back in San Fran and trying to patch things up with her main man Shrimp. But what with Shrimp's parents in town and CC's graduation coming up (her parents want her to go to college, Cyd Charisse wants to shack up with Shrimp), it's just not clear if CC's and Shrimp's paths are destined to meet... Luckily, Cyd Charisse has a couple of new girl friends to talk to and an internship at a restaurant to concentrate on... If true love really exists, she knows she and Shrimp will end up together... but things don't always work out the way you plan...

An excellent sequel. I'm so looking forward to the new book, Cupcake! ( )

This is a sequel to "Gingerbread," the story of rich girl Cyd Charisse as she rebels and finds out who she is in suburban San Francisco. Cyd, whose family celebrates Frank Sinatra's birthday more than Christmas, is just not punk enough for her. She much prefers her off-again boyfriend Shrimp, local surfer god, his even-hotter big brother, and their hippie, pot-growing parents who take off for months at a time. Cyd's other bff is Sugar, a sassy elderly woman who lives in a nursing home and is now hooking up with Cyd's family's driver, thanks to Cyd's matchmaking skills. Now, Shrimp dumped Cyd midway through "Gingerbread," but she is aiming to win him back, and simultaneously wants to make some girlfriends because they won't dump her. Cyd learns about friendship, what makes a good person, handles issues like safe sex and abortion, learns how to incorporate her family into her fantasy commune, and avoids applying to college like a pro. She's likeable enough for adults, but bad enough for punk teenagers. I got a goth girl to check this book out a couple weeks ago and she loved it. Hooray for librarianship! ( )