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The Chocolate Money  By  cover art

The Chocolate Money

By: Ashley Prentice Norton
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
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Publisher's summary

Set in 1980s Chicago and on the East Coast, this electric debut chronicles the relationship between an impossibly rich chocolate heiress, Babs Ballentyne, and her sensitive and bookish young daughter, Bettina. Babs plays by no one's rules: naked Christmas cards, lavish theme parties with lewd installations at her Lake Shore Drive penthouse, nocturnal visits from her married lover, who "admires her centerfold" while his wife sleeps at their nearby home.

Bettina wants nothing more than to win her mother's affection and approval, both of which prove elusive. When she escapes to an elite New Hampshire prep school, Bettina finds that her unorthodox upbringing makes it difficult to fit in with her peers, one of whom happens to be the son of Babs's lover. As she struggles to forge an identity apart from her mother, Bettina walks a fine line between self-preservation and self-destruction.

As funny as it is scandalous, The Chocolate Money is Mommie Dearest, Prep, and 50 Shades of Gray all rolled into one entertaining listen.

©2012 Ashley Prentice Norton (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A novel to make you laugh, cringe, and appreciate your mother." ( O, the Oprah Magazine)

What listeners say about The Chocolate Money

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very explicit--not for prudish types

I enjoyed the story told through the eyes of the chocolate heiress' daughter. I am middle aged yet the quirkiness and frankness in this book didn't bother me--more like I reveled in the fact that someone actually penned these thoughts. Different type of read for me, I would say that a female audience would enjoy and identify with this book more than a male listener.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Very strange and oddly grabbing

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Some of the details in the story were a little strange and sudden. It seems like the main character's personality changes in the blink of an eye and the beginning of the story seems disjointed from the end.

Would you be willing to try another book from Ashley Prentice Norton? Why or why not?

Eh, probably not at this point. I'd rather spend my money/credits on something better written.

Would you be willing to try another one of Tavia Gilbert’s performances?

She wasn't the worst but not the best so I don't think it would stop me.

Could you see The Chocolate Money being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

Any additional comments?

If you're looking for a fluff book with a strange story and details then this is it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disturbing

It was a very sad story. Disturbing on many levels. Bad ending. Needed more closure to balance the details given in earlier parts of the book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Full story development never came...

There is a lot of six and a lot of smoking in the story...The story that u felt never came to a full realization. The narration is outstanding though! Will look for more books by Tavia Gilbert.

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