REVIEWS

Sleeping Beauty Proposal illuminates treatment of the soon-to-be-wed

The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by: Sarah Strohmeyer

Any woman lying in wait for her prince charming to jump off a white horse and plant a gentle kiss on her full lips should read The Sleeping Beauty Proposal, by Sarah Strohmeyer.

In this witty and charming modern-day tale, the author weaves into the story the real truth behind society’s obsession with women and marriage. God forbid if any woman is still single in her 30’s or 40’s. If this is the case, the silent whispers start. “Pst, is something, you know, wrong with her?” “She’s a lesbian. That has to be the reason, right?”

The main character, Genie, suffers an undignified dumping from her literary author boyfriend, Hugh Spencer, after a four-year relationship. In an interview with Barbara Walters, the journalist so well known for pushing celebrities to tears, pushes Spencer to propose to his girlfriend on national television. While Genie (and a nationwide audience) watches, Spencer picks up the phone to accept the Walters’ challenge. Unfortunately, he doesn’t call Genie. He calls another woman.

Luckily, what no one realizes is that Genie is not the woman on the other end of the proposal and so the story takes an interesting turn. Her best friend, Patty, declares “Prince Charming rode right past your castle…you can either go back to bed or you can wake up!” Genie agrees to the Sleeping Beauty Proposal—she pretends she’s engaged and is getting married.

What happens in the following pages is quite frankly genius. When the family and her co-workers believe Genie is getting married, she is treated differently; she avails herself to the benefits of getting married. She gathers gifts, adoration and a down payment from her parents to buy a house (she was not worthy of it when she was single). As she scratches marriage from her things-to-do list, Genie becomes free from the pressures of getting married. For the first time in her life, she takes a tremendous risk by keeping the lie alive. With her fictional wedding day fast approaching, Genie embarks on a physical and emotional transformation. She emerges healthier, sexier, happier and snags the attentions of Nick, a Greek god.

Though the premise of the book is clever—why should a woman wait for marriage to feel whole, I found myself questioning whether this could ever happen in real life. If I were Genie, could I lie to my family and friends and would I have the nerve to carry on the charade?

Having passed through the marriage process myself, I did not notice an increase in privilege the soon-to-wed receive from others, but what I did receive was a more loving man than the one I said “I do” to.

My husband became a new person—more caring of my feelings, asking me first if he can buy this, or go play golf on this day. I kept wondering when the real husband will come out, but he didn’t. Not only did I notice a huge difference, my family did as well. It was like going through a twilight zone. When my husband was asked, “Why this sudden change?” He replied, “She is my wife now.” Who would have thought? I certainly didn’t.

If you want to know what Genie does, pick up the book and make sure you are alone so when you laugh out loud, you won’t attract the stares of on-lookers.