Sophie Kinsella - 'I've Got Your Number'

I was waiting and waiting for this book to come out! Then I had to wait for my birthday (the girls were going to get it for me) and then we had to try four different shops!

I am happy to say it was worth it! Sophie Kinsella is just one of those authors where every book is better then the last. (Ok the exception here is 'Can You Keep a Secret?' which is still my favourite, but other then that).

Poppy Wyatt is a bride-to-be who just happens to lose her engagement ring. If this is not bad enough, it is only a week until the wedding. It was a family heirloom and she is already incredibly intimidated by her fiance's academically over-achieving family. Oops. Then to make matters even worse, she loses her phone on the same day. Fate intervenes however when she finds an abandoned telephone in a rubbish bin, meaning she has a number to give to the hotel staff, the police and anyone else who needs it.

Sam Roxton however is less impressed by fate. It is his phone Poppy has acquired and he would like it back. When Poppy begins to "help" in his personal and professional life he is even less impressed.

A twist to this book is that there are ongoing footnotes which "are for things which aren't your main concern but nevertheless hold some interest"* and they definitely add to the fun of the story. That said, as with all good footnotes, the story is perfectly readable without them. If you happen to reading this story electronically there may be a trick to reading them. I am not sure what this is, this is just from comments I have read by others on facebook.

A colourful cast, bizarre situations and lighthearted fun. Highly recommended to any lover of chick lit.

*quote from page 11. This should be a footnote, but I don't know how to do them on here!

Sophie Kinsella - 'Remember Me?'

I have read this book lots of times before. But I am home sick with something poxy (literally) and it is the perfect time for re-reading, and for chick lit. Plus my mum has got the new Sophie Kinsella for me for my birthday (but I haven't got it yet) so I am enjoying re-reading old ones in in anticipation.

It is 2005 and Lexi Smart is a 25 year old with a life where everything is not quite right. Bad teeth,  a funeral to go to and a love life and professional life that could do with some improvement. Then Lexi wakes up and it is suddenly 2007. Lexi is now 28, gorgeous, boss of her department and married (to a millionare no less). Unfortunately Lexi has no idea how she got between these two worlds or how she is going to maintain her new persona when she still feels like a bumbling 25 year old. Worse, as she discovers more about her new life she is not sure it is the life she wants to be living.

Funny. Warm. Addictive. I love Sophie Kinsella and this book is great. If you want a book that is going to change the world, this is probably not for you. But if you want a book that will make you smile and take you to a happy place I highly recommend picking up this book.

Catherine Alliott - 'The Real Thing'

I picked up my first Catherine Alliott book because there was a line on the front from Marian Keyes saying "one of my favourite authors". I figured I loved Marian Keyes and if this is what she reads it must be good. I was right.

I have read 'The Real Thing' a number of times before and it was the perfect book for me to read after reading so many new, fairly in-depth books. Tess is 30 married to a moderately successful barrister and has two small children, a career-woman sister, overbearing vicar father, slightly eccentric mother, reformed sex-addict cousin and a long lost first love of her life who suddenly comes back into the picture. A family holiday brings a whole heap of issues to life making Tess question whether the life she is living is the life she really wants? And makes her wonder what happened to the hopes and dreams she harboured when she was young. What follows is a journey of family, humour, temptation, betrayal and the quest for happily ever after.

Catherine Alliot's books are romantic, slightly satirical and very humorous. A lovely light read that leaves you with a happy feeling afterwards.

Wendy Holden - 'The Wives of Bath'

Focusing primarily on two couples who meet during ante-natal classes this is a satirical novel looking at modern-day parenting. One couple features a 'eco-maniac' (for want of a better phrase) father and the other features a career woman who has a baby when she needs an convenient out from her job and deems herself "too posh to push". The themes of working parents, childcare issues, environmental issues, post-natal depression and the struggle to be the best parent possible. And of course the most important message of all: once you hit parenthood, nothing is what you expect.

Warning. Do not read this book if you are looking for anything in-depth or anything that is likely to add to your understanding of the world or if you are likely to be offended by a novel that makes fun of the world we live in. A lovely light read and very recommended if you are after something that might make you smile and at the very least will make you realise whatever you do "wrong" as a parent, you could be a lot worse!

Elizabeth Noble - 'The Reading Group'

I came across Elizabeth Noble just browsing through the chick lit section at a second hand bookshop. I loved the first one I read and I have actively sought out more. 'The Reading Group' did not disappoint. And as I am about to go to my first book club meeting this afternoon I think that aspect of it added a little bit of extra charm for me!

The book is centred around five women who come together to form a book club. The book that they read each months is listed at the beginning of each "month" along with a brief synopsis. I personally am a little inspired to go and read those books now!

While the women are all members of the book club, this is not the focus of the novel. Their respective opinion of each book are briefly discussed. The focus of the book are the women. Two in unhappy marriages - unhappy for very different reasons. One a single mother of older children who may have found true love. The other two facing their own problems of a very different kind.

A lovely novel about friendship, love, books and reminding you that not everything is as it seems.

Monica McInerney 'Lola's Secret'

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I got this book for Christmas. Not strictly accurate. I actually bought it for my mother-in-law and told her to tell me if she already had it. Someone else had given it to her the day before and it had been on her wish list! Great minds clearly think alike ;) Anyway I got her a different book and I kept this one. I would just like to say this was not the plan though.

If you have read 'The Alphabet Sisters' this is a sequel set five years after the first book finished. WARNING: If you have not read 'The Alphabet Sisters' read it first. In fact if you have not read 'The Alphabet Sisters', stop reading now and do not read any reviews of 'Lola's Secret' until after you have. Trust me. You will thank me.

Back to 'Lola's Secret'. It is a warm, funny book. Filled with family dramas as Lola, the undisputed matriarch, continues to dispense advice to her family, friends and the community in general. This book is about Lola. At 84 years young it is a reminder that you are only as old as you feel and that the 'matures years', a long string of grandchildren and great-grandchildren does not mean you are not a person in your own right too. Friends still annoy you. Family is still family. And sometimes you still have to face up to things that you do not want to face. Throw in some colourful clothes and a whole heap of scheming and you have 'Lola's Secret'.

A lovely read for anyone who has friends, family and frenemies. Who likes a bit of love, laughter and drama in their life. And for anyone who is hoping their second attempt at youth is even more fun the then first time round. A very fitting sequel to the wonderful 'The Alphabet Sisters'.

Sophie Kinsella 'The Undomestic Goddess'

This book was the first Sophie Kinsella book I read. I was excited when I found it, just because I liked the title. I felt I could relate ;) I haven't read this book for ages so it was nice to revisit it.

Samantha Sweeting is a lawyer. And not just any lawyer. She is an over-achieving young lawyer at a one of the most prestigious firms in London. This is until the day she makes a mistake so big it wipes out any chance of her succeeding in her chosen career. What is a girl to do? Apparently go wandering into the countryside and land a job as housekeeper despite the fact she can't even boil an egg and has never done the dishes in her life. Therea re ups and downs with the oh-so-hot gardener, his lovely mother, her past life and her well meaning new employers.

A light, happy story that looks at the balance between work and life and considers what really are the important things life as well as a tongue in cheek look at the value of always telling the truth!

I don't think this is Sophie Kinsella's best book, but I certainly enjoyed it! As I said at the beginning, it was the first book of her's that I read and I liked it enough to go and hunt out the rest.

Monica McInerney 'Spin the Bottle'

This is a book by the author probably best known for writing 'The Alphabet Sisters' (and speaking of which, stay tuned for a blog on the sequel. I got the book for Christmas but haven't read it yet).

'Spin the Bottle' contains the hint of the chatty/gossipy/Irish charm that the author has in many of her other books, along with that touch of something which reminds you she is Australian too.

This book is partly set in Australia, but mostly in an Irish Bed & Breakfast when the main character, Lainey Byrne, is forced out of her well controlled comfort zone to get back in touch with her Irish heritage at the whim of her aunt's Will.

Lainey has to confront many things. Physical challenges in a whole new lifestyle, but most importantly personal challenges as she has to face many aspects of her actual self that she has not ever dealt with before.

In amongst all this there is romance, intrigue and more then a little comedy!

Definitely recommended for those already fans of Monica McInerney as well as those people who like Maeve Binchy and the genre I like to think of as chick-lit-that-also-appeals-to-the-more-mature-chick ;)

Madeleine Wickham "A Desirable Residence"

Madeleine Wickham also writes under the name Sophie Kinsella. I did a bit of a thought summary on this which you can read here if you are interested.

"A Desirable Romance" is a story of peoples lives which begin individually and end up tangled in one big messy ball, not that all the characters are aware of this! Liz and Jonathan Chambers leave their family home, with the intention of selling it, along with their daughter Alice in pursuit of of a dream. Unsurprisingly, the dream doesn't go according to plan and in comes Marcus to the rescue. Marcus finds them tenants whom Alice goes on to befriend. But is Marcus trying to befriend Liz? More twists and turns and crossed relationships makes this a very readable book without it being too in-depth or too complicated a read.

Ann Pearlman "The Cookie Club"

I found this book at a school fete and I was particularly excited because I had never heard of cookie clubs before until a friend of my returned to Australia last year after living in the US for five years. This year she is looking at having her own cookie party!

"The Cookie Club" I guess could be categorised as chick lit of older chicks? Women's fiction might be a better description (I might need to do some research on how to work out what genre a book belongs to!). Set around an annual Christmas cookie club complete with rules, old friends, a new friend and cookies it discusses major life issues but looking back briefly on major life issues that have made each of the women the way they are.

Marnie, aka as Head Cookie Bitch, is the narrator. A single mother, two adult daughters and on the brink of becoming a grandmother. It is through her eyes that the story is told and the insight into each of the other women is based on her recollections of shared memories or shared confidences. Still birth, abusive relationships, adoption, childlessness, drug addiction, divorce and many other topics are touched on. Despite all this it is definitely a light read.

A touch I particularly liked was the recipe at the beginning of each chapter and the historical/cultural/symbol insight into different ingredients at the end of each chapter.

The book was a nice light read.

Cate Kendall "Gucci Mamas"

It is no secret that I love chick lit. That said, I do appreciate that there is a difference in quality and style amongst the books that fit in the chick lit genre.

"Gucci Mamas" would come under the broader chick lit/women's literature type category. As the name suggests it comes under the sub-category of books based around women who are mothers rather then the young and single. The book centres around Mim and her circle of fashion conscious, competitive mother, nanny hiring, circle of rich friends and her increasing sense of resentment for her life. One of the things that makes this different from other similar books I have read is that it is set in Australia. This added a slightly different dimension to it for me.

The characters aren't very convincing and at the same time not "clever" enough to feel you are reading a satire. If anything, I got the feeling that the writers would like to live more these sort of lifestyles. Minus the problems of course! Although realistically who wouldn't love to have unlimited money!

Despite the above observations, the authors have gone to lengths to show the hidden sides to each of the main characters. Additionally, every mother knows the perils of over-competitiveness amongst the school/playgroup/mothers' group set regardless of social economic circles and those analogies are well done and will make you smile.

I wouldn't rush to recommend this book and if you don't read a lot I wouldn't put this book on your list. However if you read a lot, have kids and like chick lit give it a go!