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.

Lois Lowry - 'Anastasia At This Address'

After reading 'Anastasia Absolutely', I just had to re-read at least one more of the Anastasia books! This one I had read before.

Anastasia decides to renounce "chasing boys" at the same time as she decides to answer an advertisement from a personal column. Clearly Single White Male (SWM) doesn't know Anastasia is a 13 year old. Anastasia, being Anastasia, is of course very careful to not lie to SWM. But will true compatibility conquer the age gap? In amongst all that Anastasia has to deal with the every day events and life of being a teen aged girl. All done in a very funny way.

Once again, highly recommended and I think I will have to look on the shelves and see if there are any more there!

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 ;)

Pamela Pope "A Collar of Jewels"

I have read this book a few times before. It isn't one I read all the time but was certainly one I enjoyed re-reading.

The story starts in 1890, when Ellie, the daughter of a rich Catholic business man, by chance meets Max, the son of a poor Jewish carpenter working as a waiter. Max saves Ellie's life but the two do not come into contact again for a few years. What follows is a story of romance, one-sided love, bravery, betrayal, loyalty, forgiveness and prejudices that spans two decades. It is set in England and the US in the early twentieth century and during World War I against the background of poverty, extreme wealth, business and the war zone. There are references to unionism, the growing rail industry, family disputes and the issues of an inter-religious marriage.

Ellie falls for Max and he ends up marrying her when she finds herself pregnant. Circumstances eventually mean they flee to England, funded by money from Ellie's mother much to Max's discomfort. Max then abandons Ellie to fend for herself and their baby son while he returns to the US and so the years progress.

"A Collar of Jewels" is a typical example of its genre, but it is a good read. I imagine I will read it again!