Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Lara is having a problem: she is being haunted by her 105 year old great-aunt’s ghost. Sadie, who was a daring flapper back in her time of the Roaring 20’s, keeps appearing alongside Lara, but as a younger version of her deceased self. She has some unfinished business and needs Lara to help her find her necklace before she can pass on. At first Lara is frustrated and fed up with trying to help Sadie, who is making her wear ridiculous flapper clothes and makeup and go on dates with boring men just so Sadie can feel “alive” again through the only person that can see her. But as time goes on, Lara realizes how much she and Sadie have in common, and strangely, how Sadie can help with her floundering love life and equally dismal career as a headhunter.

Twenties Girl from Sophie Kinsella was a favorite of mine- which shocked me. Though I am a huge fan of Kinsella I was thinking this novel sounded too out there for me. A ghost haunting her great-niece? But I was proved wrong, and could not put it down! The novel was engaging, humorous, inspirational, and even had a few fun twists thrown in as well. I honestly think Kinsella is one of the few authors that could have pulled this plot off, and she did it with a comedic twist and a bit of mystery throw in. A must read!

Welcome to the Real World by Carole Matthews

Fern Kendal certainly doesn’t have it easy. Living in a completely unglamorous flat above and Indian restaurant, Fern must take on multiple jobs just to afford her rent. She desperately hopes to make it as a singer, but performing at a small pub with an unappreciative audience is not helping her case. Her best friend and accompanist Carl convinces Fern that they should try out for Fame Game, a reality TV competition for singers. To Fern’s surprise, she makes the callbacks- but has to go ahead without Carl.

Meanwhile, Fern is struggling to make ends meet while trying to help support her brother and his extremely asthmatic son who needs constant care and dealing with her new housemate- her father. Fern’s parents are on the verge of divorce and her father is quickly becoming more than a nuisance for Fern. She takes on the job of assistant to Evan David, popular opera singer- even though she knows nothing about opera and keeps having to run out on her professional duties to deal with her personal life events. To make matters more confusing, Evan David takes an unexplainable liking to Fern, all while Carl is desperately hoping that Fern will one day love him as much as he loves her.

Welcome to the Real World by Carole Matthews brings likable characters and a scenario that is very real. It was fun to read about the struggles that the heroine is dealing with, and was refreshing to see a character that isn’t just hoping to fall in love- she is pursing big dreams and fantasies. With a supporting cast of hilarious characters (Fern’s father pretending to have Tourette’s to try to win back his wife) readers will enjoy the humor and snappy dialogue that Matthew’s brings to all her novels.

Society Girls by Sarah Mason

Clemmie Colshannon is running out of luck. After finding out her boyfriend is a complete slum (him being the main reason of losing her job as a London art appraiser) and having a disastrous trip around the world, Clemmie finds herself living back at home.  Her family is eclectic at best, with a drama queen actress as a mother with a passion for wild animals, (including a recuperating seagull), a brother with a secret crush that he is changing all his ways for, and a reporter for a sister that gets Clemmie wrapped up in what turns out to be a dangerous story.

Holly Colshannon, whom readers first met in Playing James, has found a juicy story involving another writer at the newspaper, Emma the society writer. Emma has mysteriously disappeared, and the girls learn she was secretly planning to get married to a man her father did not approve of. While trying to help Emma get her fiancé back, the sisters inadvertently put Emma (and their whole family) in danger.

Society Girls by Sarah Mason delivers a humorous story, with the supporting cast really giving the story line something extra. It was a little slow in the beginning, but the humor kept me going until the real drama started happening. Chick lit readers will also enjoy the love story that is fairly obvious to all but the heroine, and overall Society Girls makes for an entertaining read.

The Chocolate Lovers’ Club by Carole Matthews

Lucy Lombard and her three friends are addicted. To chocolate. The foursome often meet up at their safe place, Chocolate Heaven, to divulge in chocolate and digest each other’s problems. Lucy has found her boyfriend cheating on her yet again, and has to decide if she can give him a second chance- for the fifth time. Nadia, who gave up her career to be a stay at home mom, is struggling with her husband’s own addiction- the much more dangerous addiction to gambling. She is watching their money dwindle down to nothing, and has to make the decision to stay with her husband or take their son and leave. Chantal is struggling through her marriage; even though the money that came with her husband is fabulous and keeps her bejeweled can’t make up for the complete lack of any sex life. She often enters into extramarital affairs, until one man steals $30,000 worth of her jewelry and an escort she was hiring turns out to be otherwise involved- with another friend. And do-gooder Autumn is having her peaceful life broken up by her drug abusing brother moving in with her.

The Chocolate Lovers’ Club by Carole Matthews focuses on these four friends and the challenges they are facing in their lives. The usual Matthews humor is there, but I could also find a serious tone underneath all the chocolate talk. The plot centers around the friends and their addiction to chocolate, but if you look deeper, each friend is struggling through other addictions- Lucy’s addiction to a cheating boyfriend, Nadia’s husband’s gambling addiction, Chantal’s addiction to sex, and Autumn’s brother with a drug addiction. The Chocolate Lovers’ Club is a favorite of mine simply because of a well designed plot, enough humor to keep me laughing, yet enough real life drama’s to let me really take something away from the women’s stories.

Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Brandon, loveable shopaholic, is back for her biggest adventure yet- motherhood! Readers may be wondering if being pregnant calms her urges  for all things fashion, but of course it doesn’t! Becky quickly goes overboard with her purchases, buying all the things a new baby doesn’t need- fashionable cribs, non-practicable prams, a closetful of designer clothes, and too much more. And what would a pregnancy be without the most sought after obstetrician that all the celebrities go to- Becky wisely name drops her own husbands PR firm to get a slot with the stunning Venetia Carter.

Becky’s pregnancy gets complicated when she figures out Venetia is actually Luke’s ex-girlfriend from college, and starts to suspect an affair brewing between her OB and husband. (The late night dinners and text messages in Latin really makes wonder.)She hires an off-key private detective to snoop around, and the results are not what Becky was hoping to hear. Meanwhile, she is trying to snag the perfect house for her growing family, trading the owner a pair of the “most coveted” boots for the keys and the lease.

Shopaholic and Baby, the fifth installment from Sophie Kinsella’s popular series brings the usual laughs and wild antics from the heroine, but I felt this one gave even more. With the pregnancy and the possible affair, I felt that I couldn’t put the book down. I had to keep reading to find out the sex of the baby, if Luke truly was unfaithful, and where the Brandon’s would eventually settle down after losing their perfect house. The ending may come as a surprise to some, but I think it is perfect to pick up for a sixth novel- which Kinsella has recently announced she is working on. All chick lit lovers will love this novel and leave you asking for more.

With or Without You by Carole Matthews

Lyssa Allen cannot believe it when her boyfriend, Jake, announces he is moving out. The two have been trying (unsuccessfully) to conceive a child with multiple IVF attempts, but Lyssa’s growing obsession with motherhood drives Jake into the bed of a colleague, the younger, athletic, more independent Neve. With her job going downhill, Lyssa decides she needs a major change in her life- and she is going to find it by trekking through the Himalayas. If ‘the other women’ Neve can do it, there is no reason Lyssa can’t. What does it matter that she hates the outdoors and can’t live without her blow-dryer?

Turns out, Lyssa takes to the Himalayas better than anyone could have expected. It doesn’t hurt that she quickly falls for the tour guide, the sexy American Dean. Dean was once a California man, but left the easy life behind to live permanently in Nepal. As the days go by, Lyssa realizes she is falling in love with this man, and the ways of her ‘old’ life seem so silly and mundane now. But can she really leave her family behind? Leave behind her career and all her friends?

With or Without You is one of my favorite novels from Carole Matthews. Following Lyssa’s story will make readers think, and all the curves that get thrown in along the way will keep you on your toes until the end. The supporting cast brings so much to the novel; with Lyssa’s sister (known as the “Rabbitt”) juggling six kids under the age of 30 and a mutual friend of Lyssa and Jake’s confessing his crush on Lyssa will keep the plot interesting throughout the way. A heartfelt ending to this compelling story is a definite winner.

Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Brandon is loving her honeymoon. She and new husband Luke are traveling the world, and the last ten months has just been like a never ending shopping spree filled with exotic goodies. Only hitch- Luke is slightly unaware of the extreme purchases Becky has being shipped to their home. Such as huge giraffe statues. But who doesn’t  need them? When the newlyweds decide it is time to get back to London and real life, Becky is slightly jilted on her return. Her best friend Suze has found a new BFF, the horrible condescending Lulu who seems to keep pushing Becky out of the way. But even more shocking- she has a sister! Turns out Becky’s father had a fling with a train stewardess back in the 70’s and Jessica is the result of that. Becky is thrilled! She now has someone that she can shop with, have sleepovers with, and have sister’s night out together. What isn’t great about that?

Well, it isn’t so great if your sister turns out to be a frugal environmentalist that – no!- hates shopping? How can that be? But it’s true- Jess has no interest in designer labels and worse, doesn’t seem to have any interest in getting to know Becky. Becky is crushed- but is also trying to untangle herself from another messy situation involving her, a purse, and Luke’s professional reputation.

Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella will bring you the usual laughs from Becky’s antics, but the ending will also teach a nice lesson on the importance of friends and family. This installment was actually one of my favorites; my interest was held until the very end with all the different situations playing out in the chapters. If you love the ‘Shopaholic’ series, this novel will not disappoint.

 

             Buy Shopaholic and Sister Here!

The Scent of Scandal by Carole Matthews

The Scent of Scandal by Carole Matthews revolves around Rose Stevens, who has fled busy London to settle down in the small village of Great Brayford. After finding out her lover was already married, Rose is crushed and in need of getting away from everything that reminded her of him. She works as an aroma-therapist, but some of her neighbors believe she is doing much more scandalous deeds, and take to spying on her 24/7. What they really should be spying on are the other neighbors- the one who is a hooker, the one who may or may not be addicted to sex, and one who is a Peeping Tom!

Before she knows what has hit her, Rose finds herself falling for the sexy local builder, Dan, but still can’t let go about the affair that left her fleeing London. And now to make it even worse- her ex Hugh has somehow found Rose in her quaint village, and he is single and wants her back! Rose struggles with her feelings as the many twists and turns keep throwing apart the characters that you know should be together. I enjoyed the romance and the humor in the novel, but there really wasn’t any ‘scandal’ as the title may lead you to believe. Still another good read from Carole Matthews.

Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Bloomwood is back and life can’t be any better for the loveable, albeit sometimes clueless shopaholic. She has found her perfect career as a personal shopper at the respectable Barney’s department store, she is living next door to a fashion designer, and her successful, though workaholic, boyfriend has just proposed! Becky cannot wait to be Mrs. Luke Brandon, and quickly begins planning their nuptials.

Only one snag- her mother is going into wedding overdrive that her only daughter is getting married, and is planning a beautiful ceremony at the house Becky grew up in. But Luke’s high-society mother is insisting on a blow out wedding at the Plaza in New York City. Becky can’t find it in her to let her mother or her soon to be husband down, and finds herself planning two different weddings on two different continents.

Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella will not disappoint. You can’t help but laugh at the wacky situations Becky keeps finding herself in- including not being allowed to her own wedding shower- and you just want to peek to the back to find out where exactly she has her wedding. There is plenty of drama to go along with the fun- what is the real story behind Luke’s frosty mother anyways- but I couldn’t help my growing impatience towards the end. With the wedding a mere 14 days away, there is still no decision on where the wedding will take place, and I found myself getting frustrated with the indecision. But in the end, there is a happy ending for everybody, and I think all chick lit lovers will continue to adore the ‘Shopaholic’ series.

For Better, For Worse by Carole Matthews

Newly single Josie Flynn does not want to participate in a wedding. After finding her husband has been cheating, she unfortunately still finds herself en route from London to New York to be in her cousin’s wedding. It isn’t all bad though, after meeting Matt Jarvis on the flight. The cute aspiring rock journalist asks her out on a date, and while Josie is relieved that she can still be found attractive, she is stood up and left alone at a New York restaurant, once again crushing her self confidence.

Matt Jarvis just missed meeting Josie at that restaurant, a date that he was highly looking forward to. He is determined to find her, but with little information to go on, madness and humor ensues as he tries to track down the elusive Josie. He even crashes a wedding that he thought was Josie’s cousins, as he was only going off the first name of the bride.

For Better, For Worse by Carole Matthews isn’t my favorite novel by the English author. The plot starts off strong, with good descriptions of all the main players, but as the time goes on, it seems just too unbelievable.  The humor can give you a good laugh every now and then, but even some of those scenarios are too silly to believe- trying to smuggle a duck with a diamond ring in its stomach through the airport- is just one example. It is still an entertaining read, though Matthews has definitely written better.

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