Chick Lit Plus Awards

And the Chick Lit Plus Award goes to……

BEST LOL NOVEL

Nominees:

Not Ready for Mom Jeans by Maureen Lipinski

Lowcountry Summer by Dorothea Benton Frank

Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner

Winner: The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

BEST ROMANCE NOVEL

Nominees:

Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Anyone for Seconds? by Fiona Cassidy

Winner: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

BEST BFF NOVEL

Nominees:

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

Winner: Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

BEST VILLAIN IN A NOVEL

Nominees:

Miranda, The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Olga, Moonlight in Odessa, by Janet Skeslein Charles

Cici, I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk

Patty, The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross

Valerie, Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines

Winner: Cici, I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk

BEST SCANDAL IN A NOVEL

Nominees:

Perfect Blend by Sue Margolis

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Still Thinking of You by Adele Parks

Poor Little Bitch Girl by Jackie Collins

Pieces of Happily Ever After by Irene Zutell’

Winner: Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

BEST TEAR-JERKER NOVEL

Nominees:

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Promises to Keep by Jane Green

The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen

The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain

On Folly Beach by Karen White

Winner: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

BEST NOVEL FROM A DEBUT AUTHOR

Nominees:

The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen

I’ll Have Who She’s Having by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Reunion by JL Penn

Hook Line and Sink Him by Jackie Pilossoph

Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane

Winner: I’ll Have Who She’s Having by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

BEST NOVL WRITTEN BY A CELEBRITY

Nominees:

LA Candy by Lauren Conrad

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

The Truth About Diamonds by Nicole Richie

Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad

Star by Pamela Anderson

Winner: Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

MOST INTRIGUING CONCEPT

Nominees:

The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch

Tuesday Tells it Slant by Holly Christine

The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain

Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines

Winner: Espressologist by Kristina Springer

BEST FEMALE

Nominees:

Willa, Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

Darcy, Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Becky, Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

Rachel, Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Sammy, Sammy’s Hill by Kristin Gore

Winner: Becky, Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

BEST MALE

Nominees:

Luc, See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson

Ethan, Something Blue by Emily Giffin

Luke, Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

Alex, I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk

Dan, A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

Winner: Alex, I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk

BEST SERIES

Nominees:

Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich

Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

Heather Wells Series by Meg Cabot

I Heart Series by Lindsey Kelk

Enchanted Series by Shanna Swendson

Winner: I Heart Series by Lindsey Kelk

NOVEL THAT SHOULD BE A MOVIE

Nominees:

A Total Waste of Makeup by Kim Gruenenfelder

I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk

Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Hook Line and Sink Him by Jackie Pilossoph

Winner: I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk

BEST NOVEL MADE INTO A MOVIE

Nominees:

Flirty With Forty by Jane Porter

My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Winner: The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

CHARACTER WITH THE BEST JOB

Nominees:

Sophie, Sophie Katz Series by Kyra Davis

Lydia, The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

Becky, Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

Heather, Heather Wells Series by Meg Cabot

Marla, Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker by Marla Martenson

Winner: Sophie, Sophie Katz Series by Kyra Davis

BEST WEDDING IN A NOVEL

Nominees:

Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

Wedding Season by Katie Fforde

Scot on the Rocks by Brenda Janowitz

For Better, For Worse by Carole Matthews

I Do, But I Don’t by Cara Lockwood

Winner: Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

BEST SUPPORTING CHARACTER IN A NOVEL

Nominees:

Suze, Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

Kelly, Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright

Dot, The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross

Jessica, Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

Candace, Reunion by JL Penn

Winner: Suze, Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

BEST COUGAR NOVEL

Nominees:

Flirting With Forty by Jane Porter

The Cougar Club by Susan McBride

The Infidelity Pact by Carrie Karasyov

Winner: The Cougar Club by Susan McBride

BEST COVER

Nominees:

Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder

Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster

Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club by Maggie Marr

Winner: Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster

BEST SEQUEL

Nominees:

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

The First Assistant by Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare

Slightly Settled by Wendy Markham

Killer Cocktails by Sheryl J Anderson

Winner: Something Blue by Emily Giffin

BEST MYSTERY

Nominees:

I Scream, You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson

Killer Heels by Sheryl J Anderson

Looks to Die For by Janice Kaplan

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines

Winner: Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines

THANKS TO ALL WHO VOTED AND THE AUTHORS WHO DONATED THEIR NOVELS!

Best BFF Nominees

The nominees for best BFF Novel (Best Friends Forever):

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

Please vote for your favorite by commenting below. Everyone who votes is entered to win!

Chick Lit Plus Awards: Day 1 Nominations

Categories: Best Laugh Out Loud Novel, Best Romance Novel, and Best BFF Novel (Best Friends Forever.)

Prizes: Starting off big! One lucky winner will win a copy of all THREE of Marla Martenson’s novels: Excuse Me, Your Soul Mate is Waiting, Good Date, Bad Date, and Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker.

Winners will be announced August 23^rd.

Please post below to enter your nominations, or email me directly at Samantha@chicklitplus.com. The top 5 from each category will go on to the final voting process.

Some early nomination votes for these categories include:

Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Hander- Best LOL Novel

Hook, Line, and Sink Him by Jackie Pilossoph- Best LOL Novel

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner- Best BFF Novel

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner’s seventh novel, Best Friends Forever, may fool readers into thinking this is some lovey-dovey over the top story about friendship, but don’t fall for that. The story begins with a possible homicide at a ten year high school reunion, when the beautiful Valerie tries seeking revenge on Dan Swansea but possibly goes too far. When Valerie realizes she may need help, she seeks out childhood best friend, Addie Downs, to bail her out of the sticky situation. Addie is shocked to find Valerie on her doorstep, especially after the major falling out the girls had in high school. It doesn’t take much for Valerie to apologize for her previous actions and rope Addie into her off the wall schemes in trying to elude the police, turning this novel into a Thelma and Louise type plot.

I did enjoy reading about how the girls were able to mend a once broken friendship, but at times it was too over the top for me. With a police officer that conveniently falls for Addie after one glance, a harebrained scheme of robbing a bank, and a religious intervention taking place at the end, I found myself shaking my head in disbelief on more than one occasion. But underneath that, the focus on ugly duckling Addie as she struggles with her weight, a slew of disastrous blind dates, and caring for her troubled brother kept me happily occupied during my reading. I think chick lit fans will appreciate the differences in these friends and the backgrounds they have come from, and of course- the underlying romantic plot between Addie and the officer. Best Friends Forever wasn’t my favorite Jennifer Weiner novel, but I still recommend it for a good beach read.

Rating: 4/5

Jennifer Weiner Philadelphia Event

On Tuesday, May 4^th at 6:00pm bestselling author Jennifer Weiner will be at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia to celebrate the paperback publication of her #1 New York Times bestseller Best Friends Forever.  Jen will be signing paperback copies of Best Friends Forever and will read from her upcoming novel Fly Away Home, landing on bookshelves July 13^th, 2010.  Wine and chocolate will be served!

 

WHO: Best-selling author Jennifer Weiner

 

WHAT: Jennifer Weiner will be signing paperback copies of her #1 New York Times bestseller Best Friends Forever and reading from upcoming novel FLY AWAY HOME, landing on shelves July 13^th, 2010.   Wine and chocolate will be served!

 

WHERE: Reading Terminal Market – 51 North 12^th Street – PHILADELPHIA

 

WHEN: Tuesday, May 4^th at 6:00pm

In My Mailbox: Week of April 18

In My Mailbox: Week of April 18th

 

Title: The Icing on the Cupcake

Author: Jennifer Ross

Received: From Jennifer Ross

Synopsis: In this delectable novel—complete with recipes—Jennifer Ross frosts a sweet story of a young woman fulfilling her dreams, one delicious cupcake at a time.
 
In Ansley Waller’s world of Southern belles and gentlemen, getting a diamond ring isn’t just important—it’s the ultimate goal. So when her fiancé, Parish, unceremoniously kicks her to the curb and cancels their upcoming wedding, Ansley is so ashamed that she decides to leave Dallas and make a fresh start. In a surprise move, she heads to New York City to live with her recently widowed grandmother, Vivian, whom she’s never met. In turn, Vivian gives Ansley a no-nonsense ultimatum: Rather than wallow in misery, either get a job or go home. 

The Waller women have a tradition of baking their way out of sorrow. So Ansley mixes batch after batch of creative cupcakes—Black Bottom Heartache, Moving Blues Banana Caramel, Tres Leches Made Small. Before long, she’s opening up her own cupcake shop and even trying her hand at dating. But the ways of Manhattan’s eligible bachelors are altogether different from their Southern counterparts, and Ansley’s nearly fail-safe tactics fall flat. And worse, someone’s got a half-baked scheme to sabotage Ansley’s new life. It’ll take a cup of courage and a dash of Southern charm, plus a few secret ingredients, if Ansley hopes to pull off her recipe for success.

 

Title: On Folly Beach

Author: Karen White

Received: From Karen White

Synopsis: To most people, Folly Beach, South Carolina, is simply the last barrier island before the Atlantic. To some, it’s a sanctuary, which is why Janie Hamilton’s mother encourages her to buy the local book store, Folly’s Finds, hoping it will distract Janie from the loss of her husband in Afghanistan.

Janie is at first resistant, but intrigued after finding love letters and an image of a beautiful bottle tree in a box of used books from Folly’s Finds, and decides to take the plunge. The store’s seller insists on one condition: Janie must allow Lulu, the late owner’s elderly sister, to continue selling her bottle trees from its back yard. Historically, bottle trees were brought by African slaves to the American South, and Janie had grown up with one in her backyard, and it has always been a symbol of refuge to her.

Janie generally ignores Lulu as she sifts through the love letters, wanting to learn more. But the more she discovers of the letters’ authors, the closer she feels to Lulu. As details of a possible murder and a mysterious disappearance during World War II are revealed, the two women discover that circumstances beyond their control, sixty years apart, have brought them together, here on Folly Beach. And it is here that their war-ravaged hearts can find hope for a second chance…

 

Title: Best Friends Forever

Author: Jennifer Weiner

Received: From Jennifer Weiner

Synopsis: Some bonds can never be broken…

Addie Downs and Valerie Adler will be best friends forever. That’s what Addie believes after Valerie moves across the street when they’re both nine years old. But in the wake of betrayal during their teenage years, Val is swept into the popular crowd, while mousy, sullen Addie becomes her school’s scapegoat.

Flash-forward fifteen years. Valerie Adler has found a measure of fame and fortune working as the weathergirl at the local TV station. Addie Downs lives alone in her parents’ house in their small hometown of La Prairie, Illinois, caring for a troubled brother and trying to meet Prince Charming on the Internet. She’s just returned from Bad Date #6, when she opens her door to find her long-gone best friend standing there, with a terrified look on her face and blood on the sleeve of her coat. “Something horrible has happened,” Val tells Addie,…

Author Event: Jennifer Weiner

*Please note that Jennifer Weiner’s  NEW YORK CITY book signing event on MAY 13^TH (previously scheduled at Borders Columbus Circle) has CHANGED LOCATION to BORDERS PARK AVE. (461 Park Avenue at 57^th street).

Please make this location change in your calendar listings. New details are below. Thank you!!

 

WHO: Best-selling author Jennifer Weiner 

 

WHAT: Jennifer Weiner will be speaking, answering questions and signing books from her New York Times #1 bestselling novel -  Best Friends Forever

 

WHERE: BORDERS 461 Park Avenue at 57^th st.

 

WHEN: Thursday, May 13th at 7:00PM

Chick Lit Author: Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner was born in Louisiana on an army base, but grew up mostly in Simsbury, Connecticut.  She attended Princeton University and graduated with a degree in English literature. She published her first novel, Good in Bed, in 2001, and has since published 7 more. Weiner has made many appearances on the popular TV programs The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, and The Martha Stewart Show. She has also been published in Seventeen, Salon, Redbook, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, and Elle.

Jennifer Weiner’s titles include: Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, Little Earthquakes, Goodnight Nobody, The Guy Not Taken, Certain Girls, Best Friends Forever, and her latest novel, Fly Away Home, is set to be published in July of 2010. In Her Shoes was turned into a motion picture in 2002, starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine.

Weiner currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband Adam, two daughters, Lucy and Phoebe, and their rat terrier, Wendell.

Click Here to Visit Jennifer’s Website!