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Slim to None by Jenny Gardiner
Chick Lit Review

Slim to None by Jenny Gardiner

Abbie Jennings loves her job as Manhattan’s top food critic- until her identity is revealed and her unflattering picture with ever-expanding waistline is splashed across the newspapers. She becomes the joke of the town as the overweight food lover, and promptly loses her job at the New York Post since she can no longer go incognito to restaurants. Abbie takes this opportunity to finally go on that diet and shed some pounds, but struggles with motivation and the reasoning behind her relationship with food. To add to Abbie’s problems, she is going through a difficult time with her husband, who is trying to persuade her to leave the city and finally start a family. It takes the guidance of an unusual friend to finally help Abbie see what she really wants out of life.
Slim to None by Jenny Gardiner is a good story. I didn’t get real invested in the main character, and some off the story lines seemed just a bit off for me. I did like the plot, and the descriptions of some of the delectable dishes made me start eating while reading, but it just wasn’t enough. Sometimes, Abbie’s character came off as incredibly selfish, never really listening to her husband and continually doing things the way she wanted. There is also a best friend in the story, who I never could quite figure out what she was doing there. She popped up at random times, and during most of the meat of the story, she wasn’t mentioned at all, only to return once again at the end. I found myself confused throughout the duration, as the writing was a bit all over the place and jumping from scene to scene without any real fluidity. Like I said earlier, I did like the story, I thought it was interesting though not necessarily unique, and I believe some good life lessons can be taken away from the main character’s troubles. Slim to None won’t be on my Favorites List, but I think some other chick lit lovers will be able to appreciate this story.
Rating: 3/5

October 29, 2010
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Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis by Robyn Harding
Chick Lit Review

Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis by Robyn Harding

Lucy is shocked when her husband of 16 years, Trent, announces he is leaving her. She knows that their relationship hasn’t been the best for a few years, but with careers and their fifteen-year old daughter Sam entering the teenage angst years, she never thought she would actually be heading for a divorce. Trent is tired of his boring marriage and wants his freedom- and the ability to get one his co-workers into bed. Trent has been eyeing the voluptuous Annika while on the job, but she wouldn’t give him the time of day unless he was separated from his wife. Finally on his own, Trent gets his singledom and Annika- but suddenly wonders if that is the life he truly wants. Lucy tries to pick up the pieces of her broken marriage, but when her job throws her together with a teen heartthrob actor (also her daughter’s biggest crush) Lucy’s life begins to spiral downwards.
Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis by Robyn Harding is heartfelt novel that draws readers into the lives of the characters by giving both Lucy and Trent a voice. The chapters are written in alternating point of views from both husband and wife, giving us a chance to really understand both sides and why this marriage failed. Deep emotions are revealed, self-doubt and guilt among others, and be prepared for this story to really make you think and feel for all the characters, not just Lucy and Trent. I really appreciated the ending of the novel as well, which is a rarity for me. I am usually left feeling unsatisfied in these types of relationship conflict stories, or feeling that the ending is too cliché, but I thought Harding did a fantastic job at tying all the loose ends together and giving the characters the ending they deserved. A definite recommendation from me!
Rating: 4.5/5

October 28, 2010
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John Belushi is Dead by Kathy Charles
Chick Lit Review

John Belushi is Dead by Kathy Charles

Seventeen year old Hilda is not a typical teenager. She and her best friend, Benji, are fascinated with death, specifically dead celebrities. They visit the areas of some of LA’s most notorious crime scenes and cemeteries, collecting mementos of death. When Hilda and Benji meet Hank, a reclusive old man living in an apartment where an actor stabbed himself to death, Hilda and Hank form an odd bond. Soon, Hilda is visiting Hank by herself, becoming fascinated in his world and the secrets he keeps. When Hilda meets Jake, Hank’s downstairs neighbor who just happens to be a good looking screenwriter, Hilda begins to questions her fascination in death. Is she missing out on life because of it? When Benji goes too far one night while trying to emulate John Belushi, Hilda finally gets another perspective on living life.
John Belushi is Dead, the debut novel by Kathy Charles, is an interesting YA contemporary novel. The characters are strong, and Charles writing is clearly fantastic. This is more of a dark and edgy novel, not supernatural at all, just digs into the unhappy cases of some real Hollywood murders (the OJ Simpson case, Charles Manson murders, etc). I liked the mystery that surrounds Hank’s character, and a possible love connection between Hilda and Jake adds another layer to the story. I didn’t hate this book, but didn’t quite love it either. I didn’t get as drawn into the plot as I would have liked, as interesting and different as it was. And a little forewarning: this book does contain multiple graphic scenes of murders and death, so if you don’t mesh well with those types of scenes, I wouldn’t recommend this specific title for you. But if you are looking for something on the opposite spectrum of chick lit, I would say check out John Belushi is Dead. There is a good life lesson to be learned from the young heroine.
Rating: 3.5.5

October 19, 2010
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She’s Gone Country by Jane Porter
Chick Lit Review

She’s Gone Country by Jane Porter

Shey Darcy is having a hard time adjusting being back home in Texas. After living in New York City, working as a supermodel with her photographer husband and three sons, Shey is shocked to learn that her husband is leaving her- for another man. Unsure of where else to recover from her heartache, Shey flees to Texas, back to her country roots. Life doesn’t get easier for Shey after the move though. Her teenage sons have trouble adjusting to their new lives as well, Shey’s Southern Baptist mom won’t stop hounding her about her broken life, and Shey’s love from her teenage years enters back into her life- and Shey realizes she may not have stopped loving him.
When I read that She’s Gone Country by Jane Porter focused on a mother struggling with issues within her family, I worried I wouldn’t be able to relate well to the main character- as I am without a husband or children. But Shey’s story wrapped me in and commanded my attention throughout. The love story may have been a bit too overpowering between Shey and her ex-crush, Dane, but I really enjoyed the ending for these characters. As for the motherhood aspect, even though I am not a mom, it was so easy for me to understand the struggles Shey was feeling and coping with. Porter’s writing feels straight from the heart, like Shey opened up her diary for all to read. It is because that emotion, that vulnerability from the main characters, that makes this story so fantastic. A definite recommendation from me for She’s Gone Country!
Rating: 4.5/5

October 15, 2010
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Seven Exes Are Eight Too Many by Heather Wardell
Chick Lit Review

Seven Exes Are Eight Too Many by Heather Wardell

Madeleine-Cora Spencer, or MC, gets a little too drunk one night and decides to sign up for a reality dating show. Her love life is nothing to boast about, so why not? When she is chosen for the show, reality isn’t what it seems. Instead of a Bachelor-esque type dating show, MC is forced into the jungle with seven of her exes! Just when MC didn’t think having her personal life displayed on public TV was bad enough, another ex enters the picture- the one she may still be in love with.
Seven Exes are Eight too Many by Heather Wardell paints a realistic picture of reality TV. Lies, schemes, backstabbing, and not just among teammates, but the production crew as well! The behind the scene look of a craze that has swept society is an interesting concept for a novel, and with Wardell’s excellently placed humor and knack for bringing characters to life, it works. The main character may be slightly (mostly) neurotic, but her flaws only make her that much more relatable for readers. The seven exes each have distinct personalities, and I could easily love them or hate them. A few areas left me a little unsettled though: the concept of the reality show and the producer lying about what the contestants signed up for, and the ending. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but the finale episode didn’t do the story justice, in my opinion. Still an excellent novel from the always clever Heather Wardell, and I would recommend you check out Seven Exes are Eight too Many.
Rating: 4/5

October 13, 2010
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Georgia’s Kitchen by Jenny Nelson
Chick Lit Review

Georgia’s Kitchen by Jenny Nelson

Georgia Gray is set- employed as head chef at one of Manhattan’s best restaurants, fabulous rock on her left finger from Glenn, and the best friends a girl could hope for. But when a less than stellar review is published about her restaurant, Georgia’s outlook is suddenly looks bleak. Jobless with a black mark next to her name in the food industry, though the review came from the extracurricular activities between her boss and the reviewer’s young daughter, Georgia thinks she can at least rely on Glenn, her entertainment lawyer fiancée, to turn to. But when she finds out Glenn has been dabbling in with cocaine while out with “clients” the engagement is broken off. Not knowing where else to turn, Georgia calls up an old friend in Italy and begs for a chef job.
Claudia comes through for Georgia, and soon enough Georgia is happily settling into her Italian countryside trattoria. But when she learns she is not the head chef of the new kitchen, along with feelings of jealousy for Claudia for having the life she so badly covets, Georgia begins to doubt her spontaneous move to Italy. But when she meets Gianni- the perfect Italian man who is ready to sweep her off her feet and offers her a career too delectable Georgia couldn’t possibly pass it up- she just can’t say yes. But can she find the courage to follow her own dreams back in New York?
Georgia’s Kitchen, the debut novel from Jenny Nelson, is five stars! One page was all it took me to be completely hooked on Georgia and her story. One page. I may not know my way around the kitchen, but reading about Georgia and her career as a chef made me feel I was right beside her chopping and dicing and mincing. Then the travel aspect comes in. I love traveling and learning about different countries and cultures, so once Georgia is in Italy, I couldn’t put this book down. I loved that the ending was a bit different than what I expected. There is a happy ending, don’t get me wrong, but I enjoy that Nelson gives Georgia the power to control her life, and not have her crying and pining over her failed relationship at all times. What an exceptional debut from Jenny Nelson, and I look forward to many more from her.
Rating: 5/5

October 9, 2010
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Go Small or Go Home by Heather Wardell
Chick Lit Review

Go Small or Go Home by Heather Wardell

Tess is a struggling artist, working as a therapeutic massage therapist to keep the bills paid. When the massage clinic she works at suddenly closes and she is nowhere near getting paid for her art pieces, Tess goes on an interview for the Toronto Hogs- the professional hockey team. She didn’t know that she would only be working for one of the players instead of the entire team, and quickly runs into a mess of problems with Forrest. Forrest, once a star hockey player who has a multi-million dollar contract with the Hogs after being traded, suffered through a devastating car accident earlier and a groin injury on top of that, and his hockey game isn’t up to par. Tess didn’t realize when she signed on that she would not only being massaging Forrest, but also helping him overcome his inner demons that keep him distracted from hockey. Or that she would fall in love with him. But can Forrest move on from his past so he and Tess can attempt a future together?
Go Small or Go Home by Heather Wardell kept me tearing through the pages, marveling at the love story being played out. There are some deep circumstances surrounding Forrest and Tess, and the emotions are quite intense and heavy throughout. Both characters are highly damaged, but instead of that quality dragging them down, it made it that much better reading about how they could make each other better. Not only is Go Small or Go Home a fantastic love story, but there is another layer about self-discovery. When Tess finally gets her dream career of being an artist to come true, she realizes that maybe working for a gallery owner isn’t all she thought it would be. She is forced to examine her career and future goals to figure out what path she really needs to take to be satisfied in both her personal and professional life. Another gem from Heather Wardell!
Rating: 4.5/5

October 5, 2010
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Vivian Rising by Daniella Brodsky
Chick Lit Review

Vivian Rising by Daniella Brodsky

Vivian Sklar is devastated when she loses her grandmother. Since Vivian’s mother left her years ago, her grandmother became her mother and best friend. Once she passes, Vivian feels utterly alone and terrified of the world, unsure which way to turn, where to go for help. When she finds herself staring at a sign for an astrologer, reader of the stars, she goes for it. What could it hurt?
After talking with Kavia, Vivian thinks she made a silly choice. She’s nothing but a cooky lady wearing odd clothes and warning of the future. But when Kavia urges Vivian not to take the train home, Vivian decides to give her a chance. After learning the same train she would have boarded crashed, Vivian hands the reigns of her life over to Kavia. Following each piece of advice her astrologer dishes out, Vivian bases her life choices on what her readings tell her. When they lead her to Len, the handsome yet guarded grandson of her neighbors, she accepts his attention. When they tell her to ignore her mother for once in her life, Vivian refuses to answer the phone. But can Vivian rely only on the astrologer’s advice her whole life? Will she ever find the strength to write her own future without her grandmother by her side?
Vivian Rising by Daniella Brodsky is an intricate story laced with love, perseverance, and a lot of self doubt. The main character is easy to relate to, a lost soul, scared little girl, afraid to face the future, wanting to know the answers now. The conflict between Vivian and her mother frustrated me at times, and I found myself wishing I could be there to yell at Vivian. I loved how Brodsky’s writing could make me feel like I could just jump into the story alongside the characters. The scenes were vivid, the characters relatable, and the emotions raw. Vivian Rising has many layers to peel back, and readers will be left thinking about their own futures and how self-perseverance will get them there. Seeing the transformation between Vivian at the beginning of the story to where she is at the end is very empowering, adding this novel to my Favorites List.
Rating: 4.5/5

October 1, 2010
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Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo by Heather Wardell
Chick Lit Review

Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo by Heather Wardell

Candice and Ian’s marriage has been strained for the last eight months, ever since Ian’s parents were killed in a car accident. When Ian decides to leave for a month to do overseas work, Candice is relived she has some time alone to reflect on her marriage and whether she should stay with her husband. But when a blast from the past enters the picture, Candice can’t fight the feelings and emotions that come with her ex, Keagan. As the four weeks away from Ian stretches on, Candice gets swept away in the comfort, familiarity, and excitement that Keagan brings to her life. But is she letting Keagan distract her so she doesn’t need to address the painful reason her and Ian have grown apart? Is leaving her husband the right decision, or is there more to life and love that Candice will discover?
Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo, the debut novel from Heather Wardell, was so beautifully written, so touching and relatable that I could feel the characters jump out of the pages while reading, and skyrocketed Wardell to the top of my Favorite Authors list. Her writing flowed so effortlessly between scenes, and the emotions and vulnerability the heroine projected left me reading for hours at a time, unable to tear myself away from the characters. There is no question Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo deserves five stars, and I look forward to many more from Heather Wardell.
Rating: 5/5

September 29, 2010
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