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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Her Brother’s Shotgun Wedding by Noreen Riley
Chick Lit Review

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Her Brother’…

Evelyn Dunleavy is shocked when her older brother Michael calls to tell her he is getting married. With Evie and her family living in the States while Michael lives in London, the family doesn’t even know his bride to be- who also happens to be pregnant. Michael convinces Evie to fly to London and stay there until the wedding, helping with the wedding plans and to be a supportive base for himself. Evie is forced to room with Michael’s friend Nate, but quickly gets over her dislike for rooming with a stranger when she lays eyes on the gorgeous entrepreneurial Nate. But can she really engage in a relationship with him when they live on different sides of the Pond, not to mention the fact that Michael has an extreme dislike for any of his friends dating his little sister?
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Her Brother’s Shotgun Wedding, the debut novel by Noreen Riley, is a classic contemporary blend of romance and comedy. The main character is extremely likeable and relatable, with some hilarious character flaws about her. The supporting cast, including both families involved in the wedding plus a slew of Evie’s best friends, fill up the rest of the pages with drama, attitudes, and enough wit to keep readers satisfied until the end. A Funny Thing follows the chick lit standards, but the characters, setting, and plot keep this novel unique and fast-paced. Riley showcases an excellent debut, and I wouldn’t mind if a sequel about Evie was in the works-but maybe one with a shorter title!
Rating: 4/5

September 26, 2010
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Waxed by Robert Rave
Chick Lit Review

Waxed by Robert Rave

I don’t usually get many chick lit books sent my way by male authors, but the few I have, I really enjoyed them. When I read the synopsis for Waxed by Robert Rave and saw that a male author was taking on three sisters who run their own waxing salon and specialize in waxing “lady bits” I couldn’t help but be surprised. A male discussing failed relationships, cheating scandals- and bikini waxes?
From just a few pages in, I was sold. Carolina Impresario, the oldest of the three sisters and owner of Impresarios, seems to have everything under control. But her no nonsense attitude and how she unapologetically runs her salon and personal life is only a façade. When she has to choose between her boyfriend and previous lover, readers can connect with Carolina on a more personal journey, beyond money, success, and glamour. The middle sister, Anna, is the domestic one, trying to raise her three children by herself after her husband left the family. Anna struggles to get back to work at Impresarios, and takes on a job with an older client who teaches Anna more about experiencing life that she ever knew was possible. With one of her children choosing to lead an unconventional lifestyle, Anna finds in increasingly difficult to be a single parent to her three children, but doesn’t know how to act when her ex appears back in her life. And Sophia is the youngest, recently married and faithfully in love with her husband. When a gay client befriends Sophia, she learns more about love, marriage, and commitment than she bargained for.
The three sisters struggle through their personal issues, and I sped quickly through the pages trying to soak it all in. Rave does an excellent job at giving each sister her own unique voice, and though their situations are definitely out there, I felt I could relate in some way to each sister. I was invested in each one and wanted to see them succeed, and I just love novels that can make me feel a personal connection with the characters. Rave managed to do this with not only one heroine, but three. I can’t sing enough praises about Waxed, the characters were flawless, the writing smooth, and the setting of an upscale New York waxing salon brought in the comedy. Five stars!
Rating: 5/5

September 24, 2010
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Fragile by Lisa Unger
Chick Lit Review

Fragile by Lisa Unger

The Hollows, a small, secluded town just outside of New York, is a charming town where everyone knows one another and all their family business. A relatively safe and quiet area, the Hollows only holds one dreadful secret, rarely mentioned by the town’s community. When Maggie and Jones Cooper were in high school, Sarah Meyers, another high school student with a bright future, was found dead in the woods. Her body had been badly mutilated, and the town was disturbed that a callous killer could be living among them. Though someone eventually admitted to the murder of Sarah and died in prison, people were still uneasy and dissatisfied with the horrific situation.
Twenty years after Sarah’s death, another high school girl suddenly vanishes after a fight with her mother. Maggie and Jones Cooper’s son, Rick, is astonished when his girlfriend, Charlene Murray, is the one who disappears. No one knows if she ran off to New York to follow her dream of being in band, or if something terrible has happened- something like what happened to Sarah Meyers. The town bands together to try to solve the disappearance of Charlene, and while doing so, opens up all the unanswered questions of Sarah’s murder. Was the man who admitted to killing her actually not have committed the crime? Is the murderer of Sarah still in the town, and could he be responsible for Charlene?
Fragile, the contemporary thriller from Lisa Unger, is an excellent mystery that left me guessing until the end. The secrets the town holds pulls a dark cloud over everyone as they fear another murder case will come to light. The point of view switches between key players in the story, and readers will enjoy getting a small taste of different characters thoughts and ideas. Slowly and methodically, pieces of the puzzle can be put together, but my favorite part of this story was that there was no obvious killer. I don’t like when I read a mystery and the guilty is so obvious to figure out, so that aspect made me really enjoy Fragile. The way that outside characters and events are woven into the heart of the story brings this thriller full circle, and I highly recommend this latest from best-selling author Lisa Unger.
Rating: 4/5

September 23, 2010
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A Desirable Residence by Madeleine Wickham
Chick Lit Review

A Desirable Residence by Madeleine Wickham

I am a huge fan of all Sophie Kinsella’s novels, Shopaholic and non-Shopaholic, so I couldn’t wait to read one under her real name- Madeleine Wickham. My first novel read was her latest, A Desirable Residence, and I loved it! I’m just a bit saddened that I can’t give it a five star rating, but I definitely recommend this to all chick lit fans.
This story has many characters jostling for the spotlight, a handful of sub plots, and an abundance of juicy drama. Liz Chambers, who seems quite likeable at first glance, turns out to be a self-centered wife and mother who becomes bored with her mundane husband and living life in debt. When wealthy realtor Marcus Witherstone takes a drunken pass at her, she eagerly delves into the affair, convinced her life would be better as Marcus’s wife where she would be out of debt and constantly going to exciting events on his arm. Marcus convinces Liz and husband Jonathan to rent out their unsold house to Ginny and Piers Prentice. Piers is a struggling actor hoping to secure a lead part on one of the hottest soap operas on television, and Ginny is beside herself thinking her husband is about to become famous and their lives will be changed for the better. Liz and Jonathan’s teenage daughter, Alice, strikes up a peculiar friendship with Ginny and Piers, partly because she has a crush on Piers and partly because she thinks Ginny is a million times cooler than her own mom. All these lives intersect in the most engaging ways, and all the drama comes to a head when Ginny throws a party for Piers the night of his final audition. Chaos ensues, friendships are broken, and some unexpected endings are in store for readers.
Like I stated previously, I highly enjoyed A Desirable Residence. Lessons were learned from the characters that readers can take note of, there was enough drama to last for days, and the cliff hanger at the end kept me wondering. The reason why I don’t want to give it five stars is because multiple times I felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of characters and the situations they were in. More than once I found myself confused on who was with who and why they were acting that way and what that meant and so on and so on. I do like when books have all these different tales to tell, but when too many characters get in the way, my dislike shines through. Other than that, I thought Wickham’s writing was excellent and her expertise in the field of chick lit is clearly evident.
Rating: 4/5

September 21, 2010
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Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley
Chick Lit Review

Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley

Emma Tremayne lost her boyfriend and snazzy PR job all in one day, and flees to the Lake District in need of finding herself and forgetting bad memories. She takes up another PR job, and her first assignment is helping a local mountain rescue group raise money for their base. Her idea is to have the twelve male members pose for a “tasteful nude calendar” in hopes of selling enough to raise the funds. The idea is met with some doubts at first, but eventually all the men agree to pose- except one. Will Tennant is the most gorgeous and spearheaded man Emma has ever laid eyes on, but she does not want to feel attracted to him after learning he left another woman at the alter. As her time at the Lake District stretches on, Emma and Will’s feelings slowly begin to show for another, and a near tragic accident leads them to finally admit how they truly feel about each another.
Dating Mr. December by British author Phillipa Ashley is a typical romantic story, telling the tale of a boy and girl who so clearly belong together yet get twisted and tangled along the way before admitting they’re in love. What made this more than the typical romance story was Ashley’s comedic tone that she brought to help make the characters come alive. I especially enjoyed that she not only wrote from Emma’s point of view, but also Will’s, giving readers more of an insight on these two characters. Somewhere in the middle of the story the plot began to fall flat for me, but near the end the pace really picked up. I loved the beautiful ending to the story, and it made want to hear more about these characters and their new lives together.
Rating: 4/5

September 18, 2010
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A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff
Chick Lit Review

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

Phoebe Swift is willing to make desperate changes in her life. After the death of her best friend and calling off her engagement, Phoebe abruptly quits her posh job at Sotheby’s and opens her own vintage shop. Her passion for previously worn clothes and the stories they once told is Phoebe’s hook for running her own business, and she quickly befriends a Mrs. Bell and begins to learn her stories. Mrs. Bell is a widow dying of cancer, and asks Phoebe to sell her clothes to new owners. While looking through Mrs. Bell’s closet, Phoebe stumbles upon a child’s blue jacket, and the story behind it fills the pages with mystery and sadness, but a happy ending.
A Vintage Affair by best-selling author Isabel Wolff is a beautifully written story about the essence of friendship, forgiving oneself, and finding love in unexpected places. There are many subject matters that will pull heartstrings, and I found myself wide-eyed in many places due to the emotional intensity of the characters and their situations. Wolff did an excellent job when it came to research for this novel, and it showed when I became quickly immersed in the storyline and could not put this book down. I did think there were a bit too many sub-plots for my liking, but other than that, an excellent read and a definite recommendation from me!
Rating: 4/5

September 17, 2010
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Nancy’s Theory of Style by Grace Coopersmith
Chick Lit Review

Nancy’s Theory of Style by Grace Coopersmith

Nancy Carrington-Chambers is the perfect socialite living in the Bay area with her husband of three years, Todd. When the immaculate Nancy decides that Todd is displaying poor taste in the house he has built and is in danger of ruining her perfect reputation, she decides to get some space from her husband and concentrate on her event planning business, Froth. The first step is to move out of the awful home she shares with Todd and into her own space, where her focus can be solely her business. The next step is to hire an assistant, and to Nancy’s surprise and delight, Todd offers to pay for Derek, the perfect gay English assistant. Everything is running smoothly until Nancy’s flighty cousin leaves her young daughter, Eugenia, in the care of Nancy without so much of a thank you, let alone directions on how to care for a child. To make matters worse, Nancy realizes she is falling in love with her gay assistant, and the thought of leaving her husband is becoming more and more desirable.
Nancy’s Theory of Style by Grace Coopersmith is a hilarious read filled with many laughs, some quirky characters, and fun plot twists. Nancy’s character starts out stiff and borderline unlikable, and I really enjoyed watching her find balance and become less obsessed with perfection. I loved the plot line with caring for her cousin’s daughter, and the emotions tied in with those scenes actually caused me to tear up a few times. I thought Coopersmith’s writing was comedic yet the lessons she was speaking of were profound, and the way she tied them together was, well, perfect. I definitely recommend Nancy’s Theory of Style!

September 14, 2010
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I Remember You by Harriet Evans
Chick Lit Review

I Remember You by Harriet Evans

Tess Tennant makes a drastic decision when she moves from London back to her quaint hometown of Langford. After living 12 years in the fast paced town of London, Tess loses her job and her boyfriend, and decides to hightail it back home. She secures a job as a classics professor, and quickly finds another London transplant to room with her. Tess’s bests and oldest friend, Adam, still lives in Langford, and their friendship quickly becomes strong once again after Tess moves back. Friends since their childhood, Tess and Adam have survived many tests of friendships. But now, after years living in different cities, they are forced to deal with the situation that almost tore their tight bond apart.
I Remember You by Harriet Evans is a breathtaking read of friendship and love, filled with many surprises and twists along the way. Each time I thought I figured out the plot, another loophole was thrown in to knock me off balance. Evan’s writing is fun yet emotional, and though I thought the story started off a bit too slow, the characters easily overpowered me and pulled me into their lives. With so many supporting characters- Tess’s London roommate, the elderly and cruel town villain, and the American heartthrob Tess falls for in Rome, it is near impossible not to fall in love with this novel.
Rating: 4/5

September 11, 2010
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Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright
Chick Lit Review

Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright

Elyse Bearden is unhappily married to Phil, a husband who leaves Post-it notes instead of having conservations with his wife. While the two live separate lives, only on occasion coming together when it involves their young daughter, Elyse struggles with the idea of getting a divorce. She and her friends live the surburbia housewife lives: having bake sales and book club meetings and dinner parties. What would happen to her friendships, and what the others in the town think of her?
On a flight home from Phoenix, Elyse meets Gerry Kincaid on the plane, and not before long, begins a torrid affair with the also-married Gerry. The secret escapes, hotel visits, and late night phone calls allow both Elyse and Gerry to have an escape from their failing marriages. Elyse confides only in her best friend Kelly, who also once carried on an affair with a married man. Kelly does her best in trying to warn Elyse that affairs often lead to heartbreak, and Elyse’s case- could cost her custody of her daughter.
Love in Mid Air, the debut novel from Kim Wright, offers a fresh take on marriage, love, family, and the meaning of friendship. Not too often do we read about the wives having the affair, usual the husband is grazing in greener pastures and the wife needs to pick up the pieces. Though I have never been on the giving or receiving end of an affair, much less been married, I felt I really connected with the main character and the emotions she was feeling. At many times, it seemed she didn’t feel guilty about her adulterous way, which may not be “right” but made her seem that much more real. Wright’s deeply personal writing on her character’s life is what made me like this book so much. I also loved the friendship between Elyse and Kelly, that sub plot made for such an entertaining and wild escape. The only reasons why I can’t give Love in Mid Air a five star rating is because I felt the affair started off way too quickly, without enough back story on the main character to understand why she so calmly began the affair, and because the plot got a little to jumpy between past and present at times. Other than those two details, I loved it and can’t wait to read more from Kim Wright.
Rating: 4/5

September 10, 2010
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