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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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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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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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I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk
Chick Lit Review

I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk

I Heart Paris, the follow-up novel from Lindsey Kelk’s I Heart Hollywood, picks up where heroine Angela Clark left off. Back in New York and still with boyfriend Alex, Angela is busy working on her blog and trying to decide if she should move in with Alex. Alex keeps asking Angela, but Angela is hesitant because of a messy breakup in her past. When Alex suddenly needs to fly to Paris to perform in a live concert with his band, he asks Angela to go with her. At the same time, Angela is offered a terrific writing opportunity on Paris fashion, and happily heads across the Pond. As usual with Angela, nothing seems to go her way once she lands. Alex’s crazy ex-girlfriend seems to keep popping up wherever Alex is, her writing assignment is not going as smoothly as she hoped, and someone from her work may be trying to sabotage her. Between trying to keep her relationship alive and maintain a professional career, Angela’s trip to Paris is anything but uneventful!
I Heart Paris is definitely going on my Favorites list. The writing was humorous, the characters were extremely likeable, and I loved the air of mystery surrounding the possible work sabotage. It was also refreshing to read a story where the boyfriend is actually a good guy! I loved Alex’s character and how much he loved Angela despite her increasingly clumsy ways and the miscommunication involving the ex-girlfriend. The visions of Paris made me feel like I was in the city, and the fashion will please chick lit fans immensely. I’ve realized that I’ve said I’ve loved parts of this book about three times now, so I definitely need to give it a 5 star rating. This is the third in Lindsey Kelk’s ‘I Heart’ series: I Heart New York, I Heart Hollywood and I Heart Paris, and I sure hope we get a fourth!
Rating: 5/5

September 6, 2010
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Tuesday Tells it Slant by Holly Christine
Chick Lit Review

Tuesday Tells it Slant by Holly Christine

Tuesday Tells it Slant by Holly Christine hits the top of my list for favorite books! I was a bit hesitant to get excited about reading this, the synopsis didn’t fully catch my attention and actually confused me a bit. But once I started and got past the first few jumbled pages, I couldn’t put it down. The story follows the journal entries of Tuesday Morning and the defining moments in her life, from her relationship with her twin sister, Monday, to securing her first real job, to falling in love. But when Tuesday’s life starts slipping out of control, she decides to do something about it. Re-writing her past seems to be the only way she can control her future, so she revisits her journal, methodically changing what has already happened into a new story, redirecting her into a new future. But how precious is the past, and did Tuesday make a mistake rewriting hers?
I know that my synopsis of the story probably sounds just as confusing, but I really think everyone should try this book out. The concept is so intriguing, someone wanting to rewrite their past all with a paper and pen. While I was reading, I found myself wondering what I would change if I had the power to, or if I would leave all my memories intact. I found Christine’s writing to be thought-provoking and eloquent, even while discussing some of the harsh realities people must face. The beginning may throw some readers off like it did myself. The journal entries skip around from events among the years, but once you get just a few pages in, you can start to see a pattern amongst the dates. I highly enjoyed this novel; I found it to be a refreshing break from the usual chick lit or women’s fiction pattern. Tuesday Tells is Slant gets five stars from me.
Rating: 5/5

August 28, 2010
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Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe
Chick Lit Review

Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe

Sasha Miller had the unfortunate luck of meeting Theo Dexter. Sasha, a shy, naïve young woman, Sasha was studying at Cambridge University to become a scientist. Theo, an egotistical, seductive womanizer, convinces Sasha to embark upon an affair with him, filling her mind with stories that his wife, Theresa, is to blame for the demise of his marriage. Falling completely under Theo’s spell, Sasha trusts Theo with everything- until he betrays her in such a way that Sasha must leave Cambridge, must transform herself into a new woman. Intent on getting her revenge, Sasha becomes obsessed on how to make Theo pay for ruining her life.
Scandalous by Tilly Bagshawe is truly that- Scandalous. Once I started reading this novel, there was no putting it down. There are about four main characters, and each of there stories are delicately interlaced with one another. The plot methodically moves along, and readers watch as Sasha gets humiliated while Theo becomes a super star in Hollywood. Not only does this story touch on love, betrayal, vengeance, and scandal, but there is also the celebrity world mixed in, with the glamorous lives only the rich and shameless can live. Bagshawe’s writing reminds me of another great writer- Jackie Collins- but the stories are more personal, more realistic. Scandalous definitely belongs on my Favorites list!
Rating: 4.5/5

August 23, 2010
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