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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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Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker by Marla Martenson
Chick Lit Review

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker by Marla Martenson

Matchmaker, author, and life coach Marla Martenson chronicles her adventures of matchmaking in the land of Los Angeles. Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker is just what it sounds like, giving readers an inside peek into the lives and relationships of those single and looking. With the backdrop being LA, the stories, people, and situations are to the extreme. Martenson has a humorous voice, and I loved reading about how she needed to figure out how to hook up an old, nerdy, overweight, and balding man with a supermodel look-alike who has to have an Ivy league education but prefers to be a 1950’s housewife. Or secure a match for the man who found his sole mate- but her areolas were too large. Or the woman who will sleep with any man as long as he will drop thousands of dollars for her to shop designer labels. Each tale provides new laughter, and I absolutely love this book! I really liked that Marla not only let readers know about her matchmaking work, but also wrote about her own struggles of writing a book, maintaining a wonderful marriage, and keeping her self-esteem up in the city of LA. It’s also a quick read, only took me a couple of sittings to complete, so if you are looking for something fast, funny, and even enlightening, be sure to check out Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker.
Rating: 5/5

August 13, 2010
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The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch
Chick Lit Review

The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch

Tilly Farmer believes she has a great life. At 32 years old, she is still living in her hometown of Westlake, is employed as the guidance counselor at the high school, and married to her high school sweetheart. Her mother may have passed away at a young age, and her father is a recovering alcoholic, but Tilly still firmly believes she possess a fantastic life. The only thing she needs now is a baby. Her and her husband, Tyler, have been having trouble conceiving a child of their own, and now their marriage seems a bit rocky. But Tilly is convinced if they could just have a child, everything would be better.
When Tilly runs into an old childhood friend at a fair, things begin to change. Ashley, now a psychic, gives Tilly the gift of “clarity” regarding her future. Tilly begins having flashes of the future, showing her father having a relapse, her husband leaving her for a better job, and her little sister trying to take her own life. These visions frighten her at first, but after some time, Tilly begins to appreciate her new gift, and realizes the major life changes she is now facing.
The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch is a beautifully written story about woman whose perfect life begins to unravel faster than she can control. I thought the visions the heroine started receiving actually heightened the story instead of hindering the plot. The “hocus pocus” part makes the story a little less relatable to a real life story, but I enjoy the way the author went about it. As I was reading, I found myself asking a lot of the same questions Tilly was asking herself, and in that sense I think I took away a lot from this story, making The One That I Want be added to my Favorites list.
Rating: 4/5

July 14, 2010
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Hook, Line and Sink Him by Jackie Pilossoph
Chick Lit Review

Hook, Line and Sink Him by Jackie Pilossoph

Anna is desperate to get married. So desperate in fact, she hires two guys to help get that shiny ring on her finger. Jeff and Dave, two commitment phobic friends, overhear Anna and her boyfriend getting in an argument during dinner, and tell her their idea to help speed up the engagement process. Anna eagerly pays them, and within weeks- she’s engaged! The three decide to take up a business together- helping women (and men!) get engaged. It’s an easy way to make cash, but before too long, the business starts to get too personal. Dave is being targeted to propose to his girlfriend, and Jeff starts having feelings- for the newly engaged Anna.
Hook, Line, and Sink Him, the debut novel by Jackie Pilossoph, will hook readers from the beginning! This novel was a breath of fresh air for me, letting me laugh out loud, connect with each character, and offer a little something different from the usual chick lit novels- a male’s perspective. The entire novel is written from Jeff’s point of view, and it was unusual to get inside the guy’s head for once and see how he viewed love and relationships. I loved seeing how his love for Anna changed him from a downright player with a different lady every night, to a dog-sitting love puppy. I am putting this on my Favorites list!
Rating: 4.5/5

July 8, 2010
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Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea
Chick Lit Review

Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea

I have been a fan of Chelsea Handler since the beginning of her popular late night show Chelsea Lately on the E! network. When I learned she had books out, of course I had to scoop them up. I started with Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea. And I loved it! The story speeds through Chelsea’s life, ranging from her as a young girl up until she is an adult, highlighting some of the most bizarre and hilarious events that has taken place. From telling her classmates that she is a major movie star with Goldie Hawn, a girl-on-girl stint in jail, and all her crazy family issues in between, this book kept me laughing until the end. Handler’s uninhibited point of view and sarcastic remarks kept me laughing out loud, and even though at times the story line seemed a bit all over, her narrative kept it all flowing together. If you can appreciate cynical, self-deprecating humor and raunchy situations, be sure to check this one out! If you have seen Chelsea Lately and don’t find her funny, or are sensitive to racy content, I would suggest passing.

June 23, 2010
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