Tag Archives: Chick-lit

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

Book Review
Book Review

Book Review of Wedding Night: 1 Treasure Box
Publisher: Random House Audio, Audible Audio Edition, Listening Length: 13 hours and 13 minutes (464 pages,) ASIN: B00CAZKFJ4

Lottie is convinced that the man she has been dating for four years is going to ask her to become his wife. Fliss, the older and wiser sister, is going through a divorce. However, things do not go as expected, so when Lottie ends up engaged to an old flame, someone she has not seen in fifteen years, Fliss does everything she can to stop the marriage from becoming official

Madeleine Wickham is the author of this book written under the pen name of Sophie Kinsella. She has written numerous books under this name, including the  Shopaholic novels.  Please see my other reviews at Sophie Kinsella reviews. All of these novels including Wedding Night are considered chick lit. The story is told in the first person narrative alternating between two sisters. 

Wedding Night combines and interweaves two story lines and is told in the alternating voice of these two sisters, showing their different perspectives.  I l

iked Lottie’s character, but I found Fliss annoying at times. The story had no suspense or sense of mystery and I knew after the first third of the book what was going to happen. I also found the story unrealistic and trying. Especially all the scenes concerning Lottie and Ben’s wedding night experience. Although I think the biggest flaw in the book was the lack of romance.

There were a few funny scenes in this book, but overall I found it rather lackluster and disappointing. I did finish the book, but I could only rate it as okay. Not good, not bad, just okay. Overall, I was disappointed because it was not what I had come to expect from this author.

To Purchase: “Wedding Night” from Amazon, click here or on picture above


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Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

Book Review

Book Review of Where We Belong: 3 Treasure Boxes
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (July 24, 2012), File Size: 477 KB, Print Length: 383 pages, ASIN: B0071NMK66

Marian is a successful television producer and she has everything, a great job, a wonderful boyfriend, and a big secret. A secret that she has kept for 18 years, but which is about to be exposed to the world. When 18 year old Kirby knocks on her door, she sees her daughter for the first time in 18 years and Marian is forced to examine the decisions she made 18 years ago.

Emily Giffin has written numerous books, and they all fall into the chick-lit genre but Where We Belong is also a drama and a romance story. It is told in a first person narrative alternating between the main protagonist, Marian’s and her daughter Kirby’s point of view.

The theme of this book is secrets, and it reveals the power of destruction behind the secret. The story shows how a secret can become an emotional barricade that separates us from the people in our lives. The characters are all well rounded and interesting. My favorite character was Kirby, she knew what she wanted and she went after it, even though she was afraid and she did not know how she would be received. Although I could not really understand why she had a difficult time with her parents, I still thought it was believable. I also loved all the scenes with Conrad, because he was an intriguing and sexy character.

Where We Belong is a standalone novel that captured my interest from the very first line and I thought the story built up to a satisfying ending. There were no real surprises and it pretty much went where I thought it would. I recommend this book as a very good read and I stayed up late several nights because I found it hard to put down.

 Favorite Quotes:

“So I guess what I’m trying to say is that life is fast. And it keeps speeding up. Sometimes I lose track of the season-or even the year. And we just have to make the best of it all. Our choices. Our fleeting moments together.” (location 3973)

 “Although too much time has gone by to miss her, I feel regret that I didn’t maintain our friendship. Even if we no longer have much in common, we would have always had the past, which, in some ways, is just as important as the present or future. It is where we come from, what makes us who we are”. (location 4284)

 “It’s about wanting something real-even if it’s messy and complicated. It’s what Kirby has taught me.” (location 5151)

Question to Ponder:

Often in the book Ms. Giffin states that secrets and lies are the same thing, do you agree, do you think they are the same thing? 

To Purchase: “Where We Belong” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

Thin Rich Bitches by Janet Eve Josselyn

Book Review: 2 Treasure Boxes
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, File Size: 459 KB, Print Length: 259 pages, ASIN: B007JCSNDI

Pippin, a newly divorced single mother, is starting a new life in a posh community where she is land rich and cash poor.  Pippin is down to earth but in her new life she needs to learn to deal with the snooty women of Dover, and even though the road gets a bit bumpy, she finds her way.

Janet Eve Josselyn’s debut novel is a chick-lit story told in a first person narrative by the main protagonist. The story takes place in Dover, Massachusetts..

Pippin, a likeable woman, is forced to deal with some equally unpleasant women, but she doesn’t let them get her down.  Pippin is more like a real woman, middle aged and ten pounds overweight. We cheer her on as she learns to deal with life on her own terms.

Thin Rich Bitches is a standalone novel that follows an interesting path through the world of chick-lit. I enjoyed the journey and recommend the book as a good read.

To Purchase: “Thin Rich Bitches” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Book Review: 3 Treasure Boxes
Publisher: Random House Audio, Listening Length: 13 hours and 25 minutes (368 pages), ASIN: B0078XQXDA

 


Poppy has just lost her engagement ring after a champagne lunch and just when she thinks things cannot get any worse, someone steals her phone. Lucky for her she finds a working phone in a trash can, but is it lucky for the business man who owns the phone?

Madeleine Wickham is the author of this book written under the pen name of Sophie Kinsella. She has written numerous books under this name, both Shopaholic books and the other standalone novels centering on various characters. Please see my other Sophie Kinsella reviews at https://books-treasureortrash.com/?s=sophie+kinsella. All of these novels including I’ve Got Your Number are considered chick lit. Most of her books also fall under comedy as they are usually funny and amusing. The story is told in the first person narrative with the voice and thoughts of the main character, Poppy Wyatt, as we follow her through her life.

This is an amusing and fun read. Poppy is a likeable young women and her use of the “footnote” is quirky and fun to read. The overall style continues in typical Kinsella fashion as our heroine gets herself in and out of trouble and along the way she figures out her life. The story is a bit predictable but includes a few heartwrenching moments.

This is a standalone story with a few twists and a great ending. I recommend this book as a very good read and anyone who is a Sophie Kinsella or chick-lit fan should be sure to add this book onto their list.

To purchase: “I’ve Got Your Number” from Amazon, click here or on picture above


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Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Book Review: 3 Treasure Boxes
Publisher: Macmillan Audio, Listening Length: 10 hours and 18 minutes (400 pages), ASIN: B003LTOIK0

The Russos have the perfect marriage, or so it seems from the outside. A young boy is badly burned. Each family is facing a crisis and how they deal with it determines their true character.

Emily Griffin has written five books and they all fall into the chick-lit genre.  Matters of the Heart is told in a first person narrative alternating between the two main protagonists.  Tessa Russo is the wife of a prominent pediatric surgeon.  Valerie Anderson is a single mother, who becomes involved with Dr. Russo after her son is badly burned.

This story has great character development, all the characters are likeable and I could understand where everyone was coming from. I was totally engaged from the first page. A story which revolves around a young boy, who is seriously burned, peaked my interest immediately and tore at my heart. I have read some of Ms. Griffin’s other novels, and I was intrigued with the connection to Something Borrowed. Tessa’s brother and sister-in-law are the same Dex and Rachel who are featured in that novel.

This is a standalone book. The story kept me guessing right up until the end.  I found the situation touching and it brought tears to my eyes several times  If you enjoy a good book in the chick-lit genre, then you should definitely read Matters of the Heart.

To Purchase: “Heart of the Matter” from Amazon, click here or on picture above


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The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

This entry is part [part not set] of 1 in the series The Friday Night Knitting Club

Book Review: 2 Treasure Boxes
First book  in The Friday Night Knitting Club series.
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. (June 6, 2007), Audible Audio Edition, Listening Length: 12 hour(s) and 41 min.(384 pages), ASIN: B000RNKHIU

Georgia Walker and her twelve year old daughter are the proprietors of Walker and Daughter, a little yarn shop in Manhattan. Together with the women in their lives they develop a Friday night knitting club which is a safe place where they can get together to knit, eat and discuss life. This book is a slice of life for these six women as they each struggle with their own challenges helping each other.

Kate Jacobs has written four novels all concerning the members of the Friday Night Knitting Club. This is a chick-lit book that revolves around a group of women who help and support each other. It is told in the third person narrative with the voice and thoughts of the main characters.

The Friday Night Knitting Club had a bit of a slow beginning, initially just focusing on Georgia and Dakota. But soon we are introduced to the other members in the club and once we get to know all the different characters, we really start to care about them. I also like how Ms. Jacobs uses the analogy of knitting a garment with living our lives. The book weaves an interesting tale of these women and their lives with a shocking ending.

This is a standalone book, it was interesting but not really exciting. If you enjoy reading slice of life, chick-lit books then you should give this book a try.

 

My favourite quote from the book:  “You’ve been really kind to me, to Perry, all of us.  I kinda wanted to make a film about that, about women pursuing their dreams and being independent.

To Purchase: “The Friday Night Knitting Club” from Amazon click here or on picture above

 

Second Chance by Jane Green

Book Review: 2 Treasure Boxes
Publisher: Penguin Audiobooks (May 23, 2007), Listening Length: 11 hour(s) and 40 min (400 pages), ASIN: B000SAGYJS

Four friends are reunited after 20 years following the death of a good friend who connects them all.  Holly, Olivia, Paul, and Saffron are all close to 40 and they soon realize that they need each other. They are forced to examine their loves and lives while dealing with tragic grief from their loss.

Jane Green has written 12 best selling novels all dealing with women and falling under the chick-lit genre. Second Chance was on the New York Times Bestseller list for several months. It is told in the third person narrative with the voice and thoughts of the various characters.

Although the subject matter is serious and sad the story is light. Second Chance is an entertaining book, at times it made me laugh and at other times it made me cry. The character’s were interesting, but not too deep.  The best part of the book was the ending, it did not go where I thought it would but I liked the direction it took.

If you find yourself with a free weekend and you are looking to curl up and read an interesting story about women just hitting their 40’s who are examining their lives, then I recommend you pick up Second Chance.
To buy: “Second Chance” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

 

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Book Review: 3 Treasure Boxes
Publisher: Dell (Oct 30 2007), Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages, ISBN-10: 9780440242383, ISBN-13: 978-0440242383

What if the worst thing that happened to you turned out to be the best thing? Samantha, a high stressed lawyer, on the eve of becoming a partner in the most prestigious firm in England, discovers she has made a mistake that will cost her client 50 million pounds. She freaks out and runs away, stumbling onto an estate where she is mistakenly assumed to be the new nanny. Samantha doesn’t know anything about being a domestic helper, she can’t cook nor clean. In fact, in the past her solution to changing the vacuum cleaner bag is to buy a new vacuum. This is her story of transformation and growth, a time when she learns there is a different way to live.

Madeleine Wickham is the author of  The Undomestic Goddess written under the pen name of Sophie Kinsella. She has written 10 books under this name, 6 of these books are Shopaholic books and the other 4 are stand alone novels centering around various characters. All of her novels are considered Chick-lit. Most of her books can also fall under the comedy genre as they are usually funny and amusing, although this book does not qualify as a comedy since it is more serious. The story is told in the first person narrative with Samantha’s voice and thoughts as we follow her through her life.

I really enjoyed this story, although the premise is somewhat silly and kinda of unrealistic, it was still very interesting and well written. I liked Samantha’s transformation and I was rooting for her throughout her trials. I enjoyed how the story progressed, showing Samantha’s reaction to her error, then her growth as she comes to terms with her new situation. The love story was endearing. The ending was sweet and touching.

I recommend this book. This is a stand alone book. If you enjoy reading Chick-lit then don’t pass up on The Undomestic Goddess.

My Favourite Quote from the book:  ” You only get one chance at life.”

 

Questions to ponder:

Did anyone else think this was an unrealistic premise?

Who was your favourite character?

 

To Purchase: “The Undomestic Goddess” from Amazon, click here or on picture above

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Book Review: 2 Treasure Boxes
Publisher: Dial Press Trade Paperback; Reprint edition (March 9, 2010), Paperback: 448 pages, ISBN-10: 0385342039, ISBN-13: 978-0385342032

Twenties Girl is an enjoyable feel-good book with a new heroine, Lara Lington and her side kick, a ghost named Sadie.  It is in the same style as the Shopaholics books with a story that centres around a young woman in her early twenties who is trying to make it out in the world on her own.  There are certainly some parts in the book that are laugh out loud funny.

Madeleine Wickham is the author of this book written under the pen name of Sophie Kinsella. She has written numerous books under this name, both Shopaholic books and the other standalone novels centering on various characters. Please see my other Sophie Kinsella reviews at https://books-treasureortrash.com/?s=sophie+kinsella. All of these novels including Twenties Girl are considered chick lit. Most of her books also fall under comedy as they are usually funny and amusing. The story is told in the first person narrative with the voice and thoughts of the main character, Lara Lington, as we follow her through her life

It took me a while to warm-up to this book as I found the ghost Sadie to be a bit irritating in the beginning of the book, but as the story goes on Sadie becomes more likable. Lara is not as quirky as Becky is in the Shopaholic books, and most of the humour stems from things that Sadie does but Lara is a very likable person. It would be a lot of fun to have someone around who can go an anonymously check things out for you and who can influence the people around you to do what you wanted through ghostly influence.

I liked both Lara and Sadie’s stories although it was very formulaic. I enjoyed the twenties aspect of the story as well and it was a nice tribute to the elderly. Sadie’s story was very sad although it did have a satisfying ending.  I also thought the uncle’s journey was unrealistic, but overall it was a lot of fun to read and it left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling at the end of the book.

Question to ponder: Would you like a helpful ghost around helping you with their ghostly influence?

To Purchase: “Twenties Girl” from Amazon, click here or on picture above