Publisher: Piatkus Books (8 Nov 2007)
ISBN-13: 978-0749938543
Clemmie is a soon-to-be 30 year old that excelled in school, went to university, but having returned to her home town and is not having much success in creating a career or a love life for herself.
With a passion for fireworks, she fantasises about the local pyrotechnics entrepreneur, Guy Devlin, who runs Gun Powder Plot. A stroke of luck means their paths finally cross – but is it a smooth ride to happily ever after or will the ex-wife, handful of step-kids and equally explosive business send sparks flying in the wrong direction?
You’ll have to read to find out of course! Though shorter than some of the chick-lit books read over the few months, this was a sparkler of a story to read (sorry had to get a firework reference in somewhere).
It flows well, lots of subtle humour and the storyline gives just the right amount of suspense of will they, won’t they and the characters are so well written that you’ll love the ones Jones wants you to and loathe the loathsome ones.
A lovely book to curl up in the bath or on the sofa with as the fireworks explode on Bonfire Night.
★★★★★
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Publisher: Pan (4 Jun 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0330464369
Lucy Diamond introduces us to Maddie, Jess and Lauren who have all joined Fat Busters to lose weight for their own reasons. Maddie’s been ‘volunteered’ by her bitch of a boss at the local radio station, Jess to fit in her wedding dress and Lauren to beat the post-divorce flab.
You can always tell a good story when it can make you laugh as well as cry. Don’t be fooled by the pretty book cover or the lightness inducing title, it gets quite heavy and sad at times, especially between Maddie and her Mum. The best thing about this book is the author’s ability to take three seemingly very different women and turn them into lifelong friends. Written from each woman’s perspective helps you to bond with the characters and experience their lives as they are going through it and cheer them on as they overcome their obstacles.
An easy read, I had this one finished in one go one Sunday. If you like Milly Johnson’s books – you’ll love this one.
★★★★★
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Publisher: Headline Review (26 Nov 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0755345939
Sarah Duncan’s A Single To Rome novel was recommended by a work colleague which I promptly borrowed. I have to say it’s a lovely book to come home and sit down with a cup of tea to.
Whilst the plot runs a rather comfortably predictable path, it was enjoyable all the same.
Sarah does a wonderful job of running your emotions through the mill with the main character, Natalie, lots of sympathy on the one hand, to one of ‘get a life woman and stop being so pathetic’, but is reflective I guess of any break-up where the person was not the instigator. You see Natalie has been dumped by her boyfriend and an indiscretion from her youth catches up with her professionally.
She meets Guy on a speed date, who offers her just in time, the chance to look after his apartment in Rome which he is trying to sell as part of his divorce. We are taken on the journey of self-discovery and new beginnings, to find that change is not necessarily such a bad thing after all. The self-awareness of the main character towards the end chapters was also quite refreshing.
Let’s not forget the other main character in the story – Rome. The descriptions by Duncan of the Italian city are so breathtakingly gorgeous, you feel that you are actually there.
One to curl up with on the darker nights when you wish it was still summer.
★★★★★
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Remember Me?
Paperback
Publisher: Black Swan (4 Dec 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0552772761
Lexi, a late twenty-something women wakes up in hospital with amnesia from a car crash. She can’t remember her life from the past 3 years where’s she has married a multi-millionaire control- freak, been made head of department at her workplace and become the boss from hell with no friends.
This is my first Kinsella read and I haven’t been left disappointed. Let’s just say, I started the book on the Monday, by Wednesday it had been read as I just had to know why Lexi had changed from the girl-next-door to super-bitch – or is she really?
Kinsella really provides such a smooth and easy read that you find yourself laughing with the main character. It’s also her witty observations of love, friendship and dodgy exe’s down to a T.
Continue reading ‘Book Review: Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella’
Paperback
Publisher: Headline Review (13 May 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0755356478
My fiancé bought this book as a birthday present for me and reading the book’s blurb I was wondering if he was trying to tell me something, especially as I’ve recently turned 31 and I think, like most of us who have hit this age, we are wondering what we are doing with our lives.
Linda Green’s Things I Wish I’d Known (Back when I knew it all…) is the story about Claire Cooper in her mid-30s reflecting on her turbulent teens, when she pursues her teen idol, footballer Andy Pailes.
Whilst some might find the story line of the relationship between 16-year-old Claire and her teen idol Andy Cooper unrealistic, it was heartening to see a chick-lit author deal with such a sensitive issue of teen/adult relationships and the ramifications of such a relationship has on her family, friends and the main character at such a tender age.
When Claire finds a list of things that she wrote when she was fifteen, it forces her to confront the demons of the past and decide where and with who her future lies.
This constant battle throughout the book was at times rather frustrating and I think a sign of a good writer when you wish you could jump into the book and give the main character a good shake. Green keeps you guessing right up until the end which man she’ll choose, which had me on tender-hooks.
The moral I got out of the story was that you shouldn’t let the past rule your future. Thanks fiancé.
Continue reading ‘Book Review: Things I Wish I’d Known by Linda Green’
Paperback
Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd; New edition edition (2 July 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-1847676016
What a fantastic story. Without giving too much away. A boy on a lifeboat which as a menagerie and ends up as moral decisions, it is the epitome for the struggle for a life. Is it as quoted at the beginning of the book, a story of God’s influence when it comes to men and animals, or is it a story about the depravity and the will to survive of man.
The writing is indicative and actually makes you feel for all of the characters, the scenery and the feeling.
★★★★★
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Paperback
Publisher: Pocket Books (29 April 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-1847392831
Johnson provides a heart-warming, lovely story of the friendship that grows when new boss Christie joins Anna, Grace, Raychel and Dawn in the Bakery Department.
This story grabs and takes you in right from the start as you find yourself engrossed in the ups and down the 5 women face in life, love and work.
Whilst some of the storylines run a somewhat comfortably predictable course, this isn’t a bad thing and Johnson doesn’t disappoint with a few surprising twists that keep you guessing towards the end. You really cannot help but root for all the four ladies that Christie has breathed life into. The best thing about this book is that it empathises and captures so well the relationship dynamics between women that occur regardless of one’s age or background. You really come away feeling like you know the characters and wouldn’t mind popping into town to have a catch-up with them.
All in all, I couldn’t put it down and took everywhere so I could read a few more pages to find out how the lives of the lovely ladies would turn out.
Seriously Great Read.
★★★★★★
Continue reading ‘Book Review: A Summer Fling by Milly Johnson’
Published on
Friday 14 May 2010 in
Blog.
You may have noticed I Love Fiction has taken somewhat of a break and now has a brand new look and feel.
As part of the revamp we are looking to expand our team. We are looking for a 3 reliable book reviewers who can write 2 book reviews per month. We’ll even send you a £5 Amazon Gift Voucher for your hard work when they are received and approved!
Interested in applying?
Find out how you can become an I Love Fiction book reviewer »
Book reviews – April 2009
Paperback
Publisher: Harper; New edition edition (3 Mar 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-0007251872
Coelho’s story about Athena, the witch of Portobello is made up of individual reports on the main character and their views of her.
The story starts with the reader being told that Athena is dead, with the characters lending their own views as to the how and why such a fate would happen to such a woman.
Coelho slips into more continuous story-telling which sits, at times, uncomfortably with the narrative expected from telling the story from other characters perspectives. This makes you change mental gears, which has been done deliberately or not on the part of the author. Strangely, this mix helps to set the pace and sign post the reader through the story and reflects the somewhat chaotic character.
‘The Witch of Portobello’ is not a happy read in the traditional sense and I’m sure there are many of us out there who can identify with certain traits displayed by the main character or what is presumed of her and reminds us – just how well do we really know that someone you love?
This is the first Paulo Coehlo book that I have read and my first impressions of his work – addictive!
Rating: ★★★★★
Reviewer: Steph
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Book reviews – April 2009
Paperback
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN-13: 978-0099513421
‘The Outcast’ by Sadie Jones, shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2oo8, is a dark depressive read about how one tragic post-war event can impact on the rest of a young boy’s life in the oppressive 1950s.
Don’t be mislead by this summary; the story is one that is addictive and as a reader I could not put this book down. Willing all along that main character would find his own redemption. Not a happy ending one might say, but the best and just right for a story that challenges the concept of the local outcast, even today.
Rating: ★★★★★
Reviewer: Steph
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