Tag: chicklit

Meet me at Fir Tree Lodge – Rachel Dove

I took skiing lessons early in 2020 in preparation for my first skiing holiday. Unfortunately (for me) that was cancelled (thanks Covid) but I’ve been obsessed with white-powder pistes and apres ski ever since – I even watched Downhill (not great). When I saw Rachel Dove had released a romance novel set in an alpine ski resort, I couldn’t help but pre-order a copy and that stunning cover sealed the deal.

The storyline is sweet with a believably damaged heroine and a hero you can’t help but love. When the two collide, you’re greeted with all the twists and turns of an Olympic slalom run.

Complete with heartfelt moments and plenty of giggles, this is the perfect winter romcom.

Genre: Romance (Romantic Comedy)

Rating: 5/5⭐️

The Christmas Project- Maxine Morrey

The Christmas Project follows professional organiser, Kate who’s tasked with sorting out the messy home of her best friend’s brother just in time for Christmas. The two don’t get off to a great start but over the course of the book that changes. There are witty exchanges as well as sweet moments all set against a very Christmassy backdrop.

The romance is well paced and natural and I loved the characters – the doggy element was a real bonus too!

All in all this is a warm, sweet romance laden with festive cheer that wont fail to make you smile – the perfect Christmas read!

Genre: Romantic Comedy (Christmas setting)

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

Meet Me in London- Georgia Toffolo

I do like Georgia Toffolo and as such, was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of the audiobook via NetGalley. There’s a festive, winter feel to the book and I loved the descriptions of the settings. The story itself followed the ‘fake date / fake relationship’ trope which whilst offers few surprises, is a rewarding read. The book was brimming with warmth and there are a few laughs to be had along the way. It was also well – written and I enjoyed the narration by the author herself. All in all it was a very sweet read.

Genre: Romantic Comedy / Chicklit
Rating: 4/5🌟

A Wish For Jinnie – Audrey Davis

I’ll never fail to enjoy Audrey Davis’ brand of romantic comedy. A Wish for Jinnie is a fun read packed with a comedic rhythm that keeps the story well-paced and entertaining throughout. I loved Jinnie, and Jeanie Dhassim as much as I enjoyed Sam’s character and the blossoming romance. Audrey Davis always developed does develop fantastic characters though and Jinnie’s gran just leapt off the page – she was fab. The story itself is well developed and believable because despite the element of magic and fantasy the characters’ lives are a reflection of our own.

If you want to lose yourself for a few hours of heartfelt fun, this is definitely the perfect book for you.

Genre: romantic comedy

Rating: 5/5⭐️

Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay – Katie Ginger

This was my first Katie Ginger book and I’ll definitely be picking up her others. Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay is the perfect escapist read. Set by the sea, it perfectly encompasses the British seaside vibe and gave me a wave of nostalgia as it reminded me of my own UK holidays when I was a child.

The story follows Hettie who is determined to shake up the annual strawberry show by putting on an all singing and dancing strawberry-themed festival. Despite many roadblocks, Betty’s determination gets her there with twists and turns along the way.

Hetty is a sweet heroine with a feisty side and I enjoyed watching her grow and figure out what she wanted personally and professionally. As with all the characters, she’s well drawn out and vivid and I loved a certain Mr someone too!

With a gorgeous backdrop, plenty of yummy food references and lovely storytelling, this is the perfect read to accompany this summer’s ‘staycation’.

Genre: Romance / Romcom

Rating: 5/5⭐️

We Just Clicked – Anna Bell

We Just Clicked is a feel-good romcom read with all the ups and downs you’d expect. When Izzy and Luke concoct a plan to have a fake relationship to become Instagram famous, never in her wildest dreams did Izzy expect to fall in love for real. Faced with a choice between her dream career and true love, Izzy doesn’t always get it right and it’s an enjoyable ride following her story.

If you’re a fan of Sophie Kinsella or Lindsay Kelk, you’ll like this!

Genre: chicklit

4/5⭐️

The Cows – Dawn O’Porter

I do love Dawn O’Porter’s edgy brand of chicklit. There’s always a great balance of humour, diversity and shocking scenarios and this was no exception.

The Cows is a strange combination of light chicklit that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Some small elements are as dark as something you’d find in a twisty thriller.

I enjoyed the book on the whole and thought the ending was well wrapped up. I didn’t see everything coming which was a bonus.

I did have some negative thoughts which I’ll address below:

The whole ‘incident’ for me didn’t work. I’m all for a bit of scandal and creative licence, but I don’t think the aftermath played out in a way that seemed plausible. It seemed quite odd how the character justified her actions and I don’t think it worked as a device to empower women at all but that’s my opinion.

The act was wrong for a person of any gender and the way it was deemed a ‘silly moment’ was quite jarring. I ‘get’ the message and the comparison to Hugh Grant and his infamous incident, but there’s a difference between being in your car and the London tube and I don’t think the message translates.

‘Women don’t need to apologise for being sexual’ is true, but they do need to apologise for indecent exposure and these lines are so blurred in the book, they don’t exist.

Having said that, I was engaged with the rest of the story, Stella and her quest, Cam and her strong-minded and often un-popular attitude and Tara’s career / love story and foibles of being a single parent. I still liked the book even if I disliked one element (plus the excessive plate smashing but that’s a tiny thing).

Genre: chicklit

Rating: 4/5

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My Year of Saying No – Maxine Morrey

My Year of Saying No, in true Maxine Morrey style, is an uplifting and heartwarming read. Lottie is a sweet heroine with a kind heart and Seb is just perfect. The slow-burn romance is so satisfying, especially when the two finally realise (after several ups and downs) what we knew all along.

I loved the idea of Saying no to things you don’t really want to do, it seems quite freeing. I also loved Humphrey the rescue dog!

A wonderful read.

Genre: Romcom / chicklit

Rating: 5/5⭐️

Queen Bee – Jane Fallon

I’m a huge fan of Jane Fallon’s books and have read most of them so I was super excited to discover she has a new book coming out soon.

Queen Bee is a story of the haves and have-nots. The contrast in lifestyles of the wealthy and those struggling to make ends meet is clear. The characters are colourful and lively and Jane has an eye for observation. I did feel there was some stereotyping and cliques but it is a light read so that’s to be expected.

The story follows Laura, the owner of a small cleaning business, who manages to find herself embroiled in the scandal of the rich. There’s a mystery to solve, secrets to spill and lives to shatter so in theory, it has all the makings of a juicy chicklit. Unfortunately, for some reason, I wasn’t as drawn into the story as I hoped. Laura perhaps seemed a little self-riotous and I didn’t always think she behaved any better than Stella, the spoilt rich trophy wife whose husband had a secret. Towards the end, the story picked up and I found myself more invested in the outcome. I did find the ‘one year later’ section cram packed with story that I would have liked to see unfold and developed (or possibly not included at all) but that’s just my opinion. There’s lots to love about this book – it’s witty and a great insight into how the other half live.

Genre: chick lit

Rating: 3/5⭐️