Our Book Club
Book Reviews: Bodice Rippers
Includes chick-lit and fun reading book reviews
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Not Knowing Jack by KA Mitchell
Read by Natalie in February 2012
Natalie recommends as a great sequel and a lot more serious that she expected
This is the "sequel" to Regularly Scheduled Life and follows the story of Tony and Jack. A couple for little over a year, they live life by having fun (translation: having lots of sex) and never discussing anything too serious, including their past or plans for the future. Although Tony lives with Jack, he doesn't really know much about Jack's life prior to them meeting and when Jack starts acting strangely, Tony immediately thinks the worst. This is made slightly worse by the fact that Tony doesn't have much money and is really living in Jack's house, spending Jack's money and enjoying Jack's things. While this doesn't bother Jack, it scares Tony because if he is forced to move out (or is kicked out as he believes is coming), he really has no where else to go. The big secret Jack is hiding is that he used to be married...to a woman and has two children with her. Having abandoned them 4 years ago under the belief that his kids never wanted to see him again after their mother tried to kill them when Jack finally admitted he was gay, Jack is worried what Tony will think of him when he finds out. Abandoned fathers are a sore point for Tony, having been ditched by his own father when he was much younger and also having to witness his sister's husband abandon her and her two young boys. Compounding the whole situation is Jack's former in-laws trying to obtain sole custody of the kids and buy Jack's silence, as well as Jack's ever worsening ulcer and things are about to get alot worse. When the kid's mother resurfaces, alledgedly cured of her pyschotic tendancies and Jack is made aware of both her release and some letters the kids wrote to him begging to be allowed to see him, he finally reveals the truth to Tony. As they plan how to get Jack's kids away from his ex-wife (who still seems very pyschotic), they finally see just how bad things are. Jack's son is bitter and angry at thinking his father has abandoned him and refuses to open up, while his daughter is overjoyed to see him again although traumatised so badly from the mother that she doesn't speak at all. As tensions mount, Jack and Tony struggle to cope with suddenly having two kids and the pressure this puts on their carefree relationship. Just when it looks like they might be getting somewhere, both with the kids and each other, Jack's ulcer, which he has kept hidden from Tony, flares up and it looks like it might be the final straw for Tony. Can they work it out and save their relationship or have one to many secrets been kept?
I think we all know what the answer will be, but what I was surprised by was how well told and almost moving this story was. I truly did feel sorry for Jack, having spent 10 years in a sham of a marriage while he tried to come to terms with his homosexuality. While his secrets with Tony were inexcusable, particularly given the change in their relationship over the book, I could almost understand why he wanted to keep his failures from the man he clearly loved. Tony was a great character who is nothing like you expected him to be and his constant support of Jack was really sweet. This book, although descriptive also featured alot less of the gratuitous and often unnecessary sex scenes and instead showed how a relationship, regardless of genders can suffer when secrets are kept. A great read and a nice follow-up!
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith
Read by Natalie in January 2012
Natalie recommends as a really nice read
This is a very sweet holiday read that I managed to knock off in a day. Spanning only 24 hours the book is not just a story about first love, the pain of divorce or second chances, but also how something as tiny as 4 minutes can change your life. Hadley is about to get on a plane which will take her from JFK to Heathrow. Dreading her flight, not just because of her slight clautrophobia/fear of flying, she also has no desire to go to London and watch her Dad get remarried to a woman she has never met. When a series of events means she misses her flight by 4 minutes, she is forced to take a later plane and in doing so, finds herself seated next to Oliver, a British man flying back home to London for the weekend. As these two connect over their need to be distracted from what is going on around them, their shared family issues and a mutual attraction, the reader watches as the beginnings of love start to bloom. Sharing the confines of a busy 4th of July airport, a 7 hour transatlantic flight and the customs queue at Heathrow airport, Oliver and Hadley find themselves unable to say goodbye to each other. However when EU/non-EU paths force them too, they both go on their separate way and the reader is left wondering whether they will get a chance to reconnect and capture the magic they had back onboard. As Hadley arrives at the wedding and is forced to confront her father and the new life he has created for himself in the UK, Oliver has to say goodbye to the father he never really liked. When Hadley realises what Oliver has come home for she ditches her Dad's wedding to go and find him, believing she can help him. Initially you think she is right, but as Oliver struggles with his feelings for his father and the knowledge that he never got the chance to say the things he should have, he takes it out on Hadley and it looks like their relationship is faltering before it even really got started. As Hadley heads back to the reception, she finally starts being honest with herself about her parents divorce and how much this has affected her. After a heart to heart with both her Dad and her Mum back home in the US, the last thing she expects to is see Oliver, but suddenly there he is and suddenly things between them look like they might actually be beginning instead of ending. This is a very sweet book and interestingly told by an outside narrator who is giving us a play by play of both Hadley and Oliver's actions, almost like it's fate itself telling you the story. This adds a unique spin to the book, which given it's title and themes works really well. If you're looking for a light-hearted holiday read that will leaving you smiling, but not take the predictable path to it's happy ending, then this is the book for you!
And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky
Read by Natalie December 2011
Natalie recommends as a book that’s trying too hard to be more than it is.
Keek (short for Karina) has the perfect life, a hot boyfriend, great friends, cool parents who are still together and run a restaurant and then, one summer, things fall apart. Her Dad sleeps with a waitress who happens to be one of her friends, her Mum has been embezzeling money from the restaurant for months, her boyfriend and her have a huge fight and then she gets chickenpox. Sent to live with her technology absent grandmother while her Mum goes to California to help out her sister with her premature baby and her Dad tries to save the restaurant from going under, Keek has nothing but an old typewriter and a copy of her beloved book The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. As she types up her thoughts and memories, trying to work out how and why everything went so wrong, she makes endless comparisons to the book and it’s central character Esther. Bemoaning her parents, her friend and her boyfriend for their actions, she feels lost and isolated, wondering why nobody seems to care about her at all. I have to say, this book was a bit of struggle. Keek was so over the top dramatic that it just became grating and her constant comparisons to Plath and her novel were pretentious and so out of character for someone her age. Although I knocked it off in a day, it wasn’t particularly enjoyable and the only laughs were from her clever use of the phrase "sofa king".
Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
Read by Tracy August 2011
Tracy recommends for a story of love and survival
Okay sometimes I can't resist an old fashioned love story and combined with slavery, violence and Caribbean plantations this one had me hooked. It isn't going to win any literary awards, but you can get absorbed into the 1770's and Tete's fight to overcome servitude. Her master, Toulouse Valmorain arrives in the Caribbean to assist his father to run their family plantation and he has stars in his eyes and ideals to modernise and change the lives of the slaves who are indentured to him. Alas all too soon he is the same as the other plantation owners and when he purchases a very young Tete he becomes besotted. He believes he treats her as a family member (although in his mind that also includes rape, slavery and brutality). The story is of their escape from the revolution that overtakes Haiti and her desperation to maintain contact with her children. This is a great read for the poolside or beach as it won't stretch the brain muscles too hard.
Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
Read by Natalie August 2011
Natalie recommends as fairly pathetic and unrealistic
It is a big question why I not only read this book, but also finished it. Needless to say, I wanted to read something light and easy and this seemed like the perfect choice. It was, but it was also quite pathetic and irritating, so left me feeling annoyed I had bothered to give it the time of day. The story revolves around Courtney and Jordon, a high school odd couple who despite appearances are absolutely perfect for each other. About to finish high school and embark on a road trip from Florida to Boston to go to university, Courtney is thrown for a loop when Jordan suddenly breaks up with her after meeting some girl on the internet. First problem – why the hell would you still go on a road trip with your ex-boyfriend, who you are still desperately in love with, after he did that to you? Well, I’ll tell you why, the author needs to create a nice tense situation that will eventually lead to Jordan revealing the real reason he broke up with Courtney and their obvious reconciliation. Yes, spoilers ahead….that’s exactly what happens. The only problem is, the reason for the break up is actually really the reason they got together in the first place (Jordan caught his mum cheating on his dad with Courtney’s father, admittedly he didn’t know it was her dad at the time though and needed to get out of the house and so called Courtney, the girl he had just met that night). He then elects to keep this secret when he does discover who the guy was, only his guilt and subsequent falling love with Courtney means he would rather look like a dick and break up with her, than actually tell the woman he supposedly loves the truth (second problem, their relationship was all of 4 months in total, much of which was secret make-out sessions). Throw in the fact that the guy isn’t actually Courtney’s biological father and he is still stupid enough to let Jordan take her on the road trip yet then proceeds to call every 15 minutes with threats about keeping the secret (third problem). When Jordan finally cracks it and reveals the truth to Courtney, she is naturally angry, blames everyone and then proceeds to shut them all out. After Jordan begs and begs for a chance to explain and admits his love for her, she goes over to tell him off, they get back together and life is great again. Yeah not the best of stories and not the best of role models these two. Even their best friends are fighting, sex-obsessed stalkers who seem intent on doing all the work for Courtney and Jordan by revealing each other’s secrets to them. This book could have benefitted from some more realistic behaviour from the two leads and a better development of their relationship to begin with. There are better books in this genre out there.
Regularly Scheduled Life by KA Mitchell
Read by Natalie June 2011
Natalie recommends as a good read with some pretty descriptive bedroom action.
Ok, so I am sticking this in the chick-lit genre, because that’s basically where it belongs – a story about a couple that go through a crisis, learn to deal with it and each other again and have a heap of sex along the way. Difference is the couple in question are Kyle and Sean – yes they are gay. They have been together for 6 blissful years and are regularly described as “disgustingly happy” by their friends. On the day of their anniversary however, their world comes crashing down, when Sean, a chemistry teacher attempts to stop a student who has come to school on a killing spree. Getting injured in the process he requires an operation to save his leg, along with weeks of physical therapy. Kyle his partner, races to the hospital not knowing whether he is alive or dead and is met with the usual red-tape and bureaucracy faced by same-sex couples in most countries. Little does he realise, this is only the beginning. As Sean suffers from survivor’s guilt and the knowledge that he was unable to prevent 3 people from dying, Kyle struggles with all the attention Sean starts to receive. Perceived as a hero by both the gay and straight community, their lives quickly spiral out of control when a sexy publicist, Brandt is brought in to try and help Sean cope with the sudden limelight. While Sean believes this is his way of making up for the fact he survived, Kyle can’t understand how Sean doesn’t see that the shooting has changed both of their lives and is now threatening the relationship and life they have created together. Not helping matters is the fact that Sean doesn’t want to treat his lover as his therapist or helper, refusing to admit to Kyle when he is in pain or can’t sleep. As misunderstandings and poor communication take over, the relationship implodes with Sean kicking Kyle out, believing he was halfway out the door anyway. Can their relationship survive? If only they could talk and be honest with each other, it probably would – but hey they are men, so what they tend to do is communicate in bed – one area where they don’t have a problem! The book came with great reviews and I will say, it is good with an interesting storyline that is quite believable in terms of their reactions to the shooting and the responses this creates. It does feature a lot of bedroom action and is fairly descriptive in these parts. A sequel, Not Knowing Jack about their friends Tony and Jack is out later this year, and interestingly, as I later discovered, the author is actually female.
The One That Got Away by Lucy Dawson
Read by Natalie June 2011
Natalie recommends as pretty predictable and stupid
Not really sure why I picked this book up, but the reviews on the back did make it sound like more than your average piece of chick-lit. And yes, sure it was a little darker than most but it was also full of the usual stupid decision making by a woman who should know better and lack of communication with her beloved husband that seems to fill the pages of all these books. I found it pretty predictable in the end and actually a little bit irritating. So what’s it about? Well Molly Greene is currently enjoying married life. She has a fantastic husband, great friends and a job she doesn’t mind. Happy to keep this carefree life going, she is thrown by her husband’s request that they try for a baby. It’s not that Molly doesn’t want one, it’s just that she doesn’t know if she wants one right now. On an impulse she sends a facebook message to an ex-boyfriend and when an incident involving her husband, a condom and a pin gets misconstrued (really….how else does it look), Molly gets drunk and possibly makes one of the dumbest decisions of her life – although truth be told, she should have realised what was going on from the outset. In any case, ex-boyfriend goes crazy, stalking Molly and begging her to come back to him, while Molly tries to deal with the fallout of her stupid decision and trying to keep the secret from her husband Dan. Dan appears oblivious, instead telling everyone how Molly and he are “officially trying to get pregnant” (now I don’t know if it’s just me, but is there anyone out there who wants to know that their friend/relative is officially trying to get pregnant – it doesn’t exactly conjure up the most pleasant of images!) However when a drunken doctor at a Christmas do lets Molly’s secret out, all hell breaks loose. As Molly tries to find a way back to Dan, Leo the ex-boyfriend/stalker turns crazier than ever. I have to say, I worked out pretty quickly exactly what happened on the night Molly made the stupid decision and spent the rest of the book waiting for Molly to work it out too. The ending when all was revealed was so contrived and rushed that I just didn’t buy it or Dan’s actions in coming back to Molly. In the end I was left thinking Molly was an idiot who really only had herself to blame and Dan needed a slap across the face and a telling off about keeping his sex life private. The only character I really liked was the best friend Joss, who at least told it as she saw it. I mean I know it’s only chick-lit, but seriously, it can be better than this.
The Water Theatre by Lindsay Clarke
Read by Tracy April 2011
Tracy recommend for a wishy washy love story.
Considering that Lindsay Clark had previously won the Whitbread Prize fo Fiction (for the Chymical Wedding), I had high hopes for this novel and I was so disappointed. It was in part a travel narrative with lots of narrative about the countryside and then kept venturing into families that had imploded and constant romantic reminiscences about post-colonial Africa. The story is narrated by Martin Crowther who had returned to Umbria at the behest of his mentor, Hal, who had suffered another stroke and who wanted to reconcile with his children, Marina and Adam who he had lost contact with for decades. Things do not go well and you are left wondering why all the subterfuge and hatred, before finding out that Martin had been blamed for an action that he had not himself committed, but he had also not stood up and protected those around him. For me the story soon turned to some strange dream sequences and rituals that I never felt were fully explained - except in a cultish kind of way. The story was full of unanswered questions and to be honest I didn't mind as it was uncaptivating and uninspiring, but so easily could have been more. The ending was predictable and I was left wanting something exciting to happen.
Not That Kind Of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
Read by Natalie March 2011
Natalie recommends as a light read that maybe tries a bit too hard
Natalie Sterling is a good girl. A senior at her school she works hard, behaves herself and is elected as school president. Believing that all girls should be the same way, she looks down on her fellow classmates who throw themselves at boys and sleep around. To be honest she comes off as a pretentious bitch! Her only real friend is Autumn, who used to be one of those girls and after a rumour was spread about her, Natalie was the only one who remained friends with her. As Natalie tries to get all the girls to behave like her, she suddenly finds herself the focus of one boy’s attention. Connor Hughs is quarterback on the football team and when he suddenly kisses her one night, Natalie finds herself kissing him back. Embarking on a secret relationship with him, Natalie is desperate to maintain her good-girl persona, yet finds herself risking everything to spend time with Connor. Connor on the other hand is very, very sweet and although he accepts Natalie’s request to keep their relationship a secret, he really wants everyone to know they are together. When a midnight tryst goes on longer than she planned however, Natalie finds herself lying to her parents for the first time in her life. Coupled with an incident at school that Natalie thinks she is helping, but is really just making worse and her secret life with Connor is exposed. As the rumours about her start to spread, she learns what life is really like when you don’t accept who and what you are. As she comes to realise what kind of girl she really is, she sets about mending her friendship with Autumn and her relationship with Connor. The book is quite sweet at times and Connor is really too good for the stuck up Natalie who generally thinks everyone is beneath her. I was almost glad that she suffered at the end and she finally woke up, because someone sure needed to remove the pole from her backside! The author tries hard to get the message across that girls/women can be powerful and don’t need to be at the whim of boys all the time, but I just think she tries too hard. What she gives us in Natalie is not a strong, independent woman, but rather an insecure pretentious snob! Still it was a light an enjoyable read that I knocked off in a day or two.
Siobhan Vivian has her own website.
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Read by Tracy September 2010
Tracy recommends as an escape, but don't rely on the facts.
Elizabeth Woodville; young, beautiful and widowed sets her eye on Edward (Edward IV), the newly crowned York King as she attempts to win back her dower lands for her fatherless sons. Her accession to the throne ensures her whole family is constantly caught up in winning and protecting the throne of England (this is based on the War of the Roses between the Lancasters and the Yorks). This book was strange, I could not make up my mind if it was fiction or loosely based on fact, only realising it was based on fact when reading the book notes at the end (there are some good book club questions - so not a bad option for a book club pick as the hard work is done for you). Be warned, this is no Wolf Hall and tends towards bad romantic writing with lots of repetition in parts. As well as becoming Queen, Elizabeth and her mother are also witches who cast spells in an attempt to ensure Edward IV wins his battles, which obviously doesn't always go according to plan.The first half of the book is based on the passion between Elizabeth and Edward and their constantly growing family, which is handy as Elizabeth is totally obsessed with remaining Queen, to the detriment of her extended family who bear the brunt of hostilities. Her growing brood also ensure the continuation of blood lines and by arranging marriage for her infant daughters, attempts to strengthen royal alliances. The second half of the book focuses on her two remaining sons (Edward and Richard, as George dies in his infancy) by Edward and her fight to keep them on the throne. As her daughter Elizabeth states - her mother only cares for her sons and her hold on England to the detriment of all others.
Philippa Gregory has her own website.
The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
Read by Natalie April 2010
Natalie recommends this as light-on with annoying self-absorbed characters
This is Lauren Kate's first novel and I have to say, she clearly improves with time because Fallen (see review on All Things Out Of This World page) is a whole lot better. This is set in a fake town in Texas where high school girls compete to look the best, have the best boyfriend and of course win the high school crown. Told by Natalie, this book is all about her quest to win the crown alongside her boyfriend Mike. Standing in the way is JB, Mike's strongest competitor and a boy who has a mysterious place in Natalie's past. One night Natalie and Mike play a little prank on JB in a bid to sink his campaign, but it goes horribly wrong and leaves Natalie and Mike struggling with the fall-out. The book is full of high school talk to the point of being annoying and although it's an interesting story, it just doesn't work. I had zero sympathy for either Natalie or Mike because they just weren't likeable and they acted liked idiots. Plus the little back story of Natalie's past just wasn't strong enough and felt a bit forced in order to fill in plot. Although it's a very light read, I would recommend skipping this and going straight for Fallen.
Lauren Kate has her own website.
A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C.A. Belmond
Read by Natalie 2008
Natalie recommends this as ok, but there are better books out there
For chick lit, this is not the greatest book. Penny Nichols is a historical researcher who is flung into her own real life mystery after her Aunt Penelope dies. Heading to London for the will reading, she runs into her cousin Jeremy and a family of vultures all trying to get their hands on the cash. Of course Penny manages to solve the mystery, land herself a London flat, flash sportscar, a bunch of cash and a potential love interest from her conveniently not blood cousin Jeremy! It's ok reading, light and occasionally funny, but it's not brilliant!
C.A. Belmond has her own website where you can find details of her new novel A Rather Remarkable Homecoming.
Jane Austen in Scarsdale by Paula Cohen
Read by Natalie 2008
Natalie recommends this as pretty pathetic.
Again, this is another average book in the chick-lit genre. Years ago Anne was forced into giving up the love of her life by her snobby family and her being completely spineless. Now years later, she finds herself unmarried, her family's wealth all but gone, her grandmother's health failing and working as a high-school consellor. Suddenly Ben, the love of her life re-enters her life when his nephew enrolls at the school. Ben is wealthy, successful and about to be married - if only Anne had grown a backbone all those years ago! Of course, this is chick-lit so we know there will be a happy ending, and so it happens when Ben admits he still loves her, the bride-to-be happily walks away knowing she is not the right woman, Ben's saves the day with his money, helping out the grandmother who didn't think he was good enough all those years ago. Yuk, someone hand me a bucket please! It's not even that funny and there is not a whole lot of steam, just the occasional blush when pathetic Anne thinks about their upcoming honeymoon. There are definitely better books out there!
The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne
Read by Natalie 2008
Natalie recommends this as predictably ok.
Melissa Romney-Jones is perfect at just about everything, except her love-life. She can cook, plan a party and type with the best of them. When she loses her job, she decides to put these skills to use, setting up a business helping clueless men organise their lives. In order to protect her politician father, she creates Honey, her alter ego who helps these men, even acting as a date for them. But rest assured this is not an escort service, Honey doesn't go the whole way. However, when a handsome American keeps requesting her services, she might just be tempted....will Honey reveal her true identity? Not a bad book, although would be nice to see the women in these stories just have a bit more backbone for once!
Check out the website.
Fly Me To The Moon by Alyson Noel
Read by Natalie 2008
Natalie recommends this as not too bad.
This is the first adult book for this author. I have previously reviewed 2 of her books from the Immortals series which cater to young adult. A former flight attendant herself, this is the story of Hailey, who legs it home for her birthday and a possible proposal from her boyfriend when she learns that rest of her flight has been cancelled. However, when she gets home, she discovers something else entirely, forcing her to grab her bags and high-tail it out of there. Making use of her free flight passes, Hailey sets out on a worldwide trip. From New York to Paris to Puerto Rico to Greece, Hailey attempts to mend her broken heart with exotic locations, mojitos at every layover and a cute guy at every gate - if only life was really like this! Will Hailey get her happy ending - of course, this is chick lit! An improvement on her young adult novels, this is light escapism that will have you signing up to be a flight attendant! If only it was this glamorous...
Alyson Noel has her own website and is also the writer of Young Adult Fiction including The Immortals Series, Radiance and other Singles Titles.