Archive for June 17th, 2010

Chick Lit Classics is a new feature on Chick Lit Reviews where we highlight the books we feel are classics of the chick lit genre. Feel free to discuss our choices in the comments section!

This week I’ve chosen Melissa Nathan’s book The Nanny as our Chick Lit Classic. It was actually the Melissa Nathan Awards for Comedy & Romance this week which helped inspire my pick and remember just how fantastic The Nanny is. And it truly is a fantastic read which I absolutely loved. When I read it, I’d read none of Melissa’s other books but after reading it, I eagerly went looking for her other books. There’s an incredibly sad tale to Melissa’s books; all were written whilst she fought breast cancer and Melissa unfortunately lost her battle in 2006. Melissa was a fab writer and I think the award they set up in her name is a fantastic way to honour her life. If you have yet to read any of Melissa’s books then I urge you to do so. Picking The Nanny is not a bad way to start!

When Jo Green takes a nannying job in London to escape her small-town routine, complicated family, and perfect-on-paper boyfriend Shaun, culture shock doesn’t even begin to describe it. Dick and Vanessa Fitzgerald are the most incompatible pair since Tom and Jerry, and their children - glittery warrior pixie Cassandra, bloodthirsty Zak and shy little Tallulah - are downright mystifying. Suddenly, village life seems terribly appealing. Then, just as Jo’s getting the hang of their designer lifestyle, the Fitzgeralds acquire a new lodger and suddenly she’s sharing her nanny flat with the distractingly good-looking but inexplicably moody Josh. So when Shaun turns up, things get even trickier…

Erin Kaye’s latest book The Art of Friendship was released earlier this year and has two separate covers: One for the Irish readers and one for it’s UK release. I just got myself a copy a couple of days ago and although mine is the Irish cover (left), I prefer the UK cover (right). How about you?

Chance brought Kirsty, Clare, Janice and Patsy together fifteen years ago. But friendship has bound them through time. Until now. Over the years, In the small town of Ballyfergus, these four women have shared tears of joy and sorrow, countless glasses of wine and cups of tea. Men have come and gone, children been born and left home. Life has taken them down paths they never expected, but through it all their relationship has endured.But all that’s about to change - this year their friendship will be tested as never before as:• Widowed Kirsty falls in love with someone she shouldn’t.• Patsy struggles to cope with her beloved husband’s redundancy and a shocking revelation from her daughter.• Janice is forced to address ghosts from her past.• Clare takes control of her life, only to discover that her new-found independence comes at a high price.Can the sisterhood survive the strains placed upon it and come through it unscathed? Find out in this warm, emotive tale from a hot new talent, perfect for fans of Cathy Kelly and Maeve Binchy.

Sarah Rayner’s third book One Moment, One Morning is due out on 2nd July 2010 and seems as if it’s a bit different to her previous novels, not to mention the fact it’s her first book in a number of years! It sounds like an incredibly interesting read and I have a bit of a soft spot for the cover! Here’s the synopsis:

The Brighton to London line. The 07:44 train. Carriages packed with commuters. A woman applies her make-up. Another occupies her time observing the people around her. A husband and wife share an affectionate gesture. Further along, a woman flicks through a glossy magazine. Then, abruptly, everything changes: a man has a heart attack, and can’t be resuscitated; the train is stopped, an ambulance called. For at least three passengers on the 07:44 on that particular morning, life will never be the same again. Lou witnesses the man’s final moments. Anna and Lou share a cab when they realise the train is going nowhere fast. Anna is Karen’s best friend. And Karen? Karen’s husband is the man who dies. Telling the story of the week following that fateful train journey, One Moment, One Morning is a stunning novel about love and loss, about family and – above all – friendship. A stark reminder that, sometimes, one moment is all it takes, it also reminds us that somehow, and despite everything, life can and does go on.