Week In Review is a new, weekly feature on Chick Lit Reviews where we write mini reviews on the books we’ve read over the past seven days.With so many books to read it gives us the chance to let authors know our thoughts on books, with short, magazine-style reviews. Do leave a comment, or write your own blog post (crediting chicklitreviews.com for the idea), and let us know what you’ve read this week! Enjoy!
After You by Julie Buxbaum (Leah)
Following on from her smash debut novel The Opposite of Love, Buxbaum is back with After You, the tale of Ellie who on hearing of her best friend, Lucy’s, death, heads to London to care for her god-daughter, Sophie. There appears to be more than meets the eye though, as not only was Lucy keeping secrets from Ellie, but Ellie has her own issues to deal with, too, and isn’t sure if she can ever return to the US and her husband, Phillip. As the bond between Sophie and Ellie deepens, it’s a question of who needs who more. This is another fantastic read from Buxbaum, and this isn’t just a chick lit novel. It’s gritty, it’s real and it touches on many issues most authors would steer away from. It’s incredibly well written and if you like your chick lit with a bit more bite, then this is the book for you.
Gallery Girl by Wendy Holden (Leah)
Like most of Wendy Holden’s books, Gallery Girl is another huge mash up of characters all coming together to form one rather large book about one world or another. This time the focus is galleries as our heroine Alice negotiates the world of contemporary art, having to deal with Angelica, her boss, and Zeb Spaw, the artist of the moment as well as having to deal with her own love life. Throw in a portrait painter, a musician wanting to hit the big time again, and a wannabe artist and it’s a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately, it didn’t really work for me, as I felt there were far too many characters and there didn’t seem to be any central plot. It was OK, but it wasn’t fantastic and is probably one only those in the art world could enjoy. (See my full review on Wednesday.)
Anyone For Me? by Fiona Cassidy (Chloe)
Irish author Fiona Cassidy is back with her second novel Anyone For Me. The lead character Ruby originally appeared in her first novel, Anyone For Seconds as Frankie’s best friend, so it was great to see her back and go deeper into her story. Ruby knows she was adopted but has always wanted to find out about her parents, but after the death of her father knows it will upset her mother. It’s an emotional tale that shows how adoption can affect a person at any age, and the importance of knowing where we come from. An incredibly readable writing style means you won’t want to put this one down until you’ve turned the last page.
Bad Girls by Rebecca Chance (Chloe)
Rebecca Chance’s debut novel follows 4 troubled souls end up in rehab for a variety of reasons, but will it turn them even badder than they were to begin with? A colourful cast of characters make Chance’s second novel a superb read that will have you hooked (excuse the pun!) from start to finish. Amber, Joe, Petal and Skye are brilliant characters, all very ostentatious and therefore make great reading for a blockbuster. The twists and turns make you want to find out how it’s all going to end, especially that puzzling mystery surrounding Amber which we’re teased with at the beginning and again in the middle of the book. Fabulous summer reading! (See my full review on Friday)
Guest Review: Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg (Billygean)
I first picked up Berg’s book Home Safe I was intrigued because the blurb said she was widowed and had discovered her husband had spent her retirement fund. I was quickly hooked, though. Berg’s really sharp with her observations. Soon I was folding down the pages I liked the most. Her description of ironing as “warm, cotton-scented labour” just spoke to me. What her husband did isn’t really what this book’s about and very little actually happens. And yet I was utterly gripped by it and read it in a day and a half. The self discovery of the flawed protagonist, when it happens, is beautiful. Helen realises that “she will never be an athlete or a mathematician or a skinny person or someone whose heart isn’t snagged by the sight of fireflies on a summer night and the lilting cadence of a few good lines of poetry… she is the kind of person who must do things for or on behalf of another. For her, the taste of ice cream, the red of the sunset, the humour in the movie must be shared to be.”
If you’d like to send us a guest review, please email [email protected] for more details! We’d also love to hear what you think of the new feature so let us know by leaving a comment!
The Arlington family are the biggest gaming family in Las Vegas. Frank and Sofia Arlington run the show whilst their son, Ben, desires to break free and make it out on his own - just when his father announces his promotion. Daughter Ariel longs to show her parents that she’s just as good as Ben, despite being a girl, and after being passed over for promotion - in favour of Ben - decides it’s time to show her parents she’s more than an airhead. 
