Archive for March 8th, 2011

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Why we like/dislike it: A Reluctant Cinderella’s cover really doesn’t appeal to me at all. It seems far more something you would expect to find on a young girl’s book, aged 9-12 but certainly not on an adult women’s fiction books. The colours are far too wishy-washy, I’m not keen on the scrolled font of the word “Cinderella” and overall I think it’s a very weak book cover.
Overall mark out of 10:
Would we buy this book based on its cover? No.

Do Judge A Book By Its Cover is a new feature on Chick Lit Reviews, where we take a look at some of the best (and worst) Chick Lit covers in existence. No synopsis, no hint of the story, just plain old book cover judging, with marks out of 10!

Emily, Grazia and Sandie all met when they were secret shoppers, and all in the same boat. Now things have changed dramatically for each of the women, and it’s pushing their friendships to the limit. Sandie is happily engaged to Toby Garnett, heir to the Garnett store throne and is pregnant with their first child. She’s struggling to balance her career, her family and the renovations on her home. Meanwhile, Emily is very jealous of Sandie’s pregnancy, as her partner Will has put a ban on them having any more children. Emily loves her son Freddie dearly but would love a new baby, and is beginning to resent their homemade shop in Heartsease for taking all of Will’s attention. Finally, Grazia has had to say goodbye to the love of her life, and finds solace in a new skill she hasn’t practiced for a long time. Can the ladies mend the rifts that are opening between them, and realise that their friendship is more important than anything else?

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We got an email yesterday telling us that the fabulous Lisa Jewell has signed for another three novels with Random House! Her next book The Making of Us is out in May (which I can’t wait for!) with the first of her new deal out in 2012! Here’s the official press release:

Kate Elton, Publisher of Century and Arrow, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to three new books by novelist Lisa Jewell. The deal was struck with Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown. Century has published Lisa Jewell since 2009 with The Truth About Melody Browne followed in 2010 with After the Party, the long awaited follow up to Ralph’s Party.

This new deal comes as Century and Arrow reveal a bold and ambitious new cover treatment for Lisa Jewell. The b-format of After the Party is published next month, followed a month later with a new book The Making of Us, in trade paperback (covers attached).

Lisa Jewell has sold over 1 million copies of her books in the UK to date. Her first book Ralph’s Party was the fastest selling debut of 1999 and since then she has written a further 8 novels all of which have been Sunday-Times bestsellers.

The Making of Us is a grown up sophisticated read, ‘Lisa Jewell has moved up a gear into David Nicholl’s territory with The Making of Us, which stands out as a fresh, contemporary story and a real must-read’ Bookseller’s Choice, The Bookseller

Kate Elton says ‘I’m absolutely delighted that we have a new deal with Lisa. With The Making of Us she’s written her best book to date, and our re-package will appeal both to her core market, and to the legions of readers looking for immensely high quality storytelling and a simply unforgettable novel. We’re all hugely excited to now be planning the next few years of Lisa’s career, and further building her reputation as one of the most talented British writers working today’

Jonny Geller says ‘Lisa’s writing is loved and admired by other writers as well as by booksellers and readers. The Making of Us will break out her readership even further and with Century/Arrow’s great team behind her, she has a very exciting few years coming up’

Lisa Jewell says ‘I am overjoyed to have signed up for another three books with Century. Kate and her team are incredibly supportive and inspiring and I feel like part of a big, happy, functional family.’