Archive for March 15th, 2011

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Why we like/dislike it: When Ronni Cooper’s debut novel Rock Chicks came out last year it had a stunning, totally stunning cover. But for her new novel, Manhattan, her publishers seem to have taken a massive step backwards. I can see what they’re trying to do with super-imposing Manhattan onto the shoes but it just looks tacky especially with the pink soles. I don’t know why they didn’t make the title ‘Manhattan’ out of Manhattan, that would have looked amazing but for me this cover doesn’t work and I wouldn’t pick it up because it’s ugly. And am I the only one who is sick to the back teeth of high heeled shoes on book covers?

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!

Lizzy Harrison isn’t the most spontaneous person in the world, and likes the fact that her life is planned months in advance and loves her job in PR, until her best friend Lulu points out that if Lizzy doesn’t try to be spontaneous once in a while she’ll never meet the man of her dreams, after her last relationship ended 2 years ago. When Lizzy is asked to be the fake girlfriend for out-of-control comedian Randy Jones, she reluctantly agrees and soon her life is spinning out of control as she finds herself in the public eye playing the simpering girlfriend. But is her relationship with Randy really only for the cameras? Will Lizzy be able to get her life back into some semblance of order or is it destined to be out of control forever?

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I read Fiona Neill’s previous novel Friends, Lovers and Other Indiscretions and enjoyed it, so I was pleased to see that Fiona is back this year with another novel. Fiona has moved to new publishers Penguin and has been given a much-needed cover makeover, and I think this one really suits the book and the quite dark aspect of the story. It’s out on August 18th, I’ll be looking out for it, and here’s the synopsis:

“What would you give to see behind the doors of the perfect family?

The Skinner family’s nanny, Ali Sparrow, has the ideal view when their luxurious lifestyle shatters overnight. For the past decade Nick and Bryony Skinner have ridden high on the economic boom, sparing no expense – especially when it comes to spoiling their four children.

But the Skinners’ luck is running out and, as their children are only too aware, money doesn’t always buy happiness. And when it emerges that city banker Nick has been keeping a secret that places him and Bryony at the centre of a very public scandal, he vanishes, leaving Ali holding the family together.

So how will she react when she’s approached by the press for the inside scoop? Will she remain loyal to the family who let her into their home? Or will she tell all about the employers who never saw her as more than a part of their expensive furniture?”