Fifty Shades of Grey - E. L. James

Thought I’d give this a go to see what all the fuss was about. The first few chapters were incredibly Twilight-esque (hardly surprising as this began life as Bella and Edward fan fiction) and then BAM. Along came that racy erotic scene… and for the first time ever when reading, I missed my tube stop. Yes, the writing quality is fairly poor and repetitive and every time ‘my inner Goddess’ was mentioned I wanted to scratch my eyes out. In terms of gender equality, it’s also not the best message. But let’s be honest, no one’s reading it for that.

Published April 2012, Arrow (Random House)

Lucy in the Sky - Paige Toon

How have I only recently found Paige Toon? She’s brilliant! Having just purchased all her books from Amazon I can safely recommend Toon as the current Queen of Chick Lit, beating even Kinsella (Becky Bloomwood is, after all, incredibly irritating). I’ll review sequentially (as there is character crossover between books which I adore) and start with Lucy in the Sky. Boarding a plane, Lucy receives a text suggesting her boyfriend is playing away, then flies to Australia and meets handsome scruffy, surfer Nathan. Returning to London will she be able to forget him, or that text? Escapism at its finest.

Published April 2007, Simon and Schuster 

Matched - Ally Condie

The latest in my search for another Hunger Games, Matched is the first in a dystopian young adult trilogy, set in a future dictated by The Society who control everything from where you live and work to who you marry. Cassia is Matched with her best friend Xander, but finds herself falling for Ky, an Aberration in Society. It’s got all the elements it needs, but this didn’t quite work – not enough action and Cassia’s relationship with Xander is much more compelling than that with Ky, who, to his detriment, we don’t know enough about. A solid attempt, but unexceptional.

Published June 2011, Puffin (Penguin)

The Last Summer (of You & Me) – Ann Brashares

I came across this in a charity shop and was intrigued – as a teenager I loved The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants but I had little idea what to expect from Brashare’s (young) ‘adult’ novel. It’s the coming of age story of sisters Riley and Alice and their childhood friend Paul, who spend every summer at Fire Island, only this year the relationship between all three is changed irrevocably. Reminiscent of Lowry’s A Summer to Die, this is a whimsical and delicately written novel, but one that is limited by the lack of depth and development of its central characters.

Published May 2008, Riverhead Trade (Penguin Group USA)

I’ve Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella

I really enjoyed Kinsella’s latest novel, a romantic comedy with heart and fantastic characters (as always). Loveable narrator Poppy loses her engagement ring and phone at her Hen Party but, as luck would have it, finds an abandoned phone in a bin to use instead. With her wedding days away she’s determined to find the ring and get back on track, but the involvement of handsome businessman Sam, to whom the phone belongs, and his own work-related drama complicates matters. Although a little predictable, Kinsella skilfully keeps you wondering how her characters will reach their inevitable, neatly tied up endings!

Published Feb 2012, Bantam Press (Random House)

It Started With A Kiss - Miranda Dickinson

More than a smidge self-indulgent, this festive novel certainly made easy reading but unfortunately teetered on the verge of the ridiculous. Wedding singer Romily kisses a stranger at a Christmas market (immediately after declaring her love for another man, the floozy!) then spends a year searching for him but finding herself, and keeping a blog. Very cheesy with a vastly overwhelming volume of characters (several seeming rather one dimensional due to their lack of development throughout the plot) this was chick lit at its fluffiest. An unimpressive ending too, which although “unpredictable” was a little too convenient. I was disappointed. 

Published November 2011, HarperCollins

Me Before You - Jojo Moyes

I loved The Last Letter to Your Lover and bought Me Before You from Amazon without even reading the blurb. I wasn’t disappointed. Heartbreaking, beautiful and poignant – I couldn’t put it down. I love how Moyes took an entirely original angle with this novel, with Will, a quadriplegic whose big life shrunk after a tragic accident, and Louisa, his newly appointed care companion. Will has a plan to give up so Louisa decides to convince him what’s worth living for. A controversial plotline (I couldn’t decide what I wanted to happen) and a rollercoaster of an ending. Read this now.

Published January 2012, Michael Joseph (Penguin)

Girl on the Run - Jane Costello

Discovering smart chick lit is an ongoing pursuit of mine, and having read an unfortunate amount of sub-par (read: a little TOO trashy and predictable) fiction lately, I was thrilled to be recommended a new author – Jane Costello. She didn’t disappoint – her fun tale of Abby’s get-fit running plan, (mainly involving her chasing after her hot running club male friends) was a pleasure from start to finish line (sorry). Abby was lovely and neurotic which I always enjoy in a heroine, and although I did guess the ending, it remained a rewarding read. Will definitely be sampling more from Costello!

Published April 2011, Simon & Schuster

Miracle on Regent Street - Ali Harris

I read this heart-warming London-based Christmas novel in December and was completely charmed. Although our leading lady Evie was a little weak willed, somewhat too happy to work hard then sneak off into the shadows, her ongoing transformation and that of Hardy’s, the department store where she worked, was a delight to read. I loved the supporting characters, the romantic descriptions of the city and the whimsical notion of shopping returning to an age before cheap chain stores. If you’re looking for a light read to pull you out of the doldrums of January then definitely give this a go!

Published October 2011, Simon & Schuster 

Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer

As an English Literature graduate I probably shouldn’t enjoy the Twilight saga as much as I do but on re-reading Breaking Dawn prior to its cinematic release, I (somewhat shamefully) still liked it. A lot. Although starting slow, Jacob’s first-person perspective adds some much needed action to the first half of the book, culminating in Bella graphically giving birth.  The second half becomes an interesting insight into the Cullens’ world, before building frenetically to a dramatic conclusion which is conveniently (read, irritatingly) resolved at the last moment. Happy endings abound. Ultimately it’s not good literature, but it is good fun.
 
 Published August 2008, Little, Brown and Company (Hachette)