Chick Lit

[Peggy Lane]

I read "Savannah Breeze" by Mary Kay Andrews by accident, because I finished my book and didn't have anything to take to lunch until a coworker offered it. I wouldn't have bought it, but it was a pretty decent chick-lit(ish) kind of book. The story kept moving, and I liked most of the characters. She also has a lovely sense of place. Most of the book takes place at the beach and now I'm really anxious to get to the shore next weekend.

[iceblink]

I just finished "Elements of Style" by Wendy Wasserstein (who died right before it was published, RIP) and it was very fluffy but pretty enjoyable too, if you like the NYC society brand of chick lit. It was a little darker than most of the books in that genre are too, which was a plus.

[Deleted]

I loved The Devil Wears Prada and Nanny Diaries. That's the only kind of chick-lit I like, the "let me dish about my awful job" kind. I find the romance boring.

[Deleted]

poorfrances said:

I loved The Devil Wears Prada and Nanny Diaries. That's the only kind of chick-lit I like, the "let me dish about my awful job" kind. I find the romance boring.

I liked DWP and am half-way though Nanny Diaries right now. I can't stand people like the Xes. Ugh, the uber-wealthy socialites should all be shot.

[jaybee]

poorfrances said:

I loved The Devil Wears Prada and Nanny Diaries. That's the only kind of chick-lit I like, the "let me dish about my awful job" kind. I find the romance boring.

Have you read The Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn? If not, you'd probably like it- it's in that same vein.

[Peggy Lane]

franticjoy said:

Has anybody else read Something Borrowed and Something Blue, by Emily Giffin? I started on Something Borrowed out of boredom, because I was sick of Chick Lit and it sounded a little different, and I loved it... Wonder of wonders, Rachel doesn't have a makeover, isn't really very pretty, isn't exciting, never loses weight. In fact, her best friend Darcy, who is gorgeous and has an exciting career and is shallow as all get-out, would normally be the protagonist of any other Chick Lit writer's novel, but she's the one who has to undergo a change to be considered "worthy" of someone (because she's a total bitch). It's really refreshing. Normally stories about infidelity make me sick to my stomach, but I really loved these two.

I saw Something Borrowed at the Goodwill, and grabbed it because of your recomendation. I really enjoyed it! I liked the way it was as much about friendships as it was romantic relationships, and I liked that Rachel and Darcy came from a place. So many chick lit heroines seemingly lept from the head of Zeus, and you don't get the feel that these women have families that influence their behavior. I'm going to try and get "Something Blue" to take on vacation. Thanks!

I read The Ivy Chronicles a few months ago. It wasn't a great book, but it was a fun enough read. I think my problem was some of the messages the book gave out.

[franticjoy]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I really can't recommend them enough. Honestly, except for his name, I didn't really like Dex that much. The male character from Something Blue, on the other hand, I loved (I won't mention the name because you said you hadn't read it yet). Ooh, I'm jealous of you, reading it for the first time!

She's got a third one just out, too, about a woman who doesn't want children, and whose husband has just decided he does want children. There aren't that many books that deal with a female character who flat-out doesn't want children. Sounds interesting.

[tinyshoes]

franticjoy said:

There aren't that many books that deal with a female character who flat-out doesn't want children. Sounds interesting.

Tell me about it. I'm tired of books where the heroine has her bio-clock on permanent tick. I feel like the older I get the more I don't want children. Now if only more fiction would reflect that, I'd be a happy camper.

[Sunnyhorse]

Aw, I liked "Jemima J" -- a review copy showed up at the newspaper I used to copyedit, and I (shamefacedly) devoured it. The writing and copyediting are atrocious, but I still found myself cheering for the heroine. I was just looking at it the other day, and it occurred to me that I really like the fact that Jane Green spends the first third of the book letting us get to know Jemima before getting around to her great transformation. I like to get it out and read it when I'm having trouble sticking to my diet-and-exercise regimen.

Now, "The Nanny Diaries"? Hated it.

[magazinewhore]

I just finished "The Wonder Spot" by Melissa Banks. I liked it much better than "Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing (which I think is being made into a movie).