Book Review: My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Synopsis:

Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed.

Ok, so the truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn't really hers.

But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren't they?

Until her not-so-perfect life comes, crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie's hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business.

Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams - or try to get her job back? Does Demeter - the woman who has everything - actually have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have move in common then it seems.

And what's wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway? 

My Review:

I absolutely loved this book, so good that I read it within a few days! Sophie Kinsella always delivers and this is another fab read from her. 

We meet Katie 'Cat' Brenner originally from Somerset now trying to make it in London, her Instagram feed might show a fabulous lifestyle but in fact her life is far from it. Katie has always wanted to live in London so living in a tiny room with only a hammock as storage, a nightmare of a commute to a job where she feels invisible with a demanding boss is all totally worth it to live out her dream of living in London. 

All the negatives seem worth it when things start to look up and Katie is invited out for social work drinks, she asserts herself and gets to join a team meeting and she meets Alex who is one of the partners in the company. However the positive times don't seem to last when her boss Demeter fires her as her role is no longer needed. 

Katie struggles to find another job so she decides to head back home to Somerset to help her Dad and Step Mum (Biddy) with their new Glamping business. I loved everything about Ansters Farm Country Retreat, It felt so real that I really wanted to go, I wanted to stay in a yurt, take part in willow weaving, taste Biddy's home made scones and come home with some personalised soap.

Then one of the families staying at the farm is Demeter along with her husband, son and daughter. Katie struggles to hold back her feelings and stay professional, does she take her revenge or does she try to get her job back? I won't spoil this as the plot is brilliant and had me laughing out loud! Just to top things off Alex also makes a reappearance... (Loved Alex and how well they got on together..) 

I am very grateful to Sophie for bringing Alex into our lives as he sounds like a right hottie! 

I wouldn't say this book is a love story or a romance but it is much more than that. We always think we know more about the people that surround us but sometimes it is very easy to hide behind social media and people's lives aren't always the fairy tale you think it is. 

Thank you Sophie for another fantastic read it really lifted my mood from start to end. 

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Book Review: Izzy As Is by Tracie Banister

Synopsis:

The party is over for bikini model Izzy Alvarez. For six years she’s made a good living by flaunting her God-given assets on runways and in front of cameras, but now as she approaches the big 3-0, the bodacious Latina is shocked to learn she’s aged out of the profession that’s kept her in mojitos, mani/pedis, and designer thongs. What’s a girl with a taste for the finer things in life and no marketable skills to do?

Getting a regular job is too boring to even consider, so Izzy decides to follow in the footsteps of her newly-engaged frenemy and become a trophy wife. Although she’s desperate and too broke to get a chipped nail fixed, Izzy still has standards for her future husband, which means no uggos, no vertically-challenged guys, and no geezers who need to pop a blue pill to perform in the bedroom. Enlisting the aid of her computer whiz nephew and her closest pals, Izzy goes on the prowl for a rich, marriage-minded man, encountering likely candidates in a lot of unlikely places.

The high life she’s dreamed of may be within reach when Izzy meets a charming, successful man who’s not only hotter than a steamy summer night in Miami, but ready to settle down. Now all Izzy has to do is make sure her loud, crazy Cuban family doesn’t scare off el hombre perfecto—oh, yeah, and squelch those pesky, romantic feelings she keeps having for the sweet, cash-strapped guy she's known forever.

Will Izzy’s hunger for money win out, or will her fiery heart demand to be heard?

My Review!

This is the first book I have read by Tracie Banister, I always love to try out and read from different authors. This book is your typical easy read chick lit story and it should be enjoyed while sunbathing round a swimming pool in a warm location!

This book is all about Izzy Alvarez who is nearing 30 years of age and a bikini model. I couldn't stand Izzy unfortunately she was very self centred and she kept making stupid decisions which made me have to stop reading just to calm myself down.. If I could climb into the book and slap her I would have!

Izzy knows nothing but modelling, so after being told that she was nearing the age where modelling jobs were passing her by to younger models she decides to find herself a rich husband to keep herself in designer clothes and spa treatments. Here starts the bad decisions... and breathe..!

I did laugh at some of the dates she went on, they were just disasters straight from the start but she was determined to find her new (rich) husband.

She soon meets Eduardo who is very charming, good looking and of course well off, things between them do seem great to begin with however as the days past I noticed that their relationship wasn't working out and all the money in the world wouldn't solve a relationship when love is not involved. Here I came to see that maybe money isn't everything to Izzy and that having companionship with someone you love would be more important.

Although Izzy was outspoken and feisty she did have a heart of gold and this was displayed a lot with her family and friends. The whole family came across as being really close especially Izzy and her sister Pilar, I did like to see this side of Izzy especially when she helped to arrange her nieces birthday party. 

I see that Pilar has her own story and although I will now know the end of the story I am interested in reading Tracie's other books to understand the family and to find more on Izzy through someone else's perspective.

Thank you Tracie for a great read! 

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Book Review: A Year of Being Single by Fiona Collins

Synopsis:

Three friends. One year. Absolutely no men...

Imogen is supposed to be on the most romantic weekend of her life and instead she's quickly realised that her current boyfriend definitely isn't 'The One' and actually One Big Mistake.

Frankie is fed up. Fed up of her good-for-nothing husband and her four, unappreciative children. Well, they hardly notice her anyway, maybe it's time to shake it up a little....

Grace thought she had the perfect life. Gorgeous little boy and perfect, hardworking husband. Or rather, she did, until she realised her husband was shagging his 'work'.

These single ladies don't need to put a ring on it... right?

My Review!

First off who doesn't like an easy fun read about friendship!? Secondly who doesn't love Beyoncé's 'Single ladies'?! I know I had this song in my mind throughout the whole time I read this book!!

Imogen, Frankie and Grace are best friends who live down the same street. The chapter's are written by each of the ladies point of view, I always enjoy reading these types of books, I feel you get to know the characters so much more. However I am a little slow getting into them just while I remember who is who!

On the same day they all let out silent screams, they have had enough of their current relationships and decide a change is needed.

Their relationships are all very different but they are not happy and had enough of men so they agree to make a pact and stay single for a whole year... Easy right?!

We first meet Imogen who was on a romantic weekend in Paris with her boyfriend (Dave), successful career in her early 40's she is not having much luck in finding the one and Dave is most definitely not it. She decides to take action and finishes the relationship as soon as they return to London. 

Frankie has had enough of her husband and four children, for a break away from Rob and the kids she buy's one night hotel stays to relax and binge watch TV. Frankie feels taken for granted and decides she wants peaceful weekends instead of clearing up after everyone. She asks her husband Rob to leave.

Grace, poor Grace... I really felt sorry for her, she was the only one who was happy in her relationship until she found a text message on her husband's (James) phone from another woman and finds out he has been cheating on her. 

As soon as they made the deal with each other I did think it wouldn't be long until a man showed up.. As they say things always happen to people when they are not looking for it, they also say that the grass is sometimes not any greener!! 

Being an Essex girl myself I really loved this book and reading all the places mentioned throughout, 'Hylands House' and 'Romford Dogs'! It just made it that little bit easier to imagine the street they lived on and the places they visited.

The story follows the lives of the three women however as you can imagine over the months they struggle to stay single and they each end up getting involved with new men they have met. (hot new men to add!) Being best friends they share everything however as none of them wanted to be the one who broke the deal they start to keep secrets from each other and they become distant. I wasn't too keen on how much they were drifting apart in just a few months.

I did wonder at times whether they would stay single for the whole year or whether they would find love. I did agree with the ending it was a perfect way to end for the three friends. Great book by Fiona! Looking forward to reading many more!

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Book Review: It Started With A Tweet' by Anna Bell

Synopsis:

Daisy Hobson lives her whole life online. But when her social media obsession causes her to make a catastrophic mistake at work, Daisy finds her life going into free-fall . . . 

Her sister Rosie thinks she has the answer to all of Daisy's problems - a digital detox in a remote cottage in Cumbria. Soon, too, Daisy meets a welcome distraction there in Jack, the rugged man-next-door.

But can Daisy, a London girl, ever really settle into life in a tiny, isolated village? 

And, more importantly, can she survive without her phone? 

My Review!

I really enjoyed this book, I have read quite a few of Anna Bell's books and they are always a joy to read, perfect for holidays! (Awww holidays... is it Summer yet?!)

This book is right up my street as like the main character Daisy I am ALWAYS on my phone, checking my Instagram feed like it's the morning paper! 

Daisy a 30 year old Marketing Manager living with her friend, Erica in London is obsessed with every type of social media going, she lives her life through her twitter page and trying to find 'The One' through Tinder or even LinkedIn!

Part of Daisy's job is looking after her company's Twitter page and like the synopsis states her social media obsession is the cause of her getting fired so you can imagine what happened! Whoops! After another disastrous date she overhears a conversation between Erica and her boyfriend wanting more space and wanting Daisy to move out.

So after being jobless and most probably homeless her sister Rosie comes to her rescue when she suggests that Daisy needs time out and a break from technology, she manages to persuade Daisy to take a trip to a digital detox centre in a quiet village in Cumbria.

No social media, no internet, no signal... and after Rosie sends their phones down an old well Daisy worries how she will cope without being able to swipe to her hearts content, knowing nothing of the outside world and that the Tupperware box the phones are in might leak!

It was nice to see the relationship between Daisy and Rosie, knowing that they were never very close when they were young, I liked that you see them bond and help each other out. 

I love that Daisy went back to basics and started putting pen to paper instead of updating her Twitter page, sending letters to Erica to keep her updated on the digital detox life and the two hot men in the village..

That's right no little village in the middle of nowhere is complete without not one but two hot men nearby! Enter Alexis, a French exchange and Jack the hot guy from next door!

Hands down Jack is my favourite character, he is gorgeous, kind, genuine, funny and the fact that he writes letters to her just pushed him straight to the front of the queue for most 'loveable fictional male' and believe me the queue is massive!!

The last few chapters had me guessing so I ended up reading until gone 1am just to find out what happened, I LOVE when books do that. I really liked the way this book ended, it was perfect how everything came together and it left me smiling.

I cannot wait for another book from Anna Bell!

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