The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner may be one of the queen’s of chick lit but what she has done for the genre lately is give it some depth that really cannot be ignored. This collection of short stories focus on the different struggles women in their 30’s face. Am I with the right person? How can I raise my children better? There is nothing glamorous in Weiner’s stories but rather they are filled with humanity.

Considering the short story format, the pacing if moderately fast as the reader just gets to know the situation when moving on to another. The characters are well drawn and easy to identify with quickly. The reader is drawn into each situation as it is painted vividly for the reader to digest. 2006, 304 pages.

 

Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer

Nola Devlin and her two best friends make a pact one evening to lose weight and be all they can be. Nola doesn’t take the pact seriously at first as she is up to her eyeballs in problems at work-having faked a celebrity columnist when her boss turned her work down. What the boss doesn’t know is that this fabulous celebrity columnist is really Nola. As time goes by Nola and the other two stick to the pact and find themselves at a crossroads in their lives. Moderate paced, this novel will entertain and enlighten as the characters could easily be any one of us. 2006, 290 pages.

 

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

Claudia Parr, a successful New York editor, has known for years that she does not want children. This little detail has defined her dating experiences and at 35, she resigns herself to spinsterhood. In steps Ben, Claudia’s dream man that also does not want any children. They marry and have a good life until Ben changes his mind and decides that having kids is a total deal breaker. Disappointed and devastated Claudia picks up the pieces and learns how to survive without Ben. Being alone gives her the time to reflect on what true love really means.

Baby Proof is a moderately paced novel that focuses on the character development of Claudia and Ben from a distance. There are no easy answers here and that is what makes Giffin enjoyable to read-the characters, the struggles and the story are all believable. New York is a formidable background but is not integral to the story. The tone is a juxtaposition between hope and despair. 2006, 340 pages.

 

The Little Lady Agency by Hester Browne

Melissa is the cosummate good girl-the one who always bakes the cake for a birthday party, keeps things running and never, ever gets the guy. She fades into the woodwork and considers herself to be dull and frumpy. When Mel gets fired from her job she decides, after quite a lot of hilarious mishaps, that she will take what she is good at (managing the details) and starts her own business, The Little Lady Agency under the name of Honey. The agency is for men who can’t get a woman or don’t want a woman around to help them plan events; learn how to dress and to woo women. Honey wears high heels, tight dresses and takes crap from no one. Will Mel ever realize that Honey has a place in her real life?

This is a quickly paced book told in the 1st person. The cast of characters are well-developed and easy to relate to by the reader. The setting, London, is not integral to the story-it could be set anywhere. This is a light, funny book with a touch of romance for those who like a happy ending. 2005, 376 pages.

 

Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Andrea Sachs wants to work for the New Yorker more than anything. With a strong collegiate background, she takes a job with Runway Magazine as Miranda Priestley’s personal assistant. The goal is to make it one year to get whatever job she may want. Miranda’s outrageous demands and the people who bow down to her every whim will outrage you. Andrea sacrifices her life, friends and family for so long and puts up with so much-will she ever break?

A quick read with little character development. Interesting plot of a sad situation with the opportunity to see how the other half lives. 2003, 360 pages.

 

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Cannie Shapiro is a career gal nearing 30. After just dumping her lazy boyfriend, she is shocked one day to see a magazine column written by him about loving a larger woman. That larger woman is Cannie. Rage, revenge and then wanting him back follows. Along the way she misses the doctor who is falling for her and finds herself pregnant and along.

Quick pace with a good dialogue. A funny look at those who are not built perfectly who come to terms with who they are. Funny storyline, funny characters that are well developed. 2001, 376 pages.

 

Fat Chance by Deborah Blumenthal

Maggie O’Leary has captured America’ attention by writing an anti-diet column that is syndicated all over the country. She is on top of the world and ok with her plus size life until the phone rings and Mike Taylor, Hollywood’s sexiest actor, wants her to come to Hollywood to help him prepare for his upcoming role as a diet doctor. Maggie becomes smitten and decides to transform herself into a bombshell before her trip, all the while still writing about the evils of dieting.

The emphasis of the book is on the journey to self-love. Moderately paced, there is lots of dialogue and introspection on the part of Maggie. The setting sets the tone, but is not integral to understanding the story. Readers will enjoy getting to know Maggie and the other characters that are entertaining and somewhat three-dimensional. A funny read but dietary tips throughout the book and the epilogue can be intrusive and seem to work against the notion of loving yourself for who you are. 2004, 298 pages.

 

Something Blue by Emily Griffin

Readers who enjoyed Giffin’s stellar debut, Something Borrowed, might be surprised to find that the villainess of that novel is the heroine of this one. Selfish but beautiful Darcy is reeling from the betrayal of her best friend, Rachel, and her fiance, Dex, even though she cheated on Dex with his friend Marcus. Darcy is carrying Marcus’ child, so she assumes he’ll take care of her. After all, she’s always gotten everything she’s ever wanted. But when Marcus dumps her, she finds herself pregnant and alone. (Booklist)

Something Blue is a chick lit novel that takes a bit to get into because it is hard to really like Darcy. In fact, she annoys the heck out of you until she starts to grow and change. Ssurprisingly the book has an interior focus as you get to know Darcy and the life she has built for herself. The setting could be anywhere, characters memorable, with a moderate pace. 2005, 352 pages.

 

Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

Our fourth escapade with our favorite sophaholic, Becky Bloomwood, brings us into unfamiliar territory. Happily married and perhaps just a bit more financially responsible, not, Becky discovers that she has a long lost half sister. Ecstatic Becky imagines long shopping trips and lots of sisterly advice. What she finds is a sister who is the yin to her yang. Frugal, thrifty and not interested in anything to do with fashion or shopping. What’s a girl to do with a sister like that? Another quick, funny chick lit read. The Shopaholic series is defined and enjoyed by so many because of the quirky characters you meet along the way. 2004, 368 pages.

 

Shopaholic Ties the Knot by Sophie Kinsella

Our third bout with crazed shopaholic Becky Bloomwood, proves that love conquers all. Luke Brandon has not abandoned Becky and her financial woes like we all expected in book two (Shopaholic Takes Manhattan). Instead, he has asked her to marry him. OK, Don’t panic! Not only is there shopping to be had, there are two weddings on two different continents. The antics may be slightly different but the curious situations Becky creates for herself are still laugh out loud funny-even if you want to strangle her. 2003, 352 pages.