The summer has officially begun on the 21st of June, and you might be looking for some new Women’s Fiction / Chick-Lit to bring with you to the beach. Earlier this year, I was in the mood for some quick, light reads and picked up these three novels. Not all of them lived up to my expectations, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t like them!
Let’s begin with the one I liked the most and leave the one I didn’t enjoy for last.
goodreads blurb:
1) Exercise more
2) Eat healthily
3) Learn how to live again…
Forty-year-old Alison Lund has always carefully planned everything in her well-ordered life, from colour co-ordinating her beautiful house to persuading her excitable son Alexander that sticker charts are more fun than misbehaving. But Alison’s perfect world has just fallen apart…
Her head is left spinning when her beloved larger than life mother-in-law, Maggie, passes away and Alison is left heartbroken. Every afternoon they’d talk and laugh over a pot of tea, she was the glue that kept Alison together through the first few tough years of motherhood. And now Alison is trying to figure out a future without her.
GOODREADS | AMAZON UK – US | BOOKDEPOSITORY | AUTHOR’S WEBSITE
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the company or its affiliates in any way.
Surprisingly funny and entertaining, Pippa James knows exactly how to deliver a feel-warm book. Three different families, three different ways of life, and one heartwarming story.
At the beginning of the new year, three friends, Alison, Kate, and Frankie decide to follow the Happiness Project. Basically, each one of them has things they would like to change about themselves – be it something trivial as losing weight or worry less, to maybe more important tasks, like finding a job.
Alison, the most organized of all three of them, decided that it was time for a change and of course she couldn’t leave her girlfriends out of it.
Do you know the feeling when you want to just cuddle with the book? When the book emanates warmth and emotional satisfaction? That’s what «The Happiness Project» by Pippa James was to me. A light and happy read.
My rating:
★★★★☆
goodreads blurb:
From bestselling author Amanda Prowse comes the poignant tale of a woman who has always been there for her family. But will they be there for her?
Rae-Valentine and Howard were childhood sweethearts. They’ve shared twenty-five peaceful years since they were brought together by Dolly, Howard’s larger-than-life sister. But now, on the night of their wedding anniversary, Howard reveals a shocking betrayal that leaves Rae reeling.
Heartbroken, she takes Dolly on her would-be anniversary trip to Antigua and the two women drink and dance and talk like they haven’t in years. But in the break from real life, Rae realises her choices have always been made for her, and suddenly she’s questioning not only her fragile marriage but also her one-sided friendships. Is she really the pushover everyone else sees?
GOODREADS | AMAZON UK – US | BOOKDEPOSITORY | AUTHOR’S WEBSITE
*FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK (Lake Union Publishing) for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the company or its affiliates in any way.
In this emotional family drama, Amanda Prowse created a profound, at times funny, but mostly heart-breaking story. We follow Rae-Valentine in her “what looks to be” happy life and marriage. She and Howard have two grown up children, a big loud family and the financial security of the family business.
Rae-Valentine has always felt like the luckiest girl. She found her love, the other half of her soul when she was just a teenager. Coming from a family where she was constantly outshone by her big sister Debbie-Joe, Rae needed this attention and love.
But of course, nothing could be as simple as this. The happily-ever-after stories need some spice in them. Rae was forced to remove her pink glasses and finally see the truth about her family.
Emotionally gripping, «The Girl in the Corner» makes for the perfect summer read. I can already picture myself lying at the beach or sitting on the pier at the sunset, and losing myself in Rae-Valentine’s drama.
My rating:
★★★☆☆
goodreads blurb:
Maggie Mayfield, an elementary school principal in the upscale suburbs of San Diego, likes to do the right thing—for her students and, after her marriage takes a hit, for herself as well. What’s wrong with that?
To keep her cash-strapped school afloat, Maggie says yes to a sweet deal from Silicon Valley’s hottest for-profit education company. They’ll provide enough funding so that Maggie can keep her science, art, and PE teachers in exchange for some dopey beta-test program backed by handsome CEO Danny Z. No layoffs! Happy kids!
Professionally, everything’s flourishing. Personally, the right things are tingling—Maggie can’t resist Danny Z’s magnetism. But as the school year continues, Maggie senses that she might have been duped. As things take a turn for the worse, Maggie and her BFF assistant, Diane, must keep things good—by going a little bad.
GOODREADS | AMAZON UK – US | BOOKDEPOSITORY | AUTHOR’S WEBSITE
*FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the company or its affiliates in any way.
Maggie Mayfield is an elementary school principal in a prestigious community. She is a fighter, and she will do everything for her students. When the opportunity to test new educational program presents itself, together with the much-needed financial support, Maggie cannot refuse.
The Author tried to create witty and quirky characters that fell victims of embarrassing situations and came marching out with their heads held high. However, for me it felt bland, boring and the humor went above my head.
«The Very Principled Maggie Mayfield» had some positive sides. Especially, Maggie’s struggles as the school principal, trying to look out for her kids and teachers, while also juggling the funding.
“A child’s mind is like a mansion with dozens of rooms: one room for art, one for math, one for literature, and so on. The child can make each room as elaborate as she wants it to be—but only if she spends time there.”
The Very Principles Maggie Mayfield by Kathy Cooperman
Maggie is shown as that fierce protector of her school, and we get to respect her for this. I was led to believe in Maggie, to see her as this strong woman, who overcame the divorce and unusual situations that led to it.
But then Danny shows up and it all goes downhill from there. Maggie becomes stupid. She acts without thinking, she says silly things and at that point, I’ve lost all interest in continuing reading this book.
The humor that the Kathy Cooperman poured in this book, couldn’t hide its flaws. Although, I did appreciate the «Game of Thrones» reference:
They give people rides in the clouds.” By now, Maggie had totally Disneyfied the Khaleesi’s dragons.
The Very Principles Maggie Mayfield by Kathy Cooperman
My rating:
★★☆☆☆
Have you read any books by these authors?
What is your favorite Beach Read?
Let me know in the comments below!
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