Love Reads!

By Sophie Kinsella

February 2008

The Dial Press

ISBN-10: 0385338724

ISBN-13: 978-0385338721

In Sophie Kinsella’s newest novel remember me, we meet Lexi Smart, a somewhat mousy girl who has a boring job at a carpet store and a pretty lousy boyfriend. One night after drowning her sorrows in drinks with some friends she falls down a set of stairs trying to catch a cab in the pouring rain and everything goes blank….

She wakes up the next day in the hospital, but something feels off, she looks a bit thinner and her belongings around her are not hers, or so she thinks. After some investigating and talking with her doctors she realizes that it hasn’t only been just a day, but THREE YEARS! No, she wasn’t in a coma; apparently it was a car accident that gave her amnesia, washing away the memories of those years.

There is apparently a whole lot that she has forgotten; last she remembers, it was the day before her estranged father’s funeral. Now she discovers she not only runs the entire carpet sector of the same company she worked for before, but she is also married to the most gorgeous guy on the planet. As each day goes by, though and she still doesn’t remember anything, she discovers details here and there that don’t quite add up. For example, her former friends ignore her now and apparently she is having an affair with her husband’s business partner? What happened to change things so starkly in a few short years?

This book is another gem in Sophie’s tiara mixing her trademark wit and smarts with a story that told any differently could have easily become confusing and muddled. I am impressed by her effort and hope that those who love her books or have ever wanted to try one to pick this book up.

By Whitney Gaskell

August 2007

Bantam

ISBN 10: 0553589695

ISBN:13: 978-0553589696

In Mommy Tracked by Whitney Gaskell, the reader is introduced to four sassy women each at different stages of their lives, but still finding the time to come together. Grace, Chloe, Juliet and Anna all met as part of the neighborhood group called mothers coming together that hosts monthly events for the women to come together, have fun, and commiserate.

They’re newly appointed leader Grace is very inventive with her new ideas; some being nice; but painful (like a free bikini wax) while others are a bit more on the naughty side. Grace though as happy as she portrays herself to her friends and family secretly feels horribly about herself thanks to an overly critical stepmother and her constant badgering. Having endured it for a long period now she surprises everyone by being irresponsible in a BIG way.

Chloe, when we meet her in the beginning is 8 months pregnant and ready to start the journey that it is being a mom. Early on in the story she gives birth and hopes that with a child in the family her not so doting husband will shape up into a responsible adult. Unfortunately, her theory falls short when put into practice and her patience is quickly wearing thin. Then there’s also that little shoplifting habit……..

Juliet is quite the opposite of the previous two and is a high-powered lawyer on the verge of making partner. Her husband, previously a firefighter, stays at home taking care of the kids, and is resentful because she spends way to much time in the office and not enough with her family. Juliet ignores her husbands protests and figures that as soon as she makes partner they will be a financial easy street, but at what cost? Then there are those thoughts about her boss……….

Anna is a recently divorced restaurant critic with a two-year-old son named Charlie. Focusing solely on her career and her child she has not really had time for dating, though the way she portrays her ex I have a feeling he could scare anyone off. That is until she meets Noah a sweet entrepreneur with a great smile and easy demeanor. All seems perfect until he drops the bomb that he has been through four engagements, none of which resulting in marriage. Will she be able to look past it?

This book is perfect for every generation, whether you’re a young mother, a veteran, or not a mother at all, you can relate to at least one of the characters in it. They are all very real, each having their own unique set of baggage, but still able to help each other when another is in need.

4 out of 5

By Holly Peterson

June 2007

The Dial Press

ISBN 10: 0385340400

ISBN 13: 978-0385340403

In Manny the story is exactly what it sounds like right after reading the title; its about someone employing a male nanny.

Jamie Whitfield is thirty-something television news show producer living in Manhattan. As is usually the case when it comes to some chick lit she, along with her husband own a sizable apartment in as she calls it “the grid” more often called the Upper East Side. She thinks herself to be beyond the whole scene however doing the bare minimum required to fit in. She unlike many of her peers tries her best to make herself a part of children’s lives. She has to this point has been fairly successful balancing both that and work, but has recently discovered, at least when it comes to her son Dylan, there is only so much she herself can do.

Her husband Phillip spends almost no time at home, let alone with the children and because of this Dylan has never had a strong positive male influence in his life. This lack of bonding has made Dylan over the years very introverted. After trying to talk this through with her husband having gotten nowhere she decides to talk it over with some friends. They quickly tell her about the finer points of having what is called a “Manny” or male nanny. A Manny they say unlike their female counterparts do not do laundry or cleaning, instead they spend time with the children assimilating themselves as the male role model that has been absent. Taking the children to sports events, the park and most importantly be there to listen to the problems that may not be told to the parents because either they do not have time, or are not “cool” enough.

After some searching Jamie is quickly realizing she may have to throw in the towel as it is harder then she imagined to find someone to fill that role. Thankfully though she is served a miracle in the form of Peter a man in his late 20s trying to make ends meet while he develops computer software that provides homework help. He becomes more then just the hired help as time progresses.

This book is too utterly predictable and follows too long of a time line for the inevitable end result. The characters were engaging which is why I was disappointed the story played out as it did. Unfortunately with this book, all you need to do is read the title and your pretty much done.

I swear this is the LAST time this blog moves! I finally found the perfect place to for my growing blog to live and socialize! I am hoping with this blog under a bigger umbrella more avid chick lit readers like myself will be able to find love reads and benefit from its content. If you have any ideas as the page grows let me know. This page is for you! I want to know what you want to see! So email or comment and get you thoughts heard. Welcome to the new home of Love Reads, grab a cup of coffee sit back and enjoy!