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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review****
Well. This is a tough one to write because I've loved some of Katie Fforde's previous books and for years I would always buy the latest paperback, but this just doesn't work. The last couple of books have had problems with the heroines not reading like women in their twenties, and I think this is an effort to try and combat that by moving the action to the 1960s. But the dialogue doesn't flow, and the characters feel flat. I had serious reservations about the way that David the flatmate was introduced, and then the plot was just a bit loopy. It's like a 1960s mash up of some of her previous modern plots. So disappointing, and I hate writing that. I'll go off and read Stately Pursuits again to take my mind off it.
Well. This is a tough one to write because I've loved some of Katie Fforde's previous books and for years I would always buy the latest paperback, but this just doesn't work. The last couple of books have had problems with the heroines not reading like women in their twenties, and I think this is an effort to try and combat that by moving the action to the 1960s. But the dialogue doesn't flow, and the characters feel flat. I had serious reservations about the way that David the flatmate was introduced, and then the plot was just a bit loopy. It's like a 1960s mash up of some of her previous modern plots. So disappointing, and I hate writing that. I'll go off and read Stately Pursuits again to take my mind off it.
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
A lovely feel good chick lit, which was very much welcomed as a pick me up. Lizzie has a life, she’s falling for a man, but her mum has other plans for her to be married to another. Would recommend
Warning - this book is set in the 1960s.
Lizzie is a sheltered Home Counties middle-class girl who comes to London in 1963 to attend Cookery School in her mother's fervent hopes that she will then be able to catch Mr Right (eg a man in a well-paid job). If you have ever seen the start of the film Thoroughly Modern Millie, the start of this book is very similar as Lizzie gets a radical new asymmetric hair cut and Dolly Bird clothes (strange that Lizzie thinks that being a Dolly Bird is glamorous and something to aspire to!). At first Lizzie is living with her aunt Gina in up-market Chelsea but when that falls through she ends up sharing a dilapidated house in Belgravia with two of her classmates, a small dog and an actor.
See the swinging sixties through the eyes of a young woman as she leaves home for the first time. Can she forge a life for herself in London, gasp and get a job, or will her mother get her engaged and married off in no time?
Setting this book in the 1960s works well for Katie Fforde's brand of heroine, because they are always artistic (Lizzie is a genius with a sewing machine and she has a talent for arranging flowers), and slightly innocent, ie married at a young age or only ever had one serious boyfriend, ill-at-ease with men, and this works well in the context of a sheltered girl from the Home Counties being introduced to wicked London. There are dinner parties and country house parties and beatniks and aristocratic gels just doing the Season don't you know!
This was lovely, just what I expect from Kate Fforde and I practically read it in one sitting. Two minor niggles. One is a bit spoilery and the other is that I'm not sure the title is right. Otherwise, sublime.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release and minor typos.
Lizzie is a sheltered Home Counties middle-class girl who comes to London in 1963 to attend Cookery School in her mother's fervent hopes that she will then be able to catch Mr Right (eg a man in a well-paid job). If you have ever seen the start of the film Thoroughly Modern Millie, the start of this book is very similar as Lizzie gets a radical new asymmetric hair cut and Dolly Bird clothes (strange that Lizzie thinks that being a Dolly Bird is glamorous and something to aspire to!). At first Lizzie is living with her aunt Gina in up-market Chelsea but when that falls through she ends up sharing a dilapidated house in Belgravia with two of her classmates, a small dog and an actor.
See the swinging sixties through the eyes of a young woman as she leaves home for the first time. Can she forge a life for herself in London, gasp and get a job, or will her mother get her engaged and married off in no time?
Setting this book in the 1960s works well for Katie Fforde's brand of heroine, because they are always artistic (Lizzie is a genius with a sewing machine and she has a talent for arranging flowers), and slightly innocent, ie married at a young age or only ever had one serious boyfriend, ill-at-ease with men, and this works well in the context of a sheltered girl from the Home Counties being introduced to wicked London. There are dinner parties and country house parties and beatniks and aristocratic gels just doing the Season don't you know!
This was lovely, just what I expect from Kate Fforde and I practically read it in one sitting. Two minor niggles. One is a bit spoilery
Spoiler
running away? Really?I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release and minor typos.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
"Oh my golly gosh! The dialogue. It is so stilted!"
I found the dialogue, and explanations of things that did not require explaining hard work, but I was looking for an unchallenging read and this fit the bill.
I found the dialogue, and explanations of things that did not require explaining hard work, but I was looking for an unchallenging read and this fit the bill.
I enjoyed this for the most part, the writing was enough to keep me engaged and the pace was fast but I would’ve preferred more from the friendship group, especially David who was one of my favourite characters.
Overall, the plot was enjoyable although Hugo didn’t appeal to me and the ending was expected if not dragged out slightly. I would definitely read another book by this author.
*thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, the plot was enjoyable although Hugo didn’t appeal to me and the ending was expected if not dragged out slightly. I would definitely read another book by this author.
*thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this for the most part, the writing was enough to keep me engaged and the pace was fast but I would’ve preferred more from the friendship group, especially David who was one of my favourite characters.
Overall, the plot was enjoyable although Hugo didn’t appeal to me and the ending was expected if not dragged out slightly. I would definitely read another book by this author.
*thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, the plot was enjoyable although Hugo didn’t appeal to me and the ending was expected if not dragged out slightly. I would definitely read another book by this author.
*thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.