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lillyalaine36's review
3.0
I was really excited about reading Cupcakes at Carringtons, the cover art is lovely and the cover blurb enticing so I made sure I was ready to begin reading this immediately it was delivered to my Kindle.
It sounded like a perfect recipe for a good book - Carrington's a small department store is failing in the recession and the store and it's staff (chiefly Georgie in Ladies Accessories) need to downsize staff numbers. How will this impact the store and it's close knit team, who is the mysterious new salesperson Tom and what exactly does the scheming analyst in charge of the restructure have in store.
I found the book started well but lost it's way a little - there were a lot of characters introduced very quickly, not touched upon for several chapters then they'd dot up again making me have to think hard about who they were then off they'd flit again for ages. The main character does lack proverbial backbone but to be fair does have redeeming qualities. The love triangle at the books core is a little weak and clearly designed to be followed through into subsequent instalments which adds to the overall lack of closure at the end of the book.
I liked many of the characters and the setting is a great concept but some of the plot lines were over-complicated and under written. I'd give Carringtons another whirl with book 2 but maybe in the Sale this time???
It sounded like a perfect recipe for a good book - Carrington's a small department store is failing in the recession and the store and it's staff (chiefly Georgie in Ladies Accessories) need to downsize staff numbers. How will this impact the store and it's close knit team, who is the mysterious new salesperson Tom and what exactly does the scheming analyst in charge of the restructure have in store.
I found the book started well but lost it's way a little - there were a lot of characters introduced very quickly, not touched upon for several chapters then they'd dot up again making me have to think hard about who they were then off they'd flit again for ages. The main character does lack proverbial backbone but to be fair does have redeeming qualities. The love triangle at the books core is a little weak and clearly designed to be followed through into subsequent instalments which adds to the overall lack of closure at the end of the book.
I liked many of the characters and the setting is a great concept but some of the plot lines were over-complicated and under written. I'd give Carringtons another whirl with book 2 but maybe in the Sale this time???
clarab12's review
5.0
Quite possibly one of my favourite books I have ever read, just a fab girly story with a few little twists and i'll admit to laughing out loud earlier whilst listening on audiobook (in public might I add!)
I like to come back to this series when I want a little lift!
I like to come back to this series when I want a little lift!
leannedryburgh's review
4.0
What a wonderful uplifting laugh out loud book, I throughly enjoyed the story line of this book, and cannt wait to read the rest of the Carringtons series.
bookevin's review
5.0
Review originally on I Heart.. Chick Lit.
www.iheart-chicklit.blogspot.com
International Giveaway on Valentine's Day!
Well.... What can I say about a book I've been dying to read for ages, which I polished off as soon as I got it in my mailbox? Let me introduce you to Alexandra Brown, lover of chick lit, addict of delectable cupcakes and a real sweetheart! After exchanging tweets a few times, we quickly bonded over our love of chick lit and hot men. Shhh.
When I was told I was on the list for a copy of her debut novel, Cupcakes at Carrington's, I was beyond ecstatic. I whooped. I laughed. I giggled whenever I thought of it. I walked around with a spring in my step. I was on a high. Okay, you probably don't want to know how I felt. Let's just say my sister found it so annoying she told me the world would end and I wouldn't get the chance to read it. I received my copy yesterday, I started it in the evening and finished it half an hour ago. Hardly a day, right?
What I thought about it:
My thoughts are still jumbled up after reading. I'm still missing Georgie's big heart and Eddie, whose gorgeous flair has left me wanting a GBF (gay best friend). So I'll layer things so you won't have a headache when you read this. Here goes!
Cupcakes at Carrington's follows the story of Georgie Hart, a super sweet twenty-something with a penchant for luxury bags and an incurable addiction to red velvet cupcakes with buttercream icing and sprinkles. It's rare to come across a heroine who loves her job - hardly so. In Georgie's case, she loves hers because she's blooming good at what she does. She runs the Women's Accessories department at Carrington's and frankly, I'm pretty jealous. I would LOVE to caress lovely, soft leather handbags and the smell of newness on them is mouth-watering. Ugh, how disgusting of me.
Everything seems to be going her way until disaster strikes and the perfect job is turned into a helpless pursuit to fight for her job. Enter the femme fatale, Maxine. Stuck-up and a horrendous cow. Putting everyone's job at stake and making life working at Carrington's a living hell with her manipulative ways, making perfectly sure everyone suffers. Oh, no! How could I have forgotten. Introducing devastating heartthrob, Tom. Handsome, flirty and utterly delicious Tom. Without giving much away, of course. You'll have to read it to know what happens. *wink*
Georgie Hart is such a down-to-earth, sweet, adorable heroine. She's friendly, she gets on with anyone who is everyone, well except certain people of course. She's a wonderful character, humble and kind to all around her. I think the both of us would hit if off pretty well. I can imagine us having cupcakes at Cupcakes at Carrington's, gossiping with Eddie and Sam over a lovely cup of milky tea. She carries herself very well in the book, how she tells everything that's happening around her. I loved how I could relate to her feasibly - from sharing her heart-skips-a-beat moments to the painful, heartbreaking stabs of her past. Although on the surface, this may seem like a fun, feel-good chick lit book, but there are some heartbreaking parts in the book which would compel you to give your heart out to Georgie.
The characters in the book were amazing to read about - they were really real - a wonderful presence in the book as they made it more fun and colourful. Georgie's GBF, Eddie is such a winner for a best friend. He's the kind of friend you'd rely on and would confide in him without a moment's doubt. If I can say so myself, I kind of fell in love with him from the first chapter. You'll know why. He's charming, adorable and I have a massive crush on him. Sadly, he's fictional. Georgie's other best friend, Sam is another darling friend I would want to have, super supportive and understanding. Despite being extremely loaded, how shallow of me, she is adamant that she has a job. I really like her for that, instead of being one of those spoilt Chelsea girls, she's a rather lovely girl with a big heart. And as for the gorgeous, panty-ripping handsome blokes, I'll let you read so you'll experience the fireworks in your stomach, the flips and of course, the flutters and blushes.
The book is written from Georgie's point of view and I really enjoyed reading it from her perspective. Alexandra's (Alex) writing is fresh, upcoming and it complements the plot as it really worked for me. However clichéd this may sound, it was a book I could escape to. Pure escapism for me. I let go all my worries and thought accumulated over the past weeks and delved into it wholeheartedly. The book is set in Mulberry-On-Sea, a picturesque seaside town as opposed to the busy metropolitan London. The characters were fabulous. The plot carried me throughout the book and made me fall in love with the characters, Carrington's and even Dusty the Labrador!
Verdict:
I loved it. Here, I've said it. Perfect for you if you loved Ali Harris's Miracle on Regent Street, the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella and the I Heart series by Lindsey Kelk, not to mention Meet Me at The Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan!
A sparkling debut by Alexandra Brown, probably one of the best books I've read these past months. You'll devour this delicious slice of chick lit like how you polish off your favourite cupcake. Sinfully delectable and delightful.
Look out for my INTERVIEW WITH GEORGIE HART and INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY on Valentine's Day.
I'm giving one lucky reader a copy of Cupcakes at Carrington's!
Rating : 5/5
www.iheart-chicklit.blogspot.com
International Giveaway on Valentine's Day!
Well.... What can I say about a book I've been dying to read for ages, which I polished off as soon as I got it in my mailbox? Let me introduce you to Alexandra Brown, lover of chick lit, addict of delectable cupcakes and a real sweetheart! After exchanging tweets a few times, we quickly bonded over our love of chick lit and hot men. Shhh.
When I was told I was on the list for a copy of her debut novel, Cupcakes at Carrington's, I was beyond ecstatic. I whooped. I laughed. I giggled whenever I thought of it. I walked around with a spring in my step. I was on a high. Okay, you probably don't want to know how I felt. Let's just say my sister found it so annoying she told me the world would end and I wouldn't get the chance to read it. I received my copy yesterday, I started it in the evening and finished it half an hour ago. Hardly a day, right?
What I thought about it:
My thoughts are still jumbled up after reading. I'm still missing Georgie's big heart and Eddie, whose gorgeous flair has left me wanting a GBF (gay best friend). So I'll layer things so you won't have a headache when you read this. Here goes!
Cupcakes at Carrington's follows the story of Georgie Hart, a super sweet twenty-something with a penchant for luxury bags and an incurable addiction to red velvet cupcakes with buttercream icing and sprinkles. It's rare to come across a heroine who loves her job - hardly so. In Georgie's case, she loves hers because she's blooming good at what she does. She runs the Women's Accessories department at Carrington's and frankly, I'm pretty jealous. I would LOVE to caress lovely, soft leather handbags and the smell of newness on them is mouth-watering. Ugh, how disgusting of me.
Everything seems to be going her way until disaster strikes and the perfect job is turned into a helpless pursuit to fight for her job. Enter the femme fatale, Maxine. Stuck-up and a horrendous cow. Putting everyone's job at stake and making life working at Carrington's a living hell with her manipulative ways, making perfectly sure everyone suffers. Oh, no! How could I have forgotten. Introducing devastating heartthrob, Tom. Handsome, flirty and utterly delicious Tom. Without giving much away, of course. You'll have to read it to know what happens. *wink*
Georgie Hart is such a down-to-earth, sweet, adorable heroine. She's friendly, she gets on with anyone who is everyone, well except certain people of course. She's a wonderful character, humble and kind to all around her. I think the both of us would hit if off pretty well. I can imagine us having cupcakes at Cupcakes at Carrington's, gossiping with Eddie and Sam over a lovely cup of milky tea. She carries herself very well in the book, how she tells everything that's happening around her. I loved how I could relate to her feasibly - from sharing her heart-skips-a-beat moments to the painful, heartbreaking stabs of her past. Although on the surface, this may seem like a fun, feel-good chick lit book, but there are some heartbreaking parts in the book which would compel you to give your heart out to Georgie.
The characters in the book were amazing to read about - they were really real - a wonderful presence in the book as they made it more fun and colourful. Georgie's GBF, Eddie is such a winner for a best friend. He's the kind of friend you'd rely on and would confide in him without a moment's doubt. If I can say so myself, I kind of fell in love with him from the first chapter. You'll know why. He's charming, adorable and I have a massive crush on him. Sadly, he's fictional. Georgie's other best friend, Sam is another darling friend I would want to have, super supportive and understanding. Despite being extremely loaded, how shallow of me, she is adamant that she has a job. I really like her for that, instead of being one of those spoilt Chelsea girls, she's a rather lovely girl with a big heart. And as for the gorgeous, panty-ripping handsome blokes, I'll let you read so you'll experience the fireworks in your stomach, the flips and of course, the flutters and blushes.
The book is written from Georgie's point of view and I really enjoyed reading it from her perspective. Alexandra's (Alex) writing is fresh, upcoming and it complements the plot as it really worked for me. However clichéd this may sound, it was a book I could escape to. Pure escapism for me. I let go all my worries and thought accumulated over the past weeks and delved into it wholeheartedly. The book is set in Mulberry-On-Sea, a picturesque seaside town as opposed to the busy metropolitan London. The characters were fabulous. The plot carried me throughout the book and made me fall in love with the characters, Carrington's and even Dusty the Labrador!
Verdict:
I loved it. Here, I've said it. Perfect for you if you loved Ali Harris's Miracle on Regent Street, the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella and the I Heart series by Lindsey Kelk, not to mention Meet Me at The Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan!
A sparkling debut by Alexandra Brown, probably one of the best books I've read these past months. You'll devour this delicious slice of chick lit like how you polish off your favourite cupcake. Sinfully delectable and delightful.
Look out for my INTERVIEW WITH GEORGIE HART and INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY on Valentine's Day.
I'm giving one lucky reader a copy of Cupcakes at Carrington's!
Rating : 5/5
steffieg's review
4.0
Great read! The writing style is smooth & effortless...makes you turn page after page without realising time it passing. Entering into a girly world of department stores, designer brands and romance is truly wonderful on occasions.
emalea_snow's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bellacrl's review
3.0
It's a fluffy light-reading book with a great twist. And I enjoy it as something light to read after reading such a heavy themed-book yesterday.