3.67 AVERAGE


This was a great stand-alone book from Lindsey, I really enjoyed it!
I really love the 'I heart..' series, and was pleased that this book drew me in as much as those books do.

Rachel Summers has just been dumped. She's OCD when it comes to keeping to-do lists, so bring forth one for being single. Her journey, from contacting her first high school crush, to bungee jumping alongside her friends Matthew and Emelie played along well like a tame episode of GIRLS. However, I wish the plot was a little more to it than that. It was enjoyable as a stand-alone, but definitely my least favourite of Kelk's books.

3,5 Stars.

It started out super slow but I was fully invested 30% in. Did not expect the love interest in the beginning. I liked the concept of the to do list. Super fun!

What. A. Fun. Read. I first heard about this book from numerous people on Twitter, and in one of The Savvy Reader's email newsletters. I thought it would be like all the other "chick-lit"-type books, but with the rave reviews, I thought I'd give it a chance. Boy am I glad I did! It does still fall into that genre, but it's one of the more entertaining ones I've read. Kelk's writing has that witty British sense of humour, reminiscent of Bridget Jones.

The "single girl" in The Single Girl's To-Do List is Rachel, newly dumped and wanting to be okay with it. With the help of her two fabulous best friends, Emelie & Matthew, they compile a to-do list to achieve the self-acceptance of singledom. She embarks on a mission to cross off all the items on her list... everything from getting a makeover to doing something extreme, all the while juggling her job as a make-up artist, at the moment for an airhead of a model.

I absolutely adored this book. The characters were vivacious and captivating, and I found myself completely invested in their BFF adventure. (And what fantastic BFFs they are!) At one point, Rachel and friends find themselves in Toronto - and I just love reading books that are set in my city! Kelk is describing the trendy hotel that they're staying at, without mentioning a name at first, and I was trying to guess if it was a fictional place or if she really based it on an actual hotel. My guess was The Drake. I chuckled when I read a few pages later that it was, in fact, The Drake out on Queen Street West. The pop culture references are current (Alexander Skarsgard!) but the classics are still there (Friends!) Just when you think you know how the story's going to end, it veers in a different direction. Right when you think you've got the "fairytale ending" figured out, Kelk keeps you on the edge of your seat for a bit longer.

The idea of a "single girl's to-do list" is a great idea, regardless if you're single or not! Why stop yourself from seeing the world with some friends just because you're in a relationship? A great piece of advice (for anyone!) that the usually large-tee/black leggings-clad Rachel was given: Don't go out wearing something you wouldn't want to meet a celebrity in.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I must admit, prior to reading The Single Girl’s To Do List I haven’t been the biggest Lindsey Kelk fan. I enjoy her writing style, it’s incredibly quick, but I thought the two I Heart novels I read (New York & Hollywood) were filled to the absolute brim with cliche after cliche. They were paint by numbers stories as far as I was concerned, and I wanted a bit more ‘oomph’ to them. However I downloaded Lindsey’s exclusive short story Jenny Lopez Has A Bad Week and I loved it and when I heard Lindsey was writing a stand-alone novel I was looking forward to reading it and when I received a copy to review I was thrilled. I settled down to read it on bank holiday Monday and I absolutely loved it.

The Single Girl’s To Do List is probably just as light a read as I Heart New York (and Hollywood and undoubtedly Paris) was. But for me, there’s a big difference: the idea of the novel is different and not something I’ve read before and the characters are infinitely better. There’s a very small part of me that wonders if everything that happens throughout The Single Girl’s To Do List can really happen in two weeks as that’s the general time-frame of the book. But rather than overly question it and ruin the novel for myself, I instead ran with it and found myself very entertained. I hitched myself to its pages and I enjoyed the ride, finishing the novel in just two sittings.

I like the idea Kelk presents that there’s a ‘list’ every girl should complete to really feel single. Some of the items on Rachel’s list are totally insane – bungy jumping, anyone? But I loved the majority of the items and they are totally what you’d find in any break-up bible. Makeover? Check. Tattoo? Check. Write a letter to your feckless ex? Check. Rachel is a girl after my own heart with her list-making. I see myself as a rather organised person, but I’m no list maker. Mainly because I end up getting distracted if I write down the tasks I need to do and, instead, I go and procrastinate meaning I don’t get to check off any of my objectives. Don’t ask why I’m allergic to writing a to-do list, I just am. I’m much better just trying to remember it in my head, although invariably I do forget, meaning a list would have been a good idea (I’m the same with books I need to read, I don’t like telling myself what I have to read otherwise I won’t want to read them). Yes. I am a freak. I love organised female characters who keep lists, they’re what I aspire to be!

I absolutely loved Rachel. From the first page, I absolutely loved her (despite the fact she has Angela’s ‘boy’ affliction. They’re men. Or guys. Even dudes. But they’re not boys.). I do think that I’d have enjoyed the I Heart novels more if the character was more like Rachel, because she’s infinitely likeable. I liked how she threw herself into Emelie and Matthew’s to-do list rather than barricading herself in her bedroom when Simon dumped her. Her best mates Emelie and Matthew (not Matt) really push the novel along, too, with their quirky ways and their inability to let their best friend wallow in her pity and sadness. They were quite a trio, actually, Rachel, Matthew and Emelie, and I loved all three of them. Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t a fan of Rachel’s ex Simon. He was a bit of an tool. I did, however, absolutely love photographer Dan, who Rachel (a make-up artist) works with on photo-shoots. He sounded drop dead gorgeous.

The Single Girl’s To Do List is one of the lightest reads I’ve read all year, but it was exactly what I was looking for. I loved it, I really did. The pages practically turned themselves and I was pleased to get to meet this new crop of characters. Lindsey’s writing style, boys aside, is so so easy to get lost in. Honestly, it just flows brilliantly and I was sucked up into the book from page one. I didn’t have any particular niggles with the book, though at times Rachel doesn’t exactly come across in the best light, and I hope Kelk sticks with writing standalone novels like The Single Girl’s To Do List. She definitely has the ability to become big in Chick Lit because she has a fresh and funny style and I laughed numerous times whilst reading the novel. The novel was definitely a triumph, and I’m pleased to say that the books ends so well that there is no need for a sequel. I enjoyed getting to know Rachel, Emelie, Matthew and co. but I don’t think a second novel would work. I’m looking forward to Kelk’s next novel and I’m hoping it’s one of two things: A Jenny Lopez full-length novel or another stand-alone novel. I’ll be first in the queue to buy either of those. Definitely pick this one up, you’ll thoroughly enjoy it.

I was pretty let down by this main character love interest. This dude seemed kind of awful and although he admitted the mistakes, I wasn't really swept off my feet (and didn't think the rad main character should be in a relationship with him when she was good on her own). Maybe it's just because I read this after Bet Me and nothing can measure up?

I loved this book! I bought this knowing nothing about the book or the author - best thing I ever did! Rachel is a modern version of Bridget Jones; just a little less tragic/more determined not to become a pathetic spinster. It was so easy to relate to her (without leaving my fiancé) although I do now have an overbearing desire to ditch my wardrobe in favour of pretty dresses, dye my hair red and resurrect my to-do list notebook!

The book is well written and funny throughout. The characters are loveable (well, except Simon and Ana); I even had a soft spot for Dan before he poured his heart out.

Favourite quotes:
"And what a difference seven days could make. It was like I was living in not quite a Craig David song, although I sincerely hoped I'd be chilling by Sunday. Except without actually saying chilling, because I could never get away with saying that. What with me being 28, middle class and white."

"The make-up artist the magazine had originally booked had quit when she'd heard Dan had pulled out, and Dan had only pulled out because he thought I was going. There wasn't a single verse in Alanis Morissette's entire songbook to deal with the irony of the situation."

Review also on my blog fairy tale ending book reviews