Now accepting chick lit suggestions December 18, 2006
Posted by charmingbutsingle in Uncategorized.trackback
For some crazy reason, I want to read chick lit this holiday season. First on my list is BreakupBabe, which I bought months ago and never read, not because I didn’t want to read it, but because I haven’t really had the time.
Then I could sift through all of the publicist-gifted books I get. “Dating Up” or “How to avoid marrying a Jerk,” to name a few. (Seriously, Publishing Publicists, I love the free books. I do. Keep on keeping on. But don’t fashion publicists want to help a sister out? Maybe some cute shoes like these or a Hobo International clutch in, say, Ocean? Didn’t I once call “Envy Me” by Gucci the official scent of this blog? I also like the new Burberry scent! Free online dating? Don’t you people want to use me for something other than book reviews that I sometimes don’t even write? No? Just books?)
Leave book suggestions in the comments. Remember, I’ve never brought myself to read an entire Shopaholic book. But I did like Bridget Jones.
I haven’t read any of the Shopaholic books, but I loved Can You Keep A Secret?, by the same author (Kinsella). Don’t know what grabbed me so strongly about that book, but I love it.
Then again, I’m starting to develop a theory that chick lit tomes, like romantic comedies/chick flicks, are loved or hated based not on the quality of the book/movie, but on your state of mind (and relationship status) at the time. It all depends on how much cheese you are willing or able to digest at that particular point in your life/relationship (or lack thereof).
I’ve been following your blog for a while and love it. And I’d go see your “movie” in a second!
As to books, I suggest a couple of nonfictions that are on my reading list - The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz, Marriage: A History by Stephanie Coontz, and Bobos In Paradise by… I forgot.
Well, I guess my suggestions aren’t really chick lit, but I’ve just started reading Marriage: A History, and it’s pretty interesting. I’d also suggest Kinsella’s Undomestic Goddess. THAT’s legit chick-lit, and fun to read.
When my BFF and I went on a tropical vacation to celebrate our 30th birthdays (that was a few years ago…and by the way, you’ll love your 30’s…see 27 as getting closer to the ideal age) she brought along a book for me to read.
It’s part of a six book series…in 3 days, I had read the first two books (about 1000 pages total). Literally, every night I would opt to go back to read in our room instead of sip on Mojitos and flirt with European men. Those books made my vacation…but I could have saved my thousand plus dollars and stayed home to read.
It def qualifies as chick lit with some ‘bodice ripping’ thrown in for good measure. But if I start trying to describe it to you…you won’t read it.
But you won’t be sorry.
“Outlander” by Diane Gabaldon is the first book.
Ok - if you want pure fluff - ‘confessions of an ex girlfriend’
Want somethng smart to laugh your @ss off - ‘bitch’ (elizabeth wurtzel)
Really good writing - ‘white oleander’
Baby Proof by Emily Giffin…I am a book snob, but occasionally will read chick lit when I need a break. This book was great, and it made me think about life at the same time, and easy to read. Also, great easy read is Little Children by Tom Perrota(? the author of Election). Quick and easy read, exciting, but not chick lit…
I second “Can You Keep a Secret.” I also like the Jennifer Weiner books.
Jennifer Weiner, yes, good and light.
White Oleander is great, good suggestion scarlett!
“How to Be Lost” by Amanda Eyre Ward
I agree with the duck… the outlander series is outstanding. If Jamie Fraser existed in the world, I would let him rip my bodice seven ways til Sunday!
I also love anything by Jane Green. She’s British and most of her books are based in London, they’re all awesome! Start with Bookends!
I really liked Anna Maxted’s “Getting Over It.” It’s a little heavier than some of the other chick lit out there, but still pretty fluffy and easy to read. Her other books are good as well, but this one was my favorite by far.
I’m also a huge fan of most of Marian Keyes’s books. “Rachel’s Holiday,” “Last Chance Saloon,” and “Anybody Out There?” are probably my favorites of hers, though they’re all good.
And I second the “Little Children” recommendation. I picked it up out of spite (after the guy I briefly dated made some stupid comment about not understanding the trailer for the movie, gah), and I loved it. It’s easily one of the best books I read this year.
The best book I read this year, btw, was “Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal,” by Christopher Moore. It’s not chick lit, but it’s just wonderful. And definitely an easy read.
I’ve been on a bit of a chick lit reading rampage over the last few months as I am working on writing my own!
For some quality, escapist, more than fluff, check out “Cuba,” “Backpack” and “Baggage” by Emily Barr. Really good stuff. Especially “Cuba.”
Jane Green’s “The Other Woman” and Jane Moore’s “Four Play” and “Love at First Site” are also pretty solid reads. “Model Student” by Robin Hazelwood is a great poor-little-model-girl story that reads better than any episode of Models, Inc. ever was.
I also love Marian Keyes who is an intelligent Chick Lit writer although reading all of her stuff in one fell swoop is not to be recommended as characters start morphing into one another by the 3rd or 4th book.
Good luck!
Love some of the books suggested here - The Outlander series and Lamb are two of my favorites. I’d also highly recommend The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. Very funny, clever and light reading. Not quite sure if any of these qualify as Chick Lit though.
I also recently read “Mad Girls in Love” by Michael Lee West. It’s about Southern women, so I always enjoy those (and you might, too).
The perfect book for a shoe lover: The Manolo Matrix, by Julie Kenner. I actually haven’t read this one yet (it’s waiting on my bookshelf), but I read her previous book, The Givenchy Code. Pure fluff, but lots of fun and great for when you’re in the mood for an easy, mindless read.
I’m not a chick lit reader, but my sister gave me a bunch of Jane Green books when she finished up her “trashy summer novel” period and I quite enjoyed them.
I’d also suggest Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books. Not quite the traditional chick lit, but fun nonetheless.
I second the recommendations of Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner and the Janet Evanovich series.
It’s not strictly chick-lit, but has chick-lit-like qualities: “Girls guide to hunting and fishing” by melissa bank.
I love Emily Giffin books! “Something Borrowed” and “Something Blue” were great reads. Also, Jane Green’s, “Mr. Maybe”
The Big Love by Sarah Dunn.
I just read “Pick Me Up” and I *loved* it. It’s set in the New York art world, and the heroine is actually smart and funny. And, not for nothing, I found it through your blogroll! The final love scenes had me awwwing like I do at Pride & Prejudice, and that’s no small feat!
Um, my initial thoughts were Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre… so I’ll just be perusing your comments here for suggestions for myself. The classics are good, too, though!
I did read Pick Me Up last summer, and it is smart, funny, and cute. Like Real Girl who wrote it.
I have to second anything by Anna Maxted, Jane Green and Marianne Keys. I would NOT recommend Goodbye, Jimmy Choo, as it was all fluff and no fun…the Anna Maxted books have just enough substance to not make me feel like I’m overdosing on brain candy.
Enjoy!
Definitely read “The Little Lady Agency”. Similar to Bridget Jones….a very enjoyable read.
I’ve read a lot of chick lit and I have to say this is definitely one of my favorite–
The Perfect Manhattan by Leanne Shear and Tracey Toomey
It’s a quick read but has detail and morals. It’s a must read!
I was recently in South Africa and just discovered the most amazing chic-lit book (although I also came across really straight guys who liked it). It’s called The Madams by a South African author called Zukiswa Wanner. If you have wanted to make fun of or understand South African culture - now that’s a book!
read the Monday’s child and tuesday’s child books by louise bagshawe… quite a light fun read.