The Undomestic Goddess
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Narrator: Katherine Kellgren
Published: July 19, 2005
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook: 10 discs
Source: borrowed from the library
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Synopsis (from GoodReads): Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership. Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does…will she want it back?
My Thoughts: Another Sophie Kinsella audiobook and another great story! Kinsella never disappoints, and this novel had me laughing outloud and wishing that this book never had to end. Following Samantha Sweeting, a high powered London lawyer who has just made a huge mistake and lost her job, Kinsella takes you on a hilarious journey through Samantha's new job as a housekeeper. Kinsella weaves a story that shows that life doesn't always turn out as you planned it, and that can be a good thing! She also shows how having an open mind to new things can lead you to unexpected places.
I loved all of the characters in this book, from the leading lady to her employers to her new love, Nathaniel. Kinsella crafts characters who are real, who are based in reality. And her ability to create a leading lady is uncanny. She creates these women who are flawed and imperfect. They aren't always looking for love (but they won't turn it down!), and who are confident in themselves. That's something that I greatly admire in a main character (I personally hate women who are looking for love and feel like a man will compelte who they are. So having that in a book is a sure turnoff for me.)
I've said it once, and I know I'll say it again: if you haven't read any of Sophie Kinsella's books, then go and get one immediately! If you enjoy reading something that will make you laugh and that you will find difficult to put down, then you will love her work.
Sleeping Arrangements
Author: Madeleine Wickham
Published: January 1, 2002
Genre: chick lit
Audiobook 7 CDs
Source: borrowed from the library
My Rating: 2.5 stars
Synopsis (from GoodReads): Two families, one holiday villa – who’s sleeping with whom? Chloe needs a holiday. She’s sick of making wedding dresses, her partner Philip has troubles at work, the whole family wants a break. Her wealthy friend Gerard has offered the loan of his luxury villa in Spain – perfect. Hugh is not a happy man. His immaculate wife Amanda seems more interested in her new kitchen than in him, and he works so hard to pay for it, he barely has time for his children. Maybe he’ll have a chance to bond with them on holiday. His old friend Gerard has lent them a luxury villa in Spain – perfect. Both families arrive at the villa and realize the awful truth – Gerard has double-booked. What no-one else realizes is that Chloe and Hugh have a history, and as tensions rise within the two families, old passions resurface. It seems that Gerard’s ‘accidental’ double booking may not be an accident after all.
My Thoughts: Madeleine Wickham, aka Sophie Kinsella, is my go-to audiobook author. Her work is funny, light, and a great listen. While parts of Sleeping Arrangements had it's funny moments, it was just a little too much for me to enjoy. Following two families who are accidentally booked at a friend's villa for the same week, you come to learn that Chloe and Hugh, who are with different partners now, have a history. It never seemed like much of a history for me, though, and Hugh seemed to overplay their relationship in his mind (at least, that's how it felt to me). The chemistry between the four adults was off and wasn't what I've come to expect in Wickham/Kinsella novels. To me, the best part of this book was Phillip and his job. His company was recently bought out and he will find out when he comes back from vacation whether or not he still has a job. As it turns out, Hugh works for the company that bought Phillip's company. I thought this could have been explored more and made for a more complete plot.
While I certainly won't stop reading Wickham/Kinsella novels because of this one, it does make me a bit skeptical to pick up another Wickham novel. I think they are a bit more serious than the Kinsella ones.
The Wedding Girl
Author: Madeleine Wickham
Published: June 23, 2009
CDs: 8 discs
Genre: chick lit
Source: borrowed from the library
My Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis (from GoodReads): At the age of eighteen, in that first golden Oxford summer, Milly was up for anything. Rupert and his American lover, Allan, were an important part of her new, exciting life, so when Rupert suggested to her that she and Allan should get married to keep Allan in the country, Milly didn’t hesitate. Ten years later, Milly is a very different person and engaged to Simon—who is wealthy, serious, and believes her to be perfect. Milly’s secret history is locked away so securely she has almost persuaded herself that it doesn’t exist—until, only four days before her elaborate wedding. To have and to hold takes on a whole new meaning when one bride’s past catches up with her and bring the present crashing down.
My Thoughts: Madeleine Wickham, also known as Sopie Kinsella, is one of my favorite authors to listen to on audiobook. Her stories are engaging, funny, and easy to listen to. While this story was good, it wasn't as good as some of her other books that I've listened to. For me, the characters were not as strong as they typically are in one of her books. Milly was so weak, it was maddening! She seemed to go through life with no backbone, just doing whatever her mother thought was best for her. And she never corrected her finace, Simon, when he made assumptions about her, which were inaccurate. Simon seemed a bit bullish, which really turned me off to him. The only two characters that I actually enjoyed were Milly's sister, Isabelle, and her father.
So, why did I give this book three stars if the characters were so lacking? The plot was interesting, and I couldn't help but get caught up in it. Milly married a gay man when she was 18 so that he could stay in the country with his lover. When that comes back to haunt her present, the story becomes interesting, and I wanted to know what happened to all parties involved. It was a bit sad but still something that was a fun read. If you are a Sophie Kinsella fan, then I would still check this book out because it's not awful, but it's also not her best work.
