"Evie needs a good holiday. Not just because she's been working all hours in her job as a receptionist for two high-powered plastic surgeons - but also because every holiday she has ever been on in her life has involved sunburn, arguments and projectile vomiting - and sometimes all three at once. Why can't she have a normal holiday, like other people seem to have - some sun, sand, sea and (hopefully) sex? So when her employers invite her to attend a conference with them in the south of France, she can't believe her luck. At last, the chance to hob nob with the rich and glamorous, to party under the stars, to live the life she's dreamed about. It's certainly the holiday of a lifetime - but not quite in way Frances imagined!"(summary)
My lovely boyfriend (who actually reads this blog ♥) got me this book for my birthday last year and I'm so glad I saved it (unintentionally) for the holiday as it was indeed the perfect sun-lounger read, just like it's described on the cover!
The story itself is perhaps a bit far-fetched, but whatever the books lacks it plot, it makes up ten fold in the hilarity! It honestly cracked me up many, many times and I just love books that manage to do that. Evie is such a loveable and funny character and her narration makes this novel a fantastic feel-good comedy!
Evie was possibly my favourite character, but I loved most of the others too. Lydia was such a fantastic bitchy friend you just couldn't hate her (her nastiness was just too funny) and most of the male charaters (Tom, Bailey, Wilf) were just such sweethearts - a bit silly at times indeed, but none of them annoyed me because they were just so well written that even their sillyness was funny.
As I said before, I can't say that the plot was smashing, but I honestly really truly enjoyed the book because it was just hilarious and I'm honestly surprised at the bad reviews on Amazon, couldn't disagree with them more (happens quite often). I thought the book was fantastic and a perfect summer read! Click here to learn more about the book from the author herself (her husband works on fancy boats - jealous!!).
Now *this* is a worthy comparison to Sophie Kinsella, who is of course the queen of wit lit, but Ms Colgan has just earned herself the princess title (imho)! This may only be the second book by her that I've read, but I'll definitely read the others too - I've already got The Boy I Loved Before and West End Girls in my book collection and look forward to reading them.
overall rating: 5/5
plot: 4/5 | writing: 5/5 | characters: 5/5 | cover: 4/5
ps: Below are two other covers for this book (hardcover and Australian respectively). Which one out of three is your favourite?
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6 comments:
How have I not read a Jenny Colgan book yet?! This sounds good, great review! Chloe@chicklitreviews
Hi Suzana's boyf!
I love the cover you've posted on the right, that's the best I think.
Great review, haven't read this one!
x
Chloe - Ooh, you really should, JC is great!
Leah - Haha, thanks, I thought he deserved a mention since he's my most loyal follower and he also got me the book, now he's enjoying his 5 minutes of fame, lol.
I think the yellow cover might be the most suitable for this book, even though I find the other two more eye-catching. Especially the last one, but that would make me expect a glamorous read, which this book isn't really, hehe. Great summer read though! :D
Oh I yet have to read that book but it's already standing next to my bed hehe. Sounds very good though :) Really have to find the time to read it soon but at the moment I'm in the middle of "I never fancied him anyway" by Claudia Carroll. Quite cute too :)
Hope you'll enjoy it too!
Oooh, have you read any other books by Claudia Carrol? Is she any good as an author? I saw her book Do You Want To Know a Secret? everywhere while I was on holiday and was tempted to buy it, but then decided against it for an unknown reason. So is she worth spending money on? ;)
I've read "Do You Want To Know a Secret", too, yes. I liked it but it was a bit slow. There were some nice scenes but somehow... I don't know, something was missing. I've read "Remind me again why I need a man" too and this one was really good. This one is good too and I certainly will read "If this is paradies I want my money back" from Claudia as well because the content sounds brilliant :)
She's definitely not my favourite author but her books are easy to read and quite nice :)
Hope this is any help? Take care!
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