16 February 2010

Review: PLAYING THE FIELD by Zoë Foster **** + GIVEAWAY!

Scroll down for more info on how to
win a copy of AIR KISSES!


"Jean Bennett knows as much about football as she does astrophysics. But when she moves to the bright lights of Sydney and falls in love with a star footballer, Josh Fox, she has to learn - fast. Thrown eyelashes first into the world of WAGs, Jean is way out of her league. She navigates her way through semi-finals, a gruelling social calendar and salacious scandals on Josh's arm, safe in the knowledge he belongs to her or so she thinks. But as her hair gets blonder, her heels higher and her tops lower, Jean begins to wonder who she's become."

I loooooved Zoë's debut novel Air Kisses and I've been waiting for a new book by her for months and I was over the moon when my copy arrived! My hopes for it were quite high, but while it doesn't quite give Air Kisses a run for its money, it was still a very enjoyable book - another light but entertaining hit by Ms Foster, as expected!

Plot-wise, not a lot happens, but just as I was thinking that the book is getting slightly predictable - bang - there was a small twist! I can't exactly say this book is boring when Jean's life suddenly gets turned upside down and she finds herself in a shiny world where she doesn't know what to believe and who to trust. One moment she was a simple girl working in a beautique, dreaming of being a jewellery designer and generally minding her own business, but the next moment she is swept of her feet by a high profile footballer and thus becomes one of the infamous WAGs. Sure, her life becomes more glamorous and exciting, but on the other hand she has to deal with Josh's crazy ex, rumours, annoying fans and other 'perks' that come with the territory. Remind me again, why would anyone want to be a WAG? Is it all worth it? I guess so since people (especially in the UK) seem to be fascinated by them. I can say I'm one of them, but it was still interesting to read about the lives of these WAGs - and Zoë should know what she's talking about since she was a WAG herself for nearly a decade.
I'm shocked to hear that the book hasn't been released in the UK yet when that WAG-obsessed nation would love this stuff, especially with the World Cup coming up and all when the WAGs will be all over the place! Fingers crossed one of the UK publishers has the sense to publish it asap, it would be a shame not to since it has so much potential there!

Oh and another thing while we're on the subject of plot - the book ends in a massive cliffhanger, grr! I read the last line and thought that surely this can't be the end?! Zoë, darling, I'm afraid we'll need a sequel here stat so I do hope you're already working on it? ;)

The best thing about this book is easily the writing itself! I've gushed about it before, but I honestly love the way Zoë writes, be it books, blogs or tweets, she just has this fantastic way with words and I can't get enough of it! It's very witty in a way and modern and yet very real (swearing included), and I think it really helps in bringing the characters to life so you can't help but take a shine to them! In this novel, I perhaps thought some characters were slightly underdeveloped (namely Josh and Tess) while my favourite character was probably Collette, Jean's sister, she cracked me up! Frank was also a nice side character and I was quite impressed by Cam until he let me down. (Oh and I loved the small cameo appereance by Hannah from Air Kisses!) But on the whole, the characters are a lovely bunch and the writing is fantastic, as always! Can't wait to see what Zoë comes up with next!

Sadly this book isn't available outside Australia yet (boo!), but if you'd still like to find out more about it, then click here and let Zoë introduce you to the book! She's also appeared on TV not once but twice to discuss the book so feel free to watch those! If you can't take take all the teasing anymore and desperately want to see what all the fuss about Zoë amazing writing is about, then scroll down and see how you can win a copy of her debut novel!

overall rating:
plot: 3/5 | writing: 5/5 | characters: 4/5 | cover: 4/5

========================

And now finally THE GIVEAWAY! I really enjoyed Air Kisses and I want you to enjoy it too sooooo I'll be giving away a shiny new copy of AIR KISSES, Zoë's brilliant first novel which was published in the UK by Allison & Busby. This contest thingy is open worldwide and it will end on 25th February at midnight. Here's what you have to do in order to enter:
  • you have to leave a comment saying you want to be entered;
  • you have to follow my blog;
Optional:
  • for an extra entry, follow Zoë on Twitter (trust me, you won't regret it, hehe)
  • for extra two entries, tweet about this contest (provide link) or post on your sidebar.
The winner will be chosen with the help of random.org. Good luck! :)

35 comments:

MrsCullenized said...

I would love to be entered!
I am a follower.
I follow Zoe (MrsCullenized)
My Tweet - http://twitter.com/MrsCullenized/status/9165939076

pickle.06(at)hotmail(dot)com

StephTheBookworm said...

Ooh, please enter me in! I'm a follower.

stephaniet117(at)yahoo(dot)com

mariska said...

Please please please Enter Me !

- A follower of you

+1 following you on twitter (@becunique)
+2 tweet'd about this contest (http://twitter.com/becunique)

uniquas at ymail dot com

Llehn said...

I'd love to be entered please!

I'm following your blog.

lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

Angelique said...

I want to be entered!!!!
I follow :)
And now I follow Zoe on Twitter too :)

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

I'd love to enter the contest!!
I'm a follower
I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/in_the_hammock/status/9174154578
inthehammockblog (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks so much!

Borostyán said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Borostyán said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Borostyán said...

If this is international please enter me! :)

I follow your blog.
I also follow Zoe on Twitter (I'm @Szilvi79 on Twitter)

szaboszilvia(at)gmail(dot)com

Vicki said...

I'd love to be entered too!
Following you
following Zoe on twitter (Rhiana_Reads)
I've retweeted
Rhiana-Reads @ live dot com

Kimberley Stone said...

I would love to be entered. Tweeted and followed too! (I'm kijolo on twitter)

Shweta said...

I would love to be entered for this one :)

I am a follower of your blog

shwetasbookjournal @ gmail . com

Thanks

dumplingiow said...

I'd like to be entered please am following your blog.

@dumplingiow

Anonymous said...

Please enter me!!!

I'm following you on twitter and have RT your post!!

@justforcomps

Liyana said...

Please enter me! I'm already a follower. :)

liyanaland@gmail.com

Tales of Whimsy said...

Fab review :)

Ria said...

I'd love to be entered!I follow Zoe and tweeted. My username is Rorotbh
Thanks,
Ria x

yuan said...

Entering Giveaway
Am a follower

+1 Following Zoe @wingstodust
+2 Tweet http://twitter.com/wingstodust/status/9198385550

YA Book Queen said...

Great review, you've got me curious about the first one now!

I'd love to enter!
I'm a follower :D

+1 follow Zoe @YABookQueen

Luisa at Chicklish said...

I have Zoe Foster's books on order after reading your fabulous review, so please don't enter me, but I just wanted to comment to say thank you for the great review!

-Ria xo said...

Sorry- I wrote my entry wrong!

I'm a follower of you

+1 I follow Zoe
+2I tweeted. My username is Rorotbh. And put up a link on my sidebar.
Thanks!
Ria x

iffath said...

I'm a follower- please enter me ;)

Precious said...

I'd like to be entered!
I'm a follower of your blog. :)

+2 i tweeted: http://twitter.com/precious_shusky/status/9230846746

Precious
precious_shusky@yahoo.com

Gaby G said...

I think its the first time I come to your blog, and I absolutely love it!! We have similar tastes in books :)

Anyway, you seem to like very much this author and Playing The Field seems fun!! I haven't read any of her books, but I wish to do it soon :D

Please enter me to this contest!

- I'm a new follower
- I follow Zoë on Twitter (@magabygc)
- tweet about this contest: http://twitter.com/magabygc/status/9234800647
- sidebar: http://historias-imaginarias.blogspot.com

Thanks!!

magabygc AT gmail DOT com

Sharli said...

After your recommendation, I can't resist :P
Please enter me!

- I'm a new follower
- I follow Zoë on Twitter (@Entre_Libros)
- Sidebar: http://blogentrelibros.blogspot.com/

Thank you!
entrelibros_blog(at)hotmail(dot)com

Monster of Books said...

I would love to be entered :) I'm a follower on your blog and following you on twitter (littleneko).

jennem said...

I want to enter!
Public Google Friends follower as jennem.
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com

Mary said...

I would thoroughly enjoy reading this.

I'm a follower.

mamie316(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Josette said...

Hi there, I want to enter this contest!

Posted it on my blog's sidebar and also became a follower. :)

josettebooks[at]yahoo[dot]com

Thanks!

Tina said...

Please please enter meee!
I'm a follower! :)

martina_comes@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

Hi,

Please enter me into the contest, would love to read Zoe's book! +1

+2 I tweeted: http://twitter.com/Stella_ExLibris/status/9469247376

+1 I follow Zoe on Twitter,

so I have a total of 4 entries :-)

Thanks for hosting this contest!

stella.exlibris@gmail.com

Nancye said...

Looks like a great book! Thanks for the chance!!

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

I follow you on Twitter

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

**My 3 comments were posted at approx. 11:57 pm on 2/25

Cindy said...

enter me please :)

oodlesofbooks[at]yahoo[dot]com

I am a follower :)

oodles of books.

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