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| JENNY GARDINER | WHITNEY GASKELL | EMILY GIFFIN |
| KATHLEEN GILLES SEIDEL | DEBRA GINSBERG | AMANDA GOLDBERG |
| DR JUDY GOLDSTEIN | KRISTIN GORE | LAURIE GRAFF |
| JANE GREEN | LINDA GREEN | KIM GRUENENFELDER |
JENNY GARDINER
Sleeping with Ward Cleaver (2008)
Claire Doolittle is not-so-happily married to Jack, who has morphed from dream man into a modern version of bossy, dull Ward Cleaver of 50s sitcom fame. Sex has been relegated to a Sunday night chore, her body is showing signs of her five pregnancies and with little help around the house she tells Jack, that unlike Jerry Maguire's famous line of “you complete me”, he diminishes her. But while their marriage needs resuscitation, it seems both partners can still attract the opposite sex. An old boyfriend gets back in touch with Claire while one of Jack's sexy, young colleagues turns on the charm. Will they both be tempted or can they ignite their passion for each other? This debut novel, winner of the American Title III competition, is an engaging, thought-provoking and humorous insight into what happens when harried meets surly. You won't be sleeping til you've finished it.
8/10
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WHITNEY GASKELL
Pushing 30 (2003)
As Ellie approaches 30, she breaks up with yet another boyfriend, despises her job as a litigation attorney, and is the last of her high school friends to still be on the shelf. Then Ellie meets Ted Langston, a cable news anchorman nearly twice her age, and sparks fly, even though he commits the ultimate sin - thinking she looks older than she is. Is this the new start Ellie has been dreaming of? And why does no one want them to get together?
6/10
Also by author:
Mommy Tracked; Testing Kate; She, Myself & I; True Love (and Other Lies)
To come: Good Luck
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EMILY GIFFIN
Emily Giffin worked as a litigator in Manhattan before moving to London just after the 9/11 attacks to pursue her dream of being a writer.
Something Borrowed (2004)
Attorney Rachel White has always been the consummate good girl - until her 30th birthday. After too many drinks, she ends up in bed with her best friend's fiancé, Dex. They then continue their secret relationship as his wedding to Darcy approaches. What best friend would ever do that? But there's always two sides to every story: Rachel has always lived in the shadow of her often selfish best friend. Darcy has effortlessly breezed through life getting exactly what she wants, while Rachel's just had to watch from the sidelines. Rachel needs to decide what is more important - friendship or true love. Giffin writes from both friends' perspectives - Rachel then Darcy's - in a book that tops the favourites list for many chicklit readers.
9/10
Something Blue (2005)
In the sequel to Something Borrowed, Darcy Rhone's charmed life is shattered after she loses her fiancé, Dex, to her ex-best friend. Unwilling to be alone, she moves in with Dex's best friend Marcus but they soon break up. Darcy, who then discovers she's pregnant, heads to London to stay with a school friend, Ethan, while she tries to put her life back together.
8/10
Baby Proof (2006)
What happens when he wants a baby but she doesn't . . . Claudia Parr and her husband Ben agreed to be childfree. But then Ben changes his mind and moves out. As her sisters and best friend face challenges which show how motherhood affects relationships, Claudia must decide what she wants most in life.
5/10
To come:
Love the One You're With
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KATHLEEN GILLES SEIDEL
A Most Uncommon Degree of Popularity (2006)
Lydia Meadows, a former lawyer turned full-time mother to Erin and Tom, becomes very involved with their private school. When Erin and her friends become the most popular girls after wearing the same skirt on the first day of school, the other mothers turn on Lydia for letting her daughter exclude theirs. But then the tables turn and it is Erin who's left out of the popular cliché when a new girl arrives. Who knew parents could be so cruel?
6/10
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DEBRA GINSBERG
Blind Submission (2006)
When the bookshop she works in closes down, Angel Robinson is forced to find a new job. Her writer boyfriend Malcolm encourages her to apply as assistant to literary agent Lucy Fiamma. Despite having to juggle her boss' prima donna demands and the authors' quirks, Angel quickly becomes indispensable. One day, a chapter from an anonymous author arrives. Set in a literary agency, Blind Submission centres on an ambitious assistant. Angel's curiosity soon turns to panic when the story unfolds with secrets from her own life. As the novel's plot turns to murder, Angel is running out of time to discover who its author is.
5/10
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AMANDA GOLDBERG and RUTHANNA HOPPER
Celebutantes (2008)
Probably my favourite Hollywood insiders' book so far. Lola was born into Hollywood royalty on Oscar night - her father is an award-winning director. But she has two main problems - she's an Actorholic getting over a devastating break with actor SMITH (Sexiest Man in the Hemisphere) and she's got Career Deficit Disorder - or no idea what to do with her life - a disorder very common with Adult Children Of in Hollywood. Meanwhile her best friend Kate, a very ambitious agent, is still trying to leap up the ladder while her best actress friend Cricket is still striving for her big break. Then upcoming fashion designer Julian, Lola's BGF (Best Gay Forever), appoints her as his Hollywood ambassador to get someone into his gowns for the Oscar red carpet. But her rival Adrienne Hunt is out to destroy her career and she has to deal with self-centred actresses like Olivia. With lots of celebrity bad behaviour and name-dropping.
7/10
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DR JUDY GOLDSTEIN
24-Karat Kids (2006)
Dr Shelley Green is a recently qualified paediatrician who is hired by an exclusive practice on the Upper East side of Manhattan. She discovers this is a world of hyperparenting, where a mother will consider a nose job for her baby. In a bid to develop the right persona for the job, Shelley slims down, dresses in designer clothes and spends weekends in the Hamptons. Her easy manner with the children and her ability to diagnose wins her lots of fans, but her relationship with her schoolteacher fiancé may not survive.
6/10
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KRISTIN GORE
Sammy's Hill (2004)
As the daughter of former US vice-president Al Gore, the author has used her insider's view of political life in Washington to create a book that the critics have likened to a blend of The West Wing meets Sex and the City. Samantha Joyce is making her mark in Washington as a health care advisor for an up-and-coming senator, Robert Gray of Ohio. But she still has time to be prepared for anything, like refining her defence tactics for wild animal attacks or practising dressing for work with only one arm, just in case. And when her BlackBerry isn't reminding her of significant events, like the 29th anniversary of The Partridge Family TV series finale, she's encouraging her favourite telemarketers to call more often or trying to stop her Japanese fighting fish from committing hara-kiri. Then Sammy falls for Aaron Driver, a hot-shot speechwriter for another not-so-nice senator John Bramen. She mistakenly sends a risqué email message for Aaron to 200 of Washington's power players and her humiliation is compounded when the story makes The Washington Post. But Sammy bounces back when Gray gets selected as the running mate of a presidential contender.
8/10
Also by author:
Sammy's House
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LAURIE GRAFF
You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs (2004)
Forty-five-year-old Karrie Kline, a still single Jewish actress, looks back over 15 years of dating. She goes out with a variety of men from New York to Los Angeles - from long-term boyfriend Jack, to a famous Hollywood actor who barked. There was Elliot, the married journalist; Donald, who wore the same clothes for a week; and Phil, who she mistook as Rob the blind date. Will she find her Prince Charming or just kiss too many frogs?
4/10
Also by author:
Looking for Mr Goodfrog (sequel)
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JANE GREEN
The Beach House (2008)
As a fan of Jane Green's books, I was worried that this one wouldn't interest me because it centres around a 65-year-old widow. But I am happy to report that Green ensures Nan - the free-spirited woman who lives in a ramshackle house atop a bluff in Nantucket - shares the storyline with a number of other characters. When Nan finds her savings are running out, she decides to rent out rooms for the summer. Her guests include Daniel, who has finally worked up the courage to leave his wife Bee; and Daff, a divorced mother who's finding it hard to handle her attention-seeking teenage daughter Jess. Even Nan's son Michael, a jeweller, comes home to escape a risky love affair. But as they settle in, there is one more visitor to come who will really shake up the happy household.
7/10
Second Chance (2007)
When Tom is killed in a terrorist attack on a train, his death brings together a group of friends that haven't seen each other for 20 years. Holly is now not-so-happily married to pompous lawyer Marcus and has two young children. Saffron is a small-time actress still waiting for her big break - and for her secret boyfriend, actor superstar Pearce, to leave his wife. Freelance journalist Paul is married to successful businesswoman Anna, but they are desperately trying to have children. Olivia works at an animal shelter and is still getting used to being single after her long-time lover left her. It seems even in death, Tom's influence over his friends is far from over. Holly finds herself drawn to his younger brother Will; Olivia goes on a blind date with one of his American colleagues; and Saffron has to face up to her addiction. Will Tom's tragic death help them find the strength to make a fresh start - and rediscover the power of friendship?
7/10
Life Swap (2005)
Vicky Townsley, features director of Poise magazine, is single, 35, lives in London and has fallen for a womanising TV star. She wants to try out a different life so in a competition she picks out Amber Winslow to swap lives with her. Amber is a married mother of two who lives in Connecticut and leads a competitive social life in the Women's League. Each will live in the other's shoes (including wearing their clothes) for a month. Is the grass really greener on the other side?
8/10
The Other Woman (2004)
“There were three of us in the marriage.” Ellie can't seem to push Princess Diana's words out of her mind but in her case it's not a mistress but a family matriarch. Ellie's mother died when she was young and she has a distant father so her marriage to Dan Cooper is her opportunity to forge new family ties. Dan's mother, Linda, starts out as the perfect mother but her meddling soon turns her into the mother-in-law from hell. And the arrival of baby Tom only escalates the tensions.
7/10
Babyville (2001)
This is a tale of two women coping with the chimes of their biological clocks and another who is trying her best to ignore hers. TV producer Julia heads to New York for a break from her boyfriend, Mark, and their baby-making problems. For her best friend, Sam, the arrival of baby George has brought her exhaustion and marital strife. Will an affair with someone else's sexy husband be the answer? Maeve, who takes over Julia's job, gets nauseous at the thought of having children but soon is dealing with an unexpected reaction to an unexpected pregnancy.
6/10
Mr Maybe (1999)
Libby Mason is looking for The One. She's not sure she's found it in her boyfriend Nick, an attractive but struggling wannabe author who lives in a grotty bedsit. Then Libby finds herself being pursued by investment banker Ed, who is not so attractive but lives in a mansion. She gets engaged, convinces she can fall in love with him. What happens when your head says one thing, but your heart says something else?
7/10
Jemima J (1999)
Jemima Jones is an overweight reporter on a local English newspaper. In lust with her charming but out-of-her-league colleague Ben and mistreated by her social-climbing flatmates, Jemima escapes to the internet where she reinvents herself as the sexy and thin JJ. She gets involved in a long-distance romance with LA gym owner Brad and sends him an altered photo of herself. But when he decides he wants to meet her in person, Jemima has to start exercising and dieting so she can look like the woman he expects.
9/10
Straight Talking (1997)
TV producer Tasha is still in therapy after her boyfriend, Simon, broke up with her. Three years later, he rings her morning chat show for a Love Betrayals segment, where he reveals that he did in fact cheat on her. Tasha's latest love affair has also just ended, after she moved her toothbrush into the guy's house. And her next lover makes it quite clear he isn't looking for a relationship. The only man she can depend on is friend Adam, until he admits he wants more than just friendship. With lots of advice from her three girlfriends, Tasha investigates whether lust or love is more important.
6/10
Also by author:
To Have and to Hold; Spellbound; Bookends
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LINDA GREEN
I Did a Bad Thing (2007)
Birmingham newspaper reporter Sarah Roberts is living with her schoolteacher boyfriend Jonathan, a vegetarian Amnesty International crusader. Then two blasts from her past reappear - Nick Hardwich, who she used to work with on another local newspaper, and Colin Leake, a councillor and story source from those days. In a series of flashbacks to 1997, it is revealed that Sarah first slept with Nick the night of Colin's parliamentary election - she didn't get around to voting and he lost by a single vote. She's been tormented by guilt ever since - about both events.
8/10
To come: The And Finally GirlBack to top
KIM GRUENENFELDER
A Total Waste of Make-up (2005)
As the big 3-0 looms, Charlie Edwards has started keeping a journal of advice for a future generation of women. Her nuggets of wisdom cover everything from not waiting by the phone, why you should avoid celebrity magazines and married men, and how to have a good laugh. With her younger sister Andy's wedding preparations underway, she also has lots of advice for brides and bridesmaids - such as saving your bridesmaid dresses and making the brides wear them to your own wedding. Charlie is the personal assistant to one of Hollywood's sexiest and most insecure stars, Drew Stanton, who has fallen madly for her indifferent best friend Dawn. And Charlie, who's chronically single and has just realised she's never going to be Jennifer Aniston, has her eye on Jordan, who is the still photographer on Drew's latest movie In My Heart. Can she follow her own advice when it comes to matters of the heart?
7/10