DANIELLE GANEK

Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him (2007)

Mia McMurray is one of the gallery girls in the New York City art scene. From her post behind her desk at the Simon Pryce Gallery, she watches as the world goes by and as everyone realises their dreams but her, or so it seems. Mia is an aspiring painter and by taking this job she expected for her life to change. And it does, just not the way she expected. She is in the gallery for one of the new showings when the artist of the hour is suddenly killed by a taxi right outside the gallery. Soon the artist's works are an absolute necessity for any serious collector. And in the competitive art world, there are no rules. In a novel which sparkles with wit, humour, love and lust, Danielle Ganek masterfully explores the inner workings of the art world and what some people will do to be included in it. (SN)

The Summer We Read Gatsby (2010)

Cassie and Peck, two half-sisters, spent a summer years ago at their Aunt Lydia's cottage in Southampton reading The Great Gatsby. After their aunt passes away, the two sisters reunite for the summer at the cottage they have inherited. Cassie is the down-to-earth, recently divorced sister and Peck is the dramatic party-loving socialite sister. Their aunt has left instructions for the two sisters to seek a thing of the utmost value from within the house. The sisters debate whether the treasure is a Jackson Pollock painting or a dust jacket first-edition of The Great Gatsby. The sisters also find time to reunite with men from their past. This is a well-written novel with eccentric fun-loving characters. (AO)

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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.

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WHITNEY GASKELL

True Love (and Other Lies) - Whitney Gaskell (2004)

Travel writer Claire meets lawyer Jack on a flight from New York to London. He's heading to break up with his girlfriend; she's in town to write a travel story and catch up with her best friend Maddy. After spending time together in London, it turns out Jack isn't exactly the best guy for Claire to fall for (should be obvious to most of you why not right from the start but I won't reveal the twist just in case). Read it for loveable character Claire, the frustrated Gen-Xer who has to work for a seniors interest magazine and has always felt second-best to her glamorous best friend.

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?

Also by author:

When You Least Expect It; Good Luck; Mommy Tracked; Testing Kate; She, Myself & I

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SHERYN GEORGE

My First Divorce (2008)

On the night of her latest successful program launch, TV producer Caitlin Cooper discovers that her assistant Kennedy has been . . . well . . . assisting her husband, Max. And now Kennedy is pregnant and it looks like mother-of-two Cait is on her way to her first divorce. With her new-age best friend and her over-the-top mother moving in and her creative juices flowing, it seems there's no time for her to just hide out under the doona. This tale of 'from dream life to ex-wife' veers all over the place and, apart from the amusing reaction of Cait's parents to her separation, falls well short of its potential. And don't blink or you'll miss the love interest.

Miss Lonelyhearts (2004)

Meg's best friend, Allison, has a surprise for her for Valentine's Day - she's placed an ad in the singles column under the name Miss Lonelyhearts. Allison is hoping that by dating loads of men, Meg will finally get over her ex, Ben. Meanwhile, Meg's self-esteem takes a dent as her new editor on Gossip! magazine, the icy Monica, demands that she get plastic surgery for a story - and the smarmy Dr Gold seems to find plenty to work with. As the Miss Lonelyhearts replies flood in, Meg actually likes the look of her colleague Nick, who works on a lad mag. If you are expecting a tale of hilarious and disastrous blind dates as Meg narrows the field to one, this isn't that story. Instead it's more about her quirky circle of friends and how she and her colleagues handle their bitchy boss.

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MARIA GERACI

Bunco Babes Tell All (2009)

Every Thursday night, a group of women in Whispering Bay, Florida, get together to play Bunco. Kitty Burke is the only single woman in the group. Things start to heat up when Steve, the mysterious nephew of a family friend, arrives in the small Florida town. Kitty's best friends, Shea and Pilar, disapprove of Steve. He's been married three times, his career appears to be non-existent and he is definitely not Kitty's type. However, Kitty cannot deny the chemistry between her and Steve. As things heat up, Kitty learns that Steve is hiding a shocking secret. This is a hysterically funny novel about friendship, love and the gossip that surfaces at the Bunco table. (AO)

Bunco Babes Gone Wild (2009)

In the sequel to Bunco Babes Tell All, Georgia Meyer is devastated when her long-term boyfriend, Spencer, gives her a calculator instead of an engagement ring for their five-year anniversary. She escapes to her sister's house in Florida to re-evaluate her relationship. Her sister and her outrageous friends make up the bunco babes of their small beach town. In the midst of rolling dice and drinking margaritas, Georgia meets Dave Hernandez. Just as things with Dave heat up, Spencer comes crawling back to her. This is the perfect steamy beach read full of fun characters. (AO)

Also by author:

The Boyfriend of the Month Club

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CIARA GERAGHTY

Becoming Scarlett (2010)

Wedding planner Scarlett O'Hara likes to have her life in order. But everything goes into disarray when her normally sensible boyfriend John leaves her to go on an archaeological dig to Brazil and she retaliates with a one-night stand with barman 'Red' Butler. So now not only is her pregnancy going to totally wreck her five-year plan, she's not even sure who the father is. On the work front, Scarlett's got a big wedding to plan - and a promotion to earn, all while constantly throwing up without warning. Although this book falls a bit flat in places - and a few plot developments are highly predictable - the writing style and the well-developed, memorable characters more than make up for it. The highlight: how Scarlett deals with the arrival of her baby.

Saving Grace (2008)

Grace is in a long-distance relationship with Shane, her friend Caroline's brother. But a night out with an out-of-date bottle of Baileys sees her end up with more than a hangover - she wakes up in bed with her new work colleague, IT geek Bernard. With Grace still blaming herself for her brother Patrick's drowning in Spain, she finds she has a lot in common with Bernard. And she can't seem to get him out of her mind, especially when someone else close to her falls for him on a blind date. A promising debut about guilt and forgiveness that's smoother than Irish Cream.

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FIONA GIBSON

Mummy Said the F-Word (2008)

Cait spends her days writing copy about tongue scrapers and pile ointment, and bringing up her three children. Husband Martin has just moved out to live with the water-cooler saleswoman from work who obviously offered such irresistible after-sale service. So when her friend Millie offers her work as the agony aunt of an up-market parenting magazine Bambino, Cait wonders how anyone with her problems can possibly advise others. But she soon finds she enjoys the work, especially when a mystery single father, only known as R, starts emailing. An entertaining and refreshingly honest look into the mayhem and magic that life as a single mum entails. You'll want to keep reading to get the f-word (final word) on who R is and whether he's the one for her.

Also by author:

Something Good; Lucky Girl; Wonderboy; Babyface

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RACHEL GIBSON

Nothing But Trouble (2010)

Ten years of pent-up disappointment at trying to break into the Hollywood movie scene is enough to push struggling actress Chelsea to the brink of breaking. She heads to Seattle to visit her sister, Bo, the PR agent for ice hockey team the Chinooks (this is Gibson's fifth title based around the team). Chelsea is offered a personal assistant's job - to help former superstar Mark Bressler recover over three months. With the bonus cheque of $10,000 in mind, and the hope of changing her life, Chelsea is determined to get Mark back on track. The entire storyline and the characters were disappointing - the book focused too much on the sexual tension between Chelsea and Mark, and became less engaging as the story progressed. One for her fans perhaps? (XT)

True Love & Other Disasters (2009)

Faith thought that her past as a former stripper and Playboy star would be left buried after her marriage to Virgil Duffy, who is 51 years her senior. (Remember the guy who was set to marry another trophy wife in Simply Irresistible?) She wanted to start life afresh, and with Virgil, the only person to understand her and treat her with respect, he gave her what she yearned for the most - security. So when he dies of a heart attack five years into their marriage, Faith is devastated. After being humiliated by Virgil's son Landon about her ugly past, he claims she has no hope of managing the professional hockey team his father left behind. But despite knowing nothing about the game, Faith decides to take on the challenge and prove him wrong. Star player Ty Savage fears Faith will ruin the reputation of his hockey team and wreck its chances of winning the Stanley Cup. But soon sparks fly between the pair and they find themselves falling in love. But when Landon threatens to spread the news of their relationship, will Faith choose to give up her true love to save the team from the negative publicity? Not one of the author's best books but it's worth reading because of its refreshing mix of characters and storyline. (XT)

Not Another Bad Date (2008)

Fantasy novelist Adele Harris heads back to her Texan hometown after her sister's husband ups and leaves her. And it's lucky she's on hand because Sherilyn is admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia halfway through her pregnancy and Adele needs to look after her teenage daughter Kendra. It is while picking Kendra up from a friend's house that she runs into her former boyfriend and now high school gridiron coach Zach. His wife Devon - Adele's schooldays nemesis - died a few years earlier in a car accident. But Adele is not keen to embrace love the second time round - especially as she believes she is cursed to always have bad dates. This is the fourth book in the series based around four writer friends and reveals the reason behind Adele's bad run of dating luck.

Also by author:

Tangled Up in You; I'm in No Mood for Love; Sex, Lies and Online Dating; The Trouble with Valentine's Day; Daisy's Back in Town; See Jane Score; Lola Carlyle Reveals All; True Confessions; It Must Be Love; Truly Madly Yours; Simply Irresistible

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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.

Heart of the Matter (2010)

Tessa is used to having her family time with husband Nick interrupted by his work as a paediatric plastic surgeon. One night, at their anniversary dinner, Nick is called away to treat a boy, Charlie, who's been scarred in an accident. Over time, as Nick becomes closer to Charlie's mother, single lawyer Valerie, Tessa can sense her husband withdrawing from her. I have to admit my heart skipped a beat when Tessa's brother made an appearance. Unexpectedly it was Dex (from Something Borrowed/Something Blue), giving us an insight into how the result of a devastating affair plays out years later. But apart from the welcome blast from the past and some heart-warming moments between Valerie and her son, this tale about will-they-or-won't-they infidelity could have really been titled Something Old cos we've read it all before. On paper, there was nothing wrong with the story, told in alternating chapters from both women's perspectives. It was well-written, moving in parts, and you didn't know for sure how it would all end. But the heart of the matter was the story and its characters just didn't captivate. I guess I was expecting Something Special - and was disappointed not to have got it.

Love the One You're With (2008)

Ellen is still in her first year of marriage to lawyer Andy when she bumps into her ex-boyfriend Leo on a busy New York street. It's the first time she's seen him since he left her heartbroken without explanation. And despite her best intentions that it's safer to keep Leo out of her life, he sets her up with a photographer's assignment of a lifetime - shooting a magazine cover of superstar Drake Watters in LA. As Ellen becomes increasingly preoccupied with the one that got away, she wonders whether she is meant to settle for a privileged yet suburban life in Atlanta with Andy, her best friend's brother.

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.

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.

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.

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ELIZABETH GILBERT

Committed (2010)

At the end of her wildly successful bestseller, Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert was living happily unmarried with Brazilian-born Felipe, who had captured her heart during her sabbatical in Bali. Having each been through very painful divorces, Elizabeth and Felipe vowed never to marry again. That is until the Department of Homeland Security intervened and said the easiest way for Felipe to remain with her in America would be for them to get married. To hear Elizabeth tell it, you would think the couple had been handed a death sentence. Committed is an account of the 10 months they spent travelling around South-East Asia, gathering documents, and securing the blessings of the government to marry. Only then would they be allowed to return to the United States to resume their life together. During this time, Elizabeth began researching the origins and history of the institution of marriage, speaking with women from all walks of life in an effort to gain a better understanding of how love, marriage and partnerships compare to Western views. Though a bit long-winded at times, Committed raises valuable questions and makes valid points about the benefits, and disadvantages, of marriage to both men and women. (LEK)

Also by author:

Eat, Pray, Love

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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?

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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.

Also by author:

The Grift

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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.

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A.M GOLDSHER

Another name for author Alan Goldsher

Today's Special (2008)

Chef Anna Rowan has created a thriving and respected Chicago restaurant called TART, financed by her boyfriend Byron. But things heat up when reality-TV chef Jordan DeWitt turns up to compete against Anna for a FoodTube series. Read it for its interesting take on the restaurant world, complete with recipes and explanatory footnotes for the non-foodies. But if you have a hunger for romance, the story arc of Anna deciding between her boyfriend, a cute younger waiter and the celebrity chef really isn't that satisfying.

Also by author:

No Ordinary Girl; Reality Check, The True Naomi Story

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JAN GOLDSTEIN

The Bride Will Keep Her Name (2009)

Madison Mandelbaum is about to marry the man of her dreams, British journalist Colin Wordsworth Darcy. However, five days before the wedding Madison receives an anonymous email saying "Do you really know the man whom you're saying I do to?" Armed with her two best friends, Kat (Katrina) and Abs (Abigail), her connections and a copy of Brides Weekly, Madison must do a bit of sleuthing and preparation to make sure that her wedding day goes smoothly as possible and that the man she is marrying is really who he says he is. A fun story filled with girlfriends, love and those up-and-down obstacles we love to read about - mixed with a mystery element. (PP)

Also by author:

All That Matters

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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.

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KRISTIN GORE

Sammy's House (2007)

In this sequel to Sammy's Hill, Samantha Joyce is now working in the White House as a health care advisor under vice-president Robert Gray. The previous administration staff are still playing practical jokes, there's an insider leaking damaging information to a blog and her relationship with Washington Post reporter Charlie is under threat. But there's worse to come when Sammy discovers a secret that could spell the end for president Max Wye.

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.

To come:
Sweet Jiminy

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JANET GOVER

The Bachelor and Spinster Ball (2009)

Bec has returned from the big city to the outback town of Farwell Creek after her best friend, Hailey, loses her parents in a car crash. Her other best friend, Nick, no longer seems to have any romantic feelings towards her - he doesn't think he's got anything to offer now his family has lost the farm. And something is clearly upsetting her mother as relations between the pair have hit rock bottom. When the teacher's cottage burns down, Bec decides to fundraise for a fire truck by holding a B&S Ball, where country folk from all around come together for a dance under the stars, lots of booze and sleep out in a paddock. When construction worker Gordo takes Bec under his wing, showing her around all the balls in his hotted-up ute, it seems as if she and Nick will drift even further apart. This is an easy read that will give you a glimpse into the small-town camaraderie of the Australian outback without having to leave your armchair.

The Farmer Needs a Wife (2009)

Magazine editor Helen Woodley is about to take Australian Life weekly and is pinning her hopes on a new series about bachelor farmers looking for love. Soon the replies from lovelorn men of the land come flooding in. There's Greg, who has had to take over the cane fields from his sick father but would prefer to be crafting jewellery. Cattleman Peter thinks the girl showing up on the mail plane is here to be a nanny to his two children. Winemaker Leigh is after a good man after her fiance dumped her. And horse breeder Matt is unaware that his daughter sent in his profile - but Helen may well keep him to herself. For those dreaming of hooking up with a rugged Australian bushman, read on for warnings about getting lost in the outback, raging bushfires and facing wild animals. A cute, easy read with perhaps just a little too much corn.

To come:

Girl Racers

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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?

Also by author:

Looking for Mr Goodfrog (sequel)

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JANE GREEN

Promises to Keep (2010)

aka The Love Verb

This touching story is centred around two very different sisters. The vivacious Callie has a settled, happy life with her husband and two children and pursues her passion for photography. The free-spirited Steffi, a vegan chef, is just about ready to quit her latest job and boyfriend, and take up the offer to live in a country home nearer her sister. And it seems the chance to be close to family is never more timely. With Green inspired to write this book after a friend's illness, it is a tearjerker but the way she weaves the story ensues it never becomes unbearably traumatic. It's definitely her most soulful book to date.

Dune Road (2009)

aka Girl Friday

Kit has just divorced banker Adam and is trying to figure out who she is at 40. She moves into a new house in Highfield, Connecticut, with her two children Tori and Buckley. One day her erratic neighbour Edie shows up to welcome them to the neighbourhood and gives her an offer of a lifetime - working for bestselling author Robert McClore. Robert has been hiding out on his huge estate since the death of his wife decades ago. It has always been a mystery what happened the night his wife fell off a yacht. Then a long-lost sister arrives from England which turns Kit's whole life upside down. Meanwhile her best friend Charlie discovers she's been hit by the financial meltdown, and her other friend, yoga teacher Tracy, is hiding a secret. (CG)

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.

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?

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?

To Have and To Hold (2004)

Alice is a successful caterer in England who has always dreamed of living in the country and having children. She sacrifices her dream when she reconnects with her schoolgirl crush, Joe. Joe turns out to be a philandering snob who is only interested in transforming Alice into a glamorous trophy wife. After years of marriage, Alice eventually starts to question her unhappy life with her husband. When he is transferred to the US, Alice finally begins to blossom. As a Jane Green fan, I expected to love this book, however, I felt that while Green did a fantastic job developing the character of Joe, the main character Alice had little depth and was portrayed as a malleable wallflower who constantly turned a blind eye to her husband's cheating. (AO)

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.

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.

Bookends (2000)

Cath, Si, Josh and Portia were best friends in college. Fast forward 10 years and Catherine, Si and Josh are still best friends living in London. Cath, the narrator of the story, is described as frumpy and insecure. Si is a witty gay man constantly in search of the perfect partner and Josh is happily married to fun-loving Lucy. Cath, who is miserable at work, jumps at the opportunity to open Bookends, a bookstore/cafe, with Lucy. James, a handsome realtor who helps Cath and Lucy set up their venture, pursues Cath. But because of a previously bad relationship, she is initially opposed to getting involved. Meanwhile Portia, now a famous television writer, shows up at Bookends grand opening and her ulterior motives immediately become evident to Cath and Si. Constant drama surrounds the friends as the relationship between the group is put to the test. This novel felt a bit like reading the plot of a confusing Friends episode. (AO)

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?

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.

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.

Also by author:

Spellbound

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LINDA GREEN

Things I Wish I'd Known (2010)

When Claire stumbles across a list she made when she was 15 about her future dream life, she realises how far she has diverted from her teen vision. Instead of being a partner of a big city law firm, her clients tend to be small-time crooks. She's also still not particularly well-endowed, she hasn't spoken to her best friend Frankie for years and instead of being married to her pin-up idol, league footballer Andy, and living in a thatched cottage in the countryside, she's already been divorced and is now reluctantly considering buying a new home with her lawyer boyfriend Mark. Told in alternating chapters between the present and the mid-80s, Claire discovers she has to face up to her past before she can move ahead with her future. The story was totally different to what I expected but in a good way and I think it is best enjoyed if you don't know too much about the plot going in. It's a touching story with a clever mix of light and dark moments. And if, like Claire, you were a teen in the 80s, you'll certainly enjoy all the in-jokes about that decade's pop culture.

10 Reasons Not to Fall in Love (2009)

Jo Gilroy doesn't want a man in her life, apart from her son Alfie. She had her heart broken when Alfie's father, Richard, left them on his son's first birthday. Now Jo is returning to work part-time as a reporter at a Manchester TV station and Richard is not only her new boss but he's dating the gorgeous weather girl, Tricia. Believing Jo no longer has her career at the top of her priorities, Richard keeps assigning her to the And Finally stories, those light, fluffy ones at the end of the news. Then Jo and Alfie meet Dan the balloon man at a kids' Christmas function - and maybe he is just the kind of guy who can break through her objections to falling in love again. In fact, Dan's back story of his distressing home life, told through flashbacks, is one of the highlights.

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.

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NIAMH GREENE

Letters to a Love Rat (2009)

This is about three women who have all had their hearts stomped on by the same man, Charlie. Magazine writer Molly should be a radiant newly wed. But the honeymoon is certainly over when she finds Charlie's note saying he's left her - and reminding her to sort out the recycling. And now she's supposed to be writing a gushing feature on why she got married. Julie is writing a blog about the affair she's having with her newly married boss but she never expected him to leave his wife for her. And Eve still hasn't got over her break-up with Charlie a few years ago so her therapist is making her write him letters that she'll never send. A highlight was the amusing and varied ways the minor characters were linked to one another throughout the story.

Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife (2007)

This is the diary of Susie Hunt, a scatty stay-at-home mother to Katie and Jack. The Dublin housewife is obsessed with celebrity gossip, drinking Starbucks coffee, watching Oprah and Dr Phil, and hiding all her undone housework from her mother-in-law. Susie's facing an exhausting, trying year. Not only has she a massive princess birthday party to organise and a son to entice to sleep through the night, she's worried about the dwindling romance in her marriage after husband Joe gets her a Thigh Master for Christmas. Meanwhile he's working all hours going for a promotion, and has a gorgeous new assistant Becky. Susie's also trying not to feel intimidated by Eco-mother or guilty about her flirtation with Lone Father at mother-and-toddler group. Perfect as a hilarious antidote to your own at-home days from hell.

Confessions of a Demented Housewife: The Celebrity Year (2008)

This sequel, again in diary format, picks up from where the first book left off so you should really read them in order. This year Susie's desperate to befriend the new celebrity mum at the school gates, Angelica Law, wife of an American actor. She's also keeping up with the (pre-divorced) Richies with her new country retreat and trying to avoid being revealed as the desperate housewife in Lone Father's new raunchy novel. Meanwhile husband Joe is reassessing his life after a near-death experience, her brother-in-law is finally coming out and she's been roped in to be her best friend Louise's birth partner. Plus with her nest now empty for a few hours with Jack at playschool, Susie's thinking about returning to the workforce. Maybe her A-lister friend Angelica can help her score a glamorous TV job.

Also by author:

Rules for a Perfect Life

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SHARON GRIFFITHS

The Lost Guide To Life And Love (2009)

Tilly Flint, on a rare night out with boyfriend Jake, is the sole witness when a glamorous model leaps from a nightclub window and disappears into the night. The following week while on holiday in the wild Pennines, Tilly and Jake have the last of many arguments and when Jake storms off, Tilly is left alone in a tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere. Intrigued to learn she has family locally, Tilly digs deeper, discovering her great-grandmother's past and the eerie parallels in her own life. As she explores the treacherous moors, she discovers mysterious pieces of cherry-red ribbon. What do they signify and who is the familiar face in the local pub? Then a chance encounter with celebrity footballer Clayton Silver leads Tilly into a high-octane world that spells danger. Can the ribbons from the past be a lifeline to the present? With a fantastic cast of characters and a plot with an air of mystery about it, this is a really great read. (KC)

The Accidental Time Traveller (2008)

Have you ever dreamt about going back in time to a different era and lifestyle? News reporter Rosie Harford is about to get the shock of her life when after an argument with her journalist boyfriend Will, she snatches up an assignment to clear out her headspace. The assignment is to cover a housing estate's 50th anniversary which includes the staging of a reality TV show called The 1950s House. When Rosie steps through the front door, she finds herself transported back to the 50s. At first Rosie believes this is all part of her assignment. But after reporting back for duty at her workplace she is told that the male reporters are given all the good stories and the women are confined to weddings, cooking and parenting. Plus where on earth are all the computers and mobile phones? Rosie teams up with reporter Billy - who looks uncannily like her boyfriend Will, with a wife who resembles her best friend Caz. Thrown together at work, the pair become closer but of course this time Billy is out of bounds. Can Rosie return back to the year 2008 and tell Will that she loves him or will she be stuck in the 1950s? This will be right up the alley of readers who like being transported back in time to a different decade. (PP)

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