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SHANNON HALE
Austenland (2007)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a chicklit book in possession of references to Jane Austen, Mr Darcy or Pride and Prejudice will hardly be in want of readers. One of the most recent Austen-themed books, Austenland tells the tale of American Jane Hayes, who finds real men just don't measure up to Mr Darcy. A relative bequeaths her a trip to English country manor Pembrook Park, which caters for Austen-crazed women. Here guests don empire-waist gowns and bonnets and master Regency etiquette as they are romanced by actors playing gentleman. After her secret dalliances with the gardener, Jane (Miss Erstwhile) finds herself attracted to the Darcy-like Mr Nobley. Is this trip going to help Jane kick her Austen obsession forever?
7/10
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BETH HARBISON
Shoe Addicts Anonymous (2007)
Helene discovers in a shoe shop that her politician husband has cancelled her credit cards; waitress Lorna is deep in debt but can't resist checking out eBay bargains on designer shoes; Sandra is agoraphobic so pays her shoe bills by working as a sex-phone operator; and Joss is an overworked nanny who is just desperate to get out of the house. These four women come together each Tuesday night for a meeting of Shoe Addicts Anonymous - to swap shoes and life stories.
7/10
Also by author:
Secrets of a Shoe Addict
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ROBYN HARDING
The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom (2006)
Also known as Secrets and Wives
Paige Atwell is a bit dissatisfied with her lot - a busy husband, an increasingly hostile daughter and a son obsessed with bodily functions. As Paige tries to spice up her marriage, Aberdeen Mists is rocked by the death of her neighbour Karen, who is found in a pool of blood in her garage. With everyone else assuming it was an accident, Paige suspects foul play, as Karen had just revealed to her that she was having an affair with a Latin lover. Using sleuthing tactics from her favourite TV crime shows, Paige attempts to uncover the truth.
5/10
The Journal of Mortifying Moments (2004)
Advertising account manager Kerry Spence is unsuccessfully trying to break up with gorgeous boyfriend Sam, who has demoted her to late-night hook-up status. So her therapist gets her to write a journal about past encounters with men to trace her problems with relationships. Starting with a school day kissing game turned sour, through a broken engagement and French-kissing the wrong man, Kerry relives her past romances and humiliating experiences. She's still determined to find her soulmate, which tarot card reader Ramona swears is a man named D, who'll she meet through a work function. Just as long as that doesn't prove to be slimy creative director Dave.
8/10
Also by author:
Unravelled
To come:
Chronicles of a Mid-Life Crisis
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KRISTIN HARMEL
The Art of French Kissing (2007)
What do you do when you are dumped by your fiancé and laid off from your job in the same week? Emma decides to take up friend Poppy's offer to head to Paris to handle publicity for French rock star Guillaume Riche. Life in Paris is wonderful - if only Guillaume wasn't getting himself into trouble all the time, such as being locked overnight inside the Eiffel Tower. As Poppy convinces Emma that the best way to forget fiancé Brett is to date lots of different French men, Emma finds herself drawn to journalist Gabe who is the only one not buying her excuses for Guillaume's crazy antics.
6/10
How to Sleep with a Movie Star (2006)
On the day that Mod magazine entertainment editor Claire Reilly interviews Hollywood heart-throb Cole Brannon and finds him to be a down-to-earth guy, she discovers her freeloading boyfriend cheating on her. She heads to a nearby bar to drown her sorrows where she bumps into Cole. Backstabbing colleague Sidra DeSimon then leaks a false story about Claire sleeping with the movie star, so Claire has to fight to protect her professional reputation. An enjoyable read from an American magazine writer with lots of celebrity mentions, it just would have been better if it hadn't followed the predictable, Hollywood fluff ending.
6/10
Also by author:
The Blonde Theory
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KATE HARRISON
The Self-Preservation Society (2007)
Jo Morgan is a self-confessed scaredy-cat who as a schoolgirl used to stockpile canned food in case of a nuclear holocaust. Now she works for a council's accident prevention department, trying to protect the population from food poisoning, DIY mishaps and killer tea cosies. Fortunately her boyfriend Dennis shares her ultra-safe outlook on life. But when Jo emerges from a coma after a hit-and-run accident, she realises this scaredy-cat may have used up most of her nine lives and needs to live life differently. But first she needs to unlearn a lifetime of fears. With the help of fellow headcase patient, former World War II fighter pilot “Frisky”, and his grandson Luke, Jo tries to embrace spontaneity. She also has to work out why she's having flashbacks when she sniffs a smell from her past.
8/10
Brown Owl's Guide to Life (2006)
Just before Lucy Collins' mother Judith (Brown Owl) died, she got in touch with the women in her former Brownies unit, asking them to contact Lucy. Lucy, who is married to Andrew and has a daughter Sasha, will need a helping hand now that her mum is gone. She's been bossed around her whole life and is way too timid to follow her dream of becoming a singer. With the return of the Brownies into her life, Lucy is able to resolve why they all went their separate ways and ingest some of Brown Owl's invaluable life lessons. There's best friend Terri, who is trying to become ordained; obese Paula who is a struggling single mother; Chris who needs a new challenge after running a sex-aid business and Bethany the soap actress who is still as bitchy and mean.
7/10
The Starter Marriage (2005)
Tess Leonard is a perfectionist whose life is in a shambles. When husband Barney leaves her for his pregnant girlfriend, Tess joins the Divorce Survival Class - a boot camp for the broken-hearted. Will the course help Tess move on?
6/10
Also by author:
Old School Ties
To come:
The Secret Shopper's Revenge
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LOUISE HARWOOD
Hippy Chick (2007)
Ibiza is a clubbers' paradise where people escape the rat-race to enjoy the surf, sand and good times. But for Honey Ballantyne, who is responsible for running her family's hotel while her hippie parents chill out, she is beginning to think she needs to escape paradise. Especially as her old friend Edouard's return from London shows her just how trapped she's become. When her father Hughie cracks his head after diving into the shallow end of the pool to impress another woman, he confusedly calls his daughter Rachel. Honey is intrigued to uncover who this mystery woman is and begins a journey that changes everything. The story often appeared disjointed, as if you'd missed reading some pages - or perhaps overindulged in some Ibiza-style partying.
5/10
Lucy Blue, Where Are You? (2005)
Lucy Blue is not the sort of girl to pick up a handsome stranger at a snow-bound airport and she's certainly not the sort to leap into bed with him at a motorway motel . . . but this is a special day and in any case they'll never meet again. But after Lucy and Jude part after the long road trip from Scotland to London, she sees signs at her local tube station, asking Lucy Blue, where are you? There was something charming about Lucy Blue and her story.
7/10
Also by author:
Six Reasons to Stay a Virgin; Calling on Lily
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GABY HAUPTMANN
In Search of an Impotent Man (1995)
Insurance agent Carmen Legg, a flame-haired 35-year-old, is sick of men trying to crack on to her, so she places a personal ad for a man with higher things on his mind - because he's impotent. Surprisingly a lot of men reply and Carmen meets them in turn. This book was originally written in German and sometimes reads a bit clunky because of the translation.
5/10
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DONNA HAY
The Two Mrs Robinsons (2007)
Anna lives with restaurateur Oliver Robinson and their young son Charlie. But he still hasn't divorced his wife Eve, mother of his two teenage children, and she still continually hovers in their lives. For Eve still hasn't gotten over the love of her life. Then Oliver dies suddenly and the women are left to sort out his affairs. But they can't seem to agree on anything - Eve takes over the restaurant while Anna thinks they should sell it. Then they discover Oliver was heavily in debt and there's a lot more at stake. Can they forge a truce or be driven even further apart?
7/10
Also by author:
This is Your Song, Lola Rose; No Place for a Woman; Goodbye Ruby Tuesday; Some Kind of Hero; Such a Perfect Sister; Kiss and Tell; Waiting in the Wings
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TARA HEAVEY
Eating Peaches (2004)
Dublin solicitor Elena reluctantly moves to set up an office in Ballyknock, on the promise of her boss Tyrone Power that she will be made partner. She leaves behind boyfriend Paul and moves into a cottage in the middle of nowhere. However she soon realises life in the country isn't as bad as she thought, especially when the local publican has seven handsome sons.
4/10
Also by author:
Making it Up as I Go Along; A Brush with Love
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ANITA HEISS
Not Meeting Mr Right (2007)
Alice Aigner is a confirmed single but at her 10-year high school reunion she has a change of heart, deciding she does want it all - the successful career as head of history at a Catholic school, plus marriage and kids. So she sets a goal to find the perfect man and marry him before her 30th birthday. With her best friends' help, she draws up a 10-point selection criteria such as: No.2 Must think I am the most gorgeous woman on the planet; No. 6 Must be punctual (although I am allowed to be on Koori time) and No. 8 Must love his job (don't want him whingeing every night about his day). Alice tries blind dates, dating friends' relatives, holiday romances, internet dating - but can she find Mr Right in time?
5/10
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JANE HELLER
Some Nerve (2006)
Celebrity journalist Ann Roth is under pressure to get the big interview with media-averse actor Malcolm Goddard. After seducing him with his favourite cheesecake, he grants the interview but only if it happens while he's piloting his Cessna. But Ann has a huge fear of flying - and Malcolm knows this. When she bottles out of the interview, a furious boss fires her from Famous magazine. Heading home to Missouri, she learns that Malcolm is headed for the local hospital - under an alias - for heart treatment. Seeing her chance for payback and a ticket back to Famous, Ann becomes a hospital volunteer with the intention of befriending Malcolm and then worming out of him his life story. But is she willing to risk everything for the big story?
6/10
Name Dropping (2000)
Preschool teacher Nancy Stern discovers another woman with the same name has moved into her apartment. The other Nancy is a glamorous journalist who writes about celebrities. Nancy would love to live her life and in fact begins to, opening her mail, answering her phone calls and going out with a man who calls for a blind date. But then the other woman is found murdered and Nancy begins to wonder if maybe she was the target. I liked the concept of two very different women sharing the same name but found the mystery was solved too early and there needed to be more of a twist for this book to score higher.
4/10
Also by author:
An Ex to Grind; Best Enemies; Lucky Stars; The Secret Ingredient; Female Intelligence; Sis Boom Bah; Internal Affairs
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ELIN HILDERBRAND
A Summer Affair (2008)
Claire Danner Crispin hasn't been back at work in her glassblowing studio since she collapsed from dehydration and prematurely gave birth to her youngest son, Zack. At her husband Jason's behest, she has given up her craft and instead devoted herself to their four children. But then she is asked by millionaire Lock Dixon to co-chair the annual Nantucket Children's charity gala. Her role is to secure her high school sweetheart, rock star Max West, as the performer and make a piece of art to auction. But as she fights her guilt about taking time away from her family and being responsible for Lock's unhappy home life, she is drawn into an affair. An intriguing story that keeps you turning the pages - will the secret relationship, her obsession with creating the perfect chandelier and the pressures of organising a high-society event leave her life in shatters?
7/10
Barefoot; The Love Season; The Blue Bistro; Summer People; Nantucket Nights; The Beach Club
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MELISSA HILL
Never Say Never (2005)
A group of Irish university friends arrange to meet five years on. The book then skips to seven years later when it is clear that life has not gone according to plan . . . There's Olivia, who was married to college sweetheart Peter and has a daughter, Ellie, who he never knew. Can she ever get over her grief and find a new man? Accountant Robin lives in the US and is determined never to return home. But her publisher wants her in Ireland to publicise her book series for kids with allergies. Leah is unhappily heading towards the big 3-0, despite a successful business partnership with fellow graduate Andrew, a star rugby player who is married to the jealous Amanda. The unexpected twist (it actually made me gasp) really makes this a fantastic read.
8/10
Not What You Think (2004)
Chloe Fallon is planning the wedding of the year. But little does she realise how a mix-up over invitations will cause trouble for herself, her fiancé Dan Hunt and a group of three friends. Laura Fanning is about to marry Neil, who is very supportive of her decision to quit her job and start her own jewellery company - even if her own family is horrified. When she is given Chloe's invitations by mistake, she realises that the groom is her friend Nicola Peters' ex. Nicola is now dating Ken, the manager of the gym where she works and the last thing she needs is having Dan come back into her life. Meanwhile, the third friend Helen Jackson has a great career but has never bonded with her young daughter Kerry. The father left her and no man has wanted to stick around since. But maybe she's about to take her friends for granted once too often. When Chloe starts delving into why Dan and Nicola broke up, all sorts of secrets start coming to the surface - and of course there's a big twist or two.
7/10
Also by author:
The Last to Know; Something You Should Know; Wishful Thinking; All Because of You
To come: Before I Forget
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WENDY HOLDEN
Filthy Rich (2008)
Allsop's allotment project is one way for the villagers to come together - to forge community ties as they tend their vegetables and summer annuals. But eco-nazi Morag intends to run the allotment under her strict rules. Mary, who lives in a crumbling manor house, thinks the allotment will help keep her occupied while her aristocratic husband Monty is off exploring the North Pole. American yuppie Beth has finished decking out her country cottage in English florals and needs a new pursuit. The fame-seeking Alexandra, whose footballer boyfriend is getting transferred, has a huge new mansion with underground parking planned for the village - and is just happy to get her hands on more land. And headmistress Catherine and solicitor Philip are just plain lonely. But when the villagers dig up more than just carrots on the allotment, the dirt really starts flying. Has received mixed reviews but the good-for-a-laugh characters clinched it for me.
7/10
The School for Husbands (2006)
Magazine sub-editor Sophie leaves her husband Mark after he forgets her birthday then doesn't come home after a work do. With Sophie thinking he's having an affair, Mark enrols in the School for Husbands, which helps teach hopeless spouses how to mend their ways. But has he left it too late - Sophie's former boyfriend who is in need of a wife is on the prowl.
7/10
The Wives of Bath (2005)
The tale of four people and an antenatal class. Lawyer Alice and recycling crusader Jake plan to have their baby at home in a birthing pool. Style writer Amanda decides to have a baby - in a private hospital, naturally - after she loses her job when the magazine's lawyer (coincidentally Alice) can't get her out of a legal mess for making up quotes. But husband Hugo is left holding the baby when the unmaternal Amanda escapes back to work. And Jake is driving Alice away when his green zeal turns into fanaticism.
6/10
Gossip Hound (2003)
Also known as Fame Fatale
Book publicist Grace Armiger can't get anyone interested in her collection of oddball authors. Her life at home with scruffy boyfriend Sion isn't much better and she's just had an inappropriate one-night stand with one of her writers. So when she is sent to Paris to liaise with film star Red Campion over his book, she thinks her life may be looking up. But ruthless tabloid reporter Belinda Black also has Red in her sights.
6/10
Also by author:
Azur Like It; Pastures Nouveaux; Bad Heir Day; Simply Divine
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ALESIA HOLLIDAY
American Idle (2004)
When media handler Jules Vernon is knocked unconscious by a celebrity chef wielding a frying pan, Jules decides to jump career-ship again. She becomes a production coordinator for reality TV show Pop Star Live! where her job includes babysitting the contestants including a diva with a forceful father, an heir with a meddling bodyguard and a nice guy with a gang background. She also has to moddycoddle a judge with hypochondria, deal with another judge's bitchy behaviour and become the Face Behind Reality TV in a magazine series.
6/10
Also by author:
Seven Ways to Lose Your Lover; Nice Girls Finish First; Shop 'Til Yule Drop
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MICHELLE HOLMAN
Bonkers (2007)
When New Zealand schoolteacher Lisa Jackson dies in a two-car accident, an angel-in-training decides to give her another chance at life and she returns inside the body of the other driver, a demanding American called Linda Brogan. Besides missing her own family, some things are better for the new Lisa. For one, she now has a gorgeous, model-like body and no longer has to deal with the pain of endometriosis. She also lives in a lovely home with her doctor husband, Dan. But he can't stand the sight of his wife. Can Lisa risk telling him why she's nothing like Linda? A prutty charming, lufe-affurming story (sorry, just trying out a Kiwi accent - make that a pretty charming life-affirming story.)
7/10
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DEBBY HOLT
The Ex-Wife's Survival Guide (2006)
Artist Sarah Stagg's husband Andrew leaves her to be with his leading lady from the local dramatic society. Sarah finds one way to deal with the humiliations and trials of being a discarded wife is to keep busy. And so with her sons about to leave the nest on a trip to India, Sarah is roped into playing the lead in the Ambercross Players' next production. Will she fall for her leading man?
6/10
Also by author:
The Trouble with Marriage; Annie May's Black Book
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RUTHANNA HOPPER and AMANDA GOLDBERG
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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CHRISTINA HOPKINSON
IzobelBrannigan.com (2004)
aka Cyber Cinderella
What happens when you Google yourself and find someone has created a website dedicated to you? That’s what faces PR girl Izobel and she is shaken by the idea that a secret admirer may be stalking her and have a sinister motive. She begins confronting her exes in a bid to find out which one might be responsible, while cute IT consultant Ivan examines the website’s origins. You can check out the website for real at http://www.izobelbrannigan.com.
6/10
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ARIEL HORN
Help Wanted, Desperately (2004)
As Alexa Hoffman is finishing her final year of college, she starts applying for a job - any job. From a deodorant sniffer, voice of Meow TV, earthworm breeder and sex phone operator, Alexa is desperate to find a position that will let her move to New York to join her boyfriend Jared. And if she doesn't find something, she's booked on a flight to the Pacific island of Majuro to teach English. But she discovers that interviewing for jobs is soul-destroying (who knew you needed aligned nipples?) And all the positive fortune cookies in the world aren't going to help now. The book is based on Horn's own job hunt experiences, including winning a national contest to become the voice of a TV show for cats (unfortunately it never went beyond its pilot). She eventually got a job as a teacher and wrote this book. A very humorous read.
7/10
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MARION HUME
The Fashion Pack (2005)
English fashion reporter Red Harrison is sent to Sydney to launch the latest edition of top-selling fashion magazine Joy. Her two best friends, who she met in a stuck elevator after a New York fashion show, are also Joy editors - Brooke Lowell is in New York while Romily Ward helms Paris Joy. But Sydney isn't overly welcoming of Red, especially backstabbing colleague Sybilla who is after everything from her job to her husband. A very long read. British Marion Hume was fired from her post as Vogue Australia editor in the late 1990s after running foul of several Australian designers.
7/10