Salaam, Paris - Kavita Daswani (2006)

Tanaya Shah has always been captivated by Paris - ever since watching Audrey Hepburn in the movie Sabrina. So when her grandfather decrees she will marry the grandson of one of his friends - a man living in Paris - Tanaya seizes the opportunity to leave her traditional Muslim family and head to France. But when she meets her intended, Tariq, she makes it clear that she does not want an arranged marriage. After refusing to return to India, she is disowned by her family. Tanaya soon finds her way in her new world, becoming a successful model. But when she meets up with Tariq again, Tanaya begins to wonder about the life she walked away from.

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Samantha Smythe's Modern Family Journal - Lucy Cavendish (2007)

aka The Invisible Woman

Samantha lives in a state of happy chaos with her three sons - Edward, 8, Bennie, 2, and baby Jamie - and her husband John. As a freelance writer, she spends a lot of time staring into celebrities' fridges, chatting with her best friend Dougie, and hanging out with the playgroup mothers. But then her first husband - also called John and the father of Edward - returns to spend time with his dying mother. But he seems to be spending most of his time with the au pair Santa. Samantha has to ensure that John the First doesn't upset her family's tenuous balance as her sister Julia's marriage goes into meltdown. From trips to the hospital emergency department, fighting over who gets to sleep in and tailing Julia's errant husband, this is a gotta-laugh-or-you'll-cry look at the minutiae of life with a young family.

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Sammy's Hill - Kristin Gore (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.

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Sammy's House - Kristin Gore (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.

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Sapphire - Katie Price (2009)

Sapphire is happy to be an independent businesswoman - she runs a lingerie boutique and hens weekend company. Divorced from the philandering Alfie, she doesn't want another serious relationship and is dating younger personal trainer Jay. But with Jay wanting to settle down, Sapphire's eye is drawn to Alfie's smooth business partner, Ryan. When a hens weekend for a soapie star goes awry, Sapphire begins to lose control of her business and personal life. Watch out for appearances by her friend Cal, the footballer from Price's novels about glamour model Angel.

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Sari & Sins - Nisha Minhas (2003)

Indian bride Kareena thinks her parents have chosen well when she weds Samir in an arranged marriage. But she is unaware he has been seeing Cloey for six years. Cloey wants Sammy - and more importantly his house - for herself so is prepared to fight dirty. But Kareena isn't the timid bride she was expecting.

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Saving Grace - Ciara Geraghty (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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Scandalous - Martel Maxwell (2010)

Sisters Max and Lucy Summers may be completely different in many ways but they are still best friends. Max is a top-notch showbiz reporter and Lucy works at a fabulous fashion magazine. Both lead a charmed life but neither has a lively love life. That all changes when the beautiful Lucy meets the Earl of Balmyle, Hartley. He's ranked as Britain's most eligible bachelor and once he sets his sights on Lucy, he can think of no one else. This infuriates Hartley's ex, Lady Bridget Beames, who believes Hartley should only be with a woman of the same social standing as him. It seems she will go to any length to get Hartley back. Max, on the other hand, hasn't had a serious love interest since she was 17. When she finally meets a man who makes her heart beat faster, Lucy warns her that he is the wrong man for her. Soon things spiral out of control when Lucy is accused of setting up the very private Hartley for a paparazzi shot and Max is forced to ignore her dream man for the sake of saving her relationship with her sister. Throw in a gorgeous, but sleazy male celebrity, lots of relationship drama and some sibling conflict and you've got yourself a novel that has everything a girl could want. The characters are described so well it is easy to imagine them transferred from page to film. In addition it's written with information that only an insider could have. It's fun, feisty and blooming with romance - but above anything else, it's totally scandalous. (AS)

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Scandalous - Tilly Bagshawe (2010)

Sasha Miller is an academically gifted girl with a passion for science. But after being betrayed by her Cambridge professor Theo Dexter, she leaves in disgrace to study business at Harvard. As Theo's star continues to rise - taking science to the masses through his TV series - Sasha becomes a high-flying businesswoman. But her greed for money is solely motivated by her desire to ruin Theo. You know all along that the villain is going to get his just deserts, that his downtrodden wife Theresa is going to triumph and that Sasha is going to get her man, but just sit back and enjoy the ride. (PS Dear cover designer, pretty sure there was never a yacht in sight.)

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Schooled - Anisha Lakhani (2008)

Ivy League graduate Anna Taggert isn't interested in joining the rest of her classmates in high-earning careers in law and investment banking. Instead she has a passion for teaching. She scores a position as seventh grade English teacher at an elite private school in Manhattan but her creative lesson plans don't seem to win favour with the principal or the parents. With her pay check barely covering the rent on her fifth-floor walk-up apartment, Anna soon uncovers the secret of one of her designer-clad colleagues, Randi - she works as a tutor, earning about $250 an hour to do the student's homework. Anna's moral objections soon fade as she enters the tutoring pool and finds her shopping sprees are improving her standing at the school. An eye-opening read for those wanting another insider expose of Manhattan's elite.

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School of Fortune - Amanda Brown (with Janice Weber) (2007)

Socialite Pippa Walker was supposed to get married in the biggest wedding in Texas' history. Her mother, Thayne, worked endlessly to ensure that everything was perfect right down to the exact size of all of Pippa's bridesmaids. But when Pippa suddenly finds out something isn't right with her handsome husband-to-be Lance, she calls off her wedding at the altar, causing a frenzy. Pippa also fears that she has inadvertently caused the sudden death of her beloved grandfather from shock. Suddenly disowned by her parents, not to mention sought by the paparazzi, Pippa finds the only person who will talk to her is the family lawyer, who informs her that she has been left a good chunk of her grandfather's money - about a billion dollars - but she can only claim this money if she gets a diploma. Since her grandfather wasn't specific about what kind of diploma, Pippa starts out on a hilarious journey of misadventures, using various aliases along the way to keep her identity hidden, that include driving school, where she accidentally drives Lance's blue Maserati into a hotel pool; matchmaking school, where she has an insane teacher just trying to make a quick buck; and even a clown academy where Pippa is chased by a large elephant and loved by a possessive dancing bear. But still Pippa is without a diploma. She finally calls her old friend Ginny who tells Pippa to enrol at the Mountbatten Savoy School of Household Management in Aspen, where Ginny has a vacation home. Pippa accepts this as a last resort and becomes the servant of a socialite in Las Vegas. With the help of a valet and a crazy chef, Pippa finally finds her own version of happiness. (AS)

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Scot on the Rocks - Brenda Janowitz (2007)

Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller has no qualms about attending her ex-boyfriend's wedding to a Hollywood actress. After all she'll be with her Scottish boyfriend Douglas, who'll probably have put a ring on her own finger by then. But when Douglas breaks up with her, she desperately needs someone else to fill his kilt on the day. With best friend Vanessa and colleague Jack in tow, Brooke heads off to LA, determined to survive the wedding with her dignity ever-- intact. After all, they've crammed up on Scottish facts, her bikini line is waxed and she's got a shiny (but fake) sparkler on her ring finger. But will lost luggage, a high school nemesis and a rogue Australian accent be her undoing? Brooke is an engaging character who'll keep you smiling as she lurches from mishap to mishap.

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Searching For Spice - Megan DiMaria (2008)

Linda Revere has a steady job as a photographer, two teenage kids and a husband, Jerry, who works as a no-nonsense science teacher at the community college. One day Linda discovers via a magazine quiz that the passion has definitely left her marriage. Realising she longs for a sizzling affair with the guy she fell in love with 25 years ago, instead problems with their children, her boss, customers, the family dog and personal health keep getting in the way. Linda has romantic dreams of sitting on the porch with Jerry surrounded by a lush garden with twinkling lights on the bordering Aspen trees, sipping pale nectar from china goblets and listening to music from the 70s - instead she finds herself dancing with Betty, her vacuum cleaner. Then a family crisis sees the couple taking opposite sides and Linda prays to God to help give her what she's been longing for in her marriage. (PP)

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Searching for Tina Turner - Jacqueline E. Luckett (2010)

Lena Spencer appears to have the perfect life. Her gorgeous husband, Randall, is rich, successful and makes sure she wants for nothing, including a beautiful home and luxury cars. She dotes on her two beautiful children, Kendrick and Camille, even though they are almost grown and out on their own. Even Lena would admit that she has led a charmed life. However, she still feels something is missing. Her own life has been put on the back burner to care for her family, to the point that she no longer knows who she is. When she tries to tell her husband she would like to get back into photography, he essentially tells her she's lucky to have the life that she does and to stop behaving like a child. Drawing on inspiration from her idol, Tina Turner, Lena decides it's time to figure out who she really is after more than two decades of being known simply as Randall's wife. Although I found the author's writing style a little hard to follow, this story will inspire all who read it to follow their passion. (LEK)

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Second Chance - Jane Green (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?

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Second Time Around - Beth Kendrick (2010)

Arden, Jamie, Brooke, Cait and Anna were all English majors in college. Every year the girls got together for a reunion and talked about how they wished they could change their career paths. When Arden passes away, she leaves $1 million to the four remaining friends to live out their dream careers. The friends reunite in their old college town and attempt to restart their lives. Jamie becomes an event planner and finds herself planning a wedding for an old flame. Brooke buys a bed and breakfast and quickly realises that she has bought a money pit. Cait decides to become a romance novelist and ends up falling for her former English professor. Anna has been struggling with fertility issues with her husband. When her husband announces that he needs a break from their marriage, she decides to use her $250,000 to become a pastry chef. This is a fantastic novel about lasting friendships and second chances. (AO)

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Secret Celebrity - Carol Wolper (2002)

Christine Chase, a divorced 35-year-old filmmaker, decides to do a documentary on elusive actor and musician Richard Gault, who went underground in the 1970s.

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Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA - Ellen Meister (2006)

When a location scout announces that Applewood school may make the perfect setting for an upcoming George Clooney movie, the mothers of the PTA think their fantasies are about to become real. This is their chance to get up close and personal with the hunky actor - oh, and their school will finally get its much-needed stadium. But Maddie Schein, Ruth Moss and Lisa Slotnick need to band together to save the project because PTA president Suzanne Podobinski has decided that the movie threatens historic Applewood Rock. The trio also face dramas on the home front - Maddie thinks her husband is having an affair with his cousin; Ruth is looking for some loving after her husband's stroke left him impotent and Lisa has to deal with an alcoholic mother.

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Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife - Niamh Greene (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.

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Secret Society Girl - Diana Peterfreund (2006)

Amy Haskel is in her Junior year at the prestigious Eli University, an editor for Eli's literary magazine and a self-proclaimed commitment-phobe. Amy's life takes a surprising turn when she is 'tapped' by the elite and mysterious secret society Rose & Grave, also known to only have male members. Amy thought initiation would be the hardest part of her Junior year but she isn't prepared for the backlash that comes from Rose & Grave's powerful alumni for letting women into their "boy's only" club. She soon finds her career, kind-of boyfriend, and her social life is on the line. I loved the way this book, the first in the Ivy League series, went into details of "initiation" and all of the rules a secret society brings. (AV)

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Secrets - Freya North (2009)

Single mother Tess needs to leave London - and in a hurry. She heads up north to the seaside town Saltburn, moving into bridge engineer Joe's rambling old house as his housesitter. But who is she running from, why is she so broke and why does she detest the beach? Joe is an emotionally distant character who spends a lot of time overseas - with a girlfriend in every port - but he soon finds he misses being away from the home that Tess has been building with her toddler Em. But he's also keeping something from Tess - will they soon trust each other enough to share their secrets? Now you know that these two are going to get it together but it takes nearly 500 pages of often mind-numbing tedium to get there. Perhaps the only question readers really need answered is why was this book so boring and slow?

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Secrets & Lies - Jaishree Misra (2009)

Anita, Zeba, Bubbles and Sam have been best friends since they met in the early 90s at a Delhi private girls school called St Judes. They were the Queen Bees, the popular chicks. Everything was going great, until the headmistress' niece Lily started at the school and threatened their superiority. On the night of their prom, Lily is found dead. Now 15 years later the headmistress is retiring and decides to hold a reunion of the four girls and find out what really happened that night. Anita is now a BBC correspondent, Zeba a Bollywood actress, Bubbles is married to a billionaire and Sam is a trophy wife. Can any of them afford their secrets and lies to be revealed? An enthralling read which seems like a mix between Tilly Bagshawe and Tasmina Perry. (PP)

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Secrets of the Hollywood Girls Club - Maggie Marr (2008)

The girls of the Hollywood Girls Club are back. Celeste is thinking it's time for a facelift while a sex tape - the one she thought was destroyed at the time of her divorce - seems to be making the rounds. And she's desperate to keep both secrets from her new husband, Worldwide Pictures boss Ted Robinoff. Mary Anne has started seeing hot leading man Holden Humphrey - a fact that infuriates his co-star Vieve. Jessica, now happily married with a baby son, is still promoting her list of clients. And Lydia is running the studio and receiving mysterious notes threatening to expose a big secret. Meanwhile publicist Kiki seems to know everyone's secrets - and is willing to use them to her own advantage.

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Seeing Me Naked - Liza Palmer (2008)

Elisabeth Page is having a hard time living up to her wealthy family's expectations. The daughter of a legendary novelist and well-bred socialite and the sister of a literary wunderkid, she's just a pastry chef - even though she works in the hottest French restaurant in LA. Her five-year plan to open her own patisserie hasn't eventuated after 11 years and she is still dating (if you can call it that) her family-approved childhood sweetheart Will, a globe-trotting journalist who's rarely home. Elisabeth's life is going nowhere - her routine takes her from the food markets, to the restaurant and back home to catch up on TiVoed shows. But then she meets basketball coach Daniel Sullivan, who bids on a cooking lesson with her, and he's everything that her family and Will are not. Her career also looks like taking on a different direction when she gets approached to host a Food Network TV show. Can she find success - and love - on her own terms? A fully flavoured book about food, family dynamics and finding your way.

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See Jane Date - Melissa Senate (2001)

Assistant editor Jane Gregg thinks her life will be perfect once she gets a promotion and finds a man. And she enlists her friends' help in setting her up with blind dates. But first she has to make it through her cousin Dana's wedding as a bridesmaid in peach; and edit her childhood nemesis Natasha Nutley's memoirs about her affair with a famous actor.

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Send Me a Lover - Carol Mason (2008)

Angela's husband once told her that if he died he'd send someone for her to love again. She just never thought she'd lose Jonathan at age 36 - the victim of a car accident. Still finding it hard to get over her grief, she leaves behind her unfulfilling advertising job in Vancouver to visit her mum back in England. Together they go on a package holiday to Greece, to the island of Zante, where she meets two men who just might have been sent for her. But is Angela ready to love again and if so which man is right for her? Read it for the antics of her mum getting her groove back and the page-turning teaser of who Angela will end up with.

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Serendipity - Melanie La'Brooy (2007)

When Australian magazine sub-editor Hero Hathway meets Oscar Martin bar-tending on her last night in New York, she is masquerading as trapeze artist Lola. Sparks fly but the next day when Hero panics and runs away, it's the end of the affair. Two years later, they bump into each other in Sydney and he is determined to show her that they are in love with one another - except Hero is about to get engaged to another man.

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Set Up in Soho - Dee Davis (2009)

Andrea Sevalas' long-term boyfriend, Dillon, announces at a party that he's been seeing someone else. And that someone else is Diana Merrick, Andrea's worst enemy. Diana is the girl who stands for everything Andrea hates about the Upper East Side and the ultra rich. Though Andrea's family is one of those rich society families, she still doesn't care for the way most of them live - only socialising with those who are in the same social class and shunning everyone else. The shock of Dillon's deception is too much, so Andrea leaves the party, not wanting to be subjected to questions from her family or friends. Finding herself on the streets of Manhattan without a cab in sight, Andrea decides to walk home, which is not a good move considering she's had a few drinks and is wearing high heels. Before she knows what happened, Andrea falls into a cellar, and is covered in blood and mushed vegetables. In walks a handsome stranger, who helps her out and gallantly lends her his Armani jacket. Her rescuer takes her to the hospital and when she awakes, he's gone and all that remains are her memories of him. Andrea's matchmaking aunt, Althea, helps her get back on her feet and before long she is out and about again. As luck, or fate, would have it Andrea bumps into the handsome stranger again, while walking her dog in the park and the two begin a whirlwind romance with a lot of drama - due to the fact that Andrea has a tendency to jump to conclusions. Her new beau Ethan just happens to be the creme de la creme of Manhattan society. His family is old money with a capital "O" and true-blue bloods. With a lot of drama at work, where Andrea hosts a popular cooking show, and much more drama in her personal life, this book flows perfectly. Although sometimes predictable, this sequel to A Match Made on Madison is an enjoyable read that will leave you wanting more.(AS)

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Seven Year Switch - Claire Cook (2010)

Jill Murray was abandoned by her husband Seth seven years ago, when their daughter Anastasia was just three years old. On her own Jill has had to work two crazy and very humorous jobs just to make ends meet. Without warning, Seth contacts her and lets her know he is back, and ready to be a part of his daughter's life. Jill wants to keep him away from Anastasia but softens when she sees her daughter's reaction to the news. On one of her many side jobs, Jill meets a fascinating businessman headed to Japan. Just as she thinks her life is getting back to normal, she finds out Seth wants her back. Does she need to move on and see what the future holds with somebody new, or rekindle an old flame and have her family back intact? If you want to take a vacation from your own life, this book is a breath of fresh air. (AV)

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Sex as a Second Language - Alisa Kwitney (2006)

Katherine Miner is a teacher of English as a second language but it's just her day job until she can score another acting gig. As her divorce to actor Logan progresses, Kat is asked to audition for her former daytime soap role. Then her estranged father makes contact with her and an Icelandic student moves in as her boarder. Suddenly Kat is questioning herself about who she can trust.

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She's Gone Country - Jane Porter (2010)

Shey Darcy, a former supermodel, lived the perfect life in New York City with her dreamy photographer husband and three sons. Shey's life is shattered when one of her brothers passes away and her husband decides he is gay. Shey moves back with her sons to her mother's dilapidated ranch in Texas, where she struggles to find her old self. She soon comes face to face with Dane Kelly, the man who broke her heart years ago. The sparks still exist between the two, however, Dane is adamant not to move their relationship to the next level. This is a well-written novel about a woman who fights for her family and believes in second chances. (AO)

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She's Got Issues - Stephanie Lessing (2005)

Despite stepping off on the wrong floor and walking into the wrong interview, Chloe Rose lands a job on Issues magazine. Although she is only an assistant to the assistant in the promotions department, clueless Chloe dreams of one day rising to be shoe editor (not that the magazine has such a position). Even though she falls foul of the editors, who write a bitchy column about an overly ambitious, manipulative assistant, life is still good because she's got access to the shoe closet. Then she meets Stan, who might just be able to help her put her right foot forward.

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She Went All the Way - Meg Cabot (2002)

Hollywood screenwriter Lou Calabrese has just been dumped by her boyfriend of 10 years. To make matters worse, she is stuck in a helicopter with gorgeous Hollywood playboy Jack Townsend, star of her screenplay and the man whose ex just ran off with Lou's boyfriend. In the middle of their flight, the pilot attempts to kill Jack and the helicopter crashes in the Alaskan wilderness. Jack and Lou must now find their way back to civilisation, with Lou determined that she is not going to give in to the sexy star. (AO)

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Shoe Addicts Anonymous - Beth Harbison (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.

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Shopaholic Abroad - Sophie Kinsella (2001)

Also known as Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

In the second instalment of the series, Rebecca Bloomwood is now a financial adviser on a morning TV show and having settled her debts, her new motto is Buy Only What You Need. But then the Big Apple's luxury department stores and designer sales beckon when she moves with boyfriend Luke Brandon to New York. But will Becky's extravagant spending habits return to ruin their Manhattan life?

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Shopaholic & Baby - Sophie Kinsella (2007)

Rebecca Brandon is back with a bump . . . and is househunting for the perfect home with a Shoe Room in time for the arrival of their first child. After discovering that shopping cures morning sickness, she embarks on getting everything ready for the baby - from five prams, two nurseries and a celebrity obstetrician. But as she shops for two, she fears there are three in her marriage - her glamorous doctor is Luke's former college girlfriend, Venetia. Could Becky's marriage crumble before her baby is born?

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Shopaholic & Sister - Sophie Kinsella (2004)

Rebecca Brandon (nee Bloomwood) returns to London after a 10-month honeymoon travelling the world with Luke. As two lorries deliver her honeymoon purchases, her long-lost half-sister Jess turns up to meet her father. Rebecca, who had thought she was an only child, embraces her new sister but is disturbed to find she's a skinflint who hates shopping. But is Rebecca willing to learn some frugal ways in a bid to strengthen sibling ties?

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Shopaholic Ties the Knot - Sophie Kinsella (2002)

Rebecca Bloomwood is now a personal shopper at Barney's in New York when boyfriend Luke Brandon proposes. Rebecca gets stuck into planning her wedding but the trouble is her mum wants a backyard wedding at home while Luke's frosty society mother books The Plaza in New York. How is Becky going to pull off two weddings on either side of the Atlantic?

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Short Girls - Bich Minh Nguyen (2009)

Van and Linny Luong, the children of Vietnamese immigrants, are both at a point in their lives where they are experiencing some sort of turmoil. Their mother died suddenly of a stroke nine years ago and the only other family the sisters have left is their inventor father, Dinh, who has finally decided to take his oath of American citizenship after 28 years. Van and Linny return home to share in this special moment with a celebration done the old way - with a reunion of the other Vietnamese families who used to gather in the late 70s and 80s. Linny's affair with a married man has ended in humiliating fashion, while Van's husband, Miles, has left her. Van remembers the day Miles used her father's invention, the Luong Arm, to grab a vase from the top of the refrigerator and watched it crash to the floor because all his inventions, designed to improve the lives of short people, were never reliable. He had given her the Luong Arm, saying, "Short girls need to take care of themselves". Throughout the book you experience the relationships of Van, Linny and Dinh, among other excellently crafted characters - and how their lives are all so different yet so similar. Nguyen paints an excellent portrait of the immigrant community and the lives of the Luong family as a whole. (AS)

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Should I Stay or Should I Go? - Jessica Adams (2009)

aka Vintage Alice

Two years after she first fell head over heels in love with Nash, Alice Templeton isn't that sure about her feelings anymore. Well at least that's what the quizzes in the self-help book Should I Stay or Should I Go tell her. Amid their bickering over money matters, Alice decides to move from England to Australia with Nash to start afresh. But when she learns that Nash has betrayed her, she decides to leave alone to take a break and work to get enough funds to start her clothing line, Vintage Alice. She arrives in Bondi and meets her cousin, Joel, who fortunately isn't actually a blood relative as she finds him hard to resist. I think the story could have been developed more, such as how she deals with the challenges of settling into a new environment, but in general it was a sweet read. Many will love the heroine, Alice, as she struggles to resolve the love-hate relationship with Nash and make the right decisions in life. (XT)

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Simply From Scratch - Alicia Bessette (2010)

Zell is still recovering from the sudden death of her husband Nick, a photographer who died during a post-Katrina relief mission. Through a disastrous cooking experiment, she meets her next-door-neighbour, nine-year-old Ingrid, who believes celebrity chef Polly Pinch is her mother. With an eye on the $20,000 prize money (the amount Nick wanted to raise for the New Orleans victims), the two join forces to try to win her baking competition. This mixes the ingredients of a woman looking for a reason to live again with a girl desperate for female company. Stir in some quirky small townsfolk, a much-loved dog and some flashbacks to when Nick was alive and you get a debut novel that's full of warmth and soul.

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Since I Don't Have You - Louise Candlish (2007)

At the birth of their daughters, best friends Rachel, Mariel and Jenny vow to care for each other's girls if disaster strikes. And in a mother's worst nightmare, disaster does strike when the girls are six - Rachel's daughter Emma dies and she flees her home and husband and heads to Oia, on the Greek island of Santorini, where her mother was brought up. As Rachel slowly tries to deal with her grief, she realises she owes the girls left behind - and hires a private detective, Johnny Palmer, to send updates on their progress. A moving tale of a heartbroken woman finding the will to live after her greatest loss.

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Sinful Deceptions - Zoe Miller (2010)

This tells the story of two sisters, Alix and Emma, who live under the shadow of secrets. Alix is a famous make-up artist based in Paris. Her life is a whirlwind of glamour and travel, and the launch of her signature brand of make-up is set to propel her straight to the top of the cosmetics industry. Her older sister Emma lives a life of domestic bliss with her husband and children in an affluent Dublin suburb ... or so it seems. But having a life where all the domestic boxes are ticked on the surface doesn't mean Emma feels appreciated and fulfilled. When she does something totally out of character that has the potential to destroy her family, her life becomes dominated by her deception. She's not alone - as the launch of Alix's cosmetics range approaches, a secret from her past starts to take control of her life and threatens to expose past betrayals. The sisters are about to find out how high a price a person has to pay for a mistake. This book is easy to engage with from page one. The descriptive and lyrical style of writing conjures up every scene to perfection, and despite the mistakes the characters have made, you'll be rooting for them all the way. It's escapism at its best, and is a perfect holiday read. (SBB)

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Single White E-mail - Jessica Adams (1998)

Take yourself back to the world of the 1990s, when the internet was still a strange world understood only by computer boffins and it was rare to have an email address. Touted as the Down Under version of Bridget Jones's Diary, this book is based in Sydney, so there's lots of local flavour for Australian readers but it is still written in a way to have universal appeal. Dumped on her 30th birthday by Dan, the man she thought she was going to marry, Victoria Shepworth is feeling so desperate she cuts her hair (you know the rule: new haircut = new life), has a fling with an advertising colleague and spends a fortune of fortune tellers - one of which tells her that she'll meet her soulmate through computers. With the help of neighbour Bill the Boffin, Victoria goes online where she meets Pierre Dubrois, an Englishman in Paris. But things start going awry one night when she finds out her mystery man isn't all that he first appeared.

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Singletini - Amanda Trimble (2006)

A singletini is defined as a glamorous girl, typically found in urban settings and possessing an unusual fear of growing up and settling down. Victoria Hart, from Chicago, has made a pledge to remain a singletini. With her lackadaisical approach to work (wake up too late for work, then just pretend you put in for an annual day), she is soon out of a job. As all her friends start moving on, getting engaged and promoted, Victoria becomes a wingwoman - helping shy or busy guys pick up women. One of her clients is Patrick, her friend Kimmie's boss, and Victoria is so tempted to break one of the wingwomen's cardinal rules - never date a client. Meanwhile she's been roped in to help organise her Bridezilla friend Gywnn's wedding.

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Sisters in Law - Nina Bell (2009)

When Kate Fox invites a new friend, Sasha, into her family's life, she never imagined the newly separated mother of two would wreak so much havoc. But is Sasha after her partner Jonny, who seems reluctant to marry Kate even after 15 years? Or does she have her eye on her brothers, successful head of the family Si who is married to high-flying divorce lawyer Olivia, or her impulsive youngest brother Jack, whose meek wife Heather has stood by him as a loyal army wife. A totally absorbing read about three very different women related by marriage who are trying to keep their relationships afloat. With one very nasty villain, this is among this year's best reads.

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Size Eight in a Size Zero World - Meredith Cagen (2009)

Meet Lindsay: She's a mother of two with a husband, Grant, who is less than thankful for her hard work and dedication. Between taking care of the kids, working all day in the office, and taking endless phone calls from Grant to pick up his dry cleaning, Lindsay has barely enough time and energy in the day for herself. Lindsay's relationship with her husband leaves much to be desired - in fact, it leaves a relationship to be desired. Grant has no problem telling Lindsay that she isn't good enough and the last time he spent any time with the kids, well let's just say, it has been a long, long time. When a handsome man in her building catches Lindsay's eye, she can't help but notice the goosebumps that are appearing all over her body. Soon a relationship develops between Lindsay and "The Man" that will take Lindsay on a journey that is both terrifying and awakening. This book is relatable for anyone who has ever been in a relationship where the sweet words of a man have made your heart believe things your mind never would. Through her relationship with The Man, Lindsay embarks on a personal journey that has her reevaluating her life, herself and the people she surrounds herself with. (JE)

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Size 12 Is Not Fat - Meg Cabot (2006)

For Heather Wells, proclaiming her individuality was the biggest mistake. It made her lose almost everything - her life savings, a recording contract, her heart-throb boyfriend. But she soon settles into a job as an assistant residence hall director at the New York College to pay off her tuition fees; while living with her ex's private eye brother, Cooper, whose charms she finds it hard to resist. When girls from the dorm start turning up dead, Heather decides to investigate. Can she solve the crime before she ends up being one of the victims? (XT)

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Size 14 Is Not Fat Either - Meg Cabot (2006)

In this sequel to Size 12 is Not Fat, just as Heather Wells thought that the year would get better (after her near-death experience last year), a series of problems pop out of nowhere: her dad arrives on her doorstep hoping to move in; ex-fiance Jordan Cartwright comes back to declare his undying love for her and the head of a cheerleader is found among the pots of the residence's cafeteria. Once again, her heroine nature comes to the fore as she tries to crack the case, along with her hot landlord (and crush) Cooper. Can Heather save the day and set things straight? (XT)

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Slacker Girl - Alexandra Koslow (2007)

Jane Cooper is a self-proclaimed leisure connoisseur, other than her hours working as a "relationship manager" at Leetsmann & Stone; she spends most of her time loitering at cafes, embroidering at her apartment or chilling with her best friend Rebecka. However, when the company starts to drop revenue, the heads decide to reduce expenses by laying off workers. But somehow Jane's job is spared despite her poor performances. Oblivious to the fact that her boss Ray has saved her job, she flies off to Florida on a vacation with Rebecka, thinking that she deserves a break. When she realises that Ray's being fired, Jane decides to do whatever she can to help her man get his job back, even at the expense of her leisure time. (XT)

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Sleeping Over - Stacey Ballis (2005)

Spending the night together does not always mean romance is on the cards for these five friends. Fresh from a stint in the Peace Corps, Jess is staying with a family friend, Harrison, a sexy doctor, until she can find a place of her own. Chef Robin has a crush on restaurant owner Michael, while Lilith is carrying a torch for an actor. Anne meets her dream guy, while her sister Beth reconnects with a former classmate.

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Sleeping Arrangements - Madeleine Wickham (2001)

Chloe is desperate for a break and when old friend Gerard offers his Spanish villa, she thinks it'll be the perfect place for partner Philip to escape his work problems. For workaholic Hugh and high-maintenance Amanda, they need to be out of their house while it is renovated. Gerard too offers them use of his villa - for the same week. As the families - including an outrageous Australian nanny - try to settle into the villa without stepping on each other's toes, it seems Chloe and Hugh have a past history. Was it all an innocent mistake or did Gerard plan it all along? You could just see this comedy of manners being played out on the stage.

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Sleeping Around: Flings and Faux Pas of an American Girl in London - Catherine Townsend (2009)

This is the book Sex and the City should have been. With non-stop sex and numerous lovers, this memoir makes you take a look at how to handle the men who come in and out of your life. The book is loosely based on the author's life detailing her descriptive sexual experiences. Catherine, an American, is trying to find love in the wrong places, which makes the book more interesting to see the type of men who enter her life - starting with the man who she was moving to London for, just to be dumped as she was set to fly to the UK. She ends up staying in London anyway to conquer the city as a writer to prove to him that she can still make it. With her best friend Victoria at her side to help her sort out her life and career (she becomes a sex columnist) it's a great escape! I recommend reading this book with an open mind and you will enjoy all its quirks. A UK version of this book was released in 2007, subtitled Secrets of a Sexual Adventuress. (CG)

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Sleeping Partners - Lou Wakefield (2004)

Pauline Watkins decides her routine life needs some excitement - her sex life with husband Mick certainly does. She hopes a change of scenery will do the trick, so puts her council estate semi in Leicester, England, into a house swap scheme on the internet. In Australia, Lorna Mackenzie wants to get her cheating spouse Greg away from his lover. Her mum wanting to attend a family wedding in Leicester offers the perfect excuse. Soon the Watkins and their rebellious teenager Gemma move into their palatial Melbourne abode, with use of the BMW and yacht thrown in. And Lorna, Greg and June move into the Watkins' crowded house.

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Sleeping with Schubert - Bonnie Marson (2004)

"Help, I have the spirit of Schubert living inside of me." - Liza Durbin. Christmas shopping can be stressful but on one particular shopping expedition at Nordstrom's, Liza's life as she knows it is about to change. Nineteenth-century composer Franz Schubert is looking for a body to inhabit and he has chosen Liza, a 21st century lawyer. Soon Schubert has Liza pounding out symphonies after symphonies, and she is accepted into Juilliard - New York's prestigious performing arts school. However, Liza is worried that if she tells somebody that Schubert won't leave her body, they will cart her off to the looney bin. Will Liza ever get her own body and life back? This is a fun, spirited story, which reminds me of Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella with a hint of the film Kate and Leopold. (PP)

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Sleeping with Ward Cleaver - Jenny Gardiner (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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Sleepless Nights - Sarah Bilston (2008)

The story of Quinn, a British lawyer living in New York, continues after baby Samuel arrives. Wondering how she's ever going to slip back into the fast-paced world of being a lawyer, Q instead decides to slip out of the city and stay at a friend's holiday home in Connecticut. She hopes this will give her and husband Tom the space to consider their future options. If only Samuel would stop crying! Also arriving on the scene is Q's younger sister Jeanie, who has just finished her social work degree and now needs to join the real world. Even though this is a sequel to Bed Rest, you don't need to read that title first. In fact, this one, with its alternating viewpoints from the two sisters, is actually better.

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Slightly Engaged - Wendy Markham (2006)

Tracey Spadolini was let in on a little secret by her boyfriend Jack's mother - Jack has asked for the family diamond ring! This can only mean one thing - Jack is going to ask Tracey to marry him. But when? On the Sweetest Day? Thanksgiving? Christmas? New Year's Eve? As each day passes without a new sparkling diamond ring to show off to her friends, Tracey starts to think Jack doesn't want to marry her at all. Is this all she is ever going to have? A small apartment on the Upper East Side with a live-in boyfriend and a job where her promised promotion is still unfulfilled? Tracey is convinced there has to be more. In this third book in the series, Tracey commits to quitting smoking (for real this time!), reaches new heights in her relationship with Jack, and once again finds the confidence and trust within herself to take charge of her life and go after what she really wants - happiness. (JE)

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Slightly Settled - Wendy Markham (2004)

Tracey Spadolini is back and oh, how her world has changed. She is back at her job with a new boss and a new title. With her dream of becoming a copywriter actually within sight and a boss who doesn't make her run his personal errands, things are looking up for Tracey. Not to mention the dress sizes she has shed in the meantime. But there is just one thing ... Why does she keep thinking she sees her ex-boyfriend Will all over New York? Follow Tracey as she works through her feelings for Will, questions her "friendly" relationship with Buckley and cheer for her as she embarks on a new relationship - with her boss' roommate! Joined once again by Raphael and Kate as her faithful friends, this story has more character than the first book in the series. Though I, at times, found the constant second-guessing of herself a little repetitive, it does exemplify the inner trouble women go through in the search for self-acceptance and love. (JE)

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Slightly Single - Wendy Markham (2002)

Tracey Spadolini isn't so different from other 20-something New Yorkers trying to find their place in the city. She isn't thrilled to go to work where she is a secretary for a boss who thinks her most important job is running his personal errands. Her non-air-conditioned apartment without furniture leaves much to be desired and her boyfriend of three years, Will, the self-proclaimed next great American actor, is about to leave her behind for the summer. As Tracey ponders how she will survive the summer heat, she decides to spend the time reinventing herself. Surrounded by colourful friends who add character to a somewhat run-of-the-mill story, this book may be a pleasant read but it lacks the depth and originality of a great story. (JE)

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Slim Chance - Jackie Rose (2003)

Evie's determined to lose weight for her wedding to long-time boyfriend Bruce, especially after she picks up a Vera Wang gown at a sample sale. She only needs to drop 40, maybe 50 pounds to fit into her dream dress. So the self-absorbed Evie hits the gym, starts dieting like mad and spends up big on making the most of her new look. But Bruce doesn't seem to like the slimmed-down Evie. Is she about to lose more than a few dress sizes?

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Smart Casual - Niamh Shaw (2009)

Dedicated career woman Olivia Anderson is running late for a business meeting after a run-in with an arrogant, queue-jumping American. Then she discovers the same man - Luke Wylie - has taken her promotion as projects director of a computer company. But a hefty pay rise and Luke's considerable charms lessen the blow - a bit. But something is rotten in the state of Puttock Leavitt and it seems as if Liv could well be the fall girl. A promising debut with lots of witticisms about surviving - and thriving - amid office politics.

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Smart vs. Pretty - Valerie Frankel (2001)

The Greenfield sisters - Frank the smart one and Amanda the pretty one - are going to have to put their differences aside to save their family coffee shop. When marketing student Clarissa walks through their door, brimming with ideas such as running a Mr Coffee of the Week competition and renaming the shop Romancing the Bean, it seems their worries are over. Or is more trouble brewing? With a dead body, grudges galore, a revolving cast of characters that are hard to keep track of, and dialogue that's weaker than a skinny decaf latte - this book was nothing like I expected. Look elsewhere if you want a good chick lit read about sibling rivalry.

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Snapped - Pamela Klaffke (2010)

Sara B, editor and style guru of the magazine Snap, has it all: great friends including Ted, her business partner; Gen, her ex-80s rock chick best friend, and Jack, her boyfriend. She also is the force behind Snap's much-loved column "The Do's and Don'ts" which features fashion divas and victims and shows Sara B's snarky take on what's hot and what's not. Then along comes young go-getter Eva B, who has idolised Sara B since she was a little girl and has asked if she can tag-a-long. But soon Eva becomes the rising trendspotting star and Sara B, who is nearing 40, feels that she is losing the cool factor. As Sara B deals with doubt and self-loathing - and too many alcoholic and nicotine binges, can she re-invent herself or will she become a thing of the past? This is a brash, darkly funny novel that will have you laughing with Sara B as she rips into her fashion observations and sympathising with her as her world slowly comes closing in on her. But like the main character, this story is sometimes confusing and all over the place. (PP)

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Social Lives - Wendy Walker (2009)

A glimpse into the lives of the rich and privileged, this book follows the women of different suburban families. Roslyn Barlow is the queen bee of the town however her carefully manipulated social plans all come undone when her teenage daughter Caitlin gets caught with a boy doing unspeakable things. Roslyn's husband is a rich entrepreneur who is suffering a mid-life crisis and soon finds himself in the arms of Jacks Halstead, a suburban socialite and his wife's best friend. However Jacks has a master plan to get her husband out of the financial hole he's dug them into. The young Sarah Livingston is new in town and is struggling with finding her feet in a place that's all about cocktail parties and country clubs. This is an easy read that offers you a sneak peek into the lives of the people we often envy and reinforces that money doesn't always buy happiness. (GF)

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So 5 Minutes Ago - Hilary De Vries (2004)

Being a celebrity publicist at a Los Angeles PR firm isn't the glamour job Alex Davidson thought it would be. When her firm is bought out by a rival agency wanting to chase bigger clients, it looks like her boss and many of the staff will be forced out. But Alex can't seem to fall out of favour with the new boss, Doug Graydon, known as G. Something just doesn't add up. As Alex handles an actor just out of rehab and romantic interest from a New York-based colleague, can she keep her wits about her and find out what G is up to.

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Someday My Prince Will Come - Jerramy Fine (2008)

Jerramy Fine was raised by hippie parents in Colorado, all the time believing that she was switched at birth and actually came from an aristocratic background. Fascinated by royalty, at six she spies the Queen's first grandson Peter Phillips' name on the Windsor family tree and decides then and there that he's her future husband. She even sends a few letters to him c/o Buckingham Palace. As a young adult, she heads to a faraway kingdom (England) to study and circulate in noble circles. Most of the men she meets are appalling (I actually think she'd have done better with the likes of the Mitchell brothers from Eastenders) but Jerramy just couldn't keep away from any guy with a posh accent and floppy Hugh Grant hair. Having taught herself etiquette courtesy of Debrett's and styled herself along the lines of Grace Kelly, she is soon receiving invites to ring in the new millennium in an Indian royal palace and proposals to marry a gay aspiring politician. Along the way, she rubs shoulders with royals including Princess Anne (Peter's mother), Diana's brother Earl Spencer and Fergie. But just as it looks like Jerramy's time in England has come to a miserable end, her prince appears. It may sound a crazy thing to do but Fine's tale about searching for her Prince Charming and believing in the power of dreams is truly enchanting.

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Some Like It Haute - Julie K.L Dam (2006)

Style writer Alex Simons, a woman who keeps track of her designer label outfits by spreadsheet, is in Paris to report on Fashion Week. But she herself is catapulted into the tabloids after a humiliating tangle with a model on the Chanel catwalk. Cornered by the paparazzi, she is then thrown together with another person making trouble at the shows - American Nick Snow. Can Alex resurrect her reputation with a story about a reclusive designer amid some romance?

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Some Nerve - Jane Heller (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?

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Something Blue - Emily Giffin (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.

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Something about You - Julie James (2010)

Assistant US Attorney Cameron Lynde is a key witness in a high-profile murder investigation and Special Agent Jack Pallas is assigned to the case. Jack and Cameron worked on another case three years ago and Jack still blames Cameron for nearly ruining his career. Jack and Cameron may have a history of animosity towards each other, however, as the investigation proceeds, they can't fight the sexual chemistry between them. This fantastic novel does not disappoint - the dialogue is witty and the characters well developed. (AO)

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Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin (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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Something I'm Not - Lucy Beresford (2008)

Amber is married to psychiatrist Matt and works as a headhunter for a London firm. And with her friends being her family, she's never really wanted children. But as more of her circle enter into parenthood, including her best friend Dylan who wants to adopt a baby with his boyfriend, she begins to wonder if she's made the right choice. And she's wondering if her missing maternal instinct is a result of her own stand-offish mother.

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So Much For My Happy Ending - Kyra Davis (2006)

When department store manager April Silverperson's boyfriend Tad Showers unexpectedly surprises her with a marriage proposal after dating for only three months, she thinks that the fairytale ending she has always anticipated has arrived. Tad is the man of her dreams - witty, incredibly romantic, ambitious and most importantly, her source of stability and security. However, after the wedding, April starts to find that things are not what they seem on the surface as Tad's true colours emerge. This book is a drift from the mainstream chick lit books about marriage as it gives a deep insight into how the main protagonist deals with her husband's bipolar disorders, obsessive and eccentric behaviours; it also raises an interesting point about the lack of understanding between couples, whether it would lead to the same outcome as Tad and April. However, on the downside, the plot is kind of predictable and gets draggy and boring at certain points. (XT)

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Soup in the City - Kelly Hollingsworth (2008)

When Avery loses her hedge fund job she realises she needs a change. She takes stock of her life and sees that she has done nothing but abuse her credit cards and eat everything in her sight. Her biggest obsession is watching Sex and the City and thinking she can live like Carrie Bradshaw and spend ridiculous amounts of money on shoes and clothes. When she loses her apartment she starts working for a local grocer delivering groceries to neighbours. She ends up staying at a friend's apartment and in her depression starts making soup constantly. She ends up making so much soup that she has to store it at the grocer so comes up with the idea of selling the soup. With the recession in high gear here is another way to make ends meet in this hilarious story. (CG)

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Spa Wars - Chris Manby (2008)

All Emily's dreams come true when she opens her own beauty salon, The Beauty Spot. And clients come flocking after she helps reality TV star Carina Lees survive a nail emergency on the way to an awards ceremony. Expanding her Essex business on the advice of the well-groomed financial adviser Matt, Emily takes on Natalie, a talented but badly groomed beautician. But then things start to go wrong. Who has got their sharpened talons out for Emily and her salon? The perfect book to while away your time at the hairdresser's, read it for its very funny take on 15-minute fame.

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Special Delivery - Zoe Barnes (2007)

Ally Bennett is happily married to social worker Luke, with two young children. But for years she's been living in the shadow of her older sister, Miranda, a former model who is now a successful interior designer and married to wealthy property developer Gavin. But what Ally didn't realise is Miranda is missing something from her perfect life - and all the IVF attempts in the world have failed to give her a much-wanted baby. When Miranda turns to Ally to be a surrogate and carry her husband's baby, Ally isn't sure how to respond. Could she ever hand over a baby to someone else, especially Miranda? With an increasingly absent husband and an overly attentive brother-in-law, the implications of Ally's decision will be felt for much longer than nine months.

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Speed Shrinking - Susan Shapiro (2009)

Julia Goodman is the author of two self-help books, the first chronicling her drug and alcohol reliance, the soon-to-be-released second is about her food addiction. Julia thinks she has her addictive personality under control and is revving up for her book tour when her shrink moves to Arizona, her husband has to take off for a job in LA and her best friend gets married and moves to Ohio. Filling the void and feelings of abandonment, Julia starts overeating and rapidly gaining weight. About to go on national television to plug her book on kicking her sugar addiction, Julia needs to lose weight quickly. She seeks out eight shrinks for an eight-day speed-date marathon to find a replacement doctor who can get her addictions under control. This is very funny and hard to put down - addictive even. (AV)

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Spin - Catherine McKenzie (2010)

Kate Sandford has just gotten an opportunity to land her dream job at hip magazine The Line. But on the eve of her 30th birthday, the night before her big interview, Kate goes out with some friends and gets totally drunk. The next morning, she goes to her interview terribly hungover. Her prospective employers know she's in no condition to interview - how can they not with her running out of the meeting to throw up? - and send her on her way. Crestfallen, Kate heads home. But later The Line calls her to tell her they have the perfect assignment for her - they want her to go into rehab for a story. The deal is that Kate needs to go in undercover at the $1000-a-day Oasis rehab centre to get the dirt on IT girl Amber Sheppard who has been in and out of rehab for drug and alcohol abuse. If Kate can stay 30 days without getting kicked out and deliver an inside piece on Amber, then she will score that job at The Line. Sounds easy? Well, not really. Once in rehab, Kate finds that she may actually have a drinking problem. Plus she develops a friendship with Amber and doesn't feel right spying on her. But Kate knows she's there to do a job so when mega movie star Connor Parks, Amber's on-again-off-again boyfriend, also enters Oasis things get a little touchy. Especially since he's brought along his manager, Henry, who Kate falls head over heels for. Can Kate deliver her story without hurting her friendships? And will she finally own up to her drinking problem? Surprisingly good - especially Kate's developing relationships with Amber and Henry, this is a riveting and raw story that may make you feel like you're in therapy yourself. It's certainly addictive! (AS)

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Spinning Around - Catherine Jinks (2004)

Mother-of-two Helen's life is sent into a spin when a friend tells her she saw her husband, Matt, looking too cosy at a lunch with The Girl with Purple Hair. Rather than confront Matt directly, Helen starts checking their phone accounts, rifling through his drawers and employing a private detective.

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Spotlight - Ilana Fox (2010)

American Madison Miller dreams of becoming a famous singer and she is going to do all she can to make it happen. Starting off in an exotic strip club, Madison meets Beau Silverman, Slade record manager. He offers her a sweet deal and the chance for all her dreams to come true and become "the girl in the spotlight". But after a series of events, Madison realises that being famous has its price and it is now up to her to make the decision of a lifetime - is it really worth it all to be famous? Across the Ditch in the UK is Jess Piper, in a dead-end job as an assistant fashion writer for the Daily World. Jess dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer. On a whim she jets to New York where she meets Beau, who also offers Jess the chance at her dream. But as Jess gets sucked in deeper into his world, can Jess escape before it consumes her? When Jess and Madison meet it's like looking at twins. Can these girls turned against each other by Beau instead form a bond. This is a really enjoyable story that sucks you into the world of celebrity and fame. (PP)

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Star Struck - Anne-Marie O'Connor (2009)

Catherine doesn't want to be a star - she just wants to sing. So with trepidation she auditions for reality TV show Star Maker. She nearly doesn't make it through when her mad Manchester family crash the audition but she is given a second chance by head judge Richard Forster. From there, Catherine's life is turned upside down, with makeovers, singing lessons and media training. She also has to deal with Richard's Machiavellian plotting, a right diva for a roommate, her father's media blitz and a relationship with a cameraman. This will be a hit with anyone who wants to know what could be going on backstage on a show like the X-Factor or Idol. But the real show is in Catherine's family dramas.

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Starting from Square Two - Caren Lissner (2004)

Gert Healy's husband Marc - her college sweetheart - died in a car accident a few days before September 11. Now, a year and a half later, her friends, cynical single girls Hallie and Erika, are trying to convince her that it's time to get back out on the competitive New York City dating scene. On her first foray out with the girls, she meets a nice guy called Todd. Surely it's not possible to find your perfect match again - especially so quickly?

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Stay - Allie Larkin (2010)

Van Leone stood by as maid of honour as her best friend, Janie, married Peter, the man Van has been in love with since college. After a long night drowning her sorrows in vodka, Van accidentally purchases a puppy on the internet. Van is shocked when a huge German Shepherd arrives at the airport from Slovakia. But she quickly becomes devoted to her new dog, Joe, and her life takes a turn for the better when she meets adorable Alex, Joe's vet. Just as things with Joe and Alex are starting to work out, Peter and Janie return from their honeymoon and past emotions are stirred up. This is a wonderfully written debut novel with characters that you will fall in love with. (AO)

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Stick or Twist - Eleanor Moran (2009)

When Anna's boyfriend of 10 years proposes during a weekend away, Anna knows that although she loves him, she can't marry him. Somehow the spark has gone out of their relationship. So she moves out of their flat and on to the sofa at her friend Polly's place. While working on a major work assignment - planning a wedding promotion for her slightly uncool magazine Casual Chic - she meets super-sexy photographer Harry. Perhaps the grass really is greener . . . Although there will be no surprises about who Anna and Polly - or even the loveable German flatmate Horst - end up with, this is an enjoyable read about a 30-something woman making a painful decision not to stick with the man everyone expects her to marry.

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Straight Talking - Jane Green (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.

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Strange Bedfellows - Jennifer Crusie (2003)

Tess Newhart knows her former boyfriend Nick isn't right for her - he's an uptight Republican trying to make partner; she was brought up in a commune and works as a teacher. Still he talks her into going away for a weekend for a meeting with a prospective client that could make or break his career. The outspoken Tess takes an immediate dislike to the client, author Norbert Welch, and also finds herself fighting her attraction to her ex again.

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Strictly Love - Julia Williams (2008)

This is about two sets of friends who meet at ballroom dancing classes. Emily is an entertainment lawyer who feels guilty that she is not out defending a more worthy cause. Her friend Katie is feeling the strain of being the perfect mother and wife - especially with husband Charlie being away so much. Teacher Rob finds dancing is the best way to pick up women. He ropes newly single dentist Mark into coming to dancing classes with him where they pair up with Emily and Katie. Only trouble is none of them have been totally honest about their lives off the dance floor. Throw in a litigation-happy celebrity with rotten teeth and some life-changing revelations and you're in for an enjoyable read.

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Stuck in the Middle - Virginia Smith (2008)

This is the book that started off the wonderful Sister-to-Sister series about three sisters. This story focuses on the middle sister Joan Sanderson who is stuck in a rut. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family with husband Eric and her younger sister Tori has an advertising career, a wardrobe to die for and dates lining up around the corner for her. Whereas Joan is Miss Reliable and Boring and she jokes her mother should have named her Jane so that she could be Plain Jane. She lives with her mother and grandmother and has a job in a furniture store. Then a sexy doctor moves in next door and Joan decides to take a risk and try to score a date with him. But Tori also sets her eyes on him and it becames a battle of the sisters. But with a little help from God, Allie and an enormous mutt with bad manners, can Joan build up the courage to ask the doctor out? (PP)

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Such a Pretty Fat - Jen Lancaster (2008)

Atkins, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers. Jen Lancaster has tried them all and isn't afraid to tell you what she thinks of them. Not wanting to, "you know, die," Jen Lancaster accepts the challenge of chronicling her attempts at getting healthier in her third memoir, subtitled One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer. Her escapades on various weight loss programs and with multiple exercise regimens, including a trainer named ... wait for it ... Barbie, will have you laughing out loud. For everyone who has ever eaten pre-packaged diet food and wondered "is that all there is?" or religiously worked your butt off at the gym on a daily basis only to lose a measly pound that week, this book is for you. Jen captures dieting as only she can, with her usual wit, directness and sarcasm. You will lose weight just laughing. (LEK)

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Summer Blowout - Claire Cook (2008)

Make-up artist Bella is part of a madcap family that runs a chain of hair/beauty salons. She is obsessed with lipsticks, her Irish dad pretends to be Italian and her half sister has run off with her husband. When a dog-sitting experience brings a new love into Bella's life, she goes to desperate lengths to keep it. But will she be so open with Sean, who helps spark her entrepreneurial passions? A read that's fluffy, and heartwarming - just like Precious/Cannoli the dog.

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Summer Island - Kristin Hannah (2001)

Nora Bridge is an advice columnist with a radio show program. Her daughter, Ruby, is a struggling comedian. Nora doesn't realise how her past affects her daughter until both mother and daughter are thrown together by an accident. Ruby consents to take care of her mother after also agreeing to write a tell-all article about who her mother is. Throughout the book, Ruby is thrown curve balls by her past and as she gets to know her mother she is finally able to heal from her past. On a neighbouring island, two boys, Dean and Eric, have been connected to the Bridge family from childhood. Dean was Ruby's first love and his brother, Eric, bonds with Nora. Dean is brought back to the island to deal with his brother Eric's illness after the rest of the family has ex-communicated him. Eric and Nora strive to help Dean and Ruby come together again. This well-written novel was a great read. Hannah has a way of connecting her characters to the reader in such a way that the ride is worth every penny. (JG)

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Sushi for Beginners - Marian Keyes (2000)

Magazine editor Lisa Edwards is sent to Dublin to launch Colleen magazine. But despite her demotion in the professional world, Irish MD Jack Devine could turn out to be the consolation prize. And then there's her over-anxious, always-prepared deputy, Ashling Kennedy, ready to help her succeed. Will Ashling learn to stand up for herself, particularly to her often devious best friend, Clodagh Kelly, who is trying to get back into the workforce after having two kids.

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Sushi for One? - Camy Tang (2007)

Lex Sakai is about to become the OSFC (Oldest Single Female Cousin) of the family. This makes her a target of her infuriating grandma, who decrees that she will pull funding from the volleyball team Lex coaches unless she brings a boyfriend to the next family wedding. And grandma is quite willing to keep sending men Lex's way until one sticks. As a Christian, Lex is inspired by Ephesians to compile her own list of traits for the perfect man. But the one man she keeps running into, physical therapist Aidan, doesn't seem to fit the requirements on her list. As Lex battles to find another team sponsor, a serious injury brings Aidan into her life even more. A very promising, witty debut from Tang.

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Sweet Little Lies - Lauren Conrad (2010)

Continuing on where LA Candy left off, Jane Roberts, star of the hit reality TV show, finds herself in the middle of a national scandal after a tabloid publishes photos of her in a rather compromising position. Not knowing what to do or where to turn, Jane takes the advice of cast mate Madison and takes off with her to Cabo for some much-needed peace and quiet. But Jane can't run forever and she can't keep ignoring the persistent phone calls of her concerned friends, family and crew members either. Facing reality, Jane heads back to LA to make things right. Roommate and best friend Scarlett can't believe that Jane took off with that two-faced master manipulator, Madison. She tries to explain to Jane that Madison is the one who leaked the photos but Jane won't listen and this causes a rift in their long-time friendship. At this point, Jane doesn't know who she can trust anymore. To further complicate matters, Jane's heartthrob boyfriend Jesse is willing to take her back after she publicly humiliated him by cheating on him with his best friend, Braden. Though Jane loves Jesse (or at least she thinks she does) she really can't deny her feelings for Braden either. As Jane and Jesse's relationship becomes more and more turbulent, Jane has to decide what she really wants. Does she really want the cameras altering her life to fit what works for the show? Or does she want her old life back, when she wasn't America's sweetheart? Showing that Hollywood life isn't always so glamorous, this novel really takes the LA Candy series to another level. Though Jane is extremely naive about everything, it's still a suspenseful and intriguing page-turner. The only question is: Will Jane see the truth before it's too late? You'll have to read on to book No.3, Sugar and Spice, to find out. (AS)

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Sweet Love - Sarah Strohmeyer (2008)

When Julie's mother Betty gives her a gift of dessert technique classes, the last person she expects to see there is her teenage crush Michael. Single mother Julie is now a TV correspondent seeking to make it on to the national election campaign team, and the last time she saw Michael, a political consultant, was six years ago when she did an expose of his candidate. The rekindled romance ignited by Betty - the woman who kept Michael and Julie apart all those years ago - is merely the icing on the cake. The real flavour of this book is its delving into issues such as job ethics, the mother-daughter bond and aging parents. And all the delectable descriptions of the desserts will have you licking your lips. Regarded by many as the author's best to date.

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Sweet Temptation - Lucy Diamond (2010)

Maddie works for a radio station where the new bitchy DJ, Collette, likes to put her down - even discussing her weight problem on air. Beauty therapist Jess' overbearing fiance, Charlie, keeps postponing their wedding and her new manager has it in for her. And LoveHearts dating agency owner Lauren is feeling far from romantic after her marriage ended within six months. The three women all become diet buddies at the local Fatbusters group. As they shed the pounds, they also begin shedding whatever has been holding them back. This is a sweet, funny story about three women inspired to make some changes. Just right if you're looking to order a light read off the menu. Just make sure you read it while riding an exercise bike!

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Swimming Upstream Slowly - Melissa Clark (2006)

Sarah Salter is on the fast track to success, as executive producer of a hit children's TV show. She's even being profiled as one of LA's '20 Under 30s - Ones to Watch'. But during a routine pap smear, Sarah is astounded to discover she's pregnant - she hasn't had sex for more than two years! A specialist reveals that she's experienced a medical anomaly and unwittingly hosted a lazy sperm that has taken its time to reach her egg. Now Sarah has to track down her past lovers to test which one is the father. And a reporter may well be on the trail of medicine's quirkiest story of the year.

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Swinging on A Star - Janice Thompson (2010)

This sequel begins three months later: Bella Rossi has taken over her parents' wedding business Club Wed and is organising the wedding of the year with a Renaissance theme. As the couple's parents plan to go all out and install a castle complete with a moat, Bella discovers the best man (or in this case "the First Knight") is Hollywood's heart-throb Brock Benson. Her mission is to hide him from the paparazzi - and with Brock staying in her spare room, he's showing a more-than-friends interest in her. But Bella, of course, is already taken by her southern cowboy, DJ Neeley. Meanwhile Bella's Aunt Rosa is chosen to star on her favourite TV show The Food Network, which happens to be shooting at the same time as the wedding. This humorous and romantic story may well encourage you to go for a Renaissance-themed wedding yourself! (PP)

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