Chick lit Top 10

Xiu Ting's All-Time Favourites




  1. Forget About It - Caprice Crane

    A story about a girl faking amnesia to get the life she desires; this book will make you wish you had the chance to do it too.
  2. Falling For You - Jill Mansell

    A contemporary take on the love story of Romeo and Juliet, with a surprise twist.
  3. Size 12 Is Not Fat - Meg Cabot

    The most comedic murder mystery book out there.
  4. PS I Love You - Cecelia Ahern

    An inspiring journey of a woman struggling to piece back her life through letters left by her husband.
  5. Pug Hill - Alison Pace

    A girl's best friend may not always be diamonds.
  6. Anybody Out There? - Marian Keyes

    An invoking read about one of our favourite sisters, the Walshes.
  7. Something Blue - Emily Giffin

    The greatest page turner about a pair of best friends.
  8. Second Chance - Jane Green

    A bittersweet reunion of friends reveals painful secrets and dreaded truths.
  9. Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married - Marian Keyes

    This will surely make readers flock to the nearest fortune teller.
  10. The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella

    Who doesn't love Rebecca Bloomwood?
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2009 must-reads

Debut Authors




Lots of authors have made their fiction debuts this year. Which of their books are we most curious about? *
*compiled before rating

  1. Mercury in Retrograde - Paula Froelich

  2. One Thing Led to Another - Katy Regan

  3. Confessions of a Beauty Addict - Nadine Haobsh

  4. Confessions of a Reluctant Recessionista - Amy Silver

  5. The Agency - Ally O'Brien

  6. The Shoe Princess's Guide to the Galaxy - Emma Bowd

  7. This Little Mommy Stayed Home - Samantha Wilde

  8. I Heart New York - Lindsey Kelk

  9. The One That Got Away - Jessica Fox

  10. 50 Ways to Find a Lover - Lucy-Anne Holmes

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2009 must-reads

Emerging Authors




Will a second novel live up to the hype after a successful debut? Here's the books from second-time novelists that we most want to read this year. *
*compiled before rating

  1. Three Men and a Maybe - Debbie Carbin

  2. What My Best Friend Did - Lucy Dawson

  3. 10 Reasons Not to Fall in Love - Linda Green

  4. Love Under Cover - Jessica Brody

  5. Hedge Fund Wives - Tatiana Boncompagni

  6. The Overnight Socialite - Bridie Clark

  7. The Good Luck Girl - Kerry Reichs

  8. Never Close Your Eyes - Emma Burstall

  9. The Nearly-Weds - Jane Costello

  10. Trixie - Amanda Trimble

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2009 must-reads

Established Authors




These are the authors who have proved time and again that they'll give you a good read. And these books have made it on to our list of most wanted.*
*The Must-Read lists were compiled before books were rated.

  1. Getting Mad, Getting Even - Annie Sanders

  2. What Alice Forgot - Liane Moriarty

  3. The World's Worst Wife - Polly Williams

  4. Before We Say Goodbye - Louise Candlish

  5. Celebrity Bride - Alison Kervin

  6. The Ex-Mrs Hedgefund - Jill Kargman

  7. The Sister Diaries - Karen Quinn

  8. The Cradler Snatcher - Tess Stimson

  9. Family Affair - Caprice Crane

  10. Hens Reunited - Lucy Diamond

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2009 must-reads

Big-name authors




2009 looks set to be a big year for some of our favourite big-name authors. Want to ensure you keep up with all this year's must-reads? Then start ticking off this list . . . *
*The Must-Read lists were compiled before books were rated.

  1. Best Friends Forever - Jennifer Weiner

  2. The Brightest Star in the Sky - Marian Keyes

  3. Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella

  4. Love Lies - Adele Parks

  5. Please Forgive Me - Melissa Hill

  6. The Truth About Melody Browne - Lisa Jewell

  7. The Life You Want - Emily Barr

  8. If This is Paradise, I Want My Money Back - Claudia Carroll

  9. Crazy in Love - Chris Manby

  10. The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton - Catherine Alliott

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Character occupations







  1. Public relations/advertising -

    Nearly every book you pick up will have a character working in PR or advertising.
  2. Media/Publishing -

    From TV reporter Bridget Jones to financial journalist Rebecca Bloomwood and fashion mag editorial assistant Andrea Sachs, these characters are some of the most memorable of the genre.
  3. Fashion/Beauty -

    Fashion and chick lit go hand in hand: from fashion designers (Lipstick Jungle) and trend-setters (The Fashion Pack) to beauty junkies and make-up artists (The Make-up Girl).
  4. Stay-at-home mum -

    Giving up a career to stay at home with the kids is a common move for chick lit characters. Check out The Baby Group by Rowan Coleman (new mum), Gucci Mamas by Cate Kendall (yummy mummies), Motherland by Maria Beaumont (struggling mum), Admissions by Nancy Lieberman (competitive mum) or All You Need is Love by Carole Matthews (single mum).
  5. Personal assistant/secretary/receptionist -

    These front-line women keep their firms ticking over - from Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare's film industry assistant, to receptionist Holly Denham who let us into her inbox.
  6. Lawyer -

    These characters are often written by authors who have left the legal profession. For stories about lawyers mixing business with pleasure, try Scot on the Rocks by Brenda Janowitz, Lost & Found by Jane Sigaloff and The Thing about Jane Spring by Sharon Krum. Or for lawyers leaving their profession behind, try Sophie Kinsella's The Undomestic Goddess or Sarah Bilston's Bed Rest.
  7. Nanny -

    Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus' The Nanny Diaries introduced the perils of looking after someone else's kids. Then Holly Peterson introduced The Manny.
  8. Personal shopper -

    Teaching others how to dress is what girls like Carmen Reid's heroine Annie Valentine do best.
  9. Heiress -

    Some girls don't need a career because they can fall back on their parents' money (the Park Avenue princesses in Plum Sykes' Bergdorf Blondes). While others strive to keep the family business alive (Honor Palmer in Tilly Bagshawe's Do Not Disturb).
  10. Call girl -

    Remember when Pretty Woman first made prostitution romantic? Delve into the inner workings of the escort industry via insiders such as Tracy Quan's Manhattan Call Girl or Belle de Jour.
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TOP BOOKS OF 2008





  1. The Sisterhood - Emily Barr

    A real page-turner about a French woman who ingratiates herself into her long-lost sister's life.
  2. The Babymoon - Melanie La'Brooy

    The funniest pregnancy book out there.
  3. Rubbish Boyfriends - Jessie Jones

    Dayna is about to give birth and we're taken on a hilarious journey through Boyfriends Past to find out who the father is.
  4. The Household Guide to Dying - Debra Adelaide

    A must-read book about a domestic advice columnist who is dying.
  5. A Good Girl Comes Undone - Polly Williams

    Annie starts reassessing her life, partner, career - and her good girl tag.
  6. The Love of Her Life - Harriet Evans

    Kate Miller returns to London and must face up to some issues from the past.
  7. The Best Day of Someone Else's Life - Kerry Reichs

    Vi goes to extraordinary lengths to attend so many weddings.
  8. This Charming Man - Marian Keyes

    With a serious underlying theme, slowly revealed secrets and characters who will draw you into their pain, this book still has the author's trademark humour.
  9. His Other Lover - Lucy Dawson

    A captivating debut as Mia collects evidence to determine if her boyfriend is cheating or not.
  10. Tell Me Something - Adele Parks

    Elizabeth's dreams of raising children in an idyllic Italian setting are shattered.
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Chick lit cliches


What would chick lit be without its conventions and devices? Those character types and stereotypes that appear in book after book. But are these cliches expected by fans or a real turnoff? Read on for the top 10 character cliches.

Chick lit cliches: characters

  1. Gay friend.

  2. True love who heroine despises at first but is attracted to nevertheless.

  3. The wrong guy - he's either a jerk, insensitive, unfaithful or too preoccupied.

  4. Bubbly best friend.

  5. Cheating husband.

  6. Overbearing mother.

  7. Backstabbing colleague/ boss from hell.

  8. Double-crossing friend.

  9. Dysfunctional family members.

  10. Diva celebrity.

And there's more. Here's those other cliches that appear so often in the plot and setting.

Chick lit cliches: other

  1. Surprise pregnancy that is bleedin' obvious to anyone but the woman involved. Often related to pregnancy that happens to mid-30s woman from one-night stand.

  2. Urban setting. And characters often catch up at cafes and bars.

  3. Designer clothes/shoes obsession.

  4. Everyone works in publishing/PR/fashion.

  5. Hatches, matches and dispatches - someone, somewhere always falls pregnant, gets married or dies.

  6. Fight with the true love where it seems they'll never get together.

  7. An American goes to England, or vice versa.

  8. Significant birthday approaching.

  9. Living well (cool apartment, socialising, taxis, clothes) despite meager earnings.

  10. Regular coffee/Coke/ice-cream/chocolate habit.

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2008 MUST-READS

Big-name authors



2008 has been a big year for big-name releases. Want to ensure you keep up with all this year's must-reads? Then start ticking off this list . . .
*The Must-Read lists were compiled before books were rated.

  1. This Charming Man - Marian Keyes

  2. Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner

  3. Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella

  4. Thanks for the Memories - Cecelia Ahern

  5. Chasing Harry Winston - Lauren Weisberger

  6. One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell

  7. Love the One You're With - Emily Giffin

  8. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched - Meg Cabot

  9. The Beach House - Jane Green

  10. Tell Me Something - Adele Parks

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2008 MUST-READS

Established Authors



These are the authors who have proved time and again that they'll give you a good read. And these books have made it on to our list of most wanted.
*The Must-Read lists were compiled before books were rated.

  1. Before I Forget - Melissa Hill

  2. The Secret Shopper's Revenge - Kate Harrison

  3. The Gap Year for Grown-ups - Annie Sanders

  4. A Good Girl Comes Undone - Polly Williams

  5. Names My Sisters Call Me - Megan Crane

  6. Goodnight, Beautiful - Dorothy Koomson

  7. The Second Husband - Louise Candlish

  8. Holly Would Dream - Karen Quinn

  9. Questions to Ask Before Marrying - Melissa Senate

  10. Perfect Match - Jane Moore

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2008 MUST-READS

Emerging authors



Will a second novel live up to the hype after a successful debut? Here's the books from second-time novelists that we most want to read this year.
*The Must-Read lists were compiled before books were rated.

  1. Got You Back - Jane Fallon

  2. This Is How It Happened - Jo Barrett

  3. Send Me a Lover - Carol Mason

  4. Jack with a Twist - Brenda Janowitz

  5. Time of My Life - Allison Winn Scotch

  6. Johnny Be Good - Paige Toon

  7. Over You - Lucy Diamond

  8. My First Divorce - Sheryn George

  9. Feels Like Maybe - Claire Allan

  10. Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City - Holly Denham

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2008 MUST-READS

Debut authors



Lots of authors have made their fiction debuts this year. Which of their books are we most curious about?
*The Must-Read lists were compiled before books were rated.

  1. Celebutantes - Ruthanna Hopper & Amanda Goldberg

  2. Unpredictable - Eileen Cook

  3. The Glamorous (Double) Life of Isabel Bookbinder
    - Holly McQueen

  4. Fat Chance - Lyndsay Russell

  5. Clicking Her Heels - Lucy Hepburn

  6. His Other Lover - Lucy Dawson

  7. Bridesmaids - Jane Costello

  8. Face Value - Kathleen Baird-Murray

  9. Schooled - Anisha Lakhani

  10. The Ten Best Days of My Life - Adena Halpern

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STEPH'S ALL-TIME FAVOURITES


What makes a book your favourite? A great character, a gripping story, lots of humour or plenty of tear-jerking emotion? Often it can be a book that you just couldn't put down til you'd finished it or it is one you will want to read over and over again. Here's the list of the ones I'd recommend that every chick lit lover should read.



  1. The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger

    The penultimate evil boss story.
  2. Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin

    How can an affair with your best friend's man ever be excusable? This one shows there are always two sides to a story.
  3. Where Rainbows End - Cecelia Ahern

    Explores what happens when soulmates step off on to different paths.
  4. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding

    The one that started it all.
  5. The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella

    Rebecca Bloomwood - what a character and what a tangled web she weaves.
  6. Jemima J - Jane Green

    We all love an ugly duckling turning into a swan.
  7. Watermelon - Marian Keyes

    Everyone's gonna have a Marian Keyes in their Top 10. This starts the Walsh sisters off on their journeys.
  8. Never Say Never - Melissa Hill

    The you'll-never-guess-it twist wins it a spot on the list.
  9. Little Earthquakes - Jennifer Weiner

    Great writer of great books. Something about this story of three new mothers sets this one ahead of the pack for me.
  10. The Nanny Diaries - Nicola Kraus & Emma McLaughlin

    An insider's view behind the doors of the rich and obnoxious.
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FAVOURITE AUTHORS


Which authors have proved to be long-stayers, producing great book after great book? These 10 authors all have us rushing out for their new titles . . .




  1. Marian Keyes

    No one's come close to knocking this queen of chick lit off her perch. Seems incapable of producing a dud.
  2. Jennifer Weiner

    Love her tales about women facing the issues that readers can relate to.
  3. Melissa Hill

    Always a captivating story with great characters and a killer twist.
  4. Sophie Kinsella

    For bringing us the irrepressible Shopaholic.
  5. Jane Green

    Has produced an enviable and varied catalogue of work.
  6. Adele Parks

    Can't think of anyone better to tell of the tangled web that married women sometimes weave.
  7. Dorothy Koomson

    She may hate the chick lit tag but we love her heart-wrenching stories.
  8. Emily Giffin

    Her Rachel and Darcy books are probably the best sequel out there.
  9. Meg Cabot

    Just wish she spent more time on adult novels.
  10. Zoe Barnes

    A stalwart of the industry, with an easy-to-read style.
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MOST DISAPPOINTING BOOKS


Bound to be a controversial list, here's our pick of those novels that just never lived up to their publicity blurbs. We're not saying don't read 'em - several of these belong in the ranks of classic chick lit - but just don't expect a gripping read.




  1. The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing - Melissa Bank

    This is often touted as one of the definitive chick lit books, but I'm not a short story fan so maybe that's why the format threw me. Really hope the movie enlightens me to whatever appealed so much to the book's fans.
  2. Citizen Girl - Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin

    Possibly chicklit's most unsuccessful follow-up to a blockbuster debut novel.
  3. Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl - Tracy Quan

    There was something so bland about this spicy call girl's story. Haven't even bothered to find the sequel.
  4. Bergdorf Blondes - Plum Sykes

    Maybe Moi should have just ended it all in that Paris hotel room.
  5. The Wonder Spot - Melissa Bank

    I'm obviously just not getting this author.
  6. Sex and the City - Candace Bushnell

    Great TV show - gotta admit I never finished the book.
  7. Wish You Were Here - Phillipa Ashley

    With its cringe-inspiring dialogue and lacklustre plot, I'd want to be anywhere but here reading this book.
  8. The Zygote Chronicles - Suzanne Finnamore

    Mercifully, it was a short book. Although I'm sure it rightly holds a special place in the author's family library.
  9. Things to Make and Mend - Ruth Thomas

    I normally love friends-torn-asunder-but-reunited-years-later storylines and even though I knew this had stuff about needlework (which wouldn't interest me), I was still looking forward to getting my hands on this new release. But even the one good twist couldn't save this book from being more boring than unpicking rows and rows of stitching.
  10. Smart vs. Pretty - Valerie Frankel

    This book supposedly about sibling rivalry between sisters - one pretty, one smart - was on my want-to-read list for so long. With its implausible plot, weak dialogue and too many characters to keep track of, the smart thing to do would have been to just stop reading.
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BEST CHARACTERS


Sometime you fall in love with a character because they remind you of yourself or someone else you know. Or maybe it's because they make you smile or empathise with their circumstances. Sometimes it's just because they are a great villain. Many of the characters in this list are from sequels (all the better to know them) or books made into movies (easier to put a face to the character).




  1. Bridget Jones - Helen Fielding

    She makes you laugh, cringe and cheer. No women sums up the life of a chain-smoking, social-drinking, weight-watching singleton better than Bridget.
  2. Rebecca Bloomwood - Sophie Kinsella

    Who wouldn't love this whirlwind with maxed-out credit cards? And the best bit is we can follow the Shopaholic's antics through five books.
  3. Miranda Priestley - Lauren Weisberger

    The female villain of The Devil Wears Prada is cruel, rude and overdemanding. And of course exquisitively dressed. She'll definitely make you feel better about your own boss.
  4. Walsh sisters - Marian Keyes

    These Irish sisters have certainly added a few grey hairs to their parents' heads - there's Claire whose husband left on the day their baby was born; Rachel whose fondness for recreational drugs led her to a rehab clinic; Maggie who left her husband to head for LA; Anna who gets badly injured and Helen who never seems to be in work.
  5. Tracie Martin - Alison Kervin

    She may not be quite Posh Spice but Tracie is Queen of the WAGs in our book. Who else perfects the WAG look of orange skin, yellow hair, indecently short skirts and tower-high heels - while still being a charming, yet somewhat clueless, character.
  6. Rose Feller - Jennifer Weiner

    Apart from sharing a shoe size, attorney Rose is so unlike her wild sister Maggie. But in In Her Shoes, Rose learns to live a different type of life.
  7. Rosie Dunne - Cecelia Ahern

    From a naughty schoolgirl passing notes in class to a single mother trying to forge a career, we are with Rosie through several decades of her life and pray she'll get together with her soulmate in Where Rainbows End.
  8. Rachel White and Darcy Rhode - Emily Giffin

    These best friends fall out over the same man but in Something Borrowed, then Something Blue your sympathies will swing between the pair.
  9. Jemima Jones - Jane Green

    You'll be right behind Jemima J as she undergoes her transformation to look like her altered after photo.
  10. Kettle sisters (Cat, Lyn and Gemma) - Liane Moriarty

    Right from the opening restaurant fight, the triplets of Three Wishes will leave a lasting impression.
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BEST BRIDE LIT


Here comes the bride, all tense inside. Will she make it down the aisle? Getting married is one of life's rites of passage. In chick lit, you just never know if the girl is marrying the right guy, if she's going to turn into Bridezilla or if meddling relatives will ruin the day. Here's your invitation to the best bride lit books . . . no RSVP required.




  1. Shopaholic Ties the Knot - Sophie Kinsella

    Only Rebecca Bloomwood could find herself organising two weddings on either side of the Atlantic.
  2. Diary of a Mad Bride - Laura Wolf

    Amy Thomas swore she'd never become an out-of-control bride, driving her nearest and dearest nuts with her demands. So why, now that she's engaged to Stephen and has a huge list of to-dos to get through, are people avoiding her.
  3. Whose Wedding is it Anyway? - Melissa Senate

    Who would turn down an offer for a $100,000 wedding in exchange for featuring in a bridal magazine? But Eloise Manfred soon discovers there's no such thing as a free wedding.
  4. Hitched - Zoe Barnes

    Gemma and Rory want a small wedding but when the parents start hijacking the arrangements, the couple decide to work hard to finance it themselves. The only hitch is they work so hard they start drifting apart.
  5. Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married - Marian Keyes

    The only bride-to-be to make this list without actually knowing who the groom is. But the tarot card reader swears that Lucy is getting married this year.
  6. The Best Day of Someone Else's Life - Kerry Reichs

    Vi is about to be bridesmaid three times over - and then attend more than a dozen other weddings.
  7. Tales From a Hen Weekend - Olivia Ryan

    What secret is Katie keeping as she heads off to Dublin for her hen weekend?
  8. Amanda's Wedding - Jenny Colgan

    A nasty bride who doesn't deserve her Scottish laird. And bridesmaids Mel and Fran are going all out to sabatoge Amanda's wedding.
  9. I Do (But I Don't) - Cara Lockwood

    The madcap world of weddings from the viewpoint of wedding planner Lauren Crandell.
  10. The Bachelorette Party - Karen McCullah Lutz

    After Zadie Roberts is left at the altar, she's not that enthusiastic about her best friend Grey marrying her cousin, Helen. But someone's gotta rev up the bachelorette party.
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FOR FASHIONISTAS


Fashion goes with chick lit like Manolo goes with Blahnik. From working for fashion magazines to burning up the plastic on a spending spree, the characters of these books are putting the 'chic' into chick lit.



  1. The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger

    Miranda Priestly is the boss-from-hell at Runway magazine where staff need to fit sample sizes and strut around in killer heels. About $1 million worth of designer clothing, including Prada, was showcased in the movie.
  2. Fashionistas - Lynn Messina

    A tale of an uprising against an unpopular Fashionista editor and dressing Jesus mannequins in designer frocks.
  3. The Fashion Pack - Marion Hume

    Life from the front row of the international fashion weeks, as seen by three editors of top fashion magazine Joy.
  4. Handbags and Gladrags - Maggie Alderson

    A magazine fashion stylist keeps herself sane on the fashion week circuit by embarking on an affair with a catwalk photographer.
  5. Some Like it Haute - Julie K.L Dam

    A style writer chases a reclusive designer after suffering a humiliating tangle with a model at a Chanel show.
  6. Bergdorf Blondes - Plum Sykes

    The glam world of Park Avenue princesses whose must-have accessory is a rich fiancé.
  7. She's Got Issues - Stephanie Lessing

    Gotta love a character who aspires to be shoe editor.
  8. Shopaholic series - Sophie Kinsella

    From the opening pursuit of a Denny and George scarf to investing her baby's future in Tiffany rings and a handbag website, Rebecca Bloomwood knows there's no fashion gain without financial pain.
  9. The Favours and Fortunes of Katie Castle - Rebecca Campbell

    Katie ends up in a sweatshop after losing her job with fashion designer Penny Moss. But her eye for design saves the day.
  10. Elegance - Kathleen Tessaro

    Lovers of vintage clothing will appreciate this character transforming herself with the help of a 1960s style bible.
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BOOKS OF LUKE


What is it with Luke? So many chick lit heroes have been given this name. Take a look at some of our favourites . . .



  1. Luke Brandon of Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series:

    The head of a financial PR company has a sense of humour and is calm in a crisis - who better to keep an eye on Shopaholic Becky?
  2. Luke of Meg Cabot's Queen of Babble series:

    Lizzie Nichols meets Jean-Luc in France as she blabs about her problems. He becomes her rock.
  3. Luke Benton of Confessions of a Serial Dater, by Michelle Cunnah:

    Dr Love saves Rosie when she goes on a disastrous dinner date wearing shoes two sizes too small.
  4. Luke Flynn of Odd Mom Out, by Jane Porter:

    This Man as Big as a Mountain makes Marta feel dizzy every time she sees him.
  5. Luke of The Self-Preservation Society, by Kate Harrison:

    The grandson of former fighter pilot 'Frisky' helps scaredy cat Jo Morgan embrace spontaneity.
  6. Luke Gabriel, of Jessica Adams' The Summer Psychic:

    This psychic certainly gets Jo's attention when he predicts he's going to marry her.
  7. Luke Bennett of Zoe Barnes' Special Delivery:

    The social worker is the one who convinced his wife Ally to be a surrogate for her sister.
  8. Luke Lloyd of Clare Naylor & Mimi Hare's Assistant series:

    He becomes a hot shot producer and Lizzie's fiancé.
  9. Luke Wiseman, of My Best Friend's Girl by Dorothy Koomson:

    Kamryn's boss becomes a father figure to Tegan, the daughter of her late best friend.
  10. Luke, of If You Could See Me Now, by Cecelia Ahern:

    A different sort of leading man, Elizabeth Egan's nephew brings Ivan into her life.
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YUMMY MUMMIES


Inspired to transform yourself into a yummy mummy? Then you might want to read up on how these characters juggle kids, career and cosmetics - some failing oh-so spectacularly.



  1. I Don't Know How She Does It - Allison Pearson

    The classic tale of a frazzled mother who learns you can't have it all. Sometimes you just have to admit you sent shop-bought mince pies to your child's school Christmas party.
  2. Motherland - Maria Beaumont

    Desperate housewife lacking confidence to return to work turns to the bottle.
  3. The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy - Fiona Neill

    Watch this mum make too many school runs in pyjamas, under the disapproving eye of the Alpha Mum.
  4. Babes in Captivity - Pamela Redmond Satran

    These four friends from a mother's group all decide to spice up their lives and work towards a goal.
  5. What Do You Do All Day? - Amy Scheibe

    This stay-at-home mum finds life even harder to juggle when her husband heads off to Singapore for work.
  6. The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy - Polly Williams

    Still in maternity clothes months after the birth? Maybe you need an introduction to the yummy mummy brigade.
  7. Odd Mom Out - Jane Porter

    Sometimes your daughter just wants you to play nice with the other mums.
  8. Any Way You Want Me - Lucy Diamond

    Bored with staying at home? Why not invent a fictitious identity for yourself and make contact with a former boyfriend?
  9. The Manny - Holly Peterson

    Need help raising your son while researching a career-making story? Just send for a male nanny.
  10. Wife Living Dangerously - Debra Kent

    Sometimes it gets too much playing by the rules.
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TOP BOOKS OF 2007





  1. Motherland - Maria Beaumont

    A gripping read about the fall and rise of a desperate housewife.
  2. Getting Rid of Matthew - Jane Fallon

    What happens when a mistress decides she doesn't want her married lover just as he leaves his wife?
  3. The Next Thing on my List - Jill Smolinksi

    An inspiring story of a woman finishing a list of things to do for a stranger who died in a car crash.
  4. Scot on the Rocks - Brenda Janowitz

    A funny tale of keeping up appearances - and Scottish accents - at an ex-boyfriend's wedding.
  5. Those Faraday Girls - Monica McInerney

    A family saga of five different sisters before an unforgiveable act tears them apart.
  6. Odd Mom Out - Jane Porter

    The pressures of fitting in with the in-crowd - even when you're a grown-up single mother.
  7. The Yorkshire Pudding Club - Milly Johnson

    Three friends sit on a fertility site and fall pregnant within months.
  8. I Did a Bad Thing - Linda Green

    Sarah's guilt returns as she faces up to two blasts from the past.
  9. Forget About It - Caprice Crane

    A really memorable book about a girl who comes into her own by faking amnesia.
  10. The Friday Night Knitting Club - Kate Jacobs

    About a knit and bitch club that soon becomes a precious refuge in times of need.
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SISTERS


From sisters who share everything - including a birth date - to siblings who have absolutely nothing in common, these books explore the emotion-filled experience of being a sister.



  1. In Her Shoes - Jennifer Weiner

    Sisters Rose and Maggie Feller may think they have nothing in common except their shoe size.
  2. Three Wishes - Liane Moriarty

    Follow a tumultuous year in the life of the Kettle triplets.
  3. Those Faraday Girls - Monica McInerney

    Four sisters help their youngest sister bring up her baby - until an incident tears them apart.
  4. A Tale of Two Sisters - Anna Maxted

    When Lizbet unexpectedly falls pregnant, her sister Cassie, desperate to have her own baby, finds it difficult to deal with the news.
  5. The Other Woman's Shoes - Adele Parks

    Martha has strived hard to create the perfect home for her husband and kids, while sister Eliza lives a carefree life. What happens when change means they may experience life in the other's shoes?
  6. One-Hit Wonder - Lisa Jewell

    When former pop singer Bea dies, it's left to her half-sister Ana to collect her belongings and uncover what became of her life.
  7. Each Way Bet - Ilsa Evans

    The Broadhurst sisters, Jill and Emily, decide to trade places with one another for a day.
  8. The Alphabet Sisters - Monica McInerney

    Childhood singing stars Anna, Bett and Carrie Quinlan haven't spoken for years. Then their grandmother calls them back together for her 80th birthday.
  9. Shopaholic & Sister - Sophie Kinsella

    How could Becky's long-lost half-sister Jess hate shopping, shoes and spending?
  10. Special Delivery - Zoe Barnes

    Ally realises her older sister Miranda's life isn't as perfect as she thought when she asks her to be a surrogate mum.
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EVIL AT WORK


Think you've got an evil boss or a backstabbing colleague to contend with? Then how would you like to be sharing office space with these co-workers . . .



  1. Miranda Priestley, The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger

    Runway's editor-in chief gives orders that no one can decipher - and expects the result yesterday.
  2. Vivian Grant, Because She Can - Bridie Clark

    The publisher has no qualms turning up to her staffer's wedding to berate the bride about business matters. The staff are so traumatised they have a support group to share war stories.
  3. Mrs X, The Nanny Diaries - Nicola Kraus & Emma McLaughlin

    Who else would disappear without a word of warning to the nanny or her son Grayer?
  4. Amy Jenkins, Boy Meets Girl - Meg Cabot

    The HR director, aka Tyrannical Office Despot, makes life difficult for Kate when she gets her to fire the company's popular dining lady.
  5. Ruth, She's Got Issues - Stephanie Lessing

    She's all out of promotion concepts so she steals Chloe's ideas. Plus Chloe is the target when some editors write a bitchy article about an overly ambitious, manipulative assistant.
  6. Sidra DeSimon, How to Sleep with a Movie Star - Kristin Harmel

    She leaks a false story to the media about Mod's entertainment editor sleeping with actor Cole Brannon.
  7. Lucy Fiamma, Blind Submission - Debra Ginsberg

    This literary agent is a real prima-donna.
  8. Sapphire Rose, Outside In - Courtney Thorne-Smith

    This soapie star not only acts like a diva, she also steals Kate's husband.
  9. Scott, The Second Assistant - Clare Naylor

    When Lizzie Miller gets a job as a second assistant at a talent management company, her boss is a drug-taking wonderkid who gets her to sort out all the white thumbtacks.
  10. Allegra, The Twins of Tribeca - Rachel Pine

    The president of publicity at Glorious Pictures says she's on holiday in Europe, so why are there constant sightings of her around town?
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BEST COVERS


They may say don't judge a book by its cover but we want to know what makes a chick lit book stand out from the pack? A hot pink cover, a stylish illustration, a quirky photo, a glamorous model, a clever tie-in to the book's theme . . . These are our current favourites from our Titles A-Z listings.


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