NEW RELEASE
Confessions of a Wild Child - Jackie Collins (2013)
Lucky Santangelo has lived under the protective thrall of her father, the notorious Gino Santangelo, since her mother died when she was five. But after stepping out of line one too many times, Gino packs fifteen-year-old Lucky off to a boarding school in Switzerland where he hopes she will lose her wild ways. However, when Lucky befriends Olympia Stanislopoulus, she finds a kindred spirit and someone even wilder than her. And so Lucky begins to learn the pleasures of her body and how to manipulate men. Whilst Lucky and Olympia continue to rebel against their fathers' wishes, Gino finds a way once and for all to tame Lucky and use her to his advantage: marriage. Although this book is aimed at teens, I did find it difficult to pin down an audience for this novel. It's obviously not for an older audience, and I would say it is too emotionally immature for the New Adult reader. But some of the relationships felt a bit too awkward, inappropriate even, for teens. However, it certainly tackles head-on the issue of teens exploring and developing their sexuality and not being afraid of who they are. The novel seemed to flit around a lot and move on too quickly from episode to episode and I found the ending too open. Apparently this is a prequel to several of Collins' other novels and maybe the ending makes more sense in this context, however as a standalone novel I didn't feel this was the best choice. I enjoyed the characterisation of Lucky and in particular the relationship with her father and her ambition and would have liked to have seen more of this. Because I'm not the intended audience, I feel that perhaps that's where some of the disconnect lies for me with this novel but maybe teens will appreciate it more. (JC)
Jackie Collins has penned a prequel to her Lucky Santangelo series called Confessions of a Wild Child, which showcases the teenage years of the girl who will eventually rule an empire. The summary says: "Who is Lucky Saint? She's a fifteen-year-old wild child who discovered her mother's murdered body floating in the family swimming pool when she was only five years old. In Confessions of a Wild Child you will follow Lucky as she navigates her teen years - boys, drugs, family dramas, and many adventures from Greek islands to Vegas penthouses. You will meet the Santangelo family. Gino Santangelo, Lucky's father, a powerful man with a dubious past, who owns hotels in Vegas and struggles to control his willful and stubborn daughter. And Dario, Lucky's gay teenage brother who is too scared to reveal his sexual preference to his father. You will discover how Lucky strikes a path to become the powerful and charismatic woman she is today." Confessions of a Wild Child is out in September 2013.