Book Review: Fourteen Days Later

By Melissa Amster

I'm a fan of both "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." When I was told that "Fourteen Days Later," by Sibel Hodge, was like a marriage of the two stories, I knew it was something I'd have to check out. What I got in return was a charming and adorable story with an unforgettable heroine!

Helen Grey has been pining after her ex-boyfriend for about six months when her best friend, Ayshe, decides to put her on a 14-day plan to get over him once and for all. Her plan forces Helen out of her house--and out of her element--teaching her more about herself than she ever thought possible, and even allowing for a possibility of romance in her life.

I really liked the concept of this novel. It makes me wonder if anyone actually has been part of a 14-day plan or designed such a plan for someone else. I don't know that the plan was all too structured in the beginning, as it had Helen running around all over the place and doing crazy things without a sense of purpose. As Helen became more confident, her plan got even more interesting and I couldn't wait to see what was in store each day. Then there was the factor of her romantic interest, whom I really liked, even though his behaviors were hard to predict sometimes. (And since I watch "Smash," I picture Raza Jaffrey a.k.a. Dev playing him in a movie version.) There were a lot of funny moments, thanks to Helen being klutzier than Susan from "Desperate Housewives." She even made me feel graceful in comparison! She was an endearing character and I found myself rooting for her at her good moments and getting all frustrated when things didn't go her way.

There were, however, some things that didn't work as well for this novel. I wouldn't have minded if the obscure British name drops had some explanation to them, so I wasn't sitting and wondering who Helen was referencing each time. The dialogue tended to get awkward and sound forced at times, which made the humor seem forced in that respect. (I did laugh out loud plenty of times, but after a while, Helen's embarrassing moments seemed a bit over the top.) I liked the cultural rituals in preparation for Ayshe's wedding, but I would have loved some background about why they were done. I'm not that familiar with the Turkish Cypriot culture and beliefs. Finally, it was sometimes tough to keep track of characters. A character would be mentioned early in the story and then not appear again until much later. It took me some time to remember who they were. After that point, Ms. Hodge kept them in the story more often and they added to the humorous moments.

Since I had "Fourteen Days Later" on my Kindle for PC, I was mainly reading it in the mornings (as my breakfast book), but it definitely gave me something to look forward to after getting myself and my kids ready for the day. I genuinely wanted to know what was going to happen for Helen each day of her plan and  I even got misty-eyed by the end. It was a sweet story that reminded me exactly why chick lit is still alive and stronger than ever.

More by Sibel Hodge:

Winners of "The Language of Flowers"

To find our winners, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Random.org to pick TWO numbers.

Congrats to:
32-Stephanie (Skk25)
48-cat123hen

Reminder: If you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks to everyone for participating and telling us about your favorite flowers. Thanks to Vanessa for a fabulous interview and to Random House for sharing the books with our winners!

Check out our latest giveaways and also enter ones from other blogs and websites on our giveaways page.

A Jen-uine Delight

Photo by Jeremy Lawson

To celebrate International Chick Lit Month right here, we're all doing tributes to some of our favorite authors. Here is what Gail Allison had to say about Jen Lancaster.

About five years ago, I was packing for my first business trip (On an airplane! By myself!!) and decided that was as good a reason as any to buy a new book. But I didn’t want just any book. Oh, no. I was going to LEARN something and be a real businesswoman on this trip. (Epic fail, in case you’re wondering.) I walked over into the ‘serious’ section of the bookstore and began to peruse the biographies. I was going to learn about someone else, and how they persevered through tough times. I was going to see if these lessons could be applied to my life. I was going to read all abou....oooh! There is a lovely blue dress hanging from a pink quilted hanger on the front of this book! I MUST HAVE THIS! After the dust had cleared, I took a closer look at the full title of the book that I had just snatched off the shelf: "Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office" by Jen Lancaster.  I grinned to myself as I took the book up to the cashier. Yup. This was going to be a great business trip.

I couldn’t wait to get on the plane and start reading it. Luckily, the seat next to me was free because about four minutes into the book I was snorting in a completely unsuccessful attempt to conceal my hysterical laughter. I still warn people about Jen Lancaster’s books when I recommend them. If you’re looking for a book to read on public transportation, and you like having an empty seat next to you, buy this book! You’ll be convulsing with random bursts of laughter so often that you’ll have a completely empty radius of seats around you.

Once I got home, I was more than delighted to check out Jen Lancaster’s website, where she details her everyday life (when she’s not busy writing, editing, or out on book tour of course). With six memoirs under her belt as of May 1st, as well as one novel, Jen knows what she’s doing with the written word, but never gets repetitive or boring. Her straight-up, take-no-prisoners attitude leads the way through a series of everyday adventures ranging from hiring a personal trainer and trying to lose some weight to attempting to wrest her husband away from any number of Rachel Ray-inspired kitchen disasters. Jen’s writing is light and funny (crazy hilarious, in some cases), but she always comes back to the heart of the story. Yes, she’s decided to hire a personal trainer and gets stuck with the perfect blonde whose name is (of course) Barbie, but she still puts in the hours and tries to improve herself. The story never ends at the punchline for Jen, which is why I love her writing so much. It’s real life, but in bold font. And I think we can all attest to the fact that real life never ends at the punchline.

A word of caution: Jen isn’t afraid to make her opinions known, and occasionally peppers her conversation with four-letter-words. I’d say her books are a solid PG-13, so if this is a concern to you, either be ready for it or steer clear. I can’t say enough how much I enjoy her books and her website, though. She really appreciates her fans, her posts are written in the same tone as her books, and she even hosts giveaways! Come for the hilarious, stay for the free books!! All of Jen Lancaster’s books are permanent fixtures on my shelf. They’re funny, honest, and so enjoyable that you’ll read them again and again. I know I have.

Her latest memoir, "Jeneration X: One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development; Or, Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner," was published this week and I can't wait to get my hands on it! Check out the trailer for it, as well!

Aside from her website, you can also find Jen on Facebook and Twitter.

More by Jen Lancaster:

"Then" is still now, thanks to Jennifer Weiner and a giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed**

In honor of "Then Came You," by Jennifer Weiner, being released in paperback on May 8th, we are re-posting the review that Melissa A and Melissa P did last summer, and thanks to Engleman and Co., we have one copy to give away to a lucky US reader.

Can't get enough Jen Weiner? Visit her at her website, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Our review, originally posted July 12, 2011:

Jennifer Weiner's latest novel, "Then Came You," focuses on four women who have similar goals in mind, either related to babies, money or both. Jules is invited to donate her eggs and, knowing she'll potentially be able to help her father with the money, it's hard to refuse such an offer. Annie can also make money to help her family during tight economic times, by becoming a surrogate. India wants a baby to complete the loving marriage she has with Marcus, and she also knows she could benefit from his wealth. Bettina thinks India is out to rob her father blind and wants to put a stop to it. When tragedy strikes, these four women become connected in ways they never thought possible.

Thanks to the generosity of Ms. Weiner and her assistant, Meghan Burnett, we had the opportunity to read and review this novel before it even hit the shelves.

Melissa A:
I love Jennifer Weiner's novels and this one was no exception. I wasn't sure where it was going at first, but then it picked up momentum and I was completely drawn into the lives of these four women. Ms. Weiner has a way of making me forget that I'm reading a novel, as I become so involved in the world she creates with her characters. They are so vivid that I can see them right in front of me and take on their emotions for them. I really liked the realistic dialogue and the descriptiveness. It is what made this novel strong. I also enjoyed seeing a cameo appearance from one of her past characters, although I was hoping initially that she would get her own story too. Thankfully, there were no real spoilers regarding the book from which this character was originated. (So if you read this one first, you won't have to worry that the other book was ruined for you at all.) Ms. Weiner handled some risky topics gracefully, making them comfortable for anyone who would normally not be comfortable with such topics. (I don't want to spoil anything though.)

However, having too many characters in the first person threw me off at times. I felt this way with "The D Word" by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke as well (see my review) and that was just two characters back to back (for the most part). This didn't seem to be as frustrating for me when I read "Little Earthquakes," so I was surprised that I had trouble with it this time around. My one suggestion would be to do what Jodi Picoult does and give each character their own font. That seems to help when I read her books. I also felt that it was a bit rushed towards the end. Since each lead character was featured every fourth chapter, they didn't get as much face time as they would if the focus were on one or two lead characters. So there was almost a race to the finish to get their stories told by the time she was ready to reach an epilogue. I would have loved to see her go on longer and give them time to flourish a bit more. Perhaps she can bring one or two of them back in a future novel.

Overall, this is another winner from a writer of amazing stories. It shows a maturation of Ms. Weiner's writing and storytelling capabilities (in the same vein as Jane Green, who started with dating stories and now discusses motherhood). I can tell she puts a lot of love into her novels and this one is bursting at the seams with such love.

Melissa P:
When I first learned about “Then Came You”, I knew it was a must-read, because in my opinion all of Jen’s books are, but I was honestly surprised by how much this book gripped me from the beginning. When the book hit my doorstep late one Tuesday afternoon, I was elated. I immediately curled up in my favorite chair and started reading. I couldn’t put it down and finished it by early Thursday morning. The stories of the four women pulled me in.

All four women are in different stages of their lives, but they are all relatable. I personally related to India the most because there were some similarities in our situations, but I don’t think I am like her at all. The characters all had their own struggles that they were going through, but I love that Jen made them all headstrong, capable women who are able to navigate their way through heartache and loss.

This is honestly one of the best books I have read in a while and I definitely think that it is Jennifer Weiner’s best book to date. It’s rare that I would finish a book so quickly and become so entranced by a story, but “Then Came You” is one of those rare books. I was happy when the characters were happy and I sobbed when the characters faced heartbreak. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days after reading it. If anyone is looking for an amazing read, this is it.

More Jen Weiner news:

*Check out the schedule for Jen’s BOOK TOUR, May 2012, which celebrates the paperback launch. It's mainly Pennsylvania based with one stop in New York, but have no fear, her summer tour for "The Next Best Thing" covers many more US locations. She's even sharing the Chicago stop with Sarah Pekkanen and Jen Lancaster!

*Now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. On May 8th, Atria will also be publishing SWIM, an original e-book short story by Jennifer Weiner that will be available for free download wherever ebooks are sold. SWIM is originally from Jen's short story collection "The Guy Not Taken," and after she spent time in Los Angeles co-producing the ABC Family show, “State of Georgia,” she knew she wanted to continue. SWIM is the inspiration for her forthcoming novel, THE NEXT BEST THING (Atria Books, July 3, 2012).

*Jen’s highly anticipated new novel "The Next Best Thing" will be on shelves July 3rd. Set against the fascinating backdrop of Los Angeles show business culture, with an insider's ear and eye for raunchy writer's rooms, bad behavior backstage and set politics, Jennifer Weiner's new novel is a rollicking ride on the Hollywood rollercoaster, and a heartfelt story about what it's like for a young woman to love, and lose, in the land where dreams come true...

How to win "Then Came You":
Tell us what stood out for you in our review. (One entry per person) Please include your e-mail address so we can contact you if you win.

US only. Giveaway ends May 8th at midnight EST.

Book Review: One Night Only

By Becky Gulc

"One Night Only" is about a woman going back to her roots, just as Sue Welfare has done by using her real name. Sue has also written under the names of Kate Lawson and Gemma Fox.

Helen Redford is a former successful and well-loved soap opera actress who was dramatically killed off some years before we meet her. She has a handsome choreographer boyfriend who, in his late thirties is a fair bit younger than Helen, who is in her early fifties. Helen’s agent, Arthur, happens to be her former husband. With the only work options being presented to Helen nowadays being pantomime or reality TV shows where she’d either be eating bugs (or worse) or risking breaking a leg, literally, an offer to make a guest appearance on Roots becomes increasingly tempting. Roots is loosely based on the Who Do You Think You Are? format but centres more on recent and current generations rather than delving further into the past. Whilst Helen is somewhat sceptical, especially as she hasn’t been back to her hometown of Billingsfield practically since she was a teenager, she eventually concedes. But just what stories and memories will a trip down memory lane with the added pressure of a TV crew bring up? And will Helen’s secret hopes for the programme be realised?

I loved this book. I literally couldn’t put it down. The story flits between the present (Helen going back to Billingsfield and the filming of the Roots programme) and the past (Helen’s late teens and, in particular, Helen and her best friend Charlotte’s first taste of fame in a local talent contest and her difficult relationship with her parents and local boy Harry). I didn’t initially warm to Helen as a character in her present world as she appeared quite cold, but the chapters where we delved into her past really allowed her to grow on you as a reader and find an understanding of her character as an adult, and it was these chapters that were thoroughly gripping. Helen as a teenager is completely loveable, the bestest friend you could hope to have, and to put up with Charlotte, well, you have to read it, you will detest Charlotte too, I’m sure! The night of the talent contest has some extremely tense elements to it involving some ‘showbiz agents’ and I thought this story intercepted the present story really well. I had a lot of questions, I was kept guessing and I wasn’t disappointed.

The only negative point I can make isn’t about the story or writing itself, but the proof reading, there were several errors I spotted including two in the first few pages. This didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book however.

Overall, I would say this book offers something a bit different, a completely refreshing read. Sue isn’t afraid to touch on darker subjects but in a way which the reader can empathise with rather than feel uncomfortable with. For me it had a bit of everything going for it, humour, intrigue, fully rounded characters, depth, romance and lost love and friendship, and of course excellent writing! I thoroughly recommend this book.

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"Lucky" to have Beth Kendrick here...plus a book giveaway!

 **Giveaway is now closed**

You may remember when we talked cakes with Beth Kendrick last year when she dropped by to promote "The Bake-Off," which was a sweet story (literally) about sisters and desserts. Now she's back to talk about her latest novel, "The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service" (reviewed here), about a woman who seems to have better luck matching dogs to the people who will love them than she does finding a man to love for herself. Her book is sure to be a hit amongst dog lovers AND chick lit lovers! Beth lives in Arizona with her two rescue dogs (big red mutts) named Roxie Hart and Friday.

She's helping to kick off International Chick Lit Month right here at CLC and, thanks to Penguin Books, has one copy of "The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service" to give to a "lucky" US reader.

Visit Beth at her website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

How did you decide to write chick lit novels?
I was in graduate school for psychology, trying to do something “sensible” with my life after majoring in English in college, and I signed up for a weekend writing course for fun. One thing led to another, and pretty soon, I was writing the first draft of my first novel (“My Favorite Mistake”) instead of my psychology dissertation.

Yeah. I was a bad graduate student.
What’s the most interesting comment you’ve received about your books?
Right after “Second Time Around” came out—complete with a few steamy love scenes--one of the other moms from my kid’s preschool stopped me in the grocery store, gave me a quick once-over, and exclaimed, “But you look so sweet and innocent!”

I took it as a compliment.

Which authors have inspired you?
Sarah Pekkanen (“Skipping A Beat,” “These Girls”) is my personal hero because she’s an absolutely wonderful writer who manages to balance the demands of career and family with grace and humor, and makes it all look effortless. I would hate her if she weren’t so damn charming!

I also recently discovered “The Spellman Files” series by Lisa Lutz, and I have a total writer crush on her. Her writing is wry, sly, and masterfully understated, and her characters are immediately endearing. Hilarious women’s fiction with a twist of mystery.

Characters really make the story for us. What 3 words would best describe your heroine and what about her called out to you to write her story?

Three words: Covered in fur.

Basically, this book is a big, slobber-drenched love letter to bad dogs and the women who love them. Lara Madigan has followed her heart into the world of dog rescue, and feels that she’s disappointed everyone along the way, especially her rich, image-obsessed mother. Lara sees dogs as more than pets—they’re lifelines for the right owners. And she’s generous to a fault. She’ll drop everything to help a stray mutt off the street, but she doesn’t consider herself worthy of the same unconditional devotion. I wanted to follow this character as she discovers that she is enough, she is on the right path, and she is beautiful from the inside out…even if she spends more time grooming her Labrador than she does on herself!

What is the first chick lit novel you ever read?
“Bridget Jones’s Diary.” That book rocked my world and changed my life.

What is your favorite chick lit novel that was not written by you?
Ooh, there are so many. But I’ve read “Mrs. Perfect” by Jane Porter about 4 times, so I’ll go with that one. It’s a rich, layered look at a woman who seems to have it all, at least superficially. The story lifts you up and brings you down to earth all at the same time.

What is your favorite movie based on a chick lit novel?
“The Devil Wears Prada”. The acting, the screenwriting, the clothes….it’s all perfect!

Since your latest novel is about dogs, what is your funniest dog story?
My first rescue dog, Murphy, was a scruffy little terrier (think a bleach-blond Benji) who’d been found wandering the streets of south Los Angeles. We had no idea when we adopted him that his entire pelvis had been shattered—probably the result of a car hitting him—because he didn’t limp at all. He was as tough as he was adorable, and he never betrayed the slightest vulnerability…unless, of course, he wanted something from you.
At home, his injury remained undetectable to the naked eye. When we were out and about, however, and strangers exclaimed over how cute he was, Murphy would start hobbling around with an exaggerated limp and the eyes of a martyred saint. His new acquaintances would shower him with affection and whatever food they happened to have on them, and he would accept all this with a thumping tail stub and a brave show of stoicism. Then the suckers would continue on their way and Murphy would resume strutting along like Giselle on the catwalk.
He was a con artist and a punk, but he was my true canine soulmate. He has a cameo in THE LUCKY DOG MATCHMAKING SERVICE, actually. Very first chapter!

If you could name your next book character after a city/state/province/country, what would you choose?
Manitoba has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? You know that’s going to be the next hot celebrity baby name!

Which music group gives off a chick lit feel for you?Sugarland. So many of their songs are playful and encourage us to take on adversity with a sense of humor. In fact, I think Melissa A. and I have discussed this before, but the book I’m writing right now (tentative title: “The Week Before the Wedding”) was partially inspired by Sugarland’s “Stuck Like Glue”.

Special thanks to Beth for visiting with us and to Penguin for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win "The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service":
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: Which music group gives off a chick lit feel for you?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

US only. Giveaway ends May 6th at midnight EST.

Book Review: Bond Girl

By Melissa Amster

When I first heard about "Bond Girl," by Erin Duffy, and was told that it was like "The Devil Wears Prada" for Wall Street, I just knew I had to read it! So you can imagine my excitement when I WON a copy from Chick Lit is Not Dead. After hearing all the good things about it, I couldn't wait to see what happened. And when I did, it went above and beyond my expectations!

While other girls were dreaming about being teachers and fashion designers, Alex Garrett fantasized about the day she’d get to work on a Wall Street trading floor. She pursues this dream and ends up working as an analyst at Cromwell Pierce. However, Wall Street is nothing like she experienced when she watched her father at his job. She’s subjected to misogynistic behavior from all the men surrounding her and forced to sit on a child-size folding chair labeled “Girlie,” the nickname given to her. The only woman on the desk wants nothing to do with her. And her boss tests her at every turn with ridiculous expectations and demands, such as a trip to the Bronx for a $1000 wheel of cheese. Soon enough, she starts to earn respect from her colleagues, but when the stock market goes haywire in 2008, suddenly all bets are off and it's about survival of the fittest. Alex will have to re-examine her role at Cromwell Pierce and decide if this is really something she wants to do with her life.

I cannot say enough about how much I loved “Bond Girl.” As I was reading it, I kept telling everyone I know how great it was and how I thought they should read it too. Alex Garrett is my new literary best friend. I don’t care that she’s 11 years younger; she’s so cool and down to earth that I love her anyway. I would totally be hanging out with her if we worked together. She’s such a well developed character, that it is easy to feel her emotions right along with her, whether she’s stressed out, excited or sad. The supporting characters were well written and it was easy to tell whether you should like them or hate them right away. There are some exceptions, such as her boss, Chick. He seems like a jerk at first, but he manages to surprise both Alex and myself. There was one point where I almost cried, in a good way, over something he said. As I was reading the book, I felt like Ms. Duffy had been spying on conversations with me and some of my friends. The dialogue was so natural and easygoing throughout. Really, it was just impossible to put this book down and each time I had to, I felt the way I did while waiting for new episodes of “How I Met Your Mother.” It was that longing to be caught up in the story as soon as possible. If I had a day to myself, I would have read the whole book in one sitting!

The only piece of criticism I have for Ms. Duffy is that some of the trading language went over my head. I wish she had included a glossary or footnotes, so that I could follow along even better. Needless to say, this did not take away from my enjoyment of the novel. It just shows that Ms. Duffy had a lot of experience to add to the story and I could have cared less if she made the terminology up herself! (I wouldn’t have had a clue either way.)

If I haven't sold you on this book, maybe this trailer will! I highly recommend this great piece of chick lit and I hope Ms. Duffy will continue to write, as I will continue to read her books whenever she does!