Status
Available
Description
"When Katie Brenner is fired from her dream job in advertising in London, she's desperate to get away from her mad boss Demeter, and her crush, Alex, who she thought shared her feelings of adoration but didn't. Seeking refuge, she goes home to her father's farm in Somerset to help make her stepmother's dream of turning their land into a glamping retreat come true. Applying her savvy marketing smarts, Katie masterminds a glamorous upscale resort. But when Demeter shows up unnannounced, with Alex not far behind, Katie is forced to rethink her revenge fantasies and her assumptions about family, love, and office politics and realize how much she may have misjudged everyone--and everything--around her"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member stephanie_M
I have been a fan of Sophie Kinsella ever since her first Shopaholic title. Over the years, her books have matured a great deal. This new title reminds me a lot of her older ones. It's a big book with over 400 pages, but I found it very easy to read and difficult to put down. I actually read the
This novel is a well written book that is just pure fun, and it stands on its own merits. I liked that Katie felt real even though she was written into a fairly tale type story. The book has substance and is ultimately about maintaining relationships, not judging a book by its cover, and the how the grass is not always greener….sure, you already knew those things already, but the road to Katie’s discovery is both touching and hilarious. The perfunctory romance could have used more fleshing out but the fact that you know where the story was heading did nothing to dampen the ride to get there.
This novel was given to me from Netgalley for an honest review.
A solid, charming read. 4 stars, and very recommended
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whole book in two days, which is something I haven't done in a while. My (Not So) Perfect Life is set in both London and Somerset. Katie (Cat), is a likeable lead character. It does follow the chick lit formula, but I didn't feel like I was reading a book that I have already read before. I like to be entertained when I read and this definitely entertained me. I am happy that I got to read an advance copy of this Great book.This novel is a well written book that is just pure fun, and it stands on its own merits. I liked that Katie felt real even though she was written into a fairly tale type story. The book has substance and is ultimately about maintaining relationships, not judging a book by its cover, and the how the grass is not always greener….sure, you already knew those things already, but the road to Katie’s discovery is both touching and hilarious. The perfunctory romance could have used more fleshing out but the fact that you know where the story was heading did nothing to dampen the ride to get there.
This novel was given to me from Netgalley for an honest review.
A solid, charming read. 4 stars, and very recommended
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LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
Katie works for a marketing firm in London. She's the low man on the totem pole, she's underpaid, her commute is long and complex, her boss is a nightmare, but she loves working in marketing and living in London and she's working to move up in the firm. And then her boss fires her and she's back
This is the literary equivalent of having a milkshake for dinner. It's light and fun. Kinsella is good at writing dialogue and coming up with ridiculous situations that make complete sense in the world of that novel. I did like that this was a novel about a young woman with career dreams that weren't made light of. Katie earns her happy ending in a way that was refreshing and new. Of course there's a love interest, this is, after all, Chick Lit, but that definitely plays second fiddle to the more important story of a young woman receiving recognition for her own hard work and talent.
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home at her father's farm in Somerset, helping her Dad and stepmother set up a business running deluxe "glamping" holidays for Londoners.This is the literary equivalent of having a milkshake for dinner. It's light and fun. Kinsella is good at writing dialogue and coming up with ridiculous situations that make complete sense in the world of that novel. I did like that this was a novel about a young woman with career dreams that weren't made light of. Katie earns her happy ending in a way that was refreshing and new. Of course there's a love interest, this is, after all, Chick Lit, but that definitely plays second fiddle to the more important story of a young woman receiving recognition for her own hard work and talent.
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LibraryThing member annwelton
First, thank you so NetGalley (Random House Publishing) for an e-book copy of this delightful book for my enjoyment and review. What a fun book, in every way, Ms. Kinsella has written. Taking place in London and Somerset, the book grabs you from the beginning as Katie (Cat also) Brenner is riding
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the tube to her new job in London. Laughs begin as she is forced to take a bite from another passenger's breakfast sandwich because of the crowds, and humor moves on from there. The story goes from her job in London, happenings with her boss Demeter, an office romance, and onto returning to her dad's farm to help with his vacation business. The story is very light, definitely chik-lit, a bit long, but very enjoyable in character and story development. Another great read by Kinsella. Show Less
LibraryThing member JanJanFreeman
Katie ("Cat") Brenner is a country bumpkin trying to find herself in the big City, London. She has a decent job at Cooper Clemmow with the hopes of moving up in the company now that she has the foot in the door.
Her boss, Demeter, has everything that Cat wants: great job, great house, great
I have read almost all of Sophie Kinsella's standalone books, with the only exception being Finding Audrey. I get excited for each new release because I know it is going to take me right to my happy place. The same applies for My (Not So) Perfect Life. I forced myself to slow down reading this book because I wanted to savor it. It was romantic, a bit silly at times, and yet there was a lot of character development amongst multiple characters. It gets deep yet some characters are shallow. There are misconceptions that get out of hand yet there is empathy. It is modern yet It comes back to the age-old question: is the grass always greener on the other side?
I highly recommend this book, as well as Sophie Kinsella's other books, for anyone looking for a relatable and humorous light read.
I would not recommend this book for any reader that is offended by foul language, bullying, or sexually suggestive scenarios.
Please note: an electronic copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Her boss, Demeter, has everything that Cat wants: great job, great house, great
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husband, and great kids. What is actual perfection and what is an illusion? I have read almost all of Sophie Kinsella's standalone books, with the only exception being Finding Audrey. I get excited for each new release because I know it is going to take me right to my happy place. The same applies for My (Not So) Perfect Life. I forced myself to slow down reading this book because I wanted to savor it. It was romantic, a bit silly at times, and yet there was a lot of character development amongst multiple characters. It gets deep yet some characters are shallow. There are misconceptions that get out of hand yet there is empathy. It is modern yet It comes back to the age-old question: is the grass always greener on the other side?
I highly recommend this book, as well as Sophie Kinsella's other books, for anyone looking for a relatable and humorous light read.
I would not recommend this book for any reader that is offended by foul language, bullying, or sexually suggestive scenarios.
Please note: an electronic copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member olegalCA
4 1/2 stars! A bit of humour, a bit of romance and a very appealing main character. Really enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member lhaines56
What a great read! Nice to see the underdog come out ahead, actually become friends with hated boss, help start up glamping business for Dad, and get the man of her dreams in the end. Proof that this is fiction.
LibraryThing member arielfl
A Sophie Kinsella novel is pure escapism entertainment for me. In this latest novel we have a Working Girl/ Cinderella story. Katie is a country girl at heart but she longs to get into the branding, advertisement industry in London. The only problem is life in London is not as glamorous as she
Katie is in the mold of all of Kinsella's heroines. Spunky, pretty, and exceedingly kind. Although you may not get the rich and handsome hunk all of the girls in these chick lit books get, these novels are still a sweet reminder that kindness and and a positive attitude can get you pretty far in life.
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hoped it would be and so she tries to brand her own life on social media. When she is unexpectedly let go from her dream job, Katie has to regain her footing in order to pursue her dreams. Katie is in the mold of all of Kinsella's heroines. Spunky, pretty, and exceedingly kind. Although you may not get the rich and handsome hunk all of the girls in these chick lit books get, these novels are still a sweet reminder that kindness and and a positive attitude can get you pretty far in life.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
Sophie Kinsella (actually Madeleine Sophie Wickham), is the very popular English author of “chick lit,” such as the Shopaholic series.
While I usually eschew this genre, I make an exception for Kinsella. She writes with so much cleverness and humor that I feel it makes up for the "lightness" of
This particular books combines elements of “Working Girl,” “The Parent Trap,” and “Bridget Jones.” Katie Brenner, 26, has come to London from Somerset to live her dreamed-of life in the big city, working for a well-known advertising agency, Cooper Clemmow. Her boss, Demeter, is intimidating, not easily impressed, and seems to “have it all.” But she is also very scattered, always losing important papers and mixing up appointments, and seems cold and unfriendly to the staff.
Before long, Katie meets Alex Astalis, one of the partners, with whom she feels an instant chemistry, but she hears he is having an affair with Demeter. This just makes her resent Demeter even more.
Then Katie, who is low employee on the totem pole, gets fired when some downsizing becomes necessary. She goes back to Somerset to help her dad and stepmom open up a “glamping” business on their farm. It actually turns out to be wildly successful, but Katie still longs to return to London.
As you know would happen, Demeter and Alex both show up as glamping guests, and the whole plot takes a zany turn, with Katie trying to make the experience a disaster for Demeter (a la “Parent Trap”) but being foiled at every turn. She learns some surprising things about Demeter in the process though, and the ending is gratifying, if a bit rushed.
Evaluation: I love Sophie Kinsella; I can always count on her books to lift me up from the heavy miasma of current events and make me laugh. They are as predictable as can be, but it doesn’t seem to matter; in fact, in a way it enhances the enjoyment. You know you won’t be blindsided by some tragedy when you’re in the mood for lightheartedness.
While I usually eschew this genre, I make an exception for Kinsella. She writes with so much cleverness and humor that I feel it makes up for the "lightness" of
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the genre.This particular books combines elements of “Working Girl,” “The Parent Trap,” and “Bridget Jones.” Katie Brenner, 26, has come to London from Somerset to live her dreamed-of life in the big city, working for a well-known advertising agency, Cooper Clemmow. Her boss, Demeter, is intimidating, not easily impressed, and seems to “have it all.” But she is also very scattered, always losing important papers and mixing up appointments, and seems cold and unfriendly to the staff.
Before long, Katie meets Alex Astalis, one of the partners, with whom she feels an instant chemistry, but she hears he is having an affair with Demeter. This just makes her resent Demeter even more.
Then Katie, who is low employee on the totem pole, gets fired when some downsizing becomes necessary. She goes back to Somerset to help her dad and stepmom open up a “glamping” business on their farm. It actually turns out to be wildly successful, but Katie still longs to return to London.
As you know would happen, Demeter and Alex both show up as glamping guests, and the whole plot takes a zany turn, with Katie trying to make the experience a disaster for Demeter (a la “Parent Trap”) but being foiled at every turn. She learns some surprising things about Demeter in the process though, and the ending is gratifying, if a bit rushed.
Evaluation: I love Sophie Kinsella; I can always count on her books to lift me up from the heavy miasma of current events and make me laugh. They are as predictable as can be, but it doesn’t seem to matter; in fact, in a way it enhances the enjoyment. You know you won’t be blindsided by some tragedy when you’re in the mood for lightheartedness.
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LibraryThing member ethel55
Kinsella's stand alones have always been unique, and not quite as madcap as the Shopaholic books have become. Katie (Cat) Brenner is trying to make her way in London, working at a branding agency and fulfilling her Instagram with wishful thinking. Her flatmates seems horrible, her job seems
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thankless and life seems to be on hold. The boss from hell scenario plays out well, with scatter brained but brilliant Demeter running the office. Once Katie's fired, the story picks up steam as she heads home to Somerset and her father's farm, all the while hiding the fact that she has been sacked. I loved the second section of the book. Her dad and stepmom Biddy were great characters and the idea to turn their farm into a glamping site plays out very well. This is where Kinsella shines, just when you though this would be another Becky-like character, Katie comes into her own, in a way that makes me wish this would hit the big screen. It turns out, in looking at her booklist, I've read all of Kinsella's books, except for her young adult one. I may have to make time for that as I wait for her next, always fun, novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member janismack
Light read about a young adult (female) trying to make her way in the world of marketing/branding. Ms. Kinsella has a way of bringing real life into her books, where the main characters are funny and endearing. The story had a twist I wasn't expecting, which I liked, but as with other Sohie
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Kinsella books, the heroine always prevails, and that's fine since it works for her kind of stories Show Less
LibraryThing member JoeYee
Sophie Kinsella has been my favorite author for years. Her standalone books have always been outstanding. I knew I had to read it when I saw she is coming out with a non Shopaholic book.
When I first starting reading My Not So Perfect Life, I thought nooo; is this going to be another book like Can
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. What I like the most is how all the characters has flaws but still likable, very realistic. I can not wait for Sophie Kinsella next book to come out already.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Received a free e-copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I first starting reading My Not So Perfect Life, I thought nooo; is this going to be another book like Can
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you Keep a Secret?. An office romance with the clueless lowest level employee falling in love with the young, smart and hot boss. However, the story makes a sharp turn, and takes us to the country side to build a new business with her family. This book is more about how Katie (Cat) finds herself and where she belong than romance.Overall, I really enjoyed this book. What I like the most is how all the characters has flaws but still likable, very realistic. I can not wait for Sophie Kinsella next book to come out already.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Received a free e-copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member saresmoore
This was a cute, fun read. I liked all of the quirky, unexpected characters, especially the narrator, although her tangential inner dialogue was a bit too much for me at times. The story was clever and unpredictable and there was plenty of good character development. The book was entertaining, even
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hilarious at times, but not challenging or thought-provoking. My biggest criticism is that it seems like it was written about five years too late in terms of the "current" cultural references. Show Less
LibraryThing member musichick52
Katie is a young woman who is being eaten up by the stress and disappointments of life in the the big city (London). Her boss is a nightmare, her job is the pits. And then she gets fired. Reluctant as she is to return home to the family farm, an idea to meld her skills with her circumstances pops
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up. She falls in love, creates a successful business and rekindles her relationship with her dad. Ms. Kinsella has hit on a winner. Katie's humorous take on her adventures kept me entertained. My thanks to the author and the Penguin First to Read program for a complimentary copy. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cecilturtle
I can't help it. I'm a Kinsella fan through and through, and thanks to this hilarious novel, I was able to discover glamping. The plot is predictable and the characters are sometimes stretched to the point of stereotypes, but there is always a scene that will make me laugh out loud. A grand old
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read for relaxing escapism. Show Less
LibraryThing member AnnaBastos
This was a story with a good conclusion to take from it, 'no one's life is perfect, so just be yourself'. I feel I got Kinsella's point but I hope I missed something that will spice up this book above average.
Katie struggles everyday to keep her dream life in London but it's too expensive and she
This book started well, it's so easy to relate to Katie, trying to simply live while pretending it's all fine. But the story never really got me. It was a slow development, so I feel anything I say here will be a reveal.
In any case, the focus was ultimately to realize her boss's life was just not-so-perfect as her own. And this fell flat for me because for one the boss is far from charismatic or relatable—and this was on purpose. So any of her problems sounded like first-world problems to me. Especially because they were supposed to balance with Katie's, which, as I have mentioned, sounded like my very own. I won't say I hated the boss, I really didn't. I've had bosses like her before, so it was easy to find something to appreciate in her. It doesn't mean I found it in me to cheer for her well being, and this killed the book for me.
I find it commendable that Kinsella manages to write stories featuring romances and still not bet it all in the romance. However, the only way I see that I would have enjoyed this was if Katie and her boss were the main couple. Only blind love could really make you actively help such person.
Back to Katie, I liked her at first, as I said, but she didn't develop well. I mean, a part of her development was basically a cliché that if you are yourself you can win the world. She is hardworking so she deserves the best but this wasn't so believable to me. On the other hand, I do forgive it, it's good to get away to a world where this actually happens. But Katie was also just too immature at times, and that's the point that killed my love for her.
I'm glad to announce to those who like me enjoy romances that we do have a romantic interest. He doesn't appear much during the first half, so you'll have to hang in there. And he's not really bad. But he is definitely missing that swooning effect Kinsella's men have on me.
As you can see, this is a not-so-perfect story but it is a solid three-star. You won't hear me recommending it to anyone but I won't really tell anyone against reading it. It was a nice story with a nice flow. Except for the second third, I found it to be a fast read. It was actually good to read some nice chick-lit, I love those.
Review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. I want to also thank the publisher for giving me this opportunity.
Katie struggles everyday to keep her dream life in London but it's too expensive and she
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can't even afford to breathe, much less have one of those expensive coffees she pretends to have on her Instagram account. She had no idea her boss-from-hell could make her life even less perfect than it already was.This book started well, it's so easy to relate to Katie, trying to simply live while pretending it's all fine. But the story never really got me. It was a slow development, so I feel anything I say here will be a reveal.
In any case, the focus was ultimately to realize her boss's life was just not-so-perfect as her own. And this fell flat for me because for one the boss is far from charismatic or relatable—and this was on purpose. So any of her problems sounded like first-world problems to me. Especially because they were supposed to balance with Katie's, which, as I have mentioned, sounded like my very own. I won't say I hated the boss, I really didn't. I've had bosses like her before, so it was easy to find something to appreciate in her. It doesn't mean I found it in me to cheer for her well being, and this killed the book for me.
I find it commendable that Kinsella manages to write stories featuring romances and still not bet it all in the romance. However, the only way I see that I would have enjoyed this was if Katie and her boss were the main couple. Only blind love could really make you actively help such person.
Back to Katie, I liked her at first, as I said, but she didn't develop well. I mean, a part of her development was basically a cliché that if you are yourself you can win the world. She is hardworking so she deserves the best but this wasn't so believable to me. On the other hand, I do forgive it, it's good to get away to a world where this actually happens. But Katie was also just too immature at times, and that's the point that killed my love for her.
I'm glad to announce to those who like me enjoy romances that we do have a romantic interest. He doesn't appear much during the first half, so you'll have to hang in there. And he's not really bad. But he is definitely missing that swooning effect Kinsella's men have on me.
As you can see, this is a not-so-perfect story but it is a solid three-star. You won't hear me recommending it to anyone but I won't really tell anyone against reading it. It was a nice story with a nice flow. Except for the second third, I found it to be a fast read. It was actually good to read some nice chick-lit, I love those.
Review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. I want to also thank the publisher for giving me this opportunity.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
Katie Brenner has never wanted anything as much as she wanted to leave her farm life in Somerset for a much more glamorous life in London. She feels she's well on her way there when she begins working as a research assistant at a branding firm in London, even if her flat and commute are terrible
Sophie Kinsella is one of those hit or miss authors for me. Sometimes I'll enjoy her fluffy style of writing but this novel was sadly a miss. I found it just a little ridiculous that at the age of 26, Katie had yet to learn real empathy or the fact that a life that looks perfect from the outside rarely is (a central theme of the novel). I also didn't find the romance subplot all that swoony. Ultimately, an ok read but I can recommend far better fluffy novels to pick up if you're in the mood.
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and she's barely scraping by on her income. But when disaster strikes in her work life, Katie comes to learn just what will make her happy.Sophie Kinsella is one of those hit or miss authors for me. Sometimes I'll enjoy her fluffy style of writing but this novel was sadly a miss. I found it just a little ridiculous that at the age of 26, Katie had yet to learn real empathy or the fact that a life that looks perfect from the outside rarely is (a central theme of the novel). I also didn't find the romance subplot all that swoony. Ultimately, an ok read but I can recommend far better fluffy novels to pick up if you're in the mood.
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LibraryThing member haymaai
Sophie Kinsella never seems to disappoint, as she produces another delightful and heartwarming story. Katie is a country girl who dreams of becoming successful in the big city. She reinvents herself as Cat, dropping her country accent and attempts to fit in as a sophisticated city girl. Living at
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the far end of the city with an endless commute, she barely subsists on the meager salary she earns. Katie works for Demeter, the chic, creative, and talented boss, who lives in a posh London mansion. Demeter seems to have the perfect life. When Katie is suddenly ‘let go’ from her cherished job by her insensitive boss, she returns to the country to assist her dad in a new glamping, tourist business that he’s initiating. When Demeter, arrives at the glamping country resort with her family for a vacation, Katie uses the opportunity to get even with Demeter for her tactless conduct. She soon finds out that Demeter is not quite as perfect as she perceived her to be, and Katie begins to redefine her assessment of Demeter. Meanwhile, Katie swoons over Alex, the successful corporate executive who is resistant to relationships, and she loses her job, as well as a possible love interest when he leaves to work abroad. But what I like best about Kinsella’s novels is that a satisfactory resolution always culminates the story, and the reader is gratified to find that life always works out. Show Less
LibraryThing member onemused
"My (not so) Perfect Life" delves into the difference between how we appear and who we are. Katie Brenner (now reinventing herself as Cat) has spent a lot of her life trying to reach her goals and convince herself that everything in her life is perfect- despite her annoying and at-times harassing
Lying to her father and his sweet wife, Biddy, she grasps straws and comes to work with them on her "sabbatical" while also job hunting. Katie thrives working on their glamping business- she knows what high-end glampers want in their time away from the city. She is essentially doing the ultimate branding (her former job) for her family's farm- and it's a swimming success. So much so that her former boss and idol, Demeter, comes to stay.
Katie also has a love interest from London (and a harrassing ex-boyfriend who still lives in town and works on her family's farm), but this also in included as a smaller part of the story. The relationship is very fairytale-like, complete with the playboy makeover. If you don't look too far below the surface, it's sweet and happy. The real theme and relationship here is between Katie and Demeter. Both want the world to see what they wish they were, rather than what they are. Katie recognizes it in herself, but not in others, and getting to know the real Demeter who is glamping with her, opens her to some real truths- truths that a lot of us can use, when we experience the same jealousies over people we don't really know and insecurities about ourselves and our lives.
As a huge fan of "Can you keep a secret?" and her other books, I put a lot of hope in this book, and it did not disappoint. Fans of Kinsella will find the same laugh-out-loud lines and clever humor throughout this book. It has a very similar feel and tone to the Shopaholic and Secret books. The theme here is a little different and a little deeper, I thought, and it really adds a new level to Kinsella's adult comedic writing (she has some deeper books which have a completely different feel- e.g. "Finding Audrey"), but this is a book which you could read at the beach and adore and then continue to think about after you put it down. I really enjoyed it and read it within a day.
I think this is sure to be a fantastic hit amongst Kinsella fans across the board. While it won't replace the part of my heart held by Secret, it was a delightful and light-hearted read that I was very happy to have enjoyed. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
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roommates in her cheap flat hours away from her work where she enters boring data all day. She admires her boss, Demeter, from afar- Demeter has everything, a sweet family, booming career, gorgeous house. Katie feels pulled in several directions (her BFF in NYC and loving it, her father with his entrepreneurial schemes that she is able to help with), but her life takes a sudden turn when she is fired from the (not so) perfect job in London. Lying to her father and his sweet wife, Biddy, she grasps straws and comes to work with them on her "sabbatical" while also job hunting. Katie thrives working on their glamping business- she knows what high-end glampers want in their time away from the city. She is essentially doing the ultimate branding (her former job) for her family's farm- and it's a swimming success. So much so that her former boss and idol, Demeter, comes to stay.
Katie also has a love interest from London (and a harrassing ex-boyfriend who still lives in town and works on her family's farm), but this also in included as a smaller part of the story. The relationship is very fairytale-like, complete with the playboy makeover. If you don't look too far below the surface, it's sweet and happy. The real theme and relationship here is between Katie and Demeter. Both want the world to see what they wish they were, rather than what they are. Katie recognizes it in herself, but not in others, and getting to know the real Demeter who is glamping with her, opens her to some real truths- truths that a lot of us can use, when we experience the same jealousies over people we don't really know and insecurities about ourselves and our lives.
As a huge fan of "Can you keep a secret?" and her other books, I put a lot of hope in this book, and it did not disappoint. Fans of Kinsella will find the same laugh-out-loud lines and clever humor throughout this book. It has a very similar feel and tone to the Shopaholic and Secret books. The theme here is a little different and a little deeper, I thought, and it really adds a new level to Kinsella's adult comedic writing (she has some deeper books which have a completely different feel- e.g. "Finding Audrey"), but this is a book which you could read at the beach and adore and then continue to think about after you put it down. I really enjoyed it and read it within a day.
I think this is sure to be a fantastic hit amongst Kinsella fans across the board. While it won't replace the part of my heart held by Secret, it was a delightful and light-hearted read that I was very happy to have enjoyed. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
I liked everything about this story - the "Instagraming" of Katie's life, her insecurity as she compared her life to what she thought of her co-workers and boss, Katie's conflict between her love for her dad and her desire to make a life in London. All of it felt real and timely. Who doesn't feel
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insecure at times when we see all the perfect lives our friends seem to be living? What really made the story work for me was when Katie is forced out of the life she was hoping for and then gets some perspective on the reality behind the lives she so envied. I love that what arose was empathy and also a willingness to be more authentic. Show Less
LibraryThing member SueinCyprus
Katie is a typical Kinsella heroine: likeable, trusting and rather naive. She is from Somerset, but has always hankered after a job in London. She works for the gifted but rather brash (and very absent-minded) Demeter in a branding company...
The writing is compelling, with plenty of light-hearted
Recommended to anyone who enjoys light-hearted women's fiction; two warnings though: the blurb on the back gives some spoilers, and it takes a few chapters to get going.
The writing is compelling, with plenty of light-hearted
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asides, one or two of which made me laugh aloud. Some of the characters are caricatured, but not overly so, and the love story that runs alongside the other subplots is very tastefully done. There's more bad language than I'm comfortable with, but other than that I enjoyed the book very much and could barely put it down by the time I was half-way through.Recommended to anyone who enjoys light-hearted women's fiction; two warnings though: the blurb on the back gives some spoilers, and it takes a few chapters to get going.
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LibraryThing member heike6
Another funny read! She never fails to get me to laugh, and the situations are always new.
LibraryThing member xhollishx
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick, fun read and that's usually what you get from Kinsella. Great read!
LibraryThing member nyiper
I don't know how she does it----the CD of this book was another wonderful listening experience. Kinsella keeps producing different story lines with clever and frequent twists that keep the story moving at a rapid pace.
LibraryThing member pammycats
My Not So Perfect Life
By: Sophie Kinsella
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Full disclosure here - I am a big Sophie Kinsella fan. What I love about her books is that the main characters are so much like me. They get themselves into awful pickles by making poor
Characters:
The main character (Cat in London or Katie in the country as in Oscar Wilde) is a very endearing person. I definitely recognize her character in myself as I remember just starting my career and the struggle involved (financially and trying to be recognized). Outside of the office, Cat is obsessed by her online life. How do we appear to the world? She posts only positive, decadent images of her life in London. It's what she does for work as well - creating a public image for companies. It turns out she is really good at this. So is Demeter (named after the Greek goddess of the harvest) Cat's boss. In fact, Demeter is a legend. Her marketing projects are legendary. In the first half of the book, Demeter comes across as just plain awful. She is unsupportive of junior staff and insensitive to people and all of their ups and downs. What Ms. Kinsella does so brilliantly that I love is the major perspective shift that the reader achieves in the second half. All through the first half we see Demeter and her perfect life. In the second part, we have a major paradigm shift and can see the real Demeter. Her existence is fragile. Each circumstance that painted Demeter as doing wrong suddenly clarifies into the real image. Katie too must face a shift in how she sees herself. Who is she and what does she really want out of life? I love the "don't be a victim" backbone that I wish had been evident in the first half.
Plot:
The story starts out a bit slow. The first part is all set up and at times I felt that the plot was not moving along at an enjoyable pace (as in her other books). I found myself just plodding through the pages and trying to stay focused. The second half, however, took off with a vengeance. This is where all the plot points planted in the first half coalesce into a victorious resolution. I loved it. The storm clouds looming over our characters seem deadly. In what clever way will Ms. Katie fix the problem? Read this book to find out"
Conclusion:
The book is perhaps a bit bloated in the first half. Allow yourself to settle in though and really get to know the characters as the conclusion is highly satisfying.
By: Sophie Kinsella
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Full disclosure here - I am a big Sophie Kinsella fan. What I love about her books is that the main characters are so much like me. They get themselves into awful pickles by making poor
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choices. Things look desperate but then the main female protagonist (strong, often under appreciated, different kind of thinker) comes up with an innovative solution. Her books are clever plot mixed with soul satisfying character development. Yes, please, always count me in as a true fan!Characters:
The main character (Cat in London or Katie in the country as in Oscar Wilde) is a very endearing person. I definitely recognize her character in myself as I remember just starting my career and the struggle involved (financially and trying to be recognized). Outside of the office, Cat is obsessed by her online life. How do we appear to the world? She posts only positive, decadent images of her life in London. It's what she does for work as well - creating a public image for companies. It turns out she is really good at this. So is Demeter (named after the Greek goddess of the harvest) Cat's boss. In fact, Demeter is a legend. Her marketing projects are legendary. In the first half of the book, Demeter comes across as just plain awful. She is unsupportive of junior staff and insensitive to people and all of their ups and downs. What Ms. Kinsella does so brilliantly that I love is the major perspective shift that the reader achieves in the second half. All through the first half we see Demeter and her perfect life. In the second part, we have a major paradigm shift and can see the real Demeter. Her existence is fragile. Each circumstance that painted Demeter as doing wrong suddenly clarifies into the real image. Katie too must face a shift in how she sees herself. Who is she and what does she really want out of life? I love the "don't be a victim" backbone that I wish had been evident in the first half.
Plot:
The story starts out a bit slow. The first part is all set up and at times I felt that the plot was not moving along at an enjoyable pace (as in her other books). I found myself just plodding through the pages and trying to stay focused. The second half, however, took off with a vengeance. This is where all the plot points planted in the first half coalesce into a victorious resolution. I loved it. The storm clouds looming over our characters seem deadly. In what clever way will Ms. Katie fix the problem? Read this book to find out"
Conclusion:
The book is perhaps a bit bloated in the first half. Allow yourself to settle in though and really get to know the characters as the conclusion is highly satisfying.
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LibraryThing member Loried
I have been a fan of Sophie Kinsella's books, so I was happy to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of My Not So Perfect Life. I was ready for a non-Shopaholic book, and this one did not disappoint. It was a fun, escapist read. The book is very current and the plot incorporated current
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technology which made it original. Although it is basically “chick-lit”, the author successfully tried to pass on some advice to readers about not making assumptions about other peoples' lives. I highly recommend the book for readers looking for a fun escape. Show Less