Star Audio Book Review - Big Girl by Danielle Steel; Read by Kathleen McInerney

          Victoria Dawson looks nothing like her parents. She is blonde, with blue eyes, plump and even has a bulbous nose. She looks like Queen Victoria, at least that’s what her father, Jim, has always told her. She envisions a beautiful, regal woman in elegant dresses and decadent up-dos, but one day, when she’s six years old, she stumbles upon a picture of the queen and she realizes that her father’s comparison is more a cruel joke than a compliment. When Victoria turns seven, Jim and wife, Christine, have another baby girl, much to Jim’s dismay, who desperately wants a boy, but the winning consolation of it all is that newborn Gracie, looks exquisite – the perfect resemblance of both her mother and father. 

          Victoria grows up to be smart, successful and independent in her own right, fulfilling her dream of graduating college, living in NYC and becoming a teacher. Of course, all of these goals do not meet her parents expectations or wishes for her and there relationship continues to be strained. Gracie grows more beautiful with every day. She models, has many friends and boyfriends and above all, is the apple of both her parents’ eyes. In fact one day, Jim tells Victoria that she was the “Tester Cake” and Gracie the prized pie.

          As you might imagine, Victoria pulls farther away from her family with every year, insult and family reunion gone wrong; but when Gracie announces she’s getting married to her college sweetheart, Victoria has no choice but to return to the family that has shunned her all her life. This time armed with a successful, handsome, and smart boyfriend, Victoria is not alone in her misery. In fact, she’s not miserable at all and it might surprise a few people.

          Big Girl explores many issues in its saga of the life of Victoria Dawson, most notably weight, family and parenting, sibling rivalry, love, forgiveness, trust and growth. I was amazed at how much time Danielle Steel covered in this book with out feeling like she left out anything. She has a way of highlighting important dialogue and integral events to flesh out her characters and evoke just the right emotion from her readers. Partnering with Brilliance Audio and Kathleen McInerney, who read Big Girl, I felt like I was right there with Victoria through all of her moves, transitions and struggles. Kathleen McInerney has quickly become one of my favorite narrators, first listening to her on Emily Giffin’s Love the One You’re With, she has impressed me with her enunciation and soothing sound. It brought a level of calmness to some of the more infuriating scenes, but still evoked the necessary strength and compassion of Victoria’s story.

All in all, a quick and straightforward listen. Although it was a tad predictable at times, it left listeners with a happy ending and don’t we all need happily ever after sometimes?

      3 STARS

In My Mailbox – Weekend Edition #3 – March Madness

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It originated in November 2008 as a way to share with other readers and bloggers what books were received, bought, won, etc each week and has evolved ever since. It still informs readers each Sunday of the books Kristi obtained over the course of the week only now the books are creatively shared via her web vlog.

To learn more details about IMM, its history and how to participate, please visit Kristi at The Story Siren:

http://www.thestorysiren.com/p/in-my-mailbox.html

For my weekly version of In My Mailbox, I’ve decided to do a recap of all the books that have come into my home and my hands – some via snail Mail, the Internet, Book Store, Library, Raffles, Giveaways, Authors and Publishing Houses. I read paperback books; borrow hardcover novels; scroll through e-books with my ereader, The Novel, and I listen to audio books. As you can imagine, I might not get to all the books that come into my possession each week, so be on the lookout for their reviews on my blog and if there is one (or two) in particular that you want to learn more about, read a review or find where you can obtain your own copy, please contact me at cgraceh at gmail dot com and I will do my best to respond to your request in a timely fashion.

I missed the last few week’s of recap of books brought, bought and borrowed but boy do I have some good books for you this week to make up for it. The sales went up again at Borders as they are about to close their doors but I stood strong and stayed home; but that didn’t stop me from checking out one of my favorite discount stores in Boston, Building 19 (b); I “rented” a few books from the library (L) to assist me in my writing endeavors and I finally got off the waitlist for a few good audio books on my local library’s Overdrive Media Web site (A).

So here we go…Lip Gloss and Literature Presents….the books that made it into my mailbox this week:

My first venture into the dystopian world….

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (A)

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Great title and a cover too hard to resist….

Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie (A)

Lucy Savage is not having a good week. Her cheating husband, Bradley, lobbed the final insult when he stood her up in divorce court. A dye job gone wrong has left her hair green. And someone is trying to kill her. To top it off, sexy cop Zack Warren is certain the very same man Lucy is trying to wash right out of her hair is the same Bradley he wants to arrest for embezzlement. When someone shoots at her and then her car blows up, Zack decides she needs twenty-four-hour police protection. Next thing Lucy knows, Zack has moved in to her big Victorian house, making them both sleepless . . . and not just from things that go bump in the night!

Dreaming of summer and reminding me of Judy Blume’s Summer Sisters…hoping it’s just as good!...

Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer (A)

Beautifully written, powerfully felt, full of both abundant joy and heart-wrenching sorrow, Beachcombers is an extraordinary novel that centers on the bittersweet reunion of three captivating, very different sisters on Nantucket over one gorgeous, exhilarating summer. Abbie Fox hasn’t seen her father or two younger sisters in almost two years, during which she’s jetted around the world and experienced life, if not love. But now Lily, the baby of the family, is sending Abbie urgent emails begging her to return home to Nantucket. Their middle sister, Emma, has taken to her bed, emotionally devastated after the loss of her high-powered stockbroker’s job and a shockingly unexpected break-up with her fiancé. Also, Lily is deeply worried that Marina, the beautiful, enigmatic woman renting their guesthouse, has set her sights on the sisters’ widowed father, Jim. The Fox girls closed ranks years ago after the haunting, untimely death of their mother, but seeing their dad move on with his life forces each of them to take stock. Over the course of the summer, the sisters’ lives grow as turbulent as the unpredictable currents encircling Nantucket. When Abbie encounters an incredibly appealing married man, she breaks her own rules in the name of love, fearing all the while that she’ll regret it. Meanwhile, type-A Emma learns a new definition of success, and strong-minded Lily must reconcile her dreams with reality. Even Marina, who has come to Nantucket to forget heartbreak and betrayal, faces an astonishing turn of events that will find her torn between fate and freedom. At summer’s end, these unforgettable women will face profound choices—and undergo personal transformations that will surprise even themselves.

An eagerly anticipated 2011 release…in stereo…

I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson (A)

                                                                                                                        

From the author of the best seller I Don’t Know How She Does It, a follow-up that promises to be one of the most widely read and talked-about novels of the season. 1974, Wales. Thirteen-year-old Petra and her best friend, Sharon, are in love with David Cassidy and obsessed with The Ultimate David Cassidy Quiz, a contest whose winners will be flown to America to meet their teen idol. 1998, London. Petra is pushing forty and on the brink of divorce. While cleaning out her mother’s closet, she finds a dusty letter—a letter her mother had intercepted—declaring her the winner of the contest she and Sharon had labored over with such agony and bliss. Twenty-four years later, twenty pounds heavier, the girls reunite for an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to meet their teen idol at last, middle age—theirs and his—be damned. Poignant, hilarious, joyful, profoundly moving and uplifting, I Think I Love You captures what girls learn about love through the universal experience of worshipping a teen dream. It will resonate with readers everywhere.

After making her mark in chick lit, this author turned to YA/Teen fiction....

The Booster by Jennifer Solow (b)

Jillian Siegel is living the quintessential Manhattan life: great clothes, fabulous boyfriend, a job at the hottest ad agency in town. But what nobody knows is that this twenty-nine year-old hides a dark secret - one that involves stuffing her oversize Gucci handbag with high-priced designer clothes and leaving the store without paying. There was once a time when Jillian didn't need to shop (much less steal) to feel whole. But that was long ago - when she spent hours amusing herself in the enchanted world of her uncle's elegant Upper East Side department store, and her mother's prolonged absences were easily forgotten with a new camel-hair coat or a fresh pair of Mary Janes. But then one day it was all gone - pulled right out from under her. Now, years later, her "perfect" life is loosely held together with half milligrams of Ativan and stolen cashmere scarves - and it's only a matter of time until everything crumbles. Packed with vibrant characters, bristling dialogue, and rich detail, The Booster is a uniquely stylish, deftly woven story about discovering one's true self in the most unexpected places.

I just love when I can find an old Red Dress Ink novel…I still miss that imprint…

My Fake Wedding by Mina Ford (b)

Katie's given up on love . . .so she'll be the perfect bride. When Katie Simpson discovers her boyfriend boffing "Fishpants Fraser," she vows to eat toenail clippings before getting involved again. Life as "the ginger spinster of Pelham Parish" will be lonely, but bearable as long as she shags lots of strangers and hangs tight with her friends. Unfortunately, Katie has the unerring ability to hit on the only gay man at the party (not again!). And her pals are somewhat preoccupied. Mover-and-shaker Janice has started scoping funerals for doddering sugar daddies. George, Katie's gorgeous, flamingly gay best friend (yes, she's tried it), is madly in love with an Aussie heartbreaker (struck out there, too) who needs some speedy nuptials to stay in the country. What better opportunity to plan a fake wedding more elaborate than a ten-tier cake? However, love hasn't given up on Katie. Just when the girl who eats like a cow, wears clompy shoes and is unacquainted with her own hairbrush starts trying on white dresses, romance comes from the unlikeliest -- and straight and male -- source. Will Katie let the man she loves ruin her wedding day?

As an aspiring chick lit writer, I thought what better book to read (and own) than a collection of essays on the major influences in some of my favorite authors’ lives….

Everything I Learned About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume Edited by Jennifer O’Connell

For millions of American girls growing up, Judy Blume's awkward, self-conscious characters became surrogates, allies, and comforters in their silent struggles. The 24 essays of Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume honor an unconventional mentor who has entertained readers even as she teaches them. The topics touched here are as wide and deep as Blume's fiction: divorce, bullying, peer pressure, menstruation, weight issues, sibling rivalry, and racism. The contributors include Meg Cabot, Beth Kendrick, Julie Kenner, and Cara Lockwood.

All week in my writing practices I’ve been curious, is it better to start a book with plot or character….What do you think?...

Creating Characters: How to Build Story People by Dwayne V. Swain (L)

Along with a clever plot, well-drawn characters make us want to continue reading a novel or finish watching a movie. In Creating Characters, Dwight V. Swain shows how writers can invent interesting characters and improve them so that they move a story along. "The core of character," he says in chapter 1, "lies in each individual story person's ability to care about something; to feel implicitly or explicitly, that something is important." Building on that foundation-the capacity to care-Swain takes the would-be writer step-by-step through the fundamentals of "finding characters who turn you on"; labeling them so readers will recognize them within the story; fleshing them out with realistic "tags, traits, and relationships"; giving them motivations and goals; and bringing them to life with emotions. Additional chapters on giving a character a background, developing offbeat characters and heroes, writing dialogue, and much else make this basic but thought-provoking how-to a valuable tool for both the novice and the seasoned writer.

Building Fiction: How to develop Plot and Structure by Jesse Lee Kercheval (L)

No one looks at structure like Jesse Lee Kercheval. She builds a work of fiction just as an architect would design a house—with an eye for details and how all parts of a story or novel interconnect. Even with the most dynamic language, images, and characters, no piece of fiction will work without a strong infrastructure. Kercheval shows how to build that structure using such tools as point of view, characterization, pacing, and flashbacks. Building Fiction will help you envision the landscape of your fiction and build great stories there.

And that wraps up my week of book shopping, borrowing, downloading and bargaining…what’s in your mailbox???

Girls Night Out! Chick Flicks – Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, The Movie

Second Date

I thought for the second rendition of Girls Night Out! Chick Flicks I would combine a Chick Flick I have been eagerly (obsessively) anticipating for the past two years, Something Borrowed with a book review of its original text of the same title by chick lit queen, Emily Giffin.

Emily Giffin broke out into the chick lit scene one of the heights of the genre. Red Dress Ink was firmly established in the US as a popular publication house for chick lit novels only, with the UK’s Little Black Dress books right on its tales. Although Emily Giffin never published any of her books with either of these houses, she became a prominent figure in the genre of chick lit, where she remains firmly planted to this day and Something Borrowed was the book that set her career in motion. A classic tale of two rivaling best friends, Darcy and Rachel – perhaps, better known today by the term coined by tv show, Sex and the City, as “frenemies”, aptly labeled for their love-hate relationship which continually crosses that fine line between friends and enemies. As Darcy deals with the stress of planning her wedding to handsome lawyer, Dex, and Rachel deals with the stress of turning 30 and still being single, the two best friends’ lives intersect in more ways than ever before. Through all the fights and milestones, nothing has torn them apart, but Darcy and Rachel’s friendship is about to be tested in ways they never could have imagined.

In the opening scene of the novel, Something Borrowed, we find Darcy, Dex, Rachel and all their friends at a Manhattan bar, celebrating Rachel’s 30^th birthday. Darcy, ever the party girl, is in her prime, drinking, dancing on tables and otherwise stealing the spotlight as she has always been so inclined to do. After her umpteenth cocktail, it’s decided that she’d be better off calling it a night, and Dex, usually the perfect gentleman and boyfriend, puts her in a cab and stays behind with Rachel and friends. By night’s end, when the last of their friends, Marcus, announces his departure, it’s only Dex and Rachel left standing – and “standing” quickly shifts into a more horizontal position as they, too, leave, together for Rachel’s apartment. Unplanned, unpredicted, but definitely not unwanted, Rachel is confused, to say the very least at what has just happened. Was it a one-night stand? Does Dex actually have feelings for Rachel? What about his engagement to Darcy? Is it over? Will he tell her? Should she tell her? When sex, best friends, fiancés, and a wedding are on the line, things can only go in one direction – down and Dex and Rachel learn how “one-night” can quickly turn from complicated to dangerous to disastrous. Who will be left standing and who will be together in the end?

Something Borrowed was an unforgettable and incredible debut from St. Martin's Press author, Emily Giffin, who has since reigned as one of the foremost queens of chick lit. She dares to broach subjects that others may feel are too taboo to write about, such as lovers, affairs, fantasies about ex-lovers, love triangles between best friends and fiancés and more scandalous plot lines to tantalize all your reading senses. I listened to the audio version, which was narrated very eloquently by Jennifer Wiltsie. She created an audible world of friendship, overcome by love, passion and betrayal, taking my imagination of the novel to new heights. This classic chick lit book will remain on my shelf for years and decades to come. A + + / 5 Stars

Warner Bros. romantic comedy, Something Borrowed, is due for release in theaters nationwide May 6, 2011. It stars Kate Hudson as Darcy, Ginnifer Goodwin as Rachel, John Krasinsky as Ethan, Steve Howey as Marcus and Colin Egglesfield as Dex.

(Bonus: Be on alert for an Emily Giffin cameo in the movie!)

Book Review: The Making of Mia by Ilana Fox; Read by Patience Tomlinson

         

          Last year, Novelicious – another fabulous website dedicated to all things chick lit – did a feature on British author, Ilana Fox, as her second novel, Spotlight, was about to be released. They gave out 20 copies of her book, featured her in their Novel News column, showcased the unveiling of her new web site and best of all, readers heard from Ilana Fox, firsthand, and got a look-see at her Writing Room, “where the writerly magic happens”. At any rate, ever since I saw the first of these features, I have wanted to obtain a copy of (any of) Ilana Fox’s novels, but once again, being a U.S. resident, this has been made difficult at best and at times, impossible. Of course, my best resource when I fail to find a book locally is almost always Amazon and sure enough, after patiently waiting (about a year), Amazon’s audio web site, Audible.com finally came out with her first release, The Making of Mia, read by Patience Tomlinson – and it was most definitely worth the wait.

The Making of Mia was an absolutely adorable debut from British chick lit author, Ilana Fox. This is the tale of one woman’s journey from ugly duckling to beautiful swan and the struggle between good and evil that evolves on the way. Jo Hill dreams of working and writing in fashion magazines, but the problem is she doesn’t seem to look the part. She’s practically obese compared to the skeletally thin workers at Gloss who look more like the models on the cover than the writers behind-the-stories. Despite her appearance, she is able to score a fab job as the personal assistant (PA) to Joshua Garnett, one of the (if not The) most powerful persons in the world of publishing. Sadly, her career ends all too soon after a mix-up has Jo sending Joshua’s wife a pair of naughty knickers meant for his lover’s birthday. Joshua reprimands her in front of the entire Gloss staff, horrifying and embarrassing Jo, to say the very least. She flees to Miami where she undergoes a major makeover and later, re-emerges in the world of fashion magazines.

          In her “new” self, Jo takes on the name Mia Blackwood and the role of Hollywood heartthrob, Gable Blackwell’s little sister, her new bff. Mia Blackwood becomes more prosperous and successful than Jo could have dreamed, turning all kinds of heads with hardly any effort at all - trouble is, no one knows her as Jo Hill anymore. Mia realizes she must get back to focusing on the what brought about her desire for change in the first place and continues on her elaborate scheme to exact revenge on former boss, Joshua Garnett. Although Mia knows what an arrogant, cheating, lying and overall despicable man Joshua is, he still manages to convince the rest of the magazine world of his power and should he recognize Mia as Jo, her plan will crumble before it can even begin. Will Mia get her man? Will she find her place in the world as Mia Blackwell or Jo Hill? Listen to the unabridged audio, beautifully read by narrator Patience Tomlinson. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a fabulously written, fantastically orchestrated and articulated, modern fairy tale. A plus.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

***Read more about Ilana Fox and her latest books at www.ilanafox.com. You can also follow her on Goodreads or Twitter (@ilana)***

Star Book Review: Last Night At Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger (Audio); Narrated by Merritt Wever

     I know this is probably going to sound a little bit backwards to a lot of Lauren Weisberger fans out there but the very first book I read by LW was Everyone Worth Knowing. When I first picked it up, I wasn’t sure if I could get into it – it talked about nightclubs and the drug scene and I wasn’t sure this was going to be an author for me, but by the book’s end, something about the way Ms. Weisberger depicted her characters and scenes had me hooked. Later, I saw the Hollywood movie version of her first novel, The Devil Wears Prada. With a stunning A-List cast, the movie entertained and became a favorite of mine in the chick lit genre of movie pictures and films. Finally this past fall, I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Devil Wears Prada and I must say – I was blown away by its originality. From its fairy tale plot, to its invigorating writing and its articulate narration, I gave this production a 5 Star Review.

     Now, to no surprise of mine, I found Lauren Weisberger has done it again with her latest release, Last Night at Chateau Marmont. Her newest novel can be described as nothing less than “Fabulous!” Brooke and Julian Alter appear to be the perfect down-to-Earth couple that you’d love to go out to dinner with or live next door to. Young and in love, they were quickly swept away by each other in a fairy-tale type of romance and married shortly thereafter. Aside from each other, Brooke and Julian also share a love for their careers, both working extremely hard in their respective professions, Brooke as a nutritionist at a local hospital and young girls’ Private school and Julian as a musician. Barely a year into their marriage, it seems nothing can come between the two young lovers until one night, after an invitation to perform on The Tonight Show, everything that seems right and sane in their world is turned upside down. Julian’s status quickly changes from a struggling musician to a successful artist with a household name who’s known worldwide. Now Julian’s schedule demands his presence from coast to coast and the paparazzi are there for every beat. Brooke can’t escape the scrutiny; she’s either criticized for being there too much or too little for her husband. Torn between two worlds, Julian and Brooke’s marriage begins to look like anything but a perfect relationship. Has the instant celebrity and stardom brought their relationship to a point of no return? Will fame and money affect Julian’s faith and devotion to his wife? Has the constant traveling along with an otherwise MIA husband changed Brooke’s vision of their future? Listen to hear if Brooke and Julian survive the turbulent roller coaster ride that Julian’s sudden rise to stardom has taken them on.

     Newcomer, Merritt Wever, narrated in a believable, expressive fashion that sounded consistent and appropriate with what I imagined the characters might sound like. The varied emotions emanating from her tone and speech in various characters and scenes, made for the perfect dramatic effect. She really made me feel a part of every scene. I found myself imagining what my life would be like if it were suddenly taken over by the paparazzi and had taken my husband (or boyfriend) with them. Would I leave my life behind to attend every show, every performance and every media taping to be at his side? Would are love life slip further and further away as our lives made different turns and angles with each passing day? Would I be set up and decimated by the media as they so easily seem to do to people once they are surrounded by all the money and flashing lights? I’d like to think that I could balance our life out but I think Lauren Weisberger and Merit Wever captured the impossibility of it all in this audio edition of Last Night at Chateau Marmont. I look forward to hearing more from the talented duo of voice and writer.

     Based on its plot, narration and writing style, I would definitely recommend this audio book to music lovers, celebrity aficionados, chick lit fans and audio listeners alike.

STAR RATING: 4 STARS

Star Book Review: Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon (Audio); Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

     Jane Fallon’s debut novel, Getting Rid of Matthew came out in 2007, joining the ranks of many other successful chick lit books on the subject of extramarital affairs, friendship and how one defines one’s self in the midst of such relationship chaos. takes a unique stance on the topic. Reminiscent of books like 1996’s How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan and 2004’s Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin and Marian Keyes’ Angels of the same year, Getting Rid of Matthew tackles a tough topic but adds its own unique perspective to the subject matter. When Stella catches her man cheating in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, she takes her pride back by throwing him and all his clothes out on the street, burns all his clothes, including his most prized possession: a hip, roadster sports car, to bits, symbolizing the love and relationship that he threw away like yesterday’s trash. In an alternate viewpoint, we get a glimpse at the lives of those doing the cheating in Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed, which chronicles the saga of an affair from its inception when Rachel sleeps with her best friend’s fiancé the night of her 30th birthday. Later we find out, that it’s not just one fiancé having an affair. Darcy also commits the ultimate, adulterous pre-wedding crime and sleeps with her fiancé’s best man. Finally, in Marian Keyes’ Angels Maggie Walsh finds solace across the Atlantic as she makes a daring move from Ireland to the U.S. to start her life anew without her no-good cheating husband and finds happiness and herself in the City of Angels in Los Angeles, CA.

     Unlike its predecessors, Ms. Fallon’s story does not end with a cheating husband caught in bed with his mistress and thrown out on his rear. It does not indulge in the nuances of an illicit love affair and it does not take an entire ocean to separate the cheater from the cheatee to move on with their lives. Instead, Getting Rid of Matthew focuses on the women in Matthew’s life, and we get to see an affair from the vantage point of both the mistress and the wife of Matthew. In fact, at one point in the story, the two women form unsuspecting bond (although one of the women is entirely unaware of the other’s true identity). Nevertheless, I was surprised when this tale began when cheating husband, Matthew, showed up on the doorstep of his mistress, Helen, with all his possessions in tow. Ironically, in the tradition of the infamous saying “we all want what we can’t have”, Helen almost simultaneously decides she is “over” Matthew and no longer wants to be with him. However, feeling guilty, thanks to the constant reminder from Matthew about how he has just uprooted his entire family - wife, Sophie and two daughters - for her, Helen feels obligated to let him stay at her apartment. Nonetheless, as the label, an affair, often implies, Helen quickly realized nothing was about to be settled easily or amicably and as it became clearer to Helen that their living situation was anything less than temporary, she proceeded to orchestrate various “plans” to be rid of Matthew once and for all. Shortly into her master plan, Helen found herself in the midst of a predicament on the brink of disaster. Listen to the entire unabridged audio version to hear the hilarious recount of all the antics Helen pulls off in her attempt to break free form her married lover. This was a unique, fun, and unusual tale from British chick lit author Jane Fallon, made even more fun by seasoned narrator Rosalyn Landor. Ms. Landor excels at making emotion an audible expression such that listeners feel like they are part of all the narrative action.

Star Rating: 5 Stars

Star Book Review: The Big Love by Sarah Dunn (Audio); Narrated by Eliza Foss

     As many of you already know, one of my major aspirations in life is to become a published chick lit author. On my journey I have read two very influential books on “how to” become a successful chick lit writer; one, Will Write for Shoes: How to Write a Chick Lit Novel by Cathy Yardley; and two, See Jane Write: A Girls Guide to Writing Chick Lit by Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs. Mlynowski and Jacobs (2006) book mentioned Sarah Dunn’s The Big Love over and over, citing her writing process and quoting some of the more efficient and notable lines from the novel. It has been on my “to-be-read” (or listened to) list ever since.

     Published in 2004, I considered this to be one of the earlier books of the chick lit genre, keeping this in mind as I heard the very much traditional and formulaic chick lit plot with which this book centered itself around. In such a “classic” style, the female heroine is catapulted on a search for self after losing the thing nearest and dearest to her heart (usually a boyfriend). To (very) briefly sum up this type of plot (or at least my interpretation of such a plot): girl loses boy; in turn, girl loses sense of self; girl forced to search for self; just when things seem to be going well, boy (or another boy) comes back; girl either decides she wants boy or that she doesn’t need him to survive; girl solidifies sense of self and accepts life and self for the better; and usually she lives happily ever after (with or without boy). Of course, most novels are much more complex than my (very) brief interpretation, and often throw in a few unique and unpredictable curve balls, but basically, I believe this was the formula most often followed in early, “classic” chick lit novels.

     Many things made The Big Love stand out for me apart from other ‘classic” chick lit books. I especially enjoyed the creativity of the opening premise in which the author chose to set the scene for main character, Alison, to lose the “love of her life”; Alison’s boyfriend leaves in the middle of a dinner party, with the excuse that he is just running to the store to get a bottle of mustard, only he never comes back. Not only does he not come home, but he calls to tell her that he’s been having an affair with his ex-girlfriend and is madly in love with her again – all the while, Alison’s dinner guests are still at their house. As the story continues, Alison is set up on various dates; contemplates the saga of her relationship and what led up to its demise and above all, begins a search for self as “Alison” rather than as “so-and-so’s girlfriend”. She finds herself wondering, was her ex “the big love”? Is there such a thing as “the big love”?

     I’m so glad I listened to the unabridged audio version, read by Eliza Foss. With its combination of a classic story line, winning female heroine, and fantastic narration, The Big Love had me at from its inception. Eliza Foss did a good job portraying each character, namely Alison, as she made her way on a journey in search of self in this comical and heartfelt story. Listen to the full audio to find out what she concludes in her quest for The Big Love.

Star Rating: 3 stars