Star Book Review: Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham

The sequel to Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City was full of all the gossip, drama and “scandal” that I anticipated after reading its predecessor, Holly’s Inbox. While this book can be read on its own, it’s definitely more fun having already read the previous one. All the same characters (and a few new ones) return with more secrets, conflicts, and just life stuff to be hashed out over email.

Holly and Toby are still together and working together at DK Huerst; although with Toby’s frequent business trips to France, Holly’s feeling even lonelier than before she and Toby got together. But as always, she’s got all her besties by her side, including funny guy, Jason, diva, Aisha, and coworker, Trisha.

You won’t believe the surprises in store in this fun British chick lit novel.  Someone’s got a big secret and Holly and Toby each have something major to tell one another but will they be able to communicate with one another with the distance that has grown between them? You won’t want to put this one down! Despite the book’s intimidating physical size, the email format makes for quick and easy reading all the way through. Holly Denham is a fabulous writer and two-book series comes highly recommended from Lip Gloss and Literature. 4/5

For more fun (and a sneak peek at the original Holly’s Inbox) Log onto, http://hollysinbox.com/ where you can get a taste of all the juicy details to come.

Techonology & The Girl Next Door: IT in Chick Lit?

I have several new books that I will be reviewing this summer that take on the theme of technology in one way or another. For instance, in the latest book I finished, Confessions of a Call Center Gal by Lisa Lim, the main character is working in telecommunication, helping customers with their Internet service. Phone Kitten by Marika Christian offers an alternative view at working at a “call center” in which young Emily embraces her hidden talents to be a successful “phone actress”. Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker probably takes the most direct approach of all, similar to the 2007 release, Holly’s Inbox by Holly Denham, as the story, itself, is comprised of email after email after email. I have come to really appreciate this format, mostly for its creativity and ability to tell a whole story through a unique medium. But where did this whole idea come from? Was it Bridget Jones’ Diary? Was it the infamous AOL- ping, “You’ve Got Mail” in the chick flick of the same name, starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks?

Whatever it was, it’s been made clear that since the dawn of the Internet, email, blogs and now, e-books have taken off, and chick lit is one genre that remains ahead of fiction’s latest IT trend. What’s your take on the whole email format in chick lit fiction?

I’ve been trying to keep track of all the books that I’ve read, or that I’m eager to read, that use the diary/letter/email format throughout the entire novel. Here are some of my faves that made the list:

Top Ten IT Chick Lit

  1.      Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding

  2.    Holly’s Inbox by Holly Denham

  3.     Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker

  4.    Love, Rosie (aka Where Rainbows End) by Cecelia Ahern

  5.     Save As Draft by Cavanaugh Lee

  6.     Boy Meets Girl (Boy  #1) by Meg Cabot

  7.     Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

  8.     Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City by Holly Denham

9.     The Edge of Reason (Bridget Jones #2) by Helen Fielding

10. He Typed, She Typed by Amy Turner & Mark Van Wye

What IT Chick Lit books am I missing?? Which IT Chick Lit novel is your favorite?

Third Sentence Thursday - Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham

http://snifflykitty.blogspot.com/

Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme brought to you every week by Sniffly Kitty which is fed by third sentence contraptions! Want to post your own Third Sentence? It’s simple! Just follow these three steps…

1) Take the book you are reading now and post the third sentence
2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)
3) Post a link to your sentence here (in the comments) or if you don't have a blog, just post it in the comments!

I am so excited to finally post a little something from one of my current readings in progress! I belong to the Chick Lit Book Club on Goodreads and every month we choose a different chick lit novel to read based on a theme for the month, members’ suggestions and finally, a group vote.

With Teacher Appreciation month, National Health Administrator's, Nurses, Police & Emergency Medical Services weeks, Golfer's, Armed Forces & Memorial Days all occurring in May, we decided to celebrate women and their many careers. Holly’s Inbox was chosen from a group of “working Girl” Chick Lit books. Written entirely in email format, Holly’s Inbox is a quick, fun and unique read. Gossip, office romance, ex-boyfriends, parties with coworkers, evil bosses…working at the office has never been so fun!

Working Girl Chick Lit - Chick Lit Book Club's Pick for May

Sneak a peak at the third email from the current page I am on:

Subject: Sister needs dating advice

From: Holly

To: Charlie Denham

I go to lunch on top of the world, I come back, and suddenly, everything’s going wrong. I need your help. Did I tell you I’ve been dating someone at work? Actually, I know I haven’t told you, but there it is. I have, and he’s a really nice guy, but he’s just asked me who Toby is. What should I say (Toby only happens to work on the same floor)?

Holly

PS Don’t worry if you have no advice at all, I know you are a guy, and you find touchy-feely problems difficult.

X

Holly’s Inbox by Holly Denham

Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham

System alert: Inbox full of scandal, romance, and office hilarity!

Meet Holly Denham. It's her first day as a receptionist at a London investment bank and inexperienced Holly is struggling. How's a working girl supposed to have a love life with a demanding job, crazy friends, a dysfunctional family, and gossipy colleagues? Not to mention that Holly's been keeping a secret from everyone - and the past is about to catch up with her.

An affair with a sexy VP heats things up at the office, but when Holly's first flame (who, she thinks, left her in the lurch) gets a job at the same company, complications abound and Holly's inbox becomes a daily source of drama, laughter and scandal.

Repeatedly compared to Bridget Jones' Diary, www.hollysinbox.com became a website phenomenon, with thousands of daily visitors from all over the world. This novel tells Holly's story in full, and also includes exclusive extra material not available on the site.

Synopsis provided by Goodreads