Don’t focus on a picture-perfect life
MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE by Sophie Kinsella (Bantam Press £18.99)
I’M A huge fan of Kinsella, most famous for her Shopaholic series. This standalone novel stars protagonist Katie Brenner, whose carefully curated Instagram feed suggests she has the perfect life: a chic flat in London, a glamorous job in advertising, happy nights out at hotspot bars with a crowd of super-cool friends.
The reality of Katie’s existence, however, is entirely different. The truth is that she rents a tiny room in a rundown flat, has a lowly assistant job and is so broke she can’t even afford coffee with friends.
Katie is talented, but however hard she tries she just can’t get her boss, the scarily fabulous Demeter, to notice her.
When Katie loses her job, she moves back home to rural Somerset to help her parents set up a glamping business.
The last person she expects to turn up on holiday is her former boss, but perhaps Demeter’s life isn’t so perfect either?
This is a highly enjoyable romp about how perceptions can’t be trusted in our social media obsessed society, and how being true to yourself and your values must come out on top.
THE STRANGER IN MY HOME by Adele Parks (Headline Review £7.99)
I ALWAYS enjoy Parks’ warm and witty rom coms, epic love stories and impeccably researched historical novels.
In this latest, Alison has worked hard to leave her miserable childhood behind her and knows how lucky she is to lead such a happy life with her beloved Jeff and their practically perfect teenage daughter, Katherine.
So no one could have predicted the hell about to be unleashed after a knock at the door changes everything.
I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s safe to say that such an upheaval would test anyone’s sanity and the tension on all sides is palpable as their lives start to unravel.
The secrets, lies and suspense kept me engrossed.
THE AFFAIR by Amanda Brooke (Harper £7.99)
THIS dark, disturbing story about a schoolgirl and a scandal is satisfyingly different and compelling. Nina’s 15-year-old daughter, Scarlett, is pregnant and, even worse, refuses to reveal who is the father.
Nina’s life quickly begins to implode as she searches for the truth, with suspicions flying everywhere — from her own new husband of less than a year to Scarlett’s teacher, who has been giving her private tuition.
As Nina and Scarlett’s relationship becomes ever more tense and tormented, it’s not long before Nina’s distraught husband walks out.
The teenage protagonist is so believable in her egomania and selfishness that I found her intensely dislikeable until near the end. This didn’t make Scarlett and her situation any less fascinating — quite the reverse.
I couldn’t put the book down and didn’t see the big twist coming at all. Five stars.