‘A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting’ by Sophie Irwin

Genre: Adult Fiction – Historical Romance

Published: 2022

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★

I enjoyed this book overall and I want to read the next one in the series. I wish we got more of the history of the parents to be honest, that sounds fascinating – maybe a prequel? I always love reading romances based around the haut ton and this is a clean one with no sex at all, and very minimal kissing or touching. The focus is on the relationships between the different characters and their discovery of who they are and what they really want.

I have to admit I didn’t really like Kitty or Cecily at the beginning. Cecily seemed too up herself and Kitty seemed far too mercenary. But I grew to really like both of them in the end, and Radcliffe as well. His teasing with Kitty Talbot was often the highlight of the book! Radcliffe’s past in the French wars haunts him though he tries not to let it show. When it comes out are some of the most interesting scenes and I would have liked to see that play out a little more.

I love how funny and witty this was, with some brilliant one-liners from lots of different characters. Definitely an enemies to lovers romance, the slow burn was perhaps a little too slow for me, especially at the beginning, but I love how it all came together and their betrothal was just perfect. It reminded me a little Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ but not in a bad way, and it didn’t rip it off, but there were nice little nods to the story.

I can’t wait to see what Irwin does next as this book was funny, relaxing, and so engaging to read on boring and busy train journeys to work.

‘The Wake-Up Call’ by Beth O’Leary

Genre: Adult Fiction – Chic Lit

Published: 2023

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★

Another brilliant novel from Beth O’Leary! Izzy and Lucas work at Forest Manor Hotel which is under threat of closure. The pair are usually put on different shifts, so they don’t have to work together but in the run-up to Christmas the pair have to work together. What follows is lots of competition, comedy, and riling each other up. Sparks fly as they work to return lost wedding rings to their owners. It’s a lovely thought to be able to do that, and some returns go better than others, it has to be said.

Izzy and Lucas are so funny! I loved their constant sniping and teasing, obvious from the beginning they were meant to be together. Izzy is an outgoing, original, and seemingly adventurous character but we find out things about her past throughout the novel that explains why she is the way she is. In contrast to Izzy, Lucas is more aloof, withdrawn, and serious, but again there are things revealed throughout the story that explain his character. It’s fun to see how they draw each other out, without seeming to or intending to.

I also loved Mr Townsend and how his story came together was beautiful in the end. The only character I didn’t like from the beginning was Louis and I was proven entirely right that he was creepy and smarmy, thinking he is better than everyone else. He’s awful. The other characters were brilliant, some great comedic moments from Arjun and Ollie in the kitchen, and Lucas’s family on video calls were so funny trying to get involved in his life.

I always really enjoy Beth O’Leary’s books and once again I haven’t been disappointed! This was a funny, light-hearted story with some lovely emotional moments, not the same amount of angst as in other enemies to lovers’ stories.

‘Faking Christmas’ by Kerry Winfrey

Genre: Adult Fiction – Chic Lit

Published: 2023

Format: eBook

Rating: ★★★

I thought the premise of this book was quite good, and I was looking forward to reading it. It was an easy and quick read. You don’t have to really concentrate on it to enjoy it. It was cheesy and laugh out loud. One of my favourite moments was Laurel trying to milk and feed the goats, completely out of her depth.

However, I struggled to really like Laurel as a character. I much preferred Holly and Darius, Gilbert, or Max. Gilbert was adorable and although his moments were some of the cheesiest, including how he just invited himself to his employee, Laurel’s, family Christmas, he added a lot of light relief and some of the best throwaway comments, especially about how the LEGO was staring at him. Gilbert’s ability to try and find the fun or positivity in everything is lovely, despite his marriage having fallen apart.

Enemies to lovers and fake dating are always fun tropes to read about, and when combined with Laurel’s seeming inability to do anything without screwing it up, and the growing sexual tension between her and Max, it really is a funny book though you do have to suspend belief at times to make it work. It just seemed like too much at times, hence only giving it 3 stars. Max had said something at Laurel’s sister, Holly’s, wedding to Darius, Max’s best friend, and Laurel has held it against him ever since, but it comes together and there is no predictable 3rd act break up, for which I was very grateful!

As a fun Christmas read, it was great, a lovely way to start off 2024 to be honest in terms of my reading before I dive into some heavier research related stuff.

‘Beach Read’ by Emily Henry

Genre: Adult Fiction – Chic Lit

Published: 2020

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★★

I bought this book when a friend was reading it and raving about it. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump recently, and this made me want to read the others of Emily Henry’s books right now, so I went out and bought them. This is the best chic lit read I’ve read this year for sure, as I just got sucked in.

I laughed out loud on a train in parts and got some very strange looks from other passengers. It’s a story of working through writer’s block, finding love, and discovering family secrets, all during one summer. It’s completely engaging to read, and the chapters aren’t too long so it feels like you can just keep reading and reading but at the same time stop at an obvious place should you need to (like if you reach your stop on the train).

The trope of enemies to lovers is done a lot in fiction but this felt different because they made a deal to try and outdo each other but spending lots of time with each other willingly. It just grabbed me when I realised that both of the main characters were writers with writers block so decide to swap genres – that just sounds amazing! January and Augustus seem like two people who will never get on, they’re very different but sometimes opposites attract, as they do here. January is a hopeless romantic and Augustus doesn’t seem to believe in love. Both are drawing on past experiences and trying to work through their problems.

There is plenty of sarcasm and humour, but this exists alongside a difficult father-daughter relationship, dealing with the aftermath of cancer, and discovering secrets about someone who you can’t confront about them. Augustus and January arrange to go with each other to do research for their respective books, and this leads them to exploring a dangerous cult which adds an extra dimension to this romance.

It wasn’t an absolute mind-blowing book, but it was so fun, engaging, humorous, and just what I needed right now!

‘Talk Bookish to Me’ by Kate Bromley

Genre: Adult Fiction – Chic Lit

Published: 2021

Format: Paperback

Rating: ★★★

I really enjoyed this book – I really enjoy reading anything about books and writing, especially with a bit of romance thrown in! I do also enjoy the enemies to lover’s trope; it does offer plenty of potential for fireworks between the main characters. Though the pair seemed to get over the enemies’ thing pretty quickly which was a little disappointing. I wanted to see more fireworks and back and forth between them.

The first half felt stronger for me than the second half. As I always say with romance novels, you know how it’s going to end but the journey is always the interesting part. When Kara and Ryan meet again so many years after their painful break-up and there is an immediate spark between them you know that there are going to be fireworks, especially given that they are thrown together when Ryan gets kicked out of his hotel and Kara offers to put him up until after their friends’ wedding.

Both characters had obviously unresolved issues from the beginning, and it was the supporting characters like Christina, Maggie, and Liam, who help to steer them towards their happy ending. It was an easy, enjoyable read, and I do enjoy books about books and writing. Perhaps because I am a writer and I do love to read. I have a list of other books about books that I want to read, so this just fuelled that eagerness.

My absolute favourite character had to be Ryan’s bulldog, Duke. He offered so many humorous moments and was the reason that the two were thrown so close together in the first place. I wish there was more of the dog to be honest, as he offered plenty of comedic potential that wasn’t utilised as well as it could have been. It’s a joyful romp that makes me want to read more, which I haven’t felt the urge to do for a while. So, for that, Kate Bromley, thank you.