Genre(s): Adult, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Romance
Pages: 402
Release Date: April 14, 2015 | Harper Collins
Edition: Physical ARC
Source: TLC Blog Tours
Rating:
The summer bestseller from the immensely popular Lindsey Kelk
Tess Brookes has always been a Girl with a Plan. But when the Plan goes belly up, she’s forced to reconsider.
After accidently answering her flatmate Vanessa’s phone, she decides that since being Tess isn’t going so well, she might try being Vanessa. With nothing left to lose, she accepts Vanessa’s photography assignment to Hawaii – she used to be an amateur snapper, how hard can it be? Right?
But Tess is soon in big trouble. And the gorgeous journalist on the shoot with her, who is making it very clear he’d like to get into her pants, is an egotistical monster. Far from home and in someone else’s shoes, Tess must decide whether to fight on through, or ‘fess up and run…
I received this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review. This opinion is my own, and will not be swayed by this.
It's been forever since I've read a contemporary novel, shoot it's been ages since I've read Chick Lit, and to be honest, I truly missed it. The cute-ness, fluffi-ness, hilarious-ness . . . I just hadn't been getting that lately, and if there's one thing that About A Girl showed me, it's that no matter how far I stray away from my all-time favorite genre, it will always welcome me back with open arms and good book.
Have Sex With Male Bestfriend That You've Been Crushing On For 10 Years
3.Have Awkward Conversation With Male Bestie. Learn That He Slept With Your STD Carrying Flatmate
4.Make Irrational Decisions
5.Steal Your Flatmate's Identity. Takeover Her Photography Gig In Hawaii
6.Make New Friends In Hawaii
7.Fall In Love With A Handsome Asshole In Hawaii
8.Sleep With Said Handsome Asshole
9.Have Everything Blow Up In Your Face. Remember To Pick Up The Pieces Later
10.Come Home As A Brand New Tess
11. Make A Decision Between The Handsome Asshole, Or Adorably Irritating Bestfriend.
Notice how our checklist isn't quite complete?
To outsiders, Tess Brookes has it all. She's smart, witty, and incredibly quirky. She has an amazing job in Advertising with the promise of a promotion, and yeah her flatmate Vanessa is a complete asshole, but she has two of the coolest bestfriends, Amy and Charlie. But just as I thought all of the pieces to her perfectly laid life was falling into place, the unthinkable happened. The UNTHINKABLE, that for Tess, is a total game changer (not in a good way) a wreck-my-life-why-don't-ya type of situation . . .
I think I was mentally jumping for joy when Tess took a photography gig in a Hawaii pretending to be her trifling wench of a flatmate Vanessa. I mean, she didn't MEAN to do it, but when your booking agent hardly let's you get a word in, you can't do anything but nod your head and say " Uh huh " in agreement right? Her decision to finally take a risk and do something on the whim, was my absolute favorite moment in this story. Tess boards a plane before she even has time to produce any second thoughts, and before we know it, the story is leaving behind gloomy London for some sex-on-the-beach weather in Hawaii.
It's been forever since I've read a contemporary novel, shoot it's been ages since I've read Chick Lit, and to be honest, I truly missed it. The cute-ness, fluffi-ness, hilarious-ness . . . I just hadn't been getting that lately, and if there's one thing that About A Girl showed me, it's that no matter how far I stray away from my all-time favorite genre, it will always welcome me back with open arms and good book.
Reinventing Tess Brookes: Checklist
1. Get Fired From Job
2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. Make A Decision Between The Handsome Asshole, Or Adorably Irritating Bestfriend.
Notice how our checklist isn't quite complete?
What A Girl Wants, What A Girl Needs
That moment when every pop song from the 90's pops up in your head as you're reading.To outsiders, Tess Brookes has it all. She's smart, witty, and incredibly quirky. She has an amazing job in Advertising with the promise of a promotion, and yeah her flatmate Vanessa is a complete asshole, but she has two of the coolest bestfriends, Amy and Charlie. But just as I thought all of the pieces to her perfectly laid life was falling into place, the unthinkable happened. The UNTHINKABLE, that for Tess, is a total game changer (not in a good way) a wreck-my-life-why-don't-ya type of situation . . .
She's gets fired from her job.
Now this may not be the end of the world for most, but reading about Tess, her job WAS her world. Other than Charlie and Amy, Tess had ZERO other friends. She wasn't entirely close to her family, and let's not get into her home situation. So literally working for Donovan & Dunning was all she really knew. This sounds beyond depressing right? As humans, when we're feeling down & out, a bit like the world is out to screw us over, we tend to . . . not think straight. We tend to make decisions, that in our right mind, we would probably NEVER even attempt to do. So when Tess sleeps with Charlie, I am more than surprised. I'm not however, surprised that their rump in the sack leads to an awkward situation afterwards, I am not surprised that she walks away from the situation a bit humiliated, but I was surprised when the story takes an exciting turn as Tess decides to do the unthinkable. Nah scratch that, when Tess decides to LIVE A LITTLE . . .
Aloha Baby
I think I was mentally jumping for joy when Tess took a photography gig in a Hawaii pretending to be her trifling wench of a flatmate Vanessa. I mean, she didn't MEAN to do it, but when your booking agent hardly let's you get a word in, you can't do anything but nod your head and say " Uh huh " in agreement right? Her decision to finally take a risk and do something on the whim, was my absolute favorite moment in this story. Tess boards a plane before she even has time to produce any second thoughts, and before we know it, the story is leaving behind gloomy London for some sex-on-the-beach weather in Hawaii.
As a contemporary lover, I appreciated the fact that while this story wasn't entirely realistic, it was still fun, cute, and absolutely hilarious. After the setting switches to Hawaii, we're introduced to a whole new set of fun characters, and I must admit, I loved them all! Paige and Kekipi reminded me so much of my loud mouth friends, especially after they've had a couple of drinks! I have such a soft spot for Mr.Albert, and while Nick was out-of-this-world irritating, I thoroughly enjoyed the banter he and Tess often exchanged, and I soon found myself ditching my hopes for her and Charlie, and rooting for Nick Miller instead.
Even if you're not the biggest fan of chick lit, About A Girl will be a pleasurable read. I couldn't help but to laugh at how ridiculously awkward Tess naturally was, and how she managed to royally fuck things up, in the best way possible. The writing is fast paced and before I knew it, the end was near, people were fighting, (I was thrilled to read about Vanessa getting her ass beat) and sadly we're left with the ultimate cliffhanger:
CHARLIE OR NICK?
I won't even lie, I'm a bit disturbed to know that Tess won't be making a decision on either guy in this novel, but I am however, truly excited to continue the story with Tess and her bat-shit crazy friends, as they embark on an hilarious adventure of friends, travel, and love between the handsome pain in the ass, or the 10 year bestfriend.
It better be Nick, but I really like Charlie too. Lord I'm just as confused as she is!
It better be Nick, but I really like Charlie too. Lord I'm just as confused as she is!
About The Author: Lindsey Kelk
Lindsey Kelk is a writer and children's book editor. When she isn't writing, reading, listening to music, or watching more TV than is healthy, Lindsey likes to wear shoes, shop for shoes, and judge the shoes of others. Born in England, Lindsey loves living in New York but misses Sherbet Fountains, London, and drinking gin and elderflower cocktails with her friends. Not necessarily in that order.
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