I’ve taken a little time away from the blog, but I’ve been reading. And I’m back now to fill you in.

Around the Holidays, I was looking for some lighter books. A couple of chick-lit authors and readers I like gave me some recommendations. Sophie Kinsella was one. I was hesitant. The “Shopaholic” books were not for me. But because her name kept coming up, I decided to try her again. And that’s how I arrived at
My Not So Perfect Life.

I am happy to say that I really enjoyed this one. It’s chick lit, and one that grabbed me and kept me turning pages.

From the publisher’s summary:

Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she’s trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she’s desperate to make her dad proud.

Then, just as she’s finding her feet—not to mention a possible new romance—the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away—until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.

This was a well-timed read for me. I wanted something that interested me but that wasn’t dark.  And this was not dark in any way.  I found myself laughing in certain parts, and actually rooting for pretty much every character, as I learned more about them.  I liked that there were layers to the characters and the story.  And it’s the first book I can recall reading that has sparked its own Instagram movement.

No one likes a Debbie or David Downer.  We tend to show on social media what makes our lives look exciting or interesting.  But there’s a freedom in posting what’s real- and that’s a fun part of this book. If that is the only thing taken away from reading this book, then that alone makes it worth the read. #mynotsoperfectlife.

While the Shopaholic books weren’t for me, this one has made me take a second look at Sophie Kinsella, and I’ll be reading more from her.