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No-One Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday – Tracy Bloom

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What to expect:
“Never has a one-night stand led to such chaos!
Childhood sweethearts Matthew and Katy agree they must never see each other again after they end up in bed together following a school re-union.
So all is forgotten… until eight months later when a shock meeting at an antenatal class forces them to confront the fact that Matthew could be the father of Katy’s baby. Oblivious to the mayhem unfolding, Matthew’s highly-strung wife frets over giving birth to twins and Katy’s much younger boyfriend refuses to take fatherhood seriously.
Love and life are messy but Katy and Matthew take things to a whole new level as deep emotions begin to resurface and hormones run riot.
How will they navigate their way through this almighty cock-up?”

The randomly catchy title might prompt you to declare “challenge accepted”, but if it’s the wrong day of the week then have a good read instead. Tracy Bloom seems to be the new big name in self publishing; she has two out now, and they are both high in the charts. If you google her there are interesting interviews discussing her publishing methods. Meantime, on with the review:

Kooks for your Kindle?– Katy’s boyfriend Ben (and first possible baby-daddy) is a lot younger than her, but a strangely good match. Although he initially appears superficial, he has (well) hidden depths. Sassy GBF Daniel is a good match for Katy’s equally large personality, and is a supportive friend in his own unique way. The third and final main man is Matthew, the ex-boyfriend and 2nd possible baby-daddy. He was perfect for Katy back in the day, but that was a long time ago and his wife’s twin pregnancy is having a frightening effect on him.

The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– Katy is extremely likable in a fun, sarcastic kind of way. She’s on the aggressive end of the assertiveness scale but it all threatens to go out the window when the surprise pregnancy takes her far from her comfort zone.

Painting a Picture for your Paperback?– The romantic glow of pregnancy is stripped away here for a refreshingly honest, if somewhat off-putting look at the harsh, occasionally hilarious reality.

Provoking your Inner-Pedant– Minimal errors, a rare pleasure in self-published work.

Evaluation of your eBook?– Even the smallest part is well characterised, I especially loved Ben’s football student Luke and his pregnant teen girlfriend Charlene who unwittingly fires off insults at the older mothers. The banter is smart and funny, especially between Katy and Daniel. The format works, with brief flashbacks to establish Katy and Matthew’s old relationship, as well as why they broke up and how they met again. Katy’s terror of impending unplanned motherhood is heart-felt and believable. The ending is wildly chaotic and fun, with everybody getting what they deserve. Recommended, great debut.

Frothy Ranking: 4/5 cocktails.

Can be obtained from:

UK: Amazon for £1.99.

US: Amazon for $2.99.

Lying to Meet You – Anna Garner

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What to expect:
Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors? Chloe Lane is about to find out. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. As a work-crazed fashion designer, boutique owner and soon-to-be reality show judge, Chloe has no time for a real boyfriend, but being part of a faux pair will do just fine. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else.

However… Opportunity unexpectedly knocks when Chloe meets fellow reality judge, William Shannon. Super successful and super sexy, this high-powered entrepreneur inspires Chloe to test Ethan’s theory herself. Now, on top of keeping her fashion business productive, carving out a new role as a television personality, maintaining a fake relationship and attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, she’s lying to William, lying to her friends, lying to her family and quite possibly lying to herself. Will Chloe be able to keep it all together, or are things about to explode?

This is the author’s first true chick-lit novel, having previously released romances under the name of Libby Mercer. Now she’s writing under her real name and kindly sent me this review copy.

Kooks for your Kindle?– Chloe has a solid gang of New Yorker friends, attractive professional women like her, and the self described “token gay friend”, Julian, who likes to intimidate her potential suitors in a fatherly way. Veronica and Isabel are supportive, outspoken and both are a force of nature, especially when they come up with the idea that attached women get hit on more than single women. Then there’s Ethan- who’s known Chloe since they were three, and wants to test the girls’ theory to give him more of a chance with a colleague that he fancies. Ethan’s easy to get along with and adorable, despite his karaoke fixation. Even his family are sweethearts, and have loved Chloe since way back when. The Christmas visit was like a cross between The Proposal and While You Were Sleeping in that Chloe feels terrible for deceiving such a lovely family (obviously I’m not that familiar with Sandra Bullock movies or anything…).
However when Chloe becomes an entrepreneurial reality show judge, she meets William, and their sizzling chemistry can only be denied by their scheduling conflicts. William is the anti-Ethan; unpredictable, unfamiliar, uncompromising and a little dangerous. The kind of guy you have to try, before you can get him out of your system.

The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– Chloe herself takes no prisoners, although she does turn one over to the cops: as demonstrated with an admirable take-down of a shoplifter. She’s a talented, hard working designer with her own modestly successful boutique and is on the verge of cracking the big time, and hopes the media coverage of being on a reality show will push her brand over the edge. Chloe’s Achilles heel is her family’s refusal to validate her achievements, especially when her (southern belle) mother is more impressed with her for bringing home a nice man. Chloe’s try-anything attitude causes trouble, entertainment and creates opportunities. As one would expect, she does all this with sartorial panache.

Painting a Picture for your Paperback?– At first glance it might seem like a slightly younger Sex And The City setting, but this is a warmer tale and New York seems a lot less harsh here. The friendships are strong, challenging and supportive without being sickly sentimental, and they withstand the usual tests of time when one or two of them disappear into an intense relationship or a career hole for a while.

Nookie for your Nook?– A few steamy interludes, but cleaner than a Sex And The City episode. Of course, a lot of things are.

Evaluation of your eBook?– This is one of those well-rounded reads that stays in your head afterwards with a warm glow. This could be a subjective effect, but I hope other readers take that away from this book too. It could be explained by the fact that I adored both the leads, and the fun way the book is written from Chloe’s sharp, humorous perspective. She’s a good strong heroine who can fight her way out of a mess, but she’s kind and has a softer side. While the romantic outcome won’t come as a huge shock, there are other aspects that did surprise. Good use of foreshadowing throws a couple of red herrings in along the way, but I won’t spoil it for you. Top marks, give it a whirl.

Frothy Ranking: 5/5 cocktails.

Can be obtained from:

UK: Amazon for £1.91.

US: Amazon for $2.99.

Wildflowers – Debbie Howells

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What to expect:
Frankie Valentine has a dream – of fame and fortune and selling flowers to the stars, but between her friends, a disastrous love life and the brides that flock to her small flower shop, nothing goes quite as she plans.
Then out of the blue, with her dream about to come true, Frankie meets Lulubelle, whose small son is very sick. And slowly everything starts to change.
Drawn into a world where each day is precious, Frankie starts to question her own life – which gets even more complicated when she falls for Alex, who keeps getting her wrong…
As the pressure mounts in the midst of a crazy summer of weddings, she edges closer to a future she could never have imagined…

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, it’s my first from this author (who kindly supplied a copy for review) and I was pleasantly surprised.

Kooks for your Kindle?– Frankie’s best mate and business partner Honey is a little bossy but means well. Her interference puts Frankie on the path to health and, inadvertently, fulfillment. Old friends Charlie and Nina lead interesting professional lives so aren’t always around. Frankie’s quirky employee Skye is more useful than she initially appears. Frankie’s sister and mother both make an appearance, and to be honest all the female characters are distinctive in some way. Frankie has to kiss a couple of frogs first, but it’s clear who her man should be, and you’ll like him. The celebrity couple that make Frankie’s dreams come true are eccentric without being cliched. Finally, village newcomer Lulubelle is a little mysterious and her son Cosmo is extremely sick with leukaemia- but their friendship opens Frankie’s eyes to a whole new world and purpose.

The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– Frankie is a complex character with some contradictions- she’ll do anything to help her friends, but will put her foot down if they’re out of order; she has some superficial ambitions, but also wants to make a difference in the world. She has a singular habit of quoting adages in Latin and believes that certain flowers have magical powers. I appreciated her assertiveness and was pleased at her swift dispatch of a useless boyfriend as well as her adept handling of a problematic journalist.

Painting a Picture for your Paperback?– Set in a little English village, the charm of the countryside is reflected in the mass of nearby wedding venues. It’s not too twee, but perfect for the setting of the small flower shop. The flowers were lovingly represented, revealing the author’s love and knowledge of them. I had no idea of the meanings and uses of some flowers and their symbolism in a bouquet but it was surprisingly interesting.

Provoking your Inner-Pedant– There are only a couple of tiny errors (less than usual with a self-published work), they didn’t detract from the story.

Evaluation of your eBook?– I rarely cry at books, but I don’t mind admitting I shed one or two tears with this one. However on the whole it was an amusing tale featuring a smart, quick thinking heroine who learned a lot in the course of the book. Frankie’s journey and her choice of path at the end surprised me, but it made sense and the conclusion was satisfying. The coincidence of me reading about Frankie signing up for a half marathon just as I signed up for a relay marathon seemed rather portentous, although mine is a lot shorter! The author is writing as her real name for the first time, and has previously published two books as Susie Martyn, give her a shot, this is a great frothy read at a great price too.

Frothy Ranking: 4/5 cocktails.

Can be obtained from:

UK: Amazon for 77p.

US: Amazon for $1

Something Like Love – Catherine Dunne

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What to expect:
After twenty years of marriage, Ben ups and leaves his wife Rose, their children and their family home in Dublin. Just like that: no words of regret, no compromise, no note – only a simple ‘I don’t love you anymore’. It has taken Rose all this time to get her life together again: she’s brought up her three children, Lisa, Brian and Damien single-handedly, and not without difficulty for never again does she want to be completely broke, or to have to revisit that night in hospital with Damien hovering between life and death. To think about it just makes her shudder. Now Rose is concentrating on her business, the ‘Bonne Bouche’ bakery, and all the clients she’s won, all the friends she’s made. Her accounts are in order, the business is blooming. Life really doesn’t seem too bad. Until Ben returns, again without warning, and it is soon clear that he expects to infiltrate Rose’s carefully created world in the most unwelcome of ways

Don’t be afraid, the story is lighter and more uplifting than the cover suggests (despite its smiley faces it seems sad to me). It’s older than I’d thought- I got it on special assuming it was new- the kindle edition was released last year but the paperback is about 7 years old. There is now a prequel, In the Beginning, released recently.

Kooks for your Kindle?– The supportive characters are not the kooky type, and are beautifully done, although I did get some of Rose’s friends and colleagues mixed up. Her husband is a narcissistic man-child; he has no comprehension of the situation he left Rose in eight years earlier. He’s only interested in money, this is one of the things that hooks the reader- the injustice that Rose is facing. The kids are a mixed bunch, eldest son Damien has addiction issues, teenaged daughter Lisa barely remembers her Dad but feels it nonetheless. All three of the kids are insightfully written by someone who (I suspect) knows teenagers. Rose’s solicitor Pauline is just the kind of woman you want on your side in a messy divorce, she has just the right levels of vengeance. Sam, Rose’s accountant, is also instrumental in extricating her from the situation- in more ways than one. He’s a nice chap.

The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– Rose is a little mature and experienced to take things lying down, and fortunately by the time Ben has magically reappeared she means business. Eight years of no answers, paying the mortgage alone and no child support will do that to a woman I imagine. Following the course of action recommended to her by professionals, Rose has nerves of steel; even while handling other serious issues with her business and her children.

Painting a Picture for your Paperback?– Set around Dublin, the tale has all the warmth that frothy readers have come to expect from an Irish novel, but not in a stereotypical way. The main setting is the regular day to day life of a single parent family.

Evaluation of your eBook?– The beginning works well with Ben’s return highlighting the injustice, which sucks the reader in. The midsection didn’t feel overly eventful, but acted as a slow buildup of tension to the end- which initially felt insufficiently explosive but then picked up with a nice twist after all. The added element of romance was a nice touch. It’s a gentle, uplifting tale driven by interesting, brave characters. It’s not a long book, nicely priced, an easy read about characters worth caring about.

Frothy Ranking: 3.5/5 cocktails.

Can be obtained from:

UK: Amazon for only 49p

US: Not on Amazon, but Kobobooks have it for $7.59.

The Dr Pepper Prophecies – Jennifer Gilby Roberts

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What to expect:
25-year-old Mel Parker has a few tiny problems:

  • Her job is terrible
  • She’s been dumped yet again
  • Her ex is now her boss
  • Her parents think she’s a loser compared to her perfect younger sister
  • All her efforts to improve her life seem doomed to failure
  • There just isn’t enough chocolate in the world to make up for the above.

    • The one good thing in her life has always been her best friend Will, who has seen her through every crisis from lost toys to pregnancy scares. But his girlfriend (who’s prettier, better-dressed, more successful and secretly evil) is determined to replace Mel as the woman in his life and how is Mel supposed to compete?

    So what do you do when you’ve pretty much given up on your own life? Help others, of course! After all, what’s the worst that can happen? Well, Mel’s about to find out.
    Worse still, her misguided efforts seem to be driving a wedge between her and Will. Can Mel live without her best friend? Or is he the man she loves…?

    You might find the plot familiar as this tale is a reworking of Emma, but being London based it feels more Bridget Jones than Clueless Cher. The singular title is a reference to an old Dr Pepper ad with the tag line “What’s the worst that could happen?”- a question that goes through Mel’s mind with alacrity and alarming regularity prior to each disaster.

    Kooks for your Kindle?– Mel starts out with impeccable timing by ditching her awful boyfriend just after she gets him a job as her boss. Martin then proceeds to turn into a nasty version of Mr Brittas and makes her life hell. Old mate Will is the Mr Knightley character in more ways than one; he’s known Mel since childhood and they are totally in sync, way past familiar. His taste in women leaves something to be desired, leaning towards evil, pushy ones like Natalie who try to turn him into something he’s not. I suspect he hangs out with Mel for a breather.

    Mel has an interesting assortment of girlfriends; bestie Sharon who’s moved to New York, antithetical colleague Cynthia, and mysterious flatmate Beth. The latter two each become unwilling and unfortunate victims of Mel’s meddling and matchmaking. Mel’s parents and sister are a bit of a nightmare, so she avoids them as much as possible.

    The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– I sometimes lose patience with a story when the lead character lets herself get walked over for a large part of the book, but it’s immediately apparent that Mel is a loose cannon, so it can only be a matter of time before she snaps. It’s worth the wait, and while she may lack assertiveness in some areas, she makes up for it with boldness in others. She single-handedly supports the chocolate industry and makes epically bad decisions with good intentions, frequently requiring a bail-out by Will. It’s always Will of course, because it’s no spoiler to let you know that Mel has a thing for him- even if she’s oblivious to the last. Although it’s been a while since I’ve read Emma, Mel certainly has all of her faults, especially blindness and taking meddling to new heights.

    Provoking your Inner-Pedant– Pleasantly low on errors, this can be rare in self-published work.

    Painting a Picture for your Paperback?– Mel’s world feels a little bit Bridget Jones inasmuch as all the main characters are in their twenties, not yet established in a career, and living in London as cheaply as possible.

    Evaluation of your eBook?– I felt that the main strength of this book is Mel’s commentary, told from her first person point of view it veers towards stream of consciousness at times and is very funny and sharp. She’s so likable that it’s possible to overlook the choices she makes and go with the flow. The supporting cast of colleagues and friends were nicely done, although I found Mel’s parents and sister to be a little hammy at first, especially her rigid father. It’s a relatively quick read, and highly entertaining.

    Frothy Ranking: 4/5 cocktails.

    Can be obtained from:

    UK: amazon for £1.99, although it’s sometimes on special for less.

    US: Amazon for only 99c.

    Wicked Wives – Anna-Lou Weatherley

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    What to expect:

    Sometimes it just feels good being bad… A tale of intrigue, revenge and excess….. Playboy Casino owner and serial gambler, Tom Black, leaves a trail of broken hearts behind him wherever he goes. So when he disappears, it’s no surprise that foul-play is suspected.

    The finger of suspicion points to three women from his past; Eleanor, the beautiful socialite with a dubious past, Loretta, the fame-seeking gold-digger, and Victoria, the glamorous, bestselling author.

    Bound together by one man and his mayhem, it’s not long before secrets begin to surface, forcing the three women to take the biggest gamble of all. But in the game of love there can only be one winner – and the winner takes it all….

    Firmly aimed at the Bonkbuster market, it’s inspired me to make a tag for this genre- they’re still out there, and still wildly popular.

    Kooks for your Kindle?– Some are down to earth- albeit rich and well dressed- some are almost caricatures, especially Loretta the aging Italian diva. She even wore a turban in one scene, you can’t ask for more than that. Ellie was easier to relate to, she just wanted to open a dance studio, she had the talent and her husband’s billions, but Tom wants the same property- and he knows about her past. Ellie’s spoilt daughter Tess is turning eighteen and wants to be famous, unfortunately it could turn out to be for the wrong reasons. Victoria is friends with Ellie, and mourning the daughter she lost in infancy; she’ll do anything to get pregnant again before it’s too late, but she could be barking up the wrong tree. Tom is a gambling addict, and on the whole he cares for no one but himself and money, although Ellie is the only one he ever loved, so long ago, and she’s still in what’s left of his heart.

    The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– Victoria has a brush with this when she feels the need to do something silly to clear up a mess- thankfully most of the time all the characters are strong to the point of toughness, and not afraid to make things happen.

    Painting a Picture for your Paperback?– The action is on both sides of the Atlantic, but the majority of the main characters are Brits. There’s plenty of opulent detail for your escapist needs, from a high-end casino in Vegas to a private yacht in Antigua and billionaire homes around London.

    Nookie for your Nook?– Even that’s larger than life!

    Provoking your Inner-Pedant– I’ll assume Loretta intended to veer off into Spanish and French in places and is multi-lingual. On another topic, I’m familiar with Bahrain and can tell you the nationality should be Bahraini, but couldn’t possibly comment on the subject of vulgar taste.

    Evaluation of your eBook?– The author’s previous offering, Chelsea Wives, was pretty over the top, but this one pumps up the glam factor even more. It’s hilariously far-fetched, as it should be, and well fleshed out when it comes to the luxury and name dropping- I imagine it was fun to research! I must confess to guessing the whodunnit earlier than I wanted to, but really, Tom is such a nasty one that it could have been anyone. Definitely good for a summer read, or anytime you want to feel like you’re on the beach.

    Frothy Ranking: 3.5/5 cocktails.

    Can be obtained from:

    UK: Amazon for £1.99

    US: Not currently found on Amazon, but Kobobooks have it for $7.29.

    Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn

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    This is another must-read book of the summer according to many, and with good reason. It’s not remotely frothy so I’m not giving it the full treatment, just an honourable mention! It’s the intriguing tale of a woman who goes missing on the morning of her fifth anniversary, and her husband who becomes prime suspect. We hear from Nick immediately after the disappearance, and Amy, via her diaries in the years leading up to it. The characters are hugely well defined with masses of background, personality and distinctive voices. One of the things that struck me was that this could be a masterclass in writing from the first person point of view, complete with an unreliable narrator at times- who’s telling the truth?

    It’s a tense ride, masterfully plotted with many revelations along the way and if you like your endings neatly tied up with a bow then you may be slightly disappointed- but I thought the ending was perfectly apt.

    UK: Amazon for £2.99

    US: Amazon for $12.99 or kobobooks for $8.68.

    Sealed With A Kiss – Rachael Lucas

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    Along a similar vein to Pink Wellies And Flat Caps, our heroine gets dumped by her long term chap and heads off into rural obscurity to find herself, and tangles with the local landed gentry. The similarities end there though, as we are on a little Scottish island and Kate is immediately in her element with a cottage to herself and a project to throw herself into. Lord of the manor Roderick might drive a Land Rover and manage his own estate, but he’s down to earth and wants to modernise the place. He tasks Kate with renovating a couple of cottages and barns to rent out to tourists for income, and to improve the island’s economy. Incidentally, I realised the difference in reading something on kindle when I finished the book and only then had a good look at the cover- and caught the double meaning of the title! That could be sleep deprivation on my part though…

    Kooks for your Kindle?– Roddy makes a good leading man, although the story is well balanced with the other locals making up a large portion of the story. Tom the gorgeous gamekeeper, and his wife Susan (AKA Lady Chatterley) are of Kate’s generation, while Roddy’s housekeeper Jean and Kate’s horsey neighbour Morag are older, but all are friendly and boozy enough to help Kate settle right in. Finn the Piper is another one of the bounty of hot men on the little island, and an irresistible distraction. The only bad guy (girl, in this case) is Fiona, Roddy’s scheming ex who comes back to have another bash at becoming lady muck despite being wildly unsuited to the job. Kate’s new puppy Willow and Flora the rescued seal make up the furry contingent.

    The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– Kate was refreshingly game for anything in her new life, and took it all in her stride. It was good to see her find her calling as a property fixer-upper (I expect someone can tell me the proper title for that job!) and marketing whiz. The decision to accept the end of her relationship and move on from her staid ex had the maturity of someone older combined with the impulsiveness of someone in their twenties, and it doesn’t get more final than moving away to another island!

    Painting a Picture for your Paperback?– This book probably does as much for Scottish tourism as Kate’s fictional exploits, it sounds lovely. Auchenmor is a rugged island with amazing wildlife such as seals and giant birds of prey. The quaint shops and wild beaches sound wonderful, if a bit nippy out of season.

    Evaluation of your eBook?– The plot may sound almost familiar, but it’s not your typical formula- Finn was not the big hiccup I expected, he turned into quite the ally. There are some nicely created characters, even the ones Kate left behind in her home town- Her mum is a challenge and her friend Emma is especially likable. I found it a charming and original take on the tale of ‘girl moves to small community and meets lots of local eccentrics and hot men’ theme that I enjoy quite a bit. Definitely recommended for a warm and fuzzy read, and a good price too.

    Frothy Ranking: 4/5 cocktails.

    Can be obtained from:

    UK: Amazon currently has it for £2.05, although it was only 77p a few weeks ago, so click for the latest.

    US: Amazon for $2.99, not found on Kobobooks.

    The Naughty Girls’ Book Club – Sophie Hart

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    This cheeky little book is an homage to the women’s fiction out there with naughty bits, and a good read all in one! Divorcée Estelle owns a struggling cafe in Bristol and despairs of her future until she has the idea of starting a book club- which changes her life. It starts out small, reading the very respectable Tess of the D’Urbervilles until things take a turn for the rude as they tackle ‘Ten Sweet Lessons’ (a thinly veiled 50 Shades). The five club members soon abandon the usual book club staples and head for other saucy numbers like Jilly Cooper and Shirley Conran. As their paths entangle, the club members find their lives changing in unexpected ways.

    Kooks for your Kindle?– There’s a nice age range to the main characters, from twenties to sixties. My favourite had to be the young feminine feminist Gracie, librarian by day, aspiring singer by night, whose style seemed to be a cross between Marilyn Monroe and Dita Von Teese. Quietly opinionated, her views on ‘Ten Sweet Lessons’ rang a bell with me. Reggie is a gawky misfit graduate student who initially joins the group for social research before overcoming his embarrassment at the subject matter and getting involved. Rebecca has not been married long, but is already pining for her waning sex life until the books give her some ideas. Sue and her husband George have just retired, but it turns out they have very different ideas of what that means. Sue thinks it’s the beginning and wants day trips and foreign holidays whereas George thinks it’s the end and wants to sit in front of the television all day. Sue’s new-found friends inspire her to get out there and keep living.

    The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– Estelle is the main character who brings them all together and starts them on their new reading matter. She’s had some confidence knocks, so is hesitant when her son’s football coach Tony shows an interest in her, and has some hilarious moments when he finds out about their reading matter.

    Nookie for your Nook?– While the subject matter is naughty, the book itself is merely steamy in parts and would pass the mother-in-law test if she’s fairly modern.

    Evaluation of your eBook?– Ironically the book has a cosy, warm, wholesome feel with the community created by the assorted club members meeting over tea and homemade cakes in the midst of their messy lives. It also really captures the essence of the ’50 shades’ craze with the unlikeliest people sneakily reading it on the bus/train, and also the nostalgia of a good eighties bonk-buster like Riders. There’s some nice character development and, of course, a happy ending.

    Frothy Ranking: 4.5/5 cocktails.

    Can be obtained from:

    UK: Amazon for £1.99

    US: Amazon for $8.89, or $4.29 from Kobobooks.

    Millie and The American University – Annabel Scott (AKA Anna Bell)

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    We’ve reviewed this author before, but now she’s changed her name, due to a well deserved book deal. This is a prequel to Millie and the American Wedding, Millie being an English lass with a fondness for all things american who went to her college friend’s Manhattan wedding. Now we get to flash back ten years to the year she spent at Kendry college in Pennsylvania, only an hour and a half from New York City and with a reputation as a party college. As we know from the present day book Millie never turns down a night out and has a cast iron liver, so pretty soon she’s gone native, playing beer pong, and is up to her ears in dramas with friends, men and sororities.

    Kooks for your Kindle?– Jen and Casey are the first to take Millie under their wing and introduce her to the party scene. They’re a hybrid of the ugly stepsisters and Mean Girls, and try to push Millie into dressing like them, dieting and fitting right in. Kristen is their antithesis and soon becomes a much better friend to Millie as well as the only person who can rein her in on wild nights out. Rob is the strangely familiar guy she repeatedly runs into without fully recognising, the most interesting of the men on campus (and more appetising than Phil The Gangster).

    The Bella-Swan-Pathetically-Self-Sacrificing-Factor– Fortunately Millie doesn’t stand for the Mean Girls’ behaviour for long, but the damage is done when they take a hit out on Millie’s reputation.

    Painting a Picture for your Paperback?– I was expecting this story to be reminiscent of my own time on an exchange at a little private college (in Indiana), but our parties were more randomly organised because there wasn’t what they call the Greek system- the fraternities and sororities which you all know about from the movies. I’m quite glad about this as they seem pretty terrifying, with the pledging, hazing, bitchy cliques and nightmare guys. As it is, this is a great introduction to the system as seen through Millie’s fresh eyes. Incidentally it’s a definite bonus to be over 21 so you don’t have to dive out of windows when the parties get raided by the police!

    Evaluation of your eBook?– It’s definitely the same boozy Millie from the other book, the romantic situations here are the same ones that are referenced at Kirsten’s wedding ten years on, although this doesn’t cover as far as the nasty situation with Millie’s boyfriend’s snobby mother. It’s probably more suited to the YA generation as Millie’s dramas here are all friend, boy and social media related, but if you’re a little older and had a thing for Sweet Valley High books as a kid then you’ll still find it a guilty pleasure. Obviously if you enjoyed Millie and the American Wedding then it’s a must read to see where it all started.

    Frothy Ranking: 3.5/5 cocktails.

    Can be obtained from:

    UK: Amazon for £1.53.

    US: Amazon for $2.99.