Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publisher: The Dial Press
Place: New York
Year: 2017
Rating: 3.5/5
Rating: 3.5/5
I was dreading to read this particular one, partly due to the not so positive reviews I have read. Sophie Kinsella is so far the best chick-lit author I have ever come across and I really didn't want anything to change that impression. Still, I picked this one . . . after all it is by Kinsella.
I can't really blame the reviews. This novel is nowhere near to her usual read. Not that bad either. But.... with Kinsella, we expect something much more. So where to begin?
The story is completely predictable. The usual Cinderella variety as always. But that is not something I hold against any novel; most chick-lit revolve around this theme. It is the way of presentation that matters . . . and the fun element. Kinsella's usual heroines make even the most heart-wrenching situations laughable. In this regard, this is more of a Madeleine Wickham novel. There is this occasional humour, but that is far from the type we find in 'Shopaholic Novels', or 'Can You Keep a Secret?'.
So here is my advice: Don't take this in hand hoping to find the usual laugh out loud chick lit. This is of a more serious kind and will surely motivate you in your professional life. The theme is simple: Dreams can come true if you truly wish for it and . . . don't ever judge someone's life based on Instagram (Facebook) feeds. Nobody's life is that perfect 😊😊😊
To the story:
Katie Brenner lives in London trying to make her dreams come true. She stays in a congested one-room apartment and works with Cooper Clemmow, a branding and strategy agency. Her boss is Demeter who according to her leads a perfect life: a glamorous job, happy family with a handsome husband and charming kids and a stunning home with gorgeous steps. Even her name has a cool ring to it. She is Katie's dream come true.
But her colleagues hate her as a boss. She can't remember most of them, especially Katie as she fills a minor post. As per the office gossip, she denied a huge project to Liz, the project manager and she has never acknowledged the work of Mark who is in charge of designing logos.
Katie is from Somerset but she always wanted to be in London though her father was opposed to this idea. She is yet to make her big breakthrough which comes by chance when she is asked to help Demeter in dying her hair. While they were at it, Alex demands a meeting and Katie is burdened with the job of stopping him even though she has no clue as to who Alex is.
Alex proved to be a stunning guy with enchanting manners. He needed Demeter to check some toys but as she unavailable, takes Katie instead. They had a good time experimenting and Alex advises her to speak out to Demeter if she wants to advance in her career. She follows this and is invited to attend the group meetings. Only later she realises that the guy she talked was Alex Astaris, one of the partners.
On Thanksgiving, Katie goes home and helps her dad and his girlfriend, Biddy, to convert their farm to a glamping site. Biddy has put her inheritance to the project and Katie takes charge of advertising. Back in the office things take turn for the worse. She is informed that Alex is Demeter's lover and Katie is fired as part of cutting down the expenses of the company. Though angry and depressed, she stays back in London without informing her father.
As the glamping business starts getting bookings, Biddy gets panicked and asks Katie for help. They are even reviewed by 'The Guardian'. Katie pretends to be on a sabbatical leave and goes to Somerset. The glamping turns out to be a huge success and even Demeter comes there to stay with her family. Katie makes slight alterations to her appearance so that she won't be recognised. She tricks Demeter into doing some horrible things by misleading her to believe that this is all a part of the ancient Druid practice, known as Vedari.
She also gets a peek into Demeter's life and it didn't look as perfect as imagined. Her children don't respect her and the husband, though supportive, now wants to pursue his career further which means he will have to be away from home often. When her husband leaves the farm for job purpose, Kite sees that Alex has made a booking to their B&B. Thinking that Demeter wants to pursue her illicit affair at her glamping site, Katie continues her revenge. But this time her plans go awry as Demeter recognises her finally.
She learns that Alex is not Demeter's lover and he might be possibly coming there to fire her as she has sabotaged a huge project because of some miscommunication via email. Her house has cost her a fortune and she works overtime to pay off the mortgage, which leaves no time for family. She has always stood for her colleagues. Liz was never selected and she hid this fact to avoid further pain and Mark was never that brilliant. She is always covering him up.
Katie suspects that her assistant Sarah could be the culprit as she has complete access to Demeter's emails. While Katie stalls Alex, Demeter goes to London to get some proof. Alex and Katie get romantically attached but he is not ready to go further. Meanwhile, Demeter fails to find any substantial proof.
Katie goes back to her old office and befriends her colleagues again. She records Sarah, Rosa and Flora revealing their plans against Demeter and this proof vindicates Demeter. The culprits are fired and Katie is appointed as the Creative Director. Alex goes to New York to make matter straight with his Dad; he was inspired by the bond that Katie shares with her father. Too soon he realises his folly and he comes back to Katie as she is his new found home.
But her colleagues hate her as a boss. She can't remember most of them, especially Katie as she fills a minor post. As per the office gossip, she denied a huge project to Liz, the project manager and she has never acknowledged the work of Mark who is in charge of designing logos.
Katie is from Somerset but she always wanted to be in London though her father was opposed to this idea. She is yet to make her big breakthrough which comes by chance when she is asked to help Demeter in dying her hair. While they were at it, Alex demands a meeting and Katie is burdened with the job of stopping him even though she has no clue as to who Alex is.
Alex proved to be a stunning guy with enchanting manners. He needed Demeter to check some toys but as she unavailable, takes Katie instead. They had a good time experimenting and Alex advises her to speak out to Demeter if she wants to advance in her career. She follows this and is invited to attend the group meetings. Only later she realises that the guy she talked was Alex Astaris, one of the partners.
On Thanksgiving, Katie goes home and helps her dad and his girlfriend, Biddy, to convert their farm to a glamping site. Biddy has put her inheritance to the project and Katie takes charge of advertising. Back in the office things take turn for the worse. She is informed that Alex is Demeter's lover and Katie is fired as part of cutting down the expenses of the company. Though angry and depressed, she stays back in London without informing her father.
As the glamping business starts getting bookings, Biddy gets panicked and asks Katie for help. They are even reviewed by 'The Guardian'. Katie pretends to be on a sabbatical leave and goes to Somerset. The glamping turns out to be a huge success and even Demeter comes there to stay with her family. Katie makes slight alterations to her appearance so that she won't be recognised. She tricks Demeter into doing some horrible things by misleading her to believe that this is all a part of the ancient Druid practice, known as Vedari.
She also gets a peek into Demeter's life and it didn't look as perfect as imagined. Her children don't respect her and the husband, though supportive, now wants to pursue his career further which means he will have to be away from home often. When her husband leaves the farm for job purpose, Kite sees that Alex has made a booking to their B&B. Thinking that Demeter wants to pursue her illicit affair at her glamping site, Katie continues her revenge. But this time her plans go awry as Demeter recognises her finally.
She learns that Alex is not Demeter's lover and he might be possibly coming there to fire her as she has sabotaged a huge project because of some miscommunication via email. Her house has cost her a fortune and she works overtime to pay off the mortgage, which leaves no time for family. She has always stood for her colleagues. Liz was never selected and she hid this fact to avoid further pain and Mark was never that brilliant. She is always covering him up.
Katie suspects that her assistant Sarah could be the culprit as she has complete access to Demeter's emails. While Katie stalls Alex, Demeter goes to London to get some proof. Alex and Katie get romantically attached but he is not ready to go further. Meanwhile, Demeter fails to find any substantial proof.
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| Sophie Kinsella |
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