Chick Lit Challenge Recap

Challenge:  Chick Lit Challenge
Host:  Chick Lit+
2012 Level:  12 books - FAILED!
Thoughts:  I like chick lit, but these challenges just have too many books for me as the lowest level, so I'm not sure if I will try again next year.
Books:1. Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
2. The Wildwater Walking Club by Claire Cook
3. Pillow Talk by Freya North
4. A Vacation on the Island of Ex-Boyfriends by Stacy Bierlein
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A Vacation on the Island of Ex-Boyfriends

Title: A Vacation on the Island of Ex-Boyfriends
Author: Stacy Bierlein

Publisher: Elephant Rock
ISBN: 978-0-615-52977-6
Why Read?: Early Review
Challenges: Chick Lit, Short Story

Thoughts: This was a very interesting collection of short stories. Every story dealt with relationships, but some in a healthier way than others. My two favorites would probably be the first and last ones, “A Vacation on the Island of Ex-Boyfriends” and “An Interrogation at the Prison of Ex-Girlfriends”—fitting bookends as the titles imply—which had a sort of fantasy feel to them. I also liked “The Challenge of Acting Normal” which was perhaps the happiest of these rather somber tales.

Rating: 3 stars

Pillow Talk

Title: Pillow Talk
Author: Freya North

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5446-8
Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Chick Lit

Thoughts: I loved how important Tanzanite was to this story as it is my favorite gem.  I also liked how everything ending up resolving at the end.  What I didn't like was how slow the beginning was.

Rating: 3 stars

The Wildwater Walking Club

Title: The Wildwater Walking Club

Author: Claire Cook
Publisher: Voice
ISBN: 9781401341237
Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges:  Chick Lit, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This was a very cute, uplifting chick lit about finding yourself. The idea of a walking club is awesome and made me wish I lived near a beach—I can definitely leave the lavender, though.

Rating: 4 stars

Another Piece of My Heart

Title: Another Piece of My Heart

Author: Jane Green
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
ISBN: 
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges:  Audio, Chick Lit, A to z, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This was a very uneven “read” for me. A lot of the story was told through flashbacks that really seemed to slow the pace. The first part of the story was told entirely from Andi’s POV (third person), but after that, is would switch between her, her husband, her husband’s ex-wife, and her oldest stepdaughter, Emily (and her narratives were in first person). Also, the audio book was read by the author who would put pauses in awkward spots and it took some time getting used to hearing. When the story was in a forward motion, I did enjoy it, and I will definitely check out more of Green’s work. 

Rating: 3 stars

Chick Lit Challenge

Challenge:  Chick Lit Challenge
Host:  Chick Lit+
2011 Level: 8 books - FAILED!
2012 Level:  12 books

1. Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
2. The Wildwater Walking Club by Claire Cook
3. Pillow Talk by Freya North
4. A Vacation on the Island of Ex-Boyfriends by Stacy Bierlein
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Chick Lit Challenge Recap

I do enjoy chick lit, but I just couldn't complete the Chick Lit Challenge. I only had to read 8, but, after this month is over, I think I will only have 5. Here's what I have so far:

1. Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing by Kathy Cano-Murillo

2. Missing Persons by Clare O'Donohue

3. Bond Girl by Erin Duffy

4. The Half Life by Jennifer Weiner

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The Half Life

Title: The Half Life

Author: Jennifer Weiner
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
ISBN: 978-1-4423-4187-6
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Chick Lit, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I am not sure if I would have liked this better if I read it rather than listened to it. As it was, I listened the whole time with my heart in my throat, hoping it would turn out one way (but then again, glad it didn't or I would have been pissed at Piper, the main character). If I had read it, I would have sped through it to find out the ending, but that is impossible to do with an audio book. Not a waste of my time, but definitely a story I could take or leave.
Rating: 2 stars

Bond Girl

Title: Bond Girl

Author: Erin Duffy
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 978-0-06-206589-6
Why Read?: Book Reporter
Challenges: Chick Lit, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: It is hard not to try to categorize Bond Girl with The Devil Wears Prada, but it really is such a better story. Duffy's writing is hip and fresh and creates a fresh, youthful "new adult" chick lit novel. And surprisingly, especially for this genre, Bond Girl is rather informative about the way Wall Street works, which just gives it a highly realistic edge.
Rating: 5 stars

Chick Lit Challenge

Chick Lit is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine, so of course I am signing up for Journey to the End of the TBR Pile's 2011 Chick Lit Challenge. Reading 8 of them should be easy.

1. Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing by Kathy Cano-Murillo

2. Missing Persons by Clare O'Donohue

3. Bond Girl by Erin Duffy

4. The Half Life by Jennifer Weiner

5. Fool's Mate by Laura Pedersen

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