Top Ten Tuesday: Most Read Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

I've read a lot of books in my life. That means I've read quite a few books from the same author. I've only been keeping track on Goodreads for the past few years though so I'm not sure how accurate this week's list actually is. It was actually quite a surprise to see which authors I've read the most from!

Janet Evanovich 

34+ 

My first response to this was "Seriously?!?" Never would have guessed she was my top read author. I've read 21 of her Stephanie Plum books (I've decided I'm not going to read another until the series is done...I'm so bored with it!), maybe 3 of the Between the Numbers books, I think all 6 of the Full series, 1 of the Lizzy & Diesel series (or was it 2?), 3 of the Fox and O'Hare series (ooh, there's a fourth one coming!). and a handful of others. Holy crapola.

Meg Cabot

20?

I've probably read at least 6 Princess Diaries books (I'm going to work on a reread since I want to be totally up to date by the time I get to the latest, Royal Wedding, which I got at BEA.), both All-American Girl books, most of the Vanished/1-800-Where-R-You series, most of the Mediator series, maybe 3 of her teen standalone books, both of the Insatiable books, the 3 Queen of Babble books, and I think just 2 of the Boy series.

Sophie Kinsella/Madeline Wickham 

15 or 16 

I've read the Shopaholic books and all of her standalones but I actually can't remember how many of the Madeline Wickham books I've read and since they're the same person I decided to combine them.

Joanne Fluke 

16

I was surprised by this one, too! Her Hannah Swensen series is a lot of fun. My sister has most of them so I've been able to read all of her copies!

Sarah Dessen 

12

I've read every single one of her books and will read every single other book she publishes.

Nora Roberts 

10

She's my go-to when I need a good, sweet, and entertaining romance! 10 sounds like a lot but she's written approximately a bazillion.

Heather Wardell 

10

I freaking  love Heather and her books. I'm actually a little glad that I'm behind on her books - she has 17 published right now - because it means I have so many more to catch up on. And she's a speedy writer so there will be 18, 19, 20 soon enough!

Laura Ingalls Wilder 

9

I adored the Little House books when I was a kid! I'm looking forward to rereading them soon.

J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith

9

I haven't read the entirety of Rowling's other Potter books (Fantastic Beasts, etc.) so I'm not counting them. But the 7 Potter books add up, plus I've read both of the books she's written as Galbraith (can't wait for the next one).

Emily Giffin 

8

And I actually own all of them, too! 

Event Recap: An Evening with Emily Giffin and Elle Canada

I'm super behind with a two of my bookish event recaps. Like, "this particular event happened in June and it's now September" behind. Oops! On June 16, I, and a whole bunch of other book lovers, crowded into a bar in Toronto to attend An Evening with Emily Giffin and Elle Canada. It was an awesome girls night out!

I try to make every Toronto visit into a social event so I was happy that two of my favourite Toronto authors, Lydia Laceby and Samantha Stroh Bailey, would be attending the event with me. It had been ages since I had seen them and this event was perfect for catching up while having a bookish time.

When we got into the event, which was held at The Citizen, we handed over our tickets and were given our swag bags in exchange. We could hardly wait to dive in to find out what we had been given! First order of business: free drinks! We could have wine or a specialty cocktail (and, of course, I didn't get a picture nor can I remember what was in it other than vodka...it was good though). We got two tickets so I tried both!

After getting our drinks, we decided to get our free Pandora bracelets and charm. Obviously, since it was a freebie, the bracelet isn't one of their high end ones but it's still very nice! I liked how they did the charms for this event - everyone got a charm with their astrological symbol on it. Cute idea, no? (I'm a Gemini, in case you're curious.)

Pic of a pic. Not ideal :)

There was a photo booth up at the Pandora station as well so we, of course, had to get a picture! While Sam and Lydia got one of just the two of them I did my blogger duty and pimped their books to the photographer!

We realized that the seats were filling up quickly so we hurried to find a place to sit (there were not enough seats to accommodate everyone and, even though we got seats, we didn't appreciate that there wasn't enough room).

Emily Giffin finally came out, talked/was interviewed for awhile, and then answered some questions from the audience. A typical sort of book event! She mentioned that she has never written anything autobiographical or based any characters on herself but Shea, the heroine of her latest book The One and Only, ended up being a lot like her. She said Shea's voice flowed more than any other character.

At the time of the event I was still trying to figure out what, exactly, I wanted to do with my life so I found this story meaningful: when Giffin was leaving the law office she worked at to move to London to work on Something Borrowed, a partner said, "Good luck with that whole writing thing" and she thought she'd die if she had to go back. She eventually realized that there was no shame in that as she wouldn't fail because she had tried. 

Other things to note...Giffin did say that she will write a sequel to Where We Belong (which makes me SO happy) and that she was currently at work on the Something Borrowed script (yay! More John Krasinksi!).

There were only a couple of brave males in the crowd who were there supporting their ladies (I think
the Argos cheerleaders thrilled the guys more than the rest of the event!). One guy was sitting next to me and during the interview portion of the night he pulled out his girlfriend's copy of the novel and started reading! Too cute.

Even though I'd met Giffin before, I decided to wait in line to get my complimentary copy of The One and Only personalized (each swag bag contained a signed copy). Definitely worth it to have another signed book in my collection! (Just realized I don't have a pic of the book and it's now at my mom's waiting for her to read it!)

Overall, the event was a pretty good one. I think I enjoyed meeting up with the girls and being in the city more than the actual event itself (you know when an author's personality doesn't thrill you like another author's might? Yeah...that...) but I'm still happy I went. The swag bag, which included delicious cookies, definitely helped ;)

Stay tuned for another couple of event recaps in the next few weeks as I play catch up :)

Review: The One and Only

Emily Giffin is one of my autobuy authors. I'm always ridiculously excited for her new book and her latest, The One & Only, was no exception. I had been looking forward to this one for well over a year, ever since I learned that Giffin had switched publishers and was going to be publishing with Random House for her upcoming book. I scored an ARC (thank you, Lindsey!) and when I was finally able to set aside some time to read it I was rewarded with a typical Giffin novel, heartfelt, with a mix of serious and humorous, and realistic. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Here's the synopsis:

Thirty-three-year-old Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas—a small college town that lives and dies by football, a passion she unabashedly shares. Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker’s legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she has remained for more than a decade.
But when an unexpected tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea’s comfortable world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she’s chosen is really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the people and things she has always trusted most—and is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.
Thoughtful, funny, and brilliantly observed, The One & Only is a luminous novel about finding your passion, following your heart, and, most of all, believing in something bigger than yourself...the one and only thing that truly makes life worth living.

Giffin is well known for tackling issues that are a little bit uncomfortable to read about. Most of the time the issue is infidelity, which isn't a favourite topic for many people. This time around, she writes about another difficult topic: falling in love with someone you're not supposed to fall in love with. The synopsis doesn't give away who she falls for so I'm not going to either. What I'll say is that I sort of anticipated it and I was very conflicted about it. At first I was just as weirded out as I knew others would be but, as the story went on, I found myself desperately hoping that they could overcome the adversity they were facing (had to throw in a sports cliche!).

Cover talk time. I would guess that this cover looks different than her others because she changed publishers. That would be a fair assumption, yes? In a way it's too bad because I really did love the other covers. But, I think the folks at Random House created a cover that had the same feel as the others but was still original. (Not so) fun fact: Giffin had posted something on her Facebook page ages and ages ago asking what colour we thought her next cover would be. I actually guessed teal! I thought it made the most sense. Little did I know the colour would actually reflect part of the novel. Did you pick up the fact that Walker's colour is teal, just like the cover?

I have to admit that, at times, I found myself wondering if I would have loved this book as much if it had been written by a no-name author. Did I enjoy it simply because Giffin wrote it and I've been eagerly gobbling up her books ever since I discovered Something Borrowed? I have no idea. I feel like I probably would have picked this one up anyway (especially with a catchy cover) because I wouldn't have been put off by the football storyline (I think a lot of people seriously disliked that part), even though I'm not personally a football fan. If I'm completely honest, I bet I would have given an unknown author three stars instead of the four I gave The One and Only. Right now I'm choosing not to read too much into that!

I really liked Emily Giffin's latest novel. I didn't love it and I don't think The One & Only is one of her best. It's still enjoyable and if you like Giffin and her usual storylines, I think you'll like this novel, too. I can't wait to hear what everyone else thinks of this one!

*A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher, Random House of Canada, in exchange for an honest review.*

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favourite Chick Lit

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

I'm a chick lit fan. I have been for years and I have no problem using the term. But, in the interest of being inclusive (who says dudes can't read chick lit?) I've considered using the term rom-com more often. After all, chick flicks are now marketed as romantic comedies. And the romance plus the comedy is exactly why I love these kinds of books. I've read a lot of them over the years so narrowing my favourites list down to ten was a HUGE challenge. Most of the books are on the funnier side but there are a few that might be considered more women's fiction. Either way, they're my favourites! Hopefully I've shared some new titles with you and that you'll give this genre a chance, if you haven't already! What's your favourite genre?

Blogger Girl - Meredith Schorr (review)

I will tell every single chick lit fan that they must read this book. I love love love it. Partially because it's about a chick lit book blogger but also because it's just an amazing book. I also love Meredith's first novel, Just Friends with Benefits. 

Go Small or Go Home - Heather Wardell (review)

Really, this could be every Heather Wardell book. I adore them all. And I doubly adore that she's Canadian and her books are set in Toronto. If you want to check them out, her first, Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo is free on all ebook outlets! (Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Kobo, Nook). Read it!

Arranged – Catherine McKenzie (review)

Once again, I love every single one of Catherine's books but Arranged is my favourite. It's so clever and all around awesome.

Second Time Around – Beth Kendrick (review)

This story starts out kind of heavy but it's a really great book. I loved it (and Nearlyweds) so much that I've bought every single one of Kendrick's books published since then (there are three, with a fourth coming out soon). 

Love the One You're With – Emily Giffin

It seems like Giffin fans are pretty split on their favourite book but I love this one. I also really liked her last one, Where We Belong (review), and have high hopes for her upcoming book, The One and Only. Can't wait to get to my ARC! 

Breaking the Rules - Cat Lavoie (review)

The thing I love about Cat's debut novel is that it takes a typical chick lit story (boy and girl friends realize they have romantic feelings for each other) and takes it in a completely unexpected direction. Her second novel, Zoey and the Moment of Zen is just as awesome.

Winter Wonderland – Belinda Jones (review)

The setting of this novel plays a huge part in why I love it so much. It's set during Quebec's Carnival. I've never been but it's on my list of things to do...eventually. It's also a really fun story featuring a travel writer (one of my favourite types of characters to read about). 

Sugar Spun Sister - Anna Garner (review)

I love all of Anna's books (which include the ones she writes under Libby Mercer) because she writes some of the best characters. I always want to be friends with them. I chose to feature this one because it takes the typical sweet shop story and switches it up. The friends in this series own an ice cream shop! What's not to love?

Finding Lucas - Samantha Stroh Bailey (review)

This book puts the comedy in romantic comedy. I couldn't believe some of the things the characters get up to and it was so much fun to read. I can't wait for Sam's next book!

The Runaway Princess – Hester Browne (review)

I call this book The Princess Diaries for grown-ups. The story is a little different but it has the same feel of the Princess books and movies. I was so incredibly and pleasantly surprised when I read this book and think all chick lit and princess lovers should read it. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Authors in X Genre

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature.

This week we're all listing our favourite authors in a particular genre. It should come as no surprise to anyone that I picked chick lit. I love those kinds of fun, sweet, and sometimes serious, books. I don't often do these lists in order of favourite but this week I started writing down the chick lit authors that came to to mind and this is how they appeared. There are also MANY more that I'd love to list. I probably should have listed more of my indie faves but consider this a list of authors to choose if you're just getting into chick lit. :)

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating in this week's rewind!

1. Emily Giffin

2. Sophie Kinsella

3. Carole Matthews

4. Jennifer Weiner

5. Heather Wardell

6. Cecelia Ahern

7. Beth Kendrick

8. Talli Roland

9. Meg Cabot

10. Sheila O'Flanagan

What genre is your favourite? Who are your favourite authors?

Happy reading :)

Where We Belong: Audio Clip

This post is LONG overdue but I was asked by Macmillan Audio to share an audio clip of Where We Belong, Emily Giffin's latest novel, with all of my lovely readers.

I admit, I'm not a huge audio book fan. This is definitely a personal thing and not anything against the format. I think it's because I don't absorb as much when I'm not reading something myself.

I do, however, think it's awesome that audio books exist. Sometimes it might be the only way people get a chance to "read." I know that if I was going for a ridiculously long road trip on my own I would probably look into buying or borrowing an audio book.

I realllly liked Where We Belong (review is here) so hopefully this post (and the clip) will nudge you procrastinators a little bit. Stop putting off purchasing this book and get to it! :)

Without further ado, you can listen to the clip here.

Recap: Meeting Emily Giffin

That's right my friends. I got to meet Emily Giffin!

I was so excited when I found out she'd be coming to Toronto at the end of August and knew I had to make the trip to see her - no matter what! I'm a couple of hours away so I knew it would require some planning to get there. Luckily, my coworker, who was just as excited about this event as I was, grew up in Toronto and would be able to show my small town self where to go. However...she ended up having to cancel as she had plans for the Labour Day weekend. Hm. Ok, not to worry! I decided to hook up with some of my fellow book bloggers to see if any of them would want to attend. Happy days - two of them wanted to go as well! But THEN...they both ended up having to cancel as well. Seriously?? Is there something wrong with me that no one wants to hang out with me at a super awesome signing?

I'm pretty sure this picture was taken as I was telling Emily that I was there by myself as I got bailed on three times. She felt sorry for me and made sure I got a t-shirt. So, ladies who missed out (who shall remain nameless to protect the not-so-innocent... ;) kidding! love you all!) thank you for making me seem like a huge loser as I got a pretty adorable t-shirt out of it! Also, I babbled like an idiot when I got up to get my books signed. Anyone else experience complete stupideness when faced with someone famous and awesome? Ugh. Mildly embarrassing. Anyway...enough about my pathetic self!

All my goodies - plus a Starbucks treat!

Emily was amazing. Right off the bat she took photos of the crowd which we were to tag ourselves in on Facebook (if you're a fan of her page you can see the pics in her Toronto album). After telling us that she loves coming to Toronto, she spoke for about 20 minutes or so and we got to learn some fun tidbits. The one that stuck out the most for me was that Kirby (the teenager in her latest novel Where We Belong - you can read my review of this one here) has overtaken Darcy from Something Borrowed/Something Blue as her favourite character. She also shared that when her brother-in-law told her that he hated Marian (she's heard that a lot) her sister told him to be quiet. Emily said it was alright as the characters aren't actually real. She also told us that she relates most to Ethan (SOBO/SOBl) and Claudia (Baby Proof). She chatted with us for a bit longer before signing books for the insane number of fans who showed up at Indigo to see her.

My signed books! Could only manage to bring a couple with me :)

Thanks to Twitter, I got to share a wave with Michele from Just a Lil' Lost (check out her recap post here!) and Andrea from Cozy Up with a Good Read as well as a quick chat with Anum from Paper Wings and Ink. Love our book blogging community :)

Even though I went by myself, I'm so glad that I decided to go. Emily's one of my favourite authors and I would have been kicking myself if I didn't go see her while she was in Canada. I'll probably even go see her again the next time she's here so I can get a couple more books signed!

Here I am with the gorgeous Emily Giffin - note how crouched down I am :)
(Yes, the pic's blurry...stupid no flash rule and useless camera)

Just Finished: Where We Belong

If you asked me who my favourite authors were, Emily Giffin would be one of the first to come to mind. It's no surprise that I have been anxiously awaiting her latest novel, Where We Belong. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and I devoured it over a weekend. I. Loved. It.

Here's the synopsis:

Marian Caldwell is a thirty-six year old television producer, living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . . only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world—and her very identity—will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that has come to define her. 

For the precocious and determined Kirby, the encounter will spur a process of discovery that ushers her across the threshold of adulthood, forcing her to re-evaluate her family and future in a wise and bittersweet light. As the two women embark on a journey to find the one thing missing in their lives, each will come to recognize that where we belong is often where we least expect to find ourselves—a place that we may have willed ourselves to forget, but that the heart remembers forever.

Have you ever had really high expectations for something and then it just totally lets you down? I was terrified that that was going to happen to me when it came to this novel. That wasn't the case, thank goodness, as I couldn't put this one down. I think I liked that it was a little different than some of Giffin's other works. There wasn't an overt/obvious infidelity storyline that's so prevalent in her other books which was a nice change of pace. Those plots can sometimes be really hard to read (Heart of the Matter anyone? Hoo boy, that was tough).

It was also interesting to read one of her books from the point of view of a teenager. Kirby was the kind of teen that I like reading about because she's smart and mature, even if her parents don't realize it. She's not obsessed with boys and make-up (or sparkling vampires) but she's still a girl and I loved reading her romantic storyline. So sweet! It was really great to see her come into her own and, well, figure out where she belonged.

I was surprised at all the lies that Marian had told throughout her life. I think she was completely justified in the reactions from some people when they found out about Kirby (no - I'm not going to give any of that away!) Also, it almost seemed like she was pretending to be someone else at points. Like she wasn't being true to herself, you know? I don't think she's as cold as you might think and I wonder if her boyfriend had anything to do with the way she was acting or if that's really the way she is. Writing this review I've realized that I couldn't really get a good read on Marian and that could be why Kirby stands out as my favourite character in this book. Hm. Interesting.

I'm desperate for a sequel and I know I'm not alone in that thought. I believe I even read something from Giffin herself saying that she was toying with the idea. Fingers crossed that she lets us know what happens next with Marian and Kirby because the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger! Even though we are left wondering exactly what's going to happen with all of the characters, I'm happy with how the book ended. I also think I'd like Marian more in the sequel!

Fans of Emily Giffin's other novels will love Where We Belong. I know I'm already waiting for what she comes out with next. And getting super excited to see her on Thursday! That's right - Emily Giffin is coming to Canada (Toronto, to be more specific)! Since I'm not too far from the city, I'm making the trek to see her at Indigo and I am SO EXCITED! I'll share pictures with you all soon :)

Happy reading :)

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy to review!

All Hail the Queens of Chick Lit!

The unofficial chick lit crown

Quick - name a chick lit author!

*hums Jeopardy theme song*

I bet you either thought of Sophie Kinsella or Emily Giffin. Am I right? If I'm not, just humour me and nod at your computer screen, ok? My point is that these two are usually the first to be named in the list of chick lit authors and my own list is no exception.

I find that when chick lit lovers are trying to describe what kinds of books they like but either aren't familiar with the term "chick lit" or don't like using it, they'll usually say, "You know, books like Confessions of a Shopaholic." I do it too, mainly because naming some of the other chick lit authors I've read would be met with blank stares. It's also because that book, and Kinsella's others, seems to have become synonymous with the genre. Everyone knows what you mean when you talk about Shopaholic.

I'm sure part of the reason Giffin and Kinsella are among the chick lit royals is because they've been around for so long. Their novels have had staying power even when the future of the genre is unknown. Personally I don't think we'll ever see the death of chick lit but that's a whole other discussion. :) Anyway, these ladies have built up a loyal fan base and have helped pave the way for many other authors in the genre.

I've read all of Giffin's books (CANNOT WAIT for her new one) and all of Kinsella's, and even some of her books written under Madeleine Wickham. I thoroughly enjoy both authors but for slightly different reasons.

When I read Kinsella I know I'm going to encounter seemingly flighty and unintelligent but very fun characters. I may not particularly like or understand them at the beginning but by the end of the book I want to be their friend.

Giffin's novels tend to be a touch heavier and often deal with infidelity. I know that some scenes will be tough to read but the story gets me (in a good way) almost every time.

Speaking of Sophie Kinsella/Madeleine Wickham - I am one who definitely enjoys Kinsella's novels more. I have no idea why as they're written by the same author but something about the Wickham books just doesn't do it for me. I know other people who are the opposite, others who don't have a preference, and still others who have no idea Wickham and Kinsella are the same author. What camp do you fall into?

Of course there are many other authors who write novels that can be considered chick lit and many of them should be included in the genre's royal family. Here are some of my other favourites: Meg Cabot, Carole Matthews, Sheila O'Flanagan, Jennifer Weiner, Beth Kendrick, and Cecelia Ahern. These are just the well known authors. A few of my newer (to me) chick lit-esque favourites are: Heather Wardell, Samantha March, Kathleen Kole, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, Anne McAneny, and J.F. Kristin.

Obviously there are a lot of amazing chick lit authors out there. They all bring something different to the genre which keeps things interesting. The formula may be similar but great genre writers know how to work it so the story is fresh and gives something amazing to their readers.

I'd love to hear who your favourite chick lit authors are. What makes them great to you?

And, just as a refresher, here are the lovely blogs that are associate with International Chick Lit Month, which is what inspired this post.

Official site
Chick Lit Club
Chick Lit is Not Dead
Chick Lit Central
Novelicious


Happy reading! :)

Just Finished: "Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo"

Ladies and gentlemen, let me present one of my new favourite books...Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo by Heather Wardell. I'll start this rambling and lengthy post with the synopsis from Goodreads:

When Candice's in-laws died in a car accident eight months ago, she lost her husband Ian too. After only two years of marriage their guilt and pain have left them living together but apart. During Ian's month-long trip overseas, Candice plans to decide if her marriage can be saved, but when the first man she ever loved is the new client at work, she wonders what she truly wants from life and love.

When Heather first asked me to review her books a little while ago I poked around her website and found an excerpt from this book. I was hooked. I couldn't stop thinking about the story and the characters and wondering how they got through everything. I had quite a few other books to read but when I finally got around to reading Polar Bear I found that the rest of the novel was just as engaging as the first chapter.

There were so many things that I loved about this novel, so I hope I can remember to touch on all of them. First of all, the characters were fantastic. Each one was well developed and three dimensional. I really felt like I knew them and I wanted to be friends with all of them! And this was a very important thing. I think if I hadn't like the characters, the story would have been harder to take. Sometimes when cheating is at the centre of the plot it can be really hard to read and feel any sympathy or empathy for any of the characters. I felt like I could really understand the reason behind the decisions Candice, Kegan, and Ian were making.

My fave Giffin book!

Since I'm sure some of you don't know who Heather Wardell is (and you need to go educate yourselves right now...ok, finish reading this post, and then go check out all her books), I'm going to compare this novel to one by a well known chick lit author - Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin. A quick snippet from the Goodreads synopsis: This is the story for anyone who has ever wondered: How can I truly love the one I'm with when I can't forget the one who got away? I felt the same way about LTOYW as I did about Polar Bear...I could see why the characters were making their choices. I actually could see their reasoning so well that I knew exactly why they were having a hard time making the so called "right" choice. I'm not always ok with the whole infidelity storyline, just in case you think I am. In fact, I had a very hard time reading Heart of the Matter by Giffin. I was just not ok with Tessa's husband cheating on her (I was, however, amused that Tessa is Dex's sister. Yes, Dex from Something Borrowed). Anyway, slightly off topic now. Long story short - LTOYW and Polar Bear were similar but both were unique to the author and were equally delightful.

If you've been reading my previous posts you may have realized that I love reading Canadian authors and seeing whether they play up or ignore the fact that they are from Canada. Sometimes you have no idea if the characters are in Canada (see my post on Spin) and sometimes a Canadian city is named as the location, but that's it (see Love Struck). And sometimes, like with Polar Bear, you know the characters are in Canada and the reader actually gets to explore the city through the characters. At one point in this novel, Candice and Kegan head to Canada's Wonderland, the theme park in Toronto (technically it's outside Toronto...but when I'm driving south - I live north of T.O. - Wonderland signals the entrance into the dreaded GTA. I'm such a small town girl!). You're wondering where I'm going with this, aren't you? Well, the reason this part of the novel made an impression on me was because I knew what rides Candice and Kegan were on and Wardell didn't name the rides, only described them. I've been to Wonderland a few times and just thought it was so cool that I had been on the same rides the characters were on. Except Drop Tower. That ride just plain terrifies me. Anyway, this excursion by the characters actually prompted me to text my friend and tell her I wanted to go to Wonderland. Needless to say, she was a little confused as to why I was all of a sudden wanting to go :) Read this novel and wonder what the rides look like? Here ya go:
(PS Heather, did I get them all right? There were options for the wood and stand up ones!)


Drop Tower; SkyRider; Wild Beast; Swings of the Century

 Since I follow Heather on Twitter (and you should too! @HeatherWardell) and we are part of the same Chick Lit Challenge hosted by Samantha at Chick Lit Plus, I know that she is an avid reader. Turns out Candice is too, which the following two quotes show:

I was halfway to the door when a new Marian Keyes novel caught my eye. I picked it up to take a look and decided it needed to come hom with me.

Admit it. Many of you have felt exactly the same way at the bookstore.

Larissa stopped dead and gave me a good impression of a woman having a heart attack. "You...not going to Chapters? The world has gone mad!"

Love it. I think I want Candice to be my friend :)

Overall, I loved loved loved this book. Five stars, for sure. I've already told a few friends to read it and plan on making others to read it as well. The characters are amazing, the story flows, and you will not want to put it down.

What's that you say? Now that you've heard me talk about how amazing Heather's book was you want to know where to find all her books? Not to worry, I have you covered. (and, alright, I may be over exaggerating my influence :) Just a bit?) You can find them on Smashwords, Kobo, and Amazon. There may be more but this should be enough to get you started, right? :) I definitely urge you to check out Heather's books. I am looking foward to reading more of hers!

Something Old. Something New. Something Borrowed! Something Blue?

Just in case you couldn't figure it out from the title of this blog post, I just went to see Something Borrowed on Tuesday. I read this book eons ago and have been looking forward to the adaptation ever since I heard it was being made into a movie. I've been meaning to reread it but I decided to wait until after seeing the movie, otherwise I knew I would be irked with any slight changes or omissions. I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed the movie!

Some observations and notes:

• Kate Hudson was perfection as Darcy. I have to admit that I strongly disliked Darcy when I read Something Borrowed. So much so that I was actually not looking forward to reading Something Blue because it focuses more on her story. I think Kate Hudson was great because everyone loves her, but she can play the gorgeous, self centred, "I'm the best", sassy kind of girl so well that you want to dislike her, but you know there's a good person somewhere inside her. Anyone else feel that way about Darcy and Hudson's portrayal of her? 
• Ginnifer Goodwin was an amazing Rachel. Intelligent girl next door who really has no idea how gorgeous she is. I'm a little sad that we would see less of Goodwin in the sequel because I really liked her as Rachel.
• While Colin Eggelsfield is definitely an attractive guy, I would rather marry John Krasinski (even though he's already taken...that and I have no chance of meeting him!) Humour will win me over almost every time.

They're even wearing a similar suit at the premiere!

• I loved the cameo by Emily Giffin. Those of you who watched it...did you catch it? She was the one sitting on the bench reading Something Blue who is offended when Marcus starts talking about masturbating (and can you blame her? I'd be a little weirded out too!)

• I also appreciated the heads up from Emily Giffin's Twitter that there was an extra little scene after the credits. They set the sequel up perfectly! Kicking yourself for not staying? Go see it again! :)
• Wondering why there's a ? after Something Blue in the title of this post? Giffin's been rallying her fans to make sure they see the movie and get friends and friends of friends to go see Something Borrowed. The more people who see it, the more money the money people make, and that will convince them to make Something Blue!
• I now feel better about my curly hair/straight bangs situation that I have going on. I don't look as good as Goodwin, but hey...I'm ok with that.

• Speaking of hair...there's one scene, quite a pivotal one too, where Rachel leaves the bar and it's pouring rain. Next scene she's getting out of the cab in New York in the same dress...AND HER HAIR IS PERFECT! Nope. Sorry Hollywood, you fail. That never happens to girls with curly hair. Rain = death by poodle head.
• I really want to reread all of Giffin's books this summer. You know, in between all the other books I have to read. I can't wait for her new one to be released!
• I may have embarrassed my sister during the movie...anyone who has read the book would have known what was coming but there was a scene during the movie that almost everyone in the theatre reacted to. And I may or may not have whispered (a little too loudly) "Haven't any of you read the book?!?" Oops. Can I help it if I'm a totally book worshipper and will always read the book before seeing the movie?

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie and will buy it the day it is released on DVD. What did you guys think of it?

No idea what movie I'm talking about? Check out the trailer!

March Chick Lit Review: "Playdate"

Hello all! Sorry I've been MIA lately...work has been super crazy. Nothing like still getting used to a new job (been there six months), my supervisor going on mat leave, and trying to plan a gala. Ack! But, never fear my faithful followers, I am here with my third Chick Lit Challenge Review!

This month's novel takes care of one of the two debut authors that I have to read to complete the Challenge. I was originally concerned with trying to find a debut author because it could end up being quite tricky. Luckily, Samantha over at Chick Lit Plus has these handy blog posts that give us ideas for this part of the Challenge. I was reading the first of these posts when I came across Playdate and was very happy. Why? you ask? Because I had received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher at my old bookstore job. Score!

I am finding something interesting with the books I'm choosing for the Challenge...I'm not totally overwhelmed by them, and I'm not really sure why. I wonder if it's maybe because I'm analyzing them a bit more in preparation of writing reviews or they just aren't winners. I'm not saying that I dislike any of them and I would still recommend them, but they're not my favourites. With Playdate I think it was the main story that I just couldn't relate with. Here's the synopsis from Chapters:

Inside their picture-perfect homes, the residents of this quiet California suburb are not at all what they seem.
Lance is a former weatherman, now a buff yogi, stay-athome dad, and manager of his daughter's Girl Scout troop's cookie distribution. Belle is his precocious and quick-witted daughter. Darlene is a classic Type A work-a-holic, she has little time or patience for the needs of her husband and daughter
And just down the street are Alec and Wren. Alec, a womanizing businessman, is also the financial backer-and sometimes more-behind Darlene's burgeoning empire. Meanwhile, Wren is a doting mother and talented yogi, ready to lay down the mat for a quick session with Lance.
As looming Santa Ana winds threaten to turn brushfires into catastrophe; Playdate proves that relationships are complicated and the bonds between families, spouses and children are never quite what they seem. What happens next door, beyond the hedges, in the romper room and executive office-it's all as combustible as a quick brushfire on a windy day.

I can usually relate somehow to most characters, but I just couldn't quite find the link with Lance, Darlene, Wren, and Alec. I think part of the reason was that I went in assuming that Darlene was cold hearted and didn't care one single iota for her family. That's not the case. After just 30 some odd pages, what you thought you had figured out about a character has completely changed.

One part that I didn't quite get was the focus on the Santa Ana winds. I suppose Adams was trying to make it seem like another character but it was lost on me. It provided a way for Belle to grow at the end of the novel, but other than that I just saw it as a way for Lance to talk about his former profession as a weatherman. Also, whenever I hear "Santa Ana" the scene in The Holiday with Kate Winslet and Jack Black pops into my head. That scene is much sweeter than the "firenados" in Playdate. But I suppose that's just me :)

Lance and Darlene have uprooted their daughter, Belle, and their lives and moved to a new city to follow Darlene's dream. Between this and the fact that the adults all seem so completely self absorbed, I really felt sorry for Belle. I can imagine that it is hard to be the new kid and worry about your parents' marriage. Plus, she had to wear her Girl Scouts uniform to school! Talk about squashing individuality.

I am finding it very difficult to say why I didn't love this novel without giving anything away. So. Let me just say that there are certain life choices characters make in some books that I just can't get behind, especially if they don't seem to have a good reason. There was also one character who really grated on my nerves and who I thought would raise bloody hell once she found out one of the dirty little secrets. I will say I was disappointed in that, though I'm not sure why.

I did really like one of the underlying themes of the novel - the role of the stay at home dad. This novel examined the stigma attached to being a "househusband" which I found interesting. I hadn't really thought too much about stay at home dads and what they must have to deal with everyday from their male peers. The question Lance kept getting asked was, "So, what do you do all day?" My mom stayed home with my sister and I until I was in grade eight and I loved it. Probably not as much at the time, but I can look back and I really appreciate what she did for us and the fact that she was always there for us.

I'm sure this review seems like a real downer. No, I didn't love the book. Do I feel like I wasted my time reading it? No. Would I recommend it? Sure, but not to buy. If it happens to turn up at your library or in a box full of free books, go for it. I can acknowledge the fact that I'm not one to love this kind of storyline (even Emily Giffin's latest book, Heart of the Matter gave me trouble and I LOVE her) and that others will. I think if I come across Adams' next book I will pick it up, and I think that says something.

Has anyone else read this book? Let me know what you thought if you have. Are there any particular plot lines that you just do not enjoy reading? Until next time...happy reading. Oh, and Happy St. Patrick's Day! :)