Watching Willow Watts

Sep 13, 2011 LindyLouMac rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well the date has arrived; tomorrow September 14th is the official launch day of Talli Roland’s much awaited second novel. Talli is one of the new generation of writers that understands the importance of an online presence for an author. She certainly went to town with the launch of her debut novel The Hating Game clicking on the title will take you directly to the review I wrote last year. I said it in my last review but will say it again, Talli Roland is a very enterprising young woman that to...more
Well the date has arrived; tomorrow September 14th is the official launch day of Talli Roland’s much awaited second novel. Talli is one of the new generation of writers that understands the importance of an online presence for an author. She certainly went to town with the launch of her debut novel The Hating Game clicking on the title will take you directly to the review I wrote last year. I said it in my last review but will say it again, Talli Roland is a very enterprising young woman that totally understands the importance of publicity. She made a successful job of promoting her last novel and I think that she will do so again this time. Readers who enjoyed her debut are in for a treat as within its genre she has written another sparkly lively modern novel that will appeal to many. For fans of light humoured and easily readable modern women's fiction, love stories with a happy ending than Talli Roland is a name to watch out for.

Once again this young author has come up with an original story line, this time about a Marilyn Monroe look a like, who discovers by playing Marilyn that one of the most important things we learn in this life, is to be true to ourselves.
Our heroine gives her name to the novel and it starts as Willow leaves behind her successful London career as a florist to return to Belcherton, England’s ugliest village, to care for her recently-widowed father. Her life has become rather mundane helping her father in his struggling antiques business. At the local village fete her best friend gets her to dress up as Marilyn Monroe, just for a bit of fun. Before they know it someone has posted a video on You Tube and everything escalates out of control in double quick time as Marilyn mania takes over village life. Surrounded by a fascinating cast of characters including the ghastly Jay who becomes her agent, Willow totally embraces the character of Marilyn. To find out how this all works out for our heroine you will have to read the book for yourself.
Having lived for many years in an English country village, some of the descriptions of the events and characters had me giggling at how well she has captured the essence. Talli obviously has a tremendous sense of humour which has shown through in both of her novels so far. For her humour alone I recommend her writing to you, but even more so if you are a fan of chick lit style romantic fiction.

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Oct 27, 2011 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was thrilled to receive an advanced review copy of Talli Roland’s newest novel, “Watching Willow Watts.”
Willow has left her life in London to look after her father and help with his declining antique business.
I fell in love with Willow Watts as she forced herself to swallow her neighbour’s kumquat marmalade at the village fair. Her best friend, running the celebrity dress up booth insists she put on the “musty smelling white satin dress” and platinum wig. Willow ends up in a video that goes...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Denise Covey rated it 5 of 5 stars

I adored this fun read by Talli Roland. It is both zany and poignant. I love the bizarre descriptions of English village life as Willow leaves her London career as a florist to return to Belcherton, England’s ugliest village, to care for her recently-widowed father.
The story gets underway with the ghostly image of Marilyn Monroe hovering over a You Tube video of Willow doing a dreadful impersonation of the icon. She is practically an overnight sensation and on her way to stardom, complete with s...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Margo rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am thrilled to be writing a review of Talli Roland’s enchanting new book, having adored The Hating Game. I was drawn in straight away and couldn’t put the book down!

Willow Watts, a gifted florist beginning to make a success of her business in London, has returned to the weary village she hails from to care for her widowed father and his ailing antique shop. Life for her and the village takes a bizarre turn when the ghostly image of Marilyn Monroe is seen in an otherwise embarrassing YouTube vi...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Georgina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://chicklitaholic.blogspot.com/20...

“No one could make you fulfilled and happy except yourself”, is the premise and message behind Talli Roland’s latest novel Watching Willow Watts. In today’s society so many people are desperate to become famous in anyway they can, especially with the introduction of You Tube. Fame, is not all that it is hyped up to be and it is great to see a novel that shows some of the pitfalls and what really happens once the fame takes hold. As soon as I read the synop...more http://chicklitaholic.blogspot.com/20...

“No one could make you fulfilled and happy except yourself”, is the premise and message behind Talli Roland’s latest novel Watching Willow Watts. In today’s society so many people are desperate to become famous in anyway they can, especially with the introduction of You Tube. Fame, is not all that it is hyped up to be and it is great to see a novel that shows some of the pitfalls and what really happens once the fame takes hold. As soon as I read the synopsis of this novel I knew that I would be hooked and once I received this novel I was excited to get started.

Willow Watts, is a normal girl living in a predictably dull routine. She spends her days working in her dads antique shop and her nights staying in watching TV. Willow lives in a boring village filled with old aged pensioners with the title of Britain’s Ugliest Village. Willow’s life is suddenly turned upside down when a You Tube video of Willow impersonating Marilyn Monroe becomes an overnight sensation after the viewers spot Marilyn’s ghostly image in the video. Willows life and the small town she lives in are thrown into chaos with fans flocking from all over the world to see ‘the new Marilyn. Willow embraces her new identity, gaining weight to achieve Marilyn’s curves and changing her entire look. When Willow’s former love Alex returns to the village she must decide if she wants to focus on fame or revert back to her old self in order to find happiness

Talli Roland has come up with a individual, unique storyline, which I have not seen done before. I really enjoyed the way she took this quirky idea of someone becoming a You tube sensation and what happens afterwards. I felt that with this storyline Talli was also able to create characters that were relatable and fell into pace with the story. I loved the characters of Dickie, Willow’s father and Bett’s, the Marilyn Monroe fan from America. I especially enjoyed when these two characters were interacting together. I found them extremely likeable and also very funny at times. I hated the character of Jay, he is absolutely vile, doing everything for his own gain and not caring in any way about anyone else. You are expected to hate Jay from the beginning, right through and you will be hoping along the way that someone manages to put him in his place. Willow is also an interesting character who you will feel for throughout the novel. Willow is also very family oriented, which I loved.

My only issue with the novel was that I felt at times as though Willow was a little too naïve. All of us make mistakes in life and make decisions without having all the facts, however I felt as though Willow went into a lot of situations with her eyes closed. I would have liked to see Willow as a little bit of a stronger character. For example Willow falls out with her best friend over Jay and decides to believe what Jay has to say over her best friend, Paula. Willow and Jay have only known each other for a few days, therefore I don’t believe it is realistic for a woman to believe a guy she has just met over her best friend.

Watching Willow Watts is a funny, heart-warming, unique story, that will have leave you unable to put the novel down. I finished Watching Willow Watts is one weekend and did not want it to end. I will now be running to the store to purchase The Hating Game, Talli Roland’s previous novel, in order to read more of her delectable writing. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a fun unique take on chick lit.

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Aug 23, 2011 Laura Bambrey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Willow Watts has managed to drop the reigns on her life, moving from her budding dream-career as an up-and-coming florist in London to living back with her newly widowed father in Belcherton, Britain’s ugliest village. Willow battles to save her father’s shop from bankruptcy, whilst simultaneously preventing him from knowing anything about it. Suddenly, the answer seems to drop right into her lap when a you-tube video of her (shockingly bad) impersonation of Marilyn Monroe goes viral. As the wor...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Sharon Goodwin rated it 4 of 5 stars

The story starts at the village fete where we are introduced to the characters. Willow’s best friend Paula is running a stall where fete visitors dress up as a celebrity and have their photo taken. Paula talks Willow into dressing as Marilyn Munroe, Simpson (who is the village tourism rep) makes a video which gets uploaded onto YouTube … and this one incident sends Willow’s life into a whirlwind of activity and emotions.

Belcherton explodes with visitors wanting to see Willow and along with this...more The story starts at the village fete where we are introduced to the characters. Willow’s best friend Paula is running a stall where fete visitors dress up as a celebrity and have their photo taken. Paula talks Willow into dressing as Marilyn Munroe, Simpson (who is the village tourism rep) makes a video which gets uploaded onto YouTube … and this one incident sends Willow’s life into a whirlwind of activity and emotions.

Belcherton explodes with visitors wanting to see Willow and along with this influx of people arrives agent Jay. Jay, who on the surface is very supportive of Willow but underneath is controlling and hungry for revenge (and money!). Amongst the visitors to the village we meet Betts who has stepped out of her comfort zone and come to the UK from Georgia. She stays with Willow and her father and becomes an integral part of their lives.

Another character central to the story is Cissy. A retired former actress living on the outskirts of the village, she has met Jay in the past. She is not happy with how things are working out for Jay.

The characters in Watching Willow Watts are so believable. You become involved in either rooting for everything to turn out well or wishing for their downfall.

Behind Willow’s decisions all the time are considerations of others - money her father owes or in supporting the village to become more than Britain’s Ugliest Village. She puts her own feelings aside. When Jay enters the village she is in a vulnerable position emotionally so it is entirely believable that she only sees what is on the surface. If you’ve read my reviews you know that I love watching a female heroine make the journey from being down-trodden and insecure to becoming her own person … and we certainly see this for Willow.

Watching Willow Watts is a wonderful emotional ride. We have all the elements of love, friendship, family, community and revenge to keep us absorbed. You won’t be disappointed in accompanying Willow on her journey as the iconic Marilyn Munroe!

I would like to thank the author for providing me a review copy.(less)

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Sep 22, 2011 Michael Di Gesu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go from a passive, simple life only to be thrown in the mixed of paparazzi and adoring fans as a U-Tube superstar?

Willow Watts certainly does. Innocently donning on a cheap bleached-blond wig and a stretched out moldy dress for a local charity event in the small town of Belcherton, Willow is coaxed into singing Marilyn Monroe's signature "Happy Birthday Mr. President" song.

Filmed by the head of the town's tourist board, Simpson Dyer, who is despera...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Arlee Bird rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this short novel Talli Roland tells a blithe tale about when ordinary people are confronted with big changes. The storytelling is skillful and told with humor and heart. The characters are portrayed realistically with no airbrushing or cosmetic cover ups--we see the good and the bad and love or detest them for who and what they are.

The message in the book is a good one portrayed in an entertaining way. The story deals with people with empty spaces in their lives that need filling. Roland e...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Nikki Bywater rated it 5 of 5 stars

Willow Watts lives in the small and very quiet village of Belcherton in the UK, having moved back there from living a good happy life in London, where she had graduated from a prestigious flower school in Knightsbridge after doing really well and landing a great job in Liberty’s. She had made the decision to return to Belcherton to be there for her father who since her mothers death seems not to be coping too well and Willow finds out his business is in debt. She is living a quiet life in the vi...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Samantha Robey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Willow Watts was just starting to make something of herself when everything changed. She was living in London, working to become a well-known florist, happy with her boyfriend and her life, when her mother passed away. Willow felt she didn’t have any other choice but to move home to the village she grew up in to watch after her father and his failing antique shop. She lost her wonderful boyfriend, her budding career, and a little piece of herself after moving back home. Her once thriving life ha...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Watching Willow Watts is a fun, laugh-out-loud read interwoven with sweet spots that warms your heart and makes you want to hug your best-friend. With witt and charm, Talli Roland creates an unforgettable character in Willow Watts, a small town girl turned over-night star via, of course, u-tube. Willow's motivations to become a star are pure, wanting to help out her dad's ailing business and her town's low reputation. But stardom comes with a cost, even with the best intentions. And not everyone...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Leah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, books-read-2011, for-review

When I read a very early copy of Talli Roland’s debut novel The Hating Game last year, I was in love. It was a very original novel with a brilliant plot and insanely wonderful characters. So I was pleased to see Talli would be releasing a second novel and after reading the synopsis for Watching Willow Watts, I was hooked and I couldn’t wait to read it. When Talli emailed me an early copy for my Kindle I was deliriously happy and very eager to start reading it. I’d just finished a previous novel...more When I read a very early copy of Talli Roland’s debut novel The Hating Game last year, I was in love. It was a very original novel with a brilliant plot and insanely wonderful characters. So I was pleased to see Talli would be releasing a second novel and after reading the synopsis for Watching Willow Watts, I was hooked and I couldn’t wait to read it. When Talli emailed me an early copy for my Kindle I was deliriously happy and very eager to start reading it. I’d just finished a previous novel on my Kindle so I was all set for a new read (evidently, Talli knew that!) and Watching Willow Watts was that read.

The plot of Watching Willow Watts is something else entirely. It’s just as brilliant as The Hating Game as Willow Watts dresses up for Marilyn Monroe for a joke at her village’s fete and the subsequent YouTube video ends up going viral as people proclaim Willow is the ‘New Marilyn’. Soon, Willow’s little town, Belcherton, is over-run with Marilyn fans clamouring for a piece of Willow, including supposed uber-agent Jay and Marilyn obsessive Betts. And as Willow sees her being the ‘New Marilyn’ as a way to make money for her heart-broken dad, well, what’s a girl to do? I thought Talli executed the main plot perfectly. I loved Willow’s ascent to fame (and, be warned, you will have to suspend your beliefs when reading the novel!) and I liked that Willow was so selfless that she really only wanted to do it to save her dad’s antique business from failing. It’s a brilliant plot, and one Talli had thought out perfectly.

The novel’s downfall, for me, was Jay. It began and it ended with Jay, the agent who sees Willow and decides she’ll be his ticket back to the big time. Him coming into the novel didn’t exactly ruin it for me, but it did send the novel onto a track well-rehearsed. There was an exchange mid-way through the novel where Jay hit on Willow’s best friend Paula, not knowing they were best friends and whilst he was sleeping with Willow. Paula told Willow, but because Jay had told Willow Paula would probably be jealous, Willow believed Jay and not Paula. It wasn’t necessarily all downhill from there, but it was like a familiar record had come on and I knew exactly how it was all going to pan out. It saddened me. I’m sorry but if there’s one thing I HATE in Chick Lit it’s when supposedly sane women choose their new man over their best friends of many years. It drives me nuts. Plot device or not, I truly hate it. Because in real life that just wouldn’t happen. I couldn’t perceive any time in my life that I would ever believe a boyfriend over a best friend and it keeps happening in Chick Lit and I keep rolling my eyes.

I liked the majority of the characters. Willow, it has to be said, was absolutely nothing like Mattie, Roland’s heroine from The Hating Game. Mattie would eat Willow for breakfast, frankly. I must admit, I was expecting another Mattie-type character because there’s a big, big lack of female characters like Mattie, most are Willow prototypes all meek and mild and although it’s good and it works… It does get a bit boring after a while and I thought Roland had tapped into a wonderful character in Mattie and wished she had done the same to Willow. I mean, Willow wasn’t horrible, she was rather lovely, but her gullibility and her naivete bit. I liked her but I also wanted to give her a clout. I loved Paula, Willow’s best friend, she was very forthright and I was inexplicably sad when Willow shut her down. I also really liked Willow’s dad, along with Betts, the American Marilyn-obsessive. I couldn’t stand Jay, the agent, I wanted to make him disappear. I hated him and it’s rare I say that.

Watching Willow Watts was infinitely different to The Hating Game and for me it just wasn’t as good. The whole idea was there and most of it was executed perfectly, but the colour-by-numbers with Jay/Willow/Paula was just horrible for me. When I’m reading a book it’s never a good sign when I’m thinking of how I would do it differently and after the whole incident with Willow and Paula I was consistently wondering how I’d have done it, personally. I was also surprised at the lack of romance. The synopsis mentions Willow’s ex coming back, but he’s featured in about 10 pages total, most of them coming near to the end with just one solitary appearance somewhere in the middle. I know why that was – it was part of the plot, but the synopsis was rather misleading there as I was expecting more. I did enjoy the novel, don’t get me wrong but it wasn’t as good as The Hating Game. It didn’t have the same oomph. I wanted it to blow me away like The Hating Game did, but sadly it didn’t. The first half of the novel was excellent and then it all just descended into a type of Chick Lit novel I’ve seen time and time again, which made me sad. Talli is a brilliant novelist and has some wonderful book ideas and I will be on the lookout for her next novel but Watching Willow Watts wasn’t as good as her debut novel.(less)

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Sep 12, 2011 Cherie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Talli Roland's WATCHING WILLOW WATTS shines like a bright star in the chick lit world.

Willow Watts never imagined dressing up as Marilyn Monroe for her best friend's celebrity picture booth would change her life. When her imagine is up on YouTube and appears sanctioned by Marilyn's ghost, Willow goes viral. Marilyn's fans proclaim her as the new Marilyn and everyone is clamoring to make a pound, including Willow. As the new Marilyn learns what fame means, Willow discovers the truth in who she is...more

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Oct 08, 2011 Rea Sinfield rated it 4 of 5 stars

I seem to be getting my reading Mojo back and have flown through my latest book! It did help that it was a really enjoyable read. I have just finished Watching Willow Watts by Talli Roland, this book is available on kindle with the official launch on the 14th September, but not to worry for all of you paperback lovers this will be available in paperback on 30th November.

Plot
For Willow Watts, life has settled into a predictably dull routine: days behind the counter at her father's antique shop a...more I seem to be getting my reading Mojo back and have flown through my latest book! It did help that it was a really enjoyable read. I have just finished Watching Willow Watts by Talli Roland, this book is available on kindle with the official launch on the 14th September, but not to worry for all of you paperback lovers this will be available in paperback on 30th November.

Plot
For Willow Watts, life has settled into a predictably dull routine: days behind the counter at her father's antique shop and nights watching TV, as the pension-aged residents of Britain's Ugliest Village bed down for yet another early night. But everything changes when a YouTube video of Willow's epically embarrassing Marilyn Monroe impersonation gets millions of hits after a viewer spots Marilyn's ghostly image in a frame.

Instantly, Willow's town is overrun with fans flocking to see the 'new Marilyn'. Egged on by the villagers -- whose shops and businesses are cashing in -- Willow embraces her new identity, dying her hair platinum and ramming herself full of cakes to achieve Marilyn's legendary curves.

But when a former flame returns seeking the old Willow, Willow must decide: can she risk her stardom and her village's newfound fortune on love, or is being Marilyn her ticket to happiness?

My Opinion
The heroine in this book who is Willow Watts is such a natural character. From the moment we first meet her we instantly form a bond with her and I think it is because she is so genuine and selfless that we warm to her so much. Throughout the whole book you always see her putting everyone else’s welfare before her own wants and needs. There are a real mix of characters in Watching Willow Watts all who seem very friendly and relaxed this is all bar one character, Jay who turns up to become Willow’s agent and from the moment we meet him there is an instant dislike and we know what he is aiming to do but poor Willow is unaware of his actions.

The storyline to this book is very light-hearted and flows at a perfect pace, I was hoping to see a little more of the relationship between Willow and her ex-boyfriend but this is just me being greedy and a hopeless romantic!

I love the way Talli Roland creates a traditional little country town where everything is very ordinary and the community all come together, and then decides to throw in the whole Marilyn Munroe thing in which you would never expect in such an ordinary town. I think when something big and pink arrives in the town this is when it all felt a little bizarre!

I would defiantly recommend this book and after reading this one I would now like to read her previous novel The Hating Game. Both of her books have very bright eye catching covers so you can not miss them!
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Aug 28, 2011 Ranae rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was looking forward to the release of Watching Willow Watts ever since I read Talli's last book. I was so excited when I received an advance copy for review and it definately didn't dissapoint. It was just the sort of fun, page-turning story that I expected. The plot is unique and the characters are likeable. I found myself staying up way too late at night reading because I had to know what happened next to Willow - aka Marilyn. This is the perfect read if you're looking for something fun to s...more

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Aug 26, 2011 Joo The Grand Inquisitor rated it 5 of 5 stars

Now that's what I like, a 100% Chick Lit book. You know exactly what you are going to get. A darned good read.

I was going to save this for holidays next week, but I thought I'd read a page or two. Next thing I knew was I'd finished it and it was dark outside.

It's the story of Willow Watts who, after living in London for a while, goes back to her small village to live with her dad and gets caught up in whirlwind after appearing on You Tube.

It was a great read. The story just flowed and even tho...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

From the first chapter I was hooked. Willow is a dear person, having left her dream life back in London to care for her widowed father and his dusty antique shop. The characters in this forgotten village are well-drawn, and I chuckled throughout at their odd and endearing ways. The Marilyn scenes are hilarious. Skinny Willow trying to maneuver about with her stuffed booty had me laughing out loud.

You've got romance, humor, friendship and a villain you love to hate: Talli Roland has a real winne...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Beverly Diehl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-of-age, contemporary-womens-fiction, humor, romance

Great chick lit read. Willow was a little too pliant (something like an actual willow, possibly a deliberate author choice) for my taste in the beginning of the novel, but by the end, she's discovered quite a sturdy backbone, thank you very much!

I loved the subplot romance between Bette Johnson, co-dependent and unsatisfied middle-aged woman out of Georgia (USA) and Willow's dad. I also loved the many slang Brit terms - as a Yank, for whatever reason, everything sounds twice as charming in a Bri...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Hazel Osmond rated it 4 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this... fast paced, likeable characters and did that thing of creating a complete community. Also think the multiple viewpoints were expertly handled (not an easy thing to do)and the whole instant fame thing was very feasible. There were no easy answers and even though there was a 'baddie' it didn't feel like he was an 'off the shelf' romantic cad.

Has whetted my appetite to read 'To build a Man', another of Talli Roland's books... she has a very concise and elegant way of writing...more

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Mar 13, 2012 June Louise rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: light-reading, contemporary-fiction, mum-treats

Willow is a plain lass, living a rather humdrum life in Britain's Ugliest Village, Belcherton (fantastic name!) having moved there from London following the death of her mother and split from her boyfriend. All plods on uneventfully until she dresses up as Marilyn Monroe for fun at the village fete and is recorded and subsequently uploaded to YouTube by the village's resident Mr Tourism, Simpson Dyer (again, another fantastic surname - it reflects the state of the village). Within a short space...more

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Dec 25, 2011 Philippa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, chick-lit, kindle

This will now be the second time I have written this review! As the first time my computer crashed and I lost it all!
Anyways –
I’m not a huge reader of the chick-lit genre. Usually, I tend to read more ‘serious’ fare. But occasionally every girl(/woman) needs a little escapist easy reading, where some sort of happy ending can be expected. All that said – I’m not really one for hugely trashy, overdone romances. Where the characters are too flat, obvious and the women ‘need’ a man to solve all th...more This will now be the second time I have written this review! As the first time my computer crashed and I lost it all!
Anyways –
I’m not a huge reader of the chick-lit genre. Usually, I tend to read more ‘serious’ fare. But occasionally every girl(/woman) needs a little escapist easy reading, where some sort of happy ending can be expected. All that said – I’m not really one for hugely trashy, overdone romances. Where the characters are too flat, obvious and the women ‘need’ a man to solve all their problems. All this being said I had read Talli Roland’s first novel (The Hating Game) earlier in the year (in my pre – GR days hence no review) and been hugely impressed. Her female lead had been smart, witty and capable. She had been flawed and stubborn and had plenty of problems to contend with but she wasn’t just waiting around for someone to try and fix them for her. All in all I had been impressed and when I saw this new book come out I had purchased a copy almost straight away for the next time such a read was required.
All in all my expectations were not disappointed!!
Willow Watts has moved back home to a fictional sleepy little village in Gloucestershire (view spoiler) after the sudden death of her Mother, in order to care for her Dad and has ended up giving up on many of her dreams and plans. Including her intention to one day run her own flower shop in London. By a bizarre twist of events her life is thrown into complete upheaval after a video of her dressed up as Marilyn Monroe makes it on the internet and suddenly scores of Marilyn fans believe Willow has been appointed by the famous blonde herself as her ‘successor’. Suddenly an overnight sensation, Willow has to learn how to deal with her celebrity and ultimately has to determine how and as who she wants to live her life.
Whilst Willow is perhaps not as strong-willed a character as that in Roland’s first book she is a very believable one, possibly slightly more likeable (or should I say easier to like straight from page 1) and I think plenty of women would be able to identify with her and her motivations. Roland also has incredible skill with plot and characters as you really come to care about them and do find yourself immersed in the story. On this note I think the fact that I read this entire book in one day speaks volumes! The plot is beautifully crafted to move along at just the right pace, keeping you constantly hooked and this isn’t a book with unnecessary ‘filler’ everything adds to your understanding of the characters, their backstory and the events of the novel. Also what I love is the complete absence of awkward sex scenes, which often chick-lit authors seem to use purely to boost the word count!
Ultimately, I would say that Talli Roland is an author to watch and I definitely plan to read more!
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Dec 16, 2011 Teresa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read, romance, chick-lit

Like Talli's other book, this was a refreshing, original read. I'll try to review this without giving away spoilers.

It's a story about Willow regaining her dreams, and taking her life back. The plot maybe a little far fetched - would thousands of people really believe Marilyn had chosen Willow? - but it works in fiction and make believe if you allow yourself to be carried away into Willow's world.

Compared to some romance that I've read, the hero is not featured heavily in the book (but this is...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Glynis Smy rated it 5 of 5 stars

She’s done it again! Talli Roland has written another red carpet, chick lit read. Watching Willow Watts is entertaining, different and packed with humour.

Romance for Willow Watts -a young florist from a small community-has flown the nest. Her love life is zero. Baking cakes for the ladies group and her hopes of recovering money to cover her father’s small shop debts are about as exciting as her life gets. Until a YouTube video puts her hometown on the map, then life gets a little crazy.
Willow f...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Agi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

First of all, I'd like to thank Talli for everything. And she knows what for:) I guess she is the only author that is taking so good care of people who want to read her work. So big, big thank you.

The book itself. Talli picks topics that I have not read in the books yet. And this book made me actually think. It was not a no - brainer (again, no offence, I need no - brainers as well!!!!) but a book that really make people think: what they do, how they do and why they are doing it.
Maybe there was...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Deniz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Talk about chick lit at its best!

I don't usually read this genre, but I've been very lucky in the ones I do read. They've always:

a) been British; and

b) come at just the right moment, when I'm on vacation or simply need a book to unwind with.

Who can forget Carole Matthews' Let's Meet on Platform 8 or Claire Calman's Love Is A Four Letter Word?

And now I've got a new favourite - Watching Willow Watts by Talli Roland.

Featuring the charming, down to earth Willow, hilarious one line send ups about sma...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Jennifer Daiker rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lits, talli-roland

Talli Roland is adorable with this wonderful new novel. Even if you aren’t a fan of Marilyn Monroe you’ll be rooting for Willow Watts all the way.

Willow is so relatable right from the opening scene – trying to be nice to neighbors, leaving something behind she loved to take care of her dad, the obstacles we experience in life that are brought to life. So when Willow is given the opportunity to save her dad’s shop she takes on the challenge, even if she’s the farthest thing from Marilyn Monroe.

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Aug 21, 2011 Jessica Bell rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received an advanced review copy of this at the perfect time. Right when I needed a good laugh and pick-me-up. Ultimately, this is a 'feel good' book. But woven into the intelligent narrative, dry humour, and moments worthy of good old a belly laugh, is a subtle melancholy. Of course, this melancholy is not prominent, and is often completely overridden by Roland's remarkable skill at bringing the funniest elements of a scene to the surface, but it's there--lingering in the background. And clev...more

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Sep 10, 2011 D.J. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Watching Willow Watts is a book that introduces you to the characters in a way that makes you really care about what happens to them. Depending on which character Talli turned my attention to; I either wished them well, ill, or any other outcome you may care to name. One thing I wished all the way through the novel was that I could have a friend like Willow in real life. Does that make me a saddo? Perhaps, but you won’t know for sure until you have read Watching Willow Watts yourself.

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Nov 06, 2011 Medeia Sharif rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

Willow Watts is a sweet young woman who left London to live with her widowed father in a small England town. When she impersonates Marilyn Monroe and becomes a Youtube hit, people think she's not only an impersonator but the spiritual incarnation of the Hollywood star. The village turns topsy-turvy with the media attention. Then a shady agent hones in on Willow to transform her further into Marilyn, romance her, and swindle her. Willow falls for his lies because she wants to help her father get...more

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