"sometimes you don't need a goal in life, you don't need to know the big picture. you just need to know what you're going to do next!"
— Sophie Kinsella (The Undomestic Goddess)

"Okay. Now my skin is really prickling. I've read all the Harry Potter books, all five of them. I don't remember any half-blood prince.

"What's this?" Trying to sound casual, I point at the ad, "What's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?"

"That's the latest book," Garth the other trainee, says "It came out ages ago."

I can't help gasping. "There's a sixth Harry Potter?"

"There's a seventh out soon!" Diana steps forward eagerly "And guess what happens at the end of book six-"

"Shh!" exclaims Nicole, the other nurse "Don't tell her!""
— Sophie Kinsella (Remember Me?)

"Howl: "I've got a hangover"
Sophie: "No, you hit you head on the floor"
Howl: "I can't stay. I've got to rescue that fool Sophie.""
— Diana Wynne Jones (Howl's Moving Castle)

""'Jennifer Aniston and Her New Man'" I read the words aloud uncertainly. "What new man? Why would she need a new man?"

"Oh yes." Nicole follows my gaze, unconcerned. "You know she split up from Brad Pitt?"

"Jennifer and Brad split?" I stare up at her, aghast. "You can't be serious! They can't have done!"

"He went off with Angelina Jolie. They've got a daughter."

"No!" I wail. "But Jen and Brad were so perfect together! They looked so good and they had that lovely wedding picture and everything...."

"They're divorced now." Nicole shrugs, like it's no big deal.

I can't get over this. Jennifer and Brad divorced. The world is a different place."
— Sophie Kinsella (Remember Me?)

"It's like I'm thirteen again and he's my crush. All I'm aware of in this entire roomful of people is him. Where he is, what he's doing, who he's talking to."
— Sophie Kinsella (Remember Me?)

"Abdullah: "Tell me about this Wizard Howl of yours."
Sophie: "He's the best wizard in Ingary or anywhere else. If he'd only had time, he would have defeated that djinn. And he's sly and selfish and vain as a peacock and cowardly, and you can't pin him down to anything."
Abdullah: "Indeed? Strange that you should speak so proudly such a list of vices, most loving of ladies."
Sophie: "What do you mean, vices? I was just describing Howl. He comes from another world entirely, you know, called Wales, and I refuse to believe he's dead!""
— Diana Wynne Jones (Castle in the Air)

"It really is the year 2007. Which means I must be...

Oh my God. I'm twenty-eight.

I'm old."
— Sophie Kinsella (Remember Me?)