Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity's Reviews > Can You Keep a Secret?
Can You Keep a Secret?
by Sophie Kinsella
by Sophie Kinsella
So...I really wanted to dislike this book. I was determined not to allow myself to be one of "those girls." You know...the ones who plan ladies night out to watch Sex and the City. I've never had a desire to read Bridget Jones' Diary or The Devil Wears Prada (although I do hate to admit that I actually liked Devil as a movie) I mean, it's Chick Lit. Fluff without the smut. What fun is that?
Turns out, it's more fun than I was expecting. The book started out in such a way that I was expecting to give up before making it past a few chapters. I practically sighed with exasperation over the flighty, bumbling, office girl who embarrasses herself in front of her boss without knowing who he is. The thoughts in my head were practically burning a hole in the Nook. No, I don't care about what crappy fashion you're wearing to the office. No, I don't care that you're really a size 12 but tell people you're an 8. No, I don't care that you have a lame ass boyfriend who listens to jazz and likes bad movies.
Just as I was about to hit "delete" and ditch the book from my ereader, something happened. I started laughing. A LOT. Not the polite little giggly "oh that's cute" type of laughter. The snorting, choking, oh-my-god I'm dying laughter. My husband even looked up from his zombie like trance mid-video-game to give me a wtf? look.
It took several chapters for me to warm up to the book and truth be told, if I hadn't promised myself that I wanted to finish at least one chick lit book just to say that I had given the genre a shot, I would have quit out before getting to the part where it started to get good. Once I got past the mediocre parts revolving around the main character's office and family life, and got into the part where she was spending most of her time trying to figure out how to make a relationship with her boss work, I was along for the ride. It was quite the fun ride, too. I was pleasantly surprised.
Will I continue to read chick lit after this? Hmmm...I don't know. This book was fun and I'm completely glad that I read it, but I still am not fond of the office girl/modern day girl formula that seems to be pretty big in this genre. Even with as funny as this book was, I've browsed some reviews for the author's books and it looks like she tends to stick with a similar subject matter for most of her books.
Turns out, it's more fun than I was expecting. The book started out in such a way that I was expecting to give up before making it past a few chapters. I practically sighed with exasperation over the flighty, bumbling, office girl who embarrasses herself in front of her boss without knowing who he is. The thoughts in my head were practically burning a hole in the Nook. No, I don't care about what crappy fashion you're wearing to the office. No, I don't care that you're really a size 12 but tell people you're an 8. No, I don't care that you have a lame ass boyfriend who listens to jazz and likes bad movies.
Just as I was about to hit "delete" and ditch the book from my ereader, something happened. I started laughing. A LOT. Not the polite little giggly "oh that's cute" type of laughter. The snorting, choking, oh-my-god I'm dying laughter. My husband even looked up from his zombie like trance mid-video-game to give me a wtf? look.
It took several chapters for me to warm up to the book and truth be told, if I hadn't promised myself that I wanted to finish at least one chick lit book just to say that I had given the genre a shot, I would have quit out before getting to the part where it started to get good. Once I got past the mediocre parts revolving around the main character's office and family life, and got into the part where she was spending most of her time trying to figure out how to make a relationship with her boss work, I was along for the ride. It was quite the fun ride, too. I was pleasantly surprised.
Will I continue to read chick lit after this? Hmmm...I don't know. This book was fun and I'm completely glad that I read it, but I still am not fond of the office girl/modern day girl formula that seems to be pretty big in this genre. Even with as funny as this book was, I've browsed some reviews for the author's books and it looks like she tends to stick with a similar subject matter for most of her books.
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Leea
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Apr 02, 2011 10:32pm
I've never read 'Chick lit' before... I'm sort of scared as well. Let me know what you think.
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I got about 30 pages into it this afternoon before we went out, and so far I'm not impressed. It's already talking about this chick's job and her awkward encounter with a guy at a business meeting...big yawn. I hear it's "supposed" to get funny when they get on a plane together and she starts spilling her secrets when she thinks they're going to die or something (I think). We'll see...I'll give it about 100 pages and if it doesn't grab me, I'll probably quit.
So I'm eating my words now. I really liked the book! Completely floored, actually at how good it was. Gonna review it in a few.
Dude, Bridget Jones is hilarious! If you enjoyed Sophie Kinsella, then I highly recommend BJD. Yes, it follows the office girl formula -- but oh wait, it ORIGINATED IT.
Sophie Kinsella is somehow the chick-lit writer for chicks who don't dig chick-lit. I have totally had the same reaction to her Remember Me and Undomestic Goddess
Thanks. :) I'm not sure why I missed Kristan and Jenny's comments, but I hadn't seen them. I just now got my first update on Vale's comment.Someone told me to read Twenties Girl by the same author, so I might give that one a shot at some point.
Can i just back up Kristan here... As much as I enjoyed some of Sophie Kinsella's books and other chicklit, chicklitwise nothing even comes close to BJD imho.
Is it better than the movie? I tried watching the movie and wasn't a fan of it. I'm guessing that's probably a yes, since rarely is a movie better than its book counterpart.
We're talking about the Bridget Jones' Diary movies :) . Stacia, I think the books are much better than the movies, but like you said, the books usually are...
so i was just ready to give up the book for the same reasons u explainedu change my mind after i read this review... thanks i gess :)
I'm curious if you'll end up liking it. I was not a fan of the first half of the book, but the last half redeemed it for me.
An enjoyable read... Can't help myself from laughing out loud once I've reached halfway through the book... My all time fave for Sophie Kinsella's book so far.... Although I've Got Your Number and The Undomesticated Goddess also brought as much mirth...


