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Birthday Girls
This story is set during the birthdays of six different women who are all connected with each other, although they don't all realize it. It begins with Scarlett, on her 10th birthday, and closes with Constance, on her 60th birthday.
- GenresChick Lit
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 11, 2024
A decent chick lit, especially good as a sunbed read. Recommended for easy reading.
Three stars.
Three stars.
September 6, 2012
Hmmmn, there was a lot I liked about this book, and a lot I didn't. The dialogue is pure gold, very realistic - too realistic really, I must be quite prudish because the profanity and sexual innuendo and descriptions did - not offend me exactly, more annoy me. The writing is clear and crisp, you know what is going on quite well, and get to know a large cast of characters who never got mixed up in my head, they are all distinct and believable. But none of them was very nice, and I didn't particularly care about them getting hurt - which is just as well, because no-one in this book was having a good time.
There is a large dose of soap in this book too - everyone seemed linked in some way to everyone else, mostly by affairs.
All in all a book that I am glad I have read, but that I don't think I will re-read or recommend.
There is a large dose of soap in this book too - everyone seemed linked in some way to everyone else, mostly by affairs.
All in all a book that I am glad I have read, but that I don't think I will re-read or recommend.
May 31, 2024
Deliciously predictable, unexpectedly hilarious in many moments, most importantly in its final crescendo.
This would have finished in the absolute height of hilarity - in my opinion - if the single remaining matter not brought to the attention of all characters was also made known to everyone; that would have been the icing on the cake.
Not sure why the author chose to miss that mark.
A satisfying read nonetheless.
This would have finished in the absolute height of hilarity - in my opinion - if the single remaining matter not brought to the attention of all characters was also made known to everyone; that would have been the icing on the cake.
Not sure why the author chose to miss that mark.
A satisfying read nonetheless.
May 28, 2025
love actually meets valentines day meets new years eve.... the way the characters were wrapped and intertwined was interesting. so many of the stories were left hanging. I have assumed, based on how the book was written, that this was intentional to keep the view that this story was about real people.
the characters were hateful. the nostalgia was interesting
good for escaping for a while but not incredible
the characters were hateful. the nostalgia was interesting
good for escaping for a while but not incredible
October 21, 2022
I loved the part of which the writer spoke in the tongue of the woman whom her husband cheated upon. It was very realistic.
September 9, 2013
Read October 30, 2006
Annabelle Giles's 'BIRTHDAY GIRLS' has a promising concept, following six women at different stages in their lives in the days leading up to their birthdays and finding out whether they will get exactly what they want or exactly what they deserve. However, with the exception of 10 year-old Scarlett and 50 year-old Millicent, there was not one likable character in the book. Moreover, the way each woman's story connected was sometimes very unbelievable...much like in a soap opera. This one is having an affair with that ones husband, this ones birth mother happens to be so and so, and the long ago one night stand happened to be with this one's dead husband. It all became a bit implausible.
Scarlett is spending her 10th birthday in a hospital bed of all places but the bad influence in the next bed may cause her to grow up faster than she or her parents are ready for.
Hairdresser Della is turning 21 and just wants to use her bad girl ways to snag the man of her dreams...unfortunately the mother she barely knows is cramping her style...maybe she needs a pick me up in the form of one of her clients husbands.
Sophie is trying very hard to salvage her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her sister, her mother and even her hairdresser. Turning 30 has never been so difficult!
Jessica Rose is turning 40...uh 35 *wink, wink* and this former actress is having a hard time trying to get back into the limelight maybe the star studded birthday bash she is trowing herself will help her get back on top...or will she end up sinking to new lows?
Millicent just wants to return home to the Caribbean for her 50th birthday. Yet with no home to return to she is finding that London is not such a welcoming place after all.
Constance just wants to disappear for her 60th birthday. But she will not do so without shaking up her families lives a bit first.
'BIRTHDAY GIRLS', I will admit, made me chuckle a few times and did get more interesting once I got to Millicent's section but overall that is not enough for me to actually recommend this book. My biggest issue with 'BIRTHDAY GIRLS, and the reason I had a hard time getting through it, was because most of the characters did not have any redeemable qualities to speak of. Unfortunately I don't think that I will be reading much from Annabel Giles in the future.
Annabelle Giles's 'BIRTHDAY GIRLS' has a promising concept, following six women at different stages in their lives in the days leading up to their birthdays and finding out whether they will get exactly what they want or exactly what they deserve. However, with the exception of 10 year-old Scarlett and 50 year-old Millicent, there was not one likable character in the book. Moreover, the way each woman's story connected was sometimes very unbelievable...much like in a soap opera. This one is having an affair with that ones husband, this ones birth mother happens to be so and so, and the long ago one night stand happened to be with this one's dead husband. It all became a bit implausible.
Scarlett is spending her 10th birthday in a hospital bed of all places but the bad influence in the next bed may cause her to grow up faster than she or her parents are ready for.
Hairdresser Della is turning 21 and just wants to use her bad girl ways to snag the man of her dreams...unfortunately the mother she barely knows is cramping her style...maybe she needs a pick me up in the form of one of her clients husbands.
Sophie is trying very hard to salvage her marriage, her relationship with her daughter, her sister, her mother and even her hairdresser. Turning 30 has never been so difficult!
Jessica Rose is turning 40...uh 35 *wink, wink* and this former actress is having a hard time trying to get back into the limelight maybe the star studded birthday bash she is trowing herself will help her get back on top...or will she end up sinking to new lows?
Millicent just wants to return home to the Caribbean for her 50th birthday. Yet with no home to return to she is finding that London is not such a welcoming place after all.
Constance just wants to disappear for her 60th birthday. But she will not do so without shaking up her families lives a bit first.
'BIRTHDAY GIRLS', I will admit, made me chuckle a few times and did get more interesting once I got to Millicent's section but overall that is not enough for me to actually recommend this book. My biggest issue with 'BIRTHDAY GIRLS, and the reason I had a hard time getting through it, was because most of the characters did not have any redeemable qualities to speak of. Unfortunately I don't think that I will be reading much from Annabel Giles in the future.
July 17, 2007
Another chiclit book?
Year you're right! But, wait a minute, it's not just another chiclit if you refer to the ages of the girls this book presents! You'll find a girl from age 10 to "girl" age 60. Hmm, maybe she's not a girl anymore, but still....
If you like to celebrate your birthday, if you like to celebrate any important dates in your life, maybe you should read this one. The authour wanted you to see your life, what you expect, what you wanted and more.
The review said that this book is all about growing up and growing older.
But, I think this is a nice, easy book to read, to bring wherever you go, hopefully, you'll see your life in it, or you'll hope that you wont have the life the book tell!
Year you're right! But, wait a minute, it's not just another chiclit if you refer to the ages of the girls this book presents! You'll find a girl from age 10 to "girl" age 60. Hmm, maybe she's not a girl anymore, but still....
If you like to celebrate your birthday, if you like to celebrate any important dates in your life, maybe you should read this one. The authour wanted you to see your life, what you expect, what you wanted and more.
The review said that this book is all about growing up and growing older.
But, I think this is a nice, easy book to read, to bring wherever you go, hopefully, you'll see your life in it, or you'll hope that you wont have the life the book tell!
March 26, 2021
Too much infidelity, too much connections between each character that it got too good to be true to connect or believe. Out of 6, only 2 stories didn’t poke my nerves.
Felt like it’s too much, Filmy!
Felt like it’s too much, Filmy!
Read
July 28, 2011When I first began reading this, I thought it had so much potential. It was witty, it was a great idea where 6 different females celebrated their birthdays (each chapter was based on one of the characters) and all their lives entwined throughout the book but then....towards the end, it was as if it ran out of steam and just plodded along and the end was so predictable. Shame - I did enjoy the first half of the book.
March 3, 2013
Read this book on the two flights Malta-Rome-Krakow this last february so you can imagine how readable and enjoyable this book is!
It's an easy read of eight different girls of various ages who are all mysteriously connected with one another who have their birthdays and what happens in those days.
It's ironic no, how high are our expectations for our birthdays... well this book delves totally on this point AND THE BIG IRONY OF LIFE ITSELF!
It's an easy read of eight different girls of various ages who are all mysteriously connected with one another who have their birthdays and what happens in those days.
It's ironic no, how high are our expectations for our birthdays... well this book delves totally on this point AND THE BIG IRONY OF LIFE ITSELF!
August 9, 2011
Interesting, i did enjoy it!
August 5, 2012
Slow start, took a while to get going, quite dull really.
July 29, 2014
Nej! Nej! Nej! Så hun er gift med sin halvbror, der er utro med sin halvsøster, hvis mor er hushjælp hos hans mor? Helt ærligt!
February 3, 2015
After reading this, I became an immediate fan of Annabel Giles. I read this in holiday. It was easy to read, hilarious and poignant in parts. The most enjoyable chick-lit book in my collection.
July 4, 2017
I really regret reading it. The characters are not interesting and the language is quite crass.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews