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Venus Envy
At twenty-seven, Alex Wilde feels like her life is going nowhere. She’s stuck in a dead-end job and her relationship history is a tale of woe. What’s more, she’s put on a few pounds lately…Sharing a house with three gorgeous girls doesn’t help. Her sister Gail got more than her fair share of the good genes, Keisha is an ice-cool man-magnet and Bronwen is so hip it hurts. With competition like this, is it any wonder Alex feels so inadequate? Alex has two choices: she can retreat to the safety of her duvet and stuff herself with chocolate or she can smarten up her act and face the world head on. Never one to choose the easy option, Alex realises she needs to up her game if she wants to stay in it...
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
38 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Louise Bagshawe
64 books489 followersLouise Daphne Bagshawe was born on 28 June 1971 in England, UK. She attended local all-girls Catholic schools near her family home in Surrey, before going to Oxford University in 1989. After graduating with a degree in Anglo Saxon and Norse, she worked as press officer with EMI records and then as a marketing official with Sony Music. On her 22nd birthday, her passion for writing was realised with a major publishing deal as Louise Bagshawe. She is the author of more than fifteen novels, published in more than eight languages. She is sister of the also writer Tilly Bagshawe.
Louise married Anthony LoCicero, and they had three children, but since June 2011, she is married with her second husband Peter Mensch. She lives in Northamptonshire with her family, and has been the Parliamentary Candidate for Corby and East Northants since November 2006, and became the Member of Parliament for Corby after winning the seat at the 2010 general election.
Louise married Anthony LoCicero, and they had three children, but since June 2011, she is married with her second husband Peter Mensch. She lives in Northamptonshire with her family, and has been the Parliamentary Candidate for Corby and East Northants since November 2006, and became the Member of Parliament for Corby after winning the seat at the 2010 general election.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 10, 2023
I have read books of Louise Bagshawe before and found them to be entertaining. This is not one of her better books for sure.
Alexandra (Alex) Wilde, her sister Gail and a couple of friends – Keisha & Bronwen are flatmates in London. The story is told from Alex’s perspective. She has recently broken up with Oliver and suffers from low self-esteem at her not being able to hold worthwhile relationships or progress in her career. Her idea of making and selling sculptures has not really taken off. Her sister Gail is an editorial assistant at ‘Organic Food Weekly’ and is regarded as better looking and confident. Alex gets a job at Hamlton Kane as a second secretary to Seamus Mahon in Corporate Finance, courtesy recommendation from her mother. Seamus confides in her that his marriage is just hanging on as a formality. Alex is excited about their developing relationship. There are more complications to come with her flatmates, old friend Tom and others.
This was one long & boring book. There are no characters you would root for, except Tom to some extent. Alex’s behaviour is irritating for much of the story. While that by itself could be considered a character trait, the story just comes across as pointless.
My rating: 1.5 / 5.
Alexandra (Alex) Wilde, her sister Gail and a couple of friends – Keisha & Bronwen are flatmates in London. The story is told from Alex’s perspective. She has recently broken up with Oliver and suffers from low self-esteem at her not being able to hold worthwhile relationships or progress in her career. Her idea of making and selling sculptures has not really taken off. Her sister Gail is an editorial assistant at ‘Organic Food Weekly’ and is regarded as better looking and confident. Alex gets a job at Hamlton Kane as a second secretary to Seamus Mahon in Corporate Finance, courtesy recommendation from her mother. Seamus confides in her that his marriage is just hanging on as a formality. Alex is excited about their developing relationship. There are more complications to come with her flatmates, old friend Tom and others.
This was one long & boring book. There are no characters you would root for, except Tom to some extent. Alex’s behaviour is irritating for much of the story. While that by itself could be considered a character trait, the story just comes across as pointless.
My rating: 1.5 / 5.
May 29, 2012
Started this book thinking it was time for a good dose of chick lit. I was wrong. I've read some of Louise Bagshawe's books previously and enjoyed them in that sort of light hearted, not much thinking involved sort of way. But this one was different. Maybe my mood wasn't right for it, or maybe it was something else, but I really didn't enjoy this. I disliked it so much that I didn't even make it a quarter of the way through it, not even close in fact.
The main character, whose name I can't even remember, seems to me a lazy, over-eating, self-pitying sort of person. She went to Art college, and now can't find a job, so her rich loving parents decide to force her to move to London to live with her beautiful, successful, hippy, popular sister, who everybody loves and everybody wishes that the other sister could be more like.
She gets a job, isn't very good at it, falls for the married good looking boss, and he manages to convince her that he want's her. She spends the night with him after a romantic dinner in his "Flat" in the city, and then he proceeds to treat her like crap, she has to rush off in the morning back to her sister's place to have a shower because he can't be bothered to let her have a shower there. Who saw this coming? Me....a mile off, I just couldn't bear to read any more after that.
She wasn't a likeable character, the story was cringeworthy. Maybe if I'd given it time, I would have seen more depth to the main character and maybe even her boss, but I just didn't care enough about either of them to find out.
The main character, whose name I can't even remember, seems to me a lazy, over-eating, self-pitying sort of person. She went to Art college, and now can't find a job, so her rich loving parents decide to force her to move to London to live with her beautiful, successful, hippy, popular sister, who everybody loves and everybody wishes that the other sister could be more like.
She gets a job, isn't very good at it, falls for the married good looking boss, and he manages to convince her that he want's her. She spends the night with him after a romantic dinner in his "Flat" in the city, and then he proceeds to treat her like crap, she has to rush off in the morning back to her sister's place to have a shower because he can't be bothered to let her have a shower there. Who saw this coming? Me....a mile off, I just couldn't bear to read any more after that.
She wasn't a likeable character, the story was cringeworthy. Maybe if I'd given it time, I would have seen more depth to the main character and maybe even her boss, but I just didn't care enough about either of them to find out.
February 17, 2013
This was the first book I read of Louise Bagshawe and I absolutely loved it. It's great to see how the characters rise up from adversity and face challanges, coming out stronger than ever. Women power! YES!
January 5, 2025
I tried. I really tried to give this book the benefit of the doubt given it was published in 1998 but fuck me this was atrocious. The ‘his accent was as creamy as the head of the pint of Guinness’ should have been my cue to stop but I ploughed on. The characters are shallow. The writing is incredibly repetitive and the plot is so obvious. The fatphobia is just, depressing. What a waste of time.
February 12, 2015
DUMB. DUMB. DUMB. SO DUMB IT HURTS.
JUST SHUT UP. YOU'RE STUPID.
NO MORE PLEASE! YOU DUMB B****
As bad as her career as a Tory MP.
SNORE
IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO READ THESE BOOKS FOR MY JOB - I WOULDN'T. BETTER CHICK LIT OUT THERE
JUST SHUT UP. YOU'RE STUPID.
NO MORE PLEASE! YOU DUMB B****
As bad as her career as a Tory MP.
SNORE
IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO READ THESE BOOKS FOR MY JOB - I WOULDN'T. BETTER CHICK LIT OUT THERE
July 9, 2022
Can we please stop with toxic diet culture in all chicklit? Fat= unlovable and not worthy, skinny = desirable goddess. I realize this book was written over 25 years ago but still. Any woman who would deem to sleep with a lying piece of shit husband (who gives her the classic line of marriage is over we are just together for the kids) is not someone I care to read about. I like my heroines to have a backbone!
April 11, 2014
Better than Glitz and Glamour but still forgettable, in fact I've already forgotten what the ending was. There's something a little dry and too conservative or lacking in spark in this author's books for me. I always end up buying chick lit in charity shops thinking I'm in for a fun read but I want more from my chick lit, something a little more...memorable! Is that so perverse?!
January 2, 2016
This was an easy holiday read, but I'm too old and too married for this kind of thing now - the main character is selfish and irritating, and while she's trying to be self-deprecating, she just comes across as obtuse and self-pitying.
February 6, 2014
I'm a fan of Louise bagshawes other books but like others before he I found this book incredibly predictable.
The main character Alex was a moany, self criticising character.
Not only the way she spoke to herself was downgrading but how the hell could she let other people speak to her like that. I wanted to give up on this book so many times but refused too due to my own stubbornness and also my previous experience of books from this author.
The minute the main love interest came in you could see where the story was going a mile away.
Definitely a book I would not even give one star too if it was an option.
The main character Alex was a moany, self criticising character.
Not only the way she spoke to herself was downgrading but how the hell could she let other people speak to her like that. I wanted to give up on this book so many times but refused too due to my own stubbornness and also my previous experience of books from this author.
The minute the main love interest came in you could see where the story was going a mile away.
Definitely a book I would not even give one star too if it was an option.
August 11, 2008
The only Louise Bagshawe book I've ever been decidedly disappointed by and felt no desire to reread. Here her style is very different from her other books and unfortunately not for the better. The main character was much too much like Bridget Jones for my liking.
February 17, 2010
Good, an easy read. Predictable. Everything that happened, I could see it happening before the narrator told us. There were times that the MC grew very annoying and whiny, indulging herself in a pity party. But, it was exactly what I wanted when I wanted an easy read.
April 13, 2011
This book was just awful. The main character was obnoxious and the plot was unbelievably predictable and cheesy. And the end, ugh! Several face-palm ensued.
March 12, 2015
Here went Me....... Reading again like there is no tomorrow <3 <3 <3
July 22, 2022
The only reason I'm admitting to having read this horrendous book is that if I see anything else written by this author I will run screaming in anger in the other direction.
June 10, 2020
The first clue should have been that in her acknowledgements of friends who have been particularly patient and supportive she named Jacob Rees-Mogg.
That was a clear warning that I chose to ignore. I really can't think of much that is positive to say about this book, its very outdated, the characters are wholly unlikable, none more so than the main character Alex who is the most self-absorbed and nasty piece of work you could ever hope to avoid. It seems the author had a lot of trouble remembering what the personality traits of her characters were, they veer about so wildly. The stereotyping of characters is not at all attractive, please don't give me any nonsense about it being 'of it's time' it's just bad. Read this concentrating on the treatment of Keisha and you'll see what I mean. Or try looking at Gordon, another lazy stereotype.
Second only to my regret at finishing this book (lockdown has a lot to answer for) is the regret that 1 star is as low as you can go.
That was a clear warning that I chose to ignore. I really can't think of much that is positive to say about this book, its very outdated, the characters are wholly unlikable, none more so than the main character Alex who is the most self-absorbed and nasty piece of work you could ever hope to avoid. It seems the author had a lot of trouble remembering what the personality traits of her characters were, they veer about so wildly. The stereotyping of characters is not at all attractive, please don't give me any nonsense about it being 'of it's time' it's just bad. Read this concentrating on the treatment of Keisha and you'll see what I mean. Or try looking at Gordon, another lazy stereotype.
Second only to my regret at finishing this book (lockdown has a lot to answer for) is the regret that 1 star is as low as you can go.
September 8, 2025
Picked this up from a charity shop .. brought 3 Louise bagshawe ones in one sitting .. I’ve read a few of hers and really enjoyed them. Have read career girls about 4 times!
So started to read this one and realised I had read it before but carried on anyway.
Plus points it had some funny quotes and a nice theme of female friendships. I really liked Keisha and Bronwen
Minus points the main character was a bit annoying come across as selfish and superficial. Starting a affair with a married man then feeling for herself when it went wrong (not the first relationship with someone married either)
Also there was a lot of mentions that if someone was overweight or unattractive it was the worst thing in the world found it a bit irritating!
Not sure it will get a third read
So started to read this one and realised I had read it before but carried on anyway.
Plus points it had some funny quotes and a nice theme of female friendships. I really liked Keisha and Bronwen
Minus points the main character was a bit annoying come across as selfish and superficial. Starting a affair with a married man then feeling for herself when it went wrong (not the first relationship with someone married either)
Also there was a lot of mentions that if someone was overweight or unattractive it was the worst thing in the world found it a bit irritating!
Not sure it will get a third read
September 21, 2023
All I’m gonna say is, if u like Bridget jones you’ll really get on with this book. I love it. My main enjoyment from this book was the 90s feel it had and it reminded me of early 2000s. Gave me a kick of nostalgia and finished it in 3 days. It’s a 10/10 from me.
October 12, 2023
Overall story wasn’t bad but I didn’t like the main character Alex. Throughout the story Alex was selfish, rude and only cared for no one but herself. Without spoiling the story, this made the ending far less credible.
September 26, 2024
Very funny, i usulaly dont like first persons pov but it really suited this book , alex is a girlfailure (she fixes that towards the end though) and we are living for it.my first book from this author and i am satiesfied
December 15, 2025
My first pre-2000 Bagshawe. Her later works (Monday/Tuesday's child) feel like more polished versions of this one. Though its plot could have been much tighter, her truly repulsive, bitchy writing provided a predictable antidote to winter sickness. Sometimes, only a Bagshawe will do.
June 2, 2017
great book
May 17, 2021
Not as good as her other books, mainly because the main character Alex is so unlikable.
January 21, 2022
I normally like Louise Bagshawe, but the main character is so massively unlikeable that there’s not much enjoyment to be had. At the end I was hoping she’d be hit by a car 🤷♀️.
August 2, 2022
Easy read, predictable. OK if you like this easy reading.
Read
September 22, 2023This absolute piece of garbage doesn't deserve even one star. I would never touch such a thing if it wasn't for work.
October 7, 2023
I first read this book back in 2000 it came free with the Company magazine. It one a can re read bit like a fav film you can watch again this is the book for this an The Movie
June 24, 2025
Много ми хареса,интересна е,любовна е,интригуваща е…
May 18, 2008
Started: Feb 25/07
Finished: Mar 2/07
---
One of the reviews on the back of this book says that the author has the blockbuster formula and she's not afraid to use it. As someone who's trying to plot a bestseller myself, I thus read this book with great interest.
Sure enough, the book starts out with the MC's life in relative tatters - 27, unmarried, fat and unattractive, sharing a flat with three goddesses, one of whom is the MC's own horribly mean-spirited sister, unemployed and virtually unemployable, and dependent on her parents for the roof over her head, the food in her mouth, and the job she's saddled with. Things get worse from there: she falls for her boss, then discovers he's married; he woos her anyway and she falls even harder. Then she is invited to the wedding of her best friend from school - the only girl fatter and less attractive than she was - at a big country house belonging to a friend from university whom she suddenly finds she fancies. Sadly, her boss is also there. With his wife. Over the course of two or three days, the MC falls out with the bride, her fanciable old friend, her sister, her boss, and most of the other house guests.
It's a foregone conclusion who the MC ends up with, but the path to true love ne'er did run smooth, and this book is no exception.
A few things left me unsatisfied - there was no real denouement with the relationship with the boss, which left my revenge reflex itching; the sister's nasty treatment of the MC felt like a device after a while, because there seemed to be no motivation for her to be so bloody about it; and finally, the sex, which was more or less glossed over in the early going, but finished up with a surprisingly evocative session of animal sex (complete with talking dirty) that made the MC realize that love makes sex better. The ending felt rushed, forced, and somewhat contrived (a perverted clergyman! go figure!), actually.
On balance, however, it was an enjoyable and instructive read. I have another book by the same author, so will see how I like that one.
Finished: Mar 2/07
---
One of the reviews on the back of this book says that the author has the blockbuster formula and she's not afraid to use it. As someone who's trying to plot a bestseller myself, I thus read this book with great interest.
Sure enough, the book starts out with the MC's life in relative tatters - 27, unmarried, fat and unattractive, sharing a flat with three goddesses, one of whom is the MC's own horribly mean-spirited sister, unemployed and virtually unemployable, and dependent on her parents for the roof over her head, the food in her mouth, and the job she's saddled with. Things get worse from there: she falls for her boss, then discovers he's married; he woos her anyway and she falls even harder. Then she is invited to the wedding of her best friend from school - the only girl fatter and less attractive than she was - at a big country house belonging to a friend from university whom she suddenly finds she fancies. Sadly, her boss is also there. With his wife. Over the course of two or three days, the MC falls out with the bride, her fanciable old friend, her sister, her boss, and most of the other house guests.
It's a foregone conclusion who the MC ends up with, but the path to true love ne'er did run smooth, and this book is no exception.
A few things left me unsatisfied - there was no real denouement with the relationship with the boss, which left my revenge reflex itching; the sister's nasty treatment of the MC felt like a device after a while, because there seemed to be no motivation for her to be so bloody about it; and finally, the sex, which was more or less glossed over in the early going, but finished up with a surprisingly evocative session of animal sex (complete with talking dirty) that made the MC realize that love makes sex better. The ending felt rushed, forced, and somewhat contrived (a perverted clergyman! go figure!), actually.
On balance, however, it was an enjoyable and instructive read. I have another book by the same author, so will see how I like that one.
January 25, 2016
Again, this one was one of her earlier titles I believe. Written in 1988 it was okay but not fantastic. There are elements of her writing that I really enjoy and I'm sure she must have a really great sense of humour as I love the way some of the things made me laugh out loud. But on the whole, this book was too much to formula. I found it way too predictable and at times was thinking, oh hurry up and just get to the end....I know what's going to happen. And it did happen that way. Alex has a best friend Tom who she is not attracted to but she knows Tom has long had a thing for her. She sees him again after not having seen each other for quite some time and what do you know, he's become a bit of a hunk. He's lost heaps of weight and turned fat into solid muscle. She realises she's falling for him, just at the same time as they begin to quarrel and he says some quite hateful things to her. Alex's younger sister Gail is so unlike Alex. She's beautiful, and fragile, sweet and manipulative and so when she decides it's Tom she's after it's Tom she gets. Alex is devastated and realises she's blown her chance to find love with Tom. And so it drags out with things going bad for her and great for Gail and Tom. Until toward the end of the book he comes after Alex. Tells her he's split up with Gail. That it's Alex he loves. They get together but she insists they cannot be together permanently because of how mean that would be to Gail. So, they have another bit of a gap but on the last page they are reunited and they tell Gail the way it is between them and "so they live happily ever after"....one assumes.
June 9, 2023
I found it very slow to start with but enjoyed the book overall, and a good ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews