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Looking for La La
In a recent survey 65% of mothers admitted feeling undervalued, over-criticised and constantly tired.
Cathy is no exception. Her dull, uneventful days as a stay at home, mother of two, are radically transformed however with the arrival of a heavily lipsticked postcard addressed to husband, Declan. Who is the mysterious La La? Could Declan really be having an affair? And is Cathy actually being stalked?
Whatever – it will definitely prove riveting gossip for the Tuesday Twice Monthlies, Cathy’s 'Mothers Restaurant Research’ group where scandal flows as recklessly as the wine. But what starts as a light-hearted investigation with best friend Raz, soon turns into something much more sinister.
With a possible murderer on the scene, a sexy admirer igniting long-forgotten sparks, and all her friends hiding secrets, it’s not only Cathy’s marriage that’s in jeopardy. Add in the scheming antics of Declan’s new assistant, the stress of organising the school Save The Toilet’s dance and the stage is set for a dangerous showdown and some very unsettling, possibly deadly, revelations.
Cathy is no exception. Her dull, uneventful days as a stay at home, mother of two, are radically transformed however with the arrival of a heavily lipsticked postcard addressed to husband, Declan. Who is the mysterious La La? Could Declan really be having an affair? And is Cathy actually being stalked?
Whatever – it will definitely prove riveting gossip for the Tuesday Twice Monthlies, Cathy’s 'Mothers Restaurant Research’ group where scandal flows as recklessly as the wine. But what starts as a light-hearted investigation with best friend Raz, soon turns into something much more sinister.
With a possible murderer on the scene, a sexy admirer igniting long-forgotten sparks, and all her friends hiding secrets, it’s not only Cathy’s marriage that’s in jeopardy. Add in the scheming antics of Declan’s new assistant, the stress of organising the school Save The Toilet’s dance and the stage is set for a dangerous showdown and some very unsettling, possibly deadly, revelations.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2013
62 people are currently reading
3410 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Campbell
18 books213 followersEllie Campbell is the author name for two sisters, Lorraine Campbell and Pam Burks, who write together collaborating by phone and email from Surrey, UK and Colorado, USA. They have published six novels, How To Survive Your Sisters, When Good Friends Go Bad, Looking For La La, To Catch a Creeper, Million Dollar Question and Meddling With Murder. They also have published a collection of short stories - Love, Lies and Other Deceptions
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
April 17, 2013
This book was fun British Chick-Lit at its best. I keep saying that I do not like British books, but keep finding books that me a liar! This story is total Mayhem (a state of rowdy disorder) from beginning to end, and totally fun! This book has a great little mystery to it, and to be honest - I was very much surprised at the end.
Great character development. I didn't even really like the main character but I wanted to keep reading just to find out what more trouble she and her friends could possibly get themselves into. Lets just say that almost no one ends up with the same person they started out with in the beginning.
A few fun quotes -
"Mummy, who's the card from?' He shares Declan's coloring, the gingery hair, blue eyes and pale but cheeky face. 'La La, darling. Apparently a tellytubby's sending love letters to Daddy."
"Alec? Not Baldwin?' she jokes. 'Meg Ryan's long-suffering husband?
No drip. Meg Ryan married Denis Quaid until she ran off with Russell Crowe before he ditched her for Nicole Kidman, when Tom Ditched her. This is way before Nicole married rock star Keith, I might add. Alec Baldwin's wife is, or rather was, Kim Basinger. They're divorced now. Fought over Ireland.'
'Cathlic/Protestant dilemma?'
"No, their daughter, Ireland."
"Men,' Gabby sighs. 'Spend all their time trying to turn you into their mothers, wanting clothes ironed, meals cooked, but then they despise you because you remind them of their mothers."
Great character development. I didn't even really like the main character but I wanted to keep reading just to find out what more trouble she and her friends could possibly get themselves into. Lets just say that almost no one ends up with the same person they started out with in the beginning.
A few fun quotes -
"Mummy, who's the card from?' He shares Declan's coloring, the gingery hair, blue eyes and pale but cheeky face. 'La La, darling. Apparently a tellytubby's sending love letters to Daddy."
"Alec? Not Baldwin?' she jokes. 'Meg Ryan's long-suffering husband?
No drip. Meg Ryan married Denis Quaid until she ran off with Russell Crowe before he ditched her for Nicole Kidman, when Tom Ditched her. This is way before Nicole married rock star Keith, I might add. Alec Baldwin's wife is, or rather was, Kim Basinger. They're divorced now. Fought over Ireland.'
'Cathlic/Protestant dilemma?'
"No, their daughter, Ireland."
"Men,' Gabby sighs. 'Spend all their time trying to turn you into their mothers, wanting clothes ironed, meals cooked, but then they despise you because you remind them of their mothers."
January 20, 2015
From the author:
What do you do if you're a thirty-something, not-yet-back-in-the-workforce mother, who discovers someone is mailing love postcards to her husband? Well in my case I used it for inspiration to write Looking for La La and roped in my sister Lorraine to work on it with me. The novel gives a humorous look on the ups and downs of married life, the importance of having a lot of female friends who like to drink wine wrapped up in a mystery suspense package. I never did discover who sent my husband the postcards (and he claims not to know) but we're still married (happily) and if Looking For La La turns into a bestseller, I'll have to thank the anonymous sender - if she ever confesses.
I do hope all enjoy!
What do you do if you're a thirty-something, not-yet-back-in-the-workforce mother, who discovers someone is mailing love postcards to her husband? Well in my case I used it for inspiration to write Looking for La La and roped in my sister Lorraine to work on it with me. The novel gives a humorous look on the ups and downs of married life, the importance of having a lot of female friends who like to drink wine wrapped up in a mystery suspense package. I never did discover who sent my husband the postcards (and he claims not to know) but we're still married (happily) and if Looking For La La turns into a bestseller, I'll have to thank the anonymous sender - if she ever confesses.
I do hope all enjoy!
June 23, 2013
Who the heck is La La and why on earth is she making Cathy's life hellishly unbearable? Go on an amazingly funny, brilliant and entertaining ride with Cathy (the neurotic and humorous main character) and her crazy cast of friends and neighbors! Looking for La La is so much more than British Romantic Comedy at it's best, but also a story about the fractures of marriage, facing ones own insecurities and learning to find happiness within one's life! I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read When Good Friends Go Bad and How To Survive Your Sisters. I recommend this book and rate it 4 stars!
May 30, 2013
There are a lot of catty women in "Looking for La La" and while I'm not normally a fan of catty women as they always seem to be written as evil without purpose, the women in this story are very real. Not everyone in a group of friends will like each other and they'll be civil to stay friends with the key person but civil doesn't mean nice. Their conflicts with each other made these women simply a lot of fun to read. Despite the extensive cast of characters, we get to know the people with whom Cathy associates and others as she gets to know them.
The writing style reflects the Cathy character perfectly. In flashbacks we see "Old Cathy." This is a woman who finds grocery lists in shopping carts and purchases items on them to "expand her diet." She may think she's changed into a more composed and matronly sort of woman but as we follow her on madcap adventures, Cathy proves to be the free spirit she's been. Scattered, neurotic, and loveable. Those of us who are working moms may roll our eyes at Cathy's insistence on not working and feeling of betrayal when her fellow moms go back to work but there is an undercurrent that shows that not even Cathy believes her own arguments as to why she couldn't work. As Cathy develops as a character so does our understanding that she doesn't always quite mean what she says.
I didn't want to like Cathy when I first met the character. Over the course of the novel which was really she gets the postcard, embarks on the investigation and her daily life, I grew to really like her. She was warm and funny. She could have used a headslap a time or two but who couldn't? "Looking for La La" is a wonderfully funny chick-lit read.
Readers will want to take note of the wonderful cover which truly conveys the story within. If you like British humor and quirky characters, you will love "Looking for La La."
The writing style reflects the Cathy character perfectly. In flashbacks we see "Old Cathy." This is a woman who finds grocery lists in shopping carts and purchases items on them to "expand her diet." She may think she's changed into a more composed and matronly sort of woman but as we follow her on madcap adventures, Cathy proves to be the free spirit she's been. Scattered, neurotic, and loveable. Those of us who are working moms may roll our eyes at Cathy's insistence on not working and feeling of betrayal when her fellow moms go back to work but there is an undercurrent that shows that not even Cathy believes her own arguments as to why she couldn't work. As Cathy develops as a character so does our understanding that she doesn't always quite mean what she says.
I didn't want to like Cathy when I first met the character. Over the course of the novel which was really she gets the postcard, embarks on the investigation and her daily life, I grew to really like her. She was warm and funny. She could have used a headslap a time or two but who couldn't? "Looking for La La" is a wonderfully funny chick-lit read.
Readers will want to take note of the wonderful cover which truly conveys the story within. If you like British humor and quirky characters, you will love "Looking for La La."
May 22, 2013
This was a bit different. For me the book started a bit slow, but after I got into it, it took me straight to early hours of a day before I could put it down.
I felt really sorry for Cathy; I guess life can get pretty boring if you're a stay-at-home mom (no need to get angry, I understand this is not the case for every mother out there) and you might have a bit too much time just to think. And at least in my case that's never a good thing..
There were really happy moments as well as exciting, sad and funny ones. There definately is a twist I didn't see coming.
I felt really sorry for Cathy; I guess life can get pretty boring if you're a stay-at-home mom (no need to get angry, I understand this is not the case for every mother out there) and you might have a bit too much time just to think. And at least in my case that's never a good thing..
There were really happy moments as well as exciting, sad and funny ones. There definately is a twist I didn't see coming.
July 30, 2013
Stay at home mom, Cathy, is majorly stressed out. Her hubby Declan does not appreciate her. He is working extra hours with his younger sexy secretary. When notecards start arriving with the signature of LaLa, Cathy starts getting worried about her life and her marriage.
This is a novel of catty women. All of Cathy's so called friends are civil to each other but not really nice to each other. Each of their Tuesday Twice Monthlies meeting had alcohol and gossip as their main topic. These meetings led to rumors and suggestions as to what each woman was doing. After the meetings duos of women would get together and gossip more. I loved these get togethers. They made me laugh and chuckle thinking of me and my friends getting together for my monthly Moms Bookclub and the way our conversations tend to stray from jut books. I found myself relating to each women in someway.
As Ellie Campbell develops the character of Cathy I liked her more and more. She was a good mom, a good friend, and a good wife ( even if she didn't clean very well). I found a lot of myself in Cathy and felt fear, pity, and wanting to be there for her as she went through the trials that became her life.
Declan was a jerk. From the beginning he gave Cathy grief about everything from the way she dressed to the kids to her not working yet. I wanted her to kick him to the curb from the very beginning. Declan was not a supportive husband when Cathy would tell him about another postcard coming. He never really redeemed himself to me, but I am not Cathy so I will have to be ok with the ending.
Looking for LaLa has great British humor and fun characters. This is a great fun and quick read.
This is a novel of catty women. All of Cathy's so called friends are civil to each other but not really nice to each other. Each of their Tuesday Twice Monthlies meeting had alcohol and gossip as their main topic. These meetings led to rumors and suggestions as to what each woman was doing. After the meetings duos of women would get together and gossip more. I loved these get togethers. They made me laugh and chuckle thinking of me and my friends getting together for my monthly Moms Bookclub and the way our conversations tend to stray from jut books. I found myself relating to each women in someway.
As Ellie Campbell develops the character of Cathy I liked her more and more. She was a good mom, a good friend, and a good wife ( even if she didn't clean very well). I found a lot of myself in Cathy and felt fear, pity, and wanting to be there for her as she went through the trials that became her life.
Declan was a jerk. From the beginning he gave Cathy grief about everything from the way she dressed to the kids to her not working yet. I wanted her to kick him to the curb from the very beginning. Declan was not a supportive husband when Cathy would tell him about another postcard coming. He never really redeemed himself to me, but I am not Cathy so I will have to be ok with the ending.
Looking for LaLa has great British humor and fun characters. This is a great fun and quick read.
July 28, 2013
Ellie Campbell is actually a pseudonym for two writers- sisters Pam and Lorraine. The story was inspired by Pam's husband who started to receive anonymous love postcards.
When Cathy discovers a letter written to her husband signed off from someone called La La, Cathy decides to start investigating with her best friend Raz. It is a hot topic of conversation with Cathy's Mothers Restaurant Research Group and at first Cathy is more happy that it might bring some excitement into her life rather than worrying about whether her husband is having an affair or not.
Cathy's husband Declan claims that he has no idea who La La is, but Cathy is understandably very suspicious. And what starts out as something fairly light hearted turns darker as Cathy discovers more and events begin to unfold.
Throughout the story I found myself thinking about what I would do in this situation. Although an extremely unusual circumstance that Cathy finds herself in, it was completely believable and I was with Cathy all the way. She was a very likeable character and you just want things to work out alright.
So much happens in this book that you just have to keep reading. It's a great chick-lit book full of mystery and drama that it held my attention the whole time! It is also really funny and the characters come out with some really funny quotes. And there is a twist that you definitely won't see coming!!!
When Cathy discovers a letter written to her husband signed off from someone called La La, Cathy decides to start investigating with her best friend Raz. It is a hot topic of conversation with Cathy's Mothers Restaurant Research Group and at first Cathy is more happy that it might bring some excitement into her life rather than worrying about whether her husband is having an affair or not.
Cathy's husband Declan claims that he has no idea who La La is, but Cathy is understandably very suspicious. And what starts out as something fairly light hearted turns darker as Cathy discovers more and events begin to unfold.
Throughout the story I found myself thinking about what I would do in this situation. Although an extremely unusual circumstance that Cathy finds herself in, it was completely believable and I was with Cathy all the way. She was a very likeable character and you just want things to work out alright.
So much happens in this book that you just have to keep reading. It's a great chick-lit book full of mystery and drama that it held my attention the whole time! It is also really funny and the characters come out with some really funny quotes. And there is a twist that you definitely won't see coming!!!
July 11, 2013
What would you do if your husband receives love postcards?
Cathy and Declan are in marriage have two kids and they had perfect life. Cathy is home staying mum with many obligations like every mum. She cares about her children, cooks, ironing and does all domestic things, but always something missing. She wants to find a job and to pay attention to herself a little bit, but is not simple because her husband doesn’t like that idea.
Declan is alpha man in the house or he thinks that he is. He has a career and he is a workaholic. He loves his wife but he things that she should to stay at home and be housewife.
One day Declan receive a postcard with love massage sighed by some La La (“Josh looks up, marmite smeared on his small freckles cheek, ‘Mummy, who’s the card from?’ He shares Declan’s coloring, the gingery hair, blue eyes and pale but cheeky face. ‘La La, darling. Apparently a tellytubby’s sending love letters to Daddy.”- I can’t stop laughing at this) and then the troubles begins .Cathy start to investigate who is La La with her friends.
This book is incredible I was enjoying till I read it, every past page is full of laugh and surprises. It’s not just simple book there are many turns and surprises followed by very funny situations.
Cathy and Declan are in marriage have two kids and they had perfect life. Cathy is home staying mum with many obligations like every mum. She cares about her children, cooks, ironing and does all domestic things, but always something missing. She wants to find a job and to pay attention to herself a little bit, but is not simple because her husband doesn’t like that idea.
Declan is alpha man in the house or he thinks that he is. He has a career and he is a workaholic. He loves his wife but he things that she should to stay at home and be housewife.
One day Declan receive a postcard with love massage sighed by some La La (“Josh looks up, marmite smeared on his small freckles cheek, ‘Mummy, who’s the card from?’ He shares Declan’s coloring, the gingery hair, blue eyes and pale but cheeky face. ‘La La, darling. Apparently a tellytubby’s sending love letters to Daddy.”- I can’t stop laughing at this) and then the troubles begins .Cathy start to investigate who is La La with her friends.
This book is incredible I was enjoying till I read it, every past page is full of laugh and surprises. It’s not just simple book there are many turns and surprises followed by very funny situations.
July 5, 2013
I like when women aren't just a decoration character. They are more than the eye-candy on the arm of our hero or the damsel that needs rescuing because of some fault in her own judgement that has left her in this peril. What these sisters (Ellie) do is craft characters that have weight. They aren't wallflowers, no. They're a group of real-life women.
Cathy is an amazing character. One we don't necessarily want to know, but by the end we are right there with her. She speaks out to elements inside all of us. The sisters have developed their characters in an amazingly real way. They are more than just words on a page, but real people. The character arcs are well developed and the book is great.
This is a great book for those that like chick-lit with British humor and rememberable characters. Yeah, they might be a little quirky and different, but that is what makes them real- they are not cardboard cut outs!
Grab it. Read it. And make your own judgements. It's a good book and these sisters have done an amazing job!
Cathy is an amazing character. One we don't necessarily want to know, but by the end we are right there with her. She speaks out to elements inside all of us. The sisters have developed their characters in an amazingly real way. They are more than just words on a page, but real people. The character arcs are well developed and the book is great.
This is a great book for those that like chick-lit with British humor and rememberable characters. Yeah, they might be a little quirky and different, but that is what makes them real- they are not cardboard cut outs!
Grab it. Read it. And make your own judgements. It's a good book and these sisters have done an amazing job!
December 27, 2013
Looking for La La was not quite what I expected. From the description I was expecting one of my usual chick lit/detective books, but to be honest it was really just chick lit. There was a "mystery" storyline, but although this is what formed the title of the book, it was really a minor storyline used to connect the lives of the characters.
Cathy is a nearly 40 year old stay at home mum who has lost her identity and her purpose now that her youngest child is in school. A random postcard sent to her husband triggers a rather comedic search for the mysterious La La. Add in a group of very real friends, 2 potential affairs, a big pile of secrets, and a psychotic neighbor, and Looking for La La is an entertaining read.
This was a fun book to read. The characters were very real, with secrets and flaws and all the fun things that make up real people. I would have liked to have seen a deeper development of some of the fringe characters, but overall I really enjoyed this book, despite not usually liking books about "Mums".
Cathy is a nearly 40 year old stay at home mum who has lost her identity and her purpose now that her youngest child is in school. A random postcard sent to her husband triggers a rather comedic search for the mysterious La La. Add in a group of very real friends, 2 potential affairs, a big pile of secrets, and a psychotic neighbor, and Looking for La La is an entertaining read.
This was a fun book to read. The characters were very real, with secrets and flaws and all the fun things that make up real people. I would have liked to have seen a deeper development of some of the fringe characters, but overall I really enjoyed this book, despite not usually liking books about "Mums".
August 28, 2014
This book was a great cozy mystery but with a lot of humor. It is British Chick-Lit at its best. I like comedic mystery novels so this was a fun and easy read. Cathy is the perfect character for me to relate to. The authors do a great job of showing how tired, over worked and stressed she is.Her husband works far too much, so I get her! She is described as dull and uneventful. Poor Cathy!
The premise is Cathy gets letters telling her that her husband is having an affair. OMG! Great concept added to a great bunch of girls and you get a great read! So the gossip starts and then the plan goes into action.
Great characters, great comedy and chick lit combined I was very much surprised at the ending.
The premise is Cathy gets letters telling her that her husband is having an affair. OMG! Great concept added to a great bunch of girls and you get a great read! So the gossip starts and then the plan goes into action.
Great characters, great comedy and chick lit combined I was very much surprised at the ending.
February 27, 2014
This is one of those books that ended better than it started, I might even have given it three stars. But probably not because I just can't stand the main character to be so weak for the majority of the story. Dragged at the beginning but there were funny moments so I'm giving it 2 stars.
May 2, 2013
Review of Looking For La La by Ellie Campbell
About Looking for La La -
In a recent survey 65% of mothers admitted feeling undervalued, over-criticized and constantly tired.
Cathy is no exception. Her dull, uneventful days as a stay at home, mother of two, are radically however with the arrival of a heavily-lipsticked postcard addressed to husband, Declan. Who is the mysterious La La? Could Declan really be having an affair? And is Cathy actually being stalked? Whatever - it will definitely prove riveting gossip for the Tuesday Twice Monthlies, Cathy's 'Mothers Restaurant Research' group where scandal flows as recklessly as the wine. But what starts as a light-hearted investigation with best friend Raz, soon turns into something much more sinister.
With a possible murderer on the scene, a sexy admirer igniting long-forgotten sparks, and all her friends hiding secrets, it's not only Cathy's marriage that's in jeopardy. Add in the scheming antics of Declan's new assistant, the stress of organizing the school Save The Toilet's dance and the stage is set for a dangerous showdown and some very unsettling, possibly deadly, revelations.'
This amazing novel is written by Ellie Campbell, a pseudonym of two sisters that are Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell. This novel is so perfectly written, it has humour, drama and depth to the story.
Looking for La La's tag line is 'So many secrets...so little time'. This fits this book so well, from the mystery postcard to possibly being stalked. The story is set in Cathy's point of view, she is a mother of two children and is married to Declan.
As a stay at home mother, her days are filled with tidying and cleaning up after her family, that is until the day a postcard arrived. It is signed 'Love from La La', who is this La La? and what is she doing sending her husband a postcard? Confused by the postcard, and not knowing if her husband is having a affair or if it is some kind of joke? Its not long before more things become come to light and the whole situation gets even bigger with every passing problem.
Cathy's husband, Declan has no idea who La La is and what she is doing sending him a postcard but does he really? Cathy's best friend Raz is always there to help her and is more than ready to investigate the odd things that keep happening.
With every problem falling into the next one, but with the growing questions there are even more answers. If I had to sum up Looking for La La in three words they would be:- Thrilling, Gripping and Unique.
This book is great for anyone who loves a book that keeps you holding on till the end. I would definitely recommended this book to everyone, it has humour, drama and most important a great story line. The story was very believable, with lots of twists along the way.
My favourite character of the book was Cathy as the story is in her point of view, you get to see the events unfold through Cathy eyes. You also get to see have her family and friends are portrayed through her eyes, this makes the book even more intriguing.
My favourite quote in the book was:- ' Put Nemo down at once!' she yells suddenly, then her voice changes. ' I'm sorry, my two-year-old's cuddling the goldfish. What were you saying? '
Looking for La La is out now on Amazon.
It is published by Amazon.co.uk.
Ellie Campbell has two other books out now, these are When Good Friends Go Bad and How to Survive your Sisters. These are both out now.
About Looking for La La -
In a recent survey 65% of mothers admitted feeling undervalued, over-criticized and constantly tired.
Cathy is no exception. Her dull, uneventful days as a stay at home, mother of two, are radically however with the arrival of a heavily-lipsticked postcard addressed to husband, Declan. Who is the mysterious La La? Could Declan really be having an affair? And is Cathy actually being stalked? Whatever - it will definitely prove riveting gossip for the Tuesday Twice Monthlies, Cathy's 'Mothers Restaurant Research' group where scandal flows as recklessly as the wine. But what starts as a light-hearted investigation with best friend Raz, soon turns into something much more sinister.
With a possible murderer on the scene, a sexy admirer igniting long-forgotten sparks, and all her friends hiding secrets, it's not only Cathy's marriage that's in jeopardy. Add in the scheming antics of Declan's new assistant, the stress of organizing the school Save The Toilet's dance and the stage is set for a dangerous showdown and some very unsettling, possibly deadly, revelations.'
This amazing novel is written by Ellie Campbell, a pseudonym of two sisters that are Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell. This novel is so perfectly written, it has humour, drama and depth to the story.
Looking for La La's tag line is 'So many secrets...so little time'. This fits this book so well, from the mystery postcard to possibly being stalked. The story is set in Cathy's point of view, she is a mother of two children and is married to Declan.
As a stay at home mother, her days are filled with tidying and cleaning up after her family, that is until the day a postcard arrived. It is signed 'Love from La La', who is this La La? and what is she doing sending her husband a postcard? Confused by the postcard, and not knowing if her husband is having a affair or if it is some kind of joke? Its not long before more things become come to light and the whole situation gets even bigger with every passing problem.
Cathy's husband, Declan has no idea who La La is and what she is doing sending him a postcard but does he really? Cathy's best friend Raz is always there to help her and is more than ready to investigate the odd things that keep happening.
With every problem falling into the next one, but with the growing questions there are even more answers. If I had to sum up Looking for La La in three words they would be:- Thrilling, Gripping and Unique.
This book is great for anyone who loves a book that keeps you holding on till the end. I would definitely recommended this book to everyone, it has humour, drama and most important a great story line. The story was very believable, with lots of twists along the way.
My favourite character of the book was Cathy as the story is in her point of view, you get to see the events unfold through Cathy eyes. You also get to see have her family and friends are portrayed through her eyes, this makes the book even more intriguing.
My favourite quote in the book was:- ' Put Nemo down at once!' she yells suddenly, then her voice changes. ' I'm sorry, my two-year-old's cuddling the goldfish. What were you saying? '
Looking for La La is out now on Amazon.
It is published by Amazon.co.uk.
Ellie Campbell has two other books out now, these are When Good Friends Go Bad and How to Survive your Sisters. These are both out now.
March 22, 2014
For years Cathy has been a stay at home Mum, but both of her children are now in school. Her Husband, Declan thinks she should get a job, as have many of the other Mother's she knows. They have a cleaner, so she doesn't need to stay at home to do that and the kids are in school, so she doesn't need to be home all day to care for them but Cathy is not quite ready to return to work and she's not quite sure what career path she wishes to follow. She is reminiscent of her fun youth, the life that her lodger and long time best friend, Raz still appears to be part of. Late nights, a higher alcohol tolerance and a string of Men falling in her wake. Cathy craves just a little bit of the excitement the pre-Mum her had and that excitement arrives in the form of a postcard.
“Dearest, Sweetest Declan … Love from La La”
Declan denies being unfaithful and is adamant he has no idea who La La is and so begins a mysterious road to potential ruin as Cathy begins a risky investigation to discover the truth; Who is La La? Is her Husband having an affair? Will her craving for excitement lead Cathy to stray? Why does she keep seeing the same car wherever she goes?
As Cathy begins to see her family and friends in a whole new light, she's no longer sure who she can trust. Can her marriage, or indeed Cathy herself, survive her postcard probe?
At first look at the cover and the blurb, you may be thinking this is your standard chick lit, but you'd be wrong. Yes, it is fun, humorous and has it's fair share of passion and romance but there are mysterious and murderous undertones to this novel and they are what provide the magic. Cathy's attempts to discover who La La is as further postcards arrive, whilst often being hilarious also prove to be quite sinister on occasion.
There's quite a lot of characters in this novel, which can be a little confusing at first but you will slowly recall who each person is as they crop up. Despite the number of characters, each is well developed; their features and personalities described and their place in the story explained. The book is told from Cathy's point of view so the reader's initial introduction to each of the potential La La culprits is through Cathy's eyes. Sometimes, it's clear she's heading up the wrong path but on other occasions you're right there with her, convinced she's about to reveal all.
The story keeps a steady pace throughout, with lots of action unfolding from the pages. The balance between Cathy's normal, everyday family life and her new found Jessica Fletcher-esque interrogation is both funny and intriguing. Considering the story is penned by two authors, it's very well written and there is no evidence of two separate writing styles being intertwined.
My Rating 4/5 ~ Everyday life meets Murder, She Wrote in this mysterious, yet funny novel. The large cast may be a bit confusing, but the great writing helps to ease the way as both you and leading lady, Cathy try to figure out who La La is. A great reminder that maybe you shouldn't take the norm for granted and I look forward to reading the sequel.
“Dearest, Sweetest Declan … Love from La La”
Declan denies being unfaithful and is adamant he has no idea who La La is and so begins a mysterious road to potential ruin as Cathy begins a risky investigation to discover the truth; Who is La La? Is her Husband having an affair? Will her craving for excitement lead Cathy to stray? Why does she keep seeing the same car wherever she goes?
As Cathy begins to see her family and friends in a whole new light, she's no longer sure who she can trust. Can her marriage, or indeed Cathy herself, survive her postcard probe?
At first look at the cover and the blurb, you may be thinking this is your standard chick lit, but you'd be wrong. Yes, it is fun, humorous and has it's fair share of passion and romance but there are mysterious and murderous undertones to this novel and they are what provide the magic. Cathy's attempts to discover who La La is as further postcards arrive, whilst often being hilarious also prove to be quite sinister on occasion.
There's quite a lot of characters in this novel, which can be a little confusing at first but you will slowly recall who each person is as they crop up. Despite the number of characters, each is well developed; their features and personalities described and their place in the story explained. The book is told from Cathy's point of view so the reader's initial introduction to each of the potential La La culprits is through Cathy's eyes. Sometimes, it's clear she's heading up the wrong path but on other occasions you're right there with her, convinced she's about to reveal all.
The story keeps a steady pace throughout, with lots of action unfolding from the pages. The balance between Cathy's normal, everyday family life and her new found Jessica Fletcher-esque interrogation is both funny and intriguing. Considering the story is penned by two authors, it's very well written and there is no evidence of two separate writing styles being intertwined.
My Rating 4/5 ~ Everyday life meets Murder, She Wrote in this mysterious, yet funny novel. The large cast may be a bit confusing, but the great writing helps to ease the way as both you and leading lady, Cathy try to figure out who La La is. A great reminder that maybe you shouldn't take the norm for granted and I look forward to reading the sequel.
August 18, 2013
I don't think that I'm quite the target market for Looking For La La, the latest novel from two sisters who write together under the name Ellie Campbell. I'm in my late forties and have never had kids, so the school-gate politics of the Mummy group is quite alien to me. I live in a small market town in rural Lincolnshire, so again, don't really identify with the professional city-dwellers that populate this story. However, despite really really taking an instant dislike to Cathy, the main character in this story, I found myself hooked by the storyline. Before I knew it, I was half-way through the book and eager to find out who the bloody hell is La La?
Cathy is a bored stay-at-home mum, her husband Declan works hard, and works very long hours. He's started to drop hints about Cathy going back to work, now that the kids are at school. He gets frustrated by the untidy house, the lack of any food in the cupboards and the time Cathy spends with her friends. And quite rightly so! Cathy thinks that Declan is just an old moaner, he's not, he's spot on. Most days Cathy manages to get the kids to school within seconds of the bell ringing and then spends the rest of her time mooching about, talking to her friends, half-heartedly starting new projects and not much else. So that's why I didn't like her. I'm not sure if the reader is supposed to sympathise with Cathy or not, but I certainly didn't.
Then the postcards start to arrive. Addressed to Declan and appearing to be from a mystery lover - who calls herself La La. Cathy and her best friend Raz (who is living in their loft whilst her flat is refurbished), are determined to find out who La La is. Declan denies all knowledge, he's far too busy with work, keeping the customers sweet and impressing the bosses.
Despite the fact that Cathy annoyed the hell out of me, I did enjoy this story. The pace is fast, the characters are wonderfully drawn, and although the story is somewhat far-fetched in places, it really is well written.
Looking For La La is the perfect summer read. Read it in the sunshine with a glass of something cool by your side, suspend reality and just get stuck in. The twists and turns kept me entertained and I really didn't suss out who La La was until the final reveal was made.
Cathy is a bored stay-at-home mum, her husband Declan works hard, and works very long hours. He's started to drop hints about Cathy going back to work, now that the kids are at school. He gets frustrated by the untidy house, the lack of any food in the cupboards and the time Cathy spends with her friends. And quite rightly so! Cathy thinks that Declan is just an old moaner, he's not, he's spot on. Most days Cathy manages to get the kids to school within seconds of the bell ringing and then spends the rest of her time mooching about, talking to her friends, half-heartedly starting new projects and not much else. So that's why I didn't like her. I'm not sure if the reader is supposed to sympathise with Cathy or not, but I certainly didn't.
Then the postcards start to arrive. Addressed to Declan and appearing to be from a mystery lover - who calls herself La La. Cathy and her best friend Raz (who is living in their loft whilst her flat is refurbished), are determined to find out who La La is. Declan denies all knowledge, he's far too busy with work, keeping the customers sweet and impressing the bosses.
Despite the fact that Cathy annoyed the hell out of me, I did enjoy this story. The pace is fast, the characters are wonderfully drawn, and although the story is somewhat far-fetched in places, it really is well written.
Looking For La La is the perfect summer read. Read it in the sunshine with a glass of something cool by your side, suspend reality and just get stuck in. The twists and turns kept me entertained and I really didn't suss out who La La was until the final reveal was made.
March 24, 2014
Bridget Jone's Diary by Helen Fielding is one of my favorite books & Looking For La La by Ellie Campbell (a pseudonym for sister writing team Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell) had similar laugh out loud British humour. My first lol moment is when Cathy reminisces about meeting her now husband, Declan. They had several meetings before they went on a date. One run-in occurred in the grocery store where Cathy is looking for obscure items. She admits to Declan that the grocery list she's using isn't hers, rather she found it on the trolley. "Isn't the point of writing your own list so's you buy what you need?" Declan asks. "And how monotonous is that?" ..."You end up with the same old, same old." I pulled a jar of pickled walnuts off the shelf. "Widens your diet," Cathy says ... "But what if you were after something in particular?" "You know, life's for living," I turned my trolley around and walked off in the opposite direction. "Not list making," (23). This scene shows how wacky yet hysterical Cathy's character is.
Another truly funny scene is was when Josh, Cathy's son, asks, "Mummy, who's the card from?" "La, La, darling. Apparently a tellytubby's sending love letters to Daddy," (33). Cathy makes it her life's mission to find out who this La La person is, along with help from her friends who bring their own drama to the mix, and an attractive man named Rupert.
In the meantime, Cathy and Declan are arguing on a nearly daily basis. One night, Declan is upset because Cathy forgot to buy a jar of pickles. "Stuff your gherkins," Cathy says. "Pardon?" "Stuff your pickled. Sodding. Bloody. Gerkins," (211). At times I wanted to smack Cathy because Declan is clearly a stand up guy but the story wouldn't have been as funny without their back and forth bickering!
This is the perfect beach read. In fact as I was reading it, I daydreamed about lounging around a pool or the ocean, with a fruity drink in my hand, surrounded by my best friends who would also be reading this book!
Another truly funny scene is was when Josh, Cathy's son, asks, "Mummy, who's the card from?" "La, La, darling. Apparently a tellytubby's sending love letters to Daddy," (33). Cathy makes it her life's mission to find out who this La La person is, along with help from her friends who bring their own drama to the mix, and an attractive man named Rupert.
In the meantime, Cathy and Declan are arguing on a nearly daily basis. One night, Declan is upset because Cathy forgot to buy a jar of pickles. "Stuff your gherkins," Cathy says. "Pardon?" "Stuff your pickled. Sodding. Bloody. Gerkins," (211). At times I wanted to smack Cathy because Declan is clearly a stand up guy but the story wouldn't have been as funny without their back and forth bickering!
This is the perfect beach read. In fact as I was reading it, I daydreamed about lounging around a pool or the ocean, with a fruity drink in my hand, surrounded by my best friends who would also be reading this book!
August 24, 2013
The cover image of a madcap lady with manic eyes peeping over a fence reminded me of myself on a particularly stressful bad hair day...maybe this could be a book I could relate to?
Looking for La La is the story of Cathy. A wife and mother struggling to retain her own identity in the hectic world of school runs, housework and other necessities of life, Cathy feels tired and unfulfilled. When flirtatious postcards addressed to her husband start arriving, Cathy feels even more threatened-could he be having an affair? Is someone trying to ruin their marriage? Or is it a joke that has got out of hand? Before long, Cathy is suspicious of everyone around her. Is there anyone she can really trust?
I must admit that it took me a while to get into this book, although I wonder if that is partly due to reading Mad About You by Sinead Moriarty just before- there are some similarities in the plots. However, once I obtained a big bar of Dairy Milk and wriggled myself into the corner of the settee I was all set to go and Looking for La La entertained me for the next four hours. Yes, it is embellished and far fetched in places, but mothers in particular will be able to identify with Cathy's loss of identity-that feeling of being someone's wife, someone's mum and yet feeling detached from yourself as you seek to please everyone else.
I was getting very frustrated as the story progressed as I was desperate to know who La La was. I thought I had it worked out and then something would make me doubt myself. This definitely made me want to keep turning the pages as I'm not good at putting down an unsolved mystery! Part mystery, part chicklit, part women's fiction; Looking for La La touches on a variety of genres which is both a strength and a weakness. Whilst it has the potential to appeal to a variety of readers, I feel it is not a neat enough fit into any of these genres to really recommend to one specific target
Looking for La La is the story of Cathy. A wife and mother struggling to retain her own identity in the hectic world of school runs, housework and other necessities of life, Cathy feels tired and unfulfilled. When flirtatious postcards addressed to her husband start arriving, Cathy feels even more threatened-could he be having an affair? Is someone trying to ruin their marriage? Or is it a joke that has got out of hand? Before long, Cathy is suspicious of everyone around her. Is there anyone she can really trust?
I must admit that it took me a while to get into this book, although I wonder if that is partly due to reading Mad About You by Sinead Moriarty just before- there are some similarities in the plots. However, once I obtained a big bar of Dairy Milk and wriggled myself into the corner of the settee I was all set to go and Looking for La La entertained me for the next four hours. Yes, it is embellished and far fetched in places, but mothers in particular will be able to identify with Cathy's loss of identity-that feeling of being someone's wife, someone's mum and yet feeling detached from yourself as you seek to please everyone else.
I was getting very frustrated as the story progressed as I was desperate to know who La La was. I thought I had it worked out and then something would make me doubt myself. This definitely made me want to keep turning the pages as I'm not good at putting down an unsolved mystery! Part mystery, part chicklit, part women's fiction; Looking for La La touches on a variety of genres which is both a strength and a weakness. Whilst it has the potential to appeal to a variety of readers, I feel it is not a neat enough fit into any of these genres to really recommend to one specific target
October 7, 2014
This is a very good read about a woman, Cathy, who is at that stage in life where the kids are both at school and all the other mums around her in the school playground all seem to be getting jobs and leaving her behind as the only stay at home mum. She has that feeling, which all mothers have had at around about that time, of being undervalued, taken for granted and bored to tears. She knows she really should get a job, but she just doesn't want to.
Cathy is a fantastic character and there are bits of her that I recognised in myself as well as my friends. She is gossipy, funny, sarcastic and she has never learned to keep it zipped, especially when she has had a drink. That is when a lot of her problems start - she gets drunk and opens her big mouth and out pops either a huge whopper or the one personal bit of information that she knows deep down that she really should not be sharing.
She longs for excitement in her life and when the sexy postcards from La La arrive addressed to her husband, she thinks that now it has arrived. We join her as she starts on a quest to unearth the identity of La La who even her husband, Declan, claims he doesn't know the identity of. I loved the moment where she is wandering into the school playground looking at all the mums and feeling really chuffed just because she is the one who has managed to get a husband who is so hot that other women fancy him.
Her quest twists and turns throughout the book which starts to take quite a dark, dangerous turn for Cathy, whose list of suspects keeps growing larger by the chapter. Who is trying to stab her in the back and drive a wedge between her and Declan? Can she trust any of her friends? Can she trust her husband? Can she trust herself?
You are quickly drawn into this very unpredictable, well thought out story, full of mystery, gossip and secrets which keeps you guessing right to the last chapter.
Cathy is a fantastic character and there are bits of her that I recognised in myself as well as my friends. She is gossipy, funny, sarcastic and she has never learned to keep it zipped, especially when she has had a drink. That is when a lot of her problems start - she gets drunk and opens her big mouth and out pops either a huge whopper or the one personal bit of information that she knows deep down that she really should not be sharing.
She longs for excitement in her life and when the sexy postcards from La La arrive addressed to her husband, she thinks that now it has arrived. We join her as she starts on a quest to unearth the identity of La La who even her husband, Declan, claims he doesn't know the identity of. I loved the moment where she is wandering into the school playground looking at all the mums and feeling really chuffed just because she is the one who has managed to get a husband who is so hot that other women fancy him.
Her quest twists and turns throughout the book which starts to take quite a dark, dangerous turn for Cathy, whose list of suspects keeps growing larger by the chapter. Who is trying to stab her in the back and drive a wedge between her and Declan? Can she trust any of her friends? Can she trust her husband? Can she trust herself?
You are quickly drawn into this very unpredictable, well thought out story, full of mystery, gossip and secrets which keeps you guessing right to the last chapter.
June 4, 2013
If you love to read British Chick-Lit, then Looking for La La is one you need to put on the top of your to read list! It is filled with great characters and hilarious, yet believable scenes.
What would you do if someone started mailing postcard love letters to your husband? Would you laugh it off, or would you go looking for the sender? I'm not sure what I'd do, but my life certainly isn't as exciting as Cathy's! I'm sure all of what she goes through in the story would send me over the edge! I don't want to spoil anything for you, but trust me, this girl is on a roller coaster of ups and downs and upside downs! Who can she trust? Her husband? Her best friend? Her girlfriends? They are all hiding things from Cathy but is one of them La La?
I love the characters in Looking for La La. I can totally relate to Cathy. She's scared to go back into the world of the working woman after being home with her kids for so long. She's feeling unappreciated for all she does at home. She's emotional. We've all been there, done that!
Cathy's friends are an eclectic mix that at times make you wonder how they ever became friends. Their conversations are hilarious! The secondary characters are all very well developed and not just thrown in. Even the ones that only appear for a couple of pages are great.
The circumstances Cathy finds herself in are unbelievable yet believable at the same time. I know that makes no sense, but you gotta believe me. The girl gets in some serious predicaments that we could all get into if we were in Cathy's shoes. Who of us hasn't put off planning a major event til the last possible moment? And haven't we all thought that someone was following us around at one point or another....that car looks REALLY familiar.....
I highly recommend Looking for La La if you need a good laugh! And the ending is great and funny and makes you feel good :)
What would you do if someone started mailing postcard love letters to your husband? Would you laugh it off, or would you go looking for the sender? I'm not sure what I'd do, but my life certainly isn't as exciting as Cathy's! I'm sure all of what she goes through in the story would send me over the edge! I don't want to spoil anything for you, but trust me, this girl is on a roller coaster of ups and downs and upside downs! Who can she trust? Her husband? Her best friend? Her girlfriends? They are all hiding things from Cathy but is one of them La La?
I love the characters in Looking for La La. I can totally relate to Cathy. She's scared to go back into the world of the working woman after being home with her kids for so long. She's feeling unappreciated for all she does at home. She's emotional. We've all been there, done that!
Cathy's friends are an eclectic mix that at times make you wonder how they ever became friends. Their conversations are hilarious! The secondary characters are all very well developed and not just thrown in. Even the ones that only appear for a couple of pages are great.
The circumstances Cathy finds herself in are unbelievable yet believable at the same time. I know that makes no sense, but you gotta believe me. The girl gets in some serious predicaments that we could all get into if we were in Cathy's shoes. Who of us hasn't put off planning a major event til the last possible moment? And haven't we all thought that someone was following us around at one point or another....that car looks REALLY familiar.....
I highly recommend Looking for La La if you need a good laugh! And the ending is great and funny and makes you feel good :)
October 3, 2013
Now Cathy’s two kids are at school, life is pretty predictable, with nothing much more to tax her than the usual demands of motherhood and the nagging feeling that she should find herself a job. Then the first postcard from La La arrives, and her life starts to go haywire.
Cathy plays both super-sleuth and scatty mum in this story that mixes elements of high farce with moments of genuine emotion. Sometimes the mix doesn’t quite gel or the humour feels a little forced, but there are some scenes that work like a dream. The one where a job interview doesn’t go quite to plan is my absolute favourite, and had me laughing out loud.
A series of initially apparently unrelated events take Cathy on a wild and wacky journey to a dramatic finale. Who ran down Miss Seagram? Is Cathy’s husband, Declan, having an affair? What secrets are each of her friends hiding? Will she succumb to the advances of her sexy admirer? Does she have her own stalker? And the biggest question of all, who is La La? These and many other questions are gathered up, chucked in the air, caught one by one, and all the answers displayed with a flourish.
However, I have to admit that I couldn’t follow all the ins and outs and twists and turns of the plot. I think this was partly due to the size of the cast. Even by the end I still wasn’t clear exactly who was who among Cathy’s friends. I’d like to end on a positive note - because the positives definitely outweigh the negatives – if you’re looking for something rooted in the everyday that takes a merry jaunt into the bizarre, this combination of chick lit and mystery story will hit the spot.
I’d like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cathy plays both super-sleuth and scatty mum in this story that mixes elements of high farce with moments of genuine emotion. Sometimes the mix doesn’t quite gel or the humour feels a little forced, but there are some scenes that work like a dream. The one where a job interview doesn’t go quite to plan is my absolute favourite, and had me laughing out loud.
A series of initially apparently unrelated events take Cathy on a wild and wacky journey to a dramatic finale. Who ran down Miss Seagram? Is Cathy’s husband, Declan, having an affair? What secrets are each of her friends hiding? Will she succumb to the advances of her sexy admirer? Does she have her own stalker? And the biggest question of all, who is La La? These and many other questions are gathered up, chucked in the air, caught one by one, and all the answers displayed with a flourish.
However, I have to admit that I couldn’t follow all the ins and outs and twists and turns of the plot. I think this was partly due to the size of the cast. Even by the end I still wasn’t clear exactly who was who among Cathy’s friends. I’d like to end on a positive note - because the positives definitely outweigh the negatives – if you’re looking for something rooted in the everyday that takes a merry jaunt into the bizarre, this combination of chick lit and mystery story will hit the spot.
I’d like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2016
Looking for La La is best read before reading To Catch a Creeper.
And I would recommend for women, between the ages of 30 and 60 who have been in a long term relationship or who have been married.
4.5 stars
Looking For La La is a brilliant story which relates to life in the real world. If you have ever had children and you have split with the father you will relate to this book, like I have. Well written it has inspired me to enjoy reading again. Very impressed and would recommend as light hearted but covers real life events. Did we ever find La La?
Cathy and her friends are very close and have no secrets. Except for one she likes her best friends male friend,a wedge is driven between her and her husband, culminating with her husband spending more time with his assistant, will they be able to repair their marriage?...
Cathy suspects her husband is having an affair with his assistant. Cathy feels upset and starts forming an attraction to other people...
I liked the comedy aspect of this book turning real life events into a work of fiction. However I disliked that I had no idea that it was part a series and I read them wrong way round. So I recommend reading Looking for La La then To Catch a Creeper.
I liked the writing style as it is free flowing, using every day words not complex words. Which are easy to understand for a light read.
A copy of Looking for La La was kindly provided to my daughter and I by Pam and Lorraine, the authors, in exchange for an honest review.
And I would recommend for women, between the ages of 30 and 60 who have been in a long term relationship or who have been married.
4.5 stars
Looking For La La is a brilliant story which relates to life in the real world. If you have ever had children and you have split with the father you will relate to this book, like I have. Well written it has inspired me to enjoy reading again. Very impressed and would recommend as light hearted but covers real life events. Did we ever find La La?
Cathy and her friends are very close and have no secrets. Except for one she likes her best friends male friend,a wedge is driven between her and her husband, culminating with her husband spending more time with his assistant, will they be able to repair their marriage?...
Cathy suspects her husband is having an affair with his assistant. Cathy feels upset and starts forming an attraction to other people...
I liked the comedy aspect of this book turning real life events into a work of fiction. However I disliked that I had no idea that it was part a series and I read them wrong way round. So I recommend reading Looking for La La then To Catch a Creeper.
I liked the writing style as it is free flowing, using every day words not complex words. Which are easy to understand for a light read.
A copy of Looking for La La was kindly provided to my daughter and I by Pam and Lorraine, the authors, in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2014
As a stay-at-home mom of her two children, Cathy doesn't exactly have the most exciting life. However, that is all about to change. In Looking for La La by Ellie Campbell, postcards signed by a mysterious La La begin arriving for Cathy's husband, Declan. What does any sane woman do in this situation? Of course, Cathy starts to freak out a little and is determined to find out who this La La person is and if, in fact, Declan is really having an affair. As Cathy continues her hunt for this person, she begins to see that her husband may not be the only one with a secret.
In the beginning, it was hard to keep track of all of Cathy's friends. And I will admit that Cathy is not my favorite main character. She was obsessive and a little dramatic, but I can't honestly say that I wouldn't behave the same way if I were in her shoes. Even though I didn't like her all that much, I was so curious as to who La La was and what more could happen to Cathy and her friends. The more and more I read this book, the more and more I enjoyed it. I reached a point where I just couldn't put it down. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments, and there were even some really sweet moments that made me go "aww!" Unlike most chick-lit books, I did not predict the ending, which I loved by the way. With such an entertaining and unpredictable plot and very different but lovable-in-their-own-way characters, Looking for La La is a must-read. I was hooked, and I will definitely be reading Ellie Campbell's other books.
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
In the beginning, it was hard to keep track of all of Cathy's friends. And I will admit that Cathy is not my favorite main character. She was obsessive and a little dramatic, but I can't honestly say that I wouldn't behave the same way if I were in her shoes. Even though I didn't like her all that much, I was so curious as to who La La was and what more could happen to Cathy and her friends. The more and more I read this book, the more and more I enjoyed it. I reached a point where I just couldn't put it down. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments, and there were even some really sweet moments that made me go "aww!" Unlike most chick-lit books, I did not predict the ending, which I loved by the way. With such an entertaining and unpredictable plot and very different but lovable-in-their-own-way characters, Looking for La La is a must-read. I was hooked, and I will definitely be reading Ellie Campbell's other books.
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
April 27, 2014
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Cathy is a stay-at-home mom, but that's starting to be an issue for her husband. He thinks all she does is sit at home all day, now that both kids are in school most of the day. He harps on her about joining the workforce again, but she has her own issues and reasons for not wanting to go along with it. Then, random postcards start arriving in the post from a person called "La La," talking about Cathy's husband. Is he having an affair? Is THAT why he wants her otherwise occupied with a job, so she's not home as often? Or is it just someone messing with him, with her? As Cathy and her trusted friends try to figure out the identity of the poison penner, their "perfect" suburban lives start to go through downward spirals. With all this other chaos going on, how will Cathy even find the time to figure out who La La is, much less be able to nab a job?
This is such a fun little mystery, and it has all those juicy tidbits that also pull you along for the ride; you know, the ones we all watch reality shows and soap operas for. Cathy and her friends are such interesting characters, and I honestly can't tell you how many times I flipped back and forth on La La's identity, as well as how I felt about certain people in her life. All of this, while still trying to be a wife and mother; it's craziness, I tell you! I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next one in the series, and will actually be starting it upon publishing this review. Loved it!
4 1/2 stars
Cathy is a stay-at-home mom, but that's starting to be an issue for her husband. He thinks all she does is sit at home all day, now that both kids are in school most of the day. He harps on her about joining the workforce again, but she has her own issues and reasons for not wanting to go along with it. Then, random postcards start arriving in the post from a person called "La La," talking about Cathy's husband. Is he having an affair? Is THAT why he wants her otherwise occupied with a job, so she's not home as often? Or is it just someone messing with him, with her? As Cathy and her trusted friends try to figure out the identity of the poison penner, their "perfect" suburban lives start to go through downward spirals. With all this other chaos going on, how will Cathy even find the time to figure out who La La is, much less be able to nab a job?
This is such a fun little mystery, and it has all those juicy tidbits that also pull you along for the ride; you know, the ones we all watch reality shows and soap operas for. Cathy and her friends are such interesting characters, and I honestly can't tell you how many times I flipped back and forth on La La's identity, as well as how I felt about certain people in her life. All of this, while still trying to be a wife and mother; it's craziness, I tell you! I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next one in the series, and will actually be starting it upon publishing this review. Loved it!
4 1/2 stars
May 23, 2014
I was initially drawn to Looking for La La by the front cover, which is spectacular. The book begins, however, with a sort of dedication to mothers and I have to confess that, as a non-mother, my heart sank. I needn’t have worried though as this hilarious romp is not likely to feature on the Mumsnet reading list. From the opening page, I loved the dysfunctional heroine Cathy and her merry band of pals.
This is a story essentially about women and the intense relationships, both the friendship and the rivalry that we enjoy with each other. As I was reading and nodding along with Cathy I realised that, for most of us, our skills at managing relationships don’t really move on from our school days. We carry the same needs and insecurities and it’s this that makes us human and likeable. The main strength of this book is that the characters are believable and real, even the villains are pretty lovable. It’s a warm, engaging tale with barrel loads of humour. There are lots of laugh out loud moments following Cathy as she crashes through her life.
There is a mystery, serving as the backdrop for Cathy’s adventures, which is both intriguing and farcical as it draws in every character, causing Cathy to re-evaluate everything she thinks she knows about herself and the world around her. I don’t think it matters whether you are a mother, wife or even a woman, there is something in this book for everyone and the humour is the glue that holds it all together. I’m not sure what chick-lit is but, if this is it, then I love it!
This is a story essentially about women and the intense relationships, both the friendship and the rivalry that we enjoy with each other. As I was reading and nodding along with Cathy I realised that, for most of us, our skills at managing relationships don’t really move on from our school days. We carry the same needs and insecurities and it’s this that makes us human and likeable. The main strength of this book is that the characters are believable and real, even the villains are pretty lovable. It’s a warm, engaging tale with barrel loads of humour. There are lots of laugh out loud moments following Cathy as she crashes through her life.
There is a mystery, serving as the backdrop for Cathy’s adventures, which is both intriguing and farcical as it draws in every character, causing Cathy to re-evaluate everything she thinks she knows about herself and the world around her. I don’t think it matters whether you are a mother, wife or even a woman, there is something in this book for everyone and the humour is the glue that holds it all together. I’m not sure what chick-lit is but, if this is it, then I love it!
May 15, 2013
3.5 stars.
I received this book from the author for review.
It is the first Ellie Campbell's (pseudonym for two sisters, Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell) that I have read. Te idea of the book, looking for La La, was very intriguing. But, to be totally honest, there was not much about looking for the mystery La La itself. If there was, it was not too original.
On the other hand, the story is a total chaos, full of original, witty, funny dialogues and surprises. There are a lot of characters in this book, too many if you ask me, I didn't fell for any of them, I think half of them would be enough for the book. Cathy is OK, she is a normal woman, a mother with typical domestic problems but sometimes - I guess she is just bored - she exaggerates a lot in her opinions and actions.
The tag line of "Looking for La La" is "so many secrets, so little time", and that's totally true. Each person had a secret that was more or less important, every one was suspicious.
To be honest, I didn't know what is going to happen at the end so I don't know if it disappointed me or not. Generally speaking the ending is like out of the blue, like in a game. Unpredictable ending, indeed, but there was nothing leading to this.
On the other hand this book is really well written, it's witty and funny. It's full of sarcasm, irony and fun. There are laugh out loud moments but the serious ones as well. The pace is fast, it's full of twists and turns, enough to keep you reading to the end.
I received this book from the author for review.
It is the first Ellie Campbell's (pseudonym for two sisters, Pam Burks and Lorraine Campbell) that I have read. Te idea of the book, looking for La La, was very intriguing. But, to be totally honest, there was not much about looking for the mystery La La itself. If there was, it was not too original.
On the other hand, the story is a total chaos, full of original, witty, funny dialogues and surprises. There are a lot of characters in this book, too many if you ask me, I didn't fell for any of them, I think half of them would be enough for the book. Cathy is OK, she is a normal woman, a mother with typical domestic problems but sometimes - I guess she is just bored - she exaggerates a lot in her opinions and actions.
The tag line of "Looking for La La" is "so many secrets, so little time", and that's totally true. Each person had a secret that was more or less important, every one was suspicious.
To be honest, I didn't know what is going to happen at the end so I don't know if it disappointed me or not. Generally speaking the ending is like out of the blue, like in a game. Unpredictable ending, indeed, but there was nothing leading to this.
On the other hand this book is really well written, it's witty and funny. It's full of sarcasm, irony and fun. There are laugh out loud moments but the serious ones as well. The pace is fast, it's full of twists and turns, enough to keep you reading to the end.
August 11, 2016
Sometimes, you just need to read a really good chick lit book. Well, at least I do. One like this book, that it doesn't really matter that you're not the exact target age group because it's just that good--they don't come along too often. I absolutely loved this book!
Now, I'm going to be perfectly honest. The reason I decided to read this book was the cover. That's unusual for me, to decide I'm going to read a book before even reading the synopsis. Something about it just jumped out at me, though. So glad it did!
Cathy's a homemaker in her 30's, going about her life. Then, her husband receives a love letter signed, mysteriously, with the name La La. That puts a start to an adventure that can only be describes as zany, with lots of funny little lines and mentions of certain children's show characters along the way. It's a can't-put-down type of book, but I feel I must warn you: Don't be drinking anything while reading, unless you want to snort it out your nose. Don't ask why I know this. Just don't.
I loved the way each page brought about a new layer of Cathy, and you learn so much about her. It's actually kind of an emotional journey in that way. She's truly a free spirit, and maybe just a little bit kooky. All I can say is, if you love a good chick-lit, you'll love Looking For La La.
*I received this book for review from the author, but this in no way affected my thoughts as expressed in this review.*
Now, I'm going to be perfectly honest. The reason I decided to read this book was the cover. That's unusual for me, to decide I'm going to read a book before even reading the synopsis. Something about it just jumped out at me, though. So glad it did!
Cathy's a homemaker in her 30's, going about her life. Then, her husband receives a love letter signed, mysteriously, with the name La La. That puts a start to an adventure that can only be describes as zany, with lots of funny little lines and mentions of certain children's show characters along the way. It's a can't-put-down type of book, but I feel I must warn you: Don't be drinking anything while reading, unless you want to snort it out your nose. Don't ask why I know this. Just don't.
I loved the way each page brought about a new layer of Cathy, and you learn so much about her. It's actually kind of an emotional journey in that way. She's truly a free spirit, and maybe just a little bit kooky. All I can say is, if you love a good chick-lit, you'll love Looking For La La.
*I received this book for review from the author, but this in no way affected my thoughts as expressed in this review.*
September 24, 2013
Ellie Campbell gives the reader a quirky yet insightful glimpse at a stay at home mom who is facing personal struggles. ‘Looking for La La’ is filled with British humor and intrigue making it a fun read that touches on some serious issues many stay at home and working mothers can relate to.
Cathy is a stay at home mom who feels unappreciated and is obviously stressed out. She has a group of friends that she assumes will support her only to find out their hidden secrets and dramas convince her that she doesn’t really know them at all. When her husband Declan receives a postcard signed “Love La La” she begins to question her marriage and her purpose in life. As she embarks on her quest to find out who La La is, her life and marriage start to crumble around her.
The realistic portrayal of a stay at home mom and the feelings she experiences of not being appreciated and being less of a person ring true to life. Also brought to life are the struggles of a working mom and the guilt she feels about leaving her children in someone else’s care.
The characters of Cathy and Declan progress successfully as the story unfolds and the supporting characters all lend a sense of drama, realism and humor to the story.
I strongly recommend this book to all readers who like a fun and engrossing read that is sure to entertain!
February 13, 2015
Looking for La La by Ellie Campbell
Cathy is a stay-at-home Mom and bored with her life. When her husband Declan receives a postcard with lipstick on it and signed "Love La La", Cathy's guard is up. Is her husband having an affair? Cathy starts to investigate, and soon more letters arrive.
With the help of her friends, she is determined to find out who La La is and if her husband is cheating. What she doesn't know and will find out, is everyone has secrets. Not only are there secrets, but it turns to be dangerous with a possible murder.
Cathy is the average Mother, but her life turns more than "boring" once the post card arrives. I did like Cathy and could relate to her inner problems. Declan was a person I was not sure I could trust, not sure if I liked him.
The suspect list (for who La La could be) is high. Just when I thought I had it figured out a new event or secret would occur, and I changed my mind. I like that suspense in a story.
The plot is original, most of the characters are likable (some are not). The story moves along smoothly and everything falls into place where it should. Overall I found Looking for La La to be an enjoyable read, and I recommend to readers of all genres.
Cathy is a stay-at-home Mom and bored with her life. When her husband Declan receives a postcard with lipstick on it and signed "Love La La", Cathy's guard is up. Is her husband having an affair? Cathy starts to investigate, and soon more letters arrive.
With the help of her friends, she is determined to find out who La La is and if her husband is cheating. What she doesn't know and will find out, is everyone has secrets. Not only are there secrets, but it turns to be dangerous with a possible murder.
Cathy is the average Mother, but her life turns more than "boring" once the post card arrives. I did like Cathy and could relate to her inner problems. Declan was a person I was not sure I could trust, not sure if I liked him.
The suspect list (for who La La could be) is high. Just when I thought I had it figured out a new event or secret would occur, and I changed my mind. I like that suspense in a story.
The plot is original, most of the characters are likable (some are not). The story moves along smoothly and everything falls into place where it should. Overall I found Looking for La La to be an enjoyable read, and I recommend to readers of all genres.
October 15, 2013
By: Ellie Campbell
Published By: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Book Blog For: NOR
Review:
"Looking For LA LA" by Ellie Campbell was a good chick lit romantic read. It took me a moment to understand this 'British Humor' but soon it came together for me and I found myself laughing out loud. Who ever would have thought that a postcard would present such a problem for Cathy and her husband Declan. This is one novel that was a well written read with some very 'serious parts.' There seems to be lots of secrets and when I thought I may have had it figured out...I didn't! The characters were well developed and very captivating...only to keep you reading to see what was going to happen next. This stay a home mom was definitely funny, had many issues and lord could she make up things....wow and Cathy's friends were very interesting. What I found most interesting was the mystery it had in the story and the surprise at the end. Be ready for quite a juggle of things that will happen. If you are looking for a good entertainment novel you have come to the right place for "Looking For LA LA" will give it to you. Would I recommend? YES!
September 25, 2016
Looking for La La is British chick-lit, with a little mystery thrown in and a lot of humor.
The more we get to know Cathy, the more unhappy we realize she is. Her best friend is never around. Her husband is inattentive at home, works long hours, and really just wants Cathy to find a job. She doesn’t seem to be very good at housekeeping, so it’s a good thing she has a cleaner that comes once a week. All her friends are moving on and she feels stuck. It’s no wonder she’s so busy looking for La La.
Looking for La La had a lot going on, and the plot kept twisting one way, and then turning another. Cathy tends to jump to conclusions, and act on her instincts. The more Cathy looks for La La, the more secrets she seems to uncover. And the more trouble she seems to get into.
I was sure I had the mystery solved at one point. And I did. And then it turned out I didn’t.
Cathy and her crew were a fun bunch to spend an afternoon with. This book is the first in a series, and I plan on reading more.
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The more we get to know Cathy, the more unhappy we realize she is. Her best friend is never around. Her husband is inattentive at home, works long hours, and really just wants Cathy to find a job. She doesn’t seem to be very good at housekeeping, so it’s a good thing she has a cleaner that comes once a week. All her friends are moving on and she feels stuck. It’s no wonder she’s so busy looking for La La.
Looking for La La had a lot going on, and the plot kept twisting one way, and then turning another. Cathy tends to jump to conclusions, and act on her instincts. The more Cathy looks for La La, the more secrets she seems to uncover. And the more trouble she seems to get into.
I was sure I had the mystery solved at one point. And I did. And then it turned out I didn’t.
Cathy and her crew were a fun bunch to spend an afternoon with. This book is the first in a series, and I plan on reading more.
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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