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Miss Manners
Struggling to pay bills, stuck in a dead-end job and no boyfriend, life hasn't turned out quite the way 25-year-old Anna Borgström expected.
While most of her university peers are getting on with their careers, Anna is working as a sales assistant at Harrolds' toy department. But after a shocking public event, things go from bad to worse when Anna is fired and soon left with no job, no car and no money.
Equipped with nothing more than the diary of (in)famous socialite Pinkie Mortimer, Anna sets out on a journey that sees her taking part in Miss Manners – an annual televised talent search for the next headline-making It-girl. Except Anna has no fashion sense, can’t walk in high heels, and burps after every meal.
As Anna enters a very different world of primping, pampering and partying, crises and complications attempt to undermine her endeavours. But will the help of friends and a cute new crush ensure Anna’s metamorphosis runs smoothly? Or will it all spiral out of control?
While most of her university peers are getting on with their careers, Anna is working as a sales assistant at Harrolds' toy department. But after a shocking public event, things go from bad to worse when Anna is fired and soon left with no job, no car and no money.
Equipped with nothing more than the diary of (in)famous socialite Pinkie Mortimer, Anna sets out on a journey that sees her taking part in Miss Manners – an annual televised talent search for the next headline-making It-girl. Except Anna has no fashion sense, can’t walk in high heels, and burps after every meal.
As Anna enters a very different world of primping, pampering and partying, crises and complications attempt to undermine her endeavours. But will the help of friends and a cute new crush ensure Anna’s metamorphosis runs smoothly? Or will it all spiral out of control?
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2013
20 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 19, 2014
This is a fantastic book. The relationships feel true to life, the characters are convincing, the plot whips along, and it is truly, hysterically funny. I can't wait to read it again and pick out some of the best one-liners for use in everyday life. You completely fall for Anna and the rest of the cast, who are brilliant and feel like your best friends by the time you've finished reading. Bridget Jones territory, only better written; it’s like Made in Chelsea told through the eyes of Daria – genius! It’ll be a birthday/Christmas/Easter present for plenty of friends. I can't recommend it enough.
May 5, 2018
Loved it!
This book was so much fun! I didn't agree with everything Anna did, but there was so much humor I quickly forgave her. Now I just want to know what her next assignment is!
This book was so much fun! I didn't agree with everything Anna did, but there was so much humor I quickly forgave her. Now I just want to know what her next assignment is!
February 1, 2023
A light-hearted tale of life in London. Can Anna hold down a job and make it in the city? Follow her adventures of becoming someone risking all she knows and becoming those she despises along the way. A laugh out loud read which will have you giggling like a school girl again.
September 23, 2019
👍
took me a while to read. I enjoyed it but took me a while to get in to the story..
took me a while to read. I enjoyed it but took me a while to get in to the story..
October 24, 2014
When Iman Sid asked me to Tweet about her novel Miss Manners, I did with pleasure and when she offered me the chance to read her novel after that I jumped at the chance because it sounded really fun. I loved Ladette to Lady when it was on TV and was disappointed when it was cancelled so I loved the idea of Miss Manners being a bit like that and I dived in eagerly.
Miss Manners is very much a Marmite novel, you’re either gonna love it or hate it and that has a lot to do with Anna, the main character. She’s rather abrupt and not everyone will like her, but I did. I find it refreshing when characters are real and honest, and I found Anna to be refreshing especially as so many Chick Lit characters are afraid to say boo to a goose. So, Anna will divide opinion, but I was with her all the way.
I loved the idea of the Miss Manners contest but I’d have liked it a lot more if a) Anna wasn’t useless at everything, I found it disingenuous, no one can be useless at absolutely everything and I didn’t like how Anna put herself down all the time and b) I wanted to see more in depth of the Miss Manners contest, I wanted it to be set in a massive stately home a la Ladette to Lady, not just having the contestants come to classes daily. It’d have worked a lot better if it was spread over a few weeks rather than all jammed in to a couple of days.
Overall though it was an ace novel and with a bit more work, I could believe it was a properly published novel as Iman is a fab writer, and I’m glad she took a punt on self-publishing it because I really enjoyed it. I absolutely loved Henry, he was by far my favourite character; he was adorable. It’s a really good novel, do give it a read, you might just find a book you’re not expecting!
Miss Manners is very much a Marmite novel, you’re either gonna love it or hate it and that has a lot to do with Anna, the main character. She’s rather abrupt and not everyone will like her, but I did. I find it refreshing when characters are real and honest, and I found Anna to be refreshing especially as so many Chick Lit characters are afraid to say boo to a goose. So, Anna will divide opinion, but I was with her all the way.
I loved the idea of the Miss Manners contest but I’d have liked it a lot more if a) Anna wasn’t useless at everything, I found it disingenuous, no one can be useless at absolutely everything and I didn’t like how Anna put herself down all the time and b) I wanted to see more in depth of the Miss Manners contest, I wanted it to be set in a massive stately home a la Ladette to Lady, not just having the contestants come to classes daily. It’d have worked a lot better if it was spread over a few weeks rather than all jammed in to a couple of days.
Overall though it was an ace novel and with a bit more work, I could believe it was a properly published novel as Iman is a fab writer, and I’m glad she took a punt on self-publishing it because I really enjoyed it. I absolutely loved Henry, he was by far my favourite character; he was adorable. It’s a really good novel, do give it a read, you might just find a book you’re not expecting!
October 12, 2013
You know when you can just see the story unfolding in front of you after the first few chapters then you're excited to see if you're right? Well that's what I did with Miss Manners. (I was smugly right too by the way)
Being honest I had a few issues with the book though. The fact that Bergstrom is not a hard word to pronounce or read was constantly misinterpreted. The wheelies and fashion sense of Ana was absolutely diabolical and I seriously cringed and tried not to think about what she was wearing. Vile!
Good things about the book for me was the Witt, and the overall friendship story that it portrays. We all love our mates don't we? And, we would be definitely lost without them.
An easy, witty and totally girly read, which I'm sure you will find pleasing.
Being honest I had a few issues with the book though. The fact that Bergstrom is not a hard word to pronounce or read was constantly misinterpreted. The wheelies and fashion sense of Ana was absolutely diabolical and I seriously cringed and tried not to think about what she was wearing. Vile!
Good things about the book for me was the Witt, and the overall friendship story that it portrays. We all love our mates don't we? And, we would be definitely lost without them.
An easy, witty and totally girly read, which I'm sure you will find pleasing.
May 3, 2015
I’m not usually a fan of Chick Lit, but from the first line I was totally hooked! In a genre often stymied by identikit plots, unrealistic dialogue and superficial heroines, everything about Iman Sid’s debut is a breath of fresh air. Great premise, great dialogue, and great characters (she has created one of the best leading ladies in Anna Borgström: sharp, witty, sassy, flawed, but totally loveable). Add to this a brilliant supporting cast of friends, all with their own stories to tell. Iman’s wonderful turn of phrase, acute ear for dialogue and dry sense of humour will guarantee you at least five public lols per page. A real page turner and utterly unputdownable. I look forward to reading more from this talented new author.
September 10, 2013
The novel started off differently than I thought it was going to go. I couldn't, in my own mind, follow how someone could achieve to be accepted into the contest and internship so fast... And then to have so much happen in such a short window of time. All the electronics involved in the story were confusing, how could she post all on the blog and still have time to breath? A quick read.
August 30, 2013
This is the best Chick Lit novel I've read in ages! It was funny, exciting and fresh; I really enjoyed it! Under the dictionary definition of 'unputdownable' should be Miss Manners - I read it in one sitting!
September 19, 2013
Loved it, loved it, loved it! Original, hilarious and entertaining - a fantastic book from a talented new author. It screams, 'Make me into a movie!' Can't wait to read more from Iman Sid! :-)
April 27, 2014
Super cute, quick, easy read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews