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Bumps
The essential career girl's guide to having it all. Glamorous but disaster-prone Taz Norton decides to be Superwoman. No one is going to tell her she can't get to the top and be a single mum as well. But no one told her it was going to be so difficult.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Zoë Barnes
41 books14 followersDid you know ...?
Zoë was born near Liverpool, but is a real mixed bag! Her mum is Manx and her dad is from Yorkshire. She now lives in Cheltenham, where her novels are set.
She is also a French translator, and translates novels by Christian Jacq (author of the Ramses series) under the pen-name of Sue Dyson.
She was named 'Secretary of the Year' in 1987, although she wasn't actually working as a secretary at the time!
When not writing or translating, she works as a singer.
At the moment she has three cats: Domino, Pizza and Jupiter. Unfortunately, Jupiter's favourite foods are Sellotape and glue, and he enjoys chewing the corners off library books.
The only animals she really doesn't like are cockroaches. And it's not their fault they're creepy.
She loves chocolate, but it makes her ill. Sadly, green vegetables are perfectly safe. There is no justice.
There is no such thing as a Javanese Yellow Skunk. But there ought to be.
Zoë died on October 30th 2009 after taking an overdose.
Zoë was born near Liverpool, but is a real mixed bag! Her mum is Manx and her dad is from Yorkshire. She now lives in Cheltenham, where her novels are set.
She is also a French translator, and translates novels by Christian Jacq (author of the Ramses series) under the pen-name of Sue Dyson.
She was named 'Secretary of the Year' in 1987, although she wasn't actually working as a secretary at the time!
When not writing or translating, she works as a singer.
At the moment she has three cats: Domino, Pizza and Jupiter. Unfortunately, Jupiter's favourite foods are Sellotape and glue, and he enjoys chewing the corners off library books.
The only animals she really doesn't like are cockroaches. And it's not their fault they're creepy.
She loves chocolate, but it makes her ill. Sadly, green vegetables are perfectly safe. There is no justice.
There is no such thing as a Javanese Yellow Skunk. But there ought to be.
Zoë died on October 30th 2009 after taking an overdose.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 15, 2020
Very 90s, which is when I first read it, and it probably does suffer from that on a first read now, very hetero-washed, judgemental of women's choices regarding their own bodies and prone to cyphering that feels dated now.
That said, I loved Zoe's books when I first read them as a teen and I enjoyed this one on re-read.
That said, I loved Zoe's books when I first read them as a teen and I enjoyed this one on re-read.
March 29, 2025
Petite histoire qui se lit vite et bien, avec des rebondissements assez attendus. Bon livre de plage
December 11, 2019
Melanie Norton vient de se faire plaquer par Gareth, son petit ami. Il entretenait une liaison depuis trois mois avec la colocataire de Mel. Si elle est malheureuse en amour, tout se passe mieux sur le plan professionnel : responsable du rayon prêt-à-porter masculin d’un grand magasin, elle vient de se voir confier en plus l’organisation de la semaine américaine au printemps, pour fêter l’ouverture d’un magasin à Los Angeles. Un surcroit de travail en perspective mais l’espoir d’une promotion qui serait bienvenue à l’heure où elle va devoir supporter seule le coût de son logement. Une situation prometteuse qui semble bien compromise lorsque Mel découvre qu’elle attend un bébé et qu’elle ne peut espérer aucun soutien de la part de ses parents.
Un roman de chick-lit, il ne m’arrive pas souvent d’en lire. J’ai trouvé celui-ci dans les boites à lire de ma commune, d’anciennes cabines téléphoniques transformées où l’on peut déposer les livres dont on veut se débarrasser et prendre ceux que l’on souhaite. Je l’avais choisi en prévision d’une période de panne de lecture ou de déprime. C’est à la grisaille de novembre que je dois d’avoir sorti ce livre de mes étagères où il patientait depuis un moment.
Une héroïne confrontée à toutes les catastrophes en même temps et qui fait front, malgré les nausées inévitables, les jalousies et les coups bas de ses collègues, la désertion de ses parents, quoi de mieux pour sortir de la morosité où m’avaient plongée quelques journées pluvieuses et venteuses ? Une lecture sans effort, où l’on devine les rebondissements à venir, où tout se règle à coup de volonté et de persévérance, finalement ça vaut bien tous les livres de développement personnel et ça regonfle le moral ! Si on s’intéresse en plus au fonctionnement d’un grand magasin, aux relations entre les différents départements et aux méthodes de marketing qui y sont employées, on passe un bon moment avec cette histoire vite lue malgré les 450 pages et aussi vite oubliée dans les détails !
Sur mon blog
Un roman de chick-lit, il ne m’arrive pas souvent d’en lire. J’ai trouvé celui-ci dans les boites à lire de ma commune, d’anciennes cabines téléphoniques transformées où l’on peut déposer les livres dont on veut se débarrasser et prendre ceux que l’on souhaite. Je l’avais choisi en prévision d’une période de panne de lecture ou de déprime. C’est à la grisaille de novembre que je dois d’avoir sorti ce livre de mes étagères où il patientait depuis un moment.
Une héroïne confrontée à toutes les catastrophes en même temps et qui fait front, malgré les nausées inévitables, les jalousies et les coups bas de ses collègues, la désertion de ses parents, quoi de mieux pour sortir de la morosité où m’avaient plongée quelques journées pluvieuses et venteuses ? Une lecture sans effort, où l’on devine les rebondissements à venir, où tout se règle à coup de volonté et de persévérance, finalement ça vaut bien tous les livres de développement personnel et ça regonfle le moral ! Si on s’intéresse en plus au fonctionnement d’un grand magasin, aux relations entre les différents départements et aux méthodes de marketing qui y sont employées, on passe un bon moment avec cette histoire vite lue malgré les 450 pages et aussi vite oubliée dans les détails !
Sur mon blog
March 27, 2008
I have to say - I read this a couple months back during a period where I was bored and read anything that was in the apartment. I was editing my shelves and sat there wondering if I had actually read this or put it on my currently-reading list and walked away from it. I think that gives you an idea of whether or not the book stuck with me. But, thinking back, I realized, the book served its purpose. It was chick lit, it read fast and it entertained, if only for a few hours. Once I remembered the story, I remember having enjoyed it, but only while I was reading. Take it for what you will.
March 12, 2009
Excellent book! The cover might look a bit trashy and out-dated but this is a really great read. Sure, it is technically chick-lit and really just a bit of relaxing fun, but the characters were all very realistic and not at all cliched, and the storyline was well-thought-out with great twists in it. My only complaint is that the situation with Gareth seemeed to work out too quickly considering the build up to it. I also couldn't believe that Taz was unable to stand up to her own mother! This book made me very thankful for having a relaxed, non-pressuring mother. I'll be sure to read some more Zoe Barnes novels when I'm in need for some light escapism. 9/10
June 28, 2009
I read this when I was about 14 and wasn't too keen on it but after having a child myself and juggling work, college, running a house and raising my son I related to it much more when I read it a second time.
I thought the main character was a good role model for pregnant women, she went through the same struggles most working mothers go through yet came out of it a better person and made some great friends along the way.
I thought the main character was a good role model for pregnant women, she went through the same struggles most working mothers go through yet came out of it a better person and made some great friends along the way.
February 7, 2015
Read this in Santo Domingo, DR after Calla found it in a hostel. I left behind a V.C. Andrews book in it's place. I got the better end of the deal.
This book is a riot and just never ends. It taught me a lot about a part of Britain that isn't London, so that was a nice change. I think I have re-read this several times. I would be really excited to find a sequel.
Also, the model on the cover is so not pregnant.
This book is a riot and just never ends. It taught me a lot about a part of Britain that isn't London, so that was a nice change. I think I have re-read this several times. I would be really excited to find a sequel.
Also, the model on the cover is so not pregnant.
May 18, 2015
J'ai adoré! Je l'ai devoré! je ne connaissais pas encore Zoé Barnes .mais j'aime beaucoup.
J'ai aimé suivre l'aventure de Mel et tout ce que la maternité lui a apporté : des amis, des ennemies et de l'amour.
Je le recommande vivement!
J'ai aimé suivre l'aventure de Mel et tout ce que la maternité lui a apporté : des amis, des ennemies et de l'amour.
Je le recommande vivement!
January 8, 2025
The book mainly served as a way to pass the time, and looking back, I feel it didn’t really give me anything. It was easy enough to read, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression or any deeper thoughts.
September 12, 2013
Divertido e simples de ler.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews