What do you think?
Rate this book
Perfect meringues
From the author of the well-reviewed 'The Ten O'Clock Horses', a delightfully funny contemporary novel about a year in the life of a TV cookery-show host and chef.
It shouldn't have been like this. Being on television was meant to lead to fame and a glamorous social life. But for Lizzie Partridge, forty-something, divorced and TV cook on Midlands This Morning, it meant dinners for one, coping alone with an air-head adolescent daughter and following middle-aged men into corner shops pretending she needed a bottle of Lea & Perrins.
Her good friend Louie - if only he wasn't gay - thought he knew what the trouble was: Lizzie was always on the wrong side of the glass, looking in at other people's lives.
Whatever the truth of that, things for Lizzie were going to get a lot worse before they got better.....
It shouldn't have been like this. Being on television was meant to lead to fame and a glamorous social life. But for Lizzie Partridge, forty-something, divorced and TV cook on Midlands This Morning, it meant dinners for one, coping alone with an air-head adolescent daughter and following middle-aged men into corner shops pretending she needed a bottle of Lea & Perrins.
Her good friend Louie - if only he wasn't gay - thought he knew what the trouble was: Lizzie was always on the wrong side of the glass, looking in at other people's lives.
Whatever the truth of that, things for Lizzie were going to get a lot worse before they got better.....
- GenresFictionContemporary
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
8 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Graham
41 books139 followersLaurie Graham was first published at the advanced age of 40. Gentle comedy is her style. She is the author of seventeen novels, including the best-selling The Future Homemakers of America and its sequel, The Early Birds
Mother of four, grandmother of many, Laurie is married to a New Yorker and lives in County Dublin, Ireland.
You can visit her website, read what she's up to and say hello at http://lauriegraham.com
Mother of four, grandmother of many, Laurie is married to a New Yorker and lives in County Dublin, Ireland.
You can visit her website, read what she's up to and say hello at http://lauriegraham.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 24, 2023
Not your everyday cliché chick lit.
Lizzie is in her late forties, a single mother, whose ex-husband is flitting over young girls and tries to run away from his responsibilities. Lizzie is a TV cook, hence gorgeous descriptions of food.
Very realistic portrayal of family life, with somewhat cryptic background. Her experience with dating agency was hilarious. I am glad they did not portray a typical single mother obsessed over her daughter.
Though there seem to be no strong plot or drama in the book, it is still a nice and light read. It does have sad parts and it keeps you on tenter hooks regarding Lizzie's love life. Her reaction to Eleanor's (her daughter) running away from home was one of the best parts!
Lizzie is in her late forties, a single mother, whose ex-husband is flitting over young girls and tries to run away from his responsibilities. Lizzie is a TV cook, hence gorgeous descriptions of food.
Very realistic portrayal of family life, with somewhat cryptic background. Her experience with dating agency was hilarious. I am glad they did not portray a typical single mother obsessed over her daughter.
Though there seem to be no strong plot or drama in the book, it is still a nice and light read. It does have sad parts and it keeps you on tenter hooks regarding Lizzie's love life. Her reaction to Eleanor's (her daughter) running away from home was one of the best parts!
September 29, 2019
Was an ok read. Very easy to read/ these books are good as bridges, when you’ve just finished a great book, and you’re feeling wrung out and bereft it’s finished!
Like a palate cleansing sorbet. Quick, easy and gets you ready for your next good read 👍
Oh and annoyingly copied Bridget Jones too much for me, with the humour and characters.
Like a palate cleansing sorbet. Quick, easy and gets you ready for your next good read 👍
Oh and annoyingly copied Bridget Jones too much for me, with the humour and characters.
April 3, 2020
I'm not quite sure if there's a name for chick lit for the middle aged but that's what this is. A light and easy read which is just what I needed right now.
July 24, 2022
I really liked her style of writing, funny and captures the little details of life really well. About a TV chef and her family. If it hah had a stronger plot it would have been better.
November 17, 2023
Enormously fun
April 19, 2024
A good book. A book you should read peacefully.
July 23, 2016
I love all of this authors books - there's humour, romance, entertainment, wonderful characters.....always makes me want to read more of her.
Back Cover Blurb:
It shouldn't have been like this. Being on television was meant to lead to fame and a glamorous social life. But for Lizzie Partridge, forty-something, divorced and TV cook on Midlands This Morning, it meant dinners for one, coping alone with an air-head adolescent daughter and following middle-aged men into corner shops pretending she needed a bottle of Lea & Perrins.
Her good friend Louie - if only he wasn't gay - thought he knew what the trouble was: Lizzie was always on the wrong side of the glass, looking in at other people's lives.
Whatever the truth of that, things for Lizzie were going to get a lot worse before they got better.....
Back Cover Blurb:
It shouldn't have been like this. Being on television was meant to lead to fame and a glamorous social life. But for Lizzie Partridge, forty-something, divorced and TV cook on Midlands This Morning, it meant dinners for one, coping alone with an air-head adolescent daughter and following middle-aged men into corner shops pretending she needed a bottle of Lea & Perrins.
Her good friend Louie - if only he wasn't gay - thought he knew what the trouble was: Lizzie was always on the wrong side of the glass, looking in at other people's lives.
Whatever the truth of that, things for Lizzie were going to get a lot worse before they got better.....
October 14, 2013
Lizzie is a relatively successful TV chef appearing regularly on daytime television. Her husband has left her but she is reasonably happy making a life for herself with her teenage daughter, Eleanor. She has some good friends but no significant other and to remedy this situation she decides to join an exclusive dating agency with sometimes hilarious results.
This amusing book is well written and I felt I was experiencing the ups and downs of Lizzie’s life first hand while I was reading it. The book is by turns funny and sad and as I experienced both the good and the bad with her I found I was wanting things to work out for her. I’ve read few books which recreate family and work life as vividly as those by Laurie Graham.
This amusing book is well written and I felt I was experiencing the ups and downs of Lizzie’s life first hand while I was reading it. The book is by turns funny and sad and as I experienced both the good and the bad with her I found I was wanting things to work out for her. I’ve read few books which recreate family and work life as vividly as those by Laurie Graham.
September 2, 2014
Read this in 2 days, absolutely fabulous. This is an early one of hers, and was different from the magnificent Dog Days, Glenn Miller Nights which I read last year (was the first time I'd heard of this author). Will be reading more by her, definitely!
March 12, 2008
Very funny! Laurie Graham never disappoints.
May 3, 2014
light and funny ..very entertaining
November 12, 2020
Too lightweight for me.
January 27, 2017
An easy if pointless read - though it got better in the last few pages
March 7, 2014
Awesome. Bliss. An absolute delight to read especially following the plodding pace of Anne Tyler.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews