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Not That Kind of Girl
Henrietta Tate has always taken her role as a full-time mother and home-maker very seriously. She's never had time for anything else. But now she and her family have moved to an idyllic house in the countryside and her teenage children are away at boarding school most of the time, she finds herself less than fulfilled by life in the sticks. Perhaps a new job working for Laurence de Havilland, the famous military historian, could provide just the distraction she needs!
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
96 people are currently reading
700 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Alliott
46 books546 followersCatherine has sold over 3 million bestselling novels worldwide and is translated into eighteen languages.
The first of these novels Catherine started under the desk when she worked as an advertising copywriter. She was duly fired. With time on her hands, she persevered with the novels, which happily flourished.
In the early days she produced a baby with each book - but after three - stuck to the writing as it was less painful.
She writes with her favorite pen in note books, either in the garden or on a sofa.
Home is a rural spot on the Hertfordshire border, which she shares with her family and a menagerie of horses, cows, chickens, and dogs, which at the last count totaled eighty-seven beating hearts, including her husband. Some of her household have walk-on parts in her novels, but only the chickens would probably recognize themselves.
All her novels are published by Penguin Random House internationally, and by No Shooz Publishing in America and will be available in the US in the Fall of 2017.
The first of these novels Catherine started under the desk when she worked as an advertising copywriter. She was duly fired. With time on her hands, she persevered with the novels, which happily flourished.
In the early days she produced a baby with each book - but after three - stuck to the writing as it was less painful.
She writes with her favorite pen in note books, either in the garden or on a sofa.
Home is a rural spot on the Hertfordshire border, which she shares with her family and a menagerie of horses, cows, chickens, and dogs, which at the last count totaled eighty-seven beating hearts, including her husband. Some of her household have walk-on parts in her novels, but only the chickens would probably recognize themselves.
All her novels are published by Penguin Random House internationally, and by No Shooz Publishing in America and will be available in the US in the Fall of 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
November 26, 2024
Was ok, would be a good read if you're on holiday, zero concentration required and not really engaging.
Two stars.
Two stars.
April 29, 2023
2023
Препрочитам често любимите си автори, по една единствена причина- знам , че няма да ми бъде скучно и ще се отнеса до степен, че няма да чувам и виждам грозните неща.
2017
Толкова харесвам книгите на Катрин Елиът.
С всичките й щури героини и пасторални картини, с тънкото и елегантно чувство за хумор.
Не прави изключение и тази история, която бях позабравила.
С на пръв поглед баналните и всекидневни проблеми на една жена на средна възраст.
Но в крайна сметка живота не е ли изтъкан от баналности?
Във всяка нейна книга , намирам някакво ново решение на заплетен проблем.
Зарежда ме с огромен позивитизъм.
Препрочитам често любимите си автори, по една единствена причина- знам , че няма да ми бъде скучно и ще се отнеса до степен, че няма да чувам и виждам грозните неща.
2017
Толкова харесвам книгите на Катрин Елиът.
С всичките й щури героини и пасторални картини, с тънкото и елегантно чувство за хумор.
Не прави изключение и тази история, която бях позабравила.
С на пръв поглед баналните и всекидневни проблеми на една жена на средна възраст.
Но в крайна сметка живота не е ли изтъкан от баналности?
Във всяка нейна книга , намирам някакво ново решение на заплетен проблем.
Зарежда ме с огромен позивитизъм.
April 8, 2014
I found this book in a thrift store recently and I thought it would be a fun read. And it was. And that's about all.
I didn't really "click" with any of the characters, except maybe Benji, the protagonist's gay brother, and Francis, his lover. They were stereotypically sweet and fussy, but at least they were engaging. The rest of the cast felt enough over the top to be more like caricatures instead of characters.
Also, her math kept driving me crazy. The protagonist kept referring to a fifteen year gap between being jilted and the present. But she waited a year before marrying, and had been married fifteen years. Also the son, who is fifteen, was born a year after the marriage. So the gap should have been sixteen to seventeen years. For the most part this disparity was just annoying, but there is a crucial part of the stories that refers to fourteen years as being shortly after the "jilting".
It's cracks like that that make this a fun, but not altogether satisfying read.
I didn't really "click" with any of the characters, except maybe Benji, the protagonist's gay brother, and Francis, his lover. They were stereotypically sweet and fussy, but at least they were engaging. The rest of the cast felt enough over the top to be more like caricatures instead of characters.
Also, her math kept driving me crazy. The protagonist kept referring to a fifteen year gap between being jilted and the present. But she waited a year before marrying, and had been married fifteen years. Also the son, who is fifteen, was born a year after the marriage. So the gap should have been sixteen to seventeen years. For the most part this disparity was just annoying, but there is a crucial part of the stories that refers to fourteen years as being shortly after the "jilting".
It's cracks like that that make this a fun, but not altogether satisfying read.
February 23, 2025
This book was a great example of the miscommunication trope which I hateeeeee. If only the characters talked to each other, all the problems would be solved
July 15, 2024
Found this book in a stack of books my granny was going to throw out 👍 easy read, finished it in a day
July 31, 2009
Although I loathe the term "chick lit," this is a classic example of it. I have read a number of Alliott's books over the years, and at the beginning I found them to be very funny. This will be the last one I read, though--it was a gift from my mother-in-law and sat on my bookcase for years. This story was predictable and stereotypical.
According to Catherine Alliott (and many authors in this genre), women are most likely to be secretaries, journalists, or in public relations. The goal in life is to marry a well-off, successful man and move to a huge, lavishly decoratedhouse in the country, and have a couple of children.
Then once the woman (or GIRL, as they say in England, even when the woman is in her 30s or 40s) achieves said goal, she becomes dissatisfied with her lot and takes her luck for granted.
In this case, the protagonist (Henny) is persuaded to go back to work in London, after 15 years of looking down her nose at other women who work outside of the home. Her children, incidentally, appear to be spoiled and lazy.
Inevitably, misunderstandings and jumping to conclusions ensue. Rash stereotypes are thrown about (such as women in the workplace are all seductive nymphs, and her husband has to fight them off all day long!). Perhaps things are different in British workplaces, or in advertising, but my office is not a hotbed of sexual tension!
Throw in the obligatory fox hunt and private schools while you're at it.
Of course, there is always a happy ending. I did read the whole thing, because I wanted to learn how it turned out, but it was a bit of a chore.
According to Catherine Alliott (and many authors in this genre), women are most likely to be secretaries, journalists, or in public relations. The goal in life is to marry a well-off, successful man and move to a huge, lavishly decoratedhouse in the country, and have a couple of children.
Then once the woman (or GIRL, as they say in England, even when the woman is in her 30s or 40s) achieves said goal, she becomes dissatisfied with her lot and takes her luck for granted.
In this case, the protagonist (Henny) is persuaded to go back to work in London, after 15 years of looking down her nose at other women who work outside of the home. Her children, incidentally, appear to be spoiled and lazy.
Inevitably, misunderstandings and jumping to conclusions ensue. Rash stereotypes are thrown about (such as women in the workplace are all seductive nymphs, and her husband has to fight them off all day long!). Perhaps things are different in British workplaces, or in advertising, but my office is not a hotbed of sexual tension!
Throw in the obligatory fox hunt and private schools while you're at it.
Of course, there is always a happy ending. I did read the whole thing, because I wanted to learn how it turned out, but it was a bit of a chore.
September 17, 2017
Every so often I try some "Women's Fiction" or "Chick Lit" or whatever this is called, but I'm still not falling for it.
This was kind of ok, it just kind of rambled on, largely unlikeable people being largely disingenuous and/or making wild assumptions about each other, and lots of stupid situations that could have been settled with a straight up conversation. Seems to me, chick lit is code for "Romance where there's no guarantee of a HEA", which kind of defeats the escapist point of romance at all.
Oh well, just because I don't get it, doesn't mean you won't. Consider this review a warning to myself to stop trying to read this kind of stuff!
This was kind of ok, it just kind of rambled on, largely unlikeable people being largely disingenuous and/or making wild assumptions about each other, and lots of stupid situations that could have been settled with a straight up conversation. Seems to me, chick lit is code for "Romance where there's no guarantee of a HEA", which kind of defeats the escapist point of romance at all.
Oh well, just because I don't get it, doesn't mean you won't. Consider this review a warning to myself to stop trying to read this kind of stuff!
February 25, 2020
Историята е лека. Героинята обърква живота си и се заплита в различни ситуации. Долу-горе ми хареса, но като цяло сюжета ми звучеше твърде познато от други подобни книги. Роман, който се опитва да бъде забавен, но не ме разсмиваше.
August 28, 2011
I really enjoyed this book! It started off a bit boring to be honest but after the first chapter or so it really started to heat up. It was a perfect holiday read and such a different storyline. Would definatly read some more books by Catherine Alliot after readimg this! The endinding really suprised me but good! Enjoy!
November 9, 2013
I think this might be the last Alliott book I will touch for a long time. I just find the last quarter of the book so frustrating and the way the whole Rupert/Henny/Marcus thing is resolved is so unsatisfying. I can't believe I read to the end.
December 27, 2008
I love chick lit as much as anyone else, but the heroine is a ditzy moron.
March 12, 2014
Her twists aren't unlikely to happen in real life but the way they were stringed together just made the story unbelievable and forgettable.
December 6, 2017
Onvan : Not That Kind Of Girl - Nevisande : Catherine Alliott - ISBN : 075532319X - ISBN13 : 9780755323197 - Saal e Chap : 2005
May 20, 2019
I am at p. 140. I want to shout at Henny (the heroine): "If you took sleeping pills by mistake, just call 111 or your surgery, silly cow".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2024
An extremely easy beach read - one where you can pick up and half concentrate on it.
Henny has never really gotten over being stood up at the alter. 15 years later, 2 children and a husband of 14 years, her life in the country seems perfect. Though, a few bad decisions later, she finds herself in a potential divorce, which isn’t helped when the guy who stood her up at the alter all those years before reappears in her life.
This was the perfect book to read when you don’t want to concentrate too heavily. It was extremely easy to understand the plot and characters and had an enjoyable storyline. It was a typical marital drama book with the cheating trope (which I’m not much a fan of). The book itself had some TWISTS and that’s what made it a likeable 3 stars. I didn’t see some of the happenings coming and it kept me on my toes.
That being said, it was soooooooo long with so many unnecessary details. Pages and pages of mundane activities bored the life out of me. I felt myself racing to the end. The chapters too, 20+ pages a pop of just daily routines. Had I not been on holiday, I think I may have DNF this on this basis alone.
I think I’ve officially grown out of the chick lit genre. It doesn’t seem my jam anymore. I find it so cliche and unrelatable. Idk I think there’s just so much more literature out there that captures my interest.
The characters were likeable and mysterious though so there’s always that!
Henny has never really gotten over being stood up at the alter. 15 years later, 2 children and a husband of 14 years, her life in the country seems perfect. Though, a few bad decisions later, she finds herself in a potential divorce, which isn’t helped when the guy who stood her up at the alter all those years before reappears in her life.
This was the perfect book to read when you don’t want to concentrate too heavily. It was extremely easy to understand the plot and characters and had an enjoyable storyline. It was a typical marital drama book with the cheating trope (which I’m not much a fan of). The book itself had some TWISTS and that’s what made it a likeable 3 stars. I didn’t see some of the happenings coming and it kept me on my toes.
That being said, it was soooooooo long with so many unnecessary details. Pages and pages of mundane activities bored the life out of me. I felt myself racing to the end. The chapters too, 20+ pages a pop of just daily routines. Had I not been on holiday, I think I may have DNF this on this basis alone.
I think I’ve officially grown out of the chick lit genre. It doesn’t seem my jam anymore. I find it so cliche and unrelatable. Idk I think there’s just so much more literature out there that captures my interest.
The characters were likeable and mysterious though so there’s always that!
January 16, 2020
Henny's life has not been what she envisaged when her husband was flush enough for them to move to the country. Now with grown children and a husband who does not give her much attention, she hits upon the idea of getting back to London. But her new found career lands her in a precarious situation when she was caught in a less than desirable state with her yummy historian boss.
Enter the love of her life, Rupert, who had once jilted her at the altar. Does love die because of betrayal. One one hand she discovers her husband Marcus is having a raging affair, while the Rupert enchantment envelops her again.
Not that kind of girl is a beautiful, if long book. But I love fat books and Catherine Allott creates beautiful characters like Benji and Francis, Henny's brother and his partner. When the blinds are off, what will Henny discover?
Enter the love of her life, Rupert, who had once jilted her at the altar. Does love die because of betrayal. One one hand she discovers her husband Marcus is having a raging affair, while the Rupert enchantment envelops her again.
Not that kind of girl is a beautiful, if long book. But I love fat books and Catherine Allott creates beautiful characters like Benji and Francis, Henny's brother and his partner. When the blinds are off, what will Henny discover?
April 5, 2021
3,5⭐
Romaną gelbėjo šmaikštumo prieskoniai. Knyga didelė, stora, vietomis prailgstanti. Tad, jei ne linksmi, prablaškantys protarpiai, būtų nelengva skaityti, mintys iššoliuotų dažnokai nuo skaitinio, nors ir taip kartais atitrūkdavau. Bėja, daug ką keičia, kokią prieš tai buvo knyga skaityta. Bent jau man, tad jei ne prieš tai perskaityta Geriausios draug��s, tokia greitaeigė, pilna pokalbių, veiksmo, nebūtų ši, tokia nepritraukianti kaip dabar. Bet, kiek daugiau įpusėjus, prasisdėjo ir intrigos. Nors pradžią skaičiau lėčiau, pabaigą pabaigiau beveik neatsitraukdama.
Pasakojimas apie Henę, kuri buvo palikta prie altoriaus, nes jaunikis pabėgo. O po penkiolikos metų, kai ji turi šeimą, išdygo,susigrąžinti, tačiau ne viskas taip paprasta. Painiavos atsirado ir josios dabartinėje šeimoje, ir aistra buvusiąjam augo.
Romaną gelbėjo šmaikštumo prieskoniai. Knyga didelė, stora, vietomis prailgstanti. Tad, jei ne linksmi, prablaškantys protarpiai, būtų nelengva skaityti, mintys iššoliuotų dažnokai nuo skaitinio, nors ir taip kartais atitrūkdavau. Bėja, daug ką keičia, kokią prieš tai buvo knyga skaityta. Bent jau man, tad jei ne prieš tai perskaityta Geriausios draug��s, tokia greitaeigė, pilna pokalbių, veiksmo, nebūtų ši, tokia nepritraukianti kaip dabar. Bet, kiek daugiau įpusėjus, prasisdėjo ir intrigos. Nors pradžią skaičiau lėčiau, pabaigą pabaigiau beveik neatsitraukdama.
Pasakojimas apie Henę, kuri buvo palikta prie altoriaus, nes jaunikis pabėgo. O po penkiolikos metų, kai ji turi šeimą, išdygo,susigrąžinti, tačiau ne viskas taip paprasta. Painiavos atsirado ir josios dabartinėje šeimoje, ir aistra buvusiąjam augo.
May 8, 2020
Bored middle-class Henrietta (Henny) Tate mid thirties is married to successful Marcus and has two teenaged children at Boarding Schools. They live the "Good Life" on a farm they have bought with Marcus' earnings and also have a flat in London. Henny allows herself to be romantically blinded by her past. I found some people's reactions over-the-top while others were hard to believe. Catherine Alliot incorporates Military life, Fox Hunting, Senile Dementia and Mature relationships among other things. Anyway after a few twists all is resolved happily.
September 23, 2021
Catherine Allicott is one my favourite authors. Henny gets s job with a gamous history author. They go to lunch and Henny takes 3 sleeping pills instead of psin pills. She gets really loupy. Her boss takes her back to her apt so she can sleep it off in the process her her husbsnd walks into the apt and gets the wrong impression. In the meantime her first love comes back. Only love and patience can she her through
May 16, 2023
I quite enjoyed this novel though it could probably have been shortened by about a third as the plot does go on way too long. But the characters are great and there were some very good twists and turns in terms of the relationships. I thought the ending missed a bit of a trick as our heroine still has to keep a big secret from her husband, which is a bit of a shame. But, other than that, quite a fun read.
December 25, 2021
Nearly stopped reading this; as a slow start, and with it being such a long book, I thought I would struggle. But having reminded myself of another of her books I had read and enjoyed; I decided to persevere.
I am glad I did; as it was enjoyable. Likeable characters; and lots of well written humour.
I am glad I did; as it was enjoyable. Likeable characters; and lots of well written humour.
November 12, 2023
These type of books are for the quick on the run, sitting on train type of book where one doesn’t have to concentrate on characters & you’re swept up in life and love everyday dramas; enjoyed it for its easy pleasure & off to return it to the library !
June 28, 2024
Spoiler
Loved the story until the end. Sadly I didn't like the end, she lied and covered it up. Her son will be home from school soon and the conversation will be brought up about Rupert visiting the house. Sorry, but the ending was very poor.
Loved the story until the end. Sadly I didn't like the end, she lied and covered it up. Her son will be home from school soon and the conversation will be brought up about Rupert visiting the house. Sorry, but the ending was very poor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2024
Felt like it could have been 100pgs shorter.
A very simple plot which was over embellished to fill 535 pages. However the characterisations were good of all the characters (with the exception of Marcus perhaps)
Also wasnt expecting the twist near the end so overall i enjoyed it
A very simple plot which was over embellished to fill 535 pages. However the characterisations were good of all the characters (with the exception of Marcus perhaps)
Also wasnt expecting the twist near the end so overall i enjoyed it
July 7, 2025
This was rather confusing at the start as it switches between present and past without a header to tell you. But once you get your head around that it's a really nice read. Really enjoyed it. Not going to stand out in a month's time but enjoyable all the same.
September 9, 2017
Exceeded my expectations, pretty riveting
October 7, 2017
Diverting read
Another enjoyable novel of modern families and relationships. This author is funny, perceptive and undemanding. Makes a great break from more worthy tomes.
Another enjoyable novel of modern families and relationships. This author is funny, perceptive and undemanding. Makes a great break from more worthy tomes.
May 22, 2018
A fun read, with deeper themes!
June 28, 2019
This was great read, I absolutely love Catherine's books.
Thoroughly enjoyable and can't wait to read more by this author.
Thoroughly enjoyable and can't wait to read more by this author.
December 24, 2019
Fun and amusing read but I could not take to any of the characters. Very lightweight and easily readable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews