New to Chick Lit

[Rachael]

I haven't read much CHick Lit, but I enjoy what I have. COuld I have some recomandations? Please keep to books with characterst that aren't jerks, and ones that are moderately clean.

[Mary]

Hi Blayre:

I'd recommend my books but they're pretty sexy!

I love Lauren Caldwell's Clean Slate and A Year of Living Famously. Also, Erica Orloff's Diary of a Blues Goddess and Do They Wear High Heels in Heaven are among my all-time favorite books.

Take Care,
Mary C.

[Kaye]

Wow there are so many!!!! Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorites - she writes books where the characters live in the South. There are also so many writers on Goodreads that I have found that have fantastic books. Look at my profile and the friends that I have - most of them are writers and I have enjoyed their books.

[Cindy]

I agree that anything by Mary Kay Andrews is a great read. I also adore Marian Keyes and anything by Jane Green. And you are new to chick lit, you can never go wrong with Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series. They are an excellant place to start.

[Liz]

I agree with you, but don't forget Emily Giffin's series.

[Lauren]

Hi, Blayre:

I think the ultimate chick lit book is Pride and Prejudice--a classic story of girl meets boy, girl hates boy on sight, girl grows to love boy after endless, seemingly insurmountable misunderstandings. The contemporary version is Bridget Jones' Diary--the book that launched a thousand imitations. I also love In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner and Good Grief by Lolly Winston.

[[deleted user]]

The Shopaholic series are my fave, and I recommend them to everyone!!! Plus, check out Sophie Kinsella's other books, The Undomestic Goddess & Can You Keep a Secret. Her new book comes out Feb 26th, its called Remember Me. Anything by Jane Green is good too.

[Kelly]

I agree on the Kinsella books!!! The Shopaholic series is wonderful. I also enjoy Weiner a lot! Her books are listed on my read list.

[[deleted user]]

Oh ya..I agree, Jennifer Weiner's books are really good too!! And I love Emily Giffin! I've read all their books as well.

[Charity]

I personally love the books by Jane Green and Sarah Mlynowski. Excellent reads!! Both authors get rave reviews from everyone I've recommended them to...with good reason. Check them out. :-)

[Kate]

Hello! I'm new, love Chick Lit and am always looking for new books. I loved the Shopaholic Series, as well as the other books by Ms. Kinsella. Emily Giffin's were cute (although I was disappointed that "Baby Proof" wasn't a continuation of the story from "Something Borrowed" and "Something Blue"...it had a perfect lead in I thought! I also love, love, love Jen Lancaster (Bitter Is The New Black, Bright Lights, Big Ass) and can't wait for her new book out in May! I just finished Caprice Crane's "Stupid and Contagious" and am currently reading Laurie Notaro's "Idiot Girl's Adventure Club."

Among others, I like Jennifer Weiner, Laura Weisenberg but haven't been able to get into Marian Keyes or Jane Green..any recs for good "starter books" from either?

[Joanie]

The first Marian Keyes book I read was "Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married" and I loved it. "Watermelon" is also the first book about the Walsh sisters (Rachel's Holdiay, Angels, Anybody Out There) so that might be a good one to start with too. For Jane Green I liked "Jemima J" (totally unrealistic but kind of fun) "Babyville", and "Bookends" and I liked them all.

Another favorite Chick Lit author is Anna Maxted (well she used to be a favorite but I haven't read something by her in a while) I loved "Getting Over It" and "Running in Heels"

[Andrea]

I agree about Sophie Kinsella, i love her books. Marian Keyes, Cathy Kelly, Kate Thompson, Patricia Scanlan and Cecilia Ahern also Brilliant authors

[Diane]

I really enjoy Brit author Jane Green (especially Jemima J) and Irish author Cecilia Ahern (PS I Love You). I have recently delved into more "old school" chick lit a la Jane Austen - Persuasion was amazing and Pride and Prejudice is a classic!

[KrisT]

I am with you Diane. I really like both Jane Green and Cecilia Ahern. I also like Marian Keyes, Jane Heller and I consider Janet Evanovich's Plum number series to be chicklit and a hoot to read. There are so many good authors to try in this genre.

[Lindsey]

My favorite chick lit (which actually got me hard core into the genre) is Jemima J by Jane Green. LOVE IT SO MUCH! It's a fat girl (ugly duckling story).

[Diane]

Lindsey, Jemima J is my absolute fave chick lit book too :)

[Jennifer Lynn]

Just joined this group as well. But I've been a fan of chick-lit for a while. My favorites are Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series and also Katie Fforde. She's a british writer, and writes change of life kind of stories. Middle aged, frumpy, divorcee or widow, meets and falls in love with sexy male character. Little sex, but not dirty, and always laugh out loud funny.

[Erin]

A new one for y'all to try is Harriet Evans. Hopeless Romantic and Going Home were both very enjoyable. Lisa Jewell is also fairly unknown but my FAVORITE chick lit author with Marian Keyes coming in at a close second.

[Abby]

One of my recent faves has been Whitney Gaskell. I've especially enjoyed Testing Kate and Me, Myself and I. Her protagonists are likable and easy to relate to, and Gaskell writes well.

[Jann]

I love Katie Fforde. Marian Keyes does a great job with more serious issues but Kaite Fforde makes me laugh out loud. I like her stuff even better on audiobooks read with British accents. But there are not many audiobooks available in the states, and you can't even order them from Amazon UK without paying an enormous price. Anyone know about inexpensive sources?

[Jann]

Who wrote the Bright Side of Disaster. I have never heard of it.

[Liz]

Katherine Center wrote the Bright Side of Disaster. I enjoyed it. Reminds you thinks sometime happen for a good reason.

[Liz]

Anyone read The Little Lady Agency series by Hester Browne??

[Keris]

Love The Little Lady Agency. The third is out soon (actually, it might already be out in the US). Very sweet and funny books.

[Synova]

I enjoyed both of the Little Lady Agency books so far.

I also love Sophie Kinsella. The Shopaholic series is great, but my favorite is Can You Keep A Secret (I was laughing out loud at that one). I like the early Jane Green stuff, Jemima J is my favorite of hers. But I think my favorite in the genre is probably Marian Keyes, with my favorite book of hers being Last Chance Saloon, followed closely by Sushi for Beginners. (I also enjoy her tales of the Walsh sisters)