My (not so) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella, 2017

Sofie Kinsella books are so enjoyable.  Perfect weekend or beach read.  Funny, interesting enough characters and enough plot bends (not necessary twists) to make the books not utterly tedious & predictable.

Cat Brenner is a Somerset farm girl who reinvents herself upon moving to London. 

Her dream has always been to make it in London and although her entry level research associate job & shared flat outside of London is not exactly "making it," Cat is determined to stick it out.

She does not have the Instagram perfect life she portrays, but is intent on impressing office director Demeter Farlowe, who does have the perfect life - impeccable style, gorgeous family & invited to all the social events. 

Upon returning to her Somerset home, where she has helped her father and step-mom Biddy open a glamping grounds with yurts, Cat becomes Katie again and realizes that no one has the perfect life, no matter what photos they post on social media.

While reading the novel, imagined Anna Kendrick as Katie/Cat.

Invincible Summer & Victoria

Pre-India trip books.


Victoria by Daisy Goodwin, 2016

Inspired by the TV series The Crown about Elizabeth II's early reign, I was looking forward to reading about another young queen, Victoria. 

Interesting to find out about her close relationship with Prime Minister Lord Melbourne, fractious relationship with her mother & her mother's advisor Sir John Conway & agreement to marry Prince Albert.

What intrigued me was Victoria's absolute belief in herself, to carry herself as a Queen at the tender age of 18.  Sadly, even in my 40s, I wouldn't have the confidence to lead a nation.  Something I need to change.

A bit too melodramatic, I would like to read a more serious, fact-based biography about Queen Victoria.

  

Invincible Summer by Alice Adams, 2016
Story of four friends from university and their journey into middle-age.  Eva grows up middle class and is intent on becoming financially secure and does so by becoming a trader.

Her best friend Sylvie is the type of girl that has always had it easy as a pretty and a talented artist, while Sylvie's brother Lucien ends up DJ'ing and organizing events, with a lucrative side business dealing drugs.

Benedict follows his love of science and pursues a Ph.D. 

After university, Eva, Lucien & Benedict pursue their careers while Sylvie is left behind, struggling as an artist. 

Eva achieves the most success but her over-reaching comes crashing down.  Benedict impregnates his girlfriend, whom he marries and becomes a young father. 

The next wave of life happens during their late thirties to early forties, where mistakes reach the breaking point and everyone struggle to start over.

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella, 2008

Sophie Kinsella books are so readable.  They are funny and although seemingly predictable, manage to avoid (most of) the cliches.

I also enjoy the English-ness and stumbling across terms or sayings that I need my husband to translate.  

Lexi Smart is a struggling young professional with bad clothes & bad hair, dating someone known as Loser Dave.

When she gets into an accident and wakes up three years later, she has become a glamorous, designer clothes wearing executive married to handsome millionaire Eric, advocate of loft-style living.

Life in this seemingly perfect worlds ends up stifling, filled with detailed manuals and invoicing for breaking glass leopards.

Lexi has also become an executive at Deller Carpets, she has isolated herself from her friends Fi, Carolyn & Debs.

I read Remember Me? in one weekend, even with an 18 month running around.  So light reading but very entertaining & pleasant.