Basic chiclit, I wasn't all that impressed from this author despite the fact that she writes the Shopaholic books that are so popular. Of course, chiclit has never been my main interest.

Not sure I liked the idea of old flames meeting up with their new spouses all in one rental home for their vacations. Sure, it's by accident, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was I wanted to see happen in this story. ( )

Even if I never got this book via Librarything, I got to buy it in a used book store and loved it.
Any book written by Madeleine Wickham (Sophie Kinsella: 'The Shopaholic Novels') get my attention. Her witty style of writting is marvelous and very entertaining. ( )

Not on par with the "Shopaholic" series. Light read about past relationships and sacrifice. In my opinion not one of her better books but still entertaining enough. ( )

When two couples and their children land in the same Spanish villa for their holidays it forces the adults to examine their lives and to reach predictable conclusions. It turns out that, just coincidently, two of the adults have a secret past. At first being thrown together brings up all kinds of suppressed emotions. Later they both try to balance their actions against their present lives, partners and families. Along the way the reader is mildly entertained with this domestic navel gazing and some snappy dialog. ( )

Two separate families are anxious to go on a holiday. Chloe and Philip are both frustrated with work. Chloe is a seamstress who is tired of squeezing women in dresses a size smaller than they really wear and a recent takeover in Philip's company has left him wondering if he will have a job in the near future.

Amanda and Hugh are going through a rough patch in their marriage. Philip is obsessed with work and spends so little time with his family that his children barely even know him and Amanda is currently stressing the redecoration of their home.

When both families receive an invitation to their friend Gerard's villa they each look forward to a restful week in Spain. What they find out when they arrive is that Gerard has accidentally double booked his villa and they end up having to share it as every hotel in the area is fully booked.

To make matters worse Chloe and Hugh were once a couple whose relationship ended badly and their respective spouses have no knowledge of the past relationship. Faced with the shared sleeping arrangements stress mounts between the couples and soon all the adults are fighting between themselves and Chloe and Hugh are drawn to each other again.

Overall I thought the book was an okay read but I was a little disappointed in it. I love Wickham's writing as Sophie Kinsella in the Shopaholic series and really enjoyed The Wedding Girl by her but Sleeping Arrangements was a let down. The characters were not as likeable as characters in her other books. Hugh is a major jerk throughout the whole book, Philip's lack of a backbone was annoying, Amanda is too uptight and Chloe was just not likeable. The only bright spot in the book was the nanny, Jenna. She had a weird sense of humor and always made the scenes she was in surprising. I'm really on the fence about recommending this one so I'll say read it if it's readily available but I don't recommend searching it out. ( )

light read ( )

Author of the Shopaholic Series. ( )

In case you aren't aware, Madeleine Wickham is none other than the true identity of Sophie Kinsella, the author of the popular Shopaholic novels. Wickham uses her real name when she wants to write edgier chick lit (is there even such a thing?). In my experience, I've found that I don't like Wickham's novels as much as Kinsella's; the lack of character growth was a frustration in The Gatecrasher, and it seems that trend has continued in Sleeping Arrangements.

I did enjoy Sleeping Arrangements and found it to be quite amusing. The main character, Chloe, was an appealing character, and surprisingly, Amanda was more than she first appeared to be as well. Philip was a bit frustrating, but eventually grew into a better character. The real disappointment lied in Hugh. He was shallow and flighty, and I just flat out disliked him. I understood the nature of his past with Chloe, and why there was an attraction between them, but it really seemed like there was no reason for her to be attracted to the person he had become. I really just didn't like the character.

Besides that, the book is fine. It's nothing remarkable, but it's an enjoyable chick lit read that is mindlessly entertaining. Anyone will probably have fun reading it, but promptly forget about it as soon as they move on to their next book. Those of you who haven't read any of her work, stick with Sophie Kinsella. Remember Me? was funny, had a great storyline, and was thoroughly enjoyable - read that one instead of this! ( )

What happens after "happily ever after?" Madeleine Wickham (aka Sophie Kinsella, author of the popular Shopaholic series) explores that question in Sleeping Arrangements. Two married couples are at a crossroads. Hugh has spent so much of his life climbing the corporate ladder he has had no time for his family. His wife Amanda has turned her considerable energy to renovating and redecorating every square inch of their home. Hugh's former girlfriend Chloe is an overworked dressmaker whose partner (never to be husband) Phil is facing to possibility of being laid off from his unsatisfying bank job. The two couples both accept an invitation to vacation in Spain, unaware that their friend has deliberately double booked the family. Chaos ensues as four unhappy adults interact and, in one case, rekindle a romance. Can these relationships weather this storm? Finding out is great fun as Wickham uses her trademark wit to look at the stresses and strains which result after the first bloom of romance has faded. This is not as riotously funny as some of her other books but a cheerful and thoughtful book. ( )

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4... ( )