Lilly Bartlett

4.5 stars.

Insightful and thought-provoking, The Curvy Girls Club by Michele Gorman is a heartwarming novel of friendship. It is a also an incredible story that provides an honest look into body image that is humorous but also quite poignant.

Katie, Ellie, Jane and Pixie's are at different places in their lives, but the one commonality between them is their struggle to lose weight. The novel's narrator, Katie, and her co-worker and friend Ellie have been overweight all of their lives while show more Jane and Pixie have been unable to shed the weight they gained after childbirth. Discouraged by their lack of progress at their weight loss support meeting, Katie suggests they get together outside the group and do something fun and uplifting. When word of their extracurricular activities spreads, the four agree to formalize their events and The Curvy Girls Club is born. As their membership grows and the workload increases, Katie and Pixie earn a small salary but when Katie suddenly begins to lose weight, the four friends are at odds over her role in their enterprise.

All of the women are well-developed and they each face difficult obstacles over the course of the novel. Katie's career is threatened by the downturn in the economy and her crush on a co-worker has unintended consequences on both her professional and personal lives. Ellie is in the throes of a new romance but her insecurities threaten the promising relationship. Pixie's marriage has been troubled for quite some time and the women are growing increasingly concerned for her safety. Jane will do anything to regain her pre-pregnancy figure, even if it means endangering her health.

With The Curvy Girls Club, Michele Gorman tackles a difficult subject with sensitivity. The plot is well-executed, realistic and refreshingly honest. The characters are three-dimensional with imperfections and uncertainties that are sometimes achingly painful but easy to relate to. No matter where you fall on the weight spectrum, I highly recommend this warm and witty novel of friendship and self-acceptance. show less

The Truth about Love and Dogs is the latest sweet and marvelous novel from author Lilly Bartlett/Michele Gorman. How to describe it? Romcom? Chicklit? It’s that, but so much more. The characters have so much depth, and the issues they deal with are serious: love, marriage, responsibility, commitment, rejection. The characters are well-developed and nuanced. The plot is smooth. The situations and emotions ring true. And the dialogue and phrasing – well, you’ll have to read The Truth show more about Love and Dogs for yourself to appreciate that.

Scarlett is a fairy dogmother - a dog therapist who works with hopeless pets (and owners) like compulsive eater Barkley, impulsive Romeo Murphy, and bossy Biscuit. She and her husband Rufus are soulmates; their marriage is perfect. Well, it was perfect. Not so much anymore. Why is Rufus still loving but not quite as excited about baby-making as he was, and as Scarlett still is? And why, oh why, does he shout out SHANNON! at an especially intimate moment?

Yes, that Shannon. The one that is their best friend. She and Rufus have been best mates since they were seven, but she and Scarlett hit it off instantly when they met, it was besticles over testicles at once. Scarlett and Shannon are business partners. Shannon walks the dogs, like the Scooby Doo pugs in costume, and in her spare time is a struggling artist and yearns for a man she doesn’t think knows she exists.

The Truth about Love and Dogs starts right out with funny, laugh out loud moments: Murphy the amorous pooch, his sexy owner Max, the sex pest who tries to join the Ruff Love training group in the park because his friends told him it was an S&M group . . . the phrasing is perfect and the cast of characters is full of quirks. I’m not sure I’ll forget the mental image of the yoga class that meets in the room before Scarlett’s dog training class and downward dog farting soon.

But it wasn’t long before I found myself reaching for the tissues. Scarlett is worried about her marriage to Rufus. She wants a baby, but what if he doesn’t? And what if he doesn’t love her anymore? Does he love Shannon? And what about Shannon? Will she ever find love? Rufus and Scarlett were her model for true love. What now?

This is a terrific story that I loved and was sorry to see end, full of comedy, wit, love, romance, doggie antics, and some very serious issues. I kept hoping for that happy ending but wondering just how author Bartlett was going to pull it off.

I received an advance copy of The Truth about Love and Dogs in exchange for an honest review. I couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait to pick up the next masterpiece by Lilly Bartlett/Michele Gorman. show less

The Big Dreams Beach Hotel was my first Lilly Bartlett read and oh my, what an absolute pleasure.

Rosie is working at a hotel in Scarborough, an unusual one to say the least and one that time forgot. She's the manager and it's not exactly making loads of money. There's an unusual cast of characters who are residents at the hotel (this made me think of Fawlty Towers!). The Colonel, Lill, Miracle and not to mention Peter and Barry (his Basset Hound). They're all such brilliant creations, show more unique and interesting people who I really cared about.

But when the Colonel decides to sell the hotel along comes Rory, transition manager, and also rather good looking. He and Rosie have to work together. Perhaps you can see where this might be heading.....

This story and these characters could be rather twee in the wrong hands but Lilly Bartlett has wonderful storytelling ability and instead it's a really heart-warming, lovely read.

I warmed to the characters instantly and I really wanted everything to work out for them. There's a lot of humour in the story, both within the dialogue and in the behaviour of the characters. There's plenty of sarcasm and it may be the lowest form of wit but I happen to find it very funny.

I loved the fact that it is set mostly in Scarborough. It's somewhere that I went on holiday quite a few times so I am fond of the place. The hotel is quite old-fashioned but the so called improvements wreaked on it by the bizarre new owners are quite something. I'll just say 'flamingos' and leave it there!

This is feel-good fiction at its best. I enjoyed every minute that I spent reading it and gave a sigh of satisfaction when I got to the end. I'd say it's the perfect light read. show less

4.5 stars.

If you have ever felt pulled in far too many directions, then you do not want to miss Perfect Girl by Michele Gorman. Heartfelt with (mostly) charming characters, this novel provides a humorous but realistic perspective that is sure to resonate with anyone who has found themselves overcommitted due to other people's expectations.

Carol Colbert is in her mid-twenties and while she is extremely likable, she lets everyone take advantage of her. With a high pressured job as an show more investment analyst, her boss and co-workers are sexist, condescending and refuse to give her credit for her hard work. Carol's family is just as bad-her mother and sister are incredibly demanding and they browbeat her into the tasks they do not want to be bothered with. Her boyfriend of two years is working long hours and overall, he is neglectful, forgetful and leaves the planning of their social life in her capable hands. Adding to Carol's already hectic schedule is her friend Harriet's foray into online dating and with her abysmal track record, Carol finds herself vetting Harriet's perspective dates for her. Stretched way too thin, it is only a matter of time before Carol snaps and discovers that perfection is not only exhausting but extremely overrated.

Carol is the perfect daughter, friend and employee. Although she has little free time, she finds it impossible to resist the requests from her family and friends. Throughout the course of the story, Carol halfheartedly tries to refuse everyone's increasingly outrageous demands, but she has learned it is easier to give in rather than say no. It is frustrating watching her give in time and again, but that makes it all the more gratifying when she finally says enough is enough. Carol takes the time to examine how she reached this point in her life and most importantly, she takes full responsibility for allowing herself to become everyone's doormat.

Perfect Girl is a fantastic novel that is fast-paced and engaging. Carol is an endearing protagonists and it is impossible not to like her despite how exasperating she is at times. The plot is well-executed and although Michele Gorman takes a humorous approach to a serious topic, she raises valid points that readers will be able to relate to. I highly recommend this vastly entertaining and thought-provoking novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction. show less