Elizabeth Noble (1) (1968–)

I thought this was going to be a simple and entertaining tale of falling in love. But what it really turned out to be was a study in contrasts between what love really is and isn't. Natalie is getting over the breakup of the man she thought she was going to marry (though heaven knows what she ever saw in him!) and her best friend, Tom, is determined to help her through it - and maybe see if there is anything between them. What ensues is a story of what it means to love - and what it doesn't show more mean. There is a truly tragic side story of Natalie's best friend, who seems to have the perfect marriage - but still hasn't figured out what it means to love, rather than just lust after someone. And there is the story of Natalie's parents and what it means to love when things are worse rather than better. This was a well done narrative. show less

When Charlie was left a widower at seventy his life changed and so did those of his family. To celebrate his eightieth Charlie has decided to invite them all to a rented house in the country and so they come along. Scott, never the most outgoing but the most materially successful, recently married to an American with two children. Laura, mother of a troubled teenage boy and reeling from the break up of her marriage. Nick, widowed a year ago and struggling to bring up three small children on show more his won. None of them particularly wants to go on the holiday but all do.
This is the sort of book that I would never choose to buy for myself but is a guilty pleasure as a review copy to read on holiday. Everything is viewed through rose tinted glasses and the cliches abound - all bachelor pads are modern and clinical, family homes are messy, the sun always shines and there are never money worries. However what Noble has done is create a really warm, life-affirming book about the modern sort of family with middle-class angsts. It's very lightweight, never overly dramatic and yet it made me relax completely so for that reason the book is really successful. A niche market maybe but this is a huge niche and this is a quality book. show less

My FirstReads ARC just arrived in the mail. Love the cover, hope to get to it soon!

***

So I started this last night. Truthfully I wasn't expecting much -- though there are only four reviews so far, the average is a sliver over two stars. I told myself I didn't even have to finish it if I hated it after an hour or so.

But I ran a hot bath... and two hours later I was still reading. I really, really like this book so far (I'm now about halfway through it). Noble manages to walk a fine line show more perfectly: this book is neither "silly" chick lit (that's fun, but secretly you feel a little guilty for reading something so shallow), nor is it the kind of book that takes itself too seriously. So far, I feel like someone who just found out that the cubic zirconia earrings she bought at the flea market are actually real diamonds... I intend to savor the rest of this book.

***

Finished this last night... it was perfect. I wouldn't have changed the ending or, looking back, much of ANYTHING about the book, which is a fairly rare thing for me to say about any book that even comes close to being called "chick lit." I loved every single one of the characters -- they were all flawed, but they were yet sympathetic, and I'd love to have a dinner party and invite them all. The story was complex because of the well-developed and intricate relationships between the characters, not because of not-quite-believable plot twists that are all too common in the genre.

One word to describe my reaction to this book: impressed. show less

Chick lit, for sure, but pretty well-written, and British which makes it a little more charming and less trite. Plus, a unique structure: Centered around a year in the book club, each month is paired with a book and while the members' lives and activities don't fit exactly, they often relate to the book that is being read and discussed. Book list is included -- made me want to try some of them! and sections of their fictional book discussion are also included, which I thought was rather show more well-done and reflected good knowledge and understanding of said book (examples: Atonement, My Antonia, Girl with a Peal Earring). The Reading Group consists of 5 members -- a little sparse for reality! 2 "older" women (Polly and Susan) with mostly grown/teen kids and 2 younger women (Nicole and Harriet) with young, school-age kids, and 1 wild card, Clare, who is a friend of a friend, has no kids, but desperately wanted them. This dynamic among the women is interesting, and spouses and family members also come into play which is where the more typical chick lit. figures in. Nicole's husband is a cheater, Harriet is feeling bored in her marriage, Susan has an aging mother to care for, Polly has a daughter who is unwed and unexpectedly pregnant, and Clare has infertility issues. There is one more interesting issue/surprise that moves the book above predictability. The author has also included a handy character reference at the very beginning including relationships and the characters' favorite books. Clever touches like this make it a worthwhile vacation read. She begins with an epigraph by Margaret Atwood: "The real, hidden subject of a book group discussion is the book members themselves." So true! show less