Welcome to the Real World

{stand alone. chick-lit, romance} (2008)

Fern works as a barmaid and in between pulling pints at the King’s Head she sings in the pub, accompanied by her best friend Carl. She’s struggling to make ends meet because she also tries to help out her brother Joe who is a single parent to six year old Nathan who has bad asthma. Then she gets a temping job as assistant to world famous opera star, Evan David, and at the same time she and Carl try out for the TV talent show Fame Game.

On the whole, I found this a gentle book. I liked Fern’s story and the way her family was described. I can relate to her exasperation with her parents who have been married so long they tend to take each other for granted and one snaps at the other while the show more other is rather oblivious. She got young Nathan right; he’s not a martyr or annoying or sickly sweet. The ending was a bit of a fairytale and a bit sudden after all her struggles - but that’s why we read, right; for the happily-ever-after.

But I didn’t buy the romance; it seemed shoehorned in afterwards and you can still see the gaps. The obligatory ‘misunderstanding’ was … I’m not sure how to describe it. Flimsy? Non existent? Embarrassing on Fern’s part, yes. But there was no attempt to mitigate it and only a half-hearted attempt to explain it to her and trying to build the suspense by keeping the reader in the dark failed miserably. I could have done without the last chapter, myself. I was hoping, right upto the end, that she’d pick the other one and I really don’t get why she didn’t. There was no reason (apart from surface insta-attraction) or even chemistry shown for her to pick the one that she did.

But I still enjoyed the rest of the story.

(June 2023)
3.5 stars show less

Having LOVED The Chocolate Lover's Club, this one was never going to live up to it.. but it was still a great, fun read.

Carole has a knack of writing warm, believeable characters, even if they're rich opera singers! The most loveable, however, is Fern.. who has to deal with a grotty flat, a sick nephew, and hilarious parents!

One of the things I love about these books is the sense of humour that runs through them. Carole proves, however, that she can also write very touching moments.

All in all, a fun, light read when you need to relax.

I have read quite a number of Carole Matthews' book and this book definitely is not one of her best. Basically, the story evolved about Fern and by reading the synopsis, one would have thought that Evan's character is also one of the main characters. However, it was not because, the story focused mainly on Fern and her life. I like Fern, very much so when she decided to reject the reality singing competition for the reason that the producer wanted her to ditch her companion, Carl for the game. It just so to me how humble and good she is for choosing her friend rather than popularity that may change her and her family life.

I was rather dissappointed though with the way Carole's write about the relationship between Fern and Evan which are show more rather sporadic at times and with such mentions, the relationship between them is rather unrealistic to me. However, i do like the supposedly wedding between Lana and Evan at the end of the book. I really thought that Evans is marrying Lana and was rather dissappointed. ;) Overall, the book is nice and is an easy read with low intensity in terms of conflicts and really suitable to read during summer holidays! show less

This book was okay - just basic chick lit, really, nothing to recommend it beyond that. I felt like I was reading a watered-down Marian Keyes novel sometimes...