Twenties Girl

In addition to being your tradition fun and flirty Kinsella book, this was a really cool ghost story that said a lot about family, heritage, and culture.

I jumped into this book without reading the blurb, and as such was a little alarmed when I read that there was a ghost--I felt like this would be gimmicky and take away from Kinsella's normal charm. However, Kinsella made it work. The mystery that was intricately woven through the book was so subtle at first that I didn't realize there was a more complex plot going on until I was already deep in. The ghost aspect was a lot of fun and provided some very humourous scenarios.

Kinsella's books often feature a main character with dissatisfied parents. In this one, there was more depth as show more Lara's uncle was also deeply entwined with Lara's relationship with her parents. I enjoyed the concluding scenes that showed how their relationship strengthened in their common problems; this differed from other Kinsella books where the daughter merely proved herself.

I really loved that in this book Lara ultimately focused on making Sadie happy and not herself. I feel like Lara really matured as a charaacter, and was someone I'd really like to meet and know. She gained a lot of empathy and let her stubbornness appear in a productive manner.

Lara's relationship with Josh and her subsequent relationship with Ed was fascinating. I enjoyed seeing how she wanted to give Ed advice that people had given her regarding Josh, and seeing the moments of truth dawning on her.

The subplots that wove themselves together also kept this book fresh and original. Lara's business ventures were ambitious at best, but I loved the way her naivete gave her a new perspective and correspondingly a chance at success.

I think writingwise this was one of Kinsella's 'best' books as it contained more subtle lessons and intrigues, and I definitely had a lot of fun with this one. show less

This is my favourite Kinsella book. I'm no connoisseur of ghost stories and if I'm honest, may not have picked this up if I'd known that's what it was. What a loss that would have been because I loved the story, one that made me laugh out loud many times. When aunt Sadie died at 105 years old the family attended the funeral although they had neglected her for years, and in Lara's case they had never even met. Suddenly Sadie's ghost appears to Lara during the funeral demanding her dragonfly neckace be found before the final step is taken. Lara is shocked into taking drastic action to pause the procedure. The 1923 version of Sadie is utterly enchanting and she just wants to have fun dancing, dressing up, drinking cocktails. A warm fuzzy show more story that is perfect for lifting the spirits (pardon the pun). This is chick lit at its best. show less

I’m far from a connoisseur of chick lit, having only read two books – although my success rate is currently 100% - but ‘Twenties Girl’ seems to fit the formula. Lara is a ‘Bridget Jones’ heroine, an impetuous and individual woman held back by low self-esteem (her ‘career’ as a head-hunter is far from successful, and she is stalking the boyfriend who dumped her by e-mail). I think the trick is that Lara’s modern neuroses and humdrum existence help to balance out the Happy Ever After of most chick lit novels; she comes across as so ordinary and sympathetic that the reader both identifies with her mistakes and cheers on the implausible romance that is building throughout. I certainly did.

The ghost story also made a show more refreshing change – these stories need a twist to tell them apart, and attract people like me, who are generally put off by the pastel covers and stock characters. Lara must help the spirit of her great aunt Sadie find a treasured necklace that holds many memories and the truth she needs to be able to rest in peace. Sadie’s ghost, materialising as her younger self, a ‘bright young thing’ from the 1920s, also helps Lara to move on with her own life. I enjoyed the budding friendship between Lara and Ed, the mystery of the necklace, and the poignant story of Sadie’s own lost love. All very contrived, yes, but no less satisfying to read. There are some amusing moments amidst the heartfelt narration – everybody thinks that Lara is having a nervous breakdown when she starts holding conversations with fresh air and dressing up as ‘twenties girl’ to please her new friend – but what really made this work for me is the message of friendship and loss that Sophie Kinsella weaves into the story. Who wouldn’t want a guardian angel like Sadie, or a second chance to make amends? Pure escapism, with a thoughtful, nostalgic feeling. show less

Lara is grudgingly attending her 105 year old Aunt Sadie's funeral when Sadie's ghost, a 23 year old flapper version of herself, makes contact with her. Actually, Sadie begins to harass and torment Lara, as Sadie cannot rest until Lara finds her lost dragonfly necklace. It is hard to solve problems with a ghost screaming in your face all day, and Lara finds it hard to concentrate and solve problems without looking psychotic to her friends and coworkers. As Lara begins to put the pieces together to find the necklace and the mystery behind it, she finds herself both in conflict with and becoming good friends with this 1920's version of Sadie, who is actually very helpful when one needs a ghost to go undercover to find out information show more about others.
This novel is ridiculously fluffy.... serious cotton-candy chick lit. However, the relationship with Sadie was at times, fun and playful and I liked the idea that inside every very old person there is a young part of themselves trapped inside. I thought the author did a great job opening up the reader's eyes to this possibility and striking interest in learning about the history of our elderly relatives. However, most of this book was slapstick, predictable and filled with uncomfortable conflict of the sort that happens when you are trying to pass yourself off as sane, when everyone around you thinks you have lost your marbles. Think "Ellen" meets a 1920's fun-loving ghost. show less

What a heartfelt tear-jerker! What started off with classic Kinsella comedy turns into a riotous journey to find the dragonfly necklace of a recently deceased 105-year-old great-aunt.

At turns hilarious and sorrowful, Kinsella manages to combine historical fact, modern day worries, and the zany strings of family ties together to create her latest masterpiece.

At the beginning of this book I didn't think I was going to like it - I thought it was going to be too similar to the Shopaholic books. But the similarity ends with being a young girl with money and job problems. I found Lara charming though annoying, in the way young people who don't think things through are annoying. I'm glad I gave Sophie Kinsella another chance.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend to any chick lit fan. I found I was chuckling in parts but also found it quite sad as well. It made me think about life and how it unfolds and the path each of us travels.

I found the end of the book dragged a bit for me but I guess it needed all the loose ends tying up but may be it could have been a shorter end.

I now have a thing for vintage fashion and keep spotting twenties themed items in the shops. Lord help me he he x