REVIEW: My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella
SYNOPSIS: Katie Brenner has the perfect life: a flat in London, a glamorous job, and a super-cool Instagram feed.
Ok, so the real truth is that she rents a tiny room with no space for a wardrobe, has a hideous commute to a lowly admin job, and the life she shares on Instagram isn’t really hers.
But one day her dreams are bound to come true, aren’t they?
Until her not-so perfect life comes crashing down when her mega-successful boss Demeter gives her the sack. All Katie’s hopes are shattered. She has to move home to Somerset, where she helps her dad with his new glamping business.
Then Demeter and her family book in for a holiday, and Katie sees her chance. But should she get revenge on the woman who ruined her dreams? Or try to get her job back? Does Demeter – the woman with everything – have such an idyllic life herself? Maybe they have more in common than it seems.
And what’s wrong with not-so-perfect, anyway?
GENRE: Chick-Lit, Contemporary
FORMAT: Audiobook
RATING: ★★★☆☆/ 3 Entertaining stars
REVIEW: I initially received a free copy of MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review... and then it sat unread on my shelf for far too long, so I purchased the audiobook to listen to in the car. I don't know what that all adds up to but there's your full disclosure. :)
I adore Sophie Kinsella's standalone books. They're my go-to Summer reading or the perfect book for when I just want to read a book, not think too much, and be entertained. In that respect, MY NOT SO PERFECT LIFE fits the bill perfectly. I was entertained and my daily commute was not just another dull chore.
In the larger scope of things though, this wasn't my favorite of Kinsella's books. It was slower to start and for the first half I just kept waiting for something "more" to happen. I was waiting for the point of it all to kick in. It wasn't boring but it wasn't quite driven (for lack of a better word) either. Since I had read the synopsis, I knew where the story was heading, but it seemed to take a while to get there.
The overall feel of the book also felt more serious than previous Kinsella books. There were a few hijinks and laughs to be had but it still had a slightly heavier tone. The moral of the story, so to speak, is more apt and relatable as well. Probably why it felt like a more serious book at times. Which is a good thing!
Where I really started to love the book though, was in the last 1/3. That's where everything started to come together. All the pieces of the puzzle and the long build up finally create the type of story that I expect from Sophie Kinsella. The characters shine and it all pays off.
And additionally, I really loved all the glamping and how Katie and her family built up that business. It was so fun and a place that I would want to visit myself! For that alone I would tell you to read this book, because all the descriptions are just so wonderful.
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Review by The Literary Llama