Lisa Jewell

[KurriKurri]

She is new to me but I bought 'The Girls' because it was offer for Kindle, and I'm quite hooked. (don't tell me the ending as I haven;t finished it yet !)

Which one of hers should I try next ?

And are there any similar authors I might like (I like Alex Marwood and have recently read The Darkest secret which I would say is a similar type of book) - mystery/hidden secrets, plot twists and turns etc.

[rookiemere]

I picked up The truth about Melody Brown on holiday and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought - assumed it would be easy chick lit but it was much better than that.

[KurriKurri]

I was the same rookiemere - I thought she was chick lit, and only bought The Girls because it was on offer and I wanted a bit of easy reading. But it was much better than I had expected.

[Bestthingever]

I love Lisa Jewell. The girls was a brilliant book. There's something about the setting that makes me think it will make a great movie. My particular favourite is 'The House we grew up in'. I think that's the title. It's about a mother whose hoarding destroys a family. I love the characters in her books . They are vivid and real. I also like Adele Parks, who is a similar kind of writer.

[KurriKurri]

Thank you both - I will download the two titles you mention and thank you for 'Adele Parks' recommendation Bestthingever off to look her up

[SugarLoveHeart]

Have all of her books, my fave author! Bought her first book, Ralph's Party when it first came out. Have re-read Before I Met You.
Who else would be similar to LJ? While waiting for a new one from her!

[SugarLoveHeart]

Must have a look at Adele Parks. Yes, it's a pity LJ is marketed like chick lit. What is that other big write like? The one where they made the movie about the carer girl / guy who dies?

[SugarLoveHeart]

Writer

[Racheyg]

Thirty nothing is my fave. It's a little chick lit but it makes me smile just thinking about it.

Ralph's party is also good.

[KurriKurri]

Just been looking through list of her books on amazon and it seems she writes the kind of 'old secrets resurfacing' type of books - which is my sort of thing, and some that are more romance based.

I'm not anti chick lit - I love Mhairi McFarlane's books - but prefer mysteriousness

I've just finished The Girls this evening and would recommend if anyone hasn't read it. It is still £1.99 on amazon kindle books.

[Bestthingever]

I'm reading an Adele Parks right now 'The Other Woman's Shoes'. The main character is going through a divorce (against her will) and she reminds me of quite a few people I know in terms of her reactions. I can't put it down (I'm going on MN to slow me down!)

[tribpot]

Just been looking at the synopsis of The Girls on Amazon - it sounds a bit dark/disturbing? That is not my thing at all these days so wanted to check before diving in.

[chicaguapa]

I've been a Lisa Jewell fan since Ralph's Party too.

Jojo Moyes was the author OP was thinking of, writer of Me Before You.

I assume you've read all of Marian Keyes' books? Rachel's Holiday was my favourite. Cecelia Ahern is similar.

[Matilda2013]

I would advise not reading (or at least for the first Adele Parks book) The State We're In. Terrible ending and it has put me off her books at least for now

[Matilda2013]

Also by Lisa Jewell I enjoyed the third wife

[KurriKurri]

tribpot - it is a little bit dark, it's hard to describe without giving away the story, it involves rather intense relationships between a group of 13 yr old who live in the claustrophobic atmosphere of a communal garden (all their houses flats surround the garden and they are forced together)
There is nothing really graphic in it - one child gets hurt though.

It might not be for you if you are sensitive to that kind of thing at the moment, there is some rather disturbed teenage behaviour in it and some dodgy adult behaviour alluded to.

Hope I haven't given away too much.

[Bestthingever]

I found the Third Wife quite upsetting but I better not go in to detail for the sake of those who have yet to read it!

[CheeseEater]

I love Lisa jewell and also enjoy books by Nikki French - they're a bit darker but a similar feel so you might like them too.

[diamondsforapril]

The House We Grew Up In starts off well. I get a bit bored of who is shagging who though.

[SugarLoveHeart]

Jojo Moyes. Just got her new collection of short stories, Paris for One. I love short stories!

[Papergirl1968]

Love Lisa Jewell, and like others I thought she was chick lit before reading some. It's not easy to fit them into a genre but they are more meaty than the average chick lit, if that makes sense.
Yes to Jojo Moyes. Just finished her Horse Dancer and it was brilliant.
Liane Moriaty and Dorothy Koomson are worth trying too.
Have recently discovered Amanda Prowse too.
Currently reading Erica James' The Real Katie Lavender which I'm enjoying.

[Papergirl1968]

Ps another good one by Jewell is The Making of Us - about a sperm donor's children, in a nutshell.

[saltedcaramelhotchoc]

Louise Candlish's The Swimming Pool is similar-ish, I think!

[paddypants13]

I love Lisa Jewell, I don't think there is a book of her's I haven't liked.

My absolute favourite is The Truth about Melody Browne. Just don't read it in public because it will probably make you cry.

[ReturnoftheWhack]

The Winter House - brilliant book, Nikki French I think.

[Clawdy]

Not a chick lit fan but I really like Lisa Jewell, and also Liane Moriarty. One of Moriarty 's books, Big Little Lies has just been filmed, with Nicole Kidman.