Bloody bastard chicklit with crap endings - sick of it, recommend a good one please!

I hated that bloody Parkes book so much I started a thread about it. That's publisher's note - farkin hell I nearly photocopied the ending and stuck it to local lamp posts.

Hey op, what was the chick lit you did like, then people can suggest similar? I think it's a wide genre, like most genres.

Firstly, I just want to thank Prima and others on this thread for the Liane Moriarty recommendation - I've just read What Alice Forgot based on the recommendation above and thoroughly enjoyed it; I'll be reading The Husband's Secret next.

My view is that "chick lit" is written for its entertainment value rather than aiming to be profound commentary on the human condition, usually with a romance somewhere in the plot. Like any other genre of books it can be done well or badly. For example, I agree with others on Rachel's Holiday being excellent - well written, funny, great romance but actually dealing in a non- superficial way with a much darker issue (drug abuse). Marian Keyes was a recovering alcoholic when she wrote it, so knew what she was talking about.

In my view it takes considerable skill to write lighthearted entertainment well - look how many authors try and fail to imitate Georgette Heyer, whose books were largely treated as the chick lit of their time. Many well respected writers now are not ashamed to cite her as an influence.

Alternative - well good chick lit has big words like 'judgemental, ignorant, arrogant' and little ones like 'toss and pot

Each to their own.

It's like starting a post saying blah de blah

It was you saying you are sick of the crap endings and that you hate the term!

I just looked for a couple of definitions and found phrases like "genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly" and "usually having a romantic or sentimental theme".

I'd say that sounds about right actually. It is romantic or sentimental fiction, and to add another level it is normally written not to be too intellectually challenging. Though I mean that in a good way.

I knew this was going to be about Adele Parks, 'The state we're in'

I finished it last night and had it been a paper copy rather than kindle, I'd happily have torn it to shreds. The ending was so fucking shite I kept flicking in the hope of finding an 'alternative ending. Dire

Liane moriarty is excellent, I've read a few Diane chamberlain which I've enjoyed.

Does that explain it alternative? Or do I need to use smaller words?

I don't know. What IS chicklit when it is at home?

It always me laugh that every thread there has ever been with 'chick lit' in the title inevitably attracts at least one or two posters seeking to boost their ego by sneering at what other people choose to read. Always, like night-time follows sunset. And they always recommend 'better' books in the sincere belief that anyone who reads chick lit has never read any other genre and needs to be educated.

I love Adele Parks' earlier stuff, Jane Green (esp the early stuff set in London before she moved to the states!) and Jennifer Weiner. Also like Marian Keyes as many have said upthread. The only thing is that these books do deal with issues like drug addiction, and depression, in a very real way that isn't found in some more typical "chick lit".

Jennifer Crusie is good, not all of hers, but most of them. I recommend Welcome to Temptation, Bet Me, Fast Women and Agnes and the Hitman. I also like quite a lot of Susan Elizabeth Phillip's books, especially Ain't she Sweet and First Lady.

I'd recommend Dorothy Koomson, I've read all of her books and the only one that I didn't enjoy was The Cupid Effect. Liane Moriarty's good too.

Whatever the fuck 'chicklit' actually is.

Yes of course. But if she is moaning about chicklit - perhaps chicklit is the issue?

I want to love these books but cannot. I like crime thrillers and mostly rl tales of daring deeds/war etc
Except for Jilly Cooper....I adore her

Did you know that Ian Rankin named Jilly Cooper's Rivals as one of his favourite books of all time?

If you haven't tried Jilly, OP, then get stuck in, she's amazing.

For good trashy chicklit (which can be achieved, there's a fine art to writing something like that) there's a Mills & Boon by India Grey, Craving the Forbidden, which might sound awful but I've reread several times because it's great fun and reads a lot more like standard chicklit than some terrible Mills & Boon.

And you do realise, Alternative, that people are capable of reading more than one kind of genre during their life? For all you know the OP might have worked her way through Dostoyevsky's entire back catalogue before deciding on something a little easier for a change.

Lisa Jewell books are fantastic reads, try Ralphs Party or Before I Met You.

The Pursuit Of Happiness by Douglas Kennedy is another superb read, nothing to do with the film of the same name.

That's why I said not all men

And my DH is more likely to read the Maeve Binchy than I am :o

I can't speak for all men but I can't imagine my Dh saying 'Chuck us over that Maeve Binchy when you've finished with it, Dame.'

Hmmm. Come on, don't be shy. It must be more than that. Actually, I'm probably hijacking thread.