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Original poster

Good quality chick lit

62 replies

Riverlee · 17/02/2022 12:14

The last four books I have read include child abuse, murder and terrorism so I need something lighter to read. I don’t want a ‘Kate inherited Aunt Trudys cottage and cafe in Cornwall and find new love after breaking up with City broker Tarquin’, but more like the Seven Sisters.

I’ve read all the usual suspects - Penguin/beetle/oliphant/lido/harold fry/seven sisters/rose code/etc

Thank you

OP posts:
Scarby9 · 17/02/2022 22:29

Big Sone Gap
Milkstone Moon
Etc.
By Adriana Trigiani

LyraSilvertongueBelacqua · 17/02/2022 22:25

Paige Toon books

IWasFunBeforeMum · 17/02/2022 22:24

Lisa Jewell - the family upstairs, the night she disappeared, invisible girl.

DramaAlpaca · 17/02/2022 22:24

Anything by Penny Vincenzi.

TheUndoingProject · 17/02/2022 22:23

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller is fantastic.

Yotrotro · 17/02/2022 22:20

The Aisling series by Emer Mclysaght and Sarah Breen. Properly funny and well written, but not too cheesy!

Liane Moriarty, Beth O'Leary

Random and not sure it fits the bill, but the Secret diaries of Hendrik Groen and A Man Called Ove if you liked Oliphant!

LBOCS2 · 17/02/2022 22:18

Sarra Manning's books! If you're of an age to have read J17 in the late 90s, she is the author of the 'Diary of a Crush' series. She does adult books too.

I wasn't keen on the Cazalets, which surprised me as it's definitely my sort of thing.

muckandnettles · 17/02/2022 22:13

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

ACatCalledPuss · 17/02/2022 22:10

Elizabeth Noble books are good.

WashableVelvet · 17/02/2022 22:07

Louisa Young - the trilogy with a central character called Evangeline Gower (I think). First one is called Baby Love, but is actually about Cairo and adoption and dancing and all sorts.

mum2jakie · 17/02/2022 22:03

Big Little Lies should fit your remit. Great read without being too depressing and stressful

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 17/02/2022 22:01

Jennifer Crusie is always good for a bit of light relief that isn't a cliche. Welcome to Temptation, Bet Me, Manhunting and Agnes and the Hitman are my favourites.

GiantSpider · 17/02/2022 21:56

Penelope Lively, Anne Tyler, Joanna Trollope.

itispersonal · 17/02/2022 21:06

Thanks for this thread. I been reading a lot of ebooks through Amazon prime, thought it would be a better way to get to sleep, read some really good thrillers and suspense books but they've actually been keeping me awake - through needing to read more and some of the content!

Also in need of a lighter nightly read.

RAOK · 17/02/2022 21:00

The Giver of Stars

MinglingFlamingo · 17/02/2022 20:49

Jane Green
Louise Bagshaw
Tilly Bagshaw
Lauren Weisberger. Not just the devils wears Prada but similar

JaninaDuszejko · 17/02/2022 20:45

There's more child abuse, murder and terrorism in fiction than there is in real life. Definitely need a break from it after reading lots in a row.

My suggestions would be
Lissa Evans
Sally Rooney
E. M. Delafield
Barbara Pym
Nancy Mitford
Hiromi Kawakami

Blackcountryexile · 17/02/2022 17:26

Perhaps try
Saving Missy-Beth Morrey
Dictionary of Lost Words - Pip Williams

crabette · 17/02/2022 16:24

I've had a couple recommended lately, though I haven't started them myself yet!

The Idea of You - Robinne Lee
The Paper Palace - Miranda Cowley Heller

Myfanwyprice · 17/02/2022 15:55

Have you read Lucinda Riley’s other books? They’re brilliant.

I also like Taylor Jenkins Reid, Lianne Moriarty, Jessie Burton, Stacey Halls and Ruth Hogan.

ohflipflop · 17/02/2022 15:53

The Cazalet Chronicles Elizabeth Jane Howard .. The Light Years is the first in the series.

Another vote for these 👏

IntermittentParps · 17/02/2022 15:48

I came on to say the Cazalet Chronicles. Gripping family saga, 'light' to read but actually really subtle and perceptive about people. Great period detail too (it starts in the 1930s).

And I second Rosamund Pilcher. Also Rumer Godden, particularly The Greengage Summer.

OnceUponAThread · 17/02/2022 15:18

Definitely Marian Keyes.

Also Harriet Evans (start with Happily Ever After).

TheYearOfSmallThings · 17/02/2022 15:11

It's always Cornwall, isn't it. They never inherit an MOT testing station in Skelmersdale.

I would 100% read that, especially if written by Catriona McPherson.

fortunenookie · 17/02/2022 15:07

Amanda Brookfield / sisters and husbands