Katie Fforde....good grief

Someone lent me a KF book fairly recently. I couldn't be bothered to finish - for pretty much the same reasons given by Olihan.

It's Mills & Boon by another name. Rubbish and not even particularly well written.

Give me Jasper Fforde any time, or Robertson Davies for the best read.

I quite enjoyed the first few of hers I read but then they became so samey that I've given up now. I detest the 'middle aged, slightly plump lady has crush on hunky slightly younger man, has sex with him then conscience gets the better of her, refuses to see him again, he helps her out of a crisis, they go to a bothy in Scotland for reconcilliation (wtf is that about, it's been in at least 4 books, the bothy with no running water) and they live happily ever after' premise which at least half a dozen are written on.

The other storyline is 'younger girls, one very 'feminist and practical', one very 'arty and impractical' and the other with a big secret become instant friends, start a business within a couple of days, fall in and out of love but all end up happily married'

Her female characters are so old fashioned with a very odd idea of what is moral behaviour but supposedly being real feminists too. They're just so unreal and irritating. Her more recent books seem to have changed to younger heroines but they all speak and act like some hideous middle aged spinster from the 1940's. I don't find there is anything in them that I can relate to.

It's the parts like

Heroine: 'Oh, we had unplanned sex, I might be pregnant'
Hero: 'Well, if you are, I'll marry you'.

that drive me bananas and wreck what has the potential to be an okay read.

The 21st century has arrived, Ms Fforde, even in the dim and distant 20th century people didn't immediately feel the need to propose because of one session of unplanned sex.

Arrrrggghhhh.

I still have all the ones I bought on my bookcase but they're in line for donation to Oxfam Books next time I have a clear out.

Phew, that feels better.

My favourite was the one where the woman is living in the big house thats being restored and does wine tastings there!! Cant remember the name!!

Got my book today, thanks Charlotte!

I definitely preferred her earlier books, didn't mind Going Dutch, but was a bit forgettable!

Oh funnily enough Going Dutch was one of my favourites. At least it has a bit of romance and sex in there for a middle-aged and maybe menopausal woman not just a lovely twenty-something!

I didn't think Love Letters was that great, but it was a lot better than Going Dutch, which I didn't like at all.

Still fine for holiday reading or when I want something light though.

Am now half way through my copy of A Perfect Proposal - received yesterday.

Thanks Charlotte!

A Perfect Proposal arrived here today as well.
Thanks very much Charlotte.

I also enjoyed Wild Designs, but my favourite is Artistic Licence. That's the one I read first and I raced out to buy the others. I was didn't enjoy Going Dutch or Love Letters at all, but I have placed a pre-order for A Perfect Proposal. I'm keeping fingers crossed that I'll enjoy it as much as her earlier work!

Her book Wild Designs is one of my favourite books ever, but I did read it first, so maybe that is why, but did just LOVE the characters in it.

I always hoped she would do a follow up to it but no joy yet....

What are the seven stories? I've heard that before but never had a list of them.

I'm guessing that star-crossed lovers is one, and another is the same story with a happy ending (Pride and Prejudice). Then there's probably a revenge story line. So I'm missing four stories.

Thanks Charlotte I received my book today!! !!!

Hi all
Free books all gone - I hope you like this one!
Charlotte

I'll give it a go too if that's ok

Thanks Charlotte, i look forward to my copy!!!

Hello
I spotted this thread and thought I'd post a message as I actually work at Katie's publishers and i'm really sorry that you didn't enjoy Love Letters. We like feedback so how about I offer five copies of her latest book, A Perfect Proposal, and then you can read the new one and let me know what you think? My email address is [email protected]
Thanks
Charlotte

I've read a few where they're middle-aged too, so think she does do quite a range.

Read Love Letters a little while ago and have to confess I did really love it - thought the hero (can't remember name now) was gorgeous, and thought it was a brilliantly romantic read.

I know she's not writing very literary books, but I'd pick one of hers over something 'worthy' any day!

I think she is President of the Romantic Novelists Association at the moment isn't she?

Not all her heroines are naive young things - I have read at least two where the lead character is a middle-aged woman.

Not my cup of tea at all - but I do like skip reading them just to find all the places I recognise. She writes about pubs and views and so on that I am very familiar with.

All aga sagas follow the same formula. And chick lit and everything else really.
There are supposed to be only seven stories in the world.

I don't mind them as my annual holiday read. Cheaper than a magazine.

I have read all her books and loved them all!!!!!

Ive read a couple of her books. Restoring Grace is the only one I have on my bookcase though, must of donated other ones!
I agree with whoever said they were an easy read. Sometimes nice to just have something not too taxing though.

someone is buying & reading them, so fair play to her I guess

not me though

My dd was completely addicted to Katie Fford when she was 11 - read them all. I think that's about the right age for them, tbh. And i adore trash!