Chick lit which ISN’T first and foremost a romance

[Fivemoreminutes1]

I’d like something light and girly but I really don’t want to read about romance right now. I don’t mind if it’s a small sub-plot. I really enjoyed the Shopaholic series. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Have you tried Jenny Colgan? Still lots of romance (it is chick lit after all) but her characters are primarily trying to open a cafe/sweetshop/bakery. They’re formulaic but fun 🙂 I started with Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe.

www.amazon.co.uk/Girls-Guide-Hunting-Fishing/dp/0140278826?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

3.99 on kindle, 20 years old but still the best example of chick lit which was more than chick lit despite the awful title. By Melissa Bank.

The Authenticity Project is a nice, easy read. It has romance in it, but it's not the main premise.

They came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie- bit of an adventure/ mystery and the main character is a young woman motivated by romance

www.amazon.co.uk/Prep-Curtis-Sittenfeld/dp/055277684X?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Forgot this one! Very good.

Thank you all. I’ll make an Amazon order later today!

All of the miss fisher murder mystery series

I'm currently reading I Thought I Knew You by Penny Hancock and I think it's the kind of thing you're describing.

The Lido ?

Thirty three and a half wishes series, a bit of romance but not the main plot.

The Cows by Dawn O'Porter

I don't know about light and girly but I'm a huge Marian Keyes fan.

She does seem to still get described as a Chick Lit author but her books are not saccharine. There's definitely loads of humour but also a lot of real life in there.

Rachel's Holiday and Sushi for Beginners are two of my favourite ever books

If you like the shopaholic series have you read any other Sophie kinsella titles?
The undomestic goddess is my absolute all time favourite of hers