Jilly Cooper recommendations please

[Asterales]

I'm going on holiday in a few weeks and am planning 10 days on a sun lounger with a cocktail and a book. I really want some easy escapism, and Jilly Cooper (or similar) fits the bill perfectly. I've read all of the Rutshire chronicles, and whilst I'm not averse to re-reading them I'm wondering whether it's worth branching out into her other work. I know there are lots of books with women's names as the titles (Octavia etc) but I've never read any and I'm hesitant to order loads and take them at the expense of tried and tested options if I won't like them! Can anyone advise or offer reviews please?

You want Fiona Walker books. They always strike me as being written by someone who liked and admired Jilly Cooper's novels

If you are a member of your county library you may find they have Libby, and you can borrow e-books or audio versions. Read or listen on your phone. For free! Loads on there.

@ManyATrueWord Thank you for this! I'd never heard of Fiona Walker, have just looked her up and her books look ideal!

Sorry, should have said, Octavia, Harriet etc, I read in the 80s and enjoyed. May be a little dated now, though. Have you read any Amanda Prowse?

The girl name books have not aged well. Rape is not a compliment.

@Crikeyalmightey Omg. I didn't know about Libby. I've just investigated it on your recommendation and now holiday reading is the tip of the iceberg of my reading ambitions! Thank you! I'll check out Amanda Prowse too, I haven't read her yet but I'll have a look.

I love the ‘name’ books but they haven’t aged well. Even worse than the Rutshire books.

Octavia is fabulous, I love reading it when we are having a heatwave in the U.K. because in the book the story is set in a very hot summer in 70's England.
No writer describes the English countryside as wonderful as JC does, and it is a very quick read.

I first read it in Petticoat magazine,where it was serialised and called October Brennan, this was circa 1972? and 52 years later I still enjoy reading it!

Oh no. I always get carried away with the memory of the Jilly Cooper countryside and nature descriptions (wild garlic and cow parsley in the hedgerows etc) and forget about the rapeyness of the plotlines. Thanks @ManyATrueWord , I'll avoid the girl name series in that case.

yes they have dated but I still love the name books too. Lisa & Co has 2 of my fav short stories - "a pressing engagement" and "Katies Wedding"

Have you read Lace by Shirley Conran, or any of the Jackie Collins?

If you like Jilly’s countryside descriptions, then read The Common Years. It’s the book she wrote in preparation for writing some of the Rutshire books, when she started taking a bit more notice of nature while walking her dogs on Putney Common.

And YY to Fiona Walker. I’ve only read a couple of hers, the ones that feature eventing, but they are in a Cooperesque style and good holiday reads.

Imogen is my favourite- I re read it the other day actually! Jill Mansell is great for holiday reads and if you want a great romance try The Idea of You by Robinne Lee. It’s a treat!

Yes! Read Lace or Scruples. Brilliant deckchair reads.

I like some of JC's non-fiction books too. Some contain collections of the columns she wrote for various newspapers. I think "Turn Right at the Spotted Dog" is still in print.
There's also one about Christmas ("How to Survive Children" maybe?) but perhaps not ideal for a summer holiday read.

I didn't really get on with the Fiona Walker books but some of India Knight,'s novels have given me similar enjoyment.

Also Marion Keyes, now I come to think of it.

As previously mentioned, Jackie Collins is good. I mopped her books up during lockdown

Seconded!

I find her books immensely satisfying. You sit down with this chunky brick of a book and come back to the world, smiling, two days later. Rachel's Holiday is excellent.

Ugh which one is rapey - I’ll avoid that one

I love it too! Her pills going to the jumble by mistake. The torn up newspaper in loo in lieu of tissue. It’s gloriously 1970s.

Imogen’s dramatic weight loss - about 2 stone in weight in 2 weeks!

Cable (?) the model with a cardboard cone for nose…etc…writing F off on a car (?) Think I read Jilly did this once! Sexy jorno with messy citreon?

She’s brill at describing the cringe of sophisticated boyfriend to family home.

Which is best? Which is one about a tennis (?) massage that goes a bit further than one would imagine? Half recall.

Imogen is lovely and less problematic than some of the other ‘name’ books. I second the recommendations of Lace and Scruples - both brilliant bonkbusters. A historical bonkbuster that I adore is ‘Night Shall Overtake Us’ by Kate Saunders - I’m not sure if it’s still in print but should be available on AbeBooks. Some of Rosamunde Pilcher’s books might also fit the bill (although there’s less sex!). Coming Home and The Shell Seekers are both great.

Have you read Again, Rachel? I’d missed there was another one out and it made my day when I spotted it in Waterstones a few weeks ago.

Potential spoilers

Off the top of my head, "Emily" has a scene of marital rape; "Prudence" has a scene of someone coming close to date rape; "Octavia" has a spanking scene and descriptions of someone being coerced into taking part in a pornography shoot.

Can't remember anything rapey in "Harriet", "Bella" or "Imogen" (although Imogen's boyfriend is annoyed when she doesn't want to have sex).
"Lucy & Co" is a set of short stories - can't recall anything rapey about those.

I actually think there are far worse scenes in the Rutshire novels. I'm always amazed there's not more fuss about her writing, despite enjoying her books myself.

Loved Imogen, Octavia and Harriet. They are of their time though, but a wonderful rollicking read! I always read Imogen on holiday too..
Saw a plumbers van the other day with his name on it, Matthew O’Connor… made me think of dissolute Irish journalists… sigh 😉