Who are the BEST chic lit writers?

[poodlepusher]

And by best it could mean most compelling, or most artfully written, or most moving, or most funny, depending on how you'd define "best".

I've read 1 Marian Keyes and found it a bit too harsh / grim reality (does she fit the chic lit moniker?) for my taste, and I've read a Penny Vincenzi which was a huge rambling saga that worked through 6 generations of women - it was exhausting but not compelling enough for me. And I've seen the Bridget Jones films but not read the books. But that's it - so my knowledge is very limited.

I'd really like to know which writers other MNers would recommend?

Thank you Bran!
Yes, reasons do really help - as I can tell what is going to appeal to me personally.

I quite like Emily Barr. She often has French connection, and as I often read them on holiday in France it's good.

I also think this one by Serena Mackesey is great, she hasn't written very much though, only 3 books I think. It's quite a clever book (in a chicklit, easy-read sort of way), with a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, a bit of humour and quite a big dig at tabloid journalism.

For quite indulgent, soppy, female-bonding type of stories I like Nora Roberts. I like a happy ending, but some of hers are a bit twee.

There is a writer called (I think) Melanie Wilson, and I like her books too.

Emily Barr is excellent. Her writing style is good and her books are absorbing, making you not want to put them down till they're finished. She's good at getting into her characters' heads and the books don't seem to be formulaic as many others can be.

marian keyes
largely because her mum IS my mum

so shes your sister?

Message withdrawn

have you actually read any so called 'chick lit' ???

I've never really been a fan of chick lit - but I do like Sophie Kinsella. Easy bedtime reading

Message withdrawn

Shallow, maybe, but how are they insulting?

Hey- Emily Barr isn't chick lit [grump]

re Eva Rice- yes- lost art of keeping secrets was awesome though not sire chicklit, but her earlier stuff was dire urgh

and kinsella?
eek- i read undomestic goddess, it was tosh....
or is that the point?

I think I am looking for less from a book than most readers. I'm an English teacher and after a day of decoding and looking fro symbolism etc etc I just want to read something straightforward and easy as I drift off to sleep.

"Chick-lit is a sub-standard genre for non-reading readers and an embarassment to women"

That's a bit of a sweeping statement trolleydolly71, and a tad insulting, why is it an embarrassment to women? I am most definitely a reader but sometimes I want something, I can read quickly is lighthearted and will make me laugh then I'll go for chick lit.

Carole Matthews, I've just finished the chocolate lovers club. very funny and touching in places and a good story about 4 friends all from different backgrounds who originally met through their love of chocolate!

i like chicklit but can't defend it.

i dislike catherine alliott as i don't find her jokes funny

i like patricia scanlan a lot although i feel a bit dirty for reading them - all those crystals and justification of infidelity

jill mansell always readable - don't know why - i think because she is not extreme in any direction

anna maxted writes proper books with real plots - i recommend

and have you read 'miss pym disposes' by josephine tey?

Message withdrawn

My chick lit faves are Jane Green and Louise Bagshawe - they write good stories that I don't need to think deeply about when reading, they zip along at a fair pace and their characters are generally quite likeable. Plus they're not always London based which annoys me about alot of chick lit. I also like Dorothy Koomson, Rowan Coleman, Anna Maxted, and Freya North.
Oh, and Emily Barr is great, but i wouldn't class her as chick lit

Sophie Kinsella is a skilful writer actually. I dont like shopaholic because I just dont like the heroine, but did enjoy Can you keep a Secret.
It is just a cinderella type story, but she writes it amusingly enough to hold your interest while you're reading the book.
And at least she isnt writing mummylit to the ghastly old plotline "Jane has a perfect life with 2 perfect children and a rich hubby. Until she meets hunky Luke at the quilting club and starts wondering if its all worth it....." YUK.

Nisha Minhas is a funny chicklit writer.

Pablob, well said. I agree.

I'm just reading 'Can You Keep A Secret' and I am enjoying it so far.

Considering the thread title was "Who are the BEST chic lit writers" I think it just a little bit rude of you Troll to jump on board saying how much you hate it and offend the kind Mnetters who took the time to answer my question.

I know this is a "talk board" but I hoped to steer clear of the bashing and fighting in Adult Fiction. Its not like I asked a question about breast versus bottle or the age to start weaning.

Oh well, deary me, there is clearly no refuge...

I think Trollydolly is being a little small minded. I'm sure that most chick-lit writers primary intentions in writing a book was not to personally insult her. So she doesn't like the chick lit that she's read so far, well I don't like every book in even my favourite genres and I wouldn't expect to. It doesn't make the whole genre rubbish. I don't like every classic I've ever read, for instance I find Charles Dickens and Joseph Conrad to be dealthy dull, but I don't sneer at others for liking them.

I don't like every chick lit book I've ever read. I don't really enjoy Marian Keyes for instance, but I've seen her interviewed quite a few times and she seems genuinely charming, funny, intelligent and just plain nice, not a cynical exploiter of non-reading readers. Plenty of chick lit writers have style and something to say and chose the chick lit genre deliberately although they could probably write "highbrow" stuff, I guess because they enjoy it and don't have a deep-seated need to get on the Booker short list. Jennifer Crusie, for instance, has a masters in literature and a Phd in
feminist criticism and nineteenth century British and American literature but obviously enjoys they writing style that she has chosen.

If Jane Austin were to publish Pride and Prejudice today wouldn't it be published as chick lit? It has all the ingredients, romance, a misunderstanding which obstructs true love, humour, easy to read etc. Would you/do you sneer at Jane Austin Trolleydolley?

I agree that some chick lit books are badly written and/or dull, but surely that's true of all types of books. Someone once asked a sci-fi writer (I can't remember who) why 90% of all sci-fi was crap, and he replied that it was because 90% of everything is crap.