Funny, light "chick lit" books ... any recommendations?

[WastedYouth]

I read "His Other Lover" a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I'm now reading another book by the same author (Getting rid of Matthew) and am already hooked ... not even finished the first chapter yet! (just not had time).

Can anyone recommend any similar books? I'm looking for light romance/deceit/revenge books with a touch of comedy ... ?

yes to "Forever Amber" - you'll not be able to put it down

Also "Mrs Periwinkle lives for a Day" - recently made into a film I haven't seen but the book was great.

Mrs Pettigrew

and it's miss

bloody hell I need more coffee

i used to hate chick lit but i couldnt put down The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy - Polly Williams and Plan B - Emily Barr

It's 'Miss Read' too again.

Joey, I love the Chalet School too, and I think it would be very disturbing if you were to turn into Nicholas Darrow.

I like the Ivy Chronicles by Karen Quinn - less enamoured of Wife in the Fast Lane though. I also like Wendy Holden. Kathy Lette is all right too, although I find her stuff a bit hit and miss.

I love Marian Keyes. I also love Christina Jones - she might be a bit fey for some but I love her stuff, especially as she ties most of her books together.

I got bored of Patricia Scanlan, Cathy Kelly, Catherine Alliott, Lisa Jewell, Jane Green after a couple of volumes. I read one Sophie Kinsella and wanted to slap the heroine into nonexistence, she annoyed me so much.

My all time favourite though has to be Georgette Heyer - never dates for me, always has me in stitches and I can re-read them over and over.

Sarah Harrison is good. Surprised no-one has mentioned Mary Wesley who is brilliant and also Anne Tyler - but maybe she doesn't qualify as chick lit.

Adele Parks is really good

Lisa Jewel is wonderful. She wrote

Ralph's Party, Vince & Joy, One Hit Wonder and a couple of others.

Funny, believable, characters you care about, decent plots that are not predictable!

Yes, I'm saving a Lisa Jewell (the latest, and only one I haven't read) 'til I go on holiday.

LOL jeee

Anything by Anya Seton.

Historical romance rather than chick lit but very good IMO. 'Katherine' is the best known but they are all ripping yarns, especially 'Avalon' (has a lewd priest).

They all tend to feature people struggling against their sexual urges owing to the conventions of the time .

Emily Barr books are great and Jane Fallon - getting rid of matthew - has got a new book out called Foursome.

yes that Jane Fallon one was good. Hit just the right note.

Chicklit that is toooo 'girly gallops about town having capers before settling down' makes me feel old, and bored.

I just read 'Got You Back' by Jane Fallon on hols, courtesy of the Radox book club thing on Mumsnet - total rubbish, it was almost painful to read - the only reason I did was because I'd ran out of reading material. You can't beat a bit of Jilly Cooper for the dirty pages and Rupert Campbell Black! Also did Rob Lowe's autobiography, again, easy to read, some good insider Hollywood goss, but not brain taxing. If you want something beautiful try Emma Forrest, Your Voice in My Head

I read a Marian Keyes book every summer. Very light reading, funny, perceptive - but usually a serious underlying issue.

Marian Keyes every time!! Was so shocked I enjoyed a 'chick-lit' book the first time I read one of hers (Rachel's holiday). The fact she deals with more 'serious' issues in an intelligent, witty, way in my opinion sets her apart from the likes of Sophie Kinsella, however I must admit to reading Confessions of a shopaholic through the night as I was completely hooked!

I second Liane Moriarty. What Alice Forgot is great!

I loved the Starbridge series by Susan Howatch - unputdownable.

Years ago I read a book called "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley - a retelling of the Arthurian legend but from the female characters' perspective. Well worth a read.

Penny Vincenzi, Maeve Binchy and Marion Keyes, as others have said.

I really liked the early Sophie Kinsella books, but think she's taken the Shopaholic books far too far now. Loved some of the standalone ones though (esp Remember me and Undomestic Goddess)

I do have a tendency to revert to non-chicklit light reading though - more likely to be seen with a Pratchett than most of the above, but things like the no 1 ladies detective agency are quite light and jolly, too.

I second Emily Barr. If you've never read her, you've got a treat in store...

Marian Keyes is good, but Penny VIncenzi is my absolute favourite, they aren't too trashy but will keep you entertained.

Liza Lutz's Spellman books are good. Funny imo and very different and likeable lead character. Well worth att read. Read the Amazon pages.

I really rated Anna Maxted's first few books - then there was a loooooong gap until another novel came out. I bought it but gave up on it quite swiftly, I'm afraid; it just didn't seem to measure up. But the early ones are great - intelligent chicklit iyswim.

Haven't read this whole thread so someone may have mentioned her, but I bought a Milly Johnson book for my mum - 'Here Come the Girls' - and must admit to reading it myself and hooting with laughter. It's pretty frothy but funny too. AND she (MJ) won 'Come Dine With Me' IRL, so she must be game for a laugh!