Recommend me a next book please... Chick Lit

[clarebear1]

Ive recently got a library card and have since read all of the Sophie Kinsella Shopoholic books, what shall i read next? Something light reading and girlie... could be a romance too but not too hard to get into, thanks

Have you read Secret Diary of a Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neill? It's laugh out loud funny and very very good.

I also have a library card and am currently reading every Agatha Christie novel they have.

Mary Stewart is a bit old-fashioned, but that is rather nice in some ways; that and the fact that she seems to have taken her writing seriously mean it is not social death to be seen reading her (not sure whether that is important for you), and that she is a satisfying read, not complete flff.

I would recommend starting with something like Touch Not the Cat, The Moon Spinners or Thornyhold. Some of them (the Ivy Tree, Thunder on the Right) are rather meh, and Nine Coaches Waiting is ok, but not brilliant.

I can also recommend Carol Goodman (slightly gothic, well written, well plotted).

If you've been focussing on "chick lit", maybe you've overlooked the Precious Ramotswe/No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith? They are nicely plotted, and surprisingly light: surprisingly because, although they do face unpleasant issues, the people are fairly innocent.

Hope this helps!

Yes, I agree with Sunshinemummy, Agatha Christie is a great light read! Many of the women characters are utter wimps, but you get some corkers, like Anne whatesername in The Man in the Brown Suit, and Tuppence!

I like books by Isobel Wolff.

Have you read Sophie Kinsella's other books as well as the Shopoholic ones?

... and probably avoid everything mentioned on this thread!

You need to read Marian Keyes stuff. Inteligent chick lit!

And Lisa Jewell.

WingedVictory at last another AC fan! Agree re. the woman characters and some of the politics is suspect but love Miss Marple and agree re. Tuppence. There's some good women characters in the 1950s collection as well:

Destination Unknown
They Came to Baghdad
Ordeal by Innocence
The Pale Horse.

My two absolute faves are 4.50 from Paddington and Murder on the Orient Express.

Thanks for all your suggestions, keep them coming :-)
Ive also red a couple of autobigraphies (blush) and ive just finished sophie kinsellas book, god cant remember what its called, the secrets one...

Lisa Jewel already been mentioned but thought I'd add that I really loved The Truth About Melody Browne

Also liked Who's That Girl by Alexandra Potter a lot

Sunshinemummy, those choices for female heroines are spot on.

Apologies, clarebear1, this is a bit of a hi-jack, as the novels I'm about to mention aren't as light as you might like, as they are very densely plotted, but ...

Sunshinemummy, have you read any of the James Anderson mysteries (detective is Wilkins, keeps being promoted)? They have great heroines, some love interest, much better politics and plots than Agatha Christie. I was gutted there were only 3 of them....

I haven't read James Anderson WingedVictory but will look him out in the library. Also love Dorothy L. Sayers with Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane.

Get something by Marian Keyes.

Marian Keyes / Jane Green / Adele Parks

Would say Jane Green also - very simular to SK

Jennifer Crusie, especially Welcome to Temptation

Susan Elisabeth Phillips

Jenny Colgan

Rachel Gibson

Definitely Marian Keyes. But I also like Jill Mansell, Carole Matthews and Catherine Alliott. All similar styles if you like Marian Keyes.