I've just realised I like chick-lit...

[Praed]

... after years of avoiding the stuff, since a friend lent me Finding Monsieur Right.

Can anyone else tell me who writes in a similar style to Muriel Zagha? ie clever and funny, rather than soppy?

(Actually must admit really enjoy the Bridget Jones books back in the day too - so along those lines as well?)

Some chick lit is good. Most is crap. Imo.

Don't know the author you've mentioned, but try Marion Keyes. Irish writer, very funny, very emotional at points and very insightful into issues such as drug misuse, single parenthood, bereavement.

Catherine Alliot. Funny.

Thanks all.

Jane Green is great

Jennifer Crusie (I recommend 'Welcome to Temptation') and Susan Elizabeth Phillips (I particularly liked 'Ain't she sweet').

I haven't read Muriel Zagha, I must have a look on Amazon.

A while ago someone linked to a fabulous site where you type in the name of an author and it gives you a scatter graph of similar authors.

Thanks Bran. Yes I saw that scatter thing - I did look for Muriel Zagha but couldn't find her - perhaps she's too recent.

Can't find the link to it now though - if anyone knows it, please post here!

I usually avoid chick-lit but I recently heard Marian Keyes interviewed on the radio and I like her so much I decided to read one of her books. I started with This Charming Man and I REALLY couldn't put it down. It wasn't schmalzy at all, it was hilarious and quite dark, and a bit bonkers in places.

So, all loved-up on MK I ordered about three more off Amazon, and next I read Watermelon. Which is pants. I saw it through to the end, but by god, it was a dull slog. It was mildly amusing in parts, but it was full of all those totally implausible things that only ever happen in populist fiction, where you find yourself shouting 'But that just wouldn't happen! Don't patronise me! Just because you need to find a way of tying up a tricky loose end in your plot you still have to credit your reader with a brain!'

Here you go. Literature Map Perhaps not enough people have read Zagha for her to be mapped (I'm not sure where the data for the maps comes from).

Sophie Kinsella

also writes under the name

Madeleine Wickham

I think there is a place for chic lit as a change (from my usual crime or thrillers - nothing highbrow).
I tend to go for humour rather than romance.
Keeping it in the Family by Sinead Moriarty had me laughing out loud last summer.
I also like; Katie Fforde, Erica James, Judy Astley and sometimes Jill Mansell.
Never got into a Marion Keyes although I've seen her interviewed and she's lovely.

I quite like chick-lit for a change. tis kind of a nice in-betweenie book from lots of thrillers/murder-mystery/horror/vampire books that is my normal genre.

I like the author who wrote 'marshmallows for breakfast' and 'my best friends girl'. can;t remember who she is, but is easy and light reading

Thanks Bran Collision - Sophie Kinsella - that's the name that I've been trying to remember for a week! Thank you.

Try this one: original and funny, not soppy at all!

can i recommend Harriet Evans- she is funny, erudite - her third novel whose name escapes me right now, is truly excellent.

Thanks mammya and beasknees.

(Harriet Evans is one that comes up on Amazon under Muriel Zagha's book as "customers who bought this also bought..." so I'll definitely give her a go.)

Fiona Walker is brilliant! But the early stuff like Kiss Chase, French Relations, Well Groomed. Very funny.

My favourite author ever. Sadly her stuff has gone done hill over the last few years

Oh and Dorothy Koomson is good too.

Oh Dorothy Koomson is the one you are talking about pyschomum