Katie Fforde....good grief

[MrsDickens]

Have just got back from my hols in which I ended up ransacking the small library of books left behind, having finished all the ones I took with me (cue major panic as I have to have something to read at all times). And Lordy, how bad was Katie Fforde's 'Love Letters'? Quite gobsmacked, really. Anyone else read it? What did you think?

It's not usually my cup of tea but I'm not averse to chicklit if there's nothing else on offer - will happily devour most things tbh, as a print junkie - but gosh, it was tedious. If you're going to write chicklit, at least do it well, I say.

That's all I have to say, really!

Is that her latest one?

I have to confess I have read most of her stuff and find them a nice easy read, if a bit predictable. But I can't say I recognise 'Love Letters'.

I think Love Letters is her latest. I've enjoyed a couple of hers but tbh, they're all the same. Just changes the character & the setting, that's all!!

Yep, her latest - though I think there's another ready to come out. I believe (so my mum tells me) she basically churns out one a year. But I was just at her characters - cardboard cut-out doesn't go far enough. The heroine of this one was 26, living like some sort of nun (the rather queasy premise of the plot was that she was 'a virgin' - all done very coyly but in a way that seemed rather prurient too), working for a small bookshop, didn't seem to have any social life, and kept apologising for how useless she was at any normal activity. This is 2010, FFS - can't we have a woman who's not so appallingly wet?

OK, I realise it's a chicklit staple to have stupid girly protagonists, but really.....it's quite a contrast to the L-Shaped Room (have been reading thread on that) in which the heroine does have to tackle some fairly gritty things - and that was written what, 40 years ago? Depressing, really....

Cards on the table, I know Katie and she is a lovely person. But her books are not my cuppa. DW has read a few of them, and says basically the same as some of you - that her characters are unconvincing, especially her younger women, and that she just tweaks the same scenario for each book!

My dd was completely addicted to Katie Fford when she was 11 - read them all. I think that's about the right age for them, tbh. And i adore trash!

someone is buying & reading them, so fair play to her I guess

not me though

Ive read a couple of her books. Restoring Grace is the only one I have on my bookcase though, must of donated other ones!
I agree with whoever said they were an easy read. Sometimes nice to just have something not too taxing though.

I'm sure she's a lovely person, UQD.....but I am fairly amazed that she gets away with repeating the formula to the point that, erm, it's not really in touch with reality any more (especially since, in the book I read, she rather tiresomely goes on about the publishing world and the fact that only the very, very best writers can get book deals...hmm....)! However, I'm sure she makes oodles of dosh out of them so she's probably not that bothered....

I have read all her books and loved them all!!!!!

All aga sagas follow the same formula. And chick lit and everything else really.
There are supposed to be only seven stories in the world.

I don't mind them as my annual holiday read. Cheaper than a magazine.

Not my cup of tea at all - but I do like skip reading them just to find all the places I recognise. She writes about pubs and views and so on that I am very familiar with.

I think she is President of the Romantic Novelists Association at the moment isn't she?

Not all her heroines are naive young things - I have read at least two where the lead character is a middle-aged woman.

I've read a few where they're middle-aged too, so think she does do quite a range.

Read Love Letters a little while ago and have to confess I did really love it - thought the hero (can't remember name now) was gorgeous, and thought it was a brilliantly romantic read.

I know she's not writing very literary books, but I'd pick one of hers over something 'worthy' any day!

Hello
I spotted this thread and thought I'd post a message as I actually work at Katie's publishers and i'm really sorry that you didn't enjoy Love Letters. We like feedback so how about I offer five copies of her latest book, A Perfect Proposal, and then you can read the new one and let me know what you think? My email address is [email protected]
Thanks
Charlotte

Thanks Charlotte, i look forward to my copy!!!

I'll give it a go too if that's ok

Hi all
Free books all gone - I hope you like this one!
Charlotte

Thanks Charlotte I received my book today!! !!!

What are the seven stories? I've heard that before but never had a list of them.

I'm guessing that star-crossed lovers is one, and another is the same story with a happy ending (Pride and Prejudice). Then there's probably a revenge story line. So I'm missing four stories.

Her book Wild Designs is one of my favourite books ever, but I did read it first, so maybe that is why, but did just LOVE the characters in it.

I always hoped she would do a follow up to it but no joy yet....

I also enjoyed Wild Designs, but my favourite is Artistic Licence. That's the one I read first and I raced out to buy the others. I was didn't enjoy Going Dutch or Love Letters at all, but I have placed a pre-order for A Perfect Proposal. I'm keeping fingers crossed that I'll enjoy it as much as her earlier work!

A Perfect Proposal arrived here today as well.
Thanks very much Charlotte.

Am now half way through my copy of A Perfect Proposal - received yesterday.

Thanks Charlotte!

I didn't think Love Letters was that great, but it was a lot better than Going Dutch, which I didn't like at all.

Still fine for holiday reading or when I want something light though.

Oh funnily enough Going Dutch was one of my favourites. At least it has a bit of romance and sex in there for a middle-aged and maybe menopausal woman not just a lovely twenty-something!