Cover Reveal + Giveaway: I Don't Know How She Will Do It by KobbyTetteh Gyampoh

Today, it's me on the spot. Revealing the new cover to the new edition of my debut, for a new year.

Book Blurb: Lily has had it with Aunt Lizzie. She wants her inheritance. She wants to be free. Aunt Lizzie wants Lily to find a husband, though she thinks it’s impossible. To her Lily could kiss freedom goodbye since it might be about the only person who’d allow that.

Aunt Lizzie’s thinking marriage; Lily’s thinking marriage-if-anyone-would-ever-want-me. Aunt Lizzie’s thinking cooking, cleaning and looking after a family; Lily wants a career that isn’t home-running. Aunt Lizzie’s not bent on making Lily have her way. So what would Lily do? She’d plot to gain her inheritance. She’d plot to gain her freedom. Her dad’s will says nothing about Mr. Right, neither does it mention an aspiring actress eager to break into Hollywood.

Join Lily in her quest for freedom as she poses as a couple with Clare behind a camouflage of flashy cars and cupcakes in order to get that inheritance. Follow this hilarious recipe of a low self-esteem girl, a sassy self-employed actress, an Aunt whose quotes would get you raising brows and two grannies who are willing to help low self-esteem girl. But watch out, one has a pistol which she stashes in her underwear.

Message From The Author: I’ve had lots of inspiration for writing. But the one that moved me into publishing my very first novel, I Don’t Know How She Will Do It has to go to Allison Pearson. Words can’t describe how much I loved I Don’t Know How She Does It─both the book and the movie. Something about Kate’s struggle and how lovable she was portrayed made me nuts to pen something down. Days and days the title I Don’t Know How She Does It resounded constantly in my sleep, in my wake, every moment in my life (mainly because it was one hell of a funky title). I was practically haunted to put down my baby I Don’t Know How She Will Do It. Though they are both different stories, they both portray that sense of feminism that makes women all around the world proud. And that’s why I penned I Don’t Know How She Will Do It, a short story that would make women rejoice for their womanhood and cheering them for giving men a run for their money. There are points I might make you reach for your Kleenex, but forgive me for you will laugh at so many moments they would make up for all my sins.
Best,
Kobby.

Win any one of the Three Digital Copies Kobby is giving out

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

First of all, KobbyTettehGyampoh, simply Kobby, hates referring to himself in third-person.

I just turned eighteen. I am Ghanaian and have always loved Chick-lit. My Chick-lit role models would be Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Janet Evanovich and Sarah Strohmeyer.

I was introduced to the genre when I was thirteen. Sarah Strohmeyer made the introduction with her Bubbles Series. Since I read Bubbles, I quit writing Harlequin-styled romances and have always considered myself-since then, a humor writer.

My biggest dream is to be an EIC to a lifestyle magazine someday like Kate White-for my obsession for Cosmo’s language since she was running as editor. But for now, I am good with studying English to break into Advertising someday.

I am currently working on my next title which is sort of a series like Cupcakes R US, but it’s based on the lives of editors, columnists and freelancers in a Cosmo-lookalike magazine. Which would be available in more formats than kindle. Epub, PDF, Docx, Doc, Mobi, PowerPoint. And oh, Paperback.

If I am not writing something funny, I spend most of my time reviewing something funny on my blog, ChickLit Pad (http://chicklitpad.blogspot.com).

RELEASE DATE IS 3^rd Febuary. Please be sure to check it out on Amazon

BIG thanks to all the blogs that participated in my tour. So grateful. I can’t thank all the authors that have supported me enough. Huge thanks also to Bia at MadameUB Designs for giving me this lovely cover. She’s launching her artwork on bags and laptop cases, IPad cases, you name them. Go get her work!

Twitter: @chicklitpad
Facebook page: ChickLit Pad
Author’s Blog website: http://chicklitpad.blogspot.com

Festive Book Review: Merry Chicklit-Six Sassy Shorts (an anthology): Santa's Gift by Carolyn Aspenson

Another post inspired by the festive season.

Blurb: In the spirit of giving, six chick-lit authors "present" a charming collection of seasonal shorts sure to inspire holiday cheer-plus love and hope throughout the year, with all proceeds donated to Rocking the Road for a Cure! Featured authors & stories include:

Carolyn Ridder Aspenson In "Santa's Gift," journalist Jessica thinks Santa's just a silly myth for children, so when he asks what she most wants for Christmas she tells him the one thing she knows he can't deliver--true love. Or can he...?

———————————————

"I love Cinco."

"Their salsa is my secret weapon."

My smile flopped. "You take a lot of women to Cinco or something?"

He blushed and it was adorable. "Oh no. I didn't mean it that way. You just seem like a woman who likes good food."

Did he just call me fat?

"Uh..."

He ran his fingers through his hair. It was captivating.

"That didn't come out right."

"Not so much, no."

———————————————

Great short something to read during these Holidays and get on with your shopping—but not without receiving any festive lessons.

So Jess, twenty-nine year old reporter has nothing to look up to this Christmas. She doesn't believe in all the hocus-pocus about Santa and would rather avoid everything about Christmas this year—including the shopping (considering there's going to be a sale!). Recently broken up with "Ass Monkey" of fourteen months, really what does she have to be thankful for?

But with her happily married friend Ashley who wouldn't take No for an answer, Jess's dragged for some Christmas shopping and finds herself in Santa's lap—talk of butt-planting yourself right into an enemy's lap and listening to them talk all about their magical gift to make everyone's wish come to past! Next thing she knows, she's challenging Santa to give her her heart's desire: true love.

Santa promises her that. And with her response as good as a snort and showing him her middle finger, would she believe him? And even if she does, would she return showing Santa her middle finger—this time, with a ring on it?

An amazing short story from Carolyn Aspenson. This woman sure has a way of making everything supernatural sound hip. I like that it wasn't the kind you'd roll your eyes to and check for other reads on your shelf thinking "How cheesy." —★

All the holiday lessons are things to note down from this book. Like finding true love, like believing in Santa, like investing in a tree and not kicking your kids in the butt for mentioning Santa (trust me, this is not about me. I am just doing a little venting of unwanted emotion). Maybe we are too old to believe in all these Father Christmas blah, but look at those kids, the smile that spreads the sunlight throughout their faces whenever Santa's mentioned, wouldn't our lives be that magical when we go back to those days when we had something to hold onto? Trust Carolyn to allow you make such deductions—★★

The romance in this book earns a star from me. Kind of Harlequinish during those old times when they'd actually make you believe in true-true love and swoon. (Until you realize life isn't Harlequin.) Thumbs up to all those moments, there are lots I could employ in wooing a woman, like who knew foreheads were so sensitive?—★★★

The humor is available for those of us who'd want a good laugh whilst learning some major festive lessons—★★★★

You know what they say about short stories having that one OMG moment that actually leaves it fulfilling despite the fact that it's actually short? Yeah, this book had it for the mystery on who Santa was—★★★★★

My rating: five stars.

Merry Chicklit-an anthology is available on Amazon.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants something short for the holidays—especially when the duties suddenly become humongous. Anyone looking for a book so rich in festive lessons. Anyone who thinks true love as... "true love". Anyone who actually mentions santa, because it would actually be like "Santa" in written form. Lol. Just get this book.

And its for a good cause... breast cancer. Let's save the boobs! They've got gravity to look up to! Just kidding, but help the cancer cause—I purchased (kind of) this book to do so, so you should too.

Reviewing all six sassy shorts of Merry Chicklit.

Another post inspired by the festive season.

#Blastfromthepast Book Review: Blue Straggler By Kathy Lynn Harris

Blurb: A blue straggler is a star that has an anomalous blue color and appears to be disconnected from those stars that surround it. But this is not a story about astronomy.

Bailey Miller is "disconnected" from the cluster of her rural south Texas family. She has never quite fit in and now in her early 30s, she finds herself struggling with inner turmoil and a series of bad choices in her life.

Bailey's drinking too much (even for a member of her family), has a penchant to eat spoonfuls of Cool Whip, works in a job that bores her beyond description and can't keep a relationship longer than it takes for milk to expire in her fridge.

Even with the help of her two outspoken friends, Texas lass Idamarie and her quirky college pal Rudy, she's having a hard time.

So she packs up her Honda and heads out of Texas in search of herself and answers to secrets from her great- grandmother's past. The novel takes readers on a journey from San Antonio, Texas, to a small mountain town in Colorado and back again, as Bailey uncovers not only the secrets of her great-grandmother's life, but also some painful secrets of her own. All while finding love along the way.

If you have ever wondered why you got stuck with the family you did, what you are doing with your job and your life, or had a sudden desire to run off to the mountains, sit back and join Bailey for this laugh-out-loud, yet poignant ride.

—————————————

"A party. Bailey, you are supposed to be researching your family, then heading back here."

"I never said exactly what I was supposed to be doing." Or did I?

"Where's all this money coming from that you are spending on tow trucks and barns? You been running drugs from Mexico when I wasn't looking?"

"It's called saving. You ought to try it."

"I'm afraid drug-running would be easier."

————————————————

Much like listening to blues during lazy afternoons: Cool, soothing, so much warmth, and you never get enough!

Blue Straggler by Kathy Lynn Harris follows Bailey, distraught, trying to quit smoking, worried of herself going bonkers anytime soon and working as a "computer writer"—which doesn't give her the joie de vivre, but who needs that when there are bills to pay? Anyway, with a mum who places so much emphasis on looking drop-dead-gorgeous at every point in time (in Texas!), a dad who hardly cares what happens with her and a brother who drives her nuts without seeking a little parking space, how can she not be worried about her sanity? Worst of all, there's evidence her family would raise glasses and shout a "Touché" whenever an issue about her sanity is brought up.

But with sixty-something Idamarie and geeky Rudolph as best pals, Bailey's life seems to be looking more on the brighter side. The three make a dynafantastic trio sipping coffee and dropping the world's funniest lines before Bailey rushes to work every morning.

It doesn't take long for Bailey to make a discovery of her great grandmother, Annie. A woman who like her, wasn't perfect as all the other women in her family. Asking her mum leads to a dead end since to her Annie was good as dead, really.

When Bailey is let off her position in the company for something that has less to do with writing, she quits, contemplates for awhile then decides to follow Annie's tail all the way to Gold Creek to discover all the locked up secrets, discover herself and love in the process.

First of all, I don't know if it's my own mid-life crisis, but I've made this surprising discovery: I love books about mid-life crisis! I thought for a while to get to the bottom of this, then I realized there's something perfect about imperfect women afraid they might be losing it. Take The Strange Year Of Vanessa M, Just Add Spice, all books I reviewed this year, I stamped them five stars even before five-percent completion. Like I did Blue Straggler :)

OK. Now my review. I loved, loved, loved this novel! The story-line was amazing, it was beautifully-written, what more could you ask for?

I enjoyed reading about Bailey, or Bay Leaf, as Rudy calls her. I really couldn't get enough of her witty, cynical voice. Or maybe I just like older women. She seemed real, hell not two-dimensional and so relatable. I can't think of anyone who would put her down and scrunch their brows shaking their head left-right muttering, "This book is not for me." She's the kind of character who you'd read about no matter what mood you are in—★

The setting of this novel was a major help! All the scenery and the beauty of Gold Creek was captured so well, I felt I was right in this painting. Perhaps this is one of the reasons I fall for books about mid-life crisis. The setting gives the book this slow-paced plot that isn't jarring at all. I can't think of any character flying to a bustling city, let's say, New York to find themselves. The pace, plot was soothing all because of the quiet mountains, the vast lands of forests, the chatty locals and the serene atmosphere—★★

Oh, I laughed the humor in this book, it was terrific. And humor is a very big thing for me! I easily don't laugh-out-loud, so when I do it's simply because something struck me as so funny—★★★. Plus I don't review books that aren't hilarious!

Each and every character, besides our lead girl delivered! From the ostentatious Idamarie who wouldn't step out without here scarlet lipstick and all seven fake rings on seven of her fingers to Rudolph who kept dropping funny lines after funny lines (a character I could relate to) to one cousin who wouldn't quit bringing funny cosmetics for Bailey to try on, Pokey—the adoggable canine, Weasel—the uncaring feline, Stella—whiplash sheriff with a prosthetic ear, Tuck—the truck salesman. I could go on and on!—★★★★

One thing you would want to note down when picking this book is to keep a heart monitor around you—for those of us who can't stand OMG moments because there are lots in this book. I cursed so much I'd be a nightmare to Texan manners—★★★★★

I am a sucker for perfect endings. Nothing can break a book like its ending. Kathy Lynn Harris knows that—★★★★★★

Five stars, people!

Another blast from the past! Blue Straggler is available on Amazon.

I recommend it to anyone ready for a fantastic read. Anyone who's nuts about self-discovery themes. Anyone who loves the Lone Star state. Anyone who loves Colorado. Anyone who's been through or is going through MLC (or Early-life Crisis like I am).

My work not done. Can't wait to post my review on Goodreads as well as Amazon.

(surprise) Book Review: Olivia By Donna Sturgeon

From Niecey Roy

To

Donna Sturgeon

Received A Kindle Gift From Niecey Roy.

Blurb: Olivia Hanson has spent most of her twenty-five years staring wistfully across the tracks to the north side of town, longing for a white picket fence and normal—something she’s never known. Born in a prison and abandoned by her mother, Olivia was raised in South Juliette by her father, Eugene—a knee- bouncing, chain-smoking loner with a Cheeze Doodle addiction. Olivia drinks too much, loses her heart too easily, and works in a factory as quality control, a mundane job she’d sworn would only be temporary, not the permanent drudgery it has become. Her only joy in life comes in the form of late-night slow dances with hot bartender, George, who can set her body on fire with his kisses but is unwilling to go any further.

The day Olivia accidentally backs her Buick into a black Dodge pickup, she tumbles head-over-heels into what she believes is the happily-ever-after kind of love she has been longing for. But the road to happiness is not as easy as it looks. It’s a long, winding journey of self- discovery full of potholes, pregnancy tests, lobster tattoos, Walmart scooters, impromptu weddings, hump-happy Boston terriers, and a sexy, but oh-so- annoying police officer who pops up around every curve.

—————————————

"Hey, Sam," She croaked.

"You really sick?" Sam asked.

"Yeah."

"Brown Bottle Flu?"

"No," Olivia lied.

"You coming back tomorrow or what?"

"Yeah."

Sam hung up.

—————————————

Quirky, dysfunctional, tear-jerking, hilarious. This book had none of the above. It had more of the above.

Olivia, follows Olivia, mid-twenties girl who's always wanted to leave the South but never saves a dime from her shitty job thanks to all those beers at "Kitty's", a bar with her hot best friend as owner and tender she'd so love to screw. Olivia is not always driving her insurance company insane, but her boss too for times she'd show up and times she wouldn't.

This book based mainly on her love life, shows Olivia dealing with men you wouldn't rather have anything to do with and men you'd rather were into you than her. Olivia goes through life heartbreak after heartbreak, rough patch after rough patch, hilarious situations after hilarious situations, crashing from bumper to bumper, steamy sex after steamy sex, shitty days at work after shitty days at work, comforting odd friends after odd friends and more. All till she finds out what's really lacking in her life: stability.

Niecey Roy, one of my fav writer friends recommended this book to me. Judging from Niecey's tastes (Fender Bender Blues and How Hard Can It Be?), I was a bit skeptical about this one (BIG LIE). I enjoyed it so much I licked my lips and belched after reading it.

OK. So I loved this book for the main character! Olivia! Very, very different. I swear I didn't find delight in how brazen she was most of the time, but all those little bits about her I found annoying were just... Good. Character. Sketch. She fitted the setting perfectly and I wouldn't have wanted her any other way. Plus, no matter how crazy, I have a soft spot for super-hilarious leads.

Oh you would laugh the humor in this book. It wasn't constant, but every time it was up you'd shit on yourself; I am so certain because I didn't-second star.

The romance in this book is so steamy. So warm. So mushy mushy. Each and every guy delivered. And boy did I squirm in my seat.

It's not surprising I fell in love with the whole cast. Their stories were inspiring, hilarious and crazy. From Izzie, Olivia's best friend who was always there when you needed a good laugh, to Sam, the boss who's just pissed off at Olivia all the time but wouldn't fire her. Eugene, the dad who never touched and kept eye contact as he did his fav Cheese Doodles. To all Olivia's gossip-loving co-workers at the factory and all the regular patrons of Kitty's. I could paint them all if I was as good as an artist as I am a talker.

With so crazy characters it was very shocking this book could really portray dense, soulful themes. From loneliness, to shittiness, to difficulty in child-bearing, to dysfunctional love, to cozy love, to love and its trials and misunderstanding. There were moments I was reaching for Kleenex, but every time I pulled the box closer I'd find out it was empty and I'd curse so loud I wouldn't feel like crying anymore.

Also, the tone to this book was soothing, the pace slow-fast, the idle setting of the south very perfect and written with an amazing memoir-esque voice. Never did I hesitate to finish this book in a haste. It really goes to show you don't need a highly suspenseful piece to grab a reader's attention. With humor locked, a fun lead and a story so true to life with themes that are so timeless, there's no way you could ask for a refund!

Five stars, people!

Olivia, Donna Sturgeon's dysfunctionally perfect chick-lit is available on Amazon.

I seriously recommend this book to anyone. Anyone who has a friend called Olivia or not. Anyone who wants a good laugh and a few tears. Anyone who is in the mood for mushy mushy and fighty fighty. Anyone in the mood for something different and so not your conventional chick-lit.

Always opened to emails from anyone who'd love to gush about Olivia—the book, I mean.

Thanks Niecey. Great novel, Donna.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads as well as Amazon.

Book Review: Finding Lucas By Samantha Stroh Bailey

Blurb: Can you ever really go back to the past?

After five long years of living with Derek, her former bad-boy-turned-metrosexual boyfriend, Jamie Ross finally reaches her breaking point. She's had enough of his sneering disdain for her second hand wardrobe, unusual family and low-paying job as the associate producer of Chicago's sleaziest daytime talk show. When her new boss plans a segment on reuniting lost loves, Jamie remembers Lucas, her first love and the boy she'd lost ten years earlier. Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, Jamie goes on a hilarious, disastrous and life changing hunt to track Lucas down. But are some loves best left behind?

He keeps squeezing my ass and sighing with pleasure.

Now he does it again, and says, "Never lose this. It is so goddamn sexy."

"Really?"

"Really." He assures me and flips me over so he can bite it.

"Ow!" I yell.

But, it feels so good.

...Oh my, Oh my, this book is very good. It's just so... quirky-sorry, queerky.

Samantha is very brazen. Draws in things that are not in your everyday chicklit. And she never ceases to dazzle as she keeps bringing in more and more of these strange things that might make you wish this book is fantasy. I wouldn't call this number light and fluffy. Quite dense and soulful, less than a mile away from Women's Fiction.

So Jamie is with her long-term boyfriend of five years who can't get her an orgasm (unless it's a price tag at Bergdorf) that she's now accustomed to spending more time in the shower (with the shower head) than she's known to. She has a job as an associate producer to a low-key talk show, lacks motivation and has a talent for staying glued to the boob-tube. I found her boring, and her lack of self-esteem annoying (despite her friends kept telling her she was gorgeous). I am hoping that's what Bailey was aiming for since she was vivid on these traits that ticked me off. It's no surprise Derek, the metrosexual and mummy's boy boyfriend wanted to transform her-into an image I wasn't fond of either (unless, being a housewife who raised kids and baked all day is a thrilling image to you).

Eventually, Jamie accepts the fact that, her then-Derek is way different from the now-Derek who would only get into the few sex positions that wouldn't muss up his hair and was so keen on her cutting the flab by undertaking extreme sports only him could endure. I was a fan of Derek wanting her to change, get-into-shape, but wasn't really crazy for the housewife image he wanted to impose on her. No wonder I was thrilled when she broke up with him.

But things get bad as Jamie isn't able to cater for herself with her measly income, being those kinds of women who allow their boyfriends who haven't spoken a word about marriage pay for everything. Ugh. Following the advice of her very, well, odd friends, she takes on the mission of finding Lucas-her high-school 'part-time friend, part-time you-know-what' (as they call a fuck buddy where I come from). It's clear to her she wants happiness, happiness only Lucas could give-No surprise there, because Derek wasn't as good as her shower head.

I think that's enough of the spoilers. Now to why, this book made my week.

I loved the cause. The whole Finding Lucas idea was very exhilarating. Yeah, everyone wants a second chance, we all wonder whether there would have even been a happy-ending if our crushes we fantasized about so much took a chance with us. And Samantha is one of the smartest writers to use this as a ploy in an attempt to get readers turning pages. Though I wasn't really a fan of Jamie, I was always on tenterhooks to find out if she ever will find Lucas. And if she ever did, would he be Mr. Right? Because following Alexandra Potter's You Are The One That I Don't Want you always know the obvious guy wouldn't be Mr. Right. I was praying, hoping this Lucas guy might just be (owing to some very enticing flashbacks Samantha brought up).

Secondly, I loved the cast of this book (excluding Jamie, of course). Leah and Katie-the mother and her equally hippy significant other were fun to read about. I was always raising brows to some of the acts Samantha was so brave to reveal. Like Lucy, the queer friend who isn't the least shy about her sexuality and contributed mostly to Jamie's quest to find Lucas. And Rachel-the sister who's teenage drama she'd relay to anyone whether or not they were interested. Hannah, the lingerie mogul-ess who's fierce personality got me wishing she'd slap some over to Jamie. To Giddy Amy and Silent Chris-the not-so-normal couple roommates who have some skeletons in their home "office". All these unusual characters made me have a blast.

Also, like any fantastic Chick-lit, this number has a lot of OMG moments, and ones that make you scream "Not HIM too!" It kept my excitement running non-stop for this book.

The introduction of one pestiferous co-worker and the final SHOWdown that led to Jamie's transformation from the Girl with Self-esteem issues to the girl with so much confidence that I was gob-smacked and kept asking myself, where was this side all along?!!

Don't blame me, I am not only a sucker for happy-endings, but I am a sucker for great/perfect endings. And this book had it.

Though I totally loved our lead girl towards the end, and instantly had a change of heart, there was one thing I couldn't overlook: Her constant dwelling on the past and failing to move on even after the breakup. I wasn't enamored with how she kept going back down memory lane to Derek wondering why he'd changed from the then-guy to the irritating dick-bag (new insult on the block) he had become. Why did she keep musing about Derek when I was expecting some action now that she was rid of him? I know being a guy, you ladies (at #ChicklitChat) might be thinking: Try getting out of a relationship you've invested five tedious years of your life, asshole. But, it just didn't sit right with me.

Overall, I compliment Samantha Stroh Bailey for going where no Chick-lit author dares-a very tricky attempt your average debut author wouldn't consider. Plus one to her ability to make her debut memorable-something not all best-selling authors now could do.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Samantha Stroh Bailey's spectacularly queerky and thrilling debut, can be found on Amazon in both kindle and paperback.

I recommend this hilarious title to anyone ready to read something out of the ordinary chicklit yet want to have a blast. Anyone who thinks their lives are full of shitty embarrassing circumstances would be appreciative of whatever they have after reading this. You should also pick up this title if you want a book rich in back story and not so light and fluffy but dense and, uh, intellectual (as Samantha puts it).

Certainly looking forward to Samantha Stroh Bailey's next.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads.

Book Review: Lying To Meet You By Anna Garner.

Blurb: Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors?

Chloe Lane is about to find out. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. As a work-crazed fashion designer, boutique owner and soon-to-be reality show judge, Chloe has no time for a real boyfriend, but being part of a faux pair will do just fine. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else.

However…

Opportunity unexpectedly knocks when Chloe meets fellow reality judge, William Shannon. Super successful and super sexy, this high-powered entrepreneur inspires Chloe to test Ethan’s theory herself. Now, on top of keeping her fashion business productive, carving out a new role as a television personality, maintaining a fake relationship and attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, she’s lying to William, lying to her friends, lying to her family and quite possibly lying to herself. Will Chloe be able to keep it all together, or are things about to explode?

“What are you doing with that Ethan, anyway?” William asks to my surprise, “I don’t mean to be offensive,” he says. “And he certainly seemed like a good guy, but he’s very Boy Next Door, isn’t he?”

Despite myself, I chuckle. “Three doors down, to be precise.”.......

This book is so(oo) New York, so(oo) Sex And The City. Only it's far more than thirty minutes. Well, unless you are a fast reader.

Anna Garner is just so funny I want to know what Libby Mercer's like! Besides writing a book with a story-line that's so Cosmo hence so Sex And The City, you'd expect this book to have the whole package: Humor, Romance, Steamy romance and all the stuff that ticks all your chick-lit boxes. And it doesn't disappoint.

Chloe Lane is a Girl in Fashion (ooh), she loves to splurge (ahhh), she's just so hilarious (hahaha!). There's nothing not to love about this Chloe, except, she hasn't had sex in two years (*crowd boos at this confession*). And the most bugging thing is, she doesn't bother, she's not been prowling for men like your average Chick-lit character should.

Thanks to her meddling friends, Isabel-the online dating guru, Veronica-the Miranda Hobbs and Julian-the overprotective gay, her single status doesn't last for long after one night of fruitless search of Mr. Right and meeting one not-single acquaintance over thirty hooking the fish who might have checked all their boxes. That's when the Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors? comes in.

Ethan, your really cool looking guy shows up. He comes up with the suggestion and the two begin their fake relationship. The two are set on lying about how they met to arranging Holidays with whose parents and attending each other's social events, including sharing some fake kisses and snuggling beneath duvets for movie nights. All for Ethan to hook a co-worker, Lila, and Chloe just being in it to help him out and see the truth in the theory at first hand.

That's when Andrew McCarthy comes in-sorry, I mean William Shannon. Wouldn't even dare compare Andrew's billionaire character in Lipstick Jungle to William's. Though they have similar assets, Andrew McCarthy is no match for the (fictional) William Shannon. William is everything but not perfect. Looks, check. Money, check. Sexy, check. Frequently Unavailable, check. The two are set as Judges on the reality show, and Chloe knows right from the Reality show's kick-start dinner, she wants to use the fake relationship theory on him.

Poor Wily William and his wicked Willy, the two have the most vibrant sex life!

That above is just how far I can go with the spoilers.

This book created the exact, glam, fab, gorg life Sex And The City portrayed of the City that Never Sleeps. Through all the restaurants, the bars, the clubs, high-end shops, brick-wall exposed apartments, classy penthouses and busy streets, you get reeled into this fast/fab scenery Anna Garner creates.

Being a book based in New York, it's not shocking to have a tightly knitted network of friends who don't only host extravagant parties and outrageously funny gothic ones, but form a support group in case you need a shoulder to cry on. Indisputably, friendship is the key to survival in the City That Never Sleeps, and it's amazing how Anna Garner puts across the theme by presenting characters so hilarious you sometimes wish this book was written in third-person.

I totally dig the whole idea of this novel. I love books with leads who try investigating relationship phenomena, like Hilary Duff in Beauty And The Briefcase finding out How To Date A Guy In The Business World or even Carrie Bradshaw's numerous puzzling issues on... (Oh no, now you must know I am a huge fan). This even makes the story so cool when you are squinting about the phenomena in concern, thinking, 'Is this true?' No, thanks for asking, but I don't know of any real life scenarios, but Lying To Meet You just made me believe this assertion with all the reasonable explanations it brought on the table to back the theory.

Besides all the 'ooh-ha-ha', you'd love the uh, triangle in this book (My grammar teacher wasn't keen on repetition so please insert your own meaning in there). Though the millionaire-average girl-boy next door romance has been portrayed in lots of titles, the never-ending humor and the Ohemgee moments make Garner's unique! One lesson running through out this book could be, Love The One You Are With. And the most bugging thing is, you always keep asking yourself 'Why not the other guy?' no matter which guy you found yourself smitten with. Perhaps Garner's mistake of making both men have too good personalities (and a huge flaw on another I could overlook) made it easy to wish both men were Mr. Happily Ever After.

You would love Matthieu, the stylist who takes an interest in naked celeb photos, and Ethan's playful bunch of a family compared to Chloe's and the hilarious Karaoke-lovers group. Really, there's never a dull moment.

My only minute problem with this number, has to be the end. I didn't hate it, it was perfect. But I am concerned about the end of the novel not the story. Stating above that I was so into her friends including her stylist Matthieu, her mum and all the other crazies in the book, I would have wanted an epilogue. Something to inform me what happened to all the others I grew so fond of.

Due to the above this book almost had five-star.

My rating

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Lying To Meet You is available in both Paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon on the FIFTH OF SEPTEMBER.

A perfect Holiday read. I recommend this title for anyone who wants a good laugh. Anyone who's had to deal with a shop-lifter and tried dating a billionaire. Anyone who loves their New York-y, Sex And The City, Lipstick Jungle friendship and would want a topic worth discussing during their brunch rendezvous. And most importantly, anyone who wants to find loads of ingenious ways to attract someone.

Pure entertainment, Anna Garner. Keeping this.

My work not done here. Off to post my review on Goodreads.