Customer Reviews

Cyber Cinderella

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read a lot of chick lit novels, and this one appeared to be a "Bridget Jones discovers the Internet" kind of novel.

This was terrible. After about 100 pages, the only plotline seemed to revolve around Izobel guessing who had created an anonymous web site dedicated to her. After about 20 more pages of guessing, I'd decided that I'd had enough and gave up on this one.

My apologies to Helen Fielding, for even comparing this novel to any in the Bridget Jones series.

I only read the first chapter, but I'm not sure I'll be reading the next ones. The first chapter is chock full of the main character's self-pity and her so called "boyfriend"'s unusually cruel put-downs. It seems like this will be your regular Disney "Rags to Riches" story in which the main character will realize she is a wonderful person and doesn't need anyone to tell her that. Seeing how this is an adult book, I expect more from it than Izobel saying things like, "I don't even think I'm celebrated enough in my own life," "It's not always been this way...I had so much promise in my early years," "I remember other people's names more often than they do mine. I was too embarrassed to put an update about myself on Friends Reunitd because I've acheived so little in life. I never have exciting invitations in the post or messages on my mobile" and her boyfriend, George, insulting her while trying to have sex with her, saying things like, "Silly Sasauge, it's probably not about you at all. What a delightful little idiot you are," "Why on earth would anyone create a site dedicated to you?" and "My poor angel-girl, you're a bit upset that there's no site about you." Honestly, this is a disgrace. Maybe I'll try the next few chapters, but at the price this is at, I might as well just return it. It's a great idea gone wrong.

Who hasn't Googled their own name? Izobel Brannigan has, and she could never have guessed what she'd find: her very own website. Only she hasn't created it. As far as she knows, none of her friends has created it either. Who is the anonymous person who seemingly admires her? Surely it's not her dull boyfriend, but what about her exes? A perplexing question, it demands answers.

Enlisting the aid of her good friend, Maggie, and the office IT guy, Ivan, Izobel sets out to find the source of the flattering, if creepy, montage. She can't imagine why anyone finds her of enough interest to do such a thing. Is it a stalker? Is it a secret admirer? Who could it be?

Izobel's cheeky attitude and tendency to get into awkward situations drive this enjoyable novel to fun heights. She's the hometown girl most women can relate to, while being something of a free spirit, if a bit tarnished by experience. Soon, she'll learn that if she starts seeing her self-worth, she just might find a happier tomorrow--assuming the creator of her website does do away with her first!

A debut novel, Cyber Cinderella (a.k.a. izobelbrannigan.com in the UK) is a blast. Izobel is a great character who embodies most women's insecurities and hopes. She's fun, quirky, and not afraid to be herself--usually! The love story that develops is just as entertaining, with plenty of laughs and sweet moments.

It will take time for some American readers to catch on to the British lingo that pops up throughout the book, but this is a small factor in the face of a read as enjoyable as this.

Christina Hopkinson is a true talent in a fresh genre. Snatch up this book and any others she may pen. You won't regret it.

Bridget Jones, watch out! Izobel Brannigan has your number--and a cooler name!



Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
7/28/2006

4 1/2-Books for WUAT; 5-Stars for Amazon

I loved this book in spite of eveything people ae saying. It's funny and light-hearted, and wasn't really respectable.
I would have to say you you should try it out.

Despite a fairly original storyline and some interesting characters, I would not recommend this book. From the first page I was interested in Izobel, the website, and finding out who was behind it. However, the story was dragged out in many places that didn't further character development or the plot line. About half the book could have been removed without taking anything away from the storyline, which says a lot since it's only 271 pages long. I found myself skimming through the pages searching for movement in the plot and for the few characters I was interested in.

I won't give it away, but the ending was a huge disappointment for me. The reveal of who was behind the website and why made no sense. As I said, I did skim through a lot of the book, but I assure you that's not why the ending was stupid. It felt like the author was trying to surprise you with the unexpected but ended up just pulling something ridiculous out of left field with flimsy reasoning.

I do have to give the author some credit though. Despite all it's flaws, I was still interested enough to keep picking up the book. I may have skimmed past half of it, but through the skimming my attention was held by Izobel's relationships with George and Ivan as well as the overall mystery of the website. A better job editing out the filler and a more appropriate ending would have made a huge difference in this story.

I picked this novel up in the middle of July, when I was looking for a lighthearted, fun summer read. I was expecting the literary equivalent of cotton candy -- I thought that was what I wanted -- but "Cyber Cinderella" delivered much more. The romance is sprinkled with lots of humor and frustrated career girl angst, so it shares some qualities with traditional chick-lit. But there's also a mystery here, and some intense relationship dilemmas that take the reader on a deeper journey. I thought I had the story figured out by the middle, but the author had quite a few surprises up her sleeves. I enjoyed the wild ride.

So i am the first to say that bridget jones is my heroine...but this is a far cry from the understandable british lingo that she employed. this book started slow - it took me 3 months to really get past the second chapter. then all of the sudden, i got into it and read the rest of the book in one sitting. i must say, however, i just didnt get some of the british words. i also thought that the identity of the "stalker" left a lot to be desired, as i felt this person came out of no where. i was hoping that it would turn out to be maggie or something more creative. that being said, i'd recommend this book to people who like brit-chick-lit and who can give it a chance.

Well this is not my usual type of book to read, so i was very surprised. This was a very good book and the ending is not your typical ending either.
Very good! Look foward to another by this author!

I have been rereading classics lately and thought I'd get a break and read a fun, light "chick-lit." The topic of Cyber Cinderella compelled me to give it a whirl. Thirty-something Londoner Izobel Brannigan has a somewhat successful PR job and a boyfriend whose priorities are his daughter, drinking, his job and perhaps his girlfriend... in that order. But things get interesting for Izobel one day when she Googles herself and discovers that there is an izobelbrannigan.com, a website devoted to her. Who could have possibly opened a web page about her? And why do they make her life sound more interesting than it actually is? She along with her friend Maggie and gorgeous, albeit geeky IT guy Ivan try to find out if one of her ex-boyfriends is the web master. There are some fun twists throughout the novel.

Like a reviewer here has written, who hasn't Googled oneself? I know I have! And I thought it would be fun to read about a woman who not only types her name on that Google box, but discovers a web site about her as though she were a celebrity. Even though there are some lagging spots in which I felt the novel was going nowhere, it was nevertheless a nice, fun read, like I wanted it to be. The ending is kind of predictable, but you expect that in a "chick-lit." Christina Hopkinson has a unique voice. She isn't in the same league as Marian Keyes, Jane Green and Clare Naylor, but her stuff is worth reading. I recommend Cyber Cinderella (the original UK publishing title is Izobel Brannigan.Com) if you're in the bargain for a lovely light read.

Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (9/06)

Even if you're not a Web user, you'll still enjoy this novel where a thirty year old public relations consultant in London discovers an unknown person has built a Web site about her. Izobel actually Googled herself, which she describes as sounding "...rather obscene...to self-Google: something that is inappropriate office behavior." There is plenty of wit throughout this book and we quickly relate to Izobel's frustration with men and her career which seems to be at a standstill.

Written by the British author, Christina Hopkinson, you may be reminded of the Bridget Jones character, but there is also the mystery of who is posting details about Izobel's life to the world and why. Along the way we meet each of exes and wonder what was she thinking and thank goodness she eventually moved on. Her current live-in lover is no beauty either. George remains inebriated throughout the story and has no sympathy for Izobel's concern that she may have a stalker. Maggie, her best friend, takes over in leading the investigation, but is later assisted by Ivan, the techie.

I found myself laughing out loud and shaking my head in agreement as I turned each page. At one point she's going through the options of an automated phone system: "It's always a bit like choosing a boyfriend - the options given never quite seem to match up exactly to your requirements but once you're on the line you think you might as well go for it." As someone who's spent a lot of time on the phone with Sprint lately, I wholeheartedly agree.

And even though I haven't been in the dating world in a while, I know what she means about not being sure about guys and what you're getting in to. She compares it to going to a restaurant "where the starters are so much better than the mains."

IzobelBrannigan.com takes over our protagonist's life as she becomes consumed with what appears on it and why, as well as why is it down, why hasn't it been updated, etc. And all this started from being bored one day at work. She sums up her life:

"It was a low-budget short, made by students and lacking real plot or narrative arc; ...where amateur actors shuffle around bemoaning the state of the world without anything really happening. All the audience would be talking through it just waiting for the arrival of the main attraction."

Raise your hand if you can relate!

Having lived in the U.K., I appreciated the local references, but I don't think they would hinder a reader who is unfamiliar with them. Except for "frottaged", which wasn't even in my Oxford dictionary! Of course I know that each of you, if you haven't already, will Google yourselves the minute you finish the book. Be ready for what you might find!

The story evolves as does Izobel, including a few surprises along the way. Upon finishing the read, I found myself so satisfied from the starter and the main course, that I didn't need any dessert. But I will return to the restaurant as soon as the author's next novel is released. And I won't wait for a discount coupon either.

Received book free of charge.