Miranda's Big Mistake [Paperback]

Jill Mansell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Taking a position as a trainee in a posh London hair salon may not seem the ideal situation for finding Mr. Right, but this breezy, whimsical novel from best-selling British chick-lit author Mansell (An Offer You Can't Refuse) introduces just such a heroine, Miranda, to a wide range of men, from panhandler to racecar driver, on her way to true love (and true retaliation). In a series of escapades too over-the-top even for Bridget Jones, feisty but accident-prone Miranda joins forces with other unlucky-in-love ladies, including a pregnant woman abandoned by her no-good husband and an aging but still-game landlady with a terminally greedy son. Plotlines and characters interweave with unexpected but satisfying results, including delicious comeuppance for the offending males. Summarizing the girl-power revenge plot, however, fails to do justice to the shenanigans that fill it out, making this a winning read. While Mansell's British humor doesn't always translate, Miranda's got more than enough irresistible transoceanic charm to promise that this, the first of several Mansell novels Sourcebooks is introducing to the U.S., should net a passionate new audience eager for the more.
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Review

If you are on your way to the beach, Miranda's Big Mistake is a must-bring and will keep you reading long after the sun goes down. (ForeWord 20090601)

It is a fun, quirky read, that had my toes curling right up until the last sentence. (Bella McGuire A Bibliophile's Bookshelf 20090601)

What a fun, flirty, fabulous summer read. Miranda's Big Mistake I can assure you will not be a mistake to read. (Cheryl Koch Cheryl's Book Nook 20090601)

[F]ull of witty dialog. You get drawn right into the book. (Gabrielle Pantera Hollywood Today 20090602)

I highly recommend this book for light, entertaining reading. It's a great pick for the beach bag and will be available just in time for summer! (Jani I Just Finished 20090602)

Jill Mansel's writing style, with its many levels of humor, its multiple plots, and intriguing characters, makes Miranda's Big Mistake splendid reading. It is funny, sassy, and it lifts the spirit. GOOD READING! (Camellia The Long and Short of It Reviews 20090602)

I couldn't get enough of MIRANDA'S BIG MISTAKE and characters; and I didn't want the book to end. (Julie Peterson Booking Mama 20090603)

You'll get a warm feeling from Miranda's Big Mistake... an absolute romp of a read! (Luanne Olliver A Bookworm's World 20090603)

The story-lines that unexpectedly criss-cross, interconnect and zig-zag are what make them so delightful. Mansell knows how to create characters... (Jill Hart Blog Critics 20090601)

All the characters are fleshed out completely and the humour just dances off the pages. I can't wait to read more books by Jill Mansell whose style is reminiscent of Marion Keyes and Sophie Kinsella but she also has a voice that is all her own... Bravo Jill Mansell. (Tamara Baff Books by TJ Baff 20090603)

Perfect for this summer to read at the beach, or anywhere for that matter. A fantastic fun read! (Wendy Hines Wendy's Minding Spot 20090603)

Mansell's novel proves the maxims that love is blind and there's someone for everyone, topped with a satisfying revenge plot that every jilted woman will relish.

(Booklist 20090605)

This is a great summer read... I would recommend this book and think the author is a lot of fun. (Tracee Gleichner The Review From Here 20090605)

[T[he quirky characters come to life and get themselves involved in all sorts of crazy situations. I found myself laughing out loud... (Sheri Stock Bookopolis 20090605)

Miranda's Big Mistake not only oozes modern romance, but also sarcasm and wit (Serena Cox-Augusto Savvy Verse & Wit 20090608)

highly recommend it to any fans of chick lit, especially those who love Brit chick lit. I can't wait to read more of Jill Mansell's work! (Swapna Krishna S. Krishna's Books 20090611)

There's no doubt that Jill Mansell's books can be categorized as chick lit, but in my opinion, they're among the best written books in the genre... I absolutely loved Miranda's Big Mistake. (Anna Horner Diary of an Eccentric 20090611)

I loved how all of the characters had their own small side story and I liked the ending for all of them! This would be a perfect summer beach read! (Andrea Mason So Many Books, So Little Time 20090623)

Miranda's Big Mistake by Jill Mansell is a delightful example of chick lit. (Kathy Roberts Bermuda Onion 20090626)

[H]er cast of characters are so lovable that you want them to be your friends! (Kristi Herbrand Books and Needlepoint 20090601)

Lots of situational humor, tragedy, and foresight that you wish the characters could see. Mansell does a wonderful job of keeping me reading the book. (Zarabeth Love Romance Passion 20090917)

With a full cast of entertaining characters, interesting secondary storylines, a few tears and more than a few smiles and laugh out loud moments, this is definitely a book that I would recommend to anyone who likes chick lit, or who just wants a fun beach read. (Margaret Bates Reading Adventures )

If you are on your way to the beach, Mirandas Big Mistake is a must-bring and will keep you reading long after the sun goes down. (ForeWord )

Ms. Mansell's books are easy reading books, that pull you in to the lives of the characters and don't let go until you finish the story... Jill Mansell's books will turn you in to a chick -lit reader!! (Allison King Allison's Attic of Books )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140221832X
• ISBN-13: 978-1402218323
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #579,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous read, May 18, 2009

By 

Cheryl Koch (CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Miranda's Big Mistake (Paperback)

Miranda works at Fenn Lomax salon as a junior stylist. Poor Miranda though can't seem to do anything right. First she gives away one of the salon's client's money to a homeless man. Next she gives the homeless man a pair of very expensive gloves, only to have the rightful owner call to say he is coming to pick them up. Hey it wasn't Miranda's fault that the owner after six weeks all of a sudden decides he wants his missing gloves back. Though some miracle, Miranda's boss Fen Lomax tolerates all of Miranda's antics.

Chole Malone has just received the biggest shock of her life. She is pregnant. She and her husband never planned on having children but sometimes surprises can be a good thing...right? When Chloe shares the good news with her husband, Greg, he is anything but thrilled. In fact he is so irate that he packs up and ditches Chloe. But he does leave her the clock his grandmother gave them as he isn't a bastard that way.

While attending one of her friend's charity parties, Miranda meets the most handsomest man there. Instantly they experience a connection. HIs name is Greg. Will Greg end up being Miranda's biggest mistake yet?

Miranda is such a sweetheart. You won't meet anyone with a bigger heart then her. I can't get enough of her and all of her friends. Miranda may not see herself as star quality material but she is wrong. What a fun, flirty, fabulous summer read. Miranda's Big Mistake I can assure you will not be a mistake to read. The only mistake you will be making is if you don't read this book. This is the first time I have read anything by Jill Mansell and it won't be the last.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It was good, but not great, July 31, 2009

By 

amlove (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miranda's Big Mistake (Paperback)

I only gave this book 3 stars because it wasn't great and it wasn't terrible. I won't go into plot details (looks like there's plenty of other reviews that do that for you.) I'll say this: I do think it was fairly well-written, but very predictable. And at 475 pages(!) that's much too long to be so predictable. At every turn in the story you can call how it's going to go. Overall it was ok, but it definitely won't be one of those books you keep to read over again years down the road.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So Cute, March 1, 2010

By 

Butterscotch (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miranda's Big Mistake (Paperback)

This is one of Mansell's better romantic comedies. Miranda is an apprentice hairdresser who seems to have the worst luck when it comes to meeting men. Her current boyfriend - Greg - turns out to be a louse, and the one that follows Greg isn't much better. Instead of stopping to evaluate herself and what she really wants, Miranda goes merrily along to the next guy and overlooks some of the more interesting (and potential) men in her life. The story is very cute and starts right away; the characters are introduced and we get going into their lives with very little back-story, which was great. I've read all of Mansell's books and this one stands apart from the others in a few ways. One, you know right away who Miranda will end up with (she doesn't, but we do) and it was touching to watch their relationship unfold. Two, all of the characters are intertwined or interrelated somehow - the storylines thread easily into one another and it's not just a series of subplots, but a single plot with multiple supporting characters. Three, the ending was given enough time to be romantic and fulfilling. This wasn't as funny as some of her other books have been, but the characters were much richer and more likeable (all of them but one) and it's definitely worth reading.