Customer Reviews

Practically Perfect

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I always enjoy reading Katie Fforde. All of her titles are amongst my keepers to reread at leisure.

PRACTICALLY PERFECT has a very talented young heroine and mixes her struggles to renovate a a listed cottage with her feelings for two very different men. The story line also weaves in the difficulties of rehoming retired greyhounds and daily life in a small village.

I don't like to give too much away for those who haven't read PRACTICALLY PERFECT, but, as in all good chic-lit novels, there are issues beyond romance including friendships and family.

Katie Fforde writes stand-alone books, each having different themes and new characters. And each is well worth reading. Her female characters, regardless of age, remind of friends in England, the stories are told with humor. Each book leaves me satisfied and hoping there will be a new Katie Fforde out one out soon.

Newly qualified interior designer and general all-round handywoman, Anna, sets about re doing the interior of a listed, working man's cottage. The fact that it's "listed" means that there are certain guidelines to which she must adhere, and that she must get permission from the local inspector of works. She's harboured a secret, schoolgirl crush on one of her college lecturers for years, building up in her mind, a picture of a romantic, heroic figure, against whom, no other man can compete, so when she finds herself becoming attracted to the local inspector, brushes it off in favour of her romantic dream. When she and "Prof. Dreamy" finally get togther, her childish dreams disintegrate in the face of his total self absorbtion and general selfishness (and the sex isn't that great either!) and so she redily falls for the charms of the earthier but worthier, inspector. Then this stupid twit of a woman reveals what an idiot she really is by imposing her ideas on to a project of the inspector's, when he is laid up in hospital, and proceeds to alienate him with her bossiness. It's a "pink fluff" story, ok for when you feel like something very light to read, but not at all attention holding.

I love Katie Fforde's books! This was a great one, not my favorite of hers, but a great read. Entertaining, fun and I'm glad I purchased it.

I'm generally a reader of paranormal romances but enjoy something on the lighter side once in awhile. Practically Perfect is a lovely light chic lit novel. It's not terribly exciting; it's just a small story about Anna who is working on her designing career fixing up and selling homes. She is unsophisticated but capable and sweet. Practically Perfect has many elements that make British Chic Lit fun to read; picturesque English country side, cottages, local village and market. I pictured Rob (the love interest) as Colin Firth from Love Actually...big and goofy but strong and sweet.

I enjoyed Katie Fforde's story and characters, although at times I felt the characters were a little cliche (especially the romantic male characters). The story, however, was sweet and peppered with references to adjusting to dog ownership, life in a small village in England, and the dilemmas that occur when a woman is in her mid-twenties. Not to mention the detailed descriptions of the renovation project undertaken by the main protagonist, Anna.

I felt that the resolution was a little too hastily reached, as if Ms. Fforde's editor called and told her she needed to finish the book and she wrote it in an afternoon. Overall, it is a sweet book, and worth reading if you have a lazy afternoon.

Pretty disappointing, all up.

In general, Fforde's heroines display some endearing little quirk that makes them human, such as lying, stealing, breaking and entering and variations of these. In Practically Perfect the heroine's little quirk is that she is not only a liar and a thief, but a whinging selfish little beast - ultimately unlikeable. This wouldn't break the novel, but something goes wrong with the plot and from about halfway it's pretty much a hasty gallop to a cliched ending.

Although the novel's intended to be humourous, I don't remember smiling at the laboured antics. Not Fforde's best work.