Customer Reviews

Sheer Mischief

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

 

 

I have read most of Jill Mansell's books and enjoyed them, and this is no exception. The book isn't as funny as Miranda's Big Mistake, or as romantic as some others, but it has a solid plot and likable characters. Janey and Maxine Vaughn are two very different sisters - one is beautiful and outgoing and the other is more shy and conservative. However, they both need romantic help; their love lives are in shambles and they struggle to pick up the pieces in this book. Their mother has a small(er) role in the book, but has her own involvement with a man that brings the sisters some angst. Both of the sisters are involved with someone named Guy Cassidy - Maxine is his nanny and Janey is his florist. The sisters don't actually fight over him, which was nice, but they each have a distinct relationship with him that changes throughout the book. Guy is a hot, rich, bachelor that every woman wants. But which woman will get him? It's a cute book that also has some kids as central characters because Guy is a single dad. It's worth reading, but not a Mansell best.

This was one of the first chick lit books I ever read, and now, years later, I still consider it one of my favourites, together with "Miranda's big mistake".
It may not have many laugh-out-loud moments, but I liked the main characters from the start to the very satisfying ending, and the story never got boring. Janey, the good girl and heroine, is not an irritating doormat like those you meet so often e.g. in Jilly Cooper's stories, and her unscrupulous sister Maxine is also utterly likeable. Add the gorgeous Guy with his two adorable children, and the rest is history. I particularly enjoyed how the two bad boys are made to suffer, although I ended up feeling somehow sorry for selfish but charismatic Bruno.
Not to forget the Cornwall setting, which makes this a (too short!) holiday trip between two covers.

I didn't have to wait long for the book and the book itself is in very good condition. It's practically new!

I have enjoyed all of Jill Mansell's books that I've read and this is no exception. As chick lit goes I find her to be one of the more enjoyable writers. It's obviosuly not going to be a book that taxes you intellectually but then, chick lit generally isn't and that's why we enjoy it, you can settle down and forget about the real world for a while and turn off your brain. It's escapism at it's best.

The only down side to this book (and the reason it's not got 5 stars) is because it's quite predictable, you have a good idea of the various things thst are going to happen and could bet your mortgage on the ending. That said, how many chick lits book are there that don't deliver that predictable ending, it's the knowing there's not going to be a heart-wrenching trauma at the end that encourages us to conitnue reading them.

Jill Mansell books have a wit about them that is hard to beat and this book made long boring train journeys pass in an instant.