Book Review: It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello

Lisa Darling - high-flying TV-exec and twice-divorced mother-of-two - has enough on her plate without having to deal with the handsome New Yorker parachuted in to her best friend's job at work.

She's already navigating life with a grotty teenage son, organising a PTA cheese & wine event, supporting her oldest friend through breast cancer treatment and, since she hit 47, facing a new perimenopause symptom every day. It's no wonder she never has time for Pilates or that DIY panelling she keeps seeing on Instagram (though she'd be the first to admit she'd rather share a bottle of wine with her friends any day).

So when Lisa starts feeling overheated every time she clashes with Zach Russo, she convinces herself it will pass. Maybe her HRT just needs adjusting. Until, that is, she finds herself in a sexy - and seriously ill-advised - clinch with him. And then another...

All of which leads to one question: these long-forgotten feelings couldn't be caused by something else entirely... could they?

Review: Jane Costello is back and is making me laugh the way I have known and loved for so many years now. I love that authors I read in my 20s and 30 when they were writing about women like me in their 20s and 30s are now updating the narrative and writing about women like me in their 40s and 50s! I am here for all of it!

I loved getting to know Lisa and her to do list. Even though I don’t have the kids and the ex-husband that she has to deal with, I still absolutely related to her and her never ending to do list, her stressful job and the fact that she is the only one to volunteer for the PTFA events, the note taking and the clearing out of the hamster she didn’t actually ever want! She is a feisty individual and is just trying to live her life and do right by her friends, she family and most-importantly her two sons!

Then along comes Zach, covering in the media world for her best friend and he reality throws a spanner into her works. This is where all of the best romance tropes are hit, this author was really going for the bingo card of situations she could put Zach and Lisa into. This made me laugh but also made me incredibly frustrated (in a good way) at times too because I just wanted everything to work out for Lisa. 

Although there are a lot of laughs in this book, there are also other parts that I am sure a lot of readers will relate to that are all parts of life when you’re in your 40s, lille having a friend who is dealing with cancer, having a lot of people let you down on a daily basis and having a son who is doing everything he can to assert his own identity by rebelling against you! I also loved the parts where she had last minute things for school come through and didn’t know how maths works in school today-very relatable!

If you are already a fan of Jane Costello, you will not be disappointed in this book and if this is the first time you have picked up a novel of hers, you are in for a treat! I loved every minute of this, I can really recommend the audio and I can’t wait for the next book that is out soon!

To order your copy now, just click here!

Review: The World At My Feet by Catherine Isaac

 The secrets that bind us can also tear us apart…

1990. Harriet is a journalist. Her job takes her to dangerous places, where she asks questions and tries to make a difference. But when she is sent to Romania, to the state orphanages the world is only just learning about, she is forced to rethink her most important rule. 

2018. Ellie is a gardener. Her garden is her sanctuary, her pride and joy. But, though she spends long days outdoors, she hasn’t set foot beyond her gate for far too long. Now someone enters her life who could finally be the reason she needs to overcome her fears.

From post-revolution Romania to the idyllic English countryside, The World at My Feet is the story of two women, two worlds, and a journey of self-discovery that spans a lifetime.

Review: This book is so hard to review without giving away any spoilers but I really want you to be able to discover it without knowing anything about it just like I did because it really is a beautiful journey with highs, lows and everything in between. 

I really loved meeting Ellie. I warmed to her straight away and I love the fact that she is an influencer as well. Massive well done to Catherine Isaac for not being afraid to tackle a job that someone can feasibly do in today's climate without needing to leave their own garden. This also meant that we got some mixed media text in the book with Instagram posts and also a little insight into Ellie checking how well her posts were doing. We also get to explore some little talked of mental health issues through Ellie. I love the fact that these issues were shown not to be as cut as dry as they are often portrayed in many forms of media and the fact that they are shown through Ellie's story make them all the more relatable. 

This novel does jump about a little time wise and so it must have been carefully and intricately constructed. Although Harriet's story doesn't get as much coverage as Ellie's does throughout the book hers is great to read about too and I feel like hers would have been one that couldn't been overlooked by many writers or readers. It was great to hear of someone balancing career and family and also someone taking a stand when she saw injustice taking place. I would love to revisit her story again in the future because I feel like there is more to tell. 

For all that this book has many emotional moments, there are also some really funny and heart warming moments too as well as some romantic  explorations. This writer has balanced the romance with the other much more delicate topics of the book so well. I feel wrung out having read this book in the best possible way because I feel like I have gone through this journey with Ellie, felt every feeling she has felt and then some. Oscar, Lucy and Jamie definitely prove to be excellent side characters and I loved the fact that they also had their own fully formed lives and stories as well as being there for Ellie and adding depth to her story too. 

This is a book that has to be experienced, I think everyone reading this will find something personal to take from it. Catherine Isaac has done it again, this really is another beautiful novel!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Messy Wonderful Us by Catherine Isaac

What if loving someone means keeping a secret that will break your heart?

In late 1983, a letter arrives from Italy, containing secrets so unthinkable that it is hidden away, apparently forever. More than three decades later, it is found . . . by the last person who was ever supposed to see it.

When Allie opens an envelope in her grandmother’s house, it changes everything she knows about her family – and herself.

With the truth liable to hurt those she loves most, she hires a private detective to find out what happened to her late mother in the summer before Allie was born. Taking leave from her job as a research scientist, she is led to the sun-drenched shores of Lake Garda, accompanied by her best friend Ed. But the secrets that emerge go far beyond anything they were expecting. Now, Allie must find the courage to confront her family’s tangled past and reshape her own future.

Review: Well I loved this book an inordinate amount. It really does have everything. I laughed, i identified with the characters and what they were all going through, I cried and I was truly left thinking-pure brilliance. 

I so enjoyed getting to know Allie over the course of this novel. She is a trouble person and when everything is turned on its head for her she reacts in the ways we all would react. I loved watching her grow and change over the course of the novel and I would love to spend even more time with her. I didn't always agree with the choices that she made but that fact that she has flaws made for an even better rad. 

Ed is a great character too. He doesn't seem particularly complex at the start of the novel, just a genuinely nice guy and then, for me, Ed's story arc when on the biggest roller coaster of them all. I loved finding out more about him and spending time with him. In many ways, for me he stuck with me longer than Allie did and I have so much respect for Catherine Isaac for the journey that she took Ed on. 

A lot of authors would shy away from some of the subjects that Catherine Isaac explores in this novel but this writer jumps straight in and tackles some very taboo issues head on and does so in an amazingly sensitive and wonderful way. I defy anyone to read this novel and not feel something. 

I was left uplifted by this book. I devoured it in one sitting because I just couldn't stop turning the pages and delving deeper and deeper into Ed and Allie's journey. I can't wait to see what is next from this writer but I highly, highly recommend Messy Wonderful Us. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: You, Me, Everything by Catherine Isaac

Set in the French countryside on an idyllic summer vacation, a delicious, tender novel about finding every bit of joy in life no matter what's thrown at us

Sick of his lies, cheating ways, and complete lack of interest in fatherhood, Jessica left her boyfriend, Adam, only months after she gave birth to their son--and never looked back. Adam moved to France to follow his dream, unencumbered by a serious relationship and the child he never wanted.

Ten years later, Susan, Jess's mother, lies in a nursing home, battling a debilitating disease. Susan forces Jess to recognize what she's always refused to acknowledge: that William needs his father in his life. 

So, Jess and ten-year-old William set off to spend the summer at Château de Roussignol, deep in the rich, sunlit hills of the Dordogne, where Adam runs a beautiful hotel. There, Jess has a mission: to make Adam fall in love with his own son.

By turns heartbreaking and hopeful, You Me Everything is a novel about one woman's fierce determination to grab hold of the family she has, and a romantic story about finding love even under the most unexpected circumstances.

Review: I loved this book, i loved the way the story was told and I loved Jess as a lead character. This books is exactly what it says it is, heartbreaking and hopefully all the same time. You will not want to put it down once you have picked it up because Jess is such a great character to spend time with, but also you will need to know what is going to happen next. As soon as I started reading this book, I felt like I just needed to settle in for the night because once I was there, there was no way I was moving. 

I am deliberately not mentioning the story line here because I read this book completely unspoiled, to be honest I went into this book completely blind, I didn't even read the synopsis and I really enjoyed it because I didn't have a clue what was coming my way. I loved the setting, it reminded me of my year 8 trip to France, and the weather you get during the summer there, the feelings and the smells of that time of year. I also loved the structure of the book. There are flashbacks to Jess's past, far back in the past but also back to the recent past and this really helps you get to know her as a character, but also helps you continue to turn to the pages of the book hungrily, to find out what impact the past will have had on Jess's present!

As I have already mentioned, Jess is a great main character for this novel. She is so easy to relate to and get along with because she has flaws. She is not perfect and we know that as soon as we meet her. I feel sure that, like me, you will love that about her and love this author for writing a flawed character who is just like you and me. She is a mum and, like most mums, she feels like she isn't doing a good enough job, but she is also a daughter, and like most of us too, she feels she isn't doing a good enough job at that too. She is a great character to tell this story and I really hope that you will fall in love with her too. 

This book is just lovely and once you pick it up you really will want to settle in, get to know Jess and go on this journey with her from start to finish. You will feel like you are in France with her and William and I guarantee you will end this book feeling incredibly hopeful and fulfilled. I loved it and I am sure you will too!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US (published May 1st in US)

Review: The Love Shack by Jane Costello

Life's great when you're 29 years old with a gorgeous girlfriend and fulfilling job. Until you have to move back in with your mum . . . Dan and Gemma have found their dream first home, but the asking price is the stuff of nightmares. The only way they'll ever save enough for the deposit is by moving in, rent-free, with Dan's mum. It's a desperate solution, but it's only for six months. And Gemma's determined to make it work, no matter how bad things get. But between Dan's mum's kitchen karaoke, her constant innuendos, irrepressible argumentative streak and - worst of all - her ham and pineapple curries, life back at home would test the patience of two saints. Which Dan and Gemma most definitely are not. Then, as they're trying to convince themselves it will all be worth it, Gemma's past comes back to haunt her. And suddenly the foundations of their entire relationship are shaken to their core…

Review: another fab novel from Jane Costello. What I love about books by this author is that they are so true to real life, you could imagine all of the events in this book happening to you and you know you wouldn't find them funny but in these books they provide you with unlimited belly laughs. There was quite a few occasions when I was reading this book that I was asked why I was laughing and then I had to tell people about the book-so much fun! 

The characters in this book are relatable as well. I really felt for Dan and Gemma trying to find their perfect house and the endles searching and hoops they have to jump through, whether you've ever searched for a property to rent or to buy you will be able to relate to things they are going through at everything dates of this novel. I have to admit that the whole house buying scenario really did stress me out in parts but it provided hilarity as well! I have to say that I liked Dan a lot more than I liked Gemma, I know I shouldn't pick favourites but... I loved how optimistic dan was. Gemma had her sights set on her house and was willing to do anything to get it. She also didn't treat dan with enough love and respect as I thought she should because dan was lovely. 

Dans mum plays a massive comedy part in this novel and I really warmed to her even though she did stop dan and Gemma from living like a normal young couple, she really wanted what was best for her son and her duaghter in law. Dan is also very close to his grand more which I thought was a refreshing part of the plot and something a little different from a lot of novels in this genre. Dan and Gemma's friends also provide some comedy moments throughout the story and their little sub plots run alongside the main plot very happily but are still strong storylines themselves! 

Although I did find parts of the novel stressful I still really enjoyed this book. I thought the pace was a little slower than other Jane Costello novels I have read in the past but it is still of the same calibre that I expect from this fab novelist! Whether you've read anything by this author before or not The Love Shack would be a great place to startup, and if you're a veteran fan like myself, you won't be diaspointed! 

Glitterati plus Giveaway! An evening with Ali Harris, Jane Costello,Paige Toon and Hanna Beckerman

On Thursday 28th August I got tickets for a fabulous authors event at the Grosovner House a Hotel. My mum and I had the pleasure of listening to Simon and Schuster Authors Ali Harris,

Paige Toon and Jane Costello. The discussion was being chaired by another lovely author-Hannah Becekrman. The whole vent was held in the Red Bar of the hotel, a gorgeous venue and so we were greeted with an offer of Prosecco or Qcumber water and handed cupcakes as we sat down. There were nibbles on each table and the most amazing mini lemon curd filled doughnuts glistened tantalisingly in martini glasses! 

There were also fab cocktails named after each of the authors books for us to try...

The authors were asked questions by the fabulous Hannah Beckerman. She asked them questions such as which of their characters they would want to be trapped on a desert island with, how they get their inspiration for their wild and wonderful locations and how they got into writing! It was wonderful hearing their answering and really inspirational. 

Ali read from her novel Written in the Stars. I recently received this book-it must have been so difficult to write. She also talked about her new novel which is going to be set on Broadway in present day and the 1950s. It sounds awesome! 

Jane read a very funny extract from The Time of Our Lives which had us all chuckling. She talked about the fact that she has to sit down and write from beginning to end, turning off her inner editor before going onto multiple drafts to get her novels to be the fabulously funny read that we know and love! 

Paige read from Thirteen Weddings. I reviewed this back in July, it was such a fun book and had the usual escapism that we can expect from a Paige Toon novel. Her new novel is set in Australia and she recently revelled the title on twitter. She said that she would like to be trapped on a desert island with the lovely Leo from The Longest Holiday (an excellent choice!)

We got a wonderful goody bag at the end of the event containing a Jackie Collins cookbook, some Pop Chips and Qcumber water, a Bookish and Proud notebook, a Books and The City Tote, a little book of lovely quotes and an amazing Benefit mascara. 

I'm being kind and lovely to you all today and giving you the chance to win some of this fab bookish swag. I've got 2 copies of the cookbook, tote bag and mascara to giveaway, here's what you can win...

Just leave me a comment below telling me your favourite Books and The a City author (if you can decide) and I'll pick 2 lucky winners in exactly a weeks time, make sure you keep an eye on the blog and twitter for the announcement! 

Thanks again to The Grosovner and Simon and Schuster/Books and the city for organising the event and to the amazing authors for being so thoroughly entertaining! 

I met Jane Costello and Santa Montefiore! Plus Giveaway Winner...

I've been lucky enough to meet two amazing authors in the past week. Last Thursday I attended an event at a very trendy bar in the city to meet Simon and Schuster author Jane Costello and this Tuesday I went to the extremely swanky Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane to Meet another Simon and Schuster author Santa Montefiore. Both events we fabulous so I decided to do a post about both of them. 

The Jane Costello even was run by stylist magazine and included reading, cocktails, chatting and of course a book signing. Jane began by reading from her new book, the Time of Our lives. I recently reviewed this so do check it out! She had us all in stitches as it is a very funny book. She then went on to answer our questions. One of the questions was about whether she would ever write in another genre. She said that she enjoyed writing comedy books so much but she does like the idea of writing a really gory crime book, under a pen name of course! She said she feels she got her publishing deal as a fluke, simply because someone was off on holiday and so it was a different person who read her manuscript for Bridesmaids! She did say, though that she feels the key to writing is reading lots and lots (I should be ok there then! )

She also talked about which of her books she would like to be made into a film and confirmed that whichever book she is writing/promoting at that time automatically jumps its way to her most favourite. When asked how much of her is in her books, she did hint that when she wrote All The Single Ladies she was newly divorced and exploring the world of Internet dating, so that might have crept in there a little bit! 

I had a lovely chat with her before the event and she was nice enough to sign my book for me. We also received a goody bag. (Which you will have seen in my giveaway!) the cocktails we lush and it was just a lovely evening, thank you to stylist and Simon and Schuster for organising it! 

The second fabulous author event I went to this week was the Literati event at the Grosvenor House Hotel organised again by Simon and Schuster. The event featured Santa Montefiore talking about her book Secrets of The Lighthouse. I haven't actually read this book yet and so was thrilled to find that we were given a copy of the book and were able to get them signed at the end. This event had the added excitement of attending it with Amanda from One More Page. It's always lovely to catch up its another blogger and swap book recommendations! 

The champagne flowed and the lovely canapés circulated and then it was time for Santa to entertain us all, and boy did she? She had some wonderful anecdotes about her trips around the world, her husband and her family. She said that she was pleased to be doing an event in the UK because last time she went on book tour to America, she ended up with only one person in the audience! She also said that she now has her own writing room where she lights her scented canceled, outer her flowers on the desk and plays classical music to help her get into the writing mood. Her husband, on the other hand, prefers eighties music played really loudly as he writes and so he now writes downstairs, there to help with historical facts and figures if needs be. 

She was such a funny, entertaining speaker and debated the merits of Kindles versus real books with Amanda and I before the event. She also told us that the best writing tip that she has is to write from experience and so that is why she sets her books in places she has been to. The whole evening was just lovely including the champagne and canapés. It was great to catch up with Amanda and Cesca from Novelicious who was taking time out from her own writing to attend the event. Thank you to the Grosvenor and Simon and Schuster for looking after us so well and thank you to Santa for the entertaining stories!  

And finally, the winner of my Jane Costello Goody Bag giveaway with the BEST holiday plans is....

PAT well done, I loved the idea of going to a remote Scottish island to escape it all (that's what I'm  doing for my summer holidays this year!) send me a message with your address and I'll head on down to the post office to send you your parcel! 

Review: The Time of Our Lives by Jane Costello

Imogen and her friends have had their fill of budget holidays, cattle-class flights and 6 a.m. offensives for a space by the pool.

So when one of the group wins a VIP holiday at Barcelona's hippest new hotel, they plan to sip champagne with the jet set, party with the glitterati and switch off in surroundings of unapologetic luxury.

But as they mingle with movie stars, mafia bosses and millionaires, it becomes clear - with riotous consequences - that even in the most glamorous of locations, things can go wrong. Very wrong . . .

Review: oh it was so nice to get back into one of Jane Costello's books again, it felt a bit like coming home. All of her books are the perfect mix of humour, love, real life and just the right percentage of eventfulness! This book was no exception! I raced through this novel because I was pulled in right from the word go and wanted so badly to find out what was going to happen that I ended up staying up really late just so I could finish it. I laughed really hard, I cried and I awed...

Imogen is just a gorgeous character, so down to earth and real it's actually amazing. I could identify with her so much. She is stressed out by work, loves her mates, loves her daughter and is a little bit scared of getting Into another relationship after her last big affair. I think it's just so great to read about a real character going through the kinds of things we all go through. Her friends on the trip are lovely as well and each have their own secondary story lines going on which is fabulous! Of course there is some male action too and there are one or two scenes which got seriously steamy thanks to the gorgeous hunk in glass Harry (loved him) he is a true gentleman and definitely my new book boyfriend! 

The storyline itself is light-hearted and yet seriously stressful at points. Because of Imogen's job, she seems to be constantly on call and at some points I really did want to just dump her phone in the sea! I was feeling the stress for her, but at the same time revelling in the sunshine and laughing at the capers her and her friends got into. There are more serious issues dealt with in the book and Jane Costello has written these very well indeed and intertwined them perfectly amongst the more serious storylines. 

Whilst I couldn't picture the setting as I haven't been to Barcelona, there was some wonderful description by the author that totally made me want to be there right now. The thought of an infinity pool, a sunny beach and a sun terrace filled me with energy, but because of that it was the perfect escapism from the British weather! This book would be a great introduction into Jane Costello's work if you've never read anything from this author before. If you are a fan of her work then you will love this new offering, the perfect summer affair and I guarantee you will not want to out it down! 

Mini review: The Mini Break by Jane Costello

An exclusive eBook short story from the bestselling author of The Wish List, Jane Costello. Featuring an exclusive extract from Jane's new novel The Time Of Our Lives. 

Review: this is a teeny tiny taster from a fabulous author nd includes a much bigger tastes of her wonderful new novel The Time of Our Lives. 

The thing I love about Jane Costello's writing is how witty and funny it is. You only need to sample a couple of pages of her work to realise what a fab writer she is. This novella showcases that brilliantly. It's a cute little story about a couple of girls who end up unwittingly on a golfing holiday. Of course there are many mishaps and some girly bonding and that's all you really need in a sassy short story like this right? The fab thing is that this little treat introduces us to James who actually pops up in Jane's new novel. I would definitely like to her more from James. 

This is the perfect treat for a lunchtime read or to fill those last few bus stops on the train to work. Or better still, do like I did and read it as a teaser for her new novel before you delve back into the wonderful world of this authors writing! 

A lot of people don't read short stories or novellas because they seem pointless or simply gap fillers but I think that this little treat showcases exactly what a short story from an author you're familiar with can be. This is something to wet your appetite before their next novel comes out. This has prepared me perfectly for Janes new novel since its been a nearly year since I read something of hers. It doesn't matter that it's shorter than the books I normally read, it gave me a little hit of a lovely author I really enjoy. It was refreshing to begin something and actually finish it in the same sitting. I'm a busy person and sometimes I just need that satisfaction of starting something I know I'll finish before I have to go to work, or before I have to finish my lunch. I think novellas and short stories have a definite place in any readers bookshelves and I very much enjoy them! 

Review! The Wish List by Jane Costello

There are six months left of Emma Reiss's twenties. . . and she has some unfinished business.

Emma and her friends are about to turn thirty, and for Emma it's a defining moment. Defined, that is, by her having achieved none of the things she'd imagined she would.

Her career is all wrong, her love life is a desert and that penthouse apartment she pictured herself in simply never materialised. Moreover, she's never jumped out of a plane, hasn't met the man she's going to marry, has never slept under the stars, or snogged anyone famous - just some of the aspirations on a list she and her friends compiled fifteen years ago.

As an endless round of birthday parties sees Emma hurtle towards her own thirtieth, she sets about addressing these issues. But, as she discovers with hilarious consequences, some of them are trickier to tick off than she'd thought…

With only one novel to complete the set, this was a welcome addition to my highly-enjoyable Jane Costello Marathon. A big thanks to Amanda at Onemorepage for sending it to me!

Review: Another cracker of a novel by Jane Costello. I have been thoroughly enjoying working my way through her novels and have been desperate to read the latest addition to her collection. This one is just as witty, fun and entertaining as the rest, certainly up to her usual fabulous standards!

This wonderful author always lands the reader right in on the action and this is no exception, straight away we find out about what exactly 'The Wish List' is and the fact that Emma has a matter of months to tackle it before her thirtieth birthday. We are introduced to all the characters. Emma is wonderful as a Heroine. She is a successful twenty-something with her own flat and a group of fabulously funny friends, and yet she allows this list to take her to places (metaphorically speaking) that she never thought possible. That, to me, is incredibly brave and inspiring. Her friends are fully supportive of her in this quest.

They are all well-developed characters in their own rights. And in true Jane Costello fashion, they all have issues of their own to deal with. Emma's sister Marianne is living in Edinburgh with her boyfriend, but there is some sort of mystery surrounding why she chose to up and leave her fabulous life in London. Cally is a single mum, but her friends are worried that being a mother has taken away the feisty character they once knew! And Asha is in a relationship, the complexities of which unravel of the course of the novel.

Then of course we have the male lead, Matt. At first I thought Matt seemed like a bit of a sap when he sends Emma a message over Facebook, but he turns out to be a really genuine guy who has Emma's best interests at heart even though he also comes with some baggage of his own. The book has the added bonus of a storyline involving Emma's father and his dating life running parallel with the main storyline, this is definitely worth some laughs and rally adds some depth to Emma's own story!

There were countless times when this book made me laugh, also a couple of times when I shed a tear or two. There was one particular moment during a supermarket scene where my blood literally boiled with anger, such is the power of this authors writing! I love the fact that Jane Costello writes in short chapters BUT it does mean that you may find yourself uttering the 'one more chapter' plea and not actually putting the book down for another 150 pages! This is a great addition to Jane Costello's collection of novels. Something that would be enjoyable whether you have read her novels before or not. I think this would appeal to fans of any age and would make an absolutely FABULOUS summer read! 

You can follow Jane Costello on Twitter @janecostello

Or click here to buy this fabulous novel!

Guest Review! Girl on the Run by Jane Costello (Jane Costello Reviewnumber 4!)

Big thanks to Lynda for sending me this review to be part of my Jane Costello Marathon!

He's a real catch . . . if only she could catch him up

Abby Rogers has been on health kicks before - they involve eating one blueberry muffin for breakfast instead of two. But since starting her own business, after watching one too many episodes of The Apprentice, the 28-year-old's waistline has taken even more of a back seat than her long-neglected love life.

When Abby is encouraged to join her sporty best friend's running club - by none other than its gorgeous new captain - she finds a mysterious compulsion to exercise.

Sadly, her first session doesn't go to plan. Between the obscenely unflattering pink leggings, and the fact that her lungs feel as though they've been set on fire, she vows never to return.
Then her colleague Heidi turns up at work and makes a devastating announcement, one that will change her life - and Abby's - forever.(less)

Review: I began reading “Girl on the Run” at the perfect time – I was also in the middle of training for my first charity race, just like Abby, the main character. And for a girl like me, who prefers chilling on the sofa with a glass of wine rather than running a 10k every night, it was very easy to identify with Abby.

Jane Costello has got the perfect balance for chick lit with “Girl on the Run” – emotion, friendship, courage, laughs and a little bit of romance all intertwined in a very relatable story.

The reader quickly grows fond of Abby and her eclectic group of employees and friends – rooting for them all throughout the story. Jane Costello’s excellent writing skills ensures that each characters’ strong, personal bond with Abby is highlighted throughout the story and each character – no matter how minor - has their own sub-story and defined personality.

The thread of MS throughout the book is emotive yet informative. We see the struggle to come to terms with this disease, not only from the sufferer, but also their nearest and dearest. Costello subtly portrays the profound, domino effect that illness can have on a close-knit group of friends.

This is the first of Jane Costello’s books that I have read, but it certainly won’t be the last. This is chick-lit at its best as we follow the ups and downs of not only Abby but her closest friends, family and loved ones as well as some great awareness-raising for multiple sclerosis and its sufferers.

Review! My Single Friend by Jane Costello

Four bad dates. Three sassy women. Two inseparable friends. And one way too successful makeover . . .

Lucy Tyler and Henry Fox have been best friends since primary school. So when he enlists her help to embark on an image makeover, she and her friends Dominique and Erin approach the project with relish. As well as the haircut and fashion overhaul, there are master classes in flirting and seduction.

But none of the girls imagine at the start of ‘Project Henry’ quite how successful it’s going to be. After a shaky start, Henry’s transformation from Lucy’s terminally single friend to an irresistible sex god takes on a life of its own. And Lucy isn’t at all sure she likes it.

It would help if her dates were more successful. Only, between breaking someone’s arm during a YMCA routine and leaving another in casualty, courtesy of an errant chopstick, they’re anything but. With a romantic history like that, is it any wonder Lucy starts to despair when she finds herself living with the man of everyone else’s dreams?

Review: I was given this book by a friend and told that I would really like it. You never know with that kind of book whether you are actually going to like it, or not, recommendations are difficult. I loved it. It was the first book I read by Jane Costello (and the only book I’d read by her for quite a while) and it was a very good start.

The two main characters in the book are instantly likeable, Henry and Lucy. I loved the fact that it was a male/female friendship, you don’t find that often enough in this genre of novels and I thought their relationship in general to be very realistic and something I could relate to! Lucy is a strong female lead in the book, which is something I love and yet her feelings of jealousy and the questions she has when Henry has his makeover were completely relatable! Henry is also a fun character to read about, I like the fact that his personality doesn’t really ever change, I would have loved to have known him in real life!

The idea for this storyline was truly inspired. Normally in this sort of situation, it’s the female who gets the makeover, and so making the guy get the makeover in this case was really refreshing! There were some truly laugh out loud moments and I literally couldn’t put it down-I read it over two days. There were also some fabulously unexpected moments, some real twists which only added to my enjoyment.

Given that this was my first Jane Costello novel, I definitely chose a good one! It was funny, captivating and a thoroughly enjoyable read, why this didn’t lead to me reading any more novels by Costello until now, I don’t know, but I’m definitely going to continue to work my way through everything else written by this fabulous author!