Finding Audrey – by Sophie Kinsella

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Shopaholic series comes a terrific blend of comedy, romance, and psychological recovery in a contemporary YA novel sure to inspire and entertain.

An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.

My Opinion:

*Book provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I haven’t read a YA book in a while and when I heard that Sophia Kinsella was publishing one, I was really curious and excited. I love Sophie’s books and couldn’t wait to find out what she’d do with a different genre.

The story follows Audrey and her family. Audrey is suffering from a social anxiety disorder, she hasn’t been to school for a long time, always wears her dark glasses and hates being around people. She is seeing Dr. Sarah and that really helps her.

Audrey’s family is great. There is little Felix, he’s so much fun. Her mum Anne is really protective and strict. Whenever the kid’s do something they are not supposed to, she calls for her husband Chris. He seems like a nice guy and it’s fun seeing them as a family. Last bit not least, there is Frank. Frank loves computer games, it’s all he does. He even brings it to the level of getting banned from the computer. His friend Linus comes over quite often. Audrey likes him and they click instantly. I felt really happy for Audrey, she finally started opening up to someone outside of the family. I loved how their relationship developed, how he slowly cracked her shell. Small gestures, like notes, little touches and the challenges he has for her, so much fun to read about and filled with magic and sparks.

When Audrey decides to meet a girl, who has been mean to her, Linus disagrees with her. Linus was right and when he doesn’t text her back, Audrey just leaves… They start looking for her… Misunderstandings, worry, anger and fear make this novel something really special.

I enjoyed the little scenes, where Audrey films her family. It gives great insight to their lives and their relationships. Frank is a great brother.

The characters are all a great bunch and Audrey is a wonderful main character. Sophie’s writing makes you feel like being there with the character, as part of their life. It also allows the reader to get into Audrey’s head and really understand her feelings. I didn’t know anything about anxiety or social anxiety and this book made me understand people suffering from it. Audrey is a lovely and wonderful girl, who shows a lot of emotions and strength.

This book contains humour, the bond of a family and a lot of heart-warming scenes and moments. I really hope Sophie will write more YA books, because this one is fab! I couldn’t put it down!!!

Rating: 5/5

My possible cast:

Audrey: Emma Fuhrmann

Linus: Will Shadley

Sophie on Twitter: @KinsellaSophie Website: http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk Goodreads - Amazon UK

Can You Keep A Secret? - by Sophie Kinsella

Original Cover

My own copy

The blurb:

Emma is like every girl in the world. She has a few little secrets.

Emma is sitting on a turbulent plane. She’s always been a v. nervous flyer. She really thinks that this could be her last moment. So, naturally enough, she starts telling the man sitting next to her – quite a dishy American, but she’s too frightened to notice -all her innermost secrets. How she scans the backs of intellectual books and pretends she’s read them. How she does her hair up like Princess Leia in her bedroom. How she’s not sure if she has a G-spot, and whether her boyfriend could find it anyway. How she feels like a fraud at work – everyone uses the word ‘operational’ all the time but she hasn’t a clue what it means. How the coffee at work is horrible. How she once threw a troublesome client file in the bin. If ever there was a bare soul, it’s hers.

She survives the flight, of course, and the next morning the famous founding boss of the whole mega corporation she works for is coming for a look at the UK branch. As he walks around, Emma looks up and realises…

It’s the man from the plane.

What will he do with her secrets? He knows them all – but she doesn’t know a single one of his. Or… does she?

My Opinion:

Imagine, you’re in a plane and you think you are going to crash. Would you tell a complete stranger all your secrets?

Emma did it and then the next thing she knows: he is walking into her office and he is the founder of the company she works at!!!! And now he knows everything, how she doesn’t like the coffee at work, how she sneaks out of work with her friend Katie to go to Starbucks to catch up... This is really embarrassing; hopefully he’ll forget everything.

Then there is her gorgeous boyfriend Connor and he wants to move in with her. But ever since this flight back home from Scotland Emma has changed.

Jack (her boss) seems to be very nice and doesn’t care about her secrets, yes he teases her sometimes, but they seem to be on the same level. Emma is falling for him and breaks up with Connor and then Jack takes her on a date. His perfectly planned date doesn’t turn out that well. Yes, he knows what she likes, but it’s it what she really wants in this moment? No, not really.

This continues and he has some special things in mind for her, which I think is great. Their scenes are adorable and funny, it was such a pleasure to read them.

When Jack exposes all of her secrets everything is turned upside down and Emma doesn’t understand the world anymore. A new and interesting path started in this story and everything about it felt so vivid for me. Lovely characters and entertaining all the way.

This story is so cute. You feel with Emma every step oft he way. Witty, funny and touching!!! Go read it now :)

Rating:

My possible cast:

Emma: Ashley Olsen

Connor: Chord Overstreet

Jack: Hugh Jackman

Lissy: Evangeline Lilly

Jemima: Amber Heard

Sophie Kinsella on Twitter: @KinsellaSophie

Website: http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk

Wedding Night - by Sophie Kinsella

Original Cover

My own cover

The blurb:

Lottie just wants to get married – to the right man, of course. She’s sure her boyfriend is about to propose.

So when the proposal doesn’t happen and she meets her first love from long ago, Lottie decides on drastic action. They’ll get married right now, with no engagement, no fuss and, above all, nos ex until after they’re safely married. It’s the perfect plan.

On the other hand ...

Fliss is in the middle of a nightmare divorce and just wants her little sisiter to avoid the mistaks she made. She decides Lottie’s marriage hast o be stopped at all costs and chases (un)happy couple to their romantic honeymoon venue on a Greek Island.

Will Lottie have a wedding night to remember ... or one to forget?

My Opinion:

When I first started reading the book I didn’t really like it. It took me quite a while to get into the story, but when I did I couldn't put it down. Only when Ben and then also Lorcan come along I got hooked. 

What about Lottie’s and Ben’s Wedding Night? Or what will Fliss do to stop them?

When Lorcan and Lottie’s ex-boyfriend Richard come along everything gets more complicated. As a reader you can feel the attraction between Fliss and Locran the first moment they meet. And you feel so sad for Richard and he is such a sweetheart. The fact that he wants to fly to Ikonos (the honeymoon destination of Lottie and Ben) and get her back is just soooooo romantic.

The honeymoon doesn’t really go the way Ben and Lottie planned. Whenever they have another go at their Wedding Night something goes wrong. It was so much fun to read these different scenes.

Richard, Fliss and Locran meet at the airport all on the way to Ikonos, for different reasons though. Fliss wants to stop the Wedding Night, Richard just wants Lottie back and Lorcan is there for business. However, there is a problem with their flight and they have to stop over in Sofia. That gives Lorcan and Fliss time to talk and the tension between them is huge. However, Fliss tells him to much. She tells him about her plan to stop the Wedding Night. He doesn’t understand her. The atmosphere between them is really weird the next morning. However, they understand each other really well, because they were both married and know how hard a divorce can be. In Ikonos it’s her who tells him what she thinks about him and all his ideas and then he realises what his future holds. The ups and downs between them made almost scream, I just wanted them to be together.

The co-narration of the two sisters is great. We got insight to both their thoughts and feelings and they were still connected all the time. 

Ikonos is wonderful to read about and it makes you want to book holidays immediately.

The ending is sweet, cute and so much fun.

I couldn’t put the book down, I really got addicted to it. Now I really want to read more about Lorcan and Fliss, because I think they’re perfect for each other and there is so much chemistry between them.

This story is soooo funny and full of laugh-out-loud moments.

Rating: 

My possible cast:

Lottie: Lea Michele

Fliss: Rachel Bilson

Richard: Erik Dane

 

Ben: Adam Gregory

Lorcan: Adam Brody

 

Sophie Kinsella on Twitter: @KinsellaSophie

Website: http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk