Chick Lit Review: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

While I mostly read Young Adult fiction, I love to read a good Chick Lit novel from time to time. I started Chick Lit Time to feature those books on my blog.

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I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
Publisher: The Dial Press (Random House)
Expected Publication: February 14th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 448

Goodreads Summary:
I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree. He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents... she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

My Rating: 5.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Since I fell in love with Sophie's books about eight years ago and always look forward to her new releases, my expectations for I've Got Your Number were pretty high. But again Sophie Kinsella managed to create a chaotic but very loveable main character, a romantic and cute plot and scenes that made me laugh out loud and not caring about strangers witnessing it. If you enjoy Chick Lit novels, go ahead and pick up books by Sophie Kinsella!

More detailed:

If you haven't read any of Sophie Kinsella's books yet, you're definitely missing out on something great. When I heard about I've Got Your Number, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of this and devour it as soon as possible. And despite my high expectations, I wasn't disappointed and only realized how much I've missed Sophie's writing and wonderful stories.

Her characters are always a little bit chaotic in a very charming way. Poppy is no exception. After having managed to lose her engagement ring - a family heirloom - her journey begins. I love how Sophie Kinsella always manages to make me feel like I know a character after a few pages already. Poppy's voice and way of narration are just as addicting as I hoped them to be.

Of course the love story is very cute. It might be a little bit predictible at certain times, but that's why I love reading these light-hearted Chick Lit novels from time to time - just to distract myself with amusing problems of adorable main characters. This love story definitely made me feel good while reading and I had to laugh out loud and swoon more than just once - even during a coffee break at university.

I could continue telling you about how much I loved this novel, but if you think you might like it, just pick it up and let the book show you how awesome it is. I'm already crossing my fingers for more books by Sophie Kinsella, hoping I won't have to wait too long. I've Got Your Number is a wonderful stand-alone novel that I definitely want to recommend for everyone who needs a light-hearted distraction.

More about Sophie Kinsella:

Homepage | Goodreads
My review for her Shopaholic series
Writing as Madeleine Wickham

Have you read I've Got Your Number? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Carina

Fictional Distractions of the Week #14

Welcome to Fictional Distractions of the Week. It is inspired by Book Journey's It's Monday! What are you reading? and Fiktshun's My Reading Pile and it will show you what I'm planning to read during the next week.

The books I plan to read this week:

At first I'll finish I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella. It's been so long since I've read a Chick Lit novel and I especially realized how much I missed reading Sophie's writing. If you like her books or want to read a very amusing Chick Lit novel, you should definitely pick this up next month!

Goodreads Summary:
I've lost it. The only thing in the world I wasn't supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It's been in Magnus's family for three generations. And now, the very same day his parents are coming, I've lost it. The very same day. Do not hyperventilate Poppy. Stay positive!!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry the ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her 'happy ever after' begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring but in the panic that followed, she has now lost her phone. As she paces shakily round the hotel foyer she spots an abandoned phone in a bin. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except the phone's owner, businessman Sam Roxton doesn't agree. He wants his phone back and doesn't appreciate Poppy reading all his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other's lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents... she soon realises that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

I had actually planned to start Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey last week, but then I got approved for I've Got Your Number on NetGalley and wanted to read that first. I'm still a little bit skeptical about whether I'll like Stolen Away or not, because I've heard quite a few mixed things about this so far.

Goodreads Summary:
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

And despite having to learn way too much, I'm also hoping to start Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald, which sounds like such an amazing feel-good-read. Crossing my fingers that I'll have enough time this week.

Goodreads Summmary:
Can a twelve-step program help Sadie kick her unrequited crush for good? Abby McDonald serves up her trademark wit and wisdom in a hilarious new novel.

Seventeen-year-old Sadie is in love: epic, heartfelt, and utterly onesided. The object of her obsession - ahem, affection - is her best friend, Garrett Delaney, who has been oblivious to Sadie's feelings ever since he sauntered into her life and wowed her with his passion for Proust (not to mention his deep-blue eyes). For two long, painful years, Sadie has been Garrett's constant companion, sharing his taste in everything from tragic Russian literature to art films to '80s indie rock - all to no avail. But when Garrett leaves for a summer literary retreat, Sadie is sure that the absence will make his heart grow fonder - until he calls to say he's fallen in love. With some other girl!

A heartbroken Sadie realizes that she's finally had enough. It's time for total Garrett detox! Aided by a barista job, an eclectic crew of new friends (including the hunky chef, Josh), and a customized selfhelp guide, Sadie embarks on a summer of personal reinvention full of laughter, mortifying meltdowns, and a double shot of love.

What are your Fictional Distractions of the Week?

In My Mailbox #39

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives bloggers the chance to appreciate the books they got last week and to meet new people.

Interesting posts:

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent (Review)
The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman (Review)
Interview with Ruth Warburton + Giveaway
Sign-up for the I ♥ YA GIVEAWAY HOP

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The books I was gifted:

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Switched by Amanda Hocking

I got these amazing books and a huge bunch of pretty bookmarks from Michelle from Much Loved Books - thank you sooo much!

The book I won:

Anew by Chelsea Fine

Thanks to Chelsea Fine.

The books I bought:

Everneath by Brodi Ashton (my review)

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

Moon Spell by Samantha Young (Kindle)

Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens (Kindle)

I got Moon Spell and Overprotected for free from Amazon.

The books I got for review:

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Slated by Teri Terry

Heaven by Christoph Marzi

The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski

Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler

Rock and a Hard Place by Angie Stanton

Huge thanks to NetGalley & Random House, Hachette Children's Books, J.A. Redmerski, Ann Redisch Stampler and Angie Stanton.

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I really couldn't be happier about the books I received last week. Thanks to everyone who sent me books this week, especially Michelle who sent me three books I've been dying to read! Thankfully my exams will be over in two weeks and I will finally be able to read as much as I want to without feeling bad about wasting time that I should have used to learn.

Remember to sign up for the I ♥ YA GIVEAWAY HOP and read my interview with Ruth Warburton and enter for a chance to win her debut novel A Witch in Winter.

What books did you get in your mailbox?

Carina

P.s.: I reached 1000+ GFC followers last week! OMG! Thank you!!!

Chick Lit Time: Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

While I mostly read Young Adult fiction, I love to read a good Chick Lit novel from time to time. I started Chick Lit Time to feature those books on my blog.

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There are books you like. Books you love. And then there are the books that will always stay with you, books you'll never forget. When I picked up my very first chick-lit novel eight years ago (just because I felt more grown-up than I actually was), I didn't expect it to be the start of a series that I'll always love.

This includes a few spoilers for the series.

Confessions of a Shopaholic was, and still is, a fantastic novel that combines light-heartedness and romance with a slight dose of embarrassment and never failed to make me smile. When you have a main character like Rebecca Bloomwood, the story never gets boring - her problems seem to be waiting for her wherever she is.

The first novel of the series, Confessions of a Shopaholic, is definitely my favorite. We get introduced to Rebecca's world and her problems: She has a job she doesn't really like, no boyfriend and a "very tiny" shopping addiction. And how do you forget that you don't have enough money to pay all the bills? Well, Rebecca does what she loves to do: She just buys a little something to make her smile.

In the second novel of the series, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Becky gets the chance to live in New York with her boyfriend Luke. While Luke was only introduced in the first novel (and it took quite a while for Becky to like him), we get to see more of him. 

But, just like for a reader, for Luke it's not very easy to deal with her shopping. New York is a paradise for our little shopaholic and doesn't take long until Rebecca has to deal with the consequences. But just like she did in the first novel, she realizes that she has to get herself out of this mess and does this her typical charme.

I know that, so far, this sounds like a very superficial series. And I have to admit that in certain moments this is true. It appears as if clothes, shoes, make-up - shopping - are the most important things in Rebecca Bloomwood's life. But once you take a closer looks at how she deals with the problems and how important it is to her that her friends and family are feeling good, it's easy to see that other things are still more important to her.

In Shopaholic Ties the Knot, the third novel of the series, Rebecca and Luke are now officially living in New York, she is working at Barney's (finally a job she likes) and to top all of this off, Luke is proposing to her. Now she can finally marry the man of her dreams.

But what happens when suddenly both, her own mother and Luke's mother are planning to seperate weddings? What would you prefer? A huge Plaza wedding with every single dream come true, thanks to the cold Elinor, or rather a small but beautiful wedding at home planned by her own mother, who alwys dreamed to do so?

After all, we are talking about Becky Bloomwood, so everything works out in the end. But of course not without a few embarrassing moments and a lot of fear that everything will go horribly wrong. This is one of the novels where you can really see Becky's character: Yes, she makes mistakes, but in this case it's rather because she doesn't want to hurt anyone. And she does everything she can do to clean up the mess. Of course again with the help of her best friend Suze who you can't help but fall in love with a little bit.

I have to admit that the fourth novel of the series, Shopaholic & Sister, is my least favorite. It's good as well and you get to see even more of Becky's love for her friends and family, but somehow I'm not a fan of the "lost sister found"-storyline.

The amusing thing about this novel is that her half-sister Jessica is Rebecca's complete opposite. She hates shopping, saves her money instead of spending it and doesn't even seem to want a connection with Becky (who is completely enamored with the thought of having a sister).

Again this novel stresses how important it is for Becky that people she cares about like her. Despite the differences between her and Jessica, she doesn't give up and continually tries to make her half-sister see that they could be friends. To do that she doesn't stop at literally life-threatening actions (just let me tell you that Jess likes to climb mountains, Becky... not so much).

At the end of the first novel Becky realizes that she is pregnant and the fifth novel of the series, Shopaholic & Baby, deals with her pregnancy. Just imagine all the clothes and furniture and toys she can buy for the unborn baby!

But the real problem starts to show itself when Becky is adamant that she should go to the obstetrician all the stars go to - Venetia Carter. Too bad that this very pretty doctor actually is Luke's ex-girlfriend and still seems to have a thing for him. The situation gets even worse when Luke starts to behave weirdly and Becky assumes that he has an affair with Venetia.

And again Becky doesn't give up. She's afraid that Luke would leave her for Venetia, but she continues to fight for their marriage - even though her attempts might be a little bit confusing for dear Luke. In the end, everything works out of course and their baby girl Minnie is born. 

But Minnie isn't the sweet, innocent daughter Becky had thought she would be. Just like her mother, Minnie loves to wreak havoc wherever she goes - especially in boutiques and shopping centers which annoys Becky but never fails to make a reader laugh.

While this makes sure you are amused while reading the novel, this story concentrates a lot on working out Becky and Luke's relationship, showing that they can stick together even during "bad times". In Mini Shopaholic we can witness again how important it is to Becky that the people she loves are happy.

All in all, the Shopaholic series is the one series that I can always re-read, no matter how often I have already read those novels. Becky's adventures always make me laugh and I hope that there'll be many more books in this series. Yes, at times it might seem like a little bit superficial, but to be honest: Sometimes you need something that doesn't make you think to much. And if you're able to see what's below the surface, you might fall in love with those books just like I did.

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Have you read the Shopaholic series? What did you think about it?
Carina