June 11, 2008 | reading
Hey, I’m compiling a reading list for the Cornerstones course I’m leading in September, on Writing Commercial Women’s Fiction, and I need your help!
What’s the best commercial women’s fiction book you’ve read in the past 12 months? It can be romance, comedy, historical, bonkbuster, literary…as long as it’s aimed at women and it’s commercial. Recent British publications are a bit better for my purposes, but I’ll take all recommendations.
I’ve read a lot of good women’s fiction this year, particularly pure fun stuff by Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews. But I think my favourites were of course, my personal goddess Marian Keyes with This Charming Man, and also I loved Eva Rice’s Lost Art of Keeping Secrets. Both of them hooked me by the gut, kept me reading to the detriment of doing anything else, and gave me a glimpse into a different world from my own.
How about you?
(If the comments box doesn’t come up for you because my blog is broken, email me using the link on the right and I’ll post your recommendations for you.)
Julie says:
Hi Julie!
I reviewed these two contemporary books and really enjoyed them:
Sowing Secrets by Trisha Ashley (Avon)
The Birds and the Bees by Milly Johnson (Pocket Books)
I also enjoyed One Night Stand by Julie Cohen!
Rebecca Chapman says:
Julie,
I really like Rachel Gibson. I know she’s not British, but she is published here under Little Black Dress (as you probably already know). I don’t have a specific title for you (most recent read was ‘Tangled up in youl, but haven’t read one by her that I didn’t enjoy. I also think Julia Quinn is great (also not British), and again, don’t have a specific title for you, but have enjoyed her series about the Bridgertons. (most recent read was ‘Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever’)
Biddy says:
I second the Julia Quinn books and also add in any Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Jennifer Crusie (just can’t help myself). I read Freya North’s Pillow Talk (the novel of the year one) which I enjoyed. And of course any by some woman called Julie Cohen
I’m not sure this counts as aimed at women, Jacqueline Winspear, she writes mysteries with the main detective called Maisie Dobbs. It is all set between the two world wars. I have really enjoyed them.
fran says:
hey,
R Gibson, lover her, especially Sex Lies and Online dating..
also Phillipa Grogory is fab, any of her tudor court books…Melissa Nathan, and not forgetting good old Alan Titchmarsh!
Margaret McDonagh says:
Heaven Sent by Christina
Jones. Fab. One of the
best first lines ever.
Short-listed for the
Melissa Nathan award next
week.
Indeed, anything by Christina
Jones!
And, being biased, Medical
Romance from HMB!!!
Love,
Mags xx
Julie says:
Of course, Mags! How could I forget Christina and her lovely books! If you can read, you’ll love Christina Jones. (And the lovely Medical Romance books, of couse!)
Julie says:
Julie, I haven’t read either of those books
)
so I will check them out. (I have read
One Night Stand I’m afraid!
Rebecca, I like Rachel Gibson too. I
haven’t read any Julia Quinn though with
you and Biddy recommending her I’ll
grab some while I’m in the US.
I’m reading Pillow Talk now, Biddy, and
am really liking the heroine a lot. I think
Freya North has great insight into the
way people think. And I was looking at
that Winspear book when I visited you
last.
I love SEP and JC but as American romance
authors they’re not going to make my
list of what’s being published in this country.
They are two of my own favourites though.
Fran, I just got The Other Boleyn Girl and
can’t wait to read it.
Mags, I enjoy Christina Jones too, though
I haven’t got her latest. And of course
you can never go wrong with a Medical…
More, more, give me more!
Phillipa says:
Julie – I came on to recommend Heaven Sent too. I read it in the winter when I was ‘off’ books totally and it was bursting with freshness and joie de vivre. I’m also enjoying Freya North’s Pillow Talk and marvelling at the variations in POV and tenses – never seen anyone break the ‘rules’ so beautifully or to such purpose. The writing itself is astonishing. I think I’ll just give up!
Nell Dixon says:
Erica James is one of my favourite authors and so is Veronica Henry.
liz says:
Just finished Amy Appleton’s the Bride Hunter and couldn’t put the damn thing down (stayed awake on an overnight flight with it)……..the same although a very different book – Pandora’s Box by Giselle Green. It would be a good choice for a heavier subject but dealt with humour and love.
starsister says:
The most interesting picks off the “commercial fiction for women” pile:
Shanna Swendson: “Enchanted, Inc.” – great main idea (the heroine is special because she is completely un-magical)
Kathleen Tessaro: “Elegance” – structured according to the articles in a (real) 50s guide to elegance
Karin Kallmaker: “Sugar” – a lesbian chick-lit romance novel (sounds unlikely, but works qiute well).