Wednesday 22 April 2015

5* Review: The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance by Kirsty Greenwood



Jessica Beam is a girl who knows how to party. Only lately she's been forgetting to turn up for work on time. Or in clean clothes. Down on her luck, out of a job and homeless, Jess seeks the help of her long-lost grandmother.


Things aren't going well for Matilda Beam, either. Her 1950s Good Woman guide books are out of print, her mortgage repayments are staggering and her granddaughter wears neon Wonderbras.


When a lifeline from a London publisher arrives, the pair have an opportunity to secure the roof over their heads - by invigorating the Good Woman guides and transforming modern, rebellious Jess into a demure vintage lady.


The true test of their make-over will be to capture the heart of notorious London playboy Leo Frost and prove that Matilda's guides still work. It's going to take commitment, nerves of steel and one seriously pointy bra to pull this off . . .


Just sometimes I find it virtually impossible to review a book, I find that the books I have loved the most make the worst to review, as I don't want to just gush about how much I love it, I don't want to ruin twists or give away the whole plot, and this is one of those books!

Jessica Beam, party animal and lover of the pear cider finds herself down on her luck. After really blowing an important book launch with her best friend/boss/landlady Summer (VILE!) she finds herself out on her ear, jobless and virtually penniless. She has been given the cold shoulder by her so called friends and after a flash of inspiration she decides to find the only living relative she has, but never met, her grandmother.

Enter Matilda Beam. 1950's literary icon and original Good Woman. She is armed with advice, cold cream, girdles and pointy bras, just what Jessica needs to grab herself a Good Man. And when a literary project of their own - just what they both need to get them back on their feet - comes along, Matilda pulls out all the stops to bag Jess London's most eligible bachelor. 

The characters, the plot, the humour, everything in this book is just wonderful. I fell in love with the men in Jess' life and also with Matilda's assistant, southern belle, Peach, who decides that Jess can be her new BFF, they can watch movies and eat popcorn and do everything BFFs in the movies do. 

And Mr. Belding, the kitten with the extensive wardrobe...whaaat?

There's nothing more to say than buy this, read this, laugh out loud and love it!




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