Winner of "Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut"

To find the winner, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Jill Kargman to pick one number at random. She chose 74.

Congrats to The Giveaway Diva!

Reminder: Starting now and going forward, if you have won a book, you have about 48 hours to claim it by sending your contact information. (You will be e-mailed if you have won, as well.) After that time, a new winner will be picked.

Thanks again to Jill Kargman for her guest blog post and for providing a copy of her book for our giveaway.

Thanks to everyone who participated, as well!

Stay tuned for more giveaways this week and more guest posts/giveaways throughout the month of February!

Book Review: Skipping a Beat

By Melissa Amster

While replenishing my stash of ice cream after a power outage last week, I came across the selection of Breyer's and nearly cried in the middle of the supermarket. That goes to show the power of some simple symbolism in Sarah Pekkanen's latest tearjerker, "Skipping a Beat."

Julie and Mike first become connected to one another because of a dangerous man who was released from prison and a bag of quickly melting Breyer's ice cream. Soon they're spending all their time together and moving out of their small town to the nation's capital to start new lives for themselves and as a couple. After they get married and Mike (now known as Michael) becomes extremely successful and wealthy, things change in their marriage, and not always for the better. Then Michael goes into cardiac arrest and his whole perspective on life changes, taking Julie (now known as Julia) along for a bumpy ride. Soon Julia has to decide what is most important to her and the reader will learn some interesting truths about this dynamic, yet complex couple as a result.

After reading "The Opposite of Me" last year and falling in love with it instantly, I knew I had to get my hands on "Skipping a Beat" as soon as possible. I had only heard good reviews about it from some others who were also lucky enough to get advanced copies. Once I had my own copy, I devoured it and didn't want to put it down. Michael and Julia's story was so poignant and heartbreaking that it made me fall in love with my own husband all over again. (Not that it's so difficult or anything...) Even when I wasn't reading it, I was still thinking about it. And when I finally got to the last page, I had tears streaming down my face. (It's rare when a book can make me cry, but this one definitely deserves a tearjerker award.) Ms. Pekkanen takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster and doesn't stop until the very end. Her characters and dialogue feel so real that it's difficult to not get completely drawn in to the story. Even the supporting characters are believable and it's obvious whether you should like or hate them along with the main characters. Throughout the story, Ms. Pekkanen talks a lot about opera and math. I don't have much of an interest in either, but she makes them sound so intriguing that I keep thinking about both topics now. I liked how she intertwined them within the story and made comparisons with what was going on in Julia and Michael's lives at the time.

The only criticism I have is part of the storyline didn't feel consistent enough. There's a sub plot involving Julia's relationship with her father. There's one line in the middle of the story that makes the reader feel like Julia is going to explain more, but she never really does and the relationship with her father seems slightly confusing from that point onward. Her relationship with her father also reminds me of the relationship between Diane and her father in "Say Anything," which is also wrought with inconsistency at times. However, this in no way took away from how much I loved the novel as a whole.

I highly recommend "Skipping a Beat" to anyone who wants a beautifully told love story and a moment of catharsis. And if it also makes you crave Breyer's ice cream, then get out a spoon and dig in!

Sarah Pekkanen will be visiting Chick Lit Central soon with a guest blog and a giveaway of this novel. Stay tuned!

Book Review: Helen of Pasadena

By Melissa Amster


Before I even read "Helen of Pasadena" by Lian Dolan, I was instantly attracted to the cover with its vibrant roses and color contrasts, as well as its chick lit friendly design. The storyline also sounded like it would be interesting, so I dove in right away.

The book opens with Helen Fairchild attending her husband's funeral after he gets killed by a Rose Bowl float while text messaging the woman with whom he has been having an affair, just shortly after he announces the affair to Helen. Soon she finds out that he has also been mismanaging their money and she has to suddenly uproot herself and her son from their posh lifestyle and find a job, as well. The job she finds involves working for an attractive man as his research assistant on an archaeological study, which just complicates her life even more as she finds herself becoming attracted to him...

I found this book to be very lively and entertaining. I was book multi-tasking it between stories about women who have the chance to fix their marriage while facing some similar complications, but this was a lighter story. Usually there are books about widows where it's hard not to be depressed for them right away. This time, the reader is glad that the woman's husband is dead and they are rooting for her to pick up and move on. At least that's how I felt. The story is full of amusing characters who seem almost satirical at times.

The only criticism I had was that the story seemed to jump around in time a lot. I almost had to go back and check that I didn't miss something (like it seemed to skip from January to May a bit too quickly). However, there were some fun surprises to keep up the momentum of the story and the time "warp" seemed to fit well with the upbeat feel of the novel in general.

Overall, I had a fun time reading this book and recommend it as a beach read (or something to keep your mind off the cold weather at this time of year). I give kudos to Ms. Dolan on an enjoyable first novel.

Lian Dolan will be visiting Chick Lit Central soon to do a guest blog post, and you'll have a chance to win a signed copy of "Helen of Pasadena" at that time. Stay tuned!

Winner of "To Have Not"

We posted a winner at the beginning of last week, but they have not replied to claim their book. We gave a deadline and even were a bit lenient past that point, but now we are choosing another winner. Going forward, if a giveaway winner of a book does not reply within 48 hours of being chosen, a new winner will be picked instead.

Therefore, Melissa A. used Custom Random Number Generator and it chose number 49.

Congrats to Heather!

Thanks again to everyone for participating, to Frances Lefkowitz for answering our questions and to Crystal and Lisa at BookSparks PR for organizing the interview and providing the book for the giveaway.

Stay tuned for more giveaways coming soon. And don't forget to enter for a chance to win Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut" by Jill Kargman. (International. Ends Sunday at midnight EST.)

Winning Wednesday--January 26th

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!

New giveaways:

"Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut" by Jill Kargman
Chick Lit Central
Ends January 30th at midnight EST

"Your Big Break" by Johanna Edwards
Shaunie's Happy Place
Ends February 4th at midnight PST

"Here, Home, Hope" by Kaira Rouda
Kaira Rouda Books (Comment on her post about this giveaway)
Ends Friday

"Emily and Einstein" by Linda Francis Lee
BookTrib (Must be a member to participate)
Ends Friday

"Song of the Orange Moons" by Lori Anne Stephens
The Write Stuff
Ends January 31st

"The Atlas of Love" by Laurie Frankel
Chick Lit is Not Dead
Ends Friday at 6 pm PST

"Moonlight in Odessa" by Janet Skeslien Charles
Janet Skeslien Charles
Ends February 1st

"To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz
Lori's Reading Corner
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends February 2nd at 11:59 pm EST

"Born Under a Lucky Moon" by Dana Precious
Essence of Life Chronicles
US only (Ages 18 and up)
Ends February 8th at midnight PST

"The Stuff that Never Happened" by Maddie Dawson
Free Book Friday
Ends tomorrow at midnight PST

"Breaking the Ice" by Mandy Baggot
Mandy Baggot: Author
UK only
Ends Friday

Previously posted (still going on):

"Arranged" by Catherine McKenzie
* The Book Chick
Canada only
Ends January 28th at midnight EST

* Manic Mommy
Ends Friday

"What I Thought I Knew" by Alice Eve Cohen
A Cozy Reader's Corner
Ends January 31st at midnight PST

"Dying for Chocolate and a Little Romance?" ($25 Sees Candy gift card and Love Club Mug)
Fresh Fiction
Ends February 7th

"The Accidental Proposal" by Matt DunnI Want a Free Book Every Month
UK only
Ends January 31st

Kindle/Kobo Giveaway for ARRANGED & SPIN Weekend
Catherine McKenzie's Facebook Page
US/Canada only
Ends January 31st

"To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz
A Cozy Reader's Corner
US/Canada only
Ends January 28th

Guest post by Jill Kargman and book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Jill Kargman is the author of "Arm Candy," "Momzillas" and the recently released collection of essays titled "Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut." She also wrote a few novels with Carrie Karasyov. Her freelance work includes over ten shows for MTV and over 100 magazine articles for magazines such as "Elle" and "Vogue." She is deathly afraid of clowns and mimes. You can check out her website, follow her on Twitter or request to be her friend on Facebook.

Jill stopped by Chick Lit Central to share a guest blog post (the first of more to come from authors visiting our blog). She talks about reconnecting with a first love on Facebook. She also has one copy of "Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut" to give away to a lucky reader anywhere in the world.


He was The One that got away. Okay that sounds f*cking drama queen insane but it's kinda true; we didn't break up because of some scandal or cheating or him yelling at me that i was overreacting when i saw a mouse in a restaurant and screamed (that was another ex-primate). We split because of the distance. I was young then and he was older and we were in different phases of life. His name is 100% ungoogleable. It just doesn't work! I mean, my search yielding millions of pages but they were all dental hygienists or pharmaceutical salesmen in rectangular red states in the middle.
Even though I'm married with three nuggets from time to time I wondered what he's been up to. He had been a brilliant artist and really outdoorsy so i wondered how that translated into his late-thirties life. I'd wonder, and then I'd forget. And then one day, he facebook friended me. I was stunned. My heart skipped a beat. I told my husband right away who said it was fine to write him a message, which I did. Several notes followed, ping-ponging back and forth quickly, details spilling out about our lives, family photos, and work. He had just gone camping with his wife and kids and sent me a link to their website-- all gorgeous, all fleece-clad, all with camping tents. She was blonde and beautiful in that crunch i-love-camping way, while I am more Wednesday Addams and Ansel Adams and am more of a country house girl than a country girl. Even though I don't have a country house. Their kids have long WASPy names and mine have Ellis Island-style vintage ones that sound like a kosher butcher and his wife and daughter. They pitch tents, i freak if the Four Seasons is booked. Okay that sounded jappy and isn't even really true, but let’s face it: there is no fucking L.L. Bean tarp-spreading in my future. I prefer wine glasses to canteens of river water. And yet.....he was lovely. I saw exactly what I had been drawn to. And in fact-- he was drawing-- picture books which I promptly ordered for my children. They adore his offbeat random humor and Tim Burtony haunting, humored hand. And in this correspondence I was released somehow-- the fantasy expunged because reality had illuminated one perfect fact; he's perfect but not perfect for me. And he would have strangled by city-dwelling self long ago. It never would have lasted but because of him, my standards were so high that I refused to settle when on husband-safari in the daunting dating pool of New York City. Life is a long series of loves and hellos and goodbyes but those first guys to say I love you help raise the bar for the future. I told him I had called off two weddings and that one of the myriad reasons was that I just didn't have that same lightening bolt I'd had with him, scissoring my heart with sparks. To paraphrase The Cure, the others were wonderful but didn't set my soul on fire the way he had. He saved me. Or, his ghost did, from certain divorce. And I thanked him. And he thanked me for sharing that confession, nearly twenty years later.

Special thanks to Jill Kargman for her fabulous blog post and for offering the book for the giveaway.


How to win "Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: If you have reconnected with a past love on Facebook, what was the experience like for you?
2. Please tell us: In what way(s) do you feel like a nut? (Admit it, we all do!)
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Giveaway ends Sunday, January 30th at midnight EST.

Can't wait to get your hands on this book? Buy it at Amazon (also available for Kindle) or Barnes and Noble (also available for Nook).

Looking Forward....

2011 looks like it will be a great year for books! Here is what we are most looking forward to reading this year. We each chose five books or we'd be here forever!

They're not on our lists as we're not sure what the titles will be yet, but we're sure 2011 can't pass by without Jane Green and/or Sophie Kinsella coming out with a new book. We're both excited to read any new books they plan to write! We also hope Marian Keyes will feel better soon and be back to writing her amazing novels.

Melissa P:

1. "Summer and the City: A Carrie Diaries Novel" by Candace Bushnell- I have always been a huge fan of Carrie Bradshaw, so as soon as I saw that this was coming out it went right to the top of my list.


2. "Skipping a Beat" by Sarah Pekkanen- I loved her first book "The Opposite of Me" so I am anxious to read her latest and I am certain it will be fantastic!


3. "Silver Girl" by Elin Hilderbrand- I can't wait to read the latest hilderbrand while I am lying on the beach this summer. She almost always sets her books on Nantucket Island which is also one of my favorite places, so hopefully I can grab a copy on my way to "The Island". Her books are some of the best 'beach reads' around.


4. "Sing You Home" by Jodi Piccoult- Jodi's books always interest me with their mixture of justice and drama. I am particularly interested in her latest book and the struggles surrounding parenthood, sexual orientation, and forgiveness.


5. "Night Road" by Kristin Hannah- What can I say, it's by Kristin Hannah so it's most likely going to be brilliant.

Melissa A:

1. "The Song Remains the Same" by Allison Winn Scotch- I caught a sneak peek of this one in December and it sounds very intriguing. Has a similar feel to "Remember Me?" by Sophie Kinsella

2. "I Love the 80's" by Megan Crane- Any book about the 80's has to be totally rad, right? :) May it outdo "The Wedding Singer" with its 80's references.

3. "Then Came You" by Jennifer Weiner- I love Jennifer Weiner's novels and I know this will not be an exception. It sounds great!

4. "With a Little Luck" by Caprice Crane- Caprice Crane is a witty and hilarious writer and I can't wait to see what this novel will be about. I'm sure I'll enjoy it though!

5. "The Baby Planner" by Josie Brown- I just have babies on the brain lately. ;) This one sounds interesting though!

There are some on Melissa P's list that I want to read, as well. I just wanted to offer some variety instead of a bunch of repeats. I'm reading "Skipping a Beat" now and "Night Road" is on my shelf waiting to be read. Watch for visits from Sarah Pekkanen and Kristin Hannah, as well as giveaways of both novels!

Book Review: Husband and Wife

By Melissa Amster


What would you do if your spouse confessed to you that they had cheated on you? What if they wrote a fictional (with some hidden truths) book on the topic of marital infidelity? What if your financial stability rested partially on the publication of this book? This is the situation greeting Sarah Price at the beginning of "Husband and Wife," which fuels her to re-examine herself as a wife and mother, as well as an individual.

Leah Stewart introduces us to Sarah and Nathan on the day of their friends' wedding. Before they even get out of the house, Nathan tells Sarah he cheated on her before bursting into tears. His novel, "Infidelity," could very well be housing some truths from the situation and not publishing it would cost them financially, even though publishing it would bring more emotional costs into play. Sarah tries to remain stoic while processing this new piece of information and how it has changed their marriage from innocent and comfortable to one with many rocky roads. It forces her to see herself differently in her roles as wife and mother in comparison to the girl she used to be before she met Nathan. It also takes her on a journey to reclaim those lost pieces of herself.

"Husband and Wife" was certainly a compelling novel and one that I found difficult to put down once I got into the thick of it. The dialogue was realistic and held nothing back. The interactions between Sarah and her husband, children, friends and coworkers had distinct dimensions and showed each role she had to play in her life, as well as in theirs. Through Sarah, Ms. Stewart brings out a wide array of emotions for her readers to follow along with, understand and feel, whether or not they can relate to her and the ongoing situation presented throughout the novel. The prose is written beautifully. It borders on the graceful and poetic to the harsh and uninhibited.

My only criticism (aside from some spelling errors that should have been caught by an editor before going to print) was the immense amount of introspection that would put Sarah into an abyss of deep thought. I tended to get lost in her thoughts, as it seemed like they went all over the place before getting back to where they had begun to take shape. It reminded me of books such as "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," in that she'd have one thought and it would trail to another, which would lead to a flashback that would make the reader forget whether they were following her in the present or the past. It just felt disorganized to me and I'd have to read several pages or paragraphs over again to figure out where Sarah was going with her thoughts.

Overall, the story was well written and interesting. Even if you never have been in Sarah's shoes (not that you'd necessarily want to be), I think you could definitely find something to take away from this thought provoking novel.

Winning Wednesday--January 19th

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!

New giveaways:

Brand new! "Skinny" by Diana Spechler
Allison Winn Scotch's Fan Page
Ends Friday at midnight EST

Last chance! "The Weird Sisters" by Eleanor Brown
The Divining Wand
Ends tonight at 7:00 pm EST

"To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz
Chick Lit Central
US/Canada only
Ends January 23rd at midnight EST

"Arranged" by Catherine McKenzie
* The Book Chick
Canada only
Ends January 28th at midnight EST

* Manic Mommy
Deadline unknown

"Stay" by Allie Larkin
The Write Stuff
US only
Ends January 23rd

"Night Road" and "Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannah
Fab Over Fifty
Ends January 25th at midnight EST

"What I Thought I Knew" by Alice Eve Cohen
A Cozy Reader's Corner
Ends January 31st at midnight PST

"Seeing Me Naked" by Liza Palmer
Free Book Friday
Ends tomorrow at midnight PST

"Dying for Chocolate and a Little Romance?" ($25 Sees Candy gift card and Love Club Mug)
Fresh Fiction
Ends February 7th

Previously posted (still going on):

"Sounds like Crazy" by Shana Mahaffey
Acting Balanced
US/Canada only
Ends tomorrow at 11:59 pm EST

"To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz
BookHounds
US only
Ends January 24th at midnight PST

"The Science of Kissing" by Sheril Kirshenbaum
Bookhounds
US/Canada only (no PO Boxes)
Ends tomorrow at midnight PST

"The Accidental Proposal" by Matt DunnI Want a Free Book Every Month
UK only
Ends January 31st

Kindle/Kobo Giveaway for ARRANGED & SPIN Weekend
Catherine McKenzie's Facebook Page
US/Canada only
Ends January 31st

"The Boyfriend of the Month Club" by Maria Geraci
A Cozy Reader's Corner
US/Canada only
Ends January 22nd at midnight CST

"To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz
A Cozy Reader's Corner
US/Canada only
Ends January 28th

"Arranged" by Catherine McKenzie
A Bookworm's World
Canada only
Ends January 22nd at 6 pm EST

January writing contest--Win a Meg Cabot book of your choice
Meg Cabot Fiction Club
Ends January 24th

Interview with Frances Lefkowitz and book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Frances Lefkowitz was born and raised in California and then spent her young adulthood in New England after attending Brown University on a scholarship. She is currently the Good Housekeeping book reviewer and a freelance writer and editor. She also teaches at the Sun Magazine’s writing workshops and the Writer in West Marin program. Her hobbies are surfing and speaking Spanish, and she likes to spend time in Central America where she can do both.

If you like what you've read today, become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and check out her blog.

Thanks to Crystal Patriarche and Lisa Steinke at BookSparks PR, we had the opportunity to ask Frances some questions. We enjoyed reading her answers, which reflect the personality and witty sense of humor that we became familiar with in her book.

Crystal is also giving away one copy of Frances' autobiography, "To Have Not," (reviewed here) to a lucky reader in the US or Canada.

MA: Did you have any concerns over what your family might think as you were writing "To Have Not?"
FL: In the ten years it took me to write the book, I never once worried about how it might affect my family. I wasn't callous; I was just preoccupied with crafting a captivating, accurate story, making sure the language and the images and the pacing and the structure were all juuust right. Plus, I don't think I ever really believed that it would get published. But then came a book deal, and all of a sudden this manuscript was going public. That's when I started worrying about how I had portrayed my family, as well as my friends, ex-friends, boyfriends, and ex-boyfriends. Had I done everyone justice? So I read through the manuscript with that question in mind, making edits and adjustments whenever I caught myself manipulating anyone for the sake of the story. It's a tough balance, between telling the truth as I experienced it, and protecting the feelings of the people I love. But we're all still talking to each other, so I think I did OK.

MP: Do you ever suffer from writers block? If so, how do you remedy it?
FL: Walking is a great way to figure things out, come up with ideas, and solve problems--in my stories and in my life. Something about the rhythm of the footsteps, the swinging of the arms, the pumping of the blood, and the outdoor scenery all help to trigger new thoughts, and help old, forgotten ones float to the surface. I also think really well while driving, and keep a notepad and pen in the passenger seat for jotting down ideas. So motion seems to be the way for me to undo writer's block.


MA: Who do you admire the most and why?
FL: There's so many writers to admire: Jamaica Kincaid for her fierceness; Alice Munro for revealing difficult truths about who we are; Ernest Hemingway for his economical prose; and Eileen Myles for her irreverence.


MA: Some authors have had their personal stories made into movies. Would you consider doing this? If so, who would play you in a movie version of "To Have Not?"
FL: I'd definitely say yes to a movie deal. I think the actress who played Darla in the original Little Rascals would be perfect for me.


MA: Who is your favorite chick lit author or what are some of your favorite chick lit novels?
FL: I really enjoyed The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes. It's got a great cast of characters, including a dying psychic, a cooking-show star, and a foul-mouthed female cab driver. They all live in the same apartment building in Dublin, and we gradually learn how their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. I appreciated the way Keyes incorporated dark and light themes, so the book is great fun but also very resonant.
(Side note: We both loved this novel, as well!)


MA: How did you make the switch from anthropology and archaeology to catering, music and writing?
FL: Jeez, when you put it that way, I appear to be either a modern-day Renaissance woman or a victim of severe attention deficit disorder. Actually, I've been a writer all along, but was always trying out new and interesting ways to make a living. Finally I realized I could make my living from my writing.


MP: What was the best part of going across the country to Brown University on a scholarship (aside from free tuition!)?
FL: Snow! It was such a novelty to me, and everything about it enthralled me--including shoveling it. I was a big hit with the housemates once we moved off campus, because I always volunteered to shovel out the driveway.


MP: Your family moved often, 9 times in 17 years to be exact (you have me beat by one!), what was the most challenging part about starting over so often? The most rewarding part?
FL: Except for one, all our moves were within the same city, San Francisco. So it wasn't really like starting over each time; I often went to the same school and kept the same friends. But the frequent moving from one apartment to the next created a kind of inner instability, where I never felt like I could fully relax into a place and trust it to be mine. It's a feeling that has stayed with me into adulthood. On the upside, I can tell you the best places to find free cardboard packing boxes (hint: try grocery stores at ten in the morning, before they've broken down the boxes into flats).


MP: I read on your website that you love to travel to Central America. What brought you there for the first time?
FL: I took a bus by myself from my home in San Francisco to Baja, Mexico, when I was 18 years old. I went for the warm-water beaches,and the language: I am nearly fluent in Spanish, and love speaking it. These two things still bring me to Latin America--especially now that I surf.


MP: What is one place in the world that you haven't been to that you would love to visit? Why?
FL: Ecuador. See above, re: warm water, surfing, and speaking Spanish.

Special thanks to Frances for answering our questions and to Crystal and Lisa at BookSparks PR for arranging the interview and giveaway.


How to win "To Have Not":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: Have you made a big career shift? If so, how did it work out for you?
2. Please tell us: Who would play you in a movie about your life?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Sunday, January 23rd at midnight EST.

Book Review: A Girl Like You

By Melissa Amster

When I first heard the title "A Girl Like You," I thought of an Edwyn Collins song from the mid-90's that was featured on the "Empire Records" soundtrack. The song played over and over in my head as I read the story, as the concept of "a girl like you" came up many times. (Such as "I wouldn't expect such behavior from a girl like you.") The feel of the song fit the mood of the book. It had a fun beat to it and was, and still is (apparently) very catchy. Gemma Burgess captures this mood through her portrayal of the singles scene in present-day London. (Just listen to the song while you're reading the story, and you'll catch my drift.)

Abigail Wood has just become single again after a seven year relationship that was going nowhere. Frustrated by the dating scene, she turns to her flatmate, Robert, who seems to know the ways around singledom and how to make the most of it. Soon, she's dating like a man and enjoying every minute of it....that is, until she meets someone who erases everything she learned from Robert.

I had such a delightful time reading this novel. It definitely made up for my January "blahs." It was easy to immediately be swept up in Abigail's world, even though the last time I was single was nine years ago. I was able to live vicariously through Abigail and her friends (I love being married and wouldn't trade my relationship with my husband for anything, but reading stories about singledom is like watching "Sex and the City" for me.) I loved the way the story flowed and all the snappy and clever dialogue. It had a similar feel to "Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married" (by Marian Keyes) and also possessed traits that I like from Sophie Kinsella's and Lindsey Kelk's novels. Still, it stood on its own as an original, with Ms. Burgess' fresh voice carrying it along the whole way.

I had some minor criticisms that I have also found with some other books I read this past year. One was the excessive swearing. Maybe it defined some of the characters, but it got to be a bit much sometimes. The other was the lack of a really good sex scene. I know Abigail had a thing about not sharing too much information about what went on between the sheets, but I like a blush-inducing sex scene. Someone needs to give Sue Margolis a run for her money and Ms. Burgess could have easily done this.

Aside from that, I really enjoyed reading this novel and didn't want to put it down. Not only did I like the vicarious look at singledom, but I also enjoyed being a vicarious traveler through Abigail's eyes. It made me want to visit Hong Kong, based on how beautiful and exciting Ms. Burgess made it sound through the trip Abigail took there. I definitely recommend this novel to anyone who wants some fun and interesting chick lit to read. I also really want to read "The Dating Detox" now, if the preview in the back of the book is any indication of what the rest of the story will be like.

Book Review: To Have Not

In "To Have Not," Frances Lefkowitz details her life growing up in poverty and how she learned to cope with the constant moves to different cramped apartments and how it has shaped and affected her as an adult. Early on, she created two categories of people, the "haves" and the "have nots." She found ways to keep up with the "haves" while being part of the "have nots," and eventually went to an Ivy League college before embarking on various career paths and traveling across the USA and even to Central America.

We both recently had an opportunity to read "To Have Not," thanks to BookSparks PR, and wanted to share our views on the book.

Melissa A:
I was first attracted to the cover of this autobiography, which led me to believe that the story would be as warm and cozy as the sweater the girl was wearing on the cover. However, Ms. Lefkowitz did not aim for a warm and cozy feeling while writing about the details of her past and present lifestyles. While honest and gripping, her story isn't pretty by any means. There is a lot that reminded me of "The Glass Castle," another autobiography about living with less and being forced to move a lot as a result. I also was reminded of a series I read in my youth called "The Boxcar Children," where these kids had to get creative to make-do with the little they had.

There are some parts that I really found interesting and during those, I felt I could really understand what Ms. Lefkowitz was going through and sympathize. However, there were other parts that went over my head a bit, as she grew up in a different era than I did and was raised in a completely different lifestyle than I was. So it was hard to picture those moments. I really liked that she didn't give up on herself, even when she felt the odds were stacked against her. She also had compassion for others and the desire to move past the path that was laid out for her.

While I felt there was a bit too much introspection in the form of a self-psychoanalysis, there were a lot of things I was able to take away from her situation and think about over and over. I feel the best audience for "To Have Not" is those who have also been in her shoes (maybe to a different extreme) or those who want to see how the other half live, in order to be grateful for being a "have."

Melissa P:
From the moment I picked up "To Have Not" I was hooked. I couldn't wait to find out what the author was going to do next or what adventure she was about to embark on. I love the way Frances describes the streets, her surroundings, her life. I can actually picture the hilly San Francisco streets and asphalt schoolyards that she writes about. There is so much pain but also so much triumph and strength in her brightly colored story.

I don't think you have to have grown up poor or as a "have-not" to connect with this story or with the author. Frances writes honestly and sometimes a little detached, but it works so well. Frances had the courage to believe in herself and change her circumstances on her own. I thoroughly enjoyed "To Have Not" and didn't want the story to end! Thanks Frances!

Stay tuned for an interview with Frances Lefkowitz later this week, along with a book giveaway!

Winner of "Arranged"

To find the winner, we assigned a number to each entry and had Catherine McKenzie choose one at random.


How about number 23 for the winner.

Thanks, Melissa A & P, for the opportunity to share my book, ARRANGED, with your readers, and your excellent review. Thanks for sharing your experiences & congrats to the winner.

Congrats to Sarah Marquez!

Thanks to everyone for participating. Thanks again to Catherine for the interview and for giving away a copy of her book.

Want more chances to win this book?
Stop by The Book Chick by January 28th. (Canada only.)

Also, enter Catherine McKenzie's massive giveaway to win "Arranged," "Spin," or a grand prize of a Kindle or Kobo e-reader. (US/Canada only. Ends January 31st.)

Stay tuned for a giveaway of "To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz this week. Also, one more week to enter our big giveaway, if you're a member of Chick Lit Central on Facebook! Catherine is giving away a copy of "Spin" there.

Stylish Blogger Award

Thanks to Queen of Reading and Lip Gloss and Literature, we have received the Stylish Blogger Award!

And now the rules of the award:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 super stylish bloggers this award.
4. Contact those bloggers and let them know they have won.

7 things (you might or might not know) about us:

1. Same first initial of our maiden name (Melissa P's is Smoot and Melissa A's is Silverman).
2. Same model house growing up (just two doors and one number away).
3. We both took theater classes in high school (we attended the same high school for a short period of time).
4. We both love “Coyote Ugly” and "Ugly Betty."
5. We both have sisters (Melissa P's is older, Melissa A's is younger). Melissa A is one year younger than Melissa P's sister and Melissa P is one year older than Melissa A's sister.
6. We both had dogs when we were growing up (Melissa P. has dogs now too).
7. We've both been married for almost 7 years (and our husbands are good cooks, but Melissa P's is a professional chef).

Blogs we have chosen for the award (in no particular order):
Chick Lit is Not Dead
A Cozy Reader's Corner
Book Love Blog
Crazy for Books
The Book Chick
Chick Lit Shorties
Crazy Book Slut
Girls with Books
Manic Mommy
The Write Stuff
Chick Lit Cafe
Chick Lit Plus
Write Meg!
The Book Lady's Blog
Bookfinds

Congrats to you and your stylin' blogs! Keep up the great work!
XO, M&M

Book Review: Arranged

By Melissa Amster

The topic of arranged marriages is something I'm familiar with from my Jewish heritage. I personally can't attest to them, but I know they had them back in the day. (Think "Fiddler on the Roof.") There are still shadchens (matchmakers) who operate today to arrange a proper shidduch (match for marriage). In Orthodox Judaism, there are also shorter courtships and engagements, as a couple is not supposed to so much as hold hands until they marry. So, the concept of Catherine McKenzie's latest book, "Arranged," interested me because it was about an arranged marriage. True, it was done in a different way and had nothing to do with religion or culture. Still, it was a fascinating story and nearly impossible to put down.

Anne Blythe, fresh out of a long term relationship, comes across a business card with her last name on it. She pockets it for luck and goes on her way to meet her friend for drinks. When her friend later announces that she is engaged, Anne decides to contact the company, which she assumes is a dating service. Much to her surprise, she finds out that they specialize in arranged marriages and are both confidential and expensive. She decides to go through the series of tests and they find her a match. Over the course of one week in Mexico, she meets and marries the man with whom they have paired her, much to the shock and concern of her family and friends back home. After a few weeks of marital bliss, Anne learns a new truth about her husband that changes everything about their marriage. Can she still fall in love after her trust has been betrayed?

I loved everything about this novel. It was fresh, clever, funny and Anne was so easy to relate to, even though I probably fit more into the role of her best friend. It's not often that an author can help me get inside a main character's head so well that I feel like I am that character while I am reading the story. The supporting characters are also well written and realistic and the dialogue is natural and honest. I even enjoyed the pop culture references peppered throughout (such as one about a V.C. Andrews novel). I have been recommending it to my friends even after reading the first 30 pages. I think anyone who wants a good dose of chick lit with an extra helping of substance will devour this novel in one sitting.

For an opportunity to win a copy of "Arranged," check out our interview with Catherine McKenzie. Trust me, you will want to win this one! (Giveaway is open to US/Canada residents only. Ends January 16th at midnight EST.)

Winning Wednesday--January 12th

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!

New giveaways:

Brand new! "The Cougar Club" by Susan McBride
Girlfriends Book Club
Ends tonight at midnight PST

"Arranged" by Catherine McKenzie
Chick Lit Central
US/Canada only
Ends Sunday at midnight EST

"Sounds Like Crazy" by Shana Mahaffey
A Cozy Reader's Corner
Ends January 5th at 11 pm CST

"Mrs. Perfect" escape package, plus mystery prizes
JaneBlog
Ends Thursday at midnight PST

"Sounds like Crazy" by Shana Mahaffey
Acting Balanced
US/Canada only
Ends January 20th at 11:59 pm EST

"Rescue" by Anita Shreve (Audio)
So Many Precious Books...
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends January 16th at 11:59 pm EST

"After You" by Julie Buxbaum
Free Book Friday
US/Canada only
Ends January 14th

"The Violets of March" by Sarah Jio
Chick Lit is Not Dead
Ends TONIGHT at 6 pm PST

"Friday Mornings at Nine" by Marilyn Brant
Girlfriends Book Club
Ends Thursday at midnight PST

"She's Gone Country" by Jane Porter
Bookworm with a View
Ends tonight at midnight PST

"To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz
BookHounds
US only
Ends January 24th at midnight PST

"The Science of Kissing" by Sheril Kirshenbaum
Bookhounds
US/Canada only (no PO Boxes)
Ends January 20th at midnight PST

"Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannah
Booking Mama
US/Canada only
Ends January 17th at 11:59 p.m. EST

"The Accidental Proposal" by Matt DunnI Want a Free Book Every Month
UK only
Ends January 31st

"Call Me Irresistible" by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Chick Lit is Not Dead
Ends Friday at 6 pm PST


Previously posted (still going on):

"Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannah
Reading Extravaganza
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends January 18th at midnight EST

Kindle/Kobo Giveaway for ARRANGED & SPIN Weekend
Catherine McKenzie's Facebook Page
US/Canada only
Ends January 31st

"The Boyfriend of the Month Club" by Maria Geraci
A Cozy Reader's Corner
US/Canada only
Ends January 22nd at midnight CST

"To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz
* A Cozy Reader's Corner
US/Canada only
Ends January 28th

* At Home With Books
US/Canada only
Ends January 16th at 11:59 pm PST

"Stay" by Allie Larkin
Crazy for Books
US/Canada only
Ends January 17th at 11:59pm EST

"Swallow" by Tonya Plank--Paperback or digital
Candy's Raves
Ends January 15th

"Arranged" by Catherine McKenzie
A Bookworm's World
Canada only
Ends January 22nd at 6 pm EST

January writing contest--Win a Meg Cabot book of your choice
Meg Cabot Fiction Club
Ends January 24th

"Magnolia Wednesdays" and "The Accidental Bestseller" by Wendy Wax and "Falling Home" by Karen White
Wendy Wax's Facebook Page
Ends January 15th


"Rescue" by Anita Shreve (audio)
Redlady's Reading Room
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends January 15th

Interview with Catherine McKenzie and book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, and now practices law there. Her first novel, "Spin" (HarperCollins Canada, January 2010) debuted at #15 on the Globe & Mail Canadian Bestseller list. Her new novel, "Arranged," is now available on Amazon and !ndigo. Catherine also runs a campaign on Facebook to turn relatively new novels into bestsellers. (Read our interview for more details.)

If you like what you've read here, you can become a fan on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. Also, enter her massive giveaway to win one of her books or a grand prize of a Kindle or Kobo e-reader. (US/Canada only. Ends January 31st.)

Along with answering all our questions, Catherine has offered to give away one copy of "Arranged" to a lucky reader in the US or Canada. (In the meantime, we can all turn this novel into a bestseller!)

MP: You practice law in Montreal, how did you get into writing fiction?
CM: I've always written poetry, and one day I just got this idea for a book that wouldn't go away, so I sat down and started writing it without any idea of what I was doing, whether I could write a whole book, whether I could write at all. That book is sitting in a drawer, but I did keep writing.

MP: Were there any challenges you faced while writing "Arranged"?
CM: The same challenge I face with any book I write: getting it finished. I find the space between 20,000-70,000 words the hardest - that's where the real work comes in.

MA: What was your inspiration for "Arranged?"
CM: I'm not sure why the exact idea popped into my head, but I'm sure it was a mix of knowing a few people who had "traditional" arranged marriages, and watching too much of "The Bachelor." I was always wondering what would lead to someone going on that kind of reality show; Arranged is just an extension of that idea.

MP: How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing or practicing law?
CM: I run. Hang out with friends and family. Watch TV. And read. I'm always reading.

MP: Do you ever suffer from writers block? If so, how do you remedy it?
CM: I don't think I've ever suffered from "real" writers block, though I've certainly had fallow, unproductive periods. For me, learning to write when I wasn't feeling inspired is how I ever finished a book in the first place.

MA: You've been running a campaign to make books into bestsellers. Do you feel it has been successful?
CM: It depends how you measure "success", but yes, I think it has been successful. Literally thousands of people who had not heard of the books I started out championing - "Jessica Z." and "Two Years, No Rain" by Shawn Klomparens (both really excellent) - have now heard of them, and hundreds have read one, or both of them. The group keeps growing and we're adding to the reading list (we just added "The Day the Falls Stood Still" by Cathy Marie Buchanan, and "The Last Will of Moira Leahy" by Therese Walsh). Hope your readers come check it (and the books) out on Facebook

MA: If you could have either of your books made into a movie, which would you choose and who would you want in the lead roles?
CM: I'd obviously love to sell the movie rights to both my books :)! As to who should play who, I try not to think about that because I have my own idea of what the characters look like in my head. In the unlikely event that this happens, I'm probably better off not having any preconceived notions.

MP: What is your favorite place in the world to visit? Or is there somewhere you would like to go that you haven't yet?

CM: I've loved Greece both times I've been there. It would great to explore Africa.

MA: What is your favorite thing about the month of January?
CM: Snow. It gets dark here early, and snow makes it better. Snow makes everything better, really.

MA: What are you looking forward to most in 2011?
CM: A ski trip I'm taking in March with my Dad. See my answer to the previous question.

Special thanks to Catherine for answering our questions and for providing the book for the giveaway.


How to win "Arranged":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What is the most outrageous thing you've ever done for love? Was it successful?
2. Please tell us: What are you looking forward to most in 2011?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends Sunday, January 16th at midnight EST.

Winners of "A Girl Like You"

To find the winners, we assigned a number to each entry and asked Gemma Burgess to pick three at random. Here's what she came up with, along with a quick message:

5
77
88

Good luck everyone...

Congrats to Kat, Linda Kish and Jeryl!

Thanks to everyone for participating, to Gemma for a lovely interview and to Charlotte from HarperCollins UK for contributing the books for the giveaway.

Stay tuned for an interview with Catherine McKenzie, where we will be giving away a copy of "Arranged." (Melissa A. is reading this book now and trust her, you'll want to enter this one!)

Winning Wednesday--First one for 2011!

I will only be posting giveaways on this blog from now on. If you have a giveaway that ends before Wednesday of a given week, please feel free to post it at Chick Lit Central on Facebook. You're also welcome to contact me about any giveaways you would like to have listed. (Chick Lit only, please, unless it is for a gift card or book related device.)
Finally, I am no longer going to seek out contests to post. If they happen to show up in my Facebook or Twitter news feed or on my blog reader, I'll be sure to post them. If you think I won't see your contest, please send it to me so I can include it in this blog.
Thank you!

New giveaways:

"A Girl Like You" by Gemma Burgess
Chick Lit Central
Ends January 9th at midnight EST

New Year's Resolution giveaway
JaneBlog
Ends tomorrow at midnight PST

"Here, Home, Hope" by Kaira Rouda
Chick Lit is Not Dead
Ends Friday at 6 pm PST

"Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannah
Reading Extravaganza
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends January 18th at midnight EST

Kindle/Kobo Giveaway for ARRANGED & SPIN Weekend
Catherine McKenzie's Facebook Page
US/Canada only
Ends January 31st

"The Boyfriend of the Month Club" by Maria Geraci
A Cozy Reader's Corner
US/Canada only
Ends January 22nd at midnight CST

"To Have Not" by Frances Lefkowitz
* A Cozy Reader's Corner
US/Canada only
Ends January 28th

* At Home With Books
US/Canada only
Ends January 16th at 11:59 pm PST

"Stay" by Allie Larkin
Crazy for Books
US/Canada only
Ends January 17th at 11:59pm EST

"Swallow" by Tonya Plank--Paperback or digital
Candy's Raves
Ends January 15th

"Arranged" by Catherine McKenzie
A Bookworm's World
Canada only
Ends January 22nd at 6 pm EST

$12 online gift certificate or $12 to spend at BookDepository.com
I am a Reader, Not a Writer
Ends January 9th

$100 to your favorite bookstore or to BookDepository.com
Candace's Book Blog
Ends January 9th

January writing contest--Win a Meg Cabot book of your choice
Meg Cabot Fiction Club
Ends January 24th

Previously posted (still going on):

"Magnolia Wednesdays" and "The Accidental Bestseller" by Wendy Wax and "Falling Home" by Karen White
Wendy Wax's Facebook Page
Ends January 15th

"The Science of Kissing- What Our Lips Are Telling Us" by Sheril Kirshenbaum
*Simply Stacie
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends January 11th at 11:59 pm EST

*So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends January 7th at 11:59 pm EST


"Rescue" by Anita Shreve (audio)
Redlady's Reading Room
US/Canada only, no PO Boxes
Ends January 15th

"Learn, Laugh, Cook" by Mandy Fernandez
The Book Chick
Ends today

Interview with Gemma Burgess and book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Gemma Burgess is the author of "The Dating Detox" (Avon, January 2010) and "A Girl Like You," (Avon) which is being released in the UK this week (and can be ordered from BookDepository.com with free shipping)! She currently resides in Notting Hill, but grew up all over the place (mainly in Hong Kong). She enjoys writing anti-romantic comedies for girls who like chick lit that comforts and charms without the silly fluffy bits. Her inspiration for her novels is "Sixteen Candles," which is one of her favorite movies.

Charlotte Allen (Harper Collins) kindly arranged an interview with this dynamic author and has also offered to give away three copies of "A Girl Like You" to some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

If you like what you've read today, you can check out her blog, friend her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.


MP: What's your usual writing routine?
GB: Wake up early. Write, read, edit, repeat. Have occasional breaks for coffee, food, exercise and jaunts to topshop.com, nymag.com and Twitter. Take a long late-afternoon break and go for a walk, take a bath or read a book. Then maybe reread what I wrote that day and write some more.

MP: Do you ever let friends or family read your work as you write or do you make them wait until you are finished?
GB: Not until I’ve finished the first draft. I edit and re-edit as I write the first draft, so things are always changing. When I’m done, I ask a few friends if they’d like to read it. Mostly I want to know when/if they get bored… I want the book to be entertaining, fast and furiously readable above all else.

I always make sure they know that reading it is optional; I know from experience that reading someone else’s manuscript can be kind of difficult. It’s just not as nice as reading an actual book.

MP: What is the best vacation you have ever taken?
GB: Tough question! Hmm… I got married in April 2010 in New York, so we had a few weeks there and a huge party with 150 of our nearest and dearest, and then we spent another two weeks in Anguilla for a honeymoon… That was pretty perfect; I hadn’t had such a long vacation since university. It was also my first break in quite a long time as the previous year I’d been freelance copywriting, editing THE DATING DETOX and writing A GIRL LIKE YOU, as well as planning the wedding…

I hadn’t had a day off for 18 months, so that made it all the sweeter. It took a while to remember how to do nothing. For the first day of so of honeymoon I was still writing to-do lists and constantly checking the time, then on the third day I had breakfast, got back into bed and slept till lunch. I was like ‘ahh, that’s what doing nothing feels like’.

MP: What is the biggest challenge you faced while writing your last book?
GB: Self-doubt! Always self-doubt. I have hand-wringing moments when I gnash my teeth and wail and scream at the sky and think I should stop bothering with this writing thing and do something else. I’m like a little Greek tragedy heroine. Only with a laptop.

MP: Do you ever suffer from writers block? If so, how do you remedy it?
GB: Not really, thank God. I did once – after my first attempt at a second book drove itself into a ditch. I had to abandon it and start again. For a few weeks I was overcome by panic and an empty brain. I lay on the floor a lot, stared at the ceiling and said ‘this is FUCKED’ very loudly.

Getting over it was, in the end, pretty simple: I forced myself to open the laptop and type. I started to write conversations that I thought sounded funny and real, and characters grew out of that. Then I started thinking about how I, and a lot of my friends, left a long-term boyfriend at the end of our 20s and had to start being single from scratch. And I thought about Roxanne, which is one of my favourite films. And A GIRL LIKE YOU came out of that.

If I get a bit tired of working on a particular manuscript – which isn’t exactly writer’s block, but can be just as irritating - I just work on another project for awhile. I wrote a sitcom pilot with a screenwriter buddy that’s currently doing the rounds, and I’ve almost finished a film script. It’s fun: flexing another writing muscle.

MA: Which of your main characters can you relate to the most?

GB: Sass in THE DATING DETOX. Her personality and attitude to most things in life is basically me. None of the things that happened to her, happened to me, however – it is not autobiographical! - and of course a lot of aspects of her personality are exaggerated to make it more interesting to read…

Abigail in A GIRL LIKE YOU is very much like I used to be, though it took me about nine years to figure out the stuff she finds out in six months. Ah, the joy of fiction…

MA: If you could make a movie of either of your books, which would you choose and who would you cast as the lead characters?
GB: Oh yikes. I have no idea… hmm. Mila Kunis is pretty damn funny and sparky. So is Kristen Bell. She’d need to have the right attitude and humour. Emma Stone is funny, too… There’s a bit of a dearth of non-teen female-driven comedies, right now, have you noticed? There are some really funny movies being made, but the women are either harpies or whores (see: Hangover, The). "Whip It" was awesome, so was "Going The Distance." Drew Barrymore seems like a very funny woman. Where was I? Oh yes, movies. I don’t know, who do you think?

MA: What was it like living in Hong Kong vs. living in London? What cultural difference sticks out the most for you?
GB: I love them both! They’re similar in many obvious ways, particularly in that very international, and full of people from all over the world who want to work and play as hard as they can. There’s an energy that’s addictive. They’re very international, and culturally, they’re more similar than you might think. Hong Kong was a British territory until 1997.

The main difference is – and no one ever believes me about this – that Hong Kong is really cosy and compact… London is HUGE. You can drive for hours and not reach the edges. Hong Kong just isn’t that big. I like a city you can cuddle.
Out of interest, I just looked it up: Hong Kong is 1,092 square kilometres, and only 25% of that is the city and the rest is undeveloped, and London is 8,382 square kilometres, almost all developed. So there you go. (Wow. What a fascinating interview I am, huh? You must be so glad you’re reading this.)

MA: If you were stuck on a deserted island, what is the one piece of entertainment you'd want to have with you?
GB: A laptop with an eternal battery, so I could write... Or my husband, Fox. Does he count as entertainment? He is very loud and charming.

MA: What new years resolution do you plan to keep this year? Did you keep any last year?
GB: Nope. I never make resolutions, as I always know I won’t keep them... That sounds horrifically self-indulgent, doesn’t it? Well. I fear it is true. I am.

Special thanks to Gemma for answering our questions and to Charlotte Allen for arranging the interview and providing the books for the giveaway.


How to win "A Girl Like You":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page if you can receive messages there.)

1. Please tell us: What new years resolution do you plan to keep this year? Did you keep any last year?
2. Please tell us: If you were stuck on a deserted island, what is the one piece of entertainment you'd want to have with you?
3. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
4. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
5. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Giveaway ends Sunday, January 9th at midnight EST.