Book Review: The Good Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting Even

By Becky Gulc

Anna Bell has written some fantastic novels which I’ve enjoyed over the last few years, with her most recent release being The Good Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting Even. Here is the synopsis:

‘When Lexi's sport-mad boyfriend Will skips her friend's wedding to watch football - after pretending to have food poisoning - it might just be the final whistle for their relationship.

But fed up of just getting mad, Lexi decides to even the score. And, when a couple of lost tickets and an 'accidentally' broken television lead to them spending extra time together, she's delighted to realise that revenge might be the best thing that's happened to their relationship.

And if her clever acts of sabotage prove to be a popular subject for her blog, what harm can that do? It's not as if he'll ever find out . . .’ (Courtesy of Amazon UK.)

Well suffice to say, this is definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year. Anna’s books just keep getting better and better in my opinion. Anna’s writing takes me back in a way to when I first started reading ‘chick lit’ many years ago; it reminds me why I love it, and she definitely has a way of making it contemporary and fresh whilst being quite traditional too.

Whilst the synopsis outlines a revenge plot by Lexi, it’s played out in a lighthearted way and she’s a very likable character. As readers, we feel her struggle between wanting to make the relationship work and accepting Will is just maybe not the one for her; after all, she’s never his priority in life, is she? When Lexi learns that Will went to watch a football match (whilst claiming to be ill) instead of attending her best friend’s wedding, her writing class provides the perfect opportunity to let her feelings flow on the matter. As well as being a cathartic experience for Lexi, it’s the catalyst for a chain of events to get revenge on Will. But will revenge be sweet?

I read this book very quickly (on holiday, perfect holiday read!) as I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. It was funny and yet also moving at times. As a reader you were left challenging your perceptions of Will throughout. With only Lexi’s viewpoint to go on, we are limited to what we know of Will’s side of the story. I certainly thought the story was going one way which I was wrong about, but I was ever so happy this was the case.

The supporting characters are great: Lexi’s best friend Cara, Lexi’s parents, the couple in Barbados; all vivid and added so much fun to the story. A fantastic read and I really hope there is a follow-up. More please Anna!

Thanks to Zaffre for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Anna Bell: