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| © Kerstin Weidinger 2020 |
Lizzy Dent (mis)spent her early twenties working in Scotland in hospitality. After years travelling the world making Music TV for MTV and Channel 4, and creating digital content for Cartoon Network, the BBC and ITV, she wrote three Young Adult novels as Rebecca Denton published in the UK. This is her debut adult novel. Now in her late thirties she lives between London, Austria, and New Zealand with her young family.
Visit Lizzy online:
Beach Read meets Sweetbitter in this laugh-out-loud and ultimately heartwarming debut of a good friend's very bad decision and the summer job that stands to ruin or make her life.
What if you could be someone else? Just for the summer...
Birdy has made a mistake. Everyone imagines running away from their life at some point. But Birdy has actually done it. And the life she's run into is her best friend Heather's. The only problem is, she hasn't told Heather.
The summer job at the highland Scottish hotel that her world class wine-expert friend ditched turns out to be a lot more than Birdy bargained for. Can she survive a summer pretending to be her best friend? And can Birdy stop herself from falling for the first man she's ever actually liked, but who thinks she's someone else?
One good friend's very bad decision is at the heart of this laugh-out-loud love story and unexpected tale of a woman finally finding herself in the strangest of places. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
“Engaging, heart-warming and so much fun. I bloody loved it.”
—Marian Keyes, author of Sushi for Beginners
“I really looked forward to getting into bed each night to dip back into The Summer Job, what a welcome escape from lock-down. It’s witty and funny and it packs an emotional punch, too, which is really tricky to pull off. I was willing Birdy/Heather on, knowing all along that her ticking-bomb secret was going to have to blow at some point. Which of course it did, in a spectacularly satisfying way! Loved it, I’m in the queue for more Lizzy Dent.”
—Josie Silver, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December
—Josie Silver, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December
“With a gorgeously picturesque setting, an utterly charming cast, and a hilarious protagonist, Lizzy Dent’s The Summer Job is my perfect summer read! Sure to be one of the sweetest, funniest, and sexiest books of the year. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to read it again. Do not miss this one!”
—Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
I love it when people tell me they love Birdy because there is so much of myself in her, they are basically telling me they love me. JUST KIDDING (sort of). I think I’m always surprised and delighted when someone tells me the like my prose. I don’t consider myself to be a very sophisticated writer and so it’s thrilling to know that a reader has been caught up in the setting and wants to be whisked away to my fictional locations.
What was it like going from writing young adult novels to writing an adult novel?
It was just about being truer to my current voice really. I loved writing young adult characters, but it’s *cough* been a while since I was a young adult myself and I did find myself struggling to keep the stories truly contemporary. I do think The Summer Job has a young adult feel to it, and Birdy’s story is really a late-coming-of-age novel so I think YA will always be a big influence on how I write and the stories I like.
If The Summer Job was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
In my very early drafts, I cast Felicity Jones as Birdy and Richard Madden as James in my head. It was also titled LOVE HIGHLAND. I’d love someone like Emma Thompson to play Irene!
What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
I just finished Promising Young Woman and it was AMAZING. I highly recommend it. But on the lighter side, I really enjoyed a re-watch of When Harry Met Sally last week. I read Emily Henry’s You and Me on Vacation, which was inspired by that film, and I had to go and have a re-watch. It’s really stood the test of time.
What is the worst job you've ever had?
Working in hospitality is great. Working in hospitably and having to deal with rude customers is the absolute worst. The whole pleasure of hospitality is serving people and showing them a wonderful time – if they’re mean it becomes one of the most thankless jobs in the world!
What is the last thing you had a good laugh about?
I have just been writing a scene in my new book about lip fillers gone wrong and I’m cackling with laughter as I write. My poor main character is embarking on the world’s most misguided life make-over…. Watch this space for more.
Thanks to Lizzy for visiting with us and to Putnam for sharing her book with our readers.
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Years ago, in college, I worked as a telemarketer! It was definitely not one of my better jobs, but made me develop a thicker skin and led to many strange, interesting and unique conversations, for sure!
ReplyDeleteThe worst job I ever had was working as a financial secretary for a church. There were so many politics and personalities trying to tell you what to do when they didnt have the authority. Plus the supervisor had no idea on how to do her job or mine but was always causing conflict. You would think working for a church would be a better place but it was not.
ReplyDeleteI had many horrible jobs. One of the worst was working in a small office related women (mother & daughter) nagging me blue constantly.
ReplyDeleteMy worst one was a summer job when I worked on the floor of a clothing store that was in a mall.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
The worst job I ever had was one I had when I was 18. It was working in a warehouse, as a silk screener. It was so hot! How hot was it? At least 110°! Plus, the pay was low and the work was meaningless and hard! I lasted 1 week. Lol! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteThe politics in my last job, Early Childhood Centre, made it very easy for me to leave and find a better job.
ReplyDeleteI worked in an ice cream shop in high school. The boss was HORRIBLE!
ReplyDeleteI worked at a chicken farm when I was a teenager. Not a fun job.
ReplyDeleteThe worst job I ever had was as an assistant for the VP of Finance for a printing company in Southern Illinois. He was horrible to work for, he was so impressed with himself.
ReplyDeleteThe first job I got when I graduated from Secretarial School. I only work there two weeks and the said I wasn't learning fast enough so they let me go, but the next job I got was so much better and I think things happen for a reason. Thanks for your great generosity. Linda May
ReplyDeleteSummer job as a sales clerk in a department store
ReplyDeleteI worked at a pizza place a few short weeks in college. Didn't make any money to speak of and the work was tiring.
ReplyDeleten/a
ReplyDeleteI folded men's pants in a department store.
ReplyDeleteSummer internship at an insurance firm, helping various departments.
ReplyDelete