I have always been an avid reader from as young as I can remember, but recently i’ve become even keener than usual. I think that because i’m working such long hours on a TV drama, the peaceful quietness of reading a novel is the perfect contrast. I only read two types of novels – funny, light-hearted chick-lit or suspenseful psychological thrillers. I go through phases of reading each but recently i’ve been leaning more towards chick-lit novels. Here are five of my recent discoveries.

The Plus One by Sophia Money-Coutts – £6.99 paperback from Amazon

This funny and little bit raunchy novel comes from former Tatler magazine editor Sophia Money-Coutts. Her heroine Polly is about to turn 30, and she’s trying to convince herself that her life is fully on track; even although her sex life is almost non-existent and her job doesn’t seem to be offering much chance of progression. She works at a celebrity magazine, and is forever charting the births and marriages of endless famous couples. Her own life, however, is distinctly lacking in the love front. Polly has to find a date to her best friend’s wedding in the summer, so she starts the new year with a pact to drink less, pay more attention to her personal grooming and basically just get her shit together. Polly is put up against an infamous ladies man who she is sent to interview. Will she fall for this charms?

I Heart Hawaii by Lindsey Kelk – £5.75 paperback from Amazon

The latest in Lindsey’s award-winning I Heart series is I Heart Hawaii. Adored and relatable heroine Angela Clark is this time on a press trip adventure to the tropical paradise of Hawaii with best friend Jenny. She desperately needs a break from her work life in New York, and she sees this as the perfect opportunity to unwind. Everyone thinks that Angela’s high-flying New York life and new job is something to envy, but Angela feels in over her head. This is the 8th and final book in the series of Angela’s adventures and all the usual gang are back too. Even although Angela is holidaying in the sun, she still manages to get into a series of scrapes that make this a laugh-out-loud tale we can all connect with.

Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane – £4.79 paperback from Amazon

Georgina Horspool has a solid gang of friends, but the rest of her life just keeps going tits up. Hilariously, she is fired from her waitressing job at Italian restaurant That’s Amore due to a run-in with a local restaurant critic. Then when she goes to seek comfort from her on/off boyfriend Robin (who her friends all hate), she finds him on top of someone else. Her family think she is a classic failure, but in a bid for a fresh start, she accepts her brother-in-law’s offer of a job in one of his client’s pubs. This must not go wrong. Unfortuately, one of her new bosses is the ‘love of her life’ from school that’s she’s been pining for ever since. There’s only one problem – he doesn’t remember her. Will Georgina ever find happiness? This is a humourous read with heart, and Georgina is completely relatable to those struggling with ‘adulting’.

Are We Nearly There Yet? by Lucy Vine – £7.91 paperback from Amazon

There’s a bit of a theme going here, but Lucy Vine’s lead character is also turning 30 and struggling with the complexities of modern adulthood. Alice’s friends seem to be managing it – they are coupled up, have good jobs and are starting families; whilst Alice is still temping and going from one Mr Wrong to the next (that is if she manages to stop going back to the first Mr Wrong). Alice is always getting herself in humourous scrapes, and with life and love not working out for her, she decides to take herself off on an around-the-world travel adventure. Will Alice find out what she wants from life, and will she meet the man of her dreams? They are questions that we have all struggled to find the answers for at some point in our lives.

If You Could Go Anywhere by Paige Toon – £5.75 paperback from Amazon

Those of you who are already a fan of Paige Toon’s novels, will love this one just as much. It’s more of a heart-warming read than a humourous one, but it will definitely lift your spirits, make you feel all the romance and give you lots of travel inspiration. Angie is 27 and has spent all her life in a small mining town, never experiencing adventure for herself. When her last remaining relative in the town passes away, it’s a catalyst for Angie to see the world for herself and find out more about the father she never knew. She also just happens to fall in love with a tall, dark and handsome Italian in the process.

This post contains press samples for review, but all opinions are my own.

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