Great book, I picked it up intending for it to just be some airplane fluff book that I would read once on my way from MN to Poland and then pass on or something. While is was a perfect air plane book, not too complex a plot (this is good on airplanes when you're aren't necessarily at your most alert) and fast-paced enough that I didn't fall asleep, what I hadn't counted on was how I was pulled into the story and could relate to most of the characters in some way or another. The main character is fantastic, you just want to be her friend, and James, the "sexy real estate agent" is completely wonderful as well. A quick read that I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes chick-lit (this is a classic example) or just wants a lovely feel-good book.

Back of the book:

Catharine Warner and Simon Nelson are best friends: total opposites, always together, and both unlucky in love. Cath is scatterbrained, messy, and emotionally closed off. Si is impossibly tidy, bitchy, and desperate for a man of his own. They live in London's West Hampsteadalong with their lifelong friends, Josh and Lucy, who are happily married with a devil-spawn child called Max and a terrifying Swedish nanny, Ingrid.

All's well (sort of) until the sudden arrival of a college friend - the stunningly beautiful Portia, who's known for breaking hearts. Her reapperance soon unleashes a rollicking series of events that tests the foursome's friendships to the limit. Fortunately, Cath has plenty to take her mind off Portia's scheme's - like her gutsy decision to fulfill her dream of opening a bookstore, and a budding romance with sexy real-estate agent James. With his irresistable smile and boyish charm, could he be the one to melt Cath's heart?

Told with Jane Green's captivating wit and flare, Bookends is above all a story about friendship - its twists, turns, and complications - and how is weathers the challenges of love, ambition, marriage, and, most of all, growing up. Warmhearted, sophisticated, and full of delicious surprises, Bookends is Green's most dazzling novel yet.

I've decided to start a bookring for this book. The ring will be international and I will keep it open until the book is back in my hands. If you want to join please PM me with your shipping preferences and country/state. So far the list is as follows:

book-bugger - RI *finished*
MandMsMom - CN *finished*
tempe247 - NY *finished*
Lorelei03 - NY *finished*
thescreaming - MD *finished*
jamieh2003 - WV *finished*
blwarren - TN <----------on its way
tabby90 - NC (US)
Xana - GA (int'l)
raynebair - AL (US)
strwbrygal - OH ( ? )
tootshelling - AZ (int'l)
shellyann - CA (int'l)
djf1968 - CA (int'l)

and back to me in MN!

I'm willing to take more people so if you're interested just PM me. :-)

Sent this out on Thursday to book-bugger, happy reading!

We had some BCID technical difficulties, but I have read this book, enjoyed it, and it's back out in the mail... To connecticut next, I believe. Thanks!

This arrived in the mail today! I just finished a book and so I am going to start digging in this afternoon!

I loved this book! This is a phenomenal example of chick lit. It is not shallow but definately light and enjoyable. There were some scenes in theis book that I thought were very reminiscient of Bridget Jones. This is my favorit Jane Green so far. I totally relate to Cath. We have a lot of the same dreams and the same ways. I can relate to her friendship with Portia and Si. I think she is a very real character and the issues in this book are real but have been dealt with in the best of ways. I hope the others enjoy this. This is one of this year's top five for me!

I have tried contacting tempe247 and am just waiting for an address to move this along!

This arrived in the mail today. Looking forward to it. I have one book ahead of it in my TBR pile, so I'll get to it as soon as I can.

I enjoyed this one.Read it on vacation up in Maine. Will be passing it on to next person on the list ASAP.

Fun, fast read. I think this was more intelligent than your average chit lit (which I love!), but I was a little uneasy about the tone re: gay and lesbian characters. Not sure why, though - could have just been me in a sensitive mood.

This came in the mail sometime last week. It may be a while before I can get to it because I have a stack of other bookrings ahead of it, and three close friends of mine just died this weekend, so my reading time is next to nothing. I'll try to get to it as soon as I can.

I want to apologize for holding this book captive for so long. Sometimes life gets to be too much, and you have to get your priorities in order.

Fortunately, this was one of the books that I had a chance to read. I just love all of the Jane Green books that I've read, and I think this may be my favorite. I could relate to the characters so well. I think we all could identify someone we know that would match up perfectly with a person from the book. It all just seemed too true.

The next time I see Jamie, I'll give the book to her.

This was passed on to me by thescreaming when I met her and lumpyrump for lunch Friday. Sorry for the delay in getting the journal entry done but I picked up the book and started reading it right away. I will contact the next in line today and getting mailing info and hope to have it out to them by the weekend. I'll journal my impressions once I've finished the book.

Again, my apologies for holding this ring up. I finally have both health and computer issues resolved so I will be mailing this off to blwarren in Monday's mail.


I really enjoyed this tale and it was an easy read as well. I found Green's characters to be as charming as I usually do and hope to read more by her soon.