I picked this up because I was in the mood for something light and fluffy, but engrossing. And, to be honest, I didn't have very high hopes for it, so I thought it might be a quick removal from Mt TBR in that I'd give up at the fifty page mark. And I nearly did give up at the fifty page mark, in complete annoyance at some of the clunkiest descriptions of our narrator's looks. The improbably named Angel has "wild mass of curls" which were "a difficult colour - mostly red, but with enough gold" to allow it be be described as "Titian"; a "smooth, almost olive complexion"; and "overlong" legs.

Now, as one who suffers from the duck's disease (bum too close to the ground), what on earth are "overlong" legs? How can one even have "overlong" legs??

But it's okay. She's got flaws. Namely, she has had difficulty finding a handsome intelligent man, until her current boyfriend and wannabe author, Malcolm. And the "overlong" legs. Let's not forget those. My God, she must be psychologically crippled by the trauma of it all. Oh yes, and she's just landed her dream job at the famous Lucy Fiamma's literary agency. Shame that Lucy is a complete sociopath.

Now, this is where I do have some sympathy for the character. (Oh yes, and she's a book nerd, which is guaranteed to make all readers love her. Even me, a little bit.) I have been in a job with a very difficult boss, and it does take a lot out of you. But this woman is beyond completely nuts: demanding; expecting her employees to read her mind; contradictory; playing her employees off against each other. I am yet to read The Devil Wears Prada, but it very much reminded me of the movie adaptation. A bit too much, at times. The Devil Publishes Paperbacks, maybe?

Now, the basic twist of the book is that Angel starts reading manuscripts from an anonymous author that parallel what is happening in Angel's life. That's the blurb on the front and on the back. Yet it takes nearly 100 pages to even start that plotline. And that's the main problem with the book: lots of noise and fluster, but not a lot of actual plot. I was sold this on the basis of the mystery, but it was much more a chick-lit book.

Of course, I don't particularly mind the occasional chick-lit, and I did power through this fairly quickly. It's nicely written (apart from the hideous exposition at the beginning) and is about a lover of books and reading, which is always appealing. Good entertaining chick-lit fare, but really not the mystery book I was led to believe it would be. Which is a shame, if I'd picked it up expecting chick-lit, I may have been a lot more entertained.

Offering on the Oz VBB

Popped in the post earlier today to catsalive, who chose this from the Oz VBB.

Happy reading!

Thanks tqd.