#2 Straight Talking by Jane Green

10 second review: Read something else instead.

Lest you think I always read classics and other worthy tomes, here's some chicklit of the worst kind. It's 10 years old, which means I didn't learn much, expect that shoulderpads and leggings were apparently still being worn in London around 1997, and it was possible to be hip and fashionable without ever wearing any colour. I may have to rethink my wardrobe, or perhaps my choice of boyfriend as it seems that finding the right man causes you to be good with eyeshadow, something I've never really mastered.

The plot is formulaic: girl doesn't find love for a very long time, instead sleeping with bastards in a very self-empowered sort of way, and is supported by her three best friends (female) and her one other best friend (male, handsome). You can guess the rest. The only slight twist is that this protagonist is already in therapy (daddy issues) and occasionally turns to talk directly to the reader.

I read Bookends by the same author last year which was definitely better.

Read it if: Criticising rom-coms to your seatmate eases your fear of flying. Trust me: you will find plenty to say.
Don't if: You haven't read the inflight magazine yet.