The Only Way is Up - Carole Matthews

TO READ OR NOT TO READ III

A record-breaker, if I do say so myself. I finished this one in three days (and only because, you know, I attempted to have a life in between). And yes, I did actually finish it - without trouble... sort of.

The Only Way is Up was simply a stunning chick-lit novel that I literally gobbled up in days. Boy did I gobble. Carole Matthews is one of few authors nowadays that I really wish would crank out books faster than I can read them simply for the satisfaction of knowing that I can't keep up with my - dare I say - slight obsession with the wiles of a good romantic comedy.

But, then again, I might actually hate them.

There's always something in a book that irritates. Or someone. See, The Only Way is Up was supposed to be a cute little "love-survives-anything" story for me, especially with full indication from the start that that's exactly what it would be. Lily Lamont-Jones' husband, the irritatingly likable Laurence, managed to turn their small family's life upside-down. A wealthy, higher-class family living in a village outside of London, the Lamont-Jones' and their two children, Hettie and Hugo, had a charmed life that takes a huge dive when a business deal of Laurence's turns sour and the family loses everything; their barn, their show horses, their huge house, their money... All they have left are the clothes on their back and a few pieces of jewellery Lily had with her, leftovers from their recent Tuscan-holiday.


Having to move to a dive estate, they are forced to make due with minimum wage-paying jobs and pawning off Lily's precious jewellery to her new employer, Seymour. That's where it gets interesting. And a little unrealistic for my taste. This is where Lily Lamont-Jones' goes from loyal wife to home-wrecker in a matter of two chapters. A completely unnecessary plot twist where Lily starts an elicit affair (keep in mind she is a woman entering the throngs of middle age) with her much younger, completely gorgeous, understanding new boss. But of course he wants her. She's broke as shit, is married and has two kids under the age of thirteen. What's not to love?

Of course (or rather, thank God), Lily comes to her senses (after a completely unnecessary and selfish evening with lover-boy). She sells the rest of her jewellery, settles her debt with old friends and discovers that she loves living on an estate with friendly tattooed and half-homeless people. And, of course, her husband is offered his job back, but instead declines and continues working for minimum wage at an almost-petting zoo.

But, it was sweet. A completely lovely book with completely lovely characters: the helpful neighbour -and best friend, Tracey, the Softy, Skull and the sadly sweet, Len Eleven Dogs.

I can't really complain. It was far from a waste of time, and far from mindless drivel. An excitingly delicious holiday novel. I guess, in Carole Matthew's world, a little luck and a lot of determination goes a long way.

xx
Tracy


WHAT I'M READING AT THE MOMENT:

- What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

Chick Lit ( getting there... eventually)

- Snap Happy by Fiona Walker

Chick Lit