Girl Friday
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Product Description
Review
'A corker of a story, sharply and elegantly told' Heat 'Sheer, unadulterated light entertainment!sassy, warm and wise' Glamour 'Compulsively readable' The Sunday Times
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
A story of divorced mother Kit whose new job as assistant to a gorgeous and famously reclusive novelist is a much-coveted position.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'd pretty much given up on Jane Green after the absolutely terrible, dreadful, Beach House, but picked this up in my local supermarket dirt cheap and decided to give it a whirl. I've read all her books over the years, starting with Straight Talking (that fab leopard print cover!) but found that I've liked them less and less as they've gone on - is that about my life changing and not identfying with them any more, or is it just that she's writing less convincingly? I understand she now lives in the USA, which is reflected in the latter books, and I've really not enjoyed those much at all.
Anyway. I romped through this in a day - a very easy read. I quite liked Kit's character, but thought the rest were weak and poorly developed. The "twists" in the plot were easy to see coming - I found myself flicking towards the end to check if I was right almost as soon as Steve's character appeared - and the ending was schmaltzy, but I found it un-taxing and a pleasant enough read.
Like other reviewers (of the hardback) my feeling is that she's churning these books out (I think Marian Keyes, another formerly briliant author, went the same way, and Adele Parks is showing similar signs) and they're getting poorer as they go. However, provided we keep buying them - which we do - and she's making the money, then I suppose that will just keep happening! Maybe the chick-lit bubble's burst and we're looking for different things, while the writers haven't moved on?
Anyway. I romped through this in a day - a very easy read. I quite liked Kit's character, but thought the rest were weak and poorly developed. The "twists" in the plot were easy to see coming - I found myself flicking towards the end to check if I was right almost as soon as Steve's character appeared - and the ending was schmaltzy, but I found it un-taxing and a pleasant enough read.
Like other reviewers (of the hardback) my feeling is that she's churning these books out (I think Marian Keyes, another formerly briliant author, went the same way, and Adele Parks is showing similar signs) and they're getting poorer as they go. However, provided we keep buying them - which we do - and she's making the money, then I suppose that will just keep happening! Maybe the chick-lit bubble's burst and we're looking for different things, while the writers haven't moved on?
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Where has she gone? The Jane Green who had us enthralled with her earlier novels, has dissappeared. I felt a little cheated and let down after the 'Beach House', as it was weak and implausable. But I had high hopes for this one being a return to form .............. sadly now dashed. If anything, 'Girl Friday' is worset than the 'Beach House' in my opinion.
If you look back over the themes of Jane Green's novels, it seems she has drawn inspiration from the path of her life, and this has worked well for her in the past. 'Girl Friday', is set in suburban New England (like 'The Beach House') where Jane herself now lives. Other than that, I think Jane is flailing for material. 'Girl Friday' is incoherent on many levels - plot is weak and confusing, characters are shallow and unrealistic, and her style has taken a very 'Mills and Boon' turn for the worst. Quote from p.186/7 - "Robert closes his eyes, every nerve on fire. He has forgotten it could be like this,and he picks her up,and carries her to the sofa, all thoughts forgotten, aware of nothing other than the woman in his arms." Hmmmn. I smell cheese.
I was confused by this book - and the blurb was misleading. Was this a book about observing Suburban American life? (A Desperate Houswives Lite)! Or was this a social commentary about the credit crunch and the fall of corporate America? Or was this an insight into the life of a divorced woman (as the blurb had me innitially believe)? Or was this a dark look into the secrets of families and relationships? For me - none of these things sadly. It could have been any of them, handled well and developed properly. Instead, its a nothing book. Just a mish mash of ideas and themes, none of which were explored or explained very well at all.
I fear Jane Greene has lost her way and is either under pressure from her publisher to churn out a book each year in time for the summer market, or worse still, has sold out and is now being ghost written. Either way, I hope that the Jane Green of old finds her way back to us next year.
If you look back over the themes of Jane Green's novels, it seems she has drawn inspiration from the path of her life, and this has worked well for her in the past. 'Girl Friday', is set in suburban New England (like 'The Beach House') where Jane herself now lives. Other than that, I think Jane is flailing for material. 'Girl Friday' is incoherent on many levels - plot is weak and confusing, characters are shallow and unrealistic, and her style has taken a very 'Mills and Boon' turn for the worst. Quote from p.186/7 - "Robert closes his eyes, every nerve on fire. He has forgotten it could be like this,and he picks her up,and carries her to the sofa, all thoughts forgotten, aware of nothing other than the woman in his arms." Hmmmn. I smell cheese.
I was confused by this book - and the blurb was misleading. Was this a book about observing Suburban American life? (A Desperate Houswives Lite)! Or was this a social commentary about the credit crunch and the fall of corporate America? Or was this an insight into the life of a divorced woman (as the blurb had me innitially believe)? Or was this a dark look into the secrets of families and relationships? For me - none of these things sadly. It could have been any of them, handled well and developed properly. Instead, its a nothing book. Just a mish mash of ideas and themes, none of which were explored or explained very well at all.
I fear Jane Greene has lost her way and is either under pressure from her publisher to churn out a book each year in time for the summer market, or worse still, has sold out and is now being ghost written. Either way, I hope that the Jane Green of old finds her way back to us next year.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I love Jane Green, I especially like her early stuff like Jemima J. I just finished reading Girl Friday and I was left feeling a bit let down. I thought the ending was rushed (for example, we don't really find out what happens to Jed), and while I like the storyline I think Jane Green made Kit into a bit of a saint about how she was badly treated by so many people. It was a bit dull, and there was so many chances for Jane to make it exciting and explore things a bit more.
I wish Jane Green would write books like she used to rather than ones set in America where she lives about middle aged women who are all former banker wives etc.
I wish Jane Green would write books like she used to rather than ones set in America where she lives about middle aged women who are all former banker wives etc.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A great holiday read
I love Jane Green's writing - her books are so readable I usually consume them in one or two sittings. Her characters can be a little bit prickly but they always feel so real. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Book worm
It was great!
I can't believe all the bad reviews!! I thought this was a good read, with a twist that I didn't see coming. I would recommend it.
Published 6 months ago by Clair
OK but not her best
Finished this in a couple of days, then passed it on to another lady whilst on holiday. It was an OK, easy read but left a few loose ends which frustrated me. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Poolie
Okay, light hearted read
This wasn't the most absorbing of Green's books. Having read them all, I tend to read them after I have been reading a few Tess Gerritsen or similar on the trot and need something... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Titania
It was ok
I've never been a big fan of Jane Green. Her first book was not so good, but then they got a bit better.
This one was fine. Read more
This one was fine. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Rory
Jane's lost her ways...
I started with Bookends and find it fantastic so I went on buying most of her books. I liked them, they were refreshing easy going and pleasant. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Pob
Meandering
I wondered throughout where this book was going as there were a series of twists and turns that looked like they had been thought up halfway through the story to keep it... Read more
Published 19 months ago by M. Burke
very disappointing
i got this book as a present as it was on my birthday wish-list and i have to say that i'm glad i didn't spend (waste) my money on that! Read more
Published 20 months ago by christina
Girl Friday got my vote!
Despite the majority of negative views on here, I really enjoyed Girl Friday! I was glued to the book, and spent most of the weekend reading it! Read more
Published 20 months ago by Bombay Sapphire
Another great read from Jane Green
After reading The Beach House last summer, I had great expectations of Girl Friday - Jane Green did not disappoint! I wanted to read it all in one go, but didn't want it to end...
Published 21 months ago by S. WOOD
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