Katy Carter Wants a Hero [Paperback]

Katy Carter is a secondary school teacher who dreams of being a bestselling author and secretly scribbles down her novel (a historic blockbuster) whilst in school meetings. Katy is also a huge fan of grabbing herself her own romantic hero and thinks she's found him in James, her fiance. However when a dinner party for James's work colleagues goes disastrously wrong - with help from a lobster named Pinchy, a red-setter named Sasha and a cactus - Katy finds herself unceremoniously dumped by James. After a health scare Katy is determined to get her life back on track and heads down to Cornwall to stay with best friend Maddy with the hopes of finding herself her new romantic hero, but could her romantic hero be closer to home than she thinks?

Katy Carter Wants A Hero probably couldn't be classified as having a unique plot - after all, it's one I read multiple times a month but the fact is I didn't pick this up for it's uniqueness, I picked it up because it looked like a fun and light read. I had no expectations as to how I would like the book and went into it with a completely open mind. The book is told entirely from Katy's point of view and I was hooked incredibly quickly. I don't know whether that was because of how simple the writing style was, or how likeable Katy was, or just how fun it all was, but the book sucked me in and wouldn't let go. The opening of the book sees Katy writing parts of her novel (kind of what I expect a Mills & Boon book to be like) whilst in a school meeting and it was very quick off the mark, not to mention quite hilarious. I did have a slight wobble and start thinking oh God, she's a doormat - I'm going to hate the book 30 pages in as Katy's boyfriend James began treating her like dirt, and I was so worried she was just going to roll over and let him talk to her so patronisingly. However my fears soon dissipated as we witness the rather incredible - and hilarious - dinner party scene that causes Katy and James's break-up. The scene had me in stitches for 5 pages (and gave me one of my favourite animal characters ever in Pinchy the lobster) and the book just motored on from there and I never looked back.

I saw the ending of Katy Carter a mile off. Actually I saw the ending from practically the first page. As I said before, though, that didn't concern me in the slightest. I was just looking forward to it all unravelling and then for the light in Katy's head to turn on. I'm sure you know/could guess how it ends even though you haven't read it. The twists and turns it took to get there were enough for me - the infamous dinner party, the health scare, the loss of contact, the fake relationship, it all swirled around to keep the plot moving so we came to a satisfying conclusion 400 pages later. The writing isn't anything special - as I mentioned earlier in my review it's written in a rather simplistic way but the fact is so is all of Sophie Kinsella's books and look how adored she is! Sometimes the simpler the book the better and for Katy Carter the simpleness worked. Ruth also seems to have Sophie's comedic touch as the book had me in stitches multiple times particularly with Pinchy the lobster - the way Katy's mind over-reacts when he's about to be boiled alive was hilarious.

Overall I couldn't recommend Katy Carter Wants A Hero enough. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it's definitely a keeper. If you love Becky Bloomwood, I'm 100% sure you'll love Katy Carter as they're both immensely enjoyable characters. Katy Carter is definitely a book I'll be reading again (and again and again) and long may Pinchy the lobster live! (Can you tell I loved the pet lobster part of the story?) Do try and pick yourself up a copy of this fab debut, it truly is fantastic!

Now I will be very honest with you - I normally don't read fiction - much rather watch a film. However knowing my taste in films includes all the classic Rom Coms (Sleepless in Seattle, While you were Sleeping..) as well as all the stuff blokes are supposed to like, I was given a copy by a friend who thought I would like it.
So I thought I would give it a go.. well within the first 3 pages I was hooked. This is important for me because, like bad or slow films, I loose interest very quickly and will simply fall asleep or switch off.
The style of writing was so easy and enjoyable, the pace of the story kept momentum and the way the characters were described so interesting I found it difficult (no near on impossible) to put down.
I finished it in 4 days - which for me is astonishing - not just that I read it so quickly but that I finished it at all! I then lent it to my best mates wife, she is a real bookworm - 3 or 4 a week - she absolutely loved it and she reads all sorts.
I have not reviewed a book before and can't offer anything more than the perspective of someone who thoroughy enjoyed the whole experience and neither can I offer any words of wisdom on the technical merits of the author, but what I can say is this ... If like me you don't normally read (Rather wait for the film!), or you read avidly you will love this book.
Oh and on the subject of .. wait for the film. I am sure this will be made into one - it has all the interesting characters, plot twists, laugh out loud comic moments and romantic storyline (and sub plots) that you need to make a truly engrossing Rom Com. Katy Carter gets the full 5 stars from me. And finally .. Long Live Pinchy!!

This is a cut above your usual chick lit. The characters are well-rounded and you find yourself rooting for the good guys and booing the villains. The story has romance, tragedy, comedy... all the best things when curling up with a good book and a glass of wine.
I really felt for Katy Carter on her adventures with love and life. She comes across as a real person, warts and all, certainly not a simpering two-dimensional heroine (unlike her fictional alter-ego, Millandra, who makes for some of the funniest episodes in the book).
I look forward to more from the author.