Start reading Pear Shaped on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

 
 
 

Try it free

Sample the beginning of this book for free

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

Read books on your computer or other mobile devices with our FREE Kindle Reading Apps.
Pear Shaped
 
 

Pear Shaped [Kindle Edition]

Stella Newman
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (211 customer reviews)

Print List Price: £6.99
Kindle Price: £1.99 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save: £5.00 (72%)
* Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £1.99  
Hardcover, Large Print --  
Paperback £3.86  

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Product Description

Review

‘A fabulous first novel by a British writer…Her writing is witty and snappy and she is hilarious on the food industry, with a wit that would not disgrace television’s The Office… I also found her fascinating on the methodology of contemporary dating.’ Wendy Holden.

'Pear Shaped is the best sort of guilty pleasure, from the copious puddings our heroine Sophie tests in her day job, to the relationship she just knows is wrong for her but can't seem to give up. You'll shout out loud willing her to dump him, and cry with laughter as you recognise all the daft things we do when we're in love. And then you'll have a second helping of pudding and fall in love with Stella Newman's quick wit and her clever portrayal of that delicate balance between food, love and insanity.' –Kathleen Baird-Murray

'It reminded me of a lemon meringue pie: sharp and sweet and satisfying all at once. It's funny, sad and uplifting… Sophie Klein's every woman who's stood in front of a mirror and hated herself, and we adore her for that, and for finally delivering a Toxic Bachelor a good kick up the arse. It's a belter.' –Kate Long, bestselling author of The Bad Mother's Handbook

'Achingly funny, searingly honest, Pear Shaped is quite simply the freshest thing I've ever read. Take note of the name Stella Newman. A must for anyone who's ever loved, lost….or eaten too much dessert.' Claudia Carroll, bestselling author of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

'If you are a girl with a passion for food, this modern city heartbreak is the book for you.' Heat

‘What a fantastic book. Really quite brilliant, way superior to standard chick-lit…so well written, fresh, insightful, funny…honest and very contemporary. Fantastic dialogue. Great characters. There's so much that's fresh and fun, including the food world which I loved.’ Henry Fitzherbert, Sunday Express

Product Description

SPECIAL LOW PRICE FOR A LIMITED PERIOD TO DISCOVER THIS NEW AUTHOR.

A novel about love, heartbreak and dessert.

Girl meets boy.
Girl loses boy.
Girl loses mind.

Sophie Klein walks into a bar one Friday night and her life changes. She meets James Stephens: charismatic, elusive, and with a hosiery model ex who casts a long, thin shadow over their burgeoning relationship. He’s clever, funny and shares her greatest pleasure in life – to eat and drink slightly too much and then have a little lie down. Sophie’s instinct tells her James is too good to be true – and he is.

An exploration of love, heartbreak, self-image, self-deception and lots of food. Pear-Shaped is in turns smart, laugh-out-loud funny and above all, recognizable to women everywhere.


Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 551 KB
  • Print Length: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Avon (19 Jan 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1847562701
  • ISBN-13: 978-1847562708
  • ASIN: B005S9KTDG
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (211 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #305 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  •  Would you like to give feedback on images?


More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore the front cover!! 13 Mar 2012
Format:Paperback
Please, get past the front cover. This book has so much more to say than the ice cream girl suggests.

Not only is it laugh-out-loud funny (there's a thing with a Toilet Duck, I'll say no more) but it deals with the really serious issue of how some men make women feel about how they look.

And how they eat.

And the hypocrisy of not-very-fit old blokes with big appetites telling women how they should behave around food.

Because it's a well-written piece of fiction - Stella Newman clearly knows what to do with a pen as well as a cake tin - Pear Shaped is totally absorbing about James and Sophie's relationship. But you can substitute for James all the powerful communicators who tell women what to look like and what to buy - and what to deny themselves - in order to look that way. And you can substitute for Sophie all the women who struggle daily with how we're 'supposed' to be.

It's important for all of us that Sophie breaks free of James (read the book to find out if she does...!)

Because, despite the daft cover, there's a lot more than ice cream at stake.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! 28 Jan 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was responsible for me staying awake until after 4am as I couldn't put this down. For fans of chick lit it is such a satisfying read and I'm hoping that there is another from this author. It made me angry (at James), it made me well up a little (for Sophie) and my goodness did it make me hungry!!!!
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Peachy 10 Feb 2012
Format:Paperback
This was just such a great read. I started it last night and finished it under my desk at work today...
Despite the chick-lit cover, Pear Shaped isn't your typical romance with a bit of baking thrown in. Instead this is a heart-felt exploration of an unbalanced relationship and the damaging impact it can have on your mind and body.
The heroine, Sophie is warm and likeable and the writing is very sharp witted and well observed. At times I couldn't believe that Sophie was putting herself through such emotional heart ache, but actually this was the book's strength - we've all been in this situation, or something close to it.
The story was very fast paced, so much so that I might have to read it through a second time to pick up all the delicious foodie bits.
I'm looking forward to the next Stella Newman (maybe with a better cover next time?)
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
54 of 60 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and sour and Sassy! 24 Jan 2012
Format:Paperback
Initially I was intrigued by the title - as a pear-shaped person whose past love life was frequently pear-shaped I absolutely related to Sophie. Yes, James Stephens is a horrid person, but surely many of us have been addicted to the highs and lows in an emotionally abusive relationship. Stella Newman's style has a real bite (no pun intended though I did find the way she writes about food fascinating and fluent) - I zipped through this book all too quickly. Sophie is a well-rounded and engaging character - I hope we'll get a sequel and a movie!
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Great easy read!! 23 Feb 2012
By SS83
Format:Kindle Edition
This book is an easy read and you wont want to put it down as I was glued to find out what happened. You will fall in love with the main character Sophie Klein and feel every emotion that she goes through as most people know about getting their hearts broken. I was a little disappointed in the ending as I would of liked to of known more and it ended quite suddenly. There was one bit I read that I think I laughed for about 10 mins re-reading it over and over and killing myself laughing, I even read it out to my husband and he laughed too. I really hope there will be a sequel!!!!
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing and delicious 19 Jan 2012
By Ruth
Format:Paperback
There is so much to recommend this book. If you've ever felt bad about your body or soul, or been in gale force love that defied the laws of logic, or invested everything in someone that used emotional manipulation to stay in control, then Pear Shaped is a liberating and possibly painfully truthful read. Luckily it's also hilarious, packed with wry observations, drunken indiscretions, sex in art galleries and custard donuts.

This isn't just chick lit. This is Stella Newman chick lit.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Book with Bite 14 Mar 2012
Format:Paperback
The `Pear Shaped' story is a familiar one, but told with real flair and wit so it feels different from your typical love-gone-wrong tale. The author gives a hilarious insight into the world of supermarket ready-meal development, but she's best at capturing the psychological complexity of wanting to be with someone who you know isn't good for you. The descriptions of Sophie's emotional turmoil and reckless actions are frank, raw and funny.

For me the most powerful part of the book was Sophie's depression after the break-up. Most chick-lit books skim over this kind of thing, but Stella Newman looks it square in the face and doesn't flinch from describing the darkest aspects of heartbreak. Somehow, she manages to infuse black humour into this section of the book as well, and it works brilliantly.

I'm going to be giving this book to all my girlfriends as a salutary lesson in what not to do when you're dating - and also as a beacon of hope to show how you can end up better off, stronger and able to laugh at yourself if you're brave enough to face up to your own mistakes. I really recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read that is sure to resonate with their own life and experiences.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Rendered: love, cake and redemption 14 Mar 2012
By Silver
Format:Kindle Edition
I bought this for my wife but ended up reading it for myself.

The cover is ridiculous, but the content is not. This is whip-smart, funny, tender, and believable writing that hooks you from the off - the 'off' being the best opening line to a novel I've read for ages.

You spend much of the novel wrestling with the main character, willing her to do well, and wishing she would do better. The rest of the time you are absorbed in the drama of dessert. Other people's jobs are always interesting, but few can be as fascinating as the ones which end up with food in our mouths.

In short, this is a top, top read, full of cake, love and redemption. I thoroughly recommend it.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars not worth reading
Similar story line as Leftovers, suggest the writer doesn't pursue this story line, would think twice about reading anymore books by this author.
Published 1 day ago by Mrs Marion F Rawlings
4.0 out of 5 stars Like a Satisfying Meal!
I'm not a great fan of chick lit but, as a foodie, Stella Newman's Pear Shaped had me hooked from the start. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Alex8
3.0 out of 5 stars if you are not into food, don't read!
I enjoyed it, easy read and if you are not into food this one is not for you. it kept me entertained.
Published 9 days ago by Clairec
4.0 out of 5 stars Flyboy
Herself enjoyed reading it. She must have done as she kept me awake laughing at i. Newman is now on our watchlist
Published 10 days ago by Sqn Ldr Raymond Leach
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down
Fantastic example of how a book of this genre should be written. I can relate to so many of her stories, they are so real. Really good read. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Mrs. Sarah Muir
4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing romantic romp
This delivered what it promised, a romantic, humorous story, an easy novel to read. I'd recommend it for light holiday reading.
Published 12 days ago by Jackie
4.0 out of 5 stars good read
I enjoyed this book and would certainly read another by this author it wasn't a work-stopper for me but a good holiday read
Published 13 days ago by Lynda b
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read, Enjoyable!
Easy to read,enjoyable and funny.
Would recommend to a young audience 20 - 30.
Looking for more Stella Newman books to read.
Published 16 days ago by Jennifer
4.0 out of 5 stars Would recommend.
Not really a chick lit fan but this was good and an easy read. Has substance to it and a bit of girl power. Would recommend.
Published 20 days ago by RF
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!!!!
The first book I've read by Stella Newman but have now also finished Left Overs - another fantastic book!! Read more
Published 22 days ago by Judi Green
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Popular Highlights

 (What's this?)
&quote;
You are on your own out there. Not in a ‘we all die alone’ way, merely this: you are responsible for building your own life. Depression can be a useful hiding place. You are in charge of creating your own happiness and for your own reactions to the world. That is what being a grown-up is. That sounds hard. &quote;
Highlighted by 21 Kindle users
&quote;
The Song of Songs: ‘I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine’. &quote;
Highlighted by 16 Kindle users
&quote;
I want a relationship like my grandparents, where my grandpa made my grandma a cup of tea every morning for fifty-five years and told her she was the most beautiful woman in the world, &quote;
Highlighted by 8 Kindle users

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Discussion Replies Latest Post
Nobody reads on the loo do they ? not really - and yet so many people have books in the loo ! 19 44 minutes ago
Self-published books: pain or gain? 6126 1 hour ago
Come on - why don't we write our own book right here in the fiction forum ? I'll do the first sentence, and then jump in....hold on, here we go... 7212 1 hour ago
Looking for books like Slammed, Beautiful Disaster, Easy, 9371 1 hour ago
Spend an erotic night of BDSM, Domination/submission, and exhibition with Jim and Kay this weekend.. 47 1 hour ago
What is the POINT of zombie novels, exactly? 135 2 hours ago
Any romance books without a pathetic heroine? 9 2 hours ago
Can anyone recommend a good book 108 2 hours ago
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Customers Who Highlighted This Item Also Highlighted


Look for similar items by category


Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. Privacy Statement Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. Delivery Information Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. Returns & Exchanges