Working Wonders : [Hardcover]

Arthur Pendleton has led an unexciting life, working as a town planner and slowly realising that his life holds few surprises. Then he encounters the head of a team of management consultants, the beguiling and beautiful Gwyneth Morgan, a woman Arthur finds himself intimidated by. Her job is to inspire Arthur and his ill-assorted team of planners to take on a daunting task--ensure that Coventry becomes the new European city of culture. Looking around at such colleagues as nerdish computer expert Sven and the unhappy (and long-suffering) Cathy, Arthur becomes increasingly dispirited. And then, astonishingly, Gwyneth shows signs of being attracted to him, and (even more surprisingly) his team begins to fire on all cylinders with ideas. But which is more achievable: beginning a relationship with the intriguing Gwyneth, or making Coventry appear interesting? The elements that made Jenny Colgan's earlier books bestsellers are firmly in place here: quirkily observed characters, capricious plotting and a truly involving sense of the way in which most of us live our lives. Both Arthur and Gwyneth are beautifully drawn, and even if the basic theme (dull hero and brighter heroine in a non-metropolitan culture clash) may owe something to David Lodge's Changing Places, it's none the worse for that; this is an enchanting read. --Barry Forshaw

‘Funny, magical and moving.’ TIME OUT

‘A sharp, witty love story.’ OBSERVER

'With the humour and warmth that have made her previous books bestsellers, she expertly transforms Arthur Pendleton's bid to make his home the new European City of Culture (and sweep ice-cool Gwyneth off her feet at the same time) into a delicious comedy. Will melt even the
hardest of hearts.' RED

‘hugely entertaining and very funny.’ COSMOPOLITAN

‘Colgan’s witty book perfectly captures the frustrations and petty vexations of office life.’ SHE

PRAISE FOR JENNY COLGAN:

‘What really sets Jenny apart… is this: she is very, very funny’ Express

‘Compulsively comical’ Cosmpolitan (of Amanda’s Wedding)

‘Colgan is on top form with her latest outrageous romp’ Cosmpolitan

‘Wonderful, warm and resonant’ Hello

‘Jenny Colgan is one of the leaders of the pack… and this will delight her legion of admirers. Fast-paced, funny, poignant and well-observed’ Daily Mail

Laughs, love, office life.
And a little touch of magic …

From the bestselling author of LOOKING FOR ANDREW MCCARTHY and AMANDA'S WEDDING.

Faint heart never won fair lady…

Who knows how Arthur Pendleton ended up as a town planner? While his girlfriend is planning babies he can't even plan lunch. His kingdom is a small cubicle and a team of shambolic colleagues, including a dog called Sandwiches.

Until Gwyneth Morgan sweeps into his world. Ice-cool and gorgeous, she offers Arthur's office the chance to escape the humdrum and win Coventry a place on the world stage: as European City of Culture.

But Gwyneth secretly has her doubts about Arthur. Yes, he has deep brown eyes and a lovely smile, but can he really compete with his arch-enemy Ross, and the dashing Rafe, to seize the prize for his city – and to win her heart?

Laughs, love, office life.
And a little touch of magic …

Something magical has just entered Arthur Pendleton's dull life. Or rather someone magical – the gorgeous, clever, out-of-his-league, Gwyneth Morgan.

As the head of a team of management consultants, Gwyneth challenges Arthur and his motley crew of town planners to do the impossible – make Coventry the new European City of Culture. With Sven the computer geek, a stapler-eating dog, Cathy the world's most put-upon woman and The Temp (a temp) backing Arthur up, it looks like he has no chance of succeeding.

And then amazing things happen. Gwyneth seems to be interested in him. His team have good ideas. Disaster no longer seems certain.

But the quest to win the heart of the enchanting Gwyneth has a long way to go. And it might really be impossible to make Coventry interesting

Faint heart never won fair lady…

Who knows how Arthur Pendleton ended up as a town planner? While his girlfriend is planning babies he can't even plan lunch. His kingdom is a small cubicle and a team of shambolic colleagues, including a dog called Sandwiches.

Until Gwyneth Morgan sweeps into his world. Ice-cool and gorgeous, she offers Arthur's office the chance to escape the humdrum and win Coventry a place on the world stage: as European City of Culture.

But Gwyneth secretly has her doubts about Arthur. Yes, he has deep brown eyes and a lovely smile, but can he really compete with his arch-enemy Ross, and the dashing Rafe, to seize the prize for his city – and to win her heart?

As a series of strange and wonderful things start to happen, a magic is woven around Arthur's world. Office life is never going to be the same again…

Nothing is quite as it seems – and that includes Arthur. In the course of a short day he defenestrates a photocopier, wrestles his Lynx-scented boss Ross for his job, faces up to Fay – that is he evades her questions once too often – and is given a secret mission that will change the life of himself and his motley team (which includes a smelly dog called Sandwiches). England (well, Coventry at least) needs Arthur – but who or what does Arthur need?

Jenny Colgan was born in 1971 in Ayrshire. After Edinburgh University, she worked for six years in the health service, moonlighting as a cartoonist and a stand-up comic. She is now working on her fourth novel, and a TV series.