Single Girls To Do List…Review by Kimi

Rachel Summers loves a to-do list:

• Boyfriend
• Flat
• Great job

NOT on the list:

• Being dumped

Best friends Emelie and Matthew ride to her rescue with an entirely new kind of list – The Single Girl’s To-Do List. Rachel doesn’t know it, but it will take her on all kinds of wild adventures – and get her in some romantic pickles too. And then it won’t be a case of what but who she decides to tick off…

• Mr. bendy yoga instructor
• Mr. teenage sweetheart
• Mr. persistent ex
• Mr. deeply unsuitable

The Single Girl’s To-Do List gives Rachel the perfect heartbreak cure – and proves love is out there if you’re willing to take a chance.

I’ve been a fan of Lindsey Kelk’s writing since I got a copy of “I Heart New York” free with Glamour Magazine, I started reading it the day I got it and couldn’t put it down. I then read “…Hollywood” and “…Paris” and loved them aswell, so I was ecstatic when Lindsey announced she was writing a stand alone novel. Although after finishing the book I was disappointed that it was a one off, and not part of a series. *sad face*

I happened to pre-order the novel online, and it was sent out about 2 weeks early (naughty distributor) but I loved the fact that I got the novel early. I started reading it as soon as I got it and, just like with IHNY, I just couldn’t put it down.

I’m a huge fan of writing To-Do Lists, and I have lots of different lists myself. The concept of having to write a List in order to feel truly single really appealed to me and was something I could relate to completely. Some of the things on the list were things that I’ve tried myself after a break up (get a tattoo, make over, bungee jump or similar – I did a skydive) and I think that was one reason why I instantly clicked with Rachel’s character, I could see myself (and especially my previous post break up selves) in her.

I loved Rachel’s determination to complete the list, she didn’t mope for too long about being single, she got on with completing her list and trying to get everything done in 2 weeks. I admired the fact she wasn’t a Damsel In Distress and took it upon herself (with the prodding of her friends) to make things fun again.

The other characters in the novel are brilliant too, Emelie and Matthew would make a welcome addition to my life, I’d love to have them as friends.

Rachel’s Ex-Boyfriend Simon is instantly dislike-able. He grated on me straight away, and I really didn’t want Rachel to ever speak to him again. He was horrible (which I know was the point, but still, you end up really hating him.)

Dan, however, was lovely. I always end up falling for characters in novels, it’s crazy, I know, but I couldn’t help falling for Dan. He was cheeky, charming and loveable.

This novel was so easy to read and you fall into the story and the dialogue instantly. The characters were so well written and came alive in my mind like a movie. Lindsey Kelk herself was actually playing Rachel in my head, and Dan was simply gorgeous.

I’d definitely recommend this novel to anyone who likes a fun, interesting, easy to read Chick Lit.

Single Girls To Do List…Giveaway

To celebrate Kimi’s love of Lindsey Kelk’s writing, and to tie in with Kimi’s review of the book (find that here) and to tie in with the interview Lindsey has completed for us (find that here) we felt that we should do a little contest.

So, we are giving away 2 (yes, 2) copies of her latest novel “Single Girls To Do List…” along with 1 notebook.

All you have to do to win is recommend our blog to a new follower…

There will be 2 winners. If you are already following our blog you will be eligible to win a copy of the book and also a notebook (in case you want to start your own list) and the new follower will win a copy of the book also.

Rules of the giveaway:

You must be following us on twitter @SLFictionLovers
You must recommend a friend to follow us (and they need to actually follow us before the giveaway has ended)
You must RT our giveaway tweet
You must reply to that tweet with “Enter Me I recommended *name of new follower* to follow you”

You must be 16 or over, if not you must have permission to enter the contest as we will need your address.
This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.

Multiple entries are allowed, so if you recommend 10 followers, you will be entered 10 times, and your 10 followers will be entered also.

Kimi will be collating all the twitter entries on to a spreadsheet, and then they will be entered in to Random.org to find 2 winners.

The contest will finish at 8pm (GMT) on Sunday 10th July and the winners will be announced that night and contacted by DM.

Any questions, please tweet us or comment on here.

Good Luck  

Lindsey Kelk Interview

Lindsey Kelk, author of the “I Heart…” series, and “The Single Girls To Do List” has very kindly agreed to do a short interview for us, to coincide with the giveaway we have launched. Have a read of my interview with Lindsey below. (please note, this was conducted via email, not face2face or over the phone) - Kimi xoxo

Interview with Lindsey Kelk

KB = Kimi

LK = Lindsey Kelk

KB: After writing the successful, and amazing, “I Heart…” series, what made you step away from Angela, Alex and Jenny, and write a different novel?

LK: There were a couple of reasons really. I’d written so much I Heart stuff I wanted to give the characters a break before people got bored of them, plus I wanted to see if I could even write any others! My brain is so full of Angela all the time… and also, I had stories I wanted to tell that didn’t fit in the I Heart universe so I needed to go back to the beginning. Fingers crossed it worked. When I was writing The Single Girl’s To-Do List I was so worried but I’m incredibly proud of it now, I think it’s probably my best book.

KB: Is “Single Girls…” going to be a one off novel, or are we going to be reading about the further adventures of Redhead Rachel?

LK: One off, definitely but that doesn’t mean the characters won’t pop up somewhere else one day…

KB: I’ve had a “Bucket List” for a few years, and Rachel has one, do you? If so, have you crossed anything off it recently?

LK: I love writing lists but they’re usually more short term, like ‘go to the post office’ and ‘reply to that email’. My last longer term list pretty much said ‘learn to drive, write a book and move toNew York’. It’s SO weird to me now that I’ve done all those things! Other than that, I copied a few of Rachel’s, I dyed my hair red, got a new tattoo, bought an indecent number of clothes… that kind of thing.

KB: Is there anything you can tell us about your next Angela book, “I Heart Vegas”?

LK: Ooh, it’s all still quite a mystery to me! Um, the gang all head off to Vegas, someone ends up in a wedding chapel, someone ends up single and we see some old faces as well as some new ones. That’s all I can say!

KB I’m a big fan of the Beauty Mecca section of your blog, and it got me thinking…if you could only use one beauty product from now on, which one would you choose?

LK: Ooh, thanks! I love it, honestly, I’m so unhealthy obsessed with make up. One product? ONE? That’s so mean… OK, I’ve thought about it probably mascara. It makes such a huge difference to how you look. But then I’d have to choose a mascara… Jeeeeeeeez…

KB: Who would you say were your inspirations, either in life or in writing?

LK: Honestly, and this is going to sound so cheesy (because I am these days) it’s my friends. I am so incredibly lucky to have the most amazing people in my life and they’re all pursuing their ambitions and really fighting for what they want. It encourages me to do the same.
 
KB: Ebooks are becoming ever more popular, and you released “Jenny Lopez Had A Bad Week” exclusively on ebook, but we prefer to have a hard copy of a novel to hand…which do you prefer, ebooks or real books?

LK: I love my Kindle but nothing beats a real book. The Jenny book came about because I wanted to do something for the I Heart fans who had waited so long for a new book. We obviously couldn’t put out two books at once so decided on a Jenny-centric short story (because I love her) and since it’s nigh on impossible to publish short stories these days, we had to do it as a download. We’re still looking at ways to get it out to non-e readers and international fans – I felt terrible, the idea was that it was supposed to be a free thank you and I worked myself blind to get it done on time (my roommate will confirm this) and then so many people were upset that they couldn’t read it. Fingers crossed we’ll find a way…

KB: Have you read any books recently which blew you away, and that you’d recommend for us to read (and review)?

LK: I LOVE to read but when I’m writing, I really can’t. Firstly, no time and secondly, I worry that I’ll start being influence by the writing style so I have to steer clear. That said, I loved Room by Emma Donoghue and recently read The Great Gatsby for the first time, amazing. I made time in my schedule for Sweet Valley Confidential and – even as someone who feels awful about negative reviews – I wish I hadn’t. Heartbroken. Oh, and if you like YA horror, check out Will Hill’s Department 19. I have to say that because I’m staying with him and my friend and he’s sat right in front of me. It’s very good. I even paid for it. He owes me a drink.