'My Not So Perfect Life' by Sophie Kinsella follows the story of Katie Brenner, a young woman who moves to London in pursuit of her dreams but finds that life in the big city is not as glamorous as she imagined. After losing her job, Katie returns to her family farm where she combines her skills to create a successful business. The book explores themes of self-discovery, authenticity, and the contrast between social media portrayals and real life. Sophie Kinsella's writing style is humorous, light-hearted, and engaging, with relatable characters and witty dialogues that keep the readers entertained throughout the story.

Characters:

The characters, particularly Katie and her boss Demeter, are well-developed and relatable, with complex interactions that drive the story's emotional depth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by humor and relatability, combining clever dialogue with engaging storytelling that keeps readers entertained.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows Katie Brenner, who grapples with the disparity between her idealized life in London and the reality of her struggles after losing her job, eventually finding solace and empowerment on her family's farm.

Setting:

The book is set primarily in London, highlighting its vibrancy and challenges, while also utilizing the countryside of Somerset to depict contrasting themes of home and stability.

Pacing:

The pacing is initially slow, focusing on setup, but gains momentum and becomes more engaging as the story progresses.

First: It could be worse. As commutes go, it could be a lot worse, and I must keep remembering this. Second: It’s worth it. I want to live in London; I want to do this; and commuting is part of the de...

Notes:

The main character, Katie Brenner, moves from Somerset to London with dreams of a perfect life.

Katie struggles with reality, stuck in a dead-end job with a nightmare boss, Demeter.

A major theme is the contrast between social media appearances and real life, highlighting that no one has a perfect life.

The story culminates when Katie returns to her family farm to help with their glamping business.

Despite setbacks, Katie learns valuable life lessons about self-worth and authenticity.

The book presents a humorous take on the corporate world, with relatable office dynamics and character struggles.

Kinsella's writing blends humor with deeper themes about identity and social perceptions.

Readers often find the book predictable but enjoyable, with classic rom-com elements.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in the book, featuring a love interest that plays a significant role in the character development of Katie.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Part love story, part workplace drama, this sharply observed novel is a witty critique of the false judgments we make in a social-media-obsessed world.

"Sophie Kinsella keeps her finger on the cultural pulse, while leaving me giddy with laughter. I loved it."-Jojo Moyes

Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie's life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle-from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she's trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she's desperate to make her dad proud.

Then, just as she's finding her feet-not to mention a possible new romance-the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family's farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away-until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie's future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.

Sophie Kinsella is celebrated for her vibrant, relatable characters and her great storytelling gifts. Now she returns with all of the wit, warmth, and wisdom that are the hallmarks of her bestsellers to spin this fresh, modern story about presenting the perfect life when the reality is far from the truth.

Ratings (12)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (4)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (3)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (22):

Read It (14)
Want To Read (8)

1 comment(s)

Reads4Lot

It Was OK

3 months

3,5 stars

I liked the second half better than the first half.

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About the Author:

Sophie Kinsella is the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series as well as the novels Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I've Got Your Number, Wedding Night, My Not So Perfect Life, and, most…

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My Not So Perfect Life

Sophie Kinsella