Rating: 
Summary: Not just another pretty cover
Review: When this novel begins the focus is on a hapless heroine's romantic tribulations. Sounds familiar right (a la Bridget Jones)? Wrong. The real thrust of this book starts after Helen, our Everywoman, suffers an extreme loss: that of her father. So right way you think the book is going to turn into a depressing tearjearker, but while there are more that a few sad moments, Getting Over It manages to maintain its humor ( for example there is an interesting scene between Helen, her love interest and a evil gas-passing fat cat). There were times that I was laughing out loud on the subway (prompting strange looks from riders) and there were times when I felt a tear could possibly squeeze itself out of this hard-hearted reader. Mostly I was glad Anna Maxted didn't pander to the pressure of producing just laughs or tears but found her own happy medium, making this book a definite read.
Rating: 
Summary: Love & death from the 20-something perspective
Review: Single British Twenty-Something works in the media and has a tough time grasping which man is right for her, even when it is obvious to the most sedated reader. Sound like anyone you've read about before? Yes, the book is Bridget Jones-ish, but written with almost 100% complete sentences and not a single mention of calories consumed (I loved BJD, but wouldn't want to read a copycat version). Helen Bradshaw comes across as smarter than Bridget, even though she does frequently make foolish choices. Helen's father unexpectedly dies in the first chapter and the remainder of the book offers an honest and touching look at the sorrow, anger, regret and ultimate acceptance attendant upon this life-changing event. It also offers a realistic portrait of coping with a widowed mother, and of the balancing act that is being a daughter, friend, career woman, pet-owner, city-dwelling tenant/home-buyer and, of course, woman of dating age. Fast-moving, funny and poignant.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best chick lit books I've ever read.
Review: To call Getting Over It chick lit is not quite enough, though it has all the essential elements, a twenty-something girl, living in the big city (in this case London) who has a cast of quirky friends: Luke, who says whatever comes to mind, whenever it comes to mind, and is endearingly charming nonetheless. Lizzy, the confident one who knows who she is, and has the levelest head of the bunch even if she is the mystical flower child type who practices Reiki, yoga and Taichi. Tina, the rare beauty who could have any man she wants and seems disinterested in them all. Michelle, the self involved, backstabber.
She works at a GirlTime magazine (where else) as the lowly assistant to a hardnose bitty who keeps her hussling her laundry, coffee, food and anything else that will keep Helen (the main character) from moving up.
Of course Helen isn't really concerned with moving up, her father dies suddenly from a heartattack and though she insists they weren't close and she is fine, she is lost. As she deals with her self involved, selfish, and grief stricken mother, and her grumpy old Nana after his death, she isn't able to get a grasp on her grief. She such a mess, that when she meets the perfect man, Tom a veterinarian, she screws it up and loses him. While her ex-boyfriend, the inane Jasper pursues her, her landlord gripes at her about her messiness and that of her cat fatboy. Poor Helen just can't catch a break, it seems crisis' loom around every corner each one keeping her from dealing with her feelings about her Dad. This book is laugh out loud funny and when I say that I mean it, almost every chick lit book touts being that funny and most are not, this one is. But in addition to the hilarity there is real emotion, the kind of stuff that will bring a tear to the eye. This author is absolutely phenomenal and I am rushing to get her other books.
This is the first book since Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner, that I have found in this genre, that I felt deserved some sort of special distinction. I had never even heard of this book, so many more people need to read it, I promise you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Bridget Jones pales in comparison to Helen Bradshaw
Review: I've tried repeatedly to get into BJD and still haven't made it past page 10; on the contrary, I had a hard time putting this book down. Anna Maxted is a fresh and unique voice--if anyone knows another writer out there like her, please point me in the right direction. She is wickedly, laugh-out-loud funny, an inventive storyteller, and a wry, all-too-astute observer of the human condition--you'll use up a highlighter trying to pick out the best quotes. The genius is that the riotous humor, fast pace, memorable quips and sometimes obscure English references did not get in the way of the story or character development. As you're thinking what an idiot poor Helen is, you'll find yourself wishing you had a friend just like her, and that her "golfballs in the throat" are contagious. The book also delves into some serious subjects without being maudlin or flip. I loved this book so much I even forgave Ms. Maxted for using "I" as an objective pronoun on more than one occasion (maybe that's a Brit thing I'd know about if I had been able to digest Bridget). Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A wickedly funny and compelling read
Review: I have fallen in love with this book! The comic timing is precise and the story is infectious and enchanting. Anna Maxtet is -- without a doubt -- one of the funkiest and boldest new voices in contemporary fiction. Helen Bradshaw is a great heroine; Bridget Jones has got nothing on her! After having lost her father to a heart attack, Helen's world crashes down. Well, her life has never been perfect anyway. After all, she has a menial job at a woman's magazine, drives an old Toyota, has had her share of bad boyfriends, lives with the roommate from hell, her mother is the mother of all drama queens, her friends always seem to be perfect, and her cat, Fatboy, is the only man in her life. While she tries to deal with her mother's grief, Tom -- a charming veterinarian -- sweeps Helen off her feet. But will he stick around after having witnessed Helen's embarrassing tequila incident? There are some memorable and incredibly funny moments in this novel. Getting Over It is one of those rare treasures that should be read again and again. I strongly recommend this title. Now roll along and get it!
Rating: 
Summary: 3 and 1/2 stars
Review: Heroine: Average Unhappy Helen Bradshaw with her dreary job, emotionally-distant family, and her more-fizzling-than-sizzling love life is already stressed out and can barely cope when presented with her father's sudden death and her mother's ensuing bout of depression. Thank heavens she has a sickly pet cat and fair-weather friends to ignore her, unstable family members to hound her, and a parade of attractive men to distract her from the confusion and pain of letting go of a father who was never very close to her. What worked for me: For a book that was billed as a light, funny read it was startlingly dark at times, with its brief flashes of insight into the human psyche lending it some much-needed depth. Size-wise Helen had been a plump bespectacled teenager, and even though she slimmed down somewhat as an adult she was less than thrilled with her flat chest and short stocky legs. What didn't work for me: Like most chick lit, the characters in this story (particularly the main one) started out as painfully shallow and self-centered, and put themselves through the most horrific of unnecessary social experiences. This combination was hard to take even despite the certain knowledge that most of them would eventually become better people and settle down to a more stable lifestyle. Overall: Fans of British Chick Lit might appreciate this story of yet another long-suffering Singleton. Warning: there are some coarse words and sexual references in this story. And I wouldn't recommend giving a copy of it to anyone who recently lost a loved one. If you liked "Getting Over It" you might also enjoy "Bridget Jones's Diary", "Good in Bed", "Last Chance Saloon", "Jemima J." and "Having It and Eating It".
Rating:
Summary: Ahh
Review: Some humorous parts I must add. It was a long read for me, maybe it wasn't the best book I've ever read. She goes thorugh a lot, losing her father, finding romance and what not. I wasn't thrilled at all the characters in the book, but hmmm whatever.
Rating:
Summary: A good mix of humor, sadness, and change
Review: I found the intelligent, hilarious, and sometimes completely screwed up character of Helen Bradshaw to be engaging to her readers. I also throughly enjoyed the dynamics of the relationships in her life, especially between she and her mother. Often, these two made me laugh out loud!! This book touches upon all of the things that life gives us; loss, fear, sadness, love, and a great sense of humor. I enjoyed Maxted's writing style, different from the traditional way of expression that we often see in novels. Try on Maxted's work for size, see if it suits you!
Rating:
Summary: A cut above the rest of the Bridget clones
Review: I have to say that I like Anna Maxted's writing style. She has a cleverness that's addicting and knows how to touch on important issues without bringing the book into schmaltzy Oprah territory. For the most part, I love her wit and I love the characters she draws and I love how she can take so many plot threads and tie them off neatly in the end. My only gripes were that it dragged a little toward the end and she could have done without the subplot of Tina's domestic abuse (the plot and the book wouldn't have missed anything without it). But my gripes were only enough to make me take off one star.
Rating:
Summary: Ambivalent Read
Review: I am lukewarm about this book. It is about Helen Bradshaw, a 20-something Londoner whose life is turned upside-down when her father suddenly dies. The entire story is told by Helen through often-comedic and self-effacing flashbacks. This gives Helen a sense of perspective about this time in her life and the passage of time provides her with the ability to joke about it. I thought the author's use of a life-altering event in the mid-20's, like a parent's death, as a catalyst for self-reflection and personal change could potentially be rich subject material, and at times, I thought the book was quite good. However, instead of pulling together these themes, she seemed to focus on attempting comedy at practically every other line in the book. I thought this felt unnatural and was distracting. Also, the author's odd use of language detracted from a natural flow to the novel. But I did genuinely like some plot points and themes; for example, the author made me believe in Helen's connection with Tom, and I liked Helen's self-effacing exploitation of the repeated life mistakes she made. At the end of the book, I felt relieved to be finished, partly because of the author's annoying writing style, but I also felt somewhat sad because I believed, given the material, the book could have been a lot better. Maybe a second read is the key, although I'm unlikely to do that.
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