Rating: 
Summary: A glorious debut
Review: This book stands out in the glut of Brit-chick books over the last two years because it does not take everything lightly or as the springboard for a goofy way to fall in love with some "bloke". Helen Bradshaw, 26, is coming to terms with the death of her father and taking care of her widowed mother, while dealing with her immature boyfriend to boot.But it is not all sadness and gloom. The book is written with humor when appropriate, for Helen has her eye on the veterinarian whose car she rear-ended on the way to her father's funeral. Her grief, as well as her attachment to the ex who keeps using her, threatens to truncate the relationship throughout the book. Helen is a well-rounded young Londoner who can be charming and real without the ever-present histrionics of the other heroines of this genre. It is a great book to read, both entertaining and insightful.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bridget Jones with extra tics, not enough charm
Review: Flailing, farting, wriggling, whining, squeaking, shrieking, sulking, squealing, and bleating. Drinking tequila till she wets herself. Reacting to a death in the family with histrionic self-pity, then failing to produce a drop of sensitivity toward either her fellow mourners or her improbably tolerant coterie of friends. Mucking up- again and again and AGAIN, for reasons as slapstick as an average "Three's Company" episode- her chances for love with a saintly, gorgeous veterinarian. Sound lovably quirky? Exhausting is more like it. Sound funny? Well, yes, parts of it are a riot. But this book's protagonist, Londoner Helen, who is 26 going on 5, is one of the most maddening characters I have ever come across. I couldn't ever really like her, even when I sympathized with her problems. She was just too self-absorbed, too cartoonishly silly; very little else comes across, try though the author might. Then there's her mother. Is she supposed to be an object of pity? Infuriating? Funny? Probably all three, but in truth, I couldn't tell. She never cohered into a person I recognized, and making her a (talented) kindergarten teacher strains credulity. There is no way a woman who behaves like this one does- unable or unwilling to care for her own young child, for Pete's sake!- would have chosen such a profession. Indeed, most of the book's characters are insufficiently imagined. Why make Marcus such a hissy-fitting gay stereotype, when he's supposed to be a womanizer? Exactly what would make the wise Lizzy dote so tenaciously on the feckless and often unkind Helen? There's a reliance here on grindingly obvious, "Just when you thought you were safe- here comes another catastrophe!" plotting; and an uneasy tone results from trying to graft serious "issues" and even gratuitous scenes of brutality onto the screwball infrastructure. Yet, there were a few nice, original moments, like the poetic Chinese ritual Helen uses to help reconcile herself to her father's death. I loved some of the dialogue- who can resist the phrase "enormous great plonking plonker"? Or calling an eyepopping sum of money "650 squids"? For those who loved Bridget Jones, this book will supply something approximating that book's rollicking humor and vivid sense of place. What it will mostly do, however, is make you appreciate anew how endearing, and convincing, a comic creation Bridget really is.
Rating:
Summary: I Couldn't Get Over Getting Over It
Review: The book Getting Over It by Anna Maxted is about a 25 year old woman named Helen. In the story, Helen is in the world out on her own, with a job at a magazine, and a recently ended relationship, when suddenly her father dies of a heart attack. As Helen's world begins to turn upside down, she meets a new guy, Tom, in a very unusual way. Things start out good but soon turn hectic as Helen's world twists and turns in a new unexpected direction, and through the rocky road, you can never know how it will end. This was a great story, with laugh-out-loud humor that was really fun to read. The laid back writing style and some of the crazy random things within it, gave this book the right components, to make me unable to put it down. I'd recommend it to those who want a fun read, and anyone who enjoys a good story about life. This book is definately worth your money.
Rating:
Summary: Was expecting a bit more from it
Review: I can't help but compare this book to Bridget Jones -- same character type (young British woman, mediocre job, unlucky in love, parental problems) -- which is why I was kind of disappointed in it. I did enjoy it to an extent, and thought there were a few funny moments, but for a truly enjoyable read of this genre I would say Bridget Jones blows Helen Bradshaw out of the water. Several scenes were just a bit farfetched and Helen herself became more annoying than quirky. I would not call this book a waste of time, but would not say it was one of the best I've read lately. Read it if you have the time, but don't make time in your schedule for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Skip this one
Review: As a 20-something Singleton myself, I tend to gravitate toward books like this. "Getting Over It" is marketed as another "Bridget Jones," which I (and the rest of the single female population) loved. Maxted fails to create something lovable here, though, and instead introduces us to a character whose little quirks aren't so much endearing as they are annoying. The subject matter gets down-right gutterish (lots of talk of bodily functions and penis sizes). It is funny in sections, and Maxted has potential, but I would skip this one and read "Girls' Poker Night" by Jill Davis.
Rating:
Summary: Bewildered by the reviews
Review: I expected a much better work after reading some of the reviews in here. Far from being hilarious, I think the appropriate descriptive adjective is "disturbing." Despite the maxed-out genre, though, this book does have some original writing. The novel starts innocently and humorously enough ("enough" being the operative word) but as Helen's story unfolds, it reveals a family paralyzed by dysfunction, the humor not so much dark as unaware. Helen becomes less attractive as the novel wears on (rather than talk, she "bleats") and the fact that she even has a love interest becomes more and more implausible, as we watch her lash out at the poor soul and then read his equally nasty retorts (when they've hardly even dated yet!). I was surprised Ms. Maxted was able to bring things together enough to write an ending. I think the book demonstrates talent, but I wish it had been directed toward achieving something more worthwhile.
Rating:
Summary: Perfectly Fine, But Nothing Special
Review: I thought this book was entertaining, but it was so similar to so very much other recent fiction about the single and desperate (Bridget Jones, Come Together, Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, even America the Beautiful, etc., etc.,) that I didn't feel like I got anything new out of it. Of course, this book does deal with the death of the main character's father and physically abusive relationships, but this wasn't enough of a spin to make it seem fresh and new to me. So, while I did find the book entertaining, I might have preferred reading something that struck me as a bit more innovative and new. By the way, what is up with all of these characters in British fiction about desparado 20-30 year olds who have zero work ethic or ambition? It seems to me that so many of these characters seem to have absolutely nothing going for them other than their senses of humor (until the end of the book where they invariably wind up with Mr. Right). The main character in this story is no different - - she has lame and unreliable friends, her relationships with her family are terrible, she dates unworthy men, has a low-level job and slacks constantly. With this book I may have reached my tolerance limit for spending hours reading books about people with whom I wouldn't want to spend any time at all.
Rating:
Summary: Funny! Delicious!
Review: And I am sooo glad that I found this book!!! It restores my faith in the British Chick literature that I so love to read! It is funny ~~ I have found myself chuckling out loud on occasion and have found myself sharing bits and pieces of it with my husband. It's such a fun book!!! Helen Bradshaw is a single woman working at a magazine as a lowly assistant editor, living with two guys as roommates and a group of girlfriends who are much prettier and more perfect than she is ~~ sounds familiar? It gets better!! Helen's world starts to unravel when her father dies unexpectedly of a heart attack and Helen ends up taking care of her mother for awhile, gets kicked out of her apartment because of a nasty row with her landlord, tries to reach a dear friend who is hovering on the brink of disaster and trying to find a lovelife of her own with the vet, Tom. It is such a fun read ~~ every page is a page-turner ~~ making me eager to see what is going to happen on the next page! I have never read any of Anna Maxted's books before ~~ and this is such a delightful introduction to her writing style. She writes with wit and humor and subtle poking fun of single people who sometimes just don't know how good they've got it! Out of all the books I've read lately ~~ this one is one of my favorites. It kept me chuckling and sighing all the way to the end ~~ meaning, I didn't want to stop reading till the last page was turned! ...
Rating:
Summary: Funny and interesting!
Review: This is a great book, that I personally have recommended to my friends. It has a slow start, but by the end of it I couldn't put it down. The character development made you want to know more about them! Personally I wouldn't mind reading a second book about Helen and her life! Overall, I loved this book!
Rating:
Summary: somewhat interesting, but mostly boring
Review: There were interesting parts throughout this book but overall, it was boring. It should have been 100 pages instead of 400. I wouldn't recommend it.
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