Simply Divine

Rating:
Summary: Quite entertaining!
Review: "Simply Divine" deals with Jane who worked as an underappreciated feature writer for women's magazine "Gorgeous." She had a live in boyfriend, Nick who didn't respect her or her job. At the same time, she was also attracted to Tom, the guy living a floor above hers and had a one-night stand with him. Even though Jane was very attracted to Tom, she felt guilty about their fling especially since she thought that Nick and her still had a chance. Just as she convinced herself that, Nick dumped her for another woman and had been cheating on her. However, this is not the main storyline.

Jane's work took a bad turn when her editor asked her to write for this in demand celebrity named Champagne. Champagne was paid generously to "write" a column but in reality Jane had to check in with Champagne frequently to write the column for her. This was basically the main theme. Particularly, her contacts with Champagne and her best friend's mansion (called Mullions) which was in ruins and Jane had to help her friend finds a rich man who could restored the mansion.

I have only two problems with the book. Firstly, the fact that Wolden makes Jane "in love" with Tom when she only had a one night stand was to me, a little far-fetched. There was a lack of development in Jane's love life except that she keeps holding out for Tom even after he had left for New York. My second problem is the secondary character, Tally, Jane's best friend. She was very unlikeable and her character I felt was not fully developed. Other than that, the book is relatively entertaining. I also enjoyed Wolden's style of writing which is very smooth and flows nicely. However, bear in mind that this is a comedy not a romantic comedy.

Rating:
Summary: simply awful
Review: Every single paragraph contains a pun or strained analogy... every single one.
I cannot believe this passes as a novel.

Rating:
Summary: Quite clever, an easy read
Review: For her first novel I thought that Wendy Holden did an absolutely wonderful job writing Simply Divine. It is an extremely clever book. She had such great characters. Each character supported a different element of the novel. I found that the main character, Jane, was easy to relate to. She was going through many common issues, like boyfriend troubles, weight and job issues,which are things lots of people deal with. Then there was Champagne, the snotty superstar, Jane is hired to follow around. Champagne had so many different elements to her. She has a new boyfriend each week, a dog named Gucci, and very little intelligence, which makes for very interesting situations. Then there is Tally, Jane's bestfriend. Tally is extremely vulnerable and is willing to trust anyone, which makes her an easy target. There are many more incredibly unbelievable characters in this novel. I highly recommend it. It has a different tone to it than a lot of the novels that are out these days. Simply Divine is a comedic romance. The comedy lies within the ironic situations that arise throughout the story. It's not depressing, it's actually very uplifting and enjoyable to read.

Rating:
Summary: Simply wonderful!
Review: Having read Gossip Hound, I wanted to get my hands on Wendy Holden's debut novel. Simply Divine is a modern fairy tale with Holden's signature style of wicked romance and satire.

Jane is a young journalist who's been given the challenging job of ghostwriting the adventures and exploits of faux celebrity and fashionista Champagne D'Vyne. Which means that her dream of taking creative control of a glossy magazine has just as well shattered. To make matters worse, she couldn't make her personal life more pathetic if she'd tried. She is in a dead-end relationship with the unpleasant Nick while desiring her gorgeous upstairs neighbor. Will she be able to upgrade her career? Will she find a suitable mate? And, more importantly, will she survive the outrageous excursions with the insubordinate Champagne D'Vyne? There are some fun twists in the novel.

Simply Divine is a rather entertaining and enlightening novel. Holden's take on the glamorous world of socialites and fashionistas is witty and insightful. Hers is the brand of ironic humor that I look for in women's fiction. The characterization in her novels is just wonderful. I flinched every time Champagne D'Vyne made an appearance. I was able to get better acquainted with the aforementioned character in Gossip Hound. She has the sort of deluded arrogance that would make Madonna seem humble in comparison. All of the characters in the novel are entertaining and compelling. Are you in the bargain for original chick lit? I couldn't recommend Wendy Holden's work enough. She's one of the best British writers to come out since Helen Fielding. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: A sad shallow disappointment
Review: I was hoping that this would be my Brit chick lit fix, but it was seriously lacking. The main character is rather spineless, and the supporting are even worse. Tally in particular. I just didn't feel like the story had any heart, I honestly did not give a darn what happened to anybody in this story, it really did not hold me. I found myself speedreading sections at a time.

If you are looking for something with more depth, and actual humor, do try Asking for Trouble by Elizabeth Young. It is funny and sweet, and I really did laugh out loud several times while reading it (all in one setting I might add).

Rating:
Summary: Simply the BEST
Review: Jane is a writer that gets stuck writing a column for a party girl named Champagne D'Vyne. Champagne's name appears on the column, but Jane is forced to gather all the information and write the column for Champagne. Jane is living with a guy who doesn't really love her any more and treats her like [garbage] for not keeping up on all the world news. When she has a one-night stand with the upstairs neighbor her who life changes. This story takes you on an adventure that will have you wishing it were longer. The characters are excellent, fun and a blast to befriend. A great book for the beach or over a bowl of hot soup!

Rating:
Summary: The first of several Holden charmers
Review: Pity Evergirl Jane. Her soon to be ex-boyfriend is vile. Her job does not exactly require life or death decisions. Her best friend Tally is stuck in the back of beyond trying to hold together the family manor with stacks of books and sheer will. What could add to Jane's fun?

Try ghostwriting a magazine column for London It girl of the moment, Champagne D'Vyne. Oh no, that name was not a typo. Champagne D'Vyne is a lean, long-legged, drop dead blonde stunner with breasts that would make Pamela Anderson and Jayne Mansfield look flat-chested. Champagne comes complete with a huge trust fund and demon doggie named Gucci.

Before Jane can throw herself onto her editing pencil, Champagne invades her life. Poor Tally isn't any help, having to deal with the return of her New Age mum and missing brother. Not even a romp with the stud upstairs can lift Jane's spirits.

Champagne's column is a stunning success and Jane escapes from her magazine to one with better circulation. And guess who re-enters her life?

It's doesn't take a brain surgeon to work out the plot twists but getting to the end is a blast.

Anyone who snaps up Marian Keyes and Sophie Kinsella should give Wendy Holden a try!

Rating:
Summary: Fun, fun, fun!
Review: Simply Divine was a wonderful and entertaining read. If you enjoy light romantic comedy in the genre of Bridget Jones - you'll want to check out this book by Wendy Holden. Reviewed by Kelly Reno - Author of 'Misadventures & Merfolk'

Rating:
Summary: simply awful
Review: This is Holden's first book that I have come across. Her following books weave in-and-out of characters that (to the best of my knowledge) start here. Simply Divine takes you to another world that is most likely, terribly more interesting and fashionable than yours, or mine, for that matter. If you like to read Cosmo and Glamour, chances are that you will like this book. Read it on the plane or poolside.

Rating:
Summary: Draggy, poor-developed characters and no real surprise
Review: Twenty-something Jane Bentley has a boyfriend, a job at Gorgeous magazine and like all British chick lit personas, is having trouble staying in control of her life, is dissatisfied with her boyfriend, job, etc. Enter C.O.W. D'Vyne (I kid you not!), a busty, empty-headed-but-posh model - complete with a "honking" voice to make sure you don't ever like or emphathize with her. Of course, Jane's life is turned upside down and inside out. Her best friend Tally, an upper-class-but-poor girl from a dysfunctional family, is also having problems of her own - so Jane gets occasional bouts of guilt when they don't talk on the phone as often, or when she discovers that the man-friend she introduced to Tally is *still* around and is trying to keep them apart. And then there's Tom... the only character I might have liked if Ms Holden were to develop him more. Jane's the most developed character there, probably the only one because even Champagne D'Vyne is just there as an irritating "she's-the-bane-of-my-existence" prop. Pity, I might have been able to like Jane or relate with her if only she had _real_ faults and didn't somehow seem to look just-perfect, somehow attract all the eligible guys in the book, somehow get all the favours she needs done... The book is nowhere near other chick lits - it gets draggy, and the author's trying too hard with the analogies and witticisms. When things start to fall into place and life starts getting better for Jane and Tally, well, let's just say it's unbelievable and way too simplistic (especially with Tally's mom, the I-never-speak-guy and the house). After so many bags of surprises, the twist at the end was... not surprising. Was feeling tired by then, and somehow knew how the "misunderstanding" would be resolved. Wished Ms. Holden would shed more light into the world of magazine publishing, instead of settling for a patronising who's who and what's what in movie productions.