Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't Put This Down!
Review: A week after I moved from Europe back to the USA, I discovered "Life Skills" by accident at a local Wal-Mart, of all places. At the time, I didn't realise it was Brit chick fiction, which I buy whenever I'm in London. I just about inhaled this book. Katie Fforde writes so well, I could see myself with the heroine on this crowded and cramped hotel boat, maneuvering tedious waterways and coping with the weirdo guests. I stayed up all night just to finish it, and I was genuinely sorry when the story ended. This is not "War and Peace," but a fun, escapist read, which reminded me of my various Brit friends, most of whom act and talk just like Katie's characters. I liked this so much, I bought the rest of her paperbacks on my last trip to London! For those who don't know Katie Fforde's writing, "Life Skills" is a fab introduction.
Rating:
Summary: laughed out loud
Review: A week after I moved from Europe back to the USA, I discovered "Life Skills" by accident at a local Wal-Mart, of all places. At the time, I didn't realise it was Brit chick fiction, which I buy whenever I'm in London. I just about inhaled this book. Katie Fforde writes so well, I could see myself with the heroine on this crowded and cramped hotel boat, maneuvering tedious waterways and coping with the weirdo guests. I stayed up all night just to finish it, and I was genuinely sorry when the story ended. This is not "War and Peace," but a fun, escapist read, which reminded me of my various Brit friends, most of whom act and talk just like Katie's characters. I liked this so much, I bought the rest of her paperbacks on my last trip to London! For those who don't know Katie Fforde's writing, "Life Skills" is a fab introduction.
Rating: 
Summary: what a let down!
Review: Fforde gives the reader funny supporting characters and a great hero in this book, but the heroine has to be on of the most exasperating characters ever written! Most of her actions make no sense, and her reasoning (when she bothers to give a reason) is often weak and rather stupid. LIFE SKILLS does have many redeeming qualities, such as Fforde's descriptions of longboating, but the heroine is very, very silly. If you want a good Fforde book, read STATELY PURSUITS, which is absolutely lovely!
Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: I absolutely loved this book!! I swear, I started dreaming about boats after reading it. The second time I read it, I had read it in a day! It's still wonderful everytime I read it! It's very well written, and an absolute favorite. I even bought it for a few friends for Christmas!
Rating:
Summary: A great fun read
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book - as I have all of this authors work ! I did not find the canal boat "language" as off putting as one of your reviewers did - rather it increased my knowledge...and that has to be good. The characters were real, the plot believable, and the ending just right...not too much syrup! As always Katie Fforde has proved herself to be an avid "people-watcher" and provided her readers with a good read and a lot of fun.
Rating:
Summary: Katie Fforde - not her best, but still 5 stars!
Review: Julie Fairfax needs a job. After answering an ad she is offered a job on a pair on canal boats as a cook and general helper. Through her experience we learn an awful lot about boats and just how narrow they are! Fergus, an old friend of the family who Julie does not appreciate, helps them out when they are in need of extra crew. Julie doesn't like this Fergus at all, with horrible memories of their intertwined childhood. Still he perseveres with attempting to court Julie, despite their arguments and differing views. However, it would seem that opposites do attract as we follow their lives down the canals and into happy ever after.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, cosy, light romantic fiction, but not her best
Review: Katie Fforde does a great job of writing smart, funny yet sweet romantic fiction. "Life Skills" tells the story of Julia Fairfax, who makes some dramatic changes in her life -- quitting her job, dumping her fiance, subletting her house -- then takes an unusual job as a cook on a canal boat while she sorts things out. Too much canal boat lingo and too many technical details about boating threatened to overwhelm the story before it got going, but I persevered, and eventually got hooked. Although there's a lot to recommend this book if you're looking for a pleasant read that is romantic yet real and intelligent, it's not Katie Fforde's best. I found the characters a wee bit predictable (e.g. stuffy snobbish matron, dull conventional ex-fiance, daddy's little princess); and the plot meandering. Perhaps I've merely been spoiled by Ms. Fforde's earlier efforts, notably "Stately Pursuits" and "Wild Designs," and you might want to check them out first.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, cosy, light romantic fiction, but not her best
Review: Katie Fforde does a great job of writing smart, funny yet sweet romantic fiction. "Life Skills" tells the story of Julia Fairfax, who makes some dramatic changes in her life -- quitting her job, dumping her fiance, subletting her house -- then takes an unusual job as a cook on a canal boat while she sorts things out. Too much canal boat lingo and too many technical details about boating threatened to overwhelm the story before it got going, but I persevered, and eventually got hooked. Although there's a lot to recommend this book if you're looking for a pleasant read that is romantic yet real and intelligent, it's not Katie Fforde's best. I found the characters a wee bit predictable (e.g. stuffy snobbish matron, dull conventional ex-fiance, daddy's little princess); and the plot meandering. Perhaps I've merely been spoiled by Ms. Fforde's earlier efforts, notably "Stately Pursuits" and "Wild Designs," and you might want to check them out first.
Rating:
Summary: laughed out loud
Review: This book is not for everyone but if you enjoy tongue in cheek humor, great characters, a good setting and a romance that is not jaded you will enjoy it. Makes a great listen on tape also.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Her Best
Review: This is not a BAD book, and certainly worth reading, but I must admit I found it slow going. As another reviewer aptly observed, after "Stately Pursuits" and "Wild Designs," I was expecting something wonderful. "Life Skills" is not wonderful. Still, it is a sweet, albeit slow, story of a woman in transition from a job and a dull fiance to something she hopes is better. Julia is often hard to like, especially when she is constantly boorish to the potential love interest, Fergus. One wonders what he sees in her; she is not at all nice to him until pratically the last page of the book! I admit I was disappointed in "Life Skills," but not enough to put me off Fforde, and not enough to tell other readers not to try it themselves.
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