Holly's Inbox

Title: Holly’s Inbox
Author: Holly Denham
ISBN-10: 1-4022-1903-2
Pages: 665
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Chick Lit
Date Finished: June 21

From the back cover:

Dear Holly, Are you sure you know what you’re getting into. . .?

It’s Holly Denham’s first day as a receptionist at a busy corporate bank, and frankly, it’s obvious she can’t quite keep up.

Take a peek at her email and you’ll see why: what with her crazy friends, dysfunctional family, and gossipy co-workers, Holly’s inbox is a daily source of drams. Laughter, friendship, and romantic interludes keep her going, until one day, Holly’s secret past begins to catch up with her. . .

Written entirely in emails, this compulsively readable UK smash hit will keep you laughing and turning the pages all the way to its surprising and deeply satisfying ending.


When I discovered this book at Barnes & Noble, I immediately added it to my TBR List. I was quite surprised to learn my library owned a copy and was first on the wait list. I couldn’t wait to begin reading Holly’s e-mails.

I was looking forward to reading this as I read so many glowing reviews. I have to admit, around page 200 or so, I lost interest in Holly and her friends. I really wanted to know Holly’s back-story with Toby. It took awhile for Holly to disclose to Trisha, her co-worker.

I do have to say, the secondary characters were quite interesting and added to the story. Around page 415 (the reader was able to peek inside Trisha’s inbox), I found myself glued to the story and couldn’t put it down.

Yes, it’s a long book (665 pages of e-mails), but worth reading on a lazy afternoon. Even though I thought it was sluggish in the middle, I do hope there’s a sequel in the works. I would like an update on Holly and her friends.

Want to take a peek into Holly's inbox? Click here.

Random thoughts: Here's an interview with the creator of Holly's Inbox. It's quite surprising to learn the identity of the person behind the idea of the book.

Hollywood Car Wash

Title: Hollywood Car Wash
Author: Lori Culwell
ISBN-10: 1416587780
Pages: 307
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Chick Lit
Date Finished: June 7

From the back cover: College drama student Amy Spencer dreams of starring in independent films. When her roommate signs her up for a mysterious "television project" audition, she blows away the competition with her girl-next door looks and impressive acting chops, inadvertently getting a starring role on a major TV show and going from Michigan teen to Hollywood starlet overnight.

To keep the part she didn't even know she wanted, Amy finds herself taking a spin through the "Hollywood Car Wash" to make her more marketable. First, she'll have to lose twenty pounds (don't ask how). Then it's new clothes, new teeth, blonder hair, new friends, and a megastar, high-profile boyfriend (though hers comes with a big secret). Bombarded by jealous, two-faced colleagues, overeager plastic surgeons, and manipulative network executives, Amy slowly learns that the only way to survive in Hollywood is to lose her identity. Will Amy get too caught up by the glitz or will she get a grip on her life before it's too late?

First sentence: Really, if it hadn't been for my perky college roommate and her obsession with spinning class, none of this would have happened in the first place.

Hollywood Car Wash is about the overnight rise to fame of a University of Michigan student to a Golden Globe nominee TV actress. In a matter of an instant, Amy Spencer's life drastically changes. When her roommate signs her up for the audition, Amy reluctantly attends and to her surprise she is the "face" they have in mind for the part. Amy is whisked away to LA where she lands the lead role on Autumn Leaves.

Amy suddenly goes from poor college student to earning $500,000 by the end of season one. Amy feels very plain next to her co-workers and it's apparent they think the same about her. They are constantly commenting on her weight, not knowing the latest celebrity gossip and her lack of fashion sense. Amy succumbs to the pressure and slowly begins the "Hollywood Car Wash".

"I had been starved, my hair had been bleached and straightened, and my face had been injected, de-acned, and bronzed. My teeth had been shaved and capped, and I was eating less and smoking more than I ever had in my life. I was a rich and successful Hollywood Star. I was a Golden Globe nominee, and I had a killer wardrobe, two stylists, and a personal trainer. But. . . wasn't I still the same person inside?" (p. 142)

It's not until she signs a contract to be the girlfriend of an A-list movie star and her showdown with the paparazzi that she realizes maybe the Hollywood glam isn't worth it after all.

Recommended to readers: who enjoy a behind-the-scenes look on Hollywood. A chick lit fan will enjoy this quick, entertaining read. It's hard not to feel compassion for Amy as she finds herself swept away in the fast-lane.

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult

Title: Handle with Care
Author: Jodi Picoult
ISBN-10: 0743296419
Pages: 477
Year Published: 2009
Genre: Fiction
Date Finished: March 22

From the dust jacket: Things break all the time. Day breaks, waves break, voices break. Promises break. Hearts break. Every expectant parent will tell you that they don’t want a perfect baby, just a healthy one. Charlotte and Sean O’Keefe would have asked for a healthy baby, too, if they’d been give the choice. Instead, their lives are made up of sleepless nights, mounting bills, the pitying stares of “luckier” parents, and maybe worst of all, the what-ifs. What if their child had been born healthy? But it’s all worth it because Willow is, well, funny as it seems, perfect. She’s smart as a whip, on her way to being as pretty as her mother, kind, brave, and for a five-year-old an unexpectedly deep source of wisdom. Willow is Willow, in sickness and in health.

Everything changes, though, after a series of events forces Charlotte and her husband to confront the most serious what-ifs of all. What if Charlotte should have known earlier of Willow’s illness? What if things could have been different? What if their beloved Willow had never been born? To do Willow justice, Charlotte must ask herself these questions and one more. What constitutes a valuable life?

First sentence: Things break all the time.

My review: When I first started reading Handle with Care, I immediately thought of My Sister’s Keeper. The similarities between the two novels were hard to ignore. As I began to read more, I quickly forgot about My Sister’s Keeper and found myself easily immersed in the story.
Charlotte and Sean O’Keefe were trying to have a baby. Just when they started to give up hope, Charlotte found out she was pregnant. Fortunately for Charlotte, her best friend Piper, is an OB-GYN. Despite their personal relationship, Piper agrees to be Charlotte’s physician. This decision will later haunt Piper.

Charlotte gives birth to Willow, a beautiful girl who is diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta or OI. Sean and Charlotte devote all their time and attention to Willow to make sure she gets the proper care. When they decide to take a family vacation with their oldest daughter, Amelia, the world as they know it will forever be changed.

The events that occurred during their vacation will lead Charlotte down the path, which some may easily say is harsh, unnecessary and selfish. But is it? It’s easy for one to be quick and judge Charlotte for what she decides to do, however the judgment is based on just a small portion of what you currently see. It’s not based on Charlotte’s life 24/7.

What Charlotte decides to do, to her, is best for Willow, while at the same time it destroys others’ lives. While it may appear as though this was an easy decision for Charlotte to make, she struggles with it daily. While she’s looking out for Willow’s future, she’s also sacrificing her marriage and the relationship she has with Amelia. She’s also ruining her best friend’s career, not to mention her self-worth.

True to Ms. Picoult’s style, Handle with Care will touch upon ethical issues, leaving the reader thinking long after the story has ended.

My thoughts on the ending: Early in the book, I knew how the story would end. After I read the last sentence, I wondered if Ms. Picoult did this intentionally. Having said that, the event that occurred at the end, was disappointing to me. All that happened, and this is how the story ended? It was a bit odd to me. I thought perhaps the ending could have remained the same, however the event that led up to the ending could have been different. I don’t want to reveal too much, as I’m afraid I will spoil the ending!

Random thoughts: Jodi Picoult quickly became a favorite author after I read My Sister’s Keeper in 2007. Since that time, I’ve been reading her books, with the goal of reading them all (I have six more to read). Nineteen Minutes is my favorite of hers. It was such an emotional read. I’ve attended three of her book signings and encourage all of her devoted readers to RUN, not walk, if she’s coming to your city. She’s fun and energetic and very personable. To anyone who has never read any of her books, I recommend, Nineteen Minutes, My Sister’s Keeper, The Pact, Change of Heart, Salem Falls and A Perfect Match.