Book Review - Personally, I Blame My Fairy Godmother (Claudia Carroll)

Plot Summary

Jessie Woods lives in a wonderful house, a perfect job and a very rich boyfriend.

And then, one tiny little slip, and she loses the lot.

Her job is over before they've even finished filming that live episode. Unable to keep up the rent, her house is re-let to another couple. And her boyfriend, not wanting the negative media, decides it's best if they stop seeing each other.

So Jessie has nbo choice to move back home with her step-mother and two (ugly) step-sisters. With no job, she is unable to contribute financially to the household. So, in a Cinderella fashion, she is forced to do all the housework.

Slowly, though, she starts to get back on her feet. Her one step-sister, Sharon, even gets her a job at the fast-food restaurant where she works. Her former best friend's brother (who actually fancies Jessie) then offers her a job presenting on his radio station. The TV station want her back, and then so does her boyfriend. She helps Sharon get a boyfriend. She encourage her other step-sister to try out her chances as a stand-up comedian.

Book Review

The novel is very 21st century Cinderella. Her mother died when she was young, her father re-married, moved the step-family in, and then died, leaving Jessie with her step-mother and step-sisters. Jessie even loses a shoe at the end of the book!

The book is an updated version of the old fairy tale that I am sure every little girl wanted to be part of. Jessie has her Prince Charming, her dream job, and even lives in a pink masion. It is interesting to see her slowly change though, from the woman she thought she should be, wearing designer clothes and drinking champagne, to the woman she was born to be, returning to the house she grew up in, drinking in her local pub, and becoming friends again with her childhood friends.

There are some funny moments, too, like when she is caught breaking and entering in to her ex-boyfriend's house. 

The story is predictable, though. It is obvious that Jessie's luck will return, that she will get the house back. And when she has two men wanting her, it is obviosu who she will choose.

It is a good novel though. A grown up fairy tale for the 21st century.