The Perfect Plane Read - He's Just Not That Into You

The movie has probably been one of the most disagreed-upon feature films between the sexes that has come along in a long time. Most of guy friends, though curious about the movie, flat out hated it upon watching. For my female friends, I would have to say that about half my female friends also hated it, but the other half felt that they had found the answer to their relationship woes.

Where do I fit in? *guilty look* Okay moving on...

And that's exactly what writers Greg and Liz want you to do--take a good look at yourself, your experiences, your expectations, put them all in perspective, and then MOVE ON from the ideas and the ideals that just don't make any sense. Because honestly? It's not a big deal if he's just not that into you, his loss anyway!

You want to know the truth? This book made me cry, by like, page 3. Because taking an honest look back on yourself and your relationships, it's hard! But there's something nice about reading in a book the stuff that you've been feeling forever, and realizing that you aren't alone in all this. So if you've heard negative things about the book, I'm telling you that they probably didn't read it. Because even if there are certain ideas the Greg and Liz put forth that you don't necessarily agree with, their overall message is indisputable--that you DESERVE the best. Read it on the plane, it's short enough to get through by the time you touch down in your destination. (And if you start crying like me, it's enough time to dry your tears too.)

Book Review: The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Kinsella, Sophie. The Undomestic Goddess. New York: The Dial Press, 2005. 384 pages.

Although I haven't read through her "Shopaholic" series yet, I've thoroughly enjoyed Sophie Kinsella's other romantic fiction. In "The Undomestic Goddess" think Amelia Badelia for grown ups--heroine Samantha Sweeting has done and achieved everything that a young modern woman is expected to do: studied well, graduate from a fabulous law school, work in the most prestigious firm in London, become the youngest partner of said firm--well, ALMOST everything. Just on the cusp of Samantha being named partner of Carter Spink law firm, disaster strikes when Samantha makes a multi-million dollar mistake.

Samantha finds herself on the first train out of the city and at the doorstop of Trish and Eddie Geiger's beautiful mansion. Imagine Samantha's surprise when she is mistaken for being an applicant as the Geigers' maid! Severely dehydrated, disoriented, and in desperate need of some sleep, Samantha decides to keep up the charade until she could find a way home. But upon hearing of her reputation being completely shattered in London, Samantha sees no harm in laying low at the Geigers' for a while. Clean house, cook food, chill out for a while, should be a piece of cake right? Except Samantha doesn't exactly know how to do any of that, which should make the whole experience a tad more complicated, especially since the Geigers' adorable gardener Nathaniel isn't as gullible as their employers. Can Samantha hide in the countryside forever?

In an easy light read style, Kinsella does a wonderful job making her characters likeable and relatable. You can't help but care for what's going to happen to Samantha, even if you're a little skeptical of how easily the Geigers are fooled. The Undomestic Goddess is a great read beach- or pool-side, and for any woman, young or old, who's in need of a little grown up fairytale.