Saturday 23 June 2012

Books Read: Chrissie Manby - What I Did On My Holidays

Source - Received from publisher to review
 
When Callum dumps Sophie the night before they were meant to go to Majorca together, she has a choice.  Completely forget about the holiday, or go without him?

In a show of bravery and independence, Sophie says she'll go to Majorca alone.  But actually she hides in her London flat.  And when her friends and family (not to mention Callum) seem impressed by her single girl courage, Sophie decides to go all out and create the 'fake break' ... with hilarious results.
Over the years I think I've read most, if not all, of the books that Chrissie Manby has published under her various pen names.  Apparently this book was originally due to be published last year but got delayed when they released her other novel, Kate's Wedding, to tie in with the Royal wedding of William and Kate.  So has the wait been worth it... I think it was. 

Sophie had eagerly been looking forward to a fortnight's holiday in Majorca with her boyfriend Callum, who she also works with, as she'd noticed that he'd been a bit distant lately so was hoping the holiday would smooth things out.  So she's devastated when he eventually contacts her the night before they are due to leave and dumps her.  

She has two options: to cancel the holiday or go alone, neither option particularly appeal to her so she hopes that Callum will change his mind in the morning when they are due to leave for the airport but he doesn't.  When she hears from her work colleagues that Callum had turned up at work as normal the following Monday morning, and told everyone they had broken up, she tells them that she'd gone to Majorca anyway when in reality she's hiding out in her flat.  

However Sophie hadn't accounted for her sister Clare actually turning up daily to water the plants as agreed.  When she catches her sister snooping in her bedroom, where's she hiding out, she has to let her know that she's there!  

What follows for Sophie, and Clare who decides to come and join her, are hilarious attempts to convince her colleagues and Callum that she's having the time of her life in Majorca when instead she's having a 'staycation' at home.  There were plenty of laugh out loud moments throughout this book with plenty of creative re-creations of holiday moments to make friends and family believe that they are actually on holiday.

At just over 300 pages this book is not as lengthy as some that I've read recently and makes it the perfect book for your holiday reading, or even just to enjoy reading on a lazy afternoon with a glass of wine to hand.  If this book sounds like one you'd like to read then why not order your copy today in either paperback or e-book format from Amazon.  I'd like to thank Hodder Books for sending me a copy of this book to review.

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