Twenties Girl

by Sophie Kinsella
Dial Press, 435 pages

Sophie Kinsella is one of those writers who remind us why chicklit became popular in the first place - as a light, witty and entertaining read. In a genre that has become bogged down with irritating 20-something women moaning about their boyfriends, jobs and shoes, Kinsella's books stand out as fresh and bright, with the 20-something women quite likeable, even as they moan about their boyfriends, jobs and shoes.

Although best known for her Shopaholic series, Kinsella has turned out fun standalone books, notably The Undomestic Goddess. While she might have lost a few people with the improbable amnesia story in Remember Me? (the same premise as TV sitcom Samantha Who?), she should win fans with Twenties Girl, despite it also having an improbable premise - our 20-something heroine Lara Lington is being haunted by the ghost of her great-aunt Sadie.

A typical chicklit heroine, Lara is a bit of a loser - her boyfriend dumped her, her best friend let her down, her business is failing and she's broke. Enter Sadie, a feisty, capricious, fun-loving 20-something from the 1920s, who cannot rest until she gets back a necklace - and won't let Lara rest either. In the course of searching for the necklace, Lara finds her true self and true love, while bringing down the bad guys and righting all wrongs.

Twenties Girl maintains the conventions of the chicklit genre, but Kinsella's wit and characterization make it sparkle. Is it great literature? No. Is it deep and life-changing? No. Is it a fun, entertaining read to pass a few hours and cheer you up? Yep. - JP