Book Review of My (not so) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Way back in high school, I discovered British Chick Lit. The first author I found whose works I enjoyed in this category was Jane Green. I don't even recall how I came across Jemima J, but I loved it. A few books later, someone saw me reading a Jane Green novel and said, "If you like her stuff, you should check out Sophie Kinsella." So, I did. And they were right.

I actually haven't read and loved a Sophie Kinsella book in quite a while. I didn't enjoy Finding Audrey, and I feel like the Shopaholic series has gotten completely out of control. In fact, the last Sophie Kinsella book I fell head over heels for was Remember Me. I'm pleased to say that My (not so) Perfect Life reminded me of Remember Me in all the best ways! I was lucky enough to get to read it now because I was given a free ARC from Shelf Awareness. Though I don't feel the cover accurately represents the book as well as it could, I'm quite keen on the verdant green cover.

Katie Brenner is a farmgirl struggling to live within her means in London while working at the lowest rung of a PR graphic design firm and posing as a confident up-and-coming businesswoman. She's talented and eager to learn, yet never truly seen for her abilities or potential by Demeter, her boss. Demeter appears to live a shiny, perfect life, which Katie envies greatly, but Katie (and almost everyone else) is only privy to Demeter's public face. Katie finds a bit of escapism in the form of an Instagram account more filtered than Evian water, where she posts pictures of food she can't afford to eat and places she was too stressed out to enjoy as if they were accurate representations of her London lifestyle. When Katie's dad and stepmom want to turn the family farm into a glamping business, Katie is given a chance to lend her understanding of chic urbanites' vacation desires and keen graphic design skills to the cause, in a much-needed fusion of her city mouse/country mouse personas.

My (not so) Perfect Life deals with issues that will ring true with many readers. In today's age of social media, who doesn't either reframe her own life to seem more idyllic for public consumption, or know somebody who does? Kinsella also writes humorously about basic girls' trendy obsessions with Goop, and buzzwords like "organic," "gluten-free," "authentic," and "artisanal."

This is a must-read for any fan of British Chick Lit! It comes out on February 7th, 2017.