Sleeping Arrangements

February 25, 2008
Wickham (The Gatecrasher
; also, the Shopaholic series as Sophie Kinsella) spins a delightful story of British families forced to spend their vacation together after a mutual friend promises them the same week in his Spanish villa. Chloe Harding hopes that a holiday will soothe the strain between her and longtime partner Philip Murray, who is worried that a recent takeover of his company may cost him his job. Their hopes are dashed when they arrive and find another family already settled at the villa. To Chloe's disappointment, she'll be sharing the space with Hugh Stratton, the beau who broke her heart 15 years ago. Now married to high-maintenance Amanda and with two children, Hugh apologizes, and though Chloe initially expresses nothing but hurt and disdain (all the while keeping their past a secret from Philip), she eventually considers beginning life anew with Hugh. Wickham does a bangup job of creating believable characters—even Amanda is less vapid than she at first seems. Surprises abound as the plot unfolds, and the families begin to wonder whether their mutual friend made an innocent mistake in getting them together.

June 15, 2008
Wickham is the pen name of Sophie Kinsella, author of the popular "Shopaholic" series. In Kinsella's latest novel written under that pen name (following "Cocktails for Three" and "The Gatecrasher"), Amanda and Hugh Stratton, their two daughters, and their free-spirited nanny, Jenna, fly to Spain to stay at a stunning villa belonging to Hugh's old schoolmate Gerard. At the same time, Chloe, a lively dressmaker, her partner, Philip, and the couple's two sons are taking a well-deserved break as Philip's company prepares for a merger that might mean the end of his career. When the two families arrive at the villa and realize they have been double-booked, they appear to be the victims of a scheduling error. As the story unfolds, however, it turns out there's much more to their shared history. The occasional sexual situations and references to drug use make this more of an adult read than the "Shopaholic" series, but this should not deter readers from picking up what is essentially a fun and charming read. Recommended for all public library collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/08; library marketing campaign planned.Ed.]Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, Cleveland P.L.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2008
Wickham, who writes the popular Shopaholic series as Sophie Kinsella, explores what happens when two couples struggling with their relationships end up at the same Spanish vacation villa, owned by their mutual friend Gerard, an arrogant wine critic. Free-spirited Chloe and her longtime partner, the tightly wound Philip, are looking to escape their worries over the fate of his job. Workaholic Hugh cant seem to connect to his uptight wife, Amanda, or their two daughters. Neither family is pleased to find Gerard has double-booked the villa, but unbeknownst to Philip and Amanda, Chloe and Hugh knew each other years ago, when they had a passionate love affair that ended abruptly when Hugh learned Chloe had a young son. Now together again15 years later, they find their passion for each other is reignited. With its slightly older characters and more adult problems, Wickhams novel has a different tone than do her Shopaholic tales, but its an equally engaging yarn, sure to please her many fans and gain her new ones.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)