My Not So Perfect Life

November 21, 2016
With her signature humor, bestselling author Kinsella (Shopaholic to the Stars) explores the frequent disconnect between perception and reality in modern life. Katie Brenner, a 26-year-old research associate at a branding agency in London, left her father’s farm in Somerset with the intention of living her dream life in the city. But with her tight budget, peculiar roommates, long commute, and tedious work assignments, reality falls short of her expectations. She becomes isolated and often feels like she’s playing a role. Still, she’s intent on projecting an image of perfection, both to her family and her Instagram followers. Meanwhile, her controlling boss, Demeter, appears to be living the perfect life that Katie covets. Then, just as Katie begins to feel like her dreams are within reach, with renewed confidence at work, possible new friends, and a potential love interest, she gets fired. She moves back home to Somerset to help her father start a glamping business, only to have her two worlds collide in unexpected ways. Driven by Katie’s witty observations and numerous missteps as she attempts to reconcile various aspects of her identity, this novel is smartly satirical and entertaining. Agent: Kim Witherspoon, Inkwell Management.

Starred review from November 15, 2016
A young woman learns that a "perfect" life isn't always what it seems as she attempts to move on from a dramatic firing by working at her family's farm.Country girl Katie Brenner is living the life she's always dreamed of in London. She's reinvented herself as Cat, works at a hip branding agency, and left behind her not-so-posh accent. But behind her perfectly curated Instagram account, life isn't actually as great as she'd like it to be. She's barely making it financially, living with terrible roommates, and trying desperately to impress her boss, Demeter. When Katie develops a flirtation--or maybe more--with her cute co-worker, she thinks things may be looking up. But when Demeter fires Katie, she's forced to move back home to live with her father and stepmother in Somerset. She spends her days helping them run an upscale glamorous camping, or glamping, business and applying for every marketing job she can find. Her time in London seems like another life--until Demeter shows up, family in tow, to spend a relaxing holiday in a yurt. Katie is determined to exact her revenge on Demeter, but in the process she learns that Demeter's life isn't what she always assumed, either. Katie is a winning heroine with a point of view even more likable than that of Kinsella's Becky Bloomwood (Shopaholic to the Rescue, 2015, etc.). It's easy to root for Katie as she deals with problems that are relatable (being fired, dealing with roommates) and less-than-relatable (running a glamping business). The romance is charming, but the main strength of the story is Katie and Demeter's evolving relationship. Kinsella creates characters that are well-rounded, quirky, and a complete joy to read. A delightful and charming story that will appeal to Shopaholic fans.

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2016
Katie Brenner is living the life most girls her age dream ofshe has a flat in London (oddball flatmates), a great (hellish) commute, the perfect job at a branding agency (junior associate, doing data entry), and an amazing boss (quite the opposite). It's no wonder Katie loves going on Instagram to get a peek into the perfect lives of others, while creating the illusion of her own. After getting fired and bombing a potential romance, Katie goes home to her family's farm. Her father, an entrepreneur whose ideas never take off, decides to use his land to start a glamping business. Knowing a lot about branding and business, Katie takes the reins in the start-up. Everything is going great, until her ex-boss shows up. Kinsella delivers yet another outstanding novel full of the wit and charm that her fans expect and adore. Katie's shenanigans, from a misunderstanding about a vibrator to being mistaken for a homeless person, will keep readers laughing out loud. A perfect combination of fun, laughable moments rounded out with some deep-seated family and relationship issues.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

October 1, 2016

Struggling with cranky flatmates and office politics, Katie Brenner indulges in falsely bright Instagram posts while secretly envying posh, perfect boss Demeter. Then Demeter fires her, and Katie flees London for the family farm in Somerset. The hugely best-selling Kinsella not in shopping mode.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2017

Twentysomething farm girl Katie Brenner leaves Somerset (and her widower dad) to realize her dream of living and working in London. However, despite what she shares on Instagram, her dream also includes pinching pennies and making exhausting daily commutes from her roommate-laden apartment to her branding agency job, where she doesn't actually get to do branding (except for secretly rebranding herself as Cat). New friends and a potential romance give Cat hope, but then Demeter, her creative but maddening boss with a perfect life, lets her go. Devastated yet determined to find a new job in London, Katie heads home temporarily and misleads her family about her job situation while helping the farm become a unique vacation destination. Always among the first to try new things, Demeter and her family arrive at the farm for a holiday, throwing Katie/Cat into a righteous panic. Drama and shenanigans ensue as the women learn just how much appearances can be deceiving. VERDICT Chick lit fans, rejoice! This latest stand-alone from best-selling author Kinsella ("Shopaholic" series) is top-notch, thanks to a lovable, slightly flawed leading lady, many true-life situations, and loads of giggle-inducing humor. As Bridget Jones would say, "Well done!" [See Prepub Alert, 8/22/16.]--Samantha Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2017

Twentysomething farm girl Katie Brenner leaves Somerset (and her widower dad) to realize her dream of living and working in London. However, despite what she shares on Instagram, her dream also includes pinching pennies and making exhausting daily commutes from her roommate-laden apartment to her branding agency job, where she doesn't actually get to do branding (except for secretly rebranding herself as Cat). New friends and a potential romance give Cat hope, but then Demeter, her creative but maddening boss with a perfect life, lets her go. Devastated yet determined to find a new job in London, Katie heads home temporarily and misleads her family about her job situation while helping the farm become a unique vacation destination. Always among the first to try new things, Demeter and her family arrive at the farm for a holiday, throwing Katie/Cat into a righteous panic. Drama and shenanigans ensue as the women learn just how much appearances can be deceiving. VERDICT Chick lit fans, rejoice! This latest stand-alone from best-selling author Kinsella ("Shopaholic" series) is top-notch, thanks to a lovable, slightly flawed leading lady, many true-life situations, and loads of giggle-inducing humor. As Bridget Jones would say, "Well done!" [See Prepub Alert, 8/22/16.]--Samantha Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.