Review: Great for Chick LIt Anglophiles!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 9, 2014
As a fan of both rom com novels and Downton Abbey, the cover and title of Samantha Tonge's work caught my eye right away. I've had this sitting on my Kindle for ages, and had anticipated reading it, but life got in the way.I can tell you, once I settled down with it, I got the payoff I was looking for. There was the slightest bit of a slow start, but once I got rolling with the plot and started to get to know all of the characters, I was in it for the long haul.I can't complain at all about the premise: The opportunity for our heroine to participate in a reality TV show called Millionaire Mansion, and the wacky "Prince and the Pauper"-style doppelgänger switch of Gemma and Abbey. The juxtaposition of upscale, posh, well-bred Abbey with down-to-earth, everygirl Gemma is pure fun. I always enjoy seeing a fish out of water flail, and flail Gemma does at Applebridge Hall, Gemma's ancestral pile.The fun is watching whether Gemma can pull off convincing others that she's suddenly a Kate Middleton type. Smart and resourceful, she navigates the unfamiliar culture and makes allies to help her through the rough spots. As wonderful as it can be for her to enjoy the spoils of the richie-rich life, there are times when Gemma's "Girl Next Door" soul rebels, and she longs to kick off her court shoes and relax into sneakers. She can be a little ditzy and juvenile at times, but I enjoyed going along the road with Gemma and watching her eyes open to a few of the realities of grown-up life.There's one complication she cannot easily overcome, however. Abbey's hot but prim and proper cousin, Edward, distracts her. She cannot be seen to flirt with him, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Gemma is proud that she's able to convince everyone, even stuffy Edward, that she is indeed Abbey, but things take turns and twists that leave her in hot water. Which is exactly what I want out of a chick lit novel.You certainly can't say that this book is a true original, but that's OK with me. I look for Chick Lit books because I want the familiar tropes: Girl in trouble of her own making, girl learning something and growing along her journey, hot guy who provides witty banter and sexual tension, happy ending. Boom. I got what I came for.This book delivered on its promise, and that makes me happy.