Book Review : The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance by Kirsty Greenwood

Title : The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance

Author : Kirsty Greenwood

Publication Date : 9 April 2015

Publisher : Pan Macmillan

Source : Review copy provided by publisher (Thank you!)

Overall : 5/5

Jessica Beam is one hot mess. She knows how to have fun (cider, men and the snooze button usually have something to do with it) but lately she's been forgetting how to turn up for work on time. Or in clean clothes. Suddenly finding herself out of a job, out of luck with her friends and thrown out of her flat, she tracks down her only family: her grandmother, in Kensington. She's never met Matilda Beam before but hungover beggars can't be choosers.

Things aren't going quite so well for Grandma, either. Her 1950s Good Woman guide books are out of print, her mortgage is staggering and her granddaughter apparently wears neon Wonderbras. But when a publisher throws them a lifeline - a new contract if they can prove the Good Woman guides still work - Jess and Matilda have to work together if they want a roof over their heads.

Changing modern party girl Jess into a refined vintage lady is no mean feat and the true test of their makeover will be capturing the heart of snobby London playboy Leo Frost. It's going to take dedication, a seriously pointy bra and nerves of steel to pull it off...

A massive thank you to PanMac for sending me a copy of The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance! I cannot believe how long I have waited for this and Yours Truly by Kirsty Greenwood is also one of my fave books. The cover is gorgeous and SO vintage. Love the theme of the book and it was something fresh for me. I am a HUGE fan of Kirsty, she writes really ah-may-zing books and as a friend, she is really lovely!

It didn’t take me long to fall in love with the female lead of the story, Jessica Beam. She is as careless as I am and she is jobless and homeless. In that miserable state, she kidnaps Mr Belding, her roommate-slash-best friend’s cat and packs her bags to live with her grandmother, Matilda Beam. The thing is, she has never met her and Matilda Beam turns out to be an author of bestselling books from the 50s. Best-selling author and the only family she has, guess things would turn out well for Jess. Surely she can get out of her misery, right?

However, things might not be that smooth. Matilda is no longer the renowned, superstar author that she once was so things are not great on her side too. When Jessica turns up at her door out of the blue, Matilda takes her in and uses the tips in the Good Woman Guides to transform her. Better days are ahead for the both of them when a top publishing house wants to put a modern spin on the Good Woman Guides and as a part of the deal, Jessica has to use the tips to get herself a man and they has decided to try them on the guy Jess met at a book launch – Leo Frost.

Jessica is not exactly into the idea or style of the 50s and she enjoys being her usual self behind her grandma’s back. Even though she feels out of place in the 50's styling, she does start to feel differently and actually enjoys the dates she has with Leo. Jess is a very likable character and you will definitely love her. I felt quite bad for her in when her ‘best friend’, Summer kicks her out and left her jobless and in such a bad state. She needs a better friend! Other than Jessica, the supporting characters are fabulous, I heart Peach and loathed Summer. Peach is nice like a peach and has that positive vibe around her that makes everyone wants to be her friend and be in her squad.

Kirsty’s writing is class A and totally quotable. She has a realistic way of writing that makes the story a lovely, page-turner. She has created some of the best characters in the chick lit industry, I dare say. Although Jess could give off a selfish attitude at the beginning of the book, she is just like the best friend you have that you first hated. Jessica’s transformation from a pear-cider loving girl to a fine lady was unbelievably fascinating. A modern girl going back in time, exploring pointy, cone-shaped bras, tight corsets really makes me wonder if sophisticated, classy tips from the 50s will really work in the Tinder, modern dating era?

The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance is like a fresh coat of paint that makes me fall in love with chick lit books all over again. Fun, fresh and fast-paced, this book is one of my favourites of 2015! Can’t wait for the next book!