Chicklit Club
 

NEW RELEASE

 
 

I Followed the Rules - Joanna Bolouri (2015)

 

Single mother Cat Buchanan has had one awful date after another. The only silver lining is she gets paid to write about her misadventures in her anonymous dating column. But even that’s getting a bit tired and her editor is demanding something new and refreshing. All out of ideas, she flippantly suggests a dating book, The Rules of Engagement, that fellow colleague Leanne has thrust on her and swears by and before she knows it, she’s following the rules set out by its anonymous author Guy Wright, a man Cat comes to despise for his dating views. Bolouri’s writing is fresh and funny, with just the right amount of naughtiness and chutzpah. Her characters are relatable and believable, the good, the bad and the ugly, and in Cat’s best friend, Kerry, Bolouri has created a formidable and fun wingwoman that everyone will be wanting as their new BFF. In fact, she somewhat outshines Cat, who can come across at times as rather too bitter and sardonic. The drama could have been ratcheted up a couple of notches, but where this book excels is in its humour and making Cat’s situation – the highs and the lows – perfectly vivid for the reader. A great chick lit book that’s worth a read. (JC)

Rating 7/10
 
 

Joanna Bolouri's second novel, I Followed the Rules, is about a single mum who agrees to follow the rules of a well-known dating manual. The summary says: "Rule 1: Never ask him on a first date. Rule 2: Laugh admiringly at all his jokes. Rule 3: Always leave him wanting more. ... wtf?! Have you heard of The Rules of Engagement? It's a book that promises to teach you to find the man of your dreams in ten easy steps. Unsurprisingly, I don't own a copy. What is it, 1892? But I'm a journalist, and I've promised to follow it to the letter and write about the results. Nevermind that my friends think I'm insane, I'm stalking men all over town and can't keep my mouth shut at the best of times. My name is Cat Buchanan. I'm thirty-six years old and live with my daughter in Glasgow. I've been single for six years, but that's about to change. After all, I'm on a deadline. I Followed the Rules and this is what happened." I Followed the Rules is out in July 2015.

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