Gallery Girl - Wendy Holden (2010)

Alice works in an unfashionable gallery far away from trendy Gold Street, the home of Britain's coolest contemporary artists. Such as Zeb Spaw, whose gold-sprayed prosthetic limbs have just cracked the 20 million pound mark at auction. Siobhan loves painting but has put her artistic ambitions on hold since marrying former boy band member Ciaran. And then there's Dan, who is a struggling portrait painter who teaches life drawing classes. When Alice's gallery closes, she gets a chance to move to Gold Street, working for the diva Angelica. Readers into contemporary art will enjoy this absurb take on their world but as a story it was too long, without enough of a cohesive plot to drive it. If this was an auction item, I'd recommend passing on it unless it was a real bargain price.

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Get Lucky - Katherine Center (2010)

For Sarah Harper, her life seemed to be one stupid mistake after another. Normally others would be feeling depressed by now but not Sarah. Her philosophy is that stupid decisions are actually good choices in disguise. After just winning her ad campaign for a new bra, Sarah receives a funny email of "real women's breasts". On an impulse she forwards this email to everyone in the company and the next day she's fired. Heading back home for Thanksgiving, Sarah finds that her sister, Mackie, has given up all hope of having children and as Sarah's got nothing better to do, she embarks on a journey of surrogacy for her sister. But just when things start looking up for Sarah, her world starts crashing around her and she wonders if she has been diagnosed with horrible karma as the ghosts of her pasts start appearing one by one - starting with an ex-boyfriend Everett, her father whom she lost contact with and his new wife Dixie, and the memories of her mother whom died when she was young. Will Sarah's luck change as her life takes a different path or will she remain unlucky? An entertaining and enjoyable story that will make you feel both sorry for Sarah with her run of bad luck and impressed with her generosity. (PP)

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Getting Away With It - Julie Cohen (2010)

LA-based stuntwoman Liza, having recovered from a stunt gone wrong, has returned to her English hometown to attend a charity dance organised by her identical twin Lee. But Lee seems to have disappeared. Mistaken by the villagers as her sister, Liza - relishing the opportunity of being treated as the likeable, responsible one for once - keeps pretending to be Lee. She takes over the family's ice-cream company, looks out for her ailing mother but evens the bad twin draws the line at assuming her place in Lee's boyfriend's life. This is a really enjoyable life swap story about one sister getting away from it all, while the other learns she is more capable than she ever thought.

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Getting Even with Fran - Christine Stinson (2010)

It's been 30 years since these seven women left school - surely they can get along now. Lawyer Cecilia, whose husband has just revealed a shocking secret, is heading to the reunion to settle an old score with her nemesis, Fran. Kerry wants to lose her fat girl tag for good while her former best friend Nellie is facing a cancer scare. Bad girl Sharon is still feeling guilty - this time about putting her ailing mother into a home - but is ready to stare down do-gooder Anne, who has retained her saintly status by marrying a doctor and raising seven children. Then there's Barb, who doesn't want anyone to know that her life hasn't exactly turned out how she planned. This masterful character development sets the scene beautifully but perhaps like a real-life school reunion, when the women finally get together, the moment fails to live up to expectations.

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Getting It! - Jane Blanchard (2003)

Fran quits her long-term job as a regional newspaper reporter to join the team setting up a new TV shopping channel, Getting It! There she befriends a fashion buyer called Stella, who comes home from a late shift to find her husband with another woman. One of Fran's former newspaper colleagues, Des, is out to write negative stories about the channel. But it seems those at the station are making his job all too easy as it becomes known for its on-air disasters. Fran and Stella, who both shaved a few years off their 40-something ages at interview time, get a shot a co-presenting as star presenter Tiffany reels from the discovery she has a stalker. Meanwhile Fran is trying to keep her identity as the newspaper's secret horoscope columnist Madame Chita under wraps and get her husband Bob to finally fix up their fixer-upper house.

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Getting Mad, Getting Even - Annie Sanders (2009)

Georgie and Flick run a Domestics Angels agency - providing help to clients on the home front doing everything from feeding a pet to overseeing renovation work. But one day, a woman requests their help to get back at her cheating husband. And so as word spreads, the pair get caught up in a more "Avenging Angels" role which sees them lurking around public toilets and pole-dancing in a club. But one of the humiliated husbands seems to want his own payback on Georgie and Flick. And it seems the need to get revenge is so much closer to home for one of them. It's written in the authors' usual easy-to-read and light-hearted style, but the storyline all worked out that bit too neatly at the end.

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Getting Married - Theresa Alan (2007)

Is marriage the tomb of love? With divorced parents and a whole bunch of friends going through relationship failures, Eva Lockart would never want to experience it personally - but that was before Will came into the picture. Thoughtful, generous, sexy, Will possesses every quality she wants in a man. When he proposes, Eva immediately accepts. But when the wedding preparations begin, she starts to get ridiculously stressed out and starts to question whether her own marriage will turn out to be the mistake of her life. Normally chick lit books dealing with wedding themes don't discuss these fears and the effects of a divorce. But this book does. A rather interesting read but the exaggeration gets too much during some parts of the book. (XT)

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Getting Off The Earth - Heidi Wendel (2010)

Gretchen - a divorced 44-year-old lawyer and mother - is newly single. She lives with her teenage daughter Grace and her extended family in Portland, Maine. Gretchen's most recent ex-boyfriend - now friend - John, left her for a 22-year-old ballerina named Irina. You could say Gretchen's dating life is a mess. She has a few colourful clients, a hilariously sarcastic brother, smart nephew, and a loving, though sometimes overbearing mother. Her family is going through a rough financial time, and though they nitpick at each other, their banter alongside Gretchen's internal monologue make for a very comical read. A surprisingly funny and quick read, I enjoy Heidi's unique style of writing. It's chick lit - with a smart and dry sense of humour. The novel makes up the first season of the Port City Chronicle, which was published as a weekly column in the Portland Daily Sun. (AV)

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Getting Over Mr Right - Chrissie Manby (2010)

Ashleigh finds out via Facebook that she's been dumped by the guy she thought was Mr Right. But unable to just walk away, she embarks on an obsessive campaign to win Michael back and is more than willing to stalk her prey - both in real life and cyberspace. As she works through all the stages of a break-up - from denial when she turns up at his office to propose, through to anger when she constructs a voodoo doll - much more than her love life starts to suffer. This is the perfect book for those wanting to move on to the laughter stage. It's a light-hearted read that provides a very funny take on being dumped.

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Getting Rid of Bradley - Jennifer Crusie (1994)

High school physics teacher Lucy Savage was married to her husband Bradley for less than one year when she came home and found him with a young blonde. The day her divorce is final, Lucy and her sister go to lunch to celebrate her new single status. As the two sisters complain about Bradley they are overheard by officer Zach Warren, a cop who is investigating Bradley for embezzlement. After much hysterical confusion, Zach realises that his suspect, John Bradley, is a different Bradley. However, after Lucy is shot at and her car blown up, Zach can't fight his instinct that the two Bradleys are somehow connected. As Zach starts to protect Lucy, the sparks fly between the two. Plenty of steamy sex scenes heat up the pages of this fun novel. (AO)

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Getting Rid of Matthew - Jane Fallon (2007)

Helen has been having a secret affair with a married man - her former boss - for the past four years. So when Matthew finally leaves his wife, Sophie, and moves in with Helen, you think she'd be delighted. But now she's decided she doesn't want him anymore. So Helen embarks on a campaign to get rid of Matthew, including befriending his wife. One of the best releases of 2007.

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Getting Warmer - Carol Snow (2007)

After ending a four-year relationship with her Harvard graduate boyfriend Ron, and losing both her job and apartment, Natalie Quackenbush finds herself with no choice other than to move into her parents' home in Arizona; and paying for her piling debts through teaching English at a local high school. To compensate for her dull life, she and friend Jill often lie about their own identities by making up a series of incredible stories whenever guys try to pick them up at bars. However, when Natalie falls in love with an incredibly attractive guy, she finds herself spinning more lies about herself - teaching at a prison and living with her mentally insane mum. It turns out that this guy, Jonathan, is in fact falling in love with her. Will Natalie be able to tell him the truth or will she be trapped in her own lies? (XT)

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Gifted and Talented - Wendy Holden (2013)

With a new university year beginning, Branston College welcomes a range of new faces. Isabel is a bright and hardworking first year English student, leaving her home in Scotland to take up a funded place. Olly is a former university student, struggling to find work but determined not to admit defeat and go home. Diana is the new college gardener, who's moved with her young daughter to start a new life, and Richard is the new college head, who has come to England to escape memories of a life back in America. I loved the premise of this story - a campus novel following the lives of a very eclectic range of characters - but unfortunately I was disappointed. Many of the characters' stories felt underdeveloped and It Girl Amber, who the blurb suggests will be one of the main protagonists, never really fulfils that role, in fact for a large part of the novel we don't hear about her at all. With several peripheral characters and competing storylines, whilst there were aspects of the narrative I enjoyed, there was often too much going on. There were moments of warmth and joy that uplifted the novel and a strong satiric vein but unfortunately on the whole I just felt the individual stories were lacking. (JC)

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Gilding Lily - Tatiana Boncompagni (2008)

Lily Bartholomew is at her wits end. Her out-of-work husband Robert refuses to make moves to get a job and his manipulative mother Josephine is the mother-in-law from hell. Josephine has made it very clear that Lily is not the woman for her son. After Josephine gives Robert a Porsche, Lily decides that it is time for her to start working again so she gets in contact with an editor and starts writing about the New York socialites that include her mother-in-law in their social-climbing circle. When she starts to unveil some not-so-flattering secrets that the socialites take part in, she starts to wonder if she has gone too far. A great tale of the glitz and glam of New York high society and the lengths some will go to to continue that lifestyle. (CG)

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Girl Before a Mirror - Liza Palmer (2015)

Anna Wyatt is on a mission to land the biggest advertising account of her career, which could mean a huge boost for her professionally. To do so, she heads to the Romance Writers' Conference in Phoenix with her new, younger associate, Sasha, and the goal of signing the Romance Cover Model of the Year to star in her campaign. While in Phoenix she meets handsome financial consultant Lincoln Mallory, with whom she has an instant connection. Having just been on a dating time-out after her divorce, Anna is in the process of reevaluating her life in an effort to put herself first, accept her imperfections, and take more chances. Lincoln definitely falls into that last category, but she's not sure getting involved with him is what is best for her at the moment. Once the conference is over and she's back in the real world, Anna finds it increasingly difficult to navigate all of the different directions she's being pulled, from work, to her alcoholic brother, Ferdie, and to Lincoln. Her plan of becoming the heroine of her own life isn't working out as well as she had hoped. Girl Before a Mirror is an enjoyable story filled with real, flawed characters who are at the same time extremely relatable and endearing. Like a lot of women, Anna is juggling work, friends, love, and family while trying to decide if she's actually living the life she dreamed of. I especially like the notion that anyone can change the direction of their life regardless of the path they are currently on. (LEK)

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Girl From Mars - Julie Cohen (2009)

Comic book illustrator Fil Brown hangs out with her nerdy friends - winning pub quizzes and watching X-Files marathons. When one of the usually socially inept group, Stevo, drifts away after finding himself a mate, she and the others, Jim and Digger, swear a pact (partly in Klingon) that they will forsake all romantic relationships. On the workfront, Fil finds her comic Girl From Mars is about to get a big shake-up, thanks to the grandson of the creator, who wants to inject some romance into the heroine's life - and as it turns out Fil's as well. Read this for a totally different type of heroine. You may well get into the Girl From Mars comic story just as much as Fil's.

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Girl in a Spin - Clodagh Murphy (2010)

Jenny Hannigan is a super-sexy party girl who has men falling at her feet but all she really wants is a life of domestic bliss - the kind of life she never experienced as a child. When she meets Richard Allam, she thinks she's met the one she wants to spend her life with. Trouble is, Richard is a politician who's hotly tipped to lead the Moderate Party to victory in an upcoming election, and Jenny isn't exactly politician's wife material - unlike Richard's ex, the perfect Julia. In a bid to endear Jenny to the public and his party colleagues, Richard recruits publicist Dev Tennant to spin Jenny as the type of partner a political leader should have. But Dev has his work cut out for him with Jenny, and as more and more secrets from her past emerge, Dev finds himself working overtime to keep the truth hidden. Can Dev possibly turn a party girl like Jenny into a political party woman? As the election looms and Richard becomes increasingly caught up in his workload, Jenny is forced to ask herself if a future with Richard is what she really wants after all. Clodagh Murphy has a gift for creating leading characters that you can't help but love, and I was rooting for Jenny all the way through the book as she navigated her strange new world of politics. The supporting characters provide many humorous moments and will have you chuckling your way through the book. (SBB)

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Girl Most Likely To - Poonam Sharma (2007)

Vina Chopra has built a successful 70-hour-a-week career as a Wall Street investment banker but is now looking for a life partner. She's even desperate enough to allow her Indian parents to set her up on dates. But while her focus is on her romantic life, including an ex with a secret and an in-the-closet gay, Vina gets caught up in a scandal that could ruin her career.

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Girl on the Run - Jane Costello (2011)

Abby Rogers has never cared much for fitness or dieting so when her best friend, Jess, tries to set her up with the captain of the running club, Abby is surprised to think that maybe she'll fancy running as much as she fancies Oliver. However, after her first session consists of her almost collapsing and making a fool of herself, she vows never to go back - Oliver or no Oliver. But, fate won't have it. When Abby's star employee, Heidi, makes a devastating announcement, Abby finds herself back at the running club and training for a half marathon. She also finds herself falling harder and harder for a man she shouldn't be falling for at all, despite simultaneously lusting after Oliver. First off, the other guy is in a long-term relationship and secondly, she almost killed him - which didn't get their friendship off on the right foot from day one. Will Abby be able to get the man of her dreams before it's too late? And will she be able to keep her promise to run the half marathon without passing out during it? While the core focus of the story is running and getting fit, there are also many other elements creatively woven in throughout. It's a story about temptation and romance, about finding your passion and sticking to your goals, it's about believing in yourself and doing what you know is right no matter what the consequences may be. Abby is a character of strength and integrity who despite her flaws is able to make the reader want to know her personally. By the end of the story, Abby is someone you wish you had as a friend, which is probably one of the best compliments you can give a character in a novel. (AS)

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Girl Racers - Janet Gover (2010)

TTough lawyer Alex Reilly is a tomboy at heart who loves her red Lotus sports car. Entering into the Snowy Mountains Car Rally goes against her rich girl pedigree and earns her mother's disapproval. But after lovingly restoring her dream car and engaging her support team, Alex is determined to win the race. When her navigator pulls out, it looks as if her dream will not become reality. That is, until Kier Thomas, an unrequited love from her childhood, appears unexpectedly. A sudden course of events sees Alex back in the race using Kier's gorgeous model friend Lyn Stanton as her navigator and with Kier urging her on from the sidelines. The arrival of Kier sets Alex on an emotional race that she isn't so determined to win. Can she forgive the boy she fell for all those years ago when he's already let her down once? The story is beautifully set around the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales and Gover delivers a fun and feisty story where we get to know not only Alex and Kier but also learn there is more to picture-perfect Lyn than meets the eye when she falls for the older Paul, the Alfa car driver. In the end the race is on for love but who is going to win and will everyone's hearts and cars remain in one piece? (LF)

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Girls in Pants - Ann Brashares (2005)

This is the third book of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. This summer is the last summer Lena, Carmen, Tibby and Bridget will share in Bethesda before college. By the end of September, they have to separate and make their way in the world. Lena wants to go to art school but when her father finds out she will be required to paint nude males, he withdraws his money. Tibby holds herself responsible for her younger sister Katherine's accident and to make herself even more miserable she doesn't want to acknowledge her feelings for Brian. Carmen has to deal with the fact that her mother and her new husband are expecting a baby around the same time she will leave for the college. And Bridget is in Pennsylvania to attend soccer camp where she has to face her past, including Eric, her heart-throb from two summers back in Baja. In this novel these four friends still show they need to depend on one another even as they strike out as independent young adults. (SS)

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Girls in Trucks - Katie Crouch (2008)

In this coming-of-age novel, Sarah Walters is a reluctant Camellia Society debutante in South Carolina. The society teaches children of a certain social standing how to fox trot, greet adults and wear white gloves - and be prepared for a socially acceptable marriage. The chapters progress in a series of vignettes, from the death of a cousin and worshipping her older sister Eloise who dates a black man, to moving to New York with her best friend Charlotte to work as an editorial assistant and her obsession with preppy Max. Then a series of tragic events bring her home to Charleston. Reminds me a lot of Melissa Bank's The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing.

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Girls in White Dresses - Jennifer Close (2011)

This book centres around a circle of friends, who are embracing becoming adults by moving city, going to college, starting new jobs, finding love, ending bad romances and seeing their friends getting married off. There's Isabella who follows her friend Mary to New York. She is working as an office assistant while Mary goes to law school. Then there's Lauren, who becomes a waitress as an in-between job and starts sleeping with the bartender as an in-between guy. She has a friend Ellen, who is known for only dating ugly boys. Then there's Abby who grew up in a family of hippies; Shannon whose guy loves politics more than her, and Kristi, who thinks one bridal shower just isn't enough. Don't open this book expecting the action to be centred around a series of weddings - it only occasionally touches on these occasions. Instead what you'll get is a series of quirky, well-written vignettes, rather than the more typical story arc.

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Glamour - Louise Bagshawe (2007)

Texan glamour girl Sally Lassiter, smart English girl Jane Morgan and Jordanian beauty Helen Yanna meet at a rich Beverly Hills high school. The three girls form a pact to stick together. Financial catastrophe forces Jane and Sally to drop out of school while Helen is forced into an arranged marriage and sent to Egypt. Over the next few years, the girls individually obtain incredible business success. The three women find each other years later in LA and join forces to open a luxurious store, Glamour. Love, success and power complicate the lives of these women as they struggle to keep their friendship. (AO)

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Glitter Baby - Susan Elizabeth Phillips (1987)

Fleur Savagar was a rich teenager who went to Hollywood and soon became America's sweetheart. Few people knew that behind her glittering hair and powerful stature, there was an awkward girl who was too tall for her age and had feet too big to walk gracefully. Fleur falls in love with smooth heart-throb Jake, who takes advantage of her infatuation. Heartbroken, she runs home to find solace, only to find out otherwise, so she explores the world as an anonymous citizen for as long as she can. But the world is too small for her not to bump into Jake again. This time, she faces the world a wiser and elegant woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. After more than 20 years since its first printing, Phillips' fans are not to be disappointed. Unlike her later novels, Glitter Baby's characters have more layers to add to the drama of the story. (SARI)

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Glittering Fortunes - Victoria Fox (2013)

Olivia has failed to make her mark in London so she returns to Cornwall. She must get a job to support herself and has no idea what she has let herself in for when she starts working in the gardens at Usherwood Estate. She becomes involved with the owner, Charlie Lomax. Charlie has a brother, Cato, who fled to Hollywood after a drunken car crash. Olivia finds herself tangled in both the brothers' lives when Cato decides to come back to Cornwall. This novel delivers complex characters and the family rivalry draws you in. The storyline is unpredictable and exciting but is not the sexy bonkbuster that Victoria Fox's fans are used to. (SG)

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Glitz - Louise Bagshawe (2008)

The Chambers cousins - socialite Juno, academic Athena, wannabe actress Venus and trendy Diana - have spent the past few years being trust fund princesses courtesy of their reclusive Uncle Clem. But now he has announced that he's picked a young bride, Bai-Ling, and within the year their annual half-a-million-pound allowance will end. The four women hope to stop the wedding by humiliating Bai-Ling in London society and in order to show they are not threatened by the loss of the trust fund they each take on careers. There's a few plot holes amid the glitz but grab it if you're looking to read about designer clothes, powerful men, glamorous careers, lavish property and what it's like to be rolling in money.

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Gloss - Jennifer Oko (2007)

How on earth did breakfast TV producer Annabelle Kapner end up in jail suspected of being linked to a terrorist organisation? All she was doing was researching a story about an American cosmetics group which has set up a number of beauty parlours and laboratories in Fardish refugee camps. But her discovery, via her own Deep Throat, that some of the Fardish girls now have disfigured lips sees her make a Watergate-style raid. After she is arrested and the Glossgate scandal develops, all the media seem to focus on is her romance with hot vice-presidential speechwriter Mark Thurber. Will the truth ever be uncovered? The plot is quite convoluted but read it for the insider's view of the ratings-driven world of TV networks where hosts will do anything to stay in the chair and viewers send in the most ridiculous letters.

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Gods In Alabama - Joshilyn Jackson (2005)

Arlene Fleet made a pact with God before leaving her hometown, Possett, Alabama. Now, 12 years later, Arlene resides in Chicago with her African-American boyfriend, Burr, and has kept to her promises faithfully. However, when Burr asks to see her family or threatens to end the relationship, Arlene has no choice but to go back to her hometown, to confront her past and fears. Even though the plot was interesting, with a moderate blend of chick lit and crime, some may find it a confusing read due to the constant change in timeline, between present and past. (XT)

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God-Shaped Hole - Tiffanie DeBartolo (2002)

Hit by impulse, independent jewellery maker Beatrice responds to a personal ad in a weekly newspaper "seeking a friend for the end of the world". In doing so, she meets Jacob Grace, a charismatic, passionate writer whose vision of life drifts significantly away from her cynical and withdrawn personality. The story begins to pick up speed as the pair moves beyond their initial phase of brief infatuation, and deals with more delicate and painful drawings of their family history, which soon threaten their current state of happiness. The predictions of a fortune teller (found in the prelude) that she'll lose her soul mate to tragedy also places a shadow over their happy ending. A delicate love story and tragedy at the same time, this is an amazing piece of work exploring the fragility and power of humanity, with no more exaggeration than it needs. (XT)

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Going Back - Rachael English (2014)

Twenty-year-old Elizabeth Kelly spends the summer of 1988 in Boston together with some of her friends from college. While she's enjoying a fun life in America, Elizabeth has her family and long-term boyfriend Liam waiting for her in Ireland, so she will be returning home as soon as her visa expires. However, she didn't plan on meeting the charming Danny Esposito who will change her time in Boston completely. Now, 20 years later, Elizabeth's daughter Jenny is following in her mother's footsteps by going to Boston for the summer. But when something unexpected happens, Elizabeth suddenly finds herself on her way to Boston as well; a visit which brings back all of her memories from that summer of '88. Going Back turned out to be exactly what I was expecting when I first laid eyes on the novel: a romantic, nostalgic and enjoyable tale with a fascinating Irish touch. The story started off quite slow-paced and it did take me a while to really get to know the characters and be taken in by the story. I warmed to Elizabeth rather easily, probably because I recognised bits of myself in her and could relate to her. She's rather shy and cautious and really struggling with her emotions and the feeling that she has to do what is expected of her instead of just following her heart. I really enjoyed seeing Elizabeth as both a teenager and a grown-up and experiencing the changes in her and how her decisions in life shaped her. I specifically enjoyed the romantic feel of the story; the idea of finding someone you fall head over heels in love with, the struggles that come with it... This aspect of the novel was strong and convincing and these feelings made the reading experience even more of a thoroughly enjoyable and emotional ride. Rachael English's debut novel certainly did not disappoint. Her detailed and sharp writing style was enjoyable to read and I expect I will pick up more of her work in the future. Going Back is an enjoyable, romantic and nostalgic women's fiction read; a captivating story about love, friendship, and following your heart. (JoH)

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Going Home - Harriet Evans (2005)

Lizzy Walters heads home for Christmas, after breaking up with her boyfriend, David. But it looks far from a quiet Christmas at Keeper House, with her parents planning to sell the family home, her cousin announcing he's gay and her uncle turning up with a new wife.

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Going It Alone - Clare Dowling (2008)

Millie has a drawer-full of aids to assist in her baby-making activities - sperm-friendly lubricant, ovulation predictor kits, pre-natal vitamins and pregnancy tests. And husband Andrew has been until now willing to drop everything and leap into action when Day 14 arrives. But when Andrew gets a job posting to Germany, he decides to go alone. This leaves Millie without a partner just as her biological clock is ticking down. So she also decides to go it alone - to a sperm donation clinic in Spain.

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Going La La - Alexandra Potter (2012)

This is an updated version of the novel first published in 2001. Frankie thinks her boyfriend, Hugh, is just about to propose - but instead he tells her he needs space. So after losing her job and flat, she gives him heaps of space - by heading to Los Angeles to stay with her best friend, wannabe actress Rita. Thanks to Rita's neighbour Dorian, they get a pass into the cool LA scene where Frankie keeps running into a cowboy-hat-wearing photographer called Reilly. An enjoyable light-hearted read with a pretty ditzy lead. But I've reached my tolerance level for stories that start "girl loses boyfriend, job and flat over the course of a bad day or week".

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Going Too Far - Catherine Alliott (1994)

Polly Penhalligan has given up her advertising career and moved to her husband Nick's farm in Cornwall. But things start to go awry when her best friend convinces Polly to allow the farmhouse to be used for a commercial dog food shoot - and she gets a bit too close to film director Sam.

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Gold Diggers - Tasmina Perry (2007)

Every woman is out to get Adam Gold, a New York billionaire who has just moved to London. Glamorous Karin, one of the women vying for his affections, is a successful fashion entrepreneur who is trying to overcome speculation that she killed her husband. Erin has dreams of being the next literary star and soon finds that although working as Adam's PA has its downsides, the perks are something she may not be able to walk away from. Molly is a fading 80s fashion model who has been holding on to the past and is reluctant to give up her throne to her aspiring model daughter Summer. When Summer catches Adam's eye, will her mother step aside? A great book about sex, drugs and money with a twist at the end. (CG)

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Goodbye Henrietta Street - Lin Treadgold (2013)

Pippa and Rob Lambton are childhood sweethearts and great friends with Terry and Joan Marshall. Their life is complete with the birth of their son Daniel. After a tragic accident, Pippa and Rob are struggling to keep their marriage alive. Desperate, Pippa flees to Scilly, an island off the south of England. She hopes to clear her head and make some decisions about her future, but instead meets handsome Norwegian Sven Jorgensen who is running away from his own troubles and has formed a life for himself on the isolated island. Unexpectedly Pippa finds herself treasured and adored by Sven and is learning to love again. She is also entranced by the island life and its local inhabitants. Meanwhile, after their friend Terry reveals he is in a bizarre love triangle, Joan and Rob become close. I found the novel had too many points of view and the story was somewhat predictable. (LF)

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Goodbye Jimmy Choo - Annie Sanders (2004)

Bohemian copy editor Isabel Stock meets designer-clad interior designer Maddy Hoare at a ladies' lunch. Both are fish out of water, having moved to the countryside for their husbands' careers. Then when Maddie finds herself widowed, she uncovers her great-grandmother's book of French recipes for cosmetics and the women form a natural cosmetic company.

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Good-bye To All That - Margo Candela (2010)

Raquel is an executive assistant at the Belmore, a large media corporation. She has slaved away at her job and is close to being promoted to junior marketing executive when her boss suddenly suffers a nervous breakdown and takes an extended vacation. Raquel is left under the constant scrutiny of her interim boss. She tries desperately to keep her life and career goals on track as her hysterical and highly dysfunctional family creates complete chaos in her life. To further complicate her situation, Raquel starts sleeping with Kyle, the sexy new vice-president at Belmore. This is a funny story about a strong woman who sometimes makes very foolish mistakes but manages to keep her humour and spirit intact. (AO)

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Good Catch - Tracy Ann Lord (2011)

Maddie Chilton has worked incredibly hard to get the PR career she always wanted but now she unexpectedly finds herself being replaced by a younger version of herself. In order to get away from it all for a while, Maddie receives a trip to a location in Maine from her co-workers. However, instead of a relaxing stay at a luxurious spa, which would have been fitting, Maddie finds herself at a fishing camp in the middle of nowhere. At first, Maddie wants nothing more than run back to Miami but knowing she has nothing further to lose, she decides to give the fishing camp and its slightly strange inhabitants a chance. The basic plotline of this novel is one of the classics within the world of chick lit; a female from the city ends up in a place in the middle of nowhere, somewhere she at first thinks she doesn't belong, but she decides to give it, and the people she meets there, a chance after all. The location is an original one, though, namely a fishing camp. I have to admit, I wasn't too sure about this setting at first, but Tracy Ann Lord really managed to turn it into a fascinating and enjoyable story, and I ended up quite loving the idea of this fishing camp. Maddie is an interesting protagonist and I really enjoyed seeing her character develop throughout the novel. The mixed cast of secondary characters play a significant role in this and really added something to the plotline. I specifically warmed to handsome and slightly mysterious Cal and quirky cook Flo. The plotline is also more than just Maddie trying to survive a week at fishing camp and it had me captivated until the last page. (JoH)

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Good Enough to Eat - Stacey Ballis (2010)

After Melanie Hoffman loses half of her body weight, she leaves her job as a lawyer and opens a gourmet take-out cafe, bringing healthy and delicious foods to the masses. She is finally healthy, active and has never been happier. That is until her husband decides he liked her better when she was bigger and leaves her for her former best friend who, incidentally, is twice Melanie's size. With a group of truly eclectic and wonderful friends supporting her along the way, Melanie navigates through her new life as a thin, single businesswoman. Financial difficulties force her to take in a roommate, free-spirited Nadia, and she begins dating Nathan, a documentary filmmaker whom she meets on a trip to D.C. Even with all of the positive changes in her life, Melanie is still plagued by self-doubts about herself and her abilities, which provide for a rich story that could belong to any of the women I know just trying to make it through the day. Good Enough to Eat is the best book I've read in a long time. The dialogue is witty, the writing crisp, and the characters came to life the minute I started reading. The story is a fresh take on the classic chick lit genre, as Melanie tackles the issues she has with her business and relationships. I was completely hooked before I finished the first chapter and was truly sad when I finally came to the very satisfying end of the book. (LEK)

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Good Girls Gone Bad - Jillian Medoff (2002)

Actuary Janey Fabey joins group therapy with Dr Hensen because she keeps imagining how she would kill herself. There she meets Suzanna, aka The Dream Weaver, who prefers the company of her dog to men; Laura, who is a top performer in the one-night-stand Olympics; Bethany, a 40-year-old divorcee who still lives with her mother; Valentine, a fat woman who can't stop eating; Ivy, a southern belle addicted to cosmetic surgery; and Natasha, who fears germs. Together, the group help each other battle their personal problems but one day take it all too far.

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Good Grief - Lolly Winston (2004)

aka Sophie's Bakery for the Broken Hearted

What do you do when your husband dies three years into your happily-ever-after? If you are Sophie Stanton, you try to be the gracious young widow, carrying yourself with dignity and elegance. When that doesn't work out quite as planned, you have the requisite nervous breakdown. Once the grief subsides enough where you can get out of bed again, you take a long look at your life and begin to figure out what's next. Sophie packs up her house and her grief and heads north to Ashland, Oregon, to live with her best friend, Ruth. In the process of reinventing her life, she becomes a Big Sister to 13-year-old pyromaniac Crystal, befriends charming thespian Drew, and begins a new career in the pastry business, all of which lead to her comedic, chaotic and heartwarming path back to the rest of her life. Sophie's story is utterly delightful, heartfelt and uplifting. A true testament to what can happen when you are forced to examine what you want your life to be. (LEK)

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Good Husband Material - Trisha Ashley (2000)

Tish has found the perfect husband in James; good looking, a steady career, dependable and would make a great father. He is poles apart from her teenage sweetheart, Fergal, who broke her heart by leaving her to chase his dreams of becoming a famous rock star. Tish is a romantic novelist, whose books feature a leading man with more than just a leaning towards her first love. Her chauvinistic husband treats her success as little more than a hobby and would rather she dressed and behaved more conservatively. Tish finds her perfect cottage in the country and is convinced that this will be what it takes for James to want to start a family. Unfortunately a certain rock star also decides to move to the village and turns Tish's world upside down. This is a light frothy read, with a likeable heroine that you can't help rooting for. (EH)

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Good in Bed - Jennifer Weiner (2001)

Plus-sized culture reporter Cannie Shapiro is horrified when her ex-boyfriend Bruce writes a magazine column on the topic of Loving a Larger Woman. Amid the humiliation, Cannie decides it's time to change some things in her life. She joins a weight-loss program, gets stuck into writing a screenplay and befriends a Hollywood actress. And just as she decides she's better off without Bruce, he brings an unexpected complication into her life.

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Good Little Wives - Abby Drake (2007)

A murder mystery comes to New Falls when police find Kitty standing over the body of her ex-husband Vincent holding a smoking gun. Was this an act of revenge because she lost her social standing when he dumped her for a much younger woman, hairdresser Yolanda. But Kitty swears she didn't kill him and her friend Dana tries to help prove her innocence. Meanwhile Lauren, who is married to an older widower with a large family, admits to an affair with Vincent. Suddenly the finger of suspicion begins to point at the other trophy wives too, including committee queen Caroline who has quickly distanced herself from the case, and Bridget, who says she lied about her whereabouts to keep her illness a secret. When all the secrets are revealed will this also uncover the killer?

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Goodness Grace and Me - Julie Houston (2014)

When Harriet's husband, Nick, packs in his reliable job and embarks on a risky venture with a new business partner, she's distraught. Even more so when she discovers that said business partner is married to her old enemy, the charming and beautiful Amanda Goodners. When Amanda is sent out to Italy to work alongside Nick, Harriet is left struggling to cope with the household bills, her children and her mother-in-law, as well as the suspicion that Nick and Amanda are having an affair. With Harriet's best friend Grace beginning a relationship with Amanda's only son, and Harriet herself getting an unexpected surprise, will it all be too much for her to bear? This was a bit of a slow burner for me but as the plot developed it became a very entertaining read. There were enough unanticipated plot twists to keep me interested, and I was happy with the ending. A very promising debut. (LO)

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Goodness Gracious Green - Judy Christie (2010)

In this sequel to Gone to Green, Lois has just inherited the local newspaper in Green and is starting to make it a happening thing. However some people in the small close-knit community have reservations about change and soon Lois finds herself in a number of awful situations from arson attacks and vandalism and even finds herself being served. Lois also has problems in her personal life, from her best friend getting married to her ex-boyfriend and another friend dating her other ex. But a strength shines out of Lois as she continues to pray and persevere, knowing that no matter how hard things get, God is always there for you and will help you through anything. The title Goodness Gracious Green refers to the main character's over-use of the words "goodness gracious". (PP)

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Goodnight, Beautiful - Dorothy Koomson (2008)

Nova agreed to be a surrogate for her childhood friend Mal and his wife Stephanie. But during the pregnancy, Stephanie changes her mind and Nova is left to raise the baby, Leo, herself. Stephanie apparently panicked when she saw a text message from Mal to Nova, saying "goodnight, beautiful" and demanded that he cut all ties with Nova and the baby. Now with seven-year-old Leo in a coma, will his father finally return to their lives? And was that text message the only reason that fragile Stephanie feared having a baby in her life? Told from both Nova and Stephanie's viewpoints in a way that will keep readers on their toes, this tearjerker is the author's best yet.

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Goodnight Nobody - Jennifer Weiner (2006)

Kate Klein is a mother of three under five and is married to political consultant Ben. They move from New York to Connecticut after she is pram-mugged. Finding it hard to fit in, Kate is invited to lunch by Kitty Cavanaugh because they share 'an acquaintance'. But when she arrives, she discovers Kitty has been stabbed to death. Despite the warnings of the police chief and her husband to leave the crime-fighting to professionals, Kate launches an investigation - delving into Kitty's double life while the kids are at nursery school.

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Goodnight Tweetheart - Teresa Medeiros (2010)

Abigail Donovan has a lot on her mind. Her first and most important priority is getting herself back in writing form so that she can have another national bestseller. However, she's got a bad case of writing block that comes from having Oprah's stamp of approval on her first novel. Something that big happening with your debut novel is sure to make any author feel intimidated. Now, she is stuck on chapter five and going nowhere fast. After a disastrous attempt at a book signing - where no one showed up and Abigail found herself in a bunny costume reading to preschoolers - Abigail is at the end of her tether. Things seem at an all-time low until Abigail's publicist signs her up for Twitter, hoping that a following on the social networking site will increase her readership and also break her spell of writers block. Soon Abigail finds herself conversing via Twitter with a man named @MarkBanyard and they form an instant bond. He teaches her the ropes of Twitter and before she knows it she is feeling a little less blocked - in her writing and her personal life. Mark is a great influence and friend to Abigail and she feels like she should be out there living her life fearlessly like Mark. But is Mark all he seems or is he hiding something as well? Told mainly through tweets, this is a modern story of falling in love in the age of the internet and social networking. It's funny and witty but lacks that little bit of charm that a book needs to be really enjoyable. (AS)

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Go Small or Go Home - Heather Wardell (2010)

The two most important things in Tess Grayson's life are swimming and art. Though opportunities to turn these into professional careers have failed her time and time again, she has never once given up trying. When she is left jobless after the clinic she works at suddenly closes, Tess applies for a position with the Toronto Hogs as the massage therapist. But what she least expected is that she would be working for only one of the players - North American Hockey League star Forrest Williams. A car crash left him with not only a broken leg but a broken heart as well. Tess' art dreams appear to be within reach after Forrest introduces her to his art-gallery-owning mother. But as she takes on the role of healing both his physical pain and emotional wounds, Tess finds it harder to juggle her private life and job. (XT)

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Gossip - Ros Reines (2006)

Ros Reines worked as a gossip columnist for a Sydney newspaper so news of her debut novel had many wondering how much of it would be fiction. Her heroine, Venous Ventura, is a gossip columnist for the Sunday Observer. She enrols in an exclusive self-help course at Byron Bay at the behest of her boyfriend - former rock star Larry. Tagged The Bitch, she joins fellow guests, including her nemesis, fashion designer Ruby Star (Abusive) and football star Todd Straw (Unfaithful), in facing their demons. And of course Venous is not only determined to keep breaking celebrity stories, such as J.Lo's arrival in town, while she's on the retreat but she's also desperate to dish the dirt on Ruby's secret.

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Gossip - Beth Gutcheon (2012)

Lovie has two best friends from her time at boarding school, Avis and Dinah. They each have a great affection for Lovie but merely tolerate each other. They find themselves thrust together, however, with Lovie in the middle, when Avis' daughter and Dinah's son become engaged. What follows is a story of polar opposites coming together for the good of their children and the consequences of how we speak about others with each other, be it real or imagined, good or ill-intended. Gossip is one of those books that I had such high hopes for but which just didn't win me over in the end. I found the story to be somewhat disjointed, with bits and pieces of each woman's life thrown in randomly, as if for filler. I kept hoping something would tie everything together but never got that sense, even by the end. (LEK)

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Gossip Hound - Wendy Holden (2003)

Also known as Fame Fatale

Book publicist Grace Armiger can't get anyone interested in her collection of oddball authors. Her life at home with scruffy boyfriend Sion isn't much better and she's just had an inappropriate one-night stand with one of her writers. So when she is sent to Paris to liaise with film star Red Campion over his book, she thinks her life may be looking up. But ruthless tabloid reporter Belinda Black also has Red in her sights.

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Got You Back - Jane Fallon (2008)

When Stephanie discovers a suspicious message on her husband James' mobile, she tracks down the female caller and finds that he has been living a double life. He spends the early part of the week living with his girlfriend Katie in a rural town while he runs his vet practice, then the rest of the week in London with Stephanie and their son Finn. Stephanie convinces a shocked Katie not to tell James what they have uncovered - instead they join forces to make his life hell first. But then one starts taking the revenge a bit too far and James' life really starts falling apart. It'll keep you reading to find out whether revenge is indeed sweet but I would have preferred a bigger showdown or twist at the end.

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Grace Grows - Shelle Sumners (2013)

Grace is a New York textbook editor who lives with her older boyfriend Steven, a patent attorney. Despite being driven nuts by politically correct work requests, her life is going along smoothly. Then she meets aspiring singer-songwriter Tyler who is new to town and working as her neighbour's dog walker. The pair become friends - admittedly, Tyler would like it to be more than friends - and he tries to woo her with his heartfelt lyrics. Then Tyler's career takes off and their paths converge and diverge over time. This is a really sweet, endearing story which comes with its own soundtrack, from the author's husband. People who enjoy reading about complicated relationships will love the twists and turns of this one.

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Great-Aunt Sophia's Lessons For Bombshells - Lisa Cach (2012)

Grace Cavanaugh is planning on spending the summer writing her thesis for her PhD in women's studies, but when she gets a call from her lonely, frail aunt Sophia, saying that she needs some help after hip surgery, Grace decides to head to California and write her thesis there. However, "lonely" and "frail" aren't exactly words that would describe Sophia. Much to the surprise of Grace, who hasn't seen Sophia since she was 10, her great-aunt is surrounded by two very hunky men and a bevy of staff at her beck and call. She also lives in the luxurious area of Pebble Beach in a mansion and looks like she just stepped off of a film set. Grace can remember that her great-aunt was a 1940s B-list movie actress, but didn't realise she was so wealthy. While she's a bit deterred at first by the opulence of Sophia's lifestyle, she decides to stick it out and see what the summer has in store. Unfortunately for Grace, things are not going to be at all as she planned. There will be no baggy shirts or Capri khaki pants while Sophia is present. Instead, there will be lessons on looking beautiful and wearing gorgeous clothes that make Grace feel feminine and attractive. But while it all may seem innocent enough, you've got to wonder what Sophia will get out of Grace's makeover. She's definitely not doing it out of the kindness of her heart. Both Grace and Sophia are charming characters who will lie and manipulate to get what they want. For Grace, this is a learned trait and luckily, she has two gorgeous men to practise on: the local architect, Declan, who oozes sex appeal and has no problem pushing Grace to her limits and the bookish, but cute, Dr Andrew, who worries too much and doesn't show his emotions well. While the book may appear to be about learning to be a "bombshell", don't be fooled into thinking it'll be all lesson plans and boring chats. Sophia is actually transforming her niece into a sex kitten, who eats, drinks and sleeps with sex on her mind. It's a little straight forward at times and there's definitely more sex on the pages than expected, but overall you can't help but love Sophia for transforming Grace into something she was meant to be. This is definitely a must-read and will captivate you right from page one! (AS)

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Greek: Double Date - Marsha Warner (2010)

Casey agrees to go to an engineering awards dinner with her brother's geeky roommate, Dale, who couldn't get a date himself. Her only comfort lies in the fact that she has a hot date with Rob to the All Greek formal the next day. Only due to unforeseen food poisoning, the dates change and both events happen on the same night, making Casey chose between the two, or be forced to go on a double date. With Casey's ex Cappie never far from her mind either, she wonders just exactly who might capture her heart by the end of the night. Greek really is a guilty pleasure, if you like watching it on TV, then you'll probably like the book too. It's an easy read and is much like watching an episode. So much so that you get a bit disappointed at the ending, as of course, like a TV episode, it leaves it wide open for the next instalment. (AB)

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Groundswell - Katie Lee (2011)

Emma Guthrie was glad to be out of Kentucky and living in New York with her best friend, Lily. However, things go a bit sour when she loses her college scholarship. She's devastated but decides not to tell her family for fear of them assuming she is a failure. After applying for numerous PA positions and hearing nothing back, she is ecstatic to receive a job offer on one of the hottest movie sets around. Yes, the hours are gruelling and the work slave-like, but it's still amazing to see how things work behind the scenes, especially for an aspiring screenwriter like Emma. As an added bonus, Emma soon gets the attention of Hollywood's biggest movie star, Garrett Walker. Though the other PAs warn her that he is a womaniser and he tends to go for the new girls on set, Emma finds herself falling for his charms. Before she knows it, she is embarking on a whirlwind romance with the actor that every girl dreams about. When he asks her to marry him, Emma feels like she has finally found her perfect match, despite him being 16 years her senior. Over the next seven years, everything is bliss. Their relationship is great, and Emma is living the high life of awards shows, velvet ropes and excruciatingly high heels. She's even managed to write a screenplay which was turned into a summer blockbuster. But that is all about to change when Emma and Garrett attend the Met Gala. Emma has accidentally grabbed Garrett's iPhone in her rush out the door, so when Garrett receives a text from another woman asking him to meet her in the auditorium, Emma knows something is up. She's not prepared for what she finds though, and that one text destroys her entire world. What is a girl to do when your marriage isn't what you thought and you're married to an international celebrity? In Emma's case, the answer is to take off to a secluded location where she can be alone and think, instead of being hounded by the paparazzi. Mexico is her desired spot to relax and evaluate her life, but somehow Emma finds she is drawn to the calming waves of the ocean - and the gorgeous surfer who is surfing them every morning. Can Emma find love again, in a place she least expects it or will it all lead her to another heartbreak? This is a compelling debut by a celebrity author, the former Mrs Billy Joel who has forged a career as a television chef. It's told in a way that makes you feel bad for both Emma and Garrett - even though he is the villain in the story. Definitely exceeding expectations, it's a fun and frothy summer beach read. (AS)

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Growing Up Again - Catriona McCloud (2007)

Janie Lawson tells her husband Ludo that she is leaving him after 14 years of marriage. The next morning she wakes up back in her childhood room and finds it's 1981 and she's a teenager again. It may be too late to save Elvis but Janie decides to warn Princess Diana and prevent many of the world's tragedies. Janie also welcomes a second chance in her personal life. For one, maybe she can help her parents find their bliss. Oh and she could be nicer to that geeky classmate Danny, invest in some sure-thing shares and devise the odd ratings-winning TV show. But most of all Janie wants to do things differently with Ludo. Soon Janie realises that even second time around, nothing is guaranteed. The explanation of how and why Janie has time travelled is not really explained satisfactorily (but then again this isn't sci-fi), and as a teen of the 80s I'd have liked to have seen more 80s cultural references. But don't miss out on reading this - unlike Janie, you may not get a second chance.

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Growing Up Twice - Rowan Coleman (2002)

Jenny, Rosie and Selin grew up together, getting dressed up for Friday nights, drinking too much and talking about boys. Now approaching their 30s, Jenny realises much hasn't changed over the past decade. She is still in her dead-end office job, still drinking too much and she's even got her eye on a wholly inappropriate boy, 18-year-old Michael. Then Rosie announces she's pregnant as Selin, the responsible one, increasingly draws away from them. Jenny realises it's time for her to grow up but it may just take a tragedy for this to happen.

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Guerrillas in our Midst - Claire Peate (2011)

Edda's going through a divorce, or at least it feels that way when her best friend gets pregnant and starts house hunting in Surrey. After creating a skip garden, she gets invited into a top-secret guerrilla gardening society, where she meets Guy, the charming artist, and Eustice, the local estate agent. Edda soon realises the gardening isn't the only change in the Brockley area, and she soon begins to wonder if the Brockley Spades has a secret agenda. With the aid of her new housemate Robert and Babs, the font of all local knowledge, Edda attempts to uncover the truth. Colourful characters and a good bit of mystery make this a very easy and enjoyable read. (AB)

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Gucci Mamas - Cate Kendall (2007)

If you think that superficial breed of status-obsessed yummy mummy is native only to Manhattan and London, then think again. In Melbourne, Mim Woolcott sends her children to a prestigious private school, where it is mandatory for the mums to keep up with the latest fashions, drive an expensive car, attend charity events and bitch about who gets the biggest photo in the social pages. But big cracks are appearing in Mim's picture-perfect life. Husband James is working ever longer hours but even his big salary can't keep pace with the family's spending - plus he's wondering what's happened to the laid-back woman he married. And it seems Mim is not the only school mum with problems on her gold-rimmed plate. A timely message about the perils of living in a materialistic world amid lots of label name-dropping and catty behaviour.

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Guilty Pleasures - Tasmina Perry (2008)

Cassandra, editor of Rive magazine, has been waiting for the chance to boost her fame and fortune for years. She has believed that her uncle Saul Milford would leave his luxury goods company to her. So when he dies and leaves it to her cousin Emma, she is furious and starts to scheme to have her fail. Emma left England long ago, and had no desire to inherit the company. But now she wants to prove her family wrong and make the business succeed. Or will she have to give the company to the one person she has been trying to live up to her whole life? Tasmina Perry really sucks you into the fictional lives she creates. (CG)

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Gym and Slimline - Emma Burstall (2008)

Four women become friends through sharing the same London gym. There's Percy who is gambling with her family's future through her addiction to online poker and her attraction to her personal trainer. Patrice would love another child but her controlling lawyer husband Jonty simply isn't interested in sex. Interior decorator Carmen also wants a baby but her often-absent boyfriend Simon doesn't want to wreck their easy lifestyle. And Suzanne already has four children who are looked after by her younger house-husband Justin while she forges a successful corporate career. As the women stretch and flex their bodies, several relationships will be tested to breaking point.

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