The way the main character, Annie, speaks was just downright annoying. All the "babes" and "darlin"s that kept popping up drove me crazy. I wanted to slap her! And I just could not believe how quickly she capitulated, or furthered her relationships - seemed unrealistic. Annie was flawed, and not in a particularly interesting or compelling way.

Underneath the annoying characterization, the premise of the story wasn't bad. I didn't see the twist coming at all, and I did like the main love interest (the one she ends up with at the end). The other characters in this book were much better written (Annie's children in particular).

But, I never really felt compelled to keep reading - I didn't look forward to reading this. Picking up this book was a little like a chore, and once I was halfway through, I was reading just to finish it, not because it was really, really good.

Overall impression: Could have been better!



Sammie (United Kingdom) (2009/02/11):
What the book says on the back:

"Meet Annie Valentine: stylish, savvy, multi-tasker extraordinaire.

As a personal shopper in a swanky London fashion store, Annie can re-style and re-invent her clients from head to toe. In fact, this super-skilled dresser can be relied on to solve everyone's problems...except her own.

Although she's a busy single mum to stroppy teen Lana and painfully shy Owen, there's a gap in Annie's wardrobe - sorry, life - for a new man. But finding the perfect partner is turning out to be so much trickier than finding the perfect pair of shoes.

Can she source a genuine classic? A lifelong investment? Will she end up with a mistake from the sale rail, who'll have to be returned? Or maybe, there'll be someone new in this season who could be the one..."



funsizenic (Hong Kong) (2010/02/27):
This was a great easy read - enjoyable holiday/beach/rainy day book.