The Love Shack - Jane Costello

The Love Shack by Jane Costello
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Life's great when you're 29 years old with a gorgeous girlfriend and fulfilling job. Until you have to move back in with your mum . . .

Dan and Gemma have found their dream first home, but the asking price is the stuff of nightmares. The only way they'll ever save enough for the deposit is by moving in, rent-free, with Dan's mum.

It's a desperate solution, but it's only for six months. And Gemma's determined to 
make it work, no matter how bad things get.

But between Dan's mum's kitchen karaoke, her constant innuendos, irrepressible argumentative streak and - worst of all - her ham and pineapple curries, life back at home would test the patience of two saints. Which Dan and Gemma most definitely are not. 

Then, as they're trying to convince themselves it will all be worth it, Gemma's past comes back to haunt her. And suddenly the foundations of their entire relationship are shaken to their core…


I love Jane Costello's books, they all have humour and are very real at the same time. This latest is no exception. It is light and easy to read, I even managed to read this during the week while I have been working. This is good going for me as I am normally too tired and can only manage a couple of pages these days. This goes to show you what a fabulous and quick read this book is. The story just flows and is told incredibly well.

Gemma and Dan have been together for a while, they are currently living in rented accommodation and decide that the time has come to buy their first home together. As they begin to go to lots of viewings Gemma becomes a little disheartened. All the properties they visit are not suitable for them, they maybe within their budget but they are just not what Gemma and Dan are looking for. After many months of searching for the right place. Pebble Cottage comes on the market and Gemma and Dan love it. There is a slight problem and that is it is a little over budget. Gemma thinks that if they were to move in with Dan's mum, within a couple of months they would have enough money and would be able to make on offer. Dan is skeptical about this plan, but he can see this is what will make Gemma happy so agrees that this is the best option. But is it?

As someone who is married and currently lives at home with my husband and my parents I could completely connect to how Gemma and Dan were feeling at times. It is not always plain sailing but it can also work, as they found out. I think this is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much as small aspects of the living arrangements were so true and close to home.

I don't want to say too much about this book as I don't want to spoil it for anyone. It is a brilliant read this spring especially if you can relate to the story line. At times I was laughing out loud at Belinda's antics and I could feel sorry for Dan and Gemma. I just had to keep everything crossed that in the end they would all get what they wanted.

I loved the way the story was told from both Dan and Gemma's perspective and I think this gave the story more depth to it. I also loved the side stories with Dan's mother, Dan and his dad, Gemma and Alex and also Rich the estate agent. All characters were well developed and had their own personalities that shined through.

I cannot say too much as I really don't want to give it away but I don't think I can actually do this book justice with my review it is just one you have to read! I think this will become a firm favourite on your bookshelf, I know it will on mine.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

The Mini Break by Jane Costello

The Mini Break by Jane Costello
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Sophie's friend Anisha is sent on her first foreign trip in her job at a travel agency - and gets to take Sophie with her - she jumps at the chance of some time away.

But what Sophie doesn't realise is that there is a catch - a rather large catch. The five-star hotel is also a world-renowned golf resort. And its owners have offered the holiday on the basis of the girls' golfing prowess. Of which they possess quite literally none...

I was really looking forward to reading this short story. Unfortunately for me this was just to short. I do love short stories as they allow you to dip into a world in between doing everything that your busy life entails. But I felt that it was rushed in places and I didn't feel I really got to know the characters.

This is about two girls who need a holiday. They end up on a golfing holiday, which is not great considering neither one of them know how to play. They spend their time dodging James the guy who is looking after them during their stay.

This is amusing and fun, just a little short to be able to really get into it. Most of the book is actually made up of a 'taster' of Jane's current novel, which I have already read, I feel this could have perhaps been at the end of a book; rather than sold separately.

The Time of Our Lives - Jane Costello

The Time of Our Lives by Jane Costello
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

'Three best friends. One five-star hotel. Will it be the holiday of a lifetime . . .? 

Imogen and her friends Meredith and Nicola have had their fill of budget holidays, cattle-class flights and 6 a.m. offensives for a space by the pool.

So when Meredith wins a VIP holiday at Barcelona's hippest new hotel, they plan to sip champagne with the jet set, party with the glitterati and switch off in unapologetic luxury.

But when the worst crisis of her working life erupts back home, Imogen has to juggle her BlackBerry with a Manhattan, while soothing a hysterical boss and hunting down an AWOL assistant. 

Between a robbery, a run-in with hotel security staff and an encounter on a nudist beach that they'd all rather forget, the friends stumble from one disaster to the next. At least Imogen has a distraction in the form of the gorgeous guy who's always in the right place at the very worst time. Until, that is, his motives start to arouse a few suspicions . . . 

Hilarious and heart-warming by turns, The Time of Our Lives is Jane Costello at her romantic best.'



Jane Costello is a lovely fluid writer, the words just glide seamlessly over the pages making reading her novels a truly effortless experience. She has a good sense of wit and ingenuity making all her characters believable and identifiable. Love her humour; one of the best writers for me of enjoyable funny novels is Sophie Kinsella and having read all her novels I truly believed no one would come close to the connection she has with readers; Jane Costello is the exception.

I managed to read this book in record time given that I am not on holiday sitting by a pool I read it in 3 days which is by my standards of evenings and weekends quite a feat. The story is basically about three friends, very different and individual; they have holidayed in the past together on budget cheap holidays, had to rough it but had fun together
so when one of the trio wins a competition for a luxury holiday in Barcelona they jump at the chance to have a week of luxury together. Since their last holiday together years previously the girls lives have moved on, Imogen has a daughter Florence who is just about to start school, Meredith is 7 months pregnant with her first child and Nicky is battling her own problems of getting her parents to accept her partner Jessica is in her life for good. Add to the mix a very sexy Journalist Harry, a boss with impossibly hilarious situations like when Imogen goes into a pharmacist and buys what she thinks is foot cream and it turns out to be Thrush cream and you begin to get a flavour of this wacky funny read.

There are some really poignant parts to this novel, deeper insights into the sometimes sad character of Imogen and all she has had to go through in her life but it is essentially a celebration of friendship, new beginnings and happy endings. Like all chick lit novels this is predictable in that it always works out well in the end for all the characters and you know that this will happen but it is such fun getting to that part and I was genuinely sad that I had come to the end.

I did laugh out loud with this novel; there are some really great one liners and Imogen's character shines through all the way, I found myself wanting it all to come right for her and for her to get what she deserved.

I could easily see this book being turned into a very successful film, engaging, funny, endearing characters, so many laughs that it leaves you with tears in your eyes and a feel good factor - lovely anytime read and thoroughly recommended.

This ranks with the best chick lits and I would easily give this novel a 4.5 stars - read it you won't be disappointed!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me this wonderful book to read.