Something Up With Which I Will Not Put

Can You Keep a Secret is the first Sophie Kinsella book I've read, although I am aware of the Shopaholic series, and have always intended to read at least one.

I read this one namely because a friend lent it to me and promised me a quick, fun read. That's exactly what I got. The book is fun to read - and a little irresistable, as my getting-to-sleep-at-God-knows-what-time last night will attest. Yes, I finished the book in one sitting.

Most of the time, this book feels very much like another Bridget Jones' Diary, which is not necessarily bad. It does mean, however, that predictability is an issue - it's really easy to see what's coming in the next chapter, not to mention how it will all end. Of course, knowing what's going to happen doesn't change the fact that you want to see it happen.

There are a couple of great characters in the novel, although the main character is not necessarily one of them. Emma, our heroine, is very much a Bridget Jones clone, albeit skinnier. Her roommates are fun sketches, though, and her coworkers are nicely awful.

There are moments of hilarity, many of them contingent on variations on the "how will she get herself out of this scrape-that-is-not-at-all-her-fault" theme. What surprised me were the moments of emotion. I felt tears well up more than once while I read this book, although I am willing to admit that tiredness may have been a factor.

Recommended, especially if you enjoyed the Bridget Jones books or movies.