Always The Bridesmaid (Lindsey Kelk)
Maddie Fraser is an assistant events organiser, a job she has been in for 10 years and loves, but unfortunately she is working under the boss from hell who puts her down at every opportunity, making Maddie doubt her skills and stopping her from progressing. Maddie’s personal life is just as bad as her ex-boyfriend has a baby with the girl he cheated on her with on the same day that Lauren, one of her best friends, announces her engagement and her other best friend Sarah announces her divorce. Maddie is forced in the middle of her two friends making sure both are happy as well as keeping on top of her work and coming to terms with the end of her relationship. Luckily the handsome Will arrives to help take some of the stress away but is he all as he seems..?
I’ve heard a lot of good things about the author Lindsey Kelk, she is hailed as the Queen of the Chick Lit and comes highly recommended so I had high expectations for her newest release Always the Bridesmaid. Now don’t get me wrong I really liked this book, but maybe I was expecting too much as it didn’t feel any different from all the other chick lit’s I’ve read before. It certainly wasn’t ‘hilarious’ as a lot of the reviews stated but there were a few chuckles along the way. It’s still a great book though, the storyline is excellent and you really feel like you know and understand Maddie, although I don’t think I would have been quite so patient with the way that Maddie lets Lauren talk to her!
The relationship between the three friends is typical of all girl groups, there is inner bitching and secrets between the three but ultimately they are there for each other unconditionally. There is a lot you can relate to within the friendship group and one highlight is when the three go out for Lauren’s hen-night and have a deep and very drunk conversation in the toilets – something which we have all definitely done before!
As well as dealing with her friends, Maddie has to suffer under her boss Shona, who is by all means a complete bitch. When HR suggests she applies for a new promotion Maddie doesn’t hesitate but Shona goes to extreme lengths to make sure that she won’t get it. Shona is a character that you will completely hate, Lindsey has done a great job with her as every book needs a good antagonist!
Overall I would recommend this book, it’s a great read with some brilliant characters and a few funny moments. Lindsey Kelk is definitely very good at this genre but I’m not sure she’s the ‘Queen’. Maybe I just have to read a few more of hers to understand the hype around her!
