Review of 'Do You Want To Know a Secret', a novel by Claudia Carroll.

==The Book==

I am reviewing the paperback version of this book, 480 pages, published by Transworld Ireland, ISBN 978-1848270244, cover price £6.99.
Genre:- Modern Fiction (i.e. Chick-lit!).


==The Plot==

Vicky Harper is a thirty something successful woman. In spite of her outwardly successful life, Vicky is in turmoil as she is still single and every man she dates seems to let her down. Vicky owns a bijou house which she is in the process of renovating, however thanks to her builder, known as 'Useless Builder', her house is more like a bomb-site.

Vicky has two very close friends, Barbara, an out of work actress and Laura, a former lawyer who is now a stay at home single mother of 4. Laura's husband, who is always referred to by his full name, George Hastings, has left Laura for a newer model.

The three women decide to treat each others problems as a project and embark on a plan to re-vamp Barbara's acting career, find a man for Vicky and a way for Laura to earn some money and feel fulfilled again. In the course of their project, the women discover an old book called 'The Law of Attraction'. The book is a kind of self-help guide based on positive thinking. All three realise that negativity has been at the root of many of their problems and throw themselves whole-heartedly into improving their lot.

Do they succeed? No spoilers here, you'll have to read the novel to find out!

==About the Author==

Author Claudia Carroll was born in Dublin, and she still lives in the area. Claudia is also an actress, probably best known for her role as TV's Nicola Prendergast in the long running Dublin soap opera, 'Fair City.'

Her first novel was published in 2004 and she has gone on to pen a total of 9 novels. Claudia's books are all based in Ireland and of the chick-lit genre.

==My Thoughts and Conclusion==

I was given this novel by a relative, a fellow book worm. To be honest, if I had seen this in a bookshop, I probably wouldn't have bought it as the blurb is read rather too 'fluffy' to really appeal to me. I don't mind a light novel now and again, but this really did sound a bit like a True Romance special!

I was not familiar with Claudia Carroll's novels, so had no preconceived expectations before reading the book. At the moment, there are a great many female authors from Ireland producing some excellent novels, and it was with this in mind that I decided to give Do You Want To Know A Secret a chance.

When I began reading this novel I quickly realised that although the theme is the typical fluffy, romantic chick-lit fodder, the novel is well written and the emotional connection between the three friends is so well described, that I felt I actually knew them. The characters are superbly drawn and I found myself warming to Laura in particular, especially when she was struggling with her rowing children, she actually reminded me of my own daughter and the way she deals with her stroppy 12 year old! The main character, Vicky, was likeable enough, however, I have to admit that I found the actress, Barbara, rather irritating.

I considered the humour within the dialogue amusing and I felt that it added more realism and depth to the characters.

On a negative point, in my opinion, the plot itself is not a strong one, it is a little predictable in places and the outcome was just as I had suspected as early as the third chapter, that it would be. That said, Do You Want To Know A Secret, is a light-hearted novel, ideal holiday reading and as such, it is worth a read.

I am awarding this novel a 4* rating.

Thank you for reading.

©brittle1906 September 2011


N.B. My reviews may be found on other sites under the same name.