Lust Over A Sperm Sample (Good at Games - Jill Mansell)

Member Name: jools30

Product:	Good at Games - Jill Mansell
Date:	26/09/02 (233 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: easy to read

Disadvantages: none

Suzy Curtis has it all – a job she loves, a red Rolls Royce, a ravishing rock-star ex-husband and a dysfunctional family. She also has a love life that is extremely lacking at the present time.

But then she meets Harry Fitzallan and falls instantly in love. Of course it doesn’t help that he’s a policeman stopping her brother from speeding and she is showing him her husband’s sperm sample. Although, of course, it isn’t her husbands (she’s not married at the present time) and it’s not really a sperm sample but the dregs from a strawberry milkshake. But he doesn’t know that – yet! And of course, it’s not really love, but just a healthy dose of lust!

And then Harry’s brother Leo enters the scene and throws matters into confusion. Not to mention the half-sister that Suzy never knew existed, but who turns up at her mother’s funeral. And who, coincidentally, happens to be Harry’s best friend from childhood.

And just throw in the mix Suzy’s workaholic brother and her prim and proper sister. Plus the alcoholic rock-star ex-husband, his first wife (who lives in the same building as Suzy) and his current girlfriend. And for good measure what about an eccentric Irish housekeeper and Leo’s perfect fiancée. And a shaggy dog! This mix of characters all lends itself to a chaotic blend of life, love, friendship and fun. Plus an act of heroism that adds a touch more confusion. Oh, and the odd bit of sex, of course!

Despite the mix of characters, the author manages to bring them all to life in such a way that you really do care what happens to them. I laughed when they laughed and felt for them when things went wrong. Suzy – the main character – is a good time girl who wants everything in life but finds things never quite go the way she planned! Her desire to help people out lands her in all sorts of difficult situations, yet she somehow manages to
work her way through them. Introducing the unknown half-sister early on in the book brings another dimension to Suzy and the developing relationship is handled with sensitivity.

The male characters are all well written and likeable – the solid policeman and his older brother who has always been more successful. The determination from Harry to, just for once, outdo his brother adds a nice touch of rivalry into the story.

The female characters are all different, but all pretty strong-minded in their own ways. Their particular traits are all well observed and they all have their strong and weak points.

Some of the characters are fairly stereotypical – particularly Celeste, the current girlfriend of Jaz (Suzy’s ex-husband). She is the typical rock star groupie only out for what she can get and any publicity that is available. Yet despite this, I found myself quite liking her and admiring her strong-willed nature in continuing the charade she has built for herself.

This is the second of Jill Mansell’s novels that I have read and I shall be going back for more! Her style of writing is light-hearted, yet she handles difficult subjects sensitively. The pace doesn’t let up from beginning to end and I found myself completely absorbed in it.

This book is a perfect summer holiday read – light-hearted and full of fun and frivolity. Some might call it froth, but sometimes that is just what is needed! It is also slightly predictable (as most of these types of book are!) but that still didn’t spoil the enjoyment for me – working out how all the characters will get to the predictable ending is half the fun!

At 502 pages, it may seem long, but once I got started I couldn’t stop reading. I had originally bought this book (at the bargain price of £1 from Ebay – normal price £5.99) to take on holiday, but couldn’t resist reading it before I went! The other Jill Mansell
book I bought at the same time is now strictly out of bounds till I go!

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