You Have A New Message (Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City - Holly Denham)

Member Name: topsyturvy

Product:	Holly's Inbox: Scandal in the City - Holly Denham
Date:	12/05/09 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good characters, unusual

Disadvantages: -

I love getting into a good book and am always looking at the newest releases to see what the latest chick lit offerings are. A year on and I am reviewing the second novel following on from Holly's Inbox after the popular success. I actually purchased this in September once back from my travels as I had been anxiously awaiting its release but once uni started I was 150 pages in and then bombarded with uni work giving me no free time until recently. I picked up the book again starting from page 1 to refresh my memory and made it my mission to read this consistently from start to finish.

Holly's Inbox to remind those unfamiliar started over a web craze with the website hollysinbox.com launching early 2007. It had worldwide visitors logging on to read Holly's e-mails following the life of Holly Denham a city bank receptionist living in London as she goes through her day to day life gossiping with her friends, dealing with office enemies and coping with her love life. Similar to Bridget Jones except Holly is as real as it gets instead of being a fictional female mascot created in the mind of an author.

I love the cover of this book, it is very eye-catching and girly and as said before a cover is usually why I pick up books regardless of the well known saying. It has the London city skyline in black and pink in a very illustrative manner decorating the bottom. It then has fancy text with glitter through it, making the cover sparkly. It is a plain white background but has an overall sophisticated look to it and also comes across as a fun read which I can assure you that it is.

Last night I opened the front cover and instantly fell back into Holly's life right away with the first e-mail being a reminder to herself. This follows on from the first book so it might be useful to read that first to understand the characters but I'm sure you could get the gist even if not familiar. The book is written in e-mails and is sectioned in weeks and months. Basically Holly works for DK Huerst as an investment bank receptionist in the high class area of Canary Wharf. Her mother wants her to be in a better job always e-mailing job options and comes across funny but very concerned about her daughter.

Holly is going out with Toby, her high school boyfriend with whom she split up with but who then came to work for DK Huerst making the spark come alive again and at the end of the previous novel they became and official couple. In this instalment she is now living with Toby but just when Holly thinks things are going well problems come up making their relationship less than perfect leaving Holly confused with what to do to bring back the spark. Toby is constantly working late nights and going off to France, arousing Holly's suspicions.

Next, we have Trisha, Holly's colleague and good friend on reception. They probably e-mail most with gossip as Trisha acts like a mother figure, protecting Holly from the office drama. Trisha is senior and she has been at reception longer but does not wish to manage reception, Holly soon gets word of a possible managerial position at reception which would get her more money as debt management are constantly e-mailing her. Next, are the reception team: Marie, works downstairs on the switchboard, Claire is the homosexual but simple one and Aisha the newly joined member completes the team. They constantly e-mail each other finding out the latest new, helping each other personally and come across more as a big group of friends rather than a team of receptionists in a bank.

Jason is Holly's best friend, a gay man but hilarious always helping her with work advice and man problems. He is a hotel receptionist full of fun and always partying. He looks after Holly but is one of my favourite characters providing most of the laughs. Aisha is the other best friend, bit of a party girl who loves the men and provides outrageous stories but also comes across as loveable and is also a good friend to Holly. She used to work with Jason but Holly gets her into DK Huerst to join the reception team.

The family of Holly consist of brother Charlie, who is in prison and isn't in contact so much. Alice is her sister who is always updating on family news and then there's the granny who is another favourite of mine. She is in Spain but seems like and adventurous old woman still being a bit naughty going on trips, missing Britain but still finding out what's new with her grand daughter.

Lastly, there are the colleagues at DK Huerst, a newcomer Tanya Mason who turns into Holly's enemy making constant digs at her as if she is not capable of doing her ob. She runs catering but wants to be manager of reception but also fancies Toby making her have a few reasons to have it in for Holly. She is the office irritation and none of the reception team like her, her e-mails are always rude as if she owns the place.

William Duncan is an employee who keeps e-mailing Holly with flirtatious messages, persistent in asking her out. They are quite funny as he does try hard but he knows Holly is with Toby. Lastly, there is Richard Mosley who is her manager, offering any problems, meetings and promotions in e-mails. He gives feedback and is in charge but is also quite friendly.

I read this book in less than 24 hours. I just couldn't put it down it was just as addictive as the first. The e-mails make the reader feel like they are eavesdropping on someone's life. It is a funny read which does have an actual plot and although told in e-mail form, it does actually read well to narrate what exactly is going on so that the story is in fact clear.

I recommend this book to absolutely anyone looking for a summer read or anyone bored who wants to step into the shoes of Holly Denham for a day. It is interesting, hard to put down as you want to know what is happening next. The characters are all very down to earth and relatable which is probably why it is such a success. I don't know if anymore books are being written but I'd love to read another, these are worth the money.

Scandal in the City can be purchased on Amazon, which is where I got mine for £5.99 with free delivery. If that's too much check your local library or look on eBay.

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