I came across The Finishing Touches whilst browsing the Tesco bookshelves, looking for nothing in particular. This immediately jumped out at me, mostly because it's all pretty and pink! The front cover is decorated with various girly items and swirly text.

The story revolves around Betsy Tallimore and the Tallimore academy. Betsy was abandoned on the step of the Tallimore Academy as a young baby, with the note "Please look after her. I want her to grow up a proper lady". This of course, earned her the name Orphan Annie amongst the girls of the Academy. Betsy was adopted by Lord and Lady Tallimore. After Lady Frances Tallimore's death, the school began to fall into disrepair. It's courses were outdated and didn't fit in with modern society and the aspirations of the girls. At Frannie's funeral, Lord Tallimore asks Betsy to provide a consultation in order to try and keep the Academy going. The problem is, she needs to get through a headteacher who still feels that girls need to be well versed in flower arranging, making swans out of napkins and all sorts; and a bursar who keeps a tight control of the purse strings... mainly because there's not much in there! Can she succeed?

This book was absolutely brilliant. I wasn't expected to be transfixed throughout, I think I put it down once, pretty much under force! I really like the idea of the plot. Although I'm not against private schools, I'm definitely a feminist and rather think the idea of females growing up to have the idea that they are destined for a future not of their own choosing to be rather a shame.

The development of Betsy as a character is brilliant, she really comes to know what she wants through the story, she is determined to make a success of the academy and that determination really intrigued me. She's a hard working young woman, determined and intelligent to boot (bringing her maths degree to the table). The whole story is told with an outside view of finishing schools as being out of place in society and this is illustrated by the descriptions of the girls who attend.

Throughout the whole story, I just wanted Betsy to succeed and make the Academy relevant to modern society. I rather enjoyed the words of wisdom from Frannie which punctuated the book. I found them rather interesting even though I have absolutely no chance of ever being a polished, finished lady!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who fancies a bit of chick lit! I picked this up in Tesco for £3.77 and it was completely worth it!