One Thing Led to Another by Katy Regan

One Thing Led to Another

by Katy Regan

A smart, punchy, poignant and achingly funny debut based on Katy Regan’s hugely popular Marie Claire column And then there were three…sort of

Tess Jarvis’ rules for life have always been somewhat
relaxed…

1.Never go to bed before your last guest has left
Tess and Gina's flat has a jacuzzi so it's the obvious location for a party … every night

2.Make great friends and keep them close
Thought not actually in your bed.Tess and Jim’s claims that they are ‘just good friends’ has everyone’s eyes rolling.

3.Look on the bright side of life
After all it could be so much worse.Tess’s job interviewing the nation’s catastrophes proves this every day.

4.Don’t wait for the weekend to wear your fancy knickers
Although be warned, this can lead to all manner of messes…
Tess has always been one to wing it but she’s fast realizing that her bank of blag is running out of funds. At 28, is it time to grow up? Maybe having a baby with your best friend isn't the best way to start…

Reviewed by Leah on

4 of 5 stars

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One Thing Led To Another is Katy Regan’s debut novel. One Thing Led To Another is based loosely on Katy’s own experience of having a baby with a friend. It tells the story of Tessa and Jim who are friends who occassionally sleep together. Unfortunately Tess ends up pregnant and the story begins….

I really enjoyed One Thing Led To Another. Usually when books say they are hilariously funny they usually aren’t but One Thing Led To Another had me laughing out loud a few times. I thought the plot was new and unique compared to other chick lit books and thought Katy’s execution and writing style was brilliant.

I loved Tess and Jim’s easy friendship. I felt they complemented each other as well as being able to take the mickey out of each other. I thought Tess was a well-written character and I enjoyed the easiness of the first person narrative. I also liked the way Jim wanted to be a father even if it was a total surprise. I also liked how Katy portrayed Tess and Jim’s relationship. It was real and Katy kept us guessing throughout the entire novel. One of the characters said they were like Ross & Rachel on Friends and that’s exactly – EXACTLY – what they were like.

I enjoyed all of the minor characters, too. Vicky and Gina, Tess and Jim’s other best friends, I liked how they each had their own troubles and managed to resolve them. Tess’ mum and dad, it was great to read about a father and daughter who are incredibly close. Then there’s Laurence who was quite irritating. I knew there was more to him that met the eye.

I thought Katy wrote about Tess’ pregnancy very well and found the novel just kept going along at a briliant pace. The ending was brilliant and for the last few chapters I was rushing to finish it to see if just maybe we would get the ending I was hoping for!

That’s where the novel differs from Katy’s experience, the ending but I’m not complaining!

I also enjoyed the paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter telling us about other women and their experiences of having a baby.

It was definitely an enjoyable and engaging debut and I sincerley hope Katy Regan is writing a second novel.

Rating: 5/5

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  • 30 August, 2009: Reviewed