The Single Girl’s To-Do List

by Lindsey Kelk

[Leah]

I must admit, prior to reading The Single Girl’s To Do List I haven’t been the biggest Lindsey Kelk fan. I enjoy her writing style, it’s incredibly quick, but I thought the two I Heart novels I read (New York & Hollywood) were filled to the absolute brim with cliche after cliche. They were paint by numbers stories as far as I was concerned, and I wanted a bit more ‘oomph’ to them. However I downloaded Lindsey’s exclusive short story Jenny Lopez Has A Bad Week and I loved it and when I heard Lindsey was writing a stand-alone novel I was looking forward to reading it and when I received a copy to review I was thrilled. I settled down to read it on bank holiday Monday and I absolutely loved it.

The Single Girl’s To Do List is probably just as light a read as I Heart New York (and Hollywood and undoubtedly Paris) was. But for me, there’s a big difference: the idea of the novel is different and not something I’ve read before and the characters are infinitely better. There’s a very small part of me that wonders if everything that happens throughout The Single Girl’s To Do List can really happen in two weeks as that’s the general time-frame of the book. But rather than overly question it and ruin the novel for myself, I instead ran with it and found myself very entertained. I hitched myself to its pages and I enjoyed the ride, finishing the novel in just two sittings.

I like the idea Kelk presents that there’s a ‘list’ every girl should complete to really feel single. Some of the items on Rachel’s list are totally insane – bungy jumping, anyone? But I loved the majority of the items and they are totally what you’d find in any break-up bible. Makeover? Check. Tattoo? Check. Write a letter to your feckless ex? Check. Rachel is a girl after my own heart with her list-making. I see myself as a rather organised person, but I’m no list maker. Mainly because I end up getting distracted if I write down the tasks I need to do and, instead, I go and procrastinate meaning I don’t get to check off any of my objectives. Don’t ask why I’m allergic to writing a to-do list, I just am. I’m much better just trying to remember it in my head, although invariably I do forget, meaning a list would have been a good idea (I’m the same with books I need to read, I don’t like telling myself what I have to read otherwise I won’t want to read them). Yes. I am a freak. I love organised female characters who keep lists, they’re what I aspire to be!

I absolutely loved Rachel. From the first page, I absolutely loved her (despite the fact she has Angela’s ‘boy’ affliction. They’re men. Or guys. Even dudes. But they’re not boys.). I do think that I’d have enjoyed the I Heart novels more if the character was more like Rachel, because she’s infinitely likeable. I liked how she threw herself into Emelie and Matthew’s to-do list rather than barricading herself in her bedroom when Simon dumped her. Her best mates Emelie and Matthew (not Matt) really push the novel along, too, with their quirky ways and their inability to let their best friend wallow in her pity and sadness. They were quite a trio, actually, Rachel, Matthew and Emelie, and I loved all three of them. Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t a fan of Rachel’s ex Simon. He was a bit of an tool. I did, however, absolutely love photographer Dan, who Rachel (a make-up artist) works with on photo-shoots. He sounded drop dead gorgeous.

The Single Girl’s To Do List is one of the lightest reads I’ve read all year, but it was exactly what I was looking for. I loved it, I really did. The pages practically turned themselves and I was pleased to get to meet this new crop of characters. Lindsey’s writing style, boys aside, is so so easy to get lost in. Honestly, it just flows brilliantly and I was sucked up into the book from page one. I didn’t have any particular niggles with the book, though at times Rachel doesn’t exactly come across in the best light, and I hope Kelk sticks with writing standalone novels like The Single Girl’s To Do List. She definitely has the ability to become big in Chick Lit because she has a fresh and funny style and I laughed numerous times whilst reading the novel. The novel was definitely a triumph, and I’m pleased to say that the books ends so well that there is no need for a sequel. I enjoyed getting to know Rachel, Emelie, Matthew and co. but I don’t think a second novel would work. I’m looking forward to Kelk’s next novel and I’m hoping it’s one of two things: A Jenny Lopez full-length novel or another stand-alone novel. I’ll be first in the queue to buy either of those. Definitely pick this one up, you’ll thoroughly enjoy it.