Reviewed by Leah on
It tells the story of Samantha Sweeting, a lawyer about to make partner at her firm, Carter Spink. One day, whilst tidying up her desk she realises she’s made a huge, career-altering mistake and panics. She leaves the office, finds herself in Paddington Station, takes a train and finds herself in the middle of nowhere. She stops at a house to ask for some water and is mistaken for an interviewee for a housekeeping position. She takes the job but there’s only one problem – Samantha is no Domestic Goddess…
This is the second time I’ve read The Undomestic Goddess and I found it just as funny the second time around as I did the first. That’s the one thing you can count on with Sophie’s novels – they’re going to be amusing.
It’s told in the first person so we get to know all of Samantha’s thoughts and at the beginning of the novel you can feel how fast-paced her life is and you find yourself reading quicker. The first-person view also allows you to see how Samantha’s life changes and slows down when she meets the Geigers.
I liked Samantha and I loved that she was so dedicated to her job, she had no idea how to work a toaster or the washing machine. It shows that just because someone has an IQ of 158 it doesn’t mean they can work simple appliances! Reading about Samantha’s struggles during the first few days of her job was hilarious and I could see all of the situations she got herself into. I also like how salvation came and Nathaniel’s mother showed Samantha that she could bake a cake and iron clothes. And that, when she puts her mind to it, Samantha could do whatever she liked.
I thought Nathaniel was well written and loved how amusing he found Samantha. I thought they got on well together. I found the Geigers amusing – all the demands they ask of Samantha and how impressed they were that she was English. They were completely bonkers but I loved them anyway! As I mentioned, Nathaniel’s mother, Iris, helped Samantha with her cooking skills and domestic skills. I loved the scenes between Samantha and Iris, they were sweet.
One of my favourite parts of the story – and of any story – was when Samantha pulled herself together over her error that cost her her job. I love when any heroine of any story goes out to find out the truth and realises, actually, there might be more to it than meets the eye. I loved how Samantha defended herself and tried to explain herself and, in the end, was given a chance to exonerate herself.
The Undomestic Goddess is definitely a favourite of mine. The story wasn’t really about Samantha’s job but the chance in Samantha as the novel wore on and I felt Sophie Kinsella wrote that brilliantly and realistically. Sophie is undoubtedly one of the best chick lit writers out there, because I have yet to read one of her novels I haven’t enjoyed!
Rating: 5/5
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 18 August, 2009: Reviewed