Remember Me?

December 17, 2007
Shopaholic, powerhouse Kinsella delights again with her latest, a winning if unoriginal tale of amnesia striking an ambitious shrew and changing her life for the better. After taking a nasty bump on the head, Lexi Smart awakens in a hospital convinced that it’s 2004 and that she’s just missed her father’s funeral. It’s actually three years later, and she no longer has crooked teeth, frizzy hair and a loser boyfriend. Initially wowed by what she’s become—a gorgeous, cut-throat businesswoman—Lexi soon finds herself attempting to figure out how it happened. As her personality change and lost memory threaten her job, Lexi tries to dredge up some chemistry with her handsome albeit priggish husband, Eric, though the effort is unnecessary with Eric’s colleague Jon, who tells Lexi that she was about to leave Eric for him. Amnesia tales may be old hat, but Kinsella keeps things fresh and frothy with workplace politicking, romantic intrigue and a vibrant (though sometimes caricatured) cast. Though the happy ending won’t come as a surprise, readers will be rooting for Lexi all along.

February 1, 2008
In the same tradition of Kinsella's other stand-alone works, "Can You Keep a Secret?" and "The Undomestic Goddess", this light novel will entice readers with 28-year-old Lexi Smart as an empathetic character who wakes up in the hospital with amnesia. She is informed that she arrived at the hospital five days ago, but she can't seem to remember the last three years of her life or, more important, who she has become within these past years. The once affectionately called Snaggletooth is now a glamorous and toned woman with perfect teeth. In what is both awkward and humorous, Lexi meets her gorgeous husband, sees their impressively hi-tech loft, and learns of all her successes as a corporate bigwig who wears a tight chignon and a neutral-colored wardrobe. As Lexi adjusts to this life, she can't shake the feeling that something is missing and that this life is just not as perfect as it seems. Though the scenario is rather far-fetched and there is mild language use, the situations that arise are truly entertaining and humorous. Recommended for all popular fiction collections.Anne Miskewitch, Chicago P.L.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2008
Kinsella, author of the popular Shopaholic series, returns with yet another winning stand-alone story. When Lexi Smart awakens in the hospital after a car accident, the last thing she remembers is being a down-on-her-luck underling in the flooring department with a loser boyfriend. Shes shocked when the doctor informs her its 2007, not 2004, and she learns shes running thedepartment and is now married to Eric, a gorgeous hot-shot real-estate agent. Lexi tries to regain her memories and settle into the life she doesnt remember, which, with a seemingly perfect husband, a posh loft, and a fancy job, doesnt seem so baduntil she realizes shes universally loathed at work and none of her old friends can stand her anymore. As Lexi tries to discover what it was that turned her into an ambitious hellion, shes hit with another shocker when Jon, an architect who works with Eric, informs her that they were lovers. Buoyed by Kinsellas breezy prose, this winning offering boasts a likable heroine and an involving story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

Starred review from April 28, 2008
Kinsella's engaging tale of a woman who loses her memory of the past three years after an accident and tries to put the pieces together, only to discover that her life inexplicably underwent a Cinderellaesque transformation in those three years, shines on audio. Charlotte Parry's delightful first-person narration makes Lexi such an immensely likable character that listeners will want to spend time with her. Parry voices the other characters precisely: Lexi's snobbish husband, Eric; her vague and fluttery mother, breathless and shallow socialite Rosalie, and an assortment of friends and co-workers. Each characters is vividly brought to life in a distinctive way by Parry's superb narration. This lively, entertaining chick lit audiobook is the perfect choice for beach listening. Simultaneous release with the Dial hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 17).