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Beyond "Chick Lit"

Beyond Jane Austen and "Bridget Jones" ...

Which Brings Me to You: A Novel in Confessions by Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott
Flirting through the mail, two thirty-somethings get to know each other by writing intimate, sometimes racy letters to each other that detail all of their past relationships.

The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg
After her beloved husband dies, Betta Nolan moves to the country and tries to reconnect with the basic pleasures in life: the company of friends, the satisfaction of work, the excitement of new romance.

Wifey by Judy Blume
The author of teen-novel favorite Forever writes a sympathetic adult novel about a woman who wants more (a whole lot more) than her dull, restrictive marriage provides her.

Looking for Peyton Place by Barbara Delinsky
Two authors and two kinds of secret are at the heart of this novel. Author Annie Barnes starts asking questions about her mother's death and uncovers a corporate cover-up. The town is suspicious of her investigations because they believe they were the subject of the scandalous 1950s novel Peyton Place and fear having their secrets exposed in another novel.

Tales of Burning Love by Louise Erdrich
Cold blizzards and hot memories contrast as four women trapped by a storm share stories of the one man, Jack Mauser, who had married all four women at different times.

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
Over six months, six book club members discuss the six main novels of Jane Austen. Their complicated social lives echo parts of the Austen novels they discuss.

The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman
A novel that adds subtle and entertaining magic to the complex relationships between family members and lovers. Each woman of the Sparrow family has a special talent that enriches and complicates their lives.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons by Lorna Landvik
Five women in Minnesota find that a book club gives them an escape and a sense of community, supporting them through decades of personal and social upheaval.

My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman
Growing up in the middle of a college campus, Frederica Hatch thinks she knows everything about her loving, liberal parents. When a wild woman with ties to her family begins work at the college, Frederica's worldview is shaken.

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
Having the details of her sex life written up by her ex-boyfriend in a national magazine is bad enough, but the crushing blow to Cannie's ego comes when he claims that "loving a larger woman is an act of courage". As she deals with rejection, weight issues, and family issues, Cannie's sense of humor and her courage win her admiration and the romantic love she deserves.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
The rich, complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, and between women and their best friends, form the heart of this bestselling novel. Beautifully written and insightful.

But Enough About Me: A Jersey Girl's Unlikely Adventures Among the Absurdly Famous by Jancee Dunn
A memoir from a Rolling Stone columnist and New Jersey native, full of good humor and insights on the art of interviewing celebrities. Jancee Dunn's memoir mixes details about her life with details from her interviews, making a juicy and entertaining read.

The Year of Yes: In Which Our Heroine Dates Everyone Who Asks, from Millionaires to Madmen, in an Effort to Meet Her Match by Maria Dahvana Headley
After a host of disastrous dating experiences, the author decided to say yes to anyone who asked her out for one year. The book chronicles all the dates she went on, from the deranged to the oddly delightful. The story even has a romantic ending - she married one of the men who asked her out!

Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen by Julie Powell
Based on the author's widely read blog, and subtitled "how one girl risked her marriage, her job, and her sanity to master the art of living", this is the story of a woman who dealt with emotional meltdown and work disasters by cooking her way through a complete Julia Child cookbook in one year. Salty language and crisp observations add spice to the narrative.

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