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Becoming Scarlett, Ciara Geraghty

Guest Editor Natalie Green, Colourful Words

Scarlett is brilliant at organising. To a level some might label anal-retentive, she loves (and quite possibly needs) to have everything – from her family to her job as a wedding planner – under control.  Except suddenly, things are slipping out of her hands. Her boyfriend, usually so reliable, has just taken himself off travelling. Not to mention after a one-night stand, Scarlett discovers she’s pregnant.  And there’s nothing quite like finding yourself single, pregnant and unsure who the father is to make a control freak, well, freak is there?

Before I get any further into this review, let me share that this is without doubt the first time in a book I have encountered a ‘romantic’ conversation about the potential ramifications of child-birth to the lady area and to love-making. I assure you, it is possible to laugh and wince at the same time!

A quote on the front cover hints that Irish author; Geraghty is the next Marian Keyes. Placed firmly within this genre, Becoming Scarlett certainly fulfills its premise. It is a light read and depicts a plucky young woman’s navigation through life and love.

Despite her orderly manner and slightly cooler exterior, Scarlett is a likable protagonist because the reader is shown her weaker, warmer interior. Unfortunately, I found most other characters to be a little one-dimensional and sometimes cheesy – although always entertainingly colourful.  I want to rise above the temptation to critique the author’s depiction of Scarlett’s wacky Australian PA, Filly (way-off … oops! sorry, slipped out).

There are times when the plot veers towards the unexpected. However, mostly I could see what was going to happen way before it did.

That said, this book is LOL-funny and I really dig Geraghty’s writing with its un-cliched descriptions that throw the reader in the midst of any situation and that capture its ridiculousness beautifully. Both are enough to outweigh any short-comings in plot and character depth.

Read it: if you want an easy beach-side or public transport read you can happily dip in and out of then unblushingly pass on to friends in a Marion Keyes/Nora Roberts-calibre swap.

Don’t read it: if you’re after a complex, detailed exploration of pregnancy, motherhood and the single woman … or anything.

Available: February 2010 Hachette RRP $29.99

Natalie

Tags: Becoming Scarlett, book reviews, Books, Ciara Geraghty