My Not So Perfect Life

A Novel

By: Sophie Kinsella

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •

Part love story, part workplace drama, this sharply observed novel is a witty critique of the false judgments we make in a social-media-obsessed world, from the author of The Party Crasher and Love Your Life.

“Sophie Kinsella keeps her finger on the cultural pulse, while leaving me giddy with laughter.”—Jojo Moyes, author of The Giver of Stars and The Last Letter from Your Lover

Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she’s trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she's desperate to make her dad proud.

Then, just as she’s finding her feet—not to mention a possible new romance—the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family’s farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away—until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie’s future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.

Sophie Kinsella is celebrated for her vibrant, relatable characters and her great storytelling gifts. Now she returns with all of the wit, warmth, and wisdom that are the hallmarks of her bestsellers to spin this fresh, modern story about presenting the perfect life when the reality is far from the truth.

©2017 Sophie Kinsella (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Katie is a winning heroine.... Kinsella creates characters that are well-rounded, quirky, and a complete joy to read." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"Driven by Katie's witty observations and numerous missteps as she attempts to reconcile various aspects of her identity, this novel is smartly satirical and entertaining." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Another outstanding novel...a perfect combination of fun, laughable moments rounded out with some deep-seated family and relationship issues." ( Booklist)

One of my favourite Sophie Kinsella books yet!

Hilarious, charming and engaging from the beginning. I loved about this book! I thought the characters were great, and loved the dynamics between Katie and Demeter. I'm pretty sure I did some extra errands this week just to finish listening to this book!

Loved this

I've been reading Sophia's books since I was much younger and I have to say she's really grown up with me. I couldn't go back and read some of her older books now and find them as entertaining as I did then so I feel like we've definitely grown together and it's so awesome when an author can do that. Her level of writing has really matured and she's funny and so entertaining. Loved every bit of it.

Great Performance!

My Not So Perfect Life is a delightful funny novel read perfectly by Fiona Hardingham!

Loved this book!

This book was just fantastic to read! It was fun and sweet. I really enjoyed getting to listen to Katie's story! If it's a feel good story that you're looking for then this is it!

The reading was amazing

Loved every moment of it. Started it to fill in the silence at work and ended up listening the remainder of the day. I didn't want to turn it off for bed and started up as soon as I returned to work; a little disheartened when I realized I only two chapters remained.

Great book

I love, love, love Sophie Kinsella. Always funny and sweet. This book was great as they always are.

Cute uplifting story

This book was well narrated. The story and writing are simple but it was entertaining. It also had a good and empowering message for young ladies. Overall I enjoyed it.

Great book

Loved it! Didn't want to stop listening. Kept my interest and love a happy ending.

Light, yet entertaining story

If you could sum up My Not So Perfect Life in three words, what would they be?

Comically, engaging, fun

Any additional comments?

The story was funny and engaging, and there were a few times I literally laughed out loud. The narrator did a great job, and I appreciated her varying accents she used throughout. The plot might have been a bit predictable, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. This is definitely a beach book, but I certainly didn't mind listening to it on my way daily commute to work either.

Laugh out loud funny

Would you consider the audio edition of My Not So Perfect Life to be better than the print version?

Yes. I love the narration, this totally made the story.

What did you like best about this story?

The humor in Sohpia Kinsella's stories usually makes me laugh out loud. This one is no different. It is full of events that could happen to those of us who are prone to such problems. I relate to the characters because they are plucked from real life.

Which character – as performed by Fiona Hardingham – was your favorite?

Demeter. Poor misunderstood woman that she is. She is part demon, part boss, and doesn't seem to notice those around her. I can empathize that her coworkers would want to undermine her.

Who was the most memorable character of My Not So Perfect Life and why?

They all are fantastic, it is hard to say which one will stick with me because they are all well fleshed out. It is a great all around story, one that made me laugh, wince, and moan, sometimes in the same sentence.

Any additional comments?

The sandwich, the bin and the rich little girl are a point that will make me giggle quietly for weeks to come.