Not Married, Not Bothered

I picked this book up thinking that it was going to be the usual tale of 'single thirty-something, looking for love, finds it in the most unlikely place and happy ever after', and was pleasantly surprised that it offered more. The story is styled as an alphabetical guide to what it means to be a spinster but is actually a cleverly written story of the narrator's life...

Said narrator, Riley, is in her fifties and on realising this in the first chapter I was tempted to put the book aside, thinking it might be something of an 'aga-saga'. If I had I would've missed out on a treat as I really enjoyed reading this and it definitely written for a younger audience.

The story unfolds across a period of thirty years, with scenes from today and previous periods in Riley's life intertwined. She introduces her friends and family, including her Daily Mail-reading, utterly batty mother, and we come to understand her relationship with her dead father. However, the main theme is exploring the relationships she's had and her feelings about marriage and children. There are plenty of references to modern culture and anyone who reads the endless newspaper headlines about the dangers of being single will enjoy how these are challenged!

This book has got some great twists in the story, which will prove unexpected for even the most cynical reader, and, while it doesn't have a traditional happy ever after ending, it leaves you with a nice warm feeling about life. I'd recommend this to anyone who fancies some 'chick lit with a brain'.  [Emma Tazewell]

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