I must be one of the few chick lit fans who hasn't yet read Dorothy Koomson's last book, My Best Friend's Girl - I've got it, I just haven't got around to it yet - but I've heard such good things about it that I was keen to read her new book, Marshmallows for Breakfast.
It's the story of Kendra Tamale who returns to England from Australia and rents a room from Kyle, a single father of two gorgeous children, Summer and Jaxon. Kendra was planning to keep herself to herself, but the children keep coming to her for help and soon she's as embroiled in the family and their problems as if they were her own children.
Kendra has a lot of secrets: she can't have children of her own, she left a man she loves in Australia, but won't say why (only that she's done something terrible) and then there's also the abuse in her past that she not only won't talk about, but also refuses to think about.
And then she bumps into a man from her past and the children's mother takes them away without warning or contact, forcing Kendra to confront everything she's repressed.
I found Marshmallows for Breakfast completely compelling. The children, Summer and Jaxon, are the most perfectly conveyed kids I've read for a long time. Like Kendra, I fell completely in love with them.
I did find that a bit too much was explained in depth. Flashbacks and other characters points of view appear in italics and whenever I was faced with an italic section I felt that it could have been cut entirely or at least significantly. Koomson shouldn't be afraid of leaving something to the reader's imagination.
Also Kendra is rather dry and humourless and I think a bit more humour from Kendra - rather than relying on her friend Gabrielle or the children for levity - might have helped. But, at the same time, with what Kendra's been through, she certainly wouldn't be wisecracking left and right. I only mention it because on the few occasions Kendra did make jokes, I thought it made her seem more human. Then again, with her history, she's not exactly functioning fully, so this was perhaps intentional.
There are some extremely serious issues tackled in this book (those people who think chick lit is fluff should be prescribed it immediately) and it's dealt with sensitively and intelligently. I was worried about the ending at one point - so much that I actually spoke to the book and said, "You'd better not..." (I tell you that not to show how crazy I am, but rather how affecting I found the book!) But I needn't have worried. The ending is perfect.
All in all, I thought Marshmallows for Breakfast was wonderful.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos
