Party Girl

by Sarah Mason

Book Overview

When life hands her lemons, she makes a French martini. Life is one big party for event planner Isabel Serranti. Armed with cell and laptop, she's game to field any fete-including her next nearly... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345469569
• ISBN13: 9780345469564
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Entertaining with some laugh out loud moments.

Enjoyable read, although leading man is not sufficiently developed to actually BE the leading man. Consequently this is less a romance than a funny novel. But the writing style, the asides, and the secondary characters are terrific.

Best Comedy EVER

It was British humor at its finest. I read a lot and not one has been as funny as this book!

Do you need a laugh-out-loud good read?

Mason, who excells at writing British "Chick-lit", gets better and better. Don't worry about the plot; it is the characters that make this books so enjoyable. I have read to multiple folks the section where Izzy searches for Aunt Flo's escaped tarantula - we have all howled with laughter. Full of wonderful characters, true romance (and no overt sex)- this is a wonderful read.

warm British chick lit romance

In England though several weeks have passed, event planner Isabel "Izzy" Serranti has not recovered from being dumped by her boyfriend. That coupled with feeling overweight has left Izzy lacking confidence in her abilities to hold the attention of a man. When she sees her childhood best friend, who inexplicably became her teenage tormentor, financier Simon Monkwell she babbles about food while he apparently fails to recognize her. Simon hires Izzy to perform a planner's miracle as his family estate Pantiles is in financial trouble, but to save it he must fool potential American investors that all is well. She would like to refuse him, but he is so handsome and debonair while she is oafish, but the reason she agrees is because she inadvertently gave away some Pantiles' insider information to her lout of an ex. Thus she hosts a weekend in the English countryside where investors, their wacko families, a tarantula and others interfere with the attraction between Simon and Izzy; however it is what caused teenage Simon to turn into a bully that remains between them. PARTY GIRL is a warm British chick lit romance starring a likable but unconfident lead female struggling to make a weekend right for the man she loves who she expects will mistreat her as he did when he turned thirteen. Izzy is an interesting protagonist coping with the families of her and Simon, other fractious souls like the help, the demands of the Americans, and SOCIETY GIRLS invited to the gala. Though the support cast at times overwhelms the tale with the baggage they bring to the weekend event, dizzy Izzy makes this a fun often amusing romantic romp. Harriet Klausner

Man with a Mystery...

This is the 2nd title from Sarah Mason who wrote the wonderful and fabulous debut novel of hers "Playing James". "The Party Season" is slightly less hilarious than "Playing James", nevertheless it delivers a plot that is laced with mystery and suspensful moments which are typical traits of Sarah Mason's style of writing. There are enough sub-plots weaving thru the main plot to rush you to finish the book to unravel the suspense. The heroine, Izzy, is not an ideal beauty but her warmth and understaning are big pluses if you wish to get your man! But, Izzy has first to solve the mystery surrounding the man she desires before the reconciliation. I would have given this 5 stars if it had more engaging and wittier verbal exchanges between the Izzy & Simon. It somehow did not come up to the level of rollicking good fun to see the 2 characters battle it out as in "Playing James" between Holly & James. I like that technique that Sarah Mason has employed for "Playing James" more.

Lovely romantic comedy

Delicious chick -lit of the Sophie Mason penned kind. For a quick plot summary: Party planner Isabel is invited to the home of her childhood tormentor (Simon) to plan a charity ball. Believing that Simon wont be there is all that induces her to go but upon arriving she finds that Simon seems to have changed. He's certainly more attractive now than he was a long time ago. Hilarious travils ensue, not the least of which is Isabels nicotine patch trial & various clever puns. It all sounds a bit trite, but is humorous and extremely entertaining (hey I like the cover art work also), Mason constructs another lovely little bubble to while away the hours! Kotori 2005