Things aren't going well for Matilda Beam, either. Her 1950s Good Woman guide books are out of print, her mortgage repayments are staggering and her granddaughter wears neon Wonderbras!
When a lifeline from a London publisher arrives, the pair have an opportunity to secure the roof over their heads – by invigorating the Good Woman guides and transforming modern, rebellious Jess into a demure vintage lady.
The true test of their make-over will be to capture the heart of notorious London playboy Leo Frost and prove that Matilda’s guides still work. It's going to take commitment, nerves of steel and one seriously pointy bra to pull this off...
Review: oh I loved this book so much it is going to be so so hard to review! Firstly this books was everything I hoped it would be. It is classic feel-good chick lit with some really really funny moments, a strong female lead, some real old-school family values and a twisty turns love story! Of course there is a happy ending which will leave you feeling as if you've just finished that delicious last bite of pudding at the end of your roast dinner and now you just want to lie back happy and content.
Let's start with those fabulous characters. I loved Jess. I could really relate to her just wanting to have a good time and feeling in no hurry to settle down and be sensible. She's a blogger too (YEY!) so that's an awesome addition to her portfolio. She knows what she wants and she is sure she is right about all her decision until fate steps in her way and she is suddenly thrown into a new situation with new people and a fabulous new vintage take on life! Matilda beam is another strong-willed woman and you know when these two get together, that is going to make for some fabulous reading!
The supporting characters in this novel also make for some fun reading. We have a couple of love interests (of course) but these are not the main focus of the story. Best friend summer turns out to be a bit of a shady character, I can just imagine her on You Tube with the wonderfully named kitten, Mr Belding. And then we have Peach. She is such a fun character, I defy anyone not to fall in love with her. She definitely needs a spin off book all to herself because she will kill it!
This book is set between Manchester and London and the two cities deep it beautifully to two sides to Jess's life. The descriptions of her London life were very relatable and Matilda beams apartment in London sounds amazing! The whole story was just lovely the whole way through. There is a nice chunky first act with lots of funny moments and some life changing stuff for Jess and then from there we really get into the vintage section, the clothes, the manners, the love and romance! There are some real contrasts to the vintage guide morals with some casual sex, lots of swearing and some excellent hashtags and Facebook posts. The whole storyline is interwoven with extracts from Jess's mum (Rose) diary, very apt because of course, she was Matilda's daughter so it brings the whole thing full circle.
I think one of my favourite things about this book is that Kirsty Greenwood puts into writing what so many of us are thinking but don't have the balls to say out loud. Because of this, The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance was a fun easy read with some very real messages and definitely a storyline to get your teeth into. If you're looking for something to really get you excited then this is the book for you. With guaranteed laughs and some characters you will want to call friends, this should definitely be your next good read!
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