A few weeks ago the lovely people at Prospera Publishing sent me a review copy of Nicky Schmidts’ debut novel – Naked in Knightsbridge. I am not a self-professed chick-lit booklover; but then again, before Twilight, I was never a teen vampire romance lover. I don’t do book reviews very often (if at all) , so forgive me if it doesn’t sound too right!

I wanted the book to be a complete suprise, so I ignored the summary that is so often available on the back jacket of the book. It started off with a letter from the heroine’s bank, demanding repayment for her outstanding business overdraft. In fact, all the chapters start with letters addressed to the heroine, Jools. I actually looked forward to the start of chapters because of the often hilarious letters, especially those where the author seem extremely preplexed at her mostly unreasonable behaviour.

Naked in Knightsbridge is about Jools, a single late-twenties woman that had always taken the easy way out of life. Stumbling into the cleaning business after finishing uni because she couldn’t really be bothered to look for a proper job, she actually achieved some success in it. However, like quite a few people, she spent all her profits- and more. Mostly on unsuitable items of clothings (i.e. 2 sizes too small)….and doughnuts. So when the business starts to go belly-up, she was left penniless and as close to homelessness as you can get, making meals out of hobnobs and expired alcohol.

What will resonate with readers is the reality that Jools live in. The spend now-pay later culture that is so prevalent in modern British society – I am very debt-adverse and am really terrified at the way people spend the money that they do not have. Coupled with references to eBay (everyone loves a bargin, right?) and sham marriages for illegal immigrants to stay in the country, this is definately intelligent chick-lit that makes itself very current and on the pulse. And of course, everyone has the one friend that you are slightly envious about right? So is the loneliness in modern society of having only a handful of friends – with everything falling apart once that small teensy support network collapses. This would not be a chick-lit without the knight in shining armour – and I do love the character development of the knight in this book. Trying not to give too much away, I must say that the eventual knight is most definately my favourite character in the book…I shall leave you to guess which one of them is the eventual saviour .

Bridget Jones meets credit crunch, I would say. Available here with FREE worldwide shipping, definately a must-have on your Christmas list for the chick-lit lover who appreciates a good laugh as well.

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