The Debt & The Doormat

Title: The Debt & The Doormat
Author: Laura Barnard    
Genre: Chickflick      
Pages: 451 (ebook)      

Published: 2013

Rating: 5/5- charming, witty and addictively fun
 

This isn't just your standard chick flick, it's marvellously quirky and entertaining- and I must say, rather chunky for a chick flick. I regularly found myself giggling inwardly, not just at the highly amusing (at some moments ridiculous) plot; but also the witty, stylish writing that Laura Barnard uses.
  

Best friends Poppy and Jazz are both young women struggling with their lives in an entirely different way. Both equally adorable and random but clearly the complete opposites. While Poppy is hilarious and quirky but often acts boring and safe, Jazz is glamorous and lavish who gets into a bit too much trouble. The story begins as they decide to swap lives to help Poppy have more 'fun' and Jazz get out of her growing debt. Weave love, lies and down right bad luck into the mix and you have a fluffy, laugh out loud book which you can't put down.

One thing that particularly impressed me with this book was the well developed, real yet very likeable characters that Laura Barnard creates.
Even the broody, arrogant love interest Ryan, is well built and slowly reveals his charming side to the reader as he becomes protective and caring.
On top of the amazingly realistic main characters, there are plenty of diverse minor characters that help bring the story to life. Izzy: an energetic friend who is possibly a bit too bubbly for anyone's good. Grace: another room mate who is incredibly sexy but incredibly bitchy. Each one adding even more complexity and flavour to this already delightful combination.

My only, small complaint is the slightly unrealistic amount of bad luck our poor protagonist receives. I did find myself sighing at one point as yet another unfortunate hit Poppy, yet again. Anyway, if that's my only complaint then I don't know what else to say?

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and strongly suggest you do the same. It's simple, fun but a bit different. I thought Laura Barnard's writing style was addictive and easy to read, with well developed characters and a strong yet simple plot, how could it not work? I have not read the follow up book yet, which hopefully explains some unanswered questions I had from the ending but I'm very much looking forward to do so.

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Laura Stone x