Review: 'The Curvy Girls Baby Club' by Michele Gorman (2015)

Ellie is fresh back from her honeymoon and can’t wait to share her news with her best friends Katie and Jane. To everyone’s surprise, mother-of-two Jane has news of her own… The women are due a day apart, on December 25th and 26th, and Katie can’t wait to be an honorary aunt to the babies. 
But it’s hard to keep your sense of humor, not to mention your self-esteem, in the face of hemorrhoids and elasticated waistbands. Add a clingy mother-in-law, a career in cardiac arrest and a sex life that makes Mother Theresa look lusty, and soon their lives are as out of control as their bodies. 
As the co-founders of The Curvy Girls Club, where loving yourself is the only rule, will the friends be able to practice what they preach?
As I already mentioned on the blog last week, on the 20th of August Notting Hill Press released author Michele Gorman's latest work, 'The Curvy Girls Baby Club', which is indeed a sequel to Michele's wonderful novel 'The Curvy Girls Club' (click here to read my review). I've had the pleasure of reading several of Michele's books in the past, such as 'Perfect Girl' (click here to read my review) and 'Single in the City' (click here to read my review), and really liked every single one of them. I also thoroughly enjoyed 'The Curvy Girls Club', so definitely looked forward to picking up this novella sequel!
'The Curvy Girls Baby Club' is set not too long after where the 'The Curvy Girls Club' stopped. Ellie, Jane and Katie are still the best of friends who share everything with each other and support one another, through thick and thin. When Ellie comes back from her honeymoon she can't wait to tell her friends that she is pregnant. However, to all of their surprises, Jane has the same news to share with them and the two even share the same due date around Christmas. The Curvy Girls Club's focus suddenly switches to the trials and tribulations of being pregnant while also dealing with pushy mother-in-laws, career stress, and low self-esteem. Will the friends be able to get through it all, still sticking to their belief to always love yourself, no matter what?
'The Curvy Girls Baby Club' is a short novella (roughly 120 pages in print) and a really enjoyable quick read from author Michele Gorman. The story focuses on Ellie, Katie and Jane; 3 friends who helped start up the Curvy Girls Club (which you can read more about in the original novel to which this is the sequel). I loved being back with these characters, reading more about them and seeing what they were up to. The girls turn out to be pregnant at the same time, resulting in them going through the different stages of becoming a mother together. While the plotline is quite far-fetched, it did result in a lovely story so it didn't bother me and I decided to just see it as a big coincidence with a spoonful of luck!
Michele Gorman's writing style is really easy to get into and combined with short chapters this made for a very quick read. I definitely wouldn't have minded if this had been a full-length novel instead of a novella because I really enjoyed it. I do recommend reading the 'The Curvy Girls Club' before picking up this novella, just so you know what the characters have been through and how they got where they are at the start of the story. Overall, another wonderful read by Michele Gorman and an entertaining sequel to 'The Curvy Girls Club' which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Rating:9/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: 'The Curvy Girls Club' by Michele Gorman (2015)

Pixie, Ellie, Katie and Jane have been best friends since meeting at Slimming Zone. Tired of being judged on the number of calories they consume, they decide to form a different kind of club. The fun evenings they spend together, not worrying about their size, make them happier than they’ve been for years!
But the club doesn’t stop real life from getting in the way and together the girls have to address some much bigger issues than just their weight…
Will Pixie ever be brave enough to leave her abusive husband Trevor? Can Jane ever regain her confidence and go back to work as a TV presenter? Will Katie always carry a torch for the office lothario? And what if Ellie lets her all-consuming jealousy destroy her relationship with ‘The One’?
The new year has already started with some great new book releases, including Michele Gorman’s latest novel, ‘The Curvy Girls Club’ which was released by Avon on the 15th of January. Thanks to the lovely people over at Notting Hill Press I received an early review copy which I couldn’t wait to read, especially since I am quite familiar with, and a fan of, Michele Gorman’s work. I read ‘Single in the City’ (click here to read my review) and ‘Perfect Girl’ (click here to read my review) last year and really enjoyed both of them. I had already heard numerous positive things about ‘The Curvy Girls Club’, so I looked forward to diving into this new read!   
After having spent a lot of time together at Slimming Zone, trying their best to lose weight, it is no wonder Katie, Pixie, Ellie and Jane have developed quite a close friendship with each other. Losing weight can be quite a challenge, so it’s great to have your friends next to you along the way. When Pixie decides she has had enough of constantly watching what she eats and counting calories, the four women start a new club; a club where they come together to do fun things instead of only focusing on their eating habits. The Curvy Girls Club is born and to their surprise, it becomes extremely popular rather quickly. While dealing with the success of the club and organising different kinds of events, the four women also have their own personal and romantic issues to deal with which results in quite a bit of pressure on their friendship…
Another great read from Michele Gorman! I have no doubt many readers will be able to relate to the four main characters in this novel: Katie, Pixie, Ellie and Jane. Not only because the topics of weight and being judged by your appearance have become such much-talked about subjects within our modern society, but because each of the women is dealing with her own issues as well. Pixie is having trouble with her abusive husband, Katie is searching for the right guy, Ellie needs to get her jealousy in check if she wants to stay together with her boyfriend, and Jane has to start believing in herself again which isn’t as easy as it sounds. I loved reading about all four women, their friendship and their individual struggles (even though I have to admit I wanted to jump into the novel occasionally to give Pixie a good slap!). The characters definitely complimented one another and their separate storylines connected to the main storyline in a convincing and entertaining way.
Michele Gorman's writing style is really comfortable to read, well-paced, and detailed; she’s a great storyteller and I didn’t want to put the book down. I don't really have anything to add to this review, except for the fact that I can't wait to see what Michele will treat us to next and I hope we will not have to wait too long! Overall, 'The Curvy Girls Club' is a simply stunning, relatable, warm-hearted novel about weight issues, friendship and finding happiness; a read which any chick lit fan will certainly enjoy!

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads   Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book News: 'The Curvy Girls Club' by Michele Gorman

 

A funny, heart-warming story about overcoming the prejudices we hold, no matter where we tip the scales. 

When the pounds start falling off Katie, founder and president of London’s most popular social club for the calorie-challenged, it seems like a dream come true. But as the overweight stigma recedes and her life starts to change, she faces losing more than the inches around her waist. Everything that’s important to her – her closest friends, boyfriend, and acceptance into the club itself – are at stake in a world where thin is the new fat. 

“So engaging and witty, yet insightful and empathetic.” Sophie Kinsella, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"A book about friendship, love and most of all, loving yourself; you'll eat this up." Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Spin and Hidden

I'm incredibly excited about Michele Gorman's next release titled 'The Curvy Girls Club'! To celebrate the upcoming launch in the US and Canada on the 17th of June, Notting Hill Press is offering Michele's short story 'Weightless' for free! All you have to do is e-mail thecurvygirlsclub[at]gmail[dot]com and you'll receive 'Weightless' for your eReader along with a membership to the real Curvy Girls Club (no need to be curvy, it's a daily dose of loveliness for everyone)!
Click here to order your own copy of 'The Curvy Girls Club' on Amazon now and be sure to not miss out on a free copy of Michele's short story 'Weightless' this week!