Chick Lit and Another Bird Book

Savannah

I gave my mother Mary Kay Andrew's Savannah Blues and Savannah Breeze, both "beach books" with a healthy dose of Southern charm as preparation for our trip to the beach near Savannah.  Like Andrew's other novels (of which Save the Date is probably my favorite among the five or so I've read) both Savannah novels follow flawed female protagonists through wacky adventures and some of them fall in love.

As we were recently discussing them (I was reading Katie Fforde's Love Letters at the time), Mom kept comparing them to (or confusing them with) some other fun, if formulaic, chick lit beach read, (Mary Simses' Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe, which I haven't read) which made me laugh because all of the women in these kind of books are quirky bakers/caterers/florists/decorators/gardeners, not just in these three novels.

But I came to a stunned revelation after talking to her and looking at my MiL's collection of books.

Some people do not read these kinds of books.

Okay, that is not actually surprising.  More accurately, I was surprised to realize that some people who both read novels and would really enjoy such books, do not know that a whole category of them exists.

Beach in South Carolina.
No, we did not sit around reading on the beach, but I suggest
many good books should you ever find yourself in a
position to sit on a beach reading.

I'm not sure of the true category title- someone in the industry should help me out here.  It's the intersection of "Beach Books" (anything plot driven and easy to read), "Chick Lit" (written for women), romance, and contemporary comedy.  These are not bodice rippers.  The women have jobs, brains, confidence issues, money woes, and sometimes disappointing sex.  They are not Oprah Books.  Dysfunctional families are rarely redeemed.  They are not the sagas of the glitterari of Daniel Steele and Jackie Collins (compared here 5 years ago).  These books are smart, if light, and I really really like them.

I view the authors as women who fully get Jane Austen, Nora Ephron (particularly When Harry Met Sally) and Tina Fey.

So, Jennifer Crusie, Katie Fforde, Mary Kay Andrews are smack in the middle of this genre and I have enjoyed many of each of their books.  What are your favorites?

As a side note, I was contemplating how to write about these books when I realized that "chick" is a bird term.  I can write about all the chick books I want this year!

Speaking of bird books (and pies*)-- I recently read Alice Hoffman's Nightbird.  It is hard for me to be objective about a book that is so many things I enjoy: well written YA, magical, about people who bake, about people who garden, and about birds.  Suffice it to say that I recommend the book for those of you also into magical food books that contain gardens and birds.

*Okay, I wasn't exactly speaking of pie, but I seem to have quite a bit recently.