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Handbags and Halos
Book by BERNADETTE STRACHAN
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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122 people want to read
About the author
Bernadette Strachan
9 books34 followersBernadette Strachan isn't sure whether she writes romantic books with funny bits or funny books with romantic bits. She was born in Fulham, London into an Irish Catholic family. Before becoming an author she ran a wool shop, produced radio commercials, and was a voice-over agent representing quite a lot of famous people.
She is starting her seventh book and working on a new stage musical with her husband, Matthew. They have one daughter, Niamh and a spaniel called Mavis.
She is starting her seventh book and working on a new stage musical with her husband, Matthew. They have one daughter, Niamh and a spaniel called Mavis.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 16, 2013
Bernadette Strachan has a very crisp, witty and individual style of writing. In actual fact, she's one of a very few number of writers whose writing I think I would probably identify as hers in a few pages, even if I didn't know that she was the author. This is the second book I've read of hers, the first one being 'Diamonds and Daisies'.
The main character is a twenty eight year old young woman called Nell Fitzgerald who decides that her life is shallow and so she decides to volunteer for a small charity called Helping Hands. The organisation is run by a man called Phred, who has a gorgeous little girl called Clover. This is worth mentioning because often I find the characters of children in books quite annoying; not in themselves, but they never seem quite real or believable. However, Clover was written in a way where she came across very naturally and her dialogue and behaviour was very believable and cute.
There are very many plotlines in this book and very many characters, although I did come to remember each of them by about halfway through and finally managed to get straight in my mind who was who. I like it, though; I think it's nice when we don't just concentrate on the heroine or her romantic life, but see lots of other characters portrayed well too; it's like a real snapshot of the whole strata of society. All the characters were well portrayed and described brilliantly. I loved all of them, they are all described with humour and affection: the work colleagues, including Linda who was so funny; the grandmother Claudette and her butler, Fergus; Nell's other family, especially her sister, Georgie; the homeless people whom Nell meets at Helping Hands, and the TV star she has to pretend to date, Blair; and finally Maggie, the lady who becomes a real friend to Nell. I have to say that I found the christening party at Nell's family's home really hilarious. I was worried that it might be a bit looking down on them, but it wasn't in the end at all; just really funny and the mannerisms of some of the teenagers and others were well observed.
All of Bernadette's observations are so sharp and witty; she really always hits on the perfect similes to describe things, and I really find her writing so clever. However, my only proviso would be that her books aren't really romantic as such. The only romantic line in the whole book (in my opinion) is when Nell declares to Phred that she loves him and they embrace and he whispers into her hair, "Thank you for coming back to me." My preference would be for her to make the stories slightly more romantic. Also, although I said I liked that we get lots of different plotlines, and meet many different characters, it does mean that the book feels quite long and is quite long. I think maybe she tries to pack just a little too much into her books; they are humorous and fun, but they're not quick reads at all, and you do have to pay a little attention, purely because of all the multiple characters.
Overall, I really liked and enjoyed this story; as I said, Bernadette's style of writing is very unique and she probably really is one of the wittiest and funniest chick lit writers out there. On an unrelated note, I really love how the cover of my copy has all different illustrations of things connected with or mentioned in the book, like the milk float, and a cake, representing the birthday cakes Nell bakes for Helping Hands. It's very cute.
The main character is a twenty eight year old young woman called Nell Fitzgerald who decides that her life is shallow and so she decides to volunteer for a small charity called Helping Hands. The organisation is run by a man called Phred, who has a gorgeous little girl called Clover. This is worth mentioning because often I find the characters of children in books quite annoying; not in themselves, but they never seem quite real or believable. However, Clover was written in a way where she came across very naturally and her dialogue and behaviour was very believable and cute.
There are very many plotlines in this book and very many characters, although I did come to remember each of them by about halfway through and finally managed to get straight in my mind who was who. I like it, though; I think it's nice when we don't just concentrate on the heroine or her romantic life, but see lots of other characters portrayed well too; it's like a real snapshot of the whole strata of society. All the characters were well portrayed and described brilliantly. I loved all of them, they are all described with humour and affection: the work colleagues, including Linda who was so funny; the grandmother Claudette and her butler, Fergus; Nell's other family, especially her sister, Georgie; the homeless people whom Nell meets at Helping Hands, and the TV star she has to pretend to date, Blair; and finally Maggie, the lady who becomes a real friend to Nell. I have to say that I found the christening party at Nell's family's home really hilarious. I was worried that it might be a bit looking down on them, but it wasn't in the end at all; just really funny and the mannerisms of some of the teenagers and others were well observed.
All of Bernadette's observations are so sharp and witty; she really always hits on the perfect similes to describe things, and I really find her writing so clever. However, my only proviso would be that her books aren't really romantic as such. The only romantic line in the whole book (in my opinion) is when Nell declares to Phred that she loves him and they embrace and he whispers into her hair, "Thank you for coming back to me." My preference would be for her to make the stories slightly more romantic. Also, although I said I liked that we get lots of different plotlines, and meet many different characters, it does mean that the book feels quite long and is quite long. I think maybe she tries to pack just a little too much into her books; they are humorous and fun, but they're not quick reads at all, and you do have to pay a little attention, purely because of all the multiple characters.
Overall, I really liked and enjoyed this story; as I said, Bernadette's style of writing is very unique and she probably really is one of the wittiest and funniest chick lit writers out there. On an unrelated note, I really love how the cover of my copy has all different illustrations of things connected with or mentioned in the book, like the milk float, and a cake, representing the birthday cakes Nell bakes for Helping Hands. It's very cute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2009
This was the first book that I read of Bernadette Strachan's and it was the one that made me go out and find all the rest that she has written! I LOVE this author, her similes are hilarious! At one point I couldn't see the page through my tears (of laughter).
This is ny most favourite of all her books, in fact, it's one of my most favourites ever!
This is ny most favourite of all her books, in fact, it's one of my most favourites ever!
June 10, 2024
Fluffy but fun
April 13, 2025
Brilliant! it was funny, witty, it made me laugh out loud. Having said that, there were also poignant moments and cringey moments. It was a pleasure to read.
June 22, 2014
2007 thoughts from bookcrossing:
Chick lit - nothing amazing, forgettable but all right for a light read and although I did start off really not liking it, I got into it better as it went on.
This is the story of Nell, who works as a PA for a theatrical agency. She has just left her insensitive boyfriend and has gone to live with her witch grandmother. Her boss blackmails her into pretending to be a gay client's girlfriend in order to squash rumours of his homosexuality and improve his public profile. She has a bitchy best friend (official best friend in the world, if you don't mind). The usual office workmate stereotypes feature, including bossy office manager Linda - whether she's a lesbian or just a woman without a man isn't made clear although you get the impression this is the kind of book that doesn't make the distinction between the two. And because she's feeling a bit down and shallow, she decides to do a bit of volunteering (if only volunteering really did solve all your problems so neatly) so she signs up with Helping Hands and hands out dinners to the homeless, does babysitting so an ex-drug addict mother can get out a bit etc etc. Oh what a saint.
Of course there's a man in there - her boss at the Helping Hands centre. The book is predictable and follows the usual standard formula for chick lit, but I can't help feeling that Phred really wasn't that interested - he never made any effort at all and never even apolygised when it was made clear she wasn't responsible for that article in the paper.
There was a comment in the book about how terrible Tori Amos' albums are. Sorry, you loose a point for that one!
Chick lit - nothing amazing, forgettable but all right for a light read and although I did start off really not liking it, I got into it better as it went on.
This is the story of Nell, who works as a PA for a theatrical agency. She has just left her insensitive boyfriend and has gone to live with her witch grandmother. Her boss blackmails her into pretending to be a gay client's girlfriend in order to squash rumours of his homosexuality and improve his public profile. She has a bitchy best friend (official best friend in the world, if you don't mind). The usual office workmate stereotypes feature, including bossy office manager Linda - whether she's a lesbian or just a woman without a man isn't made clear although you get the impression this is the kind of book that doesn't make the distinction between the two. And because she's feeling a bit down and shallow, she decides to do a bit of volunteering (if only volunteering really did solve all your problems so neatly) so she signs up with Helping Hands and hands out dinners to the homeless, does babysitting so an ex-drug addict mother can get out a bit etc etc. Oh what a saint.
Of course there's a man in there - her boss at the Helping Hands centre. The book is predictable and follows the usual standard formula for chick lit, but I can't help feeling that Phred really wasn't that interested - he never made any effort at all and never even apolygised when it was made clear she wasn't responsible for that article in the paper.
There was a comment in the book about how terrible Tori Amos' albums are. Sorry, you loose a point for that one!
August 27, 2012
This was heading for a 3 star until it got to the end, where it just didn't deliver the goods at all. The ending was rather like a really poor imitation of a Richard Curtis film with a nauseating 'getting together in front of everyone else' scene. A pity really as it was an absorbing read until then.
There were an awful lot of characters in this and I found it hard to care very much for them all. What was nice was that the central character was not the usual 'dizzy' chick lit type who goes around doing daft things that are supposed to be funny but just make you cringe, and that made this very readable and plausible for me up until that awful ending.
There were an awful lot of characters in this and I found it hard to care very much for them all. What was nice was that the central character was not the usual 'dizzy' chick lit type who goes around doing daft things that are supposed to be funny but just make you cringe, and that made this very readable and plausible for me up until that awful ending.
February 10, 2012
I quite enjoyed this book although a lot of the UK slang left me baffled and looking up Urban Dictionary.
I found it different to other chick lit books in that there was so much going on aside from the romance storyline. In fact there were so many characters it took me awhile to remember who everyone was!
It was quite witty too and made me laugh out loud in some places which is always a plus.
On an aside, I thought the spelling of 'Phred' was a bit ridiculous though. I think it would've worked just as well had his name been spelled in the conventional sense!
I found it different to other chick lit books in that there was so much going on aside from the romance storyline. In fact there were so many characters it took me awhile to remember who everyone was!
It was quite witty too and made me laugh out loud in some places which is always a plus.
On an aside, I thought the spelling of 'Phred' was a bit ridiculous though. I think it would've worked just as well had his name been spelled in the conventional sense!
January 3, 2015
The book started off shaky at first as I was bored and was contemplating not carrying on reading it. However, about 100 pages in it took a turn for the best and by the end I fell in love with Nell and Phred's funny relationship. I have to give it 4 stars for the start but other than that it was a fantastic read.
Glad I read this book and I recommend this to individuals who love a romantic, hilarious read to pass the time. Bernadette Strackan- I think I'm going to be reading some more of your books in the future. Thank you.
Glad I read this book and I recommend this to individuals who love a romantic, hilarious read to pass the time. Bernadette Strackan- I think I'm going to be reading some more of your books in the future. Thank you.
July 23, 2009
I really want to give this book a 3.5 rating. But because it is written by a UK author, and she uses so many terms and mentions so many products that I am unfamiliar with, it made it a little distracting for me. I could have really used footnotes with this book. But the story itself was good. It seemed to get better as it went along.
March 30, 2011
Another of Bernadette Strachan's book, and another read that I enjoyed heartily. Strachan makes me laugh and laugh and laugh out loud, and this book was no exception. Predictable chick-lit it may be, but that doesn't detract from the novel's many charms. Enjoy!
February 7, 2012
Pro: fun to spend some vicarious time in modern-day London
Con: even for a reader with longstanding Anglophile tastes like me, there were a lot of British expressions and popular culture references I couldn't decipher
Con: even for a reader with longstanding Anglophile tastes like me, there were a lot of British expressions and popular culture references I couldn't decipher
October 8, 2012
Some of the brit slang got me lost in translation in several parts of the book. A rather slow start but the ending was just laugh-out-loud hilarious! (Who could've thought Fergus, the butler, was gay???) I was keen on giving it a two star but the ending made up for it! :)
January 8, 2017
This chick-lit started very slowly and then again ended all of a sudden. The story had quite much going on and far too many characters that weren't very likeable or I hadn't enough time to get to know them really. Strachan's previous books have also been wittier than this one.
October 12, 2007
funny and entertaining...good story
August 12, 2008
I like the captivating way in which Bernie writes her books are compelling reads and are full of unexpected tales of excitment.
August 8, 2009
An enjoyable chick lit that is better than most. Good enough to make me want to read more of this author.
September 19, 2009
An entertaining chick lit read by a Brittish author. Loved reading while in London!
August 21, 2010
Cute story but waaaay too long
August 3, 2011
Loved it! But then I love all of Bernadette Strachan books, they are light to read and laugh out loud funny. I can never wait for her next one to come out!
September 20, 2015
Very funny
November 30, 2010
Actually well written and good for a travel read, but still totally chick lit!
May 18, 2019
Read this on a trip to Portugal. A good read!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews