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Those Pleasant Girls
Evie Pleasant, nee Bouvier, is back in town. In a figure-hugging skirt, high heels and a pin-up hairdo, she's unrecognisable from the wild child who waged war on Sweet Meadow in her youth.
She's made a promise to herself: 'No swearing. No drinking. No stealing. No fires.'
Trailing a reluctant 16-year-old daughter and armed with cake making equipment, Evie's divorce and impending poverty has made her desperate enough to return to Sweet Meadow to seduce her former partner-in-crime and start again.
But the townsfolk have long memories and the renegade ex-boyfriend is now the highly-respected pastor. Evie's cakes have a job to do.
She's made a promise to herself: 'No swearing. No drinking. No stealing. No fires.'
Trailing a reluctant 16-year-old daughter and armed with cake making equipment, Evie's divorce and impending poverty has made her desperate enough to return to Sweet Meadow to seduce her former partner-in-crime and start again.
But the townsfolk have long memories and the renegade ex-boyfriend is now the highly-respected pastor. Evie's cakes have a job to do.
- GenresRomance
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2017
5 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Lia Weston
4 books28 followersLia Weston is a fiction writer. Her debut novel, THE FORTUNES OF RUBY WHITE, was published by Simon & Schuster Australia in 2010. Her next two novels, THOSE PLEASANT GIRLS and YOU WISH, were published with Pan Macmillan in 2017 and 2018. In between wrestling with plot points, Lia runs a bicycle shop with her husband Pete and works as a freelance copy-editor.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 21, 2019
Those Pleasant Girls is one cool, ridiculously smiley, seriously funny, absolute blast of a book. Lia Weston is gifted at creating disastrously perfect comedic scenarios, delivering snappy, witty observations and capturing the quirky side of small town country life.
This book reminded me of The Gilmore Girls ~ following both Evie (in her 30's) and Mary (aged 17 years). I loved Evie, whose wild child/teen memories of mishaps, shenanigans and outright bedlam-ish nature endeared her to me straight away. She is in the process of reforming herself, but is (to her chagrin) still so wickedly-inclined (the best kind of accidentally Anne Shirley kind of wicked). Mary is just as awesome ~ more pragmatic and with a wry sense of humour ~ she was a delight to read. With dual POVs of mother and daughter, Those Pleasant Girls is really accessible for fans of both YA and contemporary adult literature. Of course, there's a full cast of quirky and lovable characters ~ including some swoony goodness from one dude in particular, haha.
There were so many small lines of dialogue, sneaky introspective thoughts and mini comedic scenes that had me chuckling my way through this. I could see this as a perfect rom-com flick on the Big Screen, and like most chick flicks ~ it was a perfectly cruisey, feel good, fun read. My only drawback was a kind of mid-book lag where the plot seemed to slow down a little, but then it picked up again and I was finishing it off in the squeaky hours of the morning, grinning like a Cheshire cat into the darkness of my bedroom.
Weston has her own astute, ridiculously awesome and wicked sense of humour ~ but if I had to pair her with similar authors I would say she has a blend of Sophie Kinsella/Meg Cabot/Ellie O'Neill and a touch of the Moriarty sisters* wild whimsy. And you all know that's a winning combo for me :). Such a happy making, sunshiney, delicious book ~ perfect for those lazy days when you need to relax, smile and swoon along with the craziness and delight that Those Pleasant girls are.
* I'm grouping those 3 faves together ~ I love them all so (Liane Moriarty, Nicola Moriarty and Jaclyn Moriarty)
This book reminded me of The Gilmore Girls ~ following both Evie (in her 30's) and Mary (aged 17 years). I loved Evie, whose wild child/teen memories of mishaps, shenanigans and outright bedlam-ish nature endeared her to me straight away. She is in the process of reforming herself, but is (to her chagrin) still so wickedly-inclined (the best kind of accidentally Anne Shirley kind of wicked). Mary is just as awesome ~ more pragmatic and with a wry sense of humour ~ she was a delight to read. With dual POVs of mother and daughter, Those Pleasant Girls is really accessible for fans of both YA and contemporary adult literature. Of course, there's a full cast of quirky and lovable characters ~ including some swoony goodness from one dude in particular, haha.
There were so many small lines of dialogue, sneaky introspective thoughts and mini comedic scenes that had me chuckling my way through this. I could see this as a perfect rom-com flick on the Big Screen, and like most chick flicks ~ it was a perfectly cruisey, feel good, fun read. My only drawback was a kind of mid-book lag where the plot seemed to slow down a little, but then it picked up again and I was finishing it off in the squeaky hours of the morning, grinning like a Cheshire cat into the darkness of my bedroom.
Weston has her own astute, ridiculously awesome and wicked sense of humour ~ but if I had to pair her with similar authors I would say she has a blend of Sophie Kinsella/Meg Cabot/Ellie O'Neill and a touch of the Moriarty sisters* wild whimsy. And you all know that's a winning combo for me :). Such a happy making, sunshiney, delicious book ~ perfect for those lazy days when you need to relax, smile and swoon along with the craziness and delight that Those Pleasant girls are.
* I'm grouping those 3 faves together ~ I love them all so (Liane Moriarty, Nicola Moriarty and Jaclyn Moriarty)
June 12, 2018
After her divorce from Gabe and the death of her mother, Evie Pleasant, once a wild child, returns to Sweet Meadow with her teenage daughter Mary. But Evie has a plan, one that involves changing her ways to include no swearing, no drinking, no stealing, no fires. Her hope is then that she will be able to rekindle the relationship and marry her childhood partner in crime. Only problem with that is Nathan is now the village pastor. Will she be able to stay true to her changes in behaviour, especially when the townsfolk have long memories of her past escapades? Or can Evie work her way into their good books with her cooking and typing skills?
This is a light-hearted romp that ranges from the humorous to verging on the absurd. Some lines were cleverly witty, using interesting comparisons. But not all had such a positive effect. Although in her thirties Evie, to me often still behaved like a teenager. I found it hard to relate to her. The story does raise the question of change and what happens when you try to be something you are not. It also focuses on how sometime people see what they want to see, a fantasy instead of the reality in front of them.
As you can probably tell I had mixed feelings about this book. I was looking for something lighter to read, so in some ways this filled the bill. However I suspect perhaps it is a book that a younger audience would appreciate more than I did. There were times when I just wanted to tell Evie to wake up to herself. Same with Mary, but she had the excuse that she is a teenager, when she makes unwise choices. So to sum up I enjoyed aspects of this book if not the whole. I did like the depiction of the small Australian country town.
This is a light-hearted romp that ranges from the humorous to verging on the absurd. Some lines were cleverly witty, using interesting comparisons. But not all had such a positive effect. Although in her thirties Evie, to me often still behaved like a teenager. I found it hard to relate to her. The story does raise the question of change and what happens when you try to be something you are not. It also focuses on how sometime people see what they want to see, a fantasy instead of the reality in front of them.
As you can probably tell I had mixed feelings about this book. I was looking for something lighter to read, so in some ways this filled the bill. However I suspect perhaps it is a book that a younger audience would appreciate more than I did. There were times when I just wanted to tell Evie to wake up to herself. Same with Mary, but she had the excuse that she is a teenager, when she makes unwise choices. So to sum up I enjoyed aspects of this book if not the whole. I did like the depiction of the small Australian country town.
March 21, 2019
I loved it!! I couldn't put it down.
June 13, 2017
Everything hasn’t exactly gone to plan lately in Evie Pleasant’s life. She’s finally divorcing her husband and while the settlement gets hammered out (something Gabe is being deliberately obstructive on) she’s taken their teenage daughter Mary and gone back to the house of her youth, left to her after the death of her mother. Turns out that Evie was quite a notorious figure around the small town of Sweet Meadow and some of those residents have long memories. Evie will have to make many apologies for fires, thefts and other childish pranks but she’s willing to do that in order to achieve her goal – seducing her childhood best friend who just now happens to be pastor of the local church.
Evie has had to reinvent herself….in with pencil skirts, heels and up-dos, out with lazy trackies and swearing. She has to prove that she’s worthy of the community and especially that she’s worthy of its pastor. Nathan might have been her partner in crime years ago but now he holds a position of responsibility in the community, leading a church that is struggling in both facilities and cashflow. Evie attempts to win over skeptical townfolk with her delicious baked treats, attempting to woo them to her side so that she might become more involved in the town. The only trouble is, whilst Nathan might’ve been a solid plan in her head, are they really even suited? And does Evie want to be this new version of herself forever?
I really enjoyed this book. Evie was such a fun character – a bit scatty at times and so focused on her “goal” that she often couldn’t see what was right in front of her face, but I do admire her for sucking up a lot of things and going back to a place that she knew wasn’t going to be easy. Evie seemed to have had quite a charmed life with her former husband (until the negative couldn’t be ignored anymore) but now she’s faced with starting over, attempting to provide for herself and Mary, who is also struggling to fit in. Evie joins committees, she thinks of fundraising ideas, she swallows her pride and applies for jobs in stores she once terrorised years ago.
I loved the character of Mary, Evie’s teenage daughter who has also had her life uprooted and had to move to a town where she recognises immediately that she will struggle to fit in. Evie wants her to make “girlfriends” but instead Mary falls in with other misfits Travis and Mini D. She finds herself harbouring a crush on Zach, the boyfriend of the head of the cliquey girls group and like most teenagers, doesn’t heed any of the warnings that come her way about him. That felt like such a genuine teenage experience though, in more ways than one. Mary is also struggling with her feelings for her father – she accepts his actions and behaviour are the reasons for why she is where she is but she also loves him and wants his attention and for him to be proud of her. At the same time, she is also irritated with herself for wanting that when it seems as though her father is living his own life with little regard for her wellbeing. He’s dragging the settlement out (for reasons that aren’t really explained) and doesn’t seem to be contributing to the cost of Mary’s care. Mary was quite a complex character, well fleshed out and with a sharp humour that I enjoyed. She had an unusual interest in horticulture (with a good background given for the reason for this) which gave her the opportunity to herself connect with a few members of the town. Mary was the sort of person who was always going to make a mistake but also be the stronger for it.
There’s a fair bit of quirk in this book and not all of it will work for everybody I don’t think – not all of it worked for me. But a huge amount of it did and I found it quite funny. Some of the characters are ridiculously over the top and very tongue in cheek but I enjoyed it. There’s a tiny sliver of sweet romance in there as well.
My only complaint is that I feel some things could’ve been a bit better fleshed out……Evie’s relationship with her parents, the resolution of her marriage to Gabe, just to name a couple. But overall I thought this was a nice easy read to pass an afternoon with a cast of fun characters.
Evie has had to reinvent herself….in with pencil skirts, heels and up-dos, out with lazy trackies and swearing. She has to prove that she’s worthy of the community and especially that she’s worthy of its pastor. Nathan might have been her partner in crime years ago but now he holds a position of responsibility in the community, leading a church that is struggling in both facilities and cashflow. Evie attempts to win over skeptical townfolk with her delicious baked treats, attempting to woo them to her side so that she might become more involved in the town. The only trouble is, whilst Nathan might’ve been a solid plan in her head, are they really even suited? And does Evie want to be this new version of herself forever?
I really enjoyed this book. Evie was such a fun character – a bit scatty at times and so focused on her “goal” that she often couldn’t see what was right in front of her face, but I do admire her for sucking up a lot of things and going back to a place that she knew wasn’t going to be easy. Evie seemed to have had quite a charmed life with her former husband (until the negative couldn’t be ignored anymore) but now she’s faced with starting over, attempting to provide for herself and Mary, who is also struggling to fit in. Evie joins committees, she thinks of fundraising ideas, she swallows her pride and applies for jobs in stores she once terrorised years ago.
I loved the character of Mary, Evie’s teenage daughter who has also had her life uprooted and had to move to a town where she recognises immediately that she will struggle to fit in. Evie wants her to make “girlfriends” but instead Mary falls in with other misfits Travis and Mini D. She finds herself harbouring a crush on Zach, the boyfriend of the head of the cliquey girls group and like most teenagers, doesn’t heed any of the warnings that come her way about him. That felt like such a genuine teenage experience though, in more ways than one. Mary is also struggling with her feelings for her father – she accepts his actions and behaviour are the reasons for why she is where she is but she also loves him and wants his attention and for him to be proud of her. At the same time, she is also irritated with herself for wanting that when it seems as though her father is living his own life with little regard for her wellbeing. He’s dragging the settlement out (for reasons that aren’t really explained) and doesn’t seem to be contributing to the cost of Mary’s care. Mary was quite a complex character, well fleshed out and with a sharp humour that I enjoyed. She had an unusual interest in horticulture (with a good background given for the reason for this) which gave her the opportunity to herself connect with a few members of the town. Mary was the sort of person who was always going to make a mistake but also be the stronger for it.
There’s a fair bit of quirk in this book and not all of it will work for everybody I don’t think – not all of it worked for me. But a huge amount of it did and I found it quite funny. Some of the characters are ridiculously over the top and very tongue in cheek but I enjoyed it. There’s a tiny sliver of sweet romance in there as well.
My only complaint is that I feel some things could’ve been a bit better fleshed out……Evie’s relationship with her parents, the resolution of her marriage to Gabe, just to name a couple. But overall I thought this was a nice easy read to pass an afternoon with a cast of fun characters.
August 8, 2017
Evie Pleasant returns to her home town of Sweet Meadow with her teenage daughter, Mary in tow, hoping to start her life over after a failed marriage.
The book opens on New Year’s Day - ‘judgement morning’ - with residents hiding hangovers behind primrose-yellow drapes, which twitch as wayward Evie crashes her mini into the heritage listed fence of her childhood home. ‘I told you not to drive in high heels,’ says her daughter, and the fun begins!
Evie has reinvented herself, dressing to the nines and promising herself ‘no swearing, no drinking, no stealing, no fires.’ Of course, despite her best attempts, she can’t help but occasionally slip back into her old ways.
The locals are not too happy about her return, having been on the receiving end of the most outrageous practical jokes during Evie’s youth. Evie is determined to win them over one by one using her magnificent baking skills. Her heart is set on rekindling a romantic connection with her old partner in crime, Nathan, who is now the village pastor and resistant to her wily charms.
I was captivated by the fresh, fun, mischievous voice straight away. Wit and similes flow from every page, keeping the tone humorously conversational. Quirky characters and amusing situations create a rich setting, reminiscent of an English country village with with an Australian twist.
After many misplaced affections, the Pleasant girls get their Happily Ever After. I was so hoping the story would end the way it did!
This was one rollicking read that flowed like the syrup off one of Evie’s luscious pastries.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for the copy I won through the author’s Facebook page.
The book opens on New Year’s Day - ‘judgement morning’ - with residents hiding hangovers behind primrose-yellow drapes, which twitch as wayward Evie crashes her mini into the heritage listed fence of her childhood home. ‘I told you not to drive in high heels,’ says her daughter, and the fun begins!
Evie has reinvented herself, dressing to the nines and promising herself ‘no swearing, no drinking, no stealing, no fires.’ Of course, despite her best attempts, she can’t help but occasionally slip back into her old ways.
The locals are not too happy about her return, having been on the receiving end of the most outrageous practical jokes during Evie’s youth. Evie is determined to win them over one by one using her magnificent baking skills. Her heart is set on rekindling a romantic connection with her old partner in crime, Nathan, who is now the village pastor and resistant to her wily charms.
I was captivated by the fresh, fun, mischievous voice straight away. Wit and similes flow from every page, keeping the tone humorously conversational. Quirky characters and amusing situations create a rich setting, reminiscent of an English country village with with an Australian twist.
After many misplaced affections, the Pleasant girls get their Happily Ever After. I was so hoping the story would end the way it did!
This was one rollicking read that flowed like the syrup off one of Evie’s luscious pastries.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia for the copy I won through the author’s Facebook page.
March 17, 2019
My Thoughts & Feelings: 3/5
Those Pleasant Girls is a book by Aussie author Lia Weston that I’ve been eyeing off for a while with its unique cover. I love that the cake is on fire and that the word Those has a burnt hole in it! Along with the words ‘A novel about…..and carmel slices’ on the front cover and the blurb stating that ‘Evie’s cakes have a job to do’ I was really looking forward to reading what I thought would be a foodie novel. While Those Pleasant Girls was well written and a good way to pass the time, it had very little to do with caramel slices, cakes or any sweet food really.
This is a tale of second chances and redemption for Evie Pleasant when she returns to the fictional country town of Sweet Meadow. As a former wild child, Evie is now trying to be a 50s housewife as she raises her teenage daughter as a single mother. Memories are long though and the many inhabitants of Sweet Meadow have not forgotten the girl that Evie once was. I really couldn’t blame townsfolk when they went down memory lane and revealed what Evie did, making me wither giggle or cringe. Even as an adult returning home her intentions are not quite as pure when it’s revealed that Evie wants to marry her teenage sweet heart. I found myself enjoying Evie’s antics as she fails time and time again at being the good girl that the man of her dreams wants to marry but I was also relieved when she finally let her true, glorious colours show.
This is a fun reminder about always being yourself and never compromising for others.
Those Pleasant Girls is a book by Aussie author Lia Weston that I’ve been eyeing off for a while with its unique cover. I love that the cake is on fire and that the word Those has a burnt hole in it! Along with the words ‘A novel about…..and carmel slices’ on the front cover and the blurb stating that ‘Evie’s cakes have a job to do’ I was really looking forward to reading what I thought would be a foodie novel. While Those Pleasant Girls was well written and a good way to pass the time, it had very little to do with caramel slices, cakes or any sweet food really.
This is a tale of second chances and redemption for Evie Pleasant when she returns to the fictional country town of Sweet Meadow. As a former wild child, Evie is now trying to be a 50s housewife as she raises her teenage daughter as a single mother. Memories are long though and the many inhabitants of Sweet Meadow have not forgotten the girl that Evie once was. I really couldn’t blame townsfolk when they went down memory lane and revealed what Evie did, making me wither giggle or cringe. Even as an adult returning home her intentions are not quite as pure when it’s revealed that Evie wants to marry her teenage sweet heart. I found myself enjoying Evie’s antics as she fails time and time again at being the good girl that the man of her dreams wants to marry but I was also relieved when she finally let her true, glorious colours show.
This is a fun reminder about always being yourself and never compromising for others.
October 18, 2017
Weston is a master of casual comedic genius.
This book is dangerous to read while eating. At the line 'Mini D ate like he was storing nuts for winter', I had to fold cornflakes back into my mouth after laughing too hard. Several times I just cracked up on the couch, prompting my brother and partner to ask, "What? What's funny?" and I'd have to read it out to them.
I devoured this book in two days and need another like it very soon. Highly recommend to readers of all genres!
Now... I need a macaron or two.
This book is dangerous to read while eating. At the line 'Mini D ate like he was storing nuts for winter', I had to fold cornflakes back into my mouth after laughing too hard. Several times I just cracked up on the couch, prompting my brother and partner to ask, "What? What's funny?" and I'd have to read it out to them.
I devoured this book in two days and need another like it very soon. Highly recommend to readers of all genres!
Now... I need a macaron or two.
August 24, 2017
This book makes me proud to be Australian. With such a brilliantly talented writer, such as Lia Weston, in the rank of Australian writers, I am sure that the Australian books will take a larg chunk of the writing world by storm. Now, more on this book, a family moves back to the mothers home town, after losing one of the members, mayhem soon ensues. Fires, love and broken hearts all provide a lovely story that shows small town life isn't as dull as you would think.
May 18, 2017
A nasty divorce and the death of her mother propel Evie Pleasant back to the tiny town of Sweet Meadows. Mary, her daughter, has come with her. Evie's entry begins with a bang, literally. She crashes her mini into the gates of her familial home. The curtains twitch, people step out their front door and some even come to assist her move into the house! Welcome back.
Evie is keen to reignite her childhood friendship with Nate, her partner in crime. She's little money, a daughter who idolises her father, even though he slept with anything in a skirt, and a desire to put her past crimes behind her. People have long memories and she has to fight to show them that she has changed.
A wonderful romp that encompasses the problems faced by those who return to their childhood home with all the memories and issues that arise by doing so. Sometimes hopes and dreams are all you're left with.
Evie is keen to reignite her childhood friendship with Nate, her partner in crime. She's little money, a daughter who idolises her father, even though he slept with anything in a skirt, and a desire to put her past crimes behind her. People have long memories and she has to fight to show them that she has changed.
A wonderful romp that encompasses the problems faced by those who return to their childhood home with all the memories and issues that arise by doing so. Sometimes hopes and dreams are all you're left with.
August 4, 2017
Loved it! Lia Weston in telling us the story of recently single Evie Pleasant (née Bouvier) who returns to Sweet Meadow, the town that witnessed her misspent youth, brings us a story that you immediately relate to.
Those Pleasant Girls looks at the first 12 months of life back in Sweet Meadow, following Evie and her reluctant teenage daughter Mary as they search out their place and their new life in the town. Lia Weston nails life as a newbie or misfit in a small community with characters you care about. This is a story that has an equal measure of fun, quirkiness, baking, romance and escapades. It's perfect escapist fun.
Those Pleasant Girls looks at the first 12 months of life back in Sweet Meadow, following Evie and her reluctant teenage daughter Mary as they search out their place and their new life in the town. Lia Weston nails life as a newbie or misfit in a small community with characters you care about. This is a story that has an equal measure of fun, quirkiness, baking, romance and escapades. It's perfect escapist fun.
May 26, 2017
A very enjoyable read centring around Evie Pleasant, her daughter Mary, and their move back to Evie's small childhood town, where everybody knows everybody and they have, unfortunately for Evie, long memories.
A wonderful array of colourful country folk, a bit of romance, some teen angst, a lot of baking, and fire. When Evie's around, always fire.
Light, funny, with smart dialogue and likeable characters.
A wonderful array of colourful country folk, a bit of romance, some teen angst, a lot of baking, and fire. When Evie's around, always fire.
Light, funny, with smart dialogue and likeable characters.
January 6, 2019
Fun light read. Bit predictable, bit implausible, but easy enough to overlook.
The one thing that really bothered me was that Evie pushed the cake into the lake, even though I KNEW she would. From the minute she started making it I guessed she would eventually destroy it, something about the way it was written just pointed to it. Maybe I've read too many books along similar lines. But yeah I hate reading about a ginormous waste of time, money & effort.
The one thing that really bothered me was that Evie pushed the cake into the lake, even though I KNEW she would. From the minute she started making it I guessed she would eventually destroy it, something about the way it was written just pointed to it. Maybe I've read too many books along similar lines. But yeah I hate reading about a ginormous waste of time, money & effort.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2017
This is a wonderfully entertaining, easy to read book. I found the Australian small town setting very relatable and the main characters engaging and fun. I quickly got drawn into the story and it was a wonderful holiday week I spent reading it.
I can recommend this book for anyone who wants a good fiction book to help them escape into someone else's story, it's also really funny too!
I can recommend this book for anyone who wants a good fiction book to help them escape into someone else's story, it's also really funny too!
November 30, 2017
This was a fun middle of the road read. Wild child returns to town to make good. Has a manly target in mind but of course, the path to true love does not run smoothly. It was a fun read, but certainly along standard lines.
February 1, 2018
Definitely a book to make you lol (literally)! The story moves along quickly, interspersed with delicious descriptions of food. The characters are relateably human and in turn make you want to slap them and cheer them on. A good book to leave a smile on your face.
May 28, 2017
I loved this look: it was funny, touching and bittersweet.
June 9, 2017
Quirky, funny, laugh out loud tale of what can and will happen when returning to your past with a new (and improved??) outlook... sometimes it doesn't go as planned.
Awesomely funny.
Awesomely funny.
August 9, 2017
A fun, funny and perfectly satisfying book. My favourite brand of witty humour.
September 30, 2017
3.5 - 3 .75/5
March 16, 2018
Wish I had stopped reading this when I thought I wouldn’t like it. Was really hoping for an improvement in the story for the second half though! Left disappointed
August 19, 2018
Easy chick read.
August 27, 2018
I think this would make an excellent movie - in the same style as “The Dressmaker”. It was both poignant and amusing.
March 30, 2019
Couldn't finish, not what I was expecting!
June 27, 2023
Whimsical, joyous, delightful. Did not want this to end
March 19, 2017
Love it.
January 2, 2023
Meh.
This book was terribly fanciful. So why did it leave me so flat?
Was it poor old Phil’s sleepy eyes?
Every. Single. Description. Of. Him.
Or just how unlikeable most of the main characters were? Or unbelievable?
Or the hints that Evie needed mental health treatment, but that all kind of got fixed up in the end by hooking up with ‘ole sleepy eyes Phil?
I so wanted to enjoy a light, fun read set in Australia, but alas this isn’t it.
This book was terribly fanciful. So why did it leave me so flat?
Was it poor old Phil’s sleepy eyes?
Every. Single. Description. Of. Him.
Or just how unlikeable most of the main characters were? Or unbelievable?
Or the hints that Evie needed mental health treatment, but that all kind of got fixed up in the end by hooking up with ‘ole sleepy eyes Phil?
I so wanted to enjoy a light, fun read set in Australia, but alas this isn’t it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2017
I found this one a bit hard to get into and I read a lot of books being a book seller/purchasing manager. I found it a bit lacking in storyline and only read to the end thinking there might have been something great to come.
it was okay but I could put it down and I did want it to finish so I could start something else
it was okay but I could put it down and I did want it to finish so I could start something else
April 30, 2017
If you could redeem yourself by baking, would you do it? If there was a chance you could erase your childhood misdemeanours and snag a new husband with money by returning to the country town of your youth, would you take it? I think most of us would (unless we couldn’t cook to save ourselves). It all seems too easy. In Those Pleasant Girls by Lia Weston, Evie aims to do just that. She’s a stellar baker but her problem is that her mischievous youth was a bit more than childish pranks. The townspeople of Sweet Meadow have long memories, but hopefully they can be cured by their sweet tooths…
It’s a fun idea for a story – cooking yourself into redemption. But Evie has more plans than sugar induced forgiveness. Her divorce is looming and she has little money. She needs to get some quickly and thirty years ago, she and friend Nathan made a pact to marry. Can she hold him to that? Evie’s changed her style of dress from suburban mum to fifties pin up girl in the hope of Nathan falling in love with her. She’s also joined the church committee so she’s in the priest’s line of sight. Meanwhile, daughter Mary is not happy with her uprooting to the country. Being a bit Gothic in a town full of blonde goddesses isn’t easy, but she finds friends in the back of the library – Travis and Mini D. She does have eyes for high school hunk Zach but he could never like her…right?
There is a lot going on in The Pleasant Girls between Evie, Mary and how the other characters feel about them. Sometimes I was a bit confused as to who had a crush on who, who liked who and where they all fit in relationships with each other. Some issues were covered a bit more in depth than others (for example, Travis’ unrequited love for Evie could have been explored a bit more – it’s there, revealed and then disappears). Mary also has a bit of a tendency for graffiti initially, but then that seems to disappear too as she fits in more with the pack. I did find that there were a lot of surprises and the plot moved quite quickly – neither of the Pleasant girls takes things at a leisurely pace!
The town of Sweet Meadow is rendered well, expressing the desolation of a dying country town from the tired shopfronts to the one clothes store specialising in tracksuits well. I could feel the heat, the buzzing flies and the dust. It’s not explicit whether this is an Australian setting (the only possible link is the heat and Mary’s year at school) so it could be a village anywhere. There are some English undertones in the fair that’s held by the church (or maybe I’ve just seen The Vicar of Dibley too much – the committee meetings in Sweet Meadow are just as out there!) The townspeople are quirky too, from Joy Piece, local real estate maven and husband devourer to Amy, mysterious and cynical smoker. Mini D was my favourite character – he has no filter for what he says and provides much of the humour (and truth) for the convoluted lives of Sweet Meadow’s people.
Those Pleasant Girls is a quirky story, loaded with secrets in a small town. While I didn’t adore it, it’s a light read that will make you crack a smile in more than a few places.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
It’s a fun idea for a story – cooking yourself into redemption. But Evie has more plans than sugar induced forgiveness. Her divorce is looming and she has little money. She needs to get some quickly and thirty years ago, she and friend Nathan made a pact to marry. Can she hold him to that? Evie’s changed her style of dress from suburban mum to fifties pin up girl in the hope of Nathan falling in love with her. She’s also joined the church committee so she’s in the priest’s line of sight. Meanwhile, daughter Mary is not happy with her uprooting to the country. Being a bit Gothic in a town full of blonde goddesses isn’t easy, but she finds friends in the back of the library – Travis and Mini D. She does have eyes for high school hunk Zach but he could never like her…right?
There is a lot going on in The Pleasant Girls between Evie, Mary and how the other characters feel about them. Sometimes I was a bit confused as to who had a crush on who, who liked who and where they all fit in relationships with each other. Some issues were covered a bit more in depth than others (for example, Travis’ unrequited love for Evie could have been explored a bit more – it’s there, revealed and then disappears). Mary also has a bit of a tendency for graffiti initially, but then that seems to disappear too as she fits in more with the pack. I did find that there were a lot of surprises and the plot moved quite quickly – neither of the Pleasant girls takes things at a leisurely pace!
The town of Sweet Meadow is rendered well, expressing the desolation of a dying country town from the tired shopfronts to the one clothes store specialising in tracksuits well. I could feel the heat, the buzzing flies and the dust. It’s not explicit whether this is an Australian setting (the only possible link is the heat and Mary’s year at school) so it could be a village anywhere. There are some English undertones in the fair that’s held by the church (or maybe I’ve just seen The Vicar of Dibley too much – the committee meetings in Sweet Meadow are just as out there!) The townspeople are quirky too, from Joy Piece, local real estate maven and husband devourer to Amy, mysterious and cynical smoker. Mini D was my favourite character – he has no filter for what he says and provides much of the humour (and truth) for the convoluted lives of Sweet Meadow’s people.
Those Pleasant Girls is a quirky story, loaded with secrets in a small town. While I didn’t adore it, it’s a light read that will make you crack a smile in more than a few places.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
March 7, 2018
Pleasantly surprised with this one - a light hearted, entertainmenting & fun read with some lovely imagery. Well worth it.
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