Can you really make a living from indulging in your dreams?

TV Producer Stella Weston is over worked, over weight and under fire. Having battled uphill for years to balance her career with her family life, she is repaid by being put out to pasture on a religious gardening programme complete with a nervous vicar, his nymphomaniac wife, and 22 stone Britney wannabe gardener, Gerald.

In the past, comfort has always been found at the bottom of her mixing bowl but when even the most delicious lemon sponge with zesty frosting cannot save the day, Stella decides enough is enough.

However, finding the courage to quit is sometimes the easy part. Can you really turn a passion into a profession? Does more time at home actually give you a happier family life? Are men truly from Mars or another universe altogether?

Stella has to roll up her sleeves and find out – when the going gets tough, the tough get baking….

Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes is the debut novel from Sue Watson published by new publisher on the block Rickshaw Publishing. With it’s pretty pastel cover, catchy title and original recipes, this book is a delicious read that will appeal to chick lit lovers of all ages but particularly those juggling, career, marriage, friendships and children.

The story is told from the point of view of Stella Weston, a forty-something TV producer. At the start of the novel, Stella is trying to hold on to her high flying career (despite the best efforts of her evil boss, MJ to sabotage it) whilst trying to keep her family life on track. There is a lot that readers will recognise in Stella; as a working mum, I empathised with her straight away as she was called to a late meeting which meant she wouldn’t be there to collect her daughter from school and as she is sent off to film in Rochdale and feels guilty at having to leave her family behind. As the book progresses, things go from bad to worse for poor Stella but despite the fact that life as she knows it seems to be falling apart, there is a lot of humour in her character and the book overall and this is a funny and very entertaining read.

Stella is a really strong character and I love the fact that she gets on with her life despite the setbacks. Having seen the title of the book, I was a little concerned that Stella might be a bit obsessed about her weight but thankfully she’s more about making the most of what she has and I was really rooting for a good outcome for her as I read.

Stella’s best friends Lizzie and Al are the other key characters in the book and great supporting characters. Their individual stories provide entertaining subplots to the story adding good variety. This really is a book that shows the importance of close friendships as the three friends deal with their fair share of dramas relating to love and life.  Al was my favourite character; with his ‘tell it like it is’ approach his comments often made me laugh out loud.

Sue Watson’s background as a television producer shows as her descriptions of the media world feel like a real and very humorous insider view of a world that few of us have chance to experience first hand. Stella’s ventures to Kefalonia and Ibiza had me reading with a big smile on my face and Sue’s writing is witty and heartfelt in just the right amounts. Throw in one of the most fun and original weddings that I’ve ever read and Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes is a thoroughly enjoyable read and a fab debut!

4/5

Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes is released today and you can find out more about Sue Watson at: http://fatgirlsandfairycakes.blogspot.com/

I’d like to thank Sue and her publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

Giveaway!!

Sue has very kindly provided a copy of Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes for me to give away to one lucky reader. To enter just leave a comment in the box below saying what your favourite kind of sweet treat is. I’ll draw a winner using random.org after the closing date.

UK entries only please. Entries will close at midnight on Monday 12th September. Good luck!