A Desirable Residence by Madeleine Wickham

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Wickham, who writes the Shopaholic series under Sophie Kinsella, tells the story of how one house affects the lives of those around it. Liz and Jonathan Chambers recently purchased a tutorial college outside London. This is great for them, except for the mortgage that comes with the purchase. In order to have enough money for the tutorial college’s mortgage, they need to sell their current home. Listed with Witherstone’s Real Estate Agency, the house shows no promise of selling, though Marcus Witherstone knows the perfect couple who are interested in renting a house, Ginny and Piers Prentice. Ginny and Piers move into the house; Liz and Jonathan’s teenage daughter Alice becomes entranced with the new tenants. And, Liz develops a crush on Marcus, which turns into a bit more than simple flirtations. As the novel progresses, these characters find themselves in sticky and irreversible situations that may cost them more than their self-respect.

I enjoyed this novel. Perfect for a vacation and beach read, the novel reads quickly and is a great diversion from every day life. Wickham creates characters that really do not appear likable – most of the characters have a secret agenda, dreaming that their lives change for the better, creating richer lifestyles or higher levels of fame. I personally feel sorry for Jonathan, whose family seems to really detest him, though he is arguably the least attention seeking amongst them and the other characters.

Those who enjoy the Shopaholic series should try this novel. If you like light, fluffy reads, check this out.

Reviewed by Jessica