Polling the chick lit expertise crowd...

Do you recommend any chick lit books with not-so-happy endings? I don't mean someone dies or gets hurt or has something horrible happen. I just mean, the not so typical ending where the girl "without even trying" loses those 20 pounds, gets the guy, gets the job, etc.

I *love* chick lit right up there with everyone else. But when I'm thumbing through my TBR shelf, I sometimes feel like I want something that's not going to make me feel so bad when I get to the end. (I do have the job, but not the guy, etc.) I remember being pleasantly surprised when I get to a book where the lead chick may NOT get the guy. But she's still ok! She's happy, she's moving on, etc. If this makes any sense to you, please recommend some, thanks!

~ Heather

Read PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern.  I think you would enjoy that!

*** Spoiler alert ****

I read that (way before the movie came out). That's actually an example of what I'm *not* looking for. The character isn't actually even that likeable- she's really self-centered, and yet she ends up with yet ANOTHER awesome man who falls all over her, treats her like a queen, and ends up happily ever after! Just not reality. But thank you for the suggestion!

The NEXT series by Harlequin (ya I know) seem to have female characters who are more into making themsleves happy without getting /having a man.The books dont seem to revolve around "dating" and jobs.But they are also about ladies in their mid-late 30's and over  so if you are looking for characters in their 20's these wouldnt do.

Stacy

Hey I'm in my 30s! I don't mind at all! :-)

I'd have to say "all we every wanted was everything" by Janelle Brown. Nothing really tragic happens, but the ending is not the norm. warm and fuzzy type ending.

I think Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner was good for that. Not everybody ended up with the white picket fence at the end. But, it still showed the strength in a woman that chick lit is built on.  You get the feeling that these girls are gonna be OK.

If You Could See Me Now by Ceclia Ahern.

Help Wanted, Desperately :: Ariel Horn

I just read this and loved it! It had a different ending than what I expected. I really enjoyed it because while it had a romantic aspect to it, that wasn't the main focus of the book. The main character was so funny and relatable in her quest for employment and attempts to find her niche in life. This one made it to my keeper shelf.

I'm not 100% sure what you're looking for, but I think The Nanny Diaries is a good recommendation.  The ending is kinda like you said, not happily-ever-after, but realistic--almost made me cry.  I really loved the whole book in general, and I'd definitely classify it as chick-lit. 

I agree...Little EArthquakes didn't end like I thought it would.  At the same time, I didn't want it to end.  I wanted to read more about these women.

I get enough unhappy endings in real life. (my day job is as an intensive care RN)....so I WANT all my books to have happy endings:) 

You might want to try some of the older Danielle Steele books.  I remember one in particular about a really rich woman dating a man that was in jail and became something of an advocate for prisoner's rights...can't remember the name though.....ending wasn't happy enough for me so I don't read Danielle Steele anymore.

Actually, Slightly Single was like that for me- or it would have been if it were a stand alone. Getting Over Jack Wagner was like that, but I hated that book (jmho). And probably Size 12 is Not Fat and Size 14 is Not Fat Either (but again the series doesn't stop there).

I  think every book has a happy ending with the guy...I just read one that was interesting called Kissing An Ex by Brooke Stevens.  I was shocked to find that it was written by a guy not a woman, and for a guy writing from a female perspective it was good. 

I know what you mean about not having that predictable ending where guy meets girl, they fall in love, struggle in conflict and then end up together.  It's too formatic.  I always enjoy when in the movies they don't get together; not trying to be a sadist, but I think it shows growth on the screen.

I'll try to think of others, it's hard to come up with on the spot.

Maureen