Tameka Y. reviewed on 8/23/2009

Helpful Score: 3

I was actually quite surprised to learn that there was a Sophie Kinsella book that I had not read. Her last book Remember Me? was one of my favorites from last year. This book is older, probably released around the same time as the first Shopaholic books. This novel is a standalone and follows in true Kinsella form for being light, fun, and totally entertaining. No deep plot, no deep philosophical discussion, or not even too many big words. Lets just be honest, there isnt going to be a plague on anyones house in this story.

Basic plot premise is life seen through the eyes of endearingly optimistic Emma Corrigan a twenty something junior marketing executive at Panther Corporation. In an attempt to boost her career she volunteers to substitute for her boss at a meeting with clients in Glasgow. After she is unsuccessful at winning them over, she flies back praying that she will have a job when she returns. Already a highly nervous flier, Emma completely loses it when her flight from Glasgow to London encounters severe turbulence. Thinking the end is near, she spills every secret she has ever had to the stranger next to her. How she lost her virginity, what she really thinks of her boyfriend, the petty (but hilarious) stunts she pulls on co-workers, the way she killed her parents' goldfish while they were on vacation and replaced it without their knowledge, her deepest thoughts on g-strings, her contemptible sow of a cousin Kerry, Charles Dickens, and more. When the plane miraculously lands, Emma is thankful she will never again see this man who knows every little secret of her life. Or so she thinks. (Insert evil laugh) Emma returns to her job to find that the stranger she blabbed to is none other than the CEO of Panther Corporation, Jack Harper who just so happens to be visiting from America. (Come and knock on our door)

Lets just say hilarity ensues and there is of course, a happy ending. Emma is very reminiscent of Kinsella's other heroine, the shopaholic Becky Bloomwood. A definite honorable mention goes to my favorite character in the story, Emmas roommate Jemima. Jemima is kind of like the UK version of the ghetto fabulous girl from the hood who will fake a pregnancy or chuck a brick through a guy's car window for cheating on her. Though instead of velour tracksuits and huge hoop earrings, Jemima wears Prada mules, pearls, and cashmere cardigans. Every scene with Jemima had me in internal giggles at her sage thoughts on men, jewels, and her tried and true methods of "getting the ring on your finger".

Can You Keep a Secret? definitely keeps the tried and true theme of good girl who makes horrible decisions but learns a big lesson and still ends up with the guy, but for chick-lit that is pretty much a hat trick. I definitely recommend for filler between heavier subject matter due to it's fast paced timing and rapid fire resolutions. All in all not a bad little story and yes, I was entertained.

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