Book Review / The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership.

Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake.

But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does…will she want it back?


Published:     19th July 2005
Publisher:  The Dial Press
Goodreads :  Click here
Series or Stand-Alone:  Stand-Alone
Source:  Owned Copy

MY REVIEW

Out of all the books written by Sophie Kinsella, The Undomestic Goddess is by far my favourite.  It was my favourite the first time I read this many years ago and is still standing firm as my favourite after reading it for the second time (although I do have to say that there are two books that I have yet to read for the first time so things may change but I will find this one hard to beat!).  

What I loved the most about this story was the comedy aspect.  You have Samantha who at the beginning of the story is a complete workaholic attorney who thinks of nothing else but work and is the most unorganised person I have ever known.  Something bad happens which means that she leaves her work, catches a train and ends up in the middle of nowhere.  She stumbles upon a house where she is mistaken for someone who wants a job as a cleaner.  Being in the middle of an emotional meltdown Samantha doesn't realise that she is being interviewed.  By the time the morning comes she is the new housekeeper.  Samantha being someone who knows nothing about housekeeping or being organised she takes on this challenge not wanting to be beaten and thinking that she can't return to the life she had known being a lawyer, she thinks she has no other choice.  With a few disasters along the way and a few friendly helpful characters, she settles into this life.  

With a few twists and turns in this story, I found myself laughing out loud many times and really hoping the best for Samantha.  Even with the ending being predictable, I just loved it.

This is a perfect read for the Spring and Summer seasons, perfect for taking down the beach or reading on a bench down the park.