Fantastic!, 12 May 2008
Well I just loved this book! I fell in love and identified with the characters and their emotions and liked how the characters developed as the story went on. People may say its predictable but Colgan actually develops the relationships between the characters in unexpected ways...delving into their past to explain why they are the way they are. This book is cute, funny and one that you will find hard to put down...trust me i pushed and pushed til i could go no more and woke up the next morning afew times with it in my hand. A fantastic, lighthearted and genuinely lovely novel from Colgan..READ IT!

fantastic, 18 Mar 2007
this is the first book ive read of jenny colgan. i can asure you it is the funiest book ive ever come across. its a tale of friends, careers, men and laughter!!! its the laugh out loud comedy that really makes this book great. full of one liners that any girl can relate to! we've all done stupid things in life and love and its all told in a very humerous way in this really gripping and extremely so-true-its-funny novel! you will not be disapointed

Good but left me slightly frustrated, 22 Oct 2006
OK, this might be a personal thing but I really felt the lead (Katie) ended up with the wrong fella! Won't say too much here about that as don't want to spoil it before you read it, but it was the one bug bear I had with this. Apart from that really loved it - easy to read, devoured it in a day as couldnt put it down and really cared about the characters to the point of crying at one point. Can we have a sequel please? (or if there is one, someone let me know! lol).

made me laugh!!, 18 Oct 2006
What a great book!!
I came across this book whilst on holiday and it had me in stiches!!!
A real good laugh out loud read (got a few funny looks on the beach but hey shouldn't a good book make you laugh or cry. Will be buying more of jenny's books very soon.

Excellent lit for the true romatic, 19 Sep 2006
Excellent literature which is easily read and although slightly predictable offers a fantastic ride for the more romantic of readers. I love Jeeny Colgans style of writting and would recommend to any chick lit lover.

Fantastic!, 12 May 2008
Well I just loved this book! I fell in love and identified with the characters and their emotions and liked how the characters developed as the story went on. People may say its predictable but Colgan actually develops the relationships between the characters in unexpected ways...delving into their past to explain why they are the way they are. This book is cute, funny and one that you will find hard to put down...trust me i pushed and pushed til i could go no more and woke up the next morning afew times with it in my hand. A fantastic, lighthearted and genuinely lovely novel from Colgan..READ IT!

fantastic, 18 Mar 2007
this is the first book ive read of jenny colgan. i can asure you it is the funiest book ive ever come across. its a tale of friends, careers, men and laughter!!! its the laugh out loud comedy that really makes this book great. full of one liners that any girl can relate to! we've all done stupid things in life and love and its all told in a very humerous way in this really gripping and extremely so-true-its-funny novel! you will not be disapointed

Good but left me slightly frustrated, 22 Oct 2006
OK, this might be a personal thing but I really felt the lead (Katie) ended up with the wrong fella! Won't say too much here about that as don't want to spoil it before you read it, but it was the one bug bear I had with this. Apart from that really loved it - easy to read, devoured it in a day as couldnt put it down and really cared about the characters to the point of crying at one point. Can we have a sequel please? (or if there is one, someone let me know! lol).

made me laugh!!, 18 Oct 2006
What a great book!!
I came across this book whilst on holiday and it had me in stiches!!!
A real good laugh out loud read (got a few funny looks on the beach but hey shouldn't a good book make you laugh or cry. Will be buying more of jenny's books very soon.

Excellent lit for the true romatic, 19 Sep 2006
Excellent literature which is easily read and although slightly predictable offers a fantastic ride for the more romantic of readers. I love Jeeny Colgans style of writting and would recommend to any chick lit lover.

An excellent rib-tickler, 21 Oct 2008
Despite my best intentions to read a wide variety of literature to 'broaden my mind,' sometimes I just have to reach for a chick-lit novel. The good ones are a breath of fresh air - easily digestible and relaxing, and you can get through them in a couple of days. Operation Sunshine is one of the good ones. Heat Magazine dubbed it "a perfect sunlounger read," and I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading it on a sunlounger, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.

The action centres around Evie, a receptionist in a high profile cosmetic surgery. Feeling miserable, Evie starts fantasising about going on holiday. All the holidays she's ever been on in her life have gone wrong in some shape or form so she's not a huge holiday fan, but feels she ought to try again. After all, people rave about them so they can't be that bad, can they?

Soon enough, Evie gets the chance to find out as she's invited to accompany the two doctors she works for to the South of France. It's a plastic surgery conference, so Evie is hoping for the chance of sun, sea, sand and hopefully sex with a hot rich doctor. However, things don't quite pan out that way when she realises it's more than just a conference. There's something rather untoward going on involving highly questionnable surgery on a cruise ship, which by a scary coincidence has been designed by her childhood friend. The more Evie pokes around for information, the more disturbing the story becomes and she feels she has to intervene for the sake of many people. And that's when things start getting interesting...

Operation Sunshine is a right giggle! From the very beginning you'll appreciate the witty characters and the situations they find themselves in, and as the plot thickens, things just get better. Right in the middle of the action, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. This really is an ace read; it's fun, humourous and has a dash of romance - everything a girl could want from a book in this genre. Highly recommended.

Not worth the effort, 25 Jan 2008
Have never read any of Jennty Colgan's before and I doubt I will be again.

This was unfortunately not a very thrilling read for me and it seemed to switch genre's half way through, from a chick-lit novel to a crime solving medical investigation.

Evie is a good character and there is some good chemistry, but unfortunately, it was abit far fetched and over the top.

Not impressed, 04 Jan 2008
Jenny colgan is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, but this book was such a disappointment. It had all the makings of a good story, yet colgan failed to make this anything but predictable and rather boring. All her other books have been exciting, interesting and immpossible to put down, however that is not the case with operation sunshine.

Not as good as usual, 10 Dec 2007
This book could have been great - it had potential. Good plot, nice main character. But it just felt light and flabby really. I like Colgan's books and I think she can be really, really funny. But I'd like to see her stretch herself more. But I will read her next one (if it sounds interesting!). Every author has one or two 'off' books and deserves a good chance. It can't be easy writing a book every year or two.

Another great Jenny Colgan book, 27 Sep 2007
What another great book from Jenny Colgan. She never fails to deliver in my opinion. This is an excellent easy read with lots of laughs as usual. Doesnt beat 'Where have all the boys gone' but this is still a 'must' read if you like Jenny's other books.

Jenny Colgan has carved out some highly individual territory as a writer of great warmth and humour; she is a clear-eyed observer of human nature, as ready to extend sympathy to her characters as she is to be sardonic about their foibles. With Working Wonders, this brand of humorous writing is satisfyingly in evidence once more, wedded this time to a complex and intriguing plot.

Arthur Pendleton has led an unexciting life, working as a town planner and slowly realising that his life holds few surprises. Then he encounters the head of a team of management consultants, the beguiling and beautiful Gwyneth Morgan, a woman Arthur finds himself intimidated by. Her job is to inspire Arthur and his ill-assorted team of planners to take on a daunting task--ensure that Coventry becomes the new European city of culture. Looking around at such colleagues as nerdish computer expert Sven and the unhappy (and long-suffering) Cathy, Arthur becomes increasingly dispirited. And then, astonishingly, Gwyneth shows signs of being attracted to him, and (even more surprisingly) his team begins to fire on all cylinders with ideas. But which is more achievable: beginning a relationship with the intriguing Gwyneth, or making Coventry appear interesting? The elements that made Jenny Colgan's earlier books bestsellers are firmly in place here: quirkily observed characters, capricious plotting and a truly involving sense of the way in which most of us live our lives. Both Arthur and Gwyneth are beautifully drawn, and even if the basic theme (dull hero and brighter heroine in a non-metropolitan culture clash) may owe something to David Lodge's Changing Places, it's none the worse for that; this is an enchanting read. --Barry Forshaw

Fantastic!, 12 May 2008
Well I just loved this book! I fell in love and identified with the characters and their emotions and liked how the characters developed as the story went on. People may say its predictable but Colgan actually develops the relationships between the characters in unexpected ways...delving into their past to explain why they are the way they are. This book is cute, funny and one that you will find hard to put down...trust me i pushed and pushed til i could go no more and woke up the next morning afew times with it in my hand. A fantastic, lighthearted and genuinely lovely novel from Colgan..READ IT!

fantastic, 18 Mar 2007
this is the first book ive read of jenny colgan. i can asure you it is the funiest book ive ever come across. its a tale of friends, careers, men and laughter!!! its the laugh out loud comedy that really makes this book great. full of one liners that any girl can relate to! we've all done stupid things in life and love and its all told in a very humerous way in this really gripping and extremely so-true-its-funny novel! you will not be disapointed

Good but left me slightly frustrated, 22 Oct 2006
OK, this might be a personal thing but I really felt the lead (Katie) ended up with the wrong fella! Won't say too much here about that as don't want to spoil it before you read it, but it was the one bug bear I had with this. Apart from that really loved it - easy to read, devoured it in a day as couldnt put it down and really cared about the characters to the point of crying at one point. Can we have a sequel please? (or if there is one, someone let me know! lol).

made me laugh!!, 18 Oct 2006
What a great book!!
I came across this book whilst on holiday and it had me in stiches!!!
A real good laugh out loud read (got a few funny looks on the beach but hey shouldn't a good book make you laugh or cry. Will be buying more of jenny's books very soon.

Excellent lit for the true romatic, 19 Sep 2006
Excellent literature which is easily read and although slightly predictable offers a fantastic ride for the more romantic of readers. I love Jeeny Colgans style of writting and would recommend to any chick lit lover.

An excellent rib-tickler, 21 Oct 2008
Despite my best intentions to read a wide variety of literature to 'broaden my mind,' sometimes I just have to reach for a chick-lit novel. The good ones are a breath of fresh air - easily digestible and relaxing, and you can get through them in a couple of days. Operation Sunshine is one of the good ones. Heat Magazine dubbed it "a perfect sunlounger read," and I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading it on a sunlounger, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.

The action centres around Evie, a receptionist in a high profile cosmetic surgery. Feeling miserable, Evie starts fantasising about going on holiday. All the holidays she's ever been on in her life have gone wrong in some shape or form so she's not a huge holiday fan, but feels she ought to try again. After all, people rave about them so they can't be that bad, can they?

Soon enough, Evie gets the chance to find out as she's invited to accompany the two doctors she works for to the South of France. It's a plastic surgery conference, so Evie is hoping for the chance of sun, sea, sand and hopefully sex with a hot rich doctor. However, things don't quite pan out that way when she realises it's more than just a conference. There's something rather untoward going on involving highly questionnable surgery on a cruise ship, which by a scary coincidence has been designed by her childhood friend. The more Evie pokes around for information, the more disturbing the story becomes and she feels she has to intervene for the sake of many people. And that's when things start getting interesting...

Operation Sunshine is a right giggle! From the very beginning you'll appreciate the witty characters and the situations they find themselves in, and as the plot thickens, things just get better. Right in the middle of the action, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. This really is an ace read; it's fun, humourous and has a dash of romance - everything a girl could want from a book in this genre. Highly recommended.

Not worth the effort, 25 Jan 2008
Have never read any of Jennty Colgan's before and I doubt I will be again.

This was unfortunately not a very thrilling read for me and it seemed to switch genre's half way through, from a chick-lit novel to a crime solving medical investigation.

Evie is a good character and there is some good chemistry, but unfortunately, it was abit far fetched and over the top.

Not impressed, 04 Jan 2008
Jenny colgan is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, but this book was such a disappointment. It had all the makings of a good story, yet colgan failed to make this anything but predictable and rather boring. All her other books have been exciting, interesting and immpossible to put down, however that is not the case with operation sunshine.

Not as good as usual, 10 Dec 2007
This book could have been great - it had potential. Good plot, nice main character. But it just felt light and flabby really. I like Colgan's books and I think she can be really, really funny. But I'd like to see her stretch herself more. But I will read her next one (if it sounds interesting!). Every author has one or two 'off' books and deserves a good chance. It can't be easy writing a book every year or two.

Another great Jenny Colgan book, 27 Sep 2007
What another great book from Jenny Colgan. She never fails to deliver in my opinion. This is an excellent easy read with lots of laughs as usual. Doesnt beat 'Where have all the boys gone' but this is still a 'must' read if you like Jenny's other books.

Like Marmite., 30 Dec 2007
From reading the other reviews it seems that this is something of a 'Marmite' book (you either love it or hate it). this doesn't surprise me as the cover and supposed genre suggest mediocre 'chick lit' is on offer here. What you actually get is the strangest book that I have ever read. I absolutely loved it and have definitely never read anything like it. I'd recommend it to anyone but warn you not to expect anything fluffy and predictable. I can't believe that I actually enjoyed a book about town planning!

Disappointing and VERY badly researched, 19 Aug 2007
This book looked good. It started off OK, and just became boring, culminating (if that's the right word) in a non-ending.

Not to mention the glaring blunder. I understand that the river which plays a fairly important part in the book just doesn't exist...that may be acceptable in fiction. But I understand that the author *thought* there was a river, having looked at a map. It's a blue line round Coventry - motorway. It lost all credibility.

I wouldn't recommend this as your first book by Jenny Colgan..., 03 Apr 2007
I wasn't an avid reader or anything, in fact I hardly read at all until I read 'Amanda's Wedding' and then 'Looking For Andrew McCarthy' immediatley afterwards - and I've been hooked on Colgan ever since. 'Working Wonders' is not one of the funniest, Colgan is known for her humour, though it is definatley one of her cleverest. The plot line is thick, heart-warming and thought provoking. For a man as the main character, as opposed to women, I thought I wouldn't enjoy the book as I did - but I found myself warming to him.
I wouldn't recommend reading this one first if you haven't read any of the others yet, as I think you need to establish Jenny Colgan's style before you jump right in with something that doesn't usually follow the trend she is known for.
I found this book fantastic, although there were a few bits inbetween I wanted to skip to get to the juicier parts - it still kept me reading all through to the end in a small amount of time!!!

Expect the unexpected, 08 Sep 2006
It seems several readers didn't like this book, perhaps because they were expecting/wanting something more "chick-lit" because of the cover and Jenny Colgan's other work, and actually got something almost closer to fantasy. So if all you're after is thirtysomething-girls-and-their-tangled-love-lives, maybe skip this one! On the other hand I am not a big chick-lit fan so was nearly put off by the cover; but glad I didn't, as this turned out to be one of my favourite books. It has an escapism and magic that I didn't find in any of Jenny Colgan's other books (though I liked some of them too but not as much!) and it had me quite caught up and even shedding a tear or two at the end. So if you're willing to suspend your disbelief and daydream a bit, give it a try!

not her best, 25 Jul 2006
At first it seemed boring, but I forced myself to continue reading it as she has written some good books, it started to get a bit interesting in a "weird book" kind of way and I thought maybe it would be worth getting to the end. Totally disappointing. The end is awful, I was utterly disgusted. I wouldn't recommend anybody to part with their hard-earned cash for this.

Fantastic!, 12 May 2008
Well I just loved this book! I fell in love and identified with the characters and their emotions and liked how the characters developed as the story went on. People may say its predictable but Colgan actually develops the relationships between the characters in unexpected ways...delving into their past to explain why they are the way they are. This book is cute, funny and one that you will find hard to put down...trust me i pushed and pushed til i could go no more and woke up the next morning afew times with it in my hand. A fantastic, lighthearted and genuinely lovely novel from Colgan..READ IT!

fantastic, 18 Mar 2007
this is the first book ive read of jenny colgan. i can asure you it is the funiest book ive ever come across. its a tale of friends, careers, men and laughter!!! its the laugh out loud comedy that really makes this book great. full of one liners that any girl can relate to! we've all done stupid things in life and love and its all told in a very humerous way in this really gripping and extremely so-true-its-funny novel! you will not be disapointed

Good but left me slightly frustrated, 22 Oct 2006
OK, this might be a personal thing but I really felt the lead (Katie) ended up with the wrong fella! Won't say too much here about that as don't want to spoil it before you read it, but it was the one bug bear I had with this. Apart from that really loved it - easy to read, devoured it in a day as couldnt put it down and really cared about the characters to the point of crying at one point. Can we have a sequel please? (or if there is one, someone let me know! lol).

made me laugh!!, 18 Oct 2006
What a great book!!
I came across this book whilst on holiday and it had me in stiches!!!
A real good laugh out loud read (got a few funny looks on the beach but hey shouldn't a good book make you laugh or cry. Will be buying more of jenny's books very soon.

Excellent lit for the true romatic, 19 Sep 2006
Excellent literature which is easily read and although slightly predictable offers a fantastic ride for the more romantic of readers. I love Jeeny Colgans style of writting and would recommend to any chick lit lover.

An excellent rib-tickler, 21 Oct 2008
Despite my best intentions to read a wide variety of literature to 'broaden my mind,' sometimes I just have to reach for a chick-lit novel. The good ones are a breath of fresh air - easily digestible and relaxing, and you can get through them in a couple of days. Operation Sunshine is one of the good ones. Heat Magazine dubbed it "a perfect sunlounger read," and I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading it on a sunlounger, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.

The action centres around Evie, a receptionist in a high profile cosmetic surgery. Feeling miserable, Evie starts fantasising about going on holiday. All the holidays she's ever been on in her life have gone wrong in some shape or form so she's not a huge holiday fan, but feels she ought to try again. After all, people rave about them so they can't be that bad, can they?

Soon enough, Evie gets the chance to find out as she's invited to accompany the two doctors she works for to the South of France. It's a plastic surgery conference, so Evie is hoping for the chance of sun, sea, sand and hopefully sex with a hot rich doctor. However, things don't quite pan out that way when she realises it's more than just a conference. There's something rather untoward going on involving highly questionnable surgery on a cruise ship, which by a scary coincidence has been designed by her childhood friend. The more Evie pokes around for information, the more disturbing the story becomes and she feels she has to intervene for the sake of many people. And that's when things start getting interesting...

Operation Sunshine is a right giggle! From the very beginning you'll appreciate the witty characters and the situations they find themselves in, and as the plot thickens, things just get better. Right in the middle of the action, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. This really is an ace read; it's fun, humourous and has a dash of romance - everything a girl could want from a book in this genre. Highly recommended.

Not worth the effort, 25 Jan 2008
Have never read any of Jennty Colgan's before and I doubt I will be again.

This was unfortunately not a very thrilling read for me and it seemed to switch genre's half way through, from a chick-lit novel to a crime solving medical investigation.

Evie is a good character and there is some good chemistry, but unfortunately, it was abit far fetched and over the top.

Not impressed, 04 Jan 2008
Jenny colgan is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, but this book was such a disappointment. It had all the makings of a good story, yet colgan failed to make this anything but predictable and rather boring. All her other books have been exciting, interesting and immpossible to put down, however that is not the case with operation sunshine.

Not as good as usual, 10 Dec 2007
This book could have been great - it had potential. Good plot, nice main character. But it just felt light and flabby really. I like Colgan's books and I think she can be really, really funny. But I'd like to see her stretch herself more. But I will read her next one (if it sounds interesting!). Every author has one or two 'off' books and deserves a good chance. It can't be easy writing a book every year or two.

Another great Jenny Colgan book, 27 Sep 2007
What another great book from Jenny Colgan. She never fails to deliver in my opinion. This is an excellent easy read with lots of laughs as usual. Doesnt beat 'Where have all the boys gone' but this is still a 'must' read if you like Jenny's other books.

Like Marmite., 30 Dec 2007
From reading the other reviews it seems that this is something of a 'Marmite' book (you either love it or hate it). this doesn't surprise me as the cover and supposed genre suggest mediocre 'chick lit' is on offer here. What you actually get is the strangest book that I have ever read. I absolutely loved it and have definitely never read anything like it. I'd recommend it to anyone but warn you not to expect anything fluffy and predictable. I can't believe that I actually enjoyed a book about town planning!

Disappointing and VERY badly researched, 19 Aug 2007
This book looked good. It started off OK, and just became boring, culminating (if that's the right word) in a non-ending.

Not to mention the glaring blunder. I understand that the river which plays a fairly important part in the book just doesn't exist...that may be acceptable in fiction. But I understand that the author *thought* there was a river, having looked at a map. It's a blue line round Coventry - motorway. It lost all credibility.

I wouldn't recommend this as your first book by Jenny Colgan..., 03 Apr 2007
I wasn't an avid reader or anything, in fact I hardly read at all until I read 'Amanda's Wedding' and then 'Looking For Andrew McCarthy' immediatley afterwards - and I've been hooked on Colgan ever since. 'Working Wonders' is not one of the funniest, Colgan is known for her humour, though it is definatley one of her cleverest. The plot line is thick, heart-warming and thought provoking. For a man as the main character, as opposed to women, I thought I wouldn't enjoy the book as I did - but I found myself warming to him.
I wouldn't recommend reading this one first if you haven't read any of the others yet, as I think you need to establish Jenny Colgan's style before you jump right in with something that doesn't usually follow the trend she is known for.
I found this book fantastic, although there were a few bits inbetween I wanted to skip to get to the juicier parts - it still kept me reading all through to the end in a small amount of time!!!

Expect the unexpected, 08 Sep 2006
It seems several readers didn't like this book, perhaps because they were expecting/wanting something more "chick-lit" because of the cover and Jenny Colgan's other work, and actually got something almost closer to fantasy. So if all you're after is thirtysomething-girls-and-their-tangled-love-lives, maybe skip this one! On the other hand I am not a big chick-lit fan so was nearly put off by the cover; but glad I didn't, as this turned out to be one of my favourite books. It has an escapism and magic that I didn't find in any of Jenny Colgan's other books (though I liked some of them too but not as much!) and it had me quite caught up and even shedding a tear or two at the end. So if you're willing to suspend your disbelief and daydream a bit, give it a try!

not her best, 25 Jul 2006
At first it seemed boring, but I forced myself to continue reading it as she has written some good books, it started to get a bit interesting in a "weird book" kind of way and I thought maybe it would be worth getting to the end. Totally disappointing. The end is awful, I was utterly disgusted. I wouldn't recommend anybody to part with their hard-earned cash for this.

just didnt hit the spot, 10 Sep 2008
been a while since ive read a jenny colgan novel and i was disappointed by this one!!!! tries to hard to be funny and i just found it silly. very stereotypical of many types of people you may find in chelsea, gay art gallery owner, foodie european fat guy and it girls!!!

Good Story., 10 Jul 2007
I would recommend people to read this. It's a down-to-earth and warming book, though the only characters we knew in depth were the two twins; i still liked the others too. The only trouble i had with this book was that the ending seemed to come pretty quickly and didn't seem very realistic. But still, give it a try!

A Modern Witty Tale, 25 May 2007
Its been a few years since I last read one of Jenny's books (the last one being Talking to Addison - which I highly recommend also). West End Girls from the first word is funny. I thought the conversations between the two main characters flowed well and sounded like any normal twenty-something girls chatting/bickering together.

Love Jennys use of very upto date references (Gordon Ramsey/Turkey Twislers/Page 3 models/Jody Marsh's army belt dress/Prince Harrys present girlfriend even gets a mention and also the latest clubs/bars that are 'hot' right now (Im presuming Jenny herself had to research these - tough work if you can get it!!!)

Fab read - if your into Heat/Now magazine, Pop culture, shopping, fashion, IT girls plus a good old love story thrown in for measure!!



Great fun, 24 Jan 2007
Whilst its slightly tricky to believe that two sisters living on a council estate really would be entrusted to look after their bonkers Grandma's flat in Chelsea whilst she's in hospital, I quickly got over my reservations and got into this great story. The two sisters involved couldnt be more dissimilar if they tried - Penny is blond, think and (I think) horrible, whilst Lizzie is the perfect underdog - overweight, bitter and downtrodden, and as they move "up west" and learn more about themselves and the world in which they now exist, the differences between them grow more evident. I never warmed to Penny and was delighted with how her life pans out at the end of the book, but I was slightly disappointed that Lizzie seems to settle for the first man that walks into her life!! On the whole though, a great book.

London Chick Lit: A Light Read, 12 Dec 2006
I'm a big fan of Chick lit and love chick lit set in London. Jenny Colgan has been one of my favorite writers in the genre.
While the book is nothing to write home about it is a great quick read which will provide readers with a pick me up. The book is very predictable and takes place mostly in the ritzy Chelsea of London.
They book's main characters are two twin sisters, who are as different as night and day. Penny is blonde, thin and outrageous; Lizzie quiet, thoughtful and definitely not thin. Out of the blue they discover they have a grandmother living in Chelsea - and when she has to go into hospital, they find themselves flat-sitting on the King's Road, trying to become IT girls in the socialite celeberity scene.

Fantastic!, 12 May 2008
Well I just loved this book! I fell in love and identified with the characters and their emotions and liked how the characters developed as the story went on. People may say its predictable but Colgan actually develops the relationships between the characters in unexpected ways...delving into their past to explain why they are the way they are. This book is cute, funny and one that you will find hard to put down...trust me i pushed and pushed til i could go no more and woke up the next morning afew times with it in my hand. A fantastic, lighthearted and genuinely lovely novel from Colgan..READ IT!

fantastic, 18 Mar 2007
this is the first book ive read of jenny colgan. i can asure you it is the funiest book ive ever come across. its a tale of friends, careers, men and laughter!!! its the laugh out loud comedy that really makes this book great. full of one liners that any girl can relate to! we've all done stupid things in life and love and its all told in a very humerous way in this really gripping and extremely so-true-its-funny novel! you will not be disapointed

Good but left me slightly frustrated, 22 Oct 2006
OK, this might be a personal thing but I really felt the lead (Katie) ended up with the wrong fella! Won't say too much here about that as don't want to spoil it before you read it, but it was the one bug bear I had with this. Apart from that really loved it - easy to read, devoured it in a day as couldnt put it down and really cared about the characters to the point of crying at one point. Can we have a sequel please? (or if there is one, someone let me know! lol).

made me laugh!!, 18 Oct 2006
What a great book!!
I came across this book whilst on holiday and it had me in stiches!!!
A real good laugh out loud read (got a few funny looks on the beach but hey shouldn't a good book make you laugh or cry. Will be buying more of jenny's books very soon.

Excellent lit for the true romatic, 19 Sep 2006
Excellent literature which is easily read and although slightly predictable offers a fantastic ride for the more romantic of readers. I love Jeeny Colgans style of writting and would recommend to any chick lit lover.

An excellent rib-tickler, 21 Oct 2008
Despite my best intentions to read a wide variety of literature to 'broaden my mind,' sometimes I just have to reach for a chick-lit novel. The good ones are a breath of fresh air - easily digestible and relaxing, and you can get through them in a couple of days. Operation Sunshine is one of the good ones. Heat Magazine dubbed it "a perfect sunlounger read," and I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading it on a sunlounger, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.

The action centres around Evie, a receptionist in a high profile cosmetic surgery. Feeling miserable, Evie starts fantasising about going on holiday. All the holidays she's ever been on in her life have gone wrong in some shape or form so she's not a huge holiday fan, but feels she ought to try again. After all, people rave about them so they can't be that bad, can they?

Soon enough, Evie gets the chance to find out as she's invited to accompany the two doctors she works for to the South of France. It's a plastic surgery conference, so Evie is hoping for the chance of sun, sea, sand and hopefully sex with a hot rich doctor. However, things don't quite pan out that way when she realises it's more than just a conference. There's something rather untoward going on involving highly questionnable surgery on a cruise ship, which by a scary coincidence has been designed by her childhood friend. The more Evie pokes around for information, the more disturbing the story becomes and she feels she has to intervene for the sake of many people. And that's when things start getting interesting...

Operation Sunshine is a right giggle! From the very beginning you'll appreciate the witty characters and the situations they find themselves in, and as the plot thickens, things just get better. Right in the middle of the action, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. This really is an ace read; it's fun, humourous and has a dash of romance - everything a girl could want from a book in this genre. Highly recommended.

Not worth the effort, 25 Jan 2008
Have never read any of Jennty Colgan's before and I doubt I will be again.

This was unfortunately not a very thrilling read for me and it seemed to switch genre's half way through, from a chick-lit novel to a crime solving medical investigation.

Evie is a good character and there is some good chemistry, but unfortunately, it was abit far fetched and over the top.

Not impressed, 04 Jan 2008
Jenny colgan is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, but this book was such a disappointment. It had all the makings of a good story, yet colgan failed to make this anything but predictable and rather boring. All her other books have been exciting, interesting and immpossible to put down, however that is not the case with operation sunshine.

Not as good as usual, 10 Dec 2007
This book could have been great - it had potential. Good plot, nice main character. But it just felt light and flabby really. I like Colgan's books and I think she can be really, really funny. But I'd like to see her stretch herself more. But I will read her next one (if it sounds interesting!). Every author has one or two 'off' books and deserves a good chance. It can't be easy writing a book every year or two.

Another great Jenny Colgan book, 27 Sep 2007
What another great book from Jenny Colgan. She never fails to deliver in my opinion. This is an excellent easy read with lots of laughs as usual. Doesnt beat 'Where have all the boys gone' but this is still a 'must' read if you like Jenny's other books.

Like Marmite., 30 Dec 2007
From reading the other reviews it seems that this is something of a 'Marmite' book (you either love it or hate it). this doesn't surprise me as the cover and supposed genre suggest mediocre 'chick lit' is on offer here. What you actually get is the strangest book that I have ever read. I absolutely loved it and have definitely never read anything like it. I'd recommend it to anyone but warn you not to expect anything fluffy and predictable. I can't believe that I actually enjoyed a book about town planning!

Disappointing and VERY badly researched, 19 Aug 2007
This book looked good. It started off OK, and just became boring, culminating (if that's the right word) in a non-ending.

Not to mention the glaring blunder. I understand that the river which plays a fairly important part in the book just doesn't exist...that may be acceptable in fiction. But I understand that the author *thought* there was a river, having looked at a map. It's a blue line round Coventry - motorway. It lost all credibility.

I wouldn't recommend this as your first book by Jenny Colgan..., 03 Apr 2007
I wasn't an avid reader or anything, in fact I hardly read at all until I read 'Amanda's Wedding' and then 'Looking For Andrew McCarthy' immediatley afterwards - and I've been hooked on Colgan ever since. 'Working Wonders' is not one of the funniest, Colgan is known for her humour, though it is definatley one of her cleverest. The plot line is thick, heart-warming and thought provoking. For a man as the main character, as opposed to women, I thought I wouldn't enjoy the book as I did - but I found myself warming to him.
I wouldn't recommend reading this one first if you haven't read any of the others yet, as I think you need to establish Jenny Colgan's style before you jump right in with something that doesn't usually follow the trend she is known for.
I found this book fantastic, although there were a few bits inbetween I wanted to skip to get to the juicier parts - it still kept me reading all through to the end in a small amount of time!!!

Expect the unexpected, 08 Sep 2006
It seems several readers didn't like this book, perhaps because they were expecting/wanting something more "chick-lit" because of the cover and Jenny Colgan's other work, and actually got something almost closer to fantasy. So if all you're after is thirtysomething-girls-and-their-tangled-love-lives, maybe skip this one! On the other hand I am not a big chick-lit fan so was nearly put off by the cover; but glad I didn't, as this turned out to be one of my favourite books. It has an escapism and magic that I didn't find in any of Jenny Colgan's other books (though I liked some of them too but not as much!) and it had me quite caught up and even shedding a tear or two at the end. So if you're willing to suspend your disbelief and daydream a bit, give it a try!

not her best, 25 Jul 2006
At first it seemed boring, but I forced myself to continue reading it as she has written some good books, it started to get a bit interesting in a "weird book" kind of way and I thought maybe it would be worth getting to the end. Totally disappointing. The end is awful, I was utterly disgusted. I wouldn't recommend anybody to part with their hard-earned cash for this.

just didnt hit the spot, 10 Sep 2008
been a while since ive read a jenny colgan novel and i was disappointed by this one!!!! tries to hard to be funny and i just found it silly. very stereotypical of many types of people you may find in chelsea, gay art gallery owner, foodie european fat guy and it girls!!!

Good Story., 10 Jul 2007
I would recommend people to read this. It's a down-to-earth and warming book, though the only characters we knew in depth were the two twins; i still liked the others too. The only trouble i had with this book was that the ending seemed to come pretty quickly and didn't seem very realistic. But still, give it a try!

A Modern Witty Tale, 25 May 2007
Its been a few years since I last read one of Jenny's books (the last one being Talking to Addison - which I highly recommend also). West End Girls from the first word is funny. I thought the conversations between the two main characters flowed well and sounded like any normal twenty-something girls chatting/bickering together.

Love Jennys use of very upto date references (Gordon Ramsey/Turkey Twislers/Page 3 models/Jody Marsh's army belt dress/Prince Harrys present girlfriend even gets a mention and also the latest clubs/bars that are 'hot' right now (Im presuming Jenny herself had to research these - tough work if you can get it!!!)

Fab read - if your into Heat/Now magazine, Pop culture, shopping, fashion, IT girls plus a good old love story thrown in for measure!!



Great fun, 24 Jan 2007
Whilst its slightly tricky to believe that two sisters living on a council estate really would be entrusted to look after their bonkers Grandma's flat in Chelsea whilst she's in hospital, I quickly got over my reservations and got into this great story. The two sisters involved couldnt be more dissimilar if they tried - Penny is blond, think and (I think) horrible, whilst Lizzie is the perfect underdog - overweight, bitter and downtrodden, and as they move "up west" and learn more about themselves and the world in which they now exist, the differences between them grow more evident. I never warmed to Penny and was delighted with how her life pans out at the end of the book, but I was slightly disappointed that Lizzie seems to settle for the first man that walks into her life!! On the whole though, a great book.

London Chick Lit: A Light Read, 12 Dec 2006
I'm a big fan of Chick lit and love chick lit set in London. Jenny Colgan has been one of my favorite writers in the genre.
While the book is nothing to write home about it is a great quick read which will provide readers with a pick me up. The book is very predictable and takes place mostly in the ritzy Chelsea of London.
They book's main characters are two twin sisters, who are as different as night and day. Penny is blonde, thin and outrageous; Lizzie quiet, thoughtful and definitely not thin. Out of the blue they discover they have a grandmother living in Chelsea - and when she has to go into hospital, they find themselves flat-sitting on the King's Road, trying to become IT girls in the socialite celeberity scene.

An excellent rib-tickler, 21 Oct 2008
Despite my best intentions to read a wide variety of literature to 'broaden my mind,' sometimes I just have to reach for a chick-lit novel. The good ones are a breath of fresh air - easily digestible and relaxing, and you can get through them in a couple of days. Operation Sunshine is one of the good ones. Heat Magazine dubbed it "a perfect sunlounger read," and I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading it on a sunlounger, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.

The action centres around Evie, a receptionist in a high profile cosmetic surgery. Feeling miserable, Evie starts fantasising about going on holiday. All the holidays she's ever been on in her life have gone wrong in some shape or form so she's not a huge holiday fan, but feels she ought to try again. After all, people rave about them so they can't be that bad, can they?

Soon enough, Evie gets the chance to find out as she's invited to accompany the two doctors she works for to the South of France. It's a plastic surgery conference, so Evie is hoping for the chance of sun, sea, sand and hopefully sex with a hot rich doctor. However, things don't quite pan out that way when she realises it's more than just a conference. There's something rather untoward going on involving highly questionnable surgery on a cruise ship, which by a scary coincidence has been designed by her childhood friend. The more Evie pokes around for information, the more disturbing the story becomes and she feels she has to intervene for the sake of many people. And that's when things start getting interesting...

Operation Sunshine is a right giggle! From the very beginning you'll appreciate the witty characters and the situations they find themselves in, and as the plot thickens, things just get better. Right in the middle of the action, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. This really is an ace read; it's fun, humourous and has a dash of romance - everything a girl could want from a book in this genre. Highly recommended.

Not worth the effort, 25 Jan 2008
Have never read any of Jennty Colgan's before and I doubt I will be again.

This was unfortunately not a very thrilling read for me and it seemed to switch genre's half way through, from a chick-lit novel to a crime solving medical investigation.

Evie is a good character and there is some good chemistry, but unfortunately, it was abit far fetched and over the top.

Not impressed, 04 Jan 2008
Jenny colgan is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, but this book was such a disappointment. It had all the makings of a good story, yet colgan failed to make this anything but predictable and rather boring. All her other books have been exciting, interesting and immpossible to put down, however that is not the case with operation sunshine.

Not as good as usual, 10 Dec 2007
This book could have been great - it had potential. Good plot, nice main character. But it just felt light and flabby really. I like Colgan's books and I think she can be really, really funny. But I'd like to see her stretch herself more. But I will read her next one (if it sounds interesting!). Every author has one or two 'off' books and deserves a good chance. It can't be easy writing a book every year or two.

Another great Jenny Colgan book, 27 Sep 2007
What another great book from Jenny Colgan. She never fails to deliver in my opinion. This is an excellent easy read with lots of laughs as usual. Doesnt beat 'Where have all the boys gone' but this is still a 'must' read if you like Jenny's other books.

Fantastic!, 12 May 2008
Well I just loved this book! I fell in love and identified with the characters and their emotions and liked how the characters developed as the story went on. People may say its predictable but Colgan actually develops the relationships between the characters in unexpected ways...delving into their past to explain why they are the way they are. This book is cute, funny and one that you will find hard to put down...trust me i pushed and pushed til i could go no more and woke up the next morning afew times with it in my hand. A fantastic, lighthearted and genuinely lovely novel from Colgan..READ IT!

fantastic, 18 Mar 2007
this is the first book ive read of jenny colgan. i can asure you it is the funiest book ive ever come across. its a tale of friends, careers, men and laughter!!! its the laugh out loud comedy that really makes this book great. full of one liners that any girl can relate to! we've all done stupid things in life and love and its all told in a very humerous way in this really gripping and extremely so-true-its-funny novel! you will not be disapointed

Good but left me slightly frustrated, 22 Oct 2006
OK, this might be a personal thing but I really felt the lead (Katie) ended up with the wrong fella! Won't say too much here about that as don't want to spoil it before you read it, but it was the one bug bear I had with this. Apart from that really loved it - easy to read, devoured it in a day as couldnt put it down and really cared about the characters to the point of crying at one point. Can we have a sequel please? (or if there is one, someone let me know! lol).

made me laugh!!, 18 Oct 2006
What a great book!!
I came across this book whilst on holiday and it had me in stiches!!!
A real good laugh out loud read (got a few funny looks on the beach but hey shouldn't a good book make you laugh or cry. Will be buying more of jenny's books very soon.

Excellent lit for the true romatic, 19 Sep 2006
Excellent literature which is easily read and although slightly predictable offers a fantastic ride for the more romantic of readers. I love Jeeny Colgans style of writting and would recommend to any chick lit lover.

An excellent rib-tickler, 21 Oct 2008
Despite my best intentions to read a wide variety of literature to 'broaden my mind,' sometimes I just have to reach for a chick-lit novel. The good ones are a breath of fresh air - easily digestible and relaxing, and you can get through them in a couple of days. Operation Sunshine is one of the good ones. Heat Magazine dubbed it "a perfect sunlounger read," and I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading it on a sunlounger, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.

The action centres around Evie, a receptionist in a high profile cosmetic surgery. Feeling miserable, Evie starts fantasising about going on holiday. All the holidays she's ever been on in her life have gone wrong in some shape or form so she's not a huge holiday fan, but feels she ought to try again. After all, people rave about them so they can't be that bad, can they?

Soon enough, Evie gets the chance to find out as she's invited to accompany the two doctors she works for to the South of France. It's a plastic surgery conference, so Evie is hoping for the chance of sun, sea, sand and hopefully sex with a hot rich doctor. However, things don't quite pan out that way when she realises it's more than just a conference. There's something rather untoward going on involving highly questionnable surgery on a cruise ship, which by a scary coincidence has been designed by her childhood friend. The more Evie pokes around for information, the more disturbing the story becomes and she feels she has to intervene for the sake of many people. And that's when things start getting interesting...

Operation Sunshine is a right giggle! From the very beginning you'll appreciate the witty characters and the situations they find themselves in, and as the plot thickens, things just get better. Right in the middle of the action, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. This really is an ace read; it's fun, humourous and has a dash of romance - everything a girl could want from a book in this genre. Highly recommended.

Not worth the effort, 25 Jan 2008
Have never read any of Jennty Colgan's before and I doubt I will be again.

This was unfortunately not a very thrilling read for me and it seemed to switch genre's half way through, from a chick-lit novel to a crime solving medical investigation.

Evie is a good character and there is some good chemistry, but unfortunately, it was abit far fetched and over the top.

Not impressed, 04 Jan 2008
Jenny colgan is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, but this book was such a disappointment. It had all the makings of a good story, yet colgan failed to make this anything but predictable and rather boring. All her other books have been exciting, interesting and immpossible to put down, however that is not the case with operation sunshine.

Not as good as usual, 10 Dec 2007
This book could have been great - it had potential. Good plot, nice main character. But it just felt light and flabby really. I like Colgan's books and I think she can be really, really funny. But I'd like to see her stretch herself more. But I will read her next one (if it sounds interesting!). Every author has one or two 'off' books and deserves a good chance. It can't be easy writing a book every year or two.

Another great Jenny Colgan book, 27 Sep 2007
What another great book from Jenny Colgan. She never fails to deliver in my opinion. This is an excellent easy read with lots of laughs as usual. Doesnt beat 'Where have all the boys gone' but this is still a 'must' read if you like Jenny's other books.

Like Marmite., 30 Dec 2007
From reading the other reviews it seems that this is something of a 'Marmite' book (you either love it or hate it). this doesn't surprise me as the cover and supposed genre suggest mediocre 'chick lit' is on offer here. What you actually get is the strangest book that I have ever read. I absolutely loved it and have definitely never read anything like it. I'd recommend it to anyone but warn you not to expect anything fluffy and predictable. I can't believe that I actually enjoyed a book about town planning!

Disappointing and VERY badly researched, 19 Aug 2007
This book looked good. It started off OK, and just became boring, culminating (if that's the right word) in a non-ending.

Not to mention the glaring blunder. I understand that the river which plays a fairly important part in the book just doesn't exist...that may be acceptable in fiction. But I understand that the author *thought* there was a river, having looked at a map. It's a blue line round Coventry - motorway. It lost all credibility.

I wouldn't recommend this as your first book by Jenny Colgan..., 03 Apr 2007
I wasn't an avid reader or anything, in fact I hardly read at all until I read 'Amanda's Wedding' and then 'Looking For Andrew McCarthy' immediatley afterwards - and I've been hooked on Colgan ever since. 'Working Wonders' is not one of the funniest, Colgan is known for her humour, though it is definatley one of her cleverest. The plot line is thick, heart-warming and thought provoking. For a man as the main character, as opposed to women, I thought I wouldn't enjoy the book as I did - but I found myself warming to him.
I wouldn't recommend reading this one first if you haven't read any of the others yet, as I think you need to establish Jenny Colgan's style before you jump right in with something that doesn't usually follow the trend she is known for.
I found this book fantastic, although there were a few bits inbetween I wanted to skip to get to the juicier parts - it still kept me reading all through to the end in a small amount of time!!!

Expect the unexpected, 08 Sep 2006
It seems several readers didn't like this book, perhaps because they were expecting/wanting something more "chick-lit" because of the cover and Jenny Colgan's other work, and actually got something almost closer to fantasy. So if all you're after is thirtysomething-girls-and-their-tangled-love-lives, maybe skip this one! On the other hand I am not a big chick-lit fan so was nearly put off by the cover; but glad I didn't, as this turned out to be one of my favourite books. It has an escapism and magic that I didn't find in any of Jenny Colgan's other books (though I liked some of them too but not as much!) and it had me quite caught up and even shedding a tear or two at the end. So if you're willing to suspend your disbelief and daydream a bit, give it a try!

not her best, 25 Jul 2006
At first it seemed boring, but I forced myself to continue reading it as she has written some good books, it started to get a bit interesting in a "weird book" kind of way and I thought maybe it would be worth getting to the end. Totally disappointing. The end is awful, I was utterly disgusted. I wouldn't recommend anybody to part with their hard-earned cash for this.

just didnt hit the spot, 10 Sep 2008
been a while since ive read a jenny colgan novel and i was disappointed by this one!!!! tries to hard to be funny and i just found it silly. very stereotypical of many types of people you may find in chelsea, gay art gallery owner, foodie european fat guy and it girls!!!

Good Story., 10 Jul 2007
I would recommend people to read this. It's a down-to-earth and warming book, though the only characters we knew in depth were the two twins; i still liked the others too. The only trouble i had with this book was that the ending seemed to come pretty quickly and didn't seem very realistic. But still, give it a try!

A Modern Witty Tale, 25 May 2007
Its been a few years since I last read one of Jenny's books (the last one being Talking to Addison - which I highly recommend also). West End Girls from the first word is funny. I thought the conversations between the two main characters flowed well and sounded like any normal twenty-something girls chatting/bickering together.

Love Jennys use of very upto date references (Gordon Ramsey/Turkey Twislers/Page 3 models/Jody Marsh's army belt dress/Prince Harrys present girlfriend even gets a mention and also the latest clubs/bars that are 'hot' right now (Im presuming Jenny herself had to research these - tough work if you can get it!!!)

Fab read - if your into Heat/Now magazine, Pop culture, shopping, fashion, IT girls plus a good old love story thrown in for measure!!



Great fun, 24 Jan 2007
Whilst its slightly tricky to believe that two sisters living on a council estate really would be entrusted to look after their bonkers Grandma's flat in Chelsea whilst she's in hospital, I quickly got over my reservations and got into this great story. The two sisters involved couldnt be more dissimilar if they tried - Penny is blond, think and (I think) horrible, whilst Lizzie is the perfect underdog - overweight, bitter and downtrodden, and as they move "up west" and learn more about themselves and the world in which they now exist, the differences between them grow more evident. I never warmed to Penny and was delighted with how her life pans out at the end of the book, but I was slightly disappointed that Lizzie seems to settle for the first man that walks into her life!! On the whole though, a great book.

London Chick Lit: A Light Read, 12 Dec 2006
I'm a big fan of Chick lit and love chick lit set in London. Jenny Colgan has been one of my favorite writers in the genre.
While the book is nothing to write home about it is a great quick read which will provide readers with a pick me up. The book is very predictable and takes place mostly in the ritzy Chelsea of London.
They book's main characters are two twin sisters, who are as different as night and day. Penny is blonde, thin and outrageous; Lizzie quiet, thoughtful and definitely not thin. Out of the blue they discover they have a grandmother living in Chelsea - and when she has to go into hospital, they find themselves flat-sitting on the King's Road, trying to become IT girls in the socialite celeberity scene.

An excellent rib-tickler, 21 Oct 2008
Despite my best intentions to read a wide variety of literature to 'broaden my mind,' sometimes I just have to reach for a chick-lit novel. The good ones are a breath of fresh air - easily digestible and relaxing, and you can get through them in a couple of days. Operation Sunshine is one of the good ones. Heat Magazine dubbed it "a perfect sunlounger read," and I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading it on a sunlounger, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.

The action centres around Evie, a receptionist in a high profile cosmetic surgery. Feeling miserable, Evie starts fantasising about going on holiday. All the holidays she's ever been on in her life have gone wrong in some shape or form so she's not a huge holiday fan, but feels she ought to try again. After all, people rave about them so they can't be that bad, can they?

Soon enough, Evie gets the chance to find out as she's invited to accompany the two doctors she works for to the South of France. It's a plastic surgery conference, so Evie is hoping for the chance of sun, sea, sand and hopefully sex with a hot rich doctor. However, things don't quite pan out that way when she realises it's more than just a conference. There's something rather untoward going on involving highly questionnable surgery on a cruise ship, which by a scary coincidence has been designed by her childhood friend. The more Evie pokes around for information, the more disturbing the story becomes and she feels she has to intervene for the sake of many people. And that's when things start getting interesting...

Operation Sunshine is a right giggle! From the very beginning you'll appreciate the witty characters and the situations they find themselves in, and as the plot thickens, things just get better. Right in the middle of the action, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. This really is an ace read; it's fun, humourous and has a dash of romance - everything a girl could want from a book in this genre. Highly recommended.

Not worth the effort, 25 Jan 2008
Have never read any of Jennty Colgan's before and I doubt I will be again.

This was unfortunately not a very thrilling read for me and it seemed to switch genre's half way through, from a chick-lit novel to a crime solving medical investigation.

Evie is a good character and there is some good chemistry, but unfortunately, it was abit far fetched and over the top.

Not impressed, 04 Jan 2008
Jenny colgan is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, but this book was such a disappointment. It had all the makings of a good story, yet colgan failed to make this anything but predictable and rather boring. All her other books have been exciting, interesting and immpossible to put down, however that is not the case with operation sunshine.

Not as good as usual, 10 Dec 2007
This book could have been great - it had potential. Good plot, nice main character. But it just felt light and flabby really. I like Colgan's books and I think she can be really, really funny. But I'd like to see her stretch herself more. But I will read her next one (if it sounds interesting!). Every author has one or two 'off' books and deserves a good chance. It can't be easy writing a book every year or two.

Another great Jenny Colgan book, 27 Sep 2007
What another great book from Jenny Colgan. She never fails to deliver in my opinion. This is an excellent easy read with lots of laughs as usual. Doesnt beat 'Where have all the boys gone' but this is still a 'must' read if you like Jenny's other books.

just didnt hit the spot, 10 Sep 2008
been a while since ive read a jenny colgan novel and i was disappointed by this one!!!! tries to hard to be funny and i just found it silly. very stereotypical of many types of people you may find in chelsea, gay art gallery owner, foodie european fat guy and it girls!!!

Good Story., 10 Jul 2007
I would recommend people to read this. It's a down-to-earth and warming book, though the only characters we knew in depth were the two twins; i still liked the others too. The only trouble i had with this book was that the ending seemed to come pretty quickly and didn't seem very realistic. But still, give it a try!

A Modern Witty Tale, 25 May 2007
Its been a few years since I last read one of Jenny's books (the last one being Talking to Addison - which I highly recommend also). West End Girls from the first word is funny. I thought the conversations between the two main characters flowed well and sounded like any normal twenty-something girls chatting/bickering together.

Love Jennys use of very upto date references (Gordon Ramsey/Turkey Twislers/Page 3 models/Jody Marsh's army belt dress/Prince Harrys present girlfriend even gets a mention and also the latest clubs/bars that are 'hot' right now (Im presuming Jenny herself had to research these - tough work if you can get it!!!)

Fab read - if your into Heat/Now magazine, Pop culture, shopping, fashion, IT girls plus a good old love story thrown in for measure!!



Great fun, 24 Jan 2007
Whilst its slightly tricky to believe that two sisters living on a council estate really would be entrusted to look after their bonkers Grandma's flat in Chelsea whilst she's in hospital, I quickly got over my reservations and got into this great story. The two sisters involved couldnt be more dissimilar if they tried - Penny is blond, think and (I think) horrible, whilst Lizzie is the perfect underdog - overweight, bitter and downtrodden, and as they move "up west" and learn more about themselves and the world in which they now exist, the differences between them grow more evident. I never warmed to Penny and was delighted with how her life pans out at the end of the book, but I was slightly disappointed that Lizzie seems to settle for the first man that walks into her life!! On the whole though, a great book.

London Chick Lit: A Light Read, 12 Dec 2006
I'm a big fan of Chick lit and love chick lit set in London. Jenny Colgan has been one of my favorite writers in the genre.
While the book is nothing to write home about it is a great quick read which will provide readers with a pick me up. The book is very predictable and takes place mostly in the ritzy Chelsea of London.
They book's main characters are two twin sisters, who are as different as night and day. Penny is blonde, thin and outrageous; Lizzie quiet, thoughtful and definitely not thin. Out of the blue they discover they have a grandmother living in Chelsea - and when she has to go into hospital, they find themselves flat-sitting on the King's Road, trying to become IT girls in the socialite celeberity scene.

Fantastic!, 12 May 2008
Well I just loved this book! I fell in love and identified with the characters and their emotions and liked how the characters developed as the story went on. People may say its predictable but Colgan actually develops the relationships between the characters in unexpected ways...delving into their past to explain why they are the way they are. This book is cute, funny and one that you will find hard to put down...trust me i pushed and pushed til i could go no more and woke up the next morning afew times with it in my hand. A fantastic, lighthearted and genuinely lovely novel from Colgan..READ IT!

fantastic, 18 Mar 2007
this is the first book ive read of jenny colgan. i can asure you it is the funiest book ive ever come across. its a tale of friends, careers, men and laughter!!! its the laugh out loud comedy that really makes this book great. full of one liners that any girl can relate to! we've all done stupid things in life and love and its all told in a very humerous way in this really gripping and extremely so-true-its-funny novel! you will not be disapointed

Good but left me slightly frustrated, 22 Oct 2006
OK, this might be a personal thing but I really felt the lead (Katie) ended up with the wrong fella! Won't say too much here about that as don't want to spoil it before you read it, but it was the one bug bear I had with this. Apart from that really loved it - easy to read, devoured it in a day as couldnt put it down and really cared about the characters to the point of crying at one point. Can we have a sequel please? (or if there is one, someone let me know! lol).

made me laugh!!, 18 Oct 2006
What a great book!!
I came across this book whilst on holiday and it had me in stiches!!!
A real good laugh out loud read (got a few funny looks on the beach but hey shouldn't a good book make you laugh or cry. Will be buying more of jenny's books very soon.

Excellent lit for the true romatic, 19 Sep 2006
Excellent literature which is easily read and although slightly predictable offers a fantastic ride for the more romantic of readers. I love Jeeny Colgans style of writting and would recommend to any chick lit lover.

An excellent rib-tickler, 21 Oct 2008
Despite my best intentions to read a wide variety of literature to 'broaden my mind,' sometimes I just have to reach for a chick-lit novel. The good ones are a breath of fresh air - easily digestible and relaxing, and you can get through them in a couple of days. Operation Sunshine is one of the good ones. Heat Magazine dubbed it "a perfect sunlounger read," and I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading it on a sunlounger, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.

The action centres around Evie, a receptionist in a high profile cosmetic surgery. Feeling miserable, Evie starts fantasising about going on holiday. All the holidays she's ever been on in her life have gone wrong in some shape or form so she's not a huge holiday fan, but feels she ought to try again. After all, people rave about them so they can't be that bad, can they?

Soon enough, Evie gets the chance to find out as she's invited to accompany the two doctors she works for to the South of France. It's a plastic surgery conference, so Evie is hoping for the chance of sun, sea, sand and hopefully sex with a hot rich doctor. However, things don't quite pan out that way when she realises it's more than just a conference. There's something rather untoward going on involving highly questionnable surgery on a cruise ship, which by a scary coincidence has been designed by her childhood friend. The more Evie pokes around for information, the more disturbing the story becomes and she feels she has to intervene for the sake of many people. And that's when things start getting interesting...

Operation Sunshine is a right giggle! From the very beginning you'll appreciate the witty characters and the situations they find themselves in, and as the plot thickens, things just get better. Right in the middle of the action, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. This really is an ace read; it's fun, humourous and has a dash of romance - everything a girl could want from a book in this genre. Highly recommended.

Not worth the effort, 25 Jan 2008
Have never read any of Jennty Colgan's before and I doubt I will be again.

This was unfortunately not a very thrilling read for me and it seemed to switch genre's half way through, from a chick-lit novel to a crime solving medical investigation.

Evie is a good character and there is some good chemistry, but unfortunately, it was abit far fetched and over the top.

Not impressed, 04 Jan 2008
Jenny colgan is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, but this book was such a disappointment. It had all the makings of a good story, yet colgan failed to make this anything but predictable and rather boring. All her other books have been exciting, interesting and immpossible to put down, however that is not the case with operation sunshine.

Not as good as usual, 10 Dec 2007
This book could have been great - it had potential. Good plot, nice main character. But it just felt light and flabby really. I like Colgan's books and I think she can be really, really funny. But I'd like to see her stretch herself more. But I will read her next one (if it sounds interesting!). Every author has one or two 'off' books and deserves a good chance. It can't be easy writing a book every year or two.

Another great Jenny Colgan book, 27 Sep 2007
What another great book from Jenny Colgan. She never fails to deliver in my opinion. This is an excellent easy read with lots of laughs as usual. Doesnt beat 'Where have all the boys gone' but this is still a 'must' read if you like Jenny's other books.

Like Marmite., 30 Dec 2007
From reading the other reviews it seems that this is something of a 'Marmite' book (you either love it or hate it). this doesn't surprise me as the cover and supposed genre suggest mediocre 'chick lit' is on offer here. What you actually get is the strangest book that I have ever read. I absolutely loved it and have definitely never read anything like it. I'd recommend it to anyone but warn you not to expect anything fluffy and predictable. I can't believe that I actually enjoyed a book about town planning!

Disappointing and VERY badly researched, 19 Aug 2007
This book looked good. It started off OK, and just became boring, culminating (if that's the right word) in a non-ending.

Not to mention the glaring blunder. I understand that the river which plays a fairly important part in the book just doesn't exist...that may be acceptable in fiction. But I understand that the author *thought* there was a river, having looked at a map. It's a blue line round Coventry - motorway. It lost all credibility.

I wouldn't recommend this as your first book by Jenny Colgan..., 03 Apr 2007
I wasn't an avid reader or anything, in fact I hardly read at all until I read 'Amanda's Wedding' and then 'Looking For Andrew McCarthy' immediatley afterwards - and I've been hooked on Colgan ever since. 'Working Wonders' is not one of the funniest, Colgan is known for her humour, though it is definatley one of her cleverest. The plot line is thick, heart-warming and thought provoking. For a man as the main character, as opposed to women, I thought I wouldn't enjoy the book as I did - but I found myself warming to him.
I wouldn't recommend reading this one first if you haven't read any of the others yet, as I think you need to establish Jenny Colgan's style before you jump right in with something that doesn't usually follow the trend she is known for.
I found this book fantastic, although there were a few bits inbetween I wanted to skip to get to the juicier parts - it still kept me reading all through to the end in a small amount of time!!!

Expect the unexpected, 08 Sep 2006
It seems several readers didn't like this book, perhaps because they were expecting/wanting something more "chick-lit" because of the cover and Jenny Colgan's other work, and actually got something almost closer to fantasy. So if all you're after is thirtysomething-girls-and-their-tangled-love-lives, maybe skip this one! On the other hand I am not a big chick-lit fan so was nearly put off by the cover; but glad I didn't, as this turned out to be one of my favourite books. It has an escapism and magic that I didn't find in any of Jenny Colgan's other books (though I liked some of them too but not as much!) and it had me quite caught up and even shedding a tear or two at the end. So if you're willing to suspend your disbelief and daydream a bit, give it a try!

not her best, 25 Jul 2006
At first it seemed boring, but I forced myself to continue reading it as she has written some good books, it started to get a bit interesting in a "weird book" kind of way and I thought maybe it would be worth getting to the end. Totally disappointing. The end is awful, I was utterly disgusted. I wouldn't recommend anybody to part with their hard-earned cash for this.

just didnt hit the spot, 10 Sep 2008
been a while since ive read a jenny colgan novel and i was disappointed by this one!!!! tries to hard to be funny and i just found it silly. very stereotypical of many types of people you may find in chelsea, gay art gallery owner, foodie european fat guy and it girls!!!

Good Story., 10 Jul 2007
I would recommend people to read this. It's a down-to-earth and warming book, though the only characters we knew in depth were the two twins; i still liked the others too. The only trouble i had with this book was that the ending seemed to come pretty quickly and didn't seem very realistic. But still, give it a try!

A Modern Witty Tale, 25 May 2007
Its been a few years since I last read one of Jenny's books (the last one being Talking to Addison - which I highly recommend also). West End Girls from the first word is funny. I thought the conversations between the two main characters flowed well and sounded like any normal twenty-something girls chatting/bickering together.

Love Jennys use of very upto date references (Gordon Ramsey/Turkey Twislers/Page 3 models/Jody Marsh's army belt dress/Prince Harrys present girlfriend even gets a mention and also the latest clubs/bars that are 'hot' right now (Im presuming Jenny herself had to research these - tough work if you can get it!!!)

Fab read - if your into Heat/Now magazine, Pop culture, shopping, fashion, IT girls plus a good old love story thrown in for measure!!



Great fun, 24 Jan 2007
Whilst its slightly tricky to believe that two sisters living on a council estate really would be entrusted to look after their bonkers Grandma's flat in Chelsea whilst she's in hospital, I quickly got over my reservations and got into this great story. The two sisters involved couldnt be more dissimilar if they tried - Penny is blond, think and (I think) horrible, whilst Lizzie is the perfect underdog - overweight, bitter and downtrodden, and as they move "up west" and learn more about themselves and the world in which they now exist, the differences between them grow more evident. I never warmed to Penny and was delighted with how her life pans out at the end of the book, but I was slightly disappointed that Lizzie seems to settle for the first man that walks into her life!! On the whole though, a great book.

London Chick Lit: A Light Read, 12 Dec 2006
I'm a big fan of Chick lit and love chick lit set in London. Jenny Colgan has been one of my favorite writers in the genre.
While the book is nothing to write home about it is a great quick read which will provide readers with a pick me up. The book is very predictable and takes place mostly in the ritzy Chelsea of London.
They book's main characters are two twin sisters, who are as different as night and day. Penny is blonde, thin and outrageous; Lizzie quiet, thoughtful and definitely not thin. Out of the blue they discover they have a grandmother living in Chelsea - and when she has to go into hospital, they find themselves flat-sitting on the King's Road, trying to become IT girls in the socialite celeberity scene.

An excellent rib-tickler, 21 Oct 2008
Despite my best intentions to read a wide variety of literature to 'broaden my mind,' sometimes I just have to reach for a chick-lit novel. The good ones are a breath of fresh air - easily digestible and relaxing, and you can get through them in a couple of days. Operation Sunshine is one of the good ones. Heat Magazine dubbed it "a perfect sunlounger read," and I have to say I'm inclined to agree. I wasn't fortunate enough to be reading it on a sunlounger, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless.

The action centres around Evie, a receptionist in a high profile cosmetic surgery. Feeling miserable, Evie starts fantasising about going on holiday. All the holidays she's ever been on in her life have gone wrong in some shape or form so she's not a huge holiday fan, but feels she ought to try again. After all, people rave about them so they can't be that bad, can they?

Soon enough, Evie gets the chance to find out as she's invited to accompany the two doctors she works for to the South of France. It's a plastic surgery conference, so Evie is hoping for the chance of sun, sea, sand and hopefully sex with a hot rich doctor. However, things don't quite pan out that way when she realises it's more than just a conference. There's something rather untoward going on involving highly questionnable surgery on a cruise ship, which by a scary coincidence has been designed by her childhood friend. The more Evie pokes around for information, the more disturbing the story becomes and she feels she has to intervene for the sake of many people. And that's when things start getting interesting...

Operation Sunshine is a right giggle! From the very beginning you'll appreciate the witty characters and the situations they find themselves in, and as the plot thickens, things just get better. Right in the middle of the action, I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. This really is an ace read; it's fun, humourous and has a dash of romance - everything a girl could want from a book in this genre. Highly recommended.

Not worth the effort, 25 Jan 2008
Have never read any of Jennty Colgan's before and I doubt I will be again.

This was unfortunately not a very thrilling read for me and it seemed to switch genre's half way through, from a chick-lit novel to a crime solving medical investigation.

Evie is a good character and there is some good chemistry, but unfortunately, it was abit far fetched and over the top.

Not impressed, 04 Jan 2008
Jenny colgan is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, but this book was such a disappointment. It had all the makings of a good story, yet colgan failed to make this anything but predictable and rather boring. All her other books have been exciting, interesting and immpossible to put down, however that is not the case with operation sunshine.

Not as good as usual, 10 Dec 2007
This book could have been great - it had potential. Good plot, nice main character. But it just felt light and flabby really. I like Colgan's books and I think she can be really, really funny. But I'd like to see her stretch herself more. But I will read her next one (if it sounds interesting!). Every author has one or two 'off' books and deserves a good chance. It can't be easy writing a book every year or two.

Another great Jenny Colgan book, 27 Sep 2007
What another great book from Jenny Colgan. She never fails to deliver in my opinion. This is an excellent easy read with lots of laughs as usual. Doesnt beat 'Where have all the boys gone' but this is still a 'must' read if you like Jenny's other books.

just didnt hit the spot, 10 Sep 2008
been a while since ive read a jenny colgan novel and i was disappointed by this one!!!! tries to hard to be funny and i just found it silly. very stereotypical of many types of people you may find in chelsea, gay art gallery owner, foodie european fat guy and it girls!!!

Good Story., 10 Jul 2007
I would recommend people to read this. It's a down-to-earth and warming book, though the only characters we knew in depth were the two twins; i still liked the others too. The only trouble i had with this book was that the ending seemed to come pretty quickly and didn't seem very realistic. But still, give it a try!

A Modern Witty Tale, 25 May 2007
Its been a few years since I last read one of Jenny's books (the last one being Talking to Addison - which I highly recommend also). West End Girls from the first word is funny. I thought the conversations between the two main characters flowed well and sounded like any normal twenty-something girls chatting/bickering together.

Love Jennys use of very upto date references (Gordon Ramsey/Turkey Twislers/Page 3 models/Jody Marsh's army belt dress/Prince Harrys present girlfriend even gets a mention and also the latest clubs/bars that are 'hot' right now (Im presuming Jenny herself had to research these - tough work if you can get it!!!)

Fab read - if your into Heat/Now magazine, Pop culture, shopping, fashion, IT girls plus a good old love story thrown in for measure!!



Great fun, 24 Jan 2007
Whilst its slightly tricky to believe that two sisters living on a council estate really would be entrusted to look after their bonkers Grandma's flat in Chelsea whilst she's in hospital, I quickly got over my reservations and got into this great story. The two sisters involved couldnt be more dissimilar if they tried - Penny is blond, think and (I think) horrible, whilst Lizzie is the perfect underdog - overweight, bitter and downtrodden, and as they move "up west" and learn more about themselves and the world in which they now exist, the differences between them grow more evident. I never warmed to Penny and was delighted with how her life pans out at the end of the book, but I was slightly disappointed that Lizzie seems to settle for the first man that walks into her life!! On the whole though, a great book.

London Chick Lit: A Light Read, 12 Dec 2006
I'm a big fan of Chick lit and love chick lit set in London. Jenny Colgan has been one of my favorite writers in the genre.
While the book is nothing to write home about it is a great quick read which will provide readers with a pick me up. The book is very predictable and takes place mostly in the ritzy Chelsea of London.
They book's main characters are two twin sisters, who are as different as night and day. Penny is blonde, thin and outrageous; Lizzie quiet, thoughtful and definitely not thin. Out of the blue they discover they have a grandmother living in Chelsea - and when she has to go into hospital, they find themselves flat-sitting on the King's Road, trying to become IT girls in the socialite celeberity scene.

just didnt hit the spot, 10 Sep 2008
been a while since ive read a jenny colgan novel and i was disappointed by this one!!!! tries to hard to be funny and i just found it silly. very stereotypical of many types of people you may find in chelsea, gay art gallery owner, foodie european fat guy and it girls!!!

Good Story., 10 Jul 2007
I would recommend people to read this. It's a down-to-earth and warming book, though the only characters we knew in depth were the two twins; i still liked the others too. The only trouble i had with this book was that the ending seemed to come pretty quickly and didn't seem very realistic. But still, give it a try!

A Modern Witty Tale, 25 May 2007
Its been a few years since I last read one of Jenny's books (the last one being Talking to Addison - which I highly recommend also). West End Girls from the first word is funny. I thought the conversations between the two main characters flowed well and sounded like any normal twenty-something girls chatting/bickering together.

Love Jennys use of very upto date references (Gordon Ramsey/Turkey Twislers/Page 3 models/Jody Marsh's army belt dress/Prince Harrys present girlfriend even gets a mention and also the latest clubs/bars that are 'hot' right now (Im presuming Jenny herself had to research these - tough work if you can get it!!!)

Fab read - if your into Heat/Now magazine, Pop culture, shopping, fashion, IT girls plus a good old love story thrown in for measure!!



Great fun, 24 Jan 2007
Whilst its slightly tricky to believe that two sisters living on a council estate really would be entrusted to look after their bonkers Grandma's flat in Chelsea whilst she's in hospital, I quickly got over my reservations and got into this great story. The two sisters involved couldnt be more dissimilar if they tried - Penny is blond, think and (I think) horrible, whilst Lizzie is the perfect underdog - overweight, bitter and downtrodden, and as they move "up west" and learn more about themselves and the world in which they now exist, the differences between them grow more evident. I never warmed to Penny and was delighted with how her life pans out at the end of the book, but I was slightly disappointed that Lizzie seems to settle for the first man that walks into her life!! On the whole though, a great book.

London Chick Lit: A Light Read, 12 Dec 2006
I'm a big fan of Chick lit and love chick lit set in London. Jenny Colgan has been one of my favorite writers in the genre.
While the book is nothing to write home about it is a great quick read which will provide readers with a pick me up. The book is very predictable and takes place mostly in the ritzy Chelsea of London.
They book's main characters are two twin sisters, who are as different as night and day. Penny is blonde, thin and outrageous; Lizzie quiet, thoughtful and definitely not thin. Out of the blue they discover they have a grandmother living in Chelsea - and when she has to go into hospital, they find themselves flat-sitting on the King's Road, trying to become IT girls in the socialite celeberity scene.

Fantastic!, 12 May 2008
Well I just loved this book! I fell in love and identified with the characters and their emotions and liked how the characters developed as the story went on. People may say its predictable but Colgan actually develops the relationships between the cha