Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Gallery Books (2006), 416 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. HTML:Hilarious and warmhearted, this "deliciously addictive" (Cosmopolitan) debut romantic comedy stars a woman who goes from doormat to diva when she sets up shop as the ultimate freelance girlfriend. Melissa Romney-Jones can bake a perfect sponge cake, type her little heart out, and plan a party blindfolded. But none of that has helped her get far in life or in love. When she gets fired �?? again �?? she decides to market her impeccable social skills to single men. To avoid embarrassing her father, a Member of Parliament, Melissa dons a blond wig and becomes Honey, a no-nonsense bombshell who helps clueless bachelors shop, entertain, and navigate social minefields. She even attends parties if a client needs a "date." But when a dashing American starts to request Honey's services on a regular basis, it's only a matter of time before Honey's and Melissa's worlds colli… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
The description on the back of the book made this sound like something I might love, something between Jennifer Crusie's Bet Me and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones' Diary about love and career in contemporary London. From that description, the heroine, Melissa Romney-Jones sounds like a competent
Unfortunately, the more I read, the more she came across as a ditz I wanted to back away slowly from, and not at all in the lovable quirky identifiable Bridget Jones way. The deal-breaker for me was when after being sacked, she decides she's going to take a position in an Escort Agency. I didn't even want to stay around for the comic turn on prostitution that would lead to her creating her own agency. The whole thing made Melissa--and this novel--just too stupid for me to put up with for one more page.
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and up and coming entrepreneur, who has started her own business that sounds a bit like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, only with a posh Brit gal showing clueless blokes the way. I could see from the beginning that Browne is no Crusie or Fielding or Hornby, but I felt there was enough humor and warmth in the voice and I thought this might be an enjoyable read. Melissa sounded at first like that utterly competent backbone of an office that keeps things running. Unfortunately, the more I read, the more she came across as a ditz I wanted to back away slowly from, and not at all in the lovable quirky identifiable Bridget Jones way. The deal-breaker for me was when after being sacked, she decides she's going to take a position in an Escort Agency. I didn't even want to stay around for the comic turn on prostitution that would lead to her creating her own agency. The whole thing made Melissa--and this novel--just too stupid for me to put up with for one more page.
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LibraryThing member MissWoodhouse1816
I found the Little Lady Agency to be a charming book. I was very impressed at the detailed and meticulous way in which Browne developed her character and the story line. Often in books such as this, the story goes along just fine, and then rushes into a whirlwind end where everything magically
Beyond all that, I enjoyed reading a fairly fresh and non-traditional storyline. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!
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clears up. It is refreshing to read a book that gave as much care and detail to the last fifty pages as it did to the first fifty.Beyond all that, I enjoyed reading a fairly fresh and non-traditional storyline. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!
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LibraryThing member hannahj26
I picked this up hoping it would be similar to Shopaholic. It's only similar in that they both center around single young women in England. Still this was fun and more substantial than Shopaholic. I do plan on reading the next in the series.
LibraryThing member Gilli
Cute kept reading even though it was silly
LibraryThing member phoebesmum
Posh girl loses temp job, sets up her own escort and male grooming agency. I have often noted the ease with which women in chicklit, no matter how hopeless in other ways, always manage to think of a gap in the market and set themselves up in a self-employed capacity to plug it. I probably should be
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ashamed of myself, reading this sort of stuff. Another odd thing about these books is that the BFF character (there is always a BFF) is inevitably more interesting than the protagonist, cf: Rose Red in the 'Katy' books. Show Less
LibraryThing member mmillet
I'll just start this review off by saying: I'm torn after reading this book.The Little Lady Agency is the first in a three part series starring Melissa Romney-Jones, a girl who has been fired - once again - from her job and has no clue where to go from there. Extremely organized and good at
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soothing the ruffled feathers of her co-workers and friends, Melissa, after a string of highly amusing events and coincidences, decides to open her own agency specially marketed to those blokes who have more than a little trouble organizing their lives. Whether it be a clothes makeover, someone to advise them on asking a girl out, posing as a girlfriend to get matchmaking mamas off their backs, or just firing the hired help, Melissa can handle anything with her no-nonsense attitude - everything except for laundry and sex that is.Only thing is, Melissa doesn't want to be recognized due to her politically prominent family and thus dons a blonde wig and an alternate personality, Honey during 'business hours'. As Honey, Melissa wears tighter clothing and can make the honest yet somewhat brutal remarks accommodating Melissa would never dream of uttering. Even though her wonderful friends Nelson and Gabi insist that side of Melissa has always been there, she can't see it.Okay, so now for my reasons for not totally being wowed by this one. I mean, at times, it's hilarious. Melissa gets into some laugh-out-loud situations with her awkward bachelors and her family had me in stitches to no end. My beef comes with her choice in men. I know Ms. Browne was going for a whole passion-over-friendship thing but I really don't see her decision working out for her in the end. I don't want to spoil it here, but if you too are feeling less than pleased with how things end up, let me know cause I am more than a little miffed at her decision. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book - the characters were great, it was surprisingly clean for a 'chick book', and it dealt with all things London and English. My idea of a good time. Show Less
LibraryThing member jendoyle2000
Yay! A new author for me. Can't wait to read more from her.
LibraryThing member SpyGirl116
Hilarious British chick lit. Not deep, but thoroughly entertaining. Liked it better than the Shopaholic books.
LibraryThing member Kara
If this hadn't been a book club book, I never would have picked it up. This is the kind of book I actively avoid, but I'm trying to, in fairness, judge this book against books in its genre rather than against the books I normally read. So here we go.
Melissa rubbed me the wrong way from the start. I
I did like Honey, though. And as Melissa became more like Honey, I started liking her more and caring about what happened to her. By the end, I was trying to rush through to find out what happened before I had to rush off for work. Once the book picked up, I actually got into it.
I probably won't pick up the next one in the series, but reading this was an enjoyable experience and a pleasant surprise.
Melissa rubbed me the wrong way from the start. I
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wanted to shake her. And I felt like she was a bit of a Mary Sue. Everyone thinks she's so wonderful and loves her (unless they're her family or jealous of her), but I didn't see why. She's an extremely naive girl with rabidly low self-esteem. She's a pushover. She's extraordinarily bad at communicating. She escapes through Honey, her business venture personality. And while everyone else can see that Honey is really Melissa, Melissa feels like Honey is a completely different person. Through Honey, she can become more confident, feel sexy, and demand what she wants, but she doesn't think she can do this as Melissa.I did like Honey, though. And as Melissa became more like Honey, I started liking her more and caring about what happened to her. By the end, I was trying to rush through to find out what happened before I had to rush off for work. Once the book picked up, I actually got into it.
I probably won't pick up the next one in the series, but reading this was an enjoyable experience and a pleasant surprise.
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LibraryThing member DonnaB317
This was a cute read - I enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member jlapac
I just finished the Little Lady Agency. It was definitely chick-lit, but perfect plane reading and quite entertaining. I like the idea of donning a costume and using it to teach yourself to be a different person. I liked the character of Melissa a lot and I also liked Nelson. I don't think the
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author explained Jonathan well enough or gave enough background on Melissa's father. Show Less
LibraryThing member NineLarks
I seem to find myself reading a lot of chick lit lately. But I think I'm starting to tire of it again.
This book was silly and girly and I contemplated dropping it about 30 pages in, but then there were a couple things that were interesting so I stuck around and finished it.
I didn't particularly
Honestly the only reason I read this book was because I wanted to see how the scenes would play out with Melissa dealing with Nicky and Nelson. There was enough tension there that it was interesting. And even though Melissa was a little too oblivious to innuendoes (c'mon, you're helping men with romance and you don't get those jokes?!), I liked the progression.
She's just too oblivious. Especially to her own feelings.
This is just a typical chick lit with fluff and obvious romance. Nothing crazy, nothing horrible. Read it to satisfy those girly chick lit cravings.
Two stars. It was okay.
This book was silly and girly and I contemplated dropping it about 30 pages in, but then there were a couple things that were interesting so I stuck around and finished it.
I didn't particularly
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like the narrator,Melissa. She was strangely bossy and meek at the same time. Like she had a split personality or something. I didn't like any of the scenes with her family. It just seemed like unnecessary chaos and randomness in the plot. Especially the plot lines like the baby or the evil nanny. Quite odd. I always wanted to skip those family scenes and go straight to the other plots. Honestly the only reason I read this book was because I wanted to see how the scenes would play out with Melissa dealing with Nicky and Nelson. There was enough tension there that it was interesting. And even though Melissa was a little too oblivious to innuendoes (c'mon, you're helping men with romance and you don't get those jokes?!), I liked the progression.
She's just too oblivious. Especially to her own feelings.
This is just a typical chick lit with fluff and obvious romance. Nothing crazy, nothing horrible. Read it to satisfy those girly chick lit cravings.
Two stars. It was okay.
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LibraryThing member NineLarks
I seem to find myself reading a lot of chick lit lately. But I think I'm starting to tire of it again.
This book was silly and girly and I contemplated dropping it about 30 pages in, but then there were a couple things that were interesting so I stuck around and finished it.
I didn't particularly
Honestly the only reason I read this book was because I wanted to see how the scenes would play out with Melissa dealing with Nicky and Nelson. There was enough tension there that it was interesting. And even though Melissa was a little too oblivious to innuendoes (c'mon, you're helping men with romance and you don't get those jokes?!), I liked the progression.
She's just too oblivious. Especially to her own feelings.
This is just a typical chick lit with fluff and obvious romance. Nothing crazy, nothing horrible. Read it to satisfy those girly chick lit cravings.
Two stars. It was okay.
This book was silly and girly and I contemplated dropping it about 30 pages in, but then there were a couple things that were interesting so I stuck around and finished it.
I didn't particularly
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like the narrator,Melissa. She was strangely bossy and meek at the same time. Like she had a split personality or something. I didn't like any of the scenes with her family. It just seemed like unnecessary chaos and randomness in the plot. Especially the plot lines like the baby or the evil nanny. Quite odd. I always wanted to skip those family scenes and go straight to the other plots. Honestly the only reason I read this book was because I wanted to see how the scenes would play out with Melissa dealing with Nicky and Nelson. There was enough tension there that it was interesting. And even though Melissa was a little too oblivious to innuendoes (c'mon, you're helping men with romance and you don't get those jokes?!), I liked the progression.
She's just too oblivious. Especially to her own feelings.
This is just a typical chick lit with fluff and obvious romance. Nothing crazy, nothing horrible. Read it to satisfy those girly chick lit cravings.
Two stars. It was okay.
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LibraryThing member WonderlandGrrl
Funny tongue-in-cheek story of a woman who decides to use her "womanly skills" (no, not a hooker) to help men understand women
LibraryThing member PattyLee
Fluff. Marshmallow. Won’t continue the series, but it was a pleasant diversion.
LibraryThing member dd196406
Picked this one up while browsing at the public library. I'm so glad I did because I just loved it. This is the kind of book I am always searching for. The heroine is delightfully quirky and insecure -- the hero is handsome and way too good for her (she thinks) -- and the supporting characters are
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likable and fun. I loved this book and immediately tried to obtain the rest of Hester Browne's works. So far, I've only found one - Little Lady Agency and the Big Apple. Show Less
LibraryThing member la_librarian
This was a pretty good book for incoming writer Hester Browne. It's basically the story of a girl who doesn't have any faith in herself and her journey to realizing how talented and great she really is. The downfall of the book is that Melissa doesn't realize this until the last few pages and
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because other people tell her how great she is. I'd rather have seen her come to that realization on her own instead of needing everyone else to say it. Still the story is cute and it's a light read. Show Less
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Sweet book easy read with some issues. Romance early 2000 with limited social media and set in England
Original language
English
Physical description
406 p.; 5.31 inches
ISBN
1416527265 / 9781416527268