Chick lit with a chuckle

You loved the way Daniel Craig showed off his manly muscles, as well as the latest Bond boy toys – Omegas, Aston Martins and Sony Ericssons.

Brit fashion columnist Maggie Alderson’s Cents and Sensibility cops a similar feel, except she replaces the guy gizmos with Nicole Farhi suits, Gucci separates, Ghost classics and Topshop desirables. You may think you’re buying a mere book, but it comes with an I-wish London shopping list certain to leave you exceptionally stylish, but totally broke.

Released recently in India, Alderson’s fourth novel is chick lit with a twist. In place of the usual impoverished boyfriends, heroine Stella Fain has a guy whose only problem is having too much money.

Throw in some good ol’ English aristocracy, a schoolgirl crush, lots of Prada wedges and Herrera dresses (Stella’s a product journo!) and a highly-publicised love affair. You get a page-turner that’ll keep the remote at bay on one of your rare evenings in.

Not shaken, not stirred. Just chilled out.

Cents and Sensibility by Maggie Alderson, Penguin.
Price: Rs 260.