Bare Necessity

Emily is distraught when she discovers her boyfriend Declan has just started a porn site, on which he's posted suggestive photos of her. She's mortified since the photos were meant for his eyes only. Soon she discovers that's not his only betrayal. He's also mortgaged their home, depleted her savings accounts, and as a result of his internet doings, has managed to get her fired from her job as a teacher. With no home, no job, no money, and no man, she turns to best pal Cara, a reporter. Cara's co-workers have seen the photos and soon her paper creates media buzz by identifying Emily resulting in her inability to get another teaching position. Cara has her own problems - she's nursing a crush for her co-worker, photographer Alex, a single father contemplating custody of his pre-teen son. While trying to turn her life around, Emily signs with a publicist who arranges for her to attend several local events. She spots a man there that takes her breath away, but unfortunately they never get the chance to actually meet. Unbeknownst to Emily, the man in question is Alex. It is through a series of miscommunication and misunderstandings that events unfold, as Emily struggles with the newfound fame that has been thrust upon her, and her desire for her anonymity restored. It's an engaging story, and I was rooting for Emily to find Mr. Right all along. Published in the US as "Bare Necessity."

This reminded me of the TV series Coupling. Not the tepid American remake, but the original British series with its slapstick situations and witty dialogue. The plot is a comedy of errors, with the reader aware of all the entanglements, while the main character continues to have obstacles put in the way of her happiness. There are lots of humorous situations and the read is made more enjoyable with the wonderful anticipation of what's going to happen next and who will she end up with?.

This book was fun from the beginning. Emily is left broke and disgraced after her boyfriend Declan gets them in debt and posts private photos of Emily dressed as a naughty Santa on his newest website. Running to her best friend Cara for support only makes things worse as Cara discovers the men in her office have been viewing her best friend on the internet. Cara reveals to a fellow reporter that the very woman they are ogling is a friend of hers and Emily wouldn't appreciate how she was being portrayed. However, this is just what the reporter needs to hear to give him an idea for a new story.This is just the beginning of a mad dash Emily ends up having to run in order to get her life back in order. I adore this book it is fresh and funny with that little bit of betrayal thrown in to allow the characters to find redemption and ultimately love. It's a wild mix of misunderstandings and turns into a fun read.I look forward to checking out other books by Carole Matthews after Bare Necessity.

I randomly picked up For Better For Worse at my library last summer because I thought the cover was cute. Well I loved it. I was so excited to see that Carole Matthews had another book out. I read it very quickly, the short chapters helped it to go by very fast. I loved it, funny and enjoyable!

I'm a longtime fan of Carole Matthews and her work. I absolutely loved her new US publication of "Bare Necessity." This hilarious romp into the world of Emily Miller makes us all feel like our lives aren't THAT bad. I mean - come on, this girl has the worst luck ever. Not only is her boyfriend a dirt bag but she's lost everything else. Her home, her job and her dignity. How can a girl regroup? What else?????? Her friends! (and yoga, of course).While this is certainly in the "chick lit" genre --- it's better than the usual fair and Ms. Matthews' work is really well crafted and clever. She knows how to write a great page tuner with interesting characters, great romance and funny dialog. It's a real winner and I think perfect for those summer days when you can spend a bit of time with a sweet and fun book. Cheers!!!