For years, I devoured Chick Lit novel after Chick Lit novel and rooted for every heroine to find her Mr. Right. As I flipped the pages of those novels, I also hoped that I'd fine mine. After years of failed relationships and colossally awful dates, I hit my 34th birthday and felt like Charlotte from Sex and The City when she screamed, "I've been dating since I'm 15. I'm exhausted. Where is he?"
And then, there he was. Sitting across from me in a hotel lounge. Two years later, he popped the question. And in just a few months, I will go from single status to Mrs. status as I team up with own my Mr. Right.
When I look back at my long and painful journey toward my own happy ending, I think of the Chick Lit books and their strong female characters that gave me hope in those particularly low, "consume an entire bag of Oreos" nights.
1.London is the Best City in America by Laura Dave This books starts with Emmy walking out on her fiancée while he's sleeping. And when her brother's wedding brings her face to face with him once again, she's forced to face the reasons why she ran away from her engagement and ask herself if she did the right thing. Especially when another man challenges her affections. As a single girl, this book reminded me to always listen to my best friend, also known as my gut. Especially when you're talking that thing called the rest of your life.
2.Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding I don't think you can be a single girl who's struggled to find a man (and at times feared she'd be a spinster) and not relate to Bridget Jones. She's quirky, honest and flawed and makes all women believe they can also find their Mark Darcy.
3.The Big Love by Sarah Dunn This book starts when Alison's boyfriend steps out for mustard and then calls her to tell her he's never coming back because he's fallen for a former flame. But after starting to pick up the pieces, she wonders, would she even want her ex back if she could have him?
4.Me vs. Me by Sarah Mylwoski After Gabby accepts a proposal from her boyfriend, she begins to struggle with her answer. Did she want him or that high-powered job across the country? And when she wishes for a chance to live both lives, she gets it. You know how they say, be careful what you wish for? When you read this story, you're reminded that when it comes to love, sometimes it's better not to try to have it all.
5.Time of my Life by Allison Winn Scotch When Jillian learns that her former boyfriend is getting hitched, she starts to question her own marriage. And begins to wonder, what if? Well, when she wakes up one morning, seven years in the past, she gets to find out. I loved this book because who hasn't, at one time or another, wondered how their life would've turned out if they hadn't let a certain someone slip away?
xo
