Critics here and across the pond have been kind enough to write a few nice words about my books in their publications. Here is a selection of the best reviews - oh, and just for fun, the worst review, ever, of all time...

Vince and Joy

Sunday Telegraph
This is one of those rare books with the variety, complexity and unexpectedness of real life. I read the first three pages - a small miracle of compressed story-telling - and that was it. I was off, like a bloodhound after a scent. Vince and Joy are a pair of 18-year-olds who lose their virginity to each other at a caravan park in Hunstanton. The next day, fate tears them apart and the rest of the book follows their separate stories as they stumble towards their thirties through a series of warped, doomed and weird relationships.

Many writers in this genre exalt their characters, setting them apart from reality and making them wealthy, powerful, talented and good-looking. Jewell gets by without the fab-factor. She writes about average Londoners in so-so flats and boring jobs. Her great skill is to extract drama from mundane situations by the ingenious use of strange but credible quirks. Though I was desperate for the pair to end up together, I was never certain that they would. The chance meetings and near-misses along the way were handled with such teasing guile that I raced through the final chapter as if it were the climax of a great whodunnit.

This is Jewell's most satisfying novel since her wonderful debut Ralph's Party. Fans of chick-lit will understand when I say that this is a book you simply disappear into. It gobbles you up whole. And you emerge two days later on a cloud of cosy memories, as if after a drunken weekend party spent with a gang of adorable, funny, highly sexed, super-friendly, half-mad strangers.

Grazia                          
Jewell's gem of a read sees Vince and Joy endure years apart before discovering if their love was meant to be. Aah …

Reveal              
This fun and witty romance will Lisa Jewell's reputation as one of the top chick-lit authors

OK/Hot Stars                
A perfect holiday book and a convincing argument for all sceptics of love at first sight. And if you're searching for the perfect partner it will give you hope too!

Company                
Must Buy Book – A classy, evocative tales that proves girlie books can be intelligent and insightful

Heat                        
Aah we do love Lisa Jewell. She always delivers lovely, laidback stories with wonderfully, well-rounded characters. Vince and Joy is no different…This is a book for the Friends Reunited generation – how many of you have wondered if that childhood sweetheart was THE ONE? If you believe fate plays a hand in all our love lives, you just won't be able to put Vince and Joy down

Cosmo                   
If this book were a celeb it would be Cameron Diaz magnetic, unpretentious and bursting with one-liners

Eve                              
A top notch romantic read

Prima                           
That happy ending feeling lingers long after the book's back on the
shelf. We love Vince and Joy.

Closer                          
An easy, feel-good read

She magazine          
Funny and sad, but ultimately uplifting, this will leave you wistfully wondering about your own first love

Eve                                
Her latest is a delight…Jewell traces with insight the insecurities and compromises that lead both of them to settle for other, less suitable partners. Their eventual reunion is painfully delayed, but the journey there is lined with such believable characters and situations that it makes for a richly rewarding read.

Family Circle                   
Unputdownable, touching tale of Vince and Joy…a charming love story without being cliched and mushy.

A Friend Of The Family

Lisa Jewell's phenomenal success as the so-called "queen of chick lit" seems to have come about despite - or, perhaps, because - she doesn't really write chick lit at all. Or even a great deal of romance, for that matter. Instead, she aspires to something rather different; part comedy and part social history of a section of thirtysomething London singles. With A Friend of the Family she returns to the form that won her such praise for her first novel, Ralph's Party. It boasts a classic Jewell sleight of hand - instead of the ditsy heroine common to the genre, she chooses to write from the point of view of three brothers from whose perspectives the women are viewed at a distance, as if through the objectifying lens of a long telescope of lust and filial jealousy.

This book shows Jewell coming into her prime - a longer novel, with more sustained points of view - that is both funny and emotionally satisfying. Her men frequently behave badly, committing such unforgivable acts as abandoning a pregnant girlfriend, but Jewell takes them to task with such warmth and humour that the novel feels more like a lesson in human frailty than an exercise in invective.
After this latest work, the most accurate comparison we can make is between Jewell and Armistead Maupin - without the transvestites or sex romps of the latter. Jewell loves London, and her four novels have been as much a homage to the city as the playground and sanctuary of the lovelorn as San Francisco is to Maupin. This time she makes her passion clear; the brothers' surname is "London", and the most exhilarating passage involves a trip across town crammed in the back of a Robin Reliant. Hardly chick lit.
The Times July 5th 2003

A subtle dissection of the modern world, this is the perfect summer read.
Marie Claire August 2003

We just love Lisa's fourth book' the gorgeously endearing story of three dysfunctional brothers is quire possible her best yet
Heat 5th July 2003

This novel will make you feel warm inside
New Woman August 2003

In one sense, Lisa Jewell's A Friend of the Family could be compared to Laurie Graham with a dash of HE Bates's Larkin clan. Three brothers have grown up in a loving and ramshackle family and winged their way into adulthood … This is the author's fourth novel and it is clear she is enjoying honing her skills and her technique. Unafraid to tackle three male characters, she is remarkably assured and her dialogue is cracking. It is terrific stuff: touching, funny and sentient
Sunday Times 3rd August 2003

An unpretentious slice of contemporary life … Not ChicLit, but not LadLit either, Jewell's cheery journey down the No 68 bus route takes in a bigger picture.
The Independent 2nd August 2003

A friend of the Family proves that Lisa's a foxy bird whose broody, warm and humorous style is too plucky to belong in the chic-lit hutch
Bournemouth Daily Echo July 19th 2003

Lisa Jewell is one of the better of the tribe of youngish female writers to be saddled with the term 'chick-lit' - hardly an accurate description in Jewell's case … Jewell's light style can be deceptive; her anatomisation of twenty and thirtysomething urban relationships is at times uncomfortably keen … It's a lot of fun.
Daily Mail July 18th 2003

Jewell's mix of readability and emotional intelligence maker her the cream of pop fiction. Light as her novels are, they're the stuff of real life, with characters as complex as your own friends and family - and you end up caring about them as much.
Glamour August 2003

One Hit Wonder

"Jewell's third novel is a sophisticated narrative, a funny, inclusive vision of friends surmounting loneliness and death with their humour. Jewell can't help but tell a compelling story packed with intriguing characters ... In One Hit Wonder London emerges as a true romantic hero and it has rarely been more lovingly evoked"
The Times, 22nd September 2001


"Jewell's third outing, One Hit Wonder, shows that as one of the most successful writers of the chick-lit boom, she is moving on while continuing to appeal to her readership. Characterisation is what (Jewell) does best and Ana, Lol and Flint are refreshing after chick-lit's long run of PR girls and media guys.
This is traditional, light-hearted romantic fiction at its best - and with its low-level discussion of sexual mores, the perils of celebrity and the joys of 'being yourself', it will appeal to the heart of its young, female readership. The imitators of the genre are going to drop away, but the established, genuinely talented voices like Lisa Jewell are not stuck in a time warp of chardonnay, first person confessional voice and bitter jokes about men."
Literary Review, October 2001

"Jewell's One Hit Wonder is great, with an engaging and original plot"
New Statesman, 24th September 2001

"One Hit Wonder proves (Jewell's) ability to work in light and shade. Written with intelligence, verve and wit, Jewell's third novel is a triumph"
Hello, 25th September 2001


"A schmaltzy, sentimental, perceptive, tears-trickling-down-the-side-of-your-nose-on-the-bus brilliant read. *****"
Company, October 2001

"…. a moving and intelligent coming of age story. Jewell's writing, particularly her dialogue, is strong … and her prose is naturally very readable."
The Independent

"What's remarkable about this story is not only is it warm and engaging, it's original - no mean feat for a piece of chick-fic, or a third novel for that matter. In terms of sheer entertainment value this gets top marks. Fantastic. *****"
Heat, 29th September 2001

"Best known for her feel-good books Ralph's Party and Thirtynothing, Lisa Jewell's third novel is a big departure from her usual style. It's more serious and less jokey, but by no means less accomplished. A book about a suicidal, fading pop star could have been morose, but Lisa Jewell manages to make Bee so human it's as if she's still alive. Poignant and humorous."
Now, 24th October 2001

"One Hit Wonder is surprisingly inventive and moving, cleverly based around a charismatic protagonist who no longer exists. Jewell keeps the thriller element bubbling nicely, while exploring Ana's horribly mixed feelings as the picture begins to come into focus. … this is a story with definite charms and a real sense of poignancy."
Sunday Times, 21st October 2001

"a poignant tale of life, love and loss"
The Mirror, 21st September 2001


"An emotional look at the power of love, guilt and redemption, offset by breezy humour."
The Mirror, 23rd September 2001


"The story is original and the suspense is skilfully built. An infuriatingly enjoyable feel-good read"
The List, 20th September 2001

"An absorbing read"
She, October 2001


"The twists and turns in the plot will leave you dizzy"
New Woman, October 2001


"One Hit Wonder is a wonderfully addictive novel. Jewell tackles some serious issues with humour - proving that chick-lit can be intelligent, interesting and huge fun. The delightful One Hit Wonder is chick-lit at its very best ****"
Sunday Express, October 7th 2001

"A buoyant tale that will have you laughing and crying from start to finish."
Woman's Journal, November 2001


"Good-quality chick-lit."
OK! 12th October 2001

"A diverting read … a cat and mouse story from a playful author."
Time Out, 10th October 2001

Thirtynothing

"Warm, funny, realistic and immensely readable."
Cosmopolitan, October 2000

"You might think there are too many books these days about hip, urban thirtysomethings negotiating the minefield of relationships, but Jewell plays the variations with some skill and her writing sizzles with energy."
Mail on Sunday, 1st October 2000

"Lisa Jewell's Ralph's Party was one of those mega-sellers that help to define the standards of their genre. It even won plaudits from Tom Paulin on Late Review. What more could a girl want? How about two-thirds of Harry Potter's sales and a chart entry ahead of Binchy, Francis et al? That's precisely what Thirtynothing has managed. Do we sneer? We do not. Jewell writes with invigorating zest and lashings of what the shrinks might call emotional intelligence - pop fiction at its proudest."
The Independent, 15th September 2000

"This is a gem"
The Mirror, September 2000

"Lisa Jewell's second novel stands out from the mass of chick-fic like a poppy in a cornfield. This tale... glitters with insight."
Nova, October 2000

"What is is about Lisa Jewell? By most objective measures her books should fall into the airport/airhead remainder bucket. But she is so much better than that. Thirtynothing is not just a diversion for a few train stops on the way to the office, it will keep you up all night in a sweaty, addicted reading frenzy. It was the same with Ralph's Party, Jewell's first novel, her best-selling debut of 1999. But neither it nor Thirtynothing's success rests on a startling original plot. Ralph's Party was about a group of twentysomethings sharing a flat, Thirtynothing is about a man called Digby and his best friend Nadine gradually realising they are in love. Jewell is so confident about her abilities that she happily invokes her influences: the novel High Fidelity, the television shows Friends, and Dawson's Creek and, of course, the film, "When Harry met Sally." As Nadine's friend says to her: "You'll see Dig and you'll kiss and it'll be Ross and Rachel and Joey and Dawson and Harry and Sally all rolled into one!" Jewell's secret can be found by looking at the central couple. Both Digby and Nadine have blatantly aspirational lifestylesL he is a record company talent spotter, she is a high-earning fashion photographer. But, despite this, Jewell has a real gift for creating compelling leading men and women that you recognise enough to believe in. As in Ralph's Party, London emerges as the third most fully rounded character, with Jewell name-dropping bars, cars, parks, shops and brands in a very credible effort to capture life in the capital for a certain type of 30-year-old. But Jewell does this while satirising London's pretentiousness, and this is the key to her success. First and foremost, she is a comic writer who makes acute and funny observations about romance. Yet she enjoys life, London and love too much to really make them the butt of the joke. It's a fine balance that should make Thirtynothing as popular as its predecessor. Though I would recommend find out why for yourself."
The Times, 2nd September 2000

"Bubby and addictive, it's the best romantic comedy we've read in ages."
Company, October 2000


"This is a lovely book - honest fluff. It is informed throughout with a wholesome desire to please and entertain."
The Daily Telegraph, 9th September 2000


"Jewell's exceptional skill for story-telling and her insight into the twentysomething psyche makes it easy to relate to her characters as they stumble through adulthood. Very entertaining and very funny."
Heat Magazine, 15th September 2000

Ralph's Party

"A good summer read can be as restorative as a good summer holiday, like a squirt of after-sun cream on careworn shoulders. However, for escapism to begin at home, choose your companion book carefully... RALPH'S PARTY by Lisa Jewell has the formula perfectly judged: even the first page of her first novel glows with the kind of guaranteed readability that Jilly Cooper once made her own. This book has been hailed a modern classic by Germaine Greer and other luminaries, but don't be put off by that. Jewell's romantic comedy about three yuppie couples in a south London flatshare teeters happily into feminine fantasy rather than trudging sensibly into realism. The concerns of Jem, the heroine, feature her amorous destiny first, the largeness of her breasts and her inability to wear trousers second, with drink and drug-fuelled London nightlife bringing up the rear."
Helen Rumbelow, Saturday Times metro, July 10-16 1999


"Deliciously enjoyable... although there have been many books trying to decipher the new rules of engagement, Jewell's is one of the most refreshing: addictively readable without being irritating or glib"
The Times


"A party worth gatecrashing! Lisa Jewell pulls off a rare trick which even the likes of Helen Fielding and Nick Hornby couldn't quite manage. She has written a book about relationships which appeals to men and women ... It's a spicy lamb kofta in a sea of bland chicken masala"
Daily Mirror


"A joy...a fun, summer read"
Guardian


"A lovely, modern, urban tale of interconnecting relationships, desires and disasters. Quite the nicest in this vein for some time"
Bookseller


It's London. It's the late-Nineties. It's your late-twenties or early-thrtities, but it doesn't really matter because, details aside, it's just so true to life…
London Evening Standard, 14th July 1999


"A breath of fresh air"
Tom Paulin, Late Review, 6th May 1999


"Addictive...Jilly Cooper for the combat-trouser generation"
The Times, 5 June 1999


Comparisons to Bridget Jones's Diary are sure to greet British author Jewell's American debut, but her tale of love among neighbors bears more resemblance to TV's Melrose Place. Spicing up the fast-paced plot is Smith's long-running, long-distance obsession over Cheri and Jem's inexplicable attraction to Ralph, though she remains devoted to Smith. Enjoyable scenes include a hot chile-eating contest and Jem and Ralph's first visit to a sex-toy store, where they're initially nervous, but are soon examining the merchandise with gusto. An amusing denouement brings all six tenants together and wittily, neatly ties up their lives in a novel that won Jewell acclaim and a TV movie option in England, where this light delight was first published.
Publishers Weekly (US), January 2000


A shameless flirt of a first novel that traces the roller-coaster lives of six people sharing the same London brownstone. Slight, yes, but enjoyable.
Kirkus Reviews (US), January 2000


With wit and insight, [Jewell] celebrates the charms of the average woman and satirizes the goddesses of the trendy social world, those "blonde, tall, whippet-chested, cool, arrogant, wine-drinking, label-wearing" beauties whose domination of the media is so oppressive.
Baltimore Sun (US), January 2000

And finally, the worst ever review!

The inhabitants of 31 Almanac Road are involved in a love hexagon founded on lust, lies and a lack of respect for others. This novel is best summed up by its own words: "It was Oprah on a bad day." Weak characterisation, coarse language and Mills & Boon style sex all add up to an irritating read. The author compensates for the absence of plot by writing 500 words when five would suffice and the reader is subjected to endless discourse on the merits of destiny and tales of chilli challenges and sex-shop visits. It is a relief when the cabs are called and the party's over.
Sunday Times, June 1999

Rachael Forder – go girl!