The Shelf
The Shelf by Helly Acton
Reviewed by Mimi
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Many thanks to @zaffrebooks for sending this over to us!
What a fun, light-hearted and genuinely warming read this is. Let me set the scene, Amy thinks she is on the ladder of life with a boyfriend of 2 years who is about to propose. She actually gets dumped and takes part in a reality show where a group of women is taught how to be better girlfriends to win the accolade of being "The Keeper".
What actually happens is a fantastically witty examination of how you can't rely on someone else's love and affection to be fulfilled. You have to find that within yourself, be true to yourself and have contentment in your own company. The bonds that form between these entirely different women are fun and the "educating" is actually hilarious. All these sexist stereotypes are wonderfully pulled apart. You can see from the very beginning that Amy's boyfriend Jamie is nasty but it's that age-old question asked by so many women that keeps Amy there, haven't I invested too much time to let this relationship end?
I think there will be a lot of people who read Amy and see themselves in her and not just because of how she handles the relationship. How often do we as women but as people generally try and make a bad thing work?
This is an ideal summer lockdown read.
