Guest Review: MIRANDA'S BIG MISTAKE by Jill Mansell

Miranda's Big Mistake

by Jill Mansell

ISBN-10: 140221832X

ISBN-1: 978-1402218323

Paperback, 496 pages

Sourcebooks

June 1, 2009

Reviewed by Cynthia Murphy

I loved Jill Mansell’s recent American release, An Offer You Can’t Refuse. So I was very excited about reviewing her latest novel, Miranda’s Big Mistake, but I was also a bit apprehensive. What if it wasn’t as funny as her previous work? What if it turned out to be a total dud? It turns out I didn’t need to worry a bit. Miranda’s Big Mistake is absolutely hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book.

Miranda’s Big Mistake tells the story of Miranda, a junior hairstylist at a trendy salon in London. She lives with a colorful elderly woman named Florence and helps her out around the house. Miranda also helps a homeless man near the salon. She shares her food with him everyday. This behavior reveals key elements of Miranda’s character. She is very kind (almost to a fault) and perhaps a bit naïve. This actually adds to Miranda’s charm. When Florence gives Miranda tickets to a charity party, Miranda meets Greg. He seems like nice guy, but he is hiding a dark secret. He has just left his pregnant wife, Chloe. She happens to work for Florence’s son, Bruce. Miranda has no clue about Greg’s situation. She falls in love with him and even becomes engaged to him. Meanwhile, Florence learns about Chloe’s situation and invites her to move in with her and Miranda. Chloe and Miranda quickly become friends. When Chloe realizes that Miranda’s boyfriend is her ex, they concoct a hilarious plan for revenge. Miranda and Chloe both move on without Greg in their lives. Both women eventually find their own happy ending, but their paths are filled with funny missteps along the way.

There is an interesting subplot involving Miranda and the homeless man near the salon. Sharing her food with him becomes a part of her daily routine. Miranda does begin to have vague suspicions about him, but she continues to help him. Her encounter with him in a park is absolutely priceless. I won’t ruin the surprise because it is definitely worth it. The relationship between Miranda and “Hungry and Homeless” forms a nice part of the book. He turns out to be very different from what Miranda expected.

Jill Mansell seems to have a knack for creating outrageous yet believable characters. Miranda is a colorful young woman, both literally and figuratively. Her penchant for unusual hair colors makes her stand out in any crowd, and her attitude toward life shows a slightly different perspective. Her landlady, Florence, also believes in living a colorful life. She has had three husbands. When the love of her life dropped dead on the steps of a Monte Carlo casino, she gave up on marriage and pursued a life of fun. The only thing that slows Florence down is her debilitating arthritis. In many ways, she and Miranda are kindred spirits. Miranda’s boss, Fenn Lomax, is equally entertaining. He is a handsome, heterosexual hairdresser to the stars. At the start of the novel, Fenn is a shallow playboy. As the story progresses, he matures and falls for an unlikely mate. All of these characters are quirky creatures, but they are very believable.

Some of the situations in Miranda’s Big Mistake seem extreme, but Mansell crafts the scenes with such skill that the reader willingly accepts the absurdity. My only real complaint about the novel is that some of the characters seem to conveniently disappear at times. I would have liked to see Florence’s relationship with Tom develop over time. It seems like the relationship develops suddenly. This is primarily due to her absence from several chapters. However, devoting much more time to Florence’s adventures would have made for a much longer book.

Miranda’s Big Mistake would be fabulous beach reading. It is laugh out loud funny, and it’s nearly impossible to not root for Miranda. Her hilarious actions are sometimes outrageous, but always enjoyable. The supporting characters are equally charming. It is also filled with sharp one-liners. I was sad to see this one end, even though I did like the ending. Jill Mansell has written another winner. She is rapidly becoming one of my favorite chick lit authors.