Book review by Greenacre Writer Lindsay Bamfield
Fiona has a
dream and she’s won it - her dream hen party.
She is to be whisked off, with her four bridesmaids, to sunny Mallorca
to laze on sunny beaches, be pampered at a day spa and indulge in cocktails
on a luxurious yacht as her prize on a reality show. Bliss.
Kate has a
dream too. Hers is to make a documentary about the pollution of plastic in our
oceans. Plastic People would aim to
make viewers more responsible about our endless use of disposable plastic and
the dangers it can cause to the environment and its wildlife.
The TV job
she is offered isn’t quite what she hoped for but it could be a step in the right
direction so she agrees to replace the injured director of The Hen Party, a low budget reality TV show. Maybe she can include an environmental angle.
After all, where better to highlight marine pollution than on Mallorca’s
fabulous beaches?
Dreams soon
turn into nightmares when plans go awry, ideals clash, secrets and jealousies
simmer causing arguments to break out. Can Kate keep the hens under control to
preserve the show or is she the one responsible for its looming failure?
Despite the mantra, she did not feel
the least bit calm. Her stomach was in knots. The girls would not be giving her
a warm welcome this morning. If they offered her a cup of tea, she could be
sure it was only because they’d laced it with poison. There wouldn’t be one
ally among them. Not the bride-to-be. Not her four chosen hens. Not even the
crew.
Kate altered her mantra.
‘Shit, shit, shit, shit…’
In a novel
that bounces along with Emily Benet’s irrepressible verve, we become acquainted
with the characters against the backdrop of gorgeous Mallorca away from the
crowds. She paints each character’s strengths and weaknesses, changing our
perceptions of each as the narrative unfolds. My sympathies changed course
several times as I was drawn into the story through the different characters’
viewpoints and the backstories informing them. The plot twists mirror the
characterisations with never a boring moment.
Laugh out
loud comedy mixes with tension, romance, a dose of travelogue and environmental
issues, making this a great holiday read that you won’t want to put down and will
give you a little more insight than you bargained for.
Follow Emily on Twitter: @EmilyBenet
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