Book Review: Spin

Book Review: Spin
By Catherine McKenzie

I’ve read the big names in chick lit (like Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella, Helen Fielding, etc) and enjoyed them. But none of them were Canadian and none of them had that special quirkiness that spoke directly to me. I was impressed by this debut novel, Spin, by Catherine McKenzie. Chick lit is not an easy genre to break into and it is near impossible to keep it fresh and not make it trivial. But McKenzie kept it fresh and original while delivering the true chick lit form.

Here’s the story: A once-from-the-country gal is trying to break into the world of music writing in the big city. She’s turning 30 and she still hasn’t made that dream come true. Then she gets the call–an interview with a big name music magazine. Unfortunately, she kind of accidentally overdoes her pre-birthday celebration the night before and arrives at the dream interview drunk. Oops. However, she is granted a chance to redeem herself. All she has to do is go to rehab and sneak out tidbit gossip on the celebrity who is already there. No problem, right? Right? Hmmm… except she just passed the ‘I’m an alcoholic’ admission test with flying colours–and not in a good way. So, did she put a ‘good’ spin on her drinking in order to fit into rehab, or does she have a genuine problem?

Of course, in true chick lit form, things get right bungled up the further we go into the story. However, this is where the novel truly shines fresh. You think it’s all going to be solved and tied up with a nice bow in one way… and it does… but totally in a different (and even better) way than expected.

I’m looking forward to reading more by this author. If you like chick lit, pick it up at your local bookstore–if you are Canadian. This book isn’t available in US bookstores yet–but you can order a copy from my favourite little Canadian mega bookstore: Chapters!

Oh, and guess what? You can get it through Amazon too: