Sometimes you need to take a few hours and step away from the every day world, prop your feet up and grab a book for some laughs and a little sexual thrill. I was hoping to do just that when I read Charade by M.E. Ellis, but unfortunately I was disappointed.

Charade is a novella of the chick-lit variety that introduces us to Shirley Langford, mother of four and longtime wife. Shirley is a very unhappy homemaker. She spends her days playing internet quiz games, avoiding her gossiping neighbors and occasionally having sex with her husband.

When Shirley finds out her best friend's husband may be cheating, she thrives on the drama and enjoys her new job as marriage counselor. Too bad for her friend that Shirley is one of the most insensitive characters I've ever met.

So what does Shirley enjoy other than messing up her best friend's marriage? She enjoys dreaming of going out dancing and drinking as she did before she was married. For her, that is the answer to everything and her quest for a night out on the town is the basis for the story told in Charade.

M.E. Ellis' writing is decent, but nothing special. There are so few detailed characters – even the children are numbered and not named – that we only get to know Shirley and, unfortunately, she came across as over-the-top selfish and petty to me. Not someone I enjoyed reading about.

There is a lot of dry chick-lit style humor to be found in Charade, but I didn't feel it was funny enough to carry the book along when there was no real story. Perhaps if I had shot some tequila or something before reading it, I might have felt differently.

I know others have enjoyed Charade, have found it incredibly witty and fun to read; however, it won't get a recommendation from me so you'll have to judge for yourself.
 
Reviewed By Sabine Maurier
© September 2007