Heroes and heart-throbs

By MARGIE THOMSON

If you're of a mind to read but don't want to work too hard at it, one of these light, pastel titles could be for you. Guys, they say, go for thrillers, girls for romance, and here is romance galore.

But, mostly, it's romance with the gloves off: feminism has left its mark, and almost without exception the characters whose stories are told here are gutsy, career-minded women involved in the balancing act of love, work and, sometimes, children, that we all recognise as setting the tone of our modern lives.

Of course, there's a rat in every book, and a hero, too, although increasingly (again, hats off to feminism) these women demand their share of the honours, starring as heroes in their own life journeys from vulnerability to personal strength. The true male heroes are those who can love a strong woman.

These stories will wash over you like a soothing, comforting summer bath. Love and unreciprocated love, betrayal, divorce, the reconstruction of a new life, friendships, the joys of shopping and of shared bottles of wine - all these things which seem so everyday and familiar are told here. It's like reading about your own life, or that of your friends, but with heightened colour, and a neat, tidy ending-with-a-kiss.

FRANCESCA'S PARTY

Patricia Scanlan

Francesca has been happily married to Mark for 20 years - or so she thought. So when she discovers he's been having a bit on the side with the gorgeous and much younger Nikki, her world falls apart.

This is the story of how she put it back together again, and she does it in ways that will have you cheering. An enjoyable take on the shifting sands of power in relationships.

Bantam, $34.95


GOOD IN BED

Jennifer Weiner

Opening the magazine for which her recently ex-boyfriend works, Cannie reels as she reads his latest article. "Loving a larger woman is an act of courage in our world," the arrogant Bruce testifies, and Cannie, size 16, is catapulted along a road signposted by anger, humiliation but, ultimately, renewal and self-respect.

Good fun, but too sharply observant about rats like Bruce and good-hearted women to be absolutely comfortable.

Simon and Schuster, $24.95


SHEER MISCHIEF

Jill Mansell

A classic tale of sisters competing (unbeknown to them) for the attentions of a glamorous man. Who will get him: the dramatic, cheeky one or the quieter, less-assuming one? No prizes, but it's jaunty and fun nevertheless.

Headline, $22.95


WHAT SHE WANTS

Cathy Kelly

It's the perennial question and, even when you think you know what you want, life can throw a curve ball and, suddenly, everything changes. For the four women in this new novel by the tremendously popular Kelly, nothing is turning out as they had planned.

There's something for every age group here: a working mum, an ambitious businesswoman, a grandmother and a fun-loving party girl.

HarperCollins, $29.95


SHOPAHOLIC ABROAD

Sophie Kinsella

Who of us does not understand the temptations of credit cards, and if you add New York to the equation - Bloomingdales, Saks - we can easily anticipate the kind of trouble renowned shopaholic Rebecca is about to get herself into.

Guggenheim be blowed: she's going shopping instead, although the price, of course, is higher than she expects. A morality tale for the modern age.

Black Swan, $24.95


T-SHIRT AND GENES

Richard Asplin

One for the lads. The author is a stand-up comic and it shows in his frenetic, interjecting delivery.

Science teacher Charlie Ellis finds himself in self-inflicted chaos. Not too good at controlling those primitive urges, he is caught with his pants down in the company of his fiancee in an inappropriate venue - the staffroom on parents' night.

Stricken simultaneously jobless and single, he begins, "scientifically" to investigate the notion of sexiness, and to put some of those biological theories into practice, with predictably devastating results.

Arrow, $22.95


BABYVILLE

Jane Green

A sharp, thoughtful yet gossipy take on a hot topic: should we/shouldn't we, can we/can't we have a baby? Three scenarios play out: the couple having trouble conceiving; the unwanted pregnancy; the woman who has children but is stricken at the effect it's having on her relationship.

Penguin, $21.95

BAD BOY

Olivia Goldsmith

"Nice is good, but bad is better," the cover promises, but of course we know that unless you're really shallow, that's never going to pan out.

Nevertheless, nice-guy Jon falls for the advice and transforms himself into the kind of mean, cool dude that can have any woman he wants - except, of course the one he really loves. Another morality tale by the revenge-smitten author of The First Wives' Club.

HarperCollins, $19.95


VIRTUAL STRANGERS

Lynne Barrett-Lee

When your social life is turning to junk, your modem could be the key to excitement. But what say that "fun" turns out to be married?

Charlie thinks she has found a like-minded soul, someone who steps through "virtual" into her real life - but it's far from straightforward. What about morality? A galloping, modern take on an age-old dilemma.

Bantam, $24.95


FEN

Freya North

Fen is infatuated with sculptor Julius Fetherstone. Only problem is, he's long dead. So when she gets a plum job as archivist at Trust Art she can't believe her luck, and feels closer than ever to discovering the great man's missing masterpiece. Better still, and to the relief of her friends, living, breathing men start to impinge on her consciousness and affections.

Who will it be: rakish Matt, with whom she works, or the older James, also a fan of the dead sculptor? Up-to-the-minute and lively.

William Heinemann, $34.95


THE TRIUMPH OF KATIE BYRNE

Barbara Taylor Bradford

Katie wants to be an actress and there are those who believe she could be a major star. But she is held back by the memory of the awful day she discovered the bodies of two of her friends.

Broadway beckons, and so does a love affair, but first she must lay to rest the demons of her past.

HarperCollins, $19.95