by JoanM

Created on: January 07, 2010

Once again wanting some books for holiday reading I selected a book from my daughter’s collection called “The Waitress” as it was a largish paperback and the back page sounded OK to me.

The author, Melissa Nathan I will mention at the end of this review, so people can choose to read that section if they wish. 

  IBSN 0-09-942798-2 for those who are searching for the book on websites and originally it cost £5.99 but can be bought at lower prices.

On the back I discovered that Katie Simmonds wants to be an educational psychologist. But the previous week she wanted to be a teacher, and the week before that a film director! Unfortunately she is employed as a waitress and she does not want to be a waitress! Life isn’t as she planned, she has an awful boss, customers hassle her, she is badly paid (aren’t all waitresses?) and finding a career is something she has difficulty with, but then she has other problems too.  Would this make people put the book back and think who wants to read all about her problems when they have enough of their own! Well no, I was interested to see how any author could make this book worth reading, as “The Nanny” written by the same author was a Best Seller.

The story starts at an engagement party for her friend Sandy in London, a party that has lasting memories for Katie. There are others we meet here who play important parts in the story Geraldine, a friend, Hugh and ex who Katie lived with for a while, Sukie an aspiring actress who waits on with Katie at the café, Jon who Katie shares a flat with and who wants to be an author and Dan who is Geraldine’s ex, who is a rich city slicker and rather good looking!

Work as a waitress is not a happy affair, and Katie is rude to many of the customers as she copes with the morning rush of people on their way to the Tube. She often returns home to her parents at weekends and the problems she has navigating are amusing especially as I am a hopeless map reader! Her mother and father want her to settle down and find a decent job, as a Great Aunt has promised money for her when she decides what she wants to do and her parents want her to find a husband too!

We spend a lot of time in the café and get to know the others who work with Katie. As with most young people there are parties, hangovers, love and romance and of course we have to the wedding of her friend Sandy.

510 pages of fun and laughter, tears and sadness, with twists and turns. Will Katie become a psychologist? Will she find love? Will Sandy get married? Will Sukie become an actress? You’ll have to read the book to find out as if I tell you more it will spoil the story!

I found it easy to read and it made me laugh at times. Something to read on holiday when you are relaxing and not concentrating on a complicated storyline. Typical chick lit book.

*The Author*

I admit I hadn’t heard of Melissa Nathan, but have since found out that sadly she died before reaching her 40th birthday from Breast cancer and there is now a foundation in her name called The Melissa Nathan Foundation: Supporting families in crisis. I hope you don’t mind me adding this information as I was quite moved by it.

Quote  “Very generous donations throughout the year enabled us to give £8000 to www.Justgiving.com/melissanathanfoundation

The Melissa Nathan Foundation was founded to provide financial support for families that are in crisis. Melissa would frequently do this herself without ever telling any one about it. The stories of her kindness and generosity in helping families in their moments of need have only emerged since she died.

Learn more about this author, JoanM.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.