The Sweet Life

Girlfriend Fiction #7

by Rebecca Lim

Janey couldn't wait to see her friends' faces. Imagine, she thought. I have a stalker. Like I'm some kind of A-list celeb or something.

Who is the sinister 'Fellini', tracking Janey Gordon through cyberspace? And why is he posting warnings to her MySpace page?

Sixteen-year-old Janey is all alone in the world apart from her trio of best friends ... until she discovers a mysterious letter that leads her to long-lost family, thousands of miles away in Italy.

So she heads off on a Roman holiday with a suitcase full of glam outfits courtesy of her fashion-addict bestie, Ness, and a list of must-see locations from her film-buff buddy, Em. It should be a time of sun, food, shopping and cute guys - but there's someone shadowing every step she takes.

Living the sweet life can be a dangerous thing...

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Mystery, Adventure, Chick Lit

193 pages

First published November 1, 2008

About the author

Rebecca Lim is an Australian writer, illustrator and editor and the author of over twenty books, including Tiger Daughter (a Kirkus, Amazon and Booklist Best Book, CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers and Victorian Premier’s Literary Award-winner), Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky (NSW History Award-winner and Book Links Children’s Historical Fiction Award-winner) and the bestselling Mercy. Her work has been twice shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award, shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards, ARA Historical Novel Prize and Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, shortlisted multiple times for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Aurealis Awards and Davitt Awards, and longlisted for the Gold Inky Award and the David Gemmell Legend Award. Her novels have been translated into German, French, Turkish, Portuguese, Polish, Vietnamese and Russian. She is a co-founder of the Voices from the Intersection initiative and co-editor of Meet Me at the Intersection, a groundbreaking anthology of YA #OwnVoice memoir, poetry and fiction.

Reviews

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an awesome installment to Girlfriend Fiction. Imma totally in love with Janey's character, she's so natural and soo likable. Luca damnn! That guy should be a model, his soo hot. Actually everyone in the novel seemed to be hot as! I loved the story line and I loved the way the author used Myspace. But seriously Janey cud have just blocked and deleted the Fellini dude. At times I was soo angry at her, I just wanted to shout. Tell Celia already, she can save your life! Oh and the Brandon guy, another hottie, it kindda sucked when I found out he was doing this all because of Freddy. But I think he really did genuinely like Janey.

Its a lovely book to read about long lost family, friendship and a trip to Rome. =))

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really amazing book. I knew Brandon had something to do with the whole stalker thing but I didn't ever suspect Freddy of doing that as well. The whole stalking her towards the end of the book was really great.
I really liked Luca as well.
I loved how Italian was incorporated into this book and I could expand my severly limited vocabulary.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the girlfriend series and this is just one of the many that have been written, but so far this one is probably my favourite! It's really good and I recommend it to anyone interested in like mystery novels.

[Tressa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked The Sweet Life. Janey was such a sweet and wonderful character. Rebecca Lim also did a wonderful job describing Rome. I’d love to revisit Janey and her friends again in another book as I thought they were fun.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story with a little suspense on the side. Reading about Rome all over again and rediscovering places through this book. The sweetness of having girlfriends who will protect you through thick and thin.

I could totally relate, the teenage main character is also a blogger like me.

[Sarah O'Neill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book I think was quite good at first, the ending wasn't that great but out of 5... 2/5

[Krystal Moy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great storyline!! I couldn't put the book down. The description of everything in the book makes it feel like you're there as well. Amazing book!

[Caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely amazing book!

[Kaysbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would have to be my favourite Girlfriend Fiction book! If you have a passion for traveling, I recommend reading this. So unique and sweet.

[Sosa Coleone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give me a taste ?