This was a great first attempt by journalist Leah McLaren. I wanted to read it way back when she published an article about buying her farmhouse so she could write her first novel, but then forgot about it only to recently discover it at my local library. Maybe I was expecting a lot because I enjoy her columns. I find they are witty and introspective, however, this did not translate to a piece of work over 300 words.

Ironically enough, there were some continuity problems with the novel. For example, the importance of olfactory glands was emphasized more in the beginning and the end. (Thinking about it now, maybe it was a reflection of the importance of pheromones in mate selection and it was only important when she was meeting a man for the first time.) Whether it was only important when she met someone, or just a forgotten character trait in the middle of the novel, it seemed too eccentric for the character.

It is as though the whole book was written as short anecdotes and then pieced together with some filler. The book followed a rise and fall pattern of excitement and interesting character developments which again added to the discontinuity.

The fact is, this was the first book by Leah McLaren and I think that overall the fresh air did some good cause it was a very good first attempt at writing over 300 words at once.

The Continuity Girl is most enjoyable: the characters literally leap from the page; the dialogue fresh and the author's voice is audibly ironic. Witty, detailed, and postmodern, this charming tale of a charming Canadian woman will stay with you long after you finish it.

Leah McLaren offers us a humourous tale complete with quirky characters. Meredith is borderline OCD and intent on getting pregnant. When her mother sends her tickets to England, she jumps at the chance to visit a land where no one knows her in order to snag a "sperm donor". McLaren takes this subject, which is becoming a real issue for many women, and gives us a lighthearted tale filled with engaging characters and hilarious situations, yet still gives us an idea of the struggle many single 30-something women have gone through to become mothers. It's a fun read and certainly an enjoyable first novel!

I was expecting so much more from this book as a fan of Leah McLaren's column. The writing is average, the story is ok (standard chick lit), and it just seems like she was trying too hard – her imagery is overdone and cliché, and the dialogue is not that believable (people just don't say the things that she made them say). I got through it but I never felt the urge to pick it up. I've always wanted to write a novel, and after having read this one, it doesn't seem like it is that hard to get published. Don't bother spending the money.

They say never judge a book by it's cover but this one caught my attention. When I read that Leah McLaren is Canadian, well you have to support our Canadian girls! Loved the storyline and how cool would it be to be a continuity girl? So humourous, especially the sperm bandit crusade. Funny, sharp writing, I could hear Meredith's maternal clock ticking. Fans of Brit lit will enjoy this book. It made me want to flee to London. Excellent book, I look forward to reading McLaren's next release.

I am an unabashed (okay, slightly abashed) fan of ChickLit and of CanLit and McLaren's book is a great example of both. The book managed to be a great escape, as well as one with which I truly identified. The characters and events were fictional enough to keep me interested and reading, yet the images and settings were vividly realistic to me. As a 32-year-old female who has encountered the fertility issue already, and knowing a few sperm bandits, I thought this book was a book with which I could identify. It's one of those books that made me sad when I was finished. Not sad because of the story, but sad because I had to leave that world. I loved it!

I was absolutely thrilled with McLaren's first novel. As a fan of her Saturday Globe and Mail articles, I was not disapponted. I could not put this book down but was totally captured into the colorful lives of Meredith, her wacky but lovable friend Mish and of course Merediths' eccentric mother. The book was a total delight to read and the perfect remediy at the end of a long semester of psych classes. Can't wait for the next book, way to go Leah!!!

It's funny, I enjoyed the reviews of this book far more than the book itself! I agree with many of the interesting points made, which did an excellent job of highlighting the book's weaknesses and the reader's frustration. I only wish I'd read them ahead of time and saved myself from purchasing it!

I borrowed this book from a friend. I read the first fifty pages. Then, I fell aslee............

This book is an easy and enjoyable read. My only negative comment .... why do authors, and more and more it is female authors, feel compelled to use the "C" word. Regardless how good the book the use of that word lowers my overall opinion. Thank you.

It seems as though Ms. McLaren has taken a template from Chic-Lit for Dummies, added a dash of Europe (puhlease) and a cast of characters to suit every possible stereotype (the names more than likely taken from her own tally of future baby names), and presto! A novel!
After having read the review in the Globe and Mail, I was looking forward to this first literary attempt. I admit I do enjoy her weekly column in that paper, and the concept of the SpermBandit was very intriguing. Unfortunately, that plot line was quickly abandoned for one whose "twist" was obvious from the beginning.
The shallowness of the author's weekly column is a great mental break for a Saturday morning, but can certainly not sustain itself for 300 pages. The only thing missing from the chic-lit novel is the word Shopaholic from the title.

Let me start by saying that I am neither a fan of the author, nor a critic. I simply got this book as a gift, and since I don't read McLaren's column or know much about her, I had absolutely no preconceived notions when I started this book. In fact, the premise certainly seemed appealing enough - a strong, independent, single woman in her mid-thirties on a mission to conceive a child. But that's about where the appeal ended for me.

In my opinion, this book ranged from mildly tedious to downright ludicrous. The story was drawn out unnecessarily in strange areas, and the outcome was painfully predictable - but worse than that, it was completely absurd. In fact, if I was a 35 year old single woman yearning for a child, I think I might actually find this story offensive. I can't even believe it's been described as witty chick lit?!?

So if you're looking for a shallow, "happily ever after" romance novel - albeit with much more elaborate metaphors - this is the book for you. Otherwise, stick with Oprah's book club.

Let me start by saying that I am neither a fan of the author, nor a critic. I simply got this book as a gift, and since I don't read McLaren's column or know much about her, I had absolutely no preconceived notions when I started this book. In fact, the premise certainly seemed appealing enough - a strong, independent, single woman in her mid-thirties on a mission to conceive a child. But that's about where the appeal ended for me.

In my opinion, this book ranged from mildly tedious to downright ludicrous. The story was drawn out unnecessarily in strange areas, and the outcome was painfully predictable - but worse than that, it was completely absurd. In fact, if I was a 35 year old woman yearning for a child, I think I might actually find this story offensive. I can't even believe it's been described as witty Chick Lit?!?

So if you're looking for a shallow, meaningless, "happily ever after" romance novel - albeit with much more elaborate metaphors - this is the book for you. Otherwise, stick with Oprah's book club.

This was one of those stories that took me away and put me down, several days later, feeling like I'd just made a whole new group of friends. The characters are vivid and funny and their struggles heartachingly real. Meredith (the neurotic, continuity girl main character) will steal your heart. This book deserves all the critical praise it has recieved and none of sneering from the sidelines. Finally, an exciting accessible Canadian bestseller.

Chick lit has one redeeming quality: it can be entertaining, it can distract your mind for a few hours or make a cramped commute a little more endurable.

This book was not entertaining even as a distraction from the most mundane tasks of life. I am sorry I wasted my money.

As for being a master of her craft, I cannot believe that anyone would refer to the author this way. A master of what craft? The craft of navel-gazing ?

I loved this book and have been recommending it to all my friends.
Who also love it.

This is a totally fun romp, with a lot of heart. The humour is a wonderful entree into a real source of anxiety amongst women in their mid thirties, yet it doesn't get maudelin. It's pure unadulterated entertainment, which isn't dumbed down for chicks , and that's not an easy feat. It should be celebrated.

Ms. McLaren is a wonderfully clever and talented writer. Her column
is popular for the same reason that this book will be, because she's
smart, talented, unabashedly fun and opinionated, who is a master at her craft, and we just don't see enough of that in chick-lit or can-lit. As
with her column, there is wonderful insight and a new twist on an old
theme. Cause, isn't everything an old theme really?

The main character isn't some hopeless girl. Things don't happen to her, she is the catalyst for her own story, she takes charge. She is lovely and flawed and I feel like I've met her before. McLaren takes characters that have ABFAB outlandishness and makes them three
dimensional.

Seems that some of the boys below have an axe to grind. They
should form a club with that Toronto Star stalker that reviewed this
book. It is embarrassingly sad and obvious that these guys are
jealous of a young, pretty, successful girl with a huge fan following.
Yup, we love to hate her, and love to love her, and that makes her
famous. And in true Canadian style, we love to take down our
celebrities.

Not this time. This book deserves better then pettiness. Go buy it and
read for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Where to begin? The drawn out, unbelievable plot, the self-conscious writing, the flat characters? This is a flimsy read at best and an irritatingly boring one at worst. It feels like it was thought up after a few martinis, written after a few more, then published for the purposes of swanning around with more martinis at the launch party. I don't even want to credit it with a review but I'd hate for you to waste your money like I did.

This is my 3rd attempt to submit a review here.

Anyway, I really liked this book. I thought the characters were interesting and I enjoyed the dialogue. Is it the best book I've ever read? No, but it's certainly not the worst. There are two glaring contradictions that I thought either the author or editor should have caught. And I would have liked to read more about Meredith and Joe.

I recommend it because it's funny and not your typical chick-lit.

I enjoyed this book, granted I'm an engineer not a literature critic. Maybe the book is just about a girl whose biological clock is ticking. A few of us have that problem - and I fully identified with the character - even her detail orientedness I wouldn't recommend a male read it - I don't think they'd get it..

I enjoyed this book immensely. I found it a fast, intelligent, funny read. And I liked the characters, too. Although I would liked to have read more about Meredith's relationship with the doctor. There are, however, two blatant contradictions in the book I found disappointing. I thought the author, or at the very least the editor, should have caught them.

I enjoyed the descriptions, too, of the places in Toronto because I knew where they were and could create a mental picture in my mind.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend.