Try some chick-lit or the male equivalent: lad-lit.
If you’re a woman who already reads chick-lit, give lad-lit a try, and vice versa.
If you are unfamiliar with either:
Chick-lit is a term used for a specific sub-genre of women's fiction (i.e. books written for and marketed to women). It separates itself from romance fiction in that the main focus is not on romantic relationships, although they may be (and usually are) included, but equally on the female protagonist’s relationships with family, friends and co-workers, and on their careers and other aspects of their lives. These novels are generally light-hearted and humorous and the females portrayed in them tend to be in their 20s or 30s, are generally single, building a career (often in some seemingly glamorous profession like fashion or publishing), and are often obsessed with career-building and fond of shopping.
Some well-known titles include Bridget’s Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, and the Shopaholic books by Sophie Kinsella.
See here for further definitions and a list of sub-genres: ChickLitChicks
Lad-lit (sometimes called “dick-lit”) is basically chick-lit with a male protagonist and featuring the same themes as chick lit (love, sex, family, work), only from a male perspective. It is ostensibly written for men, but it is generally read by both sexes.
Some well-known titles include About a Boy and High Fidelity, both by Nick Hornby.
If you’re a woman who already reads chick-lit, give lad-lit a try, and vice versa.
If you are unfamiliar with either:
Chick-lit is a term used for a specific sub-genre of women's fiction (i.e. books written for and marketed to women). It separates itself from romance fiction in that the main focus is not on romantic relationships, although they may be (and usually are) included, but equally on the female protagonist’s relationships with family, friends and co-workers, and on their careers and other aspects of their lives. These novels are generally light-hearted and humorous and the females portrayed in them tend to be in their 20s or 30s, are generally single, building a career (often in some seemingly glamorous profession like fashion or publishing), and are often obsessed with career-building and fond of shopping.
Some well-known titles include Bridget’s Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, and the Shopaholic books by Sophie Kinsella.
See here for further definitions and a list of sub-genres: ChickLitChicks
Lad-lit (sometimes called “dick-lit”) is basically chick-lit with a male protagonist and featuring the same themes as chick lit (love, sex, family, work), only from a male perspective. It is ostensibly written for men, but it is generally read by both sexes.
Some well-known titles include About a Boy and High Fidelity, both by Nick Hornby.
Comments
I sometimes use a chapter from one of these in my teaching as they are quite typical of modern literature (and the students usually like them - especially if they are allowed to watch the film afterwards).
They are also rather entertaining of course, but I think I will always prefer my crimes.