Queen of Babble Gets Hitched

I’ve been following Meg Cabot’s Queen of Babble series for some years now, but was only recently able to get ahold of the third book, Queen of Babble Gets Hitched via some very kind moochers on BookMooch.

Lizzie Nichols has always been a charming protagonist, and I’ve enjoyed reading the first two books in the series — Queen of Babble, and Queen of Babble in the Big City. Lizzie is a a twenty-something with old-fashioned sensibilities, and a talent for restoring vintage dresses. The series follows her life (and lovelife) as she ventures out of her hometown and away from her family to make it on her own.

In Queen of Babble gets Hitched, Lizzie’s career in New York is taking off after a gown she designed gets featured in the New York Times. Celebrities are knocking at her door and orders are pouring in at the shop she works for. Things appear to be going Lizzie’s way, as her boyfriend Luke has finally given her what she’s always wanted — a marriage proposal.

But everything is not quite so picture-perfect for Lizzie.

Ava Geck, the celebrity heiress Lizzie is designing a gown for, befriends her and stays over at her place to hide from the paparazzi, but they manage to track her down because Lizzie’s sister squeals to the press.

Lizzie’s employer, Monsieur Henri, gets a heart attack and puts up his shop for sale, because he wants to play petanque for the rest of his life, and Lizzie’s future career hangs in the balance.

Lizzie’s fiance, Luke, who is spending a month in Paris working for his uncle, wants Lizzie to move to Paris with him after they get married.

And Lizzie, who has always had her heart set on marrying Luke, is getting hives at the thought of her upcoming wedding. And there’s Chaz, her best friend’s ex and Luke’s best friend, who admits that he’s in love with her!

What a mix-up!

On the whole, I enjoyed reading this book — Lizzie is still her charming, funny self; Grandma Nichols is a riot; and Ava Geck and Lizzie’s ex-officemate Tiff made great additions to the cast.

I had some objections however, to where the story went.

I don’t want to spoil the story for those who plan to read this book, so let’s just say that certain characters made choices that were disappointingly out of character. Things fall into place at the end of the book, but it’s just not how I would have wanted it to end.

Queen of Babble fans will want to read this book to see what happens to the characters, and Meg Cabot does manage to entertain, despite the plot twists, but I almost wish she’d stopped at the first book.

***

Queen of Babble Gets Hitched, hardcover with dust jacket, 3/5 stars

Book #97 for 2010

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