Kept by Elle Field

“Did she really just say that? I am fifteen again, except the reality is I am experiencing full parental horror, aged twenty-five. I want to die.”

Format: E-book (Kindle)
Published: May 25th 2013
Pages: 296 Pages
Series: (Arielle Lockley Series #1)

The Blurb
Life hasn’t quite worked out how Arielle Lockley imagined it would. Becoming the next Coco Chanel was always her childhood dream, but she’s spent the past four years living a dizzying whirl of glitzy parties, luxurious holidays and daily shopping sprees – all paid for by boyfriend Piers – and not doing anything to make her Coco dreams happen.

When the recession hits, it’s not just the economy that takes a tumble and Arielle finds herself living back with her parents, on bad terms with Piers, and having a CV that’s as welcome as a pair of knock-off Jimmy Choos. And maybe it’s the location, but she’s also finding unwelcome thoughts of her childhood sweetheart are popping into her head…

What’s a girl to do? Can Arielle figure out what it is she now wants to do with her life and move on, or will she be doomed to spend the rest of her life dwelling over her worst mistakes, stuck listening to her parents’ embarrassing dinner table talk each night?

Rating: 4/5

The Review
Arielle is an independent woman, well she was up until she meets Piers and moves into his “bachelor” pad. Piers is smitten and wants to lavish Arielle with as many gifts as possible – who would say no to that? Sadly, good things don’t last for Arielle and she’s forced to move back in with parents. Can Arielle curb her Fashionista ways?

At the beginning, I disliked Arielle, she was selfish and expected others to run around after her. Piers – her then boyfriend – turns her into a ‘Kept’ woman and Arielle secretly (perhaps not that secret) loves it. Now, anyone that sits there and suggests they’d hate being spoilt are lying, of course they would. I’d love to be lavished with gifts and I’m a very generous person! However, Arielle to me seemed like she was taking advantage of Piers and his kind nature – she didn’t have to work or ask her parents for anything; she got everything paid for. I guess if you’ve worked and earned your own money reading about gluttony puts you off. I would have liked Arielle more if she wasn’t so selfish.

Then again, I need to give her some credit as she did say right at the start that she didn’t know if she truly loved Piers and tried to stop him giving her all the gifts.

When Piers finished the relationship, Arielle was naturally heartbroken, and I did feel quite sorry for her – I don’t wish sadness on anyone. I think she found it difficult moving back to her parents more so when they were having a whale of a time – you learn of their sexual exploits which I did find really funny. From here on you see Arielle and her vulnerable side and that was the turning point for me. The selfish and horrible thoughts you experienced in the beginning will vanish and you soon love Arielle and her disjointed ways.

All in all, I found Kept entertaining and a great chick-lit debut – not a perfect 5 out of 5, but enjoyable all the same.

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