West End Girls (by Jenny Colgan)

(Amazon UK link)

I’ve read quite a few novels by Jenny Colgan over the past few years. They’re not the greatest literature, but on the whole I have liked them. They tend to be light-hearted, featuring likeable people with satisfactory endings. So when I saw ‘West End Girls’ in a church book sale, I decided to buy it. I thought it would make undemanding reading at a busy time.

Unfortunately, I found it rather too trite and unrealistic. The story is about the adult non-identical twins Penny and Lizzy, who have lived with their hard-working mother on a council estate all their lives. Lizzy is overweight and eats a lot of junk food, but she’s a pleasant enough person, who appreciates what their mother has done. She is a lot more responsible than Penny.

Indeed, when we first meet them, Lizzy has been sleeping and is awakened by Penny, coming in very late, drunk, after a disappointing evening out. This is rather typical of the entire story. Lizzy likes to sleep, and isn’t too keen on partying. Penny is selfish, materialistic, and not very bright. The only thing the two have in common is a desire to escape their roots.

The opportunity arises when their grandmother - who they haven’t seen for years - sends a message asking them to look after her flat in the West End, while she is temporarily in a care home. It all seems to happen rather quickly, and their mother - bizarrely - decides to take up a college place that she has deferred since her daughters were born.

Most of the story takes place in the West End. The girls meet new people, including some appalling neighbours who take Penny out to parties and generally look down on her. I assume they are caricatures, and possibly intended to be humorous, but I didn’t find anything amusing about them.

Lizzy manages to find a job working in a restaurant with a Portuguese owner, and gradually learns to cook. She also starts to take care of herself a bit more, and eats more healthily. Lizzy’s story is quite an encouraging one, and had it just been her making her way in the new environment, I would have liked it more. She’s kind, and loyal, and caring. Penny is none of these things and I could barely believe in her, let alone sympathise in any way.

I understand that this was one of Jenny Colgan’s earlier books - evidently her style changed, and her stories grew more well-rounded and believable. I’m just surprised this one was ever published. The language is bad, the morals of many of the characters are non-existent, and the twins’ relationship with their mother isn’t developed at all.

The ending is satisfying in a somewhat predictable way, after an unexpected climax to the book which sorted out several of the problems facing Penny and Lizzy. But I wouldn’t recommend this and don’t suppose I’ll read it again.

Review copyright 2019 Sue's Book Reviews