Rachel Reviews: Flappy Investigates by Santa Montefiore

I bought this book for my mum for Christmas and I could tell by the way that she halfheartedly thanked me that it was something which she had already read and something that she had not thoroughly enjoyed. Far be it from me to judge a book by its cover but I did with this one, in my bid to find something that would be well received, and plumping for this because of the tagline on the front: Fabulously fun and gorgeously gossipy.

Unfortunately, the cover and that statement are the best two things about this book: the first for the gorgeous colours; and the second, for the masterful use of alliteration which sucked me right in.

Flappy is a middle-aged someone who lives in the village of Badley Compton, your archetypal rural idyll somewhere in England with a harbour but no tourists to upset the tranquil country atmosphere so cultivated by those amongst us who value their little corner of the world and want it unspoilt by interlopers.

Flappy is queen of her domicile: everyone respects her; she is attractive and a trendsetter; she feels like she has a reputation to defend at all costs and in the name of good taste.

Santa Montefiore, I think, tries to create this idea of Flappy being well-meaning and lovable; that she doesn't really see herself clearly and that the idea that she has of herself is the truth, when really she is actually something completely different. The tone of the book is meant to be playful, the author poking fun at her creation by pointing out her inconsistencies and hypocrisies whilst actually rather liking her.

However, for me, Flappy is just plain irritating. I found her superficial, again, which I think is intended, but rather than finding this fun, it just grated on me. Her concerns are about how she will be perceived by others and there is this sense of her not wanting to let others down but her main underlying concern is more about not showing herself up and being subject to the derision or pity of the people who occupy the same village. Normally, I would address them as peers but there is an overriding feeling that Flappy does not see these others as her equal - far from it.

I finished reading it to form an opinion of it. I will not be reading "Flappy" books again.

Rachel Rating: 2/5 stars

This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery:

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