#ChickLitMay A to Z Scavenger Hunt

 

SASSY is my favorite way to describe chick lit as a genre. People often ask what I write and like to read. When I respond with chick lit, I sometimes get weird looks, or people questioning what the genre even is. I won’t go into an entire post about why chick lit is an awesome genre and people need to stop judging everyone’s choices, but what I WILL tell you is why I love a sassy character. Why?

Because she is me.

 

I don’t know about you, but I like to read books that I can relate to the main character. If I’m anything, I’m sassy — or sarcastic as others may call it. I’m a mom. I use the word sassy a lot, so this is my preferred term. Some consider a sassy character bitchy or rude. I think that all depends on the level of sarcasm you can handle — or recognize. Some don’t realize when someone is being a smart alec. It’s lost on some people.

The problem with the word sassy is it really has a bad connotation. A glance at the thesaurus shows:

–Disrespectful

–Rude

–Mouthy

I don’t consider a sassy person any of these things. But, then again, I may see the term differently due to chick lit.  How do I describe a sassy character? Here’s a breakdown:

1. No filter. No, not the selfie kind. On Instagram, she probably would still pick a Gingham, Lark, or Slumber filter. I’m talking about a straight-up-say-what-she-wants-kind-of-gal. She tries to get her point across the best way possible, but she often says what is on her mind and isn’t always so soft in her delivery.
2. Alligator thick skin. Okay, she may not actually have alligator skin, and it often is pierced, but she doesn’t show any blood. Her wounds are internal and she’ll confidently scare away any attackers with a simple look or her appearance of being confident.
3. Sarcasm on the defense. Like I said, sassy to me is another word for sarcasm, but some don’t see it that way. The sassy girl spins responses to the obvious and may toss in an internal eye roll. In fact, she goes through life spinning her eyes.
4. She isn’t into apologies. She’ll say she’s sorry when she truly means it and when it’s necessary. She won’t, however, apologize for being who she is. She’s usually a hard-working woman in either career, motherhood, or both.

So what are some great chick lit books with sassy heroines? Here are a few to check out:

1. The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella – Becky is a lot of fun and her filter is non-existent. Some of it comes from her maturity level, the rest I think from pure excitement of life! I’ve read a few in this series. To get Becky’s full enthusiasm, I recommend the audiobooks.
2. The Heather Wells Mystery Series by Meg Cabot – Heather Wells has gained a few pounds and she flashes her middle finger to anyone who has anything to say about it. This sassy heroine is confident in her body, takes on a sleuth roll, and isn’t to be missed.
3. The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich – Amanda is curvy, successful, and wants nothing to do with drama. She knows how to carry herself and is self-confident, a characteristic I love my characters to possess!
4. The Reinvention of MiMi Finnegan by Whitney Dineen – A sassy heroine can also make you laugh out loud, and Mimi is no exception. From the first sentence of the book to the last, she has you in stitches!
5. Blogger Girl by Meredith Schorr – Kim Long is a woman who knows what she wants — and she wants Nicholas. However, she’s not afraid to have a piece on the side while she tries to catch him. I mean, a sassy girl still has needs, right? I love Kim, and I love she’s a chick lit fan herself.
6. Caching In by Tracy Krimmer – I have to mention Ally! I love Ally. She’s sassy to the bone. Her lack of filter comes off as crass to some, but if you take the time to get to know her, you realize she’s a hurt individual and uses her sarcasm as a shield. You’re in her thoughts the entire story, and she’s honest!

So these are some recommendations and what SASSY means to me when it comes to chick lit! Thanks for stopping by for the Scavenger Hunt!

GRAND PRIZE – Want to win a Kindle Paperwhite + a $100 Amazon gift card? Visit each of the 26 stops on the #ChickLitMay A to Z Scavenger Hunt and collect the alphabet word at each stop (A, B, C, D, etc.), then submit the A-Z list of words via email to traciebanister@gmail.com with the subject line “A to Z Scavenger Hunt Entry.” Entries will be accepted until Sunday, May 22nd at midnight E.D.T. A winner will be chosen on Monday, May 23rd. Good luck!

The next stop on the Scavenger Hunt (the letter T) is here.

If you’d like to start back at the beginning of the Scavenger Hunt (the letter A), go here.