Australian author Lisa Heidke offers readers another entertaining view of life after 30 in her third novel, Claudia’s Big Break (Allen & Unwin, 2011). With heart and humour, Heidke tells the story of three friends sharing a mid-life crisis with some drunken karioke and retail therapy thrown in for good measure.
Claudia’s Big Break
Sophie, Tina and Claudia have been friends for years, but their lifestyles have taken them in different directions. When Claudia is offered the opportunity to visit the Greek island of Santorini, she convinces her friends that a group vacation is just what they need to rekindle their friendship.
In the beautiful setting of Santorini, the friends discover that it is time to make some decisions about what they want from life. Claudia is unhappily facing the end of a workplace affair and an overdrawn bank account, Sophie is struggling to adjust to life as a stay-at-home mother with her three year old son and Tina is trying to rekindle her desire to write a novel after years working as a feature writer at a magazine.
All three women are approaching forty and find themselves evaluating their life, relationships and friendship. It’s not all deep and meaningful soul-searching though, as their holiday is in constant turmoil thanks to Sophie’s 3-year-old son and a business commitment for Claudia that is more than what it seems.
As Claudia, Sophie and Tina laugh, cry and argue together, readers are offered an enjoyable mix of light-hearted humour and thoughtful reflections on how appearance doesn’t always match reality and the importance of good friends.
Chick-Lit for the Modern Woman
As with Heidke’s earlier books, Claudia’s Big Break offers an easy-to-read, enjoyable story with a well balanced mix of humour and heart. Claudia, Sophie and Tina are all dealing with issues that would be familiar to many readers in the 30 – 45 age bracket – balancing family and career, finding fulfilment at work and home, the challenge of having friends at different life stages and the complex nature of romantic relationships.
Collectively, the three central characters are dealing with issues with family, career, finances, marriage, divorce, sexuality, step-parenting, dating and simply making good choices to help guide them into the future. While each of the women is dealing with personal relationships, this novel is not particularly a romance, but rather a story that highlights just how complex relationships of many kinds can be and the value of real friendship.
Australian Author Lisa Heidke
Lisa Heidke has worked in book and magazine publishing and is the author of three novels including Lucy Springer Gets Even and What Kate Did Next. She lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and three children.
Heidke is currently supporting both the Authors for Queensland auction and Writers on Rafts fundraising appeal, both of which are striving to raise money for the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal to aid the victims of the January 2011 Queensland floods.
Enjoyable Contemporary Women’s Fiction
With quirky, well-crafted characters dealing with relatable issues, light-hearted humour and an interesting plot that keeps the pages turning, Claudia’s Big Break is a fun and relaxing read. The idyllic Greek island setting is beguiling and the characters are extremely likeable.
Lisa Heidke offers a wonderful Australian voice for those who enjoy modern chick-lit/hen-lit genre. With a track record of engaging novels and scope for a sequel to Claudia’s Big Break, it is worth bookmarking Lisa Heidke’s website to keep up to date on her latest writing pursuits.
Review Copy Details
Claudia’s Big Break (ISBN: 978-1-74237-491-8, 304 pages)
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