London Calling is the debut novel from writer Clare Lydon and it has already topped the Amazon chart in its genre of Lesbian Literature. A promising sign for a promising writer.
The book starts in Australia as we meet Jess Sharp; a woman in her early thirties with dreams to settle down with her partner. However, her world is turned upside down when she discovers the girlfriend of her dreams, Karen, is cheating on her. Dumped and distraught she decides that London is indeed calling her home, packs her bags and makes for Blighty.
She ends up back at her parent’s house, jobless and single, not quite the dream she had for her 32 year old self. Things aren’t as bad as they first seem though when impulse makes her take a job in a café rather than getting another office slog.  She also gets back into the dating game with one relationship lasting just one night whilst another gets her falling head over heels. Of course the road to true love is never smooth and she has to contend with the return of the ex, her best mate’s wedding and much more.
With just the right amount of stupid decisions and bad timing that you’d expect in a rom-com, Lydon paints a very likable lead character in Jess backed by a host of supporting cast in her friends, family and work colleagues. In fact if it weren’t for the lead character being a woman-who-likes-women, this would be the perfect read for many chick lit lovers giving Marian Keyes a run for her money. What Lydon does well is add a realism to the characters and their situations. Thankfully there’s not a teacher or actor in sight!
A fast paced, warm and witty debut with just a dollop of heartbreak, ‘London Calling’ is a great lighthearted page turner (or should that be screen clicker, it is an e-book after all!) no matter what your sexuality.
