In the 2005 novel Pack Up the Moon Irish writer Anna McPartlin shows talent and spunk, but is weighed down by a weak heroine and soggy prose. It starts off with a promising idea - after 26-year-old Emma's boyfriend John is killed in a car accident she must rebuild her life. But Emma never quite seems believable as she starts over, and there's never much of a doubt as to where the story is headed. In fact, no one's struggles seem to ever match reality, whether it's infertility, teaching, or dating. There are some funny "Friends"-like moments between Emma and her clique, such as when they refer to one friend's ex-girlfriend as Brian May or when they're referencing, come to think of it, Friends. But the dialogue often feels stilted (how many times can one be referred to as a "ride"?), and once I was done with the novel I had a general feeling of "well, that was a waste of time." Those looking for a chick-lit novel with overseas flair would do far better with Bridget Jones's Diary or even Sushi for Beginners: A Novel .
