The Waitress by Melissa Nathan

Title: The Waitress
Author: Melissa Nathan
Series: Stand alone book
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Pages: 510 Pages
Genre: Women's Fiction - Chick Lit
Overall Rating:

Synopsis (from the book cover):

Katie Simmonds wants to be an educational psychologist. Last week she wanted to be a teacher, and the week before that a film director. Katie isn't short of ambitions, but none of her ambitions are to be a waitress. Unfortunately, Katie Simmonds is a waitress. Hassled by customers, badly paid and stuck with the boss form hell, Katie's life isn't turning out as she'd planned. And a career choice isn't the only commitment she has problems with. But just when she thinks things can't get any worse, the cafe where she works is taken over by the last man in the world she wants to see again.

First Sentence: It was one of those parties that would live on in the collective memories, ripening over the years, with significance and irony; a party that would launch a hundred favourite anecdotes and change lives.

My Review: The late Melissa Nathan was an excellent chick-lit author. Even though the storyline of her book, The Waitress, doesn’t really deviate too far away from the other chick-lit books out there, there was still something distinct in her style of writing that make the book looks unique. I’ve read her two other books before – The Nanny and The Learning Curve – and I’m glad to say that this one also didn’t disappoint.

The Waitress chronicled the life of Katie, a cheeky and sarcastic waitress in a cafe on suburb London. Despite being a graduate from Oxford, she seemed somewhat clueless about everything. She didn’t seem sure of the things she wanted to do in her life and she also had huge issues when it came to dating. Most recently, she left her date, Dan, in the middle of their first dinner just because she was extremely panic. Coincidentally, Dan and his friend, Paul, took over the place where she worked few months after the disastrous date. Paul made Katie the manager of the cafe which forced her to work closely with Dan while caused jealousy to her other friends, Sukie and Jon, who currently struggling with their own career issues. Will these current obstacles and situation help Katie to grow up and get herself out of her comfort zone? Will the romance start to blossom again?

When I first picked up the book, I seriously thought that I would hate it. The introductory part was slow and I really have no idea where the story was going until Katie’s issues were finally revealed. Most of the characters were likeable and fun especially Katie’s when she was in her sarcastic moods. Unlike most other chick-lit, this book has depth and the message of the whole story is also very good. There are a few cliché in the book like (1) the struggling artiste friends, (2) family pressure regarding settling down and (3) ex’s interference with current relationship but the entire story is an original one. These are the kind of things that young people has to deal with so the stereotype are absolutely necessary. Despite its huge size, this book was a light read and absolutely entertaining.

Final Verdict: An enjoyable read for those who love chick-lits. While the story is predictable, the middle part is sprinkled with humours, heartbreaks and frustration that will keep us reading till the final page despite knowing how it will eventually ends.