I have come to realise that I will always enjoy a book written by Claudia Carroll. She has a great way of making characters come vividly to life right away, they basically jump out from between the pages and give you a big hug. All of her characters have a great likeability, even the ones with the not-so redeeming qualities such as Maggie and Sharon.

Jessie, who is quite selfish and often very dim-witted should be a character you don't really like but you can't help but feel for her. You root for Jessie, and want her to succeed. For so long, everything that could go wrong does- even her hair! It's hard to believe that someone could have such bad luck.

The great thing about Jessie that because of her childhood in a working class area, she grew up with a determination and is not afraid of hard work. Despite being the thin, gorgeous blonde off the telly, she has always had to work hard and because of it, is generous to those she feels an affinity to, such as the runners on the show. Jessie could be any one of us, someone who had dreams and made sure she worked hard enough to get them. She's also not too proud to admit defeat and have to endure the queue in the dole office, and also take a job in a takeaway store where her face could be instantly recognizable.

I love the friendship that grows between Sharon and Jessie. Sharon becomes a real sister, something that Jessie has really needed and she's not afraid to tell Jessie how it is and when she acts and looks like a twat. We all need someone like that in our lives and though things aren't rosy between Maggie and Jessie, there is a touching moment where they bond over their departed dad and come to an understanding with each other that they never did before. As for Joan, despite the evil stepmother lark, there are moments in which she does play a lovely mother role for Jessie and despite everything she is there when she needs somebody.

Underneath it all, this story shows us how we can all find family even in the most unexpected of places and with unexpected people. And through hard work and determination...you can get a happily ever after.