In many genres, homelessness, unemployment, and manipulation would be the stuff of ten-hanky epics. In Chick Lit, they’re just something else to laugh about. True to the genre and unlikely though it may seem, author Kelly Harte takes situations that would leave many sobbing in real life and turns them into a cheerful Chick Lit fairytale. In lesser hands, this could have fallen flat very quickly, but Harte has a way with words and she generally manages to be humorous without pushing things too far.

Tao Tandy is at a crisis point in her life. New to London, she is something of a fish out of water who has yet to find actual work as a photographer. Even worse, she doesn’t have a place to call her own and shares a flat with her best friend and two snobbish social climbers known sarcastically as the Two Cs (Miss Cordial and Miss Congenial). Not surprisingly, the Two Cs loathe the unemployed Tao and relegate her space in the flat to a mere couch.

Deciding to help Tao find housing, best friend Sophie manages to come up with a temporary bird-sitting position listed by the elderly aunt of a fellow employee at the bank where she works. Thanks to Sophie’s assistance, Tao gets to live in one of the poshest parts of London and have the run of a mansion in exchange for attending to the needs of a rather finicky bird. Sir Galahad is not just any bird, but a rare African Grey who cannot be left alone for more than one hour at a time.

Sir Galahd adores Tao and, for the most part, Tao is thrilled about her new situation. She is, however, unsettled by the fact that the man at Sophie’s bank who referred Tao to his aunt is obviously not one of said aunt’s favorite people. Indeed, one of the primary conditions of Tao’s employment is that she not allow him into the house. No one will tell Tao just what makes this man so loathsome, but it’s obvious that something is not right where he is concerned.

In addition, Tao has new male complications in her life in the form of a hunky TV chef for whom she’s hired to take still photos and a gorgeous, though surly, gardener living in a basement apartment at the mansion. Though working in close quarters with Taylor Wiseman is thrilling, Chris the gardener is an intriguing chap as well – even if he does seem to hold Tao in high disdain.

I must confess that when I started this book, I was afraid it would be too silly or melodramatic, but, wonderfully, my first impression (thanks to the cover blurb) was all wrong. Harte’s writing is light, ironically funny, and the story flows well. The pace dips a little towards the last quarter of the book, however, as conflicts get a little repetitious and plot twists involving Tao and the men in her life feel a little more forced. Overall, though, this book is a lot of fun to read.

Aside from the nicely done plotting, Tao is the major reason that this book is so enjoyable. Unlike many chick lit heroines, she doesn’t come off as overly obsessive or flaky and is simply a twenty-something who knows what she wants to do and is trying hard to figure out how to get there. Instead of hanging out in clubs and whining about her lack of men/funds/cute shoes, we see Tao applying at photography agencies, taking pictures, tending to Sir Galahad, downing fried food at the local pub, and acting like a real aspiring photographer. The fact that Tao is drawn as a basically normal person with a decent sense of humor who just happens to be thrown into some unusual situations works well and it helps the reader feel more empathy for her.

If you like chick lit or simply need a fun book with an engaging heroine, Spitting Feathers may be just the thing for you. The good characterizations and dry sense of humor make it a fun choice to curl up with for an afternoon or two.