Working full-time at a bookstore, I've picked up my fair share of literary guilty pleasures. Chief among these pleasures is my fascination with chick lit. Every time I shelve fiction and I stumble on a "chick lit" book, I have to look at the cover and read the plot synopsis. My studies in the young field of Chick-Lit-Package-Ology have led me to a purely scientific conclusion: Chick-Lit is the most repetitious, predictable genre in fiction (surpassed only by heroic fantasy). Don't believe me? Exhibit A: The Chick Lit Drinking Game, written by yours truly!
The Chick Lit Drinking Game: pick up a chick lit book you or a friend owns, or one that happens to be on a shelf in a store/domicile you're currently in. Study the front and back covers of the book. Every time you see one of the following items on the list, take a shot of your poison of choice.
1. The story takes place in New York City (1 shot).
2. The story takes place in Los Angeles (1 shot).
3. The author is from/lives in New York City (1 shot).
4. The author is from/lives in Los Angeles (1 shot).
5. The author used to write for a fashion magazine (1 shot).
6. The author used to be a producer/writer for film (1 shot).
7. The author used to be a producer/writer for TV (1 shot).
8. The author is married to someone working in the entertainment industry (2 shots).
9. The phrase "sex in the city" appears in the critical blurbs on the cover/backcover (1 shot).
10. The phrase "sex in the city" appears in the plot synopsis (2 shots).
11. The protagonist has a posse of gal pals to dish/gossip/commiserate with (1 shot).
12. The protagonist has a token black gal pal in her posse (2 shots).
13. The protagonist has a token "Samantha" (i.e. sex-fiend) in her posse (1 shot).
14. The protagonist has a token gay male friend (1 shot).
15. The front cover's art design looks like a cross between the Bratz and the Power Puff girls (1 shot).
16. Shoes are mentioned in the book's title, critical blurbs, and/or plot synopsis (1 shot).
17. Designer shoes are mentioned in the book's title/blurbs/synopsis, ex. Jimmy Choos/Manolo Blahniks (2 shots).
18. The protagonist was dumped by her ex for a younger woman, usually a bimbo (1 shot).
19. The protagonist works at a fashion magazine (1 shot).
20. The protagonist works as a gossip columnist (1 shot).
21. The protagonist works for a queen bitch boss who is either a fashion magazine mogul or a gossip columnist (2 shots).
22. The protagonist falls for a cop/her boss/somebody rich/an asshole who turns out to be a nice guy/her platonic best-guy friend/a celebrity (1 shot).
23. The protagonist is married/getting ready to get married by the story's end (1 shot).
24. The protagonist is a high-powered career woman who doesn't have time for a serious commitment, or has a close friend who fulfills this role (1 shot).
25. The protagonist is a stressed, unappreciated mother thinking of having an affair, or has a close friend who fulfills this role (1 shot).
26. The protagonist falls in love with a supernatural being (2 shots).
27. The protagonist is a supernatural being (4 shots).
28. Fashion designers are name-checked in the plot synopsis (1 shot).
29. Fashion designers name-check the author in their critic blurbs for the book (2 shots).
30. The word "diva" appears in the book title/synopsis (1 shot).
31. The book is published by Red Dress Ink (1 shot).
32. The phrase "kissing frogs" and/or "frog prince" appear in the title or in the plot synopsis (1 shot).
33. The phrases "Mr. Right" and "Mr. Right-Now" appear in the ploy synopsis (1 shot).
34. Stereotypical girly drinks are mentioned in the title/plot synopsis/depicted on the cover, ex. martinis/champagne flutes/Bellinis (1 shot).
35. Shopping is mentioned as a serious reoccuring theme/plot point in the plot synopsis (1 shot).
36. The phrase "jet set" appears in the synopsis/critic blurbs.
37. The protagonist is forced to choose between 2 suitors, one who is rich but emotionally distant, and the other is good in bed and lives on Ramen (1 shot).
38. The protagonist bucks storytelling convention and stays with the rich man she doesn't give a damn about (10 shots).
39. The protagonist is described in the synopsis as an ugly duckling, destined to turn into a haute-couture swan (1 shot).
40. The protagonist becomes involved with a gal-posse of stuck-up rich bee-yotches, Mean Girls-style (1 shot).
For those who may be brave/crazy enough to attempt playing this game: may God be with you. I'm almost certain Shane McGowan wouldn't survive this game.
The Chick Lit Drinking Game: pick up a chick lit book you or a friend owns, or one that happens to be on a shelf in a store/domicile you're currently in. Study the front and back covers of the book. Every time you see one of the following items on the list, take a shot of your poison of choice.
1. The story takes place in New York City (1 shot).
2. The story takes place in Los Angeles (1 shot).
3. The author is from/lives in New York City (1 shot).
4. The author is from/lives in Los Angeles (1 shot).
5. The author used to write for a fashion magazine (1 shot).
6. The author used to be a producer/writer for film (1 shot).
7. The author used to be a producer/writer for TV (1 shot).
8. The author is married to someone working in the entertainment industry (2 shots).
9. The phrase "sex in the city" appears in the critical blurbs on the cover/backcover (1 shot).
10. The phrase "sex in the city" appears in the plot synopsis (2 shots).
11. The protagonist has a posse of gal pals to dish/gossip/commiserate with (1 shot).
12. The protagonist has a token black gal pal in her posse (2 shots).
13. The protagonist has a token "Samantha" (i.e. sex-fiend) in her posse (1 shot).
14. The protagonist has a token gay male friend (1 shot).
15. The front cover's art design looks like a cross between the Bratz and the Power Puff girls (1 shot).
16. Shoes are mentioned in the book's title, critical blurbs, and/or plot synopsis (1 shot).
17. Designer shoes are mentioned in the book's title/blurbs/synopsis, ex. Jimmy Choos/Manolo Blahniks (2 shots).
18. The protagonist was dumped by her ex for a younger woman, usually a bimbo (1 shot).
19. The protagonist works at a fashion magazine (1 shot).
20. The protagonist works as a gossip columnist (1 shot).
21. The protagonist works for a queen bitch boss who is either a fashion magazine mogul or a gossip columnist (2 shots).
22. The protagonist falls for a cop/her boss/somebody rich/an asshole who turns out to be a nice guy/her platonic best-guy friend/a celebrity (1 shot).
23. The protagonist is married/getting ready to get married by the story's end (1 shot).
24. The protagonist is a high-powered career woman who doesn't have time for a serious commitment, or has a close friend who fulfills this role (1 shot).
25. The protagonist is a stressed, unappreciated mother thinking of having an affair, or has a close friend who fulfills this role (1 shot).
26. The protagonist falls in love with a supernatural being (2 shots).
27. The protagonist is a supernatural being (4 shots).
28. Fashion designers are name-checked in the plot synopsis (1 shot).
29. Fashion designers name-check the author in their critic blurbs for the book (2 shots).
30. The word "diva" appears in the book title/synopsis (1 shot).
31. The book is published by Red Dress Ink (1 shot).
32. The phrase "kissing frogs" and/or "frog prince" appear in the title or in the plot synopsis (1 shot).
33. The phrases "Mr. Right" and "Mr. Right-Now" appear in the ploy synopsis (1 shot).
34. Stereotypical girly drinks are mentioned in the title/plot synopsis/depicted on the cover, ex. martinis/champagne flutes/Bellinis (1 shot).
35. Shopping is mentioned as a serious reoccuring theme/plot point in the plot synopsis (1 shot).
36. The phrase "jet set" appears in the synopsis/critic blurbs.
37. The protagonist is forced to choose between 2 suitors, one who is rich but emotionally distant, and the other is good in bed and lives on Ramen (1 shot).
38. The protagonist bucks storytelling convention and stays with the rich man she doesn't give a damn about (10 shots).
39. The protagonist is described in the synopsis as an ugly duckling, destined to turn into a haute-couture swan (1 shot).
40. The protagonist becomes involved with a gal-posse of stuck-up rich bee-yotches, Mean Girls-style (1 shot).
For those who may be brave/crazy enough to attempt playing this game: may God be with you. I'm almost certain Shane McGowan wouldn't survive this game.