Book Review: Kept By Elle Field

'Did she really just say that? I am fifteen again, except the reality is I am experiencing full paternal horror , aged twenty-five. I want to die.' Life hasn't quite worked out how Arielle Lockley imagined it would. Becoming the next Coco Chanel was always her childhood dream, but she's spent the last four years living a dizzying whirl of glitzy parties, luxurious holidays and daily shopping sprees- all paid for by boyfriend  Piers- and not doing anything to make her Coco dreams happen. When the recession hits, it's not just the economy that takes a tumble, and Arielle finds herself living back with her parents, on bad terns with Piers, and having a CV that's as welcome as a pair of knock-off Jimmy Choos. And maybe it's the location, but she's also finding unwelcome thoughts of her childhood sweetheart popping into her head... what's a girl to do? Can Arielle figure out what it is she now wants to do with her life and move on, or will she be doomed to spend the rest of her life dwelling over her worst mistakes, stuck listening to her parents embarrassing dinner table talk each night?

Kept is a brilliant debut novel from Elle Field. Arielle literally is a kept woman; she meets Piers who is happy to fund her life with his large earnings; Arielle is determined that the situation is a temporary one. But soon four years have gone by and Arielle's ambitions have not been met but she does have a well stocked wardrobe. Piers is under a huge amount of stress because of the recession so Arielle suddenly finds herself back at home with her parents, no achievements to speak of and a seriously out-of-date CV.
Kept is a classic tale of a young woman finding her way in life. Arielle has to be honest about what she wants to do with her life, there is only so much shopping she can do at the end of the day.
Whilst it is a classic plot, I found Elle Field's writing to be witty and stylish. Arielle's love life alone is enough to keep you reading the book but also I really took to this character and I was willing her to get her life and her future together.
Kept will appeal to readers of chick-lit and I felt that it had a similar feel to some of Marian Keye's ealry books. I think that Elle Field is one to watch out for and I would definitely read her next book.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4.5/5