Being Lily

Title: Being Lily (Kwela)
Author: Qarnita Loxton
Reviewer: Beryl Eichenberger
Anyone who read Qarnita’s first book ‘Being Kari’ would have been absorbed and delighted with the strong images, cultural issues, humour and Cape infused language that created a memorable story.
In Being Lily, Kari (Karima) is now in London with husband and son and the book centres around her best friend Dr Lily de Angelo. Lily is in Cape Town preparing for the wedding of the year – hers. This colourful sequel is a deliciously candid story exposing the rich, spoilt Atlantic seaboard gals. Privileged Lily, bright and ambitious but never thin enough, gave up being a selfless doctor to invest in a much more lucrative business - bringing botox and fillers to her rich, vain clients. Her future seems assured – a loving fiancé and a plan NOT to have children. Four weeks to her and Owen’s wedding and her biggest concerns are where to seat her Cape Flats father-in-law-to-be and will she get her bum into her wedding dress. This is Bridezilly in full voice! Long suffering and self-made fiancé Owen is trying to keep things balanced and reasonable, until ex-girlfriend Courtney turns up with teenage daughter Chiara in tow. Is this Owen’s daughter?
What ensues in the countdown to the BIG Day is both hilarious and poignant as Lily battles issues that will certainly resonate. Not only her weight but the blonde ex seems to be too fond of Owen. Now there is an almost grown up child hovering in the wings. Does this change the decision that she and Owen reached on marriage but not babies!
The characters bounce off the pages. Qarnita has defined life as it is and while much of it is a little larger than life with some very tongue in cheek humour we all relate to the situations. As much as you plan, well, sometimes life takes a different turn and you have to roll with the punches. Grow up, take it on the chin and go with plan B – it’s all the same in the end. A fun read with underlying messages that stay with you.​Anyone who read Qarnita’s first book ‘Being Kari’ would have been absorbed and delighted with the strong images, cultural issues, humour and Cape infused language that created a memorable story.
In Being Lily, Kari (Karima) is now in London with husband and son and the book centres around her best friend Dr Lily de Angelo. Lily is in Cape Town preparing for the wedding of the year – hers. This colourful sequel is a deliciously candid story exposing the rich, spoilt Atlantic seaboard gals. Privileged Lily, bright and ambitious but never thin enough, gave up being a selfless doctor to invest in a much more lucrative business - bringing botox and fillers to her rich, vain clients. Her future seems assured – a loving fiancé and a plan NOT to have children. Four weeks to her and Owen’s wedding and her biggest concerns are where to seat her Cape Flats father-in-law-to-be and will she get her bum into her wedding dress. This is Bridezilly in full voice! Long suffering and self-made fiancé Owen is trying to keep things balanced and reasonable, until ex-girlfriend Courtney turns up with teenage daughter Chiara in tow. Is this Owen’s daughter?
What ensues in the countdown to the BIG Day is both hilarious and poignant as Lily battles issues that will certainly resonate. Not only her weight but the blonde ex seems to be too fond of Owen. Now there is an almost grown up child hovering in the wings. Does this change the decision that she and Owen reached on marriage but not babies!
The characters bounce off the pages. Qarnita has defined life as it is and while much of it is a little larger than life with some very tongue in cheek humour we all relate to the situations. As much as you plan, well, sometimes life takes a different turn and you have to roll with the punches. Grow up, take it on the chin and go with plan B – it’s all the same in the end. A fun read with underlying messages that stay with you.

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