BOOK GROUP.

Byline: SHARI LOW

HEAVEN CAN WAIT CALLY TAYLOR Published by Orion It's cold, it's dark and the prospect of Christmas is already tightening the purse strings, so this week we're fighting off the winter blues with some deliciously heart-warming chicklit.

Heaven Can Wait doesn't start with the genre's trademark fun and frivolity due to the fact that, by page 16, the heroine, Lucy Brown is dead. Yep, dead.

It's the eve of her wedding and she's in limbo, halfway between heaven and earth.

There, she is given the opportunity to go back to earth as a ghost, but it's a deal with a few heartstrings attached. The perfect blend of funny, smart and - sob - pass the Kleenex, this might just be the best chicklit debut of the year.

LETTERS TO A LOVE RAT NIAMH GREENE Published by Penguin Charlie Adler has three women under his spell.

His ex-girlfriend Eve writes him letters she never sends.

Julie is so enraptured about their affair she's telling the world on her blog.

And Molly has just returned from honeymoon, only to discover that her suntan is going to stay around for longer than her new husband. Will Eve, Julie or Molly ever manage to tame the rodent? Great premise - but the only drawback is that Charlie seems so unappealing that it's difficult to see why any girl would fall for him.

That aside, Greene weaves an amusing tale that will give a giggle to anyone who has ever required pest control to deal with their ex.

CONFESSIONS OF A RELUCTANT RECESSIONISTA AMY SILVER Published by Arrow Without warning, serial shopper Cassie Cavanagh's job in an investment bank becomes a casualty of the global financial meltdown.

Which, to be fair, is nothing compared to the meltdown Cassie has afterwards when her boyfriend goes off with another woman.

She's down, she's out and needs drastic measures to rescue her life and her Louboutins.

Cassie Cavanagh strays into Sophie Kinsella's shopaholic territory and messing with a chicklit legend is more dangerous than the Harvey Nicks shoe shop on the first day of the sales.

Thankfully, she pulls it off with wit and charm.