The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing (Penguin Ink)

Melissa Bank’s book is not actually a guide to hunting and fishing for girls. You probably already knew that, seeing as this book has become a “chick lit” cult classic in the nearly decade-and-a-half since its first being published, but I figured I’d throw that out there just in case. What The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing actually is, is a novel comprised of seven interwoven short stories which highlight the various life events of a girl eventually turned woman named Jane.

I really quite enjoyed this book. The main theme of each story is love, be it romantic love, familial love, and so on. And while I can understand how this book has, over the years, been labelled as “chick lit”, I personally don’t see it as such – at least, not your average chick lit. What makes The Girls’ Guide to Hunting And Fishing different is that it doesn’t contain any fluff. Sure, it’s full of wit, and the humour is a bit quirky, but it’s also rather dry at times, and there are parts in the book that are even depressing. The stories felt raw and authentic to me, and I saw Jane as a female character who, despite being fictional, is hugely relatable to young women – without it feeling awkward or self-important. I know I related to a few thoughts or situations presented in the book (though I certainly won’t say which ones).

I would have to recommend The Girls’ Guide to Hunting And Fishing by Melissa Bank to any and all women. In the fourteen years its been published, it has grown an almost cult-like status in contemporary fiction, and now that I’ve read it for myself, I can understand why. It’s truly one of those books you must read at least once.