Book Review: Chasing Daisy

Chasing Daisy
By Paige Toon
Simon and Schuster UK
Publication Date: July 6, 2009
ISBN: 978-1847393906

Chasing Daisy is not what you'd expect from the cover. With its glittery typeface, heart icon, and pink background, it looks like a very girly beach read. It is, of course, at times, but it's also incredibly deep, very touching and utterly fabulous.

Chasing Daisy is about Daisy Rogers, a girl completely and hopelessly in love with a co-worker. As a "bun tart," a girl who helps out with catering and hospitality during Formula 1 car races, Daisy is around fast cars and fast guys everyday. It's there that she meets, and falls for, Will Trust, the devastatingly handsome Leonardo DiCaprio lookalike race car driver who may just fancy her as well. Big problem, though? He has a very serious girlfriend. Plus, he puts his life at risk every day when he goes to work.

As Daisy chases after Will, she befriends Holly, a fellow bun tart with a crush of her own, and Luis, the other race car driver. Daisy and Holly become best friends and share almost everything with one another, because in this book, secrets are important. Luis, on the other hand, starts out as an utter nuisance in Daisy's opinion, one who won't let an old joke go, but becomes someone trustworthy and even friendly.

Chasing Daisy is a surprising book because just when you think you know what will happen next, it throws you for a loop, just like the car races you watch happen on the pages. It's far from your typical chick lit book and took me by surprise quite a few times, specifically halfway through when everything Daisy worked for is thrown upside down.

I absolutely loved the characters. From her boss, Frederick, a grump with a good heart, to mysterious Luis, to even erratic Daisy, they were all people I wanted to hang out with. I loved the scene where Luis and Daisy learn to swear in other languages. Hilarious! And although I have no prior knowledge of Formula 1 racing, the book was incredibly vivid with its details, putting the reader directly in the action.

The book goes from Monte Carlo to San Paulo and back again, with Daisy narrating the way. At first I wasn't 100% in love with the 1st person narrative (that described everything Daisy was thinking), but as the pages turned, I learned to really enjoy it. It was perfect for the kind of book it was - one that's incredibly introspective. Additionally, I absolutely loved how it ended.

I was kind of let down that they didn't develop the story behind Daisy's ex more, I really wanted (and expected) the two of them to have an encounter, but alas. That aside, I finished the book in two days. That should say enough.

Chasing Daisy is a fun book, although dramatic at times. It makes you want to travel the world and see the sights, and races, with Daisy herself. And, really, it makes you laugh. Her observations are quick, witty, and always spot on. Chasing Daisy is a truly addictive book with a voice of its own.

See an interview with author Paige Toon here