Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination

By: Helen Fielding

Narrated by: Josephine Bailey

At the close of the last millennium, Helen Fielding debuted the irrepressible (and blockbuster-bestselling) Bridget Jones. Now, Fielding gives us a sensational new heroine for a new era. Move over 007, a stunning, sexy, and decidedly female, new player has entered the world of international espionage. Her name is Olivia Joules and she's ready to take America by storm with charm, style, and her infamous Overactive Imagination.

How could a girl not be drawn to the alluring, powerful Pierre Ferramo, he of the hooded eyes, impeccable taste, unimaginable wealth, exotic international homes, and dubious French accent? Could Ferramo really be a major terrorist bent on the Western world's destruction, hiding behind a smokescreen of fine wines, yachts, and actresses slash models? Or is it all just a product of Olivia Joules's overactive imagination?

Join Olivia in her heart-stopping, hilarious, nerve-frazzling quest from hip hotel to eco-lodge to underwater cave, by light aircraft, speedboat, helicopter, and horse, in this witty, contemporary, and utterly unpauseable novel deluxe.

©2003 Helen Fielding (P)2004 Penguin Audio and Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"It’s hard to imagine a more appealing heroine than Olivia." (San Francisco Chronicle)

"Dependably delicious.... Pitch perfect." (Newsweek)

"Recklessly cosmopolitan, jet-setting, worldly, adventurous-a 340 page romp." (The Independent)

Fun

Great story, fun twists. A little predictable occasionally, but always entertaining. Highly recommend this one.

Excellent

Great story! Read the book and liked the audible very much.
Would highly recommend it

One of my favorite

Olivia Joules was a very nice suprise "read". Great character, supurb narration. Everyone I recommended this book to loved it as well! Well Worth it!

A delightful thriller-ette!

This is my "go to" audiobook. When I can't think of what else I'd like to listen to, or they're begging on the radio, I put this one on. Olivia is a writer for the style section, but she wants hard news. Her boss and her friend think she has an overactive imagination. Instead of hard news, she is assigned to cover a face cream launch, and then wannabe actors in LA. But could the hot "French" guy she met in Miami be an international terrorist? What's with the bell hop, anyway? And the hair-flicking Indian supermodel is up to something, for sure. Don't panic! Think. Breathe. That's number one on Olivia's rules for living, after all. Good rule to live by! The author gives the characters the perfect accents. Terrific light thriller, and great narration. I strongly recommend this one.

Lots of Fun

I would highly recommend this book. It's light hearted, and the characters are quite endearing. Yes, it's unrealistic, but it never claims to be. Just let yourself enjoy it, and you'll be immersed in the story and characters, and especially in the imagination of the main character. You'll thoroughly enjoy it from beginning to end. Plus, it is well read.

Fun and well-performed

This was a well-performed and fun lightweight "read."

Hilarious

This book had me cracking up – which was a feat giving how sick I was when I was listening to it. The characters and situations were so outrageous that it kept me hooked. Classic Helen Fielding.

Fabulous & fun read

This is a great book and the narration is excellent. If you enjoyed Bridget Jones, you will probably enjoy this book for its similar humor. While all of Bridget's angst is directed towards relationships, Olivia Joules has a more universal angst. She is a slightly stronger and more developed character.

In order to enjoy this book, you:
Must have: healthy sense of humor, with overdeveloped appreciation of the ridiculous.
Must not be: sensitive, particularly about terrorism in general or 9/11 in particular.

Entertaining

Light,easy summer book. It's entertaining, Bridget Jones was better but this is ok. It's more along the lines of the the 2nd Jones book.

From hot bell boys to Osama Bin Ladin!

Where does Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I gave it 5 stars, the story is awesome the narrator is awesome. She acts out all the character voices, with geographic accuracy and some are quite silly - especially the american wannabe actresses, who are, like, totally into themselves. (cue hair toss) Haha.

What did you like best about this story?

Olivia starts out a shy freelance writer who often gets put down by her boss. Her BFF is hilarious and tries to protect her from herself. But, eventually her overactive imagination gets the best of her and she's in deep.

Which scene was your favorite?

I have a lot of favorite parts of this book. One being when she expalins to a room of serious CIA agents what Pierre does to her finger. Hahaha.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Well, she does attract hot guys, so that will move any woman.

Any additional comments?

Overall just a fun book. Also has crime, murder and spies... reminds me of the MI6 movies.