You know you’ve got a good book when you’re too busy reading to jot down notes.
That’s exactly what happened as I sped through Little Miss Petty by Sally Kilpatrick.
What’s Little Miss Petty about?
Stella Stark comes home one night to a cliché scene: her long-time partner is in bed with another woman. Soon after, she finds herself without a place to live and a job and moves into an apartment complex. Her new friends encourage her to turn her private investigator skills to good karmic use. They help her set up “Little Miss Petty” agency, which helps other wronged women get some “petty” revenge on their cheating partners. Nothing too dire or harmful; pranks just annoying enough to extract some petty satisfaction.
Word of Little Miss Petty spreads, and Stella lands a case tailing a supposed cheating ex-husband – who also turns out to be her new neighbor. The more time she spends getting to know this guy, the more she realizes he does not seem like the bastard that his ex-wife made him out to be. In fact, she kinda-sorta-likes him. Especially when he suggests as “pizza with benefits” relationship.
But a case of mistaken identity isn’t the only case that Stella has to clear up. As she battles for financial independence and to build up her own self-confidence, she gains newfound friendships and trust in other people – especially in other women who seem to support her in all the ways her ex-partner never did.
What I loved about Little Miss Petty
Little Miss Petty is just a really fun read, you guys. Author Kilpatrick has a great sense of humor. Stella’s inner monologue-ing had me laugh-snorting more often than those around me would like. I loved the witty banter between Stella and her new friends Havisham and Salcedo, and I adored the flirtatious exchanges between Stella and love interest Malone.
The “Little Miss Petty” business idea is admittedly a little “out there.” I mean, it’s kinda weird that so many grown women want to prank men, even if they’ve been wronged by them. But, the premise moves the plot along. After a short while, Kilpatrick focuses more on Stella’s PI skills than anything else regarding her profession.
It may seem like Little Miss Petty is all about revenge and romance, but that’s not true. It’s also an awesome women-power book. And, not in a bitter and angry way.
Well, okay. Maybe it’s a little bit angry and a tad bitter. After all, being a woman in a man’s world can really suck. Kilpatrick acknowledges that loud and clear throughout the novel, and it feels good.
Stella’s Little Miss Petty ploy is comeuppance for all those guys who ever wronged a woman who did nothing but love and support them. To borrow from Kilpatrick’s own words, it’s a victory for all those women who are called petty, unreasonable, or stubborn for having the audacity to stick up for themselves.
Over the course of Little Miss Petty, Stella learns to break out of her comfort zone and trust people, and to trust herself to know her own worth. And what gets her to that point are her female friendships. Her ties to Havisham and Salcedo may be new, but these women have her back. It’s delightful to see. We need more books championing female friendship, and about the support, creativity and encouragement they provide.
What’s the romance spice level in Little Miss Petty?
Stella’s new romance takes center stage in Little Miss Petty. I usually don’t like romances based around a case of mistaken identity. More often than not, confusion can be cleared up by a simple conversation. And it becomes really annoying when two adults don’t make that happen.
Thankfully, the misunderstanding that brings Stella and Malone together is cleared up pretty quickly. Which means it leaves plenty of time to sit back and enjoy their delightful pizza-with-benefits (and PI-sleuthing) relationship unfold.
I loved everything that happened between Stella and Malone. They have amazing chemistry together; it just leaps off the page and makes you excited to read more. The way these two tease each other – in all the ways – feels like they’re perfect for one another, despite the many factors keeping them apart. They’re sweet, they’re sexy, they’re cool, and they seem like they could be best friends.
Little Miss Petty gets a little spicy at times, but most of the action is kept off-screen. You’ll get pretty amped up for Stella and Malone to break a few tables, but you won’t blush from knowing all the intimate details of their sex life.
Should you read Little Miss Petty?
Pick up Little Miss Petty if you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud and thoroughly enjoyable read about friendship, romance, and comeuppance. Some other great parts of this book are:
- The title is a nod to the “Little Miss…” books from my childhood. #nostalgia
- Stella gets an adorable cat friend. A kitten. Cute antics abound.
- Swifties will (all too well) recognize many (and often hilarious) Taylor Swift-themed moments throughout the book.
What’s the book-inspired recipe?
Be sure to check out the book-inspired recipe: Pizza Grilled Cheese.
Although I received a complimentary advance copy of Little Miss Petty from Kaye Publicity, all opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not compensated in any way for this review or for any other promotion/publicity I’ve done related to this book.
