For a while, chick lit was alive and kicking up its stilettos. Seriously, everywhere you looked, there it was. The market got 
saturated. And once the shelves and bookstores and publishing houses (and readers) were soaked, so started the drying up process.
Now, they say chick lit is dead. But is it? While the term "chick lit" may be buried, the heart of chick lit is still breathing. It may be disguised as "romantic comedy" or "contemporary women's fiction with elements of humor" but it's still there. And it's still selling. And probably always will be.
Why? Because women can relate. Chick lit's main components tend to be friendship, fashion, and finding Mr. Right. But most of all, chick lit is fun. And with the busyness of being a woman, fun is always a welcome reprieve!
Chick lit has been around forever. You may have heard of Jane Austen? Well, it's been said that Jane was a 19th century chick lit writer. In fact, six of her novels were recently given redesigned, glossy, "chick litty" covers in order to appeal to today's woman.
A few years before the term "chick lit" made its debut, Sue Grafton came out with her Alphabet Series (still going strong- she's up to letter T). While protagonist, Kinsey Milhone, isn't your typical Prada handbag chick, she's got the other main components that make up a "chick lit" character: she's single, she's sassy, and she's smart.
Other secular books you've probably heard of that could be (or are) labled as Chick Lit - and have even been made into movies - include:
Bridget Jones Diary
The Nanny Diaries
The Devil Wears Prada
Cofessions of a Shopaholic
In her Shoes
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Lipstick Jungle
Chick lit expands well into the Christian market, too. Kristin Billerbeck is one of the authors who helped define "Christian Chick Lit." Her Ashley Stockingdale series (What a Girl Wants) was, and remains, a hit with readers. With Christian chick lit, you have everything found in general market chick lit, only it goes deeper. Under all of the fun, fashion, and finding Mr. Right, also lies a message about God's love and forgiveness.
Of course, chick lit has also expanded to other areas, such as Mom Lit, Hen Lit, Mystery Lit, even YA Lit.
If you're looking for a good book or two to read by the pool this summer, check out some of these popular Christian chick / Mom / Hen lit (or lit-type) authors:
- Kristin Billerbeck
- Mindy Starns-Clark
- Marilyn Griffith
- Rachel Hauck
- DiAnn Hunt
- Erynn Mangum
- Tamara Leigh
- Virginia Smith
- Hope Lyda
- Robin Jones Gunn
- Camy Tang
- Judy Baer
- Kathryn Springer
- Megan DiMaria
- Tracy Bateman
No matter what, the form and style of chick lit will never die. As long as there are chicks (that's US, ladies!), there will be chick lit. No matter what genre or sub-genre it's hidden behind
Comments
It better NOT be dead! Reading chick lit with lots of humor is a true saving grace for women of all ages. To be able to see that others have experienced what you have in addition to the laughs that one gets reading good chick lit is more help than any anti-depressant or "shrink" ever could.
I agree. When I have had a stressful day, week or month at work, it is always a good chick book that helps me relax and remember the humor of life.
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