The Chicktionary: From A-line to Z-snap, the words every woman should know by Anna Lefler
Publisher: Adams Media Corporation
Release Date: 18th November 2011
Rating: 4/5
Source: Received from the publisher for review via TLC Book Tours. Thank you!
Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | BookDepository
Goodreads Summary:

The CHICKtionary is a humorous dictionary of the words and phrases women use—and what they really mean when they use them. The book corrals more than 450 terms, including some you know (uterus) and some you might not (flexting), and defines each from the perspective of a typical contemporary woman—a woman who avoids accidental pageant hair, is frenemies with her robotic vacuum and only occasionally relies on her high-waisted jeans to hold up her strapless bra.

While The CHICKtionary is obviously comedic, it also pays homage to the unique and ever-evolving way in which women communicate about relationships, life, fashion, self-identity and more. The CHICKtionary fills the niche of being the thinking woman’s book that both celebrates and skewers the realities of womanhood through the lens of the words and phrases used to describe the experience.

So whether you are dealing with a Residual Girlfriend, diagnose yourself with a bad case of Basset Knees, or need to go on a Briet, you’ll be prepared for all that comes your way. At the very least, this book will serve as a delightful reminder that everyone has a skeleton in her closet—right next to her fat pants.

Still wondering how it is that women communicate in such odd and sometimes seemingly telepathic ways? Wonder no longer! Anna Lefler’s debut non-fiction novel, The Chicktionary: From A-line to Z-snap, the words every woman should know, shares the essential verbiage for communicating effectively and intelligently without looking like a “hot mess”.

This was a hysterical look at some of the terms used on an almost every day basis in my life. Yes, growing up with two sisters and no brothers I’m pretty well versed in the sometimes subtle or not-so-subtle ways women communicate. What was hilarious about Lefler’s book was her ability to put each word into a specific scenario in such a short amount of space. Take the phrase “I Hate You” for example:

This is one of those expressions that is, as they say, all in the delivery. If spoken in a menacing or even straightforward manner, it’s meaning is, well, pretty clear. If, on the other hand, it’s exclaimed by one female to another with a seemingly warm or jovial inflection, it becomes a complex expression of admiration and/or envy. An example of this more subtle use of the phrase might be: “Omigod, that dress makes you look so skinny! I hate you!” It’s important to realize that when someone uses this expression with you she actually does in some small way, hate you.
(p. 97, The Chicktionary by Anna Lefler)

It’s endings like that that have you rolling on the ground laughing, because honestly…who hasn’t said or thought that very thing at one point in their life? If you haven’t you probably need to spend more hanging out with your girlfriends. In some places it did remind me that I need to get together with my sisters again in the very near future actually. To be honest, after reading it I felt a bit of pressure to incorporate as many words as I could from the book into my review, but I’m just not that funny. I’ll leave that to Anna as she has perfected the art.

Anna Lefler has a knack for knowing just how women think and The Chicktionary is brilliant! It’s obvious Lefler spent countless hours with other women because I’m not sure how you could come up with all the terms found in this little gem. Even after growing up in a family of all girls where my father constantly felt like the odd man out I still discovered a few new terms to add to my own “Chicktionary”. If you are in need of either a fantastic guidebook to women’s communication or simply a laugh out loud afternoon of reading then you must pick up The Chicktionary by Anna Lefler.