Frumpy but loveable twelfth-century history boffin Josephine dispatches her adulterous husband and must confront life on the outskirts of Paris as a single, middle-aged mother of two daughters. When her beautiful but scheming Chanel-wearing sister Iris tempts her with a Faustian proposition, Josephine agrees to write a novel that will be published under Iris’s name. The book becomes a sensation and it’s only a matter of time before the crocodiles, real and metaphorical, emerge from the psychological swamps to strike.

The first of a trilogy, The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Already translated into 29 languages, (English, surprisingly, is the thirtieth), it’s easy to see why this modern French twist on the Cinderella story has become a bestseller. Fast paced and full of frank and funny assessments of personalities, this jaunty romp has got the lot: friendship, family, love, sex, parenting, sibling rivalry, success, celebrity, ageing and the age-old search for meaning. The goodies triumph, the baddies are devoured by greed and self-interest, and there’s an immensely likeable heroine.

While Josephine’s endearing transformation from meek pushover to a woman confident in her own skin remains the focus, outrageous subplots abound: there’s a plethora of middle-aged men daydreaming of creamy buttocks and pinching their fair share of them; an enigmatic neighbour with mysterious lineage; haughty teenagers; a devilishly handsome bookish nerd; and even a cameo by Mick Jagger.

As the novel within the novel comes to life, Josephine contemplates the recipe for literary success, concluding that you don’t have to be a genius; you just have to be able to translate feelings. She does this well and so too does Katherine Pancol, striking an appealing balance between sincere and risqué. This light-hearted story full of warmth and humour is, quite simply, a lot of fun to read.

Sally Keighery is a freelance reviewer.