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dutchie84's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
allisondenae's review against another edition
4.0
I adored this book. I liked it so much more than Babyville (also by Green). I could not put it down. I wish I could give it 4.5 stars, because I like to reserve my 5 stars for the truly amazing, but I cannot just say I "really liked it".
I am going to go ahead and say that I like Jane Green when she just writes in first person. She doesn't need to switch perspectives, and she does need to worry about adding more to a story with another woman's thoughts. Cath was a perfect protagonist. I also fell in love with Si, and Lucy. Well done, Jane Green. Loved this one!
I am going to go ahead and say that I like Jane Green when she just writes in first person. She doesn't need to switch perspectives, and she does need to worry about adding more to a story with another woman's thoughts. Cath was a perfect protagonist. I also fell in love with Si, and Lucy. Well done, Jane Green. Loved this one!
rebelkiss's review against another edition
3.0
It started dragging towards the end. I normally like her writing style but here...just wasn't working for me.
anovelobsession's review against another edition
1.0
Absolutely hated this book. I hated the characters and the plot wasn't engaging either. I kept waiting for this book to get better, but it didn't. I can't believe I finished it.
kberry513's review against another edition
3.0
Okay....I've vascillated back and forth on how I feel about this one. The main character Cath's dream is to open a bookshop/cafe (which tbh would be my dream, in the event I could ever afford it which would be never). There's a whole lot of backstory on what went on in university and how her bff Portia turned out to be a bitch and caused their whole group to fracture, but they were all (except Portia) still close.
Cath's current best friends are two of her friends from uni, Si (who is gay) and Josh, and Josh's wife Lucy. Lucy convinces Cath to open the bookshop together, and Lucy will make the pastries. Portia reappears in their life, now a writer for a famous tv show, and they realize the characters on the show are caricatures of them. Cath and Si read way too much into it, thinking that Josh must be having an affair with either Portia or the nanny (he's doing neither). Meanwhile Si is dating an awful man that everyone hates, doesn't understand why they hate him until he's horrible to everyone at a dinner party, but still doesn't break up with him and is instead dumped. Cath finally starts dating a nice guy, but keeps getting derailed by things.
Then out of nowhere, in the last like fifth of the book, Si gets HIV from his terrible ex. What?!? Up until that point, I liked it okay but wished it was funnier and wished it was more about the bookshop and less about their friend from uni coming back into their lives. The book ends with Si telling their friends at a dinner party that he has HIV; it just took suuuuuch a weird turn.
There were a lot of things about Cath that I identify with and so I wish I liked this more than I do.
Cath's current best friends are two of her friends from uni, Si (who is gay) and Josh, and Josh's wife Lucy. Lucy convinces Cath to open the bookshop together, and Lucy will make the pastries. Portia reappears in their life, now a writer for a famous tv show, and they realize the characters on the show are caricatures of them. Cath and Si read way too much into it, thinking that Josh must be having an affair with either Portia or the nanny (he's doing neither). Meanwhile Si is dating an awful man that everyone hates, doesn't understand why they hate him until he's horrible to everyone at a dinner party, but still doesn't break up with him and is instead dumped. Cath finally starts dating a nice guy, but keeps getting derailed by things.
Then out of nowhere, in the last like fifth of the book, Si gets HIV from his terrible ex. What?!? Up until that point, I liked it okay but wished it was funnier and wished it was more about the bookshop and less about their friend from uni coming back into their lives. The book ends with Si telling their friends at a dinner party that he has HIV; it just took suuuuuch a weird turn.
There were a lot of things about Cath that I identify with and so I wish I liked this more than I do.
rodcy's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes I like to read a good "chick lit" book and I usually turn to Jane Green for this type of reading.
gwalt118's review against another edition
3.0
A great book about following your dreams and expecting the unexpected!
lovesresqdogs's review against another edition
3.0
Lovely story and Jane Green is becoming a favorite author for me. Easy to read and tells wonderful tales.