Have you ever given up on love?
When her boyfriend lets her down for the last time, Brooklyn bookshop owner Bea James makes a decision – no more. No more men, no more heartbreak, and no more pain.
Psychiatrist Jake Steinmann is making a new start too, leaving his broken marriage behind in San Francisco. From now on there'll just be one love in his life: New York.
At a party where they seem to be the only two singletons, Bea and Jake meet, and decide there’s just one thing for it. They will make a pact: no more relationships.
But the city has other plans . . .
Miranda Dickinson has been on my TBR for ages and the fact that this is her sixth book and it's only the first I've read is ridiculous, because I loved it! Some of my favourite bloggers are huge fans of Miranda's books so I did start this book with very high expectations, all of which were exceeded.
Bea James has been let down by her boyfriend too many times, finally ending their relationship she throws herself into her business, telling herself no more men. Jake Steinmann is leaving San Francisco behind for the love of his life. The love of his life being New York. Meeting Bea at a party, they soon strike up a friendship and make a pact, no more relationships. They meet at a party that readers of Miranda's first novel, Fairytale of New York will have no trouble recognising. It can still be read as a standalone however returning readers will be very happy.
From the start I loved the idea of this book. It's a little bit different to the usual story where you have the man and woman that are going to end up together and it's predictable from beginning to end. Here we have two characters starting off as friends, the focus being very much on their budding friendship and the journey that they take throughout the book. That said some of the best relationships started out as friendships, and New York is an ideal place to fall in love...
The characters in the book are created with real love and attention, Bea and Jake are both unique, realistic and believable characters. The romance is never forced. You have an idea of where the story is going to go but ultimately it's a story of two people having to almost find their way in the world again. The image they had in their head of their future, the rest of their lives, now shattered.
To set a book in New York you really have to know the city, to have that passion for it that you are trying to make the reader feel as they read. Miranda does have that passion and knowledge, which is so evident as you read as you become totally absorbed in the book, and so involved in the story that you become a part of it rather than it just being words on a page. Like with Ali McNamara and Lindsey Kelk, their love for the city shines out of their books and it makes the reading experience so much more enjoyable. Each chapter is titled with where that chapter mostly takes place which I liked as even though it's only a small thing helps you to really picture the scene.
I always say the same when I discover a new Chick Lit author but one thing I always look out for is originality, whether that be in storylines, characters, writing style etc, just something that makes an author stand out in what is a very crowded genre. Miranda definitely has her own writing style, which is just a joy to read as you find yourself completely lost in her words, and in the world that she has created. It's almost sad when you stop reading and realise that you aren't actually a part of the book, and that real life must go on.
Overall this book is almost perfection from start to finish. I honestly struggled to put it down, and finished it totally understanding the love that my fellow bloggers have for Miranda. With a move to Pan Macmillan I predict the future is only going be brighter for Miranda and I can't wait to see what she writes next, before that though I have her whole back catalogue to keep me busy. This is definitely a must read book of 2014, not one to miss if you can help it.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
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