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carolineselina's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
herrolisa's review against another edition
4.0
After reading a slew of sad/scary/boring books I thought it was time for a break and decided to pick this book up in an effort to read something light and breezy.
I am so glad I read this! I totally devoured this book and fell in love with Delia. I thought she was the perfect protagonist! She did things the way that I would see myself doing things in the same situation and I found myself unable to put the book down. I loved how all the characters developed at a rate that really played into the storyline. I think she painted the picture of Paul perfectly, where you hated him, but he wasn't a clearly terrible guy. This would be a 5 star review but the plot wasn't that original.
I am really interested in reading more books by Mhairi McFarlane.
I am so glad I read this! I totally devoured this book and fell in love with Delia. I thought she was the perfect protagonist! She did things the way that I would see myself doing things in the same situation and I found myself unable to put the book down. I loved how all the characters developed at a rate that really played into the storyline. I think she painted the picture of Paul perfectly, where you hated him, but he wasn't a clearly terrible guy. This would be a 5 star review but the plot wasn't that original.
I am really interested in reading more books by Mhairi McFarlane.
aamcgoldrick's review against another edition
3.0
More like 3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed the characters, but found it way to British (the slang, the food, the places) and had to google a fair number of them. I liked the ending - so that is what added on the 1/2 star.
mullesbogreol's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
hannahivy29's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Meh. I felt like I made an effort to keep going with this. Some parts were great (I thought the part where they were saying goodbye to their dog was well done ) and they kept me reading but mostly it was just good/fine - I don't think I'd have carried on had I not heard good reviews about this author.
For this type of book, I thought it was more progressive than many in terms of challenging gender stereotypes/tropes (although I have high expectations and I think the bar is pretty low) but I still found myself eye-rolling at various parts.
There was a bit of a 'she doesn't know she's pretty' trope with the MC and that thing where they don't realise someone fancies them, even when it gets pretty obvious, which I find a bit annoying.
Didn't enjoy the audiobook narration.
For this type of book, I thought it was more progressive than many in terms of challenging gender stereotypes/tropes (although I have high expectations and I think the bar is pretty low) but I still found myself eye-rolling at various parts.
There was a bit of a 'she doesn't know she's pretty' trope with the MC and that thing where they don't realise someone fancies them, even when it gets pretty obvious, which I find a bit annoying.
Didn't enjoy the audiobook narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Infidelity
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting
esmerrr_02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
erin_lawless's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, so, me giving a Mhairi McFarlane book ALL THE STARS is getting boring and commonplace, I know. But I wouldn't even want to buck the trend if I could. These books are such a high point, things to look forward to with indecent impatience, the Christmas dinner of my reading year.
What was unexpected was 'It's Not Me, It's You' taking over as my favourite Mhairi read (putting it up there in my Top Reads Ever). I always love a Mhairi heroine and wish she was my best friend but Delia was just too perfect. I want her to cook for me, I want her wardrobe, I want to drink wine and discuss storyboards with her. I think that not a small amount of Mhairi's success is down to just that - writing amazing women that other women want to be friends with (writing amazing men too... Adam [and even Paul, to an extent] being particularly enthralling here).
And of course Mhairi's just hilarious. Reading this book I laughed so hard I almost dropped my Kindle in the bath (therefore reading this book in the bath not recommended). I laughed so hard reading whilst lunching at my desk that I misted a colleague with a light spray of semi-chewed jacket potato (and she laughed too when I showed her the offending passage, so that's all okay). As a recovering Londoner myself I love the sharpness with which she catches the Big Smoke, but as with her other books, Mhairi makes me want to see more of GB, in this case Newcastle which sounds delightful.
Anything more I say will no doubt just be echoed in the hundreds and hundreds of 5 star reviews that will avalanche when this gem is released. I already want to read it again.
What was unexpected was 'It's Not Me, It's You' taking over as my favourite Mhairi read (putting it up there in my Top Reads Ever). I always love a Mhairi heroine and wish she was my best friend but Delia was just too perfect. I want her to cook for me, I want her wardrobe, I want to drink wine and discuss storyboards with her. I think that not a small amount of Mhairi's success is down to just that - writing amazing women that other women want to be friends with (writing amazing men too... Adam [and even Paul, to an extent] being particularly enthralling here).
And of course Mhairi's just hilarious. Reading this book I laughed so hard I almost dropped my Kindle in the bath (therefore reading this book in the bath not recommended). I laughed so hard reading whilst lunching at my desk that I misted a colleague with a light spray of semi-chewed jacket potato (and she laughed too when I showed her the offending passage, so that's all okay). As a recovering Londoner myself I love the sharpness with which she catches the Big Smoke, but as with her other books, Mhairi makes me want to see more of GB, in this case Newcastle which sounds delightful.
Anything more I say will no doubt just be echoed in the hundreds and hundreds of 5 star reviews that will avalanche when this gem is released. I already want to read it again.
cjc_555's review against another edition
3.0
very chick-litty and the ending was disappointing but a cute beach-read anyway. I hadn't gone into it expecting anything else.
cladystewart's review against another edition
4.0
My attachment to this book and its characters developed slowly. Much like other heroines in Mhairi McFarlane’s novels, the lead character Delia is on a journey to have confidence in herself in a way she never has, and learns she wants to be the lead in her own story. I enjoyed the journey, especially the humor along the way.