Library of Clean Reads: Beth O'Leary

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Tuesday, April 12, 2022

The No-Show by Beth O'Leary (Review)

If you're looking for a different kind of romantic read, with a good twist ending, this one could be it!

Book Details:

Title: The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
Category: Adult Fiction, 352 pages
Genre: Contemporary romance
Publisher: Berkley
Release date: April 12, 2022
Content rating: PG-13 (sexual content, language)

Book Description:

Three women who seemingly have nothing in common find that they're involved with the same man in this smart new rom-com by Beth O'Leary, bestselling author of The Flatshare.

Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth.

These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: they’ve all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up—Valentine’s Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they’ve all been stood up by the same man.

Once they've each forgiven him for standing them up, they are all in serious danger of falling in love with a man who may have not just one or two but three women on the go....

Is there more to him than meets the eye? Where was he on Valentine’s Day? And will they each untangle the truth before they all get their hearts broken?

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

So far I've read all of O'Leary's books and I wondered what interesting situation she would come up with next. So when I saw her latest, I knew I wanted to read it, however, I was a little hesitant about the subject: one man dating three women... But, having read her other books where her male main characters have never been two-timers, but men worthy of their heroines, I decided to put my reservations aside and gave this one a go.

Well, this book turned out to be quite a surprise, deeply affecting and with some good unexpected twists. If you're basing the plot on the book description, it's not what it seems even though it's accurate. The plot is quite brilliant and O'Leary pulls it off. It kept me turning the pages because I wanted to solve the mystery of Joseph and his three women. But I won't discuss the plot because it's one of those books where you have to savor the Oh! moment as you are reading it.

I liked Joseph from the very beginning even if I was trying to figure out if he was a cheater. The three women, Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane are all different and unique. They each learn about themselves and grow in character through their relationship with Joseph. Character development is strong, a trademark of O'Leary's books. However, I wouldn't categorize this as a rom-com. It reads more like contemporary romance or women's fiction. As in all of O'Leary's books, she tackles mental health issues, toxic relationships, and strong friendships.

There are many swoony romantic scenes in this book, not too explicit. And there is some language (some f-bombs) but not as many as in her last book The Road Trip (thank goodness). If you're looking for a different kind of romantic read, with a good twist ending, this one could be it.

Buy the Book:

Amazon.ca ~ Chapters Indigo

Add to Goodreads

About the Author:

Beth O'Leary is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. Her debut, The Flatshare, sold over half a million copies and changed her life completely. Her second novel, The Switch, has been optioned for film by Amblin Partners, Steven Spielberg's production company. Beth writes her books in the English countryside with a very badly behaved golden retriever for company. If she's not at her desk, you'll usually find her curled up somewhere with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather)

Connect with her here: https://www.betholearyauthor.com/

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

The Switch by Beth O'Leary (Audiobook Review)

This is another winner by Beth O'Leary!

AUDIOBOOK DETAILS:

Title: The Switch by Beth O'Leary (Unabridged)

Genre: Contemporary Women's Fiction, Rom-Com

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Released: August 18, 2020

Narrator: Alison Steadman, Daisy Edgar-Jones

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Content rating: PG-13 for some f-words and religious profanities

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A grandmother and granddaughter swap lives in The Switch, a charming, romantic novel by Beth O’Leary, who has been hailed as "the new Jojo Moyes" (Cosmopolitan UK)

When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some long-overdue rest.

Eileen is newly single and about to turn 80. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.

So they decide to try a two-month swap.

Eileen will live in London and look for love. She’ll take Leena’s flat, and learn all about casual dating, swiping right, and city neighbors. Meanwhile, Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire: Eileen’s sweet cottage and garden, her idyllic, quiet village, and her little neighborhood projects.

But stepping into one another's shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected. Will swapping lives help Eileen and Leena find themselves...and maybe even find true love? In Beth O'Leary's The Switch, it's never too late to change everything...or to find yourself.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

This is another winner by Beth O'Leary! After listening to The Flatshare and loving it, I eagerly waited for the release of The Switch, another novel with an interesting premise. And it was just as good as I'd hoped it would be.

Twenty-nine year-old Leena from London decides to switch places with her 79-year-old grandma Eileen from a quaint village in Yorkshire. Leena is still mourning the death of her sister Carla and is overworked, and Eileen is ready for a bit of adventure in her life, although she does it more for her granddaughter and wonders what she is getting into.

Once again, O'Leary creates a wonderful cast of characters, both in London and in Yorkshire. I loved, loved the fact that this novel starred seniors (I work with seniors). As both Leena and Eileen share each other's lives, we get to see it through their different perspectives. Along with the characters, we get to appreciate the strength in the different age groups.

Oh, but I had some good laughs! This is British rom-com at its best. There was not one boring moment in the story as it alternated between Leena and Eileen's narration. Both Alison Steadman (who narrated Grandma Eilleen's part) and Daisy Edgar-Jones (who narrated Leena) were amazing! Their voices were spot on for their characters with good inflection and full of emotion, making this such a great listen. Steadman was able to get the men's voices well too. I was so impressed with her narration.

What I'm loving about Beth O'Leary's writing is that she tackles serious topics, in this case grief, anger, mother-daughter relationships, friendship and love of neighbor, all while telling a good story, mixing in some good romance, and making us crack up with laughter. I'm now a fan and look forward to seeing what lovely story she will regale us with next!

Disclosure: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this audiobook for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

BUY THE BOOK OR AUDIO:

Amazon.ca ~ Amazon.com ~ Audiobook.com ~ Audible
Chapters Indigo

Add to Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beth O’Leary is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than 30 languages. She wrote her debut novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from her job at a children’s publisher. She now lives in the Hampshire countryside and writes full time.

Visit her website.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (Audiobook Review)

If you need a fun book to read or listen to and you like British rom-coms, this one is great.

AUDIOBOOK DETAILS:

Title: The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (Unabridged)
Genre: Contemporary Women's Fiction, Rom-Com
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Released: May 2019
Narrator: Carrie Hope Fletcher, Kwaku Fortune

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
Content rating: PG-13 + M for mature themes (psychological abuse), tasteful sex scenes and f-words

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

What if your roommate is your soul mate? A joyful, quirky romantic comedy, Beth O'Leary's The Flatshare is a feel-good audiobook about finding love in the most unexpected of ways.

Tiffy and Leon share an apartment. Tiffy and Leon have never met.

After a bad breakup, Tiffy Moore needs a place to live. Fast. And cheap. But the apartments in her budget have her wondering if astonishingly colored mold on the walls counts as art.

Desperation makes her open-minded, so she answers an ad for a flatshare. Leon, a night shift worker, will take the apartment during the day, and Tiffy can have it nights and weekends. He’ll only ever be there when she’s at the office. In fact, they’ll never even have to meet.

Tiffy and Leon start writing each other notes – first about what day is garbage day, and politely establishing what leftovers are up for grabs, and the evergreen question of whether the toilet seat should stay up or down. Even though they are opposites, they soon become friends. And then maybe more.

But falling in love with your roommate is probably a terrible idea…especially if you've never met.

MY REVIEW:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I saw this book on Book Date last week. The storyline sounded original so I looked for it and found it on audio. I liked the sound of the narrator, so I bought it. And once I started listening, I couldn't stop. First off, I just love British narrators. Nicola Barber is my favorite. And now I love Carrie Hope Fletcher, too!

Okay, so the story: Roommates who share a flat but have never met? This was so cleverly done with the main characters Tiffy and Leon writing notes to each other. It borders on the lost art of letter writing that is both old-fashioned and romantic. And it works so well in this modern tale. Tiffy is genuine, colorful, and kind. Leon is stable, patient, and thoughtful. They were a great couple.

The secondary characters were just as good and added so much to the story. It's been a while since I read a rom-com. I'm picky with this genre, but this one was heartwarming, a true feel-good novel that was perfect escapism. It was a good mix of funny and romantic. And the author did not shy away from serious topics such as psychological abuse.

Carrie Hope Fletcher was perfect as Tiffy. She really brought out her character in the narration. I had to get used to Kwaku Fortune because I initially thought he sounded a little old to be Leon but I was so engrossed that soon enough I enjoyed his narration too.

The author has a second book titled The Switch being released on audio in August. I can't wait to listen to it as soon as it's out. If you need a fun book to read or listen to and you like British rom-coms, this one is great. There is content though (a couple of semi-explicit sex scenes and f-words) so just be aware of this.

Disclosure: I bought this audio on Audible. I was not told how to rate or review this product.

BUY THE BOOK OR AUDIO:

Amazon ~ Audiobook.com ~ Audible

Add to Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: