Synopsis:
Joe has a beautiful house, a great job, no commitments - and he likes it like that. All he needs is a quiet house-sitter for his rambling old place by the sea. When Tess turns up on his doorstep, he’s not sure she’s right for the job. Where has she come from in such a hurry? Her past is a blank and she’s a bit of an enigma. But there’s something about her - even though sparks fly every time they meet.
And it looks like she’s here to stay
Well, this one sure didn't go as planned. The synopsis sounded great and the setting was one that I would like to run off to. But the book in action was just not working for me. When I went back over to Goodreads to mark it as a DNF, I started to read what others thought about this book and I found out that the author just writes organically without a plan. Um, I wish I would've known that earlier because then the crazy writing would have actually made sense. She doesn't use tenses correctly and sometimes she shows up as the narrator. All in all, it boils down to confusing and frustrating.
I haven't given up on a book in over two years, friends! But lately I've been feeling that I'm reading too much for others and not enough for myself. So, I put it down because I have so many other great books waiting for me and I had already given this one 3 days that I can never get back! Ugh!
I may pick it up again....maybe this summer? maybe not, but guess what? I feel absolutely no stress about not finishing it. That in and of itself is progress baby!!!
Author: Freya North
Source: review copy from Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: British Chick Lit
Pages: 498
Published: January 1, 2012
*Uncorrected eARC via NetGalley
Disclaimer:Thank you toSourcebooks Landmark/NetGalley for sending me a review copy. I was not compensated for my review. My thoughts on this book were in no way influenced by the author or publicist.They are my personal reflections based solely on MYexperience while reading this novel.Review Book #1
© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
This sounds like you made the right decision. Onward and upward to a better book.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane. It was hard at first to do it but then I decided that I really just want to read what I like...so I just shut off the button on my Kindle, closed the cover and walked away!
DeleteI have a hard time letting it go if I don't like a book also... so I get that :):):) Bummer it wasn't a good one for you... you are right, the synopsis sounded great! :):):):):):):):):):):)
ReplyDeleteI always had such a hard time too Julie. In fact, I would feel guilty about it!! Crazy, I know!
Delete"...doesn't use tenses correctly". What?! Nope. Not a book I'd enjoy. Sounds rather annoying. I'm glad you didn't feel you had to finish it, Staci. That IS progress :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a work in progress :D
DeleteSounds like the whole writing organically thing might be a cop out for not wanting to self-edit! I don't think I would have been able to finish it either.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure but it didn't work for me. I did notice that some people truly enjoyed it. Just not me.
DeleteThat is most definitely progress - congratulations! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm getting there!!
DeleteYay you putting it aside, I wouldn't be giving it any more time, holidays or not!
ReplyDeleteNew year...new attitude!!
DeleteWow, if this was your first DNF in two years, I don't think I want to pick it up. I rarely don't finish a book and it always pains me when I do.
ReplyDeleteKathy,
DeleteI totally understand! I would carry this guilt and then wonder if maybe at some point I would have liked the book. I may pick this one up again in the summer with a different attitude.
I say why waste time on books that don't work for you. I haven't had a DNF in a long while, but I'm sure there will be more. Sorry this didn't work out for you.
ReplyDeleteI've had a few that I would have liked to put down but always felt like I had to finish because they were review copies. I no longer feel that way! :D
DeleteStaci,
ReplyDeleteI loved this book, although I have heard from other readers that her tone and style turns them off. I have noticed that many British authors of chick Lit do use this style. Sorry you didn’t like it. Have you her novel “Pillow Talk”?
Best Wishes,
Angela Renee
Hi Angela,
DeleteI haven't heard of Pillow Talk. I would be willing to try this one again but for now I just needed to walk away from it. Just not flowing for me at all. I'm a huge fan of Brit Chick Lit but I've never read anything written quite like this.
Oh dear, seems we both had a bit of bad karma with our reading selection. I'm totally with you -- put that baby aside and move on!
ReplyDeleteI know...our next ones will be better for sure!!
DeleteI have been DNF-ing a lot. Too many other good books out there to spend time with one you're not enjoying!
ReplyDeleteExactly, Jill!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteThis sounds confusing....she shows up as the narrator...ok weird
ReplyDeleteHer voice as the narrator, not her as a character...if you understand what I'm trying to say?
Deletethanks for the warning.
ReplyDeleteWelcome!
DeleteHmmmm, I started this the other day and I'm not minding it so far. I'm not too far in though. I hope I feel differently than you. Lol.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do too, Dar!!
DeleteGood for you Staci! I was able to get through this book because it provided an escape when I really needed one.
ReplyDeleteI just read your review, Nise. I'm glad that this was a escape book for you. I'm taking your advice though and when I need to just get away in my mind I may pick this one up again in the summer.
DeleteI think I will stay away from this one. I know if you didn't care for it, there is no way in h-e-double hockeysticks that I will.
ReplyDeleteRyan,
DeleteI seriously think you would not care for it at all!
Can't use a tense correctly? How do books like this get published? Glad you had the courage to put it down.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they like quirky??? I don't know but I'm glad that I had the strength to put it down and not carry any book loser guilt over it!
DeleteHow frustrating! But there are just too many books out there to waste time on one that is annoying!
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what I thought too Melissa!
DeleteSorry this one didn't work for you, but you're right that you shouldn't stick with a book that isn't working for you. I think the style of writing you described would annoy and frustrate me too. Hoping your next read is better!
ReplyDeleteI read Agatha Christie right after and totally enjoyed it!
DeleteSometimes you see this style of writing with the popular, established writers and you chalk it up to them being eccentric. But when the author is fairly unknown, or not as recognizable by name, you have to wonder how such a thing could even be published. I mean, this sounds like a real train wreck.
ReplyDeleteI guess she's a big hit in Great Britain. I have yet to warm up to her style!!
DeleteI loved Freya North's earlier books, but she has lost something and so I gave her up some time ago. I'm shocked that you had such problems with the text, because this has been out in the UK for a while. It really should have been picked up, and you definitely did the right thing putting the book down.
ReplyDeleteI will try to finish it this summer but it just wasn't working for me. I do however, want to know their secrets!! LOL!
DeleteI've started giving myself permission to put books down too (well, okay, only 2 last year). There's so little time and there are too many good books to read!
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Stacy!! I will do it again if the book just isn't working for me!!!
DeleteI have had books that for whatever reason - they are not a fit... currently. Occasionally I try again at other times.
ReplyDeleteI may try this one again, later in the year!
DeleteSo many books, so little time! you did the right thing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mystica..you are so right!
DeleteWow - two years?!? This is definitely progress. Good for you! I hope your current book is magnificent! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's actually pretty good so that is an improvement!
DeleteYTou win some and you lose some. There are more books I DNF than I care to admit!
ReplyDeleteI would feel guilty about stopping a book but I've decided that life is too short so I'm moving on!
DeleteThe switching tenses and jumping around would bother me too.
ReplyDeleteit just didn't flow right...threw off my reading balance!! :D
DeleteThat happens to all of us. Good that you aren't wasting any more time on it. I already abandoned one this year and we aren't even through January yet!
ReplyDeleteI'm releasing myself from the guilt!!!
DeleteGood for you! There really are too many great books out there to find to be wasting time on a bad one.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on it, Lisa!!
DeleteI don't think this would work for me either. Thanks for your honest review. Better to spend your time on books you enjoy!
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly, Linda! I'm shedding that thing called guilt!
DeleteI don't DNF a lot of books either...in fact last year I only pushed one book aside. I considered going back to it but I still haven't so it doesn't seem quite likely. Good for you for making the decision to find a book that you actually WANT to read :)
ReplyDeleteI'm really working really hard at it because I just want to experience reading this year in a different way...more fluid and less structured!
DeleteTwo years?! I can't believe it. Doesn't take much for me to put something down. I have little patience. At least you tried :)
ReplyDeleteI'm getting better aren't I??? BTW..I can't tell you how many reviews I've said no to!! I'm loving the freedom of it all!!
DeleteYea for you saying no! It does feel freeing doesn't it. I'm so glad you are staying strong!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear this book didn't work for you. I wanted you to like it so much, thinking I would enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI still might try it :)
I have given myself permission to not finish books, so freeing! Good for you
You must try it, Mari! I could just be weird!! I have granted permission to myself too...and loving it!
DeleteI've recently started to give myself permission to DNF a book. I'm not sure why I feel obligated to finish a book that I start. My TBR list is too long for me to waste time on a book that is going nowhere.
ReplyDelete