Too Good To Be True: Is it love at first sight? Or is she making a terrible mistake?

by Sheila O'Flanagan

Sheila O'Flanagan's bestseller TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE is a brilliant, feel-good read about love, marriage and what comes next, perfect for readers of Freya North and Catherine Alliott.When Carey Browne decides it's time for a holiday and flies into New York City - one of her favourite shopping destinations - she knows she'll have a good time. What she doesn't know is that she's about to have the biggest adventure of her life. Within days she's met and married Ben Russell, and a week later they're heading back together to Dublin, where they both live, to share the happy news with family and friends. Except not everyone's thrilled. And not everyone's convinced this is really more than a holiday romance.Carey and Ben are about to discover whether they've found the kind of love that can survive a blast of reality...What readers are saying about Too Good To Be 'I loved every minute reading Too Good To Be True - a book not to miss ' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'A must read for those who LOVE happy endings ... I laughed, cried, hoped and had that fuzzy feeling as I read the book' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'Another excellent O'Flanagan book . If you've read her other books and enjoyed them, then this will go down a storm too !' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Womens Fiction, Contemporary

644 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2003

About the author

As you can see, a Dubliner all my life. My parents owned a grocery shop in the Iveagh Markets, in the Liberties area of the city and I guess city blood runs through my veins.

As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.

I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.

I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.

But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.

I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.

And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.

When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:

* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last

I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.

I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.

Reviews

[Cheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise was interesting, but the end could have come 300 pages earlier.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carey Browne works for an airline and after knowing Ben Russel for a very short time she already feels that she loves him and says yes when he ask if she wants to marry him? Is this the best way to handle the heartbreak she suffered just weeks before and are their relationship doomed as everyone close to them fears? This was a light and fluffy read, with charming characters and fun but not steamy romance to read while laying in the sun celebrating that spring as arrived! It might not be litteraturs greatest book or having any searius depths to it but it was enjoyable and fun, a perfect palette cleanser!

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read a romance and I had this at home so checked it out. The jacket sounded good but I wasn't that thrilled. When I read a romance I'm doing it because I want a story to end with the people I like getting together and at least having a chance at staying that way, happily. My expectations of the story to get them there is that there is a lot of good times, some issues or problems and good writing that takes me a way from my unromantic life. I didn't care so much for this book, not because it was written badly, but I thought that the main characters were too stupid to deserve a happy ending. I spent more time thinking that the two people at the center of the story didn't deserve to be happy because no one could make that many dumb decisions. I'm not sure if my problem with this book was the story or my expectations.

[Yulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First choice can't be wrong, it's just how would you manage to make this last. The point is both Carey and Ben need to grow up a lil bit to realize that all of the past and it's problem attached is truly something. They really can't handle things at first but eventually Ben took a brave step to ask Carey to reevaluate their relationship and get back together at the very last minute of their divorce process. Cheers to that. Yay

[Archana Radhakrishnan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh for heaven's sake.. it doesn't even qualify as chicklit. Keeps going round and round in circles, to come to a conclusion that could have been reached to within the first 15 pages!!
Wonder how the publishers even agreed to take on this book. Certainly not one of Sheila's best, a damn right waste of time!

[Chris Barlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of laugh out loud moments but took soooooooooooooo bloody long to get to the point. I almost lost interest. Plot line a bit silly and frustrating with characters that seemed far too old and intelligent to be acting like such arses but the writing was very good with lots of funny moments that kept me reading.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. Really liked it. Just wanted to keep reading.

[Hannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoewel het best wel een leuk verhaal is, vind ik het minder goed dan andere boeken van Sheila O’Flanagan. Ik vind het verhaal in grote lijnen iets te voorspelbaar. En ik had wel meer willen lezen over hoe Carey en Ben er voor zorgen dat hun huwelijk slaagt. Het verhaal van Freya, Ben’s zus, vond ik erg leuk en maakt dat dit boek ook net iets meer inhoud kreeg. Ook was het leuk om te lezen hoe ze - ondanks dat ze geleerd heeft alles zelf te doen - nu toch een keer om hulp heeft gevraagd. Hetgeen positief uit heeft gepakt. Toen ik aan dit boek was ik wel toe aan wat luchtigs en een verhaal waar je blij van wordt. Aan die verwachting werd zeker voldaan. Al vond ik dat het verhaal wel even in een dip kwam na Carey en Ben’s ruzie. Gelukkig werd het daarna weer leuker.

[Cheryl Briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this story sounded quite good & it was an ok read but the characters were a bit stupid.
Meet & marry in a week,split up (surprise!) then stay with your ex ,then move out but still see ex then get engaged to him? Some really crazy decisions in this book but I finished it.
Ok as a holiday read but don't expect not to shout out loud when certain people do stupid things. (I did!)

[Alison Hurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, I loved it. I just ordered another 4 of her books.

[Wendy May · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good old fashioned chick-lit. Felt very outdated though.

[Sarah Doran · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, so bad.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Птицы высокого полета
Автор рецензии: Дедюхина Елена
Дата публикации: 18 октября 2005 г.

Любовный треугольник в качестве основы сюжета давно уже устарел. Вот если взять две пары, где у каждого из партнеров - длиннющий шлейф воспоминаний, обид, неоправданных притязаний и не вполне угасших страстей, то это создаст поистине лавинообразный сюжет. Посадить по одному из несостоявшихся супругов в самолет и направить в Нью-Йорк - славный город бешеных скоростей, богемных вечеринок, бесконечных показов мод, сияющих витрин, зазывающих реклам и никогда не пустующих театров. Впрочем, в полете этим неудачникам полусемейных отношений неминуемо суждено обрести крылья, столкнувшись при этом лбами ... От такого столкновения непременно полетят искры, и тут хоть кричи караул, хоть нет, все равно будет поздно: голова надолго застрянет в облаках, а ноги еще дольше не смогут нащупать бренную землю...

Именно так и поступила со своими героями ирландская писательница Шейла О`Фланаган в романе "Слишком хорошо, чтобы быть правдой". На высоте 11 тысяч метров встретились Бен Рассел и Кэрри Брайан. Сначала точками соприкосновения оказались подлокотники их кресел, а затем появился и повод узнать друг друга поближе, например - на вечеринке в честь помолвки ближайшей подруги Кэрри. Там подруги Кэрри по достоинству оценят ее нового избранника, и, распалив ее любопытство своими комментариями, бессознательно подтолкнут к нему. Кэрри поторопится забыть Питера Фэрнесса, который долго умудрялся скрывать от нее свои супружеские узы и тем самым разбил ей сердце. В свою очередь, Бен рад случаю раз и навсегда покончить с эфемерными отношениями, сложившимися у него с Лией, ароматерапевтом и красавицей, знающей все способы нравиться мужчинам, но не изобретшей пока то единственное эфирное масло, которое заставляет сделать предложение руки и сердца.

Об эфирных маслах речь зашла неслучайно. Роман Шейлы О`Фланаган можно назвать коротким экскурсом в мир запахов, где каждая новая глава ассоциируется с тем или иным маслом, используемым в ароматерапии. По свойствам этих масел мы узнаем, какое настроение будет у героев в следующей главе: от пикантного к расслабляющему, от стимулирующего к освежающему, от очищающего до восстанавливающего силы - и так через весь роман.

Легким сквознячком с ванильно-шоколадно-клубничным привкусом проходит мысль - уж слишком все хорошо и бананово-сладко... И как тут поверить, что такое могло случиться на самом деле... Разве что в "банановой" стране, имя которой Лас-Вегас.

Город азартных игр и скоропалительных браков, где можно обвенчаться с совершенно незнакомым тебе человеком или с тем, с кем ты познакомилась лишь несколько часов назад, - Лас-Вегас вырастает в романе вслед за Нью-Йорком, точно башня из игральных карт на столе казино. А затем - обратный путь в Ирландию, домой, в Дублин, где новоиспеченным супругам придется бесконечно долго объяснять родным, близким и друзьям свой безрассудный поступок. Но это только часть уготованных испытаний. Эфирное масло испаряется, однако запах и эффект от его применения остаются надолго. Таким эффектом обладают и не до конца выясненные чувства, и не порванные вовремя отношения с предыдущими партнерами, и феодальные замашки родственников. Благо, если все закончится хорошо. Однако в этом приходится сомневаться с самого начала... Ведь большинство привыкло считать: чтобы хоть что-то было правдой, оно не может изначально быть слишком хорошим - должна быть хоть какая-то горчинка. Прогорклое мороженое? Да кто ж на него купится в наше время?

Только свежее, только освежающее - воображение и ожидания. Таков роман Шейлы О`Фланаган.
(c) Elena Dedukhina-Karpos
© «Книжная витрина», 2005.

[Akcherrybomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carey and Ben – meet accidently and after a whirlwind romance get married within a week of knowing each other after meeting on a flight to New York, which they then through caution to the wind and head to Vegas to get married in a white chapel.

On arrival back in the real world, many are wary and don’t approve of the marriage and you can see how it has a knock on effect on the couple. Plus both of them trying to adjust to their everyday lives together. After a few misunderstandings and exe’s reappearing on both sides they split up amid arguments. For me I was rooting for them to come through and work things out, as much as they met and married quickly, I truly felt and believed they had something special. Evidence of a good writer to me. I believed in their story.

You can tell that Ben and Carey still have feelings for each other but are both trying to ignore it and believe in what others say about it being too soon. Ben has his ex Leah for comfort who meddled in his relationship with Carey as she was jealous as she always thought she would be the one to marry Ben. While Peter, Carey’s ex is there to pick up the pieces when her relationship falls apart with Ben. To me – her heart is not fully with Peter but is taking the comfort that he provides. I love how she then bought her own apartment to be independent.

I love both characters and they feel very realistic, both with flaws but hugely likeable. She then goes to the Dominican Republic for a quick divorce and goes solo – even at this point I still have hope for Carey and Ben and fully want them to both ignore doubts and work it out. But can they?

This book had me racing to read more, really kept me hooked. Romance is my favourite genre and this just proves to me why I love these style of books so much. Heart-warming and heart wrenching in equal measure. I was not ready for the book to end – I wanted more!

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theme of this book is love at first sight and whether it can last the pace. I think almost everyone has met someone that they fall madly in love with almost as soon as they see them but very few of them get married straight away, which is what happens to the lead characters Carey and Ben. They meet on a flight to New York and then head to Las Vegas to tie the knot.

But what seems like a great idea in the heat of the moment doesn’t necessarily work out so well when they get home. While I was writing this I met a number of people who’d either got married very quickly (though none as quickly as Carey and Ben) and the families of people who’d married very quickly. Interestingly, the families felt as though they’d been totally left out of things and although they were all prepared to give the marriages a chance, I could tell that they weren’t rushing to embrace the new wife or husband into the fold!

Carey is an air-traffic controller, a job which I’ve always thought must be really interesting. It is, and scary with it! I was shown around Dublin and Shannon by the wonderfully helpful PRO of the Irish Aviation Authority, Lilian Cassin who gave me the low-down on the business. I hope you manage to get a flavour of what goes on while your plane is in the air – or while it’s sitting on the runway waiting for permission to take off.

"This book is very captivating. It is not one of those books that takes a while to get going. Its very easy to read and you really associate with characters and want them to sort things out. Though the ending, I thought was a little abrupt. "

[laurawarhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third time reading this amazing book! Took me a few hours spread out over a couple days because I was busy, but I was up past 1am each night reading and that hasn’t happened in a long time!!

I adore the characters in this book! They each have their own pasts and stories which made them who they are! I love their backgrounds and I love feeling as though they were real! O’Flanagan made sure that her readers (in my case) was really taken into the story!

I love this book - I’d even go so far as to say it’s in the top 3 books I’ve ever read! Probably number one! ❤️

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carey and Ben meet on a plane flying from Dublin to New York, are instantly attracted to each other, and after a romantic night in Manhattan decide to fly to Las Vegas and get married. However, once they return from Ireland, their families and their exes prevent them from learning how to adjust to married life.

Carey was a more convincing character than Ben, but I did find this book entertaining.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember tv show... i forgot it name..lol.. all i can remmy it starts with D and Greg... A show about a couple, who just met and decided to marry each other on the same day. You know the love at first sight. So book is basically about that, with alot of funny parts. I enjoyed that book. :)

[Amanda Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sheila O Flannagan is a highly intelligent woman.
It is ironic that she has made her name in this fluffiest of all book genres.
Like Mavis Cheek, Santa Montefiore and Joanna Trollope, she writes about inceredibly boring people.
Which is okay if you have a plot. This one doesn't.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable light reading. Interesting scenario, like The Missing Wife. It is quite long and interest falls off about 3/4 through as it drags with fluffy dialogue. The ending, just like the beginning, is too good to be true.

[Crystal Dwinnell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up around page 60

[Christina Rochester · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that this wasn't my favourite book by Sheila O'Flanagan. But I do still love her as an author.

This story features Carey and Ben, two strangers who meet on a flight to New York and decide within a matter of days to get married. Of course when they return to Ireland the pressures of real life including work, family and ex partners.

This certainly does not come across like the classical love story considering how much of the book the main characters spend apart, and you really feel for the ex partners Peter and Leah, even if Leah's actions at times are uncalled for.

There's also a moving story about lost chances and entering the menopause for Ben's sister Freya.

Really worth a read x

[Terese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vet inte vad jag ska tycka om Carey. Jag gillade henne till en början men sen började jag reta mig mer och mer på henne. Hon var barnslig och blev sur och ilsken för minsta lilla sak och Ben var inte mer otrogen mot henne än vad hon var mot honom. Jag tyckte inte att hon förtjänade honom, men det tycker jag inte att Leah gjorde heller.

Och jag förstår verkligen inte varför hon blev sur över det där med skorna i slutet. Jag tycker att det var en jättefin sak att göra men hon blev bara sur och jag tyckte gott att hon kunde ha fått åka därifrån ensam.

[Adeline Kam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 55th book I have read in year 2020. The last book I am reading for the year and I finished it off with my favorite author, Sheila O'Flanagan. Eventhough this novel is extremely long, I enjoyed taking my time in reading it. It is so interesting to read about the air traffic control job and it's like everything she described in this book is so real. I really love her books. It's her storyline and characters that I enjoyed reading about. A great book to end the year with.

[Anne Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is probably twice the size that it should be - there's an awful lot of padding. I also didn't believe the love story between Carey and Ben - they didn't seem to love each other at all really, or even like each other that much, and they were also both very unlikeable characters, which didn't help matters. Oh well. I've given O'Flanagan a try but she's definitely not for me!

[Angela Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was awesome. I was disappointed at the beginning I thought I had read the book before, if I had I didn't remember the story line. I loved the whole flight controllers and the herbal shop story. Absolutely hated the Leah character lol bitch from he'll. loved the ending leaving younto guess and hoping everything turned out OK for Ben and Carey.

[Pete Harmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read. Unusual to enter the story at such a stage. Carey and Ben felt so familiar. Carey’s impulsiveness made me constantly smile. The story ends in the last three lines. As always, very cleverly written.

[margaret spillett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good long read

Loved this chunky book! Couldn't put it down, I read into the night. A real modern day romantic story. I felt I could picture all main characters with the descriptions.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Awful, characters behaving like 8 year olds, who gets married, engaged, divorced and back together in such a short time. Also could have been 200 pages not over 400, had to skim read most of it, nearly didn't bother finishing it.

[Lena Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lättläst chic-lit
Vem ska få vem känslan fanns där ibland och jag ville läsa lite till. När tåget rullade in på stationen så blev jag lite ledsen att det var dags att lägga ner boken ��