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The Flirt by Tessaro, Kathleen (2008) Paperback
Tantalizing words written on an ivory card. It is the first clue that will lead an intrigued and intriguing London lady on an odyssey of sensual experience designed to awaken her romantic nature.Out-of-work actor Hughie Venables-Smythe has found a profitable new outlet for his talents. He is hired, often by distraught husbands, to flirt with wives who are feeling neglected in their relationships. His current seductive campaign is focused on Olivia, the spouse of a narcissistic billionaire, and the lady is responding quite nicely to the cream-colored missives he secretly leaves for her. So nicely, in fact, that Hughie decides to employ a similar technique—and shockingly similar messages—in his pursuit of his own heart’s the aloof and charming lingerie designer, Leticia. But the canny, professional flirt’s brazen anonymous intrusions into the lives of two women are about to set in motion a series of remarkable events that no one could have anticipated—setting the stage for shocking revelations about love, friendship, and domestic bliss.
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First published January 21, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
April 26, 2017
This was a good chick read. I think she also wrote The Perfume Collector which I really liked.
August 5, 2008
Ms Formidably Arranged Hair Tessaro has got a nice formula down pat. Arty but insecure single female recovering from intense love affair usually involving some kind of bereavement has put her heart in the deep freeze and become a gutsy career-minded expert in her field. It will either be something menial but arts-related, eg box office assistant, or something a bit more glamorous but kooky, in this case bespoke seductive knicker seamstress. She will be distracted by some kind of wide-eyed toyboy, who may or may not turn out to be the man she really needs to get her heart out of that big chest freezer. Throw in a practical rough-and-ready type who's a bit smelly and rude but will have curly hair or dimples, a gay godfather or best friend, some down to earth people from a grottier part of North West London, some posh but wounded people who live in Kensington, and of course a mixed-up American lady or two. (Yes, the author's American and at least she can laugh at herself as she made reference in this book to how you can identify American women by the fact their hair is fixed rigidly in place. Mix well, sit down with G&T on hot sunny day in garden, and devour in about a day. Actually I am intrigued to know whether professional flirts, like professional gigolos, really do exist. An unexpected flirting on a random day can indeed lift the heart.
May 18, 2017
The fluffiest, airiest, most straightforwardly entertaining Tessaro I've read to date.
April 9, 2018
A laugh-out-loud fairy tale in modern times. It's a rollicking look at a "secret profession" that - if it doesn't actually exist - probably should.
Is your wife/girlfriend/sister/best friend feeling blue, unattractive, and just plain discouraged? Hire a gorgeous stranger to flirt with her and get her imagination soaring! (heaven knows, you haven't the time or creativity to handle this kind of maneuver)
Follow the adventures/misadventures of a handful of professional flirts and their marks, and see the havoc it can cause. It's better than the circus!
Caution: the sex may be a bit explicit for general reading, and no, this book does NOT have to do with prostitution. I said "secret", not "oldest".
Is your wife/girlfriend/sister/best friend feeling blue, unattractive, and just plain discouraged? Hire a gorgeous stranger to flirt with her and get her imagination soaring! (heaven knows, you haven't the time or creativity to handle this kind of maneuver)
Follow the adventures/misadventures of a handful of professional flirts and their marks, and see the havoc it can cause. It's better than the circus!
Caution: the sex may be a bit explicit for general reading, and no, this book does NOT have to do with prostitution. I said "secret", not "oldest".
Read
March 2, 2013We all know not to judge a book from its cover but sometimes it's hard to avoid. Based on its bright, visually appealing cover, I expected to love this book. Instead, at page 80, I am abandoning it. I tried to like this book, really. At about page 40, I went looking for Goodreads reviews to see if it got better. What I found were very mixed reactions. I persevered but by page 80, I still don't know who the protagonist, The Flirt, actually is - well, that's not exactly true, I figured it out from other people's reviews. There are a lot of main characters in this book and we are introduced to a new one almost every chapter. I imagine this has to stop soon, but it's left me uninvested in anyone's circumstances. I kept waiting for something big to happen but so far, it's almost all backstory. There has been some setup for future happenings but by page 80, I'm not interested enough to find out what they are. I feel pretty bad putting this book down. Others have obviously enjoyed it. If you don't mind lengthy setup, maybe you will too.
October 25, 2008
Okay, I admit, 'Book of the Dead' sent me into a 'not exactly classic literature' binge. And the next I picked up was this, by an author I had read before. Although it is not the greatest literature in the world, Tessaro writes with undeniable charm - there is something cheerfully old-fashioned about her worlds, even when they are distinctly modern. This book, about a good-looking, good-hearted guy hired to be a professional flirt, and the people around him this somehow effects, is exactly that - charming. The characters are appealing, the story quirky and engaging, and although you're never in doubt the ending will be happy, it twists a bit and surprises you as it gets there. I wish there had been a bit more of a tie-up at the end - some of the plot threads are left oddly unfinished - but it was much fun to read.
June 25, 2014
I like how silly the concept of the story was and how the author herself was not taking herself seriously at all
The characters were crazy, the stories behind them even more so but i found that i was hooked, I had to keep reading to find out more. I am looking forward to reading more from her now
The characters were crazy, the stories behind them even more so but i found that i was hooked, I had to keep reading to find out more. I am looking forward to reading more from her now
December 1, 2016
This was a fun read. I liked the idea of having men working as professional flirts where their whole job is to make women feel better about themselves. The flirts all find romance but they have an interesting time of it along the way.
August 11, 2016
This was a light and goofy read that I really enjoyed. I always love the characters in her novels. Great beach read for sure!
December 24, 2021
My third book by Tessaro. She has this warm, charming and somewhat old-fashioned style of writing that always draws me in and inspires the art-vintage-love in me.
She takes getting older, dressing up, sitting in a park, working - the most ordinary things - and makes them beautiful.
It was a goofy, entertaining, lighthearted romcom. Multiple storylines from multiple characters intertwined into one, with occasional twists, sweet moments and wise ideas.
I would admit her previous books that I’ve read have been more captivating - maybe because this was her first novel? - but did enjoy this one nonetheless.
⭐️: 3/5
April 24, 2017
3.5 stars. This book is silly and some of the characters and circumstances are ridiculous; however this author writes with a charm that I really enjoy.
December 6, 2016
Actual rating 3.5
What a silly, charming little book.
Just what you need to read during busy days because it is incredibly easy to fly through these pages and it's very light entertainment - with all, genuinely all, loose ends tied up cheesily-perfect.
(Disney to the max.)
Love that the story doesn't take itself too seriously.
Still, despite all it's lightness, I think I still gleaned some glimpses of wisdom from these pages and it's simply satisfying to read for about an hour and manage more than twenty-five pages (looking at you, Malala's autobiography...), in fact, manage about one hundred instead.
Thanks Kathleen T for good old basic reading indulgence.
What a silly, charming little book.
Just what you need to read during busy days because it is incredibly easy to fly through these pages and it's very light entertainment - with all, genuinely all, loose ends tied up cheesily-perfect.
(Disney to the max.)
Love that the story doesn't take itself too seriously.
Still, despite all it's lightness, I think I still gleaned some glimpses of wisdom from these pages and it's simply satisfying to read for about an hour and manage more than twenty-five pages (looking at you, Malala's autobiography...), in fact, manage about one hundred instead.
Thanks Kathleen T for good old basic reading indulgence.
January 19, 2016
I had read the "Perfume Collector" (NYT best seller) last year and liked how the author (Katherine Tessaro) had wound romance and mystery together. I figured that would be in this but while there was some build up, it didn't quite have the finesse of that later book. In knitting we weave in the ends of the yarn and most ends here did get woven in. There were also a couple of scenes a little too spicey---I don't need to read that. I'll check out other reviews of her books before trying another. In fact, I'm fine with turning to a different author.
August 20, 2008
This is the direct opposiite of "The Fidelity Files" by Jessica Brody. Running a business that has been around since World War Two, Valentine Charles seeks out actors to work for his flirting business. Husbands, boyfriends,etc., hire his serivices to boost their wives, girlfriends, etc. egos in tiny ways. There is no touching of course, but many spirits are lifted. Love is frowned upon, but love finds it's way all over in this fun book.
August 22, 2013
Fun story with a different plot - which made a change, though a touch too many characters for me to really identify with one in particular. I loved some of the flirting touches, the messages written in pennies for example and what woman wouldn't love to be flirted with by a handsome guy? My problem would be I'd fall for the charm. But I read this on a sunny afternoon lying in the sun and it was perfect for that.
February 15, 2021
I don’t normally read romances (I’m more of a mystery reader), but this book was a Christmas gift from a co-worker so I felt obliged to give it a shot.
The plot of the story is about connected characters. And after I (finally) understand that, I was pleased I started this story. Stories of interconnectedness are delightfully intriguing because they make you think about perspectives; like how your friends, neighbors and co-workers face private and public battles, and how differently people view the same series of events.
While I have a lot to say about this book, I will insert here that this is a decent read and I hope people give it a chance. And, even though I may sound sarcastic in this review, I do understand that this is meant to be a light, fun and (*cough*) flirty tale of life and love.
But, there are a couple of things that should be discussed (spoilers below):
First, it starts slow. It takes forever to get mid-way through. But, this is what bothered me slightly: it starts with Hughie, but he fades into the background; by the time the story gets going, the main plots are absorbed by other characters like Leticia and Olivia. And then, at the very, very end, it swings back to Hughie, with him virtually left unchanged. He’s sort of like a tornado, leaving a mess behind for others to clean up (Poor Val).
But, it’s hard to believe even after everything he had been through, he remains the same. He starts (and gets fired from) a new job, he experiences this euphoric power of being a professional Flirt (to brighten’s someone’s day, to have an impact in a strangers life), and he falls in love and has his heart broken; he learns lessons, tips and tricks from mentors, and finds out who his real father is, but at the end, he’s the same Hughie (with not enough minutes on his cell phone plan- which by the way, what year is this? “Baby One More Time” was sung by a choir of girls).
But everyone else in the story is changed: Sam becomes relaxed and confident; Rose stumbles upon ‘depth’ as a new-aged artist and finds strength in being a single mother, Jonathan (and multiple times I forgot who Jonathan was btw) switches jobs after feeling the guilt of being an unsupportive husband and uninvolved father (I’m surprised him and Amy stayed together. Oh, and are Amy and Rose sisters? Or Jonathan and Rose siblings? Someone had the same last name, right?). Leo is straight-forward with his niece, Flick identifies her worth, and the Italian God (forgot his name) finds his match in Clara. I actually don’t care enough about Olivia’s husband to write anything except that I struggled entirely way too many times with their full last name, and even fragile Olivia finds the courage to be her truest self (though it came from left field).
And then there’s Leticia. Heck even Emily Ann Fink is changed by the end of the story. She is knocked down (literally by a hit-and-run) a few notches to where her snobbish and tireless defenses are dissolved, and she can successfully expand her business (with a little help from Amy, Jonathan’s wife btw), and she reluctantly discovers the value in ordinary, simple pleasures.
Whew. That’s a lot of changes (maybe too many characters). But poor Hughie, ever the romantic, still can’t pay for a meal. But, maybe he’ll remember to take Rose out on a date after his parent’s nuptials, who knows.
What I can say is that I finished this book with a smile, and that to a book lover is most important.
The plot of the story is about connected characters. And after I (finally) understand that, I was pleased I started this story. Stories of interconnectedness are delightfully intriguing because they make you think about perspectives; like how your friends, neighbors and co-workers face private and public battles, and how differently people view the same series of events.
While I have a lot to say about this book, I will insert here that this is a decent read and I hope people give it a chance. And, even though I may sound sarcastic in this review, I do understand that this is meant to be a light, fun and (*cough*) flirty tale of life and love.
But, there are a couple of things that should be discussed (spoilers below):
First, it starts slow. It takes forever to get mid-way through. But, this is what bothered me slightly: it starts with Hughie, but he fades into the background; by the time the story gets going, the main plots are absorbed by other characters like Leticia and Olivia. And then, at the very, very end, it swings back to Hughie, with him virtually left unchanged. He’s sort of like a tornado, leaving a mess behind for others to clean up (Poor Val).
But, it’s hard to believe even after everything he had been through, he remains the same. He starts (and gets fired from) a new job, he experiences this euphoric power of being a professional Flirt (to brighten’s someone’s day, to have an impact in a strangers life), and he falls in love and has his heart broken; he learns lessons, tips and tricks from mentors, and finds out who his real father is, but at the end, he’s the same Hughie (with not enough minutes on his cell phone plan- which by the way, what year is this? “Baby One More Time” was sung by a choir of girls).
But everyone else in the story is changed: Sam becomes relaxed and confident; Rose stumbles upon ‘depth’ as a new-aged artist and finds strength in being a single mother, Jonathan (and multiple times I forgot who Jonathan was btw) switches jobs after feeling the guilt of being an unsupportive husband and uninvolved father (I’m surprised him and Amy stayed together. Oh, and are Amy and Rose sisters? Or Jonathan and Rose siblings? Someone had the same last name, right?). Leo is straight-forward with his niece, Flick identifies her worth, and the Italian God (forgot his name) finds his match in Clara. I actually don’t care enough about Olivia’s husband to write anything except that I struggled entirely way too many times with their full last name, and even fragile Olivia finds the courage to be her truest self (though it came from left field).
And then there’s Leticia. Heck even Emily Ann Fink is changed by the end of the story. She is knocked down (literally by a hit-and-run) a few notches to where her snobbish and tireless defenses are dissolved, and she can successfully expand her business (with a little help from Amy, Jonathan’s wife btw), and she reluctantly discovers the value in ordinary, simple pleasures.
Whew. That’s a lot of changes (maybe too many characters). But poor Hughie, ever the romantic, still can’t pay for a meal. But, maybe he’ll remember to take Rose out on a date after his parent’s nuptials, who knows.
What I can say is that I finished this book with a smile, and that to a book lover is most important.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2020
(Realistic rating: like, two stars on content and four stars on PURE ENJOYMENT. Definitely ranking on the latter here rather than any semblance of merit in the story itself. :"))
This book is absolute ridiculous absurd trashy FUN. It's almost totally free of substance, crams way too many characters with way too many coincidental connections together into far too short of a space to do a proper dive into the vast majority of them, drops plot threads that don't get picked back up again like they're candy, and embraces quite a few absurd gender essentialisms that are almost enough to make you throw the whole thing out the window. But BOY is it a delightful mindless fluffy read, one that made me laugh out loud several times, feel deeply for the few characters it doesn't completely shaft, and even cheer in breathless delight at the UNEXPECTED LESBIAN, HELL YES HELL YES, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY DIE FOR HER.
Does this book needlessly embrace an excess of gender stereotypes for no real reason? Does it introduce and drop characters so quickly it's hard to keep track of who's who? Does it flit from plot to plot so quickly you're in danger of getting whiplash? Does any single aspect of it make even the slightest bit of sense if stared at too closely? Did the answers to any of these clearly-rhetorical questions stop me from laughing aloud at the gloriously humorous writing, root for the characters I grew attached to, unironically enjoy the wildly unlikely contrivances and coincidences that made up the plot, and look forward to revisiting it again in the future? I mean, that question is clearly just as rhetorical as the rest. I'm not sure I would actually recommend this, but it is absolutely earning a treasured place on my (metaphorical) trash-fluff shelf.
This book is absolute ridiculous absurd trashy FUN. It's almost totally free of substance, crams way too many characters with way too many coincidental connections together into far too short of a space to do a proper dive into the vast majority of them, drops plot threads that don't get picked back up again like they're candy, and embraces quite a few absurd gender essentialisms that are almost enough to make you throw the whole thing out the window. But BOY is it a delightful mindless fluffy read, one that made me laugh out loud several times, feel deeply for the few characters it doesn't completely shaft, and even cheer in breathless delight at the UNEXPECTED LESBIAN, HELL YES HELL YES, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY DIE FOR HER.
Does this book needlessly embrace an excess of gender stereotypes for no real reason? Does it introduce and drop characters so quickly it's hard to keep track of who's who? Does it flit from plot to plot so quickly you're in danger of getting whiplash? Does any single aspect of it make even the slightest bit of sense if stared at too closely? Did the answers to any of these clearly-rhetorical questions stop me from laughing aloud at the gloriously humorous writing, root for the characters I grew attached to, unironically enjoy the wildly unlikely contrivances and coincidences that made up the plot, and look forward to revisiting it again in the future? I mean, that question is clearly just as rhetorical as the rest. I'm not sure I would actually recommend this, but it is absolutely earning a treasured place on my (metaphorical) trash-fluff shelf.
February 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! It had so many moving parts I couldn't put it down. I kept saying one more chapter. And the chapters are short too so it really hooked me even more. This is a book about finding love and recognizing it for what it is.
Hughie, is a flirt, but he has a girl that he is head over heels for. But Leticia is older than Hughie and really sees him as a fling for a couple weeks. Not that they don't have fun but he is in his 20's and she is mid 30's so the maturity isn't there for her. Then there Rose, a waitress, who serves Hughie and thinks he is handsome and then her world turns upside down when she interviews for a service position for a billionaire family. Except, Olivia, doesn't know she is there for that position but for an art position. She is captivated by how Rose interprets art and plans an art show that will be Rose's entrance into art society. Valentine, is a flirt manager, owns a company where he hires men to flirt with women then walk away. He gives women a piece of confidence in flirting then flutter away. He has hired Hughie for this position and gave him his first big mark, Olivia -billionaire wife. Yet Hughie still believes in love with Leticia so he tries to woo her back. Except her heart now lies in a different path.
The many characters in this book will keep you intrigued and I really wanted to know how each story panned out that it was too hard to put down. It has humor, hope, sadness, acceptance and finally love. Great read.
Hughie, is a flirt, but he has a girl that he is head over heels for. But Leticia is older than Hughie and really sees him as a fling for a couple weeks. Not that they don't have fun but he is in his 20's and she is mid 30's so the maturity isn't there for her. Then there Rose, a waitress, who serves Hughie and thinks he is handsome and then her world turns upside down when she interviews for a service position for a billionaire family. Except, Olivia, doesn't know she is there for that position but for an art position. She is captivated by how Rose interprets art and plans an art show that will be Rose's entrance into art society. Valentine, is a flirt manager, owns a company where he hires men to flirt with women then walk away. He gives women a piece of confidence in flirting then flutter away. He has hired Hughie for this position and gave him his first big mark, Olivia -billionaire wife. Yet Hughie still believes in love with Leticia so he tries to woo her back. Except her heart now lies in a different path.
The many characters in this book will keep you intrigued and I really wanted to know how each story panned out that it was too hard to put down. It has humor, hope, sadness, acceptance and finally love. Great read.
December 11, 2019
The Flirt by Kathleen Tessaro - OK at best
Needed some more nonsense and escapism and I'd read Elegance many years ago and enjoyed it, so gave this a whirl.
Well, I was right about nonsense! An agency in London specialising in 'The Flirt'. A selection of handsome men of varying ages, stylish and well dressed are available to hire....to make women feel better about themselves by flirting with them and then disappearing eg sending over a glass of wine with a note saying 'what a shame you are wearing a ring'.
Add to this a selection of random characters that are all joined in various tenuous ways. Kind of predictable, you just know they'll all end up happy ever after even if they don't all end up with the people you think they might (although now I think about it, they did).
Total nonsense, but I flew through it without having to exercise any brain cells.
Needed some more nonsense and escapism and I'd read Elegance many years ago and enjoyed it, so gave this a whirl.
Well, I was right about nonsense! An agency in London specialising in 'The Flirt'. A selection of handsome men of varying ages, stylish and well dressed are available to hire....to make women feel better about themselves by flirting with them and then disappearing eg sending over a glass of wine with a note saying 'what a shame you are wearing a ring'.
Add to this a selection of random characters that are all joined in various tenuous ways. Kind of predictable, you just know they'll all end up happy ever after even if they don't all end up with the people you think they might (although now I think about it, they did).
Total nonsense, but I flew through it without having to exercise any brain cells.
February 17, 2024
The Flirt by Kathleen Tessaro is a humorous mystery romp set in contemporary London. A private, personally supervised business provides "flirt" service. It's not an escort service, not prostitution, does not provide companions. Just anonymous flirting, no physical contact, no romantic relationship. Why a flirt service? To lift someone's spirits or boost their self-confidence, make them feel valued.
Founder Charles Valentino is a confirmed bachelor and contented loner. "One of the pleasures of living by yourself is the privilege of being able to practice, day after day, in whatever order you wish, the rituals that define your tastes and aspirations without any threat of disruption. And at fifty-eight, Valentino was deeply grateful for his solitude."
Hughie Armstrong Venables-Smythe is a lazy moocher. He thinks the advertisement: "Unique situation available for an attractive, well-mannered, morally flexible young man. Hours irregular. Pay generous. Discretion a must." suits him well. He has a very high opinion of himself. Doesn't want a regular job with fixed hours (horrors!). Definitely wants generous pay. Considers morals and rules to be merely suggestions. For example, when Hughie learns one of the cardinal rules of the flirt service is to be single, no romantic attachments, he (falsely) assures Charles he is the ideal candidate. Never mind girlfriend Letitia, with whom Hughie has casual sex every chance he gets. He'll keep that secret. 'Discretion a must', after all.
It's hard to care about this protagonist, humor or not. Faced with a time conflict between his regularly scheduled sumptuous lunch with his high-society mother (Rowena Compton Jakes Venables-Smythe) at a pretentious restaurant vs. a quickie with Letitia: "Hughie found himself facing one of the most difficult dilemmas of a young man's life: free lunch or a shag?"
Hughie's older sister Clara disapproves of him, Letitia (owner of made-to-order lingerie shop "Bordello") refuses romance, hardworking single mom Rose (waitress in a coffee shop) is attracted to Hughie (no hope there!), landscape gardener Ricki works for Olivia Elizabeth Annabelle Bourgalt du Coudray (who hates abusive husband Arnand), etc. Sam the plumber is a genuinely good man, the hero. The implausible plot, saved by humor, gradually becomes entertaining. "By now they'd had quite a lot to drink. Gravity tugged like a terrier and consonants were hard work."
Over the course of his (brief) employment, Hughie has many misadventures. His pratfalls cause fellow employees (trying to train him) to also break the rules. In general, Hughie brings down the business. It's a quirky romp, totally unlike historical novels I've read by the author: The Perfume Collector, Rare Objects, The Debutante (I recommend those highly).
Founder Charles Valentino is a confirmed bachelor and contented loner. "One of the pleasures of living by yourself is the privilege of being able to practice, day after day, in whatever order you wish, the rituals that define your tastes and aspirations without any threat of disruption. And at fifty-eight, Valentino was deeply grateful for his solitude."
Hughie Armstrong Venables-Smythe is a lazy moocher. He thinks the advertisement: "Unique situation available for an attractive, well-mannered, morally flexible young man. Hours irregular. Pay generous. Discretion a must." suits him well. He has a very high opinion of himself. Doesn't want a regular job with fixed hours (horrors!). Definitely wants generous pay. Considers morals and rules to be merely suggestions. For example, when Hughie learns one of the cardinal rules of the flirt service is to be single, no romantic attachments, he (falsely) assures Charles he is the ideal candidate. Never mind girlfriend Letitia, with whom Hughie has casual sex every chance he gets. He'll keep that secret. 'Discretion a must', after all.
It's hard to care about this protagonist, humor or not. Faced with a time conflict between his regularly scheduled sumptuous lunch with his high-society mother (Rowena Compton Jakes Venables-Smythe) at a pretentious restaurant vs. a quickie with Letitia: "Hughie found himself facing one of the most difficult dilemmas of a young man's life: free lunch or a shag?"
Hughie's older sister Clara disapproves of him, Letitia (owner of made-to-order lingerie shop "Bordello") refuses romance, hardworking single mom Rose (waitress in a coffee shop) is attracted to Hughie (no hope there!), landscape gardener Ricki works for Olivia Elizabeth Annabelle Bourgalt du Coudray (who hates abusive husband Arnand), etc. Sam the plumber is a genuinely good man, the hero. The implausible plot, saved by humor, gradually becomes entertaining. "By now they'd had quite a lot to drink. Gravity tugged like a terrier and consonants were hard work."
Over the course of his (brief) employment, Hughie has many misadventures. His pratfalls cause fellow employees (trying to train him) to also break the rules. In general, Hughie brings down the business. It's a quirky romp, totally unlike historical novels I've read by the author: The Perfume Collector, Rare Objects, The Debutante (I recommend those highly).
December 24, 2017
Cute silly romantic comedy that continues the generalization that men are simpletons and women are far more complex and clever. Even as a male reviewer, I can't say that Ms. Tessaro is too far off the mark here. Lots of characters in here told from their perspectives, all with their own desires and needs, and it's fun reading how all of their lives intersect. I thought there would be more depth to the flirting business aspect of the story, but it was another secondary story to help intertwine the characters further.
Overall, a pleasurable read and will look for more from the author.
Overall, a pleasurable read and will look for more from the author.
September 8, 2017
Romance:3
Steaminess:1.5
Action/suspense:0
Overall:3
This book brings back so many memories of when I first started reading romance novels.
I loved the writing style and dialogue. They were charming and interesting and funny at times. The writing always left something unsaid and that mystery kept me hooked. The characters themselves had so much depth. This didn't feel like a romance so much as a glimpse into a group's romantic life and I kindda of loved that. The plot was a little uninteresting at times and lacked substance.
Overall, a good book with good writing.
Steaminess:1.5
Action/suspense:0
Overall:3
This book brings back so many memories of when I first started reading romance novels.
I loved the writing style and dialogue. They were charming and interesting and funny at times. The writing always left something unsaid and that mystery kept me hooked. The characters themselves had so much depth. This didn't feel like a romance so much as a glimpse into a group's romantic life and I kindda of loved that. The plot was a little uninteresting at times and lacked substance.
Overall, a good book with good writing.
February 14, 2020
❤️
multiple storylines are braided together into one sparkling, flirty love story + though a firmly modern setting, it has a lovely historical feel
❤️
“The thing about flirting is not to think of it as flirting. The minute you do, it becomes contrived and false. The trick, if there is a trick, is just about noticing. Paying attention. What you say is secondary.”
❤️
“It had been so long since she’d had any attention, that the thought of someone noticing her was almost unbearable. A whole ocean of longing flooded out; vast and uncontrollable.”
❤️
instagram book reviews @brettlikesbooks
multiple storylines are braided together into one sparkling, flirty love story + though a firmly modern setting, it has a lovely historical feel
❤️
“The thing about flirting is not to think of it as flirting. The minute you do, it becomes contrived and false. The trick, if there is a trick, is just about noticing. Paying attention. What you say is secondary.”
❤️
“It had been so long since she’d had any attention, that the thought of someone noticing her was almost unbearable. A whole ocean of longing flooded out; vast and uncontrollable.”
❤️
instagram book reviews @brettlikesbooks
May 22, 2019
This book was throughly enjoyable. It read like a rom-com with all the wacky slapstick and quippy dialogue that par for that course. It has a much more lighthearted vibe than the Perfume Collector but still the same multi-plot format. Tessaro is so damn good at weaving lives together and setting up dominos. The real joy is watching her knock them down in the final chapters.
It is official, I am a Tessaro fan!
It is official, I am a Tessaro fan!
September 6, 2017
Kathleen Tessaro is one of my favourite chicklit authors. This might be a label that would deter some, but Kathleen really knows how to create a love story that is not obvious and excites in the right way.
Since I'm an early morning reader on my commute, it's quite important for me that books keep me awake and yet fully whisk me away from the tram to a new world.
Since I'm an early morning reader on my commute, it's quite important for me that books keep me awake and yet fully whisk me away from the tram to a new world.
July 17, 2017
Visi grib mazliet romantikas, kas izskaistinātu viņu ikdienas dzīvi, kas ne vienmēr ir tāda kā vēlētos. Lai gan Tesāro romānus varētu ievietot dāmu literatūras plauktiņā, grāmatās starp rindām var lasīt daudz dzīvesgudras lietas.
September 4, 2017
Although there is an interesting (and new!) idea behind the story and I really appreciate the satire, this book is somewhat missing of a catching moment, it's not the same breathtaking story-telling you can usually find in Kathleen Tessaro's novels.
December 6, 2017
Hughie Smythe is a handsome young man but having a hard time trying to find out what he really wants to do with his life - no job and sponging off his sister and mother but he applies for a job and becomes a professional flirt.
July 8, 2018
How I wish there was a professional "flirt" that my husband secretly hired! I can imagine my self esteem soaring and perhaps my life choices would change just as the characters in this book do. I loved the concept, plowed through it avidly, and let it linger in my thoughts for quite a while.
July 15, 2018
This is a great beach read. This is by no way a piece of literary genius, but it was fun and great to read between “heavier” books. I recommend this if you want a book kind of like a “trashy” tv show.
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