Step on it, Cupid

by Lorelei Mathias

Amelie's life is arranged just how she likes it. Well, most of the time.

She has a brilliant job she adores, a great social life and a love life she can take or leave. So it's a shock when she realises that everyone she knows seems to be happily coupled up. Is it time she thought about settling down?

Assigned a nightmarish project in work — writing the ad campaign for Britain's biggest speed-dating company — Amelie is forced into doing market research, against her will. But with her best mate Duncan, her annoying boss Joshua, and her ex-boyfriend Jack all causing havoc in her life, maybe a speed-dating romance could be her salvation?

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary Romance

274 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2006

About the author

Lorelei Mathias was born in ‘Metroland’ to English and Romanian parents. She studied English & Philosophy at Birmingham University. She has worked in London as a Copywriter in Publishing and Advertising, and also writes the occasional magazine article, having been a regular blogger for both Campaign Magazine and Caitlin Moran’s website.

Her first novel 'Step on it, Cupid', was published when she was 25, followed by 'Lost for Words'. As a member of the writers collective '26', she has had a poem exhibited at the Museum of Childhood, and a non-fiction chapter published in 'Common Ground: Around Britain in 30 Writers.' Credited as having one of the ‘best youtube trailers for a book, ever’ (well, this was back in 2006 and they didn’t really exist back then), she has also contributed to a number of books and articles about online marketing for authors.

Her latest book 'Break-Up Club' is a romantic comedy about friendship, and was inspired by her experiences in an accidental break-up club of her own... which taught her that a break up shared, is a break up halved. One day she'd like to set up an official refuge for the broken-hearted, so that no one should ever have to go through one alone.

When she's not writing, she enjoys making comedy sketches and short films, running a fictional bakery called Niche Quiche, and asking people where the nearest lido is. She is also named after a mythical German mermaid, which might explain the obsession with outdoor swimming.

Reviews

[Anna ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wayyyy too slow burn for me

[Mélusine D'archer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was told to read a book that didn't have anything to do with what I usually read... This was entertaining and a light read, very easy to skim through.

[Helene Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review - I actually did enjoy this novel, though I didn't expect to. I didn't, however, like it as much as some of the other Little Black Dress novels, like Honey Trap. I did like how the story was told switching between prose and diary entries - it kept the story lively and interesting. I also really liked the concept of speed dating, because I'm quite skeptical of it - I think you should let love happen at its own rate. Amelie was an interesting character, though it was quite obvious from the start who she was going to end up with. I admired her pluck and her drive and ambition.

Genre? - Chic Lit

Characters? - Amelie Holden / Joshua Grant / Duncan / Jack

Setting? - England

Series? - N/A

Recommend? - Maybe

Rating - 14/20

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Probably because she ended up with the guy that I originally wanted her to be with and because the main character in this book reminds me of me. She had to go through a lot of guys to find the right one. And the main message of the story is that you can't hurry love. And it's soo true.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book actually, easy to read and entertaining. One thing I didn't like was as a non-smoker all the smoking references! I am assuming the author is a smoker so would make sense if it's a part of her everyday life.

[Kerry Thorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book free with an issue of Glamour magazine, expected it to be rubbish but I actually loved it! Witty, humorous and genuinely a feel-good book!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is utterly adorable. If you're looking for a fun, easy chick lit to read, I would definitely recommend this!

[Lauren Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was easy enjoyable summer reading.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice little break for light reading after having read a book about neurons and neurotransmitters. I think what I enjoyed most about the book was living out the life of someone in advertising. It was easy to imagine myself working in a creative role and trying to create a campaign that would be interesting. I thought the final idea was a little anticlimactic but it's probably because the books sets the expectations pretty high. It was an easy read, but the love story of it all did not seem convincing. Maybe I need to read more books in a similar genre to grow a taste for them, that is to say maybe it wasn't the book, maybe it was me being in the wrong mind frame. Or maybe it was that the book was too short and I didn't have a chance to get attached.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story. It's not your typical person-looking-for-romance story and the ending was a surprise.

[MrsKrueger · Rating 2 out of 5]

„Keine halben Küsse mehr!“ ist ein netter Roman für nebenbei, der aber im Vergleich zu anderen Chick-Flick-Romanen nicht sonderlich gut konkurrieren kann. Mir fehlte dabei eindeutig eine Prise Humor und auch wenn ich nicht grundsätzlich die Sympathie der Protagonistin als wichtigstes Kriterium ansehe, war es dieses Mal leider so. Amelie ist bis zur letzten Seite viel zu naiv (blöd wäre vielleicht eine sehr fiese Unterstellung) und macht keine einzige Wandlung durch, die sie zu einem sympathischeren oder zumindest reiferen Menschen macht. Ich erwarte bei einem guten Frauenunterhaltungsroman nicht unbedingt Tiefgang und langwierige Problemauseinandersetzungen, aber der Inhalt war letztlich doch zu seicht und das Ende von Anfang nicht nur errat- sondern wirklich absehbar. Aber als eine kurzweilige Unterhaltung ist das Buch für den einen oder anderen dennoch geeignet.

[Sonaksha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t as good as some of the other LBD books I’ve read. It’s a fun, light read. Can get a little boring and I found myself saying: “Get to the point,” sometimes. But then again I think the flow of the book is meant to be slow, for a vacation at the beach. Nonetheless, I’m happy she ended up with the guy I wanted her to end up with all along…you just see the ‘sparks’ you know?

[Rebecca Haslam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say I'm a believer in Valentine's Day and all that romance stuff, nor have I ever been speed dating. This rather short book took me a matter of hours to read during a night shift and I won't be coming back to this slightly cheesy tale again.

[Angelic Zaizai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chiklit biasa aja, pada dasarnya sih temanya bisa ga sih nemuin 'cinta' dalam waktu singkat (pake speed-dating).

[Daphne]

dnf

[Beautiful_Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read with a likeable main character.

[Lizzie O'dell · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time I read this book I did not enjoy and found it hard to get into but after my second attempt of reading I found it was quite good.

[Meylia Azurah · Rating 4 out of 5]

romantic!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book should have been a quick read for me. However i had a hard time getting through it. it was a slow read for me