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It's Raining Men
Best friends May, Lara and Clare are desperate for a holiday. They have been dreaming of a little cottage away from it all, long walks in the country and just a bit of time away from it all. But when they arrive in Ren Dullem, a small Yorkshire seaside town, it seems it is not the place they thought it was...
May has never quite found her niche in life, or her Mr Right. Then in Dullem she falls hook line and sinker at first glance for one of the inhabitants - but he's already taken.
Lara is living with James and his awful step-children who taunt her with tales of his younger, prettier ex whom they adored. The woman who Lara walks in to find James in bed with despite all his protestations that he wouldn't touch her again with a barge pole. Reeling from the hurt, she needs the sea air of Dullem to heal her. What she doesn't need is to be constantly in battle with the owner of the holiday cottage - a man who is every bit as bitter and resentful and untrusting of the other sex as she is.
Clare's fiance Hugh wants her to go and live abroad with him for two years, but she's just been offered the promotion of a life-time. She needs some headspace to think about what she needs to do, but then she meets a very bad boy who is everything Hugh isn't - impulsive, wild and dangerous. Will this holiday be the break they all need?
Or will it bring them all to breaking point...?
May has never quite found her niche in life, or her Mr Right. Then in Dullem she falls hook line and sinker at first glance for one of the inhabitants - but he's already taken.
Lara is living with James and his awful step-children who taunt her with tales of his younger, prettier ex whom they adored. The woman who Lara walks in to find James in bed with despite all his protestations that he wouldn't touch her again with a barge pole. Reeling from the hurt, she needs the sea air of Dullem to heal her. What she doesn't need is to be constantly in battle with the owner of the holiday cottage - a man who is every bit as bitter and resentful and untrusting of the other sex as she is.
Clare's fiance Hugh wants her to go and live abroad with him for two years, but she's just been offered the promotion of a life-time. She needs some headspace to think about what she needs to do, but then she meets a very bad boy who is everything Hugh isn't - impulsive, wild and dangerous. Will this holiday be the break they all need?
Or will it bring them all to breaking point...?
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
186 people are currently reading
2737 people want to read
About the author
Milly Johnson
52 books2,135 followersMilly Johnson was born in Barnsley, raised in Barnsley and still lives in Barnsley. She writes about strong women, often having a renaissance, all ages and has just released her 22nd novel Same Time Next Week. Do check out her website for up to date news and appearance dates.
As well as a novelist she is a professional joke writer, performance poet, newspaper and magazine columnist and also after dinner/motivational speaker.
She is on insta as @themillyjohnson, facebook as @millyjohnsonauthor, Twitter as @millyjohnson and a ridiculous presence on TikTok @millyjohnsonauthor. Do give her a follow - even if it's just out of sympathy!
As well as a novelist she is a professional joke writer, performance poet, newspaper and magazine columnist and also after dinner/motivational speaker.
She is on insta as @themillyjohnson, facebook as @millyjohnsonauthor, Twitter as @millyjohnson and a ridiculous presence on TikTok @millyjohnsonauthor. Do give her a follow - even if it's just out of sympathy!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
October 1, 2014
I felt like I was slogging through this book and realized that I was nearly a quarter through and they hadn't even left for the vacation that features so heavily in the cover copy. So I stopped and immediately felt relief.
Some of what made this hard to connect to is that all three women seem rather the same. They're all supposedly high-powered women in a large company, but they're also all just balls of insecurity and hopelessness in their personal lives as well. And they're all with men who are, at best, negligent (at worst exploitative). Even their inner voices seem undifferentiated. And they're even kind of haphazard with each other. Indeed, if they are "best friends" as the cover copy claims, that's more of an indictment of how empty their lives are as they start off relatively detached even from each other.
And can I just say I'm not a fan of the author's PoV hopping? It was bad enough hopping between the three main women (even in the middle of a conversation), but it was worse when the omniscient viewpoint would move through one of their men and back again for a sentence or a paragraph. It was disconcerting and none of the extended attention brought me information I wanted or was interested in.
So yeah, I stopped. It might have contributed that this was my lunchtime reading book and so I came at it in tiny windows of time and that didn't help me connect. At any rate, I feel like I've wasted enough time and need to move on for a bit.
Some of what made this hard to connect to is that all three women seem rather the same. They're all supposedly high-powered women in a large company, but they're also all just balls of insecurity and hopelessness in their personal lives as well. And they're all with men who are, at best, negligent (at worst exploitative). Even their inner voices seem undifferentiated. And they're even kind of haphazard with each other. Indeed, if they are "best friends" as the cover copy claims, that's more of an indictment of how empty their lives are as they start off relatively detached even from each other.
And can I just say I'm not a fan of the author's PoV hopping? It was bad enough hopping between the three main women (even in the middle of a conversation), but it was worse when the omniscient viewpoint would move through one of their men and back again for a sentence or a paragraph. It was disconcerting and none of the extended attention brought me information I wanted or was interested in.
So yeah, I stopped. It might have contributed that this was my lunchtime reading book and so I came at it in tiny windows of time and that didn't help me connect. At any rate, I feel like I've wasted enough time and need to move on for a bit.
April 2, 2020
Loved this book!!! Added bonus were the inclusion of one of the characters from “The Birds and the Bees” and a cameo appearance by two characters from “An Autumn Crush”.
July 21, 2015
Best friends May, Lara and Clare are desperate for a holiday. They have been dreaming of a little cottage away from it all, long walks in the country and just a bit of time away from it all. But when they arrive in Ren Dullem, a small Yorkshire seaside town, it seems it is not the place they thought it was...
I am becoming a HUGE fan of Milly Johnson. Her writing is funny and original. I was a little worried about reading this book though because I thought the whole story would be about three whiny women but it was not that at all. It was about a town with secrets and the secrets are a little crazy but it makes the story work. The women happen to go to the town for a vacation and it changes their love and work lives. A very fun read!
I am becoming a HUGE fan of Milly Johnson. Her writing is funny and original. I was a little worried about reading this book though because I thought the whole story would be about three whiny women but it was not that at all. It was about a town with secrets and the secrets are a little crazy but it makes the story work. The women happen to go to the town for a vacation and it changes their love and work lives. A very fun read!
July 17, 2019
I really didn't care much for this book at all. It started off good and I was enjoying reading about the three MC's. However, after a while it got to the point where they all seemed to have the same personality. At times I wasn't sure who I was reading about. The only reason this got 2 stars is because in the end all three one them were happy.
December 16, 2019
This was a typical Milly Johnson novel, and that's a good thing. The same basic lovable characters: 3 friends in bad relationships who find happy endings with men worthy of them. This one has a fantasy element, which was intriguing and added even more interest to the story. The ending, as always was super happy and satisfying. I listened to this one and it was a lot of fun.
July 31, 2013
Every time I pick up one of Milly's books, I am hooked by the end of the first page. The discriptions of the people and places are second to none, the story is heartfelt and warming and you feel as if your living in between the pages rather than reading them. Never have I felt a staleness or sameness, rushed writing or lack of story. Each and every book is new, fresh and exciting, bringing new feelings to the reader with every page.
This book is no exception with the story of a small town no one really knows about and is like no other. The story opens twists and turns so the reader is kept on the cliff edge, as many of the characters, which it has to be said are some of the nest characters I have encountered. This is one book I will be visiting again and again and will probably be passed down in my family...if friends dont nick it first.
This book is no exception with the story of a small town no one really knows about and is like no other. The story opens twists and turns so the reader is kept on the cliff edge, as many of the characters, which it has to be said are some of the nest characters I have encountered. This is one book I will be visiting again and again and will probably be passed down in my family...if friends dont nick it first.
July 17, 2019
This was boring. The main characters are interchangeable. The men are a little better. The townspeople were unlikable. The town sounded lovely. There is some romance. Also, happy endings for the main characters and the town. It takes too long to get there, though. Especially the beginning. There is also a mystery involving the town. That was the most interesting part of this story, but it was a minor plot point.
November 25, 2016
Quite fun. I kept thinking that the magical folklore would be reduced to something logical and scientifically explained away. But nope, not this time. The beauty of it lies in the author's execution and her ability to draw the most skeptical of us into the story. Add a little bit of mystery, quirky characters, female bonding, and you've got another gem from Millie Johnson.
August 5, 2013
Review: something completely different again for Milly Johnson. She seems to have the ultimate gift for discovering something that hasn't been covered in Women's fiction and writing about it. This books deals with the weird and wonderful, but at the centre of it still has that lovely heartwarming tale of three women just trying to get the best out of their lives that Milly Johnson does so well!
I was completely drawn into this book from the word go, it literally travelled everywhere with me! It starts out telling you all about the dramas that are going on in the lives of May, Lara and Clare. As always these things are completely realistic and something which a lot of busy working women will be able to relate to. Not having time to have coffee with my friends is something I suffer from too. They are all unlucky enough and then find themselves unlucky in holidays too, when they wind up at the worn holiday destination, something which I'm sure one or two of us have inadvertently done too! The tale which follows is somewhat unusual but entirely captivating and definitely a page-turner!
These characters are Johnson's usual strong women with loud voices and big ambitions in life. I found Clare's struggle with what was obviously depression hard to read at some points, but I found I could relate to all three of the women and I am sure that there will be something for everyone amongst these three women somewhere. The male characters in the book were certainly that-real individual characters. Each of them added humour to the story and were very easy to picture from the descriptions the Johnson gave of these intriguing men!
Something else which was well described was the setting. It is set in a seaside town which meant lost of wonderful descriptions of the ocean, the bay and of the course the smell of the sea air. The cottage which the women stay in is also well described and I would have loved to have curled up in one of the comfy beds in the cosy cottage where they spend their week.
Without giving too much away in old say this is a wonderful summer read for anyone looking for something light and fun with a strong wholesome message thrown in for good measure. Whether you are a fan of this amazing author or not, I am sure that you will enjoy all this book has to offer. Although it is a long one, it is definitely worth popping in your handbag or your suitcase this August. You will find wonderful characters, and intriguing storyline and plentiful smilies to keep you smiling from start to finish. Another hit for this fabulous author!
I was completely drawn into this book from the word go, it literally travelled everywhere with me! It starts out telling you all about the dramas that are going on in the lives of May, Lara and Clare. As always these things are completely realistic and something which a lot of busy working women will be able to relate to. Not having time to have coffee with my friends is something I suffer from too. They are all unlucky enough and then find themselves unlucky in holidays too, when they wind up at the worn holiday destination, something which I'm sure one or two of us have inadvertently done too! The tale which follows is somewhat unusual but entirely captivating and definitely a page-turner!
These characters are Johnson's usual strong women with loud voices and big ambitions in life. I found Clare's struggle with what was obviously depression hard to read at some points, but I found I could relate to all three of the women and I am sure that there will be something for everyone amongst these three women somewhere. The male characters in the book were certainly that-real individual characters. Each of them added humour to the story and were very easy to picture from the descriptions the Johnson gave of these intriguing men!
Something else which was well described was the setting. It is set in a seaside town which meant lost of wonderful descriptions of the ocean, the bay and of the course the smell of the sea air. The cottage which the women stay in is also well described and I would have loved to have curled up in one of the comfy beds in the cosy cottage where they spend their week.
Without giving too much away in old say this is a wonderful summer read for anyone looking for something light and fun with a strong wholesome message thrown in for good measure. Whether you are a fan of this amazing author or not, I am sure that you will enjoy all this book has to offer. Although it is a long one, it is definitely worth popping in your handbag or your suitcase this August. You will find wonderful characters, and intriguing storyline and plentiful smilies to keep you smiling from start to finish. Another hit for this fabulous author!
August 14, 2013
I have read some of Milly Johnson's books before and I have really liked them. So I think I don't have to mention that when I got the opportunity to read her newest one I have sprung on it immediately.
From the very beginning it was typical Milly's book. There were moments that I laughed like crazy or couldn't stop giggling. There were moments that found me very sad. This book awoke again all emotions in me.
The three main characters are also so typical for Milly hardworking, loveable women. I liked every one of them and I felt for them. All three girls are having similar problems when it comes to their work and love life and a holidays in luxury spa is only what the doctor order. Unfortunately, as usually, the life is not so easy and nice and the holidays are not so promising as they should be. We are thrown then in the roller coaster of situations, romances, drama, love and friendship - there are all of these elements and more.
Actually, I must come back to the main characters, Clare, Lara and May because I really, really loved them. Their lives were not as beautiful as we and they can think and I was keeping my fingers crossed for them reading how they are struggling and fighting and seeing how unfair everything can be, and how strong a friendship can be. The only thing that bothered me a little was the fact that they girls considered herself best friends yet they couldn't have brought themselves to be open to each other and tell the truth immediately. What I also liked about them is that they were not judging each other.
The characters were so drawn that we loved them or hated them. There were two people that I especially disliked, Val and Daisy of course. The rest of the people living in the village were - despite the unfortunate beginning - great, warm and friendly people and friendship and loyalty were very important for them.
I have loved the mysterious feeling to this book and secrets that were slowly revealed. I am not a big fan of such magic in the books, magic that suspend disbelief but nevertheless, it was so ethereal and in some ways just suited this book.
Altogether, it was a great read, a kind of unique book mixing the elements of romance with magic. The setting was beautiful and with the fantastic description I could see everything with my eyes. Light - hearted, full of hope and engaging, one of the nicest read this year.
I received a copy of this book from publisher in exchange for a review.
From the very beginning it was typical Milly's book. There were moments that I laughed like crazy or couldn't stop giggling. There were moments that found me very sad. This book awoke again all emotions in me.
The three main characters are also so typical for Milly hardworking, loveable women. I liked every one of them and I felt for them. All three girls are having similar problems when it comes to their work and love life and a holidays in luxury spa is only what the doctor order. Unfortunately, as usually, the life is not so easy and nice and the holidays are not so promising as they should be. We are thrown then in the roller coaster of situations, romances, drama, love and friendship - there are all of these elements and more.
Actually, I must come back to the main characters, Clare, Lara and May because I really, really loved them. Their lives were not as beautiful as we and they can think and I was keeping my fingers crossed for them reading how they are struggling and fighting and seeing how unfair everything can be, and how strong a friendship can be. The only thing that bothered me a little was the fact that they girls considered herself best friends yet they couldn't have brought themselves to be open to each other and tell the truth immediately. What I also liked about them is that they were not judging each other.
The characters were so drawn that we loved them or hated them. There were two people that I especially disliked, Val and Daisy of course. The rest of the people living in the village were - despite the unfortunate beginning - great, warm and friendly people and friendship and loyalty were very important for them.
I have loved the mysterious feeling to this book and secrets that were slowly revealed. I am not a big fan of such magic in the books, magic that suspend disbelief but nevertheless, it was so ethereal and in some ways just suited this book.
Altogether, it was a great read, a kind of unique book mixing the elements of romance with magic. The setting was beautiful and with the fantastic description I could see everything with my eyes. Light - hearted, full of hope and engaging, one of the nicest read this year.
I received a copy of this book from publisher in exchange for a review.
September 15, 2013
It's Raining Men is a little bit of a change for Milly, it features her trademark gritty Northern humour, and some fabulous leading characters, but added to the mix in this novel is a little hint of magic. I'll admit that at first I wasn't sure if I would like the magical element, but am happy to say that she's nailed it, and nailed it down pretty hard and fast!
Three best friends, successful women who work hard and are all having a bit of an emotional roller-coaster of a time with their love lives. May, Lara and Clare decide that it's time for some me-time, they need to get away from the relentless working routine, from their partners and from the City. They need a break, somewhere where they can relax and be pampered, somewhere that is out of the way but will still provide the little luxuries that they deserve. The spa that they book sounds perfect and they have ten whole days to spend chilling out and catching up on life.
They find themselves in Ren Dullem - this is not the spa resort that they booked. This is a strange little village, with very few women, the sun doesn't shine and the locals are far from friendly.
And so begins their adventure in a village that wouldn't look out of place in a horror movie. Dealing with three very different brothers, some very anti social shopkeepers and maybe a witch too!
Milly Johnson has served up a fabulously fun and quirky summer read that will delight her fans, add a little magic to mix of strange, but wonderfully drawn characters and let yourself be sucked in by the story. I loved the description of the village Ren Dullem - it's almost a character in it's own right. Recommended as a great get-away-from-it-all story that will have you giggling and smiling.
Three best friends, successful women who work hard and are all having a bit of an emotional roller-coaster of a time with their love lives. May, Lara and Clare decide that it's time for some me-time, they need to get away from the relentless working routine, from their partners and from the City. They need a break, somewhere where they can relax and be pampered, somewhere that is out of the way but will still provide the little luxuries that they deserve. The spa that they book sounds perfect and they have ten whole days to spend chilling out and catching up on life.
They find themselves in Ren Dullem - this is not the spa resort that they booked. This is a strange little village, with very few women, the sun doesn't shine and the locals are far from friendly.
And so begins their adventure in a village that wouldn't look out of place in a horror movie. Dealing with three very different brothers, some very anti social shopkeepers and maybe a witch too!
Milly Johnson has served up a fabulously fun and quirky summer read that will delight her fans, add a little magic to mix of strange, but wonderfully drawn characters and let yourself be sucked in by the story. I loved the description of the village Ren Dullem - it's almost a character in it's own right. Recommended as a great get-away-from-it-all story that will have you giggling and smiling.
Read
September 18, 2014The heat has been so merciless I wanted something light with a guaranteed happy ending, and this really hit the spot.
Three English women desperately need a vacation, so one of them promises to set them up at a snazzy spa. But the vacation agent fluffs the name of the town, mistaking it for the next town over, and they arrive to find themselves booked into a cottage that at first looks like a dump. But it's got its mysteries, and slowly reveals its charms, meanwhile the village it's in is odd and intriguing.
Woven into this storyline is a seemingly unrelated one about a predatory gold digger snaking in on a fragile old man who is last of his family, living in a manor house.
Then there is the old lady living precariously on top of a cliff . . .
The plot is really tight, the characters revealed in delicious layers, the mystery slowly unfolding, and the title phrase used several times, once with breathtaking poignancy. The touch of magic is just right. I enjoyed this book so much I forgot the killing heat.
Three English women desperately need a vacation, so one of them promises to set them up at a snazzy spa. But the vacation agent fluffs the name of the town, mistaking it for the next town over, and they arrive to find themselves booked into a cottage that at first looks like a dump. But it's got its mysteries, and slowly reveals its charms, meanwhile the village it's in is odd and intriguing.
Woven into this storyline is a seemingly unrelated one about a predatory gold digger snaking in on a fragile old man who is last of his family, living in a manor house.
Then there is the old lady living precariously on top of a cliff . . .
The plot is really tight, the characters revealed in delicious layers, the mystery slowly unfolding, and the title phrase used several times, once with breathtaking poignancy. The touch of magic is just right. I enjoyed this book so much I forgot the killing heat.
November 3, 2022
Life had an annoying habit of getting in the way of living.
A charming novel. Splendid characters, all well-written, from main to episodic, from purely good to obviously evil, some with a huge baggage of sorrow, others with a smaller hurt. Each in the searching for his/her own happiness or destiny. I loved this tangle, how Milly Johnson sewed their stories. And I really like interesting (lovable) male characters, Gene, Frank, and Lud didn't have many pages but you could feel and understand what men they were.
Some scenes were simply brilliant, and the last one (besides an epilogue) priceless (I would like to tell what exactly but it would have been like spoiling).
By the way, I don't know why, but although I can't say I dislike Mrs Johnson's epilogues I often think that I would have ended with a nicer feeling without them. But, because sometimes they are lovely (and because I would have felt bad if I hadn't read these books to the last paragraph) I read them.
April 18, 2018
I couldn't finish this book. I stopped reading around 200 pages in because I love Milly Johnson books and didn't want to give up. Usually I find they start a bit slow and then get amazing about 1/3 in but unfortunately this wasn't the same.
This whole novel just seemed a bit strange and a bit far-fetched for my liking. The three main characters all seemed quite fake, saying that they are best friends but not telling each other huge things that are happening in their lives. Then all of a sudden they meet three brothers and you just know what is going to happen next...
I don't want to give this a low rating but at the same time I just couldn't get into it. The storyline seemed a bit ridiculous once they got to the cottage and for me, it just went downhill from there. The first part of the storyline was great - which is why I'm giving it 3 stars - as I enjoyed reading about the three characters individual issues and there was great drama but after that it just didn't seem all that.
This whole novel just seemed a bit strange and a bit far-fetched for my liking. The three main characters all seemed quite fake, saying that they are best friends but not telling each other huge things that are happening in their lives. Then all of a sudden they meet three brothers and you just know what is going to happen next...
I don't want to give this a low rating but at the same time I just couldn't get into it. The storyline seemed a bit ridiculous once they got to the cottage and for me, it just went downhill from there. The first part of the storyline was great - which is why I'm giving it 3 stars - as I enjoyed reading about the three characters individual issues and there was great drama but after that it just didn't seem all that.
August 3, 2025
This is an interesting combination of fun and weird. Lots of cuteness and a few people who are really horrible, all of whom are exposed.
Also, a familiar character from another book gets their just desserts.
Also, a familiar character from another book gets their just desserts.
May 18, 2017
My first Milly Johnson book, but definitely not my last. Magical!
March 30, 2018
Endnu en skøn skøn bog!
May 8, 2023
A truly magical book
January 24, 2018
I really really wanted to like this book! The plot sounded like it would be a perfect winter read and imagining going on this "spa" weekend with the gals. Sadly, these women are the ones I would run from, they are so dreadfully awful.
This is the second Milly Johnson book I've read and I have to say every female characters are the same and every male character are the same. Slogging away to the finish (this was a book club read, otherwise I would have stopped before page 100), I couldn't keep the female characters straight: they sounded the same, they acted the same, they were just the same! The men really were no different, they were all assholes in some way. I thought the whole idea of chick lit is I wanted the couple (or in this case couples) to get together. It would have been better if they made them like sister wives.
The repetitiveness drove me crazy. Yes, we get it, there's something weird about the clouds. Yes, for the 100th time in 20 pages, I get it. You don't need to keep freaking saying it over and over. And Clare, yes, we figure it out pretty quickly what her "secret" is and what the villages "secret" is. Then there was that secondary storyline, that had me scratching my head, like "what the hell does this have to do with anything???" And then when that storyline ends, it's like, "that's all folks"...no closure.
Plot idea was fantastic, execution was atrocious. Some will like, some will not. I was in the latter group. My book club was in the former.
This is the second Milly Johnson book I've read and I have to say every female characters are the same and every male character are the same. Slogging away to the finish (this was a book club read, otherwise I would have stopped before page 100), I couldn't keep the female characters straight: they sounded the same, they acted the same, they were just the same! The men really were no different, they were all assholes in some way. I thought the whole idea of chick lit is I wanted the couple (or in this case couples) to get together. It would have been better if they made them like sister wives.
The repetitiveness drove me crazy. Yes, we get it, there's something weird about the clouds. Yes, for the 100th time in 20 pages, I get it. You don't need to keep freaking saying it over and over. And Clare, yes, we figure it out pretty quickly what her "secret" is and what the villages "secret" is. Then there was that secondary storyline, that had me scratching my head, like "what the hell does this have to do with anything???" And then when that storyline ends, it's like, "that's all folks"...no closure.
Plot idea was fantastic, execution was atrocious. Some will like, some will not. I was in the latter group. My book club was in the former.
April 8, 2015
I was not expecting this book to be so good. amazingly good that I simply cannot put it down and hence, spend almost two days with it, ignoring the fact that I have my last test tomorrow. Well, one must simply know the feeling that you cannot concentrate on anything unless you know what's finally happened, right?
So, this story starts pretty simple, three women with guys problems. I thought that would be it, you know? Having guy problem, head on to relaxing vacation, and then you find someone new, someone better, someone that can take your minds off your ex. But no, there's more to that in this book, and I am simply not disappointed.
A light, enjoyable read, totally recommend it for anyone who enjoy chick-lit reading.
You can't make a rainbow without a little rain.
So, this story starts pretty simple, three women with guys problems. I thought that would be it, you know? Having guy problem, head on to relaxing vacation, and then you find someone new, someone better, someone that can take your minds off your ex. But no, there's more to that in this book, and I am simply not disappointed.
A light, enjoyable read, totally recommend it for anyone who enjoy chick-lit reading.
You can't make a rainbow without a little rain.
February 5, 2017
I always enjoy Milly Johnson books they are so easy to read there are a small group of friends who have wanted to have a holiday together to spend quality time together and imagine of a lovely little cottage but the lady who books the holiday books the wrong place and they end up somewhere they weren't expecting at all can they settle there and be happy or do they decide to try and book somewhere else. They also have men problems so can they sort them out and enjoy a break. Well worth reading.
January 6, 2015
Oh wow, judging by the title the book was not about what I expected and I loved that! Three busy career women plan a holiday but end up at the wrong cottage by a booking mistake. Before the holiday we got a taste of their lives and the men in them. Right before the vacation their loves lives got turned upside down and the holiday in this strange town comes just in time. I loved the suspense this book carried along with the laughs and unexpected outcomes. Great one from Milly Johnson.
September 9, 2016
Not one of my favourite Milly Johnson books but it was a very enjoyable experience nonetheless. The beginning drags on a little, and there is a 'magical element' in the denouement, which is why I'm only giving it 3 stars, but Milly Johnson fans will love it anyway.
March 16, 2021
I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book,going in but I'm glad I stayed with it. Three women, all hotshots at work but absolute disasters in their personal lives (thanks to their shit boyfriends) head off on a much-needed spa break. But there's a booking error and they end up in a rather hostile village where females are thin on the ground, and the men are all Heathcliff and Cain Dingle combined. Milly Johnson writes with humour and most of the jokes land. She tends to name drop famous people for jokes (e.g. he came around the corner like Nigel Mansell on drugs) which could make the book go out of date pretty soon. She keeps the emotive aspects of the story on the right side of sentimental, adds a touch of mystery and intrigue, and wraps it all up in a heart-warming resolution. Very satisfying.
June 28, 2018
I've really enjoyed reading this book. A little different and a little bit magical tale. There are two male characters who take the biscuit but finally there are some nice romances thrown into the mix too.
January 31, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this audio book. It is VERY silly and implausible but fun. Three high flying 30 somethings with broken hearts go to a strange Yorkshire seaside village and find contentment and three eligible brothers! (Well only 2 are truly eligible but the third woman actually already has a good man - she broke her own heart because she thought life had got boring) Anyway all emerge from myths and misunderstandings to find happiness and however unlikely it all is, it is pleasingly satisfying.
December 31, 2024
i was crying and laughing and then crying again. Such a sweet book!
December 21, 2013
Three friends, three different lifes, three different stories and one holiday. Can a holiday change your life?
Lara lives with her gorgeous boyfriend James and his teenage childern, who don’t like her. She also thinks, that something is different with James. It turns out he’s having an affair. She leaves for her holidays.
Clare gets a promotion and so does her German boyfriend Lud. His new job is in Dubai, so they decide to break up, that both oft hem can be free.
Then there’s May. She is happy with Michael, but he is married. Well, she thinks he is, but he’s not. There is another women. She ends the relationship.
The three girls, go on a holiday together. They are really good friends and work for the same company. One can feel their relationship instantly through the writing. However, they rarely see each other and they are totally different, which I think is really great and makes the story even more interesting.
When they arrive at their cottage, something is weird. They didn’t book this. They wanted to go to a spa and not a small cottage in the middle of nowhere. It’s in the middle oft he night, so they have to wait for the morning. Well that whole thing just made the book mysterious, which I really like. It seemed like there was a story behind the story and I love that as a reader.
Lara decides to confront the landlord, but he is really unfriendly and doesn’t want to hear anything. The girls thought that the cottage belongs to three women (Jean, Francis and Val), it turns out, Gene is a man. That’s just too funny, but I was thinking about men anyway, cause they had to come up once, didn’t they?
In the village everything is weird. The weather, the people…
May bumps into a man and is immediately drawn to him. There seem to be no women. The population acts strange when they see the three women. In a pub they get something to eat and Jenny (the owner seems tob e very nice). The door opens and in comes a girl in a wheelchair and behind her a man. It was the man May saw earlier. His name is Frances or Frank. So also the second one is a men.
The girl in the wheelchair doesn’t like to new guests and is a real bitch. Her name is Daisy. Frank apparently is only with her, because he caused her accident.
Clare finds a secret passage to a lagoon in her room and she becomes friends with a woman called Raine. On the way around she also meets Val, the third brother and they snog sometimes. Oh we’re getting closer to the mystery, how exciting.
So you see, there is a lot of mystery going around in this town and in the book and as I reader I just wanted to find out more.
Lara and Gene get closer, talk and he opens up to her. They also kiss and before she leaves, he tells her, that he is going to miss her and I think that’s so sweet, because he is not really the type to say that easily.
Also Frank and May get closer, but nothing happens, because there is still Daisy. Didn’t like her from the start, always thought she was hiding something or having a secret.
And Clare??? Well, she misses Lud.
The girls return to London . They get the opportunity to return though and I was so glad this happened. I felt there was more to the story and more to tell, so I was relieved.
May and Lara return instantly and Lara goes to see Gene immediately. First he is really cold and doesn’t let her in, he also vanishes for some seconds (top hone Frank, that May is in the cottage, so cute ;)). They talk and he doesn’t seem interested, only when she wants to leave he says: „Oh no, you won’t.“ The takes her arm and then she is in his arms. „You’re not going anywhere.“ (My favourite scene by far, so cute!!!)
Then it is three years later. We get some great news about how the life of the three friends developed, but it still leaves places to fill with our own imagination, which I think is really important. That’s also what Milly recommended me to do =)
Wonderful story, great characters, deep background and beautifully written!!! I fell in love with this book not just a normal romantic love story, no there is much more to it. There is a real deep story behind everything, which makes the book even more interesting and attractive for a reader. ♥ ♥ ♥
Lara lives with her gorgeous boyfriend James and his teenage childern, who don’t like her. She also thinks, that something is different with James. It turns out he’s having an affair. She leaves for her holidays.
Clare gets a promotion and so does her German boyfriend Lud. His new job is in Dubai, so they decide to break up, that both oft hem can be free.
Then there’s May. She is happy with Michael, but he is married. Well, she thinks he is, but he’s not. There is another women. She ends the relationship.
The three girls, go on a holiday together. They are really good friends and work for the same company. One can feel their relationship instantly through the writing. However, they rarely see each other and they are totally different, which I think is really great and makes the story even more interesting.
When they arrive at their cottage, something is weird. They didn’t book this. They wanted to go to a spa and not a small cottage in the middle of nowhere. It’s in the middle oft he night, so they have to wait for the morning. Well that whole thing just made the book mysterious, which I really like. It seemed like there was a story behind the story and I love that as a reader.
Lara decides to confront the landlord, but he is really unfriendly and doesn’t want to hear anything. The girls thought that the cottage belongs to three women (Jean, Francis and Val), it turns out, Gene is a man. That’s just too funny, but I was thinking about men anyway, cause they had to come up once, didn’t they?
In the village everything is weird. The weather, the people…
May bumps into a man and is immediately drawn to him. There seem to be no women. The population acts strange when they see the three women. In a pub they get something to eat and Jenny (the owner seems tob e very nice). The door opens and in comes a girl in a wheelchair and behind her a man. It was the man May saw earlier. His name is Frances or Frank. So also the second one is a men.
The girl in the wheelchair doesn’t like to new guests and is a real bitch. Her name is Daisy. Frank apparently is only with her, because he caused her accident.
Clare finds a secret passage to a lagoon in her room and she becomes friends with a woman called Raine. On the way around she also meets Val, the third brother and they snog sometimes. Oh we’re getting closer to the mystery, how exciting.
So you see, there is a lot of mystery going around in this town and in the book and as I reader I just wanted to find out more.
Lara and Gene get closer, talk and he opens up to her. They also kiss and before she leaves, he tells her, that he is going to miss her and I think that’s so sweet, because he is not really the type to say that easily.
Also Frank and May get closer, but nothing happens, because there is still Daisy. Didn’t like her from the start, always thought she was hiding something or having a secret.
And Clare??? Well, she misses Lud.
The girls return to London . They get the opportunity to return though and I was so glad this happened. I felt there was more to the story and more to tell, so I was relieved.
May and Lara return instantly and Lara goes to see Gene immediately. First he is really cold and doesn’t let her in, he also vanishes for some seconds (top hone Frank, that May is in the cottage, so cute ;)). They talk and he doesn’t seem interested, only when she wants to leave he says: „Oh no, you won’t.“ The takes her arm and then she is in his arms. „You’re not going anywhere.“ (My favourite scene by far, so cute!!!)
Then it is three years later. We get some great news about how the life of the three friends developed, but it still leaves places to fill with our own imagination, which I think is really important. That’s also what Milly recommended me to do =)
Wonderful story, great characters, deep background and beautifully written!!! I fell in love with this book not just a normal romantic love story, no there is much more to it. There is a real deep story behind everything, which makes the book even more interesting and attractive for a reader. ♥ ♥ ♥
May 7, 2014
Time taken to read - 1 day
Publisher - Simon & Schuster UK
Pages - 480
Blurb from Goodreads
A summer getaway to remember. But is a holiday romance on the cards…?
Best friends from work May, Lara and Clare are desperate for some time away. They have each had a rough time of it lately and need some serious R & R. So they set off to a luxurious spa for ten glorious days, but when they arrive at their destination, it seems it is not the place they thought it was. In fact, they appear to have come to entirely the wrong village…
Here in Ren Dullem nothing is quite what it seems; the lovely cobbled streets and picturesque cottages hide a secret that the villagers have been keeping hidden for years. Why is everyone so unfriendly and suspicious? Why does the landlord of their holiday rental seem so rude? And why are there so few women in the village?
Despite the strange atmosphere, the three friends are determined to make the best of it and have a holiday to remember. But will this be the break they all need? Or will the odd little village with all its secrets bring them all to breaking point…?
My Review
Three friends, May, Lara & Clare who, despite working in the same company don't get to see each other very often so they decided to have a holiday away. A beautiful ten days in an expensive spa, rest, relaxation and chat, what could go wrong. They end up in Ren Dullem, the wrong village, no spa in sight and the locals are very hostile. The girls are all going through some personal issues and the last thing they need is aggression and rudeness. However, the more time they spend in the village the more they notice. There aren't many females, the locals seem to be on edge and there is more to this wee village than the girls could have imagined.
I do enjoy reading Milly Johnson, she is definitely the kind of author you can just race through the story. The women are good friends although initially they are reluctant to divulge the recent changes in their relationships and put a face on to have a good holiday. The villagers are mostly hostile and rude to the girls which, I think, most of us can relate to from at least one of our past holiday experiences. Clare bonds with one of the elderly residents within the town and slowly discovers some of the town secrets.
There are other characters who play different important parts to the story but, as I don't do spoiler reviews it is hard to go into any kind of depths with them. It is a good paced story with lots of wee shocks, secrets and revelations along the way. If your looking to try a new author I would recommend Johnson, light, easy to read but has substance even though it would be filed as a chick lit and this is as good a book to start with as any. 4/5 for me this time and I will be reading more of this author.
Publisher - Simon & Schuster UK
Pages - 480
Blurb from Goodreads
A summer getaway to remember. But is a holiday romance on the cards…?
Best friends from work May, Lara and Clare are desperate for some time away. They have each had a rough time of it lately and need some serious R & R. So they set off to a luxurious spa for ten glorious days, but when they arrive at their destination, it seems it is not the place they thought it was. In fact, they appear to have come to entirely the wrong village…
Here in Ren Dullem nothing is quite what it seems; the lovely cobbled streets and picturesque cottages hide a secret that the villagers have been keeping hidden for years. Why is everyone so unfriendly and suspicious? Why does the landlord of their holiday rental seem so rude? And why are there so few women in the village?
Despite the strange atmosphere, the three friends are determined to make the best of it and have a holiday to remember. But will this be the break they all need? Or will the odd little village with all its secrets bring them all to breaking point…?
My Review
Three friends, May, Lara & Clare who, despite working in the same company don't get to see each other very often so they decided to have a holiday away. A beautiful ten days in an expensive spa, rest, relaxation and chat, what could go wrong. They end up in Ren Dullem, the wrong village, no spa in sight and the locals are very hostile. The girls are all going through some personal issues and the last thing they need is aggression and rudeness. However, the more time they spend in the village the more they notice. There aren't many females, the locals seem to be on edge and there is more to this wee village than the girls could have imagined.
I do enjoy reading Milly Johnson, she is definitely the kind of author you can just race through the story. The women are good friends although initially they are reluctant to divulge the recent changes in their relationships and put a face on to have a good holiday. The villagers are mostly hostile and rude to the girls which, I think, most of us can relate to from at least one of our past holiday experiences. Clare bonds with one of the elderly residents within the town and slowly discovers some of the town secrets.
There are other characters who play different important parts to the story but, as I don't do spoiler reviews it is hard to go into any kind of depths with them. It is a good paced story with lots of wee shocks, secrets and revelations along the way. If your looking to try a new author I would recommend Johnson, light, easy to read but has substance even though it would be filed as a chick lit and this is as good a book to start with as any. 4/5 for me this time and I will be reading more of this author.
February 24, 2014
It’s Raining Men is my all-time favourite of Milly Johnson’s. This is one of those stories that I just didn’t want to end … and what an apt title!
Before the women arrive at the cottage, we get to know more about their high-powered jobs and the relationships they have with the men in their lives. Changes happen before they leave for their holiday and I thought that Clare was the only one who made the wrong decision.
Once they’re in Ren Dullem, despite the lack of welcome from the locals, they gradually become pulled into this community. Thanks to Joan, PA to Edwin Carlton of Carlton Hall and her digging to uncover secrets for her own financial gain, not only is the reader pulled into the relationships but also into those secrets.
The characters are fabulous. There’s plenty of conflict from the villagers and of course attraction. The community of Ren Dullem slipped under my skin and through my tears at a funeral there was also cheering when a lie was uncovered. I loved the bond that Clare had with Raine.
It took me a while before I clicked at what the secret of the village is. I was so caught up in the emotion of the characters! My notes are littered with questions: Why is Carlton funding the village? What are the payments for? Why was one person so important to the community? How did she save them? Why are there no girls born? Why was the burial originally outside of consecrated ground? I totally believed in what lay at the heart of Ren Dullem. I love a fairy tale and myths/legends.
I need a sequel to find out how the village grows and what other conflicts are waiting for the villagers! To be honest, I want to spend more time with these characters :) and I don’t want to let them go!
It’s Raining Men has been shortlisted for The Romantic Novel of the Year 2014 ~ Romantic Comedy Novel. Good luck Milly!
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Before the women arrive at the cottage, we get to know more about their high-powered jobs and the relationships they have with the men in their lives. Changes happen before they leave for their holiday and I thought that Clare was the only one who made the wrong decision.
Once they’re in Ren Dullem, despite the lack of welcome from the locals, they gradually become pulled into this community. Thanks to Joan, PA to Edwin Carlton of Carlton Hall and her digging to uncover secrets for her own financial gain, not only is the reader pulled into the relationships but also into those secrets.
The characters are fabulous. There’s plenty of conflict from the villagers and of course attraction. The community of Ren Dullem slipped under my skin and through my tears at a funeral there was also cheering when a lie was uncovered. I loved the bond that Clare had with Raine.
It took me a while before I clicked at what the secret of the village is. I was so caught up in the emotion of the characters! My notes are littered with questions: Why is Carlton funding the village? What are the payments for? Why was one person so important to the community? How did she save them? Why are there no girls born? Why was the burial originally outside of consecrated ground? I totally believed in what lay at the heart of Ren Dullem. I love a fairy tale and myths/legends.
I need a sequel to find out how the village grows and what other conflicts are waiting for the villagers! To be honest, I want to spend more time with these characters :) and I don’t want to let them go!
It’s Raining Men has been shortlisted for The Romantic Novel of the Year 2014 ~ Romantic Comedy Novel. Good luck Milly!
I would like to thank the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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