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Conditional Love
All her life she has dreamed of a home of her own, so what’s holding her back?
Sophie Stone, thirty-something serial procrastinator, lover of Take That, Tesco knickers and tea with two sugars, rarely steps out of her comfort zone.
So when an unexpected inheritance from a great aunt she’s never met forces her to meet her father, it threatens the very foundations of Sophie’s world.
What did the old lady want her to discover? Was there more to her parents’ break up than she was lead to believe?
Sophie will have to face some startling home truths before she can finally build a future on her own terms.
Sophie Stone, thirty-something serial procrastinator, lover of Take That, Tesco knickers and tea with two sugars, rarely steps out of her comfort zone.
So when an unexpected inheritance from a great aunt she’s never met forces her to meet her father, it threatens the very foundations of Sophie’s world.
What did the old lady want her to discover? Was there more to her parents’ break up than she was lead to believe?
Sophie will have to face some startling home truths before she can finally build a future on her own terms.
366 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
204 people are currently reading
1652 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Bramley
66 books1,144 followersCathy Bramley is the author of the best-selling romantic comedies Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wickham Hall, Conditional Love and The Plumberry School of Comfort Food. She lives in a Nottinghamshire village with her family and a dog.
Her recent career as a full-time writer of light-hearted, romantic fiction has come as somewhat of a lovely surprise after spending eighteen years running her own marketing agency. However, she has been always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks she may have found her dream job!
Cathy loves to hear from her readers. You can get in touch via her website www.CathyBramley.co.uk Facebook page Facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor or on Twitter twitter.com/CathyBramley
Her recent career as a full-time writer of light-hearted, romantic fiction has come as somewhat of a lovely surprise after spending eighteen years running her own marketing agency. However, she has been always an avid reader, never without a book on the go and now thinks she may have found her dream job!
Cathy loves to hear from her readers. You can get in touch via her website www.CathyBramley.co.uk Facebook page Facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor or on Twitter twitter.com/CathyBramley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
October 31, 2013
The original review was posted here:
http://thischickreads.wordpress.com/2...
All she ever wanted was a place called home. Nice and cozy place where she could be herself. Not that Sophie didn’t like her two flatmates, they were her best friends. And there was Marc, with that well-shaped body wrapped around her.
And then, Marc dumped her. On Valentine’s Eve. How cruel is that?
One letter changed everything. She inherits a property from an aunt she didn’t even knew she had. Talk about surprises life offers us e? But there is a condition: Sophie has to meet her father who abandoned her and her mother when Sophie was just a baby.
Struggling between making her dream come true, forgiving her father and not losing the trust of her mother, Sophie meets Nottingham architect Nick Cromwell. A guy who can give that old bungalow a name: Sophie’s home.
Sophie didn’t seem like much of a strong character at the beginning. It was all about Marc. “What would Marc think? Oh, my God, Marc can’t see me like this. Marc tells me to lose weight because he cares about my health. I’ll tell Marc about the inheritance, he will be happy for me and he’ll come back.”
I really felt like shouting out loud – Sophie, he doesn’t deserve you!
But despite being slightly annoying at the beginning, Sophie was a very interesting character. She’s naïve but in a cute way, and she always seems to want to make things right. She reminded me a little bit of Bridget Jones. Growing up without a father, with a mother who blamed him for everything that he did and he didn’t do, Sophie longs for a family, for people who will love her no matter what. With a background like this, it’s totally understandable she ends up in a couple of bad relationships and feels lonely most of the time.
I liked her flatmates, Emma and Jess, the two sisters. They were pretty down to earth and acted as Sophie’s guardians. They were fighting each other all the time, but they were always there when anyone of them got into trouble. They were the closest thing to a family for Sophie.
Let’s talk about the boys. I think I’ve said enough about Marc. I didn’t like him at the beginning. But, Nick, Nick was something different. He believed in Sophie and her dream from the very start. He loved the old buildings in town, and he fought for them with all his heart. But, he had some skeletons in the closet that had to come out. Is he just someone no better than Marc?
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut and would recommend it to every romance fan.
http://thischickreads.wordpress.com/2...
All she ever wanted was a place called home. Nice and cozy place where she could be herself. Not that Sophie didn’t like her two flatmates, they were her best friends. And there was Marc, with that well-shaped body wrapped around her.
And then, Marc dumped her. On Valentine’s Eve. How cruel is that?
One letter changed everything. She inherits a property from an aunt she didn’t even knew she had. Talk about surprises life offers us e? But there is a condition: Sophie has to meet her father who abandoned her and her mother when Sophie was just a baby.
Struggling between making her dream come true, forgiving her father and not losing the trust of her mother, Sophie meets Nottingham architect Nick Cromwell. A guy who can give that old bungalow a name: Sophie’s home.
Sophie didn’t seem like much of a strong character at the beginning. It was all about Marc. “What would Marc think? Oh, my God, Marc can’t see me like this. Marc tells me to lose weight because he cares about my health. I’ll tell Marc about the inheritance, he will be happy for me and he’ll come back.”
I really felt like shouting out loud – Sophie, he doesn’t deserve you!
But despite being slightly annoying at the beginning, Sophie was a very interesting character. She’s naïve but in a cute way, and she always seems to want to make things right. She reminded me a little bit of Bridget Jones. Growing up without a father, with a mother who blamed him for everything that he did and he didn’t do, Sophie longs for a family, for people who will love her no matter what. With a background like this, it’s totally understandable she ends up in a couple of bad relationships and feels lonely most of the time.
I liked her flatmates, Emma and Jess, the two sisters. They were pretty down to earth and acted as Sophie’s guardians. They were fighting each other all the time, but they were always there when anyone of them got into trouble. They were the closest thing to a family for Sophie.
Let’s talk about the boys. I think I’ve said enough about Marc. I didn’t like him at the beginning. But, Nick, Nick was something different. He believed in Sophie and her dream from the very start. He loved the old buildings in town, and he fought for them with all his heart. But, he had some skeletons in the closet that had to come out. Is he just someone no better than Marc?
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut and would recommend it to every romance fan.
April 12, 2014
Grabbed this when it was free on Amazon the other day, because it looked cute.
Sort of a Bridget Jones-like vibe to it. If you enjoyed that then you'll probably like this one. It's not a copycat story or anything, but it has the same sort of feel.
Sophie is in her early 30's, British, feels she's a few pounds overweight, and has a piss-poor lovelife. Although, it's hard to feel sorry for her since it's her own fault.
Not the part about being British. Poor thing can't help where she was born after all...
Kidding!
Her boyfriend dumps her in the opening pages, and she spends great gobs of time trying to win him back. Even though she knows he's a useless dick.
He rekindles his interest in her when she informs him that she's going to inherit a house and some money. And she knows that's why he's sniffing around again. But she thinks she can prove to him that she's awesome or something?
I didn't get it. I honestly can't fathom being that desperate. I'd rather be alone than with a douchebag who comments on my weight, and continually 'forgets' his wallet.
But..whatever. I guess there are women out there somewhere who can relate? I just... Ugh.
Her two roommates/BFFs are also massive tools. If I had to live with bitches that annoying, I'd probably be in jail. I kept waiting for the moment when Sophie would realize that these chicks were soul-sucking harpies, but it never happened.
So again, I couldn't relate. They were obnoxious, and I would have kicked them to the curb a long time ago.
Her mother was the most obvious twat in the bunch, but at least there was some amount of retribution for that toward the end. Not enough, but some.
The love story thing between Sophie and Nick was...pretty bland.
Why did they like each other anyway?
Boring relationships is one of the reasons I don't normally gravitate toward chick-lit. But if you're a fan of this genre, you'll probably have no problem with the way it all plays out.
I did giggle quite a bit while I was reading, so this wasn't a waste of my time. It had a cute plot, witty dialogue, and funny situations.
Not bad considering this isn't what I normally go for.
Sort of a Bridget Jones-like vibe to it. If you enjoyed that then you'll probably like this one. It's not a copycat story or anything, but it has the same sort of feel.
Sophie is in her early 30's, British, feels she's a few pounds overweight, and has a piss-poor lovelife. Although, it's hard to feel sorry for her since it's her own fault.
Not the part about being British. Poor thing can't help where she was born after all...
Kidding!
Her boyfriend dumps her in the opening pages, and she spends great gobs of time trying to win him back. Even though she knows he's a useless dick.
He rekindles his interest in her when she informs him that she's going to inherit a house and some money. And she knows that's why he's sniffing around again. But she thinks she can prove to him that she's awesome or something?
I didn't get it. I honestly can't fathom being that desperate. I'd rather be alone than with a douchebag who comments on my weight, and continually 'forgets' his wallet.
But..whatever. I guess there are women out there somewhere who can relate? I just... Ugh.
Her two roommates/BFFs are also massive tools. If I had to live with bitches that annoying, I'd probably be in jail. I kept waiting for the moment when Sophie would realize that these chicks were soul-sucking harpies, but it never happened.
So again, I couldn't relate. They were obnoxious, and I would have kicked them to the curb a long time ago.
Her mother was the most obvious twat in the bunch, but at least there was some amount of retribution for that toward the end. Not enough, but some.
The love story thing between Sophie and Nick was...pretty bland.
Why did they like each other anyway?
Boring relationships is one of the reasons I don't normally gravitate toward chick-lit. But if you're a fan of this genre, you'll probably have no problem with the way it all plays out.
I did giggle quite a bit while I was reading, so this wasn't a waste of my time. It had a cute plot, witty dialogue, and funny situations.
Not bad considering this isn't what I normally go for.
October 7, 2013
I quickly got the impression that Sophie’s love life was not very successful and found it super easy to warm to her character, I believe the comfortable style of writing was partially responsible for that. Her naivety was just one of the things that made me like her so much, I enjoyed seeing how her character grew throughout the storyline and became more sure about her own life. I also really liked her roommates who were sisters and very entertaining – they certainly added another fun twist to the book.
An unexpected letter from a solicitor had the potential to change Sophie’s life in a big way and I felt excited to join her as she embarked on a new chapter in her life. This led to her first meeting with Nick the architect and I enjoyed this moment immensely, Nick was another wonderful character who brought a little bit of mystery to the storyline – I was constantly wondering what was going through his mind!
For me this was a well-rounded book, there were some touching moments and quite serious subjects were raised but there were also lots of funny moments, one of my favourites being Sophie’s boardroom faux pas which had me laughing out loud as I was reading. It was a book that I couldn’t wait to get back to whenever I had other things I needed to do, I was just so keen to discover what was going to happen next!
This was a fun, captivating read. I would love to read more about these characters.
An unexpected letter from a solicitor had the potential to change Sophie’s life in a big way and I felt excited to join her as she embarked on a new chapter in her life. This led to her first meeting with Nick the architect and I enjoyed this moment immensely, Nick was another wonderful character who brought a little bit of mystery to the storyline – I was constantly wondering what was going through his mind!
For me this was a well-rounded book, there were some touching moments and quite serious subjects were raised but there were also lots of funny moments, one of my favourites being Sophie’s boardroom faux pas which had me laughing out loud as I was reading. It was a book that I couldn’t wait to get back to whenever I had other things I needed to do, I was just so keen to discover what was going to happen next!
This was a fun, captivating read. I would love to read more about these characters.
May 23, 2017
3.5 stars.
Hmm, I'm not sure what to say about 'conditional love'. I expected something wonderful, like the author's other books I read before.
Unfortunately, I didn't like Sophie. I only did when she was being enthusiastic about designing etc. But between those moments she somehow was a little annoying/ being stupid. (Especially regarding the Marc-thing. He was just too obvious. Even a fictional character in a book had to get it.)
The story itself wasn't really interesting in my opinion. Almost a little boring. It felt as if they all had the same problem. Every person had any sort of first-hand experience of 'guy leaving the pregnant girl' at some point of their lives. Either being that guy, that girl or the fetus. How about a little variety, hm?
However, what made a nice difference was the prince being the awkwardly clumsy person instead of the main character.
It was also quite nice how the story settled in the end.
Hmm, I'm not sure what to say about 'conditional love'. I expected something wonderful, like the author's other books I read before.
Unfortunately, I didn't like Sophie. I only did when she was being enthusiastic about designing etc. But between those moments she somehow was a little annoying/ being stupid. (Especially regarding the Marc-thing. He was just too obvious. Even a fictional character in a book had to get it.)
The story itself wasn't really interesting in my opinion. Almost a little boring. It felt as if they all had the same problem. Every person had any sort of first-hand experience of 'guy leaving the pregnant girl' at some point of their lives. Either being that guy, that girl or the fetus. How about a little variety, hm?
However, what made a nice difference was the prince being the awkwardly clumsy person instead of the main character.
It was also quite nice how the story settled in the end.
March 26, 2020
Sophie is dumped on Valentines day and the story follows her from that day for the next year. I like how the character develops over the year. The side characters in this book were excellent and kept the story flowing. I enjoy the friends and family element to the story including the development of Sophie and her father. My only issue was there wasn't much surprise to the story but still a cute enough read that can be read easily and quickly, you don't struggle your way through it. 3.5 Stars
May 20, 2015
Originally posted on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/
This was wonderful!
I adore Cathy Bramley. Absolutely love the socks off the woman! Her writing is just a pure comfort to slip into, whether that be her FABULOUS Ivy Lane series, or her GORGEOUS Appleby Farm series, both of which I seriously enjoyed, Cathy has a sensational voice that I could listen to again and again and again, on repeat, all of the freaking time. If you haven't already treated yourself to Cathy's latest series, then I urge you to do so! You will not find another author who makes you feel at home as much as this one does. Ivy Lane (first published as a four-part series is now available as a full story), and Appleby Farm (currently published as a four-part series is being published as a full story in August 2015), are both the type of stories that will you make you want to stick your feet up, pop the kettle on and absolutely lose yourself to the words on the page. I promise you that!
Anyway, I'll stop waxing lyrical about Cathy, and return to the reasoning behind this post, and that would be Cathy's debut novel Conditional Love. I've probably done this completely the wrong way round, seeing as I've read her latest before her debut, but who actually cares? There are no rules to reading and that's why it's so fun!
Before being picked up by the fabulous Transworld publishers, Cathy self-published Conditional Love. Once under Transworld's care, the novel was given a stunning new cover which caught my attention immediately, and I couldn't click 'purchase' quick enough. I'm ashamed to say that it's been sat on my Kindle for a while now, waiting for me to finally get round to it, but now, I'm thrilled to announce that Conditional Love has been moved from my to-read pile to my read pile, and I'm ready to present you lovely lot with my review!
In Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley, the reader is introduced to Sophie Stone. Immediately, we're launched right into a crucial scene, as Sophie wakes up beside her arse-hole (although she doesn't realise it at this point) of a boyfriend on Valentine's Day. Things rapidly go downhill for the lovable Sophie, as rather than revealing a beautifully-wrapped gift from behind his back or leaping atop Sophie to ravish her, Marc breaks up with Sophie and leaves rather swiftly. Perfect Valentine's Day gift, right ladies? So, Sophie, dealing with a heavy dose of heartbreak, forces herself onwards, hoping to forget about Marc as the lonely days go by. The plot really begins to thicken when Sophie receives a mysterious letter and is handed the responsibility of her Great Aunt Jane's cottage on Lilac Lane, in Woodby. Little does Sophie know, the bundle of money and the cottage which is in much need of some tender love and care is only hers on one condition, a condition which she must agree to...
Not only did I find Conditional Love gorgeously enveloping, but it also spoke to me on a personal level too, especially when Sophie's absent father becomes involved within the plot. There are some beautifully written, emotional scenes, a few which I've been through myself, and Cathy managed to hit the onslaught of warring emotions on the head perfectly. I found myself sitting there, staring at the Cathy's descriptions of Sophie's emotions, and thinking, "This is exactly how I felt, too..." and as ridiculous as it sounds, it was comforting to know that there was somebody else out there who knew exactly what I'd been through (even if that somebody was a fictional character). Including Sophie's absent father within the plot added a heap of intrigue to this story, especially since Sophie hadn't set on eyes on the man for God knew how long. There'd been conflict in the past according to Sophie's mother, and I was desperate to find out what exactly that conflict had involved. I had so many questions running through my mind, and Cathy had me holding my breath at numerous moments throughout my reading of Conditional Love. There was mystery, secrets and a whole lotta' Cathy Bramley at work. Quite simply, it was marvellous.
Of course, as is the norm with any of the authors books that I've read, as well as succulent plot to really sink my teeth into, there were some excellent characters who I thouroughly enjoyed spending my time with. Sophie Stone, firstly, who Conditional Love is really all about. We follow Sophie through her journey of self-discovery, not only in regards to her family, but in regards to her heart, too. Alongside Sophie, we have her fantastic flatmates, Emma and Jess, two colourful, engaging sisters who added heaps of camaraderie to the atmosphere whenever they were present. Lots of girlish, friendly banter took place which is something that I always love to read. It always reminds me of my own sisters who never fail to make me smile. Also, I believe the sibling relationship between Jess and Emma highlighted how alone Sophie sometimes felt. With her mother living abroad, Sophie didn't really have anyone who she could call her own, but Emma and Jess didn't mind filling that gap for her, which made me love the three of them and their bond all the more. Moving away from the girls, we have Marc who I instantly took a disliking too, and who continued to grind my gears right the way through the novel. There were moments when Sophie was so blind-sided by her feelings for the man, I wanted to reach into my Kindle and give her a gentle shake of the shoulders because he was just SUCH an IDIOT! Marc didn't, not once, appeal to me at all. Sophie's architect however worked wonders, and you'll know exactly what I mean if you've read this book too.
All in all, Cathy Bramley's debut was FABULOUS! It had it all. The romance, the mystery, the girly chats... It was the perfect book for me to lose myself within after a long day at work. My troubles instantly vanished and I felt like I could step away from my own life and join Sophie Stone in hers for a little while. I sincerely hope that you'll do the same, too, bookish beauts! A delectable romance that will most definitely whisk you away!
Becca's Books is awarding Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley with FOUR GORGEOUS CUPCAKES! I'm thrilled that we have so much more to come from Cathy, and I can't wait to dive into each and every book that she shares with us in the future.
This was wonderful!
I adore Cathy Bramley. Absolutely love the socks off the woman! Her writing is just a pure comfort to slip into, whether that be her FABULOUS Ivy Lane series, or her GORGEOUS Appleby Farm series, both of which I seriously enjoyed, Cathy has a sensational voice that I could listen to again and again and again, on repeat, all of the freaking time. If you haven't already treated yourself to Cathy's latest series, then I urge you to do so! You will not find another author who makes you feel at home as much as this one does. Ivy Lane (first published as a four-part series is now available as a full story), and Appleby Farm (currently published as a four-part series is being published as a full story in August 2015), are both the type of stories that will you make you want to stick your feet up, pop the kettle on and absolutely lose yourself to the words on the page. I promise you that!
Anyway, I'll stop waxing lyrical about Cathy, and return to the reasoning behind this post, and that would be Cathy's debut novel Conditional Love. I've probably done this completely the wrong way round, seeing as I've read her latest before her debut, but who actually cares? There are no rules to reading and that's why it's so fun!
Before being picked up by the fabulous Transworld publishers, Cathy self-published Conditional Love. Once under Transworld's care, the novel was given a stunning new cover which caught my attention immediately, and I couldn't click 'purchase' quick enough. I'm ashamed to say that it's been sat on my Kindle for a while now, waiting for me to finally get round to it, but now, I'm thrilled to announce that Conditional Love has been moved from my to-read pile to my read pile, and I'm ready to present you lovely lot with my review!
In Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley, the reader is introduced to Sophie Stone. Immediately, we're launched right into a crucial scene, as Sophie wakes up beside her arse-hole (although she doesn't realise it at this point) of a boyfriend on Valentine's Day. Things rapidly go downhill for the lovable Sophie, as rather than revealing a beautifully-wrapped gift from behind his back or leaping atop Sophie to ravish her, Marc breaks up with Sophie and leaves rather swiftly. Perfect Valentine's Day gift, right ladies? So, Sophie, dealing with a heavy dose of heartbreak, forces herself onwards, hoping to forget about Marc as the lonely days go by. The plot really begins to thicken when Sophie receives a mysterious letter and is handed the responsibility of her Great Aunt Jane's cottage on Lilac Lane, in Woodby. Little does Sophie know, the bundle of money and the cottage which is in much need of some tender love and care is only hers on one condition, a condition which she must agree to...
Not only did I find Conditional Love gorgeously enveloping, but it also spoke to me on a personal level too, especially when Sophie's absent father becomes involved within the plot. There are some beautifully written, emotional scenes, a few which I've been through myself, and Cathy managed to hit the onslaught of warring emotions on the head perfectly. I found myself sitting there, staring at the Cathy's descriptions of Sophie's emotions, and thinking, "This is exactly how I felt, too..." and as ridiculous as it sounds, it was comforting to know that there was somebody else out there who knew exactly what I'd been through (even if that somebody was a fictional character). Including Sophie's absent father within the plot added a heap of intrigue to this story, especially since Sophie hadn't set on eyes on the man for God knew how long. There'd been conflict in the past according to Sophie's mother, and I was desperate to find out what exactly that conflict had involved. I had so many questions running through my mind, and Cathy had me holding my breath at numerous moments throughout my reading of Conditional Love. There was mystery, secrets and a whole lotta' Cathy Bramley at work. Quite simply, it was marvellous.
Of course, as is the norm with any of the authors books that I've read, as well as succulent plot to really sink my teeth into, there were some excellent characters who I thouroughly enjoyed spending my time with. Sophie Stone, firstly, who Conditional Love is really all about. We follow Sophie through her journey of self-discovery, not only in regards to her family, but in regards to her heart, too. Alongside Sophie, we have her fantastic flatmates, Emma and Jess, two colourful, engaging sisters who added heaps of camaraderie to the atmosphere whenever they were present. Lots of girlish, friendly banter took place which is something that I always love to read. It always reminds me of my own sisters who never fail to make me smile. Also, I believe the sibling relationship between Jess and Emma highlighted how alone Sophie sometimes felt. With her mother living abroad, Sophie didn't really have anyone who she could call her own, but Emma and Jess didn't mind filling that gap for her, which made me love the three of them and their bond all the more. Moving away from the girls, we have Marc who I instantly took a disliking too, and who continued to grind my gears right the way through the novel. There were moments when Sophie was so blind-sided by her feelings for the man, I wanted to reach into my Kindle and give her a gentle shake of the shoulders because he was just SUCH an IDIOT! Marc didn't, not once, appeal to me at all. Sophie's architect however worked wonders, and you'll know exactly what I mean if you've read this book too.
All in all, Cathy Bramley's debut was FABULOUS! It had it all. The romance, the mystery, the girly chats... It was the perfect book for me to lose myself within after a long day at work. My troubles instantly vanished and I felt like I could step away from my own life and join Sophie Stone in hers for a little while. I sincerely hope that you'll do the same, too, bookish beauts! A delectable romance that will most definitely whisk you away!
Becca's Books is awarding Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley with FOUR GORGEOUS CUPCAKES! I'm thrilled that we have so much more to come from Cathy, and I can't wait to dive into each and every book that she shares with us in the future.
September 5, 2019
I really did not like this. I'm so disappointed. I was expecting it to be great after reading three of her other books and loving them, but I have no idea what happened with this one. I was bored AF! The plot was absolutely shit and dragged unnecessarily. I really need to start DNFing books (can my brain cooperate?) because this was torture.
November 17, 2015
Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...
Conditional Love has recently been re-worked and re-published, making it Cathy Bramley’s third Corgi paperback and, to be expected, just as wonderful as the others. I adored this novel right from the first page and never stopped – it was a typically heart-warming, glorious romantic comedy, beautifully delivered with realistically observed emotions and a hint of a romance thanks to certain architect that you will be absolutely rooting for. It’s a gorgeous story and I loved every moment of it. Cathy Bramley has not yet written a book I didn’t enjoy and there’s never any doubt in my mind that she will deliver – an author whose books you can always rely on to put a smile on your face. So, bring on the next one!
Sophie Stone has a nice enough life – she has her job, her friends and a boyfriend Marc, and on surface is fairly happy with her simple life. But there’s more to Sophie than meets the eye and when she is left a hefty inheritance from her mysterious great aunt, we see a much more insecure side to her character. Sophie has the chance to acquire her dream home from the inheritance but there is a catch – she must meet once with the father she has never known. Sophie battles with her conscience and how she, and her mother, would feel about Sophie seeing her dad and I was intrigued by what she may discover and the true story behind why her dad wasn’t in her life. Sophie was instantly likeable and one of those characters I really found myself wanting the best for. Her boyfriend, Marc, was frankly awful and I hated how she put up with him but all it did was make me look forward to hopefully the moment where she would stand up to him and get rid.
There was something really inspiring about Sophie when she started taking charge of her life and chasing her dreams. When she sets her eyes on the home she could be inheriting and starts thinking, along with architect Nick, about the interior design and how she could make it something personal to her, we really get to see a different side to her character, one where she is passionate about something and creative and enthusiastic. It was nice to see her thinking about something purely for herself rather than always trying to work out ways of suiting everyone else – like compromising for Marc or hiding things from her mum so as not to upset her. Sophie was a selfless character but somehow I found myself willing her to be more selfish because she was a really thoughtful, sincere character who was so worthy of something brilliant happening in her own life. I wanted to see Sophie put herself first and build that dream life she was so deserving of.
Sophie and architect Nick are my two favourite Cathy Bramley characters and they made this book such a joy for me to read. The other character who stole my heart was in actual fact a dog, but so sweet and loveable I just couldn’t resist him. As always, Cathy created a really endearing set of characters and I found myself drawn to many of them. I found the dynamics between Sophie and her mum and Sophie and her dad both interesting and fascinating – I was eager to learn if any secrets may be discovered between the three of them and what really happened the day Sophie’s dad disappeared from her life. I also loved reading the friendship in this novel between Sophie and sisters Jess and Emma who were so different but equally fab. I loved their bond and how they all bickered but yet at the same time all they wanted to do was support each other. All three of them had the perfect girly friendship, the chats and the gossip, the advice and laughter over a cup of tea or a takeaway and something a bit stronger. All three of them were easy to identify with and impossible to dislike.
Conditional Love was everything I want a romantic comedy to be plus much more. Cathy Bramley has a recognisable sense of humour in her stories which never fails to hit the mark and the wit in this book often had me giggling out loud, which made the story flow with even more ease and beauty. As for the romance element… predictable – yes, but absolutely everything I wanted to read, 100% yes! I liked how I couldn’t stand Marc from the beginning and yet Sophie still persevered with him because it made me fall for the better love interest even more and yes I definitely did fall for him! Ahhh… He was awkward and said the wrong thing many times but he was lovely and genuine and not at all as boring as I am making him sound. From start to finish, Conditional Love was a delight to read and I was very sad to see it come to an end because I’d grown extremely attached to the characters! Warm and witty, it’s a book that makes you want to embrace all of life’s little things and just enjoy it so pick up this book, curl up by the fire on a winter’s day and get reading because the smile left on your face once you’ve finished is so worth it.
(review copy)
November 19, 2015
Originally posted on This Chick Reads
* Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review *
‘Conditional Love’ is Cathy Bramley’s debut which she self-published back in 2013. Soon after releasing it, it went flying up the charts and winning the hearts of so many romance readers. It was just a matter of time till she snatched a deal with a publisher (Transworld). Two years after the first release of her debut, Cathy’s rewritten it and this time published it under the wings of Transworld. The book also got a brand new cover which is simply gorgeous!
‘Conditional Love’ is a delightful story, which is centered around Sophie Stone who’s probably experiencing the worst Valentines Day in her life. After almost a year of relationship she expects things to get more serious with Marc, but instead of taking their relationship to the next level, he cruelly dumps her. However, things might get worse as Sophie finds out she’s inherited money from a mysterious person, a person they claim is her great aunt from her father’s side. She’s to inherit a property and money but there’s a catch, as stated in her great aunt’s will, she’s to receive them only if she meets her father. Sophie’s never even met her father, he’s left when she was just a baby and never got in contact. Her mother rarely spoke about him and hen she did, she always called him bad names. Naturally, Sophie never even wanted to meet him, however she’s put in a really hard situation right now. If she only had a more decent salary or her flat mates could earn, maybe she wouldn’t have to even consider her great aunt’s deal.
As months go by and in a time frame of a year, we see Sophie going through so many life changing situations. We see just what kind of a piece of work her ex-boyfriend is, how badly he treats her, but also we get to see Sophie transforming into a smarter, stronger person.
This is one of those reads you’ll absolutely fly through. I finished it in about 4 hours or so, which definitely says a lot about just how much I enjoyed it. To be honest, I didn’t like Sophie in the beginning. I actually started to like her half way through the book, which might be late for some readers. Through the way she allows Marc to treat her, I got to the conclusion she’s a weak, boneless, brainless woman who needs a man to make her feel completely. And I assume, she’ll be perceived by many readers the same way. There was a point when I honestly thought she’s the weakest romance heroine I’ve ever read about. However, as the story progressed more and more things started happening and I started seeing her in a completely new light.
And this is one of the things that I loved the most, the fact I got to see Sophie transform in front of my eyes. I also loved the fact this in not yet another romance story, as Ms Bramley has cleverly interwoven the family drama through a very complicated father-daughter relationship. In a light, funny at times, way Ms Bramley shows us the importance of family but also the importance of self-growth through accepting what we are as well as accepting our past.
I really enjoyed this book. It took me long to warm up to Sophie, but it’s very clear what Ms Bramley wanted to achieve with portraying her like that. ‘Conditional Love’ is indeed a charming book perfect for curling up on the sofa after a long and exhausting day. Enjoy!
January 12, 2017
'Conditional Love' is about Sophie Stone, who lives in Nottingham and shares a flat with her two best friends. She works for a local paper and is not entirely satisfied with her job. Also, her boyfriend dumps her on Valentine's Day and doesn't really seem to care that much about it, because she was apparently too boring anyways.
So the day might not be her best yet, that is until she receives a letter from a solicitor's office saying she inherited a house and some money from a woman she never even heard of.
The only problem is she has so agree to meet her father, who has apparently abandoned the family before Sophie was even born. Otherwise she won't get the house or the money. Now, Sophie is torn between being happy about a home of her own, something she wants since forever and being angry and scared about meeting a man who obviously doesn't even want her...
As this is a Cathy Bramley book, I had high expectations about it. I adored 'Ivy Lane' and 'Appleby Farm' an so on, so I was sure that 'Conditional Love' would be just as wonderful. It was really good, but it didn't quite reach up to her other novels, I would say. It was just not as nice and warm and breezy as the other ones. But it was lovely nonetheless!
Sophie was a really nice (if in some situations naive and stupid) girl and her two flatmates were great, too. Her love interest was simply delightful, I loved him. ♥ He was sometimes so clumsy I wanted to reach out and hug him. Also, Cathy Bramley did a fantastic job creating a horrible, annoying and insensitive boyfriend.
It was really an easy read with a nice, smooth flow. No overly horrible scenarios or something, which was great, just how I like it.
As I said, it does not quite reach 'Ivy Lane' level for me, but it does have some similarities: The story takes place in the period of about one year, for example, you get to see Sophie throughout all the seasons, just a bit more subtle than in 'Ivy Lane' etc. Still nice, though!
All in all, it was a very lovely book, I can definitely recommend it.
So the day might not be her best yet, that is until she receives a letter from a solicitor's office saying she inherited a house and some money from a woman she never even heard of.
The only problem is she has so agree to meet her father, who has apparently abandoned the family before Sophie was even born. Otherwise she won't get the house or the money. Now, Sophie is torn between being happy about a home of her own, something she wants since forever and being angry and scared about meeting a man who obviously doesn't even want her...
As this is a Cathy Bramley book, I had high expectations about it. I adored 'Ivy Lane' and 'Appleby Farm' an so on, so I was sure that 'Conditional Love' would be just as wonderful. It was really good, but it didn't quite reach up to her other novels, I would say. It was just not as nice and warm and breezy as the other ones. But it was lovely nonetheless!
Sophie was a really nice (if in some situations naive and stupid) girl and her two flatmates were great, too. Her love interest was simply delightful, I loved him. ♥ He was sometimes so clumsy I wanted to reach out and hug him. Also, Cathy Bramley did a fantastic job creating a horrible, annoying and insensitive boyfriend.
It was really an easy read with a nice, smooth flow. No overly horrible scenarios or something, which was great, just how I like it.
As I said, it does not quite reach 'Ivy Lane' level for me, but it does have some similarities: The story takes place in the period of about one year, for example, you get to see Sophie throughout all the seasons, just a bit more subtle than in 'Ivy Lane' etc. Still nice, though!
All in all, it was a very lovely book, I can definitely recommend it.
November 18, 2013
I was delighted when Cathy approached me to review her book as unbeknownst to her I had already downloaded my own copy and was looking forward to reading it, as from the blurb it sounded like a promising read.
The book is written in a humourous style that engages you from the first page as we meet Sophie Stone expecting her boyfriend to propose on Valentine's Day, only to find he dumps her instead. The book is easy to read and that is due in no small part to the skill of Cathy Bramley as she pulls you effortlessly into Sophie's life.
There were times when I wanted to shake Sophie for behaving more like a seventeen year old than a thirty-two year old but then she goes and does something silly that has happened to all of us, like walking around with her skirt tucked into her Tesco knickers. You'll find yourelf chuckling aloud at lots of moments like this one. It is stretching the reader's credulity a little though that she is so dependent on others considering that her mother has essentially abandonned her and moved to Spain, she doesn't know her father and she's living in a flatshare. I did like the way that she grew during the story though and took driving lessons to become more independent but found her emotional naivety a bit hard to take at times.
On the other hand I absolutely loved the 'boardroom' episode and knowing that it was based on Cathy's own experience had me laughing even more. Nick, the architect, is incredibly well-drawn too and easy to imagine as a young Doc Martin and happily Cathy has avoided making him into a stereotype. The ending is a tad predictable but satisfying at the same time. All in all a great effort from a debut writer about whom I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more in the near future.
November 5, 2013
When I got the opportunity to read Cathy Bramley's debut novel I couldn't wait, it sounded just like something I would like to read.
So much happens in the story and it is nicely written, warm believable characters with any easy pace to the novel. The main character Sophie Stone is funny and easy to identify with, she is moving along with her relatively unremarkable life living with her two flat mates who are sisters when an unexpected letter from a solicitor has the potential to change her life forever.
Through events that happen we meet Nick the architect and I liked how his character brings an element of mystery to the storyline. It had some laugh out aloud moments especially Sophie 's boardroom debut.
All in all a good light read, somewhat predictable in its ending but overall an enjoyable summer by the beach read. I would give this a rating of four stars, worth reading and would be good to have a sequel as I feel the lack of the epilogue would have helped to tell me what happens next.
I would like to thank Cathy for sending me a copy of her great book to read, I am only sorry it took me so long to get round to read it!
So much happens in the story and it is nicely written, warm believable characters with any easy pace to the novel. The main character Sophie Stone is funny and easy to identify with, she is moving along with her relatively unremarkable life living with her two flat mates who are sisters when an unexpected letter from a solicitor has the potential to change her life forever.
Through events that happen we meet Nick the architect and I liked how his character brings an element of mystery to the storyline. It had some laugh out aloud moments especially Sophie 's boardroom debut.
All in all a good light read, somewhat predictable in its ending but overall an enjoyable summer by the beach read. I would give this a rating of four stars, worth reading and would be good to have a sequel as I feel the lack of the epilogue would have helped to tell me what happens next.
I would like to thank Cathy for sending me a copy of her great book to read, I am only sorry it took me so long to get round to read it!
August 9, 2016
Loved this one - and read it in a day. Loved the characters and the storyline. You knew everything would work out fine in the end but it was fun getting there. One of my favourite authors at the moment.
July 1, 2016
I loved this book, lots of twists and turns in the story. the characters were likeable and very easy to relate too, hope she wites a sequel.
November 11, 2013
Review originally posted to my blog on:
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
Sophie thinks that her gorgeous boyfriend Marc might be the one, so when he breaks up with her on Valentine's Day she's heartbroken - and also horrified at the thought of having to change her Facebook status to 'single' on the most romantic day of the year.
Thankfully Sophie has her two close friends Jess and Emma to distract her and if that wasn't enough there's also the arrival of a mysterious letter from a solicitor on her doorstep. In it it's explained that she's a beneficiary in the will and testament of Mrs Jane Kennedy. Sophie has no idea who this woman is, but the letter sets into motion a series of events that will change her life forever...
Even though I instantly took a liking to the character of Sophie I did think that she was very naïve and a bit of a pushover in the earlier chapters. She let Marc and her mum waltz right over her and on more than one occasion I wished she'd just stand up for herself. Thankfully, as the story progressed, Sophie really found her feet and she grew into a more confident and independent woman.
Some new characters are introduced because of the mysterious inheritance and I instantly fell head over heels in love with the socially awkward architect Nick. More comfortable in the company of his dog than that of other human beings he was rather endearing and (of course) I instantly started rooting for him and Sophie to become more than just friends.
Another thing that I really liked about the novel was the home makeover aspect. I'm at a stage in my own life where I feel ready to have my own place to renovate and decorate to my heart's content, so I completely understood Sophie's desire for exactly that. And as she put all her ideas and creativity into turning the property into a home, I was vicariously living through her.
Conditional Love was also incredibly funny. There were many hilariously awkward situations that made me chuckle and I have quite a few post-its scattered across my room with phrases that I wrote down while reading. Two of my favourites were: "Today she had bags under her eyes that wouldn't pass the Ryanair baggage allowance" (I was properly laughing out loud at that one) and "She was to cooking what Heston Blumenthal was to hairstyling: a total stranger".
It's hard to believe that this is Cathy Bramley's debut novel as it reads as if written by a much more seasoned author. What's even more amazing is that this is not only her debut, but it is also self-published. Having a publishing company backing a book release means that a lot more people can give their professional input and polish the novel, yet even though Conditional Love did not have this privilege, you wouldn't be able to tell from reading it. It looks professionally put together and has one of the most eye-catching and cutest covers I've seen all year.
In short, Conditional Love is cute, charming and very, very funny. I adored this novel, which is similar in feel to the books by Lindsey Kelk and Abby Clements, and I can promise you that you will too, so purchase your very own copy from Amazon now!
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
Sophie thinks that her gorgeous boyfriend Marc might be the one, so when he breaks up with her on Valentine's Day she's heartbroken - and also horrified at the thought of having to change her Facebook status to 'single' on the most romantic day of the year.
Thankfully Sophie has her two close friends Jess and Emma to distract her and if that wasn't enough there's also the arrival of a mysterious letter from a solicitor on her doorstep. In it it's explained that she's a beneficiary in the will and testament of Mrs Jane Kennedy. Sophie has no idea who this woman is, but the letter sets into motion a series of events that will change her life forever...
Even though I instantly took a liking to the character of Sophie I did think that she was very naïve and a bit of a pushover in the earlier chapters. She let Marc and her mum waltz right over her and on more than one occasion I wished she'd just stand up for herself. Thankfully, as the story progressed, Sophie really found her feet and she grew into a more confident and independent woman.
Some new characters are introduced because of the mysterious inheritance and I instantly fell head over heels in love with the socially awkward architect Nick. More comfortable in the company of his dog than that of other human beings he was rather endearing and (of course) I instantly started rooting for him and Sophie to become more than just friends.
Another thing that I really liked about the novel was the home makeover aspect. I'm at a stage in my own life where I feel ready to have my own place to renovate and decorate to my heart's content, so I completely understood Sophie's desire for exactly that. And as she put all her ideas and creativity into turning the property into a home, I was vicariously living through her.
Conditional Love was also incredibly funny. There were many hilariously awkward situations that made me chuckle and I have quite a few post-its scattered across my room with phrases that I wrote down while reading. Two of my favourites were: "Today she had bags under her eyes that wouldn't pass the Ryanair baggage allowance" (I was properly laughing out loud at that one) and "She was to cooking what Heston Blumenthal was to hairstyling: a total stranger".
It's hard to believe that this is Cathy Bramley's debut novel as it reads as if written by a much more seasoned author. What's even more amazing is that this is not only her debut, but it is also self-published. Having a publishing company backing a book release means that a lot more people can give their professional input and polish the novel, yet even though Conditional Love did not have this privilege, you wouldn't be able to tell from reading it. It looks professionally put together and has one of the most eye-catching and cutest covers I've seen all year.
In short, Conditional Love is cute, charming and very, very funny. I adored this novel, which is similar in feel to the books by Lindsey Kelk and Abby Clements, and I can promise you that you will too, so purchase your very own copy from Amazon now!
January 27, 2014
I’ve been chatting with Cathy on Twitter for a couple of months now and she has featured on my blog a couple of times. Conditional Love is her debut novel, here is my review.
The story is about main character Sophie Stone who has just been chucked, on Valentine’s Day no less, by a man who was shaping up to be a consideration for settling down. Sophie isn’t a risk taker; the extent of excitement in her life is the three tin surprise dinner she makes. When she finds out that she has been left an unexpected inheritance, her life is turned upside down. She can access the inheritance on the condition that she meets her estranged father. Something that would upset her mother and her life as she knows it. But with the inheritance tantalisingly close and her dreams almost appearing reality Sophie is intrigued.
I liked most of Sophie straight away. I recognised some of myself in her – I am also a bit of a procrastinator, although not to Sophie’s extreme. She’s down to earth and just trying to get along with her life and finally reach adulthood. The only part I didn’t like is that she is completely blinded by what a ratbag her boyfriend Marc is. I was so frustrated reading about her feelings towards him the book I just wanted to bash her head to make her open her eyes and see what she should have instead of what she is settling for, because that’s exactly what she does.
Marc has got to be one of the most annoying characters I’ve ever came across. Seriously. It didn’t do the book any harm though because while I was busy hating him, I was also loving Nick. Nick is the architect that Sophie hires to help her realise the potential of her inheritance. In my mind Nick was a bit of a loveable geek. I would cast Matt Smith – better known as Dr Who – to play him. He was the complete opposite of Marc which was nice because I disliked him so much!
The story itself is quite different to anything I’ve read before, certainly a new story line in chick lit. Sophie has a love of Grand Designs which I can also relate to, and I really loved seeing all her plans pan out more or less the way she wanted. Her character developed throughout the story and you can really see her character changing to become a stronger, more sure of herself person who grabs hold of her life.
I’m looking forward to whatever is next from Cathy.
The story is about main character Sophie Stone who has just been chucked, on Valentine’s Day no less, by a man who was shaping up to be a consideration for settling down. Sophie isn’t a risk taker; the extent of excitement in her life is the three tin surprise dinner she makes. When she finds out that she has been left an unexpected inheritance, her life is turned upside down. She can access the inheritance on the condition that she meets her estranged father. Something that would upset her mother and her life as she knows it. But with the inheritance tantalisingly close and her dreams almost appearing reality Sophie is intrigued.
I liked most of Sophie straight away. I recognised some of myself in her – I am also a bit of a procrastinator, although not to Sophie’s extreme. She’s down to earth and just trying to get along with her life and finally reach adulthood. The only part I didn’t like is that she is completely blinded by what a ratbag her boyfriend Marc is. I was so frustrated reading about her feelings towards him the book I just wanted to bash her head to make her open her eyes and see what she should have instead of what she is settling for, because that’s exactly what she does.
Marc has got to be one of the most annoying characters I’ve ever came across. Seriously. It didn’t do the book any harm though because while I was busy hating him, I was also loving Nick. Nick is the architect that Sophie hires to help her realise the potential of her inheritance. In my mind Nick was a bit of a loveable geek. I would cast Matt Smith – better known as Dr Who – to play him. He was the complete opposite of Marc which was nice because I disliked him so much!
The story itself is quite different to anything I’ve read before, certainly a new story line in chick lit. Sophie has a love of Grand Designs which I can also relate to, and I really loved seeing all her plans pan out more or less the way she wanted. Her character developed throughout the story and you can really see her character changing to become a stronger, more sure of herself person who grabs hold of her life.
I’m looking forward to whatever is next from Cathy.
November 7, 2013
Review from Fairy Tale Ending Book Reviews
Read: 27 October 2013
Why: Copy received as part of the blog tour
Brief synopsis:
Meet Sophie Stone, a thirty-something, serial-procrastinator. Tesco knickers, Take That, and tea with two sugars is about as exciting as it gets.
Out of the blue, it seems as though Sophie’s dreams have been answered when a mysterious benefactor leaves her an inheritance however there is a catch – a condition in the will that threatens the very foundations of Sophie’s world. What did the old lady want Sophie to discover?
What I thought: This is a great debut novel. There were so many different elements to the story, from the inheritance to her work life as well as snippets about her bickering housemates, I was always wondering what would happen next, right up to the last page. Cathy has a fantastic humorous writing style and a great knack for dropping references to 90s TV programmes into the story!
I’m a bit torn when it comes to the lead character, Sophie. On one hand, a funny likeable character but when it came to Marc or her mother, I really wanted her to strap on a pair and tell them where to go! Surely there’s no bloke worth being hungry or even worse, joining the gym for?!
The architect Nick was easily my favourite character – I loved his passion for his work, the awkward way he had about him and his ability to always say the wrong thing around Sophie; even managing to inadvertently insult the bungalow he was working on!
The downside for me was the lack of epilogue, I enjoyed the story so much I’d love read more and and discover what happened next for Sophie and friends. Fingers crossed for a sequel from Jess or Emma in the future!
You can add this beautiful knit-effect cover to your Kindle now for the bargain price of 99p!
Favourite quotes:
“There was nothing else for it; it would have to be three-tin-surprise. Not my favourite; in fact no one was fond of it. I had gleaned all my culinary talents from my mother; it hadn’t taken long. She was to cooking what Heston Blumenthal was to hairstyling: a total stranger. This particular concoction was like playing Russian roulette with your taste buds and suited my mood perfectly.”
Read: 27 October 2013
Why: Copy received as part of the blog tour
Brief synopsis:
Meet Sophie Stone, a thirty-something, serial-procrastinator. Tesco knickers, Take That, and tea with two sugars is about as exciting as it gets.
Out of the blue, it seems as though Sophie’s dreams have been answered when a mysterious benefactor leaves her an inheritance however there is a catch – a condition in the will that threatens the very foundations of Sophie’s world. What did the old lady want Sophie to discover?
What I thought: This is a great debut novel. There were so many different elements to the story, from the inheritance to her work life as well as snippets about her bickering housemates, I was always wondering what would happen next, right up to the last page. Cathy has a fantastic humorous writing style and a great knack for dropping references to 90s TV programmes into the story!
I’m a bit torn when it comes to the lead character, Sophie. On one hand, a funny likeable character but when it came to Marc or her mother, I really wanted her to strap on a pair and tell them where to go! Surely there’s no bloke worth being hungry or even worse, joining the gym for?!
The architect Nick was easily my favourite character – I loved his passion for his work, the awkward way he had about him and his ability to always say the wrong thing around Sophie; even managing to inadvertently insult the bungalow he was working on!
The downside for me was the lack of epilogue, I enjoyed the story so much I’d love read more and and discover what happened next for Sophie and friends. Fingers crossed for a sequel from Jess or Emma in the future!
You can add this beautiful knit-effect cover to your Kindle now for the bargain price of 99p!
Favourite quotes:
“There was nothing else for it; it would have to be three-tin-surprise. Not my favourite; in fact no one was fond of it. I had gleaned all my culinary talents from my mother; it hadn’t taken long. She was to cooking what Heston Blumenthal was to hairstyling: a total stranger. This particular concoction was like playing Russian roulette with your taste buds and suited my mood perfectly.”
December 4, 2013
Just what you need to read in time for Christmas...
I have to admit that at first I really was annoyed by Sophie, the main character. She seemed so weak and I really felt like shaking her (just like they do in the spoof "Airplane"). I could not understand why she was so... Well... Pathetic!
But, this is the beauty of the plot. Without giving too much away, let's just say that Cathy Bramley had a few aces hidden in her sleeve. Every now and again, bam, they were down on the table. These revelations resulted in Sophie maturing, facing up to the things that she should have confronted ages ago and coming to terms with the reality of her situation and how the past influenced it.
Interlinked with this is the classic love story which made me laugh out loud on many occasions... (it's always embarrassing when I HAVE to read stuff out to my husband because it's sooooo funny and all I get is a nod!)
Anyway, I have not read a story like this in ages. But, I remember going through my Shopaholic, Bridget Jones, etc obsession for chick lit and this book brought it all back - I am a sucker for love & loopy women...
Loved it - and what a bargain at 99p! Snap it up ladies, you would be foolish not to! :)
I have to admit that at first I really was annoyed by Sophie, the main character. She seemed so weak and I really felt like shaking her (just like they do in the spoof "Airplane"). I could not understand why she was so... Well... Pathetic!
But, this is the beauty of the plot. Without giving too much away, let's just say that Cathy Bramley had a few aces hidden in her sleeve. Every now and again, bam, they were down on the table. These revelations resulted in Sophie maturing, facing up to the things that she should have confronted ages ago and coming to terms with the reality of her situation and how the past influenced it.
Interlinked with this is the classic love story which made me laugh out loud on many occasions... (it's always embarrassing when I HAVE to read stuff out to my husband because it's sooooo funny and all I get is a nod!)
Anyway, I have not read a story like this in ages. But, I remember going through my Shopaholic, Bridget Jones, etc obsession for chick lit and this book brought it all back - I am a sucker for love & loopy women...
Loved it - and what a bargain at 99p! Snap it up ladies, you would be foolish not to! :)
January 30, 2014
I found this story a bit slow to begin with but I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. Sophie Stone, the main protagonist who narrates the story, struggles at first with self confidence and is scared to take risks, staying in her job working at a local newspaper when her dream is to be an interior designer. We first meet her when she's dumped by her boyfriend on Valentine's Day.
When she's left a hefty inheritance and comes into her own property, Sophie's life begins to change and nothing will ever be the same for her. She employs Nick, an architect, to assist her with designing a house.
As a reader, from the moment Sophie's love life imploded on Valentine's Day I felt an affinity with her as a character; I could empathise with her situation. The other characters were engaging and sympathetic too, especially Nick and Sophie's housemates Emma and Jess. I liked the way the author didn't make them too black and white. Whilst at times I thought Sophie's mother was a bit of a bitch, the author portrayed her as being someone who struggles in life and deserving of our sympathy.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romantic tale with plenty of humour and heart.
When she's left a hefty inheritance and comes into her own property, Sophie's life begins to change and nothing will ever be the same for her. She employs Nick, an architect, to assist her with designing a house.
As a reader, from the moment Sophie's love life imploded on Valentine's Day I felt an affinity with her as a character; I could empathise with her situation. The other characters were engaging and sympathetic too, especially Nick and Sophie's housemates Emma and Jess. I liked the way the author didn't make them too black and white. Whilst at times I thought Sophie's mother was a bit of a bitch, the author portrayed her as being someone who struggles in life and deserving of our sympathy.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romantic tale with plenty of humour and heart.
March 19, 2014
A quick easy to read book. Easy to relate to Sophie and how her life is stuck in s rut. Sophie lives with 2 sisters, she is in a job that she hates and has a selfish bf called Marcus , she appears to not see his bad side until she meets nick who is the complete opposite to Marcus . Nick and Sophie have quite a few turbulent encounters but eventually realise their true feelings for each other. Sophie also reunites with her father and starts to build a real relationship with him. She also sees how selfish her mother has been over the years. A good off work with a broken foot book to get to stuck into ( which I am)
Would recommend and read other books by Bramley .!
Would recommend and read other books by Bramley .!
October 30, 2013
Loved this book, so easy to get into and Sophie is a character you can't help but like. Yes, she is a little bit ditzy and things happen to her that make you go ' oh no' but also laugh at the same time. The 'dogs bollocks' incident made me laugh on the train! I loved the sub plots going on with her friends Emma and Jess and I was firmly in their camp for their dislike of 'cad' Marc. There was so much more to this girl meets boy story and I loved the grand design theme. Fab book
October 10, 2017
I decided to read this book as a lot of my friends were saying lots of good things about this author.
I was pleasaintly surprised by the storyline, it was highly enjoyable, wonderfully written characters that really came alive in my mind.
So it's a 5 stars from me and yes I will be looking to read her other books.
I was pleasaintly surprised by the storyline, it was highly enjoyable, wonderfully written characters that really came alive in my mind.
So it's a 5 stars from me and yes I will be looking to read her other books.
January 24, 2016
loved it
January 15, 2016
I really enjoyed this book, but then I love everything that Cathy Bramley has written. Nice easy read with good plot and characters.
January 22, 2016
Enjoyed the story ending bit abrupt
January 18, 2018
32-year-old Sophie Stone has put her biggest dream on hold years ago, but when a relative leaves her a grand inheritance, things are about to change. The only catch: In order to access what's been left to her, she has to meet her father - a man she's never met before.
Going into this book, I expected it to be mostly light-hearted, family-oriented and romantic. I wasn't disappointed per say, but Cathy Bramley's novel didn't exactly rise up to my expectations, either. Sophie is a nice enough protagonist with mostly relatable issues. Who I didn't particularly like was her mother, though. And don't get me started on her boyfriend - I've seldom encountered a more manipulative, self-centered and overall unlikeable character.
The story itself was nice enough, if more serious and less funny than I expected it to be.
All in all, "Conditional Love" is a nice and quick read and I recommend it to women who like not too schmaltzy, yet romantic books that contain a lot of drama.
Going into this book, I expected it to be mostly light-hearted, family-oriented and romantic. I wasn't disappointed per say, but Cathy Bramley's novel didn't exactly rise up to my expectations, either. Sophie is a nice enough protagonist with mostly relatable issues. Who I didn't particularly like was her mother, though. And don't get me started on her boyfriend - I've seldom encountered a more manipulative, self-centered and overall unlikeable character.
The story itself was nice enough, if more serious and less funny than I expected it to be.
All in all, "Conditional Love" is a nice and quick read and I recommend it to women who like not too schmaltzy, yet romantic books that contain a lot of drama.
November 14, 2020
I loved the concept of this book and was drawn in from the first chapter, this is the first book I have read from Cathy Bramley which hasn’t been a short story so I was excited as I have a few of her books on my bookshelf! The writing style I just found so easy to read which was another thing I loved, overall I enjoyed this story but found it slightly predictable with certain aspects. I enjoyed the romance in this book but there was certain parts which just let me down. I hated Marc as a character but adored Nick, loved the main character and her flatmates but again had a dislike for her mother but did adore her father. This book overall was an enjoyable read but I did find certain things a bit of a let down but will definitely read another book by the author.
November 17, 2015
It's kind of hard to believe that it is Cathy Bramley's debut novel (once upon a time, Cathy Bramley has self - published "Conditional Love" that now, under the wings of Transworld publishers, has got a new polish and new cover - those guys there at Transworld know what a gem they have found in the person of Cathy! Cathy, I hope they do cherish you :) ) and I've only read it now - being Cathy's big fan. But well, as they say, better late than never, right? And this time this novel, with its beautiful cover, lovely plot and characters to die for, has lived up to my expectations and I enjoyed every single minute spent in its company.
I'm not sure what I can say about Cathy Bramley's writing that I haven't said yet. It's so warm and comfortable, and when reading her books I just feel... at home. She has found her own unique voice, and I am living in hope that she'll never stop writing books. And reading her novels is for me always what the doctor ordered - no matter what weather, what problems I have, what's happening, they are always like a comfort - blanket to me, a real treat.
Sophie Stone is our main character in "Conditional Love", and even though Sophie, in her thirties, was mostly like a much younger person, I warmed to her immediately (yes, this is this magic, this is what Cathy Bramley does with her characters - it's impossible to not to love them!). Sophie thinks that she's in a happy relationship with Marc, but quickly, and on the Valentine's Day, instead of a bunch of flowers and a gift, Marc breaks up with her. Just typical, no? Will Sophie be able to forget about Marc? In the meantime, a very mysterious letter arrives, and Sophie finds out that she has just inherited a cottage on Lilac Lane, left to her by her Great Aunt Jane, aunt that she has really never known... Home, sweet home is the only thing that Sophie has always dreamed about, and is this dream to come true now? Well, yes, but under one condition...
So yes, I warmed to Sophie instantly but still, I had some issues with her. She was in her thirties and there were a lot of moments that she behaved and spoke like a teenager, and she was under a big influence of her mother, even though her mother was absent from her life. Often Sophie, before doing something, was wondering if her mother would approve, and I hated how guilty she felt after Skype conversations with her mum, and I wanted to bang her mum's head on the table for being so selfish! No wonder then that Sophie felt so insecure and waited for other people to take the initiative. But - it was brilliant to see her changing throughout the story, seeing her maturing, developing and growing a backbone. She was still naive, but not in this irritating, childish way, and she just wanted everybody to be happy.
As usual, the bunch of the supporting characters is great. Next to Sophie we have her flatmates, sisters Emma and Jess, and I truly adored their friendship. They were so normal in each other company, there was nothing forced there and you could really feel those three are best friends. They could count on each other, and they could also bicker, oh yes, they could. We have also Marc, sneaky Marc, and Cathy Bramley has excellently portrayed him this way, and I'm sure it was intended for us to dislike him immediately. There was a time when I wanted to shake Sophie, tell her to wake up and finally see what kind of man he is. On the other side we have Sophie's architect and I was absolutely team Nick, absolutely, there was no other way. He was so shy around people and so animated about his job but you couldn't not like him. And his brilliant dog, Norman! Norman was the star of all the scenes.
As usual, Cathy Bramley has mixed a lot of her characteristic humour and brilliant one - liners with many emotional scenes. This novel has many layers to it, so next to laugh - out - loud scenes you can expect some tear - jerking as well, but those are so wonderfully balanced in this book. Ms Bramley has this talent to brilliantly capture all the emotions and pour them onto the paper, and you often find yourself nodding your head with agreement, relating to the characters and feeling as if you were in the same situation.
I absolutely adored the way Cathy Bramley has treated the thread of Sophie's absent father, and how genuinely and honestly she described Sophie's feelings about it, but that she also gave the father the chance to let us know his version of the events. I cheered Sophie on and was really proud of her being so open and even though she had some doubts (who wouldn't have them in such situation!) she decided to grab the bull by the horns and make use of her chance.
So yes, Cathy Bramley has done it again. She delivered a story that has everything I am looking for in a book - brilliant, realistic characters, wonderful plot, friendship, romance, troubles... This is a lovely, sweet novel that drew me in from the very first page. It's easy to read and the author so skilfully makes us a part of Sophie's life. Yes, it is a tad predictable, but we are not reading this kind of book for its unpredictability, right? There were so many elements to this novel and I couldn't wait what's going to happen next and what kind of troubles or awkward situations Sophie is going to put herself - a real page turner that I didn't want to end! Highly recommended!
Copy provided by publisher in exchange for a review.
November 27, 2024
I am not newbie to the works of this author and i actually liked a couple of them. But not this time...
I can't say I didn't try... Nearly 30% read... But it is a definite no-no for me. Annoyingly predictable... To prove to myself I was right I skipped to the last page and here we go... I knew it!
I can't say I didn't try... Nearly 30% read... But it is a definite no-no for me. Annoyingly predictable... To prove to myself I was right I skipped to the last page and here we go... I knew it!
March 19, 2019
As ever another brilliant book by Cathy
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