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Love Eternally
Steve is unlucky in love - he's shy, he's never had a long-term girlfriend, and he's unable to bring himself to tell Dina, the girl he works with, that he loves her. And then, on the eve of his thirtieth birthday, he throws a party, drinks too much, falls in the Thames in a stupour on his way home - and dies. But not quite. Steve comes round in the morning to find he's a ghost, unable to move on until he understands what relationships are about and what love means. He watches Dina as her life continues, and talks to her about what he's feeling. And, little by little, Dina begins to hear his voice...But then Dina meets Archie and is swept off her feet. Steve knows Archie isn't the gentleman Dina thinks he is, but can he persuade her she's making a mistake? And will Steve find the emotional fulfilment he needs to get to heaven? A wonderfully warm and imaginative novel full of love, life...and ghosts.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2005
About the author
Deborah Wright
9 books13 followersDeborah Wright was born in the UK in 1974. Her first novel, Olivia's Bliss, won the Poolbeg/Ireland on Sunday bestseller competition in 2000. She went on to publish a number of magical romantic comedies, including The Rebel Fairy, a modern version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and Under My Spell, a romance about witchcraft, with Little Brown. Her most recent novel was 'Swimming With Dolphins' (Headline) and she is currently working on a YA novel. Her novels have regularly gone into the Booktrack Top 50 Bestsellers charts.
Deborah lives in Cambridge with her family, several cats and a Dalmatian. For more information visit www.deborahwright.co.uk where you are very welcome to get in touch!
Deborah lives in Cambridge with her family, several cats and a Dalmatian. For more information visit www.deborahwright.co.uk where you are very welcome to get in touch!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 30, 2022
I read this book with mixed feelings really. I found it quite turgid at times. It took me a long time to get into it and it was only in the last 50 pages or so that I enjoyed it at all.
Steve, the ghost, made me want to call an exorcist some of the time and I wanted to slap Dina quite a few times. Most worrying was the complete personality change in Archie from lifelong shit to devoted boyfriend. Nobody changes overnight to that extent unless he was hit on the head with a particularly hard chocolate brownie.
Some of the peripheral characters seemed pointless. I understand Harrison and Jethers purpose but there were only there to prop up Steve in the afterlife.
Personally, I would've preferred it if Dina had died and stayed with Steve. Too many of these chick lit books end up with the sort of meh predictable ending, to end it that way could have lead neatly into a sequel about the people left behind.
I didn't find it a complete dead loss (joke) and I would certainly read more from this author.
Steve, the ghost, made me want to call an exorcist some of the time and I wanted to slap Dina quite a few times. Most worrying was the complete personality change in Archie from lifelong shit to devoted boyfriend. Nobody changes overnight to that extent unless he was hit on the head with a particularly hard chocolate brownie.
Some of the peripheral characters seemed pointless. I understand Harrison and Jethers purpose but there were only there to prop up Steve in the afterlife.
Personally, I would've preferred it if Dina had died and stayed with Steve. Too many of these chick lit books end up with the sort of meh predictable ending, to end it that way could have lead neatly into a sequel about the people left behind.
I didn't find it a complete dead loss (joke) and I would certainly read more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2026
So I first read this book when it was published in 2005, I remembered so much of the plot but couldn’t for the life of me remember the name of the book, so I asked Chat GPT and he found it straight away.
It’s funny, 2005 me laughed and cried so much during this book and that’s what stuck with me. Reading it now, it didn’t do the same. Whilst it’s still a lovely book, I just found myself slightly frustrated by some of the characters, maybe that’s an age thing 🤷🏻♀️
Maybe I shouldn’t have re-read it and I should have kept the mystery going, although I probably would have spent the next 20 years wondering what the name of the book was 😂
It’s funny, 2005 me laughed and cried so much during this book and that’s what stuck with me. Reading it now, it didn’t do the same. Whilst it’s still a lovely book, I just found myself slightly frustrated by some of the characters, maybe that’s an age thing 🤷🏻♀️
Maybe I shouldn’t have re-read it and I should have kept the mystery going, although I probably would have spent the next 20 years wondering what the name of the book was 😂
July 19, 2019
Better than I was expecting. A cut above normal chick lit
January 7, 2021
nice book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2015
A strange little story, very far-fetched and a bit silly, but somehow, due to the thoughtful writing style quite endearing.
Steve and Dina work together in a greasy spoon café. Steve is in love with Dina. Dina, previously hurt by a bad relationship back in her home town of New York, has fled to London to escape any more hurt and she is reluctant to embark on a new relationship, especially with her best friend.
One night Steve plucks up the courage to tell Dina of his feelings, after a little boost of alcohol, but Dina, afraid of her own feelings turns him down. She leaves him by the canal and goes to catch her train. At the last minute she has a re-think and returns to tell him she is in love with him, but it is too late, a tragedy occurred and Steve accidentally fell into the canal – Dina finds his body.
Trying to move on with her life, Dina begins a relationship with eligible bachelor and entrepreneur Archie Hamilton, but there is someone else forming a love triangle – Steve is back...as a ghost – and he can’t bear to see Archie hurt Dina as he is.
Now, this all sounds a little weird - and it is at times – but the overall feel of the book is heart-warming. It is about the importance of love and making the most of every minute of your life. It does descend into a bit of sillyness, particularly when Steve steals a body to try to be human again, in fact this was the only part of the book I thought was actually a bit sick!
Light-heartedly funny is Harrison, Steve’s ghost friend, who tries to take him ghost dating and is a typical joker.
And one thing… for once I didn’t guess the ending. Chick lit is always so predictable, but this one kept me guessing.
Steve and Dina work together in a greasy spoon café. Steve is in love with Dina. Dina, previously hurt by a bad relationship back in her home town of New York, has fled to London to escape any more hurt and she is reluctant to embark on a new relationship, especially with her best friend.
One night Steve plucks up the courage to tell Dina of his feelings, after a little boost of alcohol, but Dina, afraid of her own feelings turns him down. She leaves him by the canal and goes to catch her train. At the last minute she has a re-think and returns to tell him she is in love with him, but it is too late, a tragedy occurred and Steve accidentally fell into the canal – Dina finds his body.
Trying to move on with her life, Dina begins a relationship with eligible bachelor and entrepreneur Archie Hamilton, but there is someone else forming a love triangle – Steve is back...as a ghost – and he can’t bear to see Archie hurt Dina as he is.
Now, this all sounds a little weird - and it is at times – but the overall feel of the book is heart-warming. It is about the importance of love and making the most of every minute of your life. It does descend into a bit of sillyness, particularly when Steve steals a body to try to be human again, in fact this was the only part of the book I thought was actually a bit sick!
Light-heartedly funny is Harrison, Steve’s ghost friend, who tries to take him ghost dating and is a typical joker.
And one thing… for once I didn’t guess the ending. Chick lit is always so predictable, but this one kept me guessing.
August 13, 2024
something different and so, so good. the book is divided into three parts, and i have to say that throughout the first two parts, it was a solid 5 stars. the pacing, the characters, the storytelling—everything was perfect. i was insanely drawn to the story, and one of the best and my favorite things about it was that it was completely unpredictable. i couldn't predict anything. the only way to know what would happen was to just keep reading. i love when that happens.
the story was new. it was romance, but i bet you've never read anything quite like this before. talking about the characters—dina, umm, i don't know what it was about her, but how could anyone be soooo ughhhh. like, i loved the fact that the author didn't just put her character in a mold, but she actually had some personality, like how she wouldn’t let anyone intimidate her even though she very much was feeling that. she was so human, and i like that about her. but still, for some reason, she didn't stick with me as much.
archie was actually great. not saying that his character was perfect, but the way he was written was perfect. he was perfectly annoying in a human way, like the way you could imagine yourself meeting a person like that in real life. as for steve, he was okay. his entire world revolved around dina, dina, dina. i do wish we could’ve seen more of his interests, but whatever, it's fine, i guess.
i don't know what happened towards the end, but i lost interest. the ending didn't hit the same as the start and the middle. so yeah, it's 4 stars for me. i liked it, i really did. it was something different and a fresh take on romance novels these days.
the story was new. it was romance, but i bet you've never read anything quite like this before. talking about the characters—dina, umm, i don't know what it was about her, but how could anyone be soooo ughhhh. like, i loved the fact that the author didn't just put her character in a mold, but she actually had some personality, like how she wouldn’t let anyone intimidate her even though she very much was feeling that. she was so human, and i like that about her. but still, for some reason, she didn't stick with me as much.
archie was actually great. not saying that his character was perfect, but the way he was written was perfect. he was perfectly annoying in a human way, like the way you could imagine yourself meeting a person like that in real life. as for steve, he was okay. his entire world revolved around dina, dina, dina. i do wish we could’ve seen more of his interests, but whatever, it's fine, i guess.
i don't know what happened towards the end, but i lost interest. the ending didn't hit the same as the start and the middle. so yeah, it's 4 stars for me. i liked it, i really did. it was something different and a fresh take on romance novels these days.
May 5, 2026
This was a gift I received along time ago and I read it multiple times and it was surprisingly better than I expected. Not my usual genre but it's been quite some years since I read it and I still think about those characters so I guess it deserves the 4 stars I gave it.
July 9, 2014
If you're looking for a book that is based on traditional tropes but with a difference then definitely pick this up. Be careful though as there is some relationship issues that may be a bit of a trigger for some people if you've been cheated on/made to feel inadequate etc. however Steve's character does develop and it is cute to see him become more confident and be someone whom Dina can depend on (because she definitely can't depend on Archie).
Read more on my blog at: https://bookgeek2015.wordpress.com/
Read more on my blog at: https://bookgeek2015.wordpress.com/
June 28, 2009
It wasn't bad but I wouldn't read it again!
April 16, 2013
this book had me hooked from the nminute I started the first page!
December 20, 2013
Disgusting book.
June 3, 2014
A sweet story, easy read, far fetched so as long as you just go with it lightly it's a cute storyline :)
February 16, 2016
Very good ☺
I really enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down.A really original read, I laughed and cried ! *****
I really enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down.A really original read, I laughed and cried ! *****
January 10, 2011
Bit naff but nice, easy read.
September 24, 2012
for light & easy reader ;)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews