The Girl Who’s Never Had A Valentine

by Elizabeth Player

All Beth's ever had on Valentine's Day is unwanted junk mail and unpaid bills! But this year, when the post lands on her doormat, one item in particular catches her eye...

Could this be Beth first ever genuine Valentine's Day card?! The handwritten card might be a cheesy cliche....but who cares! The big question is - who is it from?

Unfortunately, the only possibilities racing through her head are people she sincerely hopes didn't send it, including all of her definitely-not-Mr-Perfect exes. (Oh, or the guy in Accounts with the comb-over!)

Sadly, Beth's pretty sure it's not from Luke - her dishy new neighbour with the super-glamorous model girlfriend, and dreamy eyes that have never once noticed her... Or have they?

For a girl who's never received so much as a Valentine's e-mail before, this February 14th Beth finds herself with a secret admirer...who could just turn out to be The One!

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2014

Reviews

[Isabell · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book by the author in an exchange for an honest review*

Before I start my review I'd like to say how much I love the cover! It's just so pretty. It matches perfectly with the story. Loving the font's and the colour scheme they've choosed . Good job Carina UK!

The Girl Who's Never Had a Valentine is a heart warming short story. It's such an enjoyable and very quick read. It will take you about 20 minutes to read it. The story is well written and paced.

Beth, our heroine in this story, has never received any Valentines card, (expect from her mother) not even from her former ex-boyfriends. They'd thought she's not that type of that girl. To be honest girls, who doesn't love to receive cards on Valentines day?

It was more than suprising to Beth as on Valentines day a lilac cover landed on the mat. It’s her first Valentine card that she had ever received. She is utterly happy and it made her day. Unfortunately there is no sender on the envelope. Who is it from? That's the big question.

After coming home from shopping Beth bumpes into Luke. Her neighbours very good looking boyfriend. Suddenly Beth has gone from no man to two man in just one day and she finds herself to go on a date her first Valentines Day date.

The ending was very sweet with a little twist. It cries out for a sequel. I love'd to read it and hear more about Beth and Luke.

I'd love to read more of Elizabeth Player in the future. She's done a great job with her first pulished short story.

[Jenny in Neverland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl Who’s Never Had a Valentine is a very short story (about 25 pages) about literally, a girl who’s never had a Valentine. 28 year-old Beth lives alone, has had a string of unsuitable boyfriends over the years but currently no man on the horizon. On the morning of February 14 she wakes up to find a Valentines Day card sitting amongst her mail but has no idea who it’s from. Things take an unexpected turn and this little card may have brought her more than just secret admirer.

The problem I have with short stories is they don’t give you enough time or information to get into their world but with this book, I don’t think that was the point. It really does confirm everything us girls have thought about at some point during our lives of boyfriends, lack of boyfriends or boyfriends who we thought were ‘the one’. In a weird way it shows that anything can happen in that odd twist of fate. Beth was a charming character and in the short time I knew her, I really connected with her and would have very much enjoyed this book as a full length novel as Beth seems like the sort of girl I would have really enjoyed getting to know even more.

The writing style was readable and enjoyable which is another reason this story would have translated well into a full-length book. It was a cute and fun quick read, perfect to read in one sitting on a tea break, on your morning commute or when you just need a break from life for 20 minutes.

You can find all my reviews here: www.jennyinneverland.wordpress.com

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Girl Who’s Never Had A Valentine is a short and sweet Valentine’s novella, about the first time Beth ever receives a valentine’s card! I have to sympathise; my one and only Valentine’s card came when I was in Year 4 from a classmate. I remember it well, we all made them and instead of saying “I Love You”, instead there was an eye for the I, a heart for the love and a female sheep for the you (ewe/you, get it?). I’m ashamed to say it went in the bin, I was 8 and I didn’t know what the heck to do with it!

Thankfully, Beth doesn’t share my scaredy-catness and places hers in pride of place on her mantelpiece. A far better idea than the bin, let’s be honest. The Girl Who’s Never Had A Valentine is short, sweet, a teensy bit clunky, but if you want something to fill a short break, this will do nicely, and I would definitely be interested in reading something a little bit longer from Elizabeth Player as I like her writing style.

[Fiona Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very quick read but it is a good one.

I'm sure there's many people out there who desperately wait for the postman to arrive every Valentine's Day, full of anticipation, then have their hopes dashed when he brings nothing but bills and junk mail. That about covers most of the Valentine's days I've lived through!

Beth is exactly the same. She doesn't expect a Valentine's card. So when she does in fact receive one she is instantly confused.

Who has sent it? Does she know them? Can she figure it out?

I loved this story as it is something I think most women will empathise with. It is written well, and for a short story it certainly delivers. The ending is very sweet too, I liked it a lot!

I'd like to read more from this author in the future.

[Swati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth was having the blissfully lazy morning when her letterbox rattled and a lilac cover landed on the mat. It’s a first ever Valentine card that she had ever received, though the sender is awful with spellings and certainly doesn’t know her name but at least he was good at waxing cliché lyrical. Floating on the cloud of happiness, Beth bumped into devastatingly-handsome boyfriend of her next door neighbour, who happens to be an underwear model. Soon after she found herself on a Valentine’s date. In just one day, Beth has gone from no man to two man but alas! It’s too good to be true. It’s a nice and sweet short story to read on the tube while on your way to your Valentine’s date.

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read a few books in this series of short stories and they have been good. Nice, cute and short; however, The Girl Who’s Never Had a Valentine by Elizabeth Player just did nothing for me. The direct first person narrative sounded clunky and fake. The characters did not come across as fully formed. I know this is difficult in a small amount of space but some people manage to do it well. Unfortunately, in this instance Player failed to do so.

I really do not have much else to say on this dismal short story.

The Girl Who’s Never Had a Valentine by Elizabeth Player is available now.

[Jill Steeples · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging and entertaining read. Beth receives her first ever Valentine's card, but who is it from? Is she destined to find love at last or is she only going to end up disappointed? This is a fun short story, perfect to read in one sitting.

[Samantha Tonge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read that will certainly get you in the mood for Valentine's Day - especially if you receive a mysterious card! Easy-to-read style and a good pace with a most appealing hero!

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but short, I liked the twist. And the British writing was interesting...