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Can We Start Again?
Is it ever too late for a second chance?
Tammy and Alvin had mapped out their entire lives together, including a pre-parental plan – a list of everything they wanted to do as a couple before they had children. But no amount of planning could have anticipated the heartbreaking problems that lay ahead – problems that shattered their once-perfect relationship and led to a traumatic break-up.
Then, after years of trying to move on, Tammy’s world is turned upside down when Alvin comes back into her life asking for a second chance – with a difference. He proposes that they spend time together, doing the things they had once so eagerly planned, in a bid to remember why they felt they’d have children together some day, and ultimately recapture what they had.
Still in love with Alvin, Tammy finds herself powerless to say no, even though their problems are still simmering in the background and threatening to boil over at any moment. Still, what they once had is surely worth trying to save.
But can something that’s broken every truly be whole again?
450 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2012
7 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 27, 2012
This is the first Shirley Benton book I have read and I have to say I will be going off to get her other one (Looking For Leon)! Although we have all seen the lets get back together story, this is written with a brilliant amount of humour. From page one I was hooked and loved every bit of the whole story. Fabulous to see more talent coming from Ireland which in my eyes holds the best writers in the whole genre.
May 8, 2018
Although I found Tammy to be a pain in the arse I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jess and Simone are my kind of family. 😀😀
July 12, 2012
Tammy is a control freak, who likes to plan every detail of her life with the utmost precision. Alvin is a free spirit who tends to just go with the flow and see where life takes him. An unlikely couple, yet love blossoms between them quite quickly.
However, when the novel begins we learn that they have already broken up nearly two years previous. Prior to their separation, they had devised a pre-parental plan, of activities designed to take them out of their comfort zones before they settled down to have kids. Now, Alvin is back and he proposes that they complete each activity on their list in a bid to see if they can rekindle what they had and give their love a second chance.
As a parent myself, the whole concept of a pre-parental plan intrigued me. Life changes immeasurably once you have children, and having a list of things you want to do as a couple while you are still relatively responsibility free is, in short, genius, and a great premise for a novel. The list itself is quite creative and well thought out.
I thought the author did an exemplary job of dealing with the serious issues faced by the couple in their relationship that ultimately led to their separation the first time around. The flashback chapters explaining their problems were written with just the right amount of poignancy, while still keeping the overall tone of the novel upbeat and humorous.
As with Benton’s previous novel, I adored the secondary characters, which really gave the story depth and brought it to life. Tammy’s family, particularly her two close cousins, are excellently described, while Alvin’s mother Claire’s eccentricity was wittily portrayed. Fleeting meetings with other characters such as Angie and Brett, and in the latter half of the book, Randy, were laugh out loud material.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which was a follow up to the author’s debut novel Looking for Leon. While the storyline of this book is somewhat more serious than Leon, Benton’s witty, humorous style of writing is still evident, with well thought out and relatable main characters and a supporting cast of funny, lovable minor characters. With surprising plot twists throughout, I was hooked from page one, and will look forward to reading more from Shirley in the future.
However, when the novel begins we learn that they have already broken up nearly two years previous. Prior to their separation, they had devised a pre-parental plan, of activities designed to take them out of their comfort zones before they settled down to have kids. Now, Alvin is back and he proposes that they complete each activity on their list in a bid to see if they can rekindle what they had and give their love a second chance.
As a parent myself, the whole concept of a pre-parental plan intrigued me. Life changes immeasurably once you have children, and having a list of things you want to do as a couple while you are still relatively responsibility free is, in short, genius, and a great premise for a novel. The list itself is quite creative and well thought out.
I thought the author did an exemplary job of dealing with the serious issues faced by the couple in their relationship that ultimately led to their separation the first time around. The flashback chapters explaining their problems were written with just the right amount of poignancy, while still keeping the overall tone of the novel upbeat and humorous.
As with Benton’s previous novel, I adored the secondary characters, which really gave the story depth and brought it to life. Tammy’s family, particularly her two close cousins, are excellently described, while Alvin’s mother Claire’s eccentricity was wittily portrayed. Fleeting meetings with other characters such as Angie and Brett, and in the latter half of the book, Randy, were laugh out loud material.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which was a follow up to the author’s debut novel Looking for Leon. While the storyline of this book is somewhat more serious than Leon, Benton’s witty, humorous style of writing is still evident, with well thought out and relatable main characters and a supporting cast of funny, lovable minor characters. With surprising plot twists throughout, I was hooked from page one, and will look forward to reading more from Shirley in the future.
August 14, 2012
I first discovered Shirley Benton when I read her book ‘Looking for Leon’, and I instantly became a fan of hers, so I was very much looking forward to ‘Can we start again?’ and I wasn’t disappointed one bit.
In ‘Can we start again?’, we meet Tammy and Alvin, two people who were very much in love, had their whole lives planned out together and had a pre-parental plan – a list of things that they both wanted to do together before settling down and having children. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen as a devastating break-up occurs. Years later, Alvin turns up at Tammy’s door, desperate to make another go of things, and proposes that they go ahead with their pre-parental plan, doing the things that they most wanted to experience together to see if it can bring them together again.
I must say, the idea behind it was brilliant, I loved the ‘bucket-list’ idea of a to-do list before children came along, and some of the activities in their list were fantastic! It really took the story to another level, and as the reader I went on a journey with them, being there for not just the lows, but for the high and happy moments too.
Tammy and Alvin were great characters. As the story progressed I began to understand their personalities more and both of them were very likeable, I felt as though I knew them personally, and could imagine exactly how they’d be in real life.
I loved every part of the story and it was a book I couldn’t put down! Shirley Benton has created a fantastic story with some twists and turns that kept me wanting to read on to find out more. As much as I loved ‘Looking for Leon’, I’m going to say that I think ‘Can we start again?’ was even better!!! A brilliant read!
In ‘Can we start again?’, we meet Tammy and Alvin, two people who were very much in love, had their whole lives planned out together and had a pre-parental plan – a list of things that they both wanted to do together before settling down and having children. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen as a devastating break-up occurs. Years later, Alvin turns up at Tammy’s door, desperate to make another go of things, and proposes that they go ahead with their pre-parental plan, doing the things that they most wanted to experience together to see if it can bring them together again.
I must say, the idea behind it was brilliant, I loved the ‘bucket-list’ idea of a to-do list before children came along, and some of the activities in their list were fantastic! It really took the story to another level, and as the reader I went on a journey with them, being there for not just the lows, but for the high and happy moments too.
Tammy and Alvin were great characters. As the story progressed I began to understand their personalities more and both of them were very likeable, I felt as though I knew them personally, and could imagine exactly how they’d be in real life.
I loved every part of the story and it was a book I couldn’t put down! Shirley Benton has created a fantastic story with some twists and turns that kept me wanting to read on to find out more. As much as I loved ‘Looking for Leon’, I’m going to say that I think ‘Can we start again?’ was even better!!! A brilliant read!
June 19, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the concept for this novel. I can totally see myself creating this pre-parental plan, as I feel I’m kinda doing it now. Right after I got married last September I was bit by the travel bug, and have since either gone on or will be going on trips to: St Lucia, New York, Alabama, Chicago, Kansas City, Green Bay, Las Vegas and the Bahamas. If you think I’m afraid I won’t be able to travel once we have children, you would be correct. I might be going overboard, but I don’t care! Anywho, back to the novel. So I loved the idea, and was even pretty jealous I hadn’t thought of it. The execution though I wasn’t as in favor of. I actually found myself hoping we would come in at a different time, maybe when the breakup was happening, instead of when two years had already passed and have the story unfold a different way. I still enjoyed reading the book and seeing the love these two characters clearly had for another, but I kept getting a twinge of something missing, something that was just within reach but not quite there with the plot. I do have to give props to the writing as it was tight and on-point, and I will definitely read more from this author – looking forward to what she comes up with next!
3.5 stars
I loved the concept for this novel. I can totally see myself creating this pre-parental plan, as I feel I’m kinda doing it now. Right after I got married last September I was bit by the travel bug, and have since either gone on or will be going on trips to: St Lucia, New York, Alabama, Chicago, Kansas City, Green Bay, Las Vegas and the Bahamas. If you think I’m afraid I won’t be able to travel once we have children, you would be correct. I might be going overboard, but I don’t care! Anywho, back to the novel. So I loved the idea, and was even pretty jealous I hadn’t thought of it. The execution though I wasn’t as in favor of. I actually found myself hoping we would come in at a different time, maybe when the breakup was happening, instead of when two years had already passed and have the story unfold a different way. I still enjoyed reading the book and seeing the love these two characters clearly had for another, but I kept getting a twinge of something missing, something that was just within reach but not quite there with the plot. I do have to give props to the writing as it was tight and on-point, and I will definitely read more from this author – looking forward to what she comes up with next!
3.5 stars
July 30, 2012
I have just finished reading Shirley Benton's Can we start again. It was an emotional roller-coaster-ride and I felt I lived all the ups and the downs. I loved Tammy and wanted to help her but the girl had to find her own way through all the hardships.
I found the opening chapter very powerful, getting straight to the point as to what the story was going to be about. I devoured every word, felt every pain and every joy along the way. I loved the 'bucket-list' idea of things to do before you have kids, brilliant idea. Some of the things were mad and others I could indeed imagine myself doing or already have done them.
If you enjoyed Looking for Leon then you will love this even more. It is a brilliant second second book, you have to read the acknowledgements to know what I mean, lol. Well done Shirley Benton-Bailey, I cant wait to read more of your work
I found the opening chapter very powerful, getting straight to the point as to what the story was going to be about. I devoured every word, felt every pain and every joy along the way. I loved the 'bucket-list' idea of things to do before you have kids, brilliant idea. Some of the things were mad and others I could indeed imagine myself doing or already have done them.
If you enjoyed Looking for Leon then you will love this even more. It is a brilliant second second book, you have to read the acknowledgements to know what I mean, lol. Well done Shirley Benton-Bailey, I cant wait to read more of your work
August 21, 2012
I was really looking forward to reading Shirley Benton's new book 'Can we Start Again' after reading her first book 'Looking for Leon'. And I have to say it didnt disappoint. I was gripped from the very first page right until the end (and was laughing most of the way). This book is definitely a new take on break up/make up scenarios. Tammy is a bit of a control freak whilst Alvin likes to take life at more of a relaxed place. The book starts with them trying to put their relationship back together after a year and a half of being apart. Needless to say this leads them into some hilarious situations with lots of 'I didnt see that coming' moments!!. Cant wait for the next Shirley Benton to come out.
August 19, 2012
I absolutely loved this book! Although Tammy was frustrating at times when she just couldn't see through her own misery, you can't help but relate to her. And Alvin! He sounds like the perfect man (if there is one) who stands by his love through thick and thin. This a great story, with hilarious moments as well as poignant ones. Shirley is such an amazing new talent and should be read by everyone!
July 16, 2012
Absolutely loved this book, such a brilliant story, great characters & twists. I laughed, I cried, it's definitely a page-turner & certain to be a huge hit! Would highly recommend this book as a must read this Summer.
October 25, 2012
Shirley Benton does it again, delivering another great book! If you haven't read anything by her, I would seriously recommend you rectify that, especially if women's fiction/chick lit is something you like to read.
June 29, 2021
Really enjoyable book. This author will go far.
July 28, 2012
I loved this book it was easy to read and follow definetely recommend also really funny at times
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews