Perfect Timing

by Jane O'Reilly

The journey from friends to lovers starts with a very brave first step. Or a catalytic event. Sometimes both. After years of putting her life on hold, musician Ruby Thorpe is finally ready to leave the small English town she grew up in. She's got it all planned – a job with the New York Philharmonic orchestra will fulfil her musical ambitions, and a few dates with a cute American guy should sort out her virginity, which has definitely outstayed its welcome. And she's going to stop waiting for her best friend Jason to notice that she's a girl. But Jason has a few surprises in store for Ruby, and she soon finds herself caught in a can the right man turn up at the wrong time?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Musicians, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Adult

63 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Jane O'Reilly was born in the north of England, where it was quite cold, and spent much of her childhood huddled under the duvet with a book. It's also how she's spent much of her adulthood. She also likes Captain America, handknit socks, and biscuits. Find her at www.janeoreilly.com

Reviews

[Gisbelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley

It started out kind of interesting, I guess. Ruby was about to move to New York, and Jason didn't want her to leave, but he didn't have the courage to ask her to stay. Reading about the shifting of the relationship from friends to lovers always beats insta-love in my opinion. Sadly, this book didn't make that theme work for me. Everything felt off somehow.

The book was really short and I think that was one of the reasons why the story seemed a bit of a rush and was sort of all over the place. For a book this short, it still managed to make me skim some scenes. Well, in other words, it was boring.

The characters didn't help either. I can't say I liked neither Jason nor Ruby. Ruby, for one, was such a confusing character. She had waited her whole life to be with Jason and then she just threw everything away for some nonsense. Maybe that was added to make the book more dramatic. Whatever the reason was, I didn't like it.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect Timing by Jane O’Reilly delivered a fresh friendship to lover’s trope with a mix of personal growth, humor and self-discovery. I consumed this easy, and predictable read in a single evening.

Ruby Thrope has been in love with her best friend Jason since high school and is finally ready to move on. She is preparing to take a leap in her musical pursuits half way around the world and audition for the New York Philharmonic orchestra. It is time to stop waiting for Jason. She meets Jason for coffee to share her decisions, and his lovable dog accidentally destroys her cello. The tale that unfolds was sweet, and funny with moments of warmth, pain, and joy as these two try to figure it all out.

I immediately liked both Jason and Ruby. It is clear these two are best friends but also that they have deep feelings for each other. Ruby experiences many firsts from losing her virginity to finding herself. Jason was strong, dependable and late to the show but when he worked up the nerve, he certainly delivered. I loved Jason’s dog. He was sweet, ornery and added humor. The banter between Jason and Ruby was hilarious and kept me entertained. They both felt genuine allowing me to root for them. While the tale is relatively short the characters were developed and showed growth.

Perfect Timing flowed easily, and I quickly became caught up in the characters. It had moments of humor and a little angst, but nothing overdone. While completely predictable, the ride to my HEA was a pleasant one, and I would try this author again. The method the author used to give us background into the character was fun and allowed me to connect. There were a few twists, but these were quickly resolved due to the tale’s short length. I would have enjoyed more details in New York, with the orchestra and the couple’s relationship but the tale came together nicely. O’Reilly has a nice flow to her writing and her characters had a natural ease to them.

Perfect Timing would make a nice beach read or afternoon escape. I enjoyed the friends to lover’s trope and appreciated the likable characters O’Reilly created.


Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis I thought oh no. Not again. The pining woman who sits on the shelf while the guy runs off to live it up. What I appreciated in this story was that inequity was addressed head on. Ruby missed out not by choice but because of family obligations and she felt like she was missing something. Unlike so many stories where these women sit on the sidelines by choice Ruby didn't have a choice.

I had to smile when she told Jason she wanted her turn and had hoped to go to New York on her own to find herself. She was not thrilled he came along with her even though she loves him. That was a very honest moment you don't often see in these types of stories. When she confronted Jason about all the things he did in college while she was her grandfather's caretaker I really felt for her. He had his one night stands and he went out and drank and played but now was intruding on her time to spread her own wings because he's finally ready to be with her.

Jason surprised her by coming to New York with her so she didn't have the chance to stop him.

I'd have liked it if the book was a little longer and she was on her own for a little longer. I am glad that after she left him she had her one night stand. Jason's devastation while understandable was something she experienced over and over and I am so glad he was called on his hypocrisy. Not so much fun when the shoe is on the other foot is it?

I am still hoping to find a story where the woman walks before sleeping with the guy but after he realizes what has been in front of him all this time. I wish he hadn't been her first because I'm vindictive that way. However I'm very glad she walked away from him to find herself though I think those scenes could have been fleshed out better.

[The_Book_Queen]

DNF at 43%

I'm surprised I got this far, almost half way done and still nothing has happened in the story. I didn't connect with the characters, and I was frustrated at their ignorance towards changing their friendship into something more – especially this late in the book. Usually I love friends-to-lovers stories, but this one fell flat for me.

Another things that bothered me was the pace of the story. I felt like things were missing or skipped (randomly) in some scenes, yet the overall story was still too slow for me to get into.

Sadly, this book did not work for me. *sigh*

[Laura Hampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Review to come.

[Alice]

Review to come!