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That Certain Something
Lambda Literary Award finalist for lesbian romance.
Love or money? Follow the head or heart? Pia and Cate seem to be flip sides of a coin. But when they meet they definitely have that certain something, and these questions aren't so simple after a night like theirs.
Pia Benitez-Smith has her head in the clouds of ideals and romance. She's a photojournalist out to prove herself with her compassionate eye and although not exactly accident prone, most days trouble seems to find her. On one such day, she literally falls into the arms of the beautiful Cate. Elegant, intriguing and classy, Cate is Pia's polar opposite. When the two dispute the importance of love versus money, Cate is adamant that her perfect night will always be an expensive one. Working class Pia can't resist the challenge and with the assistance of a beguiling summer night in London, she begins to enchant her new friend.
An irresistible couple, a charismatic city, a priceless supporting cast - That Certain Something is a sparkling romcom from Goldie award winner Clare Ashton.
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“It truly is sensational. A real heart-warming tale of romance, love, and comedy” - Kiki Archer, author of One Foot Onto The Ice
“Award-winning author Clare Ashton, who has enthralled us with Pennance and After Mrs Hamilton, has done it again. Only this time, she has written a lighthearted, touching romance that grabs hold of your heart and doesn’t let go. Through Ashton’s deft storytelling, you’ll easily fall in love with Pia and Cate—two women searching for That Certain Something that will make their lives complete.” – Chris Paynter, author of Survived By Her Longtime Companion
Love or money? Follow the head or heart? Pia and Cate seem to be flip sides of a coin. But when they meet they definitely have that certain something, and these questions aren't so simple after a night like theirs.
Pia Benitez-Smith has her head in the clouds of ideals and romance. She's a photojournalist out to prove herself with her compassionate eye and although not exactly accident prone, most days trouble seems to find her. On one such day, she literally falls into the arms of the beautiful Cate. Elegant, intriguing and classy, Cate is Pia's polar opposite. When the two dispute the importance of love versus money, Cate is adamant that her perfect night will always be an expensive one. Working class Pia can't resist the challenge and with the assistance of a beguiling summer night in London, she begins to enchant her new friend.
An irresistible couple, a charismatic city, a priceless supporting cast - That Certain Something is a sparkling romcom from Goldie award winner Clare Ashton.
-----
“It truly is sensational. A real heart-warming tale of romance, love, and comedy” - Kiki Archer, author of One Foot Onto The Ice
“Award-winning author Clare Ashton, who has enthralled us with Pennance and After Mrs Hamilton, has done it again. Only this time, she has written a lighthearted, touching romance that grabs hold of your heart and doesn’t let go. Through Ashton’s deft storytelling, you’ll easily fall in love with Pia and Cate—two women searching for That Certain Something that will make their lives complete.” – Chris Paynter, author of Survived By Her Longtime Companion
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2014
66 people are currently reading
1431 people want to read
About the author
Clare Ashton
16 books1,580 followersClare Ashton loves writing sapphic stories. Whether it’s a romcom or mystery, there’s always a queer woman about. With gorgeous settings, from the hills of Wales to college halls of Oxford, every book is a travel destination from the comfort of an armchair. Best known for her award-winning, sunny romance, Poppy Jenkins, and rollercoaster family drama, The Goodmans, Clare has a new series that captures the best of both and more, with Meeting Millie kicking off The Oxford Romance series.
Clare lives in the UK with her wife and kids and can be found spending too much time on social media – https://linktr.ee/clareashton
Clare lives in the UK with her wife and kids and can be found spending too much time on social media – https://linktr.ee/clareashton
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
February 12, 2017
Have I just found by new favourite Lesfic Romance novel? … I fell head over heels for this one from the word go.
My Synopsis
Love at first sight? One night Pia falls literally (out of a tree) for Cate she doesn’t expect to have the best night of her life.
Pia wants to show Cate that you don’t need money to woo the perfect girl. But it’s becomes apparent to Pia that she is at a loss because she will never be able to provide what Cate wants from life in her measly photographer salary. And Cate has always known what route she must take to be looked after.
As they get to know each other better they both realize what they want from life but is their life together? And what’s more important love or money?
My Review
Why did I wait so long to read this Novel?
I adored this story. It was written beautifully and I felt the character's embodied real life people. Pia first night with Cate was inspired and the hopeless romantic in me was consumed by the idea of her version of the perfect date for Cate. It was even more beautiful that the date was set with the London backdrop. I'm from Scotland and I have been in London on various occasions. I knew the places that were mentioned quite well and I enjoyed envisioning Pia and Cate there.
One of the things that I loved the most about this book was the fact I laughed out loud on numerous occasions. Pia cracked me up with her clumsiness as it reminded me of myself. But I also couldn’t help myself laughing at Ed, Pia & Cate's Editor at the Magazine. I’ve been called ‘Short Arse’ my whole life so that made me chuckled but all the other comments were gold. Ones I will use in my own repertoire.
Also the sex scenes were off the chart... Loved it!
Cate & Pia's story warmed my heart. I loved this novel. And I am now going to download the rest of Clare Ashton’s novels... Right now!
5 Stars (Can we not do 6 Stars?). Can’t wait for what’s next…
https://lesreveur.com/2016/08/31/that...
My Synopsis
Love at first sight? One night Pia falls literally (out of a tree) for Cate she doesn’t expect to have the best night of her life.
Pia wants to show Cate that you don’t need money to woo the perfect girl. But it’s becomes apparent to Pia that she is at a loss because she will never be able to provide what Cate wants from life in her measly photographer salary. And Cate has always known what route she must take to be looked after.
As they get to know each other better they both realize what they want from life but is their life together? And what’s more important love or money?
My Review
Why did I wait so long to read this Novel?
I adored this story. It was written beautifully and I felt the character's embodied real life people. Pia first night with Cate was inspired and the hopeless romantic in me was consumed by the idea of her version of the perfect date for Cate. It was even more beautiful that the date was set with the London backdrop. I'm from Scotland and I have been in London on various occasions. I knew the places that were mentioned quite well and I enjoyed envisioning Pia and Cate there.
One of the things that I loved the most about this book was the fact I laughed out loud on numerous occasions. Pia cracked me up with her clumsiness as it reminded me of myself. But I also couldn’t help myself laughing at Ed, Pia & Cate's Editor at the Magazine. I’ve been called ‘Short Arse’ my whole life so that made me chuckled but all the other comments were gold. Ones I will use in my own repertoire.
Also the sex scenes were off the chart... Loved it!
Cate & Pia's story warmed my heart. I loved this novel. And I am now going to download the rest of Clare Ashton’s novels... Right now!
5 Stars (Can we not do 6 Stars?). Can’t wait for what’s next…
https://lesreveur.com/2016/08/31/that...
January 14, 2021
I have no idea why this is only my second book by Clare Ashton. No idea. I know everyone has their favourite of hers, and I’ve been told numerous times that they can all be very different from one another, but I can’t imagine not loving them all. I mean, two books are enough to know if a writer’s style works for me or not, right? Instalove for a writer’s writing style is a thing. Otherwise, how could I explain why I was so excited to learn that a book I hadn’t read was coming to audio? And then, a few months later, couldn’t wait to listen to that audiobook?
While trying to steal incriminating pictures of a very nasty politician, Pia falls from a tree and almost directly into the arms of a beautiful woman. One thing leads to another and after a wonderful evening, they spend the night together. When Pia wakes up the next morning, Cate is gone. Pia’s new job as a photographer for a new magazine should help distract her from her broken heart but that plan falls apart when the woman who gave her the most extraordinary night of her life turns out to be her new colleague… and her boss’s wife.
That Certain Something is a much lighter read than Finding Jessica Lambert, which was my only Ashton experience until now, and one of my favouritest favourite books in 2020. It’s angsty because angst is exciting but it’s also funny in just the way I like (I’ve said it before, I smile often but making me laugh, really laugh, isn’t easy). And it’s probably why, besides Pia and Cate, my favourite character was Pia’s delightfully hilarious mother.
Jessica Jeffries isn’t a narrator I listen to very often, but her narration is stellar each time. The voices are easy to identify, the pace is perfect, the accents make my ears happy. I’m sure I would have loved Pia and Cate if I had read the book, but Jessica Jeffries’ voices for them felt so right they couldn’t have sounded better in my head.
This book is everything a rom-com should be. It’s sweet, funny, sexy and all-around lovely.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
While trying to steal incriminating pictures of a very nasty politician, Pia falls from a tree and almost directly into the arms of a beautiful woman. One thing leads to another and after a wonderful evening, they spend the night together. When Pia wakes up the next morning, Cate is gone. Pia’s new job as a photographer for a new magazine should help distract her from her broken heart but that plan falls apart when the woman who gave her the most extraordinary night of her life turns out to be her new colleague… and her boss’s wife.
That Certain Something is a much lighter read than Finding Jessica Lambert, which was my only Ashton experience until now, and one of my favouritest favourite books in 2020. It’s angsty because angst is exciting but it’s also funny in just the way I like (I’ve said it before, I smile often but making me laugh, really laugh, isn’t easy). And it’s probably why, besides Pia and Cate, my favourite character was Pia’s delightfully hilarious mother.
Jessica Jeffries isn’t a narrator I listen to very often, but her narration is stellar each time. The voices are easy to identify, the pace is perfect, the accents make my ears happy. I’m sure I would have loved Pia and Cate if I had read the book, but Jessica Jeffries’ voices for them felt so right they couldn’t have sounded better in my head.
This book is everything a rom-com should be. It’s sweet, funny, sexy and all-around lovely.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
July 29, 2015
Perfect, as far as rom-coms go. There's a beautiful couple, larger-than-life side characters, colorful relatives, lovely British accents, a virtual tour of London or two, lots of humor, a bit of angst, and the requisite chase at the end. The plot is vintage rom-com, with all the attendant clichés. But I haven't had this much fun since Pitifully Ugly. :)
4.5 stars
Edited July 2015
I just re-read my review today and realized I could have been describing the movie 'Imagine Me and You' (starring Lena Headey of GOT and Piper Perabo of Covert Affairs)--still to this day quite possibly the best rom-com where the girl gets the girl at the end. Definitely a MUST-SEE for all lesfic lovers.
Oh, and Lena was a lesbian FLORIST in the movie. ;)
4.5 stars
Edited July 2015
I just re-read my review today and realized I could have been describing the movie 'Imagine Me and You' (starring Lena Headey of GOT and Piper Perabo of Covert Affairs)--still to this day quite possibly the best rom-com where the girl gets the girl at the end. Definitely a MUST-SEE for all lesfic lovers.
Oh, and Lena was a lesbian FLORIST in the movie. ;)
May 25, 2014
If you are looking for great laughs and a sweet romance then Clare Ashton has written the perfect rom-com for you.
Her Pia is loveable and quirky and way in over her head with the glamorous Cate.
Ashton writes the magic between these two with steam and humour. She also adds an entertaining cast including Pia's wonderful mum and her not so wonderful editor Ed.
If I have a beef about this book it is that (for a change for me) I wish the book was longer. I would have liked more of Cate's backstory and a better understanding of why she makes the choices she makes. To keep this review spoiler free I won't say more. I just felt there may have been some great scenes left on the cutting room floor.
With That Certain Something, Ashton proves she is capable of an effortless read in whatever genre she chooses.
A pleasure to read.
Her Pia is loveable and quirky and way in over her head with the glamorous Cate.
Ashton writes the magic between these two with steam and humour. She also adds an entertaining cast including Pia's wonderful mum and her not so wonderful editor Ed.
If I have a beef about this book it is that (for a change for me) I wish the book was longer. I would have liked more of Cate's backstory and a better understanding of why she makes the choices she makes. To keep this review spoiler free I won't say more. I just felt there may have been some great scenes left on the cutting room floor.
With That Certain Something, Ashton proves she is capable of an effortless read in whatever genre she chooses.
A pleasure to read.
September 24, 2017
Wow!Wow!Wow!
Damn me if i knew what to write. This is my second book from Clare Ashton and right now i am cursing myself for not reading these books before. This book has forever been on my to-read list.
Now that i have finally read some of Clare Ashton's work, she has become one of my favoirite authors.
I was hooked to the book from starting to the end. The story is set in London and the description of it was done very nicely by the author. When i started this book, i could never have thought of the turns the story took and how amazing the whole journey from start to end was.
The characters- oh god!
Meeting Pia Benizet-Smith with her lovely clumsiness, Ed with her devil may care attitude, Cate with (i am still thinking what to write about that), was mesmerizing. The connection between Pia and Cate is potrayed very honestly and i absolutely loved the sexual tension between them which was there throughout the book along with many other amazing things. The second best was all the interactions of Ed and Pia . Oh how i kept on reading looking for their banters and Ed messing with Pia always left me laughing. And i cannot complete this without writing about 'Spanking my mistress'. That was hilarious!!
This book took me through a roller coaster of emotions with all the heart break and all but one constant thing was the light, and sometimes hilarious dialogues of the characters. The ending was satisfying and i was left with a huge stipid grin plastered all over my face and a warm, tingly feeling of giddiness inside me.
Damn me if i knew what to write. This is my second book from Clare Ashton and right now i am cursing myself for not reading these books before. This book has forever been on my to-read list.
Now that i have finally read some of Clare Ashton's work, she has become one of my favoirite authors.
I was hooked to the book from starting to the end. The story is set in London and the description of it was done very nicely by the author. When i started this book, i could never have thought of the turns the story took and how amazing the whole journey from start to end was.
The characters- oh god!
Meeting Pia Benizet-Smith with her lovely clumsiness, Ed with her devil may care attitude, Cate with (i am still thinking what to write about that), was mesmerizing. The connection between Pia and Cate is potrayed very honestly and i absolutely loved the sexual tension between them which was there throughout the book along with many other amazing things. The second best was all the interactions of Ed and Pia . Oh how i kept on reading looking for their banters and Ed messing with Pia always left me laughing. And i cannot complete this without writing about 'Spanking my mistress'. That was hilarious!!
This book took me through a roller coaster of emotions with all the heart break and all but one constant thing was the light, and sometimes hilarious dialogues of the characters. The ending was satisfying and i was left with a huge stipid grin plastered all over my face and a warm, tingly feeling of giddiness inside me.
October 2, 2015
For the most part, I tend to rate romances based on how they make me feel. It's a bit of an arbitrary scale, unfortunately, but it's the only one that really matters to me. The majority of this book just didn't make me feel very happy.
It certainly had bright moments, some laugh-out-loud scenes of slapstick and absurdity, but the wedge issue introduced around the 30% mark was a very large, very bitter pill for me to swallow. I just wasn't able to choke it down.
In many ways, this was a testament to the quality of Ms. Ashton's writing. I identified so strongly with Pia, the protagonist, that it ultimately doomed my experience. Pia felt abandoned, and so did I. Pia felt betrayed, and so did I. Pia felt insecure, and so did I. Pia felt inadequate, and so did I. However, Pia also felt that overpowering chemical spark, that nearly physical bond that's all but impossible to reproduce in the reader, and I did not. That difference allowed her to bridge the gap, whereas I floundered into the abyss.
Okay, so that's pretty melodramatic. Mostly I just felt a bit bummed for 70% of the book, but that's still far too high a percentage for me to find it enjoyable. There's a lot of wit here, a firm sense of location (London's presence is almost palpable) and Pia is an utterly charming lead, but none of it really compensated for the sense of desolation that dominated the story.
Just to be clear here, though, we're not talking about the deepest pits of human despair. This isn't The Road, it's just a book with a surprisingly bleak premise within the context of romantic comedies, one that managed to hit every one of my own personal insecurities with a hammer. Your mileage will certainly vary.
2 stars for how it made me feel, 4.5 stars for quality of writing, averaging to 3.25 stars.
It certainly had bright moments, some laugh-out-loud scenes of slapstick and absurdity, but the wedge issue introduced around the 30% mark was a very large, very bitter pill for me to swallow. I just wasn't able to choke it down.
In many ways, this was a testament to the quality of Ms. Ashton's writing. I identified so strongly with Pia, the protagonist, that it ultimately doomed my experience. Pia felt abandoned, and so did I. Pia felt betrayed, and so did I. Pia felt insecure, and so did I. Pia felt inadequate, and so did I. However, Pia also felt that overpowering chemical spark, that nearly physical bond that's all but impossible to reproduce in the reader, and I did not. That difference allowed her to bridge the gap, whereas I floundered into the abyss.
Okay, so that's pretty melodramatic. Mostly I just felt a bit bummed for 70% of the book, but that's still far too high a percentage for me to find it enjoyable. There's a lot of wit here, a firm sense of location (London's presence is almost palpable) and Pia is an utterly charming lead, but none of it really compensated for the sense of desolation that dominated the story.
Just to be clear here, though, we're not talking about the deepest pits of human despair. This isn't The Road, it's just a book with a surprisingly bleak premise within the context of romantic comedies, one that managed to hit every one of my own personal insecurities with a hammer. Your mileage will certainly vary.
2 stars for how it made me feel, 4.5 stars for quality of writing, averaging to 3.25 stars.
September 17, 2016
This author hasn't written a bad or average book ever.
For some reason I missed this one when it came out and given a couple of recent reviews I made it my mission to go back and get my hands on a copy. Cut priced at £3.99 on Amazon it's a steal.
This is funny, romantic, heartwarming and with just enough angst to propel you to the end.
Loved the corporate picture scene and the all of the secondary characters.
Got annoyed at the ending when suddenly everything turned on its head with Pia having a crisis only for this to be resolved almost instantly - felt unnecessary.
However, this is a wonderful book and I would thoroughly recommend it to one and all.
For some reason I missed this one when it came out and given a couple of recent reviews I made it my mission to go back and get my hands on a copy. Cut priced at £3.99 on Amazon it's a steal.
This is funny, romantic, heartwarming and with just enough angst to propel you to the end.
Loved the corporate picture scene and the all of the secondary characters.
Got annoyed at the ending when suddenly everything turned on its head with Pia having a crisis only for this to be resolved almost instantly - felt unnecessary.
However, this is a wonderful book and I would thoroughly recommend it to one and all.
July 17, 2016
A really lovely and enjoyable read, that goes on my re-read list.
January 24, 2021
I'm a fan of Clare Ashton, she's such a versatile author who can write angsty romances like 'Finding Jessica Lambert', unsettling plots such as 'After Mrs. Hamilton' and fluffy and cute rom-coms like 'That Certain Something'. This is Ms. Ashton's first audiobook release and here's hoping that she won't stop until all of them are out.
Pia Benitez-Smith is a photojournalist full of idealism and romantic ideas. Then she randomly meets Cate, who is her polar opposite and believes that money is essential to most things in life. Pia is determined to prove Cate wrong but life gets in the way and things start getting complicated for both of them.
'That Certain Something' is a funny, sometimes comical, and sweet romance with two lovable main characters. The opposites attract trope couldn't be more fitting here, as both mains are very different physically and personality-wise. While Pia is eager, idealistic, and a bit clumsy, Cate is collected, pragmatic, and poised. Their chemistry is immediate and hot but their personal situations aren't as straightforward. But by serendipity, their paths cross once and again forcing them to face what's been in front of them all the time.
Apart from the leads, the cast of secondary characters is varied, with distinct but very funny personalities. I especially loved Pia's mother who is the quintessential Spanish mother, protective and meddling. Cate's posh family and Pia's quirky boss are also spot on. But one of the most important characters is the city of London which is described by Ms. Ashton so beautifully that the reader can see it in their mind's eye.
Jessica Jeffries is a good choice to narrate this audiobook because of her British accent and her very good Spanish pronunciation and performance of Pia's mother heavily accented English which isn't surprising as Ms. Jeffries is bilingual, and as a Spanish speaker myself, this is much appreciated. However, I have to admit that I would have preferred other types of voices for the main characters but this is a matter of personal taste. The overall performance was very good and does justice to the written text. 4 stars.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
Pia Benitez-Smith is a photojournalist full of idealism and romantic ideas. Then she randomly meets Cate, who is her polar opposite and believes that money is essential to most things in life. Pia is determined to prove Cate wrong but life gets in the way and things start getting complicated for both of them.
'That Certain Something' is a funny, sometimes comical, and sweet romance with two lovable main characters. The opposites attract trope couldn't be more fitting here, as both mains are very different physically and personality-wise. While Pia is eager, idealistic, and a bit clumsy, Cate is collected, pragmatic, and poised. Their chemistry is immediate and hot but their personal situations aren't as straightforward. But by serendipity, their paths cross once and again forcing them to face what's been in front of them all the time.
Apart from the leads, the cast of secondary characters is varied, with distinct but very funny personalities. I especially loved Pia's mother who is the quintessential Spanish mother, protective and meddling. Cate's posh family and Pia's quirky boss are also spot on. But one of the most important characters is the city of London which is described by Ms. Ashton so beautifully that the reader can see it in their mind's eye.
Jessica Jeffries is a good choice to narrate this audiobook because of her British accent and her very good Spanish pronunciation and performance of Pia's mother heavily accented English which isn't surprising as Ms. Jeffries is bilingual, and as a Spanish speaker myself, this is much appreciated. However, I have to admit that I would have preferred other types of voices for the main characters but this is a matter of personal taste. The overall performance was very good and does justice to the written text. 4 stars.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
July 23, 2017
Utterly adorable, and the perfect lesbian romance. I fell hard for Pia and was rooting for their romance from the first perfect evening. Superb writing, and the perfect trickle of humour.
What really made it for me though were the supporting characters, Pia's mama, Lord Charles, Lady Wynne, and the best character ever, Ed.
I'll take off maybe 0.25 of a star for Rafe, but that's all.
What really made it for me though were the supporting characters, Pia's mama, Lord Charles, Lady Wynne, and the best character ever, Ed.
I'll take off maybe 0.25 of a star for Rafe, but that's all.
April 12, 2018
It's been awhile, so a re-read of That Certain Something by Clare Ashton was in order. Reading it to Book Club Buddie D. this time. After reading Poppy Jenkins and After Mrs. Hamilton with her she is an Ashton fan as well. And how can you not be, the woman writes beautifully. I own all her books both on kindle and in paperback (something I only do with writers I really love).
With That Certain Something, Ashton has written the perfect rom-com. Love, laughter and heartbreak in the heart of London. Fall in love with idialistic photographer Pia and classy journalist Cate as they spend one perfect night together.
f/f explicit
Themes: love or money, Brixton, Kensington, follow your heart or your head, the ultimate rom-com, too many super fun characters to name, I had such a crush on Cate, and Pia is adorable, nothing bad about this book, Ashton on perpetual repeat, just read it!
still 5 stars
With That Certain Something, Ashton has written the perfect rom-com. Love, laughter and heartbreak in the heart of London. Fall in love with idialistic photographer Pia and classy journalist Cate as they spend one perfect night together.
f/f explicit
Themes: love or money, Brixton, Kensington, follow your heart or your head, the ultimate rom-com, too many super fun characters to name, I had such a crush on Cate, and Pia is adorable, nothing bad about this book, Ashton on perpetual repeat, just read it!
still 5 stars
November 7, 2022
This was a nice quick read but that was kind of what I didn't like so much about it, it was all rather a rush. It had a nice plot, the writing was good, a mix of funny moments and common life issues made the story entertaining but I would've liked it if it had more time to develop. Everything between the two MC's happened so fast and there wasn’t exactly a “happily ever after” either. I appreciated the positive message though that money isn't the most important thing in life.
October 6, 2019
This gave me immense joy to read. I dont know why I waited so long to read this since it's a clare Ashton novel, but somehow, I feel I read it exactly when I was meant to.
I loved the date. The chemistry between the two characters. I had a constant smile on my face while reading.
Clare ashton is just so good. Always. She can make you feel longing and warmth and despair and love and lightness and the weight of your decisions, all in the span of a few words. She can make your heart ache... it's such a human experience reading her books.
I loved the date. The chemistry between the two characters. I had a constant smile on my face while reading.
Clare ashton is just so good. Always. She can make you feel longing and warmth and despair and love and lightness and the weight of your decisions, all in the span of a few words. She can make your heart ache... it's such a human experience reading her books.
March 16, 2016
Oh, I am certainly going to give That Certain Something five stars. I just spent the most delightful afternoon in its company. Light as a feather, with a smear of heartbreak, as one would expect, this novel is a treasure, an exquisite paradisiacal escape.
Reading That Certain Something is like watching a film. Clare Ashton’s characters are so alive they reach out from the page and simply take over, no questions asked. They look you straight in the eye, a little inviting smirk whispering tales of warmth on their faces... Come on, try me, they dare you. Sigh. They are beyond fabulous.
Cate’s elegance and intelligence (I am looking at you, Cate Blanchett), Pia’s passion and dedication, Ed’s fantastic sense of humour (someone should hire Anna Chancellor to play this part), Lottie’s enthusiasm, Sir Charles’ blindness, Lady Wynne’s hope… and even the raging squirrel! Someone needs to bring this to the big screen. It’s one delicious puzzle of characters. I just couldn’t stop smiling while reading. I only wish it went on forever!
Ah, the wonders of great company. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to pack, fly to London and climb a tree!
Reading That Certain Something is like watching a film. Clare Ashton’s characters are so alive they reach out from the page and simply take over, no questions asked. They look you straight in the eye, a little inviting smirk whispering tales of warmth on their faces... Come on, try me, they dare you. Sigh. They are beyond fabulous.
Cate’s elegance and intelligence (I am looking at you, Cate Blanchett), Pia’s passion and dedication, Ed’s fantastic sense of humour (someone should hire Anna Chancellor to play this part), Lottie’s enthusiasm, Sir Charles’ blindness, Lady Wynne’s hope… and even the raging squirrel! Someone needs to bring this to the big screen. It’s one delicious puzzle of characters. I just couldn’t stop smiling while reading. I only wish it went on forever!
Ah, the wonders of great company. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to pack, fly to London and climb a tree!
May 14, 2021
This is such a sweet story, and has two of the most adorable main characters. They are so different from each other, but seem to click beautifully. Pia is a romantic, whilst Cate seems to think you have to spend to make a date special. Can Pia show Cate that love doesn’t need to cost?
I loved the London setting and seeing little pockets of the city through Pia and Cate’s eyes. This is a story to make the reader swoon. I enjoyed the narration by Jessica Jeffries too. She pitched it perfectly.
I loved the London setting and seeing little pockets of the city through Pia and Cate’s eyes. This is a story to make the reader swoon. I enjoyed the narration by Jessica Jeffries too. She pitched it perfectly.
December 12, 2015
From the very first page, That Certain Something grabs its readers and doesn’t let go. Some novels are slow to warm. Authors usually set the stage in the first few chapters of their novel before really getting down to the nitty gritty, but Clare Ashton…. She don’t play. It’s fast-paced, engaging, and takes your head for a nice little spin.
This is just a side note, but what I’ve noticed is that many many lesbian authors make desserts sound so damn delicious in their books. After I finished reading That Certain Something, that next morning, I went to a nearby breakfast café in my neighborhood and ordered a lemon-butter crepe. The extra centimeter of horizontal growth in my thighs is attributed to you Clare Ashton. I hope you’re happy.
This isn’t your average rich girl-poor girl love story. There’s a lack of superficiality and a depth to Cate’s character right from the onset. The readers see how Cate is a product of her upbringing, and understand the reason why she doesn’t choose to prioritize her passions and talents. Those are only secondary to seeking a normal and stable life.
When Cate meets Pia, all bets are off.
Sometimes, it only takes the right person to help you realize that a heart isn’t just an organ that beats in your chest, and that love isn’t built on the promise of money and stability. Pia shows Cate that the best things in life don’t come with a price tag and that any place can be magical, as long as you have the right company. Just as Pia captures a person’s essence through her camera lens, her eyes capture the beauty of Cate’s soul. Seriously, what can be more romantic than that? If only we could be so lucky to meet someone as passionate and idealistic as Pia. I loved the way Clare Ashton wrote the spirit of this character.
When you read this novel, you can really sense that the characters feel at home with each other. And isn’t that what we’re all looking for, a place to call home? We all belong in the arms of the one we love.
http://lesreadoutloud.com/2015/12/12/...
This is just a side note, but what I’ve noticed is that many many lesbian authors make desserts sound so damn delicious in their books. After I finished reading That Certain Something, that next morning, I went to a nearby breakfast café in my neighborhood and ordered a lemon-butter crepe. The extra centimeter of horizontal growth in my thighs is attributed to you Clare Ashton. I hope you’re happy.
This isn’t your average rich girl-poor girl love story. There’s a lack of superficiality and a depth to Cate’s character right from the onset. The readers see how Cate is a product of her upbringing, and understand the reason why she doesn’t choose to prioritize her passions and talents. Those are only secondary to seeking a normal and stable life.
When Cate meets Pia, all bets are off.
Sometimes, it only takes the right person to help you realize that a heart isn’t just an organ that beats in your chest, and that love isn’t built on the promise of money and stability. Pia shows Cate that the best things in life don’t come with a price tag and that any place can be magical, as long as you have the right company. Just as Pia captures a person’s essence through her camera lens, her eyes capture the beauty of Cate’s soul. Seriously, what can be more romantic than that? If only we could be so lucky to meet someone as passionate and idealistic as Pia. I loved the way Clare Ashton wrote the spirit of this character.
When you read this novel, you can really sense that the characters feel at home with each other. And isn’t that what we’re all looking for, a place to call home? We all belong in the arms of the one we love.
http://lesreadoutloud.com/2015/12/12/...
October 8, 2017
Who wouldn't like to meet someone like Pia - full of idealism, seeing the world and the people as beautiful and loveable? Well, either that or I'd like to be like her.
I laughed, I cried and I very much enjoyed this book. It's a very beautiful romantic comedy that invites you to dream and laugh.
I laughed, I cried and I very much enjoyed this book. It's a very beautiful romantic comedy that invites you to dream and laugh.
August 7, 2017
Good book. Worth the read.
October 28, 2016
Very funny and charming love story.
June 29, 2016
"I begged her to marry me" isn't a revelation any jilted lover will make. "I did so much for her and the bitch still left me" would perhaps be more plausible. But this is not what That Certain Something does. This and many other such examples in the book can only be described as lazy plot development and not a light-hearted or rom-com writing style. The author introduces problems (for example, Sir Charles' homophobia) and then resolves them very simplistically, perhaps to evoke laughter, but they just seem like a cop out, like the author couldn't be bothered to think the resolution through.
Some resolutions are even problematic, for example, the handling of Pia's trust issue. First the author makes two very important characters – Mama and Ed – inject a sense of reality into Pia's naive notion of love and romance and then completely negates her own effort by choosing to portray Pia as someone whose love for Cate only peaks when she gets the assurance that . One wonders how acceptable this resolution would've been if Pia had been a man. By writing this end, Ashton not only ridicules the idea of love and commitment, but also gives weight to the long-held belief that women's bodies are things to be possessed and the purity of that body is foremost in any relationship.
Even though the writing style and the humour in the book are good, they are definitely not enough to redeem a book that demeans women in this way.
August 26, 2018
1. I still love Poppy Jenkins more.
2. The first time Pia and Cate met, it wasn't the perfect meeting as it involved snobby squirrels and embarrassing circumstances for Pia yet they spent the remaining of the day together with Pia taking Cate on a minimal budget date. They spent the night together and by the next morning, Cate was gone.
3.
4. Pia got a job as a photographer, guess who owned the publication and to whom he was married to???
5. Yup, you guessed it right. Now buy the book already, it's USD 6.
2. The first time Pia and Cate met, it wasn't the perfect meeting as it involved snobby squirrels and embarrassing circumstances for Pia yet they spent the remaining of the day together with Pia taking Cate on a minimal budget date. They spent the night together and by the next morning, Cate was gone.
3.
4. Pia got a job as a photographer, guess who owned the publication and to whom he was married to???
5. Yup, you guessed it right. Now buy the book already, it's USD 6.
May 26, 2023
Entertaining, full of twists and so romantic that it will make you believe in love at first sight.
Pia gave me some great laughs.
I can see now more of the evolving of C. Ashton writing and skilled characterization for secondary characters.
Ed should have a novel for herself. Her sarcasm made me giggle many times.
Cate... that dress at the party... oef...
Money is not equal happiness. It helps, but you need to work on your happiness and make choices you think you would never make.
Ps. I would have loved to see two strangers meeting (again) on top of the Empire Building. Serendipity.
Pia gave me some great laughs.
I can see now more of the evolving of C. Ashton writing and skilled characterization for secondary characters.
Ed should have a novel for herself. Her sarcasm made me giggle many times.
Cate... that dress at the party... oef...
Money is not equal happiness. It helps, but you need to work on your happiness and make choices you think you would never make.
Ps. I would have loved to see two strangers meeting (again) on top of the Empire Building. Serendipity.
May 14, 2014
I don't have much time to write a proper review, but I have to write something. This book deserves it. I love the description of their one perfect night in London, I almost booked a flight afterwards because I wanted to see the places, feel the magic ;) two thumbs up for this wonderful story.
July 12, 2018
A refreshing, fun romance about love at first sight and soul mates.
Despite a very difficult and embarassing situation, the feelings and the emotions are so powerful that cannot be ignored and will find their way to express.
The storytelling is seen from the eyes of Pia, a determined, sensitive, stubborn, adorable gay photographer with her established set of moral principles, but a little (and sometimes more than a little) closeminded about what falls outside them.
The target of her love is beautiful, rich and mysterious Cate, which the reader comes to discover gradually along the story, together with Pia. Without spoilering to much, she'll be quite great at the end.
An important line of the play is the class contrast between the two main characters which results only in superficial difference, not really a fundamental one in the inner reality.
As a minor character points out to Pia "you two are more similar than you think, and what is different is spice".
The story is not perfect, it has its flaws, sometimes you'd like to say: "Come on, Pia, that's too much! Relent a little!"
But as a whole you heartily feel for the two girls, becasue they are both really very nice and you just want for them the much awaited happy ending.
And, by the way, you're compelled to read to the early hours until it happens!
Despite a very difficult and embarassing situation, the feelings and the emotions are so powerful that cannot be ignored and will find their way to express.
The storytelling is seen from the eyes of Pia, a determined, sensitive, stubborn, adorable gay photographer with her established set of moral principles, but a little (and sometimes more than a little) closeminded about what falls outside them.
The target of her love is beautiful, rich and mysterious Cate, which the reader comes to discover gradually along the story, together with Pia. Without spoilering to much, she'll be quite great at the end.
An important line of the play is the class contrast between the two main characters which results only in superficial difference, not really a fundamental one in the inner reality.
As a minor character points out to Pia "you two are more similar than you think, and what is different is spice".
The story is not perfect, it has its flaws, sometimes you'd like to say: "Come on, Pia, that's too much! Relent a little!"
But as a whole you heartily feel for the two girls, becasue they are both really very nice and you just want for them the much awaited happy ending.
And, by the way, you're compelled to read to the early hours until it happens!
September 26, 2022
2022 re-read. Downgrade to 4 just because the 2nd part suddenly felt tll rushed after reading a lot of other lez romance.
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A great read! It felt a lot like watching a movie -- this would be a great book to turn into a movie actually.
It was romantic, sensual and funny all in one. I 'read' of this book recently and thankfully I read it. It has been a while since I found a book that I really enjoyed. And the only downside is we don't get to see the "what happens after" part of it, which is really disappointing. I want more! I really liked Cate, as in if she were a real person there's like 99% chance that I would have a crush on her. Also it was written well. If you want a movie-like lovestory, fast paced and sweet, try this one out. =)
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A great read! It felt a lot like watching a movie -- this would be a great book to turn into a movie actually.
It was romantic, sensual and funny all in one. I 'read' of this book recently and thankfully I read it. It has been a while since I found a book that I really enjoyed. And the only downside is we don't get to see the "what happens after" part of it, which is really disappointing. I want more! I really liked Cate, as in if she were a real person there's like 99% chance that I would have a crush on her. Also it was written well. If you want a movie-like lovestory, fast paced and sweet, try this one out. =)
August 3, 2020
“The heart wants what the heart wants”
I was captivated by the ending of this story. What a very sweet romance. Cate and Pia really make a perfect of a couple. Things can happen if they want it too. This is the third book that I read from Clare Ashton. After reading this, I think I need to go through all of her books.
I was captivated by the ending of this story. What a very sweet romance. Cate and Pia really make a perfect of a couple. Things can happen if they want it too. This is the third book that I read from Clare Ashton. After reading this, I think I need to go through all of her books.
October 20, 2016
4.5 stars, great book with interesting, rom-com style characters and storyline, it was sweet and fun. I read it after reading Poppy Jenkins and it pales in comparison but still highly recommended.
May 26, 2014
Pia Benitez-Smith is a struggling photojournalist trying to scrape a living between her art and accidental paparazzi shots. When a squirrel chases her out of a tree she falls into the arms of her dream woman and so begins an emotional roller coaster.
Cate is elegant, intriguing, beautiful and way above Pia’s working-class roots. She is clearly supposed to be somewhere but doesn’t seem in any rush to leave. When she insists her dream night would cost a fortune Pia can’t resist proving her wrong, and the pair set of to create an evening they will never forget.
But Cate wants riches and security, while Pia wants to live her life to the full, and thinks love is more important than money. Can these polar opposites ever be more than a dream?
------------
Clare Ashton has written another winner. That Certain Something was a joy to read from start to finish. It warms your heart, tickles your fancy and captivates your mind.
Pia is the quintessential youthful idealist. Daughter of dreamers, she is a romantic to the core. But she also has a deeply ingrained integrity that shines through both in her work and her personal choices. Her ability to capture the perfect portrait, her refusal to take advantage and her total honesty make her a woman of character. She has a charisma you cant help but love from the first moment, her clumsiness is endearing, her enthusiasm is jubilant and her family ties refreshing in a world where they frequently mean so little.
Cate appears to be the exact opposite. Refined, restrained, constrained even. She seems to be beautiful but it is only skin deep. Her life experiences have twisted the real Cate into something she doesn’t like but can’t seem to escape. Her evening with Pia wakes the sleeping beauty and challenges Cate to her core. While Pia must learn her true value, Cate’s is a journey to freedom from self imposed golden bars.
Pia and Cate’s story is one of joyful encounters, hilarious accidents, shared secrets and painful growth. From the very first moment you know that the world cannot be right if they aren’t together, and their love shines through, despite the pain of terrible choices and mistaken pride. They captivate us and hold us spellbound throughout.
A wonderful ensemble cast that our most famous actresses would be queuing up to fill supports our heroine’s journey. Pias’s adoring mother, Cate’s grounded Grandmother and Ed, the tough old marshmallow Editor, all play a central role that fills out the pages with the warmth of a summer afternoon. Ms Ashton has a skilled sense of character that brings so many minor players to life; the famous actress, the drunken supermodel, the hotel doorman - even the cabbies get their moment under her spotlight.
As well as a delightful cast Clare Ashton illustrates London in all its glory. With a light, deft, brushstroke she not only paints a beautiful watercolor of some of our most amazing spaces, but evokes the sense, the smell and the emotion that is London. She mixes the old, often hidden, eccentricity of wealth and pomp with the sleaze of the 1970’s tower block, the heart of multicultural Brixton with the overwhelming impersonal opulence of the modern skyscraper. If you haven’t been here there is no better way of seeing London than following Pia’s evening delight and the opposite worlds of Cate’s homes and Pia’s family.
And all of this is written with the most exquisite touch. Ms Ashton’s sense of timing, pace and style are elegant and flow across the pages. Her descriptions are unobtrusive but somehow convey depth without overbearing detail. Her comic timing and sense of fun balance effortlessly with a clear sense of the turmoil within – we never doubt for one moment the anguish Cate is suffering, although not one word is spoken or one thought expressed.
This one not only goes on my re-read pile, I am quite tempted to start it over again straight away just to experience the pleasure of being swept away in this story. I don’t often want to give 6 stars but the finesse of Clare Ashton’s writing is breathtaking. Don’t only read it and submerge yourself in the experience, buy your friends a copy and share the joy. You will be captivated, entertained and fall in love, all while belly laughing your way through Pia’s bare-arsed antics.
Cate is elegant, intriguing, beautiful and way above Pia’s working-class roots. She is clearly supposed to be somewhere but doesn’t seem in any rush to leave. When she insists her dream night would cost a fortune Pia can’t resist proving her wrong, and the pair set of to create an evening they will never forget.
But Cate wants riches and security, while Pia wants to live her life to the full, and thinks love is more important than money. Can these polar opposites ever be more than a dream?
------------
Clare Ashton has written another winner. That Certain Something was a joy to read from start to finish. It warms your heart, tickles your fancy and captivates your mind.
Pia is the quintessential youthful idealist. Daughter of dreamers, she is a romantic to the core. But she also has a deeply ingrained integrity that shines through both in her work and her personal choices. Her ability to capture the perfect portrait, her refusal to take advantage and her total honesty make her a woman of character. She has a charisma you cant help but love from the first moment, her clumsiness is endearing, her enthusiasm is jubilant and her family ties refreshing in a world where they frequently mean so little.
Cate appears to be the exact opposite. Refined, restrained, constrained even. She seems to be beautiful but it is only skin deep. Her life experiences have twisted the real Cate into something she doesn’t like but can’t seem to escape. Her evening with Pia wakes the sleeping beauty and challenges Cate to her core. While Pia must learn her true value, Cate’s is a journey to freedom from self imposed golden bars.
Pia and Cate’s story is one of joyful encounters, hilarious accidents, shared secrets and painful growth. From the very first moment you know that the world cannot be right if they aren’t together, and their love shines through, despite the pain of terrible choices and mistaken pride. They captivate us and hold us spellbound throughout.
A wonderful ensemble cast that our most famous actresses would be queuing up to fill supports our heroine’s journey. Pias’s adoring mother, Cate’s grounded Grandmother and Ed, the tough old marshmallow Editor, all play a central role that fills out the pages with the warmth of a summer afternoon. Ms Ashton has a skilled sense of character that brings so many minor players to life; the famous actress, the drunken supermodel, the hotel doorman - even the cabbies get their moment under her spotlight.
As well as a delightful cast Clare Ashton illustrates London in all its glory. With a light, deft, brushstroke she not only paints a beautiful watercolor of some of our most amazing spaces, but evokes the sense, the smell and the emotion that is London. She mixes the old, often hidden, eccentricity of wealth and pomp with the sleaze of the 1970’s tower block, the heart of multicultural Brixton with the overwhelming impersonal opulence of the modern skyscraper. If you haven’t been here there is no better way of seeing London than following Pia’s evening delight and the opposite worlds of Cate’s homes and Pia’s family.
And all of this is written with the most exquisite touch. Ms Ashton’s sense of timing, pace and style are elegant and flow across the pages. Her descriptions are unobtrusive but somehow convey depth without overbearing detail. Her comic timing and sense of fun balance effortlessly with a clear sense of the turmoil within – we never doubt for one moment the anguish Cate is suffering, although not one word is spoken or one thought expressed.
This one not only goes on my re-read pile, I am quite tempted to start it over again straight away just to experience the pleasure of being swept away in this story. I don’t often want to give 6 stars but the finesse of Clare Ashton’s writing is breathtaking. Don’t only read it and submerge yourself in the experience, buy your friends a copy and share the joy. You will be captivated, entertained and fall in love, all while belly laughing your way through Pia’s bare-arsed antics.
September 12, 2014
This is more a flow of thoughts upon immediately finishing That Certain Something than a proper review. The novel would make a great "feel good" movie...throughout, it unfolds in your mind as if it were on a screen right before your eyes.
There is so much to like:
-the sweetness of both women (especially romantically-inclined Pia, whose yearning for true love is breathtakingly endearing)
-the comedic moments (droll and sometimes caustically funny Ed becomes surprisingly likable as the novel progresses. I would love to see her get a spin-off and her own romance.)
-the pain of the seemingly unattainable and the futile feelings both women have for each other (though Cate can be maddening and there are times you wonder why Pia continues to pine for her.)
Even the secondary characters add to all that is right about That Certain Something. (Cate's stuffy grandfather takes a turn for the better that is both believable and one of the reasons this would be the kind of romcom that has you smiling near the end.)
Like other reviewers, I feel the novel could have been a tad longer, with more backstory for Cate. Truly, if not for how much she loves Pia and is changed by her (for all the best reasons) I'm not sure I would have liked her so much.
Still, That Certain Something is a wonderful way to spend the afternoon and will leave you wishing real life worked this way. :)
May 17, 2014
For those of you who may not have read That Certain Something, by Clare Ashton, as yet, I have just passed an enjoyable evening and afternoon reading her book. This book, like The Dildo in the Kitchen drawer, is a departure from Clare's last full novels Penance and Goldie award winning After Mrs Hamilton, however, her great writing is still very apparent The timing of the book shows a master of the comedic craft. Clare brings London alive as Pia and Cate's relationship develops. The cast of characters involved are quintessentially English, with a bit of Spanish thrown in, to make the story flow! I would certainly recommend this book.
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