What do you think?
Rate this book
Par Perfeito
Não está sendo fácil encontrar o homem dos seus sonhos? Pois bem, então pare de sair por aí batendo cabeça, entrando em roubadas homéricas e espatifando a cara a cada encontro. Está mais do que na hora de você procurar uma profissional na curiosa arte de encontrar o par perfeito. Alice Brown, até que provem o contrário, tem o melhor emprego do mundo. Ela é o que antigamente se chamava de casamenteira, uma profissional especializada em encontrar a tão sonhada “outra metade da laranja”, o amor da sua vida, o fogo e a paixão. Alice passa os dias ajudando mulheres a se apaixonar loucamente. Suas clientes, e… ELA TAMBÉM, é claro, estão ansiosas para conhecer um príncipe encantado.
O problema é que é muito mais fácil encontrá-los para as clientes. E, por falar nelas, a última que apareceu, Kate, está a exatos 569 dias de fazer 35 anos e há exatos 5 anos atrasada nessa missão de vida. A dificuldade é que seu, digamos, padrão, está fora dos padrões. Desesperada, isso mesmo, desesperada para encontrar aquele gato, lindo, perfeito, romântico, carinhoso, bom de cama, atencioso, gostosão, charmoso, UFFFFFFA, ela sabe que sua última esperança recai sobre Alice.
Enquanto isso, a própria Alice está tendo probleminhas para lidar com seu chefe, e problemas para parar de se apaixonar pelo homem alheio. E se nada der certo? E se ela falhar com Kate? E se, ela mesma, estiver precisando de uma ajudinha profissional?
O problema é que é muito mais fácil encontrá-los para as clientes. E, por falar nelas, a última que apareceu, Kate, está a exatos 569 dias de fazer 35 anos e há exatos 5 anos atrasada nessa missão de vida. A dificuldade é que seu, digamos, padrão, está fora dos padrões. Desesperada, isso mesmo, desesperada para encontrar aquele gato, lindo, perfeito, romântico, carinhoso, bom de cama, atencioso, gostosão, charmoso, UFFFFFFA, ela sabe que sua última esperança recai sobre Alice.
Enquanto isso, a própria Alice está tendo probleminhas para lidar com seu chefe, e problemas para parar de se apaixonar pelo homem alheio. E se nada der certo? E se ela falhar com Kate? E se, ela mesma, estiver precisando de uma ajudinha profissional?
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 22, 2021
Could it be by the same author was one of my favourite books of 2015 and this book I'm sure will be a favourite of 2016.
I just love the authors style of writing and such easy reads.
Perfect for those cold weekends snuggled under a duvet
I just love the authors style of writing and such easy reads.
Perfect for those cold weekends snuggled under a duvet
June 6, 2022
This book was so much fun! I listened to the audiobook unpretentiously and it was such a good surprise! I`ve been reading many bad chick lits lately and I was growing tired of that genre, but luckily, I found that and I had a great time. I really liked the many different points of view and stories. I actually cared about most of the characters. Unfortunately, the author doesn't have many other books, because I really liked her writing style.
May 10, 2012
This book was recommended to me by a friend just before going on holidays - And I'm so glad it was. This is the best book of its genre I've read since 'Bridget Jones'. This is 'Chick-lit Plus'- its brilliantly written - warm, romantic, sensitive but above all very funny.
There are a number of charactors in the book which can sometimes confuse a storyline - but not in this case. The charactors are all interwoven into the plot beautifully and are written in such a way that you feel you know them - they are very real.
This would make a great British film - I can see Colin Firth as John.
Is this the author's first novel? I'd like to read more.............
There are a number of charactors in the book which can sometimes confuse a storyline - but not in this case. The charactors are all interwoven into the plot beautifully and are written in such a way that you feel you know them - they are very real.
This would make a great British film - I can see Colin Firth as John.
Is this the author's first novel? I'd like to read more.............
March 8, 2013
Yes, I've given this four stars. After reading (unintentionally) three back-to-back emotional rollercoasters featuring kidnapping and violence towards children I was thrilled to find this next on the pile - something light and cuddly, where no-one died, was dismembered or ended in a mood of doom and gloom.
It's a bouncy and bright book. I was attracted by the sound of a 'Hello Dolly' of a matchmaker looking for her own perfect match.
This is probably a woman's book, but a good example of the genre. Alice is the too-sweet and too-unaware-of-her-own-good-looks to be true, but you can go along with that. Kate is her customer, and her story is simpler and resolved neatly. Audrey is the interesting character - in love with a man (SPOILER - who she has pretended is her husband for years, but who she hires for special events as her escort).
You can probably guess where the story will go, I did early on. There are some overly sentimental scenes and unrealistic 'realisation' moments, as well as a bit of a sappy end. But yes, I did enjoy it.
Occasionally it's nice to read something that won't challenge you, that won't make your heart race for hours, that doesn't have you running for the nearest dictionary. This is a good book in the genre, an interesting look at the world of matchmaking.
In reality I'd give this 3 stars, but for pure enjoyment value it gets 4.
Now onto something with some bite!
It's a bouncy and bright book. I was attracted by the sound of a 'Hello Dolly' of a matchmaker looking for her own perfect match.
This is probably a woman's book, but a good example of the genre. Alice is the too-sweet and too-unaware-of-her-own-good-looks to be true, but you can go along with that. Kate is her customer, and her story is simpler and resolved neatly. Audrey is the interesting character - in love with a man (SPOILER - who she has pretended is her husband for years, but who she hires for special events as her escort).
You can probably guess where the story will go, I did early on. There are some overly sentimental scenes and unrealistic 'realisation' moments, as well as a bit of a sappy end. But yes, I did enjoy it.
Occasionally it's nice to read something that won't challenge you, that won't make your heart race for hours, that doesn't have you running for the nearest dictionary. This is a good book in the genre, an interesting look at the world of matchmaking.
In reality I'd give this 3 stars, but for pure enjoyment value it gets 4.
Now onto something with some bite!
April 23, 2013
Oh, it was all a bit naff, really. There's nothing terribly offensive about this book (well, okay, apart from how it kind of slut-shames Lou a bit); it just sort of ambles along at its own pace. There's also nothing terribly surprising about it - no particularly well-drawn characters or fabulous scenarios. Of course Alice was going to look amazing in that dress and catch John's eye. Of course Kate needed the exact opposite of what she thought she was looking for. Of course even awful Audrey would get a happy ending. And I guess this might be a large part of its appeal to many readers: its comfortable, familiar formula.
Before all the true believers out there flame me, I would like to point out that I actually really like chick-lit - clever, warm, funny, well-written chick-lit. This just does not tick those boxes for me.
Before all the true believers out there flame me, I would like to point out that I actually really like chick-lit - clever, warm, funny, well-written chick-lit. This just does not tick those boxes for me.
April 23, 2018
Depois de um longo tempo em que a ressaca literário foi minha companheira, agora consegui engrenar uma leitura que me deixou com o coração aquecido e recordar como é bom pegar um livro bom. Já olhava pra ele muitas vezes no catálogo do Ubook (veja aqui) e finalmente tomei coragem em começar. Foi a melhor coisa que fiz!
Dando uma olhada no Goodreads descobri que esse é o livro de estréia da autora Eleanor Prescott. E que bom que escreveu, porque Par Perfeito é um chick-lit muito gostosinho e que mexeu com minhas emoções por se tratar de uma agência de relacionamentos e não ser nada clichê. Bom, pelo menos eu não achei. Foi uma leitura bem refrescante.
Nessa história contada em terceira pessoa vamos percorrer a vida de alguns personagens, mas a principal delas é a Alice, uma mulher que acredita que sabe bem quando duas pessoas estão destinadas a ficar juntas. Ela trabalha para a Audrey que é bem conhecida no ramo por ser bem sucedida na agência Par Perfeito, mas sente que a patroa a odeia. Mas Alice não liga para isso, pois tem certeza que seu objetivo maior é: deixar os clientes satisfeitos em seus encontros, e o faz muito bem.
Quote: "Como se esperasse o momento certo, a plateia se inclinou para a frente em tensa expectativa, preparando-se para descobrir os segredos esquivos para se encontrar o Par Perfeito."
E em paralelo temos duas amigas inseparáveis: Kate e Lou. Kate está muito frustrada de que nenhum encontro progrede para um relacionamento duradouro e decide contratar os serviços da Par Perfeito, visto que a última palestra da Par Perfeito que assistiu encontrou Alice e foi convidada a se inscrever no pacote premium da agência. Em contrapartida, Lou é totalmente cética de que isso vá funcionar, já que sua tática em relacionamento é outra. Ela vai de cabeça e não se importa se será duradouro ou não.
Quote: "Durante toda a sua vida as pessoas a haviam chamado de sonhadora. Alice concordava. As coisas eram muito mais excitantes quando coloridas por um pouco de fantasia. Era a vida real, só que melhorada com photoshop."
Cada capítulo é contado sobre o ponto de vista de um desses personagens, deixando a leitura bem abrangente e como se fôssemos parte do que cada um deles está passando, bem dentro da cabeça deles e adoro isso. Cada personagem tem sua própria história de vida nesse livro, mas também se relacionam com outros de um jeito bem legal.
Quote: "A vida fica muito mais divertida quando abrimos as portas do coração para surpresas."
Alice quer manter o emprego que acha que é sua vocação na vida. Audrey tem um pequeno problema pessoal dentro da empresa que não pode deixar que ninguém saiba, mas tenta á todo custo através de John fazer com que se torne realidade, além de uma inimiga de peso. Kate quer encontrar seu par perfeito, mas tem padrões muito elevados no seu conceito. Lou apesar de ser muito alto-astral, tem problemas que precisa consertar, como o conceito que tem sobre si e o tipo de relacionamento que se envolve. E John, que além de ser um dos mais bem personagens masculinos bem construídos que já vi, é também o dono de um carisma fantástico.
Quote: [...] Não que eu tenha algum problema com os homens nem nada disso. É só que eles são como os ônibus. Ou seja, você espera durante séculos e quando finalmente aparece um, está lotado. E aquela velha história de que logo atrás vem outro vazio… bem, isso é só um mito, certo?"
Não gostaria de contar mais nada além disso para não estragar a boa experiência que ele livro pode proporcionar. Mas acredite quando digo que essa capa não faz muito jus a toda carga positiva que esse livro tem em espalhar a mensagem de acreditar no amor, ter bons conceitos sobre relacionamentos, mas principalmente acreditar em si mesma. A capa americana é muito mais bonita e de uma sutileza...
Amei muito Par Perfeito e espero que a Editora Valentina possa traduzir o outro livro da autora: Could It Be I'm Falling Love.
Quote: " O Daily Post diz que nos próximos anos a Grã-Bretanha terá uma epidemia de solteiras. Aparentemente, teremos um futuro sombrio, com mais horas de trabalho, aposentadoria mais tardia e sem nenhuma das coisas boas, como bebês, família e um marido para complementar nossa previdência. Estou te dizendo, Lou, Sex and City não era comédia: era um alerta!"
Dando uma olhada no Goodreads descobri que esse é o livro de estréia da autora Eleanor Prescott. E que bom que escreveu, porque Par Perfeito é um chick-lit muito gostosinho e que mexeu com minhas emoções por se tratar de uma agência de relacionamentos e não ser nada clichê. Bom, pelo menos eu não achei. Foi uma leitura bem refrescante.
Nessa história contada em terceira pessoa vamos percorrer a vida de alguns personagens, mas a principal delas é a Alice, uma mulher que acredita que sabe bem quando duas pessoas estão destinadas a ficar juntas. Ela trabalha para a Audrey que é bem conhecida no ramo por ser bem sucedida na agência Par Perfeito, mas sente que a patroa a odeia. Mas Alice não liga para isso, pois tem certeza que seu objetivo maior é: deixar os clientes satisfeitos em seus encontros, e o faz muito bem.
Quote: "Como se esperasse o momento certo, a plateia se inclinou para a frente em tensa expectativa, preparando-se para descobrir os segredos esquivos para se encontrar o Par Perfeito."
E em paralelo temos duas amigas inseparáveis: Kate e Lou. Kate está muito frustrada de que nenhum encontro progrede para um relacionamento duradouro e decide contratar os serviços da Par Perfeito, visto que a última palestra da Par Perfeito que assistiu encontrou Alice e foi convidada a se inscrever no pacote premium da agência. Em contrapartida, Lou é totalmente cética de que isso vá funcionar, já que sua tática em relacionamento é outra. Ela vai de cabeça e não se importa se será duradouro ou não.
Quote: "Durante toda a sua vida as pessoas a haviam chamado de sonhadora. Alice concordava. As coisas eram muito mais excitantes quando coloridas por um pouco de fantasia. Era a vida real, só que melhorada com photoshop."
Cada capítulo é contado sobre o ponto de vista de um desses personagens, deixando a leitura bem abrangente e como se fôssemos parte do que cada um deles está passando, bem dentro da cabeça deles e adoro isso. Cada personagem tem sua própria história de vida nesse livro, mas também se relacionam com outros de um jeito bem legal.
Quote: "A vida fica muito mais divertida quando abrimos as portas do coração para surpresas."
Alice quer manter o emprego que acha que é sua vocação na vida. Audrey tem um pequeno problema pessoal dentro da empresa que não pode deixar que ninguém saiba, mas tenta á todo custo através de John fazer com que se torne realidade, além de uma inimiga de peso. Kate quer encontrar seu par perfeito, mas tem padrões muito elevados no seu conceito. Lou apesar de ser muito alto-astral, tem problemas que precisa consertar, como o conceito que tem sobre si e o tipo de relacionamento que se envolve. E John, que além de ser um dos mais bem personagens masculinos bem construídos que já vi, é também o dono de um carisma fantástico.
Quote: [...] Não que eu tenha algum problema com os homens nem nada disso. É só que eles são como os ônibus. Ou seja, você espera durante séculos e quando finalmente aparece um, está lotado. E aquela velha história de que logo atrás vem outro vazio… bem, isso é só um mito, certo?"
Não gostaria de contar mais nada além disso para não estragar a boa experiência que ele livro pode proporcionar. Mas acredite quando digo que essa capa não faz muito jus a toda carga positiva que esse livro tem em espalhar a mensagem de acreditar no amor, ter bons conceitos sobre relacionamentos, mas principalmente acreditar em si mesma. A capa americana é muito mais bonita e de uma sutileza...
Amei muito Par Perfeito e espero que a Editora Valentina possa traduzir o outro livro da autora: Could It Be I'm Falling Love.
Quote: " O Daily Post diz que nos próximos anos a Grã-Bretanha terá uma epidemia de solteiras. Aparentemente, teremos um futuro sombrio, com mais horas de trabalho, aposentadoria mais tardia e sem nenhuma das coisas boas, como bebês, família e um marido para complementar nossa previdência. Estou te dizendo, Lou, Sex and City não era comédia: era um alerta!"
July 14, 2020
Amei esse livro! Além de ter me salvado de uma ressaca literária, algo que me deixou muito envolvida na narrativa foi o fato de que ela não conta uma história única, ao contrário da maioria dos chick lits.
O contexto da história é muito engraçado, e cada personagem possui a sua própria jornada e os seus próprios capítulos para contá-la. Virei a madrugada lendo e recomendo muito 💙
O contexto da história é muito engraçado, e cada personagem possui a sua própria jornada e os seus próprios capítulos para contá-la. Virei a madrugada lendo e recomendo muito 💙
December 16, 2020
Completely satisfying chic lit! (Chiclet)
November 28, 2012
Eleanor Prescott’s debut novel interested me as soon as I heard about it. A novel about matchmakers? Yes, please. I don’t think you can beat a novel about matchmaking and I can’t quite believe no one hasn’t already jumped on that idea for a job and written a book about it already. Never fear, though, as Eleanor Prescott has and I eventually, after much putting off and much putting off, purchased the novel for my Kindle (it was inevitably going to happen and, man, was it a good idea). Due to an insanely busy work schedule it has taken me two whole weeks to finish the novel but it kept my attention the entire time. Normally, if it took me that long to finish a novel and I had had massive gaps in between reading it I’d have forgotten everything as soon as I started reading it again, but not Alice Brown’s Guide to the Curious Art of Dating (did the author have title tips from Claudia Carroll? Boy, is that a mouthful! ).
With a title like “Alice Brown”, I expected the novel to be told entirely from Alice’s view point. So I was pleasantly surprised that, actually, the novel is told in third-person from various people. Alice is most definitely the main character but we also meet Audrey, Alice’s boss; Kate, Alice’s client; Lou, Alice’s best friend; John, Audrey’s husband and Sheryl, Audrey’s matchmaker rival. The difference in style and the distinct voice each of the characters had was astounding. Prescott has written each character so differently and with their own quirks and foibles and you didn’t even really need to be told whose chapter it was, it was that clear. I found myself enjoying all of the characters, although I did find Lou just a touch crude at times, and even Audrey managed to somehow touch me, although I will admit, the most I think I ever felt for her was pity, which is never what you want, is it? I pitied her lookout on life, the way she saw Alice and treated Alice, the delusions she told herself, and it was very much the chapters of Alice and Kate that buoyed me up, they both were lovely, warm characters with such a great outlook on life.
The matchmaker setting of “Alice Brown” was perfect. I loved it. I love the whole idea that Alice was born to matchmake, that she dreamed up matches in her head before putting them together, that she knew instinctively which couples would head up the aisle or not make it (which, obviously as Alice is such a believer in love) rarely happened. In a time where online dating is massively popular, it was nice to see the old school version of finding love. For me, I think that’s the best way. I don’t think you could pay me to online date, ever. I just thought the whole idea, the execution, the writing was right up my street and I wished I had bought it sooner! It was just such a thoroughly enjoyable, romantic novel. Prescott has definitely made her mark with me and I am thoroughly impressed with her writing style. The utterly brilliant news is that her second novel is out in January, and I absolutely cannot wait. This was a stunning debut novel, and I really, really loved it. “Alice Brown” is a novel for all the romantics out there.
With a title like “Alice Brown”, I expected the novel to be told entirely from Alice’s view point. So I was pleasantly surprised that, actually, the novel is told in third-person from various people. Alice is most definitely the main character but we also meet Audrey, Alice’s boss; Kate, Alice’s client; Lou, Alice’s best friend; John, Audrey’s husband and Sheryl, Audrey’s matchmaker rival. The difference in style and the distinct voice each of the characters had was astounding. Prescott has written each character so differently and with their own quirks and foibles and you didn’t even really need to be told whose chapter it was, it was that clear. I found myself enjoying all of the characters, although I did find Lou just a touch crude at times, and even Audrey managed to somehow touch me, although I will admit, the most I think I ever felt for her was pity, which is never what you want, is it? I pitied her lookout on life, the way she saw Alice and treated Alice, the delusions she told herself, and it was very much the chapters of Alice and Kate that buoyed me up, they both were lovely, warm characters with such a great outlook on life.
The matchmaker setting of “Alice Brown” was perfect. I loved it. I love the whole idea that Alice was born to matchmake, that she dreamed up matches in her head before putting them together, that she knew instinctively which couples would head up the aisle or not make it (which, obviously as Alice is such a believer in love) rarely happened. In a time where online dating is massively popular, it was nice to see the old school version of finding love. For me, I think that’s the best way. I don’t think you could pay me to online date, ever. I just thought the whole idea, the execution, the writing was right up my street and I wished I had bought it sooner! It was just such a thoroughly enjoyable, romantic novel. Prescott has definitely made her mark with me and I am thoroughly impressed with her writing style. The utterly brilliant news is that her second novel is out in January, and I absolutely cannot wait. This was a stunning debut novel, and I really, really loved it. “Alice Brown” is a novel for all the romantics out there.
April 6, 2015
So this is less about the lessons that Alice Brown - Table for Two’s “Matchmaker in the Making” - gives to her clients on her lists, and more about the lessons that Alice learns, one way or another, in her life.
It is told from the perspectives of Alice, Audrey (owner of dating agency, Table for Two), Kate (a Table for Two client), Lou (her friend, who DOESN’T require Table for Two’s services), John (who is not as he initially seems), and Sheryl (owner of a rival dating agency).
I cannot, with any kind of honesty, call this great literature, but I started it when I had a moderately severe ear infection and the other books I had on the go at the time were unable to hold my attention amidst the pain. This one did the job and it was a genuinely fun read. 3.5 stars.
It is told from the perspectives of Alice, Audrey (owner of dating agency, Table for Two), Kate (a Table for Two client), Lou (her friend, who DOESN’T require Table for Two’s services), John (who is not as he initially seems), and Sheryl (owner of a rival dating agency).
I cannot, with any kind of honesty, call this great literature, but I started it when I had a moderately severe ear infection and the other books I had on the go at the time were unable to hold my attention amidst the pain. This one did the job and it was a genuinely fun read. 3.5 stars.
November 24, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.
I usually find the first couple of chapters in books are the hardest to sink your teeth into, yet I feel that they are also a huge test of how good the book is and how well the author writes - if you stick with the book after Chapter 2 then it's a massive thumbs up (in my experience!).
I'm a sucker for all things Chick-Flick/Lit so I assumed I would enjoy it before even opening the first page. I felt like I really related to the character Kate (despite being 10 years younger than her, when it comes to finding love - I have found it tricky too!)
Highly recommend - particularly to those Bridget Jones Diary fans out there!
I usually find the first couple of chapters in books are the hardest to sink your teeth into, yet I feel that they are also a huge test of how good the book is and how well the author writes - if you stick with the book after Chapter 2 then it's a massive thumbs up (in my experience!).
I'm a sucker for all things Chick-Flick/Lit so I assumed I would enjoy it before even opening the first page. I felt like I really related to the character Kate (despite being 10 years younger than her, when it comes to finding love - I have found it tricky too!)
Highly recommend - particularly to those Bridget Jones Diary fans out there!
March 15, 2013
This is a lovely, light hearted and fun read with the story unfolding from each characters perspective. It follows a small cast of characters based around a dating agency and all, in one way or another, are seeking their happy ever after. It is very much chick lit and somewhat cliche but the characters are believable, the plot moves at a steady pace and I didn't find myself getting bored. overall it was an entertaining, well written, perfect holiday read. This is Eleanors debut novel and I look forward to reading her future work.
April 27, 2012
I quite enjoyed this book, it was funny at times, there is a lot of Characters and I was worried I wouldn't be able to follow the book as each chapter is about a different person. However I would recommend.
April 19, 2012
was recommended it and loved it. A bit of a change for me that engaged me and made me cringe and giggle in equal measure
June 9, 2012
Charming, whimsical...three leading ladies you'll love spending time with. The literary equivalent of a hot choc with marshmallows on a gloomy day
January 17, 2016
I really enjoyed it. It was funny, sweet and made me smile, it was also a little bit different from the majority of standard chick lit out there.
Definitely recommended.
Definitely recommended.
December 31, 2024
Nice enough but did not keep my attention.
December 19, 2021
Alguém ouviu um amém? Demorei, praticamente, 12 meses para terminar esse livro. E é exatamente por causa de livros assim que eu não abandono leituras. Mas, foi por pouco.
É aquele típico romance com tudo que hoje é problematizado, rivalidade feminina, estereótipos femininos e masculinos, frases machistas, tudo que tem direito. Considerando o ano que foi lançado, em que essa problematização em massa ainda não tinha amplamente chegado, eu dei essa nota.
Eu não gostei de 90% do livro, mas diferente de uma das minhas últimas leituras, acho que o final conseguiu dar uma amarrada em algumas coisas, a mudança das uma das personagens não se deu através de um homem, mesmo que acontecendo algumas coisas que tivessem um homem envolvido, não foi por causa deles, mas por causa delas mesmas. A questão com o amor romântico não foi bem desenvolvida, mas me deixou pensando sobre alguns pontos, sobre como queremos parecer alguma coisa por conta de uma subjetividade, mas que às vezes não é o que desejamos.
Tem uma cena que gostaria de fazer menção honrosa, a cena das flores é a coisa mais delicada e fofa que eu já vi. Morri de amores. E também o momento em que a Kate se dá conta que ela também é uma mulher linda, independe do que o padrão de beleza dite, e que viver o que ela deseja não precisa ser um sacrifício.
Eu sinceramente fiquei com vontade de pegar esse livro, aproveitar essa ideia central, mas reescrever ele inteiro. No fundo, me deixou com vontade de ler um romance sobre cupido, sobre procurar o amor ou relacionamento, mas que fosse pensado em cima da visão feminista, em que pelo menos os diálogos machistas fossem problematizados e corrigidos.
É aquele típico romance com tudo que hoje é problematizado, rivalidade feminina, estereótipos femininos e masculinos, frases machistas, tudo que tem direito. Considerando o ano que foi lançado, em que essa problematização em massa ainda não tinha amplamente chegado, eu dei essa nota.
Eu não gostei de 90% do livro, mas diferente de uma das minhas últimas leituras, acho que o final conseguiu dar uma amarrada em algumas coisas, a mudança das uma das personagens não se deu através de um homem, mesmo que acontecendo algumas coisas que tivessem um homem envolvido, não foi por causa deles, mas por causa delas mesmas. A questão com o amor romântico não foi bem desenvolvida, mas me deixou pensando sobre alguns pontos, sobre como queremos parecer alguma coisa por conta de uma subjetividade, mas que às vezes não é o que desejamos.
Tem uma cena que gostaria de fazer menção honrosa, a cena das flores é a coisa mais delicada e fofa que eu já vi. Morri de amores. E também o momento em que a Kate se dá conta que ela também é uma mulher linda, independe do que o padrão de beleza dite, e que viver o que ela deseja não precisa ser um sacrifício.
Eu sinceramente fiquei com vontade de pegar esse livro, aproveitar essa ideia central, mas reescrever ele inteiro. No fundo, me deixou com vontade de ler um romance sobre cupido, sobre procurar o amor ou relacionamento, mas que fosse pensado em cima da visão feminista, em que pelo menos os diálogos machistas fossem problematizados e corrigidos.
April 7, 2021
Não sou muito fã de livros de romances água com açúcar, mas às vezes tento me aventurar nesse estilo. Já tive grandes surpresas e li livros muito bons, mas não foi o caso desse aqui.
A história em si é boa e me prendeu bastante até mais da metade do livro. No entanto, depois disso, foi só decepção: (a partir de agora vem alguns spoilers) primeiramente, o casal Alice e John é insosso e muuuuito sem graça. Depois, Maurice ficando uns quatro anos na agência pra dar em cima da Audrey no ônibus? Tipo??? Se era para ele fazer isso, por que não falou com ela desde sempre, em vez de ficar pagando por um serviço que ele não estava interessado por anos a fio? Por fim, o clichê de absolutamente todos os personagens terem conseguido um par no final do livro. Parecia real os fins de novela da globo, sabe? Que um casal se forma do nada no final, só porque o final feliz é estar com alguém?
E parece realmente que o final do livro traz essa mensagem mesmo: final feliz é ter um relacionamento. Um clichê chaaaaato, mentiroso, fora o fato do livro ser bem inverossímil.
A leitura não é ruim, é boa pra passar o tempo, mas existe bastante livro no mesmo estilo que é melhor.
A história em si é boa e me prendeu bastante até mais da metade do livro. No entanto, depois disso, foi só decepção: (a partir de agora vem alguns spoilers) primeiramente, o casal Alice e John é insosso e muuuuito sem graça. Depois, Maurice ficando uns quatro anos na agência pra dar em cima da Audrey no ônibus? Tipo??? Se era para ele fazer isso, por que não falou com ela desde sempre, em vez de ficar pagando por um serviço que ele não estava interessado por anos a fio? Por fim, o clichê de absolutamente todos os personagens terem conseguido um par no final do livro. Parecia real os fins de novela da globo, sabe? Que um casal se forma do nada no final, só porque o final feliz é estar com alguém?
E parece realmente que o final do livro traz essa mensagem mesmo: final feliz é ter um relacionamento. Um clichê chaaaaato, mentiroso, fora o fato do livro ser bem inverossímil.
A leitura não é ruim, é boa pra passar o tempo, mas existe bastante livro no mesmo estilo que é melhor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2024
Romanzo interessante, ogni capitolo era narrato dal punto di vista di una protagonista diversa e nel complesso è stato piacevole vivere nelle menti delle donne dell’agenzia matrimoniale.
Per quando inizialmente non mi piacesse il personaggio troppo smielenso e ricco di cliché di Alice, alla fine è stata quella la cui storia mi intrigava di più. Ottima la penna della Prescott.
Per quando inizialmente non mi piacesse il personaggio troppo smielenso e ricco di cliché di Alice, alla fine è stata quella la cui storia mi intrigava di più. Ottima la penna della Prescott.
July 27, 2025
A feel good read for the romantic in us all
A true fairy tale, happily ever after story. The characters were all interesting and I cheered and booed them all appropriately. The only "negative" was keeping straight who was who, but as the book progressed, I remembered.
A true fairy tale, happily ever after story. The characters were all interesting and I cheered and booed them all appropriately. The only "negative" was keeping straight who was who, but as the book progressed, I remembered.
March 25, 2013
Reviewer at The Window Seat on a Rainy Day
The cover of Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating by Eleanor Prescott has a quote on the cover stating Life’s more exciting when you let yourself be surprised, and that applies to good books. Of course it is thrilling when a highly anticipated book delivers all that you expect and more. But many times that doesn’t happen. But just as exhilarating is when a book by a new author keeps you up late into the night and Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating did just that.
While other employees of Table for Two dating agency loath helping out their boss, Audrey Cracknell, at her seminars on the “Secrets to Finding Mr. Right,” Alice Brown feels jubilant that for many this is the first step to finding true love. Alice loves her job as a matchmaker. Each client is like a new adventure, and she loves helping them navigate the stormy waters of dating and to find the calm of their own tropical paradise. And just the sight of a thick and cream envelope with gold calligraphy – a wedding invitation – the holy grail of dating agencies feels her heart with joy.
So much so that she overlooks the slights and snubs her boss routinely shovels out to her, and even ignores the fact that Audrey takes credit for Alice’s matches, because she knows the truth. And if sometime during the day, after visualizing the perfect man for her clients, she day dreams a little about her own future prince charming, well, that is bound to happen when you have love on your mind all day. But now she is galvanized by the challenges of finding Kate Biggs the man of her dreams.
Kate Biggs is so behind schedule. She had it all planned out. Once her career was established she would meet someone and fall in love. She and her new significant other would date for about eighteen months, and then get engaged. Then it would take another eighteen months to plan the perfect wedding. And of course after they got married, they would need a little time together before starting a family – time to have some fabulous holidays and travel. Then there is the scheduling of the babies. Ideally they should be two years apart. And she always thought that you need to have your family by age thirty five. So when you add all that together, she should have met Mr. Right when she was twenty eight. At thirty three she is five years late in meeting her life goals! Of course it doesn’t help that she works all the time. But she loves her job as a P.R. associate. But she can’t let life keep passing her by and she think a dating service is her best option now. Kate has a good feeling about Alice. She knows that Alice can help her cut through all the chaff. She knows exactly what she is looking for and can easily picture him in her mind. He is tall, dark and handsome, with nice smile – straight teeth too and, maybe dimples. He is clean shaven with a strong jaw and blue eyes. Having a good job is a given, something like a manager or entrepreneur, along with a nice car, and decent income, like six figures. Not that she is a gold digger, but she wants a nice house, and to go on nice holidays. Having a nice body is important too, but he isn’t sports mad. He wants and loves kids too. So she ignores her best friend, Lou’s disdain and ridicule and signs up for premier package.
Lou thinks Kate has lost her marbles. Lou doesn’t care about finding the right guy now, she is too busy being having fun. Men want one thing, and Lou is happy to oblige. And Kate could have anyone she wanted too, if she would only put out a bit and quit being so uptight. Kate loves having a career, but Lou is completely satisfied working in a bar. Fresh pickings every night. And she likes shagging her boss, even if he is married, and a prat. He would fire her in a heartbeat if she started giving him grief. But she is using him as much as he is using her. There is just something exhilarating about no-string, high-risk sex, and her elevated status in the workplace. Although, can that be jealousy she feels, when Kate talks about the new men she is going to meet?
Running a dating service is not for the faint of heart. Audrey’s motley group of employees drive her bonkers. Bianca with her stunning looks is her favorite, even though she leaves early every day. Cassandra is well bred, but just too much Zara Phillips and not enough Middleton with her bandy leggedness. Hilary knows as much as Audrey about the business, but now with her eight month pregnant belly, she is just an eyesore. And Alice – she might as well as wear sackcloth to work. She always looks so disheveled and unprofessional. Then she has people like Sheryl Toogood, the owner of Love Birds, her biggest competitor, breathing down her neck. But next week is the Dating Practitioners’ Society ball, and she will get to see John again.
For the rest of review see Here at The Window Seat on a Rainy Day
The cover of Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating by Eleanor Prescott has a quote on the cover stating Life’s more exciting when you let yourself be surprised, and that applies to good books. Of course it is thrilling when a highly anticipated book delivers all that you expect and more. But many times that doesn’t happen. But just as exhilarating is when a book by a new author keeps you up late into the night and Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating did just that.
While other employees of Table for Two dating agency loath helping out their boss, Audrey Cracknell, at her seminars on the “Secrets to Finding Mr. Right,” Alice Brown feels jubilant that for many this is the first step to finding true love. Alice loves her job as a matchmaker. Each client is like a new adventure, and she loves helping them navigate the stormy waters of dating and to find the calm of their own tropical paradise. And just the sight of a thick and cream envelope with gold calligraphy – a wedding invitation – the holy grail of dating agencies feels her heart with joy.
So much so that she overlooks the slights and snubs her boss routinely shovels out to her, and even ignores the fact that Audrey takes credit for Alice’s matches, because she knows the truth. And if sometime during the day, after visualizing the perfect man for her clients, she day dreams a little about her own future prince charming, well, that is bound to happen when you have love on your mind all day. But now she is galvanized by the challenges of finding Kate Biggs the man of her dreams.
Kate Biggs is so behind schedule. She had it all planned out. Once her career was established she would meet someone and fall in love. She and her new significant other would date for about eighteen months, and then get engaged. Then it would take another eighteen months to plan the perfect wedding. And of course after they got married, they would need a little time together before starting a family – time to have some fabulous holidays and travel. Then there is the scheduling of the babies. Ideally they should be two years apart. And she always thought that you need to have your family by age thirty five. So when you add all that together, she should have met Mr. Right when she was twenty eight. At thirty three she is five years late in meeting her life goals! Of course it doesn’t help that she works all the time. But she loves her job as a P.R. associate. But she can’t let life keep passing her by and she think a dating service is her best option now. Kate has a good feeling about Alice. She knows that Alice can help her cut through all the chaff. She knows exactly what she is looking for and can easily picture him in her mind. He is tall, dark and handsome, with nice smile – straight teeth too and, maybe dimples. He is clean shaven with a strong jaw and blue eyes. Having a good job is a given, something like a manager or entrepreneur, along with a nice car, and decent income, like six figures. Not that she is a gold digger, but she wants a nice house, and to go on nice holidays. Having a nice body is important too, but he isn’t sports mad. He wants and loves kids too. So she ignores her best friend, Lou’s disdain and ridicule and signs up for premier package.
Lou thinks Kate has lost her marbles. Lou doesn’t care about finding the right guy now, she is too busy being having fun. Men want one thing, and Lou is happy to oblige. And Kate could have anyone she wanted too, if she would only put out a bit and quit being so uptight. Kate loves having a career, but Lou is completely satisfied working in a bar. Fresh pickings every night. And she likes shagging her boss, even if he is married, and a prat. He would fire her in a heartbeat if she started giving him grief. But she is using him as much as he is using her. There is just something exhilarating about no-string, high-risk sex, and her elevated status in the workplace. Although, can that be jealousy she feels, when Kate talks about the new men she is going to meet?
Running a dating service is not for the faint of heart. Audrey’s motley group of employees drive her bonkers. Bianca with her stunning looks is her favorite, even though she leaves early every day. Cassandra is well bred, but just too much Zara Phillips and not enough Middleton with her bandy leggedness. Hilary knows as much as Audrey about the business, but now with her eight month pregnant belly, she is just an eyesore. And Alice – she might as well as wear sackcloth to work. She always looks so disheveled and unprofessional. Then she has people like Sheryl Toogood, the owner of Love Birds, her biggest competitor, breathing down her neck. But next week is the Dating Practitioners’ Society ball, and she will get to see John again.
For the rest of review see Here at The Window Seat on a Rainy Day
May 3, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! This is what I was expecting when I decided I wanted to venture into English authors. Very light and fun read.
July 21, 2020
Uma história com múltiplos pontos de vista, que pode parecer confusa no início, mas com o desenrolar se torna um romance surpreendente e delicioso de ler.
November 20, 2020
Solid, engaging chick-lit. If you need something light and enjoyable - this it is!
January 16, 2021
Funny, easy reading and joyful.
April 10, 2021
I love stories like this. Loved every single character, every story, especially Alice and John.
August 9, 2023
A fun, cozy chick flick. I went for it without much expectations but I loved it. It's a fun book.
January 4, 2026
2,5 ☆
April 7, 2012
Nobody is better at matchmaking than Alice Brown. She loves her job at the Table for Two dating agency (despite the boss from hell) and never fails to find her clients the man of their dreams.
Kate, however, is proving to be Alice’s biggest challenge. Kate wants to find her perfect man, the man of her dreams. She knows exactly the type of man she wants and she’s in a rush to find him as she’s already behind in her life plan.
Another of Alice’s challenges is her boss, Audrey. Audrey runs her own dating agency and has the perfect husband. What more could she want? But all is not what it seems and Alice is unwittingly on a collision course of finding out.
Will Alice find Kate her perfect man? Will Alice be able to take her own advice when her love life and work life collide? You’ll need to read the book to find out!
Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating is a wonderful and charming tale of the perils of dating. It’s funny and intriguing. It had me hoping for certain outcomes, surprised by others, but most importantly the story had me racing through the book. I loved it!
Each chapter is centred around a different character, so the reader gets to see each of the overlapping stories of the characters. I really enjoyed that aspect of the novel and loved the way it was done. It’s written in the third-person and very easy to follow.
My favourite character in the book has to be Alice herself. She’s delightful, so honest and innocent. She totally believes in her matchmaking and loves her job, despite her awful boss. I saw a bit of myself in Alice… especially when she realised she’d have to dress up for the Dating Practitioners’ Society annual ball. The thought of having to put on an evening dress and heels, and slap on some make-up terrifies me too (though I do secretly wonder what I’d look like!).
I was lucky enough to meet the author, Eleanor Prescott at the Quercus Shindig back in February and I had planned to grab a copy of her book then and there (as it wasn’t in my goody bag), but somebody got to the book before I did. Thankfully, the lovely people at Quercus were kind enough to send me a copy. Despite the odd romance book creeping into my schedule, I’m not usually one for picking up romance novels, unless they stand out. However, I adored the cover for Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating the moment I set eyes on it at the Quercus Shindig and, having spoken to Eleanor and been told all about her book, I decided I had to read it… and I’m so glad I did! People say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I have on several occasions and I’m usually right.
If you’re looking for a well written, light hearted, funny and charming read, then look no further than Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating by Eleanor Prescott. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable debut novel.
Kate, however, is proving to be Alice’s biggest challenge. Kate wants to find her perfect man, the man of her dreams. She knows exactly the type of man she wants and she’s in a rush to find him as she’s already behind in her life plan.
Another of Alice’s challenges is her boss, Audrey. Audrey runs her own dating agency and has the perfect husband. What more could she want? But all is not what it seems and Alice is unwittingly on a collision course of finding out.
Will Alice find Kate her perfect man? Will Alice be able to take her own advice when her love life and work life collide? You’ll need to read the book to find out!
Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating is a wonderful and charming tale of the perils of dating. It’s funny and intriguing. It had me hoping for certain outcomes, surprised by others, but most importantly the story had me racing through the book. I loved it!
Each chapter is centred around a different character, so the reader gets to see each of the overlapping stories of the characters. I really enjoyed that aspect of the novel and loved the way it was done. It’s written in the third-person and very easy to follow.
My favourite character in the book has to be Alice herself. She’s delightful, so honest and innocent. She totally believes in her matchmaking and loves her job, despite her awful boss. I saw a bit of myself in Alice… especially when she realised she’d have to dress up for the Dating Practitioners’ Society annual ball. The thought of having to put on an evening dress and heels, and slap on some make-up terrifies me too (though I do secretly wonder what I’d look like!).
I was lucky enough to meet the author, Eleanor Prescott at the Quercus Shindig back in February and I had planned to grab a copy of her book then and there (as it wasn’t in my goody bag), but somebody got to the book before I did. Thankfully, the lovely people at Quercus were kind enough to send me a copy. Despite the odd romance book creeping into my schedule, I’m not usually one for picking up romance novels, unless they stand out. However, I adored the cover for Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating the moment I set eyes on it at the Quercus Shindig and, having spoken to Eleanor and been told all about her book, I decided I had to read it… and I’m so glad I did! People say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but I have on several occasions and I’m usually right.
If you’re looking for a well written, light hearted, funny and charming read, then look no further than Alice Brown’s Lessons in the Curious Art of Dating by Eleanor Prescott. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable debut novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews