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Bricking It
When siblings Dan and Hayley Daley inherit their late grandmother’s derelict Victorian farmhouse, it seems like a dream come true. All they have to do is fix the place up and sell it for a tidy profit!
Except—as anyone who has renovated an old house knows—things are never that easy.
The walls are rapidly crumbling around them, the architect is a certified lunatic, the budget is spiraling…and then there’s the disturbingly intelligent cow to worry about.
On top of all this, the renovation is being featured on a daytime reality TV show, and as soon as Great Locations presenter Gerard O’Keefe catches sight of Hayley’s first-floor balcony, he’s determined to woo her out of her ban on romance, whether she wants him to or not.
Will Dan and Hayley survive and sell up? Or will the whole thing collapse on them like a ton of bricks?
From bestselling author Nick Spalding comes a hilarious tale of life, love and dodgy plumbing.
Except—as anyone who has renovated an old house knows—things are never that easy.
The walls are rapidly crumbling around them, the architect is a certified lunatic, the budget is spiraling…and then there’s the disturbingly intelligent cow to worry about.
On top of all this, the renovation is being featured on a daytime reality TV show, and as soon as Great Locations presenter Gerard O’Keefe catches sight of Hayley’s first-floor balcony, he’s determined to woo her out of her ban on romance, whether she wants him to or not.
Will Dan and Hayley survive and sell up? Or will the whole thing collapse on them like a ton of bricks?
From bestselling author Nick Spalding comes a hilarious tale of life, love and dodgy plumbing.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2015
1278 people are currently reading
3182 people want to read
About the author
Nick Spalding
36 books1,385 followersNick Spalding is an author who, try as he might, can't seem to write anything serious.
Before becoming a full-time author, he worked in the communications industry, mainly in media and marketing. As talking rubbish for a living can get tiresome (for anyone other than a politician), he thought he'd have a crack at writing comedy fiction - with a very agreeable level of success so far, it has to be said. Nick is now a multimillion seller. This flabbergasts him every single day.
Nick is now in his fifties - and is rather annoyed at the universe about it, because it gave him no choice in the matter. He's also addicted to Thai food and roast potatoes (not together), loves Batman and Warhammer, and has a dreadful singing voice.
***
Find out more about Nick and his books at www.nickspalding.com
Before becoming a full-time author, he worked in the communications industry, mainly in media and marketing. As talking rubbish for a living can get tiresome (for anyone other than a politician), he thought he'd have a crack at writing comedy fiction - with a very agreeable level of success so far, it has to be said. Nick is now a multimillion seller. This flabbergasts him every single day.
Nick is now in his fifties - and is rather annoyed at the universe about it, because it gave him no choice in the matter. He's also addicted to Thai food and roast potatoes (not together), loves Batman and Warhammer, and has a dreadful singing voice.
***
Find out more about Nick and his books at www.nickspalding.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 716 reviews
June 22, 2019
An ok read, I did get a few laughs out of it, but honestly, a bit too much toilet humour for me.
July 18, 2016
ARC requested through Netgalley, and kindly provided by Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
This story was hilarious! Told through alternating points of view, brother and sister, Dan and Hayley tell the story of how they came to renovate the money pit of all money pits. I loved this story. It was filled with humour and fantastic characters. I fell in love with all of the people that came together to return Dan and Hayley’s late grandmother’s house to it's original glory.
Highlights of the book for me:
1. Dan and Hayley’s relationship - I loved the way they supported one another and worked together on the house. It was very touching and had me completely engaged.
2. Pat the Cow - Pat the Cow was a brilliant “character” in this story.
3. “The Perfect Crime” - I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I will leave it at that. Anyone who has read the book will know which scene I am talking about. I don’t think I have laughed that hard in a long time. Particularly when Pete, the camera man, thinking he was alone, started doing a David Attenborough impression. The whole scene was comedy genius.
There were way too many funny scenes in the book to mention. What really made this a 5 star read for me, though, was the relationships built throughout the story. Mixed into all of the humour was a wonderful story, with some unique characters coming together to turn a run-down old house into something special. Great read!!!
This story was hilarious! Told through alternating points of view, brother and sister, Dan and Hayley tell the story of how they came to renovate the money pit of all money pits. I loved this story. It was filled with humour and fantastic characters. I fell in love with all of the people that came together to return Dan and Hayley’s late grandmother’s house to it's original glory.
Highlights of the book for me:
1. Dan and Hayley’s relationship - I loved the way they supported one another and worked together on the house. It was very touching and had me completely engaged.
2. Pat the Cow - Pat the Cow was a brilliant “character” in this story.
3. “The Perfect Crime” - I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I will leave it at that. Anyone who has read the book will know which scene I am talking about. I don’t think I have laughed that hard in a long time. Particularly when Pete, the camera man, thinking he was alone, started doing a David Attenborough impression. The whole scene was comedy genius.
There were way too many funny scenes in the book to mention. What really made this a 5 star read for me, though, was the relationships built throughout the story. Mixed into all of the humour was a wonderful story, with some unique characters coming together to turn a run-down old house into something special. Great read!!!
December 2, 2015
Oh my goodness. I have never laughed so hard while reading a book in my life. I was actually in tears. I know renovating a house can always be a disaster no matter how big the job. Whether it's simply just the inconvenience of things being not in order. However, Nick Spalding adds a few things to this that makes sure there is disaster in a comical way.
The writing was great. The characters were very well developed and quirkiness abounds. I am sitting here shaking my head at them while writing this review. The architect is definitely missing his calling in another profession. When the cameras show up and show Danny in the corner of the attic in a very embarassing position, that wasn't even the funniest part.
This was truly a hilarious book. The unspoken thoughts between the siblings cracked me up as well. The ending was a little cheesy, but I'm pretty Pat the Cow liked it. HA!!!
A huge and tremendous thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. Oh my gosh, I am still laughing as I think back encouraging would be readers to definitely put this book on the TBR pile. That is if your into funny.
The writing was great. The characters were very well developed and quirkiness abounds. I am sitting here shaking my head at them while writing this review. The architect is definitely missing his calling in another profession. When the cameras show up and show Danny in the corner of the attic in a very embarassing position, that wasn't even the funniest part.
This was truly a hilarious book. The unspoken thoughts between the siblings cracked me up as well. The ending was a little cheesy, but I'm pretty Pat the Cow liked it. HA!!!
A huge and tremendous thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. Oh my gosh, I am still laughing as I think back encouraging would be readers to definitely put this book on the TBR pile. That is if your into funny.
March 8, 2016
3.5*
Danny and Hayley Daley (what's in a name right?), brother and sister, inherit their grandmother's neglected farmhouse. Hoping to make a nice profit, they decide to fix it up and sell it afterwards.
Together with some unforgettable characters, they experience some hilarious moments, severe headaches, hidden treasures, personal growth and find love (or not).
Most memorable character: Pat the Cow
Most memorable moment: one up in the loft
Most memorable outfit: orange corduroy trousers, a red smoking jacket and a pink polka-dot cravat. Topped of with a blue hat.
It was like an episode of the Property Brothers, lest the twins and in book form.
Homosexuality and prostitution came up briefly, both were handled a little bit too politically correct. The writing felt too preachy and actually out of place in this lighthearted book.
However, if you are in the mood for a fun, quirky and light read, this rom-com is the perfect book.
Review copy supplied by publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a rating and/or review.
January 20, 2016
Terrible book. Badly written with a weak plot and despicable characters. Relies heavily on crass toilet humour and foul language to try and get a laugh. I'm not easily offended but I don't see the point of using foul language just for the sake of it. In my opinion it shows a lack of imagination from the author having to resort to base humour for the want of originality in his writing. This book is the worst example of lazy, painting by numbers tosh that I've had the misfortune to read. I'm perplexed as to why it has received so many glowing reviews. Not for me I'm afraid.
December 15, 2015
Miserable awful people in a miserable awful situation
A more appalling, repellant pair of siblings would be difficult to imagine. I did not find them funny or appealing in any way. In fact I only wanted to be rid of their company as soon add possible.
I'm not sure who the audience for this book is, but they'd have to have a very high tolerance for b*tching, whining, moaning and sniping. In short order I wanted both brother and sister to fall to the deaths beneath the rotten floorboards of the house they inherited from their grandmother. Ungrateful bastards.
To paraphrase Monty Python: "This is not a book for reading, it is a book for lying down and avoiding."
Did not finish. Cannot recommend.
A more appalling, repellant pair of siblings would be difficult to imagine. I did not find them funny or appealing in any way. In fact I only wanted to be rid of their company as soon add possible.
I'm not sure who the audience for this book is, but they'd have to have a very high tolerance for b*tching, whining, moaning and sniping. In short order I wanted both brother and sister to fall to the deaths beneath the rotten floorboards of the house they inherited from their grandmother. Ungrateful bastards.
To paraphrase Monty Python: "This is not a book for reading, it is a book for lying down and avoiding."
Did not finish. Cannot recommend.
October 6, 2016
עד לפני שבוע לא הכרתי את הסופר ניק ספלדינג והנה עכשיו אני קוראת את הספר השני שלו בתוך יומיים.
הספר Fat chance היה הרבה יותר הזוי וקורע מצחוק לטעמי אבל, גם בספר הזה ישנן סצנות מגוחכות, הזויות ומצחיקות.
הגעתי למסקנה שניק ספלדינג הוא אלוף הסיטואציות. יש לו יכולת מדהימה לתפוס את הרגע ולהוציא מתוכו את מיטב.
זהו סיפורם של דני והיילי שיורשים מסבתם בית ויקטוריאני רעוע. הם מחליטים לשפץ אותו בתקווה לגרוף רווח נאה ממכירתו (600 אלף פאונד ).
הספר נע על ציר השיפוץ בחודשים וההוצאה כספית. בדרך, מצטרף אליהם צוות טלביזיוני שעוקב אחר שיפוץ בתים מה שמוביל לסיטואציות הזויות במיוחד כמו זו שבה המנחה של הסידרה מוצא בארובה צעצועי מין מגוונים בשידור חיי.
אבל מבחינתי הספר הזה פחות טוב מ Fat chance. סהכ נהנתי אבל החלקים של דני לא תמיד עיניינו אותי.
הספר Fat chance היה הרבה יותר הזוי וקורע מצחוק לטעמי אבל, גם בספר הזה ישנן סצנות מגוחכות, הזויות ומצחיקות.
הגעתי למסקנה שניק ספלדינג הוא אלוף הסיטואציות. יש לו יכולת מדהימה לתפוס את הרגע ולהוציא מתוכו את מיטב.
זהו סיפורם של דני והיילי שיורשים מסבתם בית ויקטוריאני רעוע. הם מחליטים לשפץ אותו בתקווה לגרוף רווח נאה ממכירתו (600 אלף פאונד ).
הספר נע על ציר השיפוץ בחודשים וההוצאה כספית. בדרך, מצטרף אליהם צוות טלביזיוני שעוקב אחר שיפוץ בתים מה שמוביל לסיטואציות הזויות במיוחד כמו זו שבה המנחה של הסידרה מוצא בארובה צעצועי מין מגוונים בשידור חיי.
אבל מבחינתי הספר הזה פחות טוב מ Fat chance. סהכ נהנתי אבל החלקים של דני לא תמיד עיניינו אותי.
June 24, 2016
Simplistic & Silly - not my type of book.
This was my first book by Nick Spalding. I picked it up based on the rave reviews by others. Unfortunately it is not my cup of tea. I found it to be amateurish in style, with little or no substance. I couldn't finish it.
This was my first book by Nick Spalding. I picked it up based on the rave reviews by others. Unfortunately it is not my cup of tea. I found it to be amateurish in style, with little or no substance. I couldn't finish it.
May 23, 2020
Wow this book was an unexpected delightful surprise ! I picked this up on a whim, wanting to read something a little more light hearted than my usual intense drama, dystopian, fantasy crime murder and death, and wow, I loved it!
The main characters are amazing and I absolutely love the banter and the relationship between brother and sister which is just so funny. The wit and humour in this book had me roaring and I enjoyed every page. I felt like I was on a journey with them throughout the renovation and loved the development throughout the book.
And also a plethora or great characters in this book too. Mr. Hollingsbrook, Ha brilliant, an eccentric architect and his Slovenian assistant, and three of the best builders and contractors you could wish for on a build. Seriously built up so much love for these characters however, I don’t think I could love any of them as much as I love Pat the Cow. Seriously, Pat the Cow is a legend. I absolutely loved it!
The main characters are amazing and I absolutely love the banter and the relationship between brother and sister which is just so funny. The wit and humour in this book had me roaring and I enjoyed every page. I felt like I was on a journey with them throughout the renovation and loved the development throughout the book.
And also a plethora or great characters in this book too. Mr. Hollingsbrook, Ha brilliant, an eccentric architect and his Slovenian assistant, and three of the best builders and contractors you could wish for on a build. Seriously built up so much love for these characters however, I don’t think I could love any of them as much as I love Pat the Cow. Seriously, Pat the Cow is a legend. I absolutely loved it!
January 13, 2022
Happy reading
Is a fun story, but it didn't give me the feeling that I was hoping for. It was a bit exaggerated.
Was pains me the most is that the premise was good, this could've been such a great comedy, but in the end it fell short.
It took me a really long time to finish this one because I never actually felt compelled to pick it up, I'm still glad that I finished it but I wouldn't read it again for sure, and the ending felt rushed and obvious and not believable, maybe I'm being too demanding but I was genuinely expecting more.
It has good bits, but good bit in the whole story doesn't make it memorable.
I'm afraid it felt barely above the middle rating for me in a year full of 4 stars and more...
Is a fun story, but it didn't give me the feeling that I was hoping for. It was a bit exaggerated.
Was pains me the most is that the premise was good, this could've been such a great comedy, but in the end it fell short.
It took me a really long time to finish this one because I never actually felt compelled to pick it up, I'm still glad that I finished it but I wouldn't read it again for sure, and the ending felt rushed and obvious and not believable, maybe I'm being too demanding but I was genuinely expecting more.
It has good bits, but good bit in the whole story doesn't make it memorable.
I'm afraid it felt barely above the middle rating for me in a year full of 4 stars and more...
January 4, 2016
Look I love home renovation shows. I mean love them. I am now obsessed with Chip and Joanna Gaines on Fixer Upper. So combining humor with a brother and sister who are trying to renovate their deceased grandmother's home in the country sounded right up my alley. I only wish that I had liked it more than I did.
Dan and Hayley Daley (yeah those are their names) decided to fix up their grandmother's old Victorian farmhouse. They figure that once the house is renovated they will be able to sell for an enormous profit. Instead we have Dan and Hayley starting to come into their own while renovating the home and starting to unwrap the puzzle of why their grandmother had a home that no one in the family knew anything about.
I think the biggest issue is that Spalding does not spend any time setting up Dan or Hayley like he has done with his previous series. We hear little things here and there (Hayley is divorced, Dan is aimless in love and in work) but there is no time spared at all to any of these issues. Dan and Hayley are both paper thin. When you add in the additional characters I felt that besides a couple of quirky things here and there, there was nothing outstanding about them at all either.
This book was set up similar to the Love Series. We had alternating chapters told by either Dan or Hayley. Each chapter showed how much money was spent to date as well. It really didn't work for this book at all. I felt at times that Spalding was borrowing from his own work at times (we get a scene where one of the characters has to go to the bathroom quite urgently and uses something unconventional, just reminded me of Jamie in the first book). We even get mentions of the characters of Jamie and Laura Newman by one of the characters mentioning reading their books. I kind of just sighed at bit at that. I think that Spalding was so focused on trying to make this funny that a lot of things got left out that would have made the story better.
The flow was not that great. I felt like we skipped ahead of several things. We would go from great explanation about certain items that were being fixed, and then all of a sudden everything was almost fixed and they were working on their back garden. I really do wish that we got more renovation details like what colors were the rooms, the floors, what furniture did they use to decorate the home, etc.
The ending was so unbelievable. I had a feeling that was what was coming though and I can say that I didn't feel like it was earned at all.
Dan and Hayley Daley (yeah those are their names) decided to fix up their grandmother's old Victorian farmhouse. They figure that once the house is renovated they will be able to sell for an enormous profit. Instead we have Dan and Hayley starting to come into their own while renovating the home and starting to unwrap the puzzle of why their grandmother had a home that no one in the family knew anything about.
I think the biggest issue is that Spalding does not spend any time setting up Dan or Hayley like he has done with his previous series. We hear little things here and there (Hayley is divorced, Dan is aimless in love and in work) but there is no time spared at all to any of these issues. Dan and Hayley are both paper thin. When you add in the additional characters I felt that besides a couple of quirky things here and there, there was nothing outstanding about them at all either.
This book was set up similar to the Love Series. We had alternating chapters told by either Dan or Hayley. Each chapter showed how much money was spent to date as well. It really didn't work for this book at all. I felt at times that Spalding was borrowing from his own work at times (we get a scene where one of the characters has to go to the bathroom quite urgently and uses something unconventional, just reminded me of Jamie in the first book). We even get mentions of the characters of Jamie and Laura Newman by one of the characters mentioning reading their books. I kind of just sighed at bit at that. I think that Spalding was so focused on trying to make this funny that a lot of things got left out that would have made the story better.
The flow was not that great. I felt like we skipped ahead of several things. We would go from great explanation about certain items that were being fixed, and then all of a sudden everything was almost fixed and they were working on their back garden. I really do wish that we got more renovation details like what colors were the rooms, the floors, what furniture did they use to decorate the home, etc.
The ending was so unbelievable. I had a feeling that was what was coming though and I can say that I didn't feel like it was earned at all.
August 4, 2016
Bricking It is a light-hearted story about a brother and sister fixing up a dilapidated property in the British countryside that they've inherited from their grandmother. Assisted by some memorable builders and an eccentric architect, the entire process is also featured on one of those TV renovation shows.
There were parts that were laugh-out-loud funny, others were a bit too ludicrous for my taste, although I became quite fond of Pat, the cow, in the end.
The audio version features dual narration. The male narrator had fantastic timing, and his delivery of the witty lines made some of this more humorous than it probably would have been otherwise (thinking about that loft scene here). The female narrator took some getting used to. She sounded too posh for the character she was portraying.
Overall, quite enjoyable as a quick read if you fancy some offbeat, cheeky comedy.
There were parts that were laugh-out-loud funny, others were a bit too ludicrous for my taste, although I became quite fond of Pat, the cow, in the end.
The audio version features dual narration. The male narrator had fantastic timing, and his delivery of the witty lines made some of this more humorous than it probably would have been otherwise (thinking about that loft scene here). The female narrator took some getting used to. She sounded too posh for the character she was portraying.
Overall, quite enjoyable as a quick read if you fancy some offbeat, cheeky comedy.
July 5, 2016
5 stars for the scene in the attic with Danny and the box! laughed so hard, I cried!!! the rest went downhill very, very fast. not worth reading after the one chapter. bummer.
March 5, 2023
Sibling spats, a pet cow, self-deprecating humor, and poop jokes — that's a good taste of what you'll get in "Bricking It," and yet somehow, it works well enough. Brother-and-sister duo Dan and Hayley Daly inherit a house when their grandmother passes away. This comes as a complete and not altogether welcome surprise for them both, as while it's a home, it's not what they think of as her home — their family is completely shocked to find that she owned an entirely different house to the one she lived in! Finding it in extreme disrepair, they decide to embark on their first-ever home renovation, so that they can cash out and capitalize on their inheritance.
As anyone who has renovated homes knows, nothing goes as smoothly as you hope, and so also goes the story of the Daly's home — especially after it's chosen to be featured on a national home renovation show, and as the home's secret history comes to light.
Spalding penned a convincing sibling relationship and a couple truly funny moments. For me, there was a little too much potty humor for my liking. It was refreshing having a fast-paced and fluffy read, however, that wasn't a romance.
As anyone who has renovated homes knows, nothing goes as smoothly as you hope, and so also goes the story of the Daly's home — especially after it's chosen to be featured on a national home renovation show, and as the home's secret history comes to light.
Spalding penned a convincing sibling relationship and a couple truly funny moments. For me, there was a little too much potty humor for my liking. It was refreshing having a fast-paced and fluffy read, however, that wasn't a romance.
April 8, 2017
Actual rating: -11 stars.
I don't want to actually give reasons why, because when I try to do that for a book I feel strongly for, I overuse capitals and I would come back to this review and cringe.
So here's just 5 things you should know about this in general:
1. Very, very British. Like, extremely British. As someone who grew up in rural America, I've had to look up words and YouTube TV shows just to keep up. Sort of a pain.
2. Not fantasy. I don't know why some people considered this fantasy. Apart from the cow, this is realistic fiction.
3. The beginning is annoying. Like, ideal dialogue:
" ‘This was Grandma’s last gift to us.’ "Hayley says this to Danny who should be aware of this.
This part was super ideal:
" ‘And what exactly did she leave Mum and Dad again?’
‘£ 75,000. All her life savings,’ I reply, as quietly as I can, so it doesn’t sound so bad.
‘And just remind me again, sister dearest. What are they doing with all that lovely cash?’
‘You know what they’re doing with it, Dan.’
‘No, no. Come on. Say it again.’ He jabs a finger at the derelict house in front of us.
‘I want that thing to hear.’
‘You’re mental.’ Danny stares at me. He’s not going to let this one go. ‘They’re going on a year- long cruise around the world.’ I sigh."
You've got to be kidding me. No two people who already know this information would ever have a conversation about it like that. It's really stilted and nonsensical for the reader's benefit so that we know what's going on.
4. If you want to read something hilarious, read a memoir from a comedian or something. This takes a real long while to pick up.
5. I hate books that are meant for adults. Usually it's because of all the sexual crap, but while this one contained samples of that, I mainly hated their target audience because Hayley and Danny would go on
And on
And on
About mortgages, house decorations, renovation stuff. And this is what any rational human would expect after reading the description. It's just that Hayley and Danny don't have lives that aren't about the renovation, so any subplot has to do with the renovation. Don't expect any long winded explanations of anything other than a character's fashion and floorboards/cabinet handles/bathroom counters/etcetera.
My fingers are itching for the caps key, so I'm gonna have to leave it at that.
I don't want to actually give reasons why, because when I try to do that for a book I feel strongly for, I overuse capitals and I would come back to this review and cringe.
So here's just 5 things you should know about this in general:
1. Very, very British. Like, extremely British. As someone who grew up in rural America, I've had to look up words and YouTube TV shows just to keep up. Sort of a pain.
2. Not fantasy. I don't know why some people considered this fantasy. Apart from the cow, this is realistic fiction.
3. The beginning is annoying. Like, ideal dialogue:
" ‘This was Grandma’s last gift to us.’ "Hayley says this to Danny who should be aware of this.
This part was super ideal:
" ‘And what exactly did she leave Mum and Dad again?’
‘£ 75,000. All her life savings,’ I reply, as quietly as I can, so it doesn’t sound so bad.
‘And just remind me again, sister dearest. What are they doing with all that lovely cash?’
‘You know what they’re doing with it, Dan.’
‘No, no. Come on. Say it again.’ He jabs a finger at the derelict house in front of us.
‘I want that thing to hear.’
‘You’re mental.’ Danny stares at me. He’s not going to let this one go. ‘They’re going on a year- long cruise around the world.’ I sigh."
You've got to be kidding me. No two people who already know this information would ever have a conversation about it like that. It's really stilted and nonsensical for the reader's benefit so that we know what's going on.
4. If you want to read something hilarious, read a memoir from a comedian or something. This takes a real long while to pick up.
5. I hate books that are meant for adults. Usually it's because of all the sexual crap, but while this one contained samples of that, I mainly hated their target audience because Hayley and Danny would go on
And on
And on
About mortgages, house decorations, renovation stuff. And this is what any rational human would expect after reading the description. It's just that Hayley and Danny don't have lives that aren't about the renovation, so any subplot has to do with the renovation. Don't expect any long winded explanations of anything other than a character's fashion and floorboards/cabinet handles/bathroom counters/etcetera.
My fingers are itching for the caps key, so I'm gonna have to leave it at that.
January 7, 2021
I was hoping for some light hearted, comic relief with a bit of romance to cheer my winter evenings in lockdown.
What I got from reading "Bricking it" was some boring details around a house renovation, the most unrealistic stereotypical characters you could ask a 5 year old to come up with, and a plot so predictable I'm genuinely worried I might have developed psychic powers.
If you like slapstick comedy and occasional toilet humour, you might feel differently about this book. Unfortunately it's not for me.
What I got from reading "Bricking it" was some boring details around a house renovation, the most unrealistic stereotypical characters you could ask a 5 year old to come up with, and a plot so predictable I'm genuinely worried I might have developed psychic powers.
If you like slapstick comedy and occasional toilet humour, you might feel differently about this book. Unfortunately it's not for me.
January 14, 2019
This was reasonably enjoyable, but nowhere near as good as Fat Chance, which I found hilarious.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Amazon Kindle Unlimited.
December 28, 2015
****I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway, but this has in no way affected my review or rating****
This was such a good read. I loved Nick's first "Love" book, Love From Both Sides, it literally made me snort with laughter when I read it a few years ago, and I've got all the other Love books to catch up on at some point, Nick's one of those authors that always makes you laugh, and I knew Bricking It would be another good one, especially since everyone has seen the movie The Money Pit right? I expected the book to be a bit like that, but thankfully the house Hayley and Dan end up renovating is nowhere near as bad, and there's no Tom Hanks in sight.
What Bricking It DOES have, however, is a fabulous cast of characters - not only Hayley and Dan, but the builders, the architect, the crew of the TV show the house ends up featured in and they make for a memorable house renovation. I love characters who jump off the pages and they certainly do that! By far my favourite character though was Pat The Cow. I love when authors put dogs in books, it's cute. BUT A COW? You must be having a laugh, but Pat The Cow quickly became a part of the furniture and it wasn't unusual in the slightest to find her in the house. Or talking. And just waiting for someone to pat her. She's the most docile cow I've ever met, heck she's the ONLY cow I've ever met and I couldn't wish for better.
I also loved that Nick mentions his previous novel - Dan has a very embarrassing incident including an attic, a box, and a very bad need for the loo and there's a reference to Hayley having read a novel previously where a character ends up with violent food poisoning and defecating somewhere not too pleasant (and in front of his date, if I remember correctly) and of course that was a very famous scene in Love From Both Sides. That amused me greatly. Way to break the fourth wall, Nick.
Renovating a house is not a fun job, but Dan and Hayley did it with a lot of grace, some help from some fantastic characters and the memorable and unforgettable Pat The Cow. Bricking It was such a fun, pleasurable read. I really enjoyed it.
This was such a good read. I loved Nick's first "Love" book, Love From Both Sides, it literally made me snort with laughter when I read it a few years ago, and I've got all the other Love books to catch up on at some point, Nick's one of those authors that always makes you laugh, and I knew Bricking It would be another good one, especially since everyone has seen the movie The Money Pit right? I expected the book to be a bit like that, but thankfully the house Hayley and Dan end up renovating is nowhere near as bad, and there's no Tom Hanks in sight.
What Bricking It DOES have, however, is a fabulous cast of characters - not only Hayley and Dan, but the builders, the architect, the crew of the TV show the house ends up featured in and they make for a memorable house renovation. I love characters who jump off the pages and they certainly do that! By far my favourite character though was Pat The Cow. I love when authors put dogs in books, it's cute. BUT A COW? You must be having a laugh, but Pat The Cow quickly became a part of the furniture and it wasn't unusual in the slightest to find her in the house. Or talking. And just waiting for someone to pat her. She's the most docile cow I've ever met, heck she's the ONLY cow I've ever met and I couldn't wish for better.
I also loved that Nick mentions his previous novel - Dan has a very embarrassing incident including an attic, a box, and a very bad need for the loo and there's a reference to Hayley having read a novel previously where a character ends up with violent food poisoning and defecating somewhere not too pleasant (and in front of his date, if I remember correctly) and of course that was a very famous scene in Love From Both Sides. That amused me greatly. Way to break the fourth wall, Nick.
Renovating a house is not a fun job, but Dan and Hayley did it with a lot of grace, some help from some fantastic characters and the memorable and unforgettable Pat The Cow. Bricking It was such a fun, pleasurable read. I really enjoyed it.
July 13, 2018
When Hayley and Dan inherit a decrepit farmhouse and decide to remodel it for profit, they have no idea what they are in for. To make matters more interesting, they agree to be part of a remodeling reality show too. Along with normal setbacks of construction, the siblings must deal with a ninja-cow, unexploded ordinance, narcotic weeds, and some interesting personalities in the people they are working with. When the remodel is finished, both siblings have learned a lot about remodeling and even more about themselves.
I really enjoy reading books by this author; however, I still haven't laughed as hard as when reading Fat Chance. Some of the humor, particularly bowel distress, is present in every book, and I wish it wasn't so consistent in its presence. However, there are other NEW funny things that happen in this book that make it worth the read (or listen, as the audio is fun too). I'll keep reading Nick Spalding when I want a good laugh.
I really enjoy reading books by this author; however, I still haven't laughed as hard as when reading Fat Chance. Some of the humor, particularly bowel distress, is present in every book, and I wish it wasn't so consistent in its presence. However, there are other NEW funny things that happen in this book that make it worth the read (or listen, as the audio is fun too). I'll keep reading Nick Spalding when I want a good laugh.
November 5, 2016
DNF at 40%. Almost half of the book gone, and still nothing has really happened. All of the characters are stereotypes or cardboard, and you don't care at all what happens to them. For what is supposed to be a comedy, it is far from funny, with sometimes falling into the simply gross to try and get a few laughs. Nothing interesting ever happens. Formulaic and disrespects the reader's intelligence.
November 22, 2015
A mix of chick lit., and reality tv.
If you like that mix, this is for you.
Not my cup of tea, but the cow was interesting!
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
If you like that mix, this is for you.
Not my cup of tea, but the cow was interesting!
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
September 7, 2018
You know when you are watching a comedy and you're sure its going to be funny but then the comedy is just a little too over the top and it crosses into stupid town??? That was this book… every… single… fucking… chapter. O and then it had the most shit ending ever.
November 29, 2021
A pleasant enough read, but quite predictable and cliched.
June 24, 2025
The definition of a light-hearted read. Knocked a star off due to some of the incredibly cringey and juvenile tropes.
December 2, 2015
Life... with no breaks was one of the first books I read on my shiny new kindle back in 2011. I though this guy can write funny and his humour is right on my wavelength. I have now read most of his books and, although his writing has maturing much over the past few years, his sense of humour remains right where it should be! This means that his books can sometimes be a bit marmite, but as far as I am concerned, still spot on for me.
I won't rehash the story, you can read that for yourself. I personally have no interest in house renovations nor do I watch makeover shows and I definitely loathe reality tv so I really shouldn't be liking this book. But I did. I read start to finish in a day. I really gel with this author's style of writing, I love his characterisation - especially Pat the Cow - as already mentioned I love his sense of humour, love the way he gets on with the story, the language he uses, the banter, the words and phrases that give me more of a connection to the book as they are ones I use myself.
This sort of chick-lit is like a palate cleanser to me. A nice drop of sorbet between two more heavier courses. A light read between two intense psychological thrillers which are my usual genre of choice. That's not to say that this book doesn't have substance, It does. But it is a relatively easy read nevertheless. One that will have you laughing, cringing, seething, wondering and ahhhhing all through the book.
All in all a good solid read that right brightened up my day.
I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review
I won't rehash the story, you can read that for yourself. I personally have no interest in house renovations nor do I watch makeover shows and I definitely loathe reality tv so I really shouldn't be liking this book. But I did. I read start to finish in a day. I really gel with this author's style of writing, I love his characterisation - especially Pat the Cow - as already mentioned I love his sense of humour, love the way he gets on with the story, the language he uses, the banter, the words and phrases that give me more of a connection to the book as they are ones I use myself.
This sort of chick-lit is like a palate cleanser to me. A nice drop of sorbet between two more heavier courses. A light read between two intense psychological thrillers which are my usual genre of choice. That's not to say that this book doesn't have substance, It does. But it is a relatively easy read nevertheless. One that will have you laughing, cringing, seething, wondering and ahhhhing all through the book.
All in all a good solid read that right brightened up my day.
I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review
October 26, 2015
I have to admit that I'm a sucker for a tv property makeover. Anything where the family has to be in by Xmas or before their unplanned baby is born and I'm there, happily watching them struggle with their avant-guard cantilevers, locally sourced straw insulation and brutalist stamped concrete bathrooms. I also have a bit of a thing about the presenters on these shows, with their North Face jackets and tartan scarves, rolling up their manly sleeves to help out with drilling the foundations or whatever. Did I really say that out loud? Sorry. Anyway, let's just comment that I (and the many thousands of other makeover fans) am the ideal target reader for Nick Spalding's brilliant new novel, Bricking It.
The book itself is an absolute joy to read; it is funny, witty, warm and romantic. There's even a sort of loveable pantomime cow, who is a complete star. My only criticism would be that it was too short. I could have gone on reading for a few more days. Love it.
Many thanks to the Lake Union Publishing, Nick Spalding and NetGalley for letting me do this review.
The book itself is an absolute joy to read; it is funny, witty, warm and romantic. There's even a sort of loveable pantomime cow, who is a complete star. My only criticism would be that it was too short. I could have gone on reading for a few more days. Love it.
Many thanks to the Lake Union Publishing, Nick Spalding and NetGalley for letting me do this review.
July 10, 2017
'A house is just bricks and mortar, and bricks and mortar are pretty predictable when you get right down to it. It’s the people inside you have to watch out for'.
This book made me smile. I have, what can be described as, a crass sense of humour and this book has this by the bucket load. From this book made me laugh and smile.
'These wellington boots really don’t suit me. Green has never been my colour, and I simply don’t have long enough legs to look like anything other than a bandy-legged gnome' - I love this quote because it's literally me!!
I saw some bad reviews and wondered whether I was setting myself up for a fall with this book, but humour is subjective and this book kept me interested all the way through. For a light, witty read I'd highly recommend this book.
This book made me smile. I have, what can be described as, a crass sense of humour and this book has this by the bucket load. From this book made me laugh and smile.
'These wellington boots really don’t suit me. Green has never been my colour, and I simply don’t have long enough legs to look like anything other than a bandy-legged gnome' - I love this quote because it's literally me!!
I saw some bad reviews and wondered whether I was setting myself up for a fall with this book, but humour is subjective and this book kept me interested all the way through. For a light, witty read I'd highly recommend this book.
January 14, 2019
I have read a number of Spalding's books over the years but not for some time. I'm not sure if his writing has got worse or if I've just moved on... I tend to prefer reading books where I learn something - or feel some form of emotion. Sadly the only emotion I felt reading this was tedium (if that is a word which it might not be). I was dubious very early on as the brother, sister characters just felt so fake, I couldn't believe their relationship at all. However it was the following line, 12% in, that made me slam the book shut (metaphorically as I'm reading on a Kindle):
"As stated, this girl is very pretty, and the accent is very exotic. Her tits look rather fabulous as well, I'm disgusted to say." This was made worse because the paragraph before described her as a young girl so I naturally assumed she was a kid... And it was the sister that said thought this and it just doesn't fit... Either way, urgh.
Sorry, not for me.
"As stated, this girl is very pretty, and the accent is very exotic. Her tits look rather fabulous as well, I'm disgusted to say." This was made worse because the paragraph before described her as a young girl so I naturally assumed she was a kid... And it was the sister that said thought this and it just doesn't fit... Either way, urgh.
Sorry, not for me.
October 26, 2015
When Haley and Danny Daley inherit a derelict Victorian farmhouse from their deceased grandmother, they decide to renovate with the intention to sell it later. Well, that's the plan anyway.
Through the renovation process they meet lots of entertaining characters and learn quite a lot about themselves. They also learn about a grandmother they thought they knew but, who had an entirely unknown past. The story is funny, highly entertaining and full of surprises.
Anyone, who has undertaken a renovation project or just likes to watch home remodeling shows will not doubt find this a witty, lighthearted and amusing read.
Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read this ebook in exchange for a review.
Through the renovation process they meet lots of entertaining characters and learn quite a lot about themselves. They also learn about a grandmother they thought they knew but, who had an entirely unknown past. The story is funny, highly entertaining and full of surprises.
Anyone, who has undertaken a renovation project or just likes to watch home remodeling shows will not doubt find this a witty, lighthearted and amusing read.
Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read this ebook in exchange for a review.
December 13, 2015
Siblings Dan and Hayley Daley inherit their grandmother’s long-ago abandoned Victorian. This comes as a surprise as they never knew of its existence. Both agree to work together hiring an architect and builder to restore the decrepit house, then sell for a quick profit. A great plan but these two are in over their heads. The local design/reno team they hire consists of amusingly quirky characters. There is no shortage of surprises and problems, at times outlandish situations that made me laugh out loud, especially ones surrounding perceptive Pat the Cow, the neighbor’s cow who shows up in the darndest places and the zaniness that ensues when they find themselves on a live tv home makeover show. A fun and quick read.
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