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Looking for Captain Poldark
How far would you go to find the perfect hero? Four strangers, united by their shared love of POLDARK, come together on a trip to Cornwall in search of their hero...Lisa has sworn off love and relationships after a really bad experience, but lately she’s been tempted to take a chance on a more exciting life. First she meets other fans of the TV show Poldark online. Then she proposes a very special road trip to Cornwall, in search of where their favourite show is being filmed.But can four strangers find friendship, as well as a certain sexy hunk on their trip south?
112 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2017
13 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Rowan Coleman
49 books851 followersRowan Coleman lives with her husband, and five children in a very full house in Hertfordshire. She juggles writing novels with raising her family which includes a very lively set of toddler twins whose main hobby is going in the opposite directions. When she gets the chance, Rowan enjoys sleeping, sitting and loves watching films; she is also attempting to learn how to bake.
Rowan would like to live every day as if she were starring in a musical, although her daughter no longer allows her to sing in public. Despite being dyslexic, Rowan loves writing, and The Memory Book is her eleventh novel. Others include The Accidental Mother, Lessons in Laughing Out Loud and the award-winning Dearest Rose, a novel which lead Rowan to become an active supporter of domestic abuse charity Refuge, donating 100% of royalties from the ebook publication of her novella, Woman Walks Into a Bar, to the charity. Rowan does not have time for ironing.
Rowan would like to live every day as if she were starring in a musical, although her daughter no longer allows her to sing in public. Despite being dyslexic, Rowan loves writing, and The Memory Book is her eleventh novel. Others include The Accidental Mother, Lessons in Laughing Out Loud and the award-winning Dearest Rose, a novel which lead Rowan to become an active supporter of domestic abuse charity Refuge, donating 100% of royalties from the ebook publication of her novella, Woman Walks Into a Bar, to the charity. Rowan does not have time for ironing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 7, 2023
The main character Lisa suffers from anxiety and panic attacks.
She is afraid, something bad could happen to her everywhere at any time and to avoid danger she hardly leaves the house.
Like many, who struggle with the same problems, Lisa has become her own prisoner.
But now she has decided to drive over 500 miles in her old car, all the way from her home in Leeds to Cornwall.
Cornwall, because that’s where they are currently shooting the new episodes of her favourite series and she desperately wants to meet her hero, Captain Poldark, or at least, the actor who plays him and tell him, how much he means to her.
Lisa hopes, if she manages to go there and do that, maybe things will get better and maybe she can live a normal life again.
Of course, she is too anxious to travel alone. The idea is, to pick up three others, who share her passion for Poldark, people she has met online on the Poldarlings website. They have been chatting every day since the first series, but they have never met in real life.
Lisa’s first stop is in Dudley where she’s supposed to pick up "I am Demelza".
The journey takes a while, because Lisa only travels on B roads, everything else is far too dangerous, and when she reaches “Demelza’s” home, things don’t go according to plan and Lisa isn’t sure, if she wants to continue at all.
Luckily Demelza is persuasive enough and Lisa is back on the road, because her next stop is Abby and later we will meet the last of the four, Kirsty.
Especially Abby is larger than life. She is certainly better prepared to survive in the wild than Bear Grylls and her comments had me laugh out loud a couple of times. (Loved the part where Abby suggests, to go out and kill and skin a couple of rabbits for dinner, when the others desperately opt for fish and chips.)
You don’t need to be a Poldark fan to enjoy the book.
Looking for Captain Poldark is simply special and will stay with me for a while, because the author has created four hugely likeable characters.
It’s fun, but also very heartfelt to follow Lisa on her journey to Cornwall. All four of them have skeletons in their closets and a story to tell.
I also love the start of each chapter, where we get Lisa’s current location, how many miles are still left to travel, and the radio station she’s currently listening to and the song they are playing. Each song title has a deeper meaning and is connected to the chapter you are about to read.
Towards the end the story things happen at once and fall into place, but the very last chapter, when Lisa is back home in Leeds, it’s just the perfect ending.
She is afraid, something bad could happen to her everywhere at any time and to avoid danger she hardly leaves the house.
Like many, who struggle with the same problems, Lisa has become her own prisoner.
But now she has decided to drive over 500 miles in her old car, all the way from her home in Leeds to Cornwall.
Cornwall, because that’s where they are currently shooting the new episodes of her favourite series and she desperately wants to meet her hero, Captain Poldark, or at least, the actor who plays him and tell him, how much he means to her.
Lisa hopes, if she manages to go there and do that, maybe things will get better and maybe she can live a normal life again.
Of course, she is too anxious to travel alone. The idea is, to pick up three others, who share her passion for Poldark, people she has met online on the Poldarlings website. They have been chatting every day since the first series, but they have never met in real life.
Lisa’s first stop is in Dudley where she’s supposed to pick up "I am Demelza".
The journey takes a while, because Lisa only travels on B roads, everything else is far too dangerous, and when she reaches “Demelza’s” home, things don’t go according to plan and Lisa isn’t sure, if she wants to continue at all.
Luckily Demelza is persuasive enough and Lisa is back on the road, because her next stop is Abby and later we will meet the last of the four, Kirsty.
Especially Abby is larger than life. She is certainly better prepared to survive in the wild than Bear Grylls and her comments had me laugh out loud a couple of times. (Loved the part where Abby suggests, to go out and kill and skin a couple of rabbits for dinner, when the others desperately opt for fish and chips.)
You don’t need to be a Poldark fan to enjoy the book.
Looking for Captain Poldark is simply special and will stay with me for a while, because the author has created four hugely likeable characters.
It’s fun, but also very heartfelt to follow Lisa on her journey to Cornwall. All four of them have skeletons in their closets and a story to tell.
I also love the start of each chapter, where we get Lisa’s current location, how many miles are still left to travel, and the radio station she’s currently listening to and the song they are playing. Each song title has a deeper meaning and is connected to the chapter you are about to read.
Towards the end the story things happen at once and fall into place, but the very last chapter, when Lisa is back home in Leeds, it’s just the perfect ending.
October 25, 2020
Occasionally, I pick up some chick lit or commercial women's fiction in case I'm actually not disappointed by it this time. In case it's anything like the way I hope and imagine these books could/would/should be. And out of the handful of chick lit novels I've actually finished - about ten of them since the late 90s - this is the second best, after Crazy Rich Asians.
You don't need to like Poldark to read this - but if you ever met up with people from the web before that was a totally normal thing to do, that would probably help.
I was still very disappointed by one choice (or two linked choices) the author made near the end, but the rest of the story was such a great example of the sort of thing I'd wanted from chick lit, and had concluded years ago was hardly ever found in it, that, mostly, I was still very pleased with this little book (c. 100 pages).
It also made me think about what I had usually been looking for from chick lit and women's fiction, at least in my thirties and older. (In my twenties it was often an attempt at social learning.) Once or twice it was a look at a world that was very different from mine in a fun, light-read structure - and Crazy Rich Asians delivered on that. However, with typical UK-based books, I wanted stories of 'ordinary people' that 'ordinary people' read.
But what would 'ordinary people' mean relative to me? When I deconstructed that I started to understand why I found most chick lit so unsatisfying. 'Ordinary person' in the UK would mean someone who grew up in a family that was less educated and less well-off and less strange, someone who was in considerably better health and who had fewer problems in general, someone who'd had a higher income for most of their adult life than I had. I realised via this book that I wanted to read about people who were more 'ordinary' in background, but who also didn't have easy lives. And most chick lit characters are from middle-class backgrounds, but aren't that intellectual or eccentric. They're like certain girls from school I had little in common with and who went on work in media-adjacent fields, or people from uni who weren't really interested in their subject. AFAIK there isn't much chick lit about receptionists dating plumbers. (Why on soaps like EastEnders watched by millions, but rarely in popular fiction with contemporary settings? In a novel, if a protagonist has a job like receptionist, it's usually an English graduate temping.) One thing I now see I wanted from chick-lit was characters like those in this book where, actually, they have some bloody serious gritty RL type problems, and they do feel weird relative to most people. Problems considerably more serious than the broken engagement or similar that opens a lot of chick lit stories. You could say it's part chick lit, part 15-certificate Jacqueline Wilson story. One drawback representationally: all the characters are white, and there was certainly scope for at least one PoC character in the structure.
But then that's probably because it's for a series that is partly for adult literacy and English learners, so there are characters that some of the assumed audience can relate to. Though it isn't in a style that ever feels noticeably simplified - especially compared with literary works that think they are aiming at the same market, but end up with a more stylised and overly childlike approach such as US modern classic The House on Mango Street.
The book is also almost entirely about friendship, about the experience of meeting people from the internet when you're not as normal as you'd like to be - and about fandom. Not the most meta or subtle discussion of fandom ever, but I really liked the way it manages to go through different expectations that people have around meeting someone famous, and makes it clear what is and isn't okay. I have sometimes been a bit *side-eye* when I read about about superfans who repeatedly meet and have photos taken with a celeb they have a crush on, and it was rather cathartic to see those silent, sceptical wonderings dramatised on the page. I thought it was more sensible than actual fandom spaces. It isn't part of fandom/geek culture as such, which is IMO another of its strengths; there are plenty of people who are fans of something, especially stuff unconnected to comics and SFF, who are unaware of fandom jargon and so forth.
Coleman manages to orchestrate an optimistic ending without it sounding too neat and tidy by not going on about it too much (unlike much 'up-lit' AFAIK, A Man Called Ove, Eleanor Oliphant etc) though I was very pissed off with one element - especially as I get the impression the rest of the plot was modelling the idea of stepping out of your comfort zone, and the possibility of a better life, for people like the characters, and this bit modelled something bad that way too many people wouldn't realise. (More detail in spoiler tag in comment below.) If I could give that plot point 1 star, and the rest of the book 4-4.5 stars I would.
I wish there was a whole subgenre of books that was chick lit about friendship rather than romance (rather like Animals by Emma Jane Unsworth, which is technically literary fiction but not the ponderous sort) and among people like these characters with mundane jobs (no more big-city journalists or PRs please) or no job. Characters who often paradoxically end up in literary fiction when many of them wouldn't read that type of book themselves.
I've never been able to understand why there isn't, anyway, a lot more short popular fiction like this. It seems logical to me that it should be under 250 pages as standard, yet a great deal of it (aside from category romance), whether crime and thriller, or chick lit and commercial women's fiction, is pushing 500 pages, which seems to me almost to defeat the purpose of a light read.
I hoped to find another book very like this one in the same series, but in the one that looked closest, The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe by Milly Johnson, the protagonist instigates an affair that is obviously going to lead to a broken engagement from a kind but boring man - a story in which I think the guilt should outweigh the fun elements and therefore not a suitable topic for an escapist novel.
You don't need to like Poldark to read this - but if you ever met up with people from the web before that was a totally normal thing to do, that would probably help.
I was still very disappointed by one choice (or two linked choices) the author made near the end, but the rest of the story was such a great example of the sort of thing I'd wanted from chick lit, and had concluded years ago was hardly ever found in it, that, mostly, I was still very pleased with this little book (c. 100 pages).
It also made me think about what I had usually been looking for from chick lit and women's fiction, at least in my thirties and older. (In my twenties it was often an attempt at social learning.) Once or twice it was a look at a world that was very different from mine in a fun, light-read structure - and Crazy Rich Asians delivered on that. However, with typical UK-based books, I wanted stories of 'ordinary people' that 'ordinary people' read.
But what would 'ordinary people' mean relative to me? When I deconstructed that I started to understand why I found most chick lit so unsatisfying. 'Ordinary person' in the UK would mean someone who grew up in a family that was less educated and less well-off and less strange, someone who was in considerably better health and who had fewer problems in general, someone who'd had a higher income for most of their adult life than I had. I realised via this book that I wanted to read about people who were more 'ordinary' in background, but who also didn't have easy lives. And most chick lit characters are from middle-class backgrounds, but aren't that intellectual or eccentric. They're like certain girls from school I had little in common with and who went on work in media-adjacent fields, or people from uni who weren't really interested in their subject. AFAIK there isn't much chick lit about receptionists dating plumbers. (Why on soaps like EastEnders watched by millions, but rarely in popular fiction with contemporary settings? In a novel, if a protagonist has a job like receptionist, it's usually an English graduate temping.) One thing I now see I wanted from chick-lit was characters like those in this book where, actually, they have some bloody serious gritty RL type problems, and they do feel weird relative to most people. Problems considerably more serious than the broken engagement or similar that opens a lot of chick lit stories. You could say it's part chick lit, part 15-certificate Jacqueline Wilson story. One drawback representationally: all the characters are white, and there was certainly scope for at least one PoC character in the structure.
But then that's probably because it's for a series that is partly for adult literacy and English learners, so there are characters that some of the assumed audience can relate to. Though it isn't in a style that ever feels noticeably simplified - especially compared with literary works that think they are aiming at the same market, but end up with a more stylised and overly childlike approach such as US modern classic The House on Mango Street.
The book is also almost entirely about friendship, about the experience of meeting people from the internet when you're not as normal as you'd like to be - and about fandom. Not the most meta or subtle discussion of fandom ever, but I really liked the way it manages to go through different expectations that people have around meeting someone famous, and makes it clear what is and isn't okay. I have sometimes been a bit *side-eye* when I read about about superfans who repeatedly meet and have photos taken with a celeb they have a crush on, and it was rather cathartic to see those silent, sceptical wonderings dramatised on the page. I thought it was more sensible than actual fandom spaces. It isn't part of fandom/geek culture as such, which is IMO another of its strengths; there are plenty of people who are fans of something, especially stuff unconnected to comics and SFF, who are unaware of fandom jargon and so forth.
Coleman manages to orchestrate an optimistic ending without it sounding too neat and tidy by not going on about it too much (unlike much 'up-lit' AFAIK, A Man Called Ove, Eleanor Oliphant etc) though I was very pissed off with one element - especially as I get the impression the rest of the plot was modelling the idea of stepping out of your comfort zone, and the possibility of a better life, for people like the characters, and this bit modelled something bad that way too many people wouldn't realise. (More detail in spoiler tag in comment below.) If I could give that plot point 1 star, and the rest of the book 4-4.5 stars I would.
I wish there was a whole subgenre of books that was chick lit about friendship rather than romance (rather like Animals by Emma Jane Unsworth, which is technically literary fiction but not the ponderous sort) and among people like these characters with mundane jobs (no more big-city journalists or PRs please) or no job. Characters who often paradoxically end up in literary fiction when many of them wouldn't read that type of book themselves.
I've never been able to understand why there isn't, anyway, a lot more short popular fiction like this. It seems logical to me that it should be under 250 pages as standard, yet a great deal of it (aside from category romance), whether crime and thriller, or chick lit and commercial women's fiction, is pushing 500 pages, which seems to me almost to defeat the purpose of a light read.
I hoped to find another book very like this one in the same series, but in the one that looked closest, The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe by Milly Johnson, the protagonist instigates an affair that is obviously going to lead to a broken engagement from a kind but boring man - a story in which I think the guilt should outweigh the fun elements and therefore not a suitable topic for an escapist novel.
February 21, 2018
I found this in my local Waterstones, and, at £1, I thought it offered an ideal way of sampling Rowan Coleman's writing.
So it proved to be! it's a sparkling little "road trip" of a novella - about 80 pages long. A car-load of misfits head to deepest Cornwall in search of the modern version of Poldark, in the actor Aidan Turner.
It is written with wit, and style and achieves all it sets out to do, and then some. Truly, a sparkling little book!
So it proved to be! it's a sparkling little "road trip" of a novella - about 80 pages long. A car-load of misfits head to deepest Cornwall in search of the modern version of Poldark, in the actor Aidan Turner.
It is written with wit, and style and achieves all it sets out to do, and then some. Truly, a sparkling little book!
February 4, 2017
Delightful novella from one of my favourite authors about one of my favourite subjects! Well he featured in a minor role. Loved the characters and the way we got to know and love them in such a short space of time. Witty and clever !
February 7, 2017
An eclectic cast of quirky characters and a great fun read.
October 4, 2018
This is a short, fun and quirky take on a roadtrip. A young woman who - we learn - got taken for a ride by a boyfriend, is trying to overcome her nervousness and drive to Cornwall to see the filming of Poldark. Her online pals from a Poldark fan forum agree to meet her and share costs, but she has never met them.
Not everyone is who they claimed to be. No surprise. Can the trip be made to work? Can the motley crew pull together and help one another? Will they actually meet the actor playing Captain Poldark? Great fun.
I read this book from Raheny public library. This is an unbiased review.
Not everyone is who they claimed to be. No surprise. Can the trip be made to work? Can the motley crew pull together and help one another? Will they actually meet the actor playing Captain Poldark? Great fun.
I read this book from Raheny public library. This is an unbiased review.
February 6, 2017
I am a huge Poldark fan so it didn’t take much to tempt me to read this one, couple that with loving Rowan’s writing and it was bound to be a winner.
I really enjoyed the aspect of how four ‘strangers on the internet’ could actually get along and make the journey. Yes, Poldark is the lure but this explored all areas of friendship, trust and relationships in such a short time.
I could identify with all the characters to some extent along with the emotions each displayed. Very cleverly woven into a positive message and full of hope.
I really enjoyed the aspect of how four ‘strangers on the internet’ could actually get along and make the journey. Yes, Poldark is the lure but this explored all areas of friendship, trust and relationships in such a short time.
I could identify with all the characters to some extent along with the emotions each displayed. Very cleverly woven into a positive message and full of hope.
June 8, 2024
The writing was engaging and tackled serious issues in an accessible way. Each character brought something new to the table and it was interesting to see how they all came together.
The chapters were a good length when compared to the overall length of the book. I enjoyed the introduction to each chapter - location, radio station, track playing, miles travelled and miles until Captain Poldark. These little details at the beginning added something extra to the story. They added a timeline and gave the reader a clearer feeling that this was a journey, both physically and spiritually for the characters. The track that was playing often gave a subtle hint as to what was to come in the chapter.
There was a good pace and flow to the book. I just wanted to keep on reading!
There was always something happening, always something surprising that came out of the woodwork. It was an interesting journey for everyone.
The characters were great. I loved them all. They each had their own secrets and I enjoyed gradually finding out what they all were. They each added suspicion and tension at some point in the story.
It was also enjoyable to read about the main character's journey overall and to see her work through her demons and come out better the other side just by being around the other characters.
Lastly the settings. I loved the journey to Cornwall, however whilst there wasn't a lot of description about each place, there was enough to let you know where you were.
Overall an excellent one sitting book. I highly recommend reading it and would be interested in reading this author's other works.
The chapters were a good length when compared to the overall length of the book. I enjoyed the introduction to each chapter - location, radio station, track playing, miles travelled and miles until Captain Poldark. These little details at the beginning added something extra to the story. They added a timeline and gave the reader a clearer feeling that this was a journey, both physically and spiritually for the characters. The track that was playing often gave a subtle hint as to what was to come in the chapter.
There was a good pace and flow to the book. I just wanted to keep on reading!
There was always something happening, always something surprising that came out of the woodwork. It was an interesting journey for everyone.
The characters were great. I loved them all. They each had their own secrets and I enjoyed gradually finding out what they all were. They each added suspicion and tension at some point in the story.
It was also enjoyable to read about the main character's journey overall and to see her work through her demons and come out better the other side just by being around the other characters.
Lastly the settings. I loved the journey to Cornwall, however whilst there wasn't a lot of description about each place, there was enough to let you know where you were.
Overall an excellent one sitting book. I highly recommend reading it and would be interested in reading this author's other works.
May 5, 2018
'In books Lisa became a hundred, a thousand different people, who were all more brave, more clever and more beautiful than she'.
I really enjoyed this lovely little story. Every character had their own personal journeys and I really liked finding more about them as the story went on. A lovely, quick read. One that's good for curling up with a nice mug of tea.
I really enjoyed this lovely little story. Every character had their own personal journeys and I really liked finding more about them as the story went on. A lovely, quick read. One that's good for curling up with a nice mug of tea.
April 10, 2017
I'm a huge fan of Rowan Coleman's writing and have read all of her books to date, I was really excited to hear that she was contributing a story to the Quick Reads programme this year.
Looking For Captain Poldark is just 112 pages long, and is the perfect pick-me-up read from a very talented and well-loved author. Whilst the TV programme is the glue that binds the characters together, the reader does not have to be a fan of the show. If you do love the show though, then you are in for even more of a treat.
Meet the Poldarlings; a group of Poldark fans who met via an online forum, They joined the forum to discuss their love of everything Poldark and four of them made the decision that they would travel to Cornwall to meet their hero.
Each character has their own very distinctive personality, with Lisa as the lead character; because she's the one who is driving them to Cornwall. For Lisa, this is a huge step as her self-confidence has taken a battering after a failed relationship.
Each chapter begins with a countdown of the miles travelled, and how far they have left to go, along with the current radio station and song being played, These songs are all relevant to the story, and as each of the Poldarlings join the trip, a little bit of their personality and back story is revealed. These characters are a very mixed bunch, and all of them have been hiding behind their online persona. As the journey progresses, they begin to reveal their true selves, with all the baggage and drama that accompanies them.
Rowan Coleman is a hugely talented writer who has created a bunch of characters that are vibrant and life like. Despite the length of the story, she's touched on serious and emotional issues and injected some laugh-out-loud dialogue and situations.
A heartwarming and funny little story. I enjoyed it very much, it's the perfect read to warm the heart.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
Looking For Captain Poldark is just 112 pages long, and is the perfect pick-me-up read from a very talented and well-loved author. Whilst the TV programme is the glue that binds the characters together, the reader does not have to be a fan of the show. If you do love the show though, then you are in for even more of a treat.
Meet the Poldarlings; a group of Poldark fans who met via an online forum, They joined the forum to discuss their love of everything Poldark and four of them made the decision that they would travel to Cornwall to meet their hero.
Each character has their own very distinctive personality, with Lisa as the lead character; because she's the one who is driving them to Cornwall. For Lisa, this is a huge step as her self-confidence has taken a battering after a failed relationship.
Each chapter begins with a countdown of the miles travelled, and how far they have left to go, along with the current radio station and song being played, These songs are all relevant to the story, and as each of the Poldarlings join the trip, a little bit of their personality and back story is revealed. These characters are a very mixed bunch, and all of them have been hiding behind their online persona. As the journey progresses, they begin to reveal their true selves, with all the baggage and drama that accompanies them.
Rowan Coleman is a hugely talented writer who has created a bunch of characters that are vibrant and life like. Despite the length of the story, she's touched on serious and emotional issues and injected some laugh-out-loud dialogue and situations.
A heartwarming and funny little story. I enjoyed it very much, it's the perfect read to warm the heart.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
August 10, 2022
I really enjoy the quick reads and as I'm also a big fan of Poldark, this one seemed a perfect one to read.
Lisa has been through a lot in life and worries about every little thing as a result. But somehow she has convinced herself to meet up with a group of fellow fans of Poldark (even though they are strangers from the Internet) and travel down to Cornwall to find Captain Poldark.
Lisa and her online friends go on this journey together finding more than just a certain TV actor along the way.
This was such a lovely read and I definitely related to Lisa so much. I'm always someone who is scared to take chances and I talk myself out of things, just like she does in this story. But I found this an inspiring story as well as it being fun and heartwarming too.
If you are a fan of Poldark yourself then this one is a must read and it's a short one so easy to enjoy in one sitting.
Lisa has been through a lot in life and worries about every little thing as a result. But somehow she has convinced herself to meet up with a group of fellow fans of Poldark (even though they are strangers from the Internet) and travel down to Cornwall to find Captain Poldark.
Lisa and her online friends go on this journey together finding more than just a certain TV actor along the way.
This was such a lovely read and I definitely related to Lisa so much. I'm always someone who is scared to take chances and I talk myself out of things, just like she does in this story. But I found this an inspiring story as well as it being fun and heartwarming too.
If you are a fan of Poldark yourself then this one is a must read and it's a short one so easy to enjoy in one sitting.
January 13, 2019
Neatly packed little novella follows the road trip of 4 Poldark fans to Cornwall where they all hope to meet Aiden Turner (Captain Poldark) on location filming the popular series.
These 4 people are all strangers who meet through an appreciation Poldark site and decide to make this road trip together. All of these people have their own demons to lay and the trip takes on different meaning for each of them.
Amusing little tale, it does what it says on the tin, perfect for a quick plane ride read or by the pool entertainment. It could easily have been fleshed out to make a better novel but ok never the less. 3 stars for this one.
These 4 people are all strangers who meet through an appreciation Poldark site and decide to make this road trip together. All of these people have their own demons to lay and the trip takes on different meaning for each of them.
Amusing little tale, it does what it says on the tin, perfect for a quick plane ride read or by the pool entertainment. It could easily have been fleshed out to make a better novel but ok never the less. 3 stars for this one.
January 3, 2022
A quick but entertaining enough read which raised a smile once or twice. Despite being frightened of almost everything Lisa takes a huge risk & arranges a trip with three strangers she met on the internet due to their love for Poldark. Unsurprisingly the trip is to Cornwall to find where the series is filmed.
All four of the strangers have their problem & the trip not only takes them to Cornwall but on a journey where they learn not only about each other but about themselves as well. Ends exactly how you would expect it too.
All four of the strangers have their problem & the trip not only takes them to Cornwall but on a journey where they learn not only about each other but about themselves as well. Ends exactly how you would expect it too.
August 14, 2017
What a light hearted little read. Warmed to Lisa from the start and loved her obsession with Poldark, mainly because I have one too. The whole story was a little corny but such escapism and a bit disappointing when they actually got to see Poldark to say the least but all in all a fun read and am now off to head to Bodmin myself in search of such a man.
December 31, 2023
This book had me laughing out loud so many times because all of these characters are SO weird and awkward, with multiple mental disorders between them, but putting them together in a teeny tiny car on a road trip to find a fictional character was simply hilarious.
April 17, 2017
I'm not generally a fan of novellas, but I adore Poldark so the title gripped me. Truly, I'm glad it did because this story was really sweet and I genuinely enjoyed it. A terrific short read that I'd definitely recommend to any Poldark fanatic.
June 22, 2025
Really enjoyed it a mixture of all emotions & another new author to add to my like to read list 👍
February 18, 2018
Racconto carinissimo che avrebbe funzionato molto bene anche come romanzo vero e proprio (è finito davvero troppo presto).
March 11, 2022
A short, rather silly but heartwarming story, a good amuse-bouche in between heavier reads.
July 3, 2017
I haven't been reading much recently so, as I'm going on holiday to Cornwall/Devon soon, I thought I'd pick up this 112 page novella.
I have never read or watched Poldark but that isn't needed to understand this book. I enjoyed this one. I thought that it could have definitely been extended and fleshed out as I was interested in the characters but for what it is I thought that Rowan Coleman introduced some really interesting ideas. I did feel that the characters and plot were a little melodramatic but the mental health issues suffered by the characters, particularly the protagonist Lisa, were portrayed quite well, though I feel that her issues were resolved way too easily.
Overall this was a fun road trip story that I enjoyed but it's nothing to shout about.
I have never read or watched Poldark but that isn't needed to understand this book. I enjoyed this one. I thought that it could have definitely been extended and fleshed out as I was interested in the characters but for what it is I thought that Rowan Coleman introduced some really interesting ideas. I did feel that the characters and plot were a little melodramatic but the mental health issues suffered by the characters, particularly the protagonist Lisa, were portrayed quite well, though I feel that her issues were resolved way too easily.
Overall this was a fun road trip story that I enjoyed but it's nothing to shout about.
June 24, 2017
Exactly what these series of Quick Reads are meant to be - short, highly readable novellas. This is a lightweight story about 4 strangers all making their own personal journeys as they share a trip to Cornwall in the hope of meeting "Captain Poldark". The story won't change your world, but it will warm your heart for an hour or so one summer's evening.
August 3, 2018
This is my first book by Rowan Coleman. I thought it was an ok read but that's about it. I liked the characters but for me, there was something missing that I can't quite put my finger on.
May 7, 2025
2.5 / 5 ★
✦───────────────── ꒰ঌ·☯︎·໒꒱ ─────────────────✦
General Ratings (★/5)
Plot: ★★★
World Building: ★★
Writing Style: ★★★
Character Development: ★★
Idea: ★★
Execution: ★★★
Originality: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★
✦───────────────── ꒰ঌ·☯︎·໒꒱ ─────────────────✦
❝‘Escape,’ she said after a while. ‘For a long time I’ve been … sort of
trapped, I suppose. In my house, in my job – I’m a school librarian. In my life, in my head. Afraid. Books open doors and windows for me. They let me look out at the world. T❞
╰┈➤ general thoughts:
This book, sorry - novella, wasn't so bad that I can particularly hate on it. I just found it very boring, and I had to force myself to finish it. Honestly, I just skimmed the entire story in under 30 minutes, but every part was killing me. However, I believe it gets interesting towards the end - around 80% in. I'm not sure if reading this was worth the ending, though. I didn't particularly feel attached to any of the characters - It felt like what a student would write for a writing competition. Not my cup of tea. Although I can say I would've definitely enjoyed this in 6th grade, or if I were a Captain Poldark fan, but unfortunately, I am neither.
So moving on to the story itself, we watch as this paranoid girl, traumatised from previous life experiences, tries to break out of her self-inflicted shell that she has cast on herself for the past six years and find herself again. She is a huge book enthusiast - I feel you, girl - and decides to go on a trip to see her favourite character's cast. Unfortunately, she cannot travel alone, so she decides to pick up her little online friends from the fanbase to go on the journey with her. And, she proceeds to freak out multiple times about how unsafe that was. She is also very distrustful of everyone around her. Now, when someone sees an older person, their first thought would be 'oh what a nice sweet grannie', right?? But this girl, she says, and I quote, 'I think I can take her down if she ever attacks me, I'm safe for now.' I guess everyone has their priorities.
Overall, I do see why many people would love this book. I did think it was pretty cute how the journey slowly builds Lisa's faith in humanity and makes her trust again after the incident, 6 years ago. And it is pretty impressive how the author captured this story in under 70 pages. But as I stated earlier, not my cup of tea.
The writing style isn't something extraordinary either - it is mostly made up of dialogue and little internal monologue. But it is written in third person, which I loved. The pacing, on the other hand, can be improved a lot, or at least make some parts more interesting. I was literally yawning throughout the first 80% of this book. Please make every part worth reading.
In summary, 2.5 stars. I was going to give it three stars, but decided it was slightly lower on my scale It didn't make me feel anything, but it wasn't so bad that I don't like it.
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!! Trigger Warnings !!
Abandonment
Blood
Car accident
Death of a parent
Emotional abuse
Harassment
Injury/Injury detail
Property Damage
Toxic Relationship
Toxic Relationship with a minor (mentioned)
✦───────────────── ꒰ঌ·☯︎·໒꒱ ─────────────────✦
Genre: Short Stories, Contemporary, Chick lit
Spice: One kiss of happy ever after
Target Audience: 10+
Recommention depends on audience
✦───────────────── ꒰ঌ·☯︎·໒꒱ ─────────────────✦
✦───────────────── ꒰ঌ·☯︎·໒꒱ ─────────────────✦
General Ratings (★/5)
Plot: ★★★
World Building: ★★
Writing Style: ★★★
Character Development: ★★
Idea: ★★
Execution: ★★★
Originality: ★★★★★
Pacing: ★★
✦───────────────── ꒰ঌ·☯︎·໒꒱ ─────────────────✦
❝‘Escape,’ she said after a while. ‘For a long time I’ve been … sort of
trapped, I suppose. In my house, in my job – I’m a school librarian. In my life, in my head. Afraid. Books open doors and windows for me. They let me look out at the world. T❞
╰┈➤ general thoughts:
This book, sorry - novella, wasn't so bad that I can particularly hate on it. I just found it very boring, and I had to force myself to finish it. Honestly, I just skimmed the entire story in under 30 minutes, but every part was killing me. However, I believe it gets interesting towards the end - around 80% in. I'm not sure if reading this was worth the ending, though. I didn't particularly feel attached to any of the characters - It felt like what a student would write for a writing competition. Not my cup of tea. Although I can say I would've definitely enjoyed this in 6th grade, or if I were a Captain Poldark fan, but unfortunately, I am neither.
So moving on to the story itself, we watch as this paranoid girl, traumatised from previous life experiences, tries to break out of her self-inflicted shell that she has cast on herself for the past six years and find herself again. She is a huge book enthusiast - I feel you, girl - and decides to go on a trip to see her favourite character's cast. Unfortunately, she cannot travel alone, so she decides to pick up her little online friends from the fanbase to go on the journey with her. And, she proceeds to freak out multiple times about how unsafe that was. She is also very distrustful of everyone around her. Now, when someone sees an older person, their first thought would be 'oh what a nice sweet grannie', right?? But this girl, she says, and I quote, 'I think I can take her down if she ever attacks me, I'm safe for now.' I guess everyone has their priorities.
Overall, I do see why many people would love this book. I did think it was pretty cute how the journey slowly builds Lisa's faith in humanity and makes her trust again after the incident, 6 years ago. And it is pretty impressive how the author captured this story in under 70 pages. But as I stated earlier, not my cup of tea.
The writing style isn't something extraordinary either - it is mostly made up of dialogue and little internal monologue. But it is written in third person, which I loved. The pacing, on the other hand, can be improved a lot, or at least make some parts more interesting. I was literally yawning throughout the first 80% of this book. Please make every part worth reading.
In summary, 2.5 stars. I was going to give it three stars, but decided it was slightly lower on my scale It didn't make me feel anything, but it wasn't so bad that I don't like it.
✦───────────────── ꒰ঌ·☯︎·໒꒱ ─────────────────✦
!! Trigger Warnings !!
Abandonment
Blood
Car accident
Death of a parent
Emotional abuse
Harassment
Injury/Injury detail
Property Damage
Toxic Relationship
Toxic Relationship with a minor (mentioned)
✦───────────────── ꒰ঌ·☯︎·໒꒱ ─────────────────✦
Genre: Short Stories, Contemporary, Chick lit
Spice: One kiss of happy ever after
Target Audience: 10+
Recommention depends on audience
✦───────────────── ꒰ঌ·☯︎·໒꒱ ─────────────────✦
March 5, 2018
This one was one of those random impulse buys that turned out to be such a great find.
Here’s what’s going on. There’s been some catastrophes in Lisa’s life that’s left her a bit fragile and afraid. She’s more or less put her life on pause until she gets a wild and random idea to travel to Cornwall to find Captain Ross Poldark and tell him, or rather Aidan Turn the actor who plays him, what he has meant to her. Not wanting to journey alone, she opens the invitation to the other Poldarlings, members of an online Poldark fan group. Now Lisa finds herself traveling with three strangers from the internet, each with their own problems. As the journey progresses, Lisa soon discovers that there’s more to life than being afraid.
This was such an amazing short story about growth and self-discovery.
Lisa’s been wounded and it’s made her leery and afraid of everyone and everything. She’s decided to go on this journey with strangers from the internet and it wasn’t easy for her. Several times, I thought she was going to throw in the towel but, rather than giving in, each hitch made her stronger.
I don’t want to give too much away about the other three passengers Lisa’s traveling with because this is one of those books you need to discovers things as you go, but I will say they all had their own share of serious problems. It’s through the problems of the other passengers that Lisa learned how to let go of her fear and let others in.
While this one does have some heaviness to it, it’s funny and light too. I think the author did such an amazing job at balancing the scale. Yes, Lisa’s anxiety is practically bouncing off every page but Abby, second passenger Lisa picks up, is a nice counterbalance. The things Abby said had me laughing on several occasions.
Seeing as this was a Quick Reads book, I knew it was going to be short (print version is only 79 pages), but I felt it was well rounded. I mean, yes I would have loved for it to have explored a bit more of the ending and what came next, but, for what it was, I was satisfied with it.
Each chapter opens with list that includes what track was playing on the radio during that part of the journey and I have to say, the soundtrack of the book rocks.
Overall, I really enjoyed watching the characters let go of their fears and connect with each other. Like all good journey’s this one had a few ups, downs, and surprises along the way. Whether you’re a Poldark fan or not, I think you should give this one a go.
Here’s what’s going on. There’s been some catastrophes in Lisa’s life that’s left her a bit fragile and afraid. She’s more or less put her life on pause until she gets a wild and random idea to travel to Cornwall to find Captain Ross Poldark and tell him, or rather Aidan Turn the actor who plays him, what he has meant to her. Not wanting to journey alone, she opens the invitation to the other Poldarlings, members of an online Poldark fan group. Now Lisa finds herself traveling with three strangers from the internet, each with their own problems. As the journey progresses, Lisa soon discovers that there’s more to life than being afraid.
This was such an amazing short story about growth and self-discovery.
Lisa’s been wounded and it’s made her leery and afraid of everyone and everything. She’s decided to go on this journey with strangers from the internet and it wasn’t easy for her. Several times, I thought she was going to throw in the towel but, rather than giving in, each hitch made her stronger.
I don’t want to give too much away about the other three passengers Lisa’s traveling with because this is one of those books you need to discovers things as you go, but I will say they all had their own share of serious problems. It’s through the problems of the other passengers that Lisa learned how to let go of her fear and let others in.
While this one does have some heaviness to it, it’s funny and light too. I think the author did such an amazing job at balancing the scale. Yes, Lisa’s anxiety is practically bouncing off every page but Abby, second passenger Lisa picks up, is a nice counterbalance. The things Abby said had me laughing on several occasions.
Seeing as this was a Quick Reads book, I knew it was going to be short (print version is only 79 pages), but I felt it was well rounded. I mean, yes I would have loved for it to have explored a bit more of the ending and what came next, but, for what it was, I was satisfied with it.
Each chapter opens with list that includes what track was playing on the radio during that part of the journey and I have to say, the soundtrack of the book rocks.
Overall, I really enjoyed watching the characters let go of their fears and connect with each other. Like all good journey’s this one had a few ups, downs, and surprises along the way. Whether you’re a Poldark fan or not, I think you should give this one a go.
January 20, 2019
I quite enjoyed this, and perhaps Poldark fans would enjoy this more. However, for some reason, I just couldn't quite get into it, and so skimmed some words here and there. I think I found the main character a tad melodramatic, and so found it difficult to take some things seriously, but the author does write well in my opinion and deals with some difficult topics.
Also, I do understand that Lisa has mental health issues, which could explain her reactions, but I still feel like parts were a bit too dramatic for my liking and the ending a bit too rushed. That being said, I don't think it's a bad read and perhaps I just wasn't quite in the mood when reading it. I did like Kirsty and her storyline, as it felt very real and the author handled this part really well. I also like the friendship aspect of this book and would recommend it to people as a cosy contemporary Cornwall read. Maybe I'll reread and if I do, I'm sure I could enjoy it more if I'm in the right mood.
Also, I do understand that Lisa has mental health issues, which could explain her reactions, but I still feel like parts were a bit too dramatic for my liking and the ending a bit too rushed. That being said, I don't think it's a bad read and perhaps I just wasn't quite in the mood when reading it. I did like Kirsty and her storyline, as it felt very real and the author handled this part really well. I also like the friendship aspect of this book and would recommend it to people as a cosy contemporary Cornwall read. Maybe I'll reread and if I do, I'm sure I could enjoy it more if I'm in the right mood.
September 15, 2017
This is my first book by Rowan Coleman being a poldark fan the title got me instantly intrigued and I couldn't resist. The book is a 30-40 minute read but it manages to fit alot into the story and the conclusion was satisfying. The story itself I really enjoyed considering the book is short I felt you got an awful lot as the book is packed with emotion, humour and subjects that have real meaning and purpose and I like the fact this book addressed all them issues as they're important and often get ignored. I really enjoyed this I definitely recommend it.
April 20, 2020
I am a fan of the quick reads series that has been running for many years and this book is another one from the series published in 2017. Having not read a Rowan Coleman book before I was looking forward to trying a new author. This book is very different to what I was expecting (lesson, never judge a book by its cover!) This was a real pleasure to read with so many unexpected twists and turns throughout the story. It made for a great read. The question is - did she find Captain Poldark.....
April 29, 2020
Now I must admit I've never watched or read Poldark but I have heard about it. This was a lovely read where four strangers come together over their love of Poldark and decide to go on a journey to find him. 4 totally different people. 4 strangers. Each have their own secrets, worries and problems.
Along the way the secrets emerge, there bonds grow and they become the most unlikely group of friends with some drama and heroism needed along the way. Pushing themselves out of their comfort zones for each other. A beautiful ending and beautiful friendships made. It was nice to escape on their adventure with them.
A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend.
Along the way the secrets emerge, there bonds grow and they become the most unlikely group of friends with some drama and heroism needed along the way. Pushing themselves out of their comfort zones for each other. A beautiful ending and beautiful friendships made. It was nice to escape on their adventure with them.
A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend.
February 25, 2018
Of course the title of the book grabbed my attention as a massive fan of Poldark and Cornwall! I felt that I could relate to the emotions of Lisa meeting people off the internet and all the anxieties that come along side it. However, considering the whole book was based around the set of friends meeting Aidan turner, that part was very short lived. But on reflection I think that was the message and it was still a lovely little novella to read.
May 6, 2022
This is a great short read, especially if you haven't read any books by Rowan Coleman before, displaying the power of the internet in bringing people together and how fate plays out. With the same adorable sense of humour that you can find throughout her books, all the elements of a Rowan Coleman are there the story has the perfect pace for a short story, with the pace intensifying towards the end. I love the ends and how all ties are neatly dealt with.
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