More Than a Feeling

by Cate Woods

The old Annie Taylor knew who she was.

She had bags of confidence and spent her evenings impersonating her idol Barbra Streisand, looking flawless in exuberant turbans and winged eyeliner.

But nowadays she has more roles than she can count - mother, girlfriend, best friend, photographer, sister - and she doesn't feel like she's doing any of them justice.

So when, unexpectedly, life propels her back to being the glamorous Barb, she finally has the chance to find herself once more...

Genres: Chick Lit

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2018

About the author

Cate Woods made the most of her degree in Anglo-Saxon Literature by embarking on a career making tea on programmes including The Big Breakfast, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and French & Saunders. After narrowly missing out on the chance to become a Channel 5 weather girl she moved into journalism, where she interviewed every famous John, from Prescott to Bon Jovi, ghostwrote a weekly column for a footballer's wife and enjoyed a brief stint as one half of Closer magazine's gossip-columnist duo, 'Mr & Mrs Showbiz'. Cate left the magazine world in 2009 to pursue a full-time career ghostwriting celebrity autobiographies and novels. She lives in London with her husband (not Mr Showbiz) and two small children. Just Haven't Met You Yet is her first novel under her own name.

Reviews

[Agi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annie Taylor lives in London with her partner and their four - months - old daughter Dot. She used to be a fashion photographer and spent her time between work and partying. However, this changed after a family tragedy. When she thinks she's come to terms with her life and plucks up the courage to be happy, she finds out that Luke has been cheating on her. Annie leaves, and now it's a question of what it is she wants to do with her life - get a job, find a place to live, rediscover the old Annie...?

The characters were relatively well drawn, though, to be honest, I didn't feel any connection with them. The way Annie changed, from the colourful, wild and free bird into the cautious, prudent person after her parents died didn't feel too natural, and I really had a feeling she doesn't feel comfortable in her own skin. It took her a lot of time to eventually realize what it is she wants, however all the dilemmas and wondering and comparing the Annie from then and the Annie from now simply didn't sit with me and they didn't correspond with Annie. It was as if the death of her parents was simply an excuse, though I'm not sure from what. I also understand there must have been the will they/won't they cat and mouse play, to make the story unpredictable and excitable, but oh my word, guys, I beg you... Half of the book was about Annie wondering what to do, even though it was obvious what she should do and what Luke is up to.

The story felt very repetitive and slow, I eventually found myself skim - reading, skipping passages to finally arrive at some action. I also had a feeling that the author has just tried too much, with everything - characters that in the end turned out very stereotyped, with plot that didn't bring anything new, with humour that unfortunately felt much too forced and didn't make me laugh. I couldn't wait for Annie to FINALLY, EVENTUALLY make up her mind, at anything at all. The way she always hoped everything will sort itself out till the next time was annoying - she was 31years old, for God's sake, you can't live avoiding confrontations or hoping that all the bad or uncomfortable things will melt away in the air. So sadly, very sadly, I didn't enjoy this book as I hoped I'm going to, and Cate Woods's debut novel "Just Haven't Met You Yet" was much, much better. But the book altogether was not bad, oh no, guys, don't get me wrong. It was funny, it had its moments, actually when I couldn't sleep last night I've remembered something from the novel that made me smile, and the author is a brilliant story teller, she writes in a vivid and descriptive way and she delivered a light - hearted story full of your usual trials and tribulations, ups and downs. The plot felt tired but there was a lot of potential and I am already looking towards Cate Woods's third book.

Copy provided by the publisher.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely read and I am so glad I have read it. I really liked Annie and her little daughter Dot, the story line is one that I think people could relate to. I found it humorous and witty and you can tell Annie is trying to rediscover herself and wants to rebuild her life. A really good read.

[Deborah J Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather enjoyed More Than a Feeling. Written in the first person, so we hear Annie's often sarcastic thoughts as well as see her actions, it appealed to my sense of humour.

The story is basically that Annie Taylor discovers her boyfriend Luke, who is also the father of her 4 month old daughter, Dot, is cheating on her. She leaves the family home with Dot, taking refuge at a friend's house. She must now decide whether she wants to put aside his infidelity, and put their little family back together again. While she is deciding what to do next, her friends encourage her to go back to work and make a life for herself.

Annie's friend Fi gets her a part-time job photographing homes for the estate agent she works for. Her work takes her into luxurious homes, and into the path of man who makes her heart race.

Annie reconnects with Riva, an old friend from her days as a fashion photographer's assistant, which opens the door to a lifestyle she had long ago put behind her. Annie's real friends disapprove of Riva, but Annie feels drawn to her old life.

Throughout the story, Annie is presented with choices, and the choices she makes sometimes have severe consequences. As a bystander I could see some of the choices Annie made did not bode well for her personally or professionally; in particular a little sideline she had going at work. What seemed innocent to Annie, and without financial detriment to her clients was to everyone else so very wrong. Even after a colleague warned her she should stop, she refused to listen.

More Than a Feeling is an entertaining romcom with a relatable and likeably flawed main character. It is a happy ending story which is well written and entertaining, and one that had me rooting for Annie from the start.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light hearted Rom-com and one for on holiday - perfect funny beach reading material. All the usual trials and tribulations, misunderstandings and inevitable ending. Not really much to say about this one, if you are a Rom-com fan you'll like it. It has some genuinely funny one liners and Woods writes in a very descriptive way for visualisation. It's not the best one I have read in this genre but a passable, enjoyable read with no fireworks although not as polished as the Sophie Kinsella's of the genre.

I won't re-tell the story but it's quite predictable as most of this genre usually are - well written but for me it felt like the author was trying a bit too hard with the one liners and situational comedy scenarios. It is difficult in this category to write something so entirely fresh but she does attempt this well. Go out any buy it for holiday reading. I give this one 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4* for Amazon and Goodreads.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

[Colette O'meara · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining and amusing read. Annie Taylor used to know who she was - she had her job as a photographer's assistant and in the evenings she hit the clubs - chanelling her inner Streisand. After a family tragedy which changed her life Annie Taylor is a different person - she's mother to Dot, girlfriend to Luc, sister to Tabby and best friend but is she happy. When she catches Luc cheating on her she knows things have to change and when she meets Sam she faces a dilemma - will she choose Sam or go back to Luc. Can Annie Taylor find herself once more?

[What Lynsey Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

How has this got a 4 star average? It's predictable, unoriginal, formulaic chick lit. I actually rolled my eyes as I read the last few words 🙄😆
I'm reading anything I can get my hands on during lockdown, this isn't a genre I usually go for. But it was well written & funny in places, just too unsurprising & expected.

[Briony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. It was such an easy and enjoyable read about life, love and friendships. The character of Annie is so relatable in so many different ways. We all look back at our ‘glory years’ and sometimes wish we could go back and this book highlights the importance of chance and the importance of growth. I’m desperate to know what happens to Annie next.

[Sue Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I must have a different sense of humour to other readers. I never find things “hilarious” or “laugh-out-loud”. Didn’t get the whole “Barb” thing. It was distracting as I kept expecting a new career as a tribute act. Having said that, the story was enjoyable and I liked Annie. The happy-ever-after was well done. An entertaining read overall.

[Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant I just couldn't put this book down. Funny, you really must read this book. I definitely give it 5 stars. I was hooked from the startd

I loved this book it was hilarious. Definitely worth a five star rating, you won't be able to.out it down.

[Denise Cowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chic lit at its best!

[Nicole Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok read though quite slow. Not the page turner I was hoping for but a nice break from thrillers

[Vickie Tate · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy, feel good read that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy at the end. Good characterisation carries you through an uncomplicated and fairly predictable plot.
A sweet bit of escapism.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!

[Stefennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this feel good story. Its about believing in yourself and surrounding yourself with true friends.

[Abi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy read :)

[Breda Ruane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book, easy to relate too, fastish pace and amusing. Nice light easy read

[Olivia Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I read it in a week, couldn’t put it down. However I feel like the ending felt so rushed and there’s so much more I wanted to know and get out of it.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and funny and easy to read.

[Siobhán Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice light read