What do you think?
Rate this book
Don't Stop Me Now
A hilarious feel good read about finding your feet when life pulls the rug out from under you.
Poppy Bloom planned to finish her PhD and walk straight into a job at her university. But here she is, unemployed, unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, and living back at her mum's in her vampire-themed childhood bedroom.
Not exactly what she was hoping for.
But when Poppy sets her mind to something, nothing can stand in her way. She scores herself an internship at the hottest radio station in town, joins a netball team, and renews her friendship with her oldest friend Leanne. Spending time with Leanne's gorgeous twin Tom is just a bonus...
But life has a way of tripping you up when you least expect it, and Poppy soon has to decide where her priorities lie... With new friends, a new career and a new romance, can Poppy keep everyone happy, or is everything about to tumble down around her?
A laugh-out-loud story about friendship, second chances, and new love, perfect for fans of Lindsey Kelk, Marian Keyes and Jane Costello.
Poppy Bloom planned to finish her PhD and walk straight into a job at her university. But here she is, unemployed, unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, and living back at her mum's in her vampire-themed childhood bedroom.
Not exactly what she was hoping for.
But when Poppy sets her mind to something, nothing can stand in her way. She scores herself an internship at the hottest radio station in town, joins a netball team, and renews her friendship with her oldest friend Leanne. Spending time with Leanne's gorgeous twin Tom is just a bonus...
But life has a way of tripping you up when you least expect it, and Poppy soon has to decide where her priorities lie... With new friends, a new career and a new romance, can Poppy keep everyone happy, or is everything about to tumble down around her?
A laugh-out-loud story about friendship, second chances, and new love, perfect for fans of Lindsey Kelk, Marian Keyes and Jane Costello.
302 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2017
1606 people are currently reading
1343 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Coleman
9 books145 followersColleen Coleman is an Irish- Canadian novelist. She is the winner of the much-coveted Novelicious Undiscovered People’s Choice Award which launched to find the next ‘chick-lit star’. She spent over ten years working as a teacher of English and Philosophy before finally taking a deep breath, scrunching her eyes shut, putting her pen to paper and vowing not to lift it again until she wrote the words The End. As a result, her first novel was born. Colleen lives between London, Ireland and Cyprus with her very patient husband and very chatty twin daughters. Don't Stop Me Now is her first book and will be released in February.
About Don't Stop Me Now....I sat beside a girl on an aeroplane, we started chatting and over five hours we emptied the Easyjet mini-bar of JD and coke, ate our baggage allowance in crisps and by the time we landed, tipsy and yet still ravenous, we knew each others’ life stories. She was super-bright, kind, funny, beautiful - but what really struck me was that she was a psychologist yet her own head was all over the place! She seemed to have a blindspot when it came to her own ‘issues’ and I found this apparent paradox fascinating.
As I hugged her goodbye at the arrivals lounge, I just knew I’d met someone very special and I had the first chapter of DSMN scribbled down by the time I went to bed that night.
About Don't Stop Me Now....I sat beside a girl on an aeroplane, we started chatting and over five hours we emptied the Easyjet mini-bar of JD and coke, ate our baggage allowance in crisps and by the time we landed, tipsy and yet still ravenous, we knew each others’ life stories. She was super-bright, kind, funny, beautiful - but what really struck me was that she was a psychologist yet her own head was all over the place! She seemed to have a blindspot when it came to her own ‘issues’ and I found this apparent paradox fascinating.
As I hugged her goodbye at the arrivals lounge, I just knew I’d met someone very special and I had the first chapter of DSMN scribbled down by the time I went to bed that night.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
November 27, 2018
Просто прекрасна! ❤
https://ladybugspage.wordpress.com/20...
https://ladybugspage.wordpress.com/20...
March 8, 2017
Don't stop me now is a great feel good book. I absolutely loved it!
Colleen's writing style was very empowering. She sent a strong message through her main character Poppy, to never give up, even when life throws you a curveball dust yourself off and try again!
I laughed so much whilst reading this book, there was moments where I felt so sorry for Poppy but she always had a knack of recovering from tricky situations.
The book starts when Poppy is elected as doctoral valedictorian of the psychology faculty of Banbridge University
She has been marked the highest ever pass mark of 96% for her final doctoral thesis, beating Dr Winters (The Dean) record.
She is 99% certain to bag her dream job a professor at the university.
However this isn't to be the case when things get twisted and her best friend and boyfriend get the job.
She is so hurt she rushes home to mend her broken heart.
Unbeknown to her, that her so called boyfriend and best friend have slept together and he dumps her by text that night.
Poppy bumps into Leanne her best friend from school and they arrange to celebrate Poppy's graduation with Tom, Leanne's twin brother.
However Leanne cancels at the very last minute sending Poppy on a crazy evening with Tom, who she's been infatuated with for years!
Could love be on on the cards?
Things start to get interesting for Poppy when she falls asleep after promising her step dad that she will listen to the radio station for he's daily puzzle clue to win a prize.
She feels terrible after missing the clue and is determined to catch it the next day.
This is where Poppys life changes for the better!
The next day Poppy settles down to listen in to 105FM for the clue.
But she's soon realising she is going to have a very long wait.
As the phone in with Agony Aunt Hilary is first up.
Hilary is cruel, cold and brutal.
At first Poppy just listens then something inside her snaps and she rings into the studio.
She gets through and is live on The air up against Hilary.
Poppy is a natural and gives Hilary a serious talking Down.
SHE'S A HIT!!
Jake goes to a song break and asks Poppy to come into the studio as she might just be what they are looking for!
You see Poppy is a qualified Physiologist and has the skills and evidence to back up her theories.
Poppy soon becomes everyone's favourite radio hero!
She's strong, courageous, honest, open, caring, and best of all she kicks butt!
Poppy shows people they can be whatever they want to be!
She also is on a journey of self discovery and figuring out life.
I loved all the characters in the book. They each added something special to the story. Even Benny the gardener who Poppy helped overcome he's insecurities was special.
I love how much time and research Colleen has been put into the book, when Poppy makes her suggestions and advises her listeners. It shows Colleen put a lot of thought into the radio lifestyle and how to respond to listeners.
There was something for everyone in this gem of a book. Humour, romance, Sass, friendship, courage, strength and passion.
I can't recommend this book enough!
I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to see if there will be more.
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.
Colleen's writing style was very empowering. She sent a strong message through her main character Poppy, to never give up, even when life throws you a curveball dust yourself off and try again!
I laughed so much whilst reading this book, there was moments where I felt so sorry for Poppy but she always had a knack of recovering from tricky situations.
The book starts when Poppy is elected as doctoral valedictorian of the psychology faculty of Banbridge University
She has been marked the highest ever pass mark of 96% for her final doctoral thesis, beating Dr Winters (The Dean) record.
She is 99% certain to bag her dream job a professor at the university.
However this isn't to be the case when things get twisted and her best friend and boyfriend get the job.
She is so hurt she rushes home to mend her broken heart.
Unbeknown to her, that her so called boyfriend and best friend have slept together and he dumps her by text that night.
Poppy bumps into Leanne her best friend from school and they arrange to celebrate Poppy's graduation with Tom, Leanne's twin brother.
However Leanne cancels at the very last minute sending Poppy on a crazy evening with Tom, who she's been infatuated with for years!
Could love be on on the cards?
Things start to get interesting for Poppy when she falls asleep after promising her step dad that she will listen to the radio station for he's daily puzzle clue to win a prize.
She feels terrible after missing the clue and is determined to catch it the next day.
This is where Poppys life changes for the better!
The next day Poppy settles down to listen in to 105FM for the clue.
But she's soon realising she is going to have a very long wait.
As the phone in with Agony Aunt Hilary is first up.
Hilary is cruel, cold and brutal.
At first Poppy just listens then something inside her snaps and she rings into the studio.
She gets through and is live on The air up against Hilary.
Poppy is a natural and gives Hilary a serious talking Down.
SHE'S A HIT!!
Jake goes to a song break and asks Poppy to come into the studio as she might just be what they are looking for!
You see Poppy is a qualified Physiologist and has the skills and evidence to back up her theories.
Poppy soon becomes everyone's favourite radio hero!
She's strong, courageous, honest, open, caring, and best of all she kicks butt!
Poppy shows people they can be whatever they want to be!
She also is on a journey of self discovery and figuring out life.
I loved all the characters in the book. They each added something special to the story. Even Benny the gardener who Poppy helped overcome he's insecurities was special.
I love how much time and research Colleen has been put into the book, when Poppy makes her suggestions and advises her listeners. It shows Colleen put a lot of thought into the radio lifestyle and how to respond to listeners.
There was something for everyone in this gem of a book. Humour, romance, Sass, friendship, courage, strength and passion.
I can't recommend this book enough!
I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to see if there will be more.
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair review via Netgalley.
March 25, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
What a delightful little surprise this book was! I shouldn’t be shocked, Bookouture have never disappointed me before, but when I say I was surprised I mean that this book had an altogether different vibe and overall message than I was expecting, in a very positive and lovely way!
Poppy was such an endearing character, she’s highly intelligent, a total type A personality, and really relatable. Even though she’s extremely smart, she’s not one of those people who is arrogant with it, she’s rather warm and approachable. She’s had her entire life mapped out for years, but on the day of her graduation, her perfect plans start to fall apart at the seams. Her boyfriend dumps her for her best friend, she loses her potential (and highly sought after) job, and finds herself almost thirty and living back at home. But instead of wallowing in self pity and binging Netflix and eating Ben & Jerry’s (like many chick lit heroines so often do) she decides to take the opportunity to try some new things and take some risks that may have a huge payoff for her in the end.
This was such an empowering read! Poppy has the BEST attitude, she was so brave in the face of adversity. She had several setbacks and she would allow herself to be upset for a short period of time, but then she would brush herself off and get back in the game. She tried new things, she let go of her fears, and she ended up learning so much about herself and having plenty of adventures along the way. While there is a bit of romance present it wasn’t heavily featured or the main storyline and I found that refreshing that Poppy focused more on herself and her own life than solely on a man. Yes, love and romance is important to her but it’s not the end all and be all of everything.
The message was so powerful, it’s about having self confidence and believing in what you can achieve. I think everyone could benefit from hearing that sort of thing from time to time and it made me feel unstoppable and inspired in the end. A portion of the books sales will be donated to mental health charities that help young people and I found that so touching, I think it says so much about the author as a person.
What a delightful little surprise this book was! I shouldn’t be shocked, Bookouture have never disappointed me before, but when I say I was surprised I mean that this book had an altogether different vibe and overall message than I was expecting, in a very positive and lovely way!
Poppy was such an endearing character, she’s highly intelligent, a total type A personality, and really relatable. Even though she’s extremely smart, she’s not one of those people who is arrogant with it, she’s rather warm and approachable. She’s had her entire life mapped out for years, but on the day of her graduation, her perfect plans start to fall apart at the seams. Her boyfriend dumps her for her best friend, she loses her potential (and highly sought after) job, and finds herself almost thirty and living back at home. But instead of wallowing in self pity and binging Netflix and eating Ben & Jerry’s (like many chick lit heroines so often do) she decides to take the opportunity to try some new things and take some risks that may have a huge payoff for her in the end.
This was such an empowering read! Poppy has the BEST attitude, she was so brave in the face of adversity. She had several setbacks and she would allow herself to be upset for a short period of time, but then she would brush herself off and get back in the game. She tried new things, she let go of her fears, and she ended up learning so much about herself and having plenty of adventures along the way. While there is a bit of romance present it wasn’t heavily featured or the main storyline and I found that refreshing that Poppy focused more on herself and her own life than solely on a man. Yes, love and romance is important to her but it’s not the end all and be all of everything.
The message was so powerful, it’s about having self confidence and believing in what you can achieve. I think everyone could benefit from hearing that sort of thing from time to time and it made me feel unstoppable and inspired in the end. A portion of the books sales will be donated to mental health charities that help young people and I found that so touching, I think it says so much about the author as a person.
March 28, 2017
If you're anything like me, as soon as you read the title of this book, a familiar song began to invade your head, with its upbeat rhythm no one can resist. The mere sight of this book made me happy, with its inspiring title and joyful colors. I think it's the first time a book has such an effect on my mood before I even opened it!
Poppy has always had a plan. Ten years of study later, she's about to open the door to the life she has been dreaming of, with her best friend and her boyfriend by her side. Except... The door is ajar and as soon as she approaches, it is slammed shut in her face! She is stuck on the other side without the key. Have you ever felt that way? I know I did! I had big plans and my future figured out, I knew exactly what I wanted and how to get it. I did everything; the long nights of studying, the almost non-existent social life, the extra work, I embraced the academic path and thought it was where I belonged. Poppy's story is my story. This is why I felt she was a long-time friend from the beginning. I could see myself in her, in her youthful hope and those eyes sparkling with the anticipation of her vision of life coming true. The author described this student life bubble so well I was back in my dorm.
Poppy is such an easy character to love. She is 29, she has a complicated but somehow happy family life, she knows life through books and research, she has this sweet gullibility that comes with first-row students I know so well. Yep, I was the first of my class and lots of others thought it came naturally when I spent my nights studying like crazy! But Poppy is also so relatable, she is smart but in an endearing way, not in a “I'm crushing you all with my super IQ” way. No one likes those girls!
But then, Poppy is thrown away into real life with a rather nasty kick in the butt! Bye bye the cosy university, with its big safe walls, job opportunities and dream life. From here, we meet jobless and hopeless Poppy, with a broken heart and no opportunities on sight.
Sad, right? Well, not with this book! No matter what you find between those pages, humor is at all the right places!! The only tears you'll get from Don't Stop Me Now will be from laughing too hard!
Poppy is a typical girl, she wallows, she doesn't want to get out, she thinks her life is over. Then she unwillingly moves her bottom and, miracle, there's life outside of her narrow idea of what her future would look like! No, she doesn't see the best in her situation, no, she doesn't like being back at her mother's at 29, no, she doesn't play the wise woman and believe there is a bright side. She is at a loss, she takes the hits and discovers the joys of unemployment. They call it adulting.
Obviously, I'm reassessing that viewpoint now as a twenty-nine-year-old standing in a onesie in my mum's kitchen.
I think there is no real age to grow up and find yourself. They say after high school you just magically become an adult, and it's true on paper, but it takes so much more to discover who you are and what you want, and that is what this book is about: expanding your horizons, breathing and stepping out of your comfort zone, kicking open doors that you thought were never there, and just get out there to just “be”. We're lucky to get on this journey with Poppy and I better warn you: be prepared to chuckle, laugh out loud and choke on your crisps, because Poppy is the perfect example of so many young adults right now. She's a breath of fresh air. Her reactions, her sweetness, her doubts, everything in her makes you fall for her and her attitude starts to change as she realizes the world is bigger than what she thought.
Poppy grows in front of our eyes and her journey to find herself is very inspiring, it left me wanting more for myself, and it reminded me to not settle for less. Friendships, work, and even romance help our main character shape her new life, but the main focus is always on her, and thank the Book Good that Poppy is not the kind of girl who waits for her prince to save her. She's a modern princess, looking for her place in the world and a good coffee place! Don't get me wrong, a bit of romance is always a plus, but it is refreshing to see a protagonist fend for herself instead of getting the easy way with a “love cures all problems.”
From now on I'm going to rediscover my home city inch by inch, profiterole by profiterole, macaron by macaron... my favourites!
I loved the message that comes with this story, that opening your eyes to look around you can make you so much happier than any dream you ever had for yourself. Because sometimes life's dream for you is bigger and brighter than what you hoped for yourself. Different, but so right. We are pressured to succeed, academically, professionally, socially, by people and society's standards and it can lead to disasters, people losing their way to fit into a mold they don't belong to. This book reminds us there are so many ways to get where we need to be, we all need to be reminded each path is different but worth walking.
Don't Stop Me Now is a hilarious tale of how life's road and its bumps can lead you right where you belong.
I would like to thank Bookouture for offering me the opportunity to partake in this blog tour. I would also thank the author for donating a percentage of the sales from the book to mental health charities to help young people. Thank you very much.
March 28, 2017
What a terrific book. Don't think for one minute that this is simply a rom com because oh my this is so much more. Life isn't always fair, well to be honest it is the people in your life that complicate it really. That is the element that you just can not control no matter how much you want something or even deserve it.
Poppy Bloom had mapped her life out, she excelled at University achieving the highest score ever, so the employment position on offer there should have been hers, but when the person you have knocked off poll position is in charge then Poppy is the last person Dr. Burley wanted to be on the team. Poppy had kept her side of the bargain, she had worked hard and was even awarded the year's doctoral valedictorian of the psychology faculty of Banbridge University, it was life that had let her down. Poppy hasn't got a back up plan so at almost 30 finds herself back at home in the bedroom she had thought had been left behind with teenage years. They say things come in threes and that couldn't be more true for Poppy as the following day she faces the betrayal of the two closest people to her.
Being shell shocked and jobless she picks herself up and goes off to the unemployment office. This is more than a frustrating encounter for Poppy but quite an hilarious one for me as a reader. Having her doctorate compared to Captain Bird's eye just didn't give her confidence of being employed in the not too distant future. Fate can lend a hand though when you least expect it, with a job and an encounter with an old friend Leanne, who has the most delish twin brother ever. Things are looking up for Poppy.
This is a story of taking chances, true friendships and thinking of others not just yourself. It makes you feel good just to read it. It makes you think about the choices you make not just for yourself but how they impact other people too, in good ways and bad. Do you want to be a solo player thinking only of yourself or a team player. This is a real buck you up book that puts more than just a smile on your face.
Poppy Bloom had mapped her life out, she excelled at University achieving the highest score ever, so the employment position on offer there should have been hers, but when the person you have knocked off poll position is in charge then Poppy is the last person Dr. Burley wanted to be on the team. Poppy had kept her side of the bargain, she had worked hard and was even awarded the year's doctoral valedictorian of the psychology faculty of Banbridge University, it was life that had let her down. Poppy hasn't got a back up plan so at almost 30 finds herself back at home in the bedroom she had thought had been left behind with teenage years. They say things come in threes and that couldn't be more true for Poppy as the following day she faces the betrayal of the two closest people to her.
Being shell shocked and jobless she picks herself up and goes off to the unemployment office. This is more than a frustrating encounter for Poppy but quite an hilarious one for me as a reader. Having her doctorate compared to Captain Bird's eye just didn't give her confidence of being employed in the not too distant future. Fate can lend a hand though when you least expect it, with a job and an encounter with an old friend Leanne, who has the most delish twin brother ever. Things are looking up for Poppy.
This is a story of taking chances, true friendships and thinking of others not just yourself. It makes you feel good just to read it. It makes you think about the choices you make not just for yourself but how they impact other people too, in good ways and bad. Do you want to be a solo player thinking only of yourself or a team player. This is a real buck you up book that puts more than just a smile on your face.
April 17, 2017
Thanks to NetGalley and publisher, Bookouture for the ebook ARC of Don’t Stop Me Now by Colleen Coleman.
Poppy Bloom is 29 years old and has been in school all of her life. She has a PhD in psychology and was hoping to get a fellowship at Banbridge University. And then it all comes crashing down.
She loses her boyfriend, Gregory, and has to move back home to her vampire themed childhood bedroom. She is unemployed and has to sign on the job centre.
Then things begin to look upwards, running into her old friend Leanne is the just the beginning. She ends up getting herself a job at a radio station , 105FM, joins a netball team, and then starts hanging out with Leanne’s handsome twin brother, Tom who she used to have a crush on back in the day.
This was a feel good, romantic comedy. I found this book very enjoyable. I am definitely looking forward to Colleen Coleman’s next book! I give this book 5 stars, and I highly recommend this book.
Poppy Bloom is 29 years old and has been in school all of her life. She has a PhD in psychology and was hoping to get a fellowship at Banbridge University. And then it all comes crashing down.
She loses her boyfriend, Gregory, and has to move back home to her vampire themed childhood bedroom. She is unemployed and has to sign on the job centre.
Then things begin to look upwards, running into her old friend Leanne is the just the beginning. She ends up getting herself a job at a radio station , 105FM, joins a netball team, and then starts hanging out with Leanne’s handsome twin brother, Tom who she used to have a crush on back in the day.
This was a feel good, romantic comedy. I found this book very enjoyable. I am definitely looking forward to Colleen Coleman’s next book! I give this book 5 stars, and I highly recommend this book.
January 29, 2025
I don’t know if I would have had the same experience with a different format. I originally received the e-book format from the publisher, but in an effort decrease the size of my backlog, I found the audiobook format at the library. I absolutely loved this story, largely in part to the audio narration by Imogen Church, which was fantastic. She puts a lot of emotion into the narration that gave me the sense that I am in the room with Poppy and made her more relatable and easy to like and get to know.
This was also my first experience with this author and I will be looking for more of her work. Colleen Coleman’s writing style is witty and engaging. The characters are easy to relate to and like. The storyline was clever and easy to follow.
I thought Poppy Bloom (what a fantastic name!) was a wonderful character and I shared her outrage at being robbed of her fellowship at the University, getting dumped by her loser boyfriend and learning he has moved on with her good friend. Moving back home with a psychology doctorate degree with no job or prospects on the horizon would send most of us into a spiral of depression and it does for Poppy, but I admired how she pulls herself up and starts putting one foot in front of the other determined to grab life by the horns. Reuniting with her childhood mate, Leanne and her twin Tom was fun to watch. Through a comedy of errors, Poppy finds herself listening to the popular radio station which leads her to calling into the show and a chance at a job where she can make a difference and help real people with their real problems.
This story weaves around Poppy’s life including her struggles to find her place in the world, navigating her estranged relationship with her father, joining Leanne’s netball team and her growing feelings for Tom. This story had me laughing out loud many times and gasping in shock throughout the entire story, I was fully engaged and in anticipation for what Poppy would encounter next.
My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a fantastic story and fans of chick-lit and contemporary romance will enjoy it too. I highly recommend this story to readers who like underdog characters who face adversity and come out on the other side better off.
Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
This was also my first experience with this author and I will be looking for more of her work. Colleen Coleman’s writing style is witty and engaging. The characters are easy to relate to and like. The storyline was clever and easy to follow.
I thought Poppy Bloom (what a fantastic name!) was a wonderful character and I shared her outrage at being robbed of her fellowship at the University, getting dumped by her loser boyfriend and learning he has moved on with her good friend. Moving back home with a psychology doctorate degree with no job or prospects on the horizon would send most of us into a spiral of depression and it does for Poppy, but I admired how she pulls herself up and starts putting one foot in front of the other determined to grab life by the horns. Reuniting with her childhood mate, Leanne and her twin Tom was fun to watch. Through a comedy of errors, Poppy finds herself listening to the popular radio station which leads her to calling into the show and a chance at a job where she can make a difference and help real people with their real problems.
This story weaves around Poppy’s life including her struggles to find her place in the world, navigating her estranged relationship with her father, joining Leanne’s netball team and her growing feelings for Tom. This story had me laughing out loud many times and gasping in shock throughout the entire story, I was fully engaged and in anticipation for what Poppy would encounter next.
My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a fantastic story and fans of chick-lit and contemporary romance will enjoy it too. I highly recommend this story to readers who like underdog characters who face adversity and come out on the other side better off.
Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
February 21, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookoutre and Colleen Coleman for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On goodreads.com/karenwhittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
With being in an incredible amount of pain at the moment and finding solace in reading, books that are light hearted, fun, easy to read and with some humour in it. This book ticks all the boxes for me.
When Poppy's life plan of
When PHD is physcology, job on university campus and settling down with marital bliss come crashing down around her. Poppy had no choice but to return home, sign on at the job centre and sleep in her vampire/gothic themed childhood room.
A telephone call from a prison inmate and a radio chat channel, running into an old friend, letting her mum cut her hair when she usually only does buzz cuts and bleached blondes, and a run in with an old school
Class mate that poppy used to have a massive crush on, and a place on the towns netball team. Help to turn Poppy's life around in the most unexpected of ways.
Throw into that a famous father who gets his lawyers on the case of why Poppy wasn't offered the job at the university campus. When she got the highest PHD grade in the whole school ever received. You have yourself a little gem of a book which had me laughing out loud in certain places.
This is the story of when you are down on your luck. How you can turn things around and pick yourself up. Sure your life probably isn't going the way you planned but it is through friends, family, love and determination that Poppy manages to turn her dire situation around and finds a silver lining in her darkest hour.
This little gem of a book. Should be on everyone's reading list this year. Wait to read it when you feel really down and out and it will have the desired effect of perking you up and making you feel better.
Happy reading everyone
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.
You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On goodreads.com/karenwhittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.
With being in an incredible amount of pain at the moment and finding solace in reading, books that are light hearted, fun, easy to read and with some humour in it. This book ticks all the boxes for me.
When Poppy's life plan of
When PHD is physcology, job on university campus and settling down with marital bliss come crashing down around her. Poppy had no choice but to return home, sign on at the job centre and sleep in her vampire/gothic themed childhood room.
A telephone call from a prison inmate and a radio chat channel, running into an old friend, letting her mum cut her hair when she usually only does buzz cuts and bleached blondes, and a run in with an old school
Class mate that poppy used to have a massive crush on, and a place on the towns netball team. Help to turn Poppy's life around in the most unexpected of ways.
Throw into that a famous father who gets his lawyers on the case of why Poppy wasn't offered the job at the university campus. When she got the highest PHD grade in the whole school ever received. You have yourself a little gem of a book which had me laughing out loud in certain places.
This is the story of when you are down on your luck. How you can turn things around and pick yourself up. Sure your life probably isn't going the way you planned but it is through friends, family, love and determination that Poppy manages to turn her dire situation around and finds a silver lining in her darkest hour.
This little gem of a book. Should be on everyone's reading list this year. Wait to read it when you feel really down and out and it will have the desired effect of perking you up and making you feel better.
Happy reading everyone
September 24, 2017
Did anyone even attempt an edit on this? At some points so overwritten, and at others I think the author forgot what she wrote a paragraph before. First it says a show needs to be pre taped on a Saturday to broadcast Sunday for security reasons, then all of a sudden it's being watched live on Saturday. Or how she had to climb stairs to her apartment overlooking a garden, but soon after as she is in her apartment and a neighbor is peering in the window? On top of this, there were just too many "oh come on" moments. Th book opens with her finding out she has the top spot to earn her a fellowship and is surprised, and soon after when she doesn't get it she storms off the stage of her graduation and has ZERO alternative career plans? Then bam, she's an intern in an unrelated field and bam she's on the air and bam she is so phenomenal even Buckingham Palace is taking cues from her? And she hasn't played netball or been athletic at all in over a decade and now she is winning some national competition? And she us so disconnected from her father she won't answer the phone but then she writes a national column on addiction? I only kept reading by treating it like a comedy. Of course she wins a national award for the radio show and netball on the same night! Of course a trip to the market reunites her with a childhood friend who she becomes BFFs with within minutes and gets a BF about a minute later. Of course Ms. Fairchilds mother married Benny.
Don't know what was worse.....the overly flowery writing, the inconsistencies, or the totally unrealistic story line. I wanted to pick up Dr. Winters' red pen and mark this book up they way she did to Poppy's thesis.
Don't know what was worse.....the overly flowery writing, the inconsistencies, or the totally unrealistic story line. I wanted to pick up Dr. Winters' red pen and mark this book up they way she did to Poppy's thesis.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2017
Bookouture can really do no wrong for me. I have yet to pick up any type of book from them that I didn't just love! And this book is no exception. Touted as a rom-com, it feels more like a coming of age contemporary novel. Filled with laugh out loud moments, it touches on what happens when your best laid plans fall apart unexpectedly and you're pushed completely out of your comfort zone.
Poppy has spent the majority of her life in school, prepping herself for a future with her boyfriend, Gregory, and a career in psychology with a research job at her university. She has done everything expected of her to lead her to this goal. Her best friend, Hannah, along with Gregory, make the perfect threesome to move forward in their single minded goals. First in her class, her mentor encouraging her the whole way, what could possibly go wrong? Everything! Not only does she not get the job offer, Gregory breaks up with her and Hannah betrays her by sleeping with and then starting a relationship with him. And that's only the beginning. Now she's back living at home trying to navigate her life. It turns out, change can be a good thing and if you just put yourself out there, who knows what (or who) will land at your feet.
I truly enjoyed this entire novel. Second chances, unexpected friendships and love - life coming at you from all sides. How would you handle your life being turned upside down? Poppy certainly doesn't do it gracefully, but she does do it humanly and for that, I fell in love with her.
Poppy has spent the majority of her life in school, prepping herself for a future with her boyfriend, Gregory, and a career in psychology with a research job at her university. She has done everything expected of her to lead her to this goal. Her best friend, Hannah, along with Gregory, make the perfect threesome to move forward in their single minded goals. First in her class, her mentor encouraging her the whole way, what could possibly go wrong? Everything! Not only does she not get the job offer, Gregory breaks up with her and Hannah betrays her by sleeping with and then starting a relationship with him. And that's only the beginning. Now she's back living at home trying to navigate her life. It turns out, change can be a good thing and if you just put yourself out there, who knows what (or who) will land at your feet.
I truly enjoyed this entire novel. Second chances, unexpected friendships and love - life coming at you from all sides. How would you handle your life being turned upside down? Poppy certainly doesn't do it gracefully, but she does do it humanly and for that, I fell in love with her.
February 18, 2019
Ибис са ударили дъното. От издателство , което нямах търпение да следя и да купувам всяка следваща издадена книга, се превърна в Бозаджийница.
Едва не ме умори тази банална и скучна книга.
Е,поне ми действаше приспивателно.
Ще я препоръчам вместо хапчета за сън.
Едва не ме умори тази банална и скучна книга.
Е,поне ми действаше приспивателно.
Ще я препоръчам вместо хапчета за сън.
February 9, 2019
Попи не ми допадна. Симпатична и остроумна героиня, която дава перфекти съвети за чуждите проблеми, но в същото време е толкова несигурна в себе си,че прави грешка след грешка. Нищо драматично не се случва, но пък липсва и всякаква романтика. Том присъства просто като гаджето, което се оказва мъжът мечта. И дотук, нищо за тяхната връзка и как тя се развива. Затова и оценката ми е толкова слаба.
December 23, 2018
Не очаквах, но се оказа една наистина интересна, забавна, но и поучителна книга.
March 21, 2017
When I picked this book on my Kindle (app) as my next book to read, I expected a nice and easy chick lit book where a girl will go through a hard time, meet a boy, fall in Love and it all turns out to be ok.
BOY was I wrong.
This book is so much more than that. It has made me evaluate myself and inspired me to reach my full potential. Very empowering stuff.
Plot:
The story follows Poppy Bloom. Her life is on track, she's about to get her PHD in psychology and aiming for a life she has always dreamed of with her similar minded boyfriend. Yet life has thrown her a curve ball and she ends up back home with her mum and stepdad trying to figure out what to do next.
My Review:
As mentioned previously, I loved how inspirational this book was. Its full of lots of powerful messages and is a book I truly believe can help with confidence, in particular with young women. I wish it had been around when I was younger as it would have given me even more hope back then, when I needed it the most. I still need it now, just as a kid you need to know even more that everything is ok.
You follow Poppy like she is your best friend, life seems to be unfair on Poppy but you are there holding her hand helping her through the tough times. Your with her through all of it and are there to watch her get back up after she's knocked down.
This book made me evaluate myself - why do I criticise myself and put myself down when I am doing good. Why do I believe that I am doing the wrong thing when I have heard no feedback of sorts. Yet I have taken it on myself to believe that I am not doing it right.
I love how this book has made me feel. It made me evaluate myself - why do I put myself down when I haven't done anything wrong? Why do I believe that I am doing the wrong thing when I have heard no feedback to suggest this. Yet I have taken it on myself to believe that I am not doing it right. I am not good enough. Poppy helps me re-evaluate my thoughts and helps me to believe in myself.
I honestly feel that this is an empowering read, one which can help pick you up when you are down and help you take a different approach to your own life. Its one of the main reasons I love this book so.
Colleens writing style is to be commended. She has created such a strong female character. Poppy is the main focus of the book. Yes, boys a, life and friends are all involved but Colleen doesn't focus on that, you only catch snippets - the stuff that lets you know they are still there but there not the focus. The focus is Poppy and her ability to get up once she's been knocked down. An ability we all have in us, just we don't all know how to rely on it. That and self belief - an important aspect to all.
As you can see, not what I expected. I am so happy to have come across this book, its just what I needed and I can't wait to read more from Colleen. Such a refreshing take on a book. A captivating read which just takes you in and won't let you put it down.
I was very impressed.
Massive shout out to Netgalley, Bookouture and Colleen Coleman for the opportunity to read this book. I can confirm this is my honest review and all views are my own.
Once I had finished the book, I discovered that a percentage of the book sales from this book, will be donated to help support to mental heath charities for young people. If that doesn't urge you to go out and buy a copy of this book I don't know what will. That discovery brought tears to my eyes as I think that mental health is truly underrated and to support it is well incredible. So thank you Colleen. I will be purchasing your book once it comes out. Mainly because I enjoyed it but also partly as I know I will be helping to some good in the world - as small as it might be its something.
If you are in need of a positive look on life, this book is for you. Its uplifting in all the right places and even threw in some curve balls I didn't expect which I love about a good book. I devoured this book and was a pleasure to read.
Let me know if you have read it in the comments below! Would love to hear your thoughts.
George x
Full Review: https://fueltheblog.wordpress.com/201...
BOY was I wrong.
This book is so much more than that. It has made me evaluate myself and inspired me to reach my full potential. Very empowering stuff.
Plot:
The story follows Poppy Bloom. Her life is on track, she's about to get her PHD in psychology and aiming for a life she has always dreamed of with her similar minded boyfriend. Yet life has thrown her a curve ball and she ends up back home with her mum and stepdad trying to figure out what to do next.
My Review:
As mentioned previously, I loved how inspirational this book was. Its full of lots of powerful messages and is a book I truly believe can help with confidence, in particular with young women. I wish it had been around when I was younger as it would have given me even more hope back then, when I needed it the most. I still need it now, just as a kid you need to know even more that everything is ok.
You follow Poppy like she is your best friend, life seems to be unfair on Poppy but you are there holding her hand helping her through the tough times. Your with her through all of it and are there to watch her get back up after she's knocked down.
This book made me evaluate myself - why do I criticise myself and put myself down when I am doing good. Why do I believe that I am doing the wrong thing when I have heard no feedback of sorts. Yet I have taken it on myself to believe that I am not doing it right.
I love how this book has made me feel. It made me evaluate myself - why do I put myself down when I haven't done anything wrong? Why do I believe that I am doing the wrong thing when I have heard no feedback to suggest this. Yet I have taken it on myself to believe that I am not doing it right. I am not good enough. Poppy helps me re-evaluate my thoughts and helps me to believe in myself.
I honestly feel that this is an empowering read, one which can help pick you up when you are down and help you take a different approach to your own life. Its one of the main reasons I love this book so.
Colleens writing style is to be commended. She has created such a strong female character. Poppy is the main focus of the book. Yes, boys a, life and friends are all involved but Colleen doesn't focus on that, you only catch snippets - the stuff that lets you know they are still there but there not the focus. The focus is Poppy and her ability to get up once she's been knocked down. An ability we all have in us, just we don't all know how to rely on it. That and self belief - an important aspect to all.
As you can see, not what I expected. I am so happy to have come across this book, its just what I needed and I can't wait to read more from Colleen. Such a refreshing take on a book. A captivating read which just takes you in and won't let you put it down.
I was very impressed.
Massive shout out to Netgalley, Bookouture and Colleen Coleman for the opportunity to read this book. I can confirm this is my honest review and all views are my own.
Once I had finished the book, I discovered that a percentage of the book sales from this book, will be donated to help support to mental heath charities for young people. If that doesn't urge you to go out and buy a copy of this book I don't know what will. That discovery brought tears to my eyes as I think that mental health is truly underrated and to support it is well incredible. So thank you Colleen. I will be purchasing your book once it comes out. Mainly because I enjoyed it but also partly as I know I will be helping to some good in the world - as small as it might be its something.
If you are in need of a positive look on life, this book is for you. Its uplifting in all the right places and even threw in some curve balls I didn't expect which I love about a good book. I devoured this book and was a pleasure to read.
Let me know if you have read it in the comments below! Would love to hear your thoughts.
George x
Full Review: https://fueltheblog.wordpress.com/201...
April 13, 2018
So, academic life... this is not how it works, this is not like any of this works! I should know, I have a PhD myself and work in research. Any resemblance of the events of this book with academic reality is obviously only a coincidence.
Poppy Bloom is finishing her PhD in Psychology with high grades (and apparently there was a whole bunch of students graduating at the same time, and they all took the same classes and tests, because who needs to defend a thesis before a jury) and is apparently a genius. Again, though I'm from the area of natural sciences, that's not how a PhD works. She is certain she will spend her life on campus because she is certain she will be given a fellowship. She has no other plans. Surprise! She doesn't get the fellowship and she is told at her graduation ceremony, in public. Because that's apparently how fellowship decisions are announced in whatever universe this takes place in. And there's no committee or application procedure. It's all done by word of mouth in this fabulous university. After this tragedy she moves back with her mother and stepfather and has no prospects (not even the job center has any idea what job she is good for). She ignores her father who, apparently, paid for all her PhD (because, who needs a PhD stipend when you can get you estranged father in deep debt). She has no contacts in her area of expertise, apparently there's only that university working on psychology in the entire world for all we know. In spite of being a genius, there's no one willing to hire her. The job market is difficult, we all know that, but am I to believe that this woman knows no one willing to give her a chance? Help her put together an application? But, in a twist of faith, this absolutely clueless person gets a job in a radio station, gets her own program after one week doing errands there, gets a fabulous boyfriend, wins awards and sports competitions while ignoring accumulating bills and signing a rent contract she doesn't even read. And when finally it seems like the universe is catching up with her guess what? Someone gives her a TV program! Advising people, everyone seems to think she's great at advising people.
[Insert facepalm here]
So, why did I still give it 2 stars? It's not badly written, strange as this might sound. If we ignore the nonsense of the whole thing. I have definitely read (and quit) much worse books so 2 stars it is.
Poppy Bloom is finishing her PhD in Psychology with high grades (and apparently there was a whole bunch of students graduating at the same time, and they all took the same classes and tests, because who needs to defend a thesis before a jury) and is apparently a genius. Again, though I'm from the area of natural sciences, that's not how a PhD works. She is certain she will spend her life on campus because she is certain she will be given a fellowship. She has no other plans. Surprise! She doesn't get the fellowship and she is told at her graduation ceremony, in public. Because that's apparently how fellowship decisions are announced in whatever universe this takes place in. And there's no committee or application procedure. It's all done by word of mouth in this fabulous university. After this tragedy she moves back with her mother and stepfather and has no prospects (not even the job center has any idea what job she is good for). She ignores her father who, apparently, paid for all her PhD (because, who needs a PhD stipend when you can get you estranged father in deep debt). She has no contacts in her area of expertise, apparently there's only that university working on psychology in the entire world for all we know. In spite of being a genius, there's no one willing to hire her. The job market is difficult, we all know that, but am I to believe that this woman knows no one willing to give her a chance? Help her put together an application? But, in a twist of faith, this absolutely clueless person gets a job in a radio station, gets her own program after one week doing errands there, gets a fabulous boyfriend, wins awards and sports competitions while ignoring accumulating bills and signing a rent contract she doesn't even read. And when finally it seems like the universe is catching up with her guess what? Someone gives her a TV program! Advising people, everyone seems to think she's great at advising people.
[Insert facepalm here]
So, why did I still give it 2 stars? It's not badly written, strange as this might sound. If we ignore the nonsense of the whole thing. I have definitely read (and quit) much worse books so 2 stars it is.
April 3, 2017
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
A fun, fast-paced, well written novel.
Meet Poppy. She's just graduated with honours, completed her PhD at the ripe young age of 29, and is ready to jump right into academia only to learn (publically, at graduation no-less, in front of EVERYONE) that she isn't being granted the Fellowship.
In complete shock, Poppy returns to her mother's home with her tail between her legs ready to sulk in despair... when things start to change.
This is a story about a woman who is faced with defeat and rather than give into it (and all her self-doubt) she decides to step outside her comfort zone. With the encouragement of old friends, her family and complete strangers, Poppy becomes the person she never knew she could be.
There's obviously a little love story thrown in for good measure (who doesn't love a little romance in chick-lit), but not enough to make the reader want to gag. And the story is about so much more than Poppy ending up in a relationship. It's about HER. How she see's herself, how she takes care of the people around her, how she is able to take a chance.
It's a feel good, lovely read. You'll be cheering for the "Assassins" (what chick-lit is complete without some netball thrown in for fun), and cheering on Poppy.
If you enjoy Marian Keyes and the book The Year I Met You - then this is definitely a read for you. I'm looking forward to more Colleen Coleman books in the future.
A fun, fast-paced, well written novel.
Meet Poppy. She's just graduated with honours, completed her PhD at the ripe young age of 29, and is ready to jump right into academia only to learn (publically, at graduation no-less, in front of EVERYONE) that she isn't being granted the Fellowship.
In complete shock, Poppy returns to her mother's home with her tail between her legs ready to sulk in despair... when things start to change.
This is a story about a woman who is faced with defeat and rather than give into it (and all her self-doubt) she decides to step outside her comfort zone. With the encouragement of old friends, her family and complete strangers, Poppy becomes the person she never knew she could be.
There's obviously a little love story thrown in for good measure (who doesn't love a little romance in chick-lit), but not enough to make the reader want to gag. And the story is about so much more than Poppy ending up in a relationship. It's about HER. How she see's herself, how she takes care of the people around her, how she is able to take a chance.
It's a feel good, lovely read. You'll be cheering for the "Assassins" (what chick-lit is complete without some netball thrown in for fun), and cheering on Poppy.
If you enjoy Marian Keyes and the book The Year I Met You - then this is definitely a read for you. I'm looking forward to more Colleen Coleman books in the future.
March 24, 2017
Don’t stop me now is Colleen Coleman debut novel and wow what a truly inspiring and uplifting refreshing story this is!
In this story we meet Poppy Bloom who I totally loved and can relate to. After to finishing her PhD she hoped to walk straight into a job at her university. But finds herself unemployed, dumped by her boyfriend and living back at her mom’s. So has the saying goes onwards and upwards. She scores herself an internship at the hottest radio station in town, joins a netball team, and renews her friendship with her oldest friend Leanne. Spending time with Leanne’s gorgeous twin Tom is just a bonus.Poppy soon has to decide where her priorities lie… With new friends, a new career and a new romance, can Poppy keep everyone happy, or is everything about to tumble down around her?
What can I say there is nothing not to like about this book, It’s so funny you will be crying with laughter. It is a quick and easy read where you really feel part of the story. At times my heart went out to Poppy but she a person that when things kick you in the teeth she got up fighting. She is an absolutely delightful, lovely person.
A story is about love, friendship, second chances and dreams. A brilliant heart warming feel good read that had me hooked from start to finish. Which I highly recommend giving it 4 stars
In this story we meet Poppy Bloom who I totally loved and can relate to. After to finishing her PhD she hoped to walk straight into a job at her university. But finds herself unemployed, dumped by her boyfriend and living back at her mom’s. So has the saying goes onwards and upwards. She scores herself an internship at the hottest radio station in town, joins a netball team, and renews her friendship with her oldest friend Leanne. Spending time with Leanne’s gorgeous twin Tom is just a bonus.Poppy soon has to decide where her priorities lie… With new friends, a new career and a new romance, can Poppy keep everyone happy, or is everything about to tumble down around her?
What can I say there is nothing not to like about this book, It’s so funny you will be crying with laughter. It is a quick and easy read where you really feel part of the story. At times my heart went out to Poppy but she a person that when things kick you in the teeth she got up fighting. She is an absolutely delightful, lovely person.
A story is about love, friendship, second chances and dreams. A brilliant heart warming feel good read that had me hooked from start to finish. Which I highly recommend giving it 4 stars
February 9, 2019
Може би улучих точният момент за тази книга, но ми беше много приятно да я чета. От толкова много време не бях чела чиклит, а изобщо не очаквах, че тази книга е от този жанр. Който си мисли, че е любовен роман, може да бъде сигурен, че не е. Иначе главната героиня Попи (много ме дразни това име и не разбирам как някой ще реши да кръсти нещо по този абсурден начин), тъкмо е приключила последната степен на десет годишното си обучение и е придобила всички възможни квалификации, за да остане в академичните среди, когато се оказва, че няма да получи място в университета и за капак гаджето й я зарязва. Доста клиширано, но начинът по който са представени всички обстоятелства около нея и диалозите, които тя водеше сама със себе си в главата си бяха много забавни. Пътят, който героинята извървя, за да постигне някои от целите си хич не беше лек и тя въпреки всичко успя. Хареса ми и наистина ми беше приятно да прочета за всичките й несгоди и всички решения, които взе героинята и за начинът, по който все пак нареди живота си.
October 8, 2019
A fun, fast read, though the ending was a bit over the top.
October 27, 2023
This book (which has a great illustrated cover of a woman climbing a ladder and reaching for a star) was a tremendous disappointment. I had no expectations before reading the novel but I enjoyed most of it. As I neared the 4th quarter, I was expecting the rest of the novel to be as satisfying as the first 3 quarters. Sadly, I wasn’t just dissatisfied, I was annoyed and then disgusted by the lead character. A lovely moment at the very end did not repair the damage.
Poppy Bloom is the 29 year old daughter of a hair stylist mother and a disgraced and washed up rock star father who split up when she was a toddler. She calls her father her “ex-dad.” But both he and her mother contributed “tens of thousands” towards her education culminating with her becoming the year’s doctoral valedictorian of the Psychology Department at the fictional Banbridge University in England (which seems to be the equivalent of Cambridge or Oxford).
During the graduation ceremony, it is announced that Poppy’s score was the highest in school history and that it beat out the former highest score posted by the University’s Dean Winters. The 2nd and 3rd highest scores were conveniently obtained by Poppy’s best friend Harriet and Poppy’s boyfriend Gregory. We learn that Poppy’s friendship with Harriet dates back 10 years and that Poppy helped Harriet extensively throughout school. Poppy had been dating Gregory for about a year and though Gregory was often close to dropping out, Poppy repeatedly helped him stay with the program. By all indications, she was clearly the superior student.
And yet, a churlish Dean Winters tells the hundreds of graduates and their families and friends that, despite a tradition of awarding a single fellowship to the person with the highest scoring dissertation (which comes with free lodgings, an office, and wonderful research and travel opportunities) the fellowship would be awarded that year to two people (Harriet and Gregory) and not to Poppy.
The announcement of this discretionary and patently unfair decision at the time of the graduation ceremonies was beyond thoughtless. It was extraordinarily cruel and it humiliated Poppy.
Then, Gregory breaks up with Poppy by text a few hours later.
And then later that night, Harriet hooks up with Gregory.
That drops Poppy into a special kind of Hell and, frankly, it all seemed too contrived for dramatic effect. Gregory comes across as soulless and Harriet is even worse. She’s written as a cardboard caricature and later is unbelievably mean, vicious and unapologetic.
There’s an early scene during which an understandably distraught Poppy loses patience with her mother after she tells Poppy during a phone call to “surround yourself with people.” Her mother’s friend Roberta takes the phone, threatens Poppy, and speaks to her in a far worse manner than the way Poppy spoke to her mother. That didn’t ring true either.
The scene with Markus at the “Job Centre” was presumably intended to be funny, but Markus is basically an idiot and I fear for England’s future if he is representative of their civil servants. Also, Poppy is nearly 30 and can’t drive? And has no clue about her insurance, banking, or passport? And doesn’t do her own laundry and cook despite being back at home and living for free? Unlike Poppy’s father, her mother has been a good and caring mother and yet Poppy doesn’t appreciate her and lies to her.
Nevertheless, the novel is well written and I became invested in Poppy’s journey from perpetual student to a woman who needs to re-examine her life goals. One thing became clear- a PhD in psychology, and the highest dissertation score at an elite school, apparently has no value in the job market.
There’s a nice reconnection with an old friend that leads to Poppy, who’s never been inside a gym, and hadn’t played in years (perhaps a dozen years) somehow becoming an important part of a netball team competing to be “Super League champions.” That sport (which Americans know nothing about) is apparently broadcast in England and the championship supposedly sold out an arena.
There’s a romance but it’s barely more than a subplot.
The best part of the novel was Poppy’s reinvention as a radio personality and I wanted more of that. But a series of conflicts foreshadowed with the subtlety of a herd of elephants (dreams about losing all her winnings at a casino) wreck the book. No one reads contracts. No one talks to lawyers. And Poppy chooses not to use her cell phone to communicate with work, her friends or her family about schedule conflicts and resolutions.
We’re also expected to believe that Poppy became so big and famous that she would get nominated for the country’s most prestigious award and have Buckingham Palace and the entire country participate in a radio promotion that she started
And then there’s a pathetic trip back to Banbridge that showed Poppy to be utterly spineless.
It was all too much.
Poppy Bloom is the 29 year old daughter of a hair stylist mother and a disgraced and washed up rock star father who split up when she was a toddler. She calls her father her “ex-dad.” But both he and her mother contributed “tens of thousands” towards her education culminating with her becoming the year’s doctoral valedictorian of the Psychology Department at the fictional Banbridge University in England (which seems to be the equivalent of Cambridge or Oxford).
During the graduation ceremony, it is announced that Poppy’s score was the highest in school history and that it beat out the former highest score posted by the University’s Dean Winters. The 2nd and 3rd highest scores were conveniently obtained by Poppy’s best friend Harriet and Poppy’s boyfriend Gregory. We learn that Poppy’s friendship with Harriet dates back 10 years and that Poppy helped Harriet extensively throughout school. Poppy had been dating Gregory for about a year and though Gregory was often close to dropping out, Poppy repeatedly helped him stay with the program. By all indications, she was clearly the superior student.
And yet, a churlish Dean Winters tells the hundreds of graduates and their families and friends that, despite a tradition of awarding a single fellowship to the person with the highest scoring dissertation (which comes with free lodgings, an office, and wonderful research and travel opportunities) the fellowship would be awarded that year to two people (Harriet and Gregory) and not to Poppy.
The announcement of this discretionary and patently unfair decision at the time of the graduation ceremonies was beyond thoughtless. It was extraordinarily cruel and it humiliated Poppy.
Then, Gregory breaks up with Poppy by text a few hours later.
And then later that night, Harriet hooks up with Gregory.
That drops Poppy into a special kind of Hell and, frankly, it all seemed too contrived for dramatic effect. Gregory comes across as soulless and Harriet is even worse. She’s written as a cardboard caricature and later is unbelievably mean, vicious and unapologetic.
There’s an early scene during which an understandably distraught Poppy loses patience with her mother after she tells Poppy during a phone call to “surround yourself with people.” Her mother’s friend Roberta takes the phone, threatens Poppy, and speaks to her in a far worse manner than the way Poppy spoke to her mother. That didn’t ring true either.
The scene with Markus at the “Job Centre” was presumably intended to be funny, but Markus is basically an idiot and I fear for England’s future if he is representative of their civil servants. Also, Poppy is nearly 30 and can’t drive? And has no clue about her insurance, banking, or passport? And doesn’t do her own laundry and cook despite being back at home and living for free? Unlike Poppy’s father, her mother has been a good and caring mother and yet Poppy doesn’t appreciate her and lies to her.
Nevertheless, the novel is well written and I became invested in Poppy’s journey from perpetual student to a woman who needs to re-examine her life goals. One thing became clear- a PhD in psychology, and the highest dissertation score at an elite school, apparently has no value in the job market.
There’s a nice reconnection with an old friend that leads to Poppy, who’s never been inside a gym, and hadn’t played in years (perhaps a dozen years) somehow becoming an important part of a netball team competing to be “Super League champions.” That sport (which Americans know nothing about) is apparently broadcast in England and the championship supposedly sold out an arena.
There’s a romance but it’s barely more than a subplot.
The best part of the novel was Poppy’s reinvention as a radio personality and I wanted more of that. But a series of conflicts foreshadowed with the subtlety of a herd of elephants (dreams about losing all her winnings at a casino) wreck the book. No one reads contracts. No one talks to lawyers. And Poppy chooses not to use her cell phone to communicate with work, her friends or her family about schedule conflicts and resolutions.
We’re also expected to believe that Poppy became so big and famous that she would get nominated for the country’s most prestigious award and have Buckingham Palace and the entire country participate in a radio promotion that she started
And then there’s a pathetic trip back to Banbridge that showed Poppy to be utterly spineless.
It was all too much.
May 30, 2021
Αν σας άρεσε το ημερολόγιο της Μπρίτζετ Τζοουνς θα σας αρέσει κι αυτό. Ανάλαφρο, καλοκαιρινό με happy end. Από τα βιβλία που ξαφνικά γκρεμίζονται όλα αλλά μετά κτίζονται καλύτερα από πριν. Αυτό το είδος. Το ελπιδοφόρο.
March 5, 2017
Inspiring and entertaining, Don't Stop Me Now shows that even if you life isn't really going according to your plan that has been set in stone for you, that fate really knows what its doing, in giving you a push in another direction.
Take Poppy Bloom for example, she has been working towards a fellowship at Banbridge for the last 10 years of the life. She now has her PHD when the university decides it will take a different tact this year. Not only throwing Poppy's life into turmoil, but also destroying her relationship with her boyfriend and best friend too.
In the weeks that follow, Poppy makes some big changes in her life and finds what is arguably her true calling, and I loved watching every step of the journey. She also embraces a childhood friend, plays Netball for the first time in years, and generally her life is slotting into place...but she is still convinced she wants her old dreams.
There is a scene involving a job centre that has to be mentioned, the careers facilitator seemed to far less qualified for any job than Poppy, and some of the suggestions and questions the computer came up with were hilarious. As was the discussion about her being a doctor!
There are very many other comic moments in this story, and others that generally just brought a smile to my face. I absolutely loved her old friend Leanne, and the Netball team, what a fab group of girls, and is it wrong to be jealous that they get to play at an Olympic venue, despite being fictional characters, when the best I ever did with Netball was the club for people that couldn't get into the main squad!
Don't Stop Me Now kept me enthralled while I was on a long train journey, and I found it to be a fairly quick and easy read. I am very eager to see what else this talented author will write.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
Take Poppy Bloom for example, she has been working towards a fellowship at Banbridge for the last 10 years of the life. She now has her PHD when the university decides it will take a different tact this year. Not only throwing Poppy's life into turmoil, but also destroying her relationship with her boyfriend and best friend too.
In the weeks that follow, Poppy makes some big changes in her life and finds what is arguably her true calling, and I loved watching every step of the journey. She also embraces a childhood friend, plays Netball for the first time in years, and generally her life is slotting into place...but she is still convinced she wants her old dreams.
There is a scene involving a job centre that has to be mentioned, the careers facilitator seemed to far less qualified for any job than Poppy, and some of the suggestions and questions the computer came up with were hilarious. As was the discussion about her being a doctor!
There are very many other comic moments in this story, and others that generally just brought a smile to my face. I absolutely loved her old friend Leanne, and the Netball team, what a fab group of girls, and is it wrong to be jealous that they get to play at an Olympic venue, despite being fictional characters, when the best I ever did with Netball was the club for people that couldn't get into the main squad!
Don't Stop Me Now kept me enthralled while I was on a long train journey, and I found it to be a fairly quick and easy read. I am very eager to see what else this talented author will write.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
March 6, 2019
Пожелах си повече звезди, но уви, едва 2.5 ще дам
За пореден път се убедих, че чиклитът не е моето нещо или просто не уцелих подходящия момент да я прочета тая книга. Такъв тюрлю-гювеч от безсмислени дрънканици и всякакви абсурди в тая книга. Както съм жена, ми се замайваше главата от промените на настроенията на главната и посоките на мислите й. На места исках хубавичко да я разтърся и да й кажа да се вземе в ръце и да започне да мисли като възрастен, какъвто беше. Макар че действията й бяха като на недорасла тийнейджърка. Това не можах да приема до самия край. Просто за всичко друго мога да си затворя очите, но толкова безхарактерно и неориентирано същество, което се води Доктор по Психология, ами ще ме извинявате, ама звучеше леко недостоверно, на места дори смехотворно.
Книгата започна много обещаващо, даже искрено се забавлявах в началото с хумористичния изказ и забавния начин на поднасяне на информацията. Малко ме напрягаше непрекъснатото хленчене на Попи (абсурдно име, трябва да отбележа!), но пък там беше началото и още се опитваше да си стъпи на краката. Дадох й шанс да се опомни и всичко започна да се нарежда и историята без да блести с нещо, беше приятна и неангажираща. Затварях си очите за неадекватното й поведение на места, повъртявах очи на безумната й логика, дребните грешки в превода. Не беше идеално, но не започна зле. Сюжетно нещата бяха на косъм, но ми държаха някак интереса и исках да се върна към книгата, за да видя как точно ще се развият нещата. Но от един момент нататък всичко просто даде такъв обрат, че все едно се върнахме не в началото на книгата, ами направо ми звучеше като героиня в първи клас тази Попи. Такава поредица от глупави решения и абсурдно поведение, и вкарани сюжетни линии, които останаха незавършени, плюс някои сцени, които си бяха направо отвратителни, че книгата тотално се сгромоляса, а бях готова да и дам 3, че даже премислях и за 4*. Но просто накрая беше глупост след глупост. И всички тези съвети, които се опитваше да дава на хората, а реално не ги прилагаше за себе си за мен бяха не стъпка назад, а реално обезсмисляха всичко казано и направено от нея и ме караха да не й вярвам. Но видиш ли получи просветление точно в последните страници и се опомни изневиделица. Ами не ми стоеше никак ОК. Просто финалът ми издишаше ужасно много на мен и значително смъкна оценката ми за тази книга, въпреки приятния й завършек.
Иначе беше леко, забавно, неангажиращо чиклитче, като всички останали от жанра, приятно за убиване на времето, но дотам. Не вярвам да ми останат някакви трайни спомени от тази история.
За пореден път се убедих, че чиклитът не е моето нещо или просто не уцелих подходящия момент да я прочета тая книга. Такъв тюрлю-гювеч от безсмислени дрънканици и всякакви абсурди в тая книга. Както съм жена, ми се замайваше главата от промените на настроенията на главната и посоките на мислите й. На места исках хубавичко да я разтърся и да й кажа да се вземе в ръце и да започне да мисли като възрастен, какъвто беше. Макар че действията й бяха като на недорасла тийнейджърка. Това не можах да приема до самия край. Просто за всичко друго мога да си затворя очите, но толкова безхарактерно и неориентирано същество, което се води Доктор по Психология, ами ще ме извинявате, ама звучеше леко недостоверно, на места дори смехотворно.
Книгата започна много обещаващо, даже искрено се забавлявах в началото с хумористичния изказ и забавния начин на поднасяне на информацията. Малко ме напрягаше непрекъснатото хленчене на Попи (абсурдно име, трябва да отбележа!), но пък там беше началото и още се опитваше да си стъпи на краката. Дадох й шанс да се опомни и всичко започна да се нарежда и историята без да блести с нещо, беше приятна и неангажираща. Затварях си очите за неадекватното й поведение на места, повъртявах очи на безумната й логика, дребните грешки в превода. Не беше идеално, но не започна зле. Сюжетно нещата бяха на косъм, но ми държаха някак интереса и исках да се върна към книгата, за да видя как точно ще се развият нещата. Но от един момент нататък всичко просто даде такъв обрат, че все едно се върнахме не в началото на книгата, ами направо ми звучеше като героиня в първи клас тази Попи. Такава поредица от глупави решения и абсурдно поведение, и вкарани сюжетни линии, които останаха незавършени, плюс някои сцени, които си бяха направо отвратителни, че книгата тотално се сгромоляса, а бях готова да и дам 3, че даже премислях и за 4*. Но просто накрая беше глупост след глупост. И всички тези съвети, които се опитваше да дава на хората, а реално не ги прилагаше за себе си за мен бяха не стъпка назад, а реално обезсмисляха всичко казано и направено от нея и ме караха да не й вярвам. Но видиш ли получи просветление точно в последните страници и се опомни изневиделица. Ами не ми стоеше никак ОК. Просто финалът ми издишаше ужасно много на мен и значително смъкна оценката ми за тази книга, въпреки приятния й завършек.
Иначе беше леко, забавно, неангажиращо чиклитче, като всички останали от жанра, приятно за убиване на времето, но дотам. Не вярвам да ми останат някакви трайни спомени от тази история.
March 13, 2018
Note: I was provided a digital copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Colleen Coleman for this opportunity!
Don’t Stop Me Now is an absolute feel-good book, and I loved it for that reason! Poppy is a really strong main character, not giving up even when everything and everyone seems to be against her. She just keeps pushing, and eventually has everything under control. And when things go bad again, she still doesn’t give up, she pushes on and eventually makes everything happen alright.
Leanne is one of those friends that everyone just wants to have. She seems great, pushing Poppy into something she know she’ll enjoy. She and Poppy hadn’t spoken for years, and yet, she’s there for Poppy right when she needs it.
The friendship between Poppy and the other girls from the netball team was also really precious, everyone had another kind of friendship, but they were all together as one.
This book showed really well that when life seems to go down, to the point where it can’t get down any further, that it means that better times will come, and there’s always an opportunity to jump at for better chances. I think a lot of people will relate or have related a lot to Poppy, because it’s almost impossible to find a job right after graduation these days.
Overall, I laughed a lot during this book, and I absolutely loved how it was written. The characters were amazing, and there were even some twists that I wasn’t expecting. I’d recommend this to everyone who wants a light read, but also one that sends a message!
Don’t Stop Me Now is an absolute feel-good book, and I loved it for that reason! Poppy is a really strong main character, not giving up even when everything and everyone seems to be against her. She just keeps pushing, and eventually has everything under control. And when things go bad again, she still doesn’t give up, she pushes on and eventually makes everything happen alright.
Leanne is one of those friends that everyone just wants to have. She seems great, pushing Poppy into something she know she’ll enjoy. She and Poppy hadn’t spoken for years, and yet, she’s there for Poppy right when she needs it.
The friendship between Poppy and the other girls from the netball team was also really precious, everyone had another kind of friendship, but they were all together as one.
This book showed really well that when life seems to go down, to the point where it can’t get down any further, that it means that better times will come, and there’s always an opportunity to jump at for better chances. I think a lot of people will relate or have related a lot to Poppy, because it’s almost impossible to find a job right after graduation these days.
Overall, I laughed a lot during this book, and I absolutely loved how it was written. The characters were amazing, and there were even some twists that I wasn’t expecting. I’d recommend this to everyone who wants a light read, but also one that sends a message!
March 19, 2018
The story follows Poppy, who has been studying her whole life, at 29 she has PhD in psychology and is ready to start working at the university, but instead of getting the job, her life changes completely in a negative way. She didn’t only lose the future job, but also a boyfriend and a friend. Poppy doesn’t have any other choice than to go back at her parent’s home. At first it looks like a really bad situation to be in, but slowly things are going upwards again. Poppy meets her old friend and her gorgeous twin brother, she joins a netball team and gets a job at a radio station.
I really enjoyed this book and loved reading about Poppy’s journey. It’s a great book about new beginnings, friendship and love. It’s definitely a feel good read and I’d recommend it to any romance reader.
I really enjoyed this book and loved reading about Poppy’s journey. It’s a great book about new beginnings, friendship and love. It’s definitely a feel good read and I’d recommend it to any romance reader.
March 12, 2024
First book I’ve read by this author. Unfortunately, I found it dull and long. Loved the narrator though, Imogen Church was the only reason I managed to finish it.
May 24, 2017
Poppy has a plan: finish up her PhD in psychology, and take her rightful place at the university. Working long and hard, she’s achieved the best scores ever for her major, even outdoing the Dean. And, with her boyfriend being supportive and in her corner, and everything starting to fall into place after all the hard work and dreams. But, all of Poppy’s plans went horribly wrong – with one disaster after another: the position at the university didn’t come to her – but to her boyfriend, who not so casually has moved on to a relationship with her best friend … no money, no prospects, no plan B.
Fortunately, Poppy has family – a room at her Mum’s house is just as she left it, vampire theme and all. She’s discouraged and depressed, and needing to find a dirction, a job and her mojo. She’s not unwilling to try and reframe her life, she’s just not sure where to start exactly when she runs into her childhood friend and finds herself with a whole social life, a new boyfriend, although no real job. But, when asked to listen for a daily puzzle clue she is captivated by the HORRIBLE Agony Aunt at the station, and can’t stop herself from phoning in. Soon she and “Aunt Hilary” are at one another’s throats: with Poppy’s educated and softer advice based on her degree and kind heart versus the rather cold and cruel Hilary.
When the radio station is inundated with calls for Poppy, she starts on a new adventure as the Agony Aunt, using her degree, research and a genuine desire to help those who have made the effort to call, as well as a genuine quietly offered therapy to Benny to overcome his own insecurities: Poppy is like a breath of fresh air providing her own brand of confidence and cheerleading to those who need it most. Surprising even herself when her ow confidence is growing and her self-doubts are evaporating even as she didn’t set out to make her own new path. From living a life on a strictly ordered path with all of the answers “figured out”, she’ learned that sometimes the doors unexplored and unopened lead to where you need to be after all. A wonderful story of hope, friendship, second chances and never giving up, even if you are only wandering in search of a good cup of coffee.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Fortunately, Poppy has family – a room at her Mum’s house is just as she left it, vampire theme and all. She’s discouraged and depressed, and needing to find a dirction, a job and her mojo. She’s not unwilling to try and reframe her life, she’s just not sure where to start exactly when she runs into her childhood friend and finds herself with a whole social life, a new boyfriend, although no real job. But, when asked to listen for a daily puzzle clue she is captivated by the HORRIBLE Agony Aunt at the station, and can’t stop herself from phoning in. Soon she and “Aunt Hilary” are at one another’s throats: with Poppy’s educated and softer advice based on her degree and kind heart versus the rather cold and cruel Hilary.
When the radio station is inundated with calls for Poppy, she starts on a new adventure as the Agony Aunt, using her degree, research and a genuine desire to help those who have made the effort to call, as well as a genuine quietly offered therapy to Benny to overcome his own insecurities: Poppy is like a breath of fresh air providing her own brand of confidence and cheerleading to those who need it most. Surprising even herself when her ow confidence is growing and her self-doubts are evaporating even as she didn’t set out to make her own new path. From living a life on a strictly ordered path with all of the answers “figured out”, she’ learned that sometimes the doors unexplored and unopened lead to where you need to be after all. A wonderful story of hope, friendship, second chances and never giving up, even if you are only wandering in search of a good cup of coffee.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
February 20, 2017
Loved this wonderful, warm, feel good tale. The writing is glorious and addictive and the characters rise off the page and become part of you. Beautiful story, great book. So thrilled to have discovered this author. Cannot wait for more from her. Highly recommended.
July 1, 2017
I'm giving this book 3.5 stars because it's a nice story of personal development and survival, and it's well written. I liked the main character and I've cried over the things that happen to her, the good and the bad.
Having said that, I'm still trying to find the funny part of the book. I haven't laughed (least of all out loud) at the series of misfortunes she's endured since the start. It's been interesting to see her getting up after every fall, and I was glad that things worked out for her in the end.
I'd also remove the "romantic" out of the title because there is no romance here. (spoiler-ish bit here). She (Poppy) meets her school best friend (Leanne, whom she hadn't seen in more than ten years) and remembers she had a crush on her twin brother, Tom, who doesn't remember her. Then she first meets Tom over a malfunctioning fire alarm at his workplace and they go have some drinks afterwards. The next we know about them is that she drunk-texts him and the next time they meet they're suddenly in love.
But despite this not being funny nor romantic, it's a nice read with a lot of emotional moments and a deserved happy ending.
Having said that, I'm still trying to find the funny part of the book. I haven't laughed (least of all out loud) at the series of misfortunes she's endured since the start. It's been interesting to see her getting up after every fall, and I was glad that things worked out for her in the end.
I'd also remove the "romantic" out of the title because there is no romance here. (spoiler-ish bit here). She (Poppy) meets her school best friend (Leanne, whom she hadn't seen in more than ten years) and remembers she had a crush on her twin brother, Tom, who doesn't remember her. Then she first meets Tom over a malfunctioning fire alarm at his workplace and they go have some drinks afterwards. The next we know about them is that she drunk-texts him and the next time they meet they're suddenly in love.
But despite this not being funny nor romantic, it's a nice read with a lot of emotional moments and a deserved happy ending.
April 30, 2017
I loved this book!
We meet the female protagonist on the day of her graduation (phd in psychology). She's an anal, socially awkward, super bright person, who has achieved every academic goal she's made. She's the top graduating student of her year and has received the highest marks of a woman under thirty in the history of the uni. She's also got a hunky boyfriend and is looking forward to moving in with him. Being selected to join the staff at her uni is her only remaining dream...it seems in the bag.....and then everything unravels. She takes us on a journey that is a roller coaster of emotions. A lot of reviews say it's hilariously funny..."laugh-out-loud". There are definitely humorous scenes and she really is a ridiculous (but believable) character at times, however I would describe it more as poignant and insightful. The book's main message seems to be something about being true to yourself and finding out what REALLY makes you happy
We meet the female protagonist on the day of her graduation (phd in psychology). She's an anal, socially awkward, super bright person, who has achieved every academic goal she's made. She's the top graduating student of her year and has received the highest marks of a woman under thirty in the history of the uni. She's also got a hunky boyfriend and is looking forward to moving in with him. Being selected to join the staff at her uni is her only remaining dream...it seems in the bag.....and then everything unravels. She takes us on a journey that is a roller coaster of emotions. A lot of reviews say it's hilariously funny..."laugh-out-loud". There are definitely humorous scenes and she really is a ridiculous (but believable) character at times, however I would describe it more as poignant and insightful. The book's main message seems to be something about being true to yourself and finding out what REALLY makes you happy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews