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How to Fall In Love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush
For readers of quirky Scandinavian fiction comes this charming and witty debut novel by Emmy Abrahamson—perfect for fans of Jonas Jonasson.
Love stinks. Or maybe it just needs a shower . . .
Vienna: famous for Mozart, waltzes, and pastry; less famous for Julia, a Swedish transplant who spends her days teaching English to unemployed Austrians and her evenings watching Netflix with her cat or club hopping with a frenemy. An aspiring novelist, Julia’s full of ideas for future bestsellers: A writer moves his family to a deserted hotel in the dead of winter and spirals into madness! A homely governess loves a brooding man whose crazy wife is locked up in the attic! Fine, so they’ve been done. Doesn’t mean Julia won’t find something original.
Then something original finds Julia—sits down next to her on a bench, as a matter of fact. Ben is handsome (under all that beard) and adventurous (leaps from small bridges in a single bound). He’s also sexy as hell and planning to shuffle off to Berlin before things can get too serious. Oh, and Ben lives in a public park.
Thus begins a truth stranger than any fiction Julia might have imagined: a whirlwind relationship with a guy who shares her warped sense of humor and shakes up the just-okay existence she’s been too lazy to change. Ben challenges her to break out; she challenges him to settle down. As weeks turn to months, Julia keeps telling herself that this is a chapter in her life, not the whole book. If she writes the ending, she can’t get hurt.
But what if the ending isn’t hers to write?
Love stinks. Or maybe it just needs a shower . . .
Vienna: famous for Mozart, waltzes, and pastry; less famous for Julia, a Swedish transplant who spends her days teaching English to unemployed Austrians and her evenings watching Netflix with her cat or club hopping with a frenemy. An aspiring novelist, Julia’s full of ideas for future bestsellers: A writer moves his family to a deserted hotel in the dead of winter and spirals into madness! A homely governess loves a brooding man whose crazy wife is locked up in the attic! Fine, so they’ve been done. Doesn’t mean Julia won’t find something original.
Then something original finds Julia—sits down next to her on a bench, as a matter of fact. Ben is handsome (under all that beard) and adventurous (leaps from small bridges in a single bound). He’s also sexy as hell and planning to shuffle off to Berlin before things can get too serious. Oh, and Ben lives in a public park.
Thus begins a truth stranger than any fiction Julia might have imagined: a whirlwind relationship with a guy who shares her warped sense of humor and shakes up the just-okay existence she’s been too lazy to change. Ben challenges her to break out; she challenges him to settle down. As weeks turn to months, Julia keeps telling herself that this is a chapter in her life, not the whole book. If she writes the ending, she can’t get hurt.
But what if the ending isn’t hers to write?
244 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews
January 2, 2018
I chose to read this book because it was set in Vienna, a city I know rather well. For me, that was the best thing about this book that is billed as a romantic comedy. The humour it portrays is not really my thing, and there were times that I struggled to read this to the end. 29 year old Swedish Julia is an aspiring writer whose plots for novels are echoes of existing books. She came to Vienna to be with her then boyfriend, weed smoking Mathias, but their relationship broke apart. She teaches conversational English at a Berlitz school. She works every hour she can get as her personal life is a disaster, socialising with Lenore who she does not like very much, her best friend, Rebecca, and others who work at the language school.
One day the lonely Julia meets 24 year old Canadian Ben, a homeless man, who leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to personal hygiene, who gives her a time and place for a date. Despite misgivings, Julia turns up, and feels attracted to him. The only problem is that she can't see him fitting into her social circle, and he lives in a bush at the Stadt Park. Her friends do give her a hard time about him, and she sets out to change him, seeing herself in the role of Professor Higgins and Ben as Eliza Dolittle. Their romance faces some rocky obstacles. An okay read, but not something that particularly appealed to me. At the end of the story we learn that the author's romance with a homeless man echoes that of the book. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
One day the lonely Julia meets 24 year old Canadian Ben, a homeless man, who leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to personal hygiene, who gives her a time and place for a date. Despite misgivings, Julia turns up, and feels attracted to him. The only problem is that she can't see him fitting into her social circle, and he lives in a bush at the Stadt Park. Her friends do give her a hard time about him, and she sets out to change him, seeing herself in the role of Professor Higgins and Ben as Eliza Dolittle. Their romance faces some rocky obstacles. An okay read, but not something that particularly appealed to me. At the end of the story we learn that the author's romance with a homeless man echoes that of the book. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
April 4, 2018
I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this, and while I loved the sarcasm and the storyline was unique to anything I've ever read- the storyline had pockets where it seemed to drag out a little bit with no real reason or significance. Lovely work nonetheless, just not necessarily my taste.
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October 6, 2018Čas proklinjem lanjski po sto puta u koji me Turci ne smakoše no ja uzeh da čitam ovo.
Dakle, suma sumarum, jer realno nećete čitati: protagonistkinja je u panici jer će umreti sama s mačkom jer ipak ima VEĆ 29 godina. Zaljubi se u beskućnika uzme ga da ga hrani i oblači, on je vređa naporan je i ostavi je bez reči. Onda ona ode preko pola sveta da ga nađe i nađe ga ALI NA DEJTU. Onda se on vrati i smrtno je izvređa ali pošto ipak postoji mogućnost da će umreti sama s mačkom pomire se.
HEPI END.
P.S. Volela bih da sam umela da izmislim ovako nešto, ali nažalost je sušta istina.
Dakle, suma sumarum, jer realno nećete čitati: protagonistkinja je u panici jer će umreti sama s mačkom jer ipak ima VEĆ 29 godina. Zaljubi se u beskućnika uzme ga da ga hrani i oblači, on je vređa naporan je i ostavi je bez reči. Onda ona ode preko pola sveta da ga nađe i nađe ga ALI NA DEJTU. Onda se on vrati i smrtno je izvređa ali pošto ipak postoji mogućnost da će umreti sama s mačkom pomire se.
HEPI END.
P.S. Volela bih da sam umela da izmislim ovako nešto, ali nažalost je sušta istina.
August 8, 2022
I was disappointed with this story.
1) The man, Ben, doesn't live in the bush for very long. He basically moves in with Julia, our narrator, after two dates, so I felt cheated by the title.
2) He isn't a man, he's a man child. At 24, he acts like an 18-year-old who took a philosophy course and now has decided that shoes are a construct of the man. It's one thing to choose to live on the streets or squat in abandoned houses without a viable income, but there's a point where you're choosing to be contrary instead of choosing a path for your life.
I admit, the premise of this was interesting. I did like Julia. She is a funny, lonely, quirky Swede living in Vienna who gets hearing tests and fills out bank account forms out of boredom and for comfort. She keeps coming up with winning ideas for her novel, but then realizes it's the plot to an already famous story. She is searching for something, but if she were my friend, I'd tell her Ben is not it.
He calls her his girlfriend the second time they meet, which is weird. He has no job and seems critical of those who do, including Julia. He not at all self-aware and drinks too much all the time. This bothers Julia but is never really addressed.
Other things that bothered me:
Ultimately, I wish the characters had met, had an ill-fated relationship and then Julia had gone on to take a more proactive role in her own life. Maybe a few years later when Ben knows how to act like a grown-up, they could reunite as equals. As the ending stands, I hink they would be more likely to sink than swim.
1) The man, Ben, doesn't live in the bush for very long. He basically moves in with Julia, our narrator, after two dates, so I felt cheated by the title.
2) He isn't a man, he's a man child. At 24, he acts like an 18-year-old who took a philosophy course and now has decided that shoes are a construct of the man. It's one thing to choose to live on the streets or squat in abandoned houses without a viable income, but there's a point where you're choosing to be contrary instead of choosing a path for your life.
I admit, the premise of this was interesting. I did like Julia. She is a funny, lonely, quirky Swede living in Vienna who gets hearing tests and fills out bank account forms out of boredom and for comfort. She keeps coming up with winning ideas for her novel, but then realizes it's the plot to an already famous story. She is searching for something, but if she were my friend, I'd tell her Ben is not it.
He calls her his girlfriend the second time they meet, which is weird. He has no job and seems critical of those who do, including Julia. He not at all self-aware and drinks too much all the time. This bothers Julia but is never really addressed.
Other things that bothered me:
Ultimately, I wish the characters had met, had an ill-fated relationship and then Julia had gone on to take a more proactive role in her own life. Maybe a few years later when Ben knows how to act like a grown-up, they could reunite as equals. As the ending stands, I hink they would be more likely to sink than swim.
April 19, 2022
Ei, ei, ei, ei. Ei. Tässä kirjassa ei ollut mitään muuta hyvää kuin nimi, joka petollisesti tämän houkutteli lukemaan. Ensimmäiselle lauseelle hymähdin, muutoin tämä ei ollut edes hauska.
Hajatelmia:
1) Nainen on opettaja. Tässä on viime vuosituhannen käsitys oppimisesta ja opettamisesta. Tarinassa käytetään kielioppiharjoituksia rangaistuksena ja korjataan kaikki oppijan tekemät virheet. Lisäksi päähenkilö välittää puristisia kieliasenteita läpi teoksen.
2) Puskamies on stalkkaava idiootti.
3) Nainen on epämiellyttävä idiootti, joka yrittää kontrolloida puskamiestä normien mukaiseksi idiootiksi.
4) "Oivaltavia" huomioita esiintyy paikoin päälleliimattuna sivulauseissa, vaikka tässä olisi ollut tarjolla montakin teemaa syvälliseen käsittelyyn (mm. huumeiden käyttö, yksinäisyys, kodittomuus).
4) Suhdetta ei motivoida mitenkään - toki se näin tulee puskista, kuten nimi lupaa. Mies päättää saada naisen, nainen mukautuu. Nainen puhuu siitä kuinka mies on ah ihana, mutta kerronnassa näytetään vain miehen inhottavia puolia - niin habituksen kuin luonteenkin tasolla. Vaikka tarina perustuu tositapahtumiin, tässä ei ole lukijalle järkeä.
6) Tässä oli täysin tarinan kannalta turhia sivujuonteita ja taustoituksia.
7) KETÄÄN ei voi kiinnostaa lukea montaa sivua siitä, millaista on olla lentokoneessa. Ihan oikeasti nyt.
8) Teoksessa käytettiin asiatonta kieltä seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöistä ilman narratiivista perustelua (seksuaalivähemmistön kommentoijia yritettiin kirjoittaa junteiksi, mutta aika överiksi meni sekin).
Tiivistettynä tämä on siis romanttiseksi väkisin väännetty tarina toksisesta suhteesta. Toivon, että todellisuus ei ole ollut näin kamala. Pysykää kaukana.
Hajatelmia:
1) Nainen on opettaja. Tässä on viime vuosituhannen käsitys oppimisesta ja opettamisesta. Tarinassa käytetään kielioppiharjoituksia rangaistuksena ja korjataan kaikki oppijan tekemät virheet. Lisäksi päähenkilö välittää puristisia kieliasenteita läpi teoksen.
2) Puskamies on stalkkaava idiootti.
3) Nainen on epämiellyttävä idiootti, joka yrittää kontrolloida puskamiestä normien mukaiseksi idiootiksi.
4) "Oivaltavia" huomioita esiintyy paikoin päälleliimattuna sivulauseissa, vaikka tässä olisi ollut tarjolla montakin teemaa syvälliseen käsittelyyn (mm. huumeiden käyttö, yksinäisyys, kodittomuus).
4) Suhdetta ei motivoida mitenkään - toki se näin tulee puskista, kuten nimi lupaa. Mies päättää saada naisen, nainen mukautuu. Nainen puhuu siitä kuinka mies on ah ihana, mutta kerronnassa näytetään vain miehen inhottavia puolia - niin habituksen kuin luonteenkin tasolla. Vaikka tarina perustuu tositapahtumiin, tässä ei ole lukijalle järkeä.
6) Tässä oli täysin tarinan kannalta turhia sivujuonteita ja taustoituksia.
7) KETÄÄN ei voi kiinnostaa lukea montaa sivua siitä, millaista on olla lentokoneessa. Ihan oikeasti nyt.
8) Teoksessa käytettiin asiatonta kieltä seksuaali- ja sukupuolivähemmistöistä ilman narratiivista perustelua (seksuaalivähemmistön kommentoijia yritettiin kirjoittaa junteiksi, mutta aika överiksi meni sekin).
Tiivistettynä tämä on siis romanttiseksi väkisin väännetty tarina toksisesta suhteesta. Toivon, että todellisuus ei ole ollut näin kamala. Pysykää kaukana.
December 26, 2024
Признайте, че заглавието е супер грабващо - за мен определено беше. Анотацията също печели точка - преподавателка по английски език се влюбва в бедомник. Готово - добавена към дългия TBR списък. После идва панаира на книгата и си купувам романа, защото авторката е сред гостите на литературния фестивал и аз искам да си взема автограф.
Първата ми литературна среща с темата за бездомниците беше с “Но и аз” на Делфин дьо Виган. Тук гледната точка е различна, защото не говорим за дете. В допълнение това е личната история на самата авторка, която се омъжва за бездомник. Само докато пиша това и въртя очи, но трябва дебело да подчертая, че историята е написана доста реалистично и правдиво, а на панаира самата авторка разказва много увлекателно за първата среща със съпруга си, отношенията им, децата им и загубата на приятелства, заради този брак. След средата на романа нещо сякаш се счупи и аз загубих интерес, емпатията ми (доколкото я имаше изобщо) съвсем изчезна и определено нямах търпение да приключвам четенето. Давам на романа 3⭐️ само заради авторката, която ми стана безкрайно симпатична.
Първата ми литературна среща с темата за бездомниците беше с “Но и аз” на Делфин дьо Виган. Тук гледната точка е различна, защото не говорим за дете. В допълнение това е личната история на самата авторка, която се омъжва за бездомник. Само докато пиша това и въртя очи, но трябва дебело да подчертая, че историята е написана доста реалистично и правдиво, а на панаира самата авторка разказва много увлекателно за първата среща със съпруга си, отношенията им, децата им и загубата на приятелства, заради този брак. След средата на романа нещо сякаш се счупи и аз загубих интерес, емпатията ми (доколкото я имаше изобщо) съвсем изчезна и определено нямах търпение да приключвам четенето. Давам на романа 3⭐️ само заради авторката, която ми стана безкрайно симпатична.
December 18, 2017
This looks cute and fun but actually I found it irritating: it's a personal memoir barely disguised as a novel telling how the author met her husband when he was homeless and smelly - no, not just smelly but so stinkingly rancid that though she wanted to kiss him, the smell made her retch... it's a hard sell to build a romance on that!
Add to that lots of humour that falls flat, and this didn't work for me. There's certainly a warm message about being non-judgemental and Ben washes up beautifully but I couldn't really get behind this book!
Add to that lots of humour that falls flat, and this didn't work for me. There's certainly a warm message about being non-judgemental and Ben washes up beautifully but I couldn't really get behind this book!
December 29, 2020
Jag läste den här boken på jobbet (förlåt min chef) när det var lugnt och jag satt och småskrattade för mig själv flera gånger men förstår inte slutet, jag skulle aldrig förlåta någon som gjort så mot mig, skulle dock gärna vilja ha mer förklaring varför det hände som hände. Men utöver det, sjukt rolig och ändå romantisk bok.
Emmy Abrahamson är Sveriges roligaste författare.
Emmy Abrahamson är Sveriges roligaste författare.
March 26, 2018
I absolutely loved this book!!! I’m definitely staff picking this one to rave about to anyone who doesn’t run from my overly-enthusiastic expression. Why oh why isn’t there more books with humour in it? Life is too serious already. This had me laughing out loud.
June 8, 2020
Kokia gera istorija! Nėra kažkas tokio wow wow... Bet kaip tiks norintiems lengvos, gražios, šmaikščios istorijos atostogoms. Nuoširdžiai skaičiau ir stebėjausi. Ir negaliu pasakyti kuo labiau, ar autorės drąsa ar naivumu (kvailumu). Pati įsijaučiau į istoriją ir pagalvojau kaip aš būčiau pasielgusi. Ir tikriausiai visai priešingai. Ar pajėgtumėte įžvelgti benamyje kažk�� daugiau? O gal net būsimą savo simpatiją? Gyvenimo meilę? Aš tiesą pasakius tikrai ne. Būčiau tas stereotipas, kuris net sėdėti greta nelabai norėtų. Dėl kvapų, išvaizdos ir tikriausiai neigiamos išankstinės nuomonės. Žinau, kad tai yra neteisinga ir žiauru. Tačiau tiesiog taip yra... Tad skaitydama tikrai žavėjausi autore. Kuri visa tai išgyveno pati. Tai ne šiaip romanas, o tikra autorės meilės istorija. Kuri praturtinta ir jos pačios bei jos dabartinio vyro, buvusio benamio interviu. Tad labai rekomenduoju paskaityti. Jei reikia, manau ši knyga lengvai padėtų pramušti ir skaitymo blokus, arba būtų pats tas skaitinys, kai pavargstame nuo sunkios literatūros ir norisi kažko paprasto, neįpareigojančio ir lengvai skaitomo.
February 2, 2018
I had no idea what to expect from this book. I hadn't heard anything about it before it arrived through my letterbox, but the blurb is enticing and I was in the mood for some smiles so welcomed the chance to read this.
What an utter and complete delight it is. The writing is sharp and funny and completely up to date, it's the sort of book that gives that feel-good glow every time you pick it up.
Julia is Swedish, living in Vienna and teaching English as a foreign language in a business school. She's not particularly happy in her job, but continues to pick up extra shifts and teach the pupils that every other teacher tries to avoid. Whilst Julia is an incredibly funny, quirky character, she has an underlying vulnerability and sadness that this clever author incorporates so well amongst the humour.
Julia's last relationship broke down badly and she's pretty socially isolated. She adores filling in surveys on the street, or popping for a hearing test .... because it's free and it gives her the chance to talk to people. Whilst she despairs at most of her students and has little in common with her colleagues, they make up a big part of her life. Under the bravado and quips, Julia is lonely.
One day, Julia meets Ben. Ben is like no other man she's ever known. He has no home, he lives in a bush, he's dirty with a long matted beard, but she likes him. There's a spark between them and it's not long before they are meeting regularly, and then they become a couple.
What follows is the story of Julia and Ben, and their relationship with each other, and with the rest of the world. It's not an easy relationship, it has many downs, but oh so many wonderful ups. It's a heartfelt, emotional and often hilarious story of a very unlikely romance.
Knowing that the author has based this novel on her own story; and that her husband was living in a bush when they met, only makes it more poignant. They say that the truth is stranger than fiction and this author taken her truth and created a wonderful story.
How To Fall in Love With A Man Who Lives in a Bush is blissfully funny and very smart. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it highly.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
What an utter and complete delight it is. The writing is sharp and funny and completely up to date, it's the sort of book that gives that feel-good glow every time you pick it up.
Julia is Swedish, living in Vienna and teaching English as a foreign language in a business school. She's not particularly happy in her job, but continues to pick up extra shifts and teach the pupils that every other teacher tries to avoid. Whilst Julia is an incredibly funny, quirky character, she has an underlying vulnerability and sadness that this clever author incorporates so well amongst the humour.
Julia's last relationship broke down badly and she's pretty socially isolated. She adores filling in surveys on the street, or popping for a hearing test .... because it's free and it gives her the chance to talk to people. Whilst she despairs at most of her students and has little in common with her colleagues, they make up a big part of her life. Under the bravado and quips, Julia is lonely.
One day, Julia meets Ben. Ben is like no other man she's ever known. He has no home, he lives in a bush, he's dirty with a long matted beard, but she likes him. There's a spark between them and it's not long before they are meeting regularly, and then they become a couple.
What follows is the story of Julia and Ben, and their relationship with each other, and with the rest of the world. It's not an easy relationship, it has many downs, but oh so many wonderful ups. It's a heartfelt, emotional and often hilarious story of a very unlikely romance.
Knowing that the author has based this novel on her own story; and that her husband was living in a bush when they met, only makes it more poignant. They say that the truth is stranger than fiction and this author taken her truth and created a wonderful story.
How To Fall in Love With A Man Who Lives in a Bush is blissfully funny and very smart. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it highly.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
August 14, 2018
Simpaticno, meni se dopao humor.
Bazirano je na istinitoj prici, by the way.
Mozda nisu dovoljno razradjeni likovi, i jedan deo knjige mi se ucinio nepotrebnim (nepotrebna komplikacija).
Inace, nemojte da vas obeshrabri prva recenica ;)
Bazirano je na istinitoj prici, by the way.
Mozda nisu dovoljno razradjeni likovi, i jedan deo knjige mi se ucinio nepotrebnim (nepotrebna komplikacija).
Inace, nemojte da vas obeshrabri prva recenica ;)
February 23, 2023
Ένα βιβλίο που διαβάζεται εύκολα και είναι κατάλληλο να σου κρατήσει όμορφη παρέα. Το χιούμορ της πρωταγωνίστριας δίνει μια επιπλέον ευχάριστη νότα στην ανάγνωση, μαζί με όλες τις περιπέτειες που βιώνει, οι οποίες είναι έξω από το comfort zone της.
Η ιστορία αποκτά μεγαλύτερο ενδιαφέρον, διότι βασίζεται σε αληθινή ιστορία της συγγραφέως.
Όσα είναι γραμμένα μέσα στις σελίδες του, αποτελούν ακόμα μια απόδειξη του πόσο δυνατό είναι το συναίσθημα της αγάπης.
"...όλα τα χρώματα στη ζωή έγιναν πολύ καθαρότερα από τότε που τον γνώρισα."
Η ιστορία αποκτά μεγαλύτερο ενδιαφέρον, διότι βασίζεται σε αληθινή ιστορία της συγγραφέως.
Όσα είναι γραμμένα μέσα στις σελίδες του, αποτελούν ακόμα μια απόδειξη του πόσο δυνατό είναι το συναίσθημα της αγάπης.
"...όλα τα χρώματα στη ζωή έγιναν πολύ καθαρότερα από τότε που τον γνώρισα."
September 1, 2018
The premise was interesting - and original - which is why I chose to read it. Their courtship was also unique and it did have its funny moments. However the plot dragged quite a bit - especially when the main character travels to Canada to find her homeless guy and the ending was pretty corny. But I did read it all so maybe it was just not suited to my taste.
August 25, 2017
Ik had een paar uurtjes tijd en heb dit boekje van 200 pagina's aan een stuk kunnen lezen. Wat een leuk verhaal: iemand die verliefd wordt op een zwerver die stinkt en op blote voeten loopt. Met heerlijke humorvolle en gevatte taal was dit boek een leuke leeservaring. 5 sterren!
January 16, 2020
I needed a light read and chose this because I once was an ESL teacher, lonely in a foreign city. The story had its moments and was occasionally funny but I wasn't convinced by the 'romance' and found the whole thing too long.
October 11, 2018
Julia is a Swede living in Austria where she teaches English at Berlitz. She’s in Vienna because she followed a boyfriend there; now they’ve broken up and she’s at loose ends. One day, while waiting on a park bench she meets a smelly, dirty homeless man, Ben. They enter into an easy conversation and when she gets up to leave he virtually commands her to meet him again the next evening. Thus begins their relationship.
This was a quick, fast read and mildly entertaining. I shook my head at the chances Julia took, but recognized what she saw in Ben. He was clearly intelligent, caring, giving and willing to work at the relationship. She, on the other hand, was pretty closed off to any change in routine, and visibly embarrassed by her boyfriend. They are sometimes at cross purposes and have trouble communicating clearly with one another. The plot is rather implausible, including chasing him to Vancouver and wandering aimlessly in that city on the chance she’d find him. But there is a happy ending.
All told it’s a decent chick-lit, new-adult romance.
As an afterward, there is both an interview with the author, AND an essay by Abrahamson’s husband ... who was homeless when she met him on a park bench in Amsterdam. But THIS is a novel, not a memoir.
This was a quick, fast read and mildly entertaining. I shook my head at the chances Julia took, but recognized what she saw in Ben. He was clearly intelligent, caring, giving and willing to work at the relationship. She, on the other hand, was pretty closed off to any change in routine, and visibly embarrassed by her boyfriend. They are sometimes at cross purposes and have trouble communicating clearly with one another. The plot is rather implausible, including chasing him to Vancouver and wandering aimlessly in that city on the chance she’d find him. But there is a happy ending.
All told it’s a decent chick-lit, new-adult romance.
As an afterward, there is both an interview with the author, AND an essay by Abrahamson’s husband ... who was homeless when she met him on a park bench in Amsterdam. But THIS is a novel, not a memoir.
October 18, 2018
Este libro desde que leí la sinopsis, me llamó la atención.
La verdad es que se puede leer de manera muy rápida, porque la historia lo permite. Julia, como personaje principal me gustó mucho, pero siento que una vez que comenzó a salir con Ben, dejó de ser tan divertida como antes, porque siendo sincera no amé mucho a Ben como protagonista, no me parecía tan interesante, sino más bien ese tipo de persona que siempre quiere causar polémica, concuerdo en que existen algunos puntos de la historia que te comienzas a cuestionar, en especial el caso de que su relación y cómo comienza, pero creo que lo hace único por ese lado.
No estaría de acuerdo un 100% cómo fue esa relación, pero yo solo quería leer una historia divertida, y siento que en algunos momentos me puedo parecer a Julia, no me gustan las sorpresas, y a veces te encuentras con personas que son todo lo contrario y entiendes que de vez en cuando las necesitas.
No es el mejor libro, pero sin duda es una lectura única y divertida.
La verdad es que se puede leer de manera muy rápida, porque la historia lo permite. Julia, como personaje principal me gustó mucho, pero siento que una vez que comenzó a salir con Ben, dejó de ser tan divertida como antes, porque siendo sincera no amé mucho a Ben como protagonista, no me parecía tan interesante, sino más bien ese tipo de persona que siempre quiere causar polémica, concuerdo en que existen algunos puntos de la historia que te comienzas a cuestionar, en especial el caso de que su relación y cómo comienza, pero creo que lo hace único por ese lado.
No estaría de acuerdo un 100% cómo fue esa relación, pero yo solo quería leer una historia divertida, y siento que en algunos momentos me puedo parecer a Julia, no me gustan las sorpresas, y a veces te encuentras con personas que son todo lo contrario y entiendes que de vez en cuando las necesitas.
No es el mejor libro, pero sin duda es una lectura única y divertida.
October 27, 2018
Da nisam slučajno došla do informacije da je priča istinita, verovatno ne bih bila toliko oduševljena koliko jesam. Knjiga jeste čiklit, ali je priča definitivno drugačija i neobična i iskače iz šablona ovog žanra. Humor je simpatičan, radnja dinamična i čita se jako brzo. Stil je jednostavan, ali radnja navodi na razmišljanje: koliko nas bi zapravo imalo hrabrosti da uradi tako nešto. Topla preporuka!
May 18, 2022
Kiinnostaahan se, miten enkunmaikka päätyy yksin kodittoman semipunkkarin kanssa. Mutta Abrahamsonin tapa katsoa maailmaa on piiloällöttävä: lihavista ja transihmisistä revitään huumoria ja elitismi haisee kauas. En tykännyt, vaikka teksti sinänsä sujuvaa ja jotenkin tätä aikaa kuvaavaa onkin.
September 1, 2021
A weird but funny and sweet mainly romantic story but with tidbits and events of almost all kinds, sad, funny, romantic, weird and horrifying. It was about a woman falling in love with a man living in a bush but also about drugs, finding oneself, english grammar and adventuring in other countries. Even the smallest event where analyzed and thought through and that made this audio book a bit different. Characters of all kind sprung out of the pages and some where maybe a bit stereotype. The main story however was sadly a bit obvious but still moving and sweet.
August 5, 2018
Okay first of all, these characters didn't know what they wanted from each other. It would be I'll travel across the world to find you but then once they see each other again they're pissed as hell and start having the most hurtful and raw shouts ever. Of course, money will be a factor since the guy is homeless and she's making all the money. There are so many flaws in the characters that it annoyed me. Yes, this fiction is realistic but it's depressing and left a bad taste in my mouth.
September 11, 2022
Labai lengvai susiskaitė, romanas, bet kookio gerumo knyga, kai juolab tai tikra autorės istorija apie tai, kaip ji įsimylėjo benamį, bei sukūrė su juo ateitį. Knyga gal ir gali pasirodyti kai kam lėkšta, tačiau labai daug galima pasisemti ir pasimokyti. Ir beabejo, perskaičiusi iškarto pradėjau googlinti apie knygos autorės vyrą, norėdama įsitikinti viskuo, ką perskaičiau 😄
November 6, 2020
I been wanting to read this for years.....and i just put it off and im kinda disseppointed. Like it was ok, its a romance feelgood based on the authors own relationship story. I thought it was going to be more......fun. i didnt laugh once :/
April 21, 2017
Grappig, origineel en luchtig. Fijn boekje voor tussendoor met lekkere herkenbare humor waar bijna iedereen wel om kan lachen. Fijn joh!
February 10, 2018
Review copy provided by Harper Collins UK - February 2018
Really enjoyed the first 50 pages BEFORE the main character met her love match (a few laugh out loud moments). About half way through the book, I finally admitted that this just isn’t for me....I’m not usually a big fan of chick lit or contemporary romance novels, but on occasion I’ll give them a whirl. In this case, because I’ve been reading quite a few heavy books, so I wanted something light and quick. The characters are extremely unlikeable, seem ill-matched, and bicker and fight in every scene together. For example:
‘Gross?’ Ben repeats. ‘Don’t make out like your shit don’t stink.’
His words make me explode.
‘You are so horrible sometimes,’ I hiss. ‘I’m not the one who’s eaten dog biscuits for no reason, or who wipes their fingers on their socks while eating. Wipes their fingers on their socks. Do you realise how disgusting that is? Sometimes I look at you and I’m just ashamed!’ (pg. 130)
Some of the abusive slurs and remarks thrown back and forth, just repelled me. Sadly, I heard this book was a fictionalized account of the author’s own love story. A point that made me eager to read the book, but after 130 pages just became awkward, sad, and made me cringe. If this is really how and why their relationship blossomed, I just don’t get it. The main character Julia seemed to be quite vanilla, a rule follower, and comfortable with being in bed by 9PM. Ben, is the complete opposite, who enjoys freedom, no responsibility, living in a bush, throwing rocks at trains and helping friends out by dumpster diving for drugs at the airport. If this were Tinder, I think Julia accidentally swiped right.
To me, it isn’t a positive message or outlook on relationships or love 🤷🏻♀️. So, sadly, I have to give this book a 2 out of 5 star rating.
Really enjoyed the first 50 pages BEFORE the main character met her love match (a few laugh out loud moments). About half way through the book, I finally admitted that this just isn’t for me....I’m not usually a big fan of chick lit or contemporary romance novels, but on occasion I’ll give them a whirl. In this case, because I’ve been reading quite a few heavy books, so I wanted something light and quick. The characters are extremely unlikeable, seem ill-matched, and bicker and fight in every scene together. For example:
‘Gross?’ Ben repeats. ‘Don’t make out like your shit don’t stink.’
His words make me explode.
‘You are so horrible sometimes,’ I hiss. ‘I’m not the one who’s eaten dog biscuits for no reason, or who wipes their fingers on their socks while eating. Wipes their fingers on their socks. Do you realise how disgusting that is? Sometimes I look at you and I’m just ashamed!’ (pg. 130)
Some of the abusive slurs and remarks thrown back and forth, just repelled me. Sadly, I heard this book was a fictionalized account of the author’s own love story. A point that made me eager to read the book, but after 130 pages just became awkward, sad, and made me cringe. If this is really how and why their relationship blossomed, I just don’t get it. The main character Julia seemed to be quite vanilla, a rule follower, and comfortable with being in bed by 9PM. Ben, is the complete opposite, who enjoys freedom, no responsibility, living in a bush, throwing rocks at trains and helping friends out by dumpster diving for drugs at the airport. If this were Tinder, I think Julia accidentally swiped right.
To me, it isn’t a positive message or outlook on relationships or love 🤷🏻♀️. So, sadly, I have to give this book a 2 out of 5 star rating.
January 8, 2018
If you're looking for an easy, fun read with a little romance and an intriguing commentary on today's society, then look no further!
The story follows Julia, a woman trapped in her routine, but too comfortable to leave. In the middle of a rather unsurprising day, she meets a homeless man who plops right next to her on the bench and starts talking like they're old friends. Their relationship takes off from there, making you question our conventional ideals of romance.
What really drew me to the book though was Julia's profession. I know a lot of people who graduate college and leave for Europe to teach English, only to get stuck doing it for the next few years until they decide to go back to school. Julia is one who doesn't go back to school and finds herself stuck. It's a really interesting portrayal of an often romanticized profession. I liked how raw Abrahamson was about it and was really curious to see how Julia finds ways to grow despite such a standstill job.
I had a bit of the issue with the ending, which is why I'm giving this book 3 stars. However, I recognize that my issue might be personal so I'm not going to hate on it too much in this review. Beyond the ending, it's a delightful read that is perfect for the hopeless romantic looking for something to do on the weekend!
**read thanks to an ARC from YPG**
The story follows Julia, a woman trapped in her routine, but too comfortable to leave. In the middle of a rather unsurprising day, she meets a homeless man who plops right next to her on the bench and starts talking like they're old friends. Their relationship takes off from there, making you question our conventional ideals of romance.
What really drew me to the book though was Julia's profession. I know a lot of people who graduate college and leave for Europe to teach English, only to get stuck doing it for the next few years until they decide to go back to school. Julia is one who doesn't go back to school and finds herself stuck. It's a really interesting portrayal of an often romanticized profession. I liked how raw Abrahamson was about it and was really curious to see how Julia finds ways to grow despite such a standstill job.
I had a bit of the issue with the ending, which is why I'm giving this book 3 stars. However, I recognize that my issue might be personal so I'm not going to hate on it too much in this review. Beyond the ending, it's a delightful read that is perfect for the hopeless romantic looking for something to do on the weekend!
**read thanks to an ARC from YPG**
May 13, 2016
Julia är svensk och bor i Wien med sin katt och undervisar i engelska. Hon är mallen för duktig flicka. Livet är ganska inrutat och trist och hon skulle gärna göra något åt det men kommer sig inte för utan tar extra undervisningspass och jobbar alltmer.
Sittandes på en parkbänk kommer en dag en lång, mörk uteliggare, en kanadensare och slår sig ner bredvid henne. Något får henne att vakna till och faktiskt tycka att den här mannen är intressant. Han ropar efter henne när de skiljs åt att de en dag ska gifta sig och skaffa barn. Kommer det bli så? Kan man verkligen umgås med en uteliggare? Varför är han uteliggare?
Med snabba repliker och massor av humor berättas den här boken. Den är oförutsägbar, lättsam och lämnar en varm eftersmak. Under den lättsamma ytan handlar det om att våga följa sitt hjärta. Jag älskade den och vill läsa mer av Abrahamson och hoppas att hon kommer ut med fler vuxenböcker.
Sittandes på en parkbänk kommer en dag en lång, mörk uteliggare, en kanadensare och slår sig ner bredvid henne. Något får henne att vakna till och faktiskt tycka att den här mannen är intressant. Han ropar efter henne när de skiljs åt att de en dag ska gifta sig och skaffa barn. Kommer det bli så? Kan man verkligen umgås med en uteliggare? Varför är han uteliggare?
Med snabba repliker och massor av humor berättas den här boken. Den är oförutsägbar, lättsam och lämnar en varm eftersmak. Under den lättsamma ytan handlar det om att våga följa sitt hjärta. Jag älskade den och vill läsa mer av Abrahamson och hoppas att hon kommer ut med fler vuxenböcker.
February 17, 2022
Απολαυστικό βιβλίο που διαβάζετε εύκολα. Θα ήταν ακόμη πιο υπέροχο αν ήταν εξίσου ενδιαφέρουσες και οι 100 τελευταίες σελίδες.
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