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Make or Break
'Smart, witty and bursting with joie de vivre' WENDY HOLDEN
Romantic comedy with a twist in its tail, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Mhairi McFarlane.
Jess, a 29-year-old Londoner with a Kate Beckett fringe and a tendency for dramatics, gets taken on a surprise trip by her long-term boyfriend, Pete, to attend her best friend’s last-minute wedding in South Africa. Jess imagines sun, sand, wine and safaris. And returning to London with an ethically mined diamond on her left hand...
But this holiday isn’t set to be quite the fairy tale Jess has planned... Suddenly she finds her world tilting on its axis, and things are only set to get worse when Jess returns home…
When the truth comes out, will it be... Make or Break?
Catherine Bennetto is back with her trademark wit and an equally hilarious cast of characters who will have you rooting for them from the first page.
'If you like laugh-out-loud dialogue, brilliant characters and plenty of plot twists, this is for you’ heat 5 star review
'Warm and witty' My Weekly
'You will laugh and cry with every high and low. WE LOVED IT!' Take a Break
'Eloquent and heartfelt - seamlessly ensuring that the laughter and the lump-in-the-throat moments follow hot on each other's heels - another sure-fire hit' PENNY PARKES
'Warm and witty, heart-breaking and heart-warming, an emotional roller coaster of a read' ANNA BELL, author of It Started with a Tweet
‘Another awesome read by Catherine. Couldn’t put the book down – Literally!! – read entirely on one rainy Sunday afternoon' Lucy
‘Bennetto made me laugh out loud with her debut and has done it again with this one. It is witty, quick, pacey and full of the sharp-tongued humour that runs through all of her writing. Fantastic!’ Dawn
‘This is a perfect book to cheer you up on a dark day, filled with light wit. It’s very topical, with gentle mockery of things like clean-living trends, the genial chaos of family life and relationships in general…’ Alexandra Clare
‘What a page turner! Loved it! Got myself lost in the magic of Capetown, the author really captures the essence of the place, along with some funny, lovable characters!’ Rachel
*~* Praise for How Not to Fall in Love, Actually *~*
'A phenomenal cast of characters and some real laugh out loud moments. Brilliant!' Heidi Swain
‘This superb debut is a romcom at its very best and the perfect book to chase away the winter blues. I haven’t fallen so in love with a bunch of characters in a long while. Loved it' Sun
‘A charming, feel-good gem of a debut novel that’s guaranteed to leave you smiling… An honest narrative and a fresh voice to tell it… a great way to spend a lazy afternoon' CultureFly
'More bubbly than a big glass of champers and just as fun. How Not To Fall In Love, Actually is bright, breezy, and the perfect way to beat back the winter blues' Georgia Clark, author of The Regulars
Romantic comedy with a twist in its tail, perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Mhairi McFarlane.
Jess, a 29-year-old Londoner with a Kate Beckett fringe and a tendency for dramatics, gets taken on a surprise trip by her long-term boyfriend, Pete, to attend her best friend’s last-minute wedding in South Africa. Jess imagines sun, sand, wine and safaris. And returning to London with an ethically mined diamond on her left hand...
But this holiday isn’t set to be quite the fairy tale Jess has planned... Suddenly she finds her world tilting on its axis, and things are only set to get worse when Jess returns home…
When the truth comes out, will it be... Make or Break?
Catherine Bennetto is back with her trademark wit and an equally hilarious cast of characters who will have you rooting for them from the first page.
'If you like laugh-out-loud dialogue, brilliant characters and plenty of plot twists, this is for you’ heat 5 star review
'Warm and witty' My Weekly
'You will laugh and cry with every high and low. WE LOVED IT!' Take a Break
'Eloquent and heartfelt - seamlessly ensuring that the laughter and the lump-in-the-throat moments follow hot on each other's heels - another sure-fire hit' PENNY PARKES
'Warm and witty, heart-breaking and heart-warming, an emotional roller coaster of a read' ANNA BELL, author of It Started with a Tweet
‘Another awesome read by Catherine. Couldn’t put the book down – Literally!! – read entirely on one rainy Sunday afternoon' Lucy
‘Bennetto made me laugh out loud with her debut and has done it again with this one. It is witty, quick, pacey and full of the sharp-tongued humour that runs through all of her writing. Fantastic!’ Dawn
‘This is a perfect book to cheer you up on a dark day, filled with light wit. It’s very topical, with gentle mockery of things like clean-living trends, the genial chaos of family life and relationships in general…’ Alexandra Clare
‘What a page turner! Loved it! Got myself lost in the magic of Capetown, the author really captures the essence of the place, along with some funny, lovable characters!’ Rachel
*~* Praise for How Not to Fall in Love, Actually *~*
'A phenomenal cast of characters and some real laugh out loud moments. Brilliant!' Heidi Swain
‘This superb debut is a romcom at its very best and the perfect book to chase away the winter blues. I haven’t fallen so in love with a bunch of characters in a long while. Loved it' Sun
‘A charming, feel-good gem of a debut novel that’s guaranteed to leave you smiling… An honest narrative and a fresh voice to tell it… a great way to spend a lazy afternoon' CultureFly
'More bubbly than a big glass of champers and just as fun. How Not To Fall In Love, Actually is bright, breezy, and the perfect way to beat back the winter blues' Georgia Clark, author of The Regulars
496 pages, Paperback
Published July 12, 2018
46 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Bennetto
4 books87 followersCatherine Bennetto was born in New Zealand to a British father and Kiwi mother. She studied a variety of things at University, including Design and Biomedical Science, before settling on a career in television production.
Catherine, her husband and their two young boys have spent the past few years being permanent residents of nowhere - going where the work takes them. They’ve lived in Australia, England, the Caribbean, Hungary, Malaysia and South Africa, and have learnt some useful tricks for entertaining children along the way.
In 2013 she gained a place on Curtis Brown Creative's inaugural online novel writing course. How Not to Fall in Love, Actually is her first novel.
Catherine, her husband and their two young boys have spent the past few years being permanent residents of nowhere - going where the work takes them. They’ve lived in Australia, England, the Caribbean, Hungary, Malaysia and South Africa, and have learnt some useful tricks for entertaining children along the way.
In 2013 she gained a place on Curtis Brown Creative's inaugural online novel writing course. How Not to Fall in Love, Actually is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 19, 2019
3.5 stars
This is a I-cant-believe-I-enjoyed-this-so-much kind of book. No, its not deep, its not perfect and its definitely not literary but it allowed me to just switch off and go along for the ride.
There are 3 reasons why I have rounded my rating up:
1) The setting. Chic-lit sent in Cape town? Yes please! I just love how the author portrayed Cape Town and all its wonders. I have had some of my best holidays there and am always thrilled to experience my country through the eyes of tourists.
2) The humor. There was some real laugh out loud (in a hot mess kinda way) moments
3) The audio narrator was awesome. I don’t think I would have enjoyed this as much if I only read it.
The main character, Jess, actually reminded me a lot of Louisa Clark from the Me Before You books so if you liked Louisa’s character then you will also love Jess.
The audio version is highly recommended if you are in the mood for something light and fun.
This is a I-cant-believe-I-enjoyed-this-so-much kind of book. No, its not deep, its not perfect and its definitely not literary but it allowed me to just switch off and go along for the ride.
There are 3 reasons why I have rounded my rating up:
1) The setting. Chic-lit sent in Cape town? Yes please! I just love how the author portrayed Cape Town and all its wonders. I have had some of my best holidays there and am always thrilled to experience my country through the eyes of tourists.
2) The humor. There was some real laugh out loud (in a hot mess kinda way) moments
3) The audio narrator was awesome. I don’t think I would have enjoyed this as much if I only read it.
The main character, Jess, actually reminded me a lot of Louisa Clark from the Me Before You books so if you liked Louisa’s character then you will also love Jess.
The audio version is highly recommended if you are in the mood for something light and fun.
March 15, 2018
First off, I loved the setting of this novel. Most of it is set in Cape Town, South Africa and it honestly made me want to go there. I love it when novels succeed at making you long to visit a faraway place you haven't been to yet.
Being about 400 pages, Make or Break definitely isn't a thin book but that didn't stop me from flying through it. Jess' life is turned upside down and inside out which made it impossible for me to stop reading.
Even though I saw some twists coming miles off, there also were things I didn't see coming at all. It was refreshing to be surprised in that way because I can honestly tell you that I had not seen a twist like that one before!
Our main character, Jess, has anxiety, which made this book even better in my opinion. Although this isn't actual slam-in-your-face anxiety, I could totally understand why it's hard for both her and the people close to her to cope but it made it equally beautiful to see how she tries to handle everything.
Not to mention the fact that she is brilliant at being funny, bad at being punny and overall just a joy to read about.
I do have to admit that I sometimes struggled with her anxiety but I guess, in a way, that's normal since I don't have to cope with it myself. I also don't have anyone in my environment with anxiety. This made Jess sometimes come across as downright negative, thinking the worst and even the most ridiculous bad things in any situation she found herself in. I understood it, I did, but at times it got tiring to read her rants and... I don't know. I feel bad about getting annoyed by it but I couldn't really help myself?!
4 / 5!
Kathy
Being about 400 pages, Make or Break definitely isn't a thin book but that didn't stop me from flying through it. Jess' life is turned upside down and inside out which made it impossible for me to stop reading.
Even though I saw some twists coming miles off, there also were things I didn't see coming at all. It was refreshing to be surprised in that way because I can honestly tell you that I had not seen a twist like that one before!
Our main character, Jess, has anxiety, which made this book even better in my opinion. Although this isn't actual slam-in-your-face anxiety, I could totally understand why it's hard for both her and the people close to her to cope but it made it equally beautiful to see how she tries to handle everything.
Not to mention the fact that she is brilliant at being funny, bad at being punny and overall just a joy to read about.
I do have to admit that I sometimes struggled with her anxiety but I guess, in a way, that's normal since I don't have to cope with it myself. I also don't have anyone in my environment with anxiety. This made Jess sometimes come across as downright negative, thinking the worst and even the most ridiculous bad things in any situation she found herself in. I understood it, I did, but at times it got tiring to read her rants and... I don't know. I feel bad about getting annoyed by it but I couldn't really help myself?!
4 / 5!
Kathy
August 4, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This was exactly what I needed, escapism with lots of humor, but with just enough deeper issues explored to keep me interested. I listened to the audio version, and Anna Acton (Me Before You) did a brilliant job.
I loved Jess, but sometimes felt her extreme paranoia was a bit too far-fetched. That said, I am really missing her upbeat, zany presence since finishing the book. Another element that I thoroughly enjoyed was that most of the story is set in Cape Town, South Africa. It was lovely reading a book about my country that does not focus on politics, but rather on the beautiful scenery, spectacular wildlife and interesting people.
A great holiday read!
The Story: Jess is a bit of a stress head with a penchant for wild thoughts. So when her boyfriend takes her on a spur of the moment trip to Cape Town, she immediately thinking wedding bells. But that is totally the wrong end of the stick…
I loved Jess, but sometimes felt her extreme paranoia was a bit too far-fetched. That said, I am really missing her upbeat, zany presence since finishing the book. Another element that I thoroughly enjoyed was that most of the story is set in Cape Town, South Africa. It was lovely reading a book about my country that does not focus on politics, but rather on the beautiful scenery, spectacular wildlife and interesting people.
A great holiday read!
The Story: Jess is a bit of a stress head with a penchant for wild thoughts. So when her boyfriend takes her on a spur of the moment trip to Cape Town, she immediately thinking wedding bells. But that is totally the wrong end of the stick…
Read
March 30, 2024DNF 16%. Don't know where this book is going and don't really care.
May 2, 2022
I loved that most of the book was set in Cape Town and for once the focus was on the beautiful scenery, the friendly locals and the incredible food and not the politics of the country.
Jess and her boyfriend Pete has been together for 6 years when they set off for a surprise visit to Cape Town for her friends wedding. Jess is thinking wedding bells but things turn around quickly.
I struggled to connect with the main character and found myself skipping long parts of the book because her inner monologues were a bit to much.
Still, light and easy to read without having to think to much.
Jess and her boyfriend Pete has been together for 6 years when they set off for a surprise visit to Cape Town for her friends wedding. Jess is thinking wedding bells but things turn around quickly.
I struggled to connect with the main character and found myself skipping long parts of the book because her inner monologues were a bit to much.
Still, light and easy to read without having to think to much.
July 4, 2018
Oh this book had me laughing out loud just as much as Catherine Bennetto's last novel, it was so funny and so relatable and just such a great read to cheer me up and entertain! Oh my goodness there were so many twists and turns in this novel I really felt for poor Jess and everything that life was throwing at her, but at the same time, some of those twists turned out to be so entertaining and have such comedy value, it was just hilarious!
Jess was a great character to spend time with and I really felt like the story was being told to me by her as she was recounting it via tweets and texts, even though that's totally not how the book is written, just because I felt like we were friends and I was really hoping that everything would turn out alright for her in the end. Sometimes Jess just can't seem to see what's happening right in front of her and other times I was just so proud of how maturely she handled some of the situations that she was faced with,. I loved the family values that she had and what a loyal friend she was. She was just a lovely character who you definitely want the best for.
There are definitely a couple of other characters in this novel who you will love to hate, and possibly will even boo when they appear on the page and then, to balance that out, there are a couple more who you will fall in love, or at lest in love with and will possibly eve cheer when they appear on the page, the novel is well cast!
I loved the fact that a lot of this book is set in South Africa because Jess i right out of her comfort zone is a beautiful city but also a city with a lot of potential dangers, so many storyline possibilities therefore. I enjoyed reading about the city and about how Jess handles it all.
There is definitely a very strong message of family in this novel too and I loved getting to know how Jess's family ticks and the way they all look our for one another. There's a very positive message of love and respect here and I really enjoyed spending time in this family and friendship group. This was just a really well-rounded, standalone novel that you should definitely invest in to keep you entertained whatever you're doing with your summer!
Jess was a great character to spend time with and I really felt like the story was being told to me by her as she was recounting it via tweets and texts, even though that's totally not how the book is written, just because I felt like we were friends and I was really hoping that everything would turn out alright for her in the end. Sometimes Jess just can't seem to see what's happening right in front of her and other times I was just so proud of how maturely she handled some of the situations that she was faced with,. I loved the family values that she had and what a loyal friend she was. She was just a lovely character who you definitely want the best for.
There are definitely a couple of other characters in this novel who you will love to hate, and possibly will even boo when they appear on the page and then, to balance that out, there are a couple more who you will fall in love, or at lest in love with and will possibly eve cheer when they appear on the page, the novel is well cast!
I loved the fact that a lot of this book is set in South Africa because Jess i right out of her comfort zone is a beautiful city but also a city with a lot of potential dangers, so many storyline possibilities therefore. I enjoyed reading about the city and about how Jess handles it all.
There is definitely a very strong message of family in this novel too and I loved getting to know how Jess's family ticks and the way they all look our for one another. There's a very positive message of love and respect here and I really enjoyed spending time in this family and friendship group. This was just a really well-rounded, standalone novel that you should definitely invest in to keep you entertained whatever you're doing with your summer!
June 17, 2018
4 Stars
I love this author, I really do. How Not to Fall in Love, Actually was easily one of the best books I read last year. So naturally I was excited for this one! Did it match my sky high expectations, it almost did. Was it as good as the first book, not really.
What I did like:-
1) Jess was grade A paranoid with anxiety issues. Although her paranoia later becomes well founded, it made her very realistic and a flawed heroine. Also she was funny, damn funny.
2) The kids in the book. Hunter and Katie were adorable and read worthy. This is something the author did well in the first book too
3) The descriptions of Cape Town, it was simply wonderful. The entire stretch of the wedding, the time with Ian, Diego and Jimmy (Flora especially) were the book's best parts
4) HUMOR, god the snarky sarcasm are not just smirk worthy, you properly laugh out loud
5) The twist within the twist, it was cleverly done. The entire storyline with her father was unexpected and this was both a plus and a minus
What I didn't like:-
1) The minus from above, the father storyline although inventive did not warrant almost 50% of the book. You expect the book to maintain the pace, but midway the mood plummets and the tone becomes serious
2) Some of the descriptions were too elaborate and circuitous, adding almost no value to the story. Jess' job was also not very clear what she was doing on a daily basis in the music industry
3) After the midpoint, the romance is thrown to the sidelines, it doesn't come into focus until the end chapters. I missed the chemistry and fun of the initial chapters.
But overall, brilliant read. I love the author's writing style. Some of the language and cuss words are not for the faint hearted but it had me rolling around laughing. When a book is funny, all the other stuff matters less!
I love this author, I really do. How Not to Fall in Love, Actually was easily one of the best books I read last year. So naturally I was excited for this one! Did it match my sky high expectations, it almost did. Was it as good as the first book, not really.
What I did like:-
1) Jess was grade A paranoid with anxiety issues. Although her paranoia later becomes well founded, it made her very realistic and a flawed heroine. Also she was funny, damn funny.
2) The kids in the book. Hunter and Katie were adorable and read worthy. This is something the author did well in the first book too
3) The descriptions of Cape Town, it was simply wonderful. The entire stretch of the wedding, the time with Ian, Diego and Jimmy (Flora especially) were the book's best parts
4) HUMOR, god the snarky sarcasm are not just smirk worthy, you properly laugh out loud
5) The twist within the twist, it was cleverly done. The entire storyline with her father was unexpected and this was both a plus and a minus
What I didn't like:-
1) The minus from above, the father storyline although inventive did not warrant almost 50% of the book. You expect the book to maintain the pace, but midway the mood plummets and the tone becomes serious
2) Some of the descriptions were too elaborate and circuitous, adding almost no value to the story. Jess' job was also not very clear what she was doing on a daily basis in the music industry
3) After the midpoint, the romance is thrown to the sidelines, it doesn't come into focus until the end chapters. I missed the chemistry and fun of the initial chapters.
But overall, brilliant read. I love the author's writing style. Some of the language and cuss words are not for the faint hearted but it had me rolling around laughing. When a book is funny, all the other stuff matters less!
March 13, 2018
The story had twists I did not see coming and this is definitely not your typical romcom. The writing flowed and this is a book you dont have to think too hard about. However I found the characters superficial (Bennetto tells you rather than shows you and there is no real emotion), the pacing monotonous (stuff happened but there was no building up suspense or reveals), and I just wanted the book to end.
This book had so much potential but unfortunately it was not for me. Thank you netgalley, publishers and author for the eARC.
This book had so much potential but unfortunately it was not for me. Thank you netgalley, publishers and author for the eARC.
March 8, 2018
This wasn't quite the 'bright and bubbly' read I expected - in fact, I did struggle a bit and could have done with it being a bit faster in pace. However, that's only me and others may well love it!
Jess and Pete have been together for six years; a lot of Jess's spare time is given up to assisting her single parent sister with her two children who both need extra help. This has the knock-on effect of meaning that she and Pete must live close by giving Pete a long commute and resulting in them spending not a lot of time together. When her best friend buys them air tickets to South Africa for her wedding, Jess looks upon it as a chance for her and Pete to reconnect. But will they both want the same things from their break in Cape Town?
I adored all the location information - anyone reading this book is bound to be caught up in the beauty and adventure which South Africa offers, but in comparison the story and it's characters just didn't live up to my expectations and I found myself struggling to get through this one which is not like me. This is the first novel by this author I've read and I may tempt myself with another one in case I've stumbled upon a blip.
My thanks to publishers Simon & Schuster UK for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Jess and Pete have been together for six years; a lot of Jess's spare time is given up to assisting her single parent sister with her two children who both need extra help. This has the knock-on effect of meaning that she and Pete must live close by giving Pete a long commute and resulting in them spending not a lot of time together. When her best friend buys them air tickets to South Africa for her wedding, Jess looks upon it as a chance for her and Pete to reconnect. But will they both want the same things from their break in Cape Town?
I adored all the location information - anyone reading this book is bound to be caught up in the beauty and adventure which South Africa offers, but in comparison the story and it's characters just didn't live up to my expectations and I found myself struggling to get through this one which is not like me. This is the first novel by this author I've read and I may tempt myself with another one in case I've stumbled upon a blip.
My thanks to publishers Simon & Schuster UK for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
May 8, 2019
Winner winner!! I loved this book!!! If you love funny, sweet, heartfelt chick lit with some family drama thrown in for good measure then this is your next read, friends! After reading a supposed "laugh-out-loud funny" book last month that was not funny in the slightest, this was just what I needed. I actually did "LOL" in several parts and the two settings of Cape Town, South Africa and London, England were perfect. The narrator did a great job bringing this book to life on Audible!
Jess is flawed but endearing and charming and you will love her and her weird quirks. Your heart will break with her and swell for her as the story goes on. I loved each of these characters (minus Pete) and the sweet chemistry between Jess and Jimmy was undeniable. Jimmy's brother and his partner are so lovable, Annabel (the wayward sister) is a voice of reason, Jess's mom is a little nutty and her dad is carrying a large secret.
Read this one this summer!
Jess is flawed but endearing and charming and you will love her and her weird quirks. Your heart will break with her and swell for her as the story goes on. I loved each of these characters (minus Pete) and the sweet chemistry between Jess and Jimmy was undeniable. Jimmy's brother and his partner are so lovable, Annabel (the wayward sister) is a voice of reason, Jess's mom is a little nutty and her dad is carrying a large secret.
Read this one this summer!
July 29, 2018
I hated the main character all the way through. So irritating.
September 24, 2018
This book was delightfully funny!
I haven’t read Catherine Bennetto before but this book has definitely put her onto my authors to watch list. We meet Jess, who is from London and has been with her boyfriend Pete for many years. When he surprises her with a trip to South Africa to attend her best friend’s wedding, Jess is certain that it means he’s going to propose. Instead she finds herself abandoned in Cape Town as Pete disappears off on an adventure and Jess spots her dad somewhere he’s definitely not meant to be, which puts her mind well into overdrive.
Jess is a fun character who is perhaps a bit prone to anxiety and overthinking, which I think is something we can all relate to. She isn’t interested in some of the more adventurous things that Pete wants to do, such as climbing Table Mountain and going hiking for days. She wanted a relaxing vacation with him with a question popped at the end. Instead of that bliss she finds herself alone and thinking about everything – what on earth is her dad up to and how will she find out? Are she and Pete even an item anymore? Enter bartender Jimmy, who lives in Cape Town with his brother and his brother’s partner, who takes it upon himself to show Jess the real Cape Town. Not just the touristy things, but the places that locals love to eat and hang out at.
Firstly I loved the setting of this novel. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book set in Cape Town specifically before. I’ve read books set in South Africa where Cape Town may be referenced or where they may pass through it but I don’t think it’s been a large chunk before. So I really enjoyed getting to see that and experiencing a lavish wedding there. Jimmy’s brother Ian and his partner Diego are quite well off so they live in a beautiful house with a stunning view but Jimmy also takes Jess on a tour of the more laid back and cheaper sections of Cape Town as well. They eat amazing food, drink cocktails and see the sights. It helps Jess (sort of) forget about the fact that Pete is off doing god knows what with god knows who and helps Jess maybe gain a bit of clarity about their relationship. It’s a very difficult time for her and she has a lot to process but she finds herself a tribe with Jimmy, Ian and Diego and the four of them are so great together.
Jess’ family is a bit unconventional – her sister Annabelle has two children to different fathers, neither of whom stuck around to help with the parenting and one of the children has special needs. So Jess and her mother have always ‘pitched in’ to make sure that Annabelle can cope. Their mother spends large portions of her life seemingly going through hippie style fads and their father works abroad a lot so has been absent for long stretches of their lives. Through unfortunate timing and coincidence, whilst Jess is in South Africa she discovers something about their father which rocks her world. To a lesser extent Annabelle is devastated too but Jess definitely takes it the hardest. It seems to really ramp up her anxiety and stress levels and she struggles to accept what she has uncovered and what it means for her and how many things she’s been told growing up are a lie. Jess really has to deal with quite a lot happening to her in quite a short amount of time but it’s sort of also true that these things also help strengthen her and bring out the best in her, after she’s been through the worst. I really liked her bond with her sister and how the family had all pitched in to help Annabelle and also their reluctance to understand that perhaps that level of involvement was no longer needed. It can be difficult to take a step back from something you’ve been very involved in. And it’s coming at a time of great upheaval and change, which perhaps makes it all the more difficult.
I found this a really entertaining read but with a serious side too, which gave it some added depth. I enjoyed it a huge amount – I really want to read Catherine Bennetto’s first novel, How Not To Fall In Love, Actually and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for her future releases.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
I haven’t read Catherine Bennetto before but this book has definitely put her onto my authors to watch list. We meet Jess, who is from London and has been with her boyfriend Pete for many years. When he surprises her with a trip to South Africa to attend her best friend’s wedding, Jess is certain that it means he’s going to propose. Instead she finds herself abandoned in Cape Town as Pete disappears off on an adventure and Jess spots her dad somewhere he’s definitely not meant to be, which puts her mind well into overdrive.
Jess is a fun character who is perhaps a bit prone to anxiety and overthinking, which I think is something we can all relate to. She isn’t interested in some of the more adventurous things that Pete wants to do, such as climbing Table Mountain and going hiking for days. She wanted a relaxing vacation with him with a question popped at the end. Instead of that bliss she finds herself alone and thinking about everything – what on earth is her dad up to and how will she find out? Are she and Pete even an item anymore? Enter bartender Jimmy, who lives in Cape Town with his brother and his brother’s partner, who takes it upon himself to show Jess the real Cape Town. Not just the touristy things, but the places that locals love to eat and hang out at.
Firstly I loved the setting of this novel. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book set in Cape Town specifically before. I’ve read books set in South Africa where Cape Town may be referenced or where they may pass through it but I don’t think it’s been a large chunk before. So I really enjoyed getting to see that and experiencing a lavish wedding there. Jimmy’s brother Ian and his partner Diego are quite well off so they live in a beautiful house with a stunning view but Jimmy also takes Jess on a tour of the more laid back and cheaper sections of Cape Town as well. They eat amazing food, drink cocktails and see the sights. It helps Jess (sort of) forget about the fact that Pete is off doing god knows what with god knows who and helps Jess maybe gain a bit of clarity about their relationship. It’s a very difficult time for her and she has a lot to process but she finds herself a tribe with Jimmy, Ian and Diego and the four of them are so great together.
Jess’ family is a bit unconventional – her sister Annabelle has two children to different fathers, neither of whom stuck around to help with the parenting and one of the children has special needs. So Jess and her mother have always ‘pitched in’ to make sure that Annabelle can cope. Their mother spends large portions of her life seemingly going through hippie style fads and their father works abroad a lot so has been absent for long stretches of their lives. Through unfortunate timing and coincidence, whilst Jess is in South Africa she discovers something about their father which rocks her world. To a lesser extent Annabelle is devastated too but Jess definitely takes it the hardest. It seems to really ramp up her anxiety and stress levels and she struggles to accept what she has uncovered and what it means for her and how many things she’s been told growing up are a lie. Jess really has to deal with quite a lot happening to her in quite a short amount of time but it’s sort of also true that these things also help strengthen her and bring out the best in her, after she’s been through the worst. I really liked her bond with her sister and how the family had all pitched in to help Annabelle and also their reluctance to understand that perhaps that level of involvement was no longer needed. It can be difficult to take a step back from something you’ve been very involved in. And it’s coming at a time of great upheaval and change, which perhaps makes it all the more difficult.
I found this a really entertaining read but with a serious side too, which gave it some added depth. I enjoyed it a huge amount – I really want to read Catherine Bennetto’s first novel, How Not To Fall In Love, Actually and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for her future releases.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
July 15, 2018
After reading her first novel, How Not To Fall In Love, Actually, I was really looking forward to read more by Catherine Bennetto and I wasn’t disappointed because MAKE OR BREAK is a brilliant and completely absorbing novel and I’d like to thank Simon & Schuster UK and Harriett Collins for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for providing me with a copy of the book.
I laughed so much reading this book. If you are like me and you read during your commute, expect strange looks from people around you who don’t understand why you giggle every couple of minutes while reading a book.
Jess leaves for a holiday to South Africa with her boyfriend Pete to attend her best friend’s wedding and also to spend some quality time with Pete. But noyhing goes as planned, starting from the airport, and she also manages to antagonize the entire cabin crew during her flight. Luckily, not everything goes wrong and Jess not only finds new friends, but she takes the reader with her in her exploration of the beautiful African country: from music festivals to food markets, from safari to beaches with penguins walking and swimming around.
The protagonist of the novel is Jess. Let me say right away that I really loved this character. She is down-to-earth and funny. She has internal conversation with her wicked self and also with a dog called Flora. She is caring and selfless, spending all her free time helping her sister Annabelle to take care of her two young children. She suffers from anxiety and she sees the most dramatic outcome in every situation. The outcomes she comes up with are so funny that I can’t help but share some of my favourite: from poachers shooting her because, somehow, they mistake her for a rhino to her sister ending up in jail because Jess went to South Africa and nobody was checking on Annabelle’s 7-year-old son Hunter (probably) googling “how to make a bomb”. And let’s not forget a very disastrous butterfly effect in which a butterfly flaps her wings in Kent causing a chunk in Australia to break off and families to be divided and new maps to be drawn.
The characters are hilarious and very likable and the plot is completely entertaining. I laughed from the first to the last page and, even during some emotional scenes, the author manages to insert some humourism that is not out of order and lightens up the situation. MAKE OR BREAK is a refreshing, witty, and compulsive read and I am already looking forward to whatever the author writes next.
I laughed so much reading this book. If you are like me and you read during your commute, expect strange looks from people around you who don’t understand why you giggle every couple of minutes while reading a book.
Jess leaves for a holiday to South Africa with her boyfriend Pete to attend her best friend’s wedding and also to spend some quality time with Pete. But noyhing goes as planned, starting from the airport, and she also manages to antagonize the entire cabin crew during her flight. Luckily, not everything goes wrong and Jess not only finds new friends, but she takes the reader with her in her exploration of the beautiful African country: from music festivals to food markets, from safari to beaches with penguins walking and swimming around.
The protagonist of the novel is Jess. Let me say right away that I really loved this character. She is down-to-earth and funny. She has internal conversation with her wicked self and also with a dog called Flora. She is caring and selfless, spending all her free time helping her sister Annabelle to take care of her two young children. She suffers from anxiety and she sees the most dramatic outcome in every situation. The outcomes she comes up with are so funny that I can’t help but share some of my favourite: from poachers shooting her because, somehow, they mistake her for a rhino to her sister ending up in jail because Jess went to South Africa and nobody was checking on Annabelle’s 7-year-old son Hunter (probably) googling “how to make a bomb”. And let’s not forget a very disastrous butterfly effect in which a butterfly flaps her wings in Kent causing a chunk in Australia to break off and families to be divided and new maps to be drawn.
The characters are hilarious and very likable and the plot is completely entertaining. I laughed from the first to the last page and, even during some emotional scenes, the author manages to insert some humourism that is not out of order and lightens up the situation. MAKE OR BREAK is a refreshing, witty, and compulsive read and I am already looking forward to whatever the author writes next.
June 28, 2020
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free for a Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Simon and Schuster for my copy of this book. This is the first book I have read by Catherine but it will not be the last.
At first I found Jess quite a difficult character to get to know. She is constantly paranoid and seems to over think everything but as I got to know her, her walls seemed to break down and she became very likeable. I was really rooting for her by the end of the book.
I've never been to Cape Town, where a lot of this book is set. To be honest I've never considered it as a destination for myself but Jess' adventures there made me want to go and do all the things she does. All the things the locals do rather than the classic overpriced touristy things.
This book has ALL the emotions. I was angry, I was sad, I laughed, I cried and now it's all over and I don't know what to do with myself. There were some characters I instantly hated (Pete) and some I instantly loved (Diego). There are some absolute hilarious parts of this book. I literally laughed for 5 minutes when Jess' mum explained why they didn't grow up with a dog. Honestly one of the best conversations I have read.
I really enjoyed Catherine's writing style. It has been likened to Lindsey Kelk, who is one of my all time favourite authors and I can totally see that. The story is about more than just love. It's about family and things not always going your way. It's real and it's hard but that's why I enjoyed this book so much. I know I will be buying and reading more of Catherine's books in the future.
At first I found Jess quite a difficult character to get to know. She is constantly paranoid and seems to over think everything but as I got to know her, her walls seemed to break down and she became very likeable. I was really rooting for her by the end of the book.
I've never been to Cape Town, where a lot of this book is set. To be honest I've never considered it as a destination for myself but Jess' adventures there made me want to go and do all the things she does. All the things the locals do rather than the classic overpriced touristy things.
This book has ALL the emotions. I was angry, I was sad, I laughed, I cried and now it's all over and I don't know what to do with myself. There were some characters I instantly hated (Pete) and some I instantly loved (Diego). There are some absolute hilarious parts of this book. I literally laughed for 5 minutes when Jess' mum explained why they didn't grow up with a dog. Honestly one of the best conversations I have read.
I really enjoyed Catherine's writing style. It has been likened to Lindsey Kelk, who is one of my all time favourite authors and I can totally see that. The story is about more than just love. It's about family and things not always going your way. It's real and it's hard but that's why I enjoyed this book so much. I know I will be buying and reading more of Catherine's books in the future.
July 27, 2018
The story opens with Jess promising to help her sister look after her two young children whilst Jess' mother and their grandmother looks for respite at a health retreat. Next, Jess is whisked away to South Africa for a friend's wedding. It's not quite the seven year itch for Jess and Pete (it's only six years for starters), but the cracks are there and it's telling in how realistic the dialogue is; awkward, barbed, and full of compromise.
When Jess spots her father, she phones him, and there is that awkward moment where he lies where he is. Jess' relationship woes intertwined with extensive family side-tangents keep you occupied and entertained. I was Team Jess the entire time (and I couldn't wait for Pete to fall from a great height. Spoiler: he was at no point in any danger, such a shame!).
It feels that as Jess' story is coming to an end - there is still another third of the book to go. When Jess returns to London, her life is even more complicated.
A lovely woven tale of love (new, old, and familial).
A life affirming romantic comedy – it leaves you thinking life is too short to not swim, even if that happens to be with sharks, rather than dolphins.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Having been to South Africa I was envious that my own travels didn't make it to Cape Town – Catherine describes the it as a wonderful and beautiful destination.
Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review.
When Jess spots her father, she phones him, and there is that awkward moment where he lies where he is. Jess' relationship woes intertwined with extensive family side-tangents keep you occupied and entertained. I was Team Jess the entire time (and I couldn't wait for Pete to fall from a great height. Spoiler: he was at no point in any danger, such a shame!).
It feels that as Jess' story is coming to an end - there is still another third of the book to go. When Jess returns to London, her life is even more complicated.
A lovely woven tale of love (new, old, and familial).
A life affirming romantic comedy – it leaves you thinking life is too short to not swim, even if that happens to be with sharks, rather than dolphins.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Having been to South Africa I was envious that my own travels didn't make it to Cape Town – Catherine describes the it as a wonderful and beautiful destination.
Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review.
April 21, 2019
Catherine Bennetto's second romcom, set around a South African holiday that fails to live up to expectations, is a great ride!! Jess and Pete have reached that "Make or Break" point in their long romance - either take it to the next step and get married or accept they've run their course and go their separate ways - only Jess isn't willing to acknowledge it.
She is nerve-rackingly anticipating the marriage proposal any day. And what better time than on a surprise dream holiday to celebrate your best friend's wedding?
But things don't at all go according to plan for the over-anxious, close-to-obsessive compulsive Jess, who sees a tsunami threat with every wave. I must say that this tendency to overwrought analysis of every little happening sometimes did get irritating, but it gave a good insight into how people that suffer in this way see the world, and the outcome of the story is worth holding on for. A satisfying denouement, because it all works out in the end!!
Fresh, witty, lively, funny, Catherine's is a welcome new voice in romantic comedy.
Catherine gives the same witty take on her writing talking on The Joys of Binge Reading podcast, https://thejoysofbingereading.com/cat...
She is nerve-rackingly anticipating the marriage proposal any day. And what better time than on a surprise dream holiday to celebrate your best friend's wedding?
But things don't at all go according to plan for the over-anxious, close-to-obsessive compulsive Jess, who sees a tsunami threat with every wave. I must say that this tendency to overwrought analysis of every little happening sometimes did get irritating, but it gave a good insight into how people that suffer in this way see the world, and the outcome of the story is worth holding on for. A satisfying denouement, because it all works out in the end!!
Fresh, witty, lively, funny, Catherine's is a welcome new voice in romantic comedy.
Catherine gives the same witty take on her writing talking on The Joys of Binge Reading podcast, https://thejoysofbingereading.com/cat...
September 20, 2018
If you’ve had a staycation this year and fancy the feeling of warm sun on your bones, then plonk yourself down on the sofa, pull the curtains to hide those drab, Autumnal evenings and settle down with Make Or Break – you won’t be disappointed.
Jess, the main character, is a 29-year-old human form of Chicken Licken! She gets whisked away by her steady boyfriend Pete to her best friend’s wedding in South Africa. Dreaming of returning to London with a rock the size of Table Mountain on her third finger, left hand, the romantic holiday didn’t go exactly to plan! Worse still, when Jess returns to home, she finds her whole life has turned upside down!
Initially I have to say that Jess drove me mad – her anxiety I saw as negativity, but she was written in such a way that it was impossible not to care for her and want life to turn out ok.
The setting of the book was amazing, and in my head, I could clearly see the view of the beach from Ian and Diego’s balcony, the description of all the places in South Africa were so vivid and real.
This is a lovely, feel-good story that wasn’t typically saccharine sweet – but was punchy and edgy. Would really recommend this.
March 8, 2018
I loved it!! I've been waiting for her second book after reading Catherine Bennetto's "How Not to Fall in Love, Actually" last year. And this one did not disappoint!
The book had such a nice balance of fun rom-com and a family issue dealt with in a very real life way. I won't give anything away, but it was refreshing that it had that extra depth that stopped it being just a fun holiday read.
It's one of those great reads that play out so vividly in your head - my god I wanted my own Jimmy!!! A delicious novel that I devoured in one sitting (thank you, long plane ride!)
The book had such a nice balance of fun rom-com and a family issue dealt with in a very real life way. I won't give anything away, but it was refreshing that it had that extra depth that stopped it being just a fun holiday read.
It's one of those great reads that play out so vividly in your head - my god I wanted my own Jimmy!!! A delicious novel that I devoured in one sitting (thank you, long plane ride!)
April 15, 2018
This book was brilliant! (lunges to read ms Benetto's first book) Jess and her Capetonian shenanigans were definitely worth watching out :D Her OTT theatricals were HILARIOUS (as a voluntary drama queen myself I GET HER)
Jimmy was gorgeous and soooo cool (I want one) My favourite charcters were definitely Hunter, Diego and Ian,Pete and his posse of animal-named adventure junkies were just N.O!
I loved loved LOVED it!
*****
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Jimmy was gorgeous and soooo cool (I want one) My favourite charcters were definitely Hunter, Diego and Ian,Pete and his posse of animal-named adventure junkies were just N.O!
I loved loved LOVED it!
*****
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
September 1, 2019
4.5 Stars...
January 15, 2020
A little cheesy, a little predictable, but with plenty of humour and cuteness. A light read I really enjoyed.
May 11, 2019
Review
Only dive into this book if you feel a need to be highly annoyed and frustrated. The viewpoint character is not merely flawed; she is deeply selfish, arrogant, self-centered, judgmental, mean, melodramatic, demanding, self-obsessed, and extremely fond of being angry. Her endless insistence on spinning irritating thoughts and flogging others with them truly stretches a reader’s patience. It is painful to watch her torment those around her, making all situations exclusively about herself, no matter how mean and hurtful it is to others. The author over-indulges in these scenes to an extreme and in excruciating detail. They are torture. I found myself applauding Pete for running away from her. Never ever stay with someone who belittles and discounts your dreams, Pete. And I hoped against how these books go that Jimmy would realize that he deserves a kind, loving woman and not this soul-sucking cyclone of profound selfishness. Readers, don’t waste your energy on this entirely predictable mess.
Only dive into this book if you feel a need to be highly annoyed and frustrated. The viewpoint character is not merely flawed; she is deeply selfish, arrogant, self-centered, judgmental, mean, melodramatic, demanding, self-obsessed, and extremely fond of being angry. Her endless insistence on spinning irritating thoughts and flogging others with them truly stretches a reader’s patience. It is painful to watch her torment those around her, making all situations exclusively about herself, no matter how mean and hurtful it is to others. The author over-indulges in these scenes to an extreme and in excruciating detail. They are torture. I found myself applauding Pete for running away from her. Never ever stay with someone who belittles and discounts your dreams, Pete. And I hoped against how these books go that Jimmy would realize that he deserves a kind, loving woman and not this soul-sucking cyclone of profound selfishness. Readers, don’t waste your energy on this entirely predictable mess.
January 22, 2019
This book has some hilarious, laugh out loud one-liners and surprise plot twists. In parts it reads like a love letter to Capetown and it really makes me want to go there. But it felt a bit too much like a must do and see list of Capetown and also perhaps glosses way too much over the issues SA faces...the only black South African characters (as far as I could tell ) Trust and Pamela were a ) an ever present and affable driver and b) a housekeeper. While Trust's home situation was mentioned briefly I felt like these characters fell too easily into sterotypes of 'helpful, non-political' black folk who are all too happy to help their white (ok so Priya is not white but she is English and affluent) employees.
July 28, 2018
Everything a good chick lit should be, easy to read, a little cheesy, a little predictable, but filled with warm moments and relatable comic bursts. Perfect holiday reading.
May 14, 2019
Great story, light hearted and easy to be pulled into the characters lives but also deals with a couple of sensitive subject's in a loving way. I highly recommend a read.
October 10, 2019
I loved the setting of this book and the descriptions of south Africa. The family dynamic was interesting and I liked the way it ended.
July 12, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Ohhhhhh this book!!!! ‘Make or Break’ may be a fair size with approximately 480 odd pages, but it’s 480 pages of sheer gold. Not exaggerating in the slightest. I have enjoyed Catherine Bennetto’s previous novel, but in all honesty, ‘Make or Break’ is my favourite one so far as the humour is AH-MAZE-ING! Not only did I laugh out loud, I ended up sniggering behind my book in case my daughter asked me what I was laughing at, and I couldn’t exactly turn around and go ‘oh I’m just laughing at the fact that zebras have black cocks’. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be googling that round about……now! Yes, it’s jaw dropping – of course I had to check that the author had indeed researched said fact! What kind of reader do you think I am? 😉 Oh, and did you know that if you ask Google whether zebras do in fact, have black cocks, this book comes up in the search! How fab is that! Don’t worry, I’m not fixated on this one piece of information from the book, but I did enlighten my postman to this fact thanks to ‘Make Or Break’, so it’s pretty much a double whammy really, isn’t it?!
Anyway, yes, I flip-flopping LOVED this book! I also thought that Pete was a grade-A chocolate starfish! Yes, Jess is the type of character who resembles a life size tub of marmite due to her personality, but I really didn’t think she deserved to be treated the way she was. She should have chucked a dictionary at him so that he could learn the correct definition of ‘reconnect’! I couldn’t help but laugh at the things that Jess came out with, finding myself nod along to her random outbursts with ‘omg that’s me’ going over and over in my mind. You know the type of people who would find any reason to talk, even if they had just gotten up? Jess is like that, but more fun and more bonkers (even if she does have a tendency to go from 0-1000 in 0.000001 seconds).
The idea of going to South Africa for a holiday has never really crossed my mind….until I read this! I even found myself Googling South African safaris and then wondering which body part of mine will fetch the most money. Jokes. I wouldn’t sell a body part but ohmygoodness, the descriptions of the safari and the overall country just blew me away. Never mind researching from Google, I hazard a guess that Catherine Bennetto actually went to South Africa as her descriptions led to vivid imagery which were clearly written from own experiences.
I know that I keep saying how much I found ‘Make or Break’ funny, there is quite a deep theme running throughout the majority of the book. I won’t say what that is, obviously, but it is certainly a topic that will no doubt get readers talking amongst themselves. I had my own opinions on the subject whilst I read it, but even now I have finished the book, I still have no idea what I would have done in that situation. It is a rather complex one, but thankfully Catherine Bennetto has laced it with a bit of humour to keep the balance. I say ‘a bit’….you might say different!
‘Make or Break’ put a smile back on my face after a very difficult and stressful week. I loved how diverse the characters and situations were as it was like a breath of fresh air, seeming like the author had thought ‘stuff it, I’m writing it’. And I do mean that in a good way! For me personally, it was as though the author saw the line of what society finds acceptable, and built her own town over that line as if to say ‘ffffff………you’. I loved it, I really did.
Honestly, I cannot fault this book at all. I am gutted it had to finish, but I have everything crossed that Catherine Bennetto is writing another novel as I type – I’m having withdrawal symptoms already. Look, I loved it so much that I would quite happily re-read it multiple times, and I do not usually do that! I don’t think I’ll ever get bored with Jess’ reactions to the safari animals, Greta’s loose tongue and Bennetto’s humour.
You know the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? That is filled with stars I would love to give this book, unfortunately retail sites will only accept five, but you can’t say that the thought wasn’t there. ‘Make or Break’ is truly a fabulous, free-spirited, addictive, laugh-out-loud read that will make you feel as though you have won the lottery ten times over.
Ohhhhhh this book!!!! ‘Make or Break’ may be a fair size with approximately 480 odd pages, but it’s 480 pages of sheer gold. Not exaggerating in the slightest. I have enjoyed Catherine Bennetto’s previous novel, but in all honesty, ‘Make or Break’ is my favourite one so far as the humour is AH-MAZE-ING! Not only did I laugh out loud, I ended up sniggering behind my book in case my daughter asked me what I was laughing at, and I couldn’t exactly turn around and go ‘oh I’m just laughing at the fact that zebras have black cocks’. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be googling that round about……now! Yes, it’s jaw dropping – of course I had to check that the author had indeed researched said fact! What kind of reader do you think I am? 😉 Oh, and did you know that if you ask Google whether zebras do in fact, have black cocks, this book comes up in the search! How fab is that! Don’t worry, I’m not fixated on this one piece of information from the book, but I did enlighten my postman to this fact thanks to ‘Make Or Break’, so it’s pretty much a double whammy really, isn’t it?!
Anyway, yes, I flip-flopping LOVED this book! I also thought that Pete was a grade-A chocolate starfish! Yes, Jess is the type of character who resembles a life size tub of marmite due to her personality, but I really didn’t think she deserved to be treated the way she was. She should have chucked a dictionary at him so that he could learn the correct definition of ‘reconnect’! I couldn’t help but laugh at the things that Jess came out with, finding myself nod along to her random outbursts with ‘omg that’s me’ going over and over in my mind. You know the type of people who would find any reason to talk, even if they had just gotten up? Jess is like that, but more fun and more bonkers (even if she does have a tendency to go from 0-1000 in 0.000001 seconds).
The idea of going to South Africa for a holiday has never really crossed my mind….until I read this! I even found myself Googling South African safaris and then wondering which body part of mine will fetch the most money. Jokes. I wouldn’t sell a body part but ohmygoodness, the descriptions of the safari and the overall country just blew me away. Never mind researching from Google, I hazard a guess that Catherine Bennetto actually went to South Africa as her descriptions led to vivid imagery which were clearly written from own experiences.
I know that I keep saying how much I found ‘Make or Break’ funny, there is quite a deep theme running throughout the majority of the book. I won’t say what that is, obviously, but it is certainly a topic that will no doubt get readers talking amongst themselves. I had my own opinions on the subject whilst I read it, but even now I have finished the book, I still have no idea what I would have done in that situation. It is a rather complex one, but thankfully Catherine Bennetto has laced it with a bit of humour to keep the balance. I say ‘a bit’….you might say different!
‘Make or Break’ put a smile back on my face after a very difficult and stressful week. I loved how diverse the characters and situations were as it was like a breath of fresh air, seeming like the author had thought ‘stuff it, I’m writing it’. And I do mean that in a good way! For me personally, it was as though the author saw the line of what society finds acceptable, and built her own town over that line as if to say ‘ffffff………you’. I loved it, I really did.
Honestly, I cannot fault this book at all. I am gutted it had to finish, but I have everything crossed that Catherine Bennetto is writing another novel as I type – I’m having withdrawal symptoms already. Look, I loved it so much that I would quite happily re-read it multiple times, and I do not usually do that! I don’t think I’ll ever get bored with Jess’ reactions to the safari animals, Greta’s loose tongue and Bennetto’s humour.
You know the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? That is filled with stars I would love to give this book, unfortunately retail sites will only accept five, but you can’t say that the thought wasn’t there. ‘Make or Break’ is truly a fabulous, free-spirited, addictive, laugh-out-loud read that will make you feel as though you have won the lottery ten times over.
June 30, 2020
What made this book so great? This is the first fictional book that I have read that features Cape Town specifically and South Africa in a broader sense. I enjoyed learning about a place that sounds fascinating especially through the funny lens of a shark-phobic, snake- phobic kindred spirit. The South African setting strongly contributed to my enjoyment.
Jess, the heroine, was clever and humorous. The other characters were three dimensional and I fell in love with several of the supporting characters, especially Diego, Lucy and (gasp) even Flora. Jess, rather than her romantic life really takes center stage in this book.
I listened to this as an audiobook which is a different experience than reading an ebook. Sometimes an audiobook improves the experience, and sometimes it ruins it. In this case, I enjoyed the narrator’s storytelling and preferred listening over reading . I kept getting snagged by the British pronunciations of words that differ from my American versions, most noticeably “Zay brah” (vs “Zee Bra.”)
The book felt like it was two parts; not only in the setting between (largely) South Africa in the first part and London in the second part but also in the focus. The first part centers mostly around her love life while her relationship with her family takes center stage in the second.
Readers who want full frontal focus on love story will possibly be disappointed and the sex that occurs is not steamy detailed rather alluded to. I’ve become accustomed to the love story on center stage in recent romance reads, but I adapted here. The author did such a good job of addressing the complicated matters of the heart. I received a valuable reminder to pondering how the way we behave affects who is in our lives.
Although I think I would have appreciated a bit more tightening in editing, (and by that I mean letting go of some sentences that added bulk without enough story enhancement, particularly the descriptions of the people at the bar where Jimmy worked,) I found Catherine Bennetts’s tale to be entertaining, thoughtful, thought-provoking and damn funny!
Last, I have gotten into the bad habit of reading the ending before I’m very far along in a book. Even though I know most books that I read are going to have a “happily ever after” sort of ending, my threshold for tension is eased if I can be assured of HEA early with my own eyes. Based on the title, I thought it was possible that the author might surprise me regarding what happens to Jess. I resisted the urge to skip ahead and I’m really glad I did.
While the plot seemed fairly eccentric, the author resisted going over the top with aspects of Jess’ life. For example, I liked how she wrote the relationship between Jess and her boss. Similarly, I liked the relationships created between Priya and Laurel as well as Ian and Diego. The author seems to have a gift for one on one relationship building.
Jess, the heroine, was clever and humorous. The other characters were three dimensional and I fell in love with several of the supporting characters, especially Diego, Lucy and (gasp) even Flora. Jess, rather than her romantic life really takes center stage in this book.
I listened to this as an audiobook which is a different experience than reading an ebook. Sometimes an audiobook improves the experience, and sometimes it ruins it. In this case, I enjoyed the narrator’s storytelling and preferred listening over reading . I kept getting snagged by the British pronunciations of words that differ from my American versions, most noticeably “Zay brah” (vs “Zee Bra.”)
The book felt like it was two parts; not only in the setting between (largely) South Africa in the first part and London in the second part but also in the focus. The first part centers mostly around her love life while her relationship with her family takes center stage in the second.
Readers who want full frontal focus on love story will possibly be disappointed and the sex that occurs is not steamy detailed rather alluded to. I’ve become accustomed to the love story on center stage in recent romance reads, but I adapted here. The author did such a good job of addressing the complicated matters of the heart. I received a valuable reminder to pondering how the way we behave affects who is in our lives.
Although I think I would have appreciated a bit more tightening in editing, (and by that I mean letting go of some sentences that added bulk without enough story enhancement, particularly the descriptions of the people at the bar where Jimmy worked,) I found Catherine Bennetts’s tale to be entertaining, thoughtful, thought-provoking and damn funny!
Last, I have gotten into the bad habit of reading the ending before I’m very far along in a book. Even though I know most books that I read are going to have a “happily ever after” sort of ending, my threshold for tension is eased if I can be assured of HEA early with my own eyes. Based on the title, I thought it was possible that the author might surprise me regarding what happens to Jess. I resisted the urge to skip ahead and I’m really glad I did.
While the plot seemed fairly eccentric, the author resisted going over the top with aspects of Jess’ life. For example, I liked how she wrote the relationship between Jess and her boss. Similarly, I liked the relationships created between Priya and Laurel as well as Ian and Diego. The author seems to have a gift for one on one relationship building.
September 22, 2018
Mixed feelings on this one, it had comparisons with Sophie Kinsella/Lindsay Kelk books and she definitely emulated their style but it just wasn't as polished or complete. It was very funny in parts but the central character Jess was so weak and unbelievable. She is so paranoid and over complicates things so much that it bordered on silliness and I'm not surprised her boyfriend Pete did a runner in the end.
Having been sent tickets for them both to attend Jess' best friends wedding in South Africa, Jess and Pete have an opportunity to re-connect and get their relationship on track. After 6 years of being together it seems that Pete has taken a back seat to Jess' sister who is a single parent with 2 children and who needs all the help she can get and Jess and her mother practically live in her sisters apartment organising her daily life. With a full time job and her obligations to her sister there is really little time left for anything/anyone else.
Jess is harbouring thoughts of returning with an engagement ring on her finger, Pete had different ideas once he was there. Pete is not a likeable character, he comes across as very selfish albeit that I did understand with all her baggage and her infuriatingly childish behaviour and obsessions Jess could be a bit heavy going.
The first half of the book was a bit slow and I believe it could have been a lot shorter without the unnecessary protracted thoughts Jess had on almost every subject and level - it was annoying.
Secondary characters were good, I loved Diago and his character was so well described that I could actually picture him - great descriptive writing. I liked Jimmy but honestly if I were a man I would have steered clear of this kook. Having never been to South Africa I found the descriptions made me want to visit and experience all it has to offer.
Some really good laugh out loud moments but equally some frustrating 'pull yourself together' moments that didn't allow this novel to satisfy me - it's quite predictable but worth a read especially on a plane or by the pool - gets a 3 from me.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
Having been sent tickets for them both to attend Jess' best friends wedding in South Africa, Jess and Pete have an opportunity to re-connect and get their relationship on track. After 6 years of being together it seems that Pete has taken a back seat to Jess' sister who is a single parent with 2 children and who needs all the help she can get and Jess and her mother practically live in her sisters apartment organising her daily life. With a full time job and her obligations to her sister there is really little time left for anything/anyone else.
Jess is harbouring thoughts of returning with an engagement ring on her finger, Pete had different ideas once he was there. Pete is not a likeable character, he comes across as very selfish albeit that I did understand with all her baggage and her infuriatingly childish behaviour and obsessions Jess could be a bit heavy going.
The first half of the book was a bit slow and I believe it could have been a lot shorter without the unnecessary protracted thoughts Jess had on almost every subject and level - it was annoying.
Secondary characters were good, I loved Diago and his character was so well described that I could actually picture him - great descriptive writing. I liked Jimmy but honestly if I were a man I would have steered clear of this kook. Having never been to South Africa I found the descriptions made me want to visit and experience all it has to offer.
Some really good laugh out loud moments but equally some frustrating 'pull yourself together' moments that didn't allow this novel to satisfy me - it's quite predictable but worth a read especially on a plane or by the pool - gets a 3 from me.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2021
Time taken to read - 2 days
Pages - 496
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Source - Gifted/comp
Blurb from Goodreads
Jess, a 29-year-old Londoner with a Kate Beckett fringe and a tendency for dramatics, gets taken on a surprise trip by her long-term boyfriend, Pete, to attend her best friend’s last-minute wedding in South Africa. Jess imagines sun, sand, wine and safaris. And returning to London with an ethically mined diamond on her left hand...
But this holiday isn’t set to be quite the fairy tale Jess has planned... Suddenly she finds her world tilting on its axis, and things are only set to get worse when Jess returns home…
When the truth comes out, will it be... Make or Break?
My Review
Finally a holiday for Jess & Pete - her whole life revolves around her job and helping out her sister and kids. Could this be the holiday he finally proposes then everything will be great, her job (music industry) is fab, her sisters kids are the nucleus of the family, what could possibly go wrong? Well the holiday (Cape Town, South Africa) is beautiful but things don't go great early on - they are there for their friends wedding and that is the only thing they really have scheduled together. Soon is seems they aren't spending much time together and drama galore unfolds.
There is a lot of banter, jokes, crassness/vulgarity (there's a word), she has so much anxiety I think will wind some readers up yet others will find her super relatable to. Family orientated but an absolute riot at times we go on a bit of a rollercoaster with her. Friendship, relationships, family, choas - Cape Town sounds lovely, It isn't a location I have ever thought of but after reading this I would like to see it.
Some of the book made me laugh out loud, some gave me the boke, I cringed, I was mortified, I was annoyed by Jess, I wanted to slap her, I wanted to hug her. This was my first time reading Bennetto, I would read her again. Poolside reading although it touches on a fair few issues and as long as bad language and sex themes doesn't bother you I think you will get a kick out of this, 3/5 for me.
Pages - 496
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Source - Gifted/comp
Blurb from Goodreads
Jess, a 29-year-old Londoner with a Kate Beckett fringe and a tendency for dramatics, gets taken on a surprise trip by her long-term boyfriend, Pete, to attend her best friend’s last-minute wedding in South Africa. Jess imagines sun, sand, wine and safaris. And returning to London with an ethically mined diamond on her left hand...
But this holiday isn’t set to be quite the fairy tale Jess has planned... Suddenly she finds her world tilting on its axis, and things are only set to get worse when Jess returns home…
When the truth comes out, will it be... Make or Break?
My Review
Finally a holiday for Jess & Pete - her whole life revolves around her job and helping out her sister and kids. Could this be the holiday he finally proposes then everything will be great, her job (music industry) is fab, her sisters kids are the nucleus of the family, what could possibly go wrong? Well the holiday (Cape Town, South Africa) is beautiful but things don't go great early on - they are there for their friends wedding and that is the only thing they really have scheduled together. Soon is seems they aren't spending much time together and drama galore unfolds.
There is a lot of banter, jokes, crassness/vulgarity (there's a word), she has so much anxiety I think will wind some readers up yet others will find her super relatable to. Family orientated but an absolute riot at times we go on a bit of a rollercoaster with her. Friendship, relationships, family, choas - Cape Town sounds lovely, It isn't a location I have ever thought of but after reading this I would like to see it.
Some of the book made me laugh out loud, some gave me the boke, I cringed, I was mortified, I was annoyed by Jess, I wanted to slap her, I wanted to hug her. This was my first time reading Bennetto, I would read her again. Poolside reading although it touches on a fair few issues and as long as bad language and sex themes doesn't bother you I think you will get a kick out of this, 3/5 for me.
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