What's it gonna be?: A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy set in Mauritius

by Cassandra Piat

Lucy - quirky, scatter-brained and witty - is in a rut. Matt, her boyfriend of four years, is terrified of the ''M'' word and refuses to talk about tying the knot. Her job is about as exciting as shaving her legs and she feels like she's going nowhere fast. So she decides to shake things up a bit and before she knows it she finds herself waking up next to a stranger, going on a blind date, meeting a gorgeous Englishman and getting her very own creepy love-struck stalker!

Filled with fun, humour and a cast of zany characters, What's it Gonna Be? is a wonderful, sincere and light-hearted tale of friendship, growth and love - with a lovely touch of Mauritius...

Genres: Romance, Humor

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2014

About the author

Visit my Facebook page and become a fan
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I am a part-time English Tutor and a full-time disorganised mother and housewife!! I spend my life trying to remember not to forget the 101 things on my Things-to-do list - but seem to fail spectacularly most of the time! Whenever I have some free time I am either with my head in a book, or on my computer creating my own books!

I am big fan of rom-com books. I just love books that make me laugh and that leave me feeling happy. My favourite authors are Cecilia Ahern, Jill Mansell, Sophie Kinsella, Susan Elizabeth Philips, Judith Mc Naught... and many more.

I live in Mauritius with my husband and three children. This is my first book but I am currently working on my second one as I write!

Thank you to all you readers who have read my book. I just really hope you enjoyed it and ended it with a feel-good feeling and that you had a few laughs along the way. If you can, it would be wonderful if you left a review somewhere about the book as it would really help me out.

Reviews

[Nico Genes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Interesting plot, great descriptions, and nice setting. This beautiful relaxing book makes you rather feel that you are watching a romantic comedy movie. The main character, Lucy, is a young, beautiful, funny, clumsy, curious, smart but no so the workaholic type of person, and a good friend to have around. She has also Matt by her side, the guy she is in love with and have been in a relationship for already four years. Something is missing: His wish to commit. This proves to be a really big issue for Lucy as she doesn't feel sure of his love and that he will ever pop the so-long-awaited question. It is due to this exact issue that this novel has some sad parts too and the main reason that drives the action to evolve the way it did. One day, Lucy decides to leave Matt, despite her deep feelings for him. Then, her life moves on, she meets Greg, then Jake, in between she has some real complications in her life due to a Mr. Delano. Is this what she wanted? Did she take the right decision when she left Matt? Is maybe Jake the right guy for her? What about her best friend Olivia? Will she have with Pierre the relationship she hoped for? What about Vic? Will her marriage with Sam be saved? and last, but not least, will she be proposed to? These all are the questions that you will find the answer for if you choose to go to give this novel a try.

Type of reader: Fans of romantic or romantic comedy genre, chick-lit or any lover of HEA endings.

Few quotes from this book:

“Jake would be arriving at around noon. I was looking forward to seeing him but had mixed feelings about finding myself with both Jake and Matt here.”

“I missed having him around. It seemed that everything was more fun when he was around…”

More book reviews on: https://www.nicojgenes.com/book-reviews.

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a beautiful summer read, very light-hearted and so delicious! The main character Lucy, charmingly disorganized and adorably clumsy, finds herself in between her ex-boyfriend Matt, who can’t find the courage to finally propose to her after a four year relationship, and gorgeous Jake, who is almost a picture perfect guy any girl would be happy to be with. Add to this sunny cocktail an obsessed stalker, a couple of eccentric girlfriends whose love life can also be a plot for a separate book (only Pierre’s weird obsessions deserve a separate chapter!), and you get yourself a perfect delight of romance with a very happy ending (thanks to the author for that!). Absolutely loved it!

[Carissa Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I LOVED Lucy! She's pretty, funny, clumsy, and hilarious. Kudos to the author for creating such an amazing, likable character. So Lucy is in a bit of a pickle -- she's stuck between her ex-boyfriend Matt and new pretty boy Jake. She also has a stalker problem and some nutty friends! I just loved every minute of this book. The characters were well-developed and lovable in their own ways. It's light. It's funny. The writing is impeccable and story so well-plotted. It flowed perfectly from one chapter to the next and I was so into the story that I barely realized I'd reached the end. Watch out for this amazing author! I can't wait to read her next book. Definitely a 5 star read.

[Jyotsna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice light and easy summer vacation read :)

[Njkinny (Njkinny's Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the Review and Enter Giveaway to win 5 copies of the book! Open Worldwide. Ends 12th Dec. http://www.njkinnysblog.com/2015/12/b...

Set on the small island country of Mauritius, What's it gonna be? by Cassandra Piat is the story of Lucy who has been in a relationship with Matt for four years. Madly in love, she is ready to take the next step but Matt never commits!
Is Lucy and Matt destined to be together or will they just drift apart?

I loved the cover of the book and it's unconventional title that made me go and checkout the blurb. Promising a funny, witty and entertaining story, I was not led down by this book.

The plot is simple and straightforward but still the author managed to keep me hooked and interested in the story right till the end. Every time I thought that I knew what would happen next, I was shocked to see the story take an unexpected turn!

The story unfolds like a diary and Lucy is an entertaining narrator. Her misadventures had me laughing and then visualizing her as she navigated through her chaotic life.

The characters are well developed. I loved following Lucy who is funny, loyal and yet somewhat absentminded and lazy. Reigning in chaos, her home and office is always a mess but hey! It's her mess! She loves Matt who is charming and handsome and they complement each other but still who is afraid of the M word. Frightened that she is growing old and her biological clock is ticking, Lucy wants a family with children but is frustrated by her boyfriend's reluctance. I enjoyed watching these two together but often wanted to smack Matt to get some sense into him. Then later I wanted to smack Lucy when she kept pining for him despite having a new and very endearing boyfriend, Jake.

I loved Jake. He leaped out to me even better than Matt. He is everything a woman wants in her man. He is handsome, caring, loyal and protective and ready to take risks. I felt somewhat sorry for him because of the whole Lucy-Matt angle. Poor him!

Olivia, Lucy's best friend, is another great character and through her, the author gives a very interesting character study. She shows how even a strong, independent woman is ready to bow down and make unbelievable compromises in her life and self esteem just for love. I wanted to see what happened to her in the end but the story ends abruptly with no closure to her life which left me feeling dissatisfied.

Lucy's another friend, Vic and her husband, Sam are also given ample limelight in the book and through them the author gives us an insight into a couple who have been married for over a decade with three children. Their struggles to keep their marriage and the events that give them their happily-ever-after were both funny and then endearing. I loved watching Vic brave all odds to keep her family and love alive, even if it meant having to enact some very elaborate plans! LOL

While the characters are well played, the events well planned and situations varying from hilarious, funny, saddening to romantic, the major drawback that I felt in the story was the length. The story could have been trimmed and made more cohesive and way shorter without affecting the storyline because despite being so long, several angles like Olivia's and Jake's are felt unfinished. I wanted to read more about these characters.

Cassandra's writing style is engaging and she managed to make me laugh, cry and then visualize the beauty of Mauritius right from its quaint shops to the mesmerizing beaches. She is a promising author and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

All in all, What's it gonna be? is a fun, entertaining and light romantic read that is a great beach read. 4 out of 5 to it and recommended to all lovers of romance who also love a bit of chick lit and comedy.

I received the book from the author and I am very thankful to her. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.

[TDCbookreviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucy Evans is a normal 26 year old woman who lives on Mauritius (an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa). She has been in a relationship with her boyfriend Matt for four years and they are deeply in love. The problem, however, is that Lucy’s sights are set on the future- marriage and kids- but Matt isn't in any hurry to settle down and commit. Lucy has to do what's best for her and she isn't entirely sure that it includes Matt anymore.
My first impression of the book was how LONG it was. It spans 54 chapters and is almost like reading a diary. Lucy is a frustrating, but likable, narrator as she takes you through her love life, social circle, and career life. There were a few spelling and grammatical errors but it was nothing I couldn't ignore. My biggest catching point was the length. A good part of the book could be removed and it wouldn't effect the plot in any way. It was monotonous to read a few pages about what Lucy did or who she had lunch with. The plot, as a whole, was hit and miss. On one hand, I really wanted to see how it panned out, but on the other hand I was extremely frustrated with how characters handled each situation. Another smaller problem was that the author is not from the same country as I am so some of the slang words and phrases are hard to follow but it doesn't detract from the book.
All in all I just felt like the book could have been a whole lot shorter without losing the plot. The book was more like a diary and Lucy’s thoughts and emotions were all over the place.
I give this a 2 out of 5 stars. It wasn't great but it wasn't terrible. It could have been a lot shorter and it could have had a more cohesive plot but I wanted to see how the story ended and it kept me wanting to read it.
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[Samantha March · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy knows she needs to make a change. Though head over heels in love with her long-time boyfriend, Matt, she can’t be truly happy knowing Matt won’t ever take the plunge and marry her. She understands that in order to find true happiness, she needs to let Matt go, and find someone who will give her everything she wants from a relationship. After going through the breakup, Lucy is devastated. Her girlfriends try to help her move on, setting her up on blind dates, and distracting her with their own relationship dramas. But nothing is helping Lucy get over her love for Matt. Can she ever truly move on from him?

While the cover and title didn’t immediately grab my attention, the synopsis is what pulled me in. And I’m sure glad it did. This was a wonderfully written romantic comedy/chick lit read, that had me laughing, shaking my head in frustration, and smiling the majority of the way. Lucy was such a loveable main character. Her quirks made her extremely relatable – clumsy, always late, a little scatter-brained – but she easily was like a friend to me. I felt extremely proud of her for ending her relationship with Matt. It’s easy to settle into a comfortable relationship, but she was determined to find the love that she deserved, and I gave her major kudos for that. The meat of the book had so many humorous moments, but also some serious ones, with the introduction of her creepy stalker. I don’t want to give too much away with the ending, but I will say, I was once again very proud of Lucy for standing her ground. She made a terrific character to center a chick lit story around, and I highly enjoyed this novel.

Reviewed by Samantha March, Readers Favorite

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy loves Matt, they have been together for over four years, they've had their ups and downs but always end up back together. But recently Lucy has become discontent, her job is going no where and Matt's fear of commitment means the much desired ring on the finger seems nothing more than a pipe dream. Forced to re-evaluate what she wants from life, and whether or not it is something Matt will be a part of, she begins to doubt her relationship, question the direction they are heading, or if they are even moving at all. Then along comes Jake.

What's it Gonna Be is a bit like a love child of Bridget Jones, How I met your Mother, and Friends. It is a fun and entertaining read written in the first person with more than one chuckle littered throughout. The characters are well-developed and entertaining, each with their own sub-plot which runs alongside the events of Lucy's life. There are some profoundly moving moments which completely capture the events and raw emotions. Anyone who's a fan of Bridget Jones would certainly love this.

[Aarohi Brar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderfully written romantic comedy set in the exotic location of Mauritius. Lucy Evans and her boyfriend of four years have a great life together. They are very much in love and at ease with one another. Lucy is a completely crazy and hilarious woman with friends of every sort imaginable. Her dialogues and habits made me laugh. Matt adores her. He knows her from the inside out and loves her for all of what makes her, her. But is that love enough?
Will he be able to draw the courage to tell her that he wants to make things permanent? Especially since Lucy has obviously started yearning a married life with him.
He is as worried as Lucy is for when push will come to shove, they both know who's going to back out. Which he does leaving them both alone and understandably sad.
It all comes down to the time apart from each other to know what's right for them

I loved the author's writing style, who made this story a very enjoyable read.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is decision time for Lucy Evan's. Should she stay with her marriage-phobic, long-term boyfriend, or should she move on and find someone who isn't scared of uttering the words "I DO?"

If you are a fan of Helen Fielding's, Bridget Jones's Diary, then you are so going to love this book. It has been a while since a book has made me laugh so hard that I was wiping away tears and in the next moment, crying because something so incredibly moving has happened. I can not express how much I enjoyed this story. I flew through it in one evening. I simply could not put it down. Fabulous!

With fleshed out characters, a fantastic plot and a heroine that I liked, What's It Gonna Be? ticked all the boxes for a great romantic comedy. The writing is sublime, and the story is compelling. This is a book that I will return to again. A great read and one not to be missed. I Highly Recommend.

[Diana Febry · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars rounded to 5.
A well written romantic comedy set in Mauritius. The target age group is probably under 30s but I'm 50ish and thoroughly enjoyed the story.
The story is based around a Lucy a secretary unchallenged at work and frustrated by her four year relationship with Matt going nowhere and her friends and their relationships.
The writing and dialogue flowed naturally making this a very easy book to read. Two particular laugh out loud moments for me was the blind date with Jake and the setting up of Sam, the husband of her friend Vic. Piat writes with plenty of wit and these weren't the only comic moments, just my favourites.
A neat package to slip in your suitcase or one to raise a smile during the long winter months.

[R.A. Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book. I really enjoyed it. The characters were wonderfully developed. The book captures a young girls struggles with love in a paradise setting. We've all been there and have asked the same question... Is he the one? But, what if you think he's the one and he thinks everything is great? When do you move on?

What better way to move on then to get drunk? Maybe drunk Karaoke?

Her friends are funny and supportive throughout as they battle their own problems with hilarious results. I'm hoping she writes another book about the Frenchman's relationship...

Ohh, lala. Put the lady on a mattress on the floor... lol.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful romance in a smashing location. Having been to the island of Mauritius myself I really enjoyed the references to the surroundings. At heart there is a fun main character, with quirks and oddities and her romantic and professional choices.
The narrative voice is instantly likable and you can just sit back and relax and enjoy the story. Light-hearted but not mindless this is much better than I would have thought it to be.
A perfect beach or comfort read - if you don't smile while reading this you haven't got a heart.

[Jana Petken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could imagine reading this lovely novel on the beach. It is an easy, relaxing plot with a likeable protagonist, 'to and froing' between the men in her life.

When, as a reader, I connect with the character's voice, I immediately sit back and get stuck in until I am too tired to read any more. With, What's it Gonna Be, I had a welcome break from reality, and immersed myself completely. The quirky dialogue and laugh out loud moments were perfectly timed.

All in all this was delightful read for adults in their twenties, and much, much older.

[Beth Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, light-hearted book. Lucy is stuck in a 4 year will-he-or-won't-he relationship with Matt. Deciding she's had enough of his indecisiveness, she ends things and goes on a man hunt.

I enjoyed the humor. I was laughing out loud about her blind date and stalker problems. Lucy has a vast array of friends that offer her support during this trying time in her life. I don't want to give away the plot, but I was holding my breath, waiting for her to make her own decision at the end.

All in all, this is a fun book and I think ayone who likes to laugh will enjoy it.

[Jalpa Williby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about love and commitment. I enjoyed the characters-they were very likable. The author did a great job building the plot as well. This is a story that probably every girl has lived through, so I really liked the fact that the author made it so real.

I enjoyed how the author used humor throughout the story. I love how the main character was goofy, silly, and completely unorganized...I could totally relate to her. I recommend this story to anybody who is wanting to be entertainment and is looking for a nice escape.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light-hearted romance book set in the island of Mauritius. Lucy, in her twenties, is in a four year relationship with Matt who does not want to commit. Lucy decides to date Jake, and her feelings go back and forth between Matt and Jake.

There were parts of the book that made me laugh. This is a good and easy read. Well-written with interesting characters.

[Cherime MacFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read. I really did like Lucy, her guy, not so much. But we all have issues we need to overcome. It was also interesting to visit another place in the world too. Quite entertaining and I got into the story and didn't want to put it down. Finally gave up and read it all the way through. If you are looking for a bit of fun, look no further.

[Charline Bonham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided this ebook for a review.
Lucy want to have a home and family but Matt will not commit. They have been dating for 4 years and he still cannot make himself commit. She finally gives him the boot and tries to move on. This is a good read and beautiful setting for the story. You'll want to see if they ever get together or find another path.

[neil southcoat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I have read this year. Many thanks for a fantastic book

What a fabulous read . It's a must have for any Rom com reader. The characters just come and join you in your head. The locations are so well described that one can almost be there.
What a fantastic read. Recommend to all .

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny rom-com which takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with Lucy as she brings you along on her journey to find love and happiness. She's accompanied by her two close friends, Vic & Olivia on journeys of their own which add drama, tears and laughter along the way.

[Ali Dumbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Holiday read by a woman who really knows about life in Mauritius.
Funny and light hearted, we follow the story of a couple who are trying to work out their relationship and their futures - together or separate. Makes me want to head back to that wonderful paradise - Mauritius!

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming, quirky and honest, “What's it Gonna Be?” has just the right mix of humor and romantic tension.

Read full review in the 2016 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A LIGHT, EASY READ
I don’t normally read romances but this book caught my eye as it was set in Mauritius. It flowed well and the characters were easy to relate to. I read it in a couple of days, a good book for a holiday weekend when you feel like relaxing.