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Beginners Guide #1
A Beginner's Guide To Salad
Ruth loves nothing more than curling up in front of the telly with a family-sized bar of chocolate. She doesn’t do diets and she certainly doesn’t do exercise. But all that changes when she’s invited to her school reunion.
Bullied at school for being overweight, Ruth’s first reaction is to rip the invitation into a million pieces. But then Ruth hatches a plan. She’ll lose the weight and arrive at the reunion looking gorgeous and glamorous, leaving her old classmates in awe. Especially her former crush, Zack O’Connell.
With the help of her friends and a new, unbelievably hot colleague, Ruth begins her transformation. With six months until the reunion, losing weight will be a piece of cake, right?
Bullied at school for being overweight, Ruth’s first reaction is to rip the invitation into a million pieces. But then Ruth hatches a plan. She’ll lose the weight and arrive at the reunion looking gorgeous and glamorous, leaving her old classmates in awe. Especially her former crush, Zack O’Connell.
With the help of her friends and a new, unbelievably hot colleague, Ruth begins her transformation. With six months until the reunion, losing weight will be a piece of cake, right?
ebook
First published January 11, 2014
49 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Joyce
23 books140 followersI'm a writer of romantic comedies who lives in Manchester with my husband and our two daughters. I've been scribbling down bits of stories for as long as I can remember, graduating from a pen to a typewriter and then an electronic typewriter. And I felt like the bee's knees typing on THAT. I now write my books on a laptop (which has a proper delete button and everything).
You can keep up to date with my books by subscribing to my newsletter. The newsletters are packed with book news, exclusive content and giveaways. Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/310b4ee4365f/jenni...
You can keep in touch with me on Twitter and Instagram (both @writer_jenn) or by liking my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jenniferjoycewrites
You can keep up to date with my books by subscribing to my newsletter. The newsletters are packed with book news, exclusive content and giveaways. Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/310b4ee4365f/jenni...
You can keep in touch with me on Twitter and Instagram (both @writer_jenn) or by liking my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jenniferjoycewrites
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 31, 2017
Although at times I wanted to slap Ruth for some of the diets she was attempting and her motivation for trying to lose weight, I did really like Ruth as a character and enjoyed her housemates and also how she deals with her boss at work. She has a great support network and I loved Jared from the moment we meet him. The book is written from the focus of multiple characters and I think that works really well. There is just something about Ruth that you can't help loving, she had a horrible time of it at school but is still determined to go to her school reunion, which shows a lot of guts and leads to all sorts of questionable decisions. I really enjoyed A Beginner's Guide to Salad, and I don't think I've ever written enjoy and salad in the same sentence before!
January 30, 2019
I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t read it quick enough so that I could find out what was going to happen.
The style of writing was wonderful and I loved the characters, especially Ruth, who the story is centred around.
Ruth is invited to her schools reunion and she’s in two minds as whether to go or not, as she was bullied at school for being overweight. So she plans to lose some of the weight and turn up a new slimmer Ruth.
This book was hilarious and had me crying with laughter in quite a few places!! I loved it and now I’m reading the sequel to see what happens next!
The style of writing was wonderful and I loved the characters, especially Ruth, who the story is centred around.
Ruth is invited to her schools reunion and she’s in two minds as whether to go or not, as she was bullied at school for being overweight. So she plans to lose some of the weight and turn up a new slimmer Ruth.
This book was hilarious and had me crying with laughter in quite a few places!! I loved it and now I’m reading the sequel to see what happens next!
January 29, 2015
Originally posted on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/
I'd like to begin my review of A Beginner's Guide To Salad by Jennifer Joyce by saying a massive thank you to the author for providing me with an eBook copy which I was lucky enough to win through a Twitter give-away! Wahoo! I was over the moon when I was announced as the winner, especially after seeing some of the fabulous reviews, so I couldn't wait to begin reading.
In A Beginner's Guide to Salad, we're introduced to Jennifer's heroine, Ruth. The book, in a nutshell, focuses on a school reunion that Ruth is attending, where she'll be surrounded by the people who once bullied and taunted her, right the way through school. Ruth's plan is to rock up to that reunion, looking thin, glamorous, and to prove all of her classmates wrong, that she lost her weight, and transformed from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan. So, Ruth formulates a plan. With six months to go until the big day, she's going to lose weight. She's going to look absolutely fabulous when she turns up. She's going to turn heads, widen eyes, and cause the people that once name-called to choke on their fancy drinks.
The first thing that immediately caught my attention when I began reading A Beginner's Guide to Salad was how brilliant Jennifer's writing style was. Humorous, light-hearted, and effortlessly smooth. It just seemed to flow really well, and this added heaps of enjoyment to my reading of it. The language, particularly Ruth's, was very similar to my own, in that Ruth would occasionally drop a swearword or two into the mix. It seemed very genuine, down-to-earth, and completely believable, which is something that I LOVE. Right the way through, this light-heartedness added a gorgeous tone to the writing, despite the issue of Ruth being bullied as a young girl, which was actually quite serious. Jennifer dealt with these issues in a brilliant way and it was handled perfectly. She didn't make bullying seem like a joke, nor did she make it so serious that the tone of the book was dismal or depressing. Jennifer managed to get it just right, and it was absolutely fantastic.
Ruth's character was spot on and I loved her. Ruth had a lot of hate for herself, which stemmed from her days in school, and I really hated that it was still a big presence in her life, even now that she'd grown up. I think what I felt most for Ruth's character was respect. After everything that she'd been through, she was willing to lose the weight and show up at the reunion to wow everyone. This said to me that she really wanted to prove them all wrong, and I was cheering her on! A lot of Ruth's dialogue had me chuckling away to myself. She was the type of girl to kick back on the sofa with a big bar of chocolate or a takeaway and chill out. Some of her private thoughts really tickled me, it seemed that Ruth was fluent in sarcasm, especially when it came to her arse of a boss, Kelvin, who seemed to think that Ruth was some kind of slave rather than an employee. Despite the demons of her past still very much haunting Ruth, it was clear that she was ready to make a big change in her life (well, since knowing about the reunion) and I was more than ready to go on that journey with her! Ruth was a very engaging character, and it didn't take long for me to feel completely utterly involved within her story. Ruth also lived with her two flatmates, Billy and Theo, Billy being her brother Stephen's best-mate and someone who had had Ruth's back since their school days. Billy and Theo were very different in a number of way. First off, with girls. Theo was a completely ladies man, a bit cocky and arrogant, and went through girls as quickly as the weather changed! Billy, on the other hand, was a lot more subdued when it came to females. He didn't go through girls in the same way that Theo did, preferring a more prolonged, fulfilling relationship with just one woman. Out of the two of the men, I definitely took a preference to Billy. He was so sweet, he cooked for Ruth, and their relationship just seemed unbreakable. Their bond had begun as children, and they'd been there for each other right the way through their lives as they'd grown up. Billy, to me, was like an extra big brother to Ruth. They'd also shared a love for a popular TV programme within the book, called 'A Beginner's Guide to You', which rolled along with the title of Ruth's story perfectly! Billy was a positive presence in Ruth's life, and seemed to add an upbeat kind of feel to the tone whenever he was around. I don't feel that Theo played as much of a major role as Billy, hence why I didn't feel like I really connected to him that well, but I still feel like he added to the atmosphere in the flat whenever he was around, and a bit of hilarity now and again too. They're not the only characters that you can look forward to meeting within the book though, there are a ton more! There's Erin, Ruth's best-friend, who to me was like the female version of Theo. She was a definite flirt, wore short dresses, high heels, and seemed to be irresistible to the opposite sex. There was also Kelvin, Ruth's arse of a boss, who, despite his bossy and lazy nature, I actually found hilarious especially at one point in the book where Ruth finds him sat in his office with just his pants on! Hahah! There's also the utterly gorgeous Jared, who Ruth cannot take her eyes off, and who also becomes Ruth's gym partner! And so many, many more! If this is making you think, "Oh my God, that's way too many characters, how will I ever keep up?" then don't panic. I usually cannot get along with character-rammed books, quickly losing track of who's who... but with Ruth's story, it didn't seem difficult at all. In fact, Jennifer did such a fantastic job of describing them all to me, it was easy to keep them separate in my mind as they all had their own unique personalities that set them apart.
Another thing that I adored was how Jennifer switched the narrative between her characters. Despite the story following Ruth as she prepares for the reunion, Jennifer switches between Ruth, Jared and Billy! It was absolutely brilliant and such a gorgeous way for this story to be told. What I also loved (I know, but I just LOVED SO MUCH) was that when reading from Ruth's perspective, it was in first person,whereas with the Billy and Jared, it was third. And OMG, it just opened up the story so much to me! I feel like I was able to look at everything that happened from every possible perspective, and wow. Just wow.
Throughout Ruth's journey, we see her attempt a number of different diets; from the cabbage soup diet that stinks out the flat, to a salad diet, which gets boring very quickly. Ruth always attempts lifting weights, yoga, pilates, Zumba, and a million other things to help her get to the reunion looking as a fit as a fiddle. It had me laughing until my sides ached, grinning like a loon, and pulling a face at the pong of the cabbage soup. The characters were fantastic, all different and engaging in their own special ways, and it was just such an exciting read!
Becca's Books is rating A Beginner's Guide to Salad by Jennifer Joyce with FIVE GORGEOUS CUPCAKES!!! If you haven't read one yet, then I suggest doing so! I can't believe I've left it so long until reading one, and I now cannot wait to read Jennifer's next book! Jennifer, thank you so much for the opportunity to win a copy of this brilliant book, and you are brilliant!
I'd like to begin my review of A Beginner's Guide To Salad by Jennifer Joyce by saying a massive thank you to the author for providing me with an eBook copy which I was lucky enough to win through a Twitter give-away! Wahoo! I was over the moon when I was announced as the winner, especially after seeing some of the fabulous reviews, so I couldn't wait to begin reading.
In A Beginner's Guide to Salad, we're introduced to Jennifer's heroine, Ruth. The book, in a nutshell, focuses on a school reunion that Ruth is attending, where she'll be surrounded by the people who once bullied and taunted her, right the way through school. Ruth's plan is to rock up to that reunion, looking thin, glamorous, and to prove all of her classmates wrong, that she lost her weight, and transformed from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan. So, Ruth formulates a plan. With six months to go until the big day, she's going to lose weight. She's going to look absolutely fabulous when she turns up. She's going to turn heads, widen eyes, and cause the people that once name-called to choke on their fancy drinks.
The first thing that immediately caught my attention when I began reading A Beginner's Guide to Salad was how brilliant Jennifer's writing style was. Humorous, light-hearted, and effortlessly smooth. It just seemed to flow really well, and this added heaps of enjoyment to my reading of it. The language, particularly Ruth's, was very similar to my own, in that Ruth would occasionally drop a swearword or two into the mix. It seemed very genuine, down-to-earth, and completely believable, which is something that I LOVE. Right the way through, this light-heartedness added a gorgeous tone to the writing, despite the issue of Ruth being bullied as a young girl, which was actually quite serious. Jennifer dealt with these issues in a brilliant way and it was handled perfectly. She didn't make bullying seem like a joke, nor did she make it so serious that the tone of the book was dismal or depressing. Jennifer managed to get it just right, and it was absolutely fantastic.
Ruth's character was spot on and I loved her. Ruth had a lot of hate for herself, which stemmed from her days in school, and I really hated that it was still a big presence in her life, even now that she'd grown up. I think what I felt most for Ruth's character was respect. After everything that she'd been through, she was willing to lose the weight and show up at the reunion to wow everyone. This said to me that she really wanted to prove them all wrong, and I was cheering her on! A lot of Ruth's dialogue had me chuckling away to myself. She was the type of girl to kick back on the sofa with a big bar of chocolate or a takeaway and chill out. Some of her private thoughts really tickled me, it seemed that Ruth was fluent in sarcasm, especially when it came to her arse of a boss, Kelvin, who seemed to think that Ruth was some kind of slave rather than an employee. Despite the demons of her past still very much haunting Ruth, it was clear that she was ready to make a big change in her life (well, since knowing about the reunion) and I was more than ready to go on that journey with her! Ruth was a very engaging character, and it didn't take long for me to feel completely utterly involved within her story. Ruth also lived with her two flatmates, Billy and Theo, Billy being her brother Stephen's best-mate and someone who had had Ruth's back since their school days. Billy and Theo were very different in a number of way. First off, with girls. Theo was a completely ladies man, a bit cocky and arrogant, and went through girls as quickly as the weather changed! Billy, on the other hand, was a lot more subdued when it came to females. He didn't go through girls in the same way that Theo did, preferring a more prolonged, fulfilling relationship with just one woman. Out of the two of the men, I definitely took a preference to Billy. He was so sweet, he cooked for Ruth, and their relationship just seemed unbreakable. Their bond had begun as children, and they'd been there for each other right the way through their lives as they'd grown up. Billy, to me, was like an extra big brother to Ruth. They'd also shared a love for a popular TV programme within the book, called 'A Beginner's Guide to You', which rolled along with the title of Ruth's story perfectly! Billy was a positive presence in Ruth's life, and seemed to add an upbeat kind of feel to the tone whenever he was around. I don't feel that Theo played as much of a major role as Billy, hence why I didn't feel like I really connected to him that well, but I still feel like he added to the atmosphere in the flat whenever he was around, and a bit of hilarity now and again too. They're not the only characters that you can look forward to meeting within the book though, there are a ton more! There's Erin, Ruth's best-friend, who to me was like the female version of Theo. She was a definite flirt, wore short dresses, high heels, and seemed to be irresistible to the opposite sex. There was also Kelvin, Ruth's arse of a boss, who, despite his bossy and lazy nature, I actually found hilarious especially at one point in the book where Ruth finds him sat in his office with just his pants on! Hahah! There's also the utterly gorgeous Jared, who Ruth cannot take her eyes off, and who also becomes Ruth's gym partner! And so many, many more! If this is making you think, "Oh my God, that's way too many characters, how will I ever keep up?" then don't panic. I usually cannot get along with character-rammed books, quickly losing track of who's who... but with Ruth's story, it didn't seem difficult at all. In fact, Jennifer did such a fantastic job of describing them all to me, it was easy to keep them separate in my mind as they all had their own unique personalities that set them apart.
Another thing that I adored was how Jennifer switched the narrative between her characters. Despite the story following Ruth as she prepares for the reunion, Jennifer switches between Ruth, Jared and Billy! It was absolutely brilliant and such a gorgeous way for this story to be told. What I also loved (I know, but I just LOVED SO MUCH) was that when reading from Ruth's perspective, it was in first person,whereas with the Billy and Jared, it was third. And OMG, it just opened up the story so much to me! I feel like I was able to look at everything that happened from every possible perspective, and wow. Just wow.
Throughout Ruth's journey, we see her attempt a number of different diets; from the cabbage soup diet that stinks out the flat, to a salad diet, which gets boring very quickly. Ruth always attempts lifting weights, yoga, pilates, Zumba, and a million other things to help her get to the reunion looking as a fit as a fiddle. It had me laughing until my sides ached, grinning like a loon, and pulling a face at the pong of the cabbage soup. The characters were fantastic, all different and engaging in their own special ways, and it was just such an exciting read!
Becca's Books is rating A Beginner's Guide to Salad by Jennifer Joyce with FIVE GORGEOUS CUPCAKES!!! If you haven't read one yet, then I suggest doing so! I can't believe I've left it so long until reading one, and I now cannot wait to read Jennifer's next book! Jennifer, thank you so much for the opportunity to win a copy of this brilliant book, and you are brilliant!
January 13, 2014
Review: I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this gem of a debut novel and I am so glad I was given the chance to read this as I might not have discovered it otherwise! I was expecting a story about a woman's battle to loose weight, the feelings and emotions associated with this and the highs and lows we feel when we are dieting, especially for an occasion! What I got was a whole lot more, I actually found It really hard to put this book down and found myself wanting more when I finished it.
The character of Ruth was a lot happier than I expected her to be and reminded me of myself, dressing in bright colours and fabulous shoes, therefore I felt an instant connection with her. I didn't like the fact that she was dieting to look good for someone who had made her life so miserable in the past. If she had just been dieting for the reunion, i would've had more respect for her. I loved her relationship with her brother and his friends her roommate. Their relationship is unlike those you'd find in most books and so I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel. The other character I really liked was Ruth's sort of love interest. There were some really funny moments where this guy was involved, I found myself laughing out loud. There were also some reality touching moments too, when we found of that there was more to him than meets the eye.
The dieting in this book is almost more of a secondary storyline, this being a romantic comedy,the romance and funny moments kind of take over. I would've liked to have seen Ruth sticking to some of the diets for a bit longer, I thought there might have been other humourous moments when she was only eating salad, or gorging herself on meat and cheese on the Atkins diet. This is my only criticism of this book really thougg. It's a super fun read with plenty of substance, humour and romance and perfect reading for when you begin a January diet of your own. I can wait to see more from this author!
The character of Ruth was a lot happier than I expected her to be and reminded me of myself, dressing in bright colours and fabulous shoes, therefore I felt an instant connection with her. I didn't like the fact that she was dieting to look good for someone who had made her life so miserable in the past. If she had just been dieting for the reunion, i would've had more respect for her. I loved her relationship with her brother and his friends her roommate. Their relationship is unlike those you'd find in most books and so I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel. The other character I really liked was Ruth's sort of love interest. There were some really funny moments where this guy was involved, I found myself laughing out loud. There were also some reality touching moments too, when we found of that there was more to him than meets the eye.
The dieting in this book is almost more of a secondary storyline, this being a romantic comedy,the romance and funny moments kind of take over. I would've liked to have seen Ruth sticking to some of the diets for a bit longer, I thought there might have been other humourous moments when she was only eating salad, or gorging herself on meat and cheese on the Atkins diet. This is my only criticism of this book really thougg. It's a super fun read with plenty of substance, humour and romance and perfect reading for when you begin a January diet of your own. I can wait to see more from this author!
March 8, 2014
Ruth lives with her friends Theo and Billy, she's overweight and miserable and to top everything off it'll soon be her school reunion. She hasn't forgotten her devastation ten years before when Zack, the boy of her dreams, humiliated her in front of all the cool kids, and now Ruth is determined to lose weight and go to the reunion looking stunning. She puts into action her plan to diet and exercise her way to her goal weight, but somehow her life doesn't go the way she expects it to.
I love the way Jennifer Joyce writes and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and getting to know Ruth, with her colourful sense of style; Ruth's friend Erin, who has enough confidence for both of them, and Jared, her gorgeous new colleague, whose story was heart-breaking.
A fantastic novel, I look forward to reading her next book.
I love the way Jennifer Joyce writes and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and getting to know Ruth, with her colourful sense of style; Ruth's friend Erin, who has enough confidence for both of them, and Jared, her gorgeous new colleague, whose story was heart-breaking.
A fantastic novel, I look forward to reading her next book.
March 4, 2014
Loved this book! It's been a while since I read chicklit, but this reminded me of everything I love about it. A Beginner's Guide To Salad made me laugh out loud more times than I can count, and there were a few twists and turns I didn't see coming, even though I thought I had it all figured out!
A new chicklit superstar has been born! Great work, Jennifer Joyce!
A new chicklit superstar has been born! Great work, Jennifer Joyce!
August 14, 2021
Not a diet book
This is a beautifully written book. I'm delighted that the ending isn't the 'perfect Hollywood' ending we expect at the start.
This is a beautifully written book. I'm delighted that the ending isn't the 'perfect Hollywood' ending we expect at the start.
August 13, 2016
Also posted on This Chick Reads
*Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Before I start with the actual review of this book, I have a confession to make. It happens rarely that I ask an author a review copy. I do request from NetGalley, but when it comes to requesting books from authors, I guess I'm pretty old fashioned. It's not 'cause I'm shy or anything, but I prefer being contacted by authors themselves. Could be I'm playing safe, but the truth is I assume that way these authors know already which genre I prefer and what kind of reviews I write.
BUT! When it comes to this book, I simply couldn't resist requesting a review copy. I did try my luck in winning one over at the author's blog, but was not fortunate enough. So what was I left..then shamelessly (but kindly) request for one. And boy oh boy was I happy and excited when I got it!
I had a strong feeling I will be able to connect with the MC and once again, my feeling proved right! I'm such a huge sucker for books with plus sized heroines. I've been kind of struggling with my weight too, especially now after having my second child. But I guess we all want to read stories where the MC is going through some similar experience, and after reading the blurb I knew I HAD to read this book.
First off, I'd like to point out this is a debut, but I was pleasantly surprised with the writing. It's told from different point of views, which sometimes doesn't work for me. But Jennifer's writing skills are excellent and the stories didn't feel disjointed at all. There was some repetitiveness yes, but it all worked fine in the big picture.
I was also mesmerized by the MC, Ruth which reminded me a lot of Jane Green's Jemima J (just a happier version). It might seem childish to want to lose weight just to be all gorgeous and sexy for a high school reunion, but I could understand Ruth. She's been through hell in her teenage years, being called names, laughed at, bullied - all because of her looks. I sympathized with her and even had my eyes teary while reading some of the things she went through at school. Stuff like this shouldn't happen to anyone, yet I know there are many teenagers going through the same experience. And Zack! That son of a bitch who broke her heart, mocking her the worst way possible! I swear to god, I felt like slapping my kindle...he was such a bastard.
Anyway, I didn't slap my kindle, but I did however scream - YOU MORON! Thankfully, no one was around at the time I was reading it.:)
But back to my lovely Ruth now. She's nice, caring and living with two housemates, who are very unique and oh so different as characters. Billy and Theo, they were so much fun, though Theo was sometimes very annoying.
This was indeed a very fun journey and if I could have a BFF as in BEST FICTIONAL FRIEND Ruth would definitely make the top of that list. She's so sweet and so well portrayed, I felt as she was next to me while reading. Telling me all about her numerous attempts to lose weight, encouraging me to maybe try one out.
I laughed out loud on some parts, I had teary eyes the next moment, but overall, this is a book that spoke to my heart and I'm so happy I read it. It's uplifting, well written story with characters you can relate to. The romance part is built gradually and I love how things turn out in the end.
At the end of the book, the author says it was Ruth who made her start going to the gym. Well, I'm not a fan of gyms, but I did start a new diet. I think Ruth would be very proud of me.:)
January 25, 2014
Originally posted on: http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
This was a brilliant début from Jennifer Joyce. It is written as if by an author who has been writing books for years (she has previously written a short novella, but this is her first full length novel).
A Beginner's Guide To Salad tells the story of Ruth, who lives with Billy and Theo and she likes nothing more than watching the TV series A Beginner's Guide with her flatmate Billy and a nice, family sized chocolate bar. But when Ruth gets invited to her school reunion, she knows she has to get her bum in gear and off the sofa and start losing weight. Ruth was cruelly bullied at school with one particularity nasty incident with Zack, her old school crush. Ruth wants to turn up at the reunion looking slim and fantastic so she can show Zack just what an idiot he was! With the help of her friends Billy, Erin and a very nice new work colleague Jared, losing weight in time will be easy peasy.....
Who could not like Ruth, I think she is one of my top favourite fictional characters as she is just so lovely and not to mention very funny; especially when it comes to winding her boss Kevin up. I definitely had some resonance with Ruth with her tough time at school and I could see why she wanted to turn up and wow everybody, but like her friends were, I was unsure if her intentions were purely for her, or for the idiot Zack. However despite all this Ruth was a really happy person and this is why I warmed to her as she has this positivity that just radiates off her. I think it was Ruth's happy character that made this novel so good and enjoyable to read because if she was more downbeat, it would have been more serious.
Ruth really does try out some really crazy diets! The one that I think will stay with me for a while is the Cabbage Soup diet as it just sounded so unbelievable ghastly!
We not only get Ruth's point of view in this but Billy's (Ruth's flatmate) and Jared (her very handsome new work colleague). It always makes a book that more interesting when you get to know more than one character in depth and the author got their character viewpoints across perfectly. I was definitely falling in love myself with Jared and his storyline was really quite heartbreaking and I hoped that he would find happiness again.
There is a great message in this and it really got me thinking. I hope that everyone takes away the same message that I did from this.
A really lovely, light-hearted read with an undertone message that you can just pick up and lose yourself in.
This was a brilliant début from Jennifer Joyce. It is written as if by an author who has been writing books for years (she has previously written a short novella, but this is her first full length novel).
A Beginner's Guide To Salad tells the story of Ruth, who lives with Billy and Theo and she likes nothing more than watching the TV series A Beginner's Guide with her flatmate Billy and a nice, family sized chocolate bar. But when Ruth gets invited to her school reunion, she knows she has to get her bum in gear and off the sofa and start losing weight. Ruth was cruelly bullied at school with one particularity nasty incident with Zack, her old school crush. Ruth wants to turn up at the reunion looking slim and fantastic so she can show Zack just what an idiot he was! With the help of her friends Billy, Erin and a very nice new work colleague Jared, losing weight in time will be easy peasy.....
Who could not like Ruth, I think she is one of my top favourite fictional characters as she is just so lovely and not to mention very funny; especially when it comes to winding her boss Kevin up. I definitely had some resonance with Ruth with her tough time at school and I could see why she wanted to turn up and wow everybody, but like her friends were, I was unsure if her intentions were purely for her, or for the idiot Zack. However despite all this Ruth was a really happy person and this is why I warmed to her as she has this positivity that just radiates off her. I think it was Ruth's happy character that made this novel so good and enjoyable to read because if she was more downbeat, it would have been more serious.
Ruth really does try out some really crazy diets! The one that I think will stay with me for a while is the Cabbage Soup diet as it just sounded so unbelievable ghastly!
We not only get Ruth's point of view in this but Billy's (Ruth's flatmate) and Jared (her very handsome new work colleague). It always makes a book that more interesting when you get to know more than one character in depth and the author got their character viewpoints across perfectly. I was definitely falling in love myself with Jared and his storyline was really quite heartbreaking and I hoped that he would find happiness again.
There is a great message in this and it really got me thinking. I hope that everyone takes away the same message that I did from this.
A really lovely, light-hearted read with an undertone message that you can just pick up and lose yourself in.
February 6, 2014
loved this book! Jennifer has such a beautiful style. You get drawn in to the story and the characters with such ease.
Ruth is a woman that I wanted to be my best friend. She has issues just like we all do. The people in her life are so much like the people that I know and the binds she gets herself in to are so funny and real!
I love the way Jennifer describes Ruth’s clothes. I want dresses like hers! Gorgeous flair for fashion! Ruth is a great lead character. She taught me that beauty really does come from within, no matter what size or shape you are. I went to my dance class with my head held higher than usual after finishing this book! I pushed myself a little bit harder and I felt wonderful for it!
This is a great read for any woman who ever doubts herself or what might have been! 8/10
Ruth is a woman that I wanted to be my best friend. She has issues just like we all do. The people in her life are so much like the people that I know and the binds she gets herself in to are so funny and real!
I love the way Jennifer describes Ruth’s clothes. I want dresses like hers! Gorgeous flair for fashion! Ruth is a great lead character. She taught me that beauty really does come from within, no matter what size or shape you are. I went to my dance class with my head held higher than usual after finishing this book! I pushed myself a little bit harder and I felt wonderful for it!
This is a great read for any woman who ever doubts herself or what might have been! 8/10
May 9, 2014
What a lovely book! The writing drew me in, creating pictures in my mind as I read. Ruth had been the bullied and mocked girl at school and when the reunion looms, she wants to shine, as a type of revenge. Diets come and go, with Ruth never seeing the beauty inside herself. She has trouble sticking to anything. I so wanted to say she was worth so much more, but then some of the male characters did it - and finally she believes it. She does get to the reunion, where there are a few surprises. Simply loved it.
April 30, 2014
A joy to read. I loved it from start to finish. Fab characters and plenty of laugh out loud moments. A truly fab read from Jennifer Joyce.
March 25, 2014
Absolutely loved this book, would definitely recommend it!
November 20, 2017
The most realistic diet behaviour I have ever read, in a book! Made me laugh out loud and relate to the main character a lot :) That said the characters were warm and believable and but for the drama in the last few chapters that made me feed bad for one character - it all ended well and happily! First book of the author - looking forward to reading more
August 14, 2023
Absolutely brilliant
A Beginner's Guide To Salad was absolutely brilliant. As someone who has attempted to diet many times over the years, I really felt Ruth's pain and there's also certain people from my school days that I'd like to stick a metaphorical 2 fingers up to!!! I'd recommend this book to everyone and anyone.
A Beginner's Guide To Salad was absolutely brilliant. As someone who has attempted to diet many times over the years, I really felt Ruth's pain and there's also certain people from my school days that I'd like to stick a metaphorical 2 fingers up to!!! I'd recommend this book to everyone and anyone.
November 2, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and the story resonated with me. Highly recommend this book
April 14, 2019
Great read
A gem of a find. Funny and heartwarming you really come to care about the characters can’t wait for the next book.
A gem of a find. Funny and heartwarming you really come to care about the characters can’t wait for the next book.
October 15, 2019
I was hooked on this book. I loved that you couldn’t tell what was going to happen between everyone until the very end. Jared sounds so dreamy and perfect, I think I fell in love with him myself!
February 6, 2020
Brilliant read .
February 15, 2022
A must read
The book made me laugh and cry. Loved it and couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read the next instalment.
The book made me laugh and cry. Loved it and couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read the next instalment.
October 6, 2022
Funny
This is a brilliant story by Jennifer Joyce. Light hearted but also thought provoking , lots of laughing out loud too .
This is a brilliant story by Jennifer Joyce. Light hearted but also thought provoking , lots of laughing out loud too .
February 14, 2017
Enjoyable
I really identified with the heroine, having been badly bullied about my weight and appearance throughout my life. I felt her pain, hopes and fears, and was encouraging her along her journey. She deserved her Happy-Ever-After, as did the main love interest, whose own story had tragedy. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance, comedy and character growth.
I really identified with the heroine, having been badly bullied about my weight and appearance throughout my life. I felt her pain, hopes and fears, and was encouraging her along her journey. She deserved her Happy-Ever-After, as did the main love interest, whose own story had tragedy. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance, comedy and character growth.
May 4, 2016
Brilliant
From the moment u encounter Ruth, u can't not like her. She is warm, funny and caring. I can relate to Ruth in so many ways, from being bullied about my size to feeling rejected, but like Ruth iv got my happy ending and a wonderful man that loves me unconditionally
From the moment u encounter Ruth, u can't not like her. She is warm, funny and caring. I can relate to Ruth in so many ways, from being bullied about my size to feeling rejected, but like Ruth iv got my happy ending and a wonderful man that loves me unconditionally
March 4, 2016
This is a must read for anyone who has spent their life trying to lose weight. It is a laugh out loud roller coaster of a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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