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Suddenly Single
When bestselling romance author Chloe Piper’s marriage implodes a week before Christmas, she flees her cheating ex and the village gossips for the solitude of the newly built Sunny Meadow Farm and the company of her hapless dog, Ronnie.
But Chloe is soon pushed out of her comfort zone. Because with a lively development building crew – headed up by charming Alex – and a larger-than-life neighbour determined to make Chloe’s love life her pet project, Chloe finds herself in a whole new world of chaos…
But Chloe is soon pushed out of her comfort zone. Because with a lively development building crew – headed up by charming Alex – and a larger-than-life neighbour determined to make Chloe’s love life her pet project, Chloe finds herself in a whole new world of chaos…
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2019
34 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Carol Wyer
37 books1,235 followersUSA Today bestselling author and winner of The People's Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer's crime novels have sold over one million copies and been translated into nine languages.
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
March 5, 2019
Chloe Piper is the mysterious author of a racy bestseller novel based on the village gossip her ex-husband used to bring her from the local pub. Now her marriage is suddenly on rocks and Chloe moves to a new house, quite isolated but with stunning views and friendly neighbours. Chloe suffers from a severe social anxiety disorder - even shopping in a crowded supermarket is out of question. One evening, in an alcohol-induced leap of courage, Chloe joins The Singleton Club, owned and managed by her neighbours. Step by step, she faces her fears, gets to know the members of the club, tries out new activities she would have never tried otherwise and makes great friends. There are romantic developments as well, although they do not seem to take as much prominence in this book.
I really enjoyed reading about Chloe’s new life and her newly-found belief in herself. The characters are well-developed and with the exception of William are all likeable. The humour is kind and gentle and makes you grow fond of and sympathize with the characters, rather than laugh at their predicaments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Digital Publishing for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
I really enjoyed reading about Chloe’s new life and her newly-found belief in herself. The characters are well-developed and with the exception of William are all likeable. The humour is kind and gentle and makes you grow fond of and sympathize with the characters, rather than laugh at their predicaments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Digital Publishing for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
April 10, 2019
I have just finished this amazing novel and whooping around with excitement, so please excuse me if this review comes out to be incoherent. This is Wyer's second book that I have taken up (no, I didn't read her detective novels) and is surely going to be on my favourite shelf. More than fiction, I will categorise this under self-help which is made genuinely interesting with the inclusion of a story.
Our protagonist, Chloe Piper, is not just shy, she is suffering from social anxiety disorder. She is afraid of facing people and her knees buckle whenever she is confronted with too much attention; she even avoids supermarkets, scared of mingling with a crowd. She is a character I could pretty much identify with and that is not because I have this anxiety disorder (not that I have checked). But extreme shyness is equally horrible and the worst thing is there is only one cure: confront your fears and stop running away, as Chloe demonstrates. Help is sure to be at hand when you are ready to help yourself. Yes, this is one of those stories which perfectly portrays the message of Paulo Coelho.
I am not fond of novels which include a lot of brooding, but here it felt completely natural. Since Chloe is not that talkative and keeps on thinking about the same things, the novel it seems has cleverly reflected her character. And the singleton group . . . I have only one word for you guys, AWESOME!
On the whole, this story has reminded me a lot about what I need to do. Because in spite of all the New Year pledges, I still run a mile if I am asked to be on the stage. So, Chloe, I know you are not real, but you are an inspiration to each introvert in this planet. I might be making a wild guess here, but it is possible that the author is also talking about her own writing experience through Chloe, and if that is the case, there could be someone who inspired this heroine.
So what are you waiting for? I hope this review has given you enough incentive to run to the library. Another fabulous gem from Carol Wyer that should not be missed.
Our protagonist, Chloe Piper, is not just shy, she is suffering from social anxiety disorder. She is afraid of facing people and her knees buckle whenever she is confronted with too much attention; she even avoids supermarkets, scared of mingling with a crowd. She is a character I could pretty much identify with and that is not because I have this anxiety disorder (not that I have checked). But extreme shyness is equally horrible and the worst thing is there is only one cure: confront your fears and stop running away, as Chloe demonstrates. Help is sure to be at hand when you are ready to help yourself. Yes, this is one of those stories which perfectly portrays the message of Paulo Coelho.
I am not fond of novels which include a lot of brooding, but here it felt completely natural. Since Chloe is not that talkative and keeps on thinking about the same things, the novel it seems has cleverly reflected her character. And the singleton group . . . I have only one word for you guys, AWESOME!
On the whole, this story has reminded me a lot about what I need to do. Because in spite of all the New Year pledges, I still run a mile if I am asked to be on the stage. So, Chloe, I know you are not real, but you are an inspiration to each introvert in this planet. I might be making a wild guess here, but it is possible that the author is also talking about her own writing experience through Chloe, and if that is the case, there could be someone who inspired this heroine.
So what are you waiting for? I hope this review has given you enough incentive to run to the library. Another fabulous gem from Carol Wyer that should not be missed.
March 25, 2019
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
So this book ended up being a disappointment. I was all ready to read about a woman that is dealing with a separation and finding herself single after many years as part of a couple. Instead there were a whole host of other things happening in this book that in the end didn't work together for me. Most was the fact that the main character, Chloe Piper, has a social anxiety disorder that the author uses for plot purposes. Sometimes Chloe is okay around a group of people and other times she says no to things because of how she will react. We even get a scene of her "twerking" (DEAR WHITE PEOPLE STOP DOING THIS) and her friend and his daughter upload it via Instagram so that she can get used to people watching her. I was hiding my eyes in shame and I wasn't even the one doing things depicted in this book. The romance was lukewarm and the ending was meh.
"Suddenly Single" follows Chloe Piper as she settles herself and her dog into their new home. Chloe is dealing with the breakup of her marriage and how that has impacted her ability to write. Chloe is secretly a best selling author of one book that everyone has gone crazy for in the U.K. Now that her husband has left her for another woman, she feels like her creativity is gone. That is until Chloe starts to "have feelings" for her next door neighbor Alex and meets some new people in a singles meet up group.
So. Chloe. She was written inconsistently. We hear that Chloe didn't get over the death of her sister and parents so her shyness turned into something else which eventually led to her social anxiety disorder. But she ends up meeting her husband (after his persistence) and they managed to marry. Eventually her inability to be out among people drove a wedge and finally he leaves her. I was hoping the book would focus on this disorder and how hard it is for people out there with this. Instead Wyer decides to randomly have Chloe go out at one point, get drunk, and meet two people she has never laid eyes on before who end up talking her into going out with their group they created and has her start to meet people. Another reviewer mentioned she has social anxiety and she didn't like how this was written and I feel badly for her since she was hoping the book would touch upon the condition.
Chloe also decides she likes someone for reasons and then rejects other suitors because of reasons. It was all so wishy-washy I was over it. I actually liked another male character for Chloe because he knew about the disorder because his own mother had it. But nope, just go for the chemistry free zone character. It didn't help though when Chloe tries to use this as a reason to not date him. I maybe went, you were literally twerking on a freaking Instagram post! Why is going to a ball a freaking issue?
The other characters in this book were not developed at all. And it didn't help when Chloe's ex comes back at on the scene. I don't get at all what Wyer was doing with that.
The writing was okay and just meh in parts in my opinion. The flow was terrible throughout. Usually I like chapter headings to set the mood so to speak for the book, but I thought that too much was happening back to back every day.
The setting of Sunny Meadow Farm sounded interesting, but we really don't meet anyone but two other neighbors.
The ending shows an epilogue and I was just glad to put this book behind me.
So this book ended up being a disappointment. I was all ready to read about a woman that is dealing with a separation and finding herself single after many years as part of a couple. Instead there were a whole host of other things happening in this book that in the end didn't work together for me. Most was the fact that the main character, Chloe Piper, has a social anxiety disorder that the author uses for plot purposes. Sometimes Chloe is okay around a group of people and other times she says no to things because of how she will react. We even get a scene of her "twerking" (DEAR WHITE PEOPLE STOP DOING THIS) and her friend and his daughter upload it via Instagram so that she can get used to people watching her. I was hiding my eyes in shame and I wasn't even the one doing things depicted in this book. The romance was lukewarm and the ending was meh.
"Suddenly Single" follows Chloe Piper as she settles herself and her dog into their new home. Chloe is dealing with the breakup of her marriage and how that has impacted her ability to write. Chloe is secretly a best selling author of one book that everyone has gone crazy for in the U.K. Now that her husband has left her for another woman, she feels like her creativity is gone. That is until Chloe starts to "have feelings" for her next door neighbor Alex and meets some new people in a singles meet up group.
So. Chloe. She was written inconsistently. We hear that Chloe didn't get over the death of her sister and parents so her shyness turned into something else which eventually led to her social anxiety disorder. But she ends up meeting her husband (after his persistence) and they managed to marry. Eventually her inability to be out among people drove a wedge and finally he leaves her. I was hoping the book would focus on this disorder and how hard it is for people out there with this. Instead Wyer decides to randomly have Chloe go out at one point, get drunk, and meet two people she has never laid eyes on before who end up talking her into going out with their group they created and has her start to meet people. Another reviewer mentioned she has social anxiety and she didn't like how this was written and I feel badly for her since she was hoping the book would touch upon the condition.
Chloe also decides she likes someone for reasons and then rejects other suitors because of reasons. It was all so wishy-washy I was over it. I actually liked another male character for Chloe because he knew about the disorder because his own mother had it. But nope, just go for the chemistry free zone character. It didn't help though when Chloe tries to use this as a reason to not date him. I maybe went, you were literally twerking on a freaking Instagram post! Why is going to a ball a freaking issue?
The other characters in this book were not developed at all. And it didn't help when Chloe's ex comes back at on the scene. I don't get at all what Wyer was doing with that.
The writing was okay and just meh in parts in my opinion. The flow was terrible throughout. Usually I like chapter headings to set the mood so to speak for the book, but I thought that too much was happening back to back every day.
The setting of Sunny Meadow Farm sounded interesting, but we really don't meet anyone but two other neighbors.
The ending shows an epilogue and I was just glad to put this book behind me.
January 2, 2020
4.5 Stars
It took me a while to gel with this book, possibly in part due to exhaustion having just come back from a holiday, and partly as I think it took me a while to really understand Chloe.
But wow once I had that empathy, and could see just what she is living with, and discovered how much I detested her almost ex-husband, while loving the new key people in her life, and I started to really love this book.
To me what really made this book incredibly enjoyable is the various singletons events that Chloe's neighbour Eleanor insisted Chloe to go to. The sheer variety of events, regularity of them and in case hilarity of what was being described was brilliant. If this club existed in real life near me I would potentially be tempted to joint, as who wouldn't want to do giant sumo wrestling, duck herding and tasks from taskmaster, to name just a few!
There is a deeper side to this too, as this book focuses heavily on social anxiety, which Carol Wyer has clearly researched a lot. I might be on the quiet / shy side in large groups but it's nothing compared a proper condition, in which Chloe let's us in regularly into the various things that could happen in uncomfortable situations.
Chloe hasn't had the easiest of lives but since moving to Sunny Meadow Farm, and meeting these new people her life is changing bit by bit and its so heartwarming to see.
Oh and Ronnie the Dog is adorable, and then there is the sorts of books that Chloe writes, I loved reading those sections too.
A thoroughly entertaining book from an author that I love.
Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
It took me a while to gel with this book, possibly in part due to exhaustion having just come back from a holiday, and partly as I think it took me a while to really understand Chloe.
But wow once I had that empathy, and could see just what she is living with, and discovered how much I detested her almost ex-husband, while loving the new key people in her life, and I started to really love this book.
To me what really made this book incredibly enjoyable is the various singletons events that Chloe's neighbour Eleanor insisted Chloe to go to. The sheer variety of events, regularity of them and in case hilarity of what was being described was brilliant. If this club existed in real life near me I would potentially be tempted to joint, as who wouldn't want to do giant sumo wrestling, duck herding and tasks from taskmaster, to name just a few!
There is a deeper side to this too, as this book focuses heavily on social anxiety, which Carol Wyer has clearly researched a lot. I might be on the quiet / shy side in large groups but it's nothing compared a proper condition, in which Chloe let's us in regularly into the various things that could happen in uncomfortable situations.
Chloe hasn't had the easiest of lives but since moving to Sunny Meadow Farm, and meeting these new people her life is changing bit by bit and its so heartwarming to see.
Oh and Ronnie the Dog is adorable, and then there is the sorts of books that Chloe writes, I loved reading those sections too.
A thoroughly entertaining book from an author that I love.
Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
March 2, 2019
Mñe. Tenía muy buena pinta pero al final ha acabo siendo decepcionante, la verdad, al menos en cuanto a lo que yo espero que una chick-lit, ya que no es romántica. Es más bien el estudio de una persona con ansiedad y fobia a la gente, y su evolución. Mientras que esos aspectos los he encontrado muy interesantes (y reales), la parte de la trama (la historia protagonista y sus relaciones personales) es ciertamente decepcionante, prácticamente no pasa nada y, lo poco que pasa, no se cuenta. Los personajes eran interesantes y se quedan planitos, planitos, no se profundiza nada en ellos. Mucha portada mona para tan poco contenido
June 12, 2019
5 Words: Relationships, friendship, betrayal, attraction, love.
I think that this book was just the tonic I needed. I absolutely adored the story and Chloe, and I wished so badly that I could be part of it.
I loved the added layer of Chloe's secrets, how she was so terrified of revealing herself and having peoples perspectives of her change. It was strangely relatable, even though I am in no way a secret author writing racy bestsellers.
As much as I ended up wholly invested in the story, the writing itself is wonderful. It's funny and observational, and the little details really helped me fall deeper into the story.
I will absolute read more by this author in future.
I think that this book was just the tonic I needed. I absolutely adored the story and Chloe, and I wished so badly that I could be part of it.
I loved the added layer of Chloe's secrets, how she was so terrified of revealing herself and having peoples perspectives of her change. It was strangely relatable, even though I am in no way a secret author writing racy bestsellers.
As much as I ended up wholly invested in the story, the writing itself is wonderful. It's funny and observational, and the little details really helped me fall deeper into the story.
I will absolute read more by this author in future.
April 21, 2019
I am stronger than I think
This is the theme of the book that we are stronger than we ever think ourselves to be. This story by Carol Wyer brought out that fact in every page of the book.
The main character Chloe suffered from crippling social anxiety, and every chapter showed how she slowly tried to be strong in spite of it. Every day was a struggle. I understood that. I don't like being in large crowds or talking to numerous people. It scares me, I rarely attend my conferences due to that. So I got her main character Chloe.
It was quite brave when Cloe bought a house at Sunny Meadows Farm as a new start to her life, after her husband's infidelity. I could understand her need for solitude and peace. Soon she joined the Singleton Club, though under the influence of alcohol, and it brought about a change in her slowly and steadily. I could understand her good and bad days, days when she could be social and some when she could not. I found it quite real as I have days like that.
There were a few niggles, I didn't like the twerking video of the main character being uploaded on Instagram, I would never ever do that even to get over my fears/shyness. And romance shown did not feel real, there were no sparks. The book felt like a friend zone, but the chapters moved slowly for me. It wasn't the romantic comedy as the tag-line said.
The book was a great change of pace to my thrillers, it touched my heart in some ways. I could identify with the main character. I may not be brave enough to join such a Club, but it did make me feel not so lonely.
This is the theme of the book that we are stronger than we ever think ourselves to be. This story by Carol Wyer brought out that fact in every page of the book.
The main character Chloe suffered from crippling social anxiety, and every chapter showed how she slowly tried to be strong in spite of it. Every day was a struggle. I understood that. I don't like being in large crowds or talking to numerous people. It scares me, I rarely attend my conferences due to that. So I got her main character Chloe.
It was quite brave when Cloe bought a house at Sunny Meadows Farm as a new start to her life, after her husband's infidelity. I could understand her need for solitude and peace. Soon she joined the Singleton Club, though under the influence of alcohol, and it brought about a change in her slowly and steadily. I could understand her good and bad days, days when she could be social and some when she could not. I found it quite real as I have days like that.
There were a few niggles, I didn't like the twerking video of the main character being uploaded on Instagram, I would never ever do that even to get over my fears/shyness. And romance shown did not feel real, there were no sparks. The book felt like a friend zone, but the chapters moved slowly for me. It wasn't the romantic comedy as the tag-line said.
The book was a great change of pace to my thrillers, it touched my heart in some ways. I could identify with the main character. I may not be brave enough to join such a Club, but it did make me feel not so lonely.
April 16, 2019
I really enjoyed suddenly single, it was enjoyable and funny, I’ve never read a book from Carol Wyer but I certainly will be in the future, I enjoyed the characters in the books but wasn’t a fan of Chloe’s ex husband I found him to be a sleazy cheat and controlling and was always putting Chloe down.
I really connected with Chloe’s character and with this book because as I also with social anxiety at times not as much as Chloe but I still can understand Chloe and what she was going through. And the struggles she had, Thank you Carol Wyer for this beautiful story; I absolutely loved it.
Merged review:
I really enjoyed suddenly single, it was enjoyable and funny, I’ve never read a book from Carol Wyer but I certainly will be in the future, I enjoyed the characters in the books but wasn’t a fan of Chloe’s ex husband I found him to be a sleazy cheat and controlling and was always putting Chloe down.
I really connected with Chloe’s character and with this book because as I also with social anxiety at times not as much as Chloe but I still can understand Chloe and what she was going through. And the struggles she had, Thank you Carol Wyer for this beautiful story; I absolutely loved it.
I really connected with Chloe’s character and with this book because as I also with social anxiety at times not as much as Chloe but I still can understand Chloe and what she was going through. And the struggles she had, Thank you Carol Wyer for this beautiful story; I absolutely loved it.
Merged review:
I really enjoyed suddenly single, it was enjoyable and funny, I’ve never read a book from Carol Wyer but I certainly will be in the future, I enjoyed the characters in the books but wasn’t a fan of Chloe’s ex husband I found him to be a sleazy cheat and controlling and was always putting Chloe down.
I really connected with Chloe’s character and with this book because as I also with social anxiety at times not as much as Chloe but I still can understand Chloe and what she was going through. And the struggles she had, Thank you Carol Wyer for this beautiful story; I absolutely loved it.
April 5, 2019
With thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
I am a big fan of Carol Wyer, and enjoy both her chic lit books and thrillers.
Chloe Piper was the best-selling author of Spank Me Harder Vicar, which was loosely based on gossip her husband William heard in the pub. When Chloe found a receipt for a meal in Williams`s pocket she discovered he had been being an affair with a model and the marriage was over.
Chloe and her dog Ronnie moved 20 miles away to Sunny Meadow, a newly built housing estate in the country. On her first evening she met her next door neighbours Felix and Eleanor After getting a little tipsy Chloe agreed to join a singles club they had just started.. However Chloe suffered from social anxiety disorder since her parents died when she was a child. Chloe found it hard to meet new people. especIally in large groups and tried to cancel but didn't want to upset her new friends.
Also Chloe`s best friend and agent Faith was expecting a manuscript for her next book. However Chloe`s next book The Ambassador was going to based on gossip from William. Without him she was suffering writers block and was unable to type a word. Chloe soon realised that William had gradually chipped away at her fragile confidence, could she find the courage to start again?
I enjoyed this book about fresh beginnings, friendships and love. Suddenly Single had some funny moments, I gasped in horror when hunky Alex caught Chloe watching a risque film looking for ideas for her book. I thought the team activities sounded fun and a little different, sumo wrestling, duck herding and learning the Haka.
I liked Chloe and all the members of the singles club. I especially liked
Sean a divorcee who owned a book shop called A Chapter In Time. I also had a soft spot for Ed a widow whose granddaughter bought him a three month subscription for the singles club.
I recommend this light hearted, fun read.
April 6, 2019
This is a brilliant, heart warming book which I absolutely loved.
Chloe has recently separated from her husband Wiliam, and is just starting to find her feet in her new home.
Her neighbour is there straight away and tells Chloe that she ‘must’ come round for drinks that night.
Chloe can’t deal with large social gatherings but after getting drunk Eleanor has persuaded her to join a club she organises for single people.
Chloe is swept along by Eleanor’s enthusiasm and starts to feel out of her depth.
Sean is there to give her a friendly smile and slowly, Chloe starts to enjoy herself.
Alex, who she knows from the building of her new home is also there, and offers her support too.
Eleanor organises fun events for the group and I loved reading about what they all got up to.
Another great character in the book is Ronnie, Chloe’s gorgeous dog, who is anyone’s friend if you feed him!
Chloe has her ups and downs and is trying to write her second novel but her close friends help her deal with everything that is thrown at her.
There’s a few gasp out loud moments and this made the book even more addictive.
I devoured the book in a few hours and love the way Carol Wyer grabs the reader from the first few pages.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Chloe has recently separated from her husband Wiliam, and is just starting to find her feet in her new home.
Her neighbour is there straight away and tells Chloe that she ‘must’ come round for drinks that night.
Chloe can’t deal with large social gatherings but after getting drunk Eleanor has persuaded her to join a club she organises for single people.
Chloe is swept along by Eleanor’s enthusiasm and starts to feel out of her depth.
Sean is there to give her a friendly smile and slowly, Chloe starts to enjoy herself.
Alex, who she knows from the building of her new home is also there, and offers her support too.
Eleanor organises fun events for the group and I loved reading about what they all got up to.
Another great character in the book is Ronnie, Chloe’s gorgeous dog, who is anyone’s friend if you feed him!
Chloe has her ups and downs and is trying to write her second novel but her close friends help her deal with everything that is thrown at her.
There’s a few gasp out loud moments and this made the book even more addictive.
I devoured the book in a few hours and love the way Carol Wyer grabs the reader from the first few pages.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
May 7, 2019
This is a brilliant, laugh out loud, romcom that I thoroughly enjoyed! It deals with a range of issues with humour and empathy, and is a great story to escape into!
Chloe Piper has left her cheating husband to move with her dog, Ronnie, into her new home, Sunny Meadow Barn, on a select development. She’s secretly a talented author with a raunchy best selling debut novel but the marriage breakdown has undermined her self confidence and exacerbated her social anxiety disorder. However, the current residents in this new development don’t know about any of that and she finds herself agreeing to join the group activities organised by her new neighbours, Eleanor and Fairfax. Get ready for fun, frolics, escapades and romance in this heartwarming story where friendships help heal and love will find a way, once the secrets are shared . . . .
This is definitely one of my favourite reads, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and some of the activities the singletons get up to sound great fun, I might even be tempted to try some of them myself! There’s more than one couple finding love in this story but it is the supportive friendships which develop that are at the heart of them all. It has a real sense of family and growing together, a superb read that I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and thoroughly enjoying doing so!
Chloe Piper has left her cheating husband to move with her dog, Ronnie, into her new home, Sunny Meadow Barn, on a select development. She’s secretly a talented author with a raunchy best selling debut novel but the marriage breakdown has undermined her self confidence and exacerbated her social anxiety disorder. However, the current residents in this new development don’t know about any of that and she finds herself agreeing to join the group activities organised by her new neighbours, Eleanor and Fairfax. Get ready for fun, frolics, escapades and romance in this heartwarming story where friendships help heal and love will find a way, once the secrets are shared . . . .
This is definitely one of my favourite reads, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and some of the activities the singletons get up to sound great fun, I might even be tempted to try some of them myself! There’s more than one couple finding love in this story but it is the supportive friendships which develop that are at the heart of them all. It has a real sense of family and growing together, a superb read that I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and thoroughly enjoying doing so!
February 27, 2019
While Suddenly Single could have been a decent, lighthearted beach read, it fell flat due to awkward dialogue, bland characters, and a formulaic plot.
Pros: There’s nothing wrong with following certain styles within a genre, some of which I could appreciate. I did enjoy the setting, the parts about the singletons club, and any interactions involving Chloe’s sweet dog Ronnie.
Cons: You’d think a book about a romance/erotica novelist would have a little heat, but Suddenly Single doesn’t at all. There’s no chemistry between Chloe and her love interest, Alex. He’s neither memorable nor charming. I found myself remembering more details about the secondary characters, like Eleanor’s marriage and perseverance, and Sean’s relationship with his daughter.
Plus, poor editing and clunky language was really distracting. There were several run-on sentences, oddly placed commas, and missing punctuation that took me out of the story (when my mind was already wandering.) The dialogue was stiff and unnatural. I began losing interest about a third of the way through. I only finished it to see if the writing or story improved. Unfortunately, it did not.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the ARC.
Pros: There’s nothing wrong with following certain styles within a genre, some of which I could appreciate. I did enjoy the setting, the parts about the singletons club, and any interactions involving Chloe’s sweet dog Ronnie.
Cons: You’d think a book about a romance/erotica novelist would have a little heat, but Suddenly Single doesn’t at all. There’s no chemistry between Chloe and her love interest, Alex. He’s neither memorable nor charming. I found myself remembering more details about the secondary characters, like Eleanor’s marriage and perseverance, and Sean’s relationship with his daughter.
Plus, poor editing and clunky language was really distracting. There were several run-on sentences, oddly placed commas, and missing punctuation that took me out of the story (when my mind was already wandering.) The dialogue was stiff and unnatural. I began losing interest about a third of the way through. I only finished it to see if the writing or story improved. Unfortunately, it did not.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 10, 2021
Very cute and heartfelt, with no gratuitous scenes/descriptions (which means I can share it with my older friends too)
July 16, 2020
This is a different kind of romantic book by Carol and in general. Yes it is a romantic comedy but this had a different feel to it, it is wrong to say it wasn’t light and fluffy because it was but it felt more….mature. I say this because while Carol is not afraid to tackle all types of subjects this one focuses heavily on social anxiety and it just didn’t feel fluffy. Nothing wrong with fluffy, I love it, so easy to read but for me, there was something more to it.
The story covers a year in the life of Chloe. I adored Chloe, she is already suffering from this horrible debilitating disorder but her ex-to-be husband William is the 100% jerk-off that you could imagine. He reminded me of my ex, just stripped Chloe of all confidence and made her feel everything was her fault, just like my ex. It can destroy you or it can make you stronger, or it can do both. For Chloe, it does both. When we meet her, she is low, she can’t talk to people bar her best friend Faith, she wants to faint, be sick, sweats profusely when she meets people and she panics. I have been there and at times still there. My heart is with Chloe, she is coerced into attending the singleton events by her new neighbours but that is where the fun really starts.
Every event has made Chloe step out of her comfort zone and while she is not completely cured, she has spunk and she has sparkle plus she makes the most amazing friends. Yes, this book is all about Chloe but we have a lot of focus on other characters and two that I loved the most were Sean and Jacqueline. They all had their own stories and we got to see a small glimpse of them and they were just so loveable! Plus, of course, we have to love Alex, he is just insecure and nervous about everything, lacking in confidence due to an ex, again we watch him shine a light. I found all the characters to be engaging and fun, only one character I struggled with, and they made the story flow. They all aided Chloe in different ways without even realising it. All the characters have shown the mantra of this book in buckets – I am stronger than I think!
I do love this side of Carol, the calmer, lighter more comical side, which we don’t see in her detective books. She is a dab hand at this writing, she has yet again created characters who you want to love and who you would want to be friends with, she won my heart with this book. The singleton’s club sounds like so much fun and an awesome way to meet people, now if Carol set this up you know it would be a hoot!
The story covers a year in the life of Chloe. I adored Chloe, she is already suffering from this horrible debilitating disorder but her ex-to-be husband William is the 100% jerk-off that you could imagine. He reminded me of my ex, just stripped Chloe of all confidence and made her feel everything was her fault, just like my ex. It can destroy you or it can make you stronger, or it can do both. For Chloe, it does both. When we meet her, she is low, she can’t talk to people bar her best friend Faith, she wants to faint, be sick, sweats profusely when she meets people and she panics. I have been there and at times still there. My heart is with Chloe, she is coerced into attending the singleton events by her new neighbours but that is where the fun really starts.
Every event has made Chloe step out of her comfort zone and while she is not completely cured, she has spunk and she has sparkle plus she makes the most amazing friends. Yes, this book is all about Chloe but we have a lot of focus on other characters and two that I loved the most were Sean and Jacqueline. They all had their own stories and we got to see a small glimpse of them and they were just so loveable! Plus, of course, we have to love Alex, he is just insecure and nervous about everything, lacking in confidence due to an ex, again we watch him shine a light. I found all the characters to be engaging and fun, only one character I struggled with, and they made the story flow. They all aided Chloe in different ways without even realising it. All the characters have shown the mantra of this book in buckets – I am stronger than I think!
I do love this side of Carol, the calmer, lighter more comical side, which we don’t see in her detective books. She is a dab hand at this writing, she has yet again created characters who you want to love and who you would want to be friends with, she won my heart with this book. The singleton’s club sounds like so much fun and an awesome way to meet people, now if Carol set this up you know it would be a hoot!
February 7, 2022
Woman has traumatic break up from a cheating husband, moves away to reinvent her life with the support of a BFF, meets fanciable hunk, falls for him but cue lots of misunderstandings and social clangers. However, all’s well that ends well, they all live happily ever after in the end. That’s more or less the standard chick lit recipe that we’ve seen over and over. I’m not really going to comment on the outcome of the story, you can read the back cover and decide for yourself. But I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Chloe, every minute of reading this book and what I learned through the reading experience.
Chloe is a dark horse in a couple of ways. Firstly, she’s an author of a rather racy novel, at complete odds with her apparent personality and demeanour. Secondly, she’s hiding a secret that may make her come across as aloof when in reality, she has social anxiety disorder. Not helped by her recent marriage breakup – when she found her husband William had been cheating, and destroyed what self-confidence she had begun to build up – she starts afresh (with Ronnie the dog) in a new house several miles outside Uttoxeter, a barn conversion which is part of a new build site. This leads her to meet several people; Alex, the son of the site manager and Fairfax and Eleanor, rather ebullient neighbours.
Apart from with her best mate Faith, Chloe doesn’t socialise because of her condition. Although having a bit too much of the sauce with her neighbours one evening she finds herself agreeing to join a singletons’ social club run by them. When sobered up she wonders what the hell she has let herself in for and how she will cope, but she goes for it. And here the fun begins. Chloe learns a lot about herself and fits into the group better than she could have hoped. It’s the start of a transformation for her.
Faith, meanwhile, is her agent as well as her best mate and needs some copy from Chloe for her next book. But her writing mojo disappeared along with William, who supplied her with pub-related anecdotes that Chloe turned into her saucy story. How’s she going to get over that one?
The story is very well written, is engaging and the characters are all compelling. Even the mean one – there’s only one. William. Don’t you just want to punch him? I liked Chloe a lot and would have been very happy to be her friend! It was fun to read about how she faced up to her fears and her thoughts, interesting to understand her thought processes and on a personal level, comprehend what it is really like to be her. I have a friend who is a Chloe, and have not been able to help her and have, I’m afraid, been frustrated by her. I’ve learned so much from this book. However, I do wish the proofreader had done their job properly. It’s unfair on the reader and the author and attracts negative comments. It didn’t affect my reading experience, but again, it isn’t fair.
One to keep on my shelf!
Chloe is a dark horse in a couple of ways. Firstly, she’s an author of a rather racy novel, at complete odds with her apparent personality and demeanour. Secondly, she’s hiding a secret that may make her come across as aloof when in reality, she has social anxiety disorder. Not helped by her recent marriage breakup – when she found her husband William had been cheating, and destroyed what self-confidence she had begun to build up – she starts afresh (with Ronnie the dog) in a new house several miles outside Uttoxeter, a barn conversion which is part of a new build site. This leads her to meet several people; Alex, the son of the site manager and Fairfax and Eleanor, rather ebullient neighbours.
Apart from with her best mate Faith, Chloe doesn’t socialise because of her condition. Although having a bit too much of the sauce with her neighbours one evening she finds herself agreeing to join a singletons’ social club run by them. When sobered up she wonders what the hell she has let herself in for and how she will cope, but she goes for it. And here the fun begins. Chloe learns a lot about herself and fits into the group better than she could have hoped. It’s the start of a transformation for her.
Faith, meanwhile, is her agent as well as her best mate and needs some copy from Chloe for her next book. But her writing mojo disappeared along with William, who supplied her with pub-related anecdotes that Chloe turned into her saucy story. How’s she going to get over that one?
The story is very well written, is engaging and the characters are all compelling. Even the mean one – there’s only one. William. Don’t you just want to punch him? I liked Chloe a lot and would have been very happy to be her friend! It was fun to read about how she faced up to her fears and her thoughts, interesting to understand her thought processes and on a personal level, comprehend what it is really like to be her. I have a friend who is a Chloe, and have not been able to help her and have, I’m afraid, been frustrated by her. I’ve learned so much from this book. However, I do wish the proofreader had done their job properly. It’s unfair on the reader and the author and attracts negative comments. It didn’t affect my reading experience, but again, it isn’t fair.
One to keep on my shelf!
October 19, 2020
Chloe Piper is the unlikely author of a racy bestseller. She escapes from a cheating husband to settle in a converted farmhouse for what she thinks is some peace to work on her second novel. Unfortunately, writer’s block is getting the better of her.
After a drunken night she signs up to a Singleton club run by her neighbours, Eleanor and Fairfax. The thought of going to the events terrifies her as her low self-esteem and social anxiety cripples her. Will she get out of her comfort zone and find the man she deserves?
Suddenly Single is one of those fun light hearted reads but it also covers the serious topic of mental health, specifically social anxiety.
I really liked Chloe, I just warmed to her immediately. It was a real treat to watch her grow and believe in herself as the story progressed. I also loved her cheeky dog Ronnie, he stole the show occasionally through the story!
I have to say I may not be single, but I’d love to go to the singletons club! They had so many fun events scattered throughout the novel I’d love to try! Of course, Coronavirus would prevent most of them now, but it was nice to live vicariously through the characters for a while.
I wished there was a little more humour, probably a lot of it went over my head, but that's my opinion!
If you’re looking for a bit of escapism from the way the world is right now, I’d highly recommend Suddenly Single!
After a drunken night she signs up to a Singleton club run by her neighbours, Eleanor and Fairfax. The thought of going to the events terrifies her as her low self-esteem and social anxiety cripples her. Will she get out of her comfort zone and find the man she deserves?
Suddenly Single is one of those fun light hearted reads but it also covers the serious topic of mental health, specifically social anxiety.
I really liked Chloe, I just warmed to her immediately. It was a real treat to watch her grow and believe in herself as the story progressed. I also loved her cheeky dog Ronnie, he stole the show occasionally through the story!
I have to say I may not be single, but I’d love to go to the singletons club! They had so many fun events scattered throughout the novel I’d love to try! Of course, Coronavirus would prevent most of them now, but it was nice to live vicariously through the characters for a while.
I wished there was a little more humour, probably a lot of it went over my head, but that's my opinion!
If you’re looking for a bit of escapism from the way the world is right now, I’d highly recommend Suddenly Single!
April 18, 2019
Chloe is an author of hot romances based off real-life gossip from her husband's trips to their local pub. She is also battling with chronic social anxiety disorder and panics about meeting people and meeting goals in life. Her friend Faith is really supportive and always there to lend a helping hand or a listening ear. Chloe manages to move house after her relationship with William comes to an end and wonders how she'll survive alone.
Her new life has challenges in store, will she face them in an attempt to be stronger and happier? Accompanied by a whole host of characters and her faithful dog, she goes through life as best she can. She's put to the test when a night drinking sees her joining The Singleton Club,
where there will be all sorts of challenges, in life, and also maybe in love.
But will she be brave enough to take life head on?
Suddenly Single is my second eARC by Carol Wyer and one I enjoyed very much. I actually really identified with Chloe in that anxiety is hard, but am glad I have never had it so chronically as her. I felt Faith was a real help to her. All the characters are well developed and realistic as is the plot. There's a lot to be learned from Chloe's story and hopefully it will go some way to raising awareness of anxiety issues.
Thanks to Carol Wyer and Canelo for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review as well as my place on the blog tour for this title. Bring on the next Carol Wyer book!
5 huge stars.
Her new life has challenges in store, will she face them in an attempt to be stronger and happier? Accompanied by a whole host of characters and her faithful dog, she goes through life as best she can. She's put to the test when a night drinking sees her joining The Singleton Club,
where there will be all sorts of challenges, in life, and also maybe in love.
But will she be brave enough to take life head on?
Suddenly Single is my second eARC by Carol Wyer and one I enjoyed very much. I actually really identified with Chloe in that anxiety is hard, but am glad I have never had it so chronically as her. I felt Faith was a real help to her. All the characters are well developed and realistic as is the plot. There's a lot to be learned from Chloe's story and hopefully it will go some way to raising awareness of anxiety issues.
Thanks to Carol Wyer and Canelo for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review as well as my place on the blog tour for this title. Bring on the next Carol Wyer book!
5 huge stars.
September 20, 2019
Enjoyably predictable, a non demanding read
February 27, 2019
Chloe Piper's marriage falls apart just before Christmas. She makes the decision to leave her ex, as his cheating was just too much for her to handle. If that wasn't so bad, the village gossips were a bit much. So, Chloe heads to a new development called Sunny Meadow Barn. Her constant companion is her dog, Ronnie.
All Chloe wants to do is get her life back together by focusing on herself. This proves to be impossible due to the busyness in the development. Chloe needed a change, a slower pace. As an author, she hopes to write without distraction. But she meets a rather lively crew at Sunny Meadow. One of the people Chloe meets is Alex Collins, the project manager, and he shows an interest in her. However, after dealing with her ex, she is reluctant to get involved, and this is despite the fact that she is rather drawn to him.
But, rather than thinking about a new relationship, one that could be fraught with troubles, Chloe would rather focus on her new book. Whatever Chloe deals with at this time, including sensitive issues, the book is balanced with finely tuned humor, which is indicative of the writing talent of the author. If you enjoy books that will make you laugh, while watching things bloom for Chloe, then you will be glad to read Suddenly Single. Carol Wyer does a terrific job in writing different genres, as this book certainly shows.
Many thanks to Canelo for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
All Chloe wants to do is get her life back together by focusing on herself. This proves to be impossible due to the busyness in the development. Chloe needed a change, a slower pace. As an author, she hopes to write without distraction. But she meets a rather lively crew at Sunny Meadow. One of the people Chloe meets is Alex Collins, the project manager, and he shows an interest in her. However, after dealing with her ex, she is reluctant to get involved, and this is despite the fact that she is rather drawn to him.
But, rather than thinking about a new relationship, one that could be fraught with troubles, Chloe would rather focus on her new book. Whatever Chloe deals with at this time, including sensitive issues, the book is balanced with finely tuned humor, which is indicative of the writing talent of the author. If you enjoy books that will make you laugh, while watching things bloom for Chloe, then you will be glad to read Suddenly Single. Carol Wyer does a terrific job in writing different genres, as this book certainly shows.
Many thanks to Canelo for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 9, 2019
Mental health seems to be one of those issues either ignored or only briefly touched upon in the sort of novels I normally read but in Suddenly Single it’s a huge part of the book.
Writing something that's realistic but also entertaining seems like quite a balancing act - and I’m not sure Carol Wyer has it exactly right.
While I’m no expert, her main character, Chloe, does seem to overcome several situations without too much trauma - and I think many of them would have worried someone even without a social anxiety disorder.
Having said that, it was good to see her grow in confidence and triumph over the obstacles in her path.
Thanks to the range of activities Chloe’s neighbours rope her into, the plot was very lively.
There are some funny moments and I genuinely felt like I got to know the supporting cast well - and I liked them too.
Oddly, I thought Chloe actually had more chemistry with the lovely Canadian bookshop owner than the hero, Alex, who didn’t seem to feature as much in the book.
The spark between them didn’t really ignite until right at the end – although perhaps that’s the point. Both of them had been through it, maybe it’s only natural they would be cautious?
It certainly kept me guessing.
I thought Carol wrote a very clever villain in Chloe’s ex-husband, William, who had her so mixed up and dependent on him, she wasn’t sure which way to turn but, for me, the star of the show was Ronnie the dog.
Writing something that's realistic but also entertaining seems like quite a balancing act - and I’m not sure Carol Wyer has it exactly right.
While I’m no expert, her main character, Chloe, does seem to overcome several situations without too much trauma - and I think many of them would have worried someone even without a social anxiety disorder.
Having said that, it was good to see her grow in confidence and triumph over the obstacles in her path.
Thanks to the range of activities Chloe’s neighbours rope her into, the plot was very lively.
There are some funny moments and I genuinely felt like I got to know the supporting cast well - and I liked them too.
Oddly, I thought Chloe actually had more chemistry with the lovely Canadian bookshop owner than the hero, Alex, who didn’t seem to feature as much in the book.
The spark between them didn’t really ignite until right at the end – although perhaps that’s the point. Both of them had been through it, maybe it’s only natural they would be cautious?
It certainly kept me guessing.
I thought Carol wrote a very clever villain in Chloe’s ex-husband, William, who had her so mixed up and dependent on him, she wasn’t sure which way to turn but, for me, the star of the show was Ronnie the dog.
September 25, 2022
This was such a fun and easy read. Initially I thought Chloe was going to be a weak character but I loved seeing her grow and becoming really strong. Loved all the other characters too. Just what I needed!
February 21, 2019
Funny ~ Accessible ~ Satisfying
tl:dr: Women writes smut and finds good changes in her life.
Wyer's voice has the ideal level of snark. This romance novel is about a woman dropped by a cheating cad just before she publishes her first erotica novel. The story continues with her endeavors, and it ends with a happy ending. The book does play into some tropes, like the boyfriend is with the other woman at the start of the novel, but the quality writing makes this book still readable. Enjoyable. The easy humor is what makes the book. Good beach read.
3.5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seema Rao Write : Instagram| Blog| Twitter|
tl:dr: Women writes smut and finds good changes in her life.
Wyer's voice has the ideal level of snark. This romance novel is about a woman dropped by a cheating cad just before she publishes her first erotica novel. The story continues with her endeavors, and it ends with a happy ending. The book does play into some tropes, like the boyfriend is with the other woman at the start of the novel, but the quality writing makes this book still readable. Enjoyable. The easy humor is what makes the book. Good beach read.
3.5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seema Rao Write : Instagram| Blog| Twitter|
April 27, 2019
I adored this novel! I was very much connected to the main protagonist, Chloe. She reminded me in some ways of myself. I feel that the author did an amazing job of putting a face to those who suffer from severe social anxiety (like myself). I loved the pace of the novel and at some parts found it quite humorous. I’d definitely recommend this book to others and plan on rereading it.
April 8, 2019
Carol Wyer is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, and this book certainly ticked all the boxes for me. It was a fast read, but was entertaining, and has some very funny moments in it.
The story follows Chloe Piper, a writer who is making a new start, following the break up of her marriage to William. She moves, with her gorgeous dog Ronnie to the most perfect if remote location, into what really sounds like my dream home. Although the location is still a building site, with some of the barns still needing conversion, Chloe manages to make friends with Alex, Felix and Eleanor, and somehow Eleanor talks socially anxious Chloe into joining her singles club. Each session of the singles club is an interesting and challenging event for the people to try.
I really liked Chloe, and could easily empathise with her social anxiety disorder. The other members of the club, her new friends, are all lovely, and as for Ronnie her dog, dog dustbin that he is, he is just utterly adorable. Carol really knows how to bring a characterful dog into her stories!
The bookish nerd in me fell for Sean, the owner of what sounded like a bookshop I need in my life, although it’s entirely possible I was seduced by his shop rather than him!
I loved how by having a new support system around her, Chloe finds herself, and her own strength. I worried for a moment that when William came back into her life, she was going to be weak, but I need not have worried, because the new Chloe was not going to be manipulated in the way that the old Chloe had been. This is a book about new beginnings, friendship, and personal growth, and it was such a charming read that I read it in a day because I did not want to leave the characters for a moment.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer is out today! Happy publication day!
The story follows Chloe Piper, a writer who is making a new start, following the break up of her marriage to William. She moves, with her gorgeous dog Ronnie to the most perfect if remote location, into what really sounds like my dream home. Although the location is still a building site, with some of the barns still needing conversion, Chloe manages to make friends with Alex, Felix and Eleanor, and somehow Eleanor talks socially anxious Chloe into joining her singles club. Each session of the singles club is an interesting and challenging event for the people to try.
I really liked Chloe, and could easily empathise with her social anxiety disorder. The other members of the club, her new friends, are all lovely, and as for Ronnie her dog, dog dustbin that he is, he is just utterly adorable. Carol really knows how to bring a characterful dog into her stories!
The bookish nerd in me fell for Sean, the owner of what sounded like a bookshop I need in my life, although it’s entirely possible I was seduced by his shop rather than him!
I loved how by having a new support system around her, Chloe finds herself, and her own strength. I worried for a moment that when William came back into her life, she was going to be weak, but I need not have worried, because the new Chloe was not going to be manipulated in the way that the old Chloe had been. This is a book about new beginnings, friendship, and personal growth, and it was such a charming read that I read it in a day because I did not want to leave the characters for a moment.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer is out today! Happy publication day!
dnf
July 6, 2019I received a copy of this book through netgalley but that doesn’t effect my review.
I DNFed this book at 11%
DNFing yet another book makes me feel horrible. I hate DNFing books, it hurts. It actually hurts. But recently I have realised how many books are out there that I really want to read, how many books that will potentially inspire me, enrich my life and be fantastic page turners, and I realised that because of this, and because of life, I don’t have time to continue with a book that I’m really not enjoying. Even if it hurts to DNF, sometimes it’s just necessary.
I didn’t like Chloe. That was the start of the downward spiral for me. I couldn’t connect to her or any of the side characters and the book didn’t have a spark to me. There was nothing to meep me going, and nothing to make me want to keep picking it up. It was starting to become a chore and I never want reading to become a chore, especially now I don’t have as much time to read as I used to anyway.
This book was a very poor representation of a rom-com. It wasn’t funny, and some of the supposedly funny moments were just pure cringe.
But what annoyed me the most was Chloe’s social anxiety. I was really excited to read a book about a character with social anxiety at first, but the representation was so poor it actually made me feel a little angry. Zoella’s girl online did a better job. Chloe said she had anxiety a lot, but there was never any evidence of it, and it was actually more of a plot device that a real character trait. Anxiety is a serious issue, and not something that should be used in a novel as a device to make cringe worthy ‘humour’.
I am sad to DNF another book, but I am not sad about having my time freed up to read something else.
I DNFed this book at 11%
DNFing yet another book makes me feel horrible. I hate DNFing books, it hurts. It actually hurts. But recently I have realised how many books are out there that I really want to read, how many books that will potentially inspire me, enrich my life and be fantastic page turners, and I realised that because of this, and because of life, I don’t have time to continue with a book that I’m really not enjoying. Even if it hurts to DNF, sometimes it’s just necessary.
I didn’t like Chloe. That was the start of the downward spiral for me. I couldn’t connect to her or any of the side characters and the book didn’t have a spark to me. There was nothing to meep me going, and nothing to make me want to keep picking it up. It was starting to become a chore and I never want reading to become a chore, especially now I don’t have as much time to read as I used to anyway.
This book was a very poor representation of a rom-com. It wasn’t funny, and some of the supposedly funny moments were just pure cringe.
But what annoyed me the most was Chloe’s social anxiety. I was really excited to read a book about a character with social anxiety at first, but the representation was so poor it actually made me feel a little angry. Zoella’s girl online did a better job. Chloe said she had anxiety a lot, but there was never any evidence of it, and it was actually more of a plot device that a real character trait. Anxiety is a serious issue, and not something that should be used in a novel as a device to make cringe worthy ‘humour’.
I am sad to DNF another book, but I am not sad about having my time freed up to read something else.
March 9, 2019
See more at instagram.com/bookstolivewith
Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer was such a cute, happy read! It’s a really funny romance novel, although it’s incredible light on sex (which I personally found very refreshing), with a really well-rounded cast of characters that you grow to truly care about. I loved that Chloe’s personal growth was ultimately placed before any romance or romantic relationships, making the novel about her rather than about her as defined by men. I also loved that mental health (and therapy) were depicted as an on-going project rather than something that is suddenly fixed or triumphed over, and that relapses are normal (even if they aren’t preferred).
After separating from her husband, Chloe Piper moves to a large house in the English countryside. She’s quickly drawn into a semi-friendship with her next-door neighbors, who run a singles event company, as well as with the contractor on the newly developing neighborhood, Alex Collins. On the surface, Chloe seems cool as a cucumber. However, she is coping with a severe anxiety disorder as well as trying to hide her identity as the author of the sauciest book since 50 Shades of Grey. And oh wait! Her next book is due to the publishers soon, or she’ll lose her advance and possibly her new house, and she’s completely lost for ideas. Yet, these singles events she unwittingly signs up for might be just the inspiration she needs.
It was such an enjoyable, quick read and definitely a good palate cleanser! It’s out in April, just in time for those beach reads!
Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer was such a cute, happy read! It’s a really funny romance novel, although it’s incredible light on sex (which I personally found very refreshing), with a really well-rounded cast of characters that you grow to truly care about. I loved that Chloe’s personal growth was ultimately placed before any romance or romantic relationships, making the novel about her rather than about her as defined by men. I also loved that mental health (and therapy) were depicted as an on-going project rather than something that is suddenly fixed or triumphed over, and that relapses are normal (even if they aren’t preferred).
After separating from her husband, Chloe Piper moves to a large house in the English countryside. She’s quickly drawn into a semi-friendship with her next-door neighbors, who run a singles event company, as well as with the contractor on the newly developing neighborhood, Alex Collins. On the surface, Chloe seems cool as a cucumber. However, she is coping with a severe anxiety disorder as well as trying to hide her identity as the author of the sauciest book since 50 Shades of Grey. And oh wait! Her next book is due to the publishers soon, or she’ll lose her advance and possibly her new house, and she’s completely lost for ideas. Yet, these singles events she unwittingly signs up for might be just the inspiration she needs.
It was such an enjoyable, quick read and definitely a good palate cleanser! It’s out in April, just in time for those beach reads!
April 12, 2019
A charming romantic comedy, with a sensitive and serious look at social anxiety disorder and its disabling effects. Christmas looms dark and dangerous for Chloe, whose husband has recently left her. A successful debut author, who suffers from anxiety, Chloe is horrified when she is identified as the author CJ Knight, and can no longer find the anonymity she needs in her village. Moving to a new development in rural Staffordshire appeals but is it too remote? Will she master her writer's block? Can she survive Christmas with only Ronnie the dog for company?
The characters in the new development and those she meets in the singles club are complex, with their own emotional baggage but believable, there are no stereotypes here, only reflections of the people you may encounter in your daily life. The story charts Chloe's battle against her anxiety, her courage as she learns to trust others and her emotional journey to rebuild her self-esteem through writing her second book.
There are lots of conflicts, as the genre demands, both internal and external, and many hilarious moments, especially involving Ronnie the dog. The story is gently paced and as Chloe is a likeable character you want her to find true happiness, and learn to live her life fully. There are elements in this story that many readers will relate to, which make this more than just a lighthearted love story.
A clever balance of romance, laughs and poignancy make this an enjoyable read.
I received a copy of this book from Canelo via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
April 12, 2019
Chloe Piper is newly single after her long term marriage ended with her discovery of her husband’s infidelity and his decision to move in with his supermodel girlfriend.
Chloe moves to a house in the country for a fresh start. She is secretly the anonymous author of a very popular book (Spank Me Harder, Vicar) and due to its popularity has a contract for a second book - but is floundering to get it written since with the changes in her life she is lacking inspiration.
When Chloe meets her new neighbors and gets drunk with them, she agrees to join their club for local singles events. Upon sobering, she is upset to realize this as she has social anxiety disorder and struggles to do things with crowds of people she doesn’t know.
The plot had potential but it just ultimately didn’t work for me. I didn’t feel invested in any of the relationships and felt there were a lot of inconsistencies. There were some romantic relationships but I didn’t believe in any of them. The only relationship that felt real to me was Chloe’s love of her dog.
I don’t feel qualified to speak to the representation of her anxiety disorder but it felt off to me. I also read reviews from others who manage this in their lives who said the same - although everyone’s experience is unique. I felt uncomfortable with the ways it seemed used as a plot device at certain points and completely disregarded at others.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Chloe moves to a house in the country for a fresh start. She is secretly the anonymous author of a very popular book (Spank Me Harder, Vicar) and due to its popularity has a contract for a second book - but is floundering to get it written since with the changes in her life she is lacking inspiration.
When Chloe meets her new neighbors and gets drunk with them, she agrees to join their club for local singles events. Upon sobering, she is upset to realize this as she has social anxiety disorder and struggles to do things with crowds of people she doesn’t know.
The plot had potential but it just ultimately didn’t work for me. I didn’t feel invested in any of the relationships and felt there were a lot of inconsistencies. There were some romantic relationships but I didn’t believe in any of them. The only relationship that felt real to me was Chloe’s love of her dog.
I don’t feel qualified to speak to the representation of her anxiety disorder but it felt off to me. I also read reviews from others who manage this in their lives who said the same - although everyone’s experience is unique. I felt uncomfortable with the ways it seemed used as a plot device at certain points and completely disregarded at others.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 11, 2019
After the breakdown of her marriage Chloe is keen to move out of Appletree and find somewhere peaceful and away from it all. Appletree is the setting where she based her best-selling novel, mostly on pub gossip from her ex William. There had been a few rumours on the identity of novelist C J Knight, so a good time to move away.
She finds her new home at a new development of old farm buildings called Sunny Meadow.
The name is idyllic as the setting….countryside, reservoir, winding lanes and a dark starry sky. I want to live there too.
Chloe keeps to herself. She has a close friend, Faith, who is also her publisher.
She lost her family in an accident and since then she suffers with social anxiety disorder. This holds her back a lot, avoiding crowds and social gatherings. She’s happy to sit at home in her pyjamas, writing and shopping online.
Since her break up she’s suffering with writers block, and her submission date for her next novel is getting nearer. A bit of a panic!
Back to Sunny Meadow. It’s quite a small and exclusive development. Her nearest neighbours pop over and introduce themselves, Eleanor and Fairfax, and before she knows it she’s been invited to their house, drunk far too much, and signed up to their singles club.
She’s dreading the first activity day and makes herself ill with worry.
I won’t give any spoilers for The Singleton Club, but the activities were a lot of fun and are a big part of the story. It also pushed Chloe out of her comfort zone in terms of meeting new people.
Alex was another neighbour, son of Thomas the site developer. He was really nice.
William, the ex, reappears and he was a real creep!
Not forgetting Ronnie, her faithful dog. I loved him.
Funny, entertaining and easy to read too with a satisfying conclusion.
She finds her new home at a new development of old farm buildings called Sunny Meadow.
The name is idyllic as the setting….countryside, reservoir, winding lanes and a dark starry sky. I want to live there too.
Chloe keeps to herself. She has a close friend, Faith, who is also her publisher.
She lost her family in an accident and since then she suffers with social anxiety disorder. This holds her back a lot, avoiding crowds and social gatherings. She’s happy to sit at home in her pyjamas, writing and shopping online.
Since her break up she’s suffering with writers block, and her submission date for her next novel is getting nearer. A bit of a panic!
Back to Sunny Meadow. It’s quite a small and exclusive development. Her nearest neighbours pop over and introduce themselves, Eleanor and Fairfax, and before she knows it she’s been invited to their house, drunk far too much, and signed up to their singles club.
She’s dreading the first activity day and makes herself ill with worry.
I won’t give any spoilers for The Singleton Club, but the activities were a lot of fun and are a big part of the story. It also pushed Chloe out of her comfort zone in terms of meeting new people.
Alex was another neighbour, son of Thomas the site developer. He was really nice.
William, the ex, reappears and he was a real creep!
Not forgetting Ronnie, her faithful dog. I loved him.
Funny, entertaining and easy to read too with a satisfying conclusion.
March 10, 2019
When bestselling romance author Chloe Piper’s marriage implodes a week before Christmas, she flies her cheating ex and the village gossips for the solitude of the newly built Sunny Meadow Farm and the company of her hapless dog, Ronnie.
But Chloe is soon pushed out of her comfort zone. Because with a lively development building crew - headed up by charming Alex - and a larger-than-life neighbour determined to make Chloe’s love life her pet project, Chloe finds herself a whole new world of chaos...
First of all can we just all agree that we know someone like William and they make our skin crawl? He was such a controlling jerk of a soon to be ex husband and I hated to see how much he hurt Chloe. Some people are just slimey. It was quite refreshing to read a romcom book that wasn't instalove and Chloe took her time recovering from her husband's infidelity. I thought the author did a great job creating relatable characters that you can easy invision as your next door neighbors. This book may not be for you if you're looking for sexy bits because they aren't there, but I found that a bit refreshing. Overall I liked this book and would recommend it to anybody looking for a light, quick read. It was such a refreshing change of pace from the average romcom book.
But Chloe is soon pushed out of her comfort zone. Because with a lively development building crew - headed up by charming Alex - and a larger-than-life neighbour determined to make Chloe’s love life her pet project, Chloe finds herself a whole new world of chaos...
First of all can we just all agree that we know someone like William and they make our skin crawl? He was such a controlling jerk of a soon to be ex husband and I hated to see how much he hurt Chloe. Some people are just slimey. It was quite refreshing to read a romcom book that wasn't instalove and Chloe took her time recovering from her husband's infidelity. I thought the author did a great job creating relatable characters that you can easy invision as your next door neighbors. This book may not be for you if you're looking for sexy bits because they aren't there, but I found that a bit refreshing. Overall I liked this book and would recommend it to anybody looking for a light, quick read. It was such a refreshing change of pace from the average romcom book.
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