Going Dutch

by Katie Fforde

When Jo’s husband ditches her, and Dora ditches her fiancé, both women find themselves living on a barge on the Thames where they must learn to navigate their way around new relationships. They quickly learn the value of friendship and a fresh start.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Ebooks, British Literature

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming was born 27 September 1952 in England, UK, the daughter of Shirley Barbara Laub and Michael Willoughby Gordon-Cumming. Her grandfather was Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Her sister is fellow writer Jane Gordon-Cumming. Katie married Desmond Fforde, cousin of the also writer Jasper Fforde. She has three children: Guy, Francis and Briony and didn't start writing until after the birth of her third child. She has previously worked both as a cleaning lady and in a health food cafe.

Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."

Katie lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England with her husband, some of her three children and many pets. Recently her old hobbies of ironing and housework have given way to singing, Flamenco dancing and husky racing. She claims this keeps her fit. The writers she likes herself is also in the romantic genre, like Kate Saunders.

Reviews

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 1 out of 5]

The blurb sounded very interesting and very different from what I have read so far from Katie Fforde.

Usually Katie Fforde's books start out well and then they drag and become boring in the later half but this started out very slow from the get go. I almost ended up not reading it but I thought may be it will get better. It didn't.

0 stars

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a tough one, because there were some parts that I found dragged on, and the basic scenario -- the h and the H and the OW and others all on a barge together -- was very unpleasant. However, one thing Katie Fforde does super-well is an all-in H -- he makes a strong love declaration complete with a clear statement of his plans for commitment -- colored with the faintest tinge of desperation. I would say 2.5 stars.

[Ririn Aziz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost becoming the first book of Katie Fforde's that I could not finished. The earlier chapters were so slow moving that I really wanted to give up the book. That is, I have to wait until halfway through to become really interested.

Looking at the title, I thought that it would be a play of the idiom. But surprisingly, 'Going Dutch' literally means they were going to Holland!

[Melinda Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, this was more boring than watching paint dry.

There's a few plot points that the author could have used to make this interesting (Tom's dares, Jo's change of career, the numerous love matches etc) but instead it all gets jumbled up together and you find yourself reading passage after passage about cooking lasagne and making cups of tea.

Whilst this sounds characteristically British, it makes for a dull, slow novel.

The characters (Jo and Dora) set out to make lives for themselves, so Dora gets a new job and I think we only read about her work once, and then she's off on a barge adventure. Seems quite charitable for a new boss to say 'yeah off you go' when they described the work set as being in a state of disarray and in need of Dora's womanly touch.

There's plenty else wrong with this book but I won't bother getting into it. It's not a book full of strong female characters, or even interesting ones. Skip it.

[Fatima · Rating 1 out of 5]

A light read to enjoy... Living on a barge (boat house) and mending broken hearts is what it is. Splitting not only the bills but lives as more loved and equally valued persons is what Going Dutch is for me.
Though I got quite bored at times reading it.

[Steph Hayward-bailey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF I usually love Ffordes books and find them an easy enjoyable read. I really struggled with this one and couldn't finish it.

[Evelyn Evertsen-Romp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Katie Fforde is niet voor mij. Haar heldinnen zijn afschuwelijk.

[Hennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Erg saai boek.

[Meggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my least favorite Katie Fforde, but then I read Artistic License. However, it's still in my bottom two.

I hate that Dora just quit her job to live on a houseboat because she broke off her engagement. Why do no Katie Fforde heroines have careers???

I hate that Jo's love interest had a girlfriend for, oh, at least half the book. I hate that Jo actually considered getting back with her cheating scumbag husband--he cheated on you! The younger model he left you for is now pregnant! Don't go back to that. I hate that she ended up with the love interest, too, though, so there's no pleasing me.

But mostly I hate that it was boring. I love the idea behind Going Dutch--boats! and boat trips! and Holland!--but goodness gracious, the actual execution was frightfully dull. I would recommend either of Katie Fforde's other "boat books" (The Rose Revived or Life Skills) over this one.

[Andra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very light and fun novel. The dialogue was a bit confusing here and there, since it wasn't often specified who was talking, but I went back and sort of deduced from the context.
Also, the Ro edition has quite a few typos in it lol

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Katie Fforde - this book was an easy enjoyable read

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry Mum, this was bad...

2⭐️

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Loved the fact the husband's partner was nicknamed Floosie by the wife, made me giggle every time she was mentioned.

[GenevieveNZ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring
Didn't get past page 83. Too much going on and on about Dora's and Jo's insecurities, and it was just generally too slow for my liking

[Romée Wanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Waah, het boek had veel potentie, maar ik kwam er maar niet doorheen D:
De beloofde boottocht liet maar op zich wachten en besloeg eigenlijk maar een paar hoofdstukken van het boek, wat wel oke was als de opbouw er naartoe niet zooooooo laaaaaaaang duurde.
Waarschijnlijk was dat om de karakters goed te leren kennen, maar dat is bij mij ook niet echt gelukt.
Ik had bij niemand echt van ah yes en Carole verdiende een bitchslap.
Maar goed, de oude leute hebben party seks en Tom en Dora worden snel afgeraffeld met een picknick in het bos. Koelkoel, hier wachtte ik een heel boek op?

[Anneke Visser-van Dijken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lees mijn recensie over dit boek op mijn blog, https://surfingann.blogspot.nl/2016/0....

[Gouri Bhat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like it at all!. Abandoned after a third as jut wasn't going anywhere

[Charlotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow! I read a lot of Katie Fforde books- but this one was awful! So boring! I did persevere, just because I don't like giving up on books- and the end was just as I predicted. Waste of time!

[Hannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoewel het best een aardig boek is, is het niet heel hoogdravend. Het is een heerlijk, luchtig verhaal over Dora en Jo. Dora is echt een naïef plattelandsmeisje. Ze is heel beschermd opgevoed en nadat ze haar verloving heeft verbroken komt ze bij de moeder van een vriendin terecht, die in Londen op een binnenvaartschip woont. Jo is daar gaan wonen, nadat ze door haar man is verlaten voor een veel jongere vrouw. Al snel komen Tom en Marcus in beeld. Tom daagt Dora uit allerlei dingen te doen die ze nog nooit van haar leven gedaan heeft. Marcus blijkt een oude bekende van Jo te zijn. Het verhaal is vrij voorspelbaar. Toch leest het lekker weg. Wel heb ik mij aan allerlei foutieve scheepstermen geërgerd. Ik weet niet of dat door de vertaling komt of dat de schrijfster de juiste termen niet weet, maar de term aak wordt niet meer gebruikt als het over binnenvaartschepen gaat. Ik weet dat toevallig, omdat ik zelf schipperskind ben. Een buitenstaander zou dat waarschijnlijk niet opvallen, maar een aak is een term die gebruikt werd voor de schepen van vroeger. Overigens merk ik dat de term in Nederland ook vaak verkeerd gebruikt wordt. Ondanks dat is het wel een leuk verhaal. Mede omdat Nederland ook een rol speelt in het verhaal. Dat zie je bij buitenlandse boeken niet zo vaak. De Engelse titel, Going Dutch, past dan ook beter bij het boek dan de Nederlandse. Ik heb dit boek achtergelaten in de minibieb van mijn hotel in Griekenland. Zo kan iemand anders het ook lezen.

[Linniegayl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book features two romances about equally. Jo's longtime husband recently dumped her for a younger woman. Dora recently dumped her boring fiance right before their wedding. Needing to escape her meddling mother, Dora's best friend convinces her to live with her mother -- Jo -- on a barge outside of London.

Dora and Jo get along fine on the barge and quickly get involved with a number of the barging community. Eventually new men come into both Jo and Dora's lives, but the romance is for the most part pretty light.

I found parts of living on the barge interesting. I had some problems with both of the heroines. Dora is young, and came across as rather immature at times. I found Jo much more interesting, although she's a bit obsessed menopause (she's positive it's going to spring at any moment).

I would give this a B-, so four stars here.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One sentence summary:
This is a story about the lifes of Dora and Jo.

Why x stars?
It's an easy chic lit story written from both Dora's and Jo's point of view. At the start I had to adjust that sometimes the pov changes in an alinea. But since there are only 2 options it's not so confusing. It's rather predictable but I don't mind this with chic lit. Since I like to read these books as a light read.

Why recommendation (or not)?
I liked the story because we see the change in Jo and Dora. Though it's pretty obvious so I only recommand this book for people who don't mind this.

[Sandra Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun read. I really enjoyed the mix of generations. Definitely passed the laugh out loud test. Katie's characters are always brilliantly described and this collection was no exception. I particularly enjoyed Carole's evolution from dumb blonde to not quite as daft as we thought but a girl who knows exactly what she wants. Jo's development from abandoned low self opinioned wife to independent woman is delightful. Thoroughly recommended as a good light hearted read

[Elaine Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun piece of chick lit to read. One of the main characters has been dumped by her husband for a younger model and finds herself renting a barge. It's not too long before she is joined by her daughter's best friend who has jilted her long term husband to be.
Other love interests raise their heads, as you would expect, and their lives take a turn for the better.
A light, quick and easy read,

[Mummalovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lovely feel good factor full of friendships love new beginnings and inspiring life changes. This is the perfect up lifting read for a sunny afternoon sat in the garden with a glass of Pimms. Lovely relatable characters in a beautiful setting on the Thames. This brings the romantic side of barging to life. A very enjoyable read.

[Anna Roos Wijngaarden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely in-between book to alternate between heavier and deeper titles. Fforde has a feel for atmospheric descriptions. It's easy to imagine the visuals, making the rather simple plot very iteresting to follow. I read this one in a week, it took me off my evening Netflix habit. I guess bingereading was introduced to me. Thanks Fforde!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this just didnt grab me as much as the other books I have read by this author who is one of my favourite authors to pick up when want a girlie read.

I cannot fully put my finger on it why?
Characters intresting and well developed relstionship and some parts had me laughing out loud.

Just a book I didnt gel with.

[Ambersreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me quite a bit to get through this story. The storyline just didn't pull me in like a lot of her other books do. Even though it took me quite a while to finish the book I did enjoy it, especially the ending. So I'm glad to add this book to my collection, even though I won't be picking it up soon again

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy this author. Needed something light. Thought this was it. It was a drag. I persevered as I hoped it might pick up a little. Took forever to get half way so just read the monologue where I could for the rest to get it over with. Sorry. Pity I didn’t read reviews first as I wouldn’t have bothered probably.

[Georgia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lacked depth in every way possible. Little character development (besides the main characters constant, same-old insecurities about her age), no real connection or shared interests between Dora and Tom and Marcus and Jo (just pairing them up for convenience and to add some 'romanticism' but still lacking). Overall, it was cliché and incredibly boring.

[erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

predictable and not at all up to the usual fforde books that I've loved. character names were confusing, Dora should have been jo, Jo should have been Dora. I had to keep going back to see which character it was!