What do you think?
Rate this book
Frogmorton Farm #1
The Nothing Girl
Getting a life isn't always easy. And hanging on to it is even harder . . .
Discover this funny, heart-warming tale of self-discovery from Jodi Taylor, author of the internationally bestselling Chronicles of St Mary's series.
Nobody ever notices little Jenny Dove. Even her family call her the Nothing Girl. Isolated and alone, Jenny is about to end it all when she is rescued by Thomas, a giant golden horse only she can see.
Under his mischievous guidance, Jenny begins to think she might one day become someone. And when the charmingly chaotic Russell Checkland erupts into her life - together with his tumbledown farmhouse - and proposes a marriage that will save them both, Jenny is ready to take a chance.
Sadly, her new life at Frogmorton Farm doesn't exactly sweep Jenny off her feet. There are leaking roofs, unpaid bills and so many buckets. And then, as a series of apparent 'accidents' unfolds, Jenny begins to worry this might not be a fairy-tale ending after all...
Readers love Jodi
'I haven't met a Jodi Taylor book I didn't love , they get you right in the feels'
'Has you laughing and crying in equal measure '
'Beautifully written, captivating and witty '
'A surprising gem of a book'
Discover this funny, heart-warming tale of self-discovery from Jodi Taylor, author of the internationally bestselling Chronicles of St Mary's series.
Nobody ever notices little Jenny Dove. Even her family call her the Nothing Girl. Isolated and alone, Jenny is about to end it all when she is rescued by Thomas, a giant golden horse only she can see.
Under his mischievous guidance, Jenny begins to think she might one day become someone. And when the charmingly chaotic Russell Checkland erupts into her life - together with his tumbledown farmhouse - and proposes a marriage that will save them both, Jenny is ready to take a chance.
Sadly, her new life at Frogmorton Farm doesn't exactly sweep Jenny off her feet. There are leaking roofs, unpaid bills and so many buckets. And then, as a series of apparent 'accidents' unfolds, Jenny begins to worry this might not be a fairy-tale ending after all...
Readers love Jodi
'I haven't met a Jodi Taylor book I didn't love , they get you right in the feels'
'Has you laughing and crying in equal measure '
'Beautifully written, captivating and witty '
'A surprising gem of a book'
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2014
397 people are currently reading
4340 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Taylor
84 books5,381 followersJodi Taylor is the internationally bestselling author of the Chronicles of St Mary's series, the story of a bunch of disaster prone individuals who investigate major historical events in contemporary time. Do NOT call it time travel! She is also the author of the Time Police series - a St Mary's spinoff and gateway into the world of an all-powerful, international organisation who are NOTHING like St Mary's. Except, when they are.
Alongside these, Jodi is known for her gripping supernatural thrillers featuring Elizabeth Cage together with the enchanting Frogmorton Farm series - a fairy story for adults.
Born in Bristol and now living in Gloucester (facts both cities vigorously deny), she spent many years with her head somewhere else, much to the dismay of family, teachers and employers, before finally deciding to put all that daydreaming to good use and write a novel. Over twenty books later, she still has no idea what she wants to do when she grows up.
Alongside these, Jodi is known for her gripping supernatural thrillers featuring Elizabeth Cage together with the enchanting Frogmorton Farm series - a fairy story for adults.
Born in Bristol and now living in Gloucester (facts both cities vigorously deny), she spent many years with her head somewhere else, much to the dismay of family, teachers and employers, before finally deciding to put all that daydreaming to good use and write a novel. Over twenty books later, she still has no idea what she wants to do when she grows up.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 701 reviews
March 21, 2017
4.5 Re-read in time for sequel
"Don’t stop believing. Ever. Without belief, there is no hope. And without hope, there is nothing. Always believe and then you’ll always have hope.”
Let’s start by saying that this is a brilliant novel! Yes, brilliant. I can appreciate that the blurb would lead you to probably run for the hill (a talking, invisible, golden horse!?) but put your disbelief on hold just long enough to read the first chapters, and I dare you not to be taken in by the captivating narration.
The first time I read it, I was sceptical too, but since I’ve loved Jodi Taylor’s other books, I thought I would give it a chance. So lucky I did. The Nothing Girl is understated in its presentation but actually very expertly done. The author once more shows her skill in creating a plethora of irresistible characters, and not just the charming Jenny. The whole cast is drawn in powerful strokes, from the frenetic Russel to the braying and adorable Marilyn (don’t ask).
If this doesn’t grab you (it will), then the humour will. I don’t know how she does it, but Taylor has one wicked sense of humour that shines to the fullest in this story (I laughed out loud several times). But this isn’t just a funny story with colourful characters. Oh no! You also get a story full of twists and turns. The less you know, the better.
I’ve come to the realisation that I will read anything Jodi Taylor writes, be it time-travelling historians, Regency romance, romantic comedy, or indeed anything else she decides to try her hand at. These are just labels that don’t in any way reflect the end product :O)
"Don’t stop believing. Ever. Without belief, there is no hope. And without hope, there is nothing. Always believe and then you’ll always have hope.”
Let’s start by saying that this is a brilliant novel! Yes, brilliant. I can appreciate that the blurb would lead you to probably run for the hill (a talking, invisible, golden horse!?) but put your disbelief on hold just long enough to read the first chapters, and I dare you not to be taken in by the captivating narration.
The first time I read it, I was sceptical too, but since I’ve loved Jodi Taylor’s other books, I thought I would give it a chance. So lucky I did. The Nothing Girl is understated in its presentation but actually very expertly done. The author once more shows her skill in creating a plethora of irresistible characters, and not just the charming Jenny. The whole cast is drawn in powerful strokes, from the frenetic Russel to the braying and adorable Marilyn (don’t ask).
If this doesn’t grab you (it will), then the humour will. I don’t know how she does it, but Taylor has one wicked sense of humour that shines to the fullest in this story (I laughed out loud several times). But this isn’t just a funny story with colourful characters. Oh no! You also get a story full of twists and turns. The less you know, the better.
I’ve come to the realisation that I will read anything Jodi Taylor writes, be it time-travelling historians, Regency romance, romantic comedy, or indeed anything else she decides to try her hand at. These are just labels that don’t in any way reflect the end product :O)
September 14, 2014
Fantastic read - I am kicking myself for having had it months on my kindle waiting.
I loved this story.
It was beautiful. It made me laugh, cry a little, fall in love with Russell and his menagerie, and I couldn't put it down.
It has a romance - sweet and sooooo good. But like with the St.-Mary's-series, this novel is character-driven. And it is rich in fantastic, English characters, banter and sarcasm.
I enjoyed this immensely.
I loved this story.
It was beautiful. It made me laugh, cry a little, fall in love with Russell and his menagerie, and I couldn't put it down.
It has a romance - sweet and sooooo good. But like with the St.-Mary's-series, this novel is character-driven. And it is rich in fantastic, English characters, banter and sarcasm.
I enjoyed this immensely.
April 15, 2015
At the age of 13 Jenny's parents are dead and she's living with her evil aunt, uncle and cousins. With a stutter and low self-esteem she is a bully target at school and home isn't any better. Then just as she's about to end it all a magical horse appears in her room and persuades her to go on.
Thomas becomes her constant companion and her only friend. As the years go by she finds a small niche for herself in the attic with her books and Thomas the horse who nobody but her can see. Then in her late 20s Russell Checkland comes into her life and things are forever changed. She quite accidentally becomes his wife. But life with Russell is anything but easy. He is heartbroken after Jenny's cousin rejected him and is anything but an attentive spouse. Her aunt and uncle are doing everything to get her to return to them and someone might be trying to do her in.
The Nothing Girl is one of the strangest books I've read in a while. Honestly, I had no idea what was going on for most of the book but it was quite a wonderful confusion. It felt like the hybrid offspring of Cinderella and The Day of the Triffids with maybe just a touch of Alfred Hitchcock thrown in for good measure.
Thomas becomes her constant companion and her only friend. As the years go by she finds a small niche for herself in the attic with her books and Thomas the horse who nobody but her can see. Then in her late 20s Russell Checkland comes into her life and things are forever changed. She quite accidentally becomes his wife. But life with Russell is anything but easy. He is heartbroken after Jenny's cousin rejected him and is anything but an attentive spouse. Her aunt and uncle are doing everything to get her to return to them and someone might be trying to do her in.
The Nothing Girl is one of the strangest books I've read in a while. Honestly, I had no idea what was going on for most of the book but it was quite a wonderful confusion. It felt like the hybrid offspring of Cinderella and The Day of the Triffids with maybe just a touch of Alfred Hitchcock thrown in for good measure.
March 12, 2021
Why is a glowing review is much harder to write than a ranty one? So unfair to both kinds of books. It doesn’t do justice to a good book, and it tends to denigrate a bad book even more. Oh well.
I loved, loved, loved The Nothing Girl. Listened to it because I adore Jodi Taylor’s St. Mary’s time travel series, but this was just different enough to make me admire JT gift of storytelling even more than I already do.
So very British for starters, I couldn’t keep I Capture the Castle (as well as The House at World's End), out of my head as this has the same vibe with a dollop of magical realism to add some charm. If I am ever poverty stricken, I hope I get trapped in a whimsical British novel where I can live in a ramshackle Victorian surrounded by my MOC mad English painter husband, a petite donkey, various doting and quirky servants and moors at a convenient distance to get lost in. I should also mention Thomas, the golden horse that serves as guardian angel/conscience for the beleaguered heroine.
Whimsy, wry humor and pathos battle it out in the book as it starts with Jenny Dove, the heroine of the story, planning her suicide at 13. Thomas, the golden horse, talks her out of it. Emotionally damaged she ends up in a MOC with what seems like the worst possible character, her gorgeous cousin’s ex-lover. He proposes the MOC because he needs money and she needs to get out of the house. He’s more of a bracing jackass than a hand-holding coddler as after an especially traumatic moment, he tells her, There’s nothin wrong with you…..You have a bit of a stutter, and the self esteem of a teabag. That’s all.
Jenny slowly opens up, but is besieged by overbearing relatives as well as some pesky, life-threatening accidents. It’s a slow build up that might bore some readers, but the overall climax and ending were very satisfying.
The narrator reminded me of Sian Phillips from I, Claudius and was well very done, but this is a book I will get a hard copy of to re-read. A real keeper.
I loved, loved, loved The Nothing Girl. Listened to it because I adore Jodi Taylor’s St. Mary’s time travel series, but this was just different enough to make me admire JT gift of storytelling even more than I already do.
So very British for starters, I couldn’t keep I Capture the Castle (as well as The House at World's End), out of my head as this has the same vibe with a dollop of magical realism to add some charm. If I am ever poverty stricken, I hope I get trapped in a whimsical British novel where I can live in a ramshackle Victorian surrounded by my MOC mad English painter husband, a petite donkey, various doting and quirky servants and moors at a convenient distance to get lost in. I should also mention Thomas, the golden horse that serves as guardian angel/conscience for the beleaguered heroine.
Whimsy, wry humor and pathos battle it out in the book as it starts with Jenny Dove, the heroine of the story, planning her suicide at 13. Thomas, the golden horse, talks her out of it. Emotionally damaged she ends up in a MOC with what seems like the worst possible character, her gorgeous cousin’s ex-lover. He proposes the MOC because he needs money and she needs to get out of the house. He’s more of a bracing jackass than a hand-holding coddler as after an especially traumatic moment, he tells her, There’s nothin wrong with you…..You have a bit of a stutter, and the self esteem of a teabag. That’s all.
Jenny slowly opens up, but is besieged by overbearing relatives as well as some pesky, life-threatening accidents. It’s a slow build up that might bore some readers, but the overall climax and ending were very satisfying.
The narrator reminded me of Sian Phillips from I, Claudius and was well very done, but this is a book I will get a hard copy of to re-read. A real keeper.
November 14, 2020
Jenny, orphaned as a young girl, goes to live with her aunt and uncle. She has a pronounced stutter and is set aside as an afterthought by the family. While contemplating suicide at a young age, she is suddenly visited by a giant golden horse, and here Jenny's life actually begins.
This is so well written. The characters just jump off the page, especially Jenny, Russell, and Thomas. Jenny, ignored all her life, begins helping Russell, who has been jilted by the love of his life, renovate his farmhouse. Nudged along by her faithful companion Thomas, the giant golden horse, Jenny begins to live again. There is a wonderful cast of characters, and of course there are pitfalls along the way, and the brilliant Jodi Taylor once again makes us laugh and cry as we cheer Jenny on.
I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a magical, heartwarming story.
This is so well written. The characters just jump off the page, especially Jenny, Russell, and Thomas. Jenny, ignored all her life, begins helping Russell, who has been jilted by the love of his life, renovate his farmhouse. Nudged along by her faithful companion Thomas, the giant golden horse, Jenny begins to live again. There is a wonderful cast of characters, and of course there are pitfalls along the way, and the brilliant Jodi Taylor once again makes us laugh and cry as we cheer Jenny on.
I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a magical, heartwarming story.
Read
August 29, 2017A lovely light comic read about a girl brought up to consider herself of no importance, who marries a man she hardly knows because he needs the money. Of course he has a heart of gold, she has a steel core, they pick up a lovely found family including a donkey, romance blossoms, and the whole thing is ridiculously feelgood and made me sniffle at the end. Some laugh-out-loud lines too.
It is very hard to write light comedy with such effortlessness and this is very good indeed. Slightly weird setting--it's meant to be contemporary but it has a kind of Golden Age postwar England feel of big houses and people keeping up appearances and the lord of the manor and whatnot. But who cares. A very feelgood read.
It is very hard to write light comedy with such effortlessness and this is very good indeed. Slightly weird setting--it's meant to be contemporary but it has a kind of Golden Age postwar England feel of big houses and people keeping up appearances and the lord of the manor and whatnot. But who cares. A very feelgood read.
November 1, 2018
Jodi Taylor is without doubt one of my favourite authors. And this was a thoroughly charming book. I LOVED it!
October 10, 2016
Recommended to me by: Antonio
The first half of this book had me like, “what is going on? I don’t get it. WHAT IS THIS BOOK?” I was ready to give up on it, but I’m glad I didn’t. The second half definitely made up for that.
The Nothing Girl follows the life of Jenny, who has a terrible stutter since childhood that has caused her to become somewhat of a social recluse. But after she meets and marries an exuberant Russell (in quite a short amount of time), her mundane life turns into a series of perpetual (and sometimes unfortunate) events.
I found this book humorous, charming (once I had finished the first half), and surprisingly heartfelt. Russell is so entertaining, he’s always going on about something or the other.
This book is about personal growth and accepting yourself. Quite a strong message expressed in such a cleverly-humorous book.
“Don’t stop believing. Ever. Without belief, there is no hope. And without hope, there is nothing. Always believe and then you’ll always have hope.”
3.5 stars!!
The first half of this book had me like, “what is going on? I don’t get it. WHAT IS THIS BOOK?” I was ready to give up on it, but I’m glad I didn’t. The second half definitely made up for that.
The Nothing Girl follows the life of Jenny, who has a terrible stutter since childhood that has caused her to become somewhat of a social recluse. But after she meets and marries an exuberant Russell (in quite a short amount of time), her mundane life turns into a series of perpetual (and sometimes unfortunate) events.
I found this book humorous, charming (once I had finished the first half), and surprisingly heartfelt. Russell is so entertaining, he’s always going on about something or the other.
This book is about personal growth and accepting yourself. Quite a strong message expressed in such a cleverly-humorous book.
“Don’t stop believing. Ever. Without belief, there is no hope. And without hope, there is nothing. Always believe and then you’ll always have hope.”
3.5 stars!!
March 17, 2024
If you said I'd be loving a story this year about a woman who's best friend is an invisible horse called Thomas I would have laughed in your face. However, this is by Jodi Taylor so it was inevitable that I was going to love this. And while this is very different from The Chronicles of St Mary series, there's the usual warm humour and eccentric characters that I've come to associate with this author.
The Nothing Girls reads sort of like a combination of Drop Dead Fred and an old Enid Blyton book, with an invisible companion helping our heroine navigate through life and a setting that brings to mind old school British society with housekeepers and stately manors. We're never explicitly told as the reader the setting of this time wise, and there's an odd mix of times between the old and new, however it just seems to add to the whimsy of the whole story.
I also really liked Jenny and Russell. This is definitely a self discovery story for Jenny, who has grown up sheltered from life and is thrust into the worldwind world of Russell - a man who seems to collect strays and outcasts while forgetting that this could also reflect his own life. They're complete opposites, yet their budding friendship and romance was delightful to see unfold. Jodi Taylor just has such a wonderful way of making these beautiful, technicolour characters who seem so real and welcoming that it's difficult not to love them.
Another excellent novel from Jodi Taylor, both heartwarming and eccentric.
The Nothing Girls reads sort of like a combination of Drop Dead Fred and an old Enid Blyton book, with an invisible companion helping our heroine navigate through life and a setting that brings to mind old school British society with housekeepers and stately manors. We're never explicitly told as the reader the setting of this time wise, and there's an odd mix of times between the old and new, however it just seems to add to the whimsy of the whole story.
I also really liked Jenny and Russell. This is definitely a self discovery story for Jenny, who has grown up sheltered from life and is thrust into the worldwind world of Russell - a man who seems to collect strays and outcasts while forgetting that this could also reflect his own life. They're complete opposites, yet their budding friendship and romance was delightful to see unfold. Jodi Taylor just has such a wonderful way of making these beautiful, technicolour characters who seem so real and welcoming that it's difficult not to love them.
Another excellent novel from Jodi Taylor, both heartwarming and eccentric.
September 9, 2021
In reading The Nothing Girl, I have discovered a fresh funny voice in relationship fiction. And heaven be praised! She has a back list! I already had The first volume of The Chronicles of Saint Marys on my Kindle for some reason, and, to my surprise and excitement, she has written a sequel to The Nothing Girl, which I quickly bought as well. Hopefully she will fulfill the promise of the first book I read by her. I laughed, I cheered, I cried, I sighed in satisfaction.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
I always thought donkeys said, ‘Hee-haw.’ That’s how you always see it written. Nice and neat. And brief. Hee-haw. Wrong. Our donkey goes: ‘EEEEEEEAAAAAWWWOOOOAARGGHHH,’ pauses briefly for the echoes to die away and then continues with: ‘EEEEEEEEEAAAAAWWWWWEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAWWWWWOOOOORRR. And it was loud. Good God, was it loud. Birds fell from the trees. The windows rattled. A low-flying jet did a quick U-turn and returned to base….
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
July 31, 2021
This book is everything wonderful and magical in the world. Stories like this are the reason I live for and love reading. It was a surprising gift of discovery at just the right moment in time. This should be mandatory reading for every awkward, nerdy book-girl with a deep and abiding love for horses that may feel like she is out of place and time.
The Audible narration is sublime. Lucy Price Lewis is a new hero for me.
The Audible narration is sublime. Lucy Price Lewis is a new hero for me.
September 2, 2017
My heart wept for the little girl. My chest swelled for the grown woman. I would give this book 10 stars if I could. It has touched my soul.
January 15, 2023
I loved this book! Thank you, Rebekah, my GR friend for your great review. It motivated me to get this out of the library and I enjoyed it so much.
This story was funny, magical, heartwarming, with a bit of a mystery thrown in as well. I totally loved the characters and the storyline. The snarky dialogue was laugh-out-loud funny. The twisty-turny plot was clever and I didn't even mind that I had caught on to the solution before the characters had done so.
A smattering of profanity and some sex without graphic detail.
Now on to Book 2!
This story was funny, magical, heartwarming, with a bit of a mystery thrown in as well. I totally loved the characters and the storyline. The snarky dialogue was laugh-out-loud funny. The twisty-turny plot was clever and I didn't even mind that I had caught on to the solution before the characters had done so.
A smattering of profanity and some sex without graphic detail.
Now on to Book 2!
August 17, 2014
I love chick-lit. It’s easy to read with little emotional involvement on my part, and in a way its rather like an adult fairy tale. There’s the wicked stepmother, (usually an ex-wife/girlfriend etc) the handsome prince (a lonely/repressed/forlorn and definitely handsome man) and a fairy godmother (the best friend etc). There is usually some humour, a touch of romance (not too much .. this is chick-lit not erotica) and they all live happily ever after. Perfect.
So, here was ‘The Nothing Girl’ – free on Amazon. I looked at it, read the blurb... decided it was not for me. Chick-lit with an imaginary horse? And a girl with a “severe stutter and chronically low self-confidence,” who is saved from killing herself by the appearance of “a mystical golden horse only she can see. “
And then the husband sounds too good to be true and there is the added complication of over-protective relatives.
But when I looked again, it was still free (and I am a sucker for anything free) soo….. with time on my hands I downloaded it, anticipating that it was going to be one of those badly-edited, poorly written novels that goes straight into my ‘delete’ box.
How wrong can a person be?
This is not a five star book. This deserves far far more. I was captured from page one. You know that moment when you start reading a book and you suddenly find yourself inside the story? Yes. That moment. Such a brave beginning as well - no soppy chick-lit stuff here - straight out suicidal thoughts. And from a 13 year old girl as well. This is meaty reading. Not your pansy-half-hearted wimpy stuff. (and at that moment I reassessed my initial genre classification – this is far heftier than mere candy-floss chick-lit).
I could prattle on about Jenny and Thomas and Russell and all the characters but I won’t. I could talk about the story and the animals and how Jenny develops, but it would be meaningless really. This is a book that deserves to be read. It made me laugh out loud in several places and weep in others. I desperately wanted to get to the end to see how things worked out and yet reading it was so satisfying that I didn’t want it to end.
But it did. And yes, it was sad, heartbreakingly sad in places, but it was also wonderful.
Wow. So few words, so much said.
Okay. What else do I need to say about this book? SPaG was perfect on the whole (there were two or three place where there was a space after an opening speech mark – but who cares with a story of this quality!) and the chapters were deliciously long. There were only 15 and an epilogue, but this is NO way a short book - according to Amazon the print length 342 is pages.
This is a story about facing life and all its fears, of moving on, of loss and betrayal and survival. Of finding the courage to stand up for yourself when everyone else thinks you are ‘nothing’.
Yes, it’s funny in places but it packs one hell of a wallop.
So, here was ‘The Nothing Girl’ – free on Amazon. I looked at it, read the blurb... decided it was not for me. Chick-lit with an imaginary horse? And a girl with a “severe stutter and chronically low self-confidence,” who is saved from killing herself by the appearance of “a mystical golden horse only she can see. “
And then the husband sounds too good to be true and there is the added complication of over-protective relatives.
But when I looked again, it was still free (and I am a sucker for anything free) soo….. with time on my hands I downloaded it, anticipating that it was going to be one of those badly-edited, poorly written novels that goes straight into my ‘delete’ box.
How wrong can a person be?
This is not a five star book. This deserves far far more. I was captured from page one. You know that moment when you start reading a book and you suddenly find yourself inside the story? Yes. That moment. Such a brave beginning as well - no soppy chick-lit stuff here - straight out suicidal thoughts. And from a 13 year old girl as well. This is meaty reading. Not your pansy-half-hearted wimpy stuff. (and at that moment I reassessed my initial genre classification – this is far heftier than mere candy-floss chick-lit).
I could prattle on about Jenny and Thomas and Russell and all the characters but I won’t. I could talk about the story and the animals and how Jenny develops, but it would be meaningless really. This is a book that deserves to be read. It made me laugh out loud in several places and weep in others. I desperately wanted to get to the end to see how things worked out and yet reading it was so satisfying that I didn’t want it to end.
But it did. And yes, it was sad, heartbreakingly sad in places, but it was also wonderful.
Wow. So few words, so much said.
Okay. What else do I need to say about this book? SPaG was perfect on the whole (there were two or three place where there was a space after an opening speech mark – but who cares with a story of this quality!) and the chapters were deliciously long. There were only 15 and an epilogue, but this is NO way a short book - according to Amazon the print length 342 is pages.
This is a story about facing life and all its fears, of moving on, of loss and betrayal and survival. Of finding the courage to stand up for yourself when everyone else thinks you are ‘nothing’.
Yes, it’s funny in places but it packs one hell of a wallop.
January 6, 2018
This was a fun book to read. I'll have to read more by this author. She took every opportunity to add interesting side notes and details without straying off into the land of 'overdone'. Well okay, there was a time or two where it was a little on the wordy side, but I'd rather have that than bland....and this was definitely not that.
I loved the quirky characters, especially Thomas and Russell. They were all well drawn. This was romance wrapped in mystery. Most of you know how I feel about romance, (not my favorite genre,) but this was so well done because it was about so much more than just that. The other threads had depth and detail and there were a few unexpected surprises. I loved that part.
The ending was a little too sweet, but the MC, Jenny, deserved it. So 4 stars.
I loved the quirky characters, especially Thomas and Russell. They were all well drawn. This was romance wrapped in mystery. Most of you know how I feel about romance, (not my favorite genre,) but this was so well done because it was about so much more than just that. The other threads had depth and detail and there were a few unexpected surprises. I loved that part.
The ending was a little too sweet, but the MC, Jenny, deserved it. So 4 stars.
November 15, 2023
2022 reread- I think this book gets better each time I read it!
I do feel slightly guilty that I completely judged this book before reading it and got it so wrong. It’s fantastic! Jodi Taylor cannot write badly and even makes invisible horses completely plausible!
I don’t want to say too much as it gives a lot a way but this is worth reading (and then reading again at least a few more times immediately).
I do feel slightly guilty that I completely judged this book before reading it and got it so wrong. It’s fantastic! Jodi Taylor cannot write badly and even makes invisible horses completely plausible!
I don’t want to say too much as it gives a lot a way but this is worth reading (and then reading again at least a few more times immediately).
February 28, 2016
The sign of a good book is that you don't want it to finish and this story will be a personal favorite of mine for ever.
July 10, 2021
The cover of my version is much prettier.
So. This book.
At first I thought it was a historical romance. Then I realized it was set in contemporary times - but it still felt like I was listening to a historical ;-) The characters, the plot and the village could have sprung directly from some regencies I have read.
As a child I had an imaginary friend called Sasa. A grey wonder horse with silver hooves that followed me everywhere. So from the start this book felt very close to home for me.
Later in the book I had some uncontrollable bouts of crying - around when she loses Thomas. I often get some tears in my eyes while reading a touching scene - but the flat out crying was a surprise.
But of course this story about love and loss and perseverance reminded me of my friend Sibylle, who lost her fight against cancer this spring. It was for her and our loss that I cried. She had a protective horse with wings that accompanied her through tragedy and depression, a pegasus she found as a child on a market in some foreign country.
Listening to this amazing book was a very personal and moving experience for me.
On the surface it might seem like a sweet romantic fairy tale about a young women who finds her way out of oppression and comes into her own. It is a touching and often funny story, and the friendships are gold. Below the surface it is a story about the messiness of life, and why it is worth going on, even when it looks very bleak indeed.
So. This book.
At first I thought it was a historical romance. Then I realized it was set in contemporary times - but it still felt like I was listening to a historical ;-) The characters, the plot and the village could have sprung directly from some regencies I have read.
As a child I had an imaginary friend called Sasa. A grey wonder horse with silver hooves that followed me everywhere. So from the start this book felt very close to home for me.
Later in the book I had some uncontrollable bouts of crying - around when she loses Thomas. I often get some tears in my eyes while reading a touching scene - but the flat out crying was a surprise.
But of course this story about love and loss and perseverance reminded me of my friend Sibylle, who lost her fight against cancer this spring. It was for her and our loss that I cried. She had a protective horse with wings that accompanied her through tragedy and depression, a pegasus she found as a child on a market in some foreign country.
Listening to this amazing book was a very personal and moving experience for me.
On the surface it might seem like a sweet romantic fairy tale about a young women who finds her way out of oppression and comes into her own. It is a touching and often funny story, and the friendships are gold. Below the surface it is a story about the messiness of life, and why it is worth going on, even when it looks very bleak indeed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2021
Another good hearted, with just the right amount of quirk, novel from Jodi Taylor. We are going to meet the meek Jenny, a woman who has absolutely no self belief, she is going to find herself in extraordinary circumstances and discover reserves of strength that will amaze her and her tedious family. She'll discover this confidence because of a golden horse, that only she can see. I know. It sounds ridiculous, but it totally works. Imagine having a companion cheering you on all the way, helping you get stuck in when all you want is a cup of tea and a lie down. That's what Jenny has. Thomas is the companion we all need.
This book has it all. Romance, daring, a goodly dose of the feels and Russell, possibly the most annoying spouse ever. I loved it. I'll be needing book 2 very soon.
This book has it all. Romance, daring, a goodly dose of the feels and Russell, possibly the most annoying spouse ever. I loved it. I'll be needing book 2 very soon.
March 24, 2018
If you believe a woman would want to have sex with - and fall in love with - someone who they have JUST realised has been trying to murder them for months, then you might enjoy this book. If you think that sounds like utter twaddle, then move along.
And to be clear, this book was hardly gripping before that little gem. The 28-year-old woman at the centre of the book has nothing more than a stutter and anxiety issues, yet is written as if she has the sensibility of a 13-year-old throughout, plus some sort of more significant challenge, such as autism. It turns out that she does not.
She is "rescued" by a charming man, mothered by a drunken cook (who actually has cooks any more, particularly when they are as broke as this man claims to be?), and this man goes on to "save" all sorts - a waitress, a homeless mugger and a donkey, yet he oddly wants to ditch a cat and murder his wife?
I like Jodi Taylor's St Mary's series, which is labelled as fantasy but is a million more times believable than this nonsense.
And if you have a remotely feminist bone in your body, don't go near this with a bargepole.
And to be clear, this book was hardly gripping before that little gem. The 28-year-old woman at the centre of the book has nothing more than a stutter and anxiety issues, yet is written as if she has the sensibility of a 13-year-old throughout, plus some sort of more significant challenge, such as autism. It turns out that she does not.
She is "rescued" by a charming man, mothered by a drunken cook (who actually has cooks any more, particularly when they are as broke as this man claims to be?), and this man goes on to "save" all sorts - a waitress, a homeless mugger and a donkey, yet he oddly wants to ditch a cat and murder his wife?
I like Jodi Taylor's St Mary's series, which is labelled as fantasy but is a million more times believable than this nonsense.
And if you have a remotely feminist bone in your body, don't go near this with a bargepole.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2017
Having enjoyed some St Mary's stories I thought I'd look at this and downloaded a sample. Read the blurb, decided it really wasn't for me but I wanted something to read for 10 mins before I went to sleep...
This really shouldn't work - Jenny, who has the self esteem of a tea bag!) has a "friend" in the shape of a large horse who no one else can see, touch or hear. She moves from one dysfunctional setting to another among people who are funny, unpleasant or somewhat mad or maybe all three in some cases. It is funny, it's touching, it's entertaining and I enjoyed it. It just goes to show you what a good writer can make of a rather odd scenario!
This really shouldn't work - Jenny, who has the self esteem of a tea bag!) has a "friend" in the shape of a large horse who no one else can see, touch or hear. She moves from one dysfunctional setting to another among people who are funny, unpleasant or somewhat mad or maybe all three in some cases. It is funny, it's touching, it's entertaining and I enjoyed it. It just goes to show you what a good writer can make of a rather odd scenario!
August 15, 2022
I went into this with no expectations, and came out a couple of hours later completely delighted. This has everything I want in a book: an underdog, a clueless hero, bitchy baddies, an HEA, pitch-perfect dry dry humour, and Thomas.
I am not going to tell you anything about Thomas, whom I fell in love with immediately. Except he made me cry*, and I had not expected to be sitting outside under a parasol (lilies scenting the air and a mug of Earl Grey to hand) crying stupid tears over Thomas.
I am hard to please, but this was one of the easiest 5-stars I've ever read.
*I never cry at books.
—What, never?
—No, never!
—What, never?
—Well...hardly ever.
I am not going to tell you anything about Thomas, whom I fell in love with immediately. Except he made me cry*, and I had not expected to be sitting outside under a parasol (lilies scenting the air and a mug of Earl Grey to hand) crying stupid tears over Thomas.
I am hard to please, but this was one of the easiest 5-stars I've ever read.
*I never cry at books.
—What, never?
—No, never!
—What, never?
—Well...hardly ever.
November 25, 2021
'You know,’ said Thomas, ‘as fortune hunters go, he’s got to be the worst in the business. A more professional approach would have involved flowers, not buckets, a romantic meal for two, music … and maybe a ring. This guy proposes to you in a dilapidated farmhouse to a background of dripping water and the second rinse cycle. Are you going to say yes?'
March 28, 2021
Books described as heartwarming and charming are to be avoided, but a woman with a severe stutter in a MOC with an artist who's supposedly the world's most erratic spouse, intrigued me. There's just enough of an edge to dilute the large amounts of whimsy and the audio narration is fabulous.
September 25, 2017
A strange but interesting read full of witty humour. The ending however sucked.
February 17, 2023
i bawled over a horse
October 25, 2020
I’ve burned through all Jodi Taylor’s back catalogue this year – her Chronicles of St Marys’ books and her historical fiction under the name of Isabella Barclay– but since I mostly read SF and historicals I hadn’t considered reading The Nothing Girl. At first glance it looked like chick-lit, which I’m not fond of, however, I’ve loved all of Ms Taylor’s writing so thought I should give it a try. I’m not disappointed. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed it, I’m not actually sure how to categorise it. Chick-lit crossed with fantasy? Possibly. Mystery – yes, there’s a bit of that, too. Romance? Ditto. Or maybe it’s just mainstream fiction. It all depends on whether you think the giant golden horse that only Jenny can see is real or imaginary. The fact is that Jenny thinks he’s real, so that’s good enough for me.
Jenny is an introverted young woman with a dreadful stammer not helped by her aunt and uncle’s overprotectiveness. Her parents died and left her well provided for, but traumatised. She lives quietly in an attic room, fully equipped with bookshelves, computer, and a giant golden horse called Thomas who arrived on the day she tried to commit suicide as a thirteen-year-old. Thomas is still with her – and will remain with her until she doesn’t need him any more.
It’s a complicated family worthy of Jilly Cooper. The daughter of the house, Jenny’s glamorous cousin, has had (or maybe is still having) an abusive on-off relationship with Russell Checkland (currently off) whom Jenny has known since school (where he was one of the few who treated her kindly). Russell, a talented artist, lost his muse and his will to paint when Jenny’s cousin left him. Jenny’s cousin has a new man but doesn’t want anyone else to have Russell – which is a pity because Russell has just asked Jenny to marry him. What? Where did that come from? Well, it’s simple enough. Russell has a fabulous old farmhouse but no money to repair it. Jenny has an inheritance but no life outside of her bedroom. Jenny gets a home, Russell gets to keep his home together. It’s a simple arrangement that’s about to get a whole lot more complicated, especially since Jenny keeps having ‘accidents’. Who’s to blame or is she just very clumsy?
As ever I loved Jodi Taylor's 'voice'. There were definite giggle moments in this book. It's light and entertaining while telling an interesting story of genuine depth.
BTW, I don't think the cover does this book any favours and is probably what originally contributed to me dismissing this book as 'chick lit'. without examining it too closely
Auidiobook 25/10/2020
This is a revisit via audiobook, narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis. I'm used to Zara Ramm narrating Jodi Taylor's St Mary's books, but Lucy Price-Lewis does a creditable job on the first of the Frogmorton Farm books. Jenny – afflicted with a stutter and therefore treated as fragile by her guardian aunt and uncle – finds her voice, self-confidence and love as she learns to go out into the world and make her place in it. It's an unconventional love story, a fantasy, mystery, and maybe even chicklit of sorts. You'll have to decide for yourself whether the invisible golden horse is real or not.
Jenny is an introverted young woman with a dreadful stammer not helped by her aunt and uncle’s overprotectiveness. Her parents died and left her well provided for, but traumatised. She lives quietly in an attic room, fully equipped with bookshelves, computer, and a giant golden horse called Thomas who arrived on the day she tried to commit suicide as a thirteen-year-old. Thomas is still with her – and will remain with her until she doesn’t need him any more.
It’s a complicated family worthy of Jilly Cooper. The daughter of the house, Jenny’s glamorous cousin, has had (or maybe is still having) an abusive on-off relationship with Russell Checkland (currently off) whom Jenny has known since school (where he was one of the few who treated her kindly). Russell, a talented artist, lost his muse and his will to paint when Jenny’s cousin left him. Jenny’s cousin has a new man but doesn’t want anyone else to have Russell – which is a pity because Russell has just asked Jenny to marry him. What? Where did that come from? Well, it’s simple enough. Russell has a fabulous old farmhouse but no money to repair it. Jenny has an inheritance but no life outside of her bedroom. Jenny gets a home, Russell gets to keep his home together. It’s a simple arrangement that’s about to get a whole lot more complicated, especially since Jenny keeps having ‘accidents’. Who’s to blame or is she just very clumsy?
As ever I loved Jodi Taylor's 'voice'. There were definite giggle moments in this book. It's light and entertaining while telling an interesting story of genuine depth.
BTW, I don't think the cover does this book any favours and is probably what originally contributed to me dismissing this book as 'chick lit'. without examining it too closely
Auidiobook 25/10/2020
This is a revisit via audiobook, narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis. I'm used to Zara Ramm narrating Jodi Taylor's St Mary's books, but Lucy Price-Lewis does a creditable job on the first of the Frogmorton Farm books. Jenny – afflicted with a stutter and therefore treated as fragile by her guardian aunt and uncle – finds her voice, self-confidence and love as she learns to go out into the world and make her place in it. It's an unconventional love story, a fantasy, mystery, and maybe even chicklit of sorts. You'll have to decide for yourself whether the invisible golden horse is real or not.
June 8, 2025
As I said in my review of the paperback, I loved this story so much that I ended up buying the Kindle version along with Books 1.5 and 2.
There's snarky, fast-paced dialogue (like "The Gilmore Girls"), awesome characters, a heartwarming story over overcoming personal challenges, a bit of magic, and a lovely HEA.
While reading this story for the second time, I noticed some similarities to plot lines and characters from some of my favorite books. I'm not saying it's a direct copy of any particular book; that's a total turnoff like all the authors who've tried to write their version of "The Hating Game". The similarities actually enhanced my enjoyment of this story. The Jenny/Julia/Adam situation from "A Civil Contract", the Dursleys from "Harry Potter", a spot of Aslan from Narnia, and a hero who resembles a nicer, sweeter version of Reuben from "The Little Beach Street Bakery". All of it forms a delightful package of fun, love, and overcoming obstacles to happiness.
There's snarky, fast-paced dialogue (like "The Gilmore Girls"), awesome characters, a heartwarming story over overcoming personal challenges, a bit of magic, and a lovely HEA.
While reading this story for the second time, I noticed some similarities to plot lines and characters from some of my favorite books. I'm not saying it's a direct copy of any particular book; that's a total turnoff like all the authors who've tried to write their version of "The Hating Game". The similarities actually enhanced my enjoyment of this story. The Jenny/Julia/Adam situation from "A Civil Contract", the Dursleys from "Harry Potter", a spot of Aslan from Narnia, and a hero who resembles a nicer, sweeter version of Reuben from "The Little Beach Street Bakery". All of it forms a delightful package of fun, love, and overcoming obstacles to happiness.
January 16, 2022
This book made me cry and I’ve never cried reading books…at all (got close with Dobby’s death and the end of the book thief but not like this)
This is the comfort book of all comfort books. If you’re feeling down, read this. If you’re feeling happy after a while of feeling down, read this. If you’ve struggled in general, read this. I don’t know why this is not more popular.
This is not an opulent book, this is a book for the home, for the comfort of your couch on a Sunday night with a blanket on your lap and a cup of tea on the coffee table. This is a book that’s there for you when you’re not feeling like you can take on the world. I loved it very much and will certainly read it again when I need a reminder to be there for myself. 4.1
This is the comfort book of all comfort books. If you’re feeling down, read this. If you’re feeling happy after a while of feeling down, read this. If you’ve struggled in general, read this. I don’t know why this is not more popular.
This is not an opulent book, this is a book for the home, for the comfort of your couch on a Sunday night with a blanket on your lap and a cup of tea on the coffee table. This is a book that’s there for you when you’re not feeling like you can take on the world. I loved it very much and will certainly read it again when I need a reminder to be there for myself. 4.1
November 1, 2021
October 2021 re-read: Still love it. Still feel violent emotions towards Jenny’s family.
4/5; 4 stars; A-
I hadn't tried this author out before and had an opportunity to listen to this audiobook so thought I'd give her a try. This was an unusual mix of fantasy, humour, and mystery that I really enjoyed. The narrator, Lucy Price-Lewis did a good job.
4/5; 4 stars; A-
I hadn't tried this author out before and had an opportunity to listen to this audiobook so thought I'd give her a try. This was an unusual mix of fantasy, humour, and mystery that I really enjoyed. The narrator, Lucy Price-Lewis did a good job.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 701 reviews