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Going Green
From the bestselling author of Dumped, Actually comes a laugh-out-loud story about saving your job…and maybe saving the planet in the process.
Meet Ellie Cooke. When it comes to all things environmental she’s, well, a bit ‘green’. It’s not that she doesn’t care about things like climate change and plastic pollution, it’s just that life has always got in the way of that sort of thing.
But when the PR firm Ellie works for is taken over by keen environmentalist Nolan Reece, it’s clear that if she wants to save her job, she’s going to have to get serious about being green—or face being recycled.
Going green is no walk in the park, though. It involves a lot of big changes, tough choices…and at least one case of accidentally showing your knickers off to your boss.
Can Ellie do enough to save her job, and maybe do her bit to help save the planet while she’s at it? And what will Nolan think of her, now that she can’t stop thinking about him…?
Meet Ellie Cooke. When it comes to all things environmental she’s, well, a bit ‘green’. It’s not that she doesn’t care about things like climate change and plastic pollution, it’s just that life has always got in the way of that sort of thing.
But when the PR firm Ellie works for is taken over by keen environmentalist Nolan Reece, it’s clear that if she wants to save her job, she’s going to have to get serious about being green—or face being recycled.
Going green is no walk in the park, though. It involves a lot of big changes, tough choices…and at least one case of accidentally showing your knickers off to your boss.
Can Ellie do enough to save her job, and maybe do her bit to help save the planet while she’s at it? And what will Nolan think of her, now that she can’t stop thinking about him…?
335 pages, Paperback
First published December 8, 2020
807 people are currently reading
2215 people want to read
About the author
Nick Spalding
36 books1,385 followersNick Spalding is an author who, try as he might, can't seem to write anything serious.
Before becoming a full-time author, he worked in the communications industry, mainly in media and marketing. As talking rubbish for a living can get tiresome (for anyone other than a politician), he thought he'd have a crack at writing comedy fiction - with a very agreeable level of success so far, it has to be said. Nick is now a multimillion seller. This flabbergasts him every single day.
Nick is now in his fifties - and is rather annoyed at the universe about it, because it gave him no choice in the matter. He's also addicted to Thai food and roast potatoes (not together), loves Batman and Warhammer, and has a dreadful singing voice.
***
Find out more about Nick and his books at www.nickspalding.com
Before becoming a full-time author, he worked in the communications industry, mainly in media and marketing. As talking rubbish for a living can get tiresome (for anyone other than a politician), he thought he'd have a crack at writing comedy fiction - with a very agreeable level of success so far, it has to be said. Nick is now a multimillion seller. This flabbergasts him every single day.
Nick is now in his fifties - and is rather annoyed at the universe about it, because it gave him no choice in the matter. He's also addicted to Thai food and roast potatoes (not together), loves Batman and Warhammer, and has a dreadful singing voice.
***
Find out more about Nick and his books at www.nickspalding.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 436 reviews
December 29, 2020
Repairing
Nick Spalding has a winning formula in his novels, he grabs contemporary issues and adds drama and humour to create entertaining and thought-provoking stories. He seems to be on a quest to address as many of the outstanding matters in modern life as possible. In Going Green the cause is the environment, recyclable energy and climate change. Nick doesn’t preach these issues but rather tells an engrossing story with multiple twists, laugh out loud scenes and characters that are fascinating and prone to more than the odd mishap.
Ellie Cooke works in PR for Stratagem PR and finds that the boss she loves has just sold the business to Nolan Reece, a successful marketing entrepreneur, who has a new market niche he wants to target, stating “I want to run an ethical PR company that prides itself on its green credentials.” Ellie drives a petrol-guzzling, smoke polluting car and knows nothing about the green agenda, but as her new boss has indicated, he can only keep on some of the employees in the now rebranded Viridian PR. Ellie is determined to demonstrate that she should be one of them and plans to stand out as a committed environmental activist. When I say Ellie was an interesting character it should be followed by a hmmm because I felt quite detached from her at times and I couldn’t quite get her reasoning for some of the decisions she made. At the same time, she did entertain and as I’ve come to eagerly expect (because Nick Spalding is so good at it) the scenes that go awry and leave you laughing out loud. Ellie is a go-getter, but in meeting new clients who are all committed, and often obsessive to the green cause, something starts to shift in her conscience.
The lies mount from several of the characters and I wondered how this would all end, especially as I’m prepared for the moral lesson of the story. Well, it didn’t go as I was expecting but probably a lot of other readers will see it coming.
Going Green is a book I can recommend and as always it leaves you with an ethical ponderance and an entertaining experience that has many light-hearted and humorous moments. I would like to thank Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in return for an honest review.
Nick Spalding has a winning formula in his novels, he grabs contemporary issues and adds drama and humour to create entertaining and thought-provoking stories. He seems to be on a quest to address as many of the outstanding matters in modern life as possible. In Going Green the cause is the environment, recyclable energy and climate change. Nick doesn’t preach these issues but rather tells an engrossing story with multiple twists, laugh out loud scenes and characters that are fascinating and prone to more than the odd mishap.
Ellie Cooke works in PR for Stratagem PR and finds that the boss she loves has just sold the business to Nolan Reece, a successful marketing entrepreneur, who has a new market niche he wants to target, stating “I want to run an ethical PR company that prides itself on its green credentials.” Ellie drives a petrol-guzzling, smoke polluting car and knows nothing about the green agenda, but as her new boss has indicated, he can only keep on some of the employees in the now rebranded Viridian PR. Ellie is determined to demonstrate that she should be one of them and plans to stand out as a committed environmental activist. When I say Ellie was an interesting character it should be followed by a hmmm because I felt quite detached from her at times and I couldn’t quite get her reasoning for some of the decisions she made. At the same time, she did entertain and as I’ve come to eagerly expect (because Nick Spalding is so good at it) the scenes that go awry and leave you laughing out loud. Ellie is a go-getter, but in meeting new clients who are all committed, and often obsessive to the green cause, something starts to shift in her conscience.
“Up until now, all of my efforts have been purely directed at keeping and maintaining my pay packet, and it’s felt like a noble and just cause to me. But there’s something about the meeting that I’ve just had with the owners of Veganthropy Foods that has shifted my thinking.”
The lies mount from several of the characters and I wondered how this would all end, especially as I’m prepared for the moral lesson of the story. Well, it didn’t go as I was expecting but probably a lot of other readers will see it coming.
Going Green is a book I can recommend and as always it leaves you with an ethical ponderance and an entertaining experience that has many light-hearted and humorous moments. I would like to thank Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in return for an honest review.
December 8, 2020
Grace Cooke expects to lose her job when the PR company she works for is sold to Nolan Reece who wants to create an ethical, environmentally green company with clients to match the ethos. Grace sets out to prove she has the necessary credentials.
First of all - Grace, she’s quite something! She thinks on her feet, she’s a blagger, gets herself in a helluva lot of scrapes with often funny and unexpected results that put me in mind on occasions of Bridget Jones! She’s so enthusiastically daft at times you have to love her! The characters are good, there’s a manspreader to sneer at, there’s one to loathe and some to admire and smile with. I like the lively and very engaging way it’s written and in places it’s laugh out loud funny. However, Nick Spaulding makes some very valid point but in an fun accessible way without being preachy. There are some very colourful and lively events that Grace attends and she sure puts her heart and soul into it with results she did not expect at the start. I like the chapter headings and the clever play on names which makes you chuckle. The surprising conclusion is a tad convenient but I still like it!
Overall, a very entertaining but thought provoking read in the company of a character I really like.
With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the arc for an honest review.
First of all - Grace, she’s quite something! She thinks on her feet, she’s a blagger, gets herself in a helluva lot of scrapes with often funny and unexpected results that put me in mind on occasions of Bridget Jones! She’s so enthusiastically daft at times you have to love her! The characters are good, there’s a manspreader to sneer at, there’s one to loathe and some to admire and smile with. I like the lively and very engaging way it’s written and in places it’s laugh out loud funny. However, Nick Spaulding makes some very valid point but in an fun accessible way without being preachy. There are some very colourful and lively events that Grace attends and she sure puts her heart and soul into it with results she did not expect at the start. I like the chapter headings and the clever play on names which makes you chuckle. The surprising conclusion is a tad convenient but I still like it!
Overall, a very entertaining but thought provoking read in the company of a character I really like.
With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the arc for an honest review.
November 25, 2020
This novel started out promising enough—there were amusing lines, but unfortunately, the story and writing devolved.
Ellie Cooke is desperate to keep her job when the public relations firm she works for is sold, and the new owner wants to shift to representing clients who are committed to environmentally friendly business. Ellie, like many of us, acknowledges dire things are happening to the environment, but doesn’t actually want to do much on her own to help out. When Nolan Reece becomes CEO, however, she pretends she couldn’t be more devoted to the cause. This leads her into doing a bunch of silly Bridget Jones-esque things that largely feel forced and not believable.
Over time, she does in fact learn more about what’s happening in the world, and thus changes her behavior. Unfortunately, her relationship with Nolan and much of the book itself does not feel substantial. It’s superficial unrealistic joke-y stuff, not all the similes hit the mark, and sometimes Spalding settles for cliches. I had to speed read the last half because it actually got painful. There was a nice twist at the end, but not good enough to make it worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES DECEMBER 8, 2020.
Ellie Cooke is desperate to keep her job when the public relations firm she works for is sold, and the new owner wants to shift to representing clients who are committed to environmentally friendly business. Ellie, like many of us, acknowledges dire things are happening to the environment, but doesn’t actually want to do much on her own to help out. When Nolan Reece becomes CEO, however, she pretends she couldn’t be more devoted to the cause. This leads her into doing a bunch of silly Bridget Jones-esque things that largely feel forced and not believable.
Over time, she does in fact learn more about what’s happening in the world, and thus changes her behavior. Unfortunately, her relationship with Nolan and much of the book itself does not feel substantial. It’s superficial unrealistic joke-y stuff, not all the similes hit the mark, and sometimes Spalding settles for cliches. I had to speed read the last half because it actually got painful. There was a nice twist at the end, but not good enough to make it worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES DECEMBER 8, 2020.
December 19, 2020
This is my second Nick Spalding book, and it's apparent that he and I share the same sense of humor. His books are laugh out loud funny.
Ellie is in her early 30s working at a PR firm, not married, no responsibilities so she is the center of her own universe. In comes a new owner who wants to change the image of the firm into one that is focused on the environment with clients who support a green agenda. Surely Ellie knows what going green means, but she certainly doesn't follow the basic principles, with her plastic water bottles, plastic bags and retail therapy. But that won't stop her from acting like environmentalist. But can she fake her way in this new organization?
As expected, it does not go smoothly and she is plagued with mishaps galore. This is a light fun read, with many laugh out loud moments. It is also inspiring and a great underdog story. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you Nick Spalding for being my sense of humor soul mate. But let's not tell my hubby 😂
Thank you Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ellie is in her early 30s working at a PR firm, not married, no responsibilities so she is the center of her own universe. In comes a new owner who wants to change the image of the firm into one that is focused on the environment with clients who support a green agenda. Surely Ellie knows what going green means, but she certainly doesn't follow the basic principles, with her plastic water bottles, plastic bags and retail therapy. But that won't stop her from acting like environmentalist. But can she fake her way in this new organization?
As expected, it does not go smoothly and she is plagued with mishaps galore. This is a light fun read, with many laugh out loud moments. It is also inspiring and a great underdog story. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you Nick Spalding for being my sense of humor soul mate. But let's not tell my hubby 😂
Thank you Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2020
A really funny and yep LOL a lot of the time read
Was unsure after reading ‘Logging Off’ earlier this year if would love or kinda like this but for me this was way way better ( and Logging Off wasn’t bad )
This time the author takes on the persona of Ellie, a ‘normal’ 30’s surviving in P.R. kind of gal who like everyone else in the office is shocked when the company is sold
to Green God ‘Nolan’....some changes are needed in her life and career to appear Green and in the authors clever way of Adrian Moleish style and ‘chatting’ to you she tries her best to do this, there are some pure comedy gold chapters especially when she visits the Vegan Food Company and when she goes for a meal to a veggie restaurant that encourages tropical birds to ‘dine with you’ plus the carnival chapter
There is a bit of OTT ness is some of the dialogue but that’s ok and when Ellie falls for Nolan you start to realise how much you like her....and then the story really starts
Not too preachy on Green issues and those raised are done in an interesting and often humorous way
Very real, very funny, very readable and very needed in 2020
9/10
5 Stars
Was unsure after reading ‘Logging Off’ earlier this year if would love or kinda like this but for me this was way way better ( and Logging Off wasn’t bad )
This time the author takes on the persona of Ellie, a ‘normal’ 30’s surviving in P.R. kind of gal who like everyone else in the office is shocked when the company is sold
to Green God ‘Nolan’....some changes are needed in her life and career to appear Green and in the authors clever way of Adrian Moleish style and ‘chatting’ to you she tries her best to do this, there are some pure comedy gold chapters especially when she visits the Vegan Food Company and when she goes for a meal to a veggie restaurant that encourages tropical birds to ‘dine with you’ plus the carnival chapter
There is a bit of OTT ness is some of the dialogue but that’s ok and when Ellie falls for Nolan you start to realise how much you like her....and then the story really starts
Not too preachy on Green issues and those raised are done in an interesting and often humorous way
Very real, very funny, very readable and very needed in 2020
9/10
5 Stars
December 21, 2020
Well this got better when you get to the last 20 percent. I was not expecting what happened or the ending which is why I gave it 3 stars. I think that Spalding had some misses in this one though. Ellie kind of sucks and is exhausting through most of this book. It didn't help that the book seemed to ignore the fact that her boss was asking her out which how was that somehow not as bad when she was dating a client? The whole thing was baffling. I will also add that Ellie read as male to me throughout this story. The stuff she got up (which was not funny) seemed really stupid. I don't know. I just can't see any woman just doing half the mess she did. And her owning a Mercedes S Class or whatever it was and not knowing why it was making noises starting to bug me. Yes, a woman doesn't know shit about a car she's been driving. HAR HAR HAR.
"Going Green" follows Ellie Cooke. Ellie works at a PR company that seems to be spiraling since one of the co-founders left months earlier. Ellie and the rest of her coworkers are shocked though when their boss tells him he's selling the business to someone else who has a new direction for the company. The new boss, Nolan Reece, is an environmentalist who wants the company to seek out new clients who are into being "green." Ellie of course is not that green and does her best to show her boss that she's down for the planet in order to keep her job. Of course Ellie realizes that going green really is the best thing for the world and then just goes hard core into being green. Throw in some dumb hijinks and that's the book.
As I said earlier, Ellie kind of sucks. I don't know. I just could not get into her at all as the main character. Maybe because most of the book is her doing things to appeal to Nolan and then her just being an ass when she doesn't think someone or something isn't green. I usually laugh when reading Spalding's books, but not one chuckle came out of me this time. There were a lot of sighs though.
The other characters per usual are not developed at all.
The writing is off in this one. I wonder if Spalding contemplated the main character being a male first. Because Ellie just didn't feel real and I don't see any woman doing the stupid crap she did. Ever.
For example,
The flow was not that great either until we get to the halfway point and Ellie starts to realize that school kids have a better idea about the climate and how to go about being green than she does. When Ellie decides to change her and her workmates behavior (cutting off lights) and all of that it was reasonable at least to me. Heck I work in a LEEDs building in DC and the number of times I had to jump up and down to get the damn lights to turn back on (motion sensor) in an office is too many to count. I do like the intent even if hopping up and down or waving my hands and going back to type at first annoyed me. Now it just amuses me.
The ending of the book was a surprise. This is not listed as a romance and I would caution any readers out there thinking it is. It's not. It's a contemporary "humorous" book with a female main character.
"Going Green" follows Ellie Cooke. Ellie works at a PR company that seems to be spiraling since one of the co-founders left months earlier. Ellie and the rest of her coworkers are shocked though when their boss tells him he's selling the business to someone else who has a new direction for the company. The new boss, Nolan Reece, is an environmentalist who wants the company to seek out new clients who are into being "green." Ellie of course is not that green and does her best to show her boss that she's down for the planet in order to keep her job. Of course Ellie realizes that going green really is the best thing for the world and then just goes hard core into being green. Throw in some dumb hijinks and that's the book.
As I said earlier, Ellie kind of sucks. I don't know. I just could not get into her at all as the main character. Maybe because most of the book is her doing things to appeal to Nolan and then her just being an ass when she doesn't think someone or something isn't green. I usually laugh when reading Spalding's books, but not one chuckle came out of me this time. There were a lot of sighs though.
The other characters per usual are not developed at all.
The writing is off in this one. I wonder if Spalding contemplated the main character being a male first. Because Ellie just didn't feel real and I don't see any woman doing the stupid crap she did. Ever.
For example,
The flow was not that great either until we get to the halfway point and Ellie starts to realize that school kids have a better idea about the climate and how to go about being green than she does. When Ellie decides to change her and her workmates behavior (cutting off lights) and all of that it was reasonable at least to me. Heck I work in a LEEDs building in DC and the number of times I had to jump up and down to get the damn lights to turn back on (motion sensor) in an office is too many to count. I do like the intent even if hopping up and down or waving my hands and going back to type at first annoyed me. Now it just amuses me.
The ending of the book was a surprise. This is not listed as a romance and I would caution any readers out there thinking it is. It's not. It's a contemporary "humorous" book with a female main character.
November 20, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-copy. Nick Spalding ‘Going Green’ follows Ellie, a publicist from a PR company that has not been doing well recently. With their job on the line, Ellie and her co-workers face uncertain future until Nolan Reece takes over, re-branding the company as an environmentally friendly PR firm.
What sounds like an interesting read, was unfortunately very disappointing for me. ‘Going Green’ has a good message at its heart – that of looking for our planet and taking actions necessary to be, at least, a bit more environmentally friendly in our everyday life. But unfortunately, I have not enjoyed the execution. Ellie, the main protagonist that undergoes a great chance throughout the book and starts carrying for the environment, was annoying and her actions were ridiculous too many times. The story throughout the book has not engaged me too much for most of the book, and I have felt disappointed especially by the latter part of ‘Going Green’. Without giving up too much, I have felt that the narrative has been forced and a bit absurd at moments towards the end.
Overall, despite the premise, ‘Going Green’ wasn’t a book for me. But it’s a short story that has an important message at its heart, and with things in the world getting worse, all of us should take a look on what we can do to help and not damage our planet further.
What sounds like an interesting read, was unfortunately very disappointing for me. ‘Going Green’ has a good message at its heart – that of looking for our planet and taking actions necessary to be, at least, a bit more environmentally friendly in our everyday life. But unfortunately, I have not enjoyed the execution. Ellie, the main protagonist that undergoes a great chance throughout the book and starts carrying for the environment, was annoying and her actions were ridiculous too many times. The story throughout the book has not engaged me too much for most of the book, and I have felt disappointed especially by the latter part of ‘Going Green’. Without giving up too much, I have felt that the narrative has been forced and a bit absurd at moments towards the end.
Overall, despite the premise, ‘Going Green’ wasn’t a book for me. But it’s a short story that has an important message at its heart, and with things in the world getting worse, all of us should take a look on what we can do to help and not damage our planet further.
December 29, 2020
I was intrigued to read this as I have heard good things about this author before, however this was nothing ground breaking.
I liked that the concept was original, the protagonist learns more about saving the planet.. BUT she only wants to do this to impress her boss.. because she fancied him? Tropes like this anger me, as it reinforces the fact women change themselves to 'win' a man or meet their expectations. She was not an environmentalist, the only green thing she did was recycle, yet she was charmed to become more eco friendly because of his devilish good looks (rather than Earth's impending doom, the threat of animal extinction, dangers of pollution etc). I dislike books that make women seem desperate for male approval, and this book did just that. YES, ok at the end she did seem to have a passion for it and was pleased she had changed her ways, but the reasons for the change in the first place were to please a man.
Lack of a subplot also made the story less compelling. Romances are not my thing anyway but I didn't realize the only storyline would be about the protagonists efforts too woo her boss with her hemp underwear! There was nothing to keep me gripped, as the relationship seemed inevitable and predictable.
There was Bridget Jones style humour throughout, with the protagonist getting into some scrapes (mostly in her attempt to flirt with her boss) but at least this provided some light relief.
Not a terribly written book, but not one I would rush to recommend.
I liked that the concept was original, the protagonist learns more about saving the planet.. BUT she only wants to do this to impress her boss.. because she fancied him? Tropes like this anger me, as it reinforces the fact women change themselves to 'win' a man or meet their expectations. She was not an environmentalist, the only green thing she did was recycle, yet she was charmed to become more eco friendly because of his devilish good looks (rather than Earth's impending doom, the threat of animal extinction, dangers of pollution etc). I dislike books that make women seem desperate for male approval, and this book did just that. YES, ok at the end she did seem to have a passion for it and was pleased she had changed her ways, but the reasons for the change in the first place were to please a man.
Lack of a subplot also made the story less compelling. Romances are not my thing anyway but I didn't realize the only storyline would be about the protagonists efforts too woo her boss with her hemp underwear! There was nothing to keep me gripped, as the relationship seemed inevitable and predictable.
There was Bridget Jones style humour throughout, with the protagonist getting into some scrapes (mostly in her attempt to flirt with her boss) but at least this provided some light relief.
Not a terribly written book, but not one I would rush to recommend.
November 21, 2020
I enjoyed Dumped, Actually by Nick Spalding and also enjoyed Going Green! He has a distinct writing style filled with over the top scenarios. I don't think this type of book is for everyone but I do like it.
Meet Ellie Cook. She works at a PR agency and isn't particularly environmentally conscious. She drinks from plastic water bottles, drives a gas guzzling car and loves ordering clothes from ASOS. When the PR agency she works for is sold to a new eco friendly owner she's very worried about losing her job. Ellie decides she needs to change her ways and show her new boss just how much she cares about the planet in order to save her job. There are a lot of outrageous things that happen along the way but she eventually becomes concerned about the Earth and embraces the green lifestyle. But when Ellie learns the truth about her boss she needs to find the courage to step up and do the right thing.
I enjoyed this fun and easy read! Ellie was a very over the top character who manages to get into a lot of scrapes but her heart is in the right place throughout the book. She's always trying to do the right thing and cares about those around her and the environment. She felt very genuine and I liked her as a main character. The plot twist happened almost at the very end of the book and I honestly didn't see it coming. It caught me off guard and I didn't feel like there was anything fishy about Nolan until the end part when Ellie learns the truth about him. The situations Ellie gets herself into are obscene and funny, if you don't like ridiculous scenarios in books this isn't for you. I loved all the crazy things Ellie got into and how she always managed to make the most of things.
I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and while it did all work out perfectly I wanted more details. I think this book could've used one more chapter to tie up a few lose ends, even just a short epilogue would've been nice to see how everything played out. Other than that this was a funny book even though it dealt with serious issues. It was hilarious and ridiculous while still discussing the real problem of climate change. If you're looking for a quick and lighthearted read this is a good one.
Overall, this was a nice quick read that was enjoyable and funny while still having a serious undertone. The writing is fast paced and the book pulled me in. I'd recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Meet Ellie Cook. She works at a PR agency and isn't particularly environmentally conscious. She drinks from plastic water bottles, drives a gas guzzling car and loves ordering clothes from ASOS. When the PR agency she works for is sold to a new eco friendly owner she's very worried about losing her job. Ellie decides she needs to change her ways and show her new boss just how much she cares about the planet in order to save her job. There are a lot of outrageous things that happen along the way but she eventually becomes concerned about the Earth and embraces the green lifestyle. But when Ellie learns the truth about her boss she needs to find the courage to step up and do the right thing.
I enjoyed this fun and easy read! Ellie was a very over the top character who manages to get into a lot of scrapes but her heart is in the right place throughout the book. She's always trying to do the right thing and cares about those around her and the environment. She felt very genuine and I liked her as a main character. The plot twist happened almost at the very end of the book and I honestly didn't see it coming. It caught me off guard and I didn't feel like there was anything fishy about Nolan until the end part when Ellie learns the truth about him. The situations Ellie gets herself into are obscene and funny, if you don't like ridiculous scenarios in books this isn't for you. I loved all the crazy things Ellie got into and how she always managed to make the most of things.
I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and while it did all work out perfectly I wanted more details. I think this book could've used one more chapter to tie up a few lose ends, even just a short epilogue would've been nice to see how everything played out. Other than that this was a funny book even though it dealt with serious issues. It was hilarious and ridiculous while still discussing the real problem of climate change. If you're looking for a quick and lighthearted read this is a good one.
Overall, this was a nice quick read that was enjoyable and funny while still having a serious undertone. The writing is fast paced and the book pulled me in. I'd recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
May 12, 2022
This story is wonderful. It shows a very realistic journey of self discovery and awareness centred around climate change and sustainability. There is a very clear message at the end about doing what we can.
Do what you can. The rest will come in time.
I highly recommend this book. It’s funny but also serious. It’s hugely topical and it’s captivating.
Do what you can. The rest will come in time.
I highly recommend this book. It’s funny but also serious. It’s hugely topical and it’s captivating.
January 3, 2021
Going Green by Nick Splading is a humorous contemporary fiction novel about saving one's job and potentially saving the planet. Meet Ellie Cooke, who isn't very environmental friendly person, of course she cares about plastic pollution and climate change, but life gets in her way.
The PR firm she works for is over taken by an environmentalist Nolan Reece, who of course wants to incorporate all things green in his office and in the lives of his employees. The author seems to be on a drill to write about global issues and bring out humor and drama to these stories.
I liked how the story progresses in the book, but the start was off. The characters were promising. I liked many conversations between them and other characters in the book. I liked the character of Nolan Reece and also the side character - Grace. Nick was off at times and wasn't consistent with her character in the book.
The twist at the end was good, but overall the book will be a one time read for me. I quite just read it for the sake of reading it and did not enjoy it much. Humor wasn't what I quite expected.
______
Thank You to NetGalley and Publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
The PR firm she works for is over taken by an environmentalist Nolan Reece, who of course wants to incorporate all things green in his office and in the lives of his employees. The author seems to be on a drill to write about global issues and bring out humor and drama to these stories.
I liked how the story progresses in the book, but the start was off. The characters were promising. I liked many conversations between them and other characters in the book. I liked the character of Nolan Reece and also the side character - Grace. Nick was off at times and wasn't consistent with her character in the book.
The twist at the end was good, but overall the book will be a one time read for me. I quite just read it for the sake of reading it and did not enjoy it much. Humor wasn't what I quite expected.
______
Thank You to NetGalley and Publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
December 17, 2021
“A laugh-out-loud story about saving your job…and maybe saving the planet in the process”
Those of you who follow my reading schedules and reviews, will know that a contemporary comedy, albeit with a smidgen of the rom/com about it, really isn’t my type of book at all. However, I had heard and read such good things about Nick Spalding’s books, that when one of those not-to-be-missed NetGalley ‘Read Now’ offers came up, I just couldn’t resist downloading it.
This style of anecdotal, observational and conversational comedy, is one I really enjoy, and the way in which we Brits seem to have the unique ability to laugh at ourselves, never ceases to amaze me. But how would it translate into a full length story, I wondered? Well, if you had been anywhere near me when I was reading the book (which I did in just a couple of sittings), you might have wondered who the raving loony was, laughing and chuckling away to herself in the corner and this time the tissue wasn’t for tears of sorrow!
From the very first paragraph (shared above), the play on the name of an English celebrity chef, television personality, journalist, food writer, and campaigner on food and environmental issues, was enough to have me smiling and that just set the tone for the entire story. As you can tell, this one hits the ground running; the storyline is relentless in its pace and humour; the ending is oh! so satisfying and replete, in the rather sickly and cliched way I had come to expect, but not until after that one final curved ball, the sting in the tail I never saw coming – and to be honest, neither did Ellie! The chapter breaks were really only there to give me chance to draw breath and re-group for the ongoing battle, although the chapter headings themselves were an absolute triumph in their own right.
Narrated in a single timeline and voice, by Ellie herself, makes this very much her own story, to do with as she wants. In fact it reads more like a personal diary in storybook format, the kind of thing that should really be kept under lock and key, a ‘for your eyes only’ read! Ellie is very prone to having ‘conversations’ with herself, sometimes not very silently, although she doesn’t always realise she has spoken aloud, and always totally honestly, in a no-holds-barred kind of way. Her thought and speech bubbles would make a great graphic book!
How far would you go to save your job? That’s the dilemma Ellie faces when the PR company she works for is sold and her new boss turns out to be a keen environmentalist, who intends to refocus and transform the business, to take on PR assignments exclusively for ethical / green brand clients. The thing is, Ellie, by her own admission, is one of the least environmentally green people in the country and is definitely the queen of cheap, chain store clothes shopping when she puts her mind to it. What would anyone faced with that situation do? – Why, lie of course! Ellie becomes an overnight convert, with some very unexpected results (you really shouldn’t miss the itchy hemp knickers debacle!), not all of which are quite so dramatic, but all of which give Ellie pause to stop, think and re-evaluate her life.
The trouble is, when you go from thinking about taking action, to actually taking action, sometimes the lines become a little blurred, the scales of reason can get tipped too far the other way and passion becomes obsession. Then when you find you have been right royally deceived by someone you thought you could trust, flipping out is only the beginning of a journey which can either make you stronger, or cause you to crumble. You really don’t want to be in Ellie’s path when the flipping out starts, that’s for sure!
Nick has written a fluent, well structured and multi-layered story, which is current, topical and bang on trend, but never preachy and always told with heart and humour. There were plenty of subtle twists in the seamless storyline to keep me guessing and because of Ellie’s frenetic and chaotic pace of life, the air was always full of latent tension. Skilled in the imagery of words, Nick’s writing has great visual depth and range, and I could almost imagine myself alongside Ellie – outside the smelly train toilet; egging the crowds on as a giant foam plastic bottle; and with her head stuck down a cess pit – and that’s not even the half of it! I don’t know how much of it is smoke and mirrors, and whether I am doing Nick a disservice, but it feels as though the words simply wrote themselves, as everything flows so well. Such an effortlessly assured and compelling style of narrative and dialogue.
Nick has also created and breathed life into a cast of well developed characters, who more than ably complement his writing style and totally claim the story as their own. Whilst it may not have been easy to connect with and relate to all of them, because of their passionate eccentricities, they were always addictive, authentic, emotional, raw and passionate, with the possible exceptions of the duplicitous scumbags, Nolan and Rob, who really did deserve everything they had coming to them- and then some!
Engagingly Enjoyable; Entertaining Escapism; Enthusiastically Emotional – what other great reasons did I need to read this book.
In the world Nick has created for Ellie, the female of the species is definitely more deadly than the male – and certainly more vocal!
Check out my full post, complete with author info. and those memorable lines I just couldn't leave behind. Visit...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
Those of you who follow my reading schedules and reviews, will know that a contemporary comedy, albeit with a smidgen of the rom/com about it, really isn’t my type of book at all. However, I had heard and read such good things about Nick Spalding’s books, that when one of those not-to-be-missed NetGalley ‘Read Now’ offers came up, I just couldn’t resist downloading it.
This style of anecdotal, observational and conversational comedy, is one I really enjoy, and the way in which we Brits seem to have the unique ability to laugh at ourselves, never ceases to amaze me. But how would it translate into a full length story, I wondered? Well, if you had been anywhere near me when I was reading the book (which I did in just a couple of sittings), you might have wondered who the raving loony was, laughing and chuckling away to herself in the corner and this time the tissue wasn’t for tears of sorrow!
From the very first paragraph (shared above), the play on the name of an English celebrity chef, television personality, journalist, food writer, and campaigner on food and environmental issues, was enough to have me smiling and that just set the tone for the entire story. As you can tell, this one hits the ground running; the storyline is relentless in its pace and humour; the ending is oh! so satisfying and replete, in the rather sickly and cliched way I had come to expect, but not until after that one final curved ball, the sting in the tail I never saw coming – and to be honest, neither did Ellie! The chapter breaks were really only there to give me chance to draw breath and re-group for the ongoing battle, although the chapter headings themselves were an absolute triumph in their own right.
Narrated in a single timeline and voice, by Ellie herself, makes this very much her own story, to do with as she wants. In fact it reads more like a personal diary in storybook format, the kind of thing that should really be kept under lock and key, a ‘for your eyes only’ read! Ellie is very prone to having ‘conversations’ with herself, sometimes not very silently, although she doesn’t always realise she has spoken aloud, and always totally honestly, in a no-holds-barred kind of way. Her thought and speech bubbles would make a great graphic book!
How far would you go to save your job? That’s the dilemma Ellie faces when the PR company she works for is sold and her new boss turns out to be a keen environmentalist, who intends to refocus and transform the business, to take on PR assignments exclusively for ethical / green brand clients. The thing is, Ellie, by her own admission, is one of the least environmentally green people in the country and is definitely the queen of cheap, chain store clothes shopping when she puts her mind to it. What would anyone faced with that situation do? – Why, lie of course! Ellie becomes an overnight convert, with some very unexpected results (you really shouldn’t miss the itchy hemp knickers debacle!), not all of which are quite so dramatic, but all of which give Ellie pause to stop, think and re-evaluate her life.
The trouble is, when you go from thinking about taking action, to actually taking action, sometimes the lines become a little blurred, the scales of reason can get tipped too far the other way and passion becomes obsession. Then when you find you have been right royally deceived by someone you thought you could trust, flipping out is only the beginning of a journey which can either make you stronger, or cause you to crumble. You really don’t want to be in Ellie’s path when the flipping out starts, that’s for sure!
Nick has written a fluent, well structured and multi-layered story, which is current, topical and bang on trend, but never preachy and always told with heart and humour. There were plenty of subtle twists in the seamless storyline to keep me guessing and because of Ellie’s frenetic and chaotic pace of life, the air was always full of latent tension. Skilled in the imagery of words, Nick’s writing has great visual depth and range, and I could almost imagine myself alongside Ellie – outside the smelly train toilet; egging the crowds on as a giant foam plastic bottle; and with her head stuck down a cess pit – and that’s not even the half of it! I don’t know how much of it is smoke and mirrors, and whether I am doing Nick a disservice, but it feels as though the words simply wrote themselves, as everything flows so well. Such an effortlessly assured and compelling style of narrative and dialogue.
Nick has also created and breathed life into a cast of well developed characters, who more than ably complement his writing style and totally claim the story as their own. Whilst it may not have been easy to connect with and relate to all of them, because of their passionate eccentricities, they were always addictive, authentic, emotional, raw and passionate, with the possible exceptions of the duplicitous scumbags, Nolan and Rob, who really did deserve everything they had coming to them- and then some!
Engagingly Enjoyable; Entertaining Escapism; Enthusiastically Emotional – what other great reasons did I need to read this book.
In the world Nick has created for Ellie, the female of the species is definitely more deadly than the male – and certainly more vocal!
Check out my full post, complete with author info. and those memorable lines I just couldn't leave behind. Visit...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
December 27, 2020
4.5 Stars
Ellie is one great character, she acts well before she engages her brains and that lands her in all manner of situations. Some of them were hilarious, others just amusing, but the whole time you are willing her on, and wanting good things for her.
I'll admit straight up that I didn't laugh anywhere near as much as I normally do with a Nick Spalding book, I'm not sure whether it was due to the subject matter, my frame of mind, or whether I was missing a trick but I didn't find it as funny.
That being said there were for me a few snort out loud moments which the author always seems to make me manage, and it certainly is humorous, so I'm guessing the issue was my sense of humour went partially on holiday while I was reading this!
It's thought a really good story, with some certainly memorable moments such as the plastic bottle costume and the narwhal, the hunt for the composting system and Ellie's first encounters with Nolan. Oh and the meal with the birds that was brilliant! Actually thinking back although the scene with hemp underwear didn't make me laugh as I was too busy wincing in sympathy, it was certainly memorable too!
Ok... there may have been a great chapter involving fabulous descriptions of a bike ride too, a character who seemed obsessed with leeks and a very specific species of moth, and the various train journeys were of note too! I'm purposely leaving out the details so as not to spoil the reasons while all of those were memorable for me, but definitely some of the highlights of the book!
And well I didn't see that outcome to the book coming in a million years, I wouldn't have guessed that. It was fantastic, so fitting and really unexpected!
Then there is Ellie's inner voice that is continually reminding her of reality, of what she should possibly be admitting to, as she's doing everything she can initially to keep her job when the PR company becomes environmentally friendly, not being completely invested in the cause, well until she has an epiphany at which point well you can find out for yourself.
There is a clear message with this book about considering the environmental impact of everything you do, and whether you can or should be attempting to be greener yourself.
Although not my favourite book by the author it is still another highly enjoyable read that I loved reading.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Ellie is one great character, she acts well before she engages her brains and that lands her in all manner of situations. Some of them were hilarious, others just amusing, but the whole time you are willing her on, and wanting good things for her.
I'll admit straight up that I didn't laugh anywhere near as much as I normally do with a Nick Spalding book, I'm not sure whether it was due to the subject matter, my frame of mind, or whether I was missing a trick but I didn't find it as funny.
That being said there were for me a few snort out loud moments which the author always seems to make me manage, and it certainly is humorous, so I'm guessing the issue was my sense of humour went partially on holiday while I was reading this!
It's thought a really good story, with some certainly memorable moments such as the plastic bottle costume and the narwhal, the hunt for the composting system and Ellie's first encounters with Nolan. Oh and the meal with the birds that was brilliant! Actually thinking back although the scene with hemp underwear didn't make me laugh as I was too busy wincing in sympathy, it was certainly memorable too!
Ok... there may have been a great chapter involving fabulous descriptions of a bike ride too, a character who seemed obsessed with leeks and a very specific species of moth, and the various train journeys were of note too! I'm purposely leaving out the details so as not to spoil the reasons while all of those were memorable for me, but definitely some of the highlights of the book!
And well I didn't see that outcome to the book coming in a million years, I wouldn't have guessed that. It was fantastic, so fitting and really unexpected!
Then there is Ellie's inner voice that is continually reminding her of reality, of what she should possibly be admitting to, as she's doing everything she can initially to keep her job when the PR company becomes environmentally friendly, not being completely invested in the cause, well until she has an epiphany at which point well you can find out for yourself.
There is a clear message with this book about considering the environmental impact of everything you do, and whether you can or should be attempting to be greener yourself.
Although not my favourite book by the author it is still another highly enjoyable read that I loved reading.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
December 2, 2020
I fancied something different to read (I read a lot of crime & mystery books) and this certainly fitted the bill . Ellie works for a PR company which isn't doing well . It is taken over by Nolan Reece with the premise of the company becoming as green as possible. Ellie has a steep learning curve regarding being enviromentally friendly as she drives an old, gas guzzling car and shops in shops reknowned for throw away fashion. At first she fakes her enviromentally sound behaviour, though this becomes her way of life as she becomes aware of some of the consequences of her lifestyle choices. You start off thinking that Ellie is a girl mostly interested in keeping het job (which she is) but as the book moved on I came to respect her more .
Parts of this book were quite funny,I found parts a little irritating *(regarding sound effects of the car , for example) and theree were times that Ellie seemed to go completely over the top . All in all though the message is that we all do what we can and the future looks optimistic for the PR company . The sideline of the office romance was OK, though it seemed to blow hot and cold and Ellie blamed herself for problems .Ididnotreally see the twist in the story coming, but it added an interesting perspective to the story
Thank you to NetGalleyfor the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Parts of this book were quite funny,I found parts a little irritating *(regarding sound effects of the car , for example) and theree were times that Ellie seemed to go completely over the top . All in all though the message is that we all do what we can and the future looks optimistic for the PR company . The sideline of the office romance was OK, though it seemed to blow hot and cold and Ellie blamed herself for problems .Ididnotreally see the twist in the story coming, but it added an interesting perspective to the story
Thank you to NetGalleyfor the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2020
3.5*
I've requested Going Green because it promised hilarity and I thought I need a bit of fun in my life right about now. Overall I cannot say it disappointed. There's enough situational and language humor, even a bit of sarcasm/irony. It made me laugh/chuckle inwardly quite a few times, but for some reason that I can't put my finger on, it didn't make me laugh out loud nor made me think to myself: "this is so funny".
As light reads go, this is well written. The writing itself is solid, the plot developed nicely and I really enjoyed the main female character. In fact the strong point of this novel is its female character. A well balanced woman, good at her job and she knows it. She does have some insecurities, but nothing major just those good insecurities that help us keep our head on our shoulders while allowing us to improve when we have the right info/proof. Despite getting from mediocre employee to CEO in a matter of months(I think) it didn't feel pushed at all, as it's clear she was just complacent, preferring a quiet life that ends at 17.30 on the dot instead of pushing herself a little bit more. She also handled well both her lovers, without unnecessary humiliations that one tends to read in this type of books.
The irony of a male author giving us such a good female character in a light read(chick lit) is not lost on me ;).
All in all an enjoyable read if you are looking for something that's not challenging and relatively funny.
*Book from NetGalley whit many thanks to the publisher.
I've requested Going Green because it promised hilarity and I thought I need a bit of fun in my life right about now. Overall I cannot say it disappointed. There's enough situational and language humor, even a bit of sarcasm/irony. It made me laugh/chuckle inwardly quite a few times, but for some reason that I can't put my finger on, it didn't make me laugh out loud nor made me think to myself: "this is so funny".
As light reads go, this is well written. The writing itself is solid, the plot developed nicely and I really enjoyed the main female character. In fact the strong point of this novel is its female character. A well balanced woman, good at her job and she knows it. She does have some insecurities, but nothing major just those good insecurities that help us keep our head on our shoulders while allowing us to improve when we have the right info/proof. Despite getting from mediocre employee to CEO in a matter of months(I think) it didn't feel pushed at all, as it's clear she was just complacent, preferring a quiet life that ends at 17.30 on the dot instead of pushing herself a little bit more. She also handled well both her lovers, without unnecessary humiliations that one tends to read in this type of books.
The irony of a male author giving us such a good female character in a light read(chick lit) is not lost on me ;).
All in all an enjoyable read if you are looking for something that's not challenging and relatively funny.
*Book from NetGalley whit many thanks to the publisher.
January 3, 2021
Going Green by Nick Splading is a humorous contemporary fiction novel about saving one's job and potentially saving the planet. Meet Ellie Cooke, who isn't very environmental friendly person, of course she cares about plastic pollution and climate change, but life gets in her way.
The PR firm she works for is over taken by an environmentalist Nolan Reece, who of course wants to incorporate all things green in his office and in the lives of his employees. The author seems to be on a drill to write about global issues and bring out humor and drama to these stories.
I liked how the story progresses in the book, but the start was off. The characters were promising. I liked many conversations between them and other characters in the book. I liked the character of Nolan Reece and also the side character - Grace. Nick was off at times and wasn't consistent with her character in the book.
The twist at the end was good, but overall the book will be a one time read for me. I quite just read it for the sake of reading it and did not enjoy it much. Humor wasn't what I quite expected.
______
Thank You to NetGalley and Publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
The PR firm she works for is over taken by an environmentalist Nolan Reece, who of course wants to incorporate all things green in his office and in the lives of his employees. The author seems to be on a drill to write about global issues and bring out humor and drama to these stories.
I liked how the story progresses in the book, but the start was off. The characters were promising. I liked many conversations between them and other characters in the book. I liked the character of Nolan Reece and also the side character - Grace. Nick was off at times and wasn't consistent with her character in the book.
The twist at the end was good, but overall the book will be a one time read for me. I quite just read it for the sake of reading it and did not enjoy it much. Humor wasn't what I quite expected.
______
Thank You to NetGalley and Publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.
March 16, 2021
This almost made a three. Maybe I was in the wrong mood, maybe I've lost my sense of humour, maybe I just read too many thrillers to make the change in one book. There was something just a bit toe-curling about this though. Okay, humour has to be delivered with confidence but this just seemed too sure of itself. The constant internal dialogue, though at time amusing, eventually did for me. I was fed up of hearing the main character constantly arguing with herself. It got nowhere and I'm not really sure what purpose it served. Some good stuff at the start and some pretty engaging and amusingly embarrassing situations. But it just seemed to go from bad to worse. The B&B was excruciating (as I suppose it was meant to be) but I just found it so hard to tolerate. The characters are mostly caricatures but that's okay although it treads a fine line between that and ridicule. The ending I saw a mile off (not necessarily a bad thing) so I found myself skimming in the last few chapters. That's never good. You're supposed to want to devour the ending not hurry it up at all cost.
Bit of a disappointment but I'll give another of his a go. Maybe I'll change my mind.
Bit of a disappointment but I'll give another of his a go. Maybe I'll change my mind.
November 30, 2020
I thought this was adorable and funny. After a new owner takes over the PR firm Ellie works at, the new owner decides the new direction for the company is to be very environmentally conscious and friendly - it's a crusade for him really. So our MC, Ellie, also takes on that crusade - in a effort to keep her job.
But along the way she makes mistakes, sure, but most of them are really telling small lies and getting backed in to a corner. It also means, however, that she learns a lot as well - about how to be more environmentally conscious. Sure, the story was silly at times and there were a few times I cringe and chuckled, but this was the perfect, light, up-beat cute story I needed when I picked it up. So glad I gave it a try!
An e-ARC was provided to me by Nick Spalding and Lake Union publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
But along the way she makes mistakes, sure, but most of them are really telling small lies and getting backed in to a corner. It also means, however, that she learns a lot as well - about how to be more environmentally conscious. Sure, the story was silly at times and there were a few times I cringe and chuckled, but this was the perfect, light, up-beat cute story I needed when I picked it up. So glad I gave it a try!
An e-ARC was provided to me by Nick Spalding and Lake Union publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
December 3, 2020
I was hooked on this author after reading Logging Off. I've learned two things about Spalding's books: 1) they are laugh-out-loud funny, and 2) don't read this sitting next to your husband trying to watch a football game! I also appreciate a male who can write from a woman's perspective (and vice versa) so we get a first-person account from protagonist Ellie who works in a PR firm that is taken over by Nolan who is determined to make the world more environmentally-friendly. Ellie, determined to wow her boss (and because she's crushing on him), volunteers for many assignments, including rallies where she must play "dead" and an event where she must ride a bamboo bicycle. I'm still giggling thinking about these scenes. Beyond the humor, Spalding also addresses social issues that are thought-provoking and relevant. Not my last book by him for sure!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
November 11, 2020
The writing - ⭐⭐⭐
The story - ⭐⭐⭐
Overall - ⭐⭐⭐
I smashed through this in a couple of hours, and it was... Ok. It was easy to read, engaging and there were moments that properly tickled me, but I don't know how much I really enjoyed it overall. The lead Ellie came across as pretty manic all the time and everything she seemed to do just ended up in chaos. Once one thing went wrong, something else would then go wrong and it just kept ramping up, and up, and up, and up...! As a format it quickly became cringeworthy and tired and it didn't make me like her as a character, I kept finding myself thinking 'what now?!' as Ellie found herself in yet another ridiculous situation she kept making worse. You'll have to read it to find out if she sorts it all out in the end!
If you're looking for a quick and easy filler read this is perfect, I reckon it'll be good as a 'palate cleanser' book!
Fave quote - 'Rest assured I will not be using the word synergy again, and I apologise for even bringing it up once. It's one of those buzzwords that make me want to tear every follicle of my hair out, and every time it spills out of my mouth I want to punch myself for it. If I ever utter the word "holistic", you have my permission to hunt me down and do terrible things upon my person'
Fave moment - The bit on the bikes, I genuinely sat chortling my arse off.
This ARC was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The story - ⭐⭐⭐
Overall - ⭐⭐⭐
I smashed through this in a couple of hours, and it was... Ok. It was easy to read, engaging and there were moments that properly tickled me, but I don't know how much I really enjoyed it overall. The lead Ellie came across as pretty manic all the time and everything she seemed to do just ended up in chaos. Once one thing went wrong, something else would then go wrong and it just kept ramping up, and up, and up, and up...! As a format it quickly became cringeworthy and tired and it didn't make me like her as a character, I kept finding myself thinking 'what now?!' as Ellie found herself in yet another ridiculous situation she kept making worse. You'll have to read it to find out if she sorts it all out in the end!
If you're looking for a quick and easy filler read this is perfect, I reckon it'll be good as a 'palate cleanser' book!
Fave quote - 'Rest assured I will not be using the word synergy again, and I apologise for even bringing it up once. It's one of those buzzwords that make me want to tear every follicle of my hair out, and every time it spills out of my mouth I want to punch myself for it. If I ever utter the word "holistic", you have my permission to hunt me down and do terrible things upon my person'
Fave moment - The bit on the bikes, I genuinely sat chortling my arse off.
This ARC was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
September 6, 2021
Loved this! Had a good chuckle whilst reading and enjoyed the environmental focus.
December 8, 2020
I received a free electronic ARC copy of this very interesting novel on November 20, 2020, from Netgalley, Nick Spalding, and Lake Union Publishing. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Nick Spalding has a quirky sense of humor that always tickles me. You cannot read ten pages of his work and still be depressed. He is an author I follow. Thank goodness he's so prolific - he keeps me out of the doldrums, even now as we are living them.
Eleanor Rose Cook is 34, coming off of a busted romance with an ex-coworker. Feeling she was treated badly, every little aspect of her life seems out of kilter. Now there are many changes happening at her work, a place where she thought she was safe from angst and disappointment. Wrong. Doesn't sound like a laugh a minute romance, huh? Ah, but it is...
pub date December 8, 2020
received November 20, 2020
Lake Union Publishing
Reviewed on November 28, 2020, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed on December 8, 2020, at AmazonSmile and Barnes&Noble. Not available for review on BookBub, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
Eleanor Rose Cook is 34, coming off of a busted romance with an ex-coworker. Feeling she was treated badly, every little aspect of her life seems out of kilter. Now there are many changes happening at her work, a place where she thought she was safe from angst and disappointment. Wrong. Doesn't sound like a laugh a minute romance, huh? Ah, but it is...
pub date December 8, 2020
received November 20, 2020
Lake Union Publishing
Reviewed on November 28, 2020, at Goodreads and Netgalley. Reviewed on December 8, 2020, at AmazonSmile and Barnes&Noble. Not available for review on BookBub, Kobo, or GooglePlay.
January 14, 2021
I enjoyed the premise of Going Green and how climate change is one of the most important and devastating problems that we face in the 21st century. As Ellie learns of this, she is unable to carry on her life as it was. She makes small but consistent changes to her lifestyle that have a lesser impact on our planet, and becomes an advocate for sustainability. I’m wanting to become more sustainable in 2021 so I thought this was the perfect read to start the year off, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d like to have done.
The reason why it’s a 2⭐️ is due to Ellie herself. I found her character unbelievably annoying and I did not connect with her at all (or any other characters). She often found herself in unrealistic scenarios due to her clumsiness and desperation to impress her boss who she ends up having a fling with- as much as I liked the idea of the book I just couldn’t stand her and this affected my overall thoughts. Unfortunately Splading failed to create a great main character on this occasion!
The reason why it’s a 2⭐️ is due to Ellie herself. I found her character unbelievably annoying and I did not connect with her at all (or any other characters). She often found herself in unrealistic scenarios due to her clumsiness and desperation to impress her boss who she ends up having a fling with- as much as I liked the idea of the book I just couldn’t stand her and this affected my overall thoughts. Unfortunately Splading failed to create a great main character on this occasion!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2021
Mixing comedy with environmentalism is something I never thought I'd see and Nick Spalding does it well. The whole book is over the top and more importantly hilarious with most of the jokes landing which isn't always the case.
It doesn't reduce the subject matter to just laughs either it's thought provoking stuff!
Would rec.
It doesn't reduce the subject matter to just laughs either it's thought provoking stuff!
Would rec.
March 14, 2022
I usually find Nick Spalding's books hilarious... This one I actually hated. Elli was so fake I wanted to punch her so dam hard in the face. She was painfully immature and her repetitive use of stupid ass words made my blood boil.
Can you feel how much I REALLY HATE THIS BOOK?!
Can you feel how much I REALLY HATE THIS BOOK?!
December 9, 2020
A woman discovers the best way to save her job is to become more environmentally conscious. As she takes steps to convince her new boss that “green” is the only way she lives, she comes to realize there’s more in the balance than just a paycheck. Humor fiction author Nick Spalding returns with a story that doesn’t quite live up to the mark of his previous releases in Going Green.
Lately, going to work has become a real drag for Ellie Cooke. As one of the publicists at Stratagem PR, she and her colleagues used to love their jobs. The office would buzz with excitement and energy. It’s a small firm, but they all got along well and supported one another.
Since the breakup of the couple who founded the firm, though, morale has nosedived. Then comes word that the remaining partner has sold the company to Nolan Reece, a man with a reputation of turning things around. While Ellie is struck by how handsome Nolan is, she’s also feeling a little bit of dread.
Nolan talks about finding new clients whose companies make conscientious efforts at being environmentally sustainable. Who has time to worry about things like that? Ellie’s car is a few miles from dropping dead below her, and she’s still nursing a broken heart from a relationship with a former company client. The relationship imploded in the most spectacular way in the office, and Ellie wants none of that ever again. Never mind that she can’t keep her eyes off Nolan.
When he announces possible layoffs, Ellie knows she has to do what she can to impress her new boss. If he wants environmentally conscious employees, then she’s going to become so green people will wonder if she’s actually turned into a tree. She does her best imitation of a dying panda at a protest, buys potted plants for the office, and braves the indignities, both physical and psychological, of wearing underwear made of hemp. Before she knows it, not only has she secured her job she’s even gotten a promotion.
Which sounds great in theory—until Ellie realizes that the promotion means more work finding more ways to promote more companies that believe in sustainability. As Ellie goes on client calls and starts to get to know the people behind the movement, she learns about the harsh reality of climate change. The other change in the office is her increasing fondness for Nolan. Both come at her in unexpected ways, and both leave her wanting to make the world a better place.
Author Nick Spalding offers readers another humorous novel with a protagonist who finds herself in a position to undergo a major life transformation. Spalding’s strength comes in creating characters who are every-day people with relatable problems and issues. While she might come across as a little wacky at times, Ellie’s deep desire to do almost anything to keep her job rings true to life.
Unfortunately, Ellie’s voice does not. The writing is funny at times as are the situations, yet Ellie’s decisions and thought process don’t always come across as authentic to a woman’s experience. At her worst, she just sounds like a person. In some cases, this works because the sitcom-type nature of the book lets readers focus on the scene. In other cases, the narrative fails to capture the nuances of what Ellie is thinking and feeling as a woman attracted to a man.
Readers might find the profanity a little distasteful, and some of the circumstances Ellie manages to get into come across as a little too off-the-wall. Yet Spalding manages to surprise readers with the ending, and the good-natured tone he uses in every book is just as delightful in this one. I recommend readers Borrow Going Green.
Lately, going to work has become a real drag for Ellie Cooke. As one of the publicists at Stratagem PR, she and her colleagues used to love their jobs. The office would buzz with excitement and energy. It’s a small firm, but they all got along well and supported one another.
Since the breakup of the couple who founded the firm, though, morale has nosedived. Then comes word that the remaining partner has sold the company to Nolan Reece, a man with a reputation of turning things around. While Ellie is struck by how handsome Nolan is, she’s also feeling a little bit of dread.
Nolan talks about finding new clients whose companies make conscientious efforts at being environmentally sustainable. Who has time to worry about things like that? Ellie’s car is a few miles from dropping dead below her, and she’s still nursing a broken heart from a relationship with a former company client. The relationship imploded in the most spectacular way in the office, and Ellie wants none of that ever again. Never mind that she can’t keep her eyes off Nolan.
When he announces possible layoffs, Ellie knows she has to do what she can to impress her new boss. If he wants environmentally conscious employees, then she’s going to become so green people will wonder if she’s actually turned into a tree. She does her best imitation of a dying panda at a protest, buys potted plants for the office, and braves the indignities, both physical and psychological, of wearing underwear made of hemp. Before she knows it, not only has she secured her job she’s even gotten a promotion.
Which sounds great in theory—until Ellie realizes that the promotion means more work finding more ways to promote more companies that believe in sustainability. As Ellie goes on client calls and starts to get to know the people behind the movement, she learns about the harsh reality of climate change. The other change in the office is her increasing fondness for Nolan. Both come at her in unexpected ways, and both leave her wanting to make the world a better place.
Author Nick Spalding offers readers another humorous novel with a protagonist who finds herself in a position to undergo a major life transformation. Spalding’s strength comes in creating characters who are every-day people with relatable problems and issues. While she might come across as a little wacky at times, Ellie’s deep desire to do almost anything to keep her job rings true to life.
Unfortunately, Ellie’s voice does not. The writing is funny at times as are the situations, yet Ellie’s decisions and thought process don’t always come across as authentic to a woman’s experience. At her worst, she just sounds like a person. In some cases, this works because the sitcom-type nature of the book lets readers focus on the scene. In other cases, the narrative fails to capture the nuances of what Ellie is thinking and feeling as a woman attracted to a man.
Readers might find the profanity a little distasteful, and some of the circumstances Ellie manages to get into come across as a little too off-the-wall. Yet Spalding manages to surprise readers with the ending, and the good-natured tone he uses in every book is just as delightful in this one. I recommend readers Borrow Going Green.
November 28, 2020
Actual rating 3.5 stars.
The title of the latest offering from Nick Spalding, Going Green is self explanatory. Alighting on a highly debated subject, the environment ,the author explores ways we as individuals can change our habits in a bid to reverse the damage humans have inflicted on the planet. Ellie Cooke is the woman around which this ‘green’ storyline is centred. Most definitely not environmentally conscious, with her single use plastic water bottles and her gas guzzling clapped out Mercedes, she needs a complete change of heart given the publicity company she works for, Strategem is having a change of ownership. Nolan Reece intends to turn this struggling company into a highly successful one that represents environmentally friendly businesses but the only spanner in the works is there will inevitably be job losses. Ellie expects to be a casualty of this streamlining but she’s not going down without a fight! Expect to witness our hapless heroine pulling out all the stops as she assumes the mantle of eco friendly warrior in her concerted bid to impress her new boss. With the author’s tongue in cheek jibes (never malicious!) at vegan loving hippie type characters can these earnest well meaning individuals convert Ellie to their cause?
Nick Spalding delivers another comic tale, with some genuinely funny moments thanks to the chaotic central character Ellie Cooke who is determined to embrace the whole environmentally friendly, climate change,save the planet concept if it means keeping her job at the newly named Viridian PR. I couldn’t help but like this woman who is so desperate to impress her new boss Nolan to the extent she’ll spend a fortune on office pot plants, join a protest march acting like a dying panda, wear hemp underwear and even dress as a plastic bottle! She is on a mission, determined to go green, or go home (minus her job) and the fact Nolan is unconventionally handsome hasn’t passed her by. My favourite incident by far has to be the publicity shoot for bamboo bicycles closely followed by the taco eating cockatoo but the author spoils his readers for choice with escapade after escapade involving comic unfortunate incidents and general mayhem thanks to the eccentric characters Ellie crosses paths with. However there’s only so much silliness I can tolerate before I think enough is enough and this is a storyline that goes into overdrive with disaster after disaster befalling Ellie. It made me want to yell at her to get a grip since her behaviour at her age does strike you as rather immature. This type of character always reminds me of Mr Bean, someone you can laugh at and ridicule but who ultimately can end up being highly irritating. Despite her less than subtle approach to impressing the boss, her attempts often hilariously backfiring, she’s the ideal candidate for listening and taking note of what the environmentalists have to say, thanks also to the clued up informed ‘sticky things’ (schoolchildren) she meets when conducting her market research . Ellie may be far from the environmentally conscious individual she pretends to be at the beginning of this novel but surely all this effort must subconsciously affect her behaviour and change her for the good? As an added bonus it may even win the heart of Nolan, who gives off a possibly too good to be true vibe.
Combining slapstick humour, a smattering of romance and a theme that is highly topical, Going Green is a quick easy read and amusing up to a point. The humour did start to wear thin towards the end although I was slightly but pleasantly surprised by the topsy turvy direction life took for Ellie, Nolan and her Viridian PR colleagues. I think I’d been expecting an entirely different outcome! Whilst this won’t win any prizes in the literature stakes, it is a good piece of escapist fiction which I can recommend if you’re in the mood for some lighthearted hilarity and let’s face it who isn’t?? If it also prompts you to consider your own contribution, or lack of, towards the saving of our planet then the author has achieved more than simply providing the reader with a few belly laughs. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
The title of the latest offering from Nick Spalding, Going Green is self explanatory. Alighting on a highly debated subject, the environment ,the author explores ways we as individuals can change our habits in a bid to reverse the damage humans have inflicted on the planet. Ellie Cooke is the woman around which this ‘green’ storyline is centred. Most definitely not environmentally conscious, with her single use plastic water bottles and her gas guzzling clapped out Mercedes, she needs a complete change of heart given the publicity company she works for, Strategem is having a change of ownership. Nolan Reece intends to turn this struggling company into a highly successful one that represents environmentally friendly businesses but the only spanner in the works is there will inevitably be job losses. Ellie expects to be a casualty of this streamlining but she’s not going down without a fight! Expect to witness our hapless heroine pulling out all the stops as she assumes the mantle of eco friendly warrior in her concerted bid to impress her new boss. With the author’s tongue in cheek jibes (never malicious!) at vegan loving hippie type characters can these earnest well meaning individuals convert Ellie to their cause?
Nick Spalding delivers another comic tale, with some genuinely funny moments thanks to the chaotic central character Ellie Cooke who is determined to embrace the whole environmentally friendly, climate change,save the planet concept if it means keeping her job at the newly named Viridian PR. I couldn’t help but like this woman who is so desperate to impress her new boss Nolan to the extent she’ll spend a fortune on office pot plants, join a protest march acting like a dying panda, wear hemp underwear and even dress as a plastic bottle! She is on a mission, determined to go green, or go home (minus her job) and the fact Nolan is unconventionally handsome hasn’t passed her by. My favourite incident by far has to be the publicity shoot for bamboo bicycles closely followed by the taco eating cockatoo but the author spoils his readers for choice with escapade after escapade involving comic unfortunate incidents and general mayhem thanks to the eccentric characters Ellie crosses paths with. However there’s only so much silliness I can tolerate before I think enough is enough and this is a storyline that goes into overdrive with disaster after disaster befalling Ellie. It made me want to yell at her to get a grip since her behaviour at her age does strike you as rather immature. This type of character always reminds me of Mr Bean, someone you can laugh at and ridicule but who ultimately can end up being highly irritating. Despite her less than subtle approach to impressing the boss, her attempts often hilariously backfiring, she’s the ideal candidate for listening and taking note of what the environmentalists have to say, thanks also to the clued up informed ‘sticky things’ (schoolchildren) she meets when conducting her market research . Ellie may be far from the environmentally conscious individual she pretends to be at the beginning of this novel but surely all this effort must subconsciously affect her behaviour and change her for the good? As an added bonus it may even win the heart of Nolan, who gives off a possibly too good to be true vibe.
Combining slapstick humour, a smattering of romance and a theme that is highly topical, Going Green is a quick easy read and amusing up to a point. The humour did start to wear thin towards the end although I was slightly but pleasantly surprised by the topsy turvy direction life took for Ellie, Nolan and her Viridian PR colleagues. I think I’d been expecting an entirely different outcome! Whilst this won’t win any prizes in the literature stakes, it is a good piece of escapist fiction which I can recommend if you’re in the mood for some lighthearted hilarity and let’s face it who isn’t?? If it also prompts you to consider your own contribution, or lack of, towards the saving of our planet then the author has achieved more than simply providing the reader with a few belly laughs. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2020
As I'm involved with a company who is very proud of it's green credentials (leaping bunny, vegan society and carbon neutral accredited) and I'm honestly not the most green person on the planet, I really thought this book would be speaking my language!
Going Green is an easy read that you can get through really quickly, but it is a bit manic and OTT, therefore I found it best if I read it in short bursts and read something a bit heavier in-between.
The PR company that Ellie works for is being taken over by a planet saving, green enthusiast who unfortunately doesn't have enough money to employ all of the current staff. Ellie's on a mission to make a good, green impression with her unconventionally handsome new boss in order to save her job.
When I say she's on a mission, I mean that Ellie will literally do anything to try and save her job, this woman has no shame and is able to get herself into more scrapes than Bridget Jones. This book is one continuous rollercoaster of disasters with barely enough time to catch your breath in-between, sometimes to the point of being too much. Take a break woman and live like a normal person for a few days!!!
The descriptions that Spalding writes are absolutely brilliant. I did find it laugh out loud funny on many occasions and the images he painted so vividly in my head were hilarious. I even managed to wake my husband up when laughing so hard the bed was shaking.
Going Green is an easy read that you can get through really quickly, but it is a bit manic and OTT, therefore I found it best if I read it in short bursts and read something a bit heavier in-between.
The PR company that Ellie works for is being taken over by a planet saving, green enthusiast who unfortunately doesn't have enough money to employ all of the current staff. Ellie's on a mission to make a good, green impression with her unconventionally handsome new boss in order to save her job.
When I say she's on a mission, I mean that Ellie will literally do anything to try and save her job, this woman has no shame and is able to get herself into more scrapes than Bridget Jones. This book is one continuous rollercoaster of disasters with barely enough time to catch your breath in-between, sometimes to the point of being too much. Take a break woman and live like a normal person for a few days!!!
The descriptions that Spalding writes are absolutely brilliant. I did find it laugh out loud funny on many occasions and the images he painted so vividly in my head were hilarious. I even managed to wake my husband up when laughing so hard the bed was shaking.
December 4, 2020
Thank you to Amazon Publishing U.K./Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advance review copy of ‘Going Green’ by Nick Spalding.
As with other novels that I have read by Nick Spalding this was great fun yet also provided plenty of food for thought around its central issue. Here the focus is upon awareness about climate change and the environment. Its protagonist and narrator is thirty-four year old Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Cooke.
When it comes to the environment Ellie’s a bit ‘green’ but her good intentions often get sidetracked. Then the PR firm that Ellie works for is taken over by keen environmentalist Nolan Reece. With redundancies in the air, it becomes clear to Ellie that if she wants to save her job, she’s going to have to get serious about going green.
Ellie gets herself in some seriously ridiculous situations while seeking to prove her Green credentials. In these and her internal monologue, Ellie is a Bridget Jones for our time. In addition, she finds herself thinking a great deal about her new boss, Nolan. Oh Ellie....
This novel proved very entertaining, while making important points about environmental issues. He has created a very relatable lead in Ellie. I was impressed at how well Nick wrote from a woman’s point of view. I really enjoyed it as I have his other books.
He is an author that my reading group has chosen to read a couple of times and I certainly plan to suggest ‘Going Green’ as one of our upcoming 2021 selections.
As with other novels that I have read by Nick Spalding this was great fun yet also provided plenty of food for thought around its central issue. Here the focus is upon awareness about climate change and the environment. Its protagonist and narrator is thirty-four year old Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Cooke.
When it comes to the environment Ellie’s a bit ‘green’ but her good intentions often get sidetracked. Then the PR firm that Ellie works for is taken over by keen environmentalist Nolan Reece. With redundancies in the air, it becomes clear to Ellie that if she wants to save her job, she’s going to have to get serious about going green.
Ellie gets herself in some seriously ridiculous situations while seeking to prove her Green credentials. In these and her internal monologue, Ellie is a Bridget Jones for our time. In addition, she finds herself thinking a great deal about her new boss, Nolan. Oh Ellie....
This novel proved very entertaining, while making important points about environmental issues. He has created a very relatable lead in Ellie. I was impressed at how well Nick wrote from a woman’s point of view. I really enjoyed it as I have his other books.
He is an author that my reading group has chosen to read a couple of times and I certainly plan to suggest ‘Going Green’ as one of our upcoming 2021 selections.
May 1, 2021
When her PR company gets sold to an environmentally conscious new owner and not everyone will get to keep their jobs, Ellie Cook is determined to show how green she can be. The problem is... she's really not! She drives a gas guzzling Mercedes, drinks from plastic water bottles, and loves meat. Determined to fake it til she makes it, she finds herself in several awkward situations, totally humiliated in front of her hot new boss, Nolan Reece. She may have oversold her commitment to green when instead of getting fired, she gets promoted.
This book was so funny it had me laughing out loud and fascinated to find out what Ellie would get into next. From itchy hemp underwear to bearded hippie vegans, gas-guzzling cars to the disgusting habits of humans on public transport, this book is full of hilarious scenes. And after all the entertainment and laughs, it leaves you wondering what you can do yourself to help the environment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was so funny it had me laughing out loud and fascinated to find out what Ellie would get into next. From itchy hemp underwear to bearded hippie vegans, gas-guzzling cars to the disgusting habits of humans on public transport, this book is full of hilarious scenes. And after all the entertainment and laughs, it leaves you wondering what you can do yourself to help the environment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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