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Perfect Timing
Up-and-coming musician Tom thinks he met the love of his life one night a year ago, but thanks to a made-up girlfriend, he’s pretty sure he’s never going to see her again. If it weren’t for the painkillers the doctor had given him for his dislocated shoulder, he could’ve explained what really happened. But now the moment for explanations has gone, so he just keeps writing songs about her in the wild hope that she’ll hear one on the radio and understand.
Jess thinks she met a cheating liar one night a year ago, but much to her chagrin, she can’t seem to stop thinking about him. When she finally decides to take it upon herself to tell Tom’s girlfriend what happened that night, she finds out that the truth isn’t quite what she thought it was. But by then it’s too late—she’s headed to the other side of the world to launch her comedy career.
As the years go by, Tom and Jess are never far from each other’s thoughts. But every time it seems that there might be a way for them to move forward, something else conspires to keep them apart. In life and in love, timing is everything—but will Tom and Jess ever manage to get it right?
Jess thinks she met a cheating liar one night a year ago, but much to her chagrin, she can’t seem to stop thinking about him. When she finally decides to take it upon herself to tell Tom’s girlfriend what happened that night, she finds out that the truth isn’t quite what she thought it was. But by then it’s too late—she’s headed to the other side of the world to launch her comedy career.
As the years go by, Tom and Jess are never far from each other’s thoughts. But every time it seems that there might be a way for them to move forward, something else conspires to keep them apart. In life and in love, timing is everything—but will Tom and Jess ever manage to get it right?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
August 28, 2023
-Adult
-Romance, Fiction, Contemporary
-A comedian and a member of a band meet, they develop an instant crush but then they have many issues, a couple of misunderstandings and “bad timing”. BAdum tss
-There are topics like missed opportunities, love, and the role of timing in a relationship
-I wasn't a big fan of the couple or the female lead, but I did like the male protagonist. Although they both screwed up equally. It's a quick and easy read. There are a lot of quick time jumps but I'm not complaining because it was easier to read the book that way
-If you are looking for a love story with some angst in which you want to yell at each character to react and do something, here is the book
-Self-conclusive book
-It makes us understand the importance of knowing what we want before making cautious decisions and being careful with what we do or say with others
-Sometimes I wanted to tear my hair out because of what they’d do, ngl
-“And. It’s. Okay.” ❤️
-Plot: 3/5
-Characters:3/5
-Romance, Fiction, Contemporary
-A comedian and a member of a band meet, they develop an instant crush but then they have many issues, a couple of misunderstandings and “bad timing”. BAdum tss
-There are topics like missed opportunities, love, and the role of timing in a relationship
-I wasn't a big fan of the couple or the female lead, but I did like the male protagonist. Although they both screwed up equally. It's a quick and easy read. There are a lot of quick time jumps but I'm not complaining because it was easier to read the book that way
-If you are looking for a love story with some angst in which you want to yell at each character to react and do something, here is the book
-Self-conclusive book
-It makes us understand the importance of knowing what we want before making cautious decisions and being careful with what we do or say with others
-Sometimes I wanted to tear my hair out because of what they’d do, ngl
-“And. It’s. Okay.” ❤️
-Plot: 3/5
-Characters:3/5
September 7, 2021
"Fear of loneliness is why people stay with the wrong person."
Perfect Timing is written in the first person narrative and follows Jess and Tom. Both are in their mid twenties and beginning their careers in entertainment, Jess as a comedian and Tom as a musician. Their story spans several years and while they share an instant connection, miscommunication and missed opportunities always get in the way of finally being together. Will they ever find their perfect timing?
Perfect Timing was something that sounded right up my alley but I found it a bit... dull. I didn't really care for either character and I don't think you're supposed to. Both are deeply flawed individuals trying to figure life out and have a knack for messing it up. The book touches on depression, anxiety, and substance abuse making this much heavier than a romcom. Even though Jess is a comedian and has some witty banter, this book really is a comedy at all. Overall, it was an okay book that I feel could've been better executed.
Perfect Timing is written in the first person narrative and follows Jess and Tom. Both are in their mid twenties and beginning their careers in entertainment, Jess as a comedian and Tom as a musician. Their story spans several years and while they share an instant connection, miscommunication and missed opportunities always get in the way of finally being together. Will they ever find their perfect timing?
Perfect Timing was something that sounded right up my alley but I found it a bit... dull. I didn't really care for either character and I don't think you're supposed to. Both are deeply flawed individuals trying to figure life out and have a knack for messing it up. The book touches on depression, anxiety, and substance abuse making this much heavier than a romcom. Even though Jess is a comedian and has some witty banter, this book really is a comedy at all. Overall, it was an okay book that I feel could've been better executed.
December 27, 2022
This is one of those books that I enjoyed but was ready to be over. The irony of the title is not lost on me but ultimately, the storyline was frustrating and annoying at times with how our two protagonists just could not make it work.
I loved that our leading lady was a comic. It opened up a great avenue for addressing sexism even if it was occasionally overplayed. It also kept the book genuinely funny! There were several laugh out loud moments that I really appreciated.
I did the audio for this novel and found it pretty tough at times. The male narrator has quite an accent and unfortunately I found my mind wandering at times.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel but it won't be one that sticks with me or that I'll be likely to recommend.
I loved that our leading lady was a comic. It opened up a great avenue for addressing sexism even if it was occasionally overplayed. It also kept the book genuinely funny! There were several laugh out loud moments that I really appreciated.
I did the audio for this novel and found it pretty tough at times. The male narrator has quite an accent and unfortunately I found my mind wandering at times.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel but it won't be one that sticks with me or that I'll be likely to recommend.
September 20, 2021
First of all, this isn't a light romance. There are quite heavy themes sprinkled throughout.
Second...I wanted to like this more than I did. I think I just honestly didn't connect with the characters. I STRONGLY disliked Jess and I just never got a good handle on Tom.
3 stars.
Thanks to Dell/PRH for a free advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Second...I wanted to like this more than I did. I think I just honestly didn't connect with the characters. I STRONGLY disliked Jess and I just never got a good handle on Tom.
3 stars.
Thanks to Dell/PRH for a free advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 12, 2021
If you liked the movie When Harry Met Sally, or enjoy novels that incorporate scientific ideas and philosophical concepts, then you'll enjoy Perfect Timing, as I did. It's a love story that evolves over several years as the main characters deal with social awkwardness and generational crises. The author uses alternating perspectives to follow the main characters - Jess, pursuing a career as a stand-up comic and Tom who has a band with his best friends. They meet at a talent show in Scotland and despite being really interested in each other, a series of missteps and mistakes keep them separated even as their subsequent conversations have profound impact on each other's lives.
I love how the author incorporates the Friedmann equation which describes how the future can be predicted by our past behavior. It's also really refreshing to read about social anxiety from a male perspective.
Trigger warning for discussion of alcoholism, parental abandonment and thoughts of suicide.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publishers, Penguin Random House.
I love how the author incorporates the Friedmann equation which describes how the future can be predicted by our past behavior. It's also really refreshing to read about social anxiety from a male perspective.
Trigger warning for discussion of alcoholism, parental abandonment and thoughts of suicide.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publishers, Penguin Random House.
June 28, 2021
I'm not sure how to rate this. Yes, I did read it to the end, so it gets points for that.
First, it's not a romance, it's a love story. A long, winding, often unhealthy love story between Tom and Jess, which spans years from the time they meet until the end of the book.
As the title implies, every time Tom and Jess meet is not the right time for them and they grown in the years apart, but not until near the end.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
First, it's not a romance, it's a love story. A long, winding, often unhealthy love story between Tom and Jess, which spans years from the time they meet until the end of the book.
As the title implies, every time Tom and Jess meet is not the right time for them and they grown in the years apart, but not until near the end.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
March 15, 2022
i am typically a fan of romances with depth to them but this was .. not great. i didn’t like either of the main characters and i didn’t connect with either of them. very boring. i found myself skimming through just to get to the end at points.
January 19, 2024
it’s a little cheesy from time to time but overall i thought it was very very cute and decently well executed, as long as you don’t mind slow burn (kinda?). also its about a podcaster and a post rock indie musician so it felt like it was written for me specifically
September 5, 2021
Jess is a comedian, Tom is a musician. They literally bump into each other one night and are instantly attracted. But when Jess finds out he has a girlfriend, she refuses to speak to him again. Now a year later, Tom's band is famous and he's writing songs to her hoping she'll hear them and contact him. Due to his anxiety around women, he had created a fake girlfriend to keep his friends off his back, and the song Sarah's Not Real finally gets the message across. But through a series of meetings and missed opportunities the timing just never seems right for them. They have to work through their own issues before they can finally grow and be together.
This book is really hard to describe, but I thought it was a beautiful love story, not a romance. I thought it was a little like When Harry Met Sally, that over the years while they keep meeting, they change and grow, and in the end their relationship was deeper and more meaningful.
I received an advance review copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
This book is really hard to describe, but I thought it was a beautiful love story, not a romance. I thought it was a little like When Harry Met Sally, that over the years while they keep meeting, they change and grow, and in the end their relationship was deeper and more meaningful.
I received an advance review copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
May 30, 2021
Perfect Timing by Owen Nicholls a fair four-star read. This was a great blend of heart-warming story with a deeper undertow, so don’t go into this if you are wanting a heart-warming and cheery romance, with some great meet cute action, as its deeper and more troubling than that the light and fluffy story I was expecting. It has good characters and is well written, but I didn’t like the characters all the time, its not an issue, as you don’t always like people, but there were so much worse than I expected after reading the rest of the story, I almost felt lulled into a false sense of security. I have read and loved this author before and I am sure I will read and love their work again.
September 18, 2021
Perfect Timing
Owen Nicholls
Perfect Timing is a romance read about Tom and Jess who should have been together living their happily ever after but a series of miscommunication pulled them apart. Tom still thinks Jess is the love of her life, and Jess can't stop thinking of him. Through the years, Jess in the other side of the world is growing her comedy career, while Tom writes songs about her in hopes that jess will one day hear his explanation.
This contemporary romance also tackled serious themes which I thought brought this story to another level.
I thought this was an entertaining read and I am glad to have read another Nicholls novel.
Owen Nicholls
Perfect Timing is a romance read about Tom and Jess who should have been together living their happily ever after but a series of miscommunication pulled them apart. Tom still thinks Jess is the love of her life, and Jess can't stop thinking of him. Through the years, Jess in the other side of the world is growing her comedy career, while Tom writes songs about her in hopes that jess will one day hear his explanation.
This contemporary romance also tackled serious themes which I thought brought this story to another level.
I thought this was an entertaining read and I am glad to have read another Nicholls novel.
December 4, 2021
I really expected to love this novel - romance, comedy, alternating perspectives, what's not to love? Unfortunately, Perfect Timing was a slow burn full of continuity errors and uncreative tropes.
The next part of this review contains spoilers... luckily, the entire plot is pretty predictable, so you won't be ruining much if you continue reading:
First of all, the "lost connections/missed timing/ two trains passing in the night" trope is very common in romance novels - see this trope done very well in One Day in December by Josie Silver. Unfortunately, Perfect Timing feels a lot like Groundhog Day in the sense that you can predict each encounter between the protagonists (because you read about a similar encounter in the previous chapter) and *surprise* they don't get together until the second-last page of the book. Making Perfect Timing about 300 pages longer than necessary.
To that point, before these chance encounters between Jess and Tom, each (conveniently for the plot and trope) suddenly find themselves in a relationship right before the opportunity to reconnect and potentially date each other.
Next, Tom (and his entire identity at the beginning of the novel) is consumed by his anxiety around speaking to women. Yet, he is somehow magically cured of this anxiety when speaking to Julia in the pub and Cara at Tom's parent's Christmas party. It is obvious that Tom's defining personality trait fluctuates at the convenience of the plot. This makes it very difficult to, as a reader, become invested in Tom as a character.
Also, truly not a fan of the way Owen Nicholls paints Jess a hot-headed, hysterical woman whose overreactions cost her a relationship for years. Women don't act like that and it is unfair to suggest that women forgo all their instincts and become hysterical at the first hint of bad news (reference: Jess and Tom's first encounter). Not accurate, not realistic, not likely, and not fair.
Additionally, I did not find the love story particularly believable. I read this story to the end - begrudgingly - only to find the protagonists really only meet a handful of times. When they do see each other in person, they're almost always yelling at each other. They never make time to actually get to know each other (beyond internet stalking) and yet they both convince themselves they're in love with the other. They literally spend next to no time together throughout the entire novel yet spend 354 pages pining after one another.
Beyond the continuity issues and plot holes for convenience's sake, I truly struggled with the writing of this story. Nicholls preludes almost all dialogue with a completely unnecessary priming sentence about the dialogue you're about to read. Tom always thinks to himself something like... [I know she wants to ask me about (whatever the at hand topic is)] right before Jess asks him that same exact question. With a little bit of nuance, this novel likely could have been half the length.
Lastly, (finally, I know) what is up with this random family cat Agatha mentioned in the latter half of the novel? Jess's mother's house had already been established on multiple occasions throughout, but suddenly upon one of Jess's final visits home in the novel there is a random "family cat". What's the point in that?
Too many pages with too many issues.
The next part of this review contains spoilers... luckily, the entire plot is pretty predictable, so you won't be ruining much if you continue reading:
First of all, the "lost connections/missed timing/ two trains passing in the night" trope is very common in romance novels - see this trope done very well in One Day in December by Josie Silver. Unfortunately, Perfect Timing feels a lot like Groundhog Day in the sense that you can predict each encounter between the protagonists (because you read about a similar encounter in the previous chapter) and *surprise* they don't get together until the second-last page of the book. Making Perfect Timing about 300 pages longer than necessary.
To that point, before these chance encounters between Jess and Tom, each (conveniently for the plot and trope) suddenly find themselves in a relationship right before the opportunity to reconnect and potentially date each other.
Next, Tom (and his entire identity at the beginning of the novel) is consumed by his anxiety around speaking to women. Yet, he is somehow magically cured of this anxiety when speaking to Julia in the pub and Cara at Tom's parent's Christmas party. It is obvious that Tom's defining personality trait fluctuates at the convenience of the plot. This makes it very difficult to, as a reader, become invested in Tom as a character.
Also, truly not a fan of the way Owen Nicholls paints Jess a hot-headed, hysterical woman whose overreactions cost her a relationship for years. Women don't act like that and it is unfair to suggest that women forgo all their instincts and become hysterical at the first hint of bad news (reference: Jess and Tom's first encounter). Not accurate, not realistic, not likely, and not fair.
Additionally, I did not find the love story particularly believable. I read this story to the end - begrudgingly - only to find the protagonists really only meet a handful of times. When they do see each other in person, they're almost always yelling at each other. They never make time to actually get to know each other (beyond internet stalking) and yet they both convince themselves they're in love with the other. They literally spend next to no time together throughout the entire novel yet spend 354 pages pining after one another.
Beyond the continuity issues and plot holes for convenience's sake, I truly struggled with the writing of this story. Nicholls preludes almost all dialogue with a completely unnecessary priming sentence about the dialogue you're about to read. Tom always thinks to himself something like... [I know she wants to ask me about (whatever the at hand topic is)] right before Jess asks him that same exact question. With a little bit of nuance, this novel likely could have been half the length.
Lastly, (finally, I know) what is up with this random family cat Agatha mentioned in the latter half of the novel? Jess's mother's house had already been established on multiple occasions throughout, but suddenly upon one of Jess's final visits home in the novel there is a random "family cat". What's the point in that?
Too many pages with too many issues.
May 29, 2021
With some of the deeper themes that are explored (alcoholism, absent parent, anxiety, etc.), this wasn't quite the lighthearted romance I expected it to be. For some reason it also didn't seem that readable to me and I had to keep fighting the urge to skim it.
Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2022
Such a beautiful book. Looking back, what I felt was originally “drawn out” was perfect for creating a fully fleshed out story. Such a great read that tackles the whisper of issues that we all face in life but don’t really talk about. Absolutely a great read
September 7, 2021
Perfect Timing is delightful. I read this new-to-me author's book in one day. His prose was easygoing and addictive and I didn't put it down until I read the last page. And sure it's a romance but it's also a beautiful albeit sometimes painful story of discovering one's worth and sense of self. Both Tom and Jess suffer from not knowing just exactly who they want to be or what they want out of life. But the one thing they do know is that every fateful encounter they have over the course of four years, makes them realize that the other is clearly who they want. Now they just need to figure out how to find that perfect timing that seems to elude them at every turn.
Nicholls writing is cheeky and real. I could sense Tom's panic and Jess's anger. Their emotions are ripe for the taking and this reader felt the agony of missed opportunities, regretful remarks, and outright confusion as they never seem to find their footing where the other is concerned. But what is so special is that even with distance, time, and stubbornness between them, both Tom and Jess thought of each other often. Whether it was unexpected gestures or cheering from the sidelines. the talented musician and the outgoing and honest comic clearly had a future together despite all the roadblocks in their way. And even with all the stops and starts, I really enjoyed their frustrating journey as a wonderful end-of-summer read.
I hope to read more from this clever writer in the future. There wasn't a ton of passion nor much of the physical between Tom and Jess but the love they had in their hearts just needed to be cultivated by the right person. Nicholls paired these two perfectly as their lonely souls finally had someone to dream about and I'm thrilled I got to go along for the ride.
Well worth your time, I happily give Perfect Timing a huge 4 stars!
Nicholls writing is cheeky and real. I could sense Tom's panic and Jess's anger. Their emotions are ripe for the taking and this reader felt the agony of missed opportunities, regretful remarks, and outright confusion as they never seem to find their footing where the other is concerned. But what is so special is that even with distance, time, and stubbornness between them, both Tom and Jess thought of each other often. Whether it was unexpected gestures or cheering from the sidelines. the talented musician and the outgoing and honest comic clearly had a future together despite all the roadblocks in their way. And even with all the stops and starts, I really enjoyed their frustrating journey as a wonderful end-of-summer read.
I hope to read more from this clever writer in the future. There wasn't a ton of passion nor much of the physical between Tom and Jess but the love they had in their hearts just needed to be cultivated by the right person. Nicholls paired these two perfectly as their lonely souls finally had someone to dream about and I'm thrilled I got to go along for the ride.
Well worth your time, I happily give Perfect Timing a huge 4 stars!
October 3, 2021
3.5 stars. I went into this book semi-blindly. I thought it was going to be a funny rom-com and while it had some of that, most of the story was about heavier topics. The story is about Jess and Tom. Jess is a stand up comedian with her best friend Julia, and Tom is in a band. They meet one night at a festival that neither of them wanted to go to. When they meet there is instantly something there. Their story begins from there, and after some years of things not working out, poor communication and mishaps will these two ever get to be together? Jess and Tom are both very flawed characters. The book centers a lot around their flaws. The story touches on anxiety, depression, substance abuse, suicide which make it more dramatic then just a rom-com. I enjoyed the writing, but I can’t say that I really fell in love with the characters. The story was interesting, and I found myself wanting to read it to see what was going to happen. Overall, if you’re looking for a cute, fun rom-com I would not recommend this one, but if you’re looking to read a book with heavy topics and some romance mixed in then I would recommend it.
September 21, 2024
My friend Casey brought this book to my house a few months ago, thinking it was mine. When I told her it wasn't, she said I could have it anyways. It had one of those covers where I just knew it was a beach read and reading it anywhere else would have annoyed me, ha! So I brought it on holiday where it did the job.
I would say this book is billed as a rom com but with a slightly darker edge to it - substance abuse, parental abandonment, grief and depression all come up throughout the plot. It was refreshing to have a novel discussing mental health through the point of view of the male main character, which is not done enough!
That said, this book was just okay... The whole premise of the novel was that they both were waiting for the "perfect time" to be together and I decided I don't agree with that approach in the first place. I didn't really connect with either of the main characters and found their connection to each other unbelievable (it was based off of 1-2 interactions total). I enjoyed the way the book moved through time and places across the UK (and the US at one point!), but after awhile, I just wanted them to stop making excuses and be together!
Anyways! Glad I brought this along to the beach, but don't know if I would urge anyone to go out of their way to read it. On to the next one!
I would say this book is billed as a rom com but with a slightly darker edge to it - substance abuse, parental abandonment, grief and depression all come up throughout the plot. It was refreshing to have a novel discussing mental health through the point of view of the male main character, which is not done enough!
That said, this book was just okay... The whole premise of the novel was that they both were waiting for the "perfect time" to be together and I decided I don't agree with that approach in the first place. I didn't really connect with either of the main characters and found their connection to each other unbelievable (it was based off of 1-2 interactions total). I enjoyed the way the book moved through time and places across the UK (and the US at one point!), but after awhile, I just wanted them to stop making excuses and be together!
Anyways! Glad I brought this along to the beach, but don't know if I would urge anyone to go out of their way to read it. On to the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2022
I have had this ARC for quite a while and even started it a couple of times, but it never felt like the right time for me to read this. Well today was the day I finally committed to reading this and I am so glad I did.
Jess is an aspiring comedian when she meets Tom a musician at a festival that they are performing in. They immediately hit it off, but when lies and misunderstandings happen, it ultimately ruins their chance at a relationship.
They spend the next years crossing paths, but never find the “perfect timing” to be together, whether they are in other relationships or are working on themselves personally.
This was such a cute love story, but had a lot of depth to their characters. Each of them dealing with their own pasts that continually make them second guess their careers and their feelings for each other.
This was simply delightful. If you are just hearing about this book for the first time, then I highly recommend this, and if you overlooked it, give it a chance.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jess is an aspiring comedian when she meets Tom a musician at a festival that they are performing in. They immediately hit it off, but when lies and misunderstandings happen, it ultimately ruins their chance at a relationship.
They spend the next years crossing paths, but never find the “perfect timing” to be together, whether they are in other relationships or are working on themselves personally.
This was such a cute love story, but had a lot of depth to their characters. Each of them dealing with their own pasts that continually make them second guess their careers and their feelings for each other.
This was simply delightful. If you are just hearing about this book for the first time, then I highly recommend this, and if you overlooked it, give it a chance.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2021
Love, Unscripted by Owen Nicholls was one of my favorite books of 2019 so I was very excited to get an advanced copy of Perfect Timing.
Tom and Jess are probably supposed to be together, but the universe has other ideas. Thanks to an unfortunate miscommunication during their meet-cute, Jess doesn’t have too many nice things to say about Tom. Throughout the next few years, they constantly run in and out of each other’s lives, all while Tom is becoming more famous with his band and Jess is becoming more (in)famous with her comedy career.
Some of the subject matter went deeper than I anticipated, but that’s okay. Brit romantic comedies tend to be a little more serious, which can be a welcome experience. I don’t love the miscommunication trope in anything but I’m glad Tom’s fairly harmless lie got cleared up quickly so the story could focus on the more realistic theme of, well, timing.
Nitpick: the chapter headings were too clunky. It had the chapter number, a chapter title, the character POV, the location, and the date. Most of that information wasn’t necessary and I started glossing over them.
Thanks, NetGalley!
Tom and Jess are probably supposed to be together, but the universe has other ideas. Thanks to an unfortunate miscommunication during their meet-cute, Jess doesn’t have too many nice things to say about Tom. Throughout the next few years, they constantly run in and out of each other’s lives, all while Tom is becoming more famous with his band and Jess is becoming more (in)famous with her comedy career.
Some of the subject matter went deeper than I anticipated, but that’s okay. Brit romantic comedies tend to be a little more serious, which can be a welcome experience. I don’t love the miscommunication trope in anything but I’m glad Tom’s fairly harmless lie got cleared up quickly so the story could focus on the more realistic theme of, well, timing.
Nitpick: the chapter headings were too clunky. It had the chapter number, a chapter title, the character POV, the location, and the date. Most of that information wasn’t necessary and I started glossing over them.
Thanks, NetGalley!
September 13, 2021
Perfect Timing was a little heavier read than I anticipated. The title and comic cover made me think it would be a bit more light hearted. However, that said, I still really enjoyed it. It's a beautiful love story where you feel an instant connection between the main characters, Jess (an aspiring comic) and Tom (a musician with an up and coming band). They meet at a large scale talent show and even though they are instantly attracted to one another, several events and misunderstandings get in the way and they miss out on truly connecting. They will continue to have several more near misses over the years because their timing is never quite right. One of them always seems to be in a relationship with someone else or there is some other misunderstanding at play. The time they are apart was heartbreaking because their feelings for one another are intense and palpable and neither of them could forget the other.
In addition to the love story, this book touches on many sensitive topics, such as suicide, depression, anxiety, self-destructive behavior, alcohol abuse and abandonment issues. I'm aware that several of these could easily be a trigger for some. I felt that the author did a nice job of approaching difficult topics head on and showing that we can all be "dancing to the tune life is playing," but we truly might not be "okay." Looking okay and being okay are two entirely different things. Sadly, many people often don't want to burden others with their hard times, so it's easier to paste on a smile and keep going. Perfect Timing shows that sometimes you have to address the unhealthy things in your life before you can truly appreciate and foster the good stuff.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
In addition to the love story, this book touches on many sensitive topics, such as suicide, depression, anxiety, self-destructive behavior, alcohol abuse and abandonment issues. I'm aware that several of these could easily be a trigger for some. I felt that the author did a nice job of approaching difficult topics head on and showing that we can all be "dancing to the tune life is playing," but we truly might not be "okay." Looking okay and being okay are two entirely different things. Sadly, many people often don't want to burden others with their hard times, so it's easier to paste on a smile and keep going. Perfect Timing shows that sometimes you have to address the unhealthy things in your life before you can truly appreciate and foster the good stuff.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
January 6, 2022
Perfect Timing is not a traditional romance novel but a long, complicated love story that may not be the healthiest. It follows Jess and Tom as their lives continue to cross paths repeatedly. However, the timing for them never seems to be right. I finished the book, but I never really connected to these characters. I did enjoy the narrators, who both performed with great Scottish accents.
Thank you, Dell publishing, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you, Dell publishing, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2022
These characters are very deeply unlikeable, then get slightly better but it didn’t make me root for them in any way.
January 17, 2022
Perfect Timing is not a traditional romance novel but a long, complicated love story that may not be the healthiest. It follows Jess and Tom as their lives continue to cross paths repeatedly. However, the timing for them never seems to be right. I finished the book, but I never really connected to these characters. I did enjoy the narrators, who both performed with great Scottish accents.
Thank you, Dell publishing, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you, Dell publishing, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 10, 2021
Perfect Timing is a novel about epic misunderstandings, lost chances and poor timing. Jess is a comedian trying to make it on the big stage and Tom is a musician pursuing fame with his band. They first meet during one of Tom’s panic attacks and are instantly connected and drawn together, but Tom’s pretend girlfriend ruins any chance of continued connection. Author Owen Nicholls takes readers on a journey through Jess and Tom’s lives as they both find success, romance and heartbreak.
Their stories continue to cross paths, but neither Jess or Tom have the guts, gumption or grit to break through the barriers that continue to form. Perfect Timing was fun, there is no doubt about it. The careers both Tom and Jess find are both captivating and entertaining. I felt like maybe there were a few too many missed opportunities and sighed a few times that they couldn't quite get it together. Ultimately, Perfect Timing is worth the frustration and should definitely be read this fall! I give it a solid 4 stars.
A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Their stories continue to cross paths, but neither Jess or Tom have the guts, gumption or grit to break through the barriers that continue to form. Perfect Timing was fun, there is no doubt about it. The careers both Tom and Jess find are both captivating and entertaining. I felt like maybe there were a few too many missed opportunities and sighed a few times that they couldn't quite get it together. Ultimately, Perfect Timing is worth the frustration and should definitely be read this fall! I give it a solid 4 stars.
A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 9, 2021
Jess a up an coming comedian and Tom also a up and coming musician meet one night at a talent show where they instantly connect and then Jess finds out he has a girlfriend after he told her he was single. Jess is so mad she leaves and Tom never got to explain to her she wasn't real. Then a year later they see each other again. Jess is still mad and Tom told her the truth. But they he stuck his foot into his mouth. This isn't a typical love story where 2 meet and end up having a relationship and have a conflict and getting back together to have a Happily ever after. This is more of a story of life the ups and downs and how you have to find yourself and you true path and be happy with yourself before you decide to have any kind of relationship.
Jess is more of a hot head and it takes awhile for her to forgive. She ends up using her anger in her career and life. She . to me is the one that grew the most and I loved how this was a full circle story for her.
Tom like I said above says and does the wrong thing. He isn't a mean or bad person. He just needs to learn what he REALLY wants out of life.
I enjoyed this story and it was a fast read. but don't go into it thinking its a typical love story. Its a Real life story. About growing up and honestly I liked that a lot more.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a E-Arc of the story in exchange of my honest review.
Jess is more of a hot head and it takes awhile for her to forgive. She ends up using her anger in her career and life. She . to me is the one that grew the most and I loved how this was a full circle story for her.
Tom like I said above says and does the wrong thing. He isn't a mean or bad person. He just needs to learn what he REALLY wants out of life.
I enjoyed this story and it was a fast read. but don't go into it thinking its a typical love story. Its a Real life story. About growing up and honestly I liked that a lot more.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a E-Arc of the story in exchange of my honest review.
August 4, 2021
In love and in life, timing is everything. Tom and Jess met on the streets and had an immediate connection. But after a series of unfortunate mistakes and miscommunications, it caused the two to go their separate ways. Even after years of their first encounter, Tom and Jess cannot stop thinking about each other. Despite their instant chemistry, both Tom and Jess need to fight their inner demons to really discover who they are and where they belong before they can have a successful relationship.
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Perfect Timing gives me the “right place, wrong time” and the universe making you wait for the right person vibe. It wasn’t the light hearted read I was expecting as it deals with many heavy reality like anxiety, depression, alcoholism and an absentee parent. I had a hard time holding on to the story and just wanted to skip the chapters to get to the point. I was desperately hoping for something to happen in their love story but it fell flat b/c it was the wrong timing for them. The characters were not very likable which made it an even harder read. I would say this is definitely not one of my favorite reads
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Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion
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Perfect Timing gives me the “right place, wrong time” and the universe making you wait for the right person vibe. It wasn’t the light hearted read I was expecting as it deals with many heavy reality like anxiety, depression, alcoholism and an absentee parent. I had a hard time holding on to the story and just wanted to skip the chapters to get to the point. I was desperately hoping for something to happen in their love story but it fell flat b/c it was the wrong timing for them. The characters were not very likable which made it an even harder read. I would say this is definitely not one of my favorite reads
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Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion
December 22, 2022
The book was slow to start, ended up being ok. Glad I stuck it out, but relatively forgettable. 3.5 stars.
August 22, 2021
A charming and devourable love story, with a ton of will they won’t they and a bunch of frustration. Almost too much frustration at times, with the switching points of view. The writing must have been well done for me to put up with the suspense, though. So kudos to that! Tom is in an up and coming indie band, on the verge of great success. Jess is a stand up comedian, on the edge of success if she could just dedicate herself to her work and leave her best friend, Julia, and their double act, behind.
One of my hang ups about the story is that Jess was so caught up with Tom and his supposed girlfriend that she started to tank her career. He got a great record deal at an indie label, and she was getting fired from gigs, both comedy and minimum wage. So, the woman is the one all hung up on the man, so much so that she can’t focus on anything else. Sure, she is the confident one, the brash one, subverting some stereotypes about women that you often see in romance novels. But still, I felt extremely uncomfortable with how much her career fell apart over the course of the eight months Tom and Jess were pining for each other. And then she completely abandoned her morals to become funny at the expense of other people.
Tom is an anxious mess, panic attacks and anxiety so bad he’s tied to the toilet. I appreciate the reality of his anxiety, and how it affects not only his musical performance, but his romantic one, too. Jess is incredibly brash in response, stating that she doesn’t suffer humiliation and somewhat discounting Tom’s experiences. Not only is anxiety represented accurately, alcoholism is as well. Jess’s mom is a recovering alcoholic and she’s on edge every time she’s over there and her mom is experiencing any kind of stress, assuming she’ll turn to alcohol to cope. Jess herself struggles with using alcohol as a crutch, and so does Tom. Given how they make their livings, it makes sense that alcohol would play a prominent part in their lives. It’s an unfortunate consequence of being in the spotlight, and an added benefit of the venues they typically perform in.
Though large chunks of time are skipped, months at a time, it makes sense for the growth the characters experience. Jumping from points in time to when they will meet each other again, with a little fluff around those moments to flesh out their progress and personal growth. The ending was predictable but enjoyable, though it missed the mark on a couple of counts that I won’t discuss because of spoilers. I will say that I wished more emphasis had been placed on a certain object that was deemed super important by both parties and then was pushed aside and never really talked about again. And Jess was often too brash to be enjoyable as a character, her interactions with Tom more annoying and awful than endearing. Her personal life counteracted her horribleness somewhat, but she still said many things that may be considered unforgivable. I think what made me like this book so much was that it was very serious, yet had romantical aspects that just made sense. Even though their attraction began from the moment they met, it wasn’t love at first sight, a trope I loathe.
Overall, Perfect Timing was well written, well paced and characterized; a love story that deals with darker subject matter as well as forming an undeniable connection between two characters who seem destined to keep missing their chance at love.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an egalley of this book!
One of my hang ups about the story is that Jess was so caught up with Tom and his supposed girlfriend that she started to tank her career. He got a great record deal at an indie label, and she was getting fired from gigs, both comedy and minimum wage. So, the woman is the one all hung up on the man, so much so that she can’t focus on anything else. Sure, she is the confident one, the brash one, subverting some stereotypes about women that you often see in romance novels. But still, I felt extremely uncomfortable with how much her career fell apart over the course of the eight months Tom and Jess were pining for each other. And then she completely abandoned her morals to become funny at the expense of other people.
Tom is an anxious mess, panic attacks and anxiety so bad he’s tied to the toilet. I appreciate the reality of his anxiety, and how it affects not only his musical performance, but his romantic one, too. Jess is incredibly brash in response, stating that she doesn’t suffer humiliation and somewhat discounting Tom’s experiences. Not only is anxiety represented accurately, alcoholism is as well. Jess’s mom is a recovering alcoholic and she’s on edge every time she’s over there and her mom is experiencing any kind of stress, assuming she’ll turn to alcohol to cope. Jess herself struggles with using alcohol as a crutch, and so does Tom. Given how they make their livings, it makes sense that alcohol would play a prominent part in their lives. It’s an unfortunate consequence of being in the spotlight, and an added benefit of the venues they typically perform in.
Though large chunks of time are skipped, months at a time, it makes sense for the growth the characters experience. Jumping from points in time to when they will meet each other again, with a little fluff around those moments to flesh out their progress and personal growth. The ending was predictable but enjoyable, though it missed the mark on a couple of counts that I won’t discuss because of spoilers. I will say that I wished more emphasis had been placed on a certain object that was deemed super important by both parties and then was pushed aside and never really talked about again. And Jess was often too brash to be enjoyable as a character, her interactions with Tom more annoying and awful than endearing. Her personal life counteracted her horribleness somewhat, but she still said many things that may be considered unforgivable. I think what made me like this book so much was that it was very serious, yet had romantical aspects that just made sense. Even though their attraction began from the moment they met, it wasn’t love at first sight, a trope I loathe.
Overall, Perfect Timing was well written, well paced and characterized; a love story that deals with darker subject matter as well as forming an undeniable connection between two characters who seem destined to keep missing their chance at love.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an egalley of this book!
July 12, 2024
What an excellent read! This book really hit home base for me in so many ways.
To start with, my boyfriend and I just got back together. I picked this book because of him and the title. See, our story is quite a funny one. We were each other's first partners back when we were only freshman in high school. We didn't last long and had several hard lessons throughout life between when we broke up and now. I can't speak for his POV but I know from mine, he was the one who got away. When we finally got back in touch (about two years prior to us dating now) I was going through a rough patch. He was there for me. We made jokes about the what if's like what if we never broke up and then told each other so many excuses as to why it would never work out. We quickly became best buds and then from there he was always there for me when I needed him most. He helped me past one of the hardest break ups in my life and I helped him realize there is more to life in some ways. Eventually, we would hang out and the heat between us was so strong. Months later, our first kiss finally occurs and my heart is broken. We fight and push each other away only to discover that we both can't fathom a life without the other in it, even if it is to only ever be as friends. I go on to try to find a husband while he looks in all the wrong places for love and acceptance himself. Then one day soon after I begin to date someone, I notice the attraction is just too strong and I'm just simply not capable of loving someone else. We start hanging out again which leads to us dating. When we finally get back together, it is as if the universe finally put together the last pieces of our puzzles. Everything made sense, all the ex's and lessons learned lead us to be who we are today which is perfect for each other.
My story isn't that of the books, however I compare a lot of it together. The way the timing wasn't right, the simple miscommunications, the wrong words being used, the dumb fights, the tear down of who they are and who they are meant to be and how in the end they finally come together as the right person for the other person. It was perfect timing, just like me and my future husband.
To start with, my boyfriend and I just got back together. I picked this book because of him and the title. See, our story is quite a funny one. We were each other's first partners back when we were only freshman in high school. We didn't last long and had several hard lessons throughout life between when we broke up and now. I can't speak for his POV but I know from mine, he was the one who got away. When we finally got back in touch (about two years prior to us dating now) I was going through a rough patch. He was there for me. We made jokes about the what if's like what if we never broke up and then told each other so many excuses as to why it would never work out. We quickly became best buds and then from there he was always there for me when I needed him most. He helped me past one of the hardest break ups in my life and I helped him realize there is more to life in some ways. Eventually, we would hang out and the heat between us was so strong. Months later, our first kiss finally occurs and my heart is broken. We fight and push each other away only to discover that we both can't fathom a life without the other in it, even if it is to only ever be as friends. I go on to try to find a husband while he looks in all the wrong places for love and acceptance himself. Then one day soon after I begin to date someone, I notice the attraction is just too strong and I'm just simply not capable of loving someone else. We start hanging out again which leads to us dating. When we finally get back together, it is as if the universe finally put together the last pieces of our puzzles. Everything made sense, all the ex's and lessons learned lead us to be who we are today which is perfect for each other.
My story isn't that of the books, however I compare a lot of it together. The way the timing wasn't right, the simple miscommunications, the wrong words being used, the dumb fights, the tear down of who they are and who they are meant to be and how in the end they finally come together as the right person for the other person. It was perfect timing, just like me and my future husband.
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