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Twice in a Lifetime
Amelia might have met The One. But is she twenty years too late?
After her husband left her out of the blue, the only relationship 48-year-old Amelia Simpson has enjoyed recently is with Nutella and Pinot Grigio. While her 8-year-old twin boys, Jasper and Rupert, keep her busy, Amelia dreams of a life more than washing muddy rugby kits and weekly chats with best friends Sian and Jamie.
Amelia needs some magic back in her life – but magic seems in short supply in her small Welsh town. So when she finds the phone number that was given to her twenty years ago by a handsome stranger in New York, Amelia wonders whether he might be The One That Got Away.
But when Sian takes matters into her own hands, launching a worldwide hunt to find the handsome stranger Amelia met outside Tiffany’s two decades ago, Amelia finds herself on a flight to the Big Apple to reconnect with her ‘Perfect Patrick’.
But as the two explore the sights of NYC, has Amelia reconnected with The One? Or will she discover that the sparkle she was missing is actually closer to home?
After her husband left her out of the blue, the only relationship 48-year-old Amelia Simpson has enjoyed recently is with Nutella and Pinot Grigio. While her 8-year-old twin boys, Jasper and Rupert, keep her busy, Amelia dreams of a life more than washing muddy rugby kits and weekly chats with best friends Sian and Jamie.
Amelia needs some magic back in her life – but magic seems in short supply in her small Welsh town. So when she finds the phone number that was given to her twenty years ago by a handsome stranger in New York, Amelia wonders whether he might be The One That Got Away.
But when Sian takes matters into her own hands, launching a worldwide hunt to find the handsome stranger Amelia met outside Tiffany’s two decades ago, Amelia finds herself on a flight to the Big Apple to reconnect with her ‘Perfect Patrick’.
But as the two explore the sights of NYC, has Amelia reconnected with The One? Or will she discover that the sparkle she was missing is actually closer to home?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2021
22 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
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June 30, 2021
Blog Review: https://trishadoeseverythingbutstudy2...
I received a free e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is 2.5 stars, rounded down.
I would honestly have given this 3 stars were it not for the absolute disgust and disappointment I felt regarding the MC.
I wanted to rant about this book so bad. So, naturally, I went and spent 5 hours on youtube watching videos.
Anyways, getting back to the point, I just didn't like this. The MC is supposed to be a woman in her 50s, but I can't honestly in good faith believe that any woman would be this gullible. Like, it was so obvious she was being taken advantage of (avoiding spoilers by using slightly vague and misguiding phrases? check!). It was so obvious that someone who had never even read a single case of people being scammed would have realised what exactly was going on.
It was so obviou—okay we're getting off track, but I hope you get the point.
It wasn't even a plot twist, it was so obvious. Who on earth gives their bank details to someone they have met once, twenty or so years back, for five freaking minutes, and then ignores an overdrawn email!? On that note, who gives children access to credit card details, enough for them to be able to overdraw!? Now, you might say my parents are too strict, but at least they have the good sense of never letting us do something like this, and drilling it into our heads what exactly qualifies as plain stupidity and ignorance.
I just, I don't even want to write this review any more, I was so disappointed. How does a woman even do this!?! I am bewildered. I get that the author might have had this plan of making it super obvious for some reason, like showing you exactly how stupid you were going to be if you ever fell for something even remotely like this, like overdramatising something to make a point, but it just annoyed me to hell and back. no, to Alpha Centauri and back. Actually, to the edge of the known universe and back.
And like, even if you ignore all of that, suddenly there's this new love interest who's supposedly been here all along, (I actually feel sorry for the guy), and supposedly the MC has had feelings for him 'all along', and I'm like WHEN. WHEN THE HELL WERE THESE FEELINGS EVER THERE. THEY WERE NOT. THESE FEELINGS DEVELOPED MAGICALLY.
And even if you ignore even that aspect, the supposed 'romance that was waiting for her all along' or some shit has like two chapters to develop. What the hell. I just, I was so done by this book by then, that even if the ending was good, I was just feeling too irritated to care.
I will say this, the author definitely has potential, the writing was intriguing, when it was not too whimsical and out of this world ignorant, that is, and I did enjoy the beginning of this.
Which reminds me, Sian is such a bad friend. Like the worst of the worst. I don't even know why the MC is still friends with her, but she is. I just hated her. If I had a friend like Sian, I would immediately cut ties. IMMEDIATELY. What kind of friend doesn't look out for their friends and knowingly dupes them like this!?
That's it. I just don't want to think about this anymore. I would only recommend this to people looking for a light-hearted, or rather too light-hearted, extremely unrealistic somewhat rom-com, and would not mind easily duped MCs.
I received a free e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is 2.5 stars, rounded down.
I would honestly have given this 3 stars were it not for the absolute disgust and disappointment I felt regarding the MC.
I wanted to rant about this book so bad. So, naturally, I went and spent 5 hours on youtube watching videos.
Anyways, getting back to the point, I just didn't like this. The MC is supposed to be a woman in her 50s, but I can't honestly in good faith believe that any woman would be this gullible. Like, it was so obvious she was being taken advantage of (avoiding spoilers by using slightly vague and misguiding phrases? check!). It was so obvious that someone who had never even read a single case of people being scammed would have realised what exactly was going on.
It was so obviou—okay we're getting off track, but I hope you get the point.
It wasn't even a plot twist, it was so obvious. Who on earth gives their bank details to someone they have met once, twenty or so years back, for five freaking minutes, and then ignores an overdrawn email!? On that note, who gives children access to credit card details, enough for them to be able to overdraw!? Now, you might say my parents are too strict, but at least they have the good sense of never letting us do something like this, and drilling it into our heads what exactly qualifies as plain stupidity and ignorance.
I just, I don't even want to write this review any more, I was so disappointed. How does a woman even do this!?! I am bewildered. I get that the author might have had this plan of making it super obvious for some reason, like showing you exactly how stupid you were going to be if you ever fell for something even remotely like this, like overdramatising something to make a point, but it just annoyed me to hell and back. no, to Alpha Centauri and back. Actually, to the edge of the known universe and back.
And like, even if you ignore all of that, suddenly there's this new love interest who's supposedly been here all along, (I actually feel sorry for the guy), and supposedly the MC has had feelings for him 'all along', and I'm like WHEN. WHEN THE HELL WERE THESE FEELINGS EVER THERE. THEY WERE NOT. THESE FEELINGS DEVELOPED MAGICALLY.
And even if you ignore even that aspect, the supposed 'romance that was waiting for her all along' or some shit has like two chapters to develop. What the hell. I just, I was so done by this book by then, that even if the ending was good, I was just feeling too irritated to care.
I will say this, the author definitely has potential, the writing was intriguing, when it was not too whimsical and out of this world ignorant, that is, and I did enjoy the beginning of this.
Which reminds me, Sian is such a bad friend. Like the worst of the worst. I don't even know why the MC is still friends with her, but she is. I just hated her. If I had a friend like Sian, I would immediately cut ties. IMMEDIATELY. What kind of friend doesn't look out for their friends and knowingly dupes them like this!?
That's it. I just don't want to think about this anymore. I would only recommend this to people looking for a light-hearted, or rather too light-hearted, extremely unrealistic somewhat rom-com, and would not mind easily duped MCs.
June 26, 2021
3.5☆ A Fun, Light Hearted Rom Com.
Twice In A Lifetime is a fun read with a second chance romance kinda feel.
Amelia isn't quiet ready to jump into the dating pool again after a bitter divorce, but with some persuasion from best friend Sian she's about to take the Plunge.
But Plunge might be a bit of an understatement, she's about to track down Patrick, the one Amelia believes could of been the ' One ' except she hasn't seen him for many years and he lives no where near her.
So Amelia sets off on an adventure of a lifetime, but is love on the cards?
Is Patrick who he claims to be?
Can Amelia let her hair down and have some fun! Is Love really staring right at her!
From the first few chapters I enjoyed the little glimpses of humour between best friends. I always enjoy books that feature strong friendship bonds and this book definitely had that covered!
The only lil niggle was that Amelia, Sian and Jamie at times felt somewhat immature which came across at times as a little irritating.
Twice In A Lifetime is definitely a story about Friendships, self discovery, second chances, loss, grief, and finding romance.
I enjoyed the light hearted side of this book and at times it felt like a rom com more than a women’s fiction.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources and Hera Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
Twice In A Lifetime is a fun read with a second chance romance kinda feel.
Amelia isn't quiet ready to jump into the dating pool again after a bitter divorce, but with some persuasion from best friend Sian she's about to take the Plunge.
But Plunge might be a bit of an understatement, she's about to track down Patrick, the one Amelia believes could of been the ' One ' except she hasn't seen him for many years and he lives no where near her.
So Amelia sets off on an adventure of a lifetime, but is love on the cards?
Is Patrick who he claims to be?
Can Amelia let her hair down and have some fun! Is Love really staring right at her!
From the first few chapters I enjoyed the little glimpses of humour between best friends. I always enjoy books that feature strong friendship bonds and this book definitely had that covered!
The only lil niggle was that Amelia, Sian and Jamie at times felt somewhat immature which came across at times as a little irritating.
Twice In A Lifetime is definitely a story about Friendships, self discovery, second chances, loss, grief, and finding romance.
I enjoyed the light hearted side of this book and at times it felt like a rom com more than a women’s fiction.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources and Hera Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
June 29, 2021
I could easily have read this in one sitting. From the first page, I was drawn to Amelia’s character and chuckled at Jensen’s narrative. For a debut novel, this was a great read and I cannot wait to see what Jensen releases next.
Meet Amelia: she is down on her luck with struggling to accept her ex-husband is moving on with ‘Tarty Tanja’, leaving her lonely and disappointed with life. Reminiscing back to a chance encounter in a New York taxi leads to her best friend, Sian, sending out a social media message to reunite Amelia with ‘Perfect Patrick’. It all seems to good to be true when Patrick reconnects and eventually Amelia flies out to America to reunite with her missed opportunity. After all, Patrick seemed perfect in that tiny encounter so many years ago, so why not make a go of it again, now that she is single?
Of course, these things never go to plan. From the beginning, I was suspicious of Patrick (what can I say? Maybe I am a little distrustful of the male species!) and felt protective of Amelia. I wanted her to be happy but I didn’t want Patrick to hurt her. In some ways, he seemed too good to be true: protective, caring and desperately in love with her. However, I couldn’t help but judge his behaviour and that Amelia was a little too accepting of his justifications.
On the other hand, Amelia is accompanied to America by her best friend, Jamie. He is attending conferences for work and the two meet up when Amelia cannot be with Patrick. I love Jamie’s friendship and he seems such a kind character. Looking out for Amelia to ensure she is not hurt, I was rooting for Jamie to find his own happiness, especially after he is dumped by Miserable Megan.
Although the plot was a little predictable, I loved watching the events unfold. I found I was chuckling a lot throughout the story and could not wait to see how Amelia and Patrick’s relationship would develop. Furthermore, when Amelia returns home to Wales, I was really keen to watch how Amelia would settle after her whirlwind connection with Patrick. When Patrick visits Amelia, I was interested to see whether this would lead to wedding bells with her Perfect Patrick after all?
This is a great romantic read that takes you from the Welsh hills to the glamour of New York. I am sure there are many qualities of Amelia’s that readers can relate to, from the lack of love life to body insecurities. I found her ease at trusting strangers a bit too concerning, but this is definitely a book that needs to be taken light-heartedly.
I loved Amelia’s character in the end and wonder whether the writer will product a follow-up to see how Amelia and her friends fare in the future. It was a read that had me smiling throughout and sometimes, that is just what we need.
With thanks to Hera books and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Meet Amelia: she is down on her luck with struggling to accept her ex-husband is moving on with ‘Tarty Tanja’, leaving her lonely and disappointed with life. Reminiscing back to a chance encounter in a New York taxi leads to her best friend, Sian, sending out a social media message to reunite Amelia with ‘Perfect Patrick’. It all seems to good to be true when Patrick reconnects and eventually Amelia flies out to America to reunite with her missed opportunity. After all, Patrick seemed perfect in that tiny encounter so many years ago, so why not make a go of it again, now that she is single?
Of course, these things never go to plan. From the beginning, I was suspicious of Patrick (what can I say? Maybe I am a little distrustful of the male species!) and felt protective of Amelia. I wanted her to be happy but I didn’t want Patrick to hurt her. In some ways, he seemed too good to be true: protective, caring and desperately in love with her. However, I couldn’t help but judge his behaviour and that Amelia was a little too accepting of his justifications.
On the other hand, Amelia is accompanied to America by her best friend, Jamie. He is attending conferences for work and the two meet up when Amelia cannot be with Patrick. I love Jamie’s friendship and he seems such a kind character. Looking out for Amelia to ensure she is not hurt, I was rooting for Jamie to find his own happiness, especially after he is dumped by Miserable Megan.
Although the plot was a little predictable, I loved watching the events unfold. I found I was chuckling a lot throughout the story and could not wait to see how Amelia and Patrick’s relationship would develop. Furthermore, when Amelia returns home to Wales, I was really keen to watch how Amelia would settle after her whirlwind connection with Patrick. When Patrick visits Amelia, I was interested to see whether this would lead to wedding bells with her Perfect Patrick after all?
This is a great romantic read that takes you from the Welsh hills to the glamour of New York. I am sure there are many qualities of Amelia’s that readers can relate to, from the lack of love life to body insecurities. I found her ease at trusting strangers a bit too concerning, but this is definitely a book that needs to be taken light-heartedly.
I loved Amelia’s character in the end and wonder whether the writer will product a follow-up to see how Amelia and her friends fare in the future. It was a read that had me smiling throughout and sometimes, that is just what we need.
With thanks to Hera books and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2021
When you read the synopsis of this book, you are expecting to be swept away into an uplifting, funny romance novel. Unfortunately, this book fell very short of that for me. There wasn't much that I actually enjoyed about this book.
The writing style: Some of the sentences(context and structure) are just poorly written and feel very immature. As I was reading it, a lot of the dialogue felt fake-I could not imagine a middle-aged woman making some of the statements she was making in the book and made it feel very un-authentic.
The characters: Most of the characters were miserable. Amelia was stuck in a rut(understandably slow) but she makes no effort in the book to do something to make herself happy. There does not always need to be a man to rescue you to make yourself happy. Amelia mentions so much throughout the book-becoming a nurse, joining a running club, but all you see is her worried about finding a man. Sian is the absolute worst. From the beginning, I couldn't stand her and her desire to control the situation. And then there's Patrick...that's a whole topic full of spoilers there but again, just the way his character was written and the dialogue was again not something you'd expect from a middle-aged man. He kept "saying" phrases like "my beautiful princess" "Is my beautiful Amelia happy too"...and just yuck.
The plot holes/red flags(without trying to spoil too much): I don't know how Amelia could not see a million things wrong with the situation she was entering. As you're reading it you are just like "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?". There is also a huge plot hole with the timeline and weddings that didn't sit well with me.
**Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
The writing style: Some of the sentences(context and structure) are just poorly written and feel very immature. As I was reading it, a lot of the dialogue felt fake-I could not imagine a middle-aged woman making some of the statements she was making in the book and made it feel very un-authentic.
The characters: Most of the characters were miserable. Amelia was stuck in a rut(understandably slow) but she makes no effort in the book to do something to make herself happy. There does not always need to be a man to rescue you to make yourself happy. Amelia mentions so much throughout the book-becoming a nurse, joining a running club, but all you see is her worried about finding a man. Sian is the absolute worst. From the beginning, I couldn't stand her and her desire to control the situation. And then there's Patrick...that's a whole topic full of spoilers there but again, just the way his character was written and the dialogue was again not something you'd expect from a middle-aged man. He kept "saying" phrases like "my beautiful princess" "Is my beautiful Amelia happy too"...and just yuck.
The plot holes/red flags(without trying to spoil too much): I don't know how Amelia could not see a million things wrong with the situation she was entering. As you're reading it you are just like "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?". There is also a huge plot hole with the timeline and weddings that didn't sit well with me.
**Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
April 29, 2021
Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review..
Once In a lifetime was such a cute read I read it in one sitting. This book had me smiling I will be doing a pre-order. 5 stars
Happy Reading
Lisa
Once In a lifetime was such a cute read I read it in one sitting. This book had me smiling I will be doing a pre-order. 5 stars
Happy Reading
Lisa
September 12, 2022
------NO SPOILERS------
The first time that I saw this book, I felt the need to get it. The cover was very appealing to me and the information on the back piqued my interest. The plot sounded different that other plots found in romance books that seem to always start and end the same way. I had a lot of hopes going into the books with high expectations.
This book is about a newly divorced woman, Amelia Simpson. Whilst sorting through her deceased mothers attic, she finds a suitcase with many records from her days as a teen. She also finds a piece of paper with a number written down. Surprised, Amelia forgot that she had kept the number of a very handsome man that she met whilst in New York years ago, in front of Tiffany's, whilst exiting a cab. Now divorced and quite lonely, Amelia and her bestfriend Sian want to find this man, who they refer to as "Perfect Patrick", once again for a chance of a new relationship after many years lost between them.
When I started reading this, I thought that I would be reading a funny rom-com. I was very wrong! It took about 100 pages for the plot to actually start. I feel like it kept dragging on for the sake of more pages. The character were horribly described and written. The main character is supposed to be in her late 40's but acts very stupid in my opinion. You would think that a woman going into her 50's, who is supposed to be experienced in life by now, would not fall for one of the biggest scams on the internet! If I didn't know that she was 48 I would have thought that she was starting her teen years in the beginning of the book. Her supposed to be bestfriend, Sian is VERY petty. If it wasn't for her Amelia would have never ended up looking this pathetic but she is probably one of the best characters in the entire book. I gave this book 2 stars and not 1 because I actually enjoyed how it ended, although it was a bit predictable.
I would not recommend this book. It had potential but was poorly written. I really tried to enjoy it but could not. The fact that whatever happened in the book, felt very forced does not make it better.
The first time that I saw this book, I felt the need to get it. The cover was very appealing to me and the information on the back piqued my interest. The plot sounded different that other plots found in romance books that seem to always start and end the same way. I had a lot of hopes going into the books with high expectations.
This book is about a newly divorced woman, Amelia Simpson. Whilst sorting through her deceased mothers attic, she finds a suitcase with many records from her days as a teen. She also finds a piece of paper with a number written down. Surprised, Amelia forgot that she had kept the number of a very handsome man that she met whilst in New York years ago, in front of Tiffany's, whilst exiting a cab. Now divorced and quite lonely, Amelia and her bestfriend Sian want to find this man, who they refer to as "Perfect Patrick", once again for a chance of a new relationship after many years lost between them.
When I started reading this, I thought that I would be reading a funny rom-com. I was very wrong! It took about 100 pages for the plot to actually start. I feel like it kept dragging on for the sake of more pages. The character were horribly described and written. The main character is supposed to be in her late 40's but acts very stupid in my opinion. You would think that a woman going into her 50's, who is supposed to be experienced in life by now, would not fall for one of the biggest scams on the internet! If I didn't know that she was 48 I would have thought that she was starting her teen years in the beginning of the book. Her supposed to be bestfriend, Sian is VERY petty. If it wasn't for her Amelia would have never ended up looking this pathetic but she is probably one of the best characters in the entire book. I gave this book 2 stars and not 1 because I actually enjoyed how it ended, although it was a bit predictable.
I would not recommend this book. It had potential but was poorly written. I really tried to enjoy it but could not. The fact that whatever happened in the book, felt very forced does not make it better.
June 23, 2021
Wow just wow. I read this in one sitting I couldn't put it down. Right from chapter one I was hooked all the way through to the end I highly recommend everyone to pre-order this book.
It's funny, cute and romantic and that twist. 😮What more can you ask for?
I want to go more into detail but don't want to spoil it for you.
Go pre-order now you won't regret it. 😁
It's funny, cute and romantic and that twist. 😮What more can you ask for?
I want to go more into detail but don't want to spoil it for you.
Go pre-order now you won't regret it. 😁
June 24, 2021
If there’s one thing that I like doing it’s discovering new authors. Helga Jensen is certainly a new author for me but I will certainly be reading her work again. I read the synopsis for ‘Twice In A Lifetime’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of light hearted and fun read that I was looking for. So without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for a fun afternoon of reading.
It took me next to no time to get into ‘Twice In A Lifetime’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to be in for a treat. Reading ‘Twice In A Lifetime’ became seriously addictive. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd half hour but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over an hour and many chapters later. I was addicted to the story and the characters. This book travelled everywhere with me as I couldn’t bear to be apart from it for long at all. ‘Twice In A Lifetime’ was one of those books that made me chuckle from the start and the chuckling didn’t stop for the duration of the story. Just the tonic I needed.
‘Twice In A Lifetime’ is well written. Helga has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading this book felt more like a chat between friends than an actual story. I hope that makes sense. I loved the way in which Helga has created truly likeable characters in Amelia and her best friends Sian and Jamie. Sian does get a bit full on and irritating at times but I think she means well. I love the way in which Helga makes the reader feel part of the story themselves and at the centre of the action. That’s how I feel at any rate.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Twice In a Lifetime’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Helga’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
It took me next to no time to get into ‘Twice In A Lifetime’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to be in for a treat. Reading ‘Twice In A Lifetime’ became seriously addictive. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd half hour but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading over an hour and many chapters later. I was addicted to the story and the characters. This book travelled everywhere with me as I couldn’t bear to be apart from it for long at all. ‘Twice In A Lifetime’ was one of those books that made me chuckle from the start and the chuckling didn’t stop for the duration of the story. Just the tonic I needed.
‘Twice In A Lifetime’ is well written. Helga has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading this book felt more like a chat between friends than an actual story. I hope that makes sense. I loved the way in which Helga has created truly likeable characters in Amelia and her best friends Sian and Jamie. Sian does get a bit full on and irritating at times but I think she means well. I love the way in which Helga makes the reader feel part of the story themselves and at the centre of the action. That’s how I feel at any rate.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Twice In a Lifetime’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Helga’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
January 17, 2023
Divorced with twins. Her ex husband Richard (Dick) is now with Tanja Tart. Amelia sets out to find a guy she met once when getting out a yellow cab in New York. Just while all the time the guy she should be with his right under her nose.
Patrick or Rudolph whatever he wants to call himself. I had such a bad feeling about him a little like Jamie. Sian was quite an annoying character to me. Amelia could be at times but she was good with her boys and Jamie.
It was quite predictable to me with Patrick and Jamie. With Jamie in a good way. I just wanted to shove them together since your future husband is in New York. It took a long time to get together.
Jamie however would get 5 stars. Not just for his reaction on the plane they should not even have been on
Patrick or Rudolph whatever he wants to call himself. I had such a bad feeling about him a little like Jamie. Sian was quite an annoying character to me. Amelia could be at times but she was good with her boys and Jamie.
It was quite predictable to me with Patrick and Jamie. With Jamie in a good way. I just wanted to shove them together since your future husband is in New York. It took a long time to get together.
Jamie however would get 5 stars. Not just for his reaction on the plane they should not even have been on
January 19, 2023
This was a bit ridiculous. I found the story quite predictable which I don’t normally mind with contemporary fiction, but some of the later ‘revelations’ were really obvious early on, and I’m reading it all wondering why the main character was written to be just so gullible, and daft. It’s a little insulting to women. There were some nice moments of comedy and the overall writing style reminded me of Sophie Kinsella, though nowhere near as strong, and the similarity ends there. The story was just strange.
I got more frustrated as the story went along, lots of daft moments with the other characters and the main character just not having any sense about her. Everyone seemed to be a little immature and acting in a way no normal person would. It was just daft.
Nope.
I got more frustrated as the story went along, lots of daft moments with the other characters and the main character just not having any sense about her. Everyone seemed to be a little immature and acting in a way no normal person would. It was just daft.
Nope.
July 16, 2021
First time for me to read a book by Helga Jensen and I am happy I did! I really enjoyed "Twice in a Lifetime"!!! this book is a page-turner! You won't be bored when reading it! This story will bring you to beautiful and magical New York City and is all about finding love again, maybe even giving a second chance to relationship that could have happened but never did! But this book is so much more than just romance! Once you will read this, you will think twice when trying to find love on the internet! Very very entertaining book that I recommend to you!!!!
March 8, 2022
I did enjoy reading this book but it was sooo predictable. I could guess what was going to happen before it did!
June 26, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review - Twice in a Lifetime - Helga Jensen
This review has been made possible thanks to @NetGalley and Hera Books for providing me with an Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is about missed chances between Amelia and Patrick, who she met on a trip to New York 20 years ago but lost his number. After her divorce, her friend Sian posts online about her fateful meeting and it goes viral, with someone who fits the description reaching out. Patrick and Amelia meet up in New York with her friends’ blessings while her sons are in Disneyland with their father and stepmother. When things start not adding up, will that fateful meeting lead them both to true love? Or will it have been a fluke?
I have to say I was really keen on the premise of the book. I loved the idea that these two had missed their chance 20 years ago and could reconnect again now. The writing flowed well and the pacing was really good. Unfortunately though, it felt a bit unrefined, the characters felt like tropes instead of individuals. I really didn’t like the main character, Amelia, and how she complained about every little thing. She really didn’t have her life together and she lacked some self-respect to stand up for herself. The dialogue in the text messages, while a nice touch to convey the long distance relationship, sounded very juvenile with an absurd amount of xXx kisses at the end of each message that I’m certain no American man would use. It didn’t read as realistic in those parts and kind of took me out of the story.
I’d recommend this to a lover of women’s fiction, likely your mum or aunt, as an good beach read this summer.
This review has been made possible thanks to @NetGalley and Hera Books for providing me with an Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is about missed chances between Amelia and Patrick, who she met on a trip to New York 20 years ago but lost his number. After her divorce, her friend Sian posts online about her fateful meeting and it goes viral, with someone who fits the description reaching out. Patrick and Amelia meet up in New York with her friends’ blessings while her sons are in Disneyland with their father and stepmother. When things start not adding up, will that fateful meeting lead them both to true love? Or will it have been a fluke?
I have to say I was really keen on the premise of the book. I loved the idea that these two had missed their chance 20 years ago and could reconnect again now. The writing flowed well and the pacing was really good. Unfortunately though, it felt a bit unrefined, the characters felt like tropes instead of individuals. I really didn’t like the main character, Amelia, and how she complained about every little thing. She really didn’t have her life together and she lacked some self-respect to stand up for herself. The dialogue in the text messages, while a nice touch to convey the long distance relationship, sounded very juvenile with an absurd amount of xXx kisses at the end of each message that I’m certain no American man would use. It didn’t read as realistic in those parts and kind of took me out of the story.
I’d recommend this to a lover of women’s fiction, likely your mum or aunt, as an good beach read this summer.
September 10, 2021
Thank you netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and write an honest review.
I loved the cover which made me pick up this book and give it a try without reading the synopsis. I wasn't disappointed at all. I liked that the characters a little older as that doesn't seem to be as common and the idea of second chances. There was a lot we could all relate to in this book. Good and quick book to read. Definitely will read more by this author.
I loved the cover which made me pick up this book and give it a try without reading the synopsis. I wasn't disappointed at all. I liked that the characters a little older as that doesn't seem to be as common and the idea of second chances. There was a lot we could all relate to in this book. Good and quick book to read. Definitely will read more by this author.
September 22, 2023
Great book, I really enjoyed it.
April 25, 2022
Adored this novel. Amelia is a funny and charming heroine who gets herself tangled up in a seemingly too good to be true romance. An absolute joy to read.
May 3, 2021
Amelia, Sian and Jamie have been friends for years, all have been married but aren't anymore, and they know each other well. So when Amelia embarks on a quest to track down Patrick, a gorgeous man she met for just a few minutes twenty years ago in New York, they are there to support and protect her all the way, especially when it becomes clear that Perfect Patrick has secrets and may not be so perfect after all. My only problem is that these characters all come across as early to mid thirties but they are actually mid to late forties. That just didn't ring true to me so I had to deduct a star.
June 19, 2021
I was hooked by the synopsis but some parts fell short in reality. I did not like some of the dialogue as it seemed immature and unrealistic. I thought the family dynamic was good.
Thanks to Helga Jensen, Hera Books and Rachel's Random Resources for an honest and voluntary review.
3.5 stars
Thanks to Helga Jensen, Hera Books and Rachel's Random Resources for an honest and voluntary review.
3.5 stars
June 29, 2021
In Twice in a Lifetime, Amelia’s life is turned upside down when she discovers that her husband, Richard (“Dick”) has been cheating on her with an old friend from his university days, Tanja. At 45-years-old with her twin 8-year-old boys, Jasper and Rupert, Amelia did not expect that she would be starting over. Now that she is a single mother, she has to adjust to her new life. She is very relatable when it comes to her boys spending time with her and their father, such as comparing money. Richard makes more money and can buy more for the boys, so Amelia has moments of doubt about her own finances, as she cannot spend the same amount on them. She is not always put together, so she cannot help but compare herself to Tanja, who is her opposite. It is very relatable and realistic.
After cleaning out a box, she discovers a forgotten piece of paper from her trip to New York 20 years ago. It has the name, Patrick and a phone number from their meet cute in front of Tiffany’s. When she discusses it with her best friends, Sian and Jaime, Sian takes it upon herself to post an ad all over social media to create a viral campaign to find Patrick and reunite him with Amelia. A person claiming to be Patrick reaches out to her and seems to remember their meeting and the two of them start talking. Eventually, Amelia agrees to go to New York with Jaime in tow, who is along for his own trip for a work conference. Now Amelia finally gets to find out what could have been if she took the chance on Patrick all those years ago.
I love the concept of this story as I always find it fun to find out what people from the past have been up to since they last saw them. The part that I did not like was Sian, who has some serious boundary issues. Some people might not take issue with her, but I just did not connect and immensely disliked her. As for Jaime, I loved him as he may not have agreed with some of the choices Amelia made, but he was there as a support. He gave his opinion on different matters, but he never forced them on Amelia. Now Amelia is a mixed bag of a character. She is incredibly naïve, however, I debated if it comes as a result of the separation or if this is trait prior to the event. If the former, I could understand as she was incredibly desperate to find a chance at being desirable again and to feel like she was enough, considering that she was very broken hearted knowing her husband left her for someone else. There were numerous decisions that she made that are red flags to someone who is not blinded by a situation, but the one that was hardest to get over is her introducing her children to Patrick very early on. Although it made sense for the sake of the story, it was a disagreeable moment for me.
Overall, this was a very light-hearted romcom story. Amelia was relatable and a character that you wanted to root for, even if she made questionable choices. I loved her undying love for her sons. Towards the end of the story that seems to come out of nowhere and I wish that it was at least brought up or hinted at earlier on in the story. This story was an interesting thought experiment as I started to wonder how I would approach Amelia’s journey if I was her age and situation. Considering I have a terrible memory and do not remember people I met a week ago, I’m not quite sure I would ever be in a place where I could reconnect with someone 20 years ago, but it was an interesting thought experiment nonetheless.
**I give a special thank you to Rachel @rararesources, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to participate with this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
After cleaning out a box, she discovers a forgotten piece of paper from her trip to New York 20 years ago. It has the name, Patrick and a phone number from their meet cute in front of Tiffany’s. When she discusses it with her best friends, Sian and Jaime, Sian takes it upon herself to post an ad all over social media to create a viral campaign to find Patrick and reunite him with Amelia. A person claiming to be Patrick reaches out to her and seems to remember their meeting and the two of them start talking. Eventually, Amelia agrees to go to New York with Jaime in tow, who is along for his own trip for a work conference. Now Amelia finally gets to find out what could have been if she took the chance on Patrick all those years ago.
I love the concept of this story as I always find it fun to find out what people from the past have been up to since they last saw them. The part that I did not like was Sian, who has some serious boundary issues. Some people might not take issue with her, but I just did not connect and immensely disliked her. As for Jaime, I loved him as he may not have agreed with some of the choices Amelia made, but he was there as a support. He gave his opinion on different matters, but he never forced them on Amelia. Now Amelia is a mixed bag of a character. She is incredibly naïve, however, I debated if it comes as a result of the separation or if this is trait prior to the event. If the former, I could understand as she was incredibly desperate to find a chance at being desirable again and to feel like she was enough, considering that she was very broken hearted knowing her husband left her for someone else. There were numerous decisions that she made that are red flags to someone who is not blinded by a situation, but the one that was hardest to get over is her introducing her children to Patrick very early on. Although it made sense for the sake of the story, it was a disagreeable moment for me.
Overall, this was a very light-hearted romcom story. Amelia was relatable and a character that you wanted to root for, even if she made questionable choices. I loved her undying love for her sons. Towards the end of the story that seems to come out of nowhere and I wish that it was at least brought up or hinted at earlier on in the story. This story was an interesting thought experiment as I started to wonder how I would approach Amelia’s journey if I was her age and situation. Considering I have a terrible memory and do not remember people I met a week ago, I’m not quite sure I would ever be in a place where I could reconnect with someone 20 years ago, but it was an interesting thought experiment nonetheless.
**I give a special thank you to Rachel @rararesources, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to participate with this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
May 21, 2021
Amelia is a middle-aged, recently divorced mom of 8 year old twin boys. Her cheating ex-husband (Dick) is planning on marrying his mistress (“Tanja Tart”) which sends her into a tailspin. So much so that she spent practically the entire book bitterly complaining about how horrible they both are. The name “Tanja Tart” was mentioned so many times that it started to drive me crazy. Instead of relying on herself for personal happiness, Amelia seeks out a man she met in New York 20 years prior in hopes that she’d see how different her life would’ve been if she called him back 2 decades ago instead of settling.
If you’re like me and you like to view the contents to see how many chapters are in the book, don’t. The titles accompanied with each chapter number pretty much reveals the entire plot of the story
What I liked:
.......
What I didn’t like:
Amelia. I just couldn’t connect with her at all. She was constantly complaining, playing the victim, comparing herself to other women and blaming everyone else for her lack of happiness. She stayed justifying her stupidity by convincing herself she was doing it for someone else. (I only said yes because I was so distracted by helping a customer that I hadn’t read the message properly, etc.) I refuse to believe a 48 year old woman is so gullible and naive and succumbs to peer pressure so easily.
Sian (Amelia’s best friend)... Sian was a TERRIBLE friend. She was extremely pushy and invasive and constantly overstepped the bounds. NO MEANS NO not ‘convince me to say yes’ or worse, ‘do it now and ask for forgiveness later.’ She allowed her ‘best friend’ to stay in a sucky and potentially dangerous situation because she was afraid to admit she was wrong...
There was a chapter where Amelia went to a spa and the therapist was “Eastern European.” I found it a little problematic due to the fact that most of her dialogue was intentionally grammatically incorrect and the w’s were replaced with v’s... “I see vat I can do”... “Ve have a special”... as a person of color, it definitely felt like mocking.
I couldn’t get over the fact that “ha” was written into the dialogue numerous times. Or how each text message practically ended in “xxxxxx.” I can’t recall a time I’ve ever heard someone verbally say “ha” in everyday life; only on the internet/ through text. There was also another instance where Amelia was speaking on the phone and literally said “omg.” It’s hard to believe a 48 year old woman would VERBALLY speak in text talk.
Overall, I wasn’t a huge fan of the book. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and felt absolutely no chemistry within any of the pairings or even the friendships honestly. While the author appears to be a talented writer, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone in my social circle but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is older or more mature. I’m sure my grandma would enjoy this book.
*** I received a free ebook from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re like me and you like to view the contents to see how many chapters are in the book, don’t. The titles accompanied with each chapter number pretty much reveals the entire plot of the story
What I liked:
.......
What I didn’t like:
Amelia. I just couldn’t connect with her at all. She was constantly complaining, playing the victim, comparing herself to other women and blaming everyone else for her lack of happiness. She stayed justifying her stupidity by convincing herself she was doing it for someone else. (I only said yes because I was so distracted by helping a customer that I hadn’t read the message properly, etc.) I refuse to believe a 48 year old woman is so gullible and naive and succumbs to peer pressure so easily.
Sian (Amelia’s best friend)... Sian was a TERRIBLE friend. She was extremely pushy and invasive and constantly overstepped the bounds. NO MEANS NO not ‘convince me to say yes’ or worse, ‘do it now and ask for forgiveness later.’ She allowed her ‘best friend’ to stay in a sucky and potentially dangerous situation because she was afraid to admit she was wrong...
There was a chapter where Amelia went to a spa and the therapist was “Eastern European.” I found it a little problematic due to the fact that most of her dialogue was intentionally grammatically incorrect and the w’s were replaced with v’s... “I see vat I can do”... “Ve have a special”... as a person of color, it definitely felt like mocking.
I couldn’t get over the fact that “ha” was written into the dialogue numerous times. Or how each text message practically ended in “xxxxxx.” I can’t recall a time I’ve ever heard someone verbally say “ha” in everyday life; only on the internet/ through text. There was also another instance where Amelia was speaking on the phone and literally said “omg.” It’s hard to believe a 48 year old woman would VERBALLY speak in text talk.
Overall, I wasn’t a huge fan of the book. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and felt absolutely no chemistry within any of the pairings or even the friendships honestly. While the author appears to be a talented writer, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone in my social circle but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is older or more mature. I’m sure my grandma would enjoy this book.
*** I received a free ebook from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2021
I got an ARC copy for an honest review.
Let me start by saying that this book was not for me.
The story was very confusing to follow along. I felt like I was thrown in the middle of a story as if I’m already supposed to know everyone mentioned and I got quite lost .
The story being about a woman who had recently been divorced was beautifully written, until it wasn’t anymore. There was more descriptions about her inner monologue than actual action scenes.
All the characters were so thinly built that I felt no connection with any of them. Everything became so immature and I started skipping ahead wanting to get to something good.
How they rolled out looking for Patrick was creepy and unrealistic. There was no connection between them 20 years prior and yet they obsessively searched for someone. Then the way that relationship Developed gave me the creeps.
Im not sure what I just read - I still can’t wrap
My head around it - but for me , it was not good.
Let me start by saying that this book was not for me.
The story was very confusing to follow along. I felt like I was thrown in the middle of a story as if I’m already supposed to know everyone mentioned and I got quite lost .
The story being about a woman who had recently been divorced was beautifully written, until it wasn’t anymore. There was more descriptions about her inner monologue than actual action scenes.
All the characters were so thinly built that I felt no connection with any of them. Everything became so immature and I started skipping ahead wanting to get to something good.
How they rolled out looking for Patrick was creepy and unrealistic. There was no connection between them 20 years prior and yet they obsessively searched for someone. Then the way that relationship Developed gave me the creeps.
Im not sure what I just read - I still can’t wrap
My head around it - but for me , it was not good.
April 8, 2024
probably the worst book i’ve ever read. not a single likeable character, main character is an absolute idiot. couldn’t wait to finish it just so i can read an actually good book again.
also, you’d think the author or editor would do some research and get the plot of chicago right when describing it. pissed me off how can you get that wrong too
also, you’d think the author or editor would do some research and get the plot of chicago right when describing it. pissed me off how can you get that wrong too
May 7, 2021
***3.5 Stars***
20 years ago and thousands of miles away from her home in Wales, Amelia had what could have been a meet-cute with a perfectly mysterious stranger. Now, recently divorced from her ex-husband and ready to fall in love again, she and her best friend Sian attempt to reconnect with the one that got away, armed only with his 20-year-old phone number, his first name, and the power of social media. As Amelia travels back to New York to meet him in person, accompanied by her best friend Jamie, she's in for the adventure of a lifetime.
Overall, this was a light and fluffy rom com, filled with unpredictably predictable twists and turns and a Serendipity-esque tone. A cute story, I loved Jamie as well as the boys' shenanigans and am now really intrigued about wine with lemonade...I'm a sucker for quite a few of the tropes that popped up along the way (no spoilers!) and was super excited about the premise and set-up of the story.
I did, however, have a few qualms and hang-ups, largely pertaining to character attitudes. I felt that the protagonist and her friends seemed much younger than 48 (calling each other "bestie," saying "omg" out loud, the general naivete in their treatment of strangers, etc.), and Perfect Patrick didn't feel like a middle-aged New York man with the sheer number of "xxxx"s in his texts, which to me read as more European, younger, and feminine. Similarly, and on a more minor scale, I found the timeline of the story difficult to situate (though the 20 years ago is explicitly described as 2000, the Club Penguin reference and the DVDs make what should be 2020 feel more like the early 2010s), and I know the Disney in Florida is "Disney World," not "Disneyland," though I'm not sure if those interpretations might be different outside of America, or if an older reader would run into the same blocks there as I did. I'm sure there are people in other demographics who would fall for this book, but for me, these aspects somewhat compromised the authenticity and coherence in character voices and world building.
Many thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
20 years ago and thousands of miles away from her home in Wales, Amelia had what could have been a meet-cute with a perfectly mysterious stranger. Now, recently divorced from her ex-husband and ready to fall in love again, she and her best friend Sian attempt to reconnect with the one that got away, armed only with his 20-year-old phone number, his first name, and the power of social media. As Amelia travels back to New York to meet him in person, accompanied by her best friend Jamie, she's in for the adventure of a lifetime.
Overall, this was a light and fluffy rom com, filled with unpredictably predictable twists and turns and a Serendipity-esque tone. A cute story, I loved Jamie as well as the boys' shenanigans and am now really intrigued about wine with lemonade...I'm a sucker for quite a few of the tropes that popped up along the way (no spoilers!) and was super excited about the premise and set-up of the story.
I did, however, have a few qualms and hang-ups, largely pertaining to character attitudes. I felt that the protagonist and her friends seemed much younger than 48 (calling each other "bestie," saying "omg" out loud, the general naivete in their treatment of strangers, etc.), and Perfect Patrick didn't feel like a middle-aged New York man with the sheer number of "xxxx"s in his texts, which to me read as more European, younger, and feminine. Similarly, and on a more minor scale, I found the timeline of the story difficult to situate (though the 20 years ago is explicitly described as 2000, the Club Penguin reference and the DVDs make what should be 2020 feel more like the early 2010s), and I know the Disney in Florida is "Disney World," not "Disneyland," though I'm not sure if those interpretations might be different outside of America, or if an older reader would run into the same blocks there as I did. I'm sure there are people in other demographics who would fall for this book, but for me, these aspects somewhat compromised the authenticity and coherence in character voices and world building.
Many thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
June 25, 2021
**Spoilers** I don't think I can say what I need to say without spoilers.
Summary: After her husband left her out of the blue, Amelia needs some magic back in her life – but magic seems in short supply in her small Welsh town. So when she finds the phone number that was given to her twenty years ago by a handsome stranger in New York, Amelia wonders whether he might be The One That Got Away.
Amelia's meddling friend Sian does everything she can to help her find this mystery stranger, Patrick aka Perfect Patrick. Honestly, without the book blurb on Amazon I wouldn't have known that Amelia is supposed to be 48 because she certainly doesn't seem like it. I can understand grief and trauma leading one to make questionable decisions, but she makes some decisions that are just plain stupid in my opinion. From the very first messages shared with Patrick, I was totally put off. He seemed so skeezy immediately calling her "honey' and 'baby'. Barf. I couldn't swoon over this character at all because I could find absolutely nothing to swoon over. So I couldn't understand what Amelia seemed to see in him. (Especially when Jamie was RIGHT THERE)
Good thing too since "Patrick" ended up just being a con artist. Color me not surprised. I just could not understand how she could allow this person to meet her twin boys after spending one (not very successful) weekend with this stranger....Amelia, sweetie, go to therapy instead! I did rather enjoy the scene where her little sons threatened Patrick and told Amelia she should marry their uncle Jamie instead. Jamie was actually the only character in the whole book that I did like and I'm not really sure I think she deserved to end up with him. I hate to be critical of books, but I mostly read to enjoy characters more than anything and there was not a lot for me here. I am giving it 3 stars because it was interesting enough for me to finish.
Thank you to Helga Jensen, Hera publishing, and #NetGalley for the ARC which did not influcence my review.
Summary: After her husband left her out of the blue, Amelia needs some magic back in her life – but magic seems in short supply in her small Welsh town. So when she finds the phone number that was given to her twenty years ago by a handsome stranger in New York, Amelia wonders whether he might be The One That Got Away.
Amelia's meddling friend Sian does everything she can to help her find this mystery stranger, Patrick aka Perfect Patrick. Honestly, without the book blurb on Amazon I wouldn't have known that Amelia is supposed to be 48 because she certainly doesn't seem like it. I can understand grief and trauma leading one to make questionable decisions, but she makes some decisions that are just plain stupid in my opinion. From the very first messages shared with Patrick, I was totally put off. He seemed so skeezy immediately calling her "honey' and 'baby'. Barf. I couldn't swoon over this character at all because I could find absolutely nothing to swoon over. So I couldn't understand what Amelia seemed to see in him. (Especially when Jamie was RIGHT THERE)
Good thing too since "Patrick" ended up just being a con artist. Color me not surprised. I just could not understand how she could allow this person to meet her twin boys after spending one (not very successful) weekend with this stranger....Amelia, sweetie, go to therapy instead! I did rather enjoy the scene where her little sons threatened Patrick and told Amelia she should marry their uncle Jamie instead. Jamie was actually the only character in the whole book that I did like and I'm not really sure I think she deserved to end up with him. I hate to be critical of books, but I mostly read to enjoy characters more than anything and there was not a lot for me here. I am giving it 3 stars because it was interesting enough for me to finish.
Thank you to Helga Jensen, Hera publishing, and #NetGalley for the ARC which did not influcence my review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2021
Twice In A Lifetime follows the life of Amelia, a woman in her forties who suddenly finds herself alone when her husband suddenly ups and leaves her. As she adjusts to life as a single mother of her twin boys who are now eight years old, Amelia finds herself desperately craving some more excitement and magic in her life.
With very little excitement taking place in the small Welsh town she calls home, it doesn’t look as though anything will be changing for her anytime soon, that is until Amelia comes across the number she was given twenty years ago by an incredibly handsome stranger.
Turning to her best friend Sian for advice, Amelia soon finds herself going on a rather unexpected journey as they track down the mystery man from all those years ago, a journey that takes her all the way to New York to meet up with Pierre. As they spend time with one another, Amelia can’t help but question whether he is in fact the one that got away, and whether she could possibly experience love again.
This story is a charming tale of love, loss and the importance of friendship. With some utterly hilarious moments alongside those that make your heart feel so warm and full it could burst. The writing style is gorgeous and really draws you in to the lives of the characters the author has created. I particularly loved how the female lead in this book was a woman in her forties who was thriving! this is something you don’t see very often within this genre.
The characters were brought to life wonderfully, each of them having their own unique set of traits and flaws that allows you to relate to them on a new level entirely. The dialogue between the cast of vibrant characters is marvellous and flows effortlessly throughout. This was a delightful read that I read in one sitting!.
With very little excitement taking place in the small Welsh town she calls home, it doesn’t look as though anything will be changing for her anytime soon, that is until Amelia comes across the number she was given twenty years ago by an incredibly handsome stranger.
Turning to her best friend Sian for advice, Amelia soon finds herself going on a rather unexpected journey as they track down the mystery man from all those years ago, a journey that takes her all the way to New York to meet up with Pierre. As they spend time with one another, Amelia can’t help but question whether he is in fact the one that got away, and whether she could possibly experience love again.
This story is a charming tale of love, loss and the importance of friendship. With some utterly hilarious moments alongside those that make your heart feel so warm and full it could burst. The writing style is gorgeous and really draws you in to the lives of the characters the author has created. I particularly loved how the female lead in this book was a woman in her forties who was thriving! this is something you don’t see very often within this genre.
The characters were brought to life wonderfully, each of them having their own unique set of traits and flaws that allows you to relate to them on a new level entirely. The dialogue between the cast of vibrant characters is marvellous and flows effortlessly throughout. This was a delightful read that I read in one sitting!.
June 26, 2021
The idea of finding love no matter the age, and no matter the experience we have had in our life - either marriage, children,... - we do deserve to be happy. To find the happiness even if it take us on an adventure around the world. That's something that actually made me excited about the book.
In this story we follow Amelia, after the end of her marriage, going on a journey to find a man she met one time many years ago. Will she find him? Will the sparks and interest still be there? Will she truly fall in love with him or will life give her an even crazier and different path?
I don't want to tell you about the plot since I want you guys to have fun with the story and discovering what will happen in the adventure and in this new chapter of Amelia's life.
I did love that we had a mother, because that always makes me wonder about my mom and I end up connecting with the character in a "family" way. Plus, I loved that she had a support system and I loved Amelia's interactions with her kids and her friends, as well as everyone around her. I had fun with the book because of those connections between the characters and the backgrounds they had and their motivations and goals.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It was this romcom kind of story. And although I usually don't like all movies in that genre, when it comes to books I quite like them. They are always full of fun moments. In this book it also had many relatable scenes and thoughts, and let's not forget it was just a perfect story to dream, relax and just what I needed.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Helga Jensen and Hera Books for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
In this story we follow Amelia, after the end of her marriage, going on a journey to find a man she met one time many years ago. Will she find him? Will the sparks and interest still be there? Will she truly fall in love with him or will life give her an even crazier and different path?
I don't want to tell you about the plot since I want you guys to have fun with the story and discovering what will happen in the adventure and in this new chapter of Amelia's life.
I did love that we had a mother, because that always makes me wonder about my mom and I end up connecting with the character in a "family" way. Plus, I loved that she had a support system and I loved Amelia's interactions with her kids and her friends, as well as everyone around her. I had fun with the book because of those connections between the characters and the backgrounds they had and their motivations and goals.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It was this romcom kind of story. And although I usually don't like all movies in that genre, when it comes to books I quite like them. They are always full of fun moments. In this book it also had many relatable scenes and thoughts, and let's not forget it was just a perfect story to dream, relax and just what I needed.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Helga Jensen and Hera Books for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
May 4, 2021
While I absolutely loved the concept of this story, I really struggled getting through it. The storyline is super cute. As a wife and a mother, I can certainly relate to Amelia and her best friends.
After going through a crappy divorce, Amelia is left with her two boys, best friends Jamie and Sian and a 2o year old memory. A quick encounter in a foreign city with a tall, dark and handsome man and a red thong. Amelia begins to wonder what her life would have been like had she called the number written on the paper all those years ago.
Basically, her best friend Sian does not want to see Amelia alone so she sets out posting on social media trying to find this Mr. Perfect. It's a long book, with many ideas that could have been left out. The immaturity of the banter back and forth through text messages annoyed me to say the least. As did Amelia. I spent most of the book thinking "is this woman really this naive"?
I will not spoil it for you and tell you if she did indeed find Mr. Perfect. The premise of the book kept me going and I did want to see how it would end. Unfortunately, I give it 4 stars, simply because of the immaturity of the communication between characters. I felt like they were high school children and not grown adults with children of their own. If you are looking for an easy read and one that has some funny parts in it, this may be for you.
Thank you to Netgalley for ARC copy of this book!
After going through a crappy divorce, Amelia is left with her two boys, best friends Jamie and Sian and a 2o year old memory. A quick encounter in a foreign city with a tall, dark and handsome man and a red thong. Amelia begins to wonder what her life would have been like had she called the number written on the paper all those years ago.
Basically, her best friend Sian does not want to see Amelia alone so she sets out posting on social media trying to find this Mr. Perfect. It's a long book, with many ideas that could have been left out. The immaturity of the banter back and forth through text messages annoyed me to say the least. As did Amelia. I spent most of the book thinking "is this woman really this naive"?
I will not spoil it for you and tell you if she did indeed find Mr. Perfect. The premise of the book kept me going and I did want to see how it would end. Unfortunately, I give it 4 stars, simply because of the immaturity of the communication between characters. I felt like they were high school children and not grown adults with children of their own. If you are looking for an easy read and one that has some funny parts in it, this may be for you.
Thank you to Netgalley for ARC copy of this book!
June 18, 2021
Amelia has had a rough year. She found out her husband has been cheating on her, and is now getting married to his mistress, and her mother has passed away. She's in need of a pick-me-up when her best friend encourages her to try to find the mysterious man that gave her his number almost 20 years ago. As Amelia gets swept up in the magic of finding this long lost soulmate, she can't help but wonder if things are moving too fast.
While the premise was cute, I unfortunately found this book clunky and hard to get through. I didn't connect with Amelia, who complained and complained but never seemed to do anything about her situation. She also was constantly ragging on her own body, which I understand is something most women are uncomfortable with, but it got to be way too much. She was also incredibly naive, which meant I didn't feel bad for her when things started to go south.
The writing style also felt a little clunky to me. Things were unnecessarily repeated or some entirely missing. The story was predictable, as soon as the idea of Patrick was introduced I knew exactly what the ending would be. While I love me a predictable romance, this was just too much.
I'm bummed that this wasn't the cute love story that I wanted, but I think someone that is closer to Amelia's age (mid-forties) or perhaps also going through a divorce could find her more relatable and therefore enjoy her story more.
While the premise was cute, I unfortunately found this book clunky and hard to get through. I didn't connect with Amelia, who complained and complained but never seemed to do anything about her situation. She also was constantly ragging on her own body, which I understand is something most women are uncomfortable with, but it got to be way too much. She was also incredibly naive, which meant I didn't feel bad for her when things started to go south.
The writing style also felt a little clunky to me. Things were unnecessarily repeated or some entirely missing. The story was predictable, as soon as the idea of Patrick was introduced I knew exactly what the ending would be. While I love me a predictable romance, this was just too much.
I'm bummed that this wasn't the cute love story that I wanted, but I think someone that is closer to Amelia's age (mid-forties) or perhaps also going through a divorce could find her more relatable and therefore enjoy her story more.
June 12, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Hera books for the chance to read this early and provide an honest review. (Happy almost publication day!)
It took me nearly a month to get through. I probably read 3 to 4 books in between this one as it just didn’t grab my attention from the get-go. But when I finally made it to 40%, I finished the book in one day. Sadly, it didn’t live up to the hype in my mind, based on the description.
Amelia is funny and real at times, raw and emotional. But mainly naïve. I think this bothered me because she was now raising two boys and could have been more fierce or stood up to her patronizing ex-husband. There was mention of mobile phones, current online games for kids and social media, yet she knew none of it enough for today’s world. So when her best friend decides to put up a social media post on her behalf, how wrong could this go?? Horribly! In dating, our protagonist was made to appear so dumb. I felt awkward for her. I knew what was happening from the very start…there was no element of surprise for me, not even at the end.
I was bummed that the concept of Patrick was old and brought me flashbacks of episodes of Maury Povich and Dr Phil.
The most fun I had with this book were the references to music/albums in the 80s.
I just did not connect to this as I had hoped.
It took me nearly a month to get through. I probably read 3 to 4 books in between this one as it just didn’t grab my attention from the get-go. But when I finally made it to 40%, I finished the book in one day. Sadly, it didn’t live up to the hype in my mind, based on the description.
Amelia is funny and real at times, raw and emotional. But mainly naïve. I think this bothered me because she was now raising two boys and could have been more fierce or stood up to her patronizing ex-husband. There was mention of mobile phones, current online games for kids and social media, yet she knew none of it enough for today’s world. So when her best friend decides to put up a social media post on her behalf, how wrong could this go?? Horribly! In dating, our protagonist was made to appear so dumb. I felt awkward for her. I knew what was happening from the very start…there was no element of surprise for me, not even at the end.
I was bummed that the concept of Patrick was old and brought me flashbacks of episodes of Maury Povich and Dr Phil.
The most fun I had with this book were the references to music/albums in the 80s.
I just did not connect to this as I had hoped.
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