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Four Seasons #1
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Когато Лу Уинтър отваря старо списание в чакалнята на зъболекарския кабинет и се зачита в статия за пролетно почистване като форма на терапия, разбира, че това е нещото, от което се нуждае.
Защото животът ѝ е пълен с неща, които трябва да се разчистят.
Десетгодишен брак с мъж, който постоянно я критикува, не ѝ позволява да се вижда с най-добрата ѝ приятелка и ѝ изневерява. Тонове страхове, комплекси и погребани мечти, които ѝ пречат да разгърне пълния си потенциал и да се превърне в човека, който би искала да бъде. И къща, пълна с предмети, които не ѝ носят радост.
С всеки един изхвърлен боклук, с всяка разтребена стая, освободена от излишни вещи и болезнени спомени, Лу въвежда ред в живота си и започва да вижда света по нов начин.
Но това е само началото. Пролетта е тук, а с нея идва надеждата за нов живот. Лу е жена със събудени мечти и мисия, която няма да се откаже, докато не намери истинската любов и не бъде щастлива.
Защото животът ѝ е пълен с неща, които трябва да се разчистят.
Десетгодишен брак с мъж, който постоянно я критикува, не ѝ позволява да се вижда с най-добрата ѝ приятелка и ѝ изневерява. Тонове страхове, комплекси и погребани мечти, които ѝ пречат да разгърне пълния си потенциал и да се превърне в човека, който би искала да бъде. И къща, пълна с предмети, които не ѝ носят радост.
С всеки един изхвърлен боклук, с всяка разтребена стая, освободена от излишни вещи и болезнени спомени, Лу въвежда ред в живота си и започва да вижда света по нов начин.
Но това е само началото. Пролетта е тук, а с нея идва надеждата за нов живот. Лу е жена със събудени мечти и мисия, която няма да се откаже, докато не намери истинската любов и не бъде щастлива.
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2009
264 people are currently reading
5411 people want to read
About the author
Milly Johnson
52 books2,133 followersMilly Johnson was born in Barnsley, raised in Barnsley and still lives in Barnsley. She writes about strong women, often having a renaissance, all ages and has just released her 22nd novel Same Time Next Week. Do check out her website for up to date news and appearance dates.
As well as a novelist she is a professional joke writer, performance poet, newspaper and magazine columnist and also after dinner/motivational speaker.
She is on insta as @themillyjohnson, facebook as @millyjohnsonauthor, Twitter as @millyjohnson and a ridiculous presence on TikTok @millyjohnsonauthor. Do give her a follow - even if it's just out of sympathy!
As well as a novelist she is a professional joke writer, performance poet, newspaper and magazine columnist and also after dinner/motivational speaker.
She is on insta as @themillyjohnson, facebook as @millyjohnsonauthor, Twitter as @millyjohnson and a ridiculous presence on TikTok @millyjohnsonauthor. Do give her a follow - even if it's just out of sympathy!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
April 27, 2017
MARAVILLOSO!!! Les cuento, a veces me gusta desconectar un poquito del género romance-drama para descansar un poquito la mente y corazón y que mejor que el chick-lit-Romance para hacerlo? Este libro fue todo un descubrimiento… Solo por el mero echo de mantenerme tan pero tan enganchada estos 3 días y de lograr que siempre tuviera emoción y ansias por volver a leer el libro se merece sus 5 estrellas a lo grande!!! A pesar de ser una novela sencilla y que puede tender a aburrirte por el tema principal pues les digo QUE NO ES ASÍ, la prosa de esta novela te incita a seguir leyendo y leyendo y sin darte cuenta ya estás metida de lleno en la historia y sus personajes sin querer acabarla.
Creo que uno de los puntos a favor de esta novela es cómo llegas a conectar y entender a Lou, la protagonista, un personaje humano, real y creíble con sus miedos, frustraciones e inseguridades y es imposible no sentirse identificada en cierta parte con ella, el ir viendo cómo evoluciona poco a poco y como va reorganizando su vida en busca de su propia felicidad junto a las escenas en las que se ve envuelta es lo que te hace querer devorarte el libro de un tirón.
No quiero hablar más del libro por miedo a spoilear, creo que para disfrutarlo al máximo es mejor entrarle sin saber absolutamente nada de él, con su sinopsis basta, pero sin duda se convirtió en mis favoritos del 2017, lo amé, me encantó, me hizo sentir maravillosamente bien el leerlo y me divertí muchísimo. Si estas buscando algo ligero con una historia que te enganche desde el primer momento, que disfrutes de sus paginas encantada y sin querer soltarlo te recomiendo este libro con los ojos cerrados. Además, a que su portada es hermosa??? :)
Creo que uno de los puntos a favor de esta novela es cómo llegas a conectar y entender a Lou, la protagonista, un personaje humano, real y creíble con sus miedos, frustraciones e inseguridades y es imposible no sentirse identificada en cierta parte con ella, el ir viendo cómo evoluciona poco a poco y como va reorganizando su vida en busca de su propia felicidad junto a las escenas en las que se ve envuelta es lo que te hace querer devorarte el libro de un tirón.
No quiero hablar más del libro por miedo a spoilear, creo que para disfrutarlo al máximo es mejor entrarle sin saber absolutamente nada de él, con su sinopsis basta, pero sin duda se convirtió en mis favoritos del 2017, lo amé, me encantó, me hizo sentir maravillosamente bien el leerlo y me divertí muchísimo. Si estas buscando algo ligero con una historia que te enganche desde el primer momento, que disfrutes de sus paginas encantada y sin querer soltarlo te recomiendo este libro con los ojos cerrados. Además, a que su portada es hermosa??? :)
December 18, 2022
** Edit upon finishing a re-read 09/07/2022** Listened to this on Audible, read by Colleen Pendergrast.**Goodreads lost these reviews. Luckily I have a copy on my blog, https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings..... So I was able to copy and paste it back. GRRRRRRR.
Finishing this book with a sigh of satisfaction, I’m more blown away than ever by Milly Johnson’s comedy, wit, brilliantly constructed plot, and character development. Lou starts out as a “limp lettuce”, manipulated by her husband, family, and just about everyone in her life without a true friend in the world except a nice colleague at work. But from page 1, the reader sees the wheels turning in her mind and the light beginning to dawn. This makes her slow journey fulfilling rather than frustrating. She reads an article called “Spring Clean Your Life!” touting how “The simple act of clearing out some rubbish can put you on a path to your whole life moving forwards.” Lou is motivated to clean out a kitchen drawer, then a closet, then her whole house, room by room. While doing so she starts to regain her true self. Outwardly her same sweet subservient self through much of the first half of the book, things finally come to a head at a dinner party with her family where she, for once, refuses to be run roughshod over. Her husband and her guests are shocked and confused. “Tension hung over the table like a hydrogen-filled Zeppelin flying low on Bonfire Night.” And it is delicious. As her words and actions start to match what is in her head and heart more and more, Lou makes stride after stride towards a transformed life in which all of her dreams come true. And no “big misunderstanding” temporarily mucking up the works near the end. Thank you, Milly.
P.S. When I originally read this I hadn't read The Birds and Bees, which introduces the author of the Midnight Moon Books and her nemisis the evil Jo Mclean. Love how Milly weaves these little easter eggs in to her novels.
I first read this as book 1 in the 4 seasons collection, My first foray into Milly Johnson after Yorkshire Pudding*** May 4, 2019***
Milly Johnson is superb. I could hardly put this book down. She kept me giggling, cheering, and my heart clenching and unclenching throughout. What a great writer. She’s like an English Kristan Higgins. Lou is a lovely mid-thirties woman who is treated like rubbish by her despicable husband, her mother, and her sister. At first, she seems like kind of a doormat, but you know she has spirit by her inner thoughts that you so want her to say out loud.
“Don’t go to any trouble if you’re busy. I can get a bus down.’ If you can get someone to unnail you from your cross first, thought Lou.”
I love the way she adds to her characterizations with quirky little details that make her players either more endearing or more vile. For example, in Lou’s case, she has a habit of mangling common expressions and words: “He’s all over you like sliced bread.” … “neither of you thought to tell me I was being cuckooed in public!” Cute!
After reading an article about cleaning out all of the unneeded junk in the house, and developing a crush/friendship with the bin guy, she finally starts to see herself and her situation with clear eyes. She reestablishes her close friendship with Deborah, whom after she outed his slimy affair, her husband had forbidden her to see. From then on, we go on an inspiring and delightful ride with Lou as she finally starts to speak the truth to her nemeses and finds her inner Boudicca by going back to her dream of owning her own bakery and café. By the end of the epilogue, Lou has her happy ending and all of her foes, including her lazy plumber and her former boss, have gotten their just deserts. There are a few you even start to feel a little sorry for. Not really. **5 out of 5 stars**
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
Finishing this book with a sigh of satisfaction, I’m more blown away than ever by Milly Johnson’s comedy, wit, brilliantly constructed plot, and character development. Lou starts out as a “limp lettuce”, manipulated by her husband, family, and just about everyone in her life without a true friend in the world except a nice colleague at work. But from page 1, the reader sees the wheels turning in her mind and the light beginning to dawn. This makes her slow journey fulfilling rather than frustrating. She reads an article called “Spring Clean Your Life!” touting how “The simple act of clearing out some rubbish can put you on a path to your whole life moving forwards.” Lou is motivated to clean out a kitchen drawer, then a closet, then her whole house, room by room. While doing so she starts to regain her true self. Outwardly her same sweet subservient self through much of the first half of the book, things finally come to a head at a dinner party with her family where she, for once, refuses to be run roughshod over. Her husband and her guests are shocked and confused. “Tension hung over the table like a hydrogen-filled Zeppelin flying low on Bonfire Night.” And it is delicious. As her words and actions start to match what is in her head and heart more and more, Lou makes stride after stride towards a transformed life in which all of her dreams come true. And no “big misunderstanding” temporarily mucking up the works near the end. Thank you, Milly.
P.S. When I originally read this I hadn't read The Birds and Bees, which introduces the author of the Midnight Moon Books and her nemisis the evil Jo Mclean. Love how Milly weaves these little easter eggs in to her novels.
I first read this as book 1 in the 4 seasons collection, My first foray into Milly Johnson after Yorkshire Pudding*** May 4, 2019***
Milly Johnson is superb. I could hardly put this book down. She kept me giggling, cheering, and my heart clenching and unclenching throughout. What a great writer. She’s like an English Kristan Higgins. Lou is a lovely mid-thirties woman who is treated like rubbish by her despicable husband, her mother, and her sister. At first, she seems like kind of a doormat, but you know she has spirit by her inner thoughts that you so want her to say out loud.
“Don’t go to any trouble if you’re busy. I can get a bus down.’ If you can get someone to unnail you from your cross first, thought Lou.”
I love the way she adds to her characterizations with quirky little details that make her players either more endearing or more vile. For example, in Lou’s case, she has a habit of mangling common expressions and words: “He’s all over you like sliced bread.” … “neither of you thought to tell me I was being cuckooed in public!” Cute!
After reading an article about cleaning out all of the unneeded junk in the house, and developing a crush/friendship with the bin guy, she finally starts to see herself and her situation with clear eyes. She reestablishes her close friendship with Deborah, whom after she outed his slimy affair, her husband had forbidden her to see. From then on, we go on an inspiring and delightful ride with Lou as she finally starts to speak the truth to her nemeses and finds her inner Boudicca by going back to her dream of owning her own bakery and café. By the end of the epilogue, Lou has her happy ending and all of her foes, including her lazy plumber and her former boss, have gotten their just deserts. There are a few you even start to feel a little sorry for. Not really. **5 out of 5 stars**
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
September 2, 2018
I recommend this book to anyone who is feeling a little weary of romances where the h must endure so much that the "HEA" doesn't seem worth it. But if you want an HEA and a complete reckoning, this is the book to read.
May 31, 2017
Actual rating: 4,5
Review to come this weekend.
Review to come this weekend.
May 23, 2017
Me ha gustado mucho ver el crecimiento de Lou, al principio del libro me agobiaba verla rodeada de gente tan tóxica y que ella no pusiera remedio. Ha sido bonito pasar con ella ese proceso de reencontrarse con ella misma de nuevo sin poder evitar revisarte tú mismo, por si las moscas ;)
December 1, 2010
I loved this one. Despite the book cover picture its not fluffy chick-lit and there are some great one liners that made me laugh. The characters are very well written and the storyline just flows along - I found I was picking this up to read at every opportunity. I will certainly be looking out for other books by Milly Johnson.
March 12, 2021
That has to be the stupidest title ever and not even related to the story per se.
3 stars for the character growth and the ending 🤷🏾♀️
3 stars for the character growth and the ending 🤷🏾♀️
July 18, 2012
Originally Reviewed at Novel Escapes
Move over Jane Green, Jill Mansell and Madeleine Wickham, there’s a new queen in town! I absolutely LOVED this novel and think it deserves more than 5 stars! After reading it, I thought Milly Johnson could easily become my new favourite chick lit author and when I read another one of her books (review of The Yorkshire Pudding Club coming soon) I awarded her this title and will read anything and everything she writes now. I absolutely LOVE finding fabulous new authors and can’t wait to sink my teeth into the rest of her books and those she writes in the future.
Her characters are so well developed, her stories flow effortlessly and the tension ramps up and keeps you reading. I was hooked on this story immediately and could not put the book down and read it in 3 days. This book even had me clearing out clutter almost as soon as I had begun the reading it (and this is not something I’m very good at). My only complaint is that it kept me up late three nights in a row so I was half asleep while reading it and I was upset that it ended so quickly!
I can’t wait to read more of her novels and my last complaint is that they take 1-2 months to order from Amazon Canada and I’m glad we got Kathryn’s sister to bring two of her books when she visited over the holidays, but I’m sure this will change as Milly Johnson gains international notoriety for her fantastic stories.
Move over Jane Green, Jill Mansell and Madeleine Wickham, there’s a new queen in town! I absolutely LOVED this novel and think it deserves more than 5 stars! After reading it, I thought Milly Johnson could easily become my new favourite chick lit author and when I read another one of her books (review of The Yorkshire Pudding Club coming soon) I awarded her this title and will read anything and everything she writes now. I absolutely LOVE finding fabulous new authors and can’t wait to sink my teeth into the rest of her books and those she writes in the future.
Her characters are so well developed, her stories flow effortlessly and the tension ramps up and keeps you reading. I was hooked on this story immediately and could not put the book down and read it in 3 days. This book even had me clearing out clutter almost as soon as I had begun the reading it (and this is not something I’m very good at). My only complaint is that it kept me up late three nights in a row so I was half asleep while reading it and I was upset that it ended so quickly!
I can’t wait to read more of her novels and my last complaint is that they take 1-2 months to order from Amazon Canada and I’m glad we got Kathryn’s sister to bring two of her books when she visited over the holidays, but I’m sure this will change as Milly Johnson gains international notoriety for her fantastic stories.
November 5, 2022
Sometimes other people's rubbish held more answers for you than your own
Rebekah warned me I would like it and she was right.
This book is tagged as 'chick-lit' and 'romance'. I call it 'woman fiction', or 'fiction for women'. What is the difference, you may ask? For me, chick-lit romance is (mostly) for fun, woman fiction is to allow some of us to go through some process.
Lou's story (and other women's in this novel) was true and moving. The style of telling about her was simultaneously thoughtful/deep and light/heartwarming and at many times funny.
And Tom Broom... [sigh, sigh and sigh...]
What to tell more? It was a well-written novel. With complex and real characters (I didn't like Phil or Michelle but they were well created.)
I haven't found any weak points in the book. I am happy that there are so many Milly Johnson's books before me.
Thank you very much, Rebekah, for your suggestion.
February 13, 2019
4.5 stars
My first Milly Johnson read and boy was it a good one, matter of fact it was that good I was up till 1 a.m. and reading again at 5.30 a.m. I just had to find out what was going to happen between Lou (Elouise) and her lousy husband and that big beautiful skip man. Lou was a fantastic protagonist and I loved following every part of her journey from decluttering her house to decluttering her life.
I can hardly wait to read the next book in the Four Seasons Series.
My first Milly Johnson read and boy was it a good one, matter of fact it was that good I was up till 1 a.m. and reading again at 5.30 a.m. I just had to find out what was going to happen between Lou (Elouise) and her lousy husband and that big beautiful skip man. Lou was a fantastic protagonist and I loved following every part of her journey from decluttering her house to decluttering her life.
I can hardly wait to read the next book in the Four Seasons Series.
February 2, 2011
I'd read all of Jill Mansell's books and was looking for more Brit humor, light-hearted fun when I found Milly Johnson. 'A spring affair' is a great start to what I see is going to be an AWESOME friendship with Johnson's books!
Lou was warm and personable, and the little tidbits of her relationship with her dad really got me tearing at some parts. Compared to a Mansell novel, where every character gets a little of the spotlight to themselves at some point, Johnson's more focused on the main character. Both styles have their merits; it's all down to what you feel like having.
That said, I really enjoyed getting to know Lou and her little quirks. And the idea of spring-cleaning one's life was so well done that I'm rather convinced of its therapeutic benefits. Not to mention that the dash of a good, strong man waiting in the wings, ready to sweep her off her feet is, of course, cherries on top of an already great chocolate cake.
Lou was warm and personable, and the little tidbits of her relationship with her dad really got me tearing at some parts. Compared to a Mansell novel, where every character gets a little of the spotlight to themselves at some point, Johnson's more focused on the main character. Both styles have their merits; it's all down to what you feel like having.
That said, I really enjoyed getting to know Lou and her little quirks. And the idea of spring-cleaning one's life was so well done that I'm rather convinced of its therapeutic benefits. Not to mention that the dash of a good, strong man waiting in the wings, ready to sweep her off her feet is, of course, cherries on top of an already great chocolate cake.
November 15, 2021
Въпреки че историята е клише, ми хареса. Може би в началото ми беше по-обстоятелствена и не толкова интересна. Заобиколена съм от подобни случаи в живота. Рядко обаче, следва такава развръзка. Повечето жени са склонни на всяка цена да търпят , само и само да имат мъж до себе си. Разбира се, всеки избира сам в какъв филм да участва, в това съм напълно убедена.
December 5, 2009
Elouise ‘Lou’ Winter is married to second hand car dealer Phil, but their marriage is far from happy. Lou knows Phil has been unfaithful, but he uses it to his own advantage, keeping Lou under his thumb.
But when Lou spots an article in a magazine about clearing out clutter, she has no idea just how far how cleaning obsession is going to reach. Not to mention the small crush she has on the man who brings her skips Tom Broom, Lou is heading for a big lifestyle change, but is she ready to take on everything that comes with it?
Will Lou find her happy-ever-after or is Phil Winter just too much in control for her to break free?
It did sound slightly different to the other books that Milly Johnson had written, but to be honest that made me look forward to it even more – something different but from an author I trusted to write something brilliant once more. Johnson really chooses to focus on the relationships between people in her books, and the changes these go through as people change in life, and perhaps that is what makes her books so readable and appealing to her audience. Johnson writes in such a way that you are drawn into the story from almost the first page and as I said, I really struggled to put this down because I was desperate to find out what was going to happen to poor old Lou next.
Speaking of characters, Johnson always manages to write characters that I love reading about. For a little while into the book, I do admit that I wasn’t too fond of Lou. She seemed a bit weak and too submissive for my liking and I wasn’t sure how it was going to go because of this. I wanted her to stand up to her horrid husband yet she let him bully her and I really didn’t like that. However, things develop as the book continues and I really began to like Lou a lot more, and felt for her dilemmas. She is a strong person at work yet at home is different and the way she almost discovers herself is touching and extremely well tackled. Her husband Phil is a complete creep, I hated him with a passion but I guess that was the point of him! I hate that men like him somehow manage to be irresistible to certain women, but he did make a good “baddie” and was sat well with Lou.
The other characters were also very well written, as I have come to expect from Milly Johnson. Lou’s friend Michelle was diabolical, and I am sure everyone knows someone as self-centred as her, much as we loathe to admit it! Lou’s work colleagues, especially Karen, were great characters and I would have loved to have seen more of her because I felt her and Lou had a great friendship that was such a good contrast to the other less genuine ones in the book. Finally, Tom Broome was the last male character in the book, and I was praying for a certain ending between two characters in this book! Tom was lovely and I really liked him, mainly because he was the opposite of horrid Phil!
What I also really enjoyed about the book was the descriptive writing throughout, and how it brought to life Lou and her world. Johnson chooses to write in the third person, what I call “proper story telling” and this lends itself to a really descriptive and enjoyable novel. You can imagine in your mind little Lou sitting there shifting the junk from her cupboards, surrounded by loads of black bags and then throwing them into her huge skip, and for me things like just brough the whole thing alive for me. I could imagine her standing talking to Tom, vile Phil coming home for his curry and Lou at work with Karen, just fabulously written, I do love visualising a story as I read and this was a great one for just that. Johnson’s writing style is easy to read, no complicated language, just good old fashioned story telling and that is what makes me love her books even more.
As with all chick lit, the ending of the story is a tad predictable, you can almost tell how things are going to end up but that doesn’t take anything away from the fantastic story that is wonderfully weaved by the author. Great characters, a lovely, touching and quite realistic story and a great writing style all combine to create more fictional magic that will delight not only fans of Johnson’s earlier books but will certainly bring even more fans to her books. I just cannot complement this book enough, it was an utterly charming tale of finding yourself despite bad circumstances, and of what can happen when you decide to declutter your life. Johnson writes from the heart and with such feeling that you are going along with Lou with every emotion she’s going through. Really superb, definitely recommended and a must-read from me!
But when Lou spots an article in a magazine about clearing out clutter, she has no idea just how far how cleaning obsession is going to reach. Not to mention the small crush she has on the man who brings her skips Tom Broom, Lou is heading for a big lifestyle change, but is she ready to take on everything that comes with it?
Will Lou find her happy-ever-after or is Phil Winter just too much in control for her to break free?
It did sound slightly different to the other books that Milly Johnson had written, but to be honest that made me look forward to it even more – something different but from an author I trusted to write something brilliant once more. Johnson really chooses to focus on the relationships between people in her books, and the changes these go through as people change in life, and perhaps that is what makes her books so readable and appealing to her audience. Johnson writes in such a way that you are drawn into the story from almost the first page and as I said, I really struggled to put this down because I was desperate to find out what was going to happen to poor old Lou next.
Speaking of characters, Johnson always manages to write characters that I love reading about. For a little while into the book, I do admit that I wasn’t too fond of Lou. She seemed a bit weak and too submissive for my liking and I wasn’t sure how it was going to go because of this. I wanted her to stand up to her horrid husband yet she let him bully her and I really didn’t like that. However, things develop as the book continues and I really began to like Lou a lot more, and felt for her dilemmas. She is a strong person at work yet at home is different and the way she almost discovers herself is touching and extremely well tackled. Her husband Phil is a complete creep, I hated him with a passion but I guess that was the point of him! I hate that men like him somehow manage to be irresistible to certain women, but he did make a good “baddie” and was sat well with Lou.
The other characters were also very well written, as I have come to expect from Milly Johnson. Lou’s friend Michelle was diabolical, and I am sure everyone knows someone as self-centred as her, much as we loathe to admit it! Lou’s work colleagues, especially Karen, were great characters and I would have loved to have seen more of her because I felt her and Lou had a great friendship that was such a good contrast to the other less genuine ones in the book. Finally, Tom Broome was the last male character in the book, and I was praying for a certain ending between two characters in this book! Tom was lovely and I really liked him, mainly because he was the opposite of horrid Phil!
What I also really enjoyed about the book was the descriptive writing throughout, and how it brought to life Lou and her world. Johnson chooses to write in the third person, what I call “proper story telling” and this lends itself to a really descriptive and enjoyable novel. You can imagine in your mind little Lou sitting there shifting the junk from her cupboards, surrounded by loads of black bags and then throwing them into her huge skip, and for me things like just brough the whole thing alive for me. I could imagine her standing talking to Tom, vile Phil coming home for his curry and Lou at work with Karen, just fabulously written, I do love visualising a story as I read and this was a great one for just that. Johnson’s writing style is easy to read, no complicated language, just good old fashioned story telling and that is what makes me love her books even more.
As with all chick lit, the ending of the story is a tad predictable, you can almost tell how things are going to end up but that doesn’t take anything away from the fantastic story that is wonderfully weaved by the author. Great characters, a lovely, touching and quite realistic story and a great writing style all combine to create more fictional magic that will delight not only fans of Johnson’s earlier books but will certainly bring even more fans to her books. I just cannot complement this book enough, it was an utterly charming tale of finding yourself despite bad circumstances, and of what can happen when you decide to declutter your life. Johnson writes from the heart and with such feeling that you are going along with Lou with every emotion she’s going through. Really superb, definitely recommended and a must-read from me!
March 29, 2021
I listened to this on audiobook.
Everything about this story was great, full on entertainment value. So many emotions go through you whilst experiencing some of the scenes in the book.
I did find myself being annoyed with Louise at times, the way she just lets her husband and certain so called friends just walk all over her and manipulate her in such sneaky round about ways. But then I loved it when Louise comes to her senses and starts to stand up for herself, those scenes were the best.
It was wonderfully well written and the characters were well developed and completely believable. Some of them were great, loved getting to know them and then others you just hated from the get go, which is the authors intention.
I absolutely loved it from start to finish.
Everything about this story was great, full on entertainment value. So many emotions go through you whilst experiencing some of the scenes in the book.
I did find myself being annoyed with Louise at times, the way she just lets her husband and certain so called friends just walk all over her and manipulate her in such sneaky round about ways. But then I loved it when Louise comes to her senses and starts to stand up for herself, those scenes were the best.
It was wonderfully well written and the characters were well developed and completely believable. Some of them were great, loved getting to know them and then others you just hated from the get go, which is the authors intention.
I absolutely loved it from start to finish.
April 2, 2012
I loved this book and spent a couple days curled up with it, resenting all the interruptions that stopped me from getting to the end!
When Lou Winter sees an advertisement about clearing out your clutter, she goes home and starts to do just that. She meets the gorgeous 'skip guy', Tom Broom, during the process, and starts to analyse everything in her life, her relationship with her cheating husband, friends past and present, family and work.
This really is a lovely feel good story with believable characters, it made me laugh and made me sit up and think too.
When Lou Winter sees an advertisement about clearing out your clutter, she goes home and starts to do just that. She meets the gorgeous 'skip guy', Tom Broom, during the process, and starts to analyse everything in her life, her relationship with her cheating husband, friends past and present, family and work.
This really is a lovely feel good story with believable characters, it made me laugh and made me sit up and think too.
November 22, 2021
I loved this book! Couldn’t put it down.. Milly Johnson always writes a funny, emotional and heartfelt read. Great read!
August 25, 2022
Loved this book. Great story and great characters. Couldn't stop listening !
January 9, 2021
Me lo recomendó una amiga y la verdad es que me ha gustado mucho. La trama es muy sencilla y sorprende que la vida de una simple mujer pueda enganchar tanto. Creo que es por la manera de contarla. La protagonista, Lou, tiene una vida muy sencilla, sin grandes acontecimientos, pero todo empieza a cambiar (casi sin darse cuenta) cuando lee un artículo en una revista sobre tirar las cosas que no usas. Mientras hace limpieza en su casa, la va haciendo también en su vida. Tiene mucha ironía y es muy fácil de leer. Y por cierto, me han entrado ganas de tirar las cosas que ya no necesito. De hecho empecé ayer.
October 23, 2014
kitabın arka kapak yazısı biraz önyargı oluştursa da kitap eğlenceli, mutlu eden bir hikaye. tabii ki başrolde kilo ve yaş takıntısı olan bir ablamız var. 36 yaşında 42 beden olan baş karakterimiz, mutlu olmadığı işi ve berbat kocası ile mutsuz bir hayat sürerken evinde bahar temizliği yapmaya karar veriyor. temizlik sırasında evindeki fazlalıkları atarken hayatındaki fazlalıkları da atmaya başlıyor. bu sırada son derece gereksiz kocasının kaprisleri sonucu görüşmediği eski arkadaşını da hayatına bir şekilde yeniden alıyor. temizlik sırasında zayıflıyor(!), yavaş yavaş kendine güveni geliyor, nefret ettiği işinden kurtuluyor vs vs. tipik chick lit. bir gün bir chick-lit'de ana karakter şişman kalsın ve kendiyle barışık olsun istiyorum. mutluluğu kendi başına yakaladıktan sonra o mutluluğu tamamlamak için harika bir adam bulmasın istiyorum. çok mu şey istiyorum:)
August 23, 2012
Loved this just as much as the other Milly Johnson books I've read. This had fewer characters than her other books, but the impatient part of me loved it because I didn't have to wait a few chapters to pick up a particular character's story again. As with all of her books, this is simple but totally satisfying. The bad characters are REALLY unpleasant and they get what's coming to them. The good characters are rewarded with loveliness. It's chicklit but with a few key twists (emphasis on female friendships, older characters, kind heroines, and interesting careers) that make it way more fun than most novels in the genre. I always want to dive into another one of her books as soon as I finish one. Too bad most of them aren't available in Canada.
July 7, 2016
Not one of Milly Johnson's best novels, I think, but quite an amusing quick read anyway, especially if you are on holiday or too busy to concentrate on more complex literature.
This is very predictable chick-lit with a simple plot: a subservient wife and accounts clerk, who everyone walks all over, a manipulative unfaithful husband and a happy ending (of course!) I appreciated the writing style, the gradual character progress of Lou, and the cheerful girly humour. And the fact that Ms Johnson has written much better books since this one was published.
This is very predictable chick-lit with a simple plot: a subservient wife and accounts clerk, who everyone walks all over, a manipulative unfaithful husband and a happy ending (of course!) I appreciated the writing style, the gradual character progress of Lou, and the cheerful girly humour. And the fact that Ms Johnson has written much better books since this one was published.
November 4, 2016
Maravilloso.
March 13, 2020
Listening to this story was so much fun. One of my favorite Milly Johnson books.
July 22, 2018
Ya había leído otra novela de esta autora y me gustó muchísimo. Pueden parecer historias sencillas y con mucha ligereza, pero nada más lejos. Sí, son historias que se leen muy bien, pero con un contenido muy profundo y que gracias a la maestría de su narrativa, hará que se empatice por completo con la protagonista.
No puedo dejar de darle una máxima puntuación a esta historia que hace que veamos a una Lou evolucionando a medida que se va desprendiendo de la basura que ha ido acumulando a lo largo de una vida. Es más, tanto he empatizado con ella que yo me he planteado (y en ello estoy) seguir su ejemplo, aunque no es nada fácil.
¿Recomendaría este libro? S��, sin duda alguna. Una novela, que aunque no nos cuente un tema novedoso, sí nos los cuenta de tal forma que no podréis salir de sus páginas hasta ver el punto final, y aún así después seguiréis recordando a Lou.
Un libro al más puro estilo de Marian Keyes, historias falsamente ligeras sobre mujeres y que tras una aparente banalidad esconden verdades como puños.
No puedo dejar de darle una máxima puntuación a esta historia que hace que veamos a una Lou evolucionando a medida que se va desprendiendo de la basura que ha ido acumulando a lo largo de una vida. Es más, tanto he empatizado con ella que yo me he planteado (y en ello estoy) seguir su ejemplo, aunque no es nada fácil.
¿Recomendaría este libro? S��, sin duda alguna. Una novela, que aunque no nos cuente un tema novedoso, sí nos los cuenta de tal forma que no podréis salir de sus páginas hasta ver el punto final, y aún así después seguiréis recordando a Lou.
Un libro al más puro estilo de Marian Keyes, historias falsamente ligeras sobre mujeres y que tras una aparente banalidad esconden verdades como puños.
July 20, 2018
2.5
I have never needed a half star more in my entire life. I really do not think it deserves the full 3 stars, but I enjoyed it A LOT more than the majority of the books I have at 2 stars (I mean, Goodreads-rating-wise, not my own rating-wise).
The book started out soooo nicely. Lou Winter - doing KonMari before it was cool :D .Jokes aside, I loved the decluttering-spring cleaning aspect of the book, especially because I have been into decluttering my living spaces and other areas of my life myself for a while now and I know how liberating it can be - I totally got Lou's emotions connected to this experience. I also liked Lou decluttering her living space being a metaphor for her decluttering her own life and for her to get rid of elements that would only bring her down and which are toxic. I loved that the writing style was effortlessly funny, in a sweetly sassy way. I did not ever feel that it was forced, nor that it was bland / typical. It was really engaging - I could not really put it down (only when I had to, literally). I also liked the romance plot for the most part, I thought the birth of their spark and love was depicted in a sweet and realistic way. I had some gripes with the ending, though ().
I loooooved Clooney. I am a sucker for cute literary pets.
I also liked the friend dynamics and dialogues between Lou and Deb, also between Karen and Lou. And big kudos for the story to have a not conventionally attractive love interest (OK, you can depict him in your head as Joe Manganiello, but at least the depiction was not like "rock hard abs, firm ass, beautifully maintained hair, perfectly chiseled jaw, piercing eyes" like in every 2nd romance novel).
On to my negatives, except for the ending thing I already mentioned.
The antagonists of the story were sooooooo 2-dimensional. OK, I get it, it is easier for an author to make the 2nd love interest unlikeable so it is made sure that the reader roots for the other one that the authors wants to leading lady to end up with - still, I find it a cheap solution. But to make them a moustache-twirling cartoon villain... does not work for me. Even some of their words, monologues and inner thoughts sounded like they came from the cheapest Brazilian telenovelas. As if they were personifications of emotions rather than real flesh and bone people. We got some half-assed "personal background" for why they act like this, but not detailed enough to be able to "get" it for the reader or to be credible. It was the issue with Phil, with Victorianna, with Renee, with Michelle, with Nicola. I would have wanted to see some personality in them, some redeeming qualities. The best villains are written in a way that the author shows a side of them that could be likeable or understandable at least.
There were also emotions felt by characters and deeds done by characters that I could not understand. They either needed more depth or deeper portrayal, or they just did not make sense. My first question was: why Lou loved Phil or why she was holding on to him, being afraid of him going away. We did not receive a single hint on why she married him... or yes, at the end we got some explanations, but that only told us about her trying to live up to her mum, but not why she HERSELF would marry a guy like that, let alone love him and suffer when he had an affair... except for his good looks - and I think there was more going on there, because Lou was depicted as a character less shallow than that (especially after we got to know how she does not care that much about luxury and money).
I also did not understand what the book's stance was on body positivity. On the one hand, it preaches about bigger figures and how they can be seen beautiful, but at the same time, it praises Lou for every lost kilogram and emphasized 10 thousand times how great she looks that way (if it was for health reasons, obviously, that would be another case).
The book was also a clear case of "tell, not show", unfortunately. A lot of important elements, like how the characters felt about certain people, were written down by the author, almost as universal truths.
Also, could we have less cheap sexual innuendos, please?
Even though I found some of the depiction of multinational corporation office life pretty accurate and relatable (Being reprimanded for doing something else besides your work when the people who are pointing at you care about work even less? Check! Being delegated menial tasks that, as per contract, would have to be done by another department? Check!, Being called to account for not being in the office at a given time when you are, in principle, entitled for flexitime which makes you be able to arrive even 2 hours later? Check!, incompetent people in higher positions? Check-check-check!), but I thought some moments were just totally NOT credible.
I have never needed a half star more in my entire life. I really do not think it deserves the full 3 stars, but I enjoyed it A LOT more than the majority of the books I have at 2 stars (I mean, Goodreads-rating-wise, not my own rating-wise).
The book started out soooo nicely. Lou Winter - doing KonMari before it was cool :D .Jokes aside, I loved the decluttering-spring cleaning aspect of the book, especially because I have been into decluttering my living spaces and other areas of my life myself for a while now and I know how liberating it can be - I totally got Lou's emotions connected to this experience. I also liked Lou decluttering her living space being a metaphor for her decluttering her own life and for her to get rid of elements that would only bring her down and which are toxic. I loved that the writing style was effortlessly funny, in a sweetly sassy way. I did not ever feel that it was forced, nor that it was bland / typical. It was really engaging - I could not really put it down (only when I had to, literally). I also liked the romance plot for the most part, I thought the birth of their spark and love was depicted in a sweet and realistic way. I had some gripes with the ending, though ().
I loooooved Clooney. I am a sucker for cute literary pets.
I also liked the friend dynamics and dialogues between Lou and Deb, also between Karen and Lou. And big kudos for the story to have a not conventionally attractive love interest (OK, you can depict him in your head as Joe Manganiello, but at least the depiction was not like "rock hard abs, firm ass, beautifully maintained hair, perfectly chiseled jaw, piercing eyes" like in every 2nd romance novel).
On to my negatives, except for the ending thing I already mentioned.
The antagonists of the story were sooooooo 2-dimensional. OK, I get it, it is easier for an author to make the 2nd love interest unlikeable so it is made sure that the reader roots for the other one that the authors wants to leading lady to end up with - still, I find it a cheap solution. But to make them a moustache-twirling cartoon villain... does not work for me. Even some of their words, monologues and inner thoughts sounded like they came from the cheapest Brazilian telenovelas. As if they were personifications of emotions rather than real flesh and bone people. We got some half-assed "personal background" for why they act like this, but not detailed enough to be able to "get" it for the reader or to be credible. It was the issue with Phil, with Victorianna, with Renee, with Michelle, with Nicola. I would have wanted to see some personality in them, some redeeming qualities. The best villains are written in a way that the author shows a side of them that could be likeable or understandable at least.
There were also emotions felt by characters and deeds done by characters that I could not understand. They either needed more depth or deeper portrayal, or they just did not make sense. My first question was: why Lou loved Phil or why she was holding on to him, being afraid of him going away. We did not receive a single hint on why she married him... or yes, at the end we got some explanations, but that only told us about her trying to live up to her mum, but not why she HERSELF would marry a guy like that, let alone love him and suffer when he had an affair... except for his good looks - and I think there was more going on there, because Lou was depicted as a character less shallow than that (especially after we got to know how she does not care that much about luxury and money).
I also did not understand what the book's stance was on body positivity. On the one hand, it preaches about bigger figures and how they can be seen beautiful, but at the same time, it praises Lou for every lost kilogram and emphasized 10 thousand times how great she looks that way (if it was for health reasons, obviously, that would be another case).
The book was also a clear case of "tell, not show", unfortunately. A lot of important elements, like how the characters felt about certain people, were written down by the author, almost as universal truths.
Also, could we have less cheap sexual innuendos, please?
Even though I found some of the depiction of multinational corporation office life pretty accurate and relatable (Being reprimanded for doing something else besides your work when the people who are pointing at you care about work even less? Check! Being delegated menial tasks that, as per contract, would have to be done by another department? Check!, Being called to account for not being in the office at a given time when you are, in principle, entitled for flexitime which makes you be able to arrive even 2 hours later? Check!, incompetent people in higher positions? Check-check-check!), but I thought some moments were just totally NOT credible.
July 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this story, great “sweet” revenge plot. A few of the side stories dragged, but overall it was a entertaining read. This one is a keeper, I’d recommend.
4.25 Stars
4.25 Stars
August 7, 2013
Hyperion Kitap’tan çıkmış olan Milly Johson’ın Bir İlkbahar Macerası adlı kitabını okumuş ve şu an itibariyle bitirmiş bulunmaktayım .
Okuduğum en tatlı kitaplardan bir tanesiydi .Kitabın kapağından , sayfa kalitesine , yazı puntosuna ve en önemlisi çevirisine kadar her şey çok güzeldi .Tabi arada bazı tek tük kelime hataları da vardı , lakin kitap o kadar içten – samimi bir anlatıma sahipti ki onu nazar boncuğu olarak sayıyorum .
Kitapta; Lou adlı bir kadın, bu kadın güzel , alımlı , becerikli fakat kocası Phil tarafından bazı özellikleri bastırılmaya çalışılan, özgüvenini yitirmeye başlayan bir kadın . Kocası Phil ise benim tabirimle tam bir bencil -egoist kendisinden başka kimseyi düşünmeyen ,hep kendi dediklerinin olmasını isteyen bir adam . ( Kitabı okurken Phil’e acayip gıcık oldum ) .
Bir gün Lou’nun bahar temizliği yapmaya karar vermesi ve uygulamasıyla birlikte hayatında bir takım değişiklikler olacaktır ; kocasıyla , arkadaşlarıyla ve ailesiyle arasında .Bir takım kararlar alacaktır . Fazla detay vermek istemiyorum , çünkü tüm sihri kaybolabilir kitabın ;)
Kısacası kitapta; bir kadının hayatındaki değişime , aile , arkadaşlık –dostluk , fedakarlık , aşk vs tanık olacaksınız .
Kitap aynı zaman da chick-lit tarzında . Ama okuyalım gülelim , eğlenelim ve bir kenara kaldıralım mantığında bir kitap değil ,çünkü gülerken bile sizi düşündürecek ,yaşamdan dersler almanızı sağlayacak kitaplarsan bir tanesi .(Ve ben okurken çoğu yerde duygulandım çoğu yerde güldüm .)
En önemlisi ise , bir kadının, bir insanın/insanların bir şeyi isterse, ne olursa olsun başarabileceğini anlatan , güzel bir kitaptı benim için.
Bu kitabı okumak isteyen herkese tavsiye ediyorum .Özellikle hemcinslerime , bayanlara .
Ve bu kitabı bizlerle buluşturduğu için sevgili HYPERİON KİTAPEVİ’NE çok teşekkür ederim .Yazar Milly Johnson ‘a da her ne kadar bu yazımı göremeyecek olsa da teşekkürler .
Hımm unutmadan kitaba bir puan verecek olursam 10 üzerinden 10 olurdu .Saygılarımla…
Okuduğum en tatlı kitaplardan bir tanesiydi .Kitabın kapağından , sayfa kalitesine , yazı puntosuna ve en önemlisi çevirisine kadar her şey çok güzeldi .Tabi arada bazı tek tük kelime hataları da vardı , lakin kitap o kadar içten – samimi bir anlatıma sahipti ki onu nazar boncuğu olarak sayıyorum .
Kitapta; Lou adlı bir kadın, bu kadın güzel , alımlı , becerikli fakat kocası Phil tarafından bazı özellikleri bastırılmaya çalışılan, özgüvenini yitirmeye başlayan bir kadın . Kocası Phil ise benim tabirimle tam bir bencil -egoist kendisinden başka kimseyi düşünmeyen ,hep kendi dediklerinin olmasını isteyen bir adam . ( Kitabı okurken Phil’e acayip gıcık oldum ) .
Bir gün Lou’nun bahar temizliği yapmaya karar vermesi ve uygulamasıyla birlikte hayatında bir takım değişiklikler olacaktır ; kocasıyla , arkadaşlarıyla ve ailesiyle arasında .Bir takım kararlar alacaktır . Fazla detay vermek istemiyorum , çünkü tüm sihri kaybolabilir kitabın ;)
Kısacası kitapta; bir kadının hayatındaki değişime , aile , arkadaşlık –dostluk , fedakarlık , aşk vs tanık olacaksınız .
Kitap aynı zaman da chick-lit tarzında . Ama okuyalım gülelim , eğlenelim ve bir kenara kaldıralım mantığında bir kitap değil ,çünkü gülerken bile sizi düşündürecek ,yaşamdan dersler almanızı sağlayacak kitaplarsan bir tanesi .(Ve ben okurken çoğu yerde duygulandım çoğu yerde güldüm .)
En önemlisi ise , bir kadının, bir insanın/insanların bir şeyi isterse, ne olursa olsun başarabileceğini anlatan , güzel bir kitaptı benim için.
Bu kitabı okumak isteyen herkese tavsiye ediyorum .Özellikle hemcinslerime , bayanlara .
Ve bu kitabı bizlerle buluşturduğu için sevgili HYPERİON KİTAPEVİ’NE çok teşekkür ederim .Yazar Milly Johnson ‘a da her ne kadar bu yazımı göremeyecek olsa da teşekkürler .
Hımm unutmadan kitaba bir puan verecek olursam 10 üzerinden 10 olurdu .Saygılarımla…
June 26, 2010
It seems as if almost by fate that on one spring day Lou Winters picks up an old dog eared magazine on how clearing clutter from your life can really boost your mood. Little does Lou know at the time how much clearing out her clutter is going to change not only her mood but her life. What starts off sorting out a few draws here and there soon turns into a full house sort out. So much so that Lou has to start hiring skips from the gorgeous half Italian Tom Broom. Lou soon finds herself addicted to clearing out her nest and the more Lou clears out the more she realises what things are important in her life and what things have to go. Should she keep her successful wealthy husband whose affair with another woman Lou is still trying to heal from? Should she throw away her self obsessed ‘best friend’? And maybe in the light and airy places that they leave behind fill them with the confident Lou she used to be before becoming the ultimate surrendered wife, her best friend Deb whom she’s lost contact with and maybe just maybe Tom Broom and his adorable dog Clooney…
I really liked this book. It was a nice light read. Although it had some romance this book mainly covers the subject of self esteem and bullying whether it’s in the work place or from your loved ones. It’s a real feel good read that has you cheering the lovable Lou on as you watch her character grow. Definitely recommended if you’re looking for a girl power kind of read. I’ve since brought another one of Milly Johnson’s novels A Summer Fling which sounds just as good as this one. It has to be said that the covers for both of these books are really pretty and look great on my bookshelf which is a great bonus! 4 stars.
I really liked this book. It was a nice light read. Although it had some romance this book mainly covers the subject of self esteem and bullying whether it’s in the work place or from your loved ones. It’s a real feel good read that has you cheering the lovable Lou on as you watch her character grow. Definitely recommended if you’re looking for a girl power kind of read. I’ve since brought another one of Milly Johnson’s novels A Summer Fling which sounds just as good as this one. It has to be said that the covers for both of these books are really pretty and look great on my bookshelf which is a great bonus! 4 stars.
April 28, 2019
"A Spring Affair" is a really enjoyable affair. I liked reading about Lou spring cleaning her oppressed life back to her former, more confident and happier one. All this decluttering even inspired me to throw out some old junk of mine as well.
I also really liked the style of writing, especially the occasional insight into the perspectives of different characters. For example, it was interesting to see how Lou's husband perceived the whole "situation".
Some side paths of the storyline felt a little slow sometimes and I can't stand when "mothers" in books/ movies are written like Lou's in this one. It's always such an instant turn off.
Well, at least overall, it was still a great story.
I also really liked the style of writing, especially the occasional insight into the perspectives of different characters. For example, it was interesting to see how Lou's husband perceived the whole "situation".
Some side paths of the storyline felt a little slow sometimes and I can't stand when "mothers" in books/ movies are written like Lou's in this one. It's always such an instant turn off.
Well, at least overall, it was still a great story.
August 15, 2012
I loved this story. Lou decides it's time to declutter her house- and she feels attracted to the man who keeps delivering the skips. Whilst the decluttering is going on she re evaluates her life and gets in touch with her former best friend. It's spurred us onto planning to clear the debris of assorted clutter!!!!
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