Toutes les étoiles mènent à toi

by Sophie Ranald

Douze signes astro, douze rencards, douze chances de trouver l’amour !

— Quoi ? Tu penses que je devrais sortir avec un homme de chaque signe du zodiaque jusqu’à trouver l'âme sœur ?
— T’as tout compris !
Quand son assistant lui fait cette proposition délirante dans la cuisine du pub où elle travaille comme cheffe, Zoé le fusille du regard par-dessus les carottes émincées. Pourtant, s’il avait raison ? Voilà des années que, en bon Verseau qui-n’a-besoin-de-personne, elle s’enterre dans le célibat (espérant secrètement que son ex revienne). Ce n’est pas normal que le seul être qui partage son lit soit son chat, elle doit changer de vie, et vite ! Il lui faut un plan, et celui de son assistant n’est pas si absurde. Douze signes, douze rencards, douze chances de dénicher l’homme de sa vie. Voilà qui l’obligera à sortir de sa zone de confort. Et, comme si les planètes étaient soudain parfaitement alignées, c’est pile quand elle se met en quête d’amour que le destin saupoudre son quotidien de célibataires craquants…

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance

317 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2020

About the author

Sophie Ranald is the youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe and lived in South Africa until an acute case of itchy feet brought her to London in her mid-20s.

As an editor for a customer publishing agency, Sophie developed her fiction-writing skills describing holidays to places she’d never visited. In 2011, she decided to disregard all the good advice given to aspiring novelists and attempt to write full-time. After one false start, It Would Be Wrong to Steal My Sister’s Boyfriend (Wouldn’t It?) seemed to write itself.

Sophie also writes for magazines and online about food, fashion and running. She lives in south-east London with her amazing partner Hopi and Purrs, their adorable little cat.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about Zoe’s dating disasters. The dates were all over the top and hilarious. I was cringing so much but also laughing reading about Zoe’s dates and experiences on the app. Zoe really finds out a lot about herself through going out with different men and discussing her experiences with her friends.

Thank You, Next was such a fun and light read. I loved the story and all of the characters.

I recommend Thank You, Next to fans of cute romances that will make you laugh and fans of Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for Thank You, Next.

Full review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...

[Javier · Rating 3 out of 5]

“At the rate this was going, it wouldn’t be long before the number of penises that had landed in my inbox would exceed the number that had landed in me”

Raise your hand those who haven’t received an unwanted penis pic while on Tinder (I won’t say Grindr, cause that’s a given 😄) -crickets sound-

When twenty something year old chef Zoe realizes she could end up being a crazy old lady and decides to go back into the internet dating game, she’s expecting romance. Instead she gets a dick pic collection worth of an anatomy textbook. As if the dating pool wasn’t weird and scary enough, she’s decided to follow up her astrology app advice and work her way through the zodiac to find her perfect match. Will she find it or are the stars wrong?

After reading this book let me tell you I couldn’t be happier I don’t have to date no more. Dealing with all those weirds to try and find a “normal” one. Exhausting! Just thinking how much reading time I would have to sacrifice to Tinder I shudder!

“Thank you, next” was a light hearted read with some fun moments that made me chuckle, but I was expecting more of a laugh out loud kind of story. Those weird dates certainly were conducive to some hilarious moments that never got there. I find the structure of the book got a bit repetitive and I would have love to learn more about some of the secondary characters.

Zoe was a likable character for the most part, although I would have given her a slap on the head some times to wake her up. I think Dani’s plot was treated a bit lightly if we consider the seriousness of what she went through.

Although predictable (let’s be honest, what rom-com isn’t predictable) I liked the ending. I would have love a little more of that relationship and a little less Dungeons and Dragons talk! 😅

Thank you Susan for doing a buddy read of this one with me!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank You, Next by Sophie Ranald is a contemporary romantic comedy novel. The main character, Zoe, is a chef who has been on her fair share of horrible dates and is thinking of becoming a cat lady as her cat Frazzle is the best man in her life.

As Zoe is about to give up getting one too many private part pictures sent to her on her online dating site a friend suggests lining up her dates by their zodiac signs. Zoe’s dates still have their ups and downs as she searches for the man that may be her perfect match.

I have to say I was not really that big of a fan of this book finding it ended it a bit meh so I began thinking it had the perfect title as when done my thought was thank you, next! It did have it’s funny moments but to be honest the bad dates kept on and on and when I thought I picked up a romance I was beginning to wonder when that would come into play. In the end I just wished this one had more balance and focused a bit more on the relationship that came about and not try to only focus on being humorous.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Grace A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the story idea, the execution of the plot, not so much. I felt like the story kept going in circles about Zoe's failed dating experiences, one crappy date after another, the story was not moving forward as far as 60% into the book. Even the longest "relationship" blatantly had little to do with a love interest and more to do with a convenient living arrangement.
Zoe put a heavy stock on reading the stars and used a stargazer app to make decisions about her dating life.
She was a smart woman, and I was expecting more independence and confidence but what I got was weak, insecure, lonely, desperate, needy and naive, especially in her personal life. A great deal of unexplored potential with Zoe's character.
A scene in chapter one was repeated in chapter twenty-six, the date with Brett, my guess is this was not intentional.
Overall, the treasure for a great story was hidden in this book, I just didn't quite find it. 2 stars.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy for an honest review.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoe is in her late 20s and desperate for love. She finally gives in to peer pressure and goes on a dating app in a quest for love. Let's just say they weren't all winners, Zoe has to kiss a lot of frogs in an attempt to find her prince.

This was a light hearted fun buddy read with Javier. I am more grateful than ever that I am not single, as the dating pool can apparently be quite scary, but definitely entertaining. There were some funny moments as well as touching moments in this book but I was honestly expecting a bit more humor throughout.

Overall, it was an easy read and a great distraction during this stressful 2020.

3.5 stars

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Obsidian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.

So not much to say here. This one did not grab me at all. I read the previous book in the series, Just Saying so was familiar with the character of Zoe. I was wondering how Ranald was going to rehab this character to make us root for her. Honestly she doesn't do enough of it to make you want to root for Zoe who keeps going on about her ex Joe and how nothing since him has compared. The book does a good job of showing us some chick lit bits with Zoe going on disastrous Tinder dates as well as realizing what she wants and does not want in a relationship. The book just got stale after a while and I didn't buy her love interest in this one either. It's someone familiar to readers at this point who I think we all had strong reactions to when we started with this series. Curious who Ranald will follow up with next though.

Zoe in "Thank You, Next" is determined to finally get over her ex Joe who she tried to steal from his current girlfriend in the last book. Zoe has decided to start dating via the Tinder dating app and she's only going to pick guys who her star app tells her are good picks for her. So in this totally illogical way you have Zoe dating through the Zodiac. I wish I was kidding. No Zoe is not early 20s, she's 27, so you can't even excuse that. We get to follow Zoe's up and downs through dating while she also silently judges her gym buddy Dani about the guy she's dating. No Zoe never speaks up (until way too late IMHO) but we definitely get to read her opinions about the guy.

I think it would have taken a lot for most readers to want to root for Zoe. I think the only author that has come close to this was Emily Giffin in "Something Blue". It pains me to say that since I don't read that author anymore. But she did a great job with turning the antagonist in the first book into someone you rooted for in the follow-up to "Something Borrowed." I think if we had seen more self awareness from Zoe that not jerky people don't try to steal someone's boyfriend and maybe work on herself a bit more instead of doing the whole I need a man to be happy. Seriously that was pretty much this whole book. I love romance books, but I wanted to see more of Zoe and what she was about besides dating and feeling disappointed that guys she liked are not into her the same way. I don't know, I guess I was hoping for a girl empowerment moment or something.

The other characters in this one are not developed very well. We have glimpses of Alice and Joe in this one, but it's so odd that since Zoe works for Alice (she's the chef at the pub) it feels odd that Alice is not in this more.

We get to see Zoe date and some of the dates are hilariously bad, and the whole dick pic thing that kept happening to her made me sigh (been there, got the t-shirt) and I think if Ranald had focused on that aspect the plot would have held together more.

The flow was up and down for me. I think because once we get past the constant dates the book hits a stale point with Zoe and I won't go into it, but it was boring to read about. I think we are supposed to see Zoe as now realizing she needs to be more assertive and all that, but geez, it was a long time coming.

The ending was cute. I didn't really care about her or the hero she got with, but it was cute.

[Andrea Pole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank You, Next by Sophie Ranald is a quick read that will certainly resonate with anyone who has ever turned to a dating app in the search for love.

Zoe has all but given up in finding her soulmate, and has more or less resigned herself to living out her days with only her cat for company. But when her friend Robbie suggests a dating app that relies heavily on star signs to align the perfect match, Zoe figures that she has nothing to lose, and commits herself to a process that will shake her confidence in ever finding the perfect partner among a sea of punters.

This is a lighthearted read, and while I never felt totally invested emotionally, I was curious enough to tag along for the ride. 3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first met Zoe in Sophie Ranald's novel Just Saying where she was the heroine's boyfriend's gorgeous ex-girlfriend (the one that got away), so it was a bit of a shock to see her re-imagined here as a short frizzy-haired girl whose hair is more ginger than auburn.

Zoe hasn't been on a date in forever and hasn't had sex in even longer so when her sous-chef Robbie suggests she uses Tinder to find a date she decides to combine it with her horoscope app and date men according to their star-sign. Just so that she doesn't mess it up, she decides to start with the signs that are least compatible with her as an Aquarian. What follows is a series of painful dates (and non-dates) with some truly weird men. Maybe this resonates with women closer to Zoe's age but I didn't find it funny, more cringeworthy, and Zoe's inability to extricate herself from these situations just felt like she was a bit of a doormat.

Then Zoe finds someone who feels like he could be 'the One', they like the same food, the same films, the same causes, the same music. But could it be that having the same taste doesn't necessarily lead to love?

Centred around a South London pub called the Ginger Cat where Zoe works as a chef, this book doesn't shy away from some of the less pleasant aspects of dating.

I liked it but I didn't love it.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[susana ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

arc kindly provided by bookouture via netgalley

Thank You, Next is Zoë’s story, a serial dater who’s looking for the one. After many Tinder fails, she starts trusting her astronomy app, and she starts dating different men from different zodiac signs to find her perfect match. However, Tinder does not end up being the bearer of love.

This book is way different than any other rom-com I’ve read. The final love interest wasn’t very clear until far into the story, so you’ll have to read and go through the dates until you finally catch it. In that sense, I think I like it better when the love interest is settled since the beginning. Still, it was very interesting to read and it made me being hooked up all the time.

What does this mean for me? That even though the book is full of romance, I was more interested in the friendships between Zoë and Dani and Robbie. Especially the first. In fact, for one moment I even thought the book would be f/f and Dani and Zoë would suprise me by saying fuck off to men and dating each other (which, not gonna lie, would have made me happier).

Zoë’s Tinder experiences and dates were so funny to read, and sadly, super relatable. I still use the app once in a while expecting something different but I end up disappointed every-single-time. So let me use this review as a reminder: no matter how lonely you are, Susana, do not download that demonic app again.

All in all… this book was a very fast read and it was funny, but I think it wasn’t completely for me.

[el · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

thank you, next accompanies astrology-obsessed zoë through the hapless highs and lows of dating in the twenty-first century following the messy aftermath of a breakup with her ex, joe. over the course of the novel, online dating profiles are erected, dick pics are deleted, and cats are scratched. this book exists in a category i like to call domestic dread, which lives opposite the slice-of-life that is domestic bliss. it contains all the trappings of a home environment full of love: warm, homemade food, fuzzy feline creatures, and bird-infested beer gardens. the catch is that most of the narrative is saturated with zoë's ill attempts at finding a date with a man who isn't totally dysfunctional, and as a result, over 50% of the novel follows her on dating mishaps designed to be outrageous and therefore funny. instead, most serve to slow down an already slow narrative, and there are few, if any, genuinely laugh out loud moments.

i found the book's pacing to be something of an anomaly and am still slightly bewildered by the fact that zoë's real love interest only makes an appearance in the late second half of the book—and even then, his involvement in the narrative is relegated to brief, standout moments. he was by far and large the most interesting and three-dimensional of sophie ranald's offerings and i was immediately fascinated with the contrast created by his coldness and zoë's warmth. that chafe was short-lived, however, and so too was my hope for greater romantic development between the pair. too long was spent following zoë on terrible tinder dates, or else navel-gazing with her satirically leftist boyfriend who was clearly freeloading from the get-go.

strangely, the better moments in the book for me were the more minute details of domestic dread. i enjoyed following zoë to the gym during her workouts with dani—even if 99% of their conversations were spent discussing men, or wishing they were lesbians so they didn't have to deal with the dysfunctions of heterosexual dating—or cozying up inside her pub, the ginger cat, while she whipped up warm meals for her patrons. the food writing in this was almost more engaging than the actual romance, and one of the greatest opportunities for exploring meta-narratives was wasted when the dungeons and dragons gameplay was only briefly employed as an entry-point into the main romance and as a way to later establish their relationship at the very end of the book.

for readers who love the 'will they, won't they?' more than the actual getting together, thank you, next is a fun, light read with very little at stake and perhaps too much in the way of astrological musings.

[Caitlin Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by Sophie Ranald and I thought it was really cute. This was a perfect light comedy to read following October which was filled with mysteries and thrillers. Thank You Next features Zoe, a down on her luck young woman who decides to start dating based on mens zodiac signs. The main character and her friends were hilarious. The commentary and conversations between Zoe and her friend Dani really won the book for me. Hearing about Zoe’s dates through her commentary was fun and the characters were all well developed.

What I didn’t love about this book was that we didn’t meet the real love interest until so late in the book. This book felt more like a comedy about friendship and dating then a real romantic comedy. However, Sophie’s writing was great and I definitely laughed out loud a few times. I look forward to reading more from her in the future and would recommend for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk! 3.5 stars!

[Brenda P · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up! This was a cute contemporary romance. I enjoyed listening all Zoe’s dating disasters and then finding the perfect match! There was a few scenes where they play D&D, which is not my thing but the author made it work in the end. I likes Frazzel the cat! I wish there was more spice in this book though.

[Avani ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank You, Next by Sophie Ranald is an adult contemporary romance where we see Zoe, who is a dating website and has enormous weird pictures (you know what I mean :P). She has had pretty weird relationships in the past and does not want to die alone with her cats.

Sounds Cliché right? Now, what drove me towards reading this book was Zoe's best friend Robbie, who lives by his horoscope. Robbie dares her to work his way until she finds The One. Now the question is will she find it?

The story starts very slowly according to me. But I liked the horoscope part alot. She meeting various guys with different horoscope was kind of fun and also slightly hilarious to read about at some point. The story of a chef, Zoe is just like us. So this felt more realistic rather than those high expectations magical rom-com books and movies.

I would have liked more if I got to read more about Adam and Zoe together. Overall it is a good and light read. The writing style is pretty good too.
____

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for honest review.

Merged review:

Thank You, Next by Sophie Ranald is an adult contemporary romance where we see Zoe, who is a dating website and has enormous weird pictures (you know what I mean :P). She has had pretty weird relationships in the past and does not want to die alone with her cats.

Sounds Cliché right? Now, what drove me towards reading this book was Zoe's best friend Robbie, who lives by his horoscope. Robbie dares her to work his way until she finds The One. Now the question is will she find it?

The story starts very slowly according to me. But I liked the horoscope part alot. She meeting various guys with different horoscope was kind of fun and also slightly hilarious to read about at some point. The story of a chef, Zoe is just like us. So this felt more realistic rather than those high expectations magical rom-com books and movies.

I would have liked more if I got to read more about Adam and Zoe together. Overall it is a good and light read. The writing style is pretty good too.
____

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for honest review.

[Lisa Leone-campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe is just beginning to get over the heartbreak of losing the love of her life. A chef, she and her cat Frazzle live upstairs from the bar she cooks at aptly named The Ginger Cat.

She starts to get a bit of pressure to begin to date again from the other chef, Ronnie, who seems to have no problem finding trysts. He insists she at least put herself out there on one of the many dating apps that exist. She does and after her first date, or no show date, she decides she can’t find love this way. But then she discovers a dating astrology app, which partners love compatibility through your signs. Zoe thinks she has hit the jackpot! She signs up! Let the love match begin!

And then it doesn’t go as well as anticipated. She finds one match to be perfect! So perfect that not only do they never go on another date, but he blocks her! Then there is another date which after serenading her for one hour has her married with children! Finding Mr. Right may be very wrong for Zoe.

Then the stars align, not on the app but accidently and she literally falls for someone. She seems to think she has met “the one”. OK, so he’s not that great in bed, that will get better, and he does not have a real job but that could change right? and he is a bit of a slob, but at least she can clean up after him. It’s still a boyfriend and she can stop dating.

As Zoe debates the pro’s and con’s of being in love, what she seems to miss are the goings on at the bar and how sometimes you may not need an an astrology app to see the vision right in front of you. Perhaps sometimes the only help you really need when looking for love is no help at all.

Thank You, Next is an enjoyable, comical story as are all Ranald’s books. This book will take you away from the toil of one’s life and plunge you into a world of lightness, wit and of course, love.

Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture #SophieRanald #ThankYou,Next for the advanced copy.

[Leonie Hinch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Sophie Ranald, and Bookouture for my arc of Thank You, Next in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Zoë has been hung up on her ex for so long that she's forgotten what dating is like. Now she lives in the flat above the pub she works in as a chef, with her fluffy ginger cat Frazzle and lived vicariously through her sous chef and his raucous sex life. So when he suggests she starts dating based on her most compatible signs of the zodiac, Zoë thinks well why not? Cue hilarity as each date goes from disaster to disaster and Zoë begins to suspect she might be able to start a small art gallery with the sheer quantity of d*ck pics she's been receiving.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was very relatable, laugh out loud funny in places and I really liked Zoë's character. I thought the dates were inventive and amusing and even the ones that were slightly over the top were amusing, the gym buddies and dungeons and dragons elements added depth to the story and the romance plot was believable, fun and a lovely happy ending.
All that would have been the recipe for a perfectly uplifting 5* read but sadly Thank You, Next loses a star for the trivialising of nut allergies which it has about half way through the book.
I really do feel as a person with a life threatening allergy to peanuts and nuts that if it is going to be used in any kind of media then it should be about raising awareness not for casual use that promotes the harmful idea that an allergy is a 'fad' or just people 'being difficult' which is the implication here. I will be contacting the publisher directly to ask them to consider re editing on that section rather than promoting harmful stereotypes about people with allergies.

Other than that I loved the book and would love to read more from this author.

[Samantha Scheer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy. Guacamole!

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this HILARIOUS Rom-Com prior to it’s end of November release date!

I first heard of Sophie Ranald when I read her Just Sayin’ novel in July. I instantly fell in love with the writing, the characters, and oh my god the humor. Seriously, I laughed more at that book than I’ve ever done to any book before.

Anddddd Thank You, Next did NOT disappoint. I loved that we got to follow a side character from Just Sayin’ and her shenanigans that are funny but also.. definitely relatable. This book was just so FUN, nerdy, cheesy, and full of banter and wit. Definitely a great book to keep you distracted from the anxieties of our current world (come on Nevada!)

My only complaint is Jude. He SUCKED. But at least our main character began to realize that. Or did she? (No spoilers here).

Make sure you get this book when it releases on 11/24! It will NOT disappoint, trust me!

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Riya Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

My relationship with romance and the popular "RomCom" genre of books is very similar to our protagonist, Zoe's relationship with the modern online dating app MISHAPS in this book.

I get ATTRACTED.
I get excited to read it, flew through the first half and then , BOOM! it all dwindled away, and I ended up getting disappointed. Yes it breaks my heart.
Just the exact same feeling our old school romantic Zoe gets after a series of awfully bad dates.
Zoe wants to find "THE ONE", dabbling in the world of modern dating with funny but heartbreaking anecdotes or rather MISADVENTURES.

Lot of us can relate to Zoe, she is just like you or me, single but afraid of dying alone so we hop on the online dating bandwagon, KISS ONE TOO MANY FROGS only to be rolling our eyes and probably disgruntled meeting just about everything ,but a good guy.

Will Zoe find "THE ONE"?
Unfortunately I didn't and I can only say one line for this book,
"THANK YOU, Next.

#Thankyou,Next #NetGalley

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank You, Next was filled with so many awkward, but highly entertaining, dates. In it, you will meet Zoe. She is a chef at The Ginger Cat and she actually owns a cat named Frazzle. She hasn't had the best romantic life because she has been so busy with work. Plus, she is still practically new to London due to moving there 6 months ago. So it was high time to jump back into the dating pool.

Now the dates were sometimes super funny and other times they were extremely awkward. I ended up liking them all because I couldn't stop laughing no matter what. It was like each horrific date ended up making Zoe a bit stronger when it comes to relationships and dating. Like she started to figure out what she liked/disliked in a person with each experience.

In the end, it was a really cute book that I had a lot of fun diving into.

[Em__Jay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one’s not for me. I was expecting a light read with a few laughs about dating in the modern age but reading this book felt more like a chore. This book brought nothing new to the chick-lit genre; I felt like I’d read it all before. I made it to the halfway point before skimming the rest.

Robbie, the sous chef was the only fun, bright spark among a cast of flat, clichéd characters.

[Sónia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was a quick and easy read with a few fun moments. I wasn't very invested in the characters but it was definitely entertaining!

[Cristiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐

Aparentemente, este livro pertence a um conjunto. Contudo, não senti que tivesse de os ler para perceber a história (na verdade, descobri bastante tarde sobre os anteriores, que nem tenciono ler realmente).
Este é um livro de leitura fácil e rápida. A escrita é de fácil compreensão e as aventuras amorosas da Zoë foram capazes de me fazer rir, encolher de vergonha alheia, torcer o nariz e sentir que, para mim, aquilo não dava (Jude, oh Jude).

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, this was cute.

And it was great to see that Zoë from ‘Just Saying’ is not just the “perfect ex”, but a woman with her own insecurities. In this book, she felt more fleshed out and not the perfect woman the other book seemed to describe.

I believe I will read more of this author’s books.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You, Next was a really cute story. Zoe's journey throughout the book was funny and the awkward dating experiences felt very real to life. I found myself chuckling because I've been there, too! Unsolicited eggplant pics on a dating app? Yup.

I appreciated how Zoe's story was realistic when it came to dating the wrong person. Sometimes they seem like they're right for you, or the best you can do, but you're not being honest with yourself and what you want/need. The zodiac theme was a nice touch (even though there was a lot of it), especially since I've been getting into reading my horoscope again lately.

All in all, Sophie Renald's book was good fun. I related to Zoe and everything she went through. I'm thankful for NetGalley allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.

[The Book Gawdess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a free advance reader's copy and am leaving this review voluntarily

This was my third book by Sophie Ranald and I must say for someone who doesn't read much rom-coms, this author is quickly becoming one of my favorites. However, this book was, in my opinion, not as good as the others. Thank You, Next is about Zoe. If you've read Ms Ranald's previous book, Just Saying, you'd know who Zoe is. She still has her cat, Frazzle but that's about the only company she has in her apartment. She's had quite a few dating disasters as well as quite a few pics of the male anatomy sent to her and she's beginning to think she'll die alone. Her best friend, Robbie, gives her an idea. He dares her to date her way through the zodiac until she finds Mr Right. She decides to try it because it's not like there are any better options around. Hilarity ensues...

As with the other two books I've read by this author, I laughed out loud quite a few times reading this new offering. My favorite spots during this book were the various dates Zoe found herself on. As someone who's been single for quite some time, I empathized with her Tinder adventures *shudders as some memories pop up*.

However, because of my animosity towards her from the other book, I was upset that she spent the first few pages mooning over Joe. I was also a bit peeved about how long she took before letting her gym buddy, Dani, date a creep before she spoke up. Real friends tell the truth, regardless of hurt feelings.

I did think that there could have been more character development in this book. I found myself feeling a little disconnected because of this. I would have loved to see characters from the previous book more within this book as well as a continuation of some of their stories.

I did like when Zoe and Dani finally stood up for themselves eventually. The ending was also quite cute.

Even though I never fully got into this book, I would still read more books by this author based on the other two I read.

Due to a lot of sexual content and language, this book should be read by adults.

[Silvia F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awwwww this book!! Gah- as frustrating as it was it was at times it was funny. I really enjoyed reading about all of the dating mishaps that Zoe went through. Like the audacity of some of her dates was downright hilarious- how she stuck around for some of her dates was beyond me. I would have ran for the high hills!! How could she have SUCH BAD LUCK?? At that point I would have settled with being a crazy old lady with 1000 cats to not have to go through that again. Not only was it romantic but it was perfectly paced for me.. read it in one sitting! I also loved Zoe's relationship with Dani- through thick and thin they were there for eachother without judgement which I loved. Reason why this isn't a 5 star- it ended so fast. The big bang wasn't there- it was like here you go and that's it. I would have loved more development and more HEAT!!! WHERE IS THE HEAT?? :P

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[Thi (booked4theweekend_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐💫

Thank You, Next had some laugh-out-loud moments that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of my favorite aspect of this book is the narrative. I was able to visualized many scenes and it really felt like I was sitting down for my best friend with a cup of coffee hearing about her dating mishaps and adventures.

If you are looking for a light, fun, and enjoyable quick rom com read, look no further! Go grab a copy from an indie store near you!

Full review on the blog (www.acourtofbooksandbrews.com)

[Ptiteaurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'aime être surprise en romance et quand j'ai découvert le résumé , j'ai été intriguée par le fait que notre héroïne allait chercher l'amour en se basant sur les signes astrologiques. Nous allons donc nous plonger dans une romance qui sonne très brittish et qui nous fait parfois penser à Bridget Jones étant donné la maladresse de l'héroïne.

Avis complet à lire sur : https://thelovelyteacheraddictions.bl...

[Kimberly #Audiofile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly Whitty
Slightly funny
Ok light read.
No major love interest that develops until the very end
3 stars

[vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoe really doesn’t want to die alone and surrounded by cats. But it’s not looking good: she’s had sex precisely twice in the last year, and her feline friend isn’t the kind of male company she wants in bed…Zoe's ready to give up on the search for love, until her friend has an idea. Robbie lives by his horoscope, and he’s sure she’s got this dating stuff all wrong. He dares her to work her way through the zodiac until she finds The One.

Usually Zoe would laugh at such a suggestion, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Could love be written in the stars? Or is she destined to end up alone, eating take-out in bed and watching endless re-runs of Friends?

This book delves into the weirdness of online dating and explores its hilarity. Following Zoe find her way around Tinder and Stargazing was very funny and light-hearted. It wasn't hard to love her because reading from her voice was like having a conversation with a friend. The writing truly sells the whole book. From the way that Zoe narrates the story, to getting the whole story of each date when she tells it to her friend Dani. It's like the reader is being let in to a very special, hilarious, gossip. This story is perfect to have a laugh and a thought or two about how we view dating or looking for a relationship as a whole.

I'd like to think that's actually the theme of the book overall, rather than it being a romance. The actual romantic interest is not introduced until later later on, well advanced into the story. Even though I found the romance cute, I still feel like the commentary of Zoe navigating relationship shone much more.

The characters were nice and very well distinct between each other. One could say they were very well constructed and thus, the dialogue was entertaining because it worked really well. Again, the themes and the characters' arcs feel like they have more to do about how we view a search for a relationship and not with the main romantic couple itself.

In conclusion, it was a nice read, it made me laugh out loud a couple of times and it really kept my mind off of anything else going on. That will always be appreciated. Great comedy with some great commentary. However, I'd have to say this is not really a Romance® with a big R, official and authorized. Either way, I'd recommend giving it a try when it comes out at the end of the month. A well done novel.

//

Zoe realmente no quiere morir sola y rodeada de gatos. Pero el panorama no se ve bien: ha tenido relaciones sexuales precisamente dos veces en el último año, y su amigo felino no es el tipo de compañía masculina que quiere en la cama... Zoe está lista para renunciar a la búsqueda del amor, hasta que su amigo tenga una idea . Robbie vive de acuerdo con su horóscopo, y está seguro de que ella se ha equivocado en este asunto de las citas. Él la desafía a abrirse camino a través del zodíaco hasta que encuentre a Esa Persona.

Por lo general, Zoe se reiría de tal sugerencia, pero los tiempos desesperados requieren medidas desesperadas. ¿Podría el amor estar escrito en las estrellas? ¿O está destinada a terminar sola, comiendo comida para llevar en la cama y viendo interminables repeticiones de Friends?

Este libro profundiza en la rareza de las citas en línea y explora su hilaridad. Seguir a Zoe para encontrar su camino alrededor de Tinder y Stargazing fue muy divertido y liviano. No fue difícil amarla porque leer de su voz era como tener una conversación con un amiga. La escritura realmente vende todo el libro. Desde la forma en que Zoe narra la historia, hasta obtener la historia completa de cada cita cuando se la cuenta a su amiga Dani. Es como si se dejara entrar al lector a un chisme muy especial e hilarante. Esta historia es perfecta para reír y pensar un par de veces sobre cómo vemos las citas o la búsqueda de una relación como un todo.

Me gustaría pensar que ese es en realidad el tema del libro en general, en lugar de ser un romance. El interés romántico real no se presenta hasta más tarde, muy avanzado en la historia. Aunque encontré lindo el romance, todavía siento que el comentario de Zoe navegando en la relación brilló mucho más.

Los personajes eran agradables y muy distintos entre sí. Se podría decir que estaban muy bien construidos y por eso el diálogo fue entretenido porque funcionó muy bien. Una vez más, los temas y los arcos de los personajes parecen tener más que ver con cómo vemos la búsqueda de una relación y no con la pareja romántica principal en sí.

En conclusión, fue una lectura agradable, me hizo reír a carcajadas un par de veces y realmente mantuvo mi mente alejada de cualquier otra cosa. Eso siempre se agradecerá. Gran comedia con excelentes comentarios. Sin embargo, debo decir que este no es realmente un Romance® con una R mayusucula, oficial y autorizado. De cualquier manera, recomendaría probarlo cuando salga a fin de mes. Una novela bien hecha.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in a matter of hours! Such an easy read that had me laughing in all the right places.
I took a brief hiatus from my usual YA Fantasy to read this witty, contemporary novel about finding love in a world of rejection, ghosting, sex mishaps and dating the wrong guy.
Page Three and already Zoe is a super relatable character, I can see so much of myself in her with how she interacted with the nail manicurist and how she got ahead of herself fantasising about a future with her date. In actual fact, page one is where I was instantly relating to this novel, the questioning behind a dating profile and the analysing of the pictures and what the other person says or doesn’t say is so true. I loved how Ranald uses ‘Ask Angela’, this is such an important campaign that I feel should be advertised more on social media and through media campaigns and the inclusion of it in this initial chapter is perfect.
By Chapter Three I am loving the narrative, I can see how the story is developing and can easily visual the scenes as they take place which I find really valuable in a novel. I love the idea of zodiac dating as I have cross-checked zodiac signs of my own dates previously to explore compatibility. I find that this novel is so easy to relate to, it is so witty and a really easy, quick read, I was surprised at how easy this novel was to read, there was no point that I felt stuck and wanting to put down the book (Kindle).
The characters are well written and crafted to be real and can be easily identified in everyday life. The men that our protagonist encounters through Tinder are perfectly depicted and are common characters that you find on the app, which added a perfect level of authenticity to the novel. I really appreciated how the novel did not just focus on Zoe, but we saw glimpses of Dani’s life as well as Robbie and Adam.
I feel that the novel is lacking diversity and that Robbie was a token gay character who could have easily been a heterosexual female, however the dynamic would not work with two female characters either side of Zoe. I found that the novel could have been more explicit to creating more rounded diverse characters however alike to the truth and enlightenment of Tinder, Robbie’s Grindr antics was a nice addition to the weak LGBT diversity and inclusion. Tackling the different sexual kinks is something that is done in this novel that enlightens readers to the importance of boundaries and not allowing yourself to be pressured beyond your comfort zone, I did however find the discussion about sex clubs rather entertaining, but found that the feminist views of boundaries a great addition to the humour as it educates readers and teaches them what their rights are to boundaries and consent within a relationship.


** Spoilers **
The novel is well structured, and I was at first shocked to see Zoe settle with a boyfriend around half way into the narrative, I was concerned that this would ruin the dynamic and that the latter half would focus on their relationship taking away from the original premise of a woman struggling with online dating and finding the one. Thankfully, this was not the case and although I did find myself getting bored of the relationship between Jude and Zoe I found it crucial to the plot as it was their relationship that opened up Zoe’s mind and made her realise that the perfect man on paper does not correlate to the perfect man in real life, I found that there was a lot of truth in the overall narrative and leaves me with some hope for my own endeavours.
Although, initially there were obvious indicators that Zoe and Adam would date, it was interesting to see how this changed at there was a point during the novel where I disregarded this inevitability but later realised that it was an inevitable ending for them. Despite the obvious coupling I felt that this novel is still worth reading for the romance, there was something so honest and open about the journey Zoe takes through the different stages of online dating and the different men you meet.
I do feel that the ending was rather abrupt, and I did wish that not everyone was coupled up at the end as I feel this is a cliché and almost childish for the idea of everyone living happily ever after. And I did expect there to be more after the Christmas Morning chapter, I was disappointed to see that the narrative ended and that we didn’t see the relationship between Adam and Zoe develop once they became an official couple.
Overall, the novel was light-hearted, witty and a really quick and easy read, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary however suggest limiting expectations for diversity but welcome the truth and honesty behind the narrative.