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Lovesick
Beth is an absolute wreck. She is certain that she has some kind of disease — a fatal one, most likely. She is also very single and quite keen on her (boss) colleague, Dr Brendan Roberts. He seems to fancy her, too — well, until The Morning After.
Beth knows it’s time to sort out her messy life, but she has no idea where to start.
Enter Shane — a slightly dishevelled forklift driver. He may not be suave or wealthy, but he does laugh at Beth’s jokes and remember how she likes her coffee. Plus, the more they hang out, the healthier she feels.
But when Shane suddenly cuts off all communication, Beth starts to think there’s no such thing as The One, and she decides to stop being slapdash and move on. Only life is never that simple, and Beth must take a chance if she hopes to find the cure to her ills.
Lovesick is a big-hearted romance about getting sick, getting better and taking risks.
Beth knows it’s time to sort out her messy life, but she has no idea where to start.
Enter Shane — a slightly dishevelled forklift driver. He may not be suave or wealthy, but he does laugh at Beth’s jokes and remember how she likes her coffee. Plus, the more they hang out, the healthier she feels.
But when Shane suddenly cuts off all communication, Beth starts to think there’s no such thing as The One, and she decides to stop being slapdash and move on. Only life is never that simple, and Beth must take a chance if she hopes to find the cure to her ills.
Lovesick is a big-hearted romance about getting sick, getting better and taking risks.
- GenresRomanceContemporary
323 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2017
2 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 7, 2018
But I think, you know, just move on. Don’t wallow. Misery is so not attractive.Beth, sometimes messy, embarrassing, uncoordinated and funny was crushing on her boss, Brendan for months. And when she thought that there's a real chance for the both of them, she realized that the The Morning After their great night was only nothing to him. Yes! He was charming and maybe the most attractive man she had ever seen. But he's a selfish man with a selfish motive.
After torturing herself with Brendan's non-committal recognition about what happened between them, Beth decided to moved on with her life. She had a frequent visit to her doctor because she was convinced that there's something wrong with her — being all nervous and getting an uncontrollable twitching. And then there she met Shane.
When all of sudden, Beth discovered that Shane was the one who fixed her bike fast forward, ending it with Shane's bike chains came off and Beth was the one who fixed it this time. Him, signing her cast with his mobile number above that it says:
I’d drop everything for you. Shane.Beth and Shane's chemistry was interesting but not so convincing. They've met in the first few chapters and in a flash they were seemed in love and in a relationship status. Even with Jess' constant warning of staying away from him and pointing out that Shane had issues, everything happened in a slapdash . Those issues weren't justified the way I expected them to be because I really only got to know Shane right before the story ended.
One day they were in love and the next thing I knew, Shane was not talking to Beth. He just poof and disappeared. I got confused, so was Beth.
I like Kelly's character from all the rest. She was mature and realistic and have the best one liner dialogue ever. Simone, Beth's sister had a few scenes now and there giving advice was related but not impactful on Beth's change of knowing what she really wanted in terms of relationship. Pushing her to start all over again with Brendan after her heart broken with Shane was never helpful. Yes! Maybe in the end, it gave a little bit of drama but not so much to wow the readers with the overall progress of the story.
The narrative was written rather nicely but the two main characters were lacking of depth. I've waited for the arc of getting the hype and the thrill but it never came. The rushed romance and underlying mental health issues were fine but I wished the resolution was a bit more detailed.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story with a bit of humor. Fast paced and light-hearted.
***Thank you NetGalley, XO Romance, Xoum Publishing and Jean Flynn for providing me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
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November 17, 2017
This book starts off great. Our heroine is clumsy, constantly late and just all around having trouble being an adult . I'm sure there is a passage in here that everyone I know will relate to on some level.
The narrative voice is great and Beth is a relatable lady that you can easy picture yourself being. She makes mistakes, lots and lots of mistakes, but that just adds to her humanity. She's awesome, idiotic and living in my hometown of Melbourne! I often forget how lovely and reassuring it is to read about places you know.
While I enjoyed the majority of the story, this is marketed as a romance and I don't think that quite fits this book. Yes, there are two leading men at play here and Beth seems to have trouble picking between them, but I never really believed the gravity of the feelings that Beth seemed to associate with both of them.
Take for instance her first.... what shall we call it, dalliance, with Brendan. And she says at more than one point that she knows little to nothing about Brendan, so I didn't find her attraction to him particularly believable.
Shane was great. I wanted more Shane. I wish he didn't . The parts where he was there were my favourites, even if the whole drama with his was a little bit over the top, and seemingly thrown in at the last minute. I would have loved a more in depth exploration of this storyline. So many possibilities that were not investigated. Shame.
Another thing I didn't like was the "angry other woman" trope that was going on with the character of Jess. I found it unneccessary and the story would have been completely fine without it.
I think after saying all this, I have come to conclusion that this belongs in the chick-lit genre, rather than the romance genre. Because this is really a journey in self-discovery for Beth that just happens to have some dudes in it, rather than a traditional romance. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. It's superbly written and I devoured it in a single day, I just wish there was more romance! And sex! There, I said it. I'd love to see what some more detailed sex scenes written by this lady might be like.
I would happily read more from Jean Flynn in the future. A promising start, indeed.
3.5 helmet Stars
This was written by my mum's writing teacher. I do not know Jean myself, but I did listen to her talk all about this book at the Ballarat Writers Festival and it was a hoot. Keep up the great work, Jean.
The narrative voice is great and Beth is a relatable lady that you can easy picture yourself being. She makes mistakes, lots and lots of mistakes, but that just adds to her humanity. She's awesome, idiotic and living in my hometown of Melbourne! I often forget how lovely and reassuring it is to read about places you know.
While I enjoyed the majority of the story, this is marketed as a romance and I don't think that quite fits this book. Yes, there are two leading men at play here and Beth seems to have trouble picking between them, but I never really believed the gravity of the feelings that Beth seemed to associate with both of them.
Take for instance her first.... what shall we call it, dalliance, with Brendan. And she says at more than one point that she knows little to nothing about Brendan, so I didn't find her attraction to him particularly believable.
Shane was great. I wanted more Shane. I wish he didn't . The parts where he was there were my favourites, even if the whole drama with his was a little bit over the top, and seemingly thrown in at the last minute. I would have loved a more in depth exploration of this storyline. So many possibilities that were not investigated. Shame.
Another thing I didn't like was the "angry other woman" trope that was going on with the character of Jess. I found it unneccessary and the story would have been completely fine without it.
I think after saying all this, I have come to conclusion that this belongs in the chick-lit genre, rather than the romance genre. Because this is really a journey in self-discovery for Beth that just happens to have some dudes in it, rather than a traditional romance. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. It's superbly written and I devoured it in a single day, I just wish there was more romance! And sex! There, I said it. I'd love to see what some more detailed sex scenes written by this lady might be like.
I would happily read more from Jean Flynn in the future. A promising start, indeed.
3.5 helmet Stars
This was written by my mum's writing teacher. I do not know Jean myself, but I did listen to her talk all about this book at the Ballarat Writers Festival and it was a hoot. Keep up the great work, Jean.
July 17, 2017
Beth had spent the last year or so back in her home town of Wagga, to support her Mum while her father was dying from cancer. Now she is back in Melbourne, living in a small flat with her sister Simone and working in an inner city Doctor's surgery as a receptionist, with her best friend Kelly. Trouble is she thinks she has any number of diseases, with twitchy fingers, numb legs and nausea for starters. And things don't get better after she has a one night stand with a Doctor from the surgery. But then she meets Shane and somehow she feels quite calm when she's with him but a couple of weeks after meeting him and thinking that things will step up a notch, he disappears from her life with no explanation.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, which is the authors debut novel. It had a unique Australian feel to it which I loved, I think it was the way the characters spoke. I did cringed with Beth and Kelly's work unprofessionalism ....but that was all part of the story because Beth acknowledged that the surgeries she visited to try and get a diagnosis, were much more professional than where she worked. On the other hand I loved Beth and Kelly's friendship and loyalty to each other. This book could be labelled as a 'chick lit' genre but it also had an edge of seriousness with mental illnesses and drugs, which stopped it from being light and fluffy. And for me the ending was perfect!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.
Edit I've been thinking overnight about how much I enjoyed this book, so bumped up star rating to **4.5 stars**
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, which is the authors debut novel. It had a unique Australian feel to it which I loved, I think it was the way the characters spoke. I did cringed with Beth and Kelly's work unprofessionalism ....but that was all part of the story because Beth acknowledged that the surgeries she visited to try and get a diagnosis, were much more professional than where she worked. On the other hand I loved Beth and Kelly's friendship and loyalty to each other. This book could be labelled as a 'chick lit' genre but it also had an edge of seriousness with mental illnesses and drugs, which stopped it from being light and fluffy. And for me the ending was perfect!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.
Edit I've been thinking overnight about how much I enjoyed this book, so bumped up star rating to **4.5 stars**
July 11, 2017
*2.5 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beth is a mess. She works with her best friend, Kelly, as a receptionist in a surgery in Melbourne.
She’s very single, wishes she wasn’t and has a huge crush on one of the doctors she works with.
This story was short and I guess entertaining. However, it wasn’t for me.
I HATED Beth. She very clearly has anxiety but keeps telling the various doctors she sees that she isn’t stressed about anything which is a straight-up lie, because she wants to be taken seriously. To put it simply, I found her brainless and wanted to constantly either slap her or scream at her.
It annoyed me during the entire book.
The only main or secondary characters I tolerated was Kelly and sometimes Shane. All the others made me insane.
However, the writing was ok but there was too many binary clichés for my taste....
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beth is a mess. She works with her best friend, Kelly, as a receptionist in a surgery in Melbourne.
She’s very single, wishes she wasn’t and has a huge crush on one of the doctors she works with.
This story was short and I guess entertaining. However, it wasn’t for me.
I HATED Beth. She very clearly has anxiety but keeps telling the various doctors she sees that she isn’t stressed about anything which is a straight-up lie, because she wants to be taken seriously. To put it simply, I found her brainless and wanted to constantly either slap her or scream at her.
It annoyed me during the entire book.
The only main or secondary characters I tolerated was Kelly and sometimes Shane. All the others made me insane.
However, the writing was ok but there was too many binary clichés for my taste....
October 17, 2018
// I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. //
First thing I thought about this book was how common the title of it was (I found around 13 books with the same exact title!), but when I actually got to reading it I realized that it was actually a pretty clever title for the book and actually fits it.
For me, I personally don't like the theme of the book. The first part was pretty slow and it took time for Shane to even be introduced into the story. Though, I loved Shane a lot and his character here. Kelly is my favorite female character in this book though with how constant she was and she was just perfect for her role in the story. This book was pretty much insta-love and I have to admit I'm not a fan of it first of all, especially when it isn't executed properly. So this might have also had an impact on the story for me, but you know.
The plot of the book was not something I liked and I got bored of following even though Shane and Beth were okay as a love ship.
First thing I thought about this book was how common the title of it was (I found around 13 books with the same exact title!), but when I actually got to reading it I realized that it was actually a pretty clever title for the book and actually fits it.
For me, I personally don't like the theme of the book. The first part was pretty slow and it took time for Shane to even be introduced into the story. Though, I loved Shane a lot and his character here. Kelly is my favorite female character in this book though with how constant she was and she was just perfect for her role in the story. This book was pretty much insta-love and I have to admit I'm not a fan of it first of all, especially when it isn't executed properly. So this might have also had an impact on the story for me, but you know.
The plot of the book was not something I liked and I got bored of following even though Shane and Beth were okay as a love ship.
June 28, 2017
I quite enjoyed this Aussie book! It was different but in a good way.
The story was a bit slow to start but I immediately liked Beth, the main character. She could be a bit dramatic sometimes, but it was never too OTT. The story touches on mental illness and grieving. It has a chic lit feeling to it. The romance in the story was not the main subject. In fact, it took a while for Shane to be introduced.
Overall, I think it is a great debut for this author. I will look forward to more from her.
*** I requested and received an ARC via Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary review. ***
The story was a bit slow to start but I immediately liked Beth, the main character. She could be a bit dramatic sometimes, but it was never too OTT. The story touches on mental illness and grieving. It has a chic lit feeling to it. The romance in the story was not the main subject. In fact, it took a while for Shane to be introduced.
Overall, I think it is a great debut for this author. I will look forward to more from her.
*** I requested and received an ARC via Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary review. ***
January 31, 2019
WOW this whole story is my life in my 20's. My chaotic life, bouncing around with no clue of who I am, what I want or how to live. My hair, my job, even my neighbourhood. It's like reading my early 20's dairy at the age of 45 and wanting to yell at myself. LOVED IT!
August 2, 2017
Beth is a hot mess, she is finds her boss Dr. Brendan Roberts hot and wouldn't mind getting to know him on a more personal level. When the office goes out after work, it is her boss who seems to also like her too. One night these two spend the night tangled in the sheets and the next day he is indifferent to her. Ugh, what is it with guys taking an interested until the morning after. Beth has come to the conclusion that she had to get back on track with her life.
Then Beth meets Shane who is a forklift driver. Beth and Shane hit it off quickly. Shane laughs at Beth's jokes and remember things like how she likes her coffee. The more Shane and Beth hang out the better Beth feels about their relationship. Until he drops off the face of the Earth. I mean one day they are talking and the next they are not. Beth is so confused, everything seemed great. Now she isn't feeling like she got some uncurable disease; she love sick and Shane seems to be her cure. Why did Shane disappear? Is it something Beth did or is Shane dealing with his own sickness?
I really liked this book. It was different type of book. I can't go into too much detail otherwise I will spoil the book for you. Beth is a mess and she is struggling in many areas of her life. She isn't having much luck in the romance department either. She finds her boss hot but he is a user which has her a complete hot mess until she meets Shane. Shane and Beth hit it off and everything is great until he disappears. What did she do or say to have him run off on her? It was a good book but I got the plot twist rather easily and figure it out. This book is about feeling lovesick and not knowing how to get out of it. Beth feels like she can't find the right guy or did she. There are two sides to a story and you can't judge a situation if you don't know all the facts. I thought it was a good book and love when character grow and develop throughout a story. Beth and Shane are lovesick, are they the cure for each other?
June 19, 2017
**Caution, my review might contain spoilers**
I really enjoyed this book. Straight away the voice of the character, Beth, pulls you in. She's funny, has a cutesie way of saying certain words which played well with her quirky, nervous, shy-yet bold personality. It made me like her instantly. Over time I even loved her character, when in most cases I might become annoyed by a character being so dramatic. However, with Beth I kept rooting for the best for her and didn't want her story to end.
The pacing of the story was good too. Some of the transitions from scene to scene were a bit abrupt and usually something like that would bother me, but there was never a moment where I felt the story dragged. Instead it kept in tune with Beth's life which was often bouncing from one point to the next. I felt the author had a good balance of description and dialogue too.
I loved the inner conflict Beth had in trying to figure out what kind of woman she needed to be for both of the men in her life. Her struggle was very relatable, in the fact that many women, even men, go through their twenties trying to figure themselves out. It was clear though, that Beth was most comfortable in being herself with Shane. He accepted her, when others were trying to mold her to what they expected of her.
I could be wrong, but there was also an underlying story being told about health issues, physical and mental, as well as dealing with loss. I appreciated that, because the characters weren't cookie-cutter, which made them relatable and easier to become invested in. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would not only read it again, but recommend to friends too.
*I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. Straight away the voice of the character, Beth, pulls you in. She's funny, has a cutesie way of saying certain words which played well with her quirky, nervous, shy-yet bold personality. It made me like her instantly. Over time I even loved her character, when in most cases I might become annoyed by a character being so dramatic. However, with Beth I kept rooting for the best for her and didn't want her story to end.
The pacing of the story was good too. Some of the transitions from scene to scene were a bit abrupt and usually something like that would bother me, but there was never a moment where I felt the story dragged. Instead it kept in tune with Beth's life which was often bouncing from one point to the next. I felt the author had a good balance of description and dialogue too.
I loved the inner conflict Beth had in trying to figure out what kind of woman she needed to be for both of the men in her life. Her struggle was very relatable, in the fact that many women, even men, go through their twenties trying to figure themselves out. It was clear though, that Beth was most comfortable in being herself with Shane. He accepted her, when others were trying to mold her to what they expected of her.
I could be wrong, but there was also an underlying story being told about health issues, physical and mental, as well as dealing with loss. I appreciated that, because the characters weren't cookie-cutter, which made them relatable and easier to become invested in. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would not only read it again, but recommend to friends too.
*I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2017
*3 Stars*
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beth is clumsy, anxious about everything, and kind of a wreck. She works as a receptionist in a doctor's office, and has a huge crush on the main doctor, Brendan. They finally sleep together, and Beth realizes that maybe her imagination was better than the real thing.
As she's trying to figure out her feelings for Brendan, she meets Shane. He makes her feel normal, and they can talk about her messy life, because his is kind of messy too. She starts developing feelings for him, but then he totally falls off the map. Beth is left reeling, and has to figure out how to help herself before she can help someone else.
This was a cute story, but there were some issues with it.
-Beth is so back and forth about everything. Every time something bad happens, she decides to run away and "take care" of her mom, even though her mom doesn't seem to need any help at all.
-Her friends and her sister also give her terrible advice throughout the entire book.
-All of the mental illness in the book is mentioned but never really discussed in an in-depth way. Beth needs some help, but it's never really brought up to her. She would really benefit from seeing someone, I think.
-The ending is totally rushed. It left me feeling a little confused.
-The characters needed a little more depth. I never really felt that Beth had any feelings for either guy other than lust, and no one else's feelings were ever fully discussed.
Even with those flaws, it was a quick read and I enjoyed it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beth is clumsy, anxious about everything, and kind of a wreck. She works as a receptionist in a doctor's office, and has a huge crush on the main doctor, Brendan. They finally sleep together, and Beth realizes that maybe her imagination was better than the real thing.
As she's trying to figure out her feelings for Brendan, she meets Shane. He makes her feel normal, and they can talk about her messy life, because his is kind of messy too. She starts developing feelings for him, but then he totally falls off the map. Beth is left reeling, and has to figure out how to help herself before she can help someone else.
This was a cute story, but there were some issues with it.
-Beth is so back and forth about everything. Every time something bad happens, she decides to run away and "take care" of her mom, even though her mom doesn't seem to need any help at all.
-Her friends and her sister also give her terrible advice throughout the entire book.
-All of the mental illness in the book is mentioned but never really discussed in an in-depth way. Beth needs some help, but it's never really brought up to her. She would really benefit from seeing someone, I think.
-The ending is totally rushed. It left me feeling a little confused.
-The characters needed a little more depth. I never really felt that Beth had any feelings for either guy other than lust, and no one else's feelings were ever fully discussed.
Even with those flaws, it was a quick read and I enjoyed it.
September 11, 2017
http://jessjustreads.com
Lovesick is a hilarious romantic comedy about taking risks and learning to let go of whatever is worrying you or holding you back.
Beth is a wonderful protagonist — she’s 26 and she’s witty, smart, sharp and she knows what’s good for her. She has a crush on her boss, but she doesn’t let it overcome her. She doesn’t get her hopes up. And after their Morning After, she doesn’t get in over her head. She is level-headed and mature. I loved reading about her in the story. At first, she’s unsure of herself and she’s quite shy. She doesn’t go for what she wants and she (in some ways) lets people walk all over her, like her sister Simone.
“I’m ready! Most days are like this. Every day, really. It would be nice to sit neatly at the dining table and eat organic bircher muesli and read the newspaper before work. I would like to carefully consider my outfit, wear fitted dresses and brooches and have my hair done properly. But calmly calmly just isn’t my style. Slapdash! is all I can manage.”
Over the course of the novel, she learns to adjust her expectations and believe in what she actually wants. Her sister is pushing her to pursue a relationship with her boss Brendan, but Beth knows something isn’t quite right. She knows that Shane is a better fit for her, despite the fact that they’re so different and his roommate is warning Beth against him. And then Shane disappears for a couple of weeks, and Beth isn’t sure what this means.
“What’s weekend Brendan like? I can’t imagine him in anything except slim-fit tailored pants and collared shirts. Does he wear skinny jeans? Bootcut and moleskins? Beige chinos? Surely not chinos. He’s only thirty-two.”
“I wouldn’t mind kissing Brendan. Or, really, just kissing someone. Brendan’s super attractive and everything, but does he take longer than me getting ready every morning? Are his teeth too white?”
Beth — and all of the other characters — are flawed in many ways. But that’s what makes them relatable, and fun to read about. This is a light romance novel for anyone looking for something not too heavy. Jean won the inaugural XO Romance Prize, so it’s easy to understand why this novel is so fun to read.
In saying that, I think the ending wrapped up a little too abruptly. We find out the reason why Shane has been avoiding Beth, and then the book finishes. It felt a little sudden to me. I would’ve liked for the resolution between Beth and Shane to be a little more in-depth rather than just one conversation. I definitely think Jean had room to expand this.
“Sometimes when I’m halfway through saying something that I think is a good joke I realise that it’s probably just weird, but then it’s too late people I’m with look at me like, What? So, I love that Shane gets when I’m not being serious (most of the time) and goes along with my bizarre conversations.”
The best part about this book is the humour. Jean had me laughing out aloud on the train all throughout the book, with hilarious one-liners and really witty character observations. I raced through this book, devouring each page and desperate to read how the story was going to progress. This is a novel I’d recommend to all the romance readers out there — it’s fun and light but it’ll also pull on your heart strings.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lovesick is a hilarious romantic comedy about taking risks and learning to let go of whatever is worrying you or holding you back.
Beth is a wonderful protagonist — she’s 26 and she’s witty, smart, sharp and she knows what’s good for her. She has a crush on her boss, but she doesn’t let it overcome her. She doesn’t get her hopes up. And after their Morning After, she doesn’t get in over her head. She is level-headed and mature. I loved reading about her in the story. At first, she’s unsure of herself and she’s quite shy. She doesn’t go for what she wants and she (in some ways) lets people walk all over her, like her sister Simone.
“I’m ready! Most days are like this. Every day, really. It would be nice to sit neatly at the dining table and eat organic bircher muesli and read the newspaper before work. I would like to carefully consider my outfit, wear fitted dresses and brooches and have my hair done properly. But calmly calmly just isn’t my style. Slapdash! is all I can manage.”
Over the course of the novel, she learns to adjust her expectations and believe in what she actually wants. Her sister is pushing her to pursue a relationship with her boss Brendan, but Beth knows something isn’t quite right. She knows that Shane is a better fit for her, despite the fact that they’re so different and his roommate is warning Beth against him. And then Shane disappears for a couple of weeks, and Beth isn’t sure what this means.
“What’s weekend Brendan like? I can’t imagine him in anything except slim-fit tailored pants and collared shirts. Does he wear skinny jeans? Bootcut and moleskins? Beige chinos? Surely not chinos. He’s only thirty-two.”
“I wouldn’t mind kissing Brendan. Or, really, just kissing someone. Brendan’s super attractive and everything, but does he take longer than me getting ready every morning? Are his teeth too white?”
Beth — and all of the other characters — are flawed in many ways. But that’s what makes them relatable, and fun to read about. This is a light romance novel for anyone looking for something not too heavy. Jean won the inaugural XO Romance Prize, so it’s easy to understand why this novel is so fun to read.
In saying that, I think the ending wrapped up a little too abruptly. We find out the reason why Shane has been avoiding Beth, and then the book finishes. It felt a little sudden to me. I would’ve liked for the resolution between Beth and Shane to be a little more in-depth rather than just one conversation. I definitely think Jean had room to expand this.
“Sometimes when I’m halfway through saying something that I think is a good joke I realise that it’s probably just weird, but then it’s too late people I’m with look at me like, What? So, I love that Shane gets when I’m not being serious (most of the time) and goes along with my bizarre conversations.”
The best part about this book is the humour. Jean had me laughing out aloud on the train all throughout the book, with hilarious one-liners and really witty character observations. I raced through this book, devouring each page and desperate to read how the story was going to progress. This is a novel I’d recommend to all the romance readers out there — it’s fun and light but it’ll also pull on your heart strings.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2017
If you want to read a first-person narrative by an insecure, under-achieving nervous wreck of a woman who is convinced she has a terrible disease as she second- and third-guesses everything she says and does then this is the book for you. Beth is a terrible hypochondriac and she starts out by crushing on the doctor in whose office she is a receptionist. SPOILER ALERT - he sleeps with her and treats her selfishly. Then she falls for Shane who is shy and nice and she really feels a connection with him. There aren’t actually that many scenes between her and Shane, but we’re told that she likes him and her nervous symptoms disappear. But it takes almost to the end of the book that we find out more about Shane. Then she agonizes back and forth for the rest of the book until I just wanted to slap her. Then the book rather abruptly ends without much detail about the resolution.
It’s not a good sign when a secondary character, her best friend Kelly, is the best part of the book. I couldn’t get into Beth or Shane.
I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. If I hadn’t committed to read the book and review it, I wouldn’t have finished it.
It’s not a good sign when a secondary character, her best friend Kelly, is the best part of the book. I couldn’t get into Beth or Shane.
I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. If I hadn’t committed to read the book and review it, I wouldn’t have finished it.
June 20, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great contemporary romance. I am not typically a fan of books marketed as romance novels. This one really surprised me, though. It read a bit more like something in between romance and women's fiction. The book is Australian, so it might also be that there are some differences between American and Australian romance novels. I really liked Beth, the main character, and I was intrigued by the love interest, Shane. The characters and situations were easy to believe and relate to. I was a little worried about how the story would wrap up in regards to Beth's mysterious ills, but it was well-done in the end and made sense. I had to Google several words and phrases, as I am not very familiar with Australian terminology, but I enjoyed picking up on all of it and learning. Another thing I liked was that the book addressed mental health in a realistic way and without shame. I really enjoyed this one and will watch for others by this author and other Australian romance novels as well.
This was a great contemporary romance. I am not typically a fan of books marketed as romance novels. This one really surprised me, though. It read a bit more like something in between romance and women's fiction. The book is Australian, so it might also be that there are some differences between American and Australian romance novels. I really liked Beth, the main character, and I was intrigued by the love interest, Shane. The characters and situations were easy to believe and relate to. I was a little worried about how the story would wrap up in regards to Beth's mysterious ills, but it was well-done in the end and made sense. I had to Google several words and phrases, as I am not very familiar with Australian terminology, but I enjoyed picking up on all of it and learning. Another thing I liked was that the book addressed mental health in a realistic way and without shame. I really enjoyed this one and will watch for others by this author and other Australian romance novels as well.
September 7, 2017
The main character in this book is remarkably immature. Is this what other people's internal dialogue sounds like as they go about their lives? It would drive me nuts.
Despite being 26, Beth has no real life experience, no relationship experience, no ambition, no sense of direction, and a giant case of hypochondria that irritated me to no end. I could not be friends with this girl. I am 27 and married, with a child and a mortgage. There was just nothing at all relatable about this character.
I could overlook most flaws in the name of a good romance, but there wasn't one. Shane is obviously a bit of a sweetheart but the relationship arc is anticlimactic, and as the only character who was interesting in the book, his story was lacking a satisfying conclusion.
It was readable and wasn't without it's redeeming qualities, but I wouldn't seek out any more work by this author. Sorry.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
Despite being 26, Beth has no real life experience, no relationship experience, no ambition, no sense of direction, and a giant case of hypochondria that irritated me to no end. I could not be friends with this girl. I am 27 and married, with a child and a mortgage. There was just nothing at all relatable about this character.
I could overlook most flaws in the name of a good romance, but there wasn't one. Shane is obviously a bit of a sweetheart but the relationship arc is anticlimactic, and as the only character who was interesting in the book, his story was lacking a satisfying conclusion.
It was readable and wasn't without it's redeeming qualities, but I wouldn't seek out any more work by this author. Sorry.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
February 10, 2018
Has anyone else noticed that this book has the exact same cover as 'love like this' from Sophie Love? Because having both books on my kindle really confused me! Couldn't they change even a shoe colour in photoshop? Although I preferred the font on this book.
Anyway, this book was okay. It was a little slow and then took awhile to introduce Shane and then ended without really satisfying the build up through the whole book. I don't know if that makes sense. It had a lot of potential and what happened with Shane is a great character and important but I don't think what happened with him was conveyed overly well, kind of missed the mark I think it was trying to make.
Overall, okay read wouldn't repurchase though if I had a time machine. It was an Aussie author which is great, I've been meaning to read more authors that are local.
Anyway, this book was okay. It was a little slow and then took awhile to introduce Shane and then ended without really satisfying the build up through the whole book. I don't know if that makes sense. It had a lot of potential and what happened with Shane is a great character and important but I don't think what happened with him was conveyed overly well, kind of missed the mark I think it was trying to make.
Overall, okay read wouldn't repurchase though if I had a time machine. It was an Aussie author which is great, I've been meaning to read more authors that are local.
April 8, 2024
Love, love, loved!
Why? This book was lighthearted, fun, honest, relatable and set in Melbourne!
Beth, a medical receptionist and hypocondriac, makes mistake after mistake, trying to navigate an office fling gone wrong and a love interest who ghosts her unexpectedly.
Her characterisation was enviable and kept me flipping pages. Were there ground breaking plot twists? Nope. Did I love it anyway? Absolutely.
Shane, the love interest, has dirty fingernails, ripped clothes and is totally into Beth. Until he... isn't?
The romance isn't swoony. It's real. How refreshing.
Read if you like The Wrong Girl or (like me) can connect to awkward, fumbly and tardy!
Why? This book was lighthearted, fun, honest, relatable and set in Melbourne!
Beth, a medical receptionist and hypocondriac, makes mistake after mistake, trying to navigate an office fling gone wrong and a love interest who ghosts her unexpectedly.
Her characterisation was enviable and kept me flipping pages. Were there ground breaking plot twists? Nope. Did I love it anyway? Absolutely.
Shane, the love interest, has dirty fingernails, ripped clothes and is totally into Beth. Until he... isn't?
The romance isn't swoony. It's real. How refreshing.
Read if you like The Wrong Girl or (like me) can connect to awkward, fumbly and tardy!
January 9, 2018
Cute story which pulls from the notion that we can be our own worse enemy (attitude affecting how our body feels.)
Beth is convinced she is ill with some unknown fatal disease. After meeting Shane, she not only falls in love but seems to no longer be ill. He's perfect for her until he suddenly cuts all communication.
She then has to decide how to live her life and whether Shane will still be a part of it.
Note ~ I received an ARC from NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.
Beth is convinced she is ill with some unknown fatal disease. After meeting Shane, she not only falls in love but seems to no longer be ill. He's perfect for her until he suddenly cuts all communication.
She then has to decide how to live her life and whether Shane will still be a part of it.
Note ~ I received an ARC from NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.
June 23, 2017
I found this to be a good read. I really liked how Flynn created an interesting list of characters with a uniquely intriguing setting. The plot line seems to be that typical of a romance novel but the characters are what makes this book. I really felt like I was right there in the middle of everything. This is the kind of book that I love to read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
July 31, 2017
This one is just "meh" for me. I couldn't stand the lead female Beth. All the internal dialouge wasn't enjoyable. Lastly it was all just too drawn out. It took too long to introduce the one bright spot of the story which was Shane. I picked this one up and put it down about 4 times before I finished it which isn't like me at all. Overall just not my cup of tea.
August 27, 2017
Wow! What a lovely romance!
It's so nice reading something set in Australia, it just makes it more relatable, and I feel like most people have known a Beth. The characters were real and likable, the romance steamy and cute.
I really enjoyed the story and breezed through it within a single day-if that isn't the mark of a great read, I don't know what is.
It's so nice reading something set in Australia, it just makes it more relatable, and I feel like most people have known a Beth. The characters were real and likable, the romance steamy and cute.
I really enjoyed the story and breezed through it within a single day-if that isn't the mark of a great read, I don't know what is.
December 11, 2018
A gem of a book, with one of the most endearing romantic heroes since Georgette Heyer's anti-hero Freddy. Read this book for the second half, where the action picks up, the emotion intensifies and a sudden mystery keeps you turning the pages. A surprise in the finish makes sense of the whole book and creates a deeply satisfying HFN and possibly HEA.
April 2, 2023
You know what.. sometimes wallowing in self pity isn’t the best way to process and move on
And I find the main character Beth… too much and honestly this wasn’t the book for me I couldn’t connect to the characters and it made me cringe reading it
I don’t even have anything nice to say about the storyline sadly..
I’m sorry but it wasn’t worth my read :/
And I find the main character Beth… too much and honestly this wasn’t the book for me I couldn’t connect to the characters and it made me cringe reading it
I don’t even have anything nice to say about the storyline sadly..
I’m sorry but it wasn’t worth my read :/
August 17, 2017
This book wasn't really for me. It was fairly well written but the storyline fell flat in my opinion and it just didn't get me excited and I really wanted to be excited. The characters and plot have potential but it missed the mark. It was slow going and the slang was tricky too in places.
September 9, 2021
If you like the series Wrong Girl you will enjoy Lovesick. A believable story of how to navigate the dating world with Beth. A quick read as I needed to know if she found romance, love and lifelong cure to her “illness”.
June 15, 2017
Lovesick was a contemporary novel set in Melbourne, Australia. It was an easy summer read.
July 17, 2017
Not my kind of book. Didn't care for the language and the characters were weird. Read 40% of the book before I decided not to finish.
August 30, 2017
This is a really unique book. The characters are quirky and it isn't your typical romance plot. Lovesick kept me engaged throughout making it difficult to put down. I would recommend this one.
April 1, 2018
A highly entertaining read, although it felt as though it ended a little prematurely.
February 7, 2019
A witty and easy read that left me wanting more.
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