The Pre-Loved Club

by Sue Teddern

'A funny, warm, wry writer' - David Nicholls, bestselling author of One Day and Sweet Sorrow

'This fabulous summer read is a gentle reminder love never gives up on anyone. A funny, charming, warm-hearted story to restore your faith in life' - Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal

Ned is in IKEA with his wife when she breaks the news that their marriage is over.

For Gemma, it happens when she opens the glove compartment of her husband’s car and finds women’s sunglasses that aren’t hers.

When Ned and Gemma meet at a support group for single parents, they don’t exactly hit it off. Ned thinks Gemma is rude and unsympathetic; Gemma thinks Ned is entitled and self-pitying.

But as they’ve both learned from bitter experience, life is full of surprises. And maybe they have more in common than they think . . .


Sue Teddern's The Pre-Loved Club is a hilarious and warm look at finding love the second time around, and how a bad first impression might lead to the best second chance . . .

Genres: Fiction

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2022

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

What immediately drew me in was the cover, it is so cute. Overall, it was an okay read. I thought the characters were okay and it was a different take on the romance novel.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this warm story about two people who are dealing with the end of their previous relationships while starting to contemplate loving again. The author, Sue Teddern, did an excellent job of portraying how complicated relationships can be, particularly when children are involved. The challenges of co-parenting and getting to know new partners were clearly depicted in the story. Many people have to deal with these kinds of blended families, and I am sure that a lot of readers will find Gemma and Ned’s situations relatable.

One of the things I found enjoyable about The Preloved Club is the way Sue Teddern portrays her characters. The Preloved Club is told from the perspectives of two characters, Gemma and Ned, who meet at a single parents support club. This allows readers to see how each character is feeling. Initially, Ned seems to be the more likeable of the two, with his quiet determination to be the best father he can for his daughter, Dora. Gemma, on the other hand, may seem less likeable at first due to her fiery temper and inclination to act on impulse, but as the story progresses, we see that she has a vulnerable and hurt side to her.

I also liked many of the minor characters such as Gemma’s friend Ros, Ned’s friend Andy and Judy, Gemma’s favourite resident in the care home she worked in. They all brought something to the novel and helped show different aspects of Gemma and Ned’s characters. Scenes involving these characters were often among the funniest in the book.

I very much appreciated the emotional growth of both main characters in this book and the gently developing friendship between them. The Pre-Loved Club is is a charming story about friendship, family and new beginnings.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I had read and enjoyed her previous book, Annie Stanley, All at Sea, I was offered a copy of The Pre-Loved Club by the publisher. This is always a bit risky as you can’t guarantee that another book by the same author will have the same appeal. To be honest, I found the first half slow going, and could not find much empathy for the characters, but then something changed, and I read the rest in one sitting.
In alternating chapters, we follow the lives of Gemma and Ned, both from broken marriages, who meet at a support group. They don’t seem to have much in common, apart from the fact that their former partners are messing them around. They slowly form a bond of friendship, they support each other, and the reader is left wondering if their relationship will ever develop into something more. This long build-up is necessary as they have to come to terms with being single again and work out what went wrong with their relationships. Over the course of the book Gemma and Ned change for the better, grow in confidence and by the end they are ready to move on with their lives. After a slow start, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read the next one by this author. Thanks to Mantle and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

[rory durso · Rating 2 out of 5]

apparently this book doesn’t come out until december and waterstones casually had copies for sale…anyway don’t read this when it comes out

[Siobhán Lucid · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was alright not terribly likeable characters hard to root for them..

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pre-Loved Club
⭐⭐⭐

My first book by this author, I bought it on a cheap offer on Amazon.

I found it to be an easy, cosy and quick read, it didn't get me excited but I did enjoy it.

I think from page one of meeting Gemma and Ned you pretty much guess were it ends up... I fill the ending could of been more....

I guess Pre Loved applies to people aswell as furniture, cars and possessions!

[Dorkreadsandweeps · Rating 2 out of 5]

It just loses itself along the way . I really liked the idea of two broken people finding each other but, Ned and Gemma just come out of nowhere ..like guys where's the buildup?? Why are we straight heading into the tension plot? Like out of nowhere they find each other to be the missing pieces of each other's life when during all the book all they thought about each other was how controlling she is and how spineless he is. I really wanted to like this one but sadly it just wasn't up to the mark.

[Bre Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was about 200 pages too long. You know from the beginning that Ned and Gemma will be together in the end. but it takes 400 pages and a lot of long and boring storylines to get there. Gemma was insufferable and could not find one thing I liked about this character.

[BookishLabyrinth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a romcom, I was wrong. Plus there was too much angst between the two main characters and when the issues were rectified the book ended. It was anticlimactic.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author, although I will definitely be reading more. It’s a bittersweet romantic comedy featuring Ned and Gemma. Ned’s wife tells him it’s over whilst they are browsing in Ikea, and Gemma realises her marriage has ended when she finds a pair of women’s sunglasses in her husband’s glovebox. They both meet at a support group for single parents, although it’s safe to say they don’t really hit it off straight away. They do become friends though and we follow them through their journeys of love and life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had the right amount of reality, romance and humour – all in equal measures! The author’s writing is very clever, and I found myself connecting with so many of the characters and situations as they all seemed so genuine. Ned is a likeable character, although he seemed a bit “meh!” at the beginning and felt like he was being treated like a bit of a doormat, especially by his ex-wife. Gemma was great – honest and truthful, which didn’t always work in her favour though, but was an emotional mess thanks to her ex-husband. I liked their friendship together though; they worked well and shored each other up when either one of them needed a friend. I did find myself wondering however if they’d ever become more than just friends as I moved my way through the book.

The book flowed at a good pace, moving between Gemma and Ned’s stories. It was heart-warming and emotional at times, with plenty of funny moments to keep those serious situations from bogging you down too much! The storyline and characters are very easy to connect with and offered hope to all that it is possible to move on from a break-up! Would definitely recommend!

[Graham Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-loved is an adjective that's usually associated with books, furniture and jewellery. But it can also be associated with people.

In this book, it's applied to Gemma (who found a strange pair of women's sunglasses in the glove compartment of her husband's car) and also to Ned (whose wife has taken their daughter to live with a pretentious architect in his mansion).

Ned works with a down-to-earth guy called Andy who we first meet sealing the deal by text message to his latest conquest. Andy's got it all together with his "Treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen" philosophy.

Andy persuades Nick to go clubbing with him and once there, he meets Nancy; he later discovers that this was a set-up organized by Andy.

Undeterred, Andy then persuades Nick to check out the chicks at a Separated Parents group, and it's there that Nick meets and incites the wrath of Gemma, declaring as he leaves: "You are a bitter, nasty woman, and I really don't need this shit."

We know that Nick's going to finish up with Nancy, or Gemma, or perhaps one of the other women he meets along the way.

And it's likely that Gemma will finish up with one the guys she meets. The real surprise is Andy.

You'll love this book!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page turner from Sue Teddern.

Gemma isn't always likeable but Ned sees past that, underneath the front that has built up since her ex cheated on her. Ned is lovely, lacking confidence after being in a relationship with a woman who controlled everything. They have similar problems and it's lovely reading a book about people who are flawed and imperfect like we all are.
My only criticism is that it ended. The characters journey is the whole point of the story how they grow by the end of the novel and that's what makes it so good. I don't really read many romantic novels but when I read one like this that has realistic characters I think I should read more.

[Debora Cheetham Hepburn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this because it was my book group selection and is by a local author, so it was fun to have local places of interest mentioned. However, I’m afraid that’s about as positive as it gets from me. I can’t say it’s the worst book I’ve ever read but it certainly tried hard: the plot was predictably cliched; the characters were tediously one dimensional and the dialogue uninspiring. But what I found most jarring was the endless listing of every mundane thing that each character ate, from slabs of chocolate to Cheerios via Dutch apple cake, there was just no end to it; one could almost believe that the writer was trying to reach their allocated word count for each chapter. 🙄

[Pauline Knox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was a really nice summer read that I found to be very relatable.
The main characters, Ned and Gemma were nicely developed and felt very ‘real’ and they were easy to feel invested in them and what happened to them.
The author’s style of writing was smooth and flowed well, making it easy to read and digest,
The storyline was well paced and kept me interested all the way through.
Overall an enjoyable read that I would recommend.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Tracy Fells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Pre-Loved Club. There were laugh out loud moments and many that made me smile. Ned and Gemma, along with their supporting cast of friends and relatives, were all relatable with problems and dilemmas that felt real but still entertaining. Living in Sussex, I particularly relished the Brighton and coastal settings, Teddern captured Hove Actually beautifully. A gentle and satisfying read.

[beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book having 2 perspectives and again a male section was great to read. The two stories go about broken relationships and them rebuilding. From the start you knew how it was going to end however and there wasn’t anything that made it extra exiting. Really enjoyed the first half then got a bit slow and samey.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but it wasn’t a page turner for me which I know is OKAY. I was just disappointed we didn’t get more of Ned and Gemma together. I thought I was going to lose my mind by page 360 when they still were together! I thought maybe the set up for the two of them to end up together in the beginning might have been too obvious that it wasn’t going to happen.

[Ruby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is all about character development. It was fun following the two characters through their dating lives post-divorce and finding their way to each other. If the characters weren’t so well-developed, this book would have been very boring though. Definitely not an eventful story, but still interesting nonetheless.

[Sue Lovelock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an ok book. Very predictable, standard annoying ex husband/wife, hurt Dad, flirtations etc. before ending up as we knew it would! An easy beach read, nothing new we haven’t heard/read a million times already, but it’s still a pleasant read.

[Anita Barreiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I love books with missed chances and all, this one wasn’t up to par. But I like the way they knew they were missing something and that something was the other person. Ned is a lovable character, Gemma not so much, but somehow they both fit. 5/10

[Julie LaFontaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The writing was easy and engaing to read. Some characters, of course, can be slightly infuriating- but I like the realism of the plot. O do felt like there was not a lot of romance build up- that would have given this 5 stars if there was that aspect of omgomg.

[Bonnie Edelenbos · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a year of wrong turns, false hopes and bad choices. Gemma and Ned are finally together. It looks like they had to get it wrong to get it right.They had to go through sadness and frustration, but they are here together now!

[Jane Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The winter of average to enjoyable mediocre books continues. This one was pretty nice.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a rom com though not much com. I read it because I'd heard of the author who is local. It was ok I got a bit bored in the middle but it picked up towards the end which was predictable

[Deb Kingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice holiday read.

[faye alice robbins Stuart Doolittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Easy read and a lovely story!
Would recommend as a great book to switch off to at night or on holiday

[Fiona Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely predictable but a cute story nevertheless

[Alison Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish this - pretty slow

[Kimberly #Audiofile · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok
A little boring for me, no smut, average storyline however it was 100% relatable. It’s on point with some people’s life experiences and relatable in that way. Just not overly enjoyable.

[Hannah]

trying to be a better DNF gworl