Being Committed

by Anna Maxted

A hopeless unromantic gets acrash course in love in the fourthhilarious novel from bestsellingauthor Anna Maxted

After her disaster of a marriage ends when she is justtwenty, Hannah is convinced you have to be out of yourmind (or desperate) to tie the knot. And life without ahusband at thirty-one is just fine, thank you very much.She has a steady job working as a private investigator(albeit a mediocre one); a devoted boyfriend of fiveyears, Jason; and a wonderful relationship with her dad(it's a shame her mother is such a lost cause). Then, ona romantic weekend retreat to a faux-ancient castle,Jason proposes marriage, leaving Hannah with nochoice but the to turn him down cold.

Much to her horror, four weeks later, Jason becomesengaged to his next-door neighbor, a fine bakerand "proficient seamstress." Has Hannah blown herlast chance at a solid relationship as her familyclaims? Jason agrees to give her another chance -- butonly if she meets his terms, among them a promise todust off the many skeletons in her closet.

Brimming with her characteristic blend of humorand heartache, Anna Maxted's Being Committed is a perceptivelook at intimacy (and its substitutes), commitmentphobia, and the power others have over us.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Humor, Beach Reads, British Literature

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Anna Maxted is a bestselling author based in North London, England. Born in 1969, she is married to fellow author and journalist Philip Robinson and they have three young sons. She writes female contemporary fiction which is viewed to be at the high end of the chick lit market. Anna Maxted read English Literature at Girton College, Cambridge, before becoming a journalist. She is former Assistant Editor of Cosmopolitan, and has freelanced for most national newspapers and magazines, including The Independent on Sunday, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The Times, Daily Express, FHM, Esquire and Living Etc.
...
As well as being rich in humour, Anna's novels invariably deal with some of the deeper and more complicated issues facing women, such as grief, abandonment, rejection, motherhood, and sibling rivalry.

Her first novel Getting Over It, was semi-autobiographical and based very much around her experience of the death of her own father.


(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Blodeuedd Finland]

I tried, it was ok, but dull and what was her issue?

[Laura Bonanni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main character was incredibly insufferable for the first part of the book. It gets much better once you get into the family dynamic. Just be prepared for overplayed relationship tropes.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book and I had a love hate relationship. There were several times I almost stopped reading it. The first 100-150 pages were painful. The author went on long tangents about back stories of the characters, but each one was jumbled in the middle of another. There was a lot of self analysis of Hannah, the main character. The book is also written by a British author, who heavily uses British slang and colloquialisms that often went over my head (as an American) so I missed many of the jokes of the book. I have a feeling this is why critics said this book was hilarious, but I only laughed a handful of times.

All in all, the book has very little "story" to it. It's mostly ramblings and random thoughts by Hannah. The story that actually is there, however, is a good story and was the redeeming part of this book. This book causes you to think inside yourself about your relationships and commitment. It will make you question your actions against those in your relationships.

The book supposedly follows you through the changes Hannah makes in her life - some of which I understood, other changes were mentioned as being present - but I couldn't easily identify them.

This isn't a page turner. It isn't a quick read. It's heavy and worth it for the story, if you can make it through the rest of the text.

[vwool · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good read about being committed to both yourself and others in your life. It’s about family and how your past really can affect your future if you let it. Hannah has to go through a lot of relationships to get back to her one true love. She spends much of the book evaluating her purpose and role in her own immediate family and this helps her to move forward. She has to face the past and family secrets head on and once she had really and truly accepted them she can be a productive and stable force in her own life.
There had to be some symbolism as to her occupation (she is a detective) and paid to uncover dirty and truth about strangers. When she is forced to take a mental health break of sorts from her job she uses those tools to dissect her own life. Hannah has to eventually confront her fears of commitment which lead to some startling personal discoveries.
I was NOT expecting to be so effected by this book but I found myself taking notes in the margins (something I didn’t even do in high school) so I would remember some of the themes and great passages. I really enjoyed this book and believe it is relatable to anyone with a committed heart.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book annoyed me to no extent. I struggled to finish it, which is surprising, given how many good reviews it's gotten on here and in other places. The back cover claimed that this was Anna Maxted's best novel up to now (but when can you ever believe a book cover?) and as I hadn't read anything from her before, I thought it was a good place to start.

I fear I won't be reading any more books from her though. The main character was, in my opinion, completely obnoxious and unlikeable. I can understand her views on life and opinions but the way she just kept rambling on and on and on was frustrating. The entire book is basically just "what Hannah thinks about things" and it's hard to stay focussed or interested.

Glad to be finished with this one.

[Bloomreader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I read this too soon after reading Marian Keyes' "Mystery of Mercy Close". Both were about unlikeable single-gal detectives (though "Mystery" was set in Ireland), and the glass-half-full theme prevails. The thing that really left me unimpressed about BC is that the main character has such a personality turnaround, the likes of which I've never witnessed in real life. Yeah, it would be nice if every clueless, mean person suddenly stumbled upon a closely-gaurded secret that subsequently made them see the light so they start treasuring loved ones, living every day fully, which leads to finding the loves of their lives, etc, etc. But that just doesn't happen in real life, at least not overnight. I couldn't buy into the main character's change of heart in the last third of the book, and I don't think any reasonably intelligent reader would either...but then again, there's lots of readers who LOVED this!

[Farrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel kind of ambivalent about this book. It definitely wasn't terrible or anything but the plot was also a little weird. Mostly I was confused by the fact that the main character seemed truly unlikeable, slobbish, schlumpy and self-centered so I couldn't figure out why she had two nice guys fawning over her the entire book. It was just confusing to me as a reader.

[Sophie C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really loved 'Get Over It' by this author but wasn't crazy about this one. Hannah, the main character is pretty annoying for most of the book. It got a bit better when family dynamics got into it but in the end, it was a pretty predictable 'love' story. Almost a 'yawner' for this girl. I had such high hopes after reading her other book.

Book

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being Committed follows the story of Hannah Lovekin, a 31 year old private investigator who has, thus far, been unlucky in love and unlucky too in the cards she has been dealt in her family life. As a result of the questionable family dynamics in which she was raised, Hannah has adopted some equally questionable and maladaptive coping mechanisms which see her through her day to day life, and relationships. Hannah’s ways of coping lead her to a failed marriage at 21 and a further (almost marriage) at 31. However, after uncovering some family secrets and reconnecting with childhood memories deep in her subconscious, Hannah realises and begins to try and understand the feelings she has been suppressing, and more importantly, act on them.

This was a leisurely, entertaining read. With the right balance of humour and emotivity, this book was easy to digest in a few sittings. I really enjoyed Hannah as a character, I found her equal parts frustrating and relatable. Part of me would have liked to see (spoiler alert) a happy ending without bagging her man. Whilst I was rooting for Hannah and did find myself pleased for her in the end, I feel there is definitely a lack of endings in romance books which are a “happily ever after”, but without the cliché love profession and all’s well ends well conclusion of the story. I felt this ending kind of diluted Hannah as a character, and almost sends the message that finding and securing a relationship is the indicator or trophy of having successfully worked through ones’ personal trauma and healing. I felt that for Hannah, she could have done this successfully without having a male counterpart to prove this. For me, it would have sent a nice message of hope and confidence that personal issues and turmoils can be resolved and a happy, content life achieved, without the token of a relationship necessarily being the driving force to heal, or indeed the reward for healing. Perhaps this is a cynical and overly analytic view, however I enjoyed the book nonetheless.

[josefin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally

This bok was. so. slow.

Thats too bad since this is a bookcrossing-book and I will at some point have to pass it on to someone else. I hope they will like it more than I did :)

So far, my copy of this book appeared in a shelf in UK and was later given to a person in August 2006 at a Dublin bookcrossing-meeting :) The book later travelled to New Zealand and was given to "a friend in Sweden" in 2007. Suddenly it is January 2022 and I find it in the shelf of my local secondhand store :) Pretty cool !?

[Angie Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Being Committed” by Anna Maxted - I truly enjoyed this book! My first time reading this Author and I liked the way her writing style seemed like she was having a conversation with you. I could relate to the way her thoughts squirrelled when telling a particular story, as I do this myself. Great character development, I was immersed in the story from the start. “Hannah’s” character was superb, with a funny wit reminiscent of a Bridget Jones’ movie. I could relate on an emotional level to many parts of this book. Very well written, I recommend this book for your next read! ~Angie❤️

[Sharon Falduto]

The main character of this book is somewhat unsympathetic, at least at first. It's like she doesn't want you to like her. She dates a man for five years but realizes she doesn't love him when he proposes to her. She still tries to adjust and change for him, but realizes some truths about her own fear of love and commitment from her family's dysfunction along the way.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I totally hated this book and Hannah at first. She was so unlikeable in the beginning that I almost have up and put it down but I decided to hold out. Hannah becomes more likable and others become less likable. I wanted to reach into the book and smack some of them, like her father. Overall it was enjoyable but not my favorite.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very hard to keep me interested. I also am only somewhat familiar with English slang, but the character/author just rambles and rambles and it’s really hard to follow a complete thought at times.

I liked the boyfriend/girlfriend dramatic storyline, but there was just too much rambling in between the good parts.

[Ilse · Rating 1 out of 5]

het enge positieve aan dit boek is dat ik het heb uitgelezen.
en dat heeft dan ook nog eens heel veel moeite gekost.
sorry echt niet mijn ding, veel te chaotisch, egoïstische personages, geen herkenbaarheid (gelukkig maar)

[Cynthia DiNunzio · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not a romantic comedy like the review on the front of the book says. There is some romance but it's mainly a dysfunctional family and how the decision of the parents messed up their children.

[Shelby Anne Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely DNF books but I legitimately could not get through this. It's been 3 years since I first picked it up, and I can't ever get more than 25% of the way through because the "protagonist" is so unbelievably intolerable.

[Susan Swansburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit uneven. Parts of it were really smart, really funny. Parts dragged.

[Jessica Ahlros · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this 3.5 or something stars. At first I hated the main character but she redeemed herself and it was a fun read 📖 not what I had expected but I really liked it 😁

[Nancy Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read.

[Karen Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed out loud ! Thought only Marianne Keyes could get me to do that. Maybe just my disasterous life but saw so many similarities. Loved it

[Donna Boultwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to get into this one and to like / have empathy for the main character. The story moved along a bit more in the second half.

[Marissa Hoffman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can see why this was in the little free library….

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

A easy, witty read about committing (or not) to a relationship.

[Rachel Moody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall okay. The first half was PAINFUL to get through. Wanted to stop multiple times so it was a slowww read but continued & the last ~1/4ish was a bit better. Dull mostly but a cute ending,

[Elusive · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Being Committed’ is about Hannah who turns down her boyfriend, Jason’s marriage proposal and is then given a second chance, provided that she agrees to his terms and conditions.

Hannah wasn’t likeable to me. I didn’t like how she was indecisive and seemed to jump back and forth between two guys. Her problem with commitment stems from an incident in her childhood as well as her failed marriage at the age of twenty. At that time, she was married to Jack and cheated on him. Basically she doesn’t understand the concept of intimacy in terms of emotional openness. I would even go as far as to say she doesn’t understand love and relationships. She thinks distance is normal. I really couldn’t stand how she still wanted to be with Jason despite her inability to commit.

Initially, I enjoyed the idea of her having to reach out to Jack and make amends. However, the fact that she’s still attracted to him after approximately ten many years (and vice versa) annoyed me. It’s possible but at the same time, somewhat unrealistic. Ten years is a very long time. By then, you would have changed in some ways, whether physically or in your perspective etc. Therefore, I couldn’t buy into their feelings for each other. It was ridiculous. It would make more sense if Jack had already moved on or found someone. Considering what she’d done to him before, I found it very strange that he still wanted to be with her especially after she cheated on Jason by sleeping with him and he thought it was okay because he ‘knew’ she’d break up with Jason. What?.

Jason’s terms for Hannah seemed to mostly revolve around resolving past issues with Jack and that disappointed me. It could have been more than that and therapy. More importantly, I couldn’t understand how two guys could find Hannah so appealing. I found her inability to commit and stick to a decision terribly grating so that overshadowed any other of her personality traits. Plus, she liked both Jack and Jason and took forever to realize who she really wanted to be with.

Jason and Jack weren’t particularly interesting especially the latter. Jason’s a nice guy who’s somewhat OCD and likes to keep to a schedule. Apart from his constant stomach problems, he was actually okay. As for Jack, all I seemed to get was that he’s good-looking and successful and not to be messed with. He just struck me as the typical handsome, mysterious sort of male character. Even when he was with Hannah, I felt like they didn’t have chemistry. It felt unnatural. Perhaps if the author had delved into how being cheated on affected Jack throughout the years, he would’ve been a better character.

Hannah’s transformation into a nicer, more feminine girl was just unconvincing to me. All of a sudden she changes the way she dresses, puts more effort into her appearance and tries to be nice. Once her past is revealed, her behaviour towards her mother completely changes and that happened too fast to be believable. I would expect more doubts and confusion rather than instant change of mind and heart. Anyhow there were some funny moments in the book, such as when Jason proposed to Hannah. The humour helped to redeem the book.

Overall, the book was average and could have been better if it was more realistic.

[Melissa (Hiatus due to Death in Family) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah Lovekin has always been a little shy about commitment. So when Jason, her boyfriend of five years, pops the question, Hannah turns him down. When Jason becomes engaged to another woman a short time later, Hannah looks at herself a bit more critically. She asks Jason for another chance, and the shell-shocked guy pulls out his only defense - Hannah needs to go back and clear up unresolved issues from her past, namely her relationship with her ex-husband.

Hannah married James when they were both very young, and split up after a big misunderstanding and a tumultous fight. Due to immaturity and wrong ideas about their relationship, Hannah has never tried to clear the air. Now is her big chance. What will happen if James doesn't want to revisit the past? Is there hope for Hannah to have a committed relationship?

Being Committed is a gem! It's funny, sad and thoughtful, all rolled up into one, a book that I did not want to end. Hannah is legitimately afraid of commitment, and the reader discovers the reasons behind this right along with her. The supporting characters, from Hannah's boss to her parents, her brother and his wife, all bring additional depth and dimension to the story. This book is laugh-out-loud hilarious. I woke my husband up twice when I dissolved in giggles about something Hannah did or said. The humor tempers the serious nature of some of the deeper emotional struggles.

Anna Maxted is known for her wit and warmth. This is the first of her books I have read - after turning the last page, I rushed out and found two others. The brisk pace keeps the reader entranced, and multiple related storylines all come together for a satisfying ending. Besides being entertaining, the story is a lesson in self-examination, i.e. looking at our past critically to see how it shapes our present. Maxted handles some tough issues in a lighthearted, yet sensitive manner. Whether you are a longtime fan or just discovering this author for the first time, I heartily recommend putting Being Committed at the top of your 'to be read' list.

[Miss Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've grown accustomed to having at least a vague idea of where things are going in Maxted's novels (meaning, I can predict how our protagonist will grow and guess with whom she'll go riding off into the sunset).

That doesn't mean Being Committed didn't throw a few surprises my way. And I don't just mean with the plot. Let me tell you, I did not expect to start laughing with such force that my boyfriend came from the other room to see what was the matter, only to see me smiling, gasping for air, with tears flowing from my eyes, and my arms clutching my sides.

Yet that was the scene in real life when, in the book, the narrator Hannah received a . . . ahem, beauty treatment recommended by her sister-in-law. What I really appreciate about that section is that it walks a fine line between just-right and over-the-top graphic description and manages to stay on the just-right side of things. It's relate-able but manages to avoid seeming tired. I dare say the book owes its four star rating to the first paragraph in Chapter 16.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Selfish, selfish selfish. What is it when British people? All this reading makes me never want to go back. Seriously, I wish Americans knew more about the s. pacific countries. Not only are they easier to get into and stay for a while, but the people are so much less selfish! Okay, I am going off onto something else here now. Anyway, this book is about a Girl who can’t make up her mind between the old and the new. And I couldn’t tell either of the Dude’s apart, as their names both began with the letter J! Why do authors keep doing that to me? I know I am at the smarter end of the scale of people who read this crap and if I can’t tell anyone apart, godhelp the rest of the population. New J asks girl to marry him. Girl says no because she had a bad experience with marriage when she was like 20. New J moves on. Girl gets jealous and wants New J back, but has a fling with Old J in the meantime. Like nothing happens! I forgot who she ends up with in the end, but like, who cares. I really need to start using my time for better things.

Grade: C-

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time with the rating. Up until page 300 something I would have given it four stars, but I got to the page where I learned the main character hates recycling, and immediately lost respect. I wanted to give it just one star because of that, but it was really just that one page that was awful. But it was good up to that point, and it has a good ending. I was slightly inclined to not want her to end up with either of the potential mates because they both seemed to be jerks in different sorts of ways. It did keep my attention- I stayed up late and then finished it in the morning. So not too bad overall.

I'm confused, actually, because when I pressed "save" it looked like it gave it 3 1/2 stars instead of 3. Nope. Just three.