Rumor Has It

by Jill Mansell

Would you be tempted?

Newly single, Tilly Cole impulsively accepts a job offer in a small town as a "Girl Friday." Fun job, country house, fresh start, why not? But soon she finds herself in a hotbed of gossip, intrigue, and rampant rivalry for the town's most desirable bachelor—Jack Lucas.

Rumors of Jack's "love 'em and leave 'em" escapes abound, and Tilly decides to do the mature, sensible thing... avoid Jack at all cost. But the more time Tilly spends with Jack, the more the rumors just don't make sense. Tilly doesn't know what to believe... and Jack's not telling.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, British Literature, Adult

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Jill Mansell lives with her partner and children in Bristol, and writes full time. Actually that’s not true; she watches TV, eats fruit gums, admires the rugby players training in the sports field behind her house, and spends hours on the internet marvelling at how many other writers have blogs. Only when she’s completely run out of displacement activities does she write.

Jill Mansell's books have sold over ten million copies and her titles include: Making your Mind up, Fast Friends, Good at Games, Sheer Mischief and Solo, among many others.

Reviews

[Neha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh c'mon! How is everyone giving this book a minimum of 3 stars? There was no depth in the characters, no depth in the love story of the supposed main character, Tilly Cole. I love chick-lit, i really do. But, there has to be some meaning, some depth in the 'love story'. After avoiding Jack for the whole book, Tilly agrees to marry him in the end..this just wasn't believable! So you can't date him because you think he's commitment-phobic but you can marry him? They didn't have ONE meaningful conversation! I'm giving this book 2 stars because i liked Kaye and Parker's story.

[Terra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to say right off the bat that I really could never get into Chick Lit, that is until now. This is the most hilarious story with that off the wall pure British comedy that will make you chuckle from page one to the end. This author has certainly shown me that light and fluff with a great storyline, a few important messages and some just down and out comedy is what you need every now and then. OMG, I'm still chuckling. I am so going to have to check out the rest of this author's line of books.

Rumor Has It is about Tilly who being dumped by her live in boyfriend ends up taking a live in position as a Girl Friday. Her boss is a hunka hunka but low and behold he is gay. Oh well, not the end of the world for Tilly as she's not looking really and there are plenty of fish in the ocean.

Along comes Jack Lucas. Tall, dark, oozing with sexual charm that draws you in like bees to honey. Oh baby is he hot. So hot in fact that he is known about town by every female old enough to have her hormones in working order.

Tilly is warned by everyone to stay away from Jack as he would only break her heart and chalk her up as another notch on his bedpost. Thank goodness Tilly has the strength of Hercules in the will department. Ahhh, but who says that even that will protect her in the end. Will she give in or will Jack break her heart into millions of shattering pieces.

The author has done a fabulous job above and beyond anything I would have ever expected. I love the sense of humor, the solid storyline with it's hidden messages that are a strong reminder to one and all. The play of emotions is outstanding and oh gee I just don't know what more to say without giving it all away. Guess you'll have to read for yourself and see what a hoot this book truly is.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another sad example of the "Just Because It's British, Doesn't Make It Good" genre of Chick Lit.

This book can be summarized as follows:

Boy dumps Girl.
Girl lands perfect live-in job in perfect Cotswolds town taking care of perfect teenager.
Girl meets Perfect New Boy.
Girl artificially creates rumor-based reasons not to date Perfect New Boy.
Perfect New Boy pursues (Why?) Girl.
How will it end?

Predictable and implausible story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story Overview

This is the story of what happens when a girl from the city moves to a little town and finds out what happens when people stop being polite ... and start being real. (Oh wait ... that is the description of The Real World, isn't it?) But, essentially, this book is about how living in a small town can be a little like living in fish bowl. The town in question is Roxborough (located in the UK ... but I'm not sure if it is a real town or a Mansell creation). When Tilly Cole is left by her live-in boyfriend (who she secretly wished would leave her so she didn't have to do the dirty work of breaking up with him), she impulsively moves to Roxborough to work as a Girl Friday for an interior designer named Max. As she gets involved in town life, it turns out that almost everyone is the victim of a rumor or has a secret of some kind, including:

* Erin - Tilly's best friend who owns a dress shop and recently began a secret romance with a not quite yet divorced man

* Stella - the wife of Erin's new boyfriend, who attempts to get revenge for her husband leaving her by spreading nasty rumors about Erin

* Max - Tilly's new employer who is openly gay but knows a few secrets about other folks who may be gay (whether they know it or not)

* Lou (Louisa) - Max's daughter who has a secret of her own that she is keeping from her family ... but it isn't the one that Tilly and her mother think it is

* Kaye - Max's ex-wife and Lou's mom, who moved to America and became a TV star but who recently got blacklisted in Hollywood after falling victim to a nasty rumor started by the deranged wife of a producer on her show

* Jack Lucas -Roxborough's resident hottie and tragic widower, who seems to have slept with every woman in town (if you believe the rumors ... ) and now seems to want to add Tilly to his list of conquests.

The heart of the story is the relationship between Tilly and Jack, but all the characters get attention and a chance to work through their rumors, relationships and secrets. Although the book is light-hearted and fun, Mansell is careful to add grayer tones to the story as well.

My Thoughts

This was a fun read that is perfect for the beach or summertime reading. Mansell populates Roxborough with a collection of fun characters who all have their own issues, secrets and rumors to deal with. Yet, at the same time, Mansell isn't afraid to add in more serious story lines as well, including cancer, homophobia and a tragic early death for Jack's first love. This helps ground the book and make it more than just a fluff piece. Yet, at the same time, you don't have to worry about things not working out or the story suddenly turning into a tragedy when you just wanted to have a happy little read.

The press release I got with the book describes Mansell as the "Brit-Chick-Lit Sensation" and later describes the books as "funny, sassy woman's novel." (Are women not "chicks" I wonder?) Now I personally have no problem with books labeled "chick lit," but I think they've gotten a bit of a bad reputation. According to the Source of All Knowledge (Wikipedia), chick lit is fiction that addresses issues of modern women often humorously and lightheartedly. When you think about that way, what is the matter with that? I know I don't always want to read heavy books; you need a light, humorous book every now and then to cleanse your palate.

My Final Recommendation

Don't be turned off by the "chick lit" label! If you're looking for a funny, light read that entertains, this books fits the bill nicely. Mansell has a breezy writing style that moves the story along nicely, and I appreciated that she took the time to develop the secondary story lines as much as the romance between Jack and Tilly. Mansell is a bestselling author in the UK, and I suspect she will be here in the US as well. I mean, how can you not want to support an author whose bio reads like this:

"Jill Mansell lives with her partner and children in Bristol, and writes full time. Actually that’s not true; she watches TV, eats fruit gums (gum drops), admires the rugby players training in the sports field behind her house, and spends hours on the Internet marveling at how many other writers have blogs. Only when she’s completely run out of displacement activities does she write."

[İlkim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meeeh diyorum sadece. Bu kadar çok kişiyi okumak zorunda değiliz bence çik-lit kitabında. Kimsenin aşkını hissedemediğim bir çik-lit okudum, düşündükçe Kinsella'ya hepten ayıp oldu diye 1'e çekiyorum notunu.

[Shania · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was almost a waste of my time but had a few good parts that made it kind of worth my time.
This was like those movies New Years Eve and Valentines Day in that it is a whole group of people falling in love. However, I never really liked those movies, as with this book.

Tilly and Jack were just unrealistic. They really didn't interact that much, and I didn't feel a connection with them or even between them. Then BOOM he asks her to marry him?! WTF
I really liked Max and Lou, they made the story better.
Is it horrible that I kind of wanted Stella to die? Maybe... but maybe she shouldn't have been such a bitch.
I was pretty indifferent about Erin & Fergus and Kaye & Parker.

So yeah, this was an alright book with a few good parts.

[Becky R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really can't say enough how much I enjoyed reading this wonderful book. As a fan of Meg Cabot's adult books, and Sophie Kinsella's stand alone novels, I felt like I'd found a book that was reminiscent of the type of "chick lit" that allowed the main character to be strong, yet emotionally open. Tilly was a sweet character that only annoyed me in her resistance to Jack, who really manages to warm the heart. Jack isn't the regular Lothario that you're eager to hate; he's actually much more complex and filled with surprising depths of kindness and generosity. I think that I fell in love with Jack!

The other thing I really enjoyed about Mansell's novel was the number of other characters involved in the story. Sometimes I feel as if a writer needs to fill space and keep you reading, so they introduce a number of characters to get your attention. In this case, they each felt important and lovely in connection with the story as a whole. I loved Tilly's best friend Erin, and wanted to see her happy. Max was also a lovely character, with a wonderful back story to add depth to the novel. Altogether, I really loved each of the characters, and was almost sad to see the book end!

Overall, I give Rumor Has It a high two thumb's up. I loved the escape factor of the story, and the sweet love story that unfolded. As mentioned, if you're at all a fan of Cabot or Kinsella, then I can readily and happily recommend this novel as another fun addition to the genre.

[Thea Jessen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for an easy, no-brainer romance novel, and this book was PERFECT for that. So sweet, and with the perfect plot to drive it forwards in my opinion. Of course it was predictable, but... It`s a romance novel. So obviously the end is going to be forseeable. However, for me, it`s more about the journey there. I loved seeing how the relationships developed, and what came between them. I think the characters were well thought out and not way too cliche.. I didn`t sit there cringing, which unfortunately happens for me a lot with romantic books.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this if you just want a light-hearted romance book set in a cute English village. With hot guys. And a little drama.

Definitely will read more Jill Mansell another time I`m in for some good ol` romance

[Lori Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a recent sale on Jill Mansell titles and between Carolyn and I, we got a few. I'd read some previously and was lukewarm on what I'd read before. But a good sale and chick lit are a siren's call to me so what the hell.

I just finished Rumor Has It and thought it has the best and worst of what chick lit is.

Pro: it's a romance.

Pro: The women have careers.

Con: Men are more important than careers.

Pro: Gay ex.

Con: Gay ex.

Con: The hero was engaged previously and she died in a drowning accident. The reason it's a con is because his name is Jack and the dead fiance was Rose (you know, Jack and Rose from Titanic and Jack drowned). (Made me slightly nauseous.)

Pro: More than one couple and they all had an HEA (except the one gay guy. And the bad girl who died from cancer.)

Con: No HEA for the gay guy and the bad girl was funny but got killed off.

Pro: I really liked the best friend and her romance.

Con: I liked the best friend and her story more than the heroine and her story.

Still, I enjoyed it. It was a quick and fun read and the emotion wasn't deep. The humor was good. I'll be reading more Mansell books but not expecting too much from them.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this author, as I always know that when a read one of Jill's books, I know that I'm in for a treat. Pure indulgence on so many levels, it's got everything.

I loved getting to know all of the different characters and there own individual stories which you get to discover as you progress through the book.

If you haven't read a her books before, then I highly recommend that you do.

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback

Eenmaal andermaal verliefd vind ik echt een meidenboek! Het leest erg makkelijk weg, maar voor mij vond ik het té softy of té zoetsappig.

Ik bedoel, ik had heel graag de vlindertjes gevoeld van verliefdheid en er had wel wat meer pit in gemogen.

Desondanks heb ik dit boek in 2 dagen uitgelezen en wilde ik ook steeds doorlezen. Gewoon lekker om even in weg te duiken dus en je hoofd te legen. Voor mij na een bloedige misdaad roman was dit ideaal leesvoer.

[Mandica · Rating 1 out of 5]

ne, ne i...ne

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My synopsis: Tilly and Erin have been friends since college - but after Tilly went to London and Erin went home to Roxborough to care for an ailing mother. After her boyfriend moves out of their flat and leaves her with the rent, Tilly decides it is time for a change. When visiting Erin for the weekend she stumbles across an ad for a job - a "girl Friday" and decides to give it a shot.

Strong-arming her way in for an interview, she meets Max Dineen - interior designer, father of Lou, and decidedly gay. He had been married to Kaye, Lou's mom, but finally had to admit that he was gay and so they divorced. He was looking for someone to help him with his business and raising his teenage daughter. Lou had lived in California with her mother for awhile, but decided that she missed this home too much. Max and Tilly hit it off famously and the deal was sealed.

Tilly meets Jack Lucas soon after moving to Roxborough and is warned by everyone that he is a "love 'em and leave 'em" type of guy and that she would just be a notch on his bedpost. She does a good job of keeping her distance until she learns that Jack had been engaged and that his fiance had died. She continues to get to know him, and despite herself, the attraction grows. She continues to push him away, telling herself that regardless of what he says, she would not be different than any other girl. Finally with a weekend with Max and Lou out of town, she decides to accept a date with Jack. Unfortunately Jack's almost in-laws show up that night and he has to call and cancel. For Tilly, that was the last straw - she feels she was saved from certain disaster.

Jill Mansell gives you a whole cast of wacky characters to round out the story. There is Erin, Tilly's friend. Fergus, Erin's boyfriend who is married but separated from Stella - Scary Stella as some call her. She has a way of being mean to just about everybody but tries to use the reasoning that she is just telling them the truth. Kaye, Max's ex-wife also joins the fray when she arrives from America - having been put on "trial by tabloid" and losing her job on a TV show. Oh - and we mustn't forget Betty, Max and Lou's dog!

I always enjoy reading one of Ms. Mansell's books. This one was no exception. The characters are fun and full of life and the books are always very humorous. If you are looking for a good British chick lit book/author - you need look no further. I am definitely a fan!

[Krithika Sundar · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I don't rate books so low but I just didn't feel this book. Tilly was a nice protagonist but the love story between Jack and Tilly was not realistic at all. It's like watching Some fairy tale where the struggle to get with the love of ur life is more and after that u never know if they had any fights or not.

Jack is so hot and there are rumours flying around in the town that he's slept with literally every women in the small town.Jack meets Tilly and he's attracted to her but there was no story line between the two of them that made me love them as a couple. Tilly works for Max. He's like the best character in the book. Super adorable and he's so quirky and you just love to read about him and his day. His daughter Lou is amazing .

There were some nice moments in the book. The fact that Jack asks to marry Tilly without even talking much to her on a friendlier level really baffled me. I loved many characters. and their stories weren't boring at all.

Not a bad book.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't get on with two of the main characters, Tilly and Jack. Otherwise it was an ok story.

[Katerina]

I read this. Back when I used to borrow books from the library. Four years ago. I don't remember a single thing about it. Kindly ignore my review.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Own this book but DNF. Not Jill Mansell’s best.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and smooth read! Helped me get out of my reading slump

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up as a lark in the bookstore yesterday and started reading it when I got home. Five hours later, I was reaching the end of one of the most enjoyable, light-hearted, fun, entertaining reads I have read in a while. While this book might be in that oft-derided genre of "chick-lit", it transcends it with its intelligence, irony, snark, sarcasm, and a cast of lovable characters in a small English town named Roxborough. In a Cranford meets Jane Austen meets Helen Fielding kind of way, the girl and the guy do get together in the end, but the journey there is so enjoyable you don't care about any of the cliches that might be within the story.

The narration of the actual book is interesting in the fact that it jumps from character to character from time to time. Most of the book is told by Tilly Cole, but every so often the next chapter comes along and you get a different point of view. While this may sound pretty jarring, the way that Mansell weaves everything together makes for a fluid story when all is said and done.

This is a very British novel. Loads of irony, snark, and sarcasm and it is delightfully funny even in the most hard, painful moments. Life and death are all treated with the same aplomb. One of the playful ironic touches comes in the naming of some of the main characters. There is character named Jack, who's love in life was named Rose. Jack and Rose. Titanic anyone? It's a playful liberty taken by the author and I fully appreciated it.

This is my first foray into a Mansell novel and I'm looking forward to the next one. I can only hope it's half as good and fun as "Rumor Has It" has been. Honestly, the worst thing I can say about the book is that it's title shares the same title of a terrible movie with Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, and Shirley MaClaine. Hopefully if this book is ever made into a movie, it will be more along the lines of "Bridget Jones" rather than a second-rate romantic comedy with Jennifer Aniston!

[Jill Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, I have been reading escapist, fluffy romance novels instead of my usual mix of YA dystopian books, contemporary fiction, and mysteries. This book reminded me quite a bit of The Casual Vacancy, only in an upside down, happy world. Both novels are set in claustrophobically small English villages where rumor and innuendo rule the day. But where the Rowling book spirals tragically, this book rides waves of happiness to its finish, while addressing issues of homophobia, character assassination by the media, disgruntled former spouses, potential stalkers, aggressive cancer, and school bullying. So there is quite a bit more to this charming book than just a love story.

Tilly's live-in boyfriend has just left her, so she visits her college friend in a small village in the Cotswolds. On a whim, she applies to be a live-in assistant to an interior designer and his daughter. She is not vain, needy, or ridiculous in any way, which made her a refreshing heroine. There are about 5 or 6 subplots that are all equally entertaining. If you're looking for a quick, escapist read that tackles some contemporary issues along the way, give it a try!

[Y. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh, Tilly, shut the fuck up. This was a bunch of contrived drama. Tilly had absolutely no shame, and I was so sick of her not being able to help herself asking nosy questions and sticking her head where it didn't belong. Im exaggerating, to an extent, but it seemed like every page with her, she was thinking or blurting questions about Jack because she just *couldn't* hold it in.

And all that anxiety about Jack being who people thought he was, and that weird sense of self-preservation when she had her own questionable history with men and how she treated them and manipulated them into breaking up with her? She had no other personality besides asking about Jack - what did he/could he have even seen in her?!

I know my feelings toward this fictional character, Tilly, is highly irrational, but god she sucks.

/Rant

[Louise Culmer · Rating 1 out of 5]

A tedious story about an airheaded girl.called Tilly who goes to work.for a man called Max who lives in a picturesque Cotswold town with his teenage daughter. Ma x's marriage broke up.because he decided he was gay (though how this happened is never explained, he has no man in his life). Tilly falls for Max's handsome friend Jack (not gay) whose fiancee tragically died a couple of years earlier. A f ew other people, equally uninteresting, drift in and out of the story. Nothing a musing happens.. The only slightly interesting character dies. Apart from anything else, I could never really warm to a heroine who.thinks visiting the Palace of Versailles is boring. And what pray is wrong with liking Fred Astaire? jill Mansell.is apparently highly regarded, but I have no idea why.

[Kiki Bolwijn]

Vermakelijk, maar hoe scoort het op de Kiki doet een queer lezing van Chicklits-lijst?
Er is 1 gay personage in het verhaal en deze heeft zelfs meer tekst dan in andere romans van dezelfde schrijver... maaar helaas is dit de enige persoon in het verhaal die geen Happy Ending krijgt en meer als een plotpuntje / butt of the joke wordt ingezet. Helaas!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a light and easy read, it is reasonably enjoyable but it seems like just another Jill Mansell book - same characters with different names in a different setting. Very predictable but fun nonetheless.

[Katherine 黄爱芬 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tilly Cole baru saja putus dari pacarnya dan memutuskan menerima pekerjaan di Roxborough sbg asisten di rumah seorang duda beranak satu yg ternyata gay. Kejutan sudah terjadi pd saat Tilly tahu Max, si duda ini berteman baik dgn Jack Lucas, yg sudah bertemu dgn Tilly yg menabrak mobil barunya.

Belakangan baru Tilly mengetahui Jack pernah punya tunangan yg tewas mengenaskan, dan setelah itu Jack berkencan dgn barisan wanita yg cukup bikin Tilly ngeri utk menghadapi konsekuensinya jika berkencan dgn Jack. Dan saat Jack membatalkan kencan pertama mereka di menit-menit terakhir, Tilly merasa hancur kepercayaan dirinya.

Di sisi lain, saya suka (dan malah terkejut) dgn interaksi Erin, BFF Tilly yg berkencan dgn suami orang (soon to be ex husband) dan dijahati habis-habisan oleh Stella, si istri yg merasa benar dan super judgmental ini, dan belum ikhlas menghadapi kenyataan bhw sebentar lagi mereka akan bercerai. Manis sekali perlakuan Erin dlm membalas perlakuan Stella di hari-hari terakhirnya. Saya rasa tokoh Erin ini pantas mendapat gelar Santa.

Di novel ini juga ada isu ttg Gay yg mendapatkan persekusi (bahkan dari anak abegeh) dan cara mereka menyembunyikan suatu "hubungan" krn hrs diakui sebagian masyarakat dunia masih tidak bisa mengakui eksistensi seksual mereka. Tapi Max bukanlah orang jahat tapi dia bisa membalas dgn "jahat" pula.

Novel ini bagus sekali menceritakan kota kecil yg punya sumber gosip yg banyak. Anehnya mereka gak terlalu peduli dgn gosip Hollywood, makanya Kaye, mantan istri Max bisa "bebas" di Roxborough ini, malah akhirnya mendapatkan kekasih. Pokoknya cerita novel ini campur aduk tapi sangat realistis. Terkadang malah disisipkan humor-humor cerdas dalam kalimatnya. Cocok bagi kalian yg penggemar chicklit.

[Neha Patkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that's bound to put a smile on your face! The easy narrative plus the simple story line makes it a good choice for some light reading. The complete justice done to the characters albeit simple, makes it even more interesting and keeps you absorbed throughout the read!

[Sarah Brenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book I didn’t want to put down, especially near the end. Some surprises along the way too

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a Nutella kind of good. What you ask, is a Nutella kind of good? A Nutella kind of good is something that is rich, delicious, and all around filled with goodness that makes you sigh when you're finished with it, but when you're done you just want more of the goodness...that's how I felt when I finished Rumor Has It by Jill Mansell.


Tilly Cole has just been dumped by her boyfriend. The loser didn't even tell her face to face-he just left a letter for her to find when she got home from work one day. Needing a shoulder to cry on, she goes to visit her best friend Erin, who lives in Roxborough, a small town in the English countryside. Once there Tilly finds that she not only enjoys seeing more of Erin, but the locals and way of life in a small town. On a whim she answers a classified ad that calls for a "girl friday" and moves from London to Roxborough. The girl friday job turns out to be a job where she does anything from walking her boss Max's dog, Betty for a walk, from helping him with his interior design business. As she helps her boss out she meets one of his best friends-Jack Lucas, who everyone tells her to stay away from because he's broken more hearts then anyone can count. One of my favorite lines from people warning Tilly away from Jack:

From pg. 60:

Erin to Tilly: Jack? You mean Jack Lucas? She looked horror-struck. "Oh no, don't even think about going there.That's one man you definitely wouldn't want to get serious about." "Why does everyone keep saying that?' 'It's like when you were little and your mum warned you that if you went any deeper into the pond, water was going to slosh into your wellies....pg.70: Lets face it, she was never had been able to resist getting her feet wet.

Tilly isn't sure she believes all those rumors about Jack, because the more time she spends with him, the more he just doesn't seem like the guy whom everyone is gossiping about. The lives of those around Tilly-her boss Max, his family, Erin and her boyfriend, Jack and his past, are all seamlessly interwoven into Tilly's story and the transition from each character has you feeling like you've known everyone forever.

Normally in book that has so many different story lines going on, some one gets lost in the shuffle, but each characters voice is heard, and no one gets left behind. Tilly was such a fun heroine. She had me laughing, saying "you go girl" to her, while at the same time shaking my head at her-I thought that she was a bit hard on Jack, but I loved the sparring that the two of them did. As for heroes, Jack is totally crush-worthy. I was totally sighing over him. This book has heart, depth, wit and cool British slang.

[Reene Lim · Rating 1 out of 5]

okay i really need to stop reading chick lit from 2010 backwards 😂
firstly, i went into this thinking that we were following tilly’s perspective. but a few chapters in, we were reading erin’s perspective, and further on in we’re reading kaye’s perspective? it was unpleasantly confusing, and rather unexpected i’m not going to lie.
secondly, i didn’t understand any of the chemistry behind the main romantic interests (since we had so many 😐). it felt like insta love, and had no depth in the connection between characters. sure she’s different than everyone else, but what makes her different? what do you see in him that makes you think i really like him?
and the ‘twists’ and plot devices used in this 🥲 not only were they cliche, but felt really outdated.
and most importantly, i know this was published in 2009, but the slight homophobia and fat-shaming in this book because of a few characters had me shaking my head. and the amount of GIRL ON GIRL HATE. cmon, can’t we have a plot device that isn’t girl hates girl?
that being said, i am giving it 1.5 stars because i’m living near where the book is set in, and it provides me a little satisfaction to know where the characters where heading to.
1.5/5 ⭐️ do not recommend 😂😂

[Shrilaxmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

May 2023: I don't know if this book presents warped ideas of love or if I am just cynical. I remember enjoying this read wayyy more as a fifteen-year-old. (Whether I should have read it at fifteen is a different matter.) Anyway, I think my issues were mainly with the concept of falling for people as soon as you see them. Superficial. The protagonists get married at the end of the book having had a total of two (or was it three) interactions where they actually get to know each other. Which was a little crazy I think? What even is love though? And who am I to decide what feelings are realistic? I did enjoy reading this book, the story was fun and I liked the characters so I'll give it a three. Cosy afternoon read for sure. Oh, and there's a tiny bit of stalking but since a rich attractive man does it, it is okay.

May 2015: This is the best afternoon read I can ever recommend. I absolutely loved it.