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The Greatest Love Story of All Time
The Greatest Love Story of All Time is a laugh-out-loud debut novel from the Marie Claire blogger, Lucy Robinson
It's Fran's thirtieth birthday and things are good . . .
She's bluffed her way into a Very Posh Job and her outlandishly handsome and talented boyfriend Michael is escorting her to the Ritz with a bulge the shape of a ring box in his pocket.
But something has gone wrong. Very wrong. By the end of the evening Fran is howling in bed with a bottle of cheap brandy and one of Michael's old socks.
In her quest to figure out why her life has suddenly gone down the pan, Fran comes up with a failsafe plan: live like a badger, stalk a stranger called Nellie and cancel her beloved Gin Thursdays in favour of drinking gin every night. But then Fran's friends force a very different plan on her and it's nowhere near as fun. How could eight dates possibly make her feel better?
But eventually she agrees. And so begins the greatest love story of all time . . .
Praise for Lucy Robinson:
'The new Marian Keyes . . . romantic and laugh-out-loud hilarious' Cosmopolitan
'An absolute must-read' Huffington Post
'Prepare for public-transport belly laughs' Glamour
'Refreshingly playful' Red
Lucy Robinson is the author of The Greatest Love Story of All Time, A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger and The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me. Lucy worked in theatre and then television documentaries before starting a blog for Marie Claire about her laughably unsuccessful foray into the world of online dating. She did not meet a man during this time but she did become a novelist: every cloud has a silver lining. She now lives in Bristol with her partner, The Man, whom she met when she took off to Buenos Aires to become a bohemian writer in 2010.
Twitter: @Lucy_Robinson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LucyRobinsonWriter
Instagram: RobinsonWriter
Website: www.lucy-robinson.co.uk
It's Fran's thirtieth birthday and things are good . . .
She's bluffed her way into a Very Posh Job and her outlandishly handsome and talented boyfriend Michael is escorting her to the Ritz with a bulge the shape of a ring box in his pocket.
But something has gone wrong. Very wrong. By the end of the evening Fran is howling in bed with a bottle of cheap brandy and one of Michael's old socks.
In her quest to figure out why her life has suddenly gone down the pan, Fran comes up with a failsafe plan: live like a badger, stalk a stranger called Nellie and cancel her beloved Gin Thursdays in favour of drinking gin every night. But then Fran's friends force a very different plan on her and it's nowhere near as fun. How could eight dates possibly make her feel better?
But eventually she agrees. And so begins the greatest love story of all time . . .
Praise for Lucy Robinson:
'The new Marian Keyes . . . romantic and laugh-out-loud hilarious' Cosmopolitan
'An absolute must-read' Huffington Post
'Prepare for public-transport belly laughs' Glamour
'Refreshingly playful' Red
Lucy Robinson is the author of The Greatest Love Story of All Time, A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger and The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me. Lucy worked in theatre and then television documentaries before starting a blog for Marie Claire about her laughably unsuccessful foray into the world of online dating. She did not meet a man during this time but she did become a novelist: every cloud has a silver lining. She now lives in Bristol with her partner, The Man, whom she met when she took off to Buenos Aires to become a bohemian writer in 2010.
Twitter: @Lucy_Robinson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LucyRobinsonWriter
Instagram: RobinsonWriter
Website: www.lucy-robinson.co.uk
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Lucy Robinson
18 books280 followersThe Day We Disappeared is Lucy Robinson's fourth novel, following hot on the heels of the widely-acclaimed The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me - a Book of 2014 for several online and print media publications.
Lucy worked in theatre and then television documentaries before starting a blog for Marie Claire about her laughably unsuccessful foray into the world of online dating. She did not meet a man during this time but she did become a novelist: every cloud has a silver lining. She now lives in Bristol with her partner, The Man, whom she met when she took off to Buenos Aires to become a bohemian writer in 2010. She still works in television when time permits and does a lot of walking and strange healthy cooking, which you can laugh at via her social media channels:
TWITTER: @lucy_robinson
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/lucyrobinsonwriter
INSTAGRAM: @robinsonwriter
WEBSITE: www.lucy-robinson.co.uk
Lucy worked in theatre and then television documentaries before starting a blog for Marie Claire about her laughably unsuccessful foray into the world of online dating. She did not meet a man during this time but she did become a novelist: every cloud has a silver lining. She now lives in Bristol with her partner, The Man, whom she met when she took off to Buenos Aires to become a bohemian writer in 2010. She still works in television when time permits and does a lot of walking and strange healthy cooking, which you can laugh at via her social media channels:
TWITTER: @lucy_robinson
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/lucyrobinsonwriter
INSTAGRAM: @robinsonwriter
WEBSITE: www.lucy-robinson.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
November 5, 2016
The title is a lie.
April 11, 2021
4 sene önce okumuşum bu kitabı ama bir satırını bile hatırlamadım. İlk defa okuyormuşum gibi oldu 😏
Neyse, biraz fazla uzun ama sıkıcı olmayan bir kitaptı. Sadece Fran'in kendini bu kadar eziklemesine sinir oldum 🙄
Neyse, biraz fazla uzun ama sıkıcı olmayan bir kitaptı. Sadece Fran'in kendini bu kadar eziklemesine sinir oldum 🙄
November 27, 2021
The single defining reason that this was a terrible read for me was Fran's Scottish friend, Dave. Yes, he's funny and yes he's a good friend to Fran but as soon as he called her by the cute little 'nickname' he had for her I couldn't bear him.
I'm Scottish so I've heard that word used plenty, and in it's proper context. It's really NOT a nice name to be called. It certainly isn't a name to be used in affection for a close (female) friend by a man. *shudder*
There's no grey area here, it's just simply not a name anyone would want to be called. It's derogatory. The word might sound harmless to someone who's unsure of the meaning, but it's really not.
Had it been used once I might have been able to overlook it. Maybe. But it's used over and over and over. If Dave were real he'd find himself without any friends if he persisted in calling them that name.
I can only assume the Author knows the word from a Scottish acquaintance and used it without knowing the connotations. It was a terrible choice of word. If she had even checked the Urban Dictionary she'd have been in no doubt that it was a poor choice.
For me, that word just sucked all the joy out of reading this and I abandoned it.
Note: I received this book from the publisher
I'm Scottish so I've heard that word used plenty, and in it's proper context. It's really NOT a nice name to be called. It certainly isn't a name to be used in affection for a close (female) friend by a man. *shudder*
There's no grey area here, it's just simply not a name anyone would want to be called. It's derogatory. The word might sound harmless to someone who's unsure of the meaning, but it's really not.
Had it been used once I might have been able to overlook it. Maybe. But it's used over and over and over. If Dave were real he'd find himself without any friends if he persisted in calling them that name.
I can only assume the Author knows the word from a Scottish acquaintance and used it without knowing the connotations. It was a terrible choice of word. If she had even checked the Urban Dictionary she'd have been in no doubt that it was a poor choice.
For me, that word just sucked all the joy out of reading this and I abandoned it.
Note: I received this book from the publisher
April 30, 2015
3.5
Solidan chick-lit sa pomalo iritantnim glavnim likom :)
Solidan chick-lit sa pomalo iritantnim glavnim likom :)
October 3, 2016
Have we all really read the same novel? Because the one I read ticked all the wrong boxes.
Foreign characters vho zo not speak ze Inglish very vell? Check.
Ridiculously stereotypical and annoying characters? Check.
Mentioning female body parts in every single dialogue, either as pet name, insult, compliment or totally irrelevant metaphor? Check, unfortunately. In each of the 45 chapters, in every dialogue. Either the author is obsessed with female sex parts, or all characters are, be they male or female themselves. Plain weird, like some weird bet on how many times you can use these words in a book.
Can't-stop-reading predictable story? Nope, though that was what I was looking for. Just seemed to stretch on forever.
Conflictuous love triangle? Nope.
Laugh out loud humour or swoon worthy romance? Nope.
As good as Lucy Robinsons other novels? Nope, not by a long stretch.
Tempted to ditch the book? Check, several times, but persevered to find out why this book has such high ratings. Did not solve this mystery.
Great love story? Not at all.
Foreign characters vho zo not speak ze Inglish very vell? Check.
Ridiculously stereotypical and annoying characters? Check.
Mentioning female body parts in every single dialogue, either as pet name, insult, compliment or totally irrelevant metaphor? Check, unfortunately. In each of the 45 chapters, in every dialogue. Either the author is obsessed with female sex parts, or all characters are, be they male or female themselves. Plain weird, like some weird bet on how many times you can use these words in a book.
Can't-stop-reading predictable story? Nope, though that was what I was looking for. Just seemed to stretch on forever.
Conflictuous love triangle? Nope.
Laugh out loud humour or swoon worthy romance? Nope.
As good as Lucy Robinsons other novels? Nope, not by a long stretch.
Tempted to ditch the book? Check, several times, but persevered to find out why this book has such high ratings. Did not solve this mystery.
Great love story? Not at all.
July 31, 2015
This is why Chick lit is one of my favourite genre, Lucy never fails to disappoint. This book is a perfect combo of humor, drama and romance. If anyone is interested in a light heart, humor book this one is a deffo recommendation. I loved and enjoyed reading about Fran's journey to love, she and her friends are both loveable and laughable (I loved mostly Stefania, she was a delight to read and I instantly fell in love with her character!)
January 17, 2023
not bad 2 stars
Read
September 17, 2021Kad se setiš da si ovo čitala kao klinka i obožavala a onda te podsete da je najbolja drugarica glavne junakinje izjavila da je potomak Aleksandra Karađorđevića
April 24, 2023
Naslov je opravdan. OBOŽAVAM ovu knjigu. Već dugo nisam toliko plakala od sreće!
August 18, 2016
Meni savršena!
May 14, 2013
So, here we have what I can only describe as a book for the girls of today. A book for the girls who will give the men a run for their money.
From the very start you connect with Fran, she's that friend that you've known forever. The one who you be extra silly with and tell everything too. You will also love her 'charming' cat Duke Ellington. Her friends sex mad Leonie, Princess Stefania and big huggy bear Dave become your circle of friends too. Altogether you can take on the world and more so take on the world of online dating, catastrophic relationships, alcoholic mothers, political scandals, stalking, sex, love & marriage. You feel every ounce of pain & happiness for every one of these people. As I said, they're now your friends too.
The story covers most aspects of relationships and heartache. It puts you through your paces and has you laughing nonstop even in the sad parts. It is hand on heart the funniest book I have read so far. Fran’s speak before she thinks potty mouth. Leonie’s no shame in telling strangers about her sore bum from anal sex. Stefania’s wacky dress sense, organic vegan recipes & her miss pronounced words. Dave’s manliness, Glaswegian swear words and roll ups. This all mixed together becomes utterly fantastic!
From the minute I started this book I was gripped. I hand on heart was so excited to turn the page to see what was next. I even refused to put it down to eat! This resulting in a terrible Spag Bol stain on page 365. Devastated!
To anyone who knows me personally, I have a terrible mouth Never mind a potty mouth, I've got a full on garbage mouth.
Lucy Robinson has captured today's way of thinking and new found freedom of speech and miraculously produced a book of wonder and excitement with using the dreaded and much frowned upon C word! Good on you girl!!
This isn't your typical chic lit/ Rom-Com book it's trendy, honest & fucking brilliant!
If you want nonstop laughter, a brilliant love story with an alcoholic twist, then this is the book for you.
I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. Not for the faint hearted I may add, but for the normal, everyday girl this is the book of your dreams.
Serious praise for Lucy Robinson
5/5**
Book on its way to my friend, will be reading this again soon!
From the very start you connect with Fran, she's that friend that you've known forever. The one who you be extra silly with and tell everything too. You will also love her 'charming' cat Duke Ellington. Her friends sex mad Leonie, Princess Stefania and big huggy bear Dave become your circle of friends too. Altogether you can take on the world and more so take on the world of online dating, catastrophic relationships, alcoholic mothers, political scandals, stalking, sex, love & marriage. You feel every ounce of pain & happiness for every one of these people. As I said, they're now your friends too.
The story covers most aspects of relationships and heartache. It puts you through your paces and has you laughing nonstop even in the sad parts. It is hand on heart the funniest book I have read so far. Fran’s speak before she thinks potty mouth. Leonie’s no shame in telling strangers about her sore bum from anal sex. Stefania’s wacky dress sense, organic vegan recipes & her miss pronounced words. Dave’s manliness, Glaswegian swear words and roll ups. This all mixed together becomes utterly fantastic!
From the minute I started this book I was gripped. I hand on heart was so excited to turn the page to see what was next. I even refused to put it down to eat! This resulting in a terrible Spag Bol stain on page 365. Devastated!
To anyone who knows me personally, I have a terrible mouth Never mind a potty mouth, I've got a full on garbage mouth.
Lucy Robinson has captured today's way of thinking and new found freedom of speech and miraculously produced a book of wonder and excitement with using the dreaded and much frowned upon C word! Good on you girl!!
This isn't your typical chic lit/ Rom-Com book it's trendy, honest & fucking brilliant!
If you want nonstop laughter, a brilliant love story with an alcoholic twist, then this is the book for you.
I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. Not for the faint hearted I may add, but for the normal, everyday girl this is the book of your dreams.
Serious praise for Lucy Robinson
5/5**
Book on its way to my friend, will be reading this again soon!
April 9, 2017
Glavna junakinja je patetična i njonjava što ju čini ekstremno napornom. Većinu knjige ona pati za tipom koji ju je otpilio i samosažaljeva se, slini, danima se ne tušira i prekomjerno cuga. Baš je pravi uzor mladim curma. Došlo mi je da uđem u knjigu i zatučem je. Uspjela sam je pročitati do kraja samo zato što su sporedni likovi svojim zabavnim dosjetkama donekle spasili situaciju.
July 5, 2015
Initially, I thought of giving this book 3 or maybe 4 stars. Then why, did I give it a 5-star rating, you ask?
It was the ending that did it. My God! The ending was amazing. I loooved it!
After finishing it, I knew this book deserved nothing short of 5-stars. ^_^
It was the ending that did it. My God! The ending was amazing. I loooved it!
After finishing it, I knew this book deserved nothing short of 5-stars. ^_^
June 17, 2017
Loved Dave. Fran was sometimes annoying. Michael was a prick and I shouted and got cross at the situation alot.
Enjoyed every minute of it.
Enjoyed every minute of it.
May 18, 2012
Review originally posted at Once Upon A Time.
It feels like yonks ago I read and fell in love with this book, looking at my Goodreads page, I suppose a month ago is a fair while, but hey that’s why I take notes and I do remember how much I absolutely adored this book, to the point that I told off Ms. Lucy on Twitter for making me actually cry and I couldn’t read anything else for three whole days afterwards and I told a random lady in Tesco to buy it because it’s really really good (as well as many other people). *ahem* Yes.
Lucy’s writing style pulls you in from the very first page when Fran is telling us about how and why her friends broke into her flat, only to be disgusted by the state they find her in, and demanding that she go on this “Eight Date Plan” while on her 3 month break from her boyfriend Michael. She has this fantastically hilarious way of wording things, and it’s such a British sense of humour. So often I’d burst out laughing at something or other1 and I’d get the “what are you laughing at?” look from my other half.
“Walking out of the building and into the cold, hard afternoon sun, I caught sight of Michael’s bottom. I’d not realized I was a bottom sort of girl until that moment but Michael’s was exquisite. Small, manly and firm, with just a hint of muscle. I wanted to cup it gently. And then firmly. And maybe give it a soft slap just to be sure.”
My only major criticism of the writing style itself was the overuse of exclamation marks. Whilst they did add a lot more excitement to the text, often they added a little too much.
Fran is just so absolutely mental and Bridget Jones-like with her clumsy, drunken, lovesick stalking ways. She has low self esteem yet loves her life and when she suspects her currently ex-boyfriend of dumping her on her birthday to date a posh, gorgeous girl called Nellie Daniels she gets a little crazy. Whilst it could all have been fixed by a simple text, it did make for a hilarious read and things wouldn’t have worked out quite the way they did. And that was a pretty freaking epic ending. I’m also completely in love with the side characters. Dave the Glaswegian cameraman who always seems to have a cigarette in his mouth and there for Fran through thick and thin. Barmy Stefania the nutty European, exact origin unknown. Duke Ellington the evil cat. And the dates! My word, they’re so hilarious! Though it isn’t all hilarity. Fran’s mother has been dealing with an alcohol problem for years and there are some very heartfelt dealings with that problem as she tried to get her mum to go to Alcoholics Anonymous. They all give the story a kick of life and it wouldn’t have been quite the same without them.
Should you read this book? Hell to the yes. There is a lot of swearing and a teeny tiny bit of sex but it’s not too adult in my honest opinion. I thoroughly believe that it’s too brilliant to miss. Often, I find chick lit has a lot of trouble with predictability but here I just didn’t see any of the twists coming and.. Kay, finished gushing. If you have a secret penchant for chick lit while nobody’s looking or a great stonking love of it, give The Greatest Love Story of All Time a go! I love it so much and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
It feels like yonks ago I read and fell in love with this book, looking at my Goodreads page, I suppose a month ago is a fair while, but hey that’s why I take notes and I do remember how much I absolutely adored this book, to the point that I told off Ms. Lucy on Twitter for making me actually cry and I couldn’t read anything else for three whole days afterwards and I told a random lady in Tesco to buy it because it’s really really good (as well as many other people). *ahem* Yes.
Lucy’s writing style pulls you in from the very first page when Fran is telling us about how and why her friends broke into her flat, only to be disgusted by the state they find her in, and demanding that she go on this “Eight Date Plan” while on her 3 month break from her boyfriend Michael. She has this fantastically hilarious way of wording things, and it’s such a British sense of humour. So often I’d burst out laughing at something or other1 and I’d get the “what are you laughing at?” look from my other half.
“Walking out of the building and into the cold, hard afternoon sun, I caught sight of Michael’s bottom. I’d not realized I was a bottom sort of girl until that moment but Michael’s was exquisite. Small, manly and firm, with just a hint of muscle. I wanted to cup it gently. And then firmly. And maybe give it a soft slap just to be sure.”
My only major criticism of the writing style itself was the overuse of exclamation marks. Whilst they did add a lot more excitement to the text, often they added a little too much.
Fran is just so absolutely mental and Bridget Jones-like with her clumsy, drunken, lovesick stalking ways. She has low self esteem yet loves her life and when she suspects her currently ex-boyfriend of dumping her on her birthday to date a posh, gorgeous girl called Nellie Daniels she gets a little crazy. Whilst it could all have been fixed by a simple text, it did make for a hilarious read and things wouldn’t have worked out quite the way they did. And that was a pretty freaking epic ending. I’m also completely in love with the side characters. Dave the Glaswegian cameraman who always seems to have a cigarette in his mouth and there for Fran through thick and thin. Barmy Stefania the nutty European, exact origin unknown. Duke Ellington the evil cat. And the dates! My word, they’re so hilarious! Though it isn’t all hilarity. Fran’s mother has been dealing with an alcohol problem for years and there are some very heartfelt dealings with that problem as she tried to get her mum to go to Alcoholics Anonymous. They all give the story a kick of life and it wouldn’t have been quite the same without them.
Should you read this book? Hell to the yes. There is a lot of swearing and a teeny tiny bit of sex but it’s not too adult in my honest opinion. I thoroughly believe that it’s too brilliant to miss. Often, I find chick lit has a lot of trouble with predictability but here I just didn’t see any of the twists coming and.. Kay, finished gushing. If you have a secret penchant for chick lit while nobody’s looking or a great stonking love of it, give The Greatest Love Story of All Time a go! I love it so much and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
July 3, 2016
I hate rating these kind of books. Books that are mediocre, bland, plainly annoying to read, untill the last hundred of pages, where the main character realises that she has been a total idiot and drastically changes her behavior. And I especially hate these books when they have a perfect ending (even though this one was slightly sloppy and kind of the easy way out)
I have started this book three times and gave up around page twenty, which is very unlike me. But sadly, I own a copy, and I can't have a book on my shelves I haven't read. SO this weekend I decided to finally bite through, and it was pretty awfull. Admitted, of the eight dates I found the Gay one very fun to read and the story has it's better moments, but it all has this 'Look how funny I am and oh my main character is such a clutz' kind of feel. Right up untill the main character ditches the main problem in this book, it's barely interesting at all. If it wasn't for the end, which was, again, slightly lazy, I would've given it one star at most, but the ending did make up a lot.
I have started this book three times and gave up around page twenty, which is very unlike me. But sadly, I own a copy, and I can't have a book on my shelves I haven't read. SO this weekend I decided to finally bite through, and it was pretty awfull. Admitted, of the eight dates I found the Gay one very fun to read and the story has it's better moments, but it all has this 'Look how funny I am and oh my main character is such a clutz' kind of feel. Right up untill the main character ditches the main problem in this book, it's barely interesting at all. If it wasn't for the end, which was, again, slightly lazy, I would've given it one star at most, but the ending did make up a lot.
June 13, 2012
Really liked it for its sheer energy. This was a book that drove the reader, making them laugh and bite their fingernails until the very last page. I loved the wit, the crudity, the situational comedy, the characters--- yep it was a very good book. Others have given details of the story so I won't repeat - but it's basically the story of understanding what 'to love' really means. Yes, the conclusion was predictible despite the attempt to muddy the water, but that didn't make it any the less enjoyable. I think it made me see some of the advantages of writing in the first person - I might have to try it!
May 15, 2021
The word that springs to mind about this book is hectic. There is a sort of artificial energy and pace that made it hard for me to get into the story.
Also, the H's nickname for the h was appalling (admittedly I can't appreciate the nuances, but every time he said it, it read like an insult).
Also, the H's nickname for the h was appalling (admittedly I can't appreciate the nuances, but every time he said it, it read like an insult).
March 24, 2019
I really love Lucy Robinson's writing. It's very nice and detailed and focuses a lot on the characters. And this was a good story.
But it kind of drove me crazy at points, and I think it could have been a tad shorter. I wouldn't have minded that.
The story revolves around Fran, whose boyfriend Michael broke up with her for 90 days on her thirtieth birthday without giving her a reason. At first I was sympathetic with her, seeing her so broken, but then somehow it became quite a lot. She was kind of horrible to her friends, and she put Michael on a pedestal. She never realised how many sacrifices she did for him, and that he didn't seem to care.
But it kind of drove me crazy at points, and I think it could have been a tad shorter. I wouldn't have minded that.
The story revolves around Fran, whose boyfriend Michael broke up with her for 90 days on her thirtieth birthday without giving her a reason. At first I was sympathetic with her, seeing her so broken, but then somehow it became quite a lot. She was kind of horrible to her friends, and she put Michael on a pedestal. She never realised how many sacrifices she did for him, and that he didn't seem to care.
October 9, 2018
Divno, zabavno, i jako mi je zao sto sam dosla do kraja!!!
November 16, 2020
Enjoyed this book about Fran a thirty year old discovering who the love of her life is ?
January 8, 2023
Sweet but stupid but different but funny hihi
January 22, 2014
When Fran meets Michael I really thought they were meant for each other, but it turns out ...
After almost two years of relationship Michael wants a three months break, Fran thought he was going to propose.
Now she is sad, lying around and doesn’t want to get out of her flat.
It is interesting to read how Fran met Michael and you gotta love her three friends: Leonie, Stefania and especially Dave.
They’ve got a plan to send Fran on eight dates (the last one, has to be the perfect date..., but we only hear towards the end, what that really means).
Fran misses Michael and starts stalking him, or his „girlfriend“ Nellie. However, it all is a big misunderstanding and everything turns out to be really complicated.
I find the scenes hilarious, when Fran is acting all strange trying to find out more.
When Michael finds out, that she is dating, he sends her messages again. His best friend Alex is a nightmare at work and then everything about her mam is released in the press.
Freddy, one of her online dates, seems to be a great guy, but when Michael wants Fran to go to Paris to meet him, she cancels the date with him.
Leonie is with Alex now, which seems to complicate the situation even more.
In Paris, Michael and Fran talk a lot and they want to get back together again (Michael also tells her why he wanted the separation), but then Leonie calls and tells her the whole truth...
Was Michael really playing with her, this whole time?
I was really disappointed in Michael, I never thought that was possible, he seemed like such a nice guy. Well, that made the whole story even more interesting and took it to a whole new level.
Alex is a good friend now and Fran has real success at work. But what about Freddy?
Dave tells her, that he is leaving... Only when it is almost to late and with a little help from her friends she realises who Freddy is...
Will she get her happy end?
This really is a great love story. It has an unexpected ending and you can really dive into the story. I love Fran’s mad moments and the stalking thing is just hilarious. LOL-moments guaranteed!!! And it is also romantic, gripping and entertaining!!! Lucy really understands to make a story interesting, vivid and sparkling and the love scenes: perfect ;) ♥
After almost two years of relationship Michael wants a three months break, Fran thought he was going to propose.
Now she is sad, lying around and doesn’t want to get out of her flat.
It is interesting to read how Fran met Michael and you gotta love her three friends: Leonie, Stefania and especially Dave.
They’ve got a plan to send Fran on eight dates (the last one, has to be the perfect date..., but we only hear towards the end, what that really means).
Fran misses Michael and starts stalking him, or his „girlfriend“ Nellie. However, it all is a big misunderstanding and everything turns out to be really complicated.
I find the scenes hilarious, when Fran is acting all strange trying to find out more.
When Michael finds out, that she is dating, he sends her messages again. His best friend Alex is a nightmare at work and then everything about her mam is released in the press.
Freddy, one of her online dates, seems to be a great guy, but when Michael wants Fran to go to Paris to meet him, she cancels the date with him.
Leonie is with Alex now, which seems to complicate the situation even more.
In Paris, Michael and Fran talk a lot and they want to get back together again (Michael also tells her why he wanted the separation), but then Leonie calls and tells her the whole truth...
Was Michael really playing with her, this whole time?
I was really disappointed in Michael, I never thought that was possible, he seemed like such a nice guy. Well, that made the whole story even more interesting and took it to a whole new level.
Alex is a good friend now and Fran has real success at work. But what about Freddy?
Dave tells her, that he is leaving... Only when it is almost to late and with a little help from her friends she realises who Freddy is...
Will she get her happy end?
This really is a great love story. It has an unexpected ending and you can really dive into the story. I love Fran’s mad moments and the stalking thing is just hilarious. LOL-moments guaranteed!!! And it is also romantic, gripping and entertaining!!! Lucy really understands to make a story interesting, vivid and sparkling and the love scenes: perfect ;) ♥
June 11, 2014
Originally posted on: http://addictivechicklit.blogspot.com...
3 words: I loved it! I could leave it there, but I guess you want to know a bit more. I instantly liked Fran, she is so funny and well, her cat is called Duke Ellington, how cool is that! She has quite a good life: caring and intelligent (even a bit too much) boyfriend, good job, good friends... well the whole lot. But when her boyfriend wants a 3 months break the same day she is turning 30 and has been offered a better position, destroying her happy day (I know... the bastard!) her world collapses.
From that moment, her life becomes a mess and the book becomes the funniest book I have read in a while. It is packed with hilarious moments, Fran and her clumsy imaginative ways had me laughing out loud.
But what makes this book so special are the side characters. Her three friends are as funny as her and they instantly became my friends too. The girls, Leonie, the sex obsessed, and Stephanie, the Russian princess, are very worried about Fran and try their best to cheer her up and together with Dave, the big teddy bear, they make Fran do the 8 dates plan to recover from the break up. Obviously the dates are hilarious and the 8th one turns out to be an unexpected twist that makes this story even more perfect. I said unexpected but I was actually praying to all the gods for that to happen, if you want to find out what I am talking about just buy the book!
I loved Lucy's style. Warning, there are a lot of rude jokes and swearing but it just makes the book more hilarious so don't worry. Now, her second book A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger is already on my kindle and I am really looking forward to her new book The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me later this month. Don't you love the titles too?
3 words: I loved it! I could leave it there, but I guess you want to know a bit more. I instantly liked Fran, she is so funny and well, her cat is called Duke Ellington, how cool is that! She has quite a good life: caring and intelligent (even a bit too much) boyfriend, good job, good friends... well the whole lot. But when her boyfriend wants a 3 months break the same day she is turning 30 and has been offered a better position, destroying her happy day (I know... the bastard!) her world collapses.
From that moment, her life becomes a mess and the book becomes the funniest book I have read in a while. It is packed with hilarious moments, Fran and her clumsy imaginative ways had me laughing out loud.
But what makes this book so special are the side characters. Her three friends are as funny as her and they instantly became my friends too. The girls, Leonie, the sex obsessed, and Stephanie, the Russian princess, are very worried about Fran and try their best to cheer her up and together with Dave, the big teddy bear, they make Fran do the 8 dates plan to recover from the break up. Obviously the dates are hilarious and the 8th one turns out to be an unexpected twist that makes this story even more perfect. I said unexpected but I was actually praying to all the gods for that to happen, if you want to find out what I am talking about just buy the book!
I loved Lucy's style. Warning, there are a lot of rude jokes and swearing but it just makes the book more hilarious so don't worry. Now, her second book A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger is already on my kindle and I am really looking forward to her new book The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me later this month. Don't you love the titles too?
June 12, 2012
I bought this book because I'm trying to write some chick-lit, and this book was described as origional and barmy and hilarious.
I'm afraid I stopped reading after page fifty, simply because, the character who started out being funny and peculiar and interesting - became irritating and snivelling. She was supposed to be passionate about her career, and yet started hanging off a man's coat tails the minute 'the one' showed up. I couldn't get past one of the lines, where Fran decides she doesn't mind that Freya is gorgeous, because now she has Michael interested in her - what excellent self esteem she has.
I really wanted to like this book, so I tried to read on, but it all read a bit OTT, like the writer was trying too hard to be 'kooky' and the cast of Fran's friends made it seem like the author had once glimpsed some interesting people through a bus window, and was trying to imagine what it would like to be them.
I did like some of the funny parts, but I found the yo-yoing between past and present to be a bit tedious, and some of the slang/terms used 'trunchon' for penis for one, made me cringe.
All in all, I thought it was a great idea, and there were promising bits to it, but I just didn't like the main character's attitude.
EDIT - I actually went back to finish this book, and, after a rocky start, it really does get better. most of it was hilarious, to the point that I was laughing out loud, and the rest was nicely paced, and fun. A little predictable, but then, chick-lit is predictable to some extent. I would recommend this book, as it is fresh and new. (even if I am getting tired of female main characters who don't put the boot in on deserving foes, but rather walk away on the highroad. But then, I am a stroppy violent cow myself).
I'm afraid I stopped reading after page fifty, simply because, the character who started out being funny and peculiar and interesting - became irritating and snivelling. She was supposed to be passionate about her career, and yet started hanging off a man's coat tails the minute 'the one' showed up. I couldn't get past one of the lines, where Fran decides she doesn't mind that Freya is gorgeous, because now she has Michael interested in her - what excellent self esteem she has.
I really wanted to like this book, so I tried to read on, but it all read a bit OTT, like the writer was trying too hard to be 'kooky' and the cast of Fran's friends made it seem like the author had once glimpsed some interesting people through a bus window, and was trying to imagine what it would like to be them.
I did like some of the funny parts, but I found the yo-yoing between past and present to be a bit tedious, and some of the slang/terms used 'trunchon' for penis for one, made me cringe.
All in all, I thought it was a great idea, and there were promising bits to it, but I just didn't like the main character's attitude.
EDIT - I actually went back to finish this book, and, after a rocky start, it really does get better. most of it was hilarious, to the point that I was laughing out loud, and the rest was nicely paced, and fun. A little predictable, but then, chick-lit is predictable to some extent. I would recommend this book, as it is fresh and new. (even if I am getting tired of female main characters who don't put the boot in on deserving foes, but rather walk away on the highroad. But then, I am a stroppy violent cow myself).
May 3, 2022
PNa svoj 30.-ti rođendan, Fran (Franny) je ostavio dečko Michael bez ikakvog objašnjenja, odnosno odlučio je uzeti pauzu od tri mjeseca (90 dana). Otkako su se upoznali, dvije godine prije, u Mitrovici u koju su došli zbog ratnog novinarstva i izvještaja, Fran je bila ludo zaljubljena u Michaela kojega je vidjela kao svoju pravu ljubav. Na Kosovo i u Srbiju je došla sa radnim kolegom Daveom s kojim se i privatno družila jer su si karakterno odgovarali. Nakon što se Michael vratio iz ratom okupiranih područja, živio je s njom u njezinome iznajmljenom stanu u Londonu. U šupi u njezinom dvorištu živjela je Stefania koja je bila Franina dobra prijateljica koja joj je znala ostavljati obroke i brinuti se za njezinog ludog mačka Duke Ellingtona. Kad ju je Michael ostavio, njezini prijatelji: Dave, Stefania i Leonie su preuzeli brigu za nju. Tri tjedna nije izašla nigdje, a onda su joj prijatelji provalili u stan i natjerali je da im obeća da će se trgnuti i u tih 90 dana otići na 8 spojeva. Kad se vratila na posao, doživjela je šok jer je njezin posao preuzeo Michaelov najbolji prijatelj Alex, koji ju nije volio od prvog dana njihove veze i koji je sada sjedio stol do njezinog. Ona je mahnito mislila da će joj se Michael vratiti i kada je njuškajući po mobitelu njegove sestre Jenny kad ju je odvezla u rodilište u porukama našla da je on s nekom Nellie, počela je uhoditi tu žensku. Pronjuškala je sve o njoj, i organizirala sat joge koji je vodila Stefania. Prijatelji su joj govorili da to ne radi, ali nije si mogla pomoći. Prvi i drugi spoj s tipova sa stranice za upoznavanje s interneta prošli su katastrofalno. Treći spoj dogodio se s Charlijem, tipom s joge s kojim je čak i spavala iako su joj svi rekli da to ne radi. Sutradan, nakon te ludo proveden noći, njezina mama i ona su osvanule u novinama. Njezina mama kao drugo skrivana ljubavnica političara Nicka koji se probavao probiti u politici, a ona kao kćer koja ne pada daleko od stabla jer su joj mamu nazvali alkoholičarkom kao i nju s njezinom slikom pada na dodjeli nagrada na kojoj je bila s Charlijem. Prvo je za tu priču, koju su dugo skrivali krivila Alexa, pa onda Charlija. Dave je to cijelo vrijeme bio uz nju. Gledala ga je kao najboljeg prijatelja i divila mu se kao i njegovoj vezi s prekrasnom Freyom. Kad je saznala da Leonie izlazi s Alexom kojeg je smatrala neprijateljem prestala se družiti s njom i odlaziti s njim na džin-četvrtke. A sve to vrijeme prekida, nenormalno je pila i ako je vidjela da joj je majka alkoholičarka, za sebe nije vidjela da se pretvara u nju. Njezinu majku Eve, Dave je uvjerio da ode na sastanke anonimnih alkoholičara, nakon što ju je Nick nakon 17 godina veze ostavio. Na poslu su svi izbjegavali Fran, i šef Hugh joj je zabranio da se javlja na telefon i da išta objavljuje dok se situacija oko njezine mame i nje ne stiša. Dao joj je drugu šansu. Na četvrtom izlasku, srela je Leonie i Alexa dok je s tipom za kojeg je mislila da je gej bila u gej baru. Leonie i ona su tada pomirile, a odlučila je pružiti priliku i Alexu. Kad je čuo da izlazi, Michael joj je počeo slati poruke, ali ona je mislila da je on s Nellie i kada je na Nellienom face profilu vidjela da se zaručila, srce joj je skoro puklo. Te večeri je izašla sa Daveom i tada su se dogovorili da oboje neće više piti. Te večeri je vidjela Nellie s drugim tipom i mislila je da vara Michaela i kad se pojavila Jenny s mužem, shvatila je da Nellie nije s njezinim Michaelom i da ju je krivo uhodila. Ali Nellie joj je sve oprostila i čak joj se i divila. Fran je izašla na još jedan, peti spoj, ali samo se pokupila kući kad je tip nije doživo jer je na telefonu pričao s bivšom. Na šestom spoju se lik pojavio na pikniku sa košarom naručenom preko interneta i proizvodima kojima je istekao rok i koji se pokupio kad je ona otišla na wc. Slijedeći, sedmi spoj je trebao biti s Freddyem koji joj se sviđao najviše od svih tih silnih luđaka. No, tada joj se Michael javio da je u Parizu i da je njoj kupio avionsku kartu i da je sve oraganizirao i nada se da će ona pristati da dođe u Pariz. Dave i Stefania su se malo udaljili od nje i izgledali su joj čudno. Mislila je da Dave i Stefania petljaju dok je polako prihvaćala vezu između Leonie i Alexa. Zbog Pariza, otkazala je spoj sa Freddyem. Otišla je u Pariz i našla se s njim, sve joj je lijepo pripremio. Rekao joj je da se odlučio za pauzu jer se ona udaljila od njega, da se osjećao kao uljez i da ju je mislio zaprositi na dan njenog rođendana, kao što je predosjećala i kao što joj je i Jenny poslije rekao. Umjesto da se on njoj ispričava, ona se ispričavala njemu. Onda, dok je on bio na wc-u, vidjela je da je Leonie hitno treba pa ju je nazvala. Leonie joj je ispričala sve o Michaelu, da ju je on izdao i priču njezine mame predao medijima jer je ostao bez posla. Da se i prije dvije godine nije zbog nje vratio ranije s Kosova, nego zato što su mu dali otkaz i da ju je samo iskorištavao da hrani njegov ego jer je ona mislila da je on savršen. Nakon razgovora, Fran je razvrgnula zaruke, jer je prije razgovora s Leonie pristala na prosidbu i otišla iz Pariza. Kad se vratila u London radila je s Daveom na dokumentarcu. Iako su radili zajedno, nisu uspjeli puno pričati, ali bio joj je čudan. Priznao joj je da je prekinuo s Freyom, da ga je ostavila i Fran je mislila kako su on i Stefania zajedno i stalno ga ispitivala o tome, a on joj nije davao odgovor. Kada su završili dokumentarac, Hugh je bio oduševljen i zahvalio je Daveu i Fran na odličnom poslu i suradnji i tada rekao da mu je žao što neće više raditi zajedno. Tada je Fran saznala od Davea da ide u Afganistan i to ju je slomilo. Molila ga je da ostane, a on joj je rekao da mora ići, da je to njegov poziv. Kod kuće je uhvatila Stefaniu sa njezinim dečkom i Stefania joj je ispričala priču o svom životu i da je zapravo princeza i da želi ići živjeti u Indiju. Na premijeri njezinog dokumentarca svi su bili uz nju, svi osim Davea koji je taj dan trebao otputovati za Afganistan. Prije premijere filma, Leonie je ošamarila Fran da ju prizove k svijesti i rekla joj da je njezina ljubav bila njoj ispred nosa. Kad je Fran shvatila da je Freddy zapravo Dave, javila mu se i nakon prikazivanja, zahvalila svima i Leonie i Stefani otišala na areodrom. Pronašla je Davea i nespretno su si priznali da se vole. Rekla mu je da će ići s njim u Afganistan, a on joj je rekao da prvo moraju probati živjeti u Londonu.
November 8, 2015
J'ai bien aimé, mais j'ai trouvé la fin hyper rapide comparé à tout le reste du livre, qui semble durée une éternité, j'aurais pas dis non à un épilogue du coup, parce qu'on reste sur sa faim.
Aussi quand on apprend enfin pourquoi Michael a largué Fran au début, ses ami(e)s avaient tout compris, et je me suis demandée pourquoi ils ont pas insisté pour lui ouvrir les yeux . alors certes, Fran était pas au meilleur de sa forme, mais ils ont préféré les sous-entendus et le tournage autour du lac (c'est plus un pot dans leur cas xD) au lieu d'être directes.
l'histoire des 8 rencarts pour se remettre d'aplomb c'était cool, un peu long (ils sont tous vus au crible), j'ai beaucoup couiné quand on apprend qui se cache derrière le rencard #7
j'ai beaucoup aimé les amis de Fran : Leonie, Dave the scotsman ♥, Stephania vho zpeak ze english very vell... et puis Alex trop choupi ♥
Aussi quand on apprend enfin pourquoi Michael a largué Fran au début, ses ami(e)s avaient tout compris, et je me suis demandée pourquoi ils ont pas insisté pour lui ouvrir les yeux . alors certes, Fran était pas au meilleur de sa forme, mais ils ont préféré les sous-entendus et le tournage autour du lac (c'est plus un pot dans leur cas xD) au lieu d'être directes.
l'histoire des 8 rencarts pour se remettre d'aplomb c'était cool, un peu long (ils sont tous vus au crible), j'ai beaucoup couiné quand on apprend qui se cache derrière le rencard #7
j'ai beaucoup aimé les amis de Fran : Leonie, Dave the scotsman ♥, Stephania vho zpeak ze english very vell... et puis Alex trop choupi ♥
June 25, 2013
I started this book at 9 pm thinking, "Over 400 pages! I'm going to be reading this all night!" Of course, a little under three hours after starting, I looked up. The book was finished and it was only 11:48pm. Boy was this book good!
I loved the back and forth between the past and the present. It really help me get a full grasp on Michael and Fran's relationship. I absolutely loved Fran. I really related to her, especially with her being clumsy and apt to say whatever came to mind. I thought Michael was the bee's knees until he dropped Fran for apparently no reason. It was quite a well kept mystery as to why. I also loved Fran's friends. Stefania was a hoot! I love how her dialogues were written as she would have spoken them. Leonie was a hoot and so was Dave.
This is Lucy Robinson's first book and I'm really looking forward to reading her next book which is already out. Now to get my hands on it!
I loved the back and forth between the past and the present. It really help me get a full grasp on Michael and Fran's relationship. I absolutely loved Fran. I really related to her, especially with her being clumsy and apt to say whatever came to mind. I thought Michael was the bee's knees until he dropped Fran for apparently no reason. It was quite a well kept mystery as to why. I also loved Fran's friends. Stefania was a hoot! I love how her dialogues were written as she would have spoken them. Leonie was a hoot and so was Dave.
This is Lucy Robinson's first book and I'm really looking forward to reading her next book which is already out. Now to get my hands on it!
July 28, 2016
Let me just say OMG, and then some :). I just love that feeling, when you take a book and start reading, and you have little or no expectations, just a little distraction and a good laugh, and in the end you FALL IN LOVE with the book and story so hard it breaks your heart. Yeah, this is so that type of a book ;).
I loooved, loooved this book ... I laughed, I cried, I wanted to know the ending and at the same time I wanted it not to end ;). Fran and her little possy of friends are such great, sweet and lovable characters, that you want to have gin Thursay with them ...
And the ending, omg, that beautiful, wonderful ending ... I read it three times and I started crying, it's perfect ;). I'm so happy I got to chance to enjoy in such a sweet and wonderful book :).
I loooved, loooved this book ... I laughed, I cried, I wanted to know the ending and at the same time I wanted it not to end ;). Fran and her little possy of friends are such great, sweet and lovable characters, that you want to have gin Thursay with them ...
And the ending, omg, that beautiful, wonderful ending ... I read it three times and I started crying, it's perfect ;). I'm so happy I got to chance to enjoy in such a sweet and wonderful book :).
July 4, 2012
This is Lucy Robinson’s first book, and I had high hopes for it, I really did. I love the cover; it makes you want to grab it off the shelf when you see it. The plot sounded awesome, but the actually story itself didn’t happen for me. Lucy is a good writer; there is no doubt about that. I loved Dave as he was always there for Fran, and liked the ending. There were some shocks in the story which I didn’t see coming so this is why it’s got two stars.
This book has had lots of good reviews, hardly any bad reviews. I wanted to so like it, but I just didn’t. Saying this I will read her next book. I believe sometimes authors deserve two sometimes three chances!
This book has had lots of good reviews, hardly any bad reviews. I wanted to so like it, but I just didn’t. Saying this I will read her next book. I believe sometimes authors deserve two sometimes three chances!
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