It's been a long time since I wrote about books on my blog. I guess that's because, during the past couple of years or so, I haven't really had the time to properly sit and read - and to enjoy reading. But my love for reading is something that's been such a huge part of my life and it's a love that will never go away so, given the current circumstances where I'm anything but busy, I'm taking the opportunity to read more and invest my time into something I love so much. And I've read a couple of books this week - both by the same author, Sophie Ranald - so I thought I'd write a little about them.
No, We Can't Be Friends by Sophie Ranald
He was perfect. Denim-blue eyes, a dazzling smile, and he hadn't sent me a picture of his junk. Which is about as rare, these days, as a Dodo
When Sloane met Myles, everything fell into place. He loved a Martini almost as much as she did, shared her passion for four-cheese pizzas, and made her laugh harder than any episode of Friends. She'd found The One at last and she could finally delete Tinder, forgetting all those waste-of-space men she'd never have to date again.
But then she finds out that Myles has a secret. A Very big one. The fairytale is over. Her heart is blown to smithereens. Drowning her sorrows in Ben & Jerry's can only get Sloane so far before she has to decide... Can she learn to love herself more than she loved the love of her life? And what if, after everything, she's got Myles - and his secret - all wrong?
Honestly, if I had to summarise this book in one word it would be 'brilliant'. I was hooked, from the moment I picked it up. I started it on a Wednesday afternoon and I'd finished it by lunchtime on the Thursday. I was gripped.
Sloane is a Canadian PR professional who lives in London with her British husband, Myles. In this tale of love and betrayal, Sloane goes on a journey to get back on her feet and fall in love with herself all over again.
Not only is this book an enjoyable read but it's realistic and very relatable too. We've all been there - we all have that ex that hurt us so badly but they still want to be friends. Sophie Ranald does a wonderful job at tackling some really important and sensitive issues throughout the novel.
I was so deeply invested in this story - and Sloane herself - that I found myself grinning from ear to ear at the ending; I'm thrilled that the characters end up where they end up. I laughed, I cried and would one hundred percent recommend it.
Out With the Ex, In With the New by Sophie Ranald
You know when you sleep through your alarm, trip over running for the bus, and then someone points out that your dress is stuck into your hotdog-print knickers? That's basically my life right now.
Gemma didn't expect her life to look like this. She's still living with her mother, who steals her leggings and tells her off for leaving crumbs in the butter. After twenty failed interviews she thought she'd got her dream job as a journalist - except it turns out to be writing articles about cats that look like George Clooney. Luckily she has her wonderful boyfriend, Jack, to help her forget just how awful things are.
Then Jack dumps her out of the blue. With nothing but her childhood teddy bear, Stanley, and a whole heap of heartbreak, Gemma resolves to turn things around. She throws herself into her new job and soon she's hanging out with cheeky, golden-haired hunk Charlie, eating in swanky restaurants and sipping trendy cocktails - and her old life seems like a distant memory.
But it's not long until her shiny new world starts to lose its sparkle - and Gemma misses the days of wearing battered pink converse and eating peanut butter on toast in bed. Then Jack turns up, backpack in tow, and things start to go wrong with Charlie. 'Out with the old, in with the new', the saying goes. But what happens if neither one is quite right?
My one-word summary? Great. I massively enjoyed this novel - actually a lot more than I thought I would. Gemma is a journalist (just starting out) and YouTuber in her spare time - when her relationship crumbles, she throws herself into her new life in London and her YouTube and thrives - with a new, famous boyfriend too.
In all honesty, I didn't think I'd like this book as much as No, We Can't Be Friends but, surprisingly, I finished this one quicker than I did No, We Can't Be Friends and I absolutely loved it. I used to be massively into beauty and fashion YouTube and I think that probably had me hooked even more because it gave me kind of a connection to the story. I found that Gemma, the main character, was very relatable - especially when she's initially dealing with her break up. I find that my blog, like Gemma's YouTube, is such a great outlet for when I'm having a shitty time.
The story was addictive. I loved every character - even the ones that weren't meant to be loved (apart from, maybe, Olivia). On the whole, it's very much a feel-good story - but one that's realistic and extremely relatable.
I love a rom-com but there's just something about the way that Sophie Ranald writes - I don't even know if I have the words to describe it. Her stories are relatable and fun - and completely all-consuming. With both of these novels, I genuinely struggled to put them down; I don't think I replied to any of my friends' text messages during the whole time I was reading them. It's straight up obsession and I'm very excited to read more of her work.
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