Good morning, everyone! This week, I wanted to read a feel-good novel. So, I started reading Annie Darling’s « True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop ». This book full of humour and quotation from Pride and Prejudice made me laughs so much.
+ Genre: Fiction
+ Release date: April 2, 2018
+ Number of pages: 417 pages
+ Goodreads rating: 4.12 / 5
+ Amazon link: click here
Annie Darling is an English « contemporary romance » author who began her brilliant career with the series « the Lonely Hearts Bookshop ». « True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop » is volume 2 of this series.
Book summary …
Verity Love – Jane Austen fangirl and an introvert in a world of extroverts – is perfectly happy on her own (thank you very much), and her fictional boyfriend Peter is very useful for getting her out of unwanted social events. But when a case of mistaken identity forces her to introduce a perfect stranger as her boyfriend, Verity’s life suddenly becomes much more complicated.
Johnny could also use a fictional girlfriend. Against Verity’s better judgement, he persuades her to partner up for a summer season of weddings, big number birthdays and garden parties, with just one promise – not to fall in love with each other…
My review …
I’m not very romantic in general. Basically, I like romance when it has a huge feel-good effect.
When it comes to « True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop », I didn’t hesitate long. I could only adore a girl who is a Jane Austen fangirl, with a tyrannical cat and who was not looking for love at all. I enjoyed reading this book and following the adventures of the 2 main characters, Verity and Johnny.
Verity, an employee of the bookstore, decided that she didn’t want a boyfriend. To prevent her friends from trying to set her up, she lies to them by telling them that she has a perfect boyfriend named Peter Hardy. She even tells them that he is an oceanographer (this part of the book is hilarious).
Of course, inventing a boyfriend is not that simple. So the situation is going to get very complicated. Luckily, she will meet Johnny, a handsome architect, who also needs a fake girlfriend for the summer. Unlike Verity, Johnny is an incorrigible romantic. He’s also nice and funny (basically the perfect guy if you don’t know his situation … I’ll let you discover). The two will befriend each other and decide to help each other.
The dialogues between these two are very funny. The characters are also very well written. You never get into the cliché. Verity is an introverted character and not at all romantic (which I appreciate). I immediately liked this humorous character. This girl quotes passages from « Pride and Prejudice » to annoy her sisters… frankly, I had to love her!
Concerning Johnny, I liked that for once, « the romantic » was the male character. He is a friendly character but in total denial. He’s going to need Verity to get out of a complex situation. At times, his stubbornness in the face of this situation made me a little angry. In my opinion, it is the only problem in the book (if you can call it a problem).
The secondary characters are also really funny: between Verity’s 4 sisters (endearing but unbearable), Verity’s colleagues (who love to interfere in her love life), Johnny’s father and friends (who are outspoken et have a sharp tongue)… you will not be bored.
The plot is never long or boring. Of course, we all know there will be a happy ending. But before getting to the end, you will really get a good laughs.
I recommend this fresh and funny book that personally made me smile a lot. If you are looking for a feel-good novel, this book is for you.
Conclusion…
« True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop » is really the ultimate feel-good novel. It will make you laugh a lot and it will be perfect to make you forget your work day and your tyrannical cat (yes, the one who is meowing there because he decided that this brand of cat food is not to his liking).
What I liked:
♥ The funny and endearing main character, Verity
♥ The adventures full of humour
♥ The quotes from « Pride and Prejudice » just to annoy her sisters
♥ The male character who is not at all cliché
What I didn’t like:
♠ Johnny’s stubbornness
My rating …
Have you read this book?
Have a good week 🙂
Anna
