Publication Date: 16th Jan 2025
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/40B19DU
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/208011505-an-almost-perfect-summer
Genre: Contemporary Romance
3.8 Stars
One Liner: Quite a bit of funny drama and OTT
moments
Book Blurb:
*The heartwarming, brand-new novel from
Sunday Times bestselling author Jill Mansell*
Nick is the most intriguing man Nella has met in a
while. He's a 9 in the looks department (no one gets a 10), he makes her laugh,
and he keeps her company when she ends up in A&E. But they live hundreds of
miles apart.
Then Nella loses her job. There's a perfect role on
offer at a Cotswolds holiday retreat. The catch is that her boss would be Nick.
And that makes Nick the one man she can't risk falling in love with.
While Nella struggles with her feelings, a Hollywood
star has found a haven at the retreat. Lizzie's sworn off people - especially
men - until her friendly new neighbours entice her out of her shell. Maybe she
needs a flirtation - with gorgeous Nick, perhaps? Not with taciturn local
Matthew, though, who definitely isn't a member of her fan club. Then an
astonishing secret revealed changes everything . . .
The scene is set for a fabulous new
novel full of friendship, warmth and romance.
***
My Thoughts:
The story comes in Nella, Lizzie, Mauve, Nick, Matthew, and other character’s third-person POVs.
As you might have guessed by now, this is a fun-filled read with many characters and multiple tracks. We have not one but multiple pairings that happen throughout the book. Naturally, there are breakups and new bonds, leading to more drama.
Though the POV shifts between different characters,
it is easy to follow the plot. It might help to make note of the names and
relationships, though.
The 430+ pages are used fully to develop the
subplots. However, the distribution is uneven. I expected Nella to get more
space, which she did but also didn’t. Lizzie ends up in the limelight, true to
her role as a film star. A couple of them get limited space but manage to make
an impact. Others do what they are supposed to do for the plot. Nella was easy
to like. Lizzie is a bit extra (she is a celeb, after all) but a genuine person
and someone easy to like.
Though this is romance, it is not steady. For
example, one track is a super slow burn. Another is pretty fast-paced. It
shines brighter as women’s fiction since the characters make some worthy
friendships (found family vibes). There are no descriptions either (totally
closed-door).
Of course, we have some annoying characters as well.
Thankfully, these traits have been distributed between men and women, so the
scales are not entirely one-sided.
The pacing is on the slower side due to the constant
drama and developments. There are many funny moments as well. The overall
effect is lighthearted with a sprinkle of bittersweet moments.
To summarize, Almost Perfect Summer is an
entertaining book with some OTT moments and a great choice for summer beach
reading.
My thanks to the author and Random Things Tours for
eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the
book.
***
About the Author – Jill Mansell
Jill Mansell started writing fiction while working
in the NHS, after she read a magazine article that inspired her to join a local
creative writing class. Since then she has written over twenty-five Sunday
Times bestsellers. Her acclaimed novels include The Wedding of the Year,
Promise Me, Should I Tell You?, And Now You're Back, It Started with a Secret
and You and Me, Always. Jill's books have sold over 14.5 million copies
worldwide.
Jill lives in Bristol and for many years worked in
the field of clinical neurophysiology. You'd think inventing characters and
stories would be easier, but she can assure you it isn't.
Follow the Author:
X/ Twitter:
@JillMansell
Facebook: /OfficialJillMansell
Instagram: @JillMansell
***
This has been a pitstop on the blog tour conducted
by Random Things Tours (@RandomTTours
on Twitter). Thank you for stopping by!
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