Are We Nearly There Yet? by Lucy Vine

Are We Nearly There Yet? by Lucy Vine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alice is turning thirty and is stuck in a rut. Her friends are all coupling up and settling down, while she's still working as a temp, trying (and failing) not to shag her terrible ex, getting thrown out of clubs, and accidentally sexting her boss...

She decides to throw caution to the wind and jets off on a round-the-world adventure to #FindTheFun and find herself. Of course, she's no more likely to find the answer to true happiness on the beach in Thailand than she is at the electric beach in Tooting, but at least in Thailand there's paddleboard yoga.

Can Alice find happiness on her travels? Or is she more likely to lose herself all over again...?

When I heard about this book, I thought it would be right up my street, and it was. Alice has just turned 30, she has been in temp jobs for 10 years and she lives with her best friend Eva. However all that is about to change!

Alice decides she needs a break, she needs to find herself and goes travelling, beginning with LA. She knows someone who lives there so it will be perfect! While she is travelling she decides to keep in contact with everyone by writing her own blog.

It has been a while since I have whizzed through a book, through enjoying it so much, this was funny and I enjoyed seeing what Alice was going to get up to next.

For me and the reason I have not given this 5* is that I felt the mood change and during her time in Thailand when her brother shows up, the book becomes more serious and emotive, which for me I was a little disappointed with. I wanted it to continue as a fun adventure. Don't get me wrong it gave the book substance and more of a story line, I was just enjoying her care free attitude and it exposed Alice as a different type of person. I found it hard to like Alice towards the end, however she redeemed herself.

This was the first time I have read anything by this author, but on the strength of this I would seek out other novels.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Anyone for Seconds? by Laurie Graham

Anyone for Seconds? by Laurie Graham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Life has been going downhill for ex-TV chef Lizzie Partridge ever since she spectacularly ended her television career by throwing a chocolate mousse at the host of Midlands This Morning. Her partner Tom has left her, Nigella and Jamie have got the cookery world sewn up, and now her cookery column - her last bit of work - has been axed. Surely the only way is up from here?

In a desperate bid for sympathy and attention she runs away, from the gas bill and the mouse under the sink, and in wet and wintry Aberystwyth she experiences a brush with her past and a glimmer of new prospects. And when her nephew's girlfriend - a TV producer - has the bright idea to reunite her with her former nemesis and target of the mousse attack in a new show, it seems like things could be going Lizzie's way again after all!


I have to admit from the title I wouldn't have chosen this book and that would have been a great shame as I really enjoyed it. I suppose because the lead character was around my age I could relate to her easily and I liked her cynical take on life.

It follows the adventures of Lizzie Partridge who used to be a TV chef but after a spectacular altercation on air she was unceremoniously dumped and replaced by a younger model. Licking her wounds Lizzie decides no one would miss her if she disappears (secretly hoping it wont take long for her family and friends to miss her) she goes to Aberystwyth and has a little adventure.

I liked Lizzy, funny, sarcastic, over weight, jobless, single, quick witted and great one liners she is a survivor and someone who anyone would like as a good friend.

I won't re-tell the story, it's such a good read you need to read it yourself. Funny and poignant at times with good secondary characters that fitted with her so well. Lots of humour in this book and often hilarious things going on in the background. I liked everything about it, the story, the characters and the easy way this was written. It's an easy 5 stars from me and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.