This is a much heralded debut novel celebrating the ‘new’ ‘uplit’ genre. Or is it new? Am I a cynic? For it seems to me that ‘uplit’ has much in common with romance/chick lit but it’s more gender defiant. Does it matter? No, not really, I guess. A feature of the genre is that you know there will be a happy ending. There’s a sense of inevitability and predictability about stories of this type so it’s often not what is going to happen but how it happens.
This is a quirky tale with an interesting premise. Two people sharing a flat, but not just the flat, the bed too! Plus they’ve never met! How does that work? Read the book!!!
For me, anyway, books of this ilk have to be extremely well written to sustain my interest and my enjoyment or I end up becoming quite dismissive and derisive. Well, was it, I hear you ask? Was it well written? You bet!! Hard to believe it’s a debut for the narrative fairly bounces along pulling you along with it as if you are hanging on to the tail of a kite. It’s a dual narrative seen from the differing perspectives of our heroine, Tiffy, and our hero, Leon. Two very different people and their characters are well sustained throughout the two narratives. You never stop believing in either of them. In fact the characters are nearly all believable. Most of them are ‘niceies’ with a couple of ‘nasties’ that’ll have you hissing and booing in the aisles. Rightly so.
The plot goes that little bit beyond straightforward and ensures the reader keeps wondering. That’s another aspect of the romantic/chick lit fiction that has me yelling ‘Get on with it.” oft times because the plot is too simple and too obvious. Although you’re fairly sure here that everything is going to turn out okay in the end the plot is strong enough to sow a seed or two of doubt to keep hardened cynics like myself absorbed!
There’s some snappy dialogue and some witty one-liners. The dynamic between Tiffy and Leon is explored through post it notes initially which is very well done. Ooops! Is that a spoiler?
‘The flat is starting to look like a scene from A Beautiful Mind.’
‘… I like the blue and white dress on the back of the door. Looks like the sort of one the Famous Five might wear for going on adventures.
Whilst this is not intended as a work of social comment there is a subtlety in the sub text that wafts a few points and issues at you regarding justice, morality, abusive relationships. The writer has a good knowledge of the publishing industry which is put to good use here looking at office politics and dynamics.
It can sometimes be a drab world out there. There are some challenging people in it who seem intent on defying human decency sometimes. Whilst this is a work of fiction it IS uplifting to read of decent people doing decent things. People behaving with compassion. What Leon does for one of his patients is above and beyond. It’s a contemporary story that I think will resonate with youngsters living in London but it doesn’t place contemporary above classic storytelling.
There isn’t anything about this to not like. We read for many reasons. Often it is to be entertained, uplifted and ‘uplit’! I can see this book being devoured by eager readers.
This is a quirky tale with an interesting premise. Two people sharing a flat, but not just the flat, the bed too! Plus they’ve never met! How does that work? Read the book!!!
For me, anyway, books of this ilk have to be extremely well written to sustain my interest and my enjoyment or I end up becoming quite dismissive and derisive. Well, was it, I hear you ask? Was it well written? You bet!! Hard to believe it’s a debut for the narrative fairly bounces along pulling you along with it as if you are hanging on to the tail of a kite. It’s a dual narrative seen from the differing perspectives of our heroine, Tiffy, and our hero, Leon. Two very different people and their characters are well sustained throughout the two narratives. You never stop believing in either of them. In fact the characters are nearly all believable. Most of them are ‘niceies’ with a couple of ‘nasties’ that’ll have you hissing and booing in the aisles. Rightly so.
The plot goes that little bit beyond straightforward and ensures the reader keeps wondering. That’s another aspect of the romantic/chick lit fiction that has me yelling ‘Get on with it.” oft times because the plot is too simple and too obvious. Although you’re fairly sure here that everything is going to turn out okay in the end the plot is strong enough to sow a seed or two of doubt to keep hardened cynics like myself absorbed!
There’s some snappy dialogue and some witty one-liners. The dynamic between Tiffy and Leon is explored through post it notes initially which is very well done. Ooops! Is that a spoiler?
‘The flat is starting to look like a scene from A Beautiful Mind.’
‘… I like the blue and white dress on the back of the door. Looks like the sort of one the Famous Five might wear for going on adventures.
Whilst this is not intended as a work of social comment there is a subtlety in the sub text that wafts a few points and issues at you regarding justice, morality, abusive relationships. The writer has a good knowledge of the publishing industry which is put to good use here looking at office politics and dynamics.
It can sometimes be a drab world out there. There are some challenging people in it who seem intent on defying human decency sometimes. Whilst this is a work of fiction it IS uplifting to read of decent people doing decent things. People behaving with compassion. What Leon does for one of his patients is above and beyond. It’s a contemporary story that I think will resonate with youngsters living in London but it doesn’t place contemporary above classic storytelling.
There isn’t anything about this to not like. We read for many reasons. Often it is to be entertained, uplifted and ‘uplit’! I can see this book being devoured by eager readers.