Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Two best friends. Eight pub quizzes. One shot at love...
There are some people who seem like they have all the answers in life. Clarrie Midwinter isn't one of them.
At the age of 26, tomboy Clarrie is still struggling to become a 'proper' grown-up. She's eternally strapped for cash, she hasn't had a date in nearly a year and her attempts to quit smoking tend to take a nosedive after the second pint. Most annoyingly of all, her ladykiller best friend Simon just won't stop asking her out. The only thing keeping her sane is her pub quiz team, the Mighty Morphin Flower Arrangers.
But when Simon bets her a date their team will win the quiz league, Clarrie is forced to confront what she really wants out of life – and love. Is it finally time for her to grow up?
Review:
Honestly, I didn’t know how much I needed this book until I sat down to read it and finished it in one sitting. Before I start ranting on about how much I loved this book and I loved these characters let me point out a few things that need to be addressed before reading this book.
Firstly, this book is very British and while I was completely here for it, I know that some people may not be. The banter, the friendships and even just the language used may find it distracting, plus the books are very focused around a pub setting. Honestly, I loved that it was so British, it honestly just made me feel so much at home. I loved the bond between this group of people and I just loved that I could completely and utterly relate to it.
Secondly, there are some trigger warnings in this book that people need to take into consideration. This book does mention cheating (although none with our main group) and cancer.
Now for my thoughts…
This book is a slow burn but perfectly done. I never once felt like it needed to be hurried up and I never felt bored. It also features best friend to lover’s trope which is one of my favourite ones. The friendship between Simon and Clarrie was everything I wish for in life. They bounce of each other so well and it never feels forced or awkward, even with Simon constantly asking her out.
Clarrie suffers from anxiety which stems from life experiences and she feels like she’s always going to mess things up which in turn means that she makes life a lot harder for herself. I had read a couple of reviews before starting this book and had seen that people ended up really disliking Clarrie for this and it made me worried going into it that I wasn’t to end up hating her too. That couldn’t have been further from the truth. Clarrie is such a strong and funny character and I can completely understand why she doesn’t give in to Simon because she’s scared and it’s hard to see what’s in front of you when your head tells you your going to mess everything up. All she’s known is heartbreak from a young age and she isn’t willing to ruin the one good thing she has in her life. I loved Clarrie and found her to be the perfect main character for this book.
Simon is the perfect human being, lets be honest. I want a Simon in my life, he’s kind, he’s funny and most of all he gives with all his heart. Simon, just like Clarrie, is a strong character who isn’t afraid to show his own emotions. However, while I could sit here and talk about how much I loved Clarrie and Simon this book would have been nothing without Sonny, Gemma and Dave their group of friends.
I loved these guys so much and the dynamic as a group is something I have always wanted in my own friend groups. They loved and supported each other but still were able to make fun of each other in a light-hearted manner. The humour used by this group of friends made the book for me and it’s one of my favourite books of this year.
If you’re looking for a good, unapologetically British, slow burn romance then this book is perfect!
Rating: 5/5 Stars
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