Do You Come Here Often? [Paperback]

Alexandra Potter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2004

Life's full of surprises. Grace never expected to wake up on her thirty-first birthday and realise that Mr Right had turned into Mr Wrong. She never expected to break off her engagement. But then she never expected to go on honeymoon with her ex-boyfriend either. Set against a backdrop of a late-night radio show hosted by Dr Cupid who promises to sort out the love lives of his listeners, this is a romantic comedy that looks at what it's like to be single again, about finding true love and how it can all get very, very complicated...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Potter follows her debut, Calling Romeo [BKL F 15 04], with an even more charming tale. Grace Fairley and Jimi Malik hated each other in high school until they spent a day together after graduation and ended up sleeping together. Thirteen years later, both Grace and Jimi are engaged to other people. Grace and Spencer, a divorce lawyer, have been engaged for two years and still haven't set a date, while Jimi has fallen hard for a pretty model, Kylie, and, to his friends' surprise, has decided to take the plunge. Grace runs into Jimi on the night of her thirty-first birthday and his bachelor party, and he gives her a lift home after she fights with Spencer. Then, after Grace gives Spencer an ultimatum about the wedding and Jimi is jilted by his young bride to be, Grace and Jimi begin to question their present relationships--and their feelings for each other. A delightful and winning romantic comedy. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

'The perfect reading romcom' -- Daily Mail on ME AND MR DARCY 'Fantastically funny' -- Elle on ME AND MR DARCY Sharply written, pacey and funny...pure self-indulgence' -- The Times on BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR 'Feel-good fiction full of unexpected twists and turns' -- OK! 'Nobody does it quite like Alexandra Potter' -- Daily Mirror 'A touching, funny love-story' -- Company 'Always perceptive, often funny, never dull' -- Heat --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Black Swan (March 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552770043
• ISBN-13: 978-0552770040
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,267,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Chick Lit and a Great Love Story, Too, November 16, 2005

By 

Nicholas' Mom (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Do You Come Here Often? (Paperback)

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes their chick lit with more of a focus on romance. _Do You Come Here Often?_ is a very well-written novel with great romantic payoff not only at the end, but throughout the story. The main and supporting characters are richly drawn and engaging-- you can't help but root for everyone to find happiness.

In some of these types of novels the author is too cutesy or the plot is so unbelievable that it's hard to relax and enjoy the story. But that's not the case with Alexandra Potter. She makes Jimi, Grace, Rhiana, Maggie, and Clive seem like people we either are or know well. She also takes her time developing all the key relationships. To that end, the book description doesn't really do it justice. Grace and Jimi do technically dislike each other, have a one night stand, and then don't see each other for another 13 years, but the motivations and detail that Potter puts into the development of these little hitches on the road to reconciliation are more complex and interesting than the blurb suggests.

This is a book worth your time. Enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than a typical British chick lit story, March 7, 2005

By 

L. Watson (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Do You Come Here Often? (Paperback)

The story starts on Grace Fairley's 31st birthday. Her fiancé, Spencer, is too busy with his law practice to buy her a gift, but he arranged for dinner at a restaurant and invited Grace's friends.

The other main character is Jimi Malik, a journalist and aspiring novelist, who has been an ultra cool playboy. But he is about to marry 21 year old model, Kylie. His friends are throwing him a stag party at the same restaurant where Grace is celebrating her birthday.

At the restaurant, Grace sees Jimi. In a flashback, we see how Grace fell in love with Jimi as a teenager, gave her virginity to him, and never saw him again -- until now, thirteen years later. They share a taxi and cautiously start a friendship.

When Grace leaves Spencer because he refuses to set a wedding date even though they have been engaged for over two years, the story examines the difficulties of being single. Grace's friend, Rhian, has additional problems as a single mother. Grace and Rhian listen to a radio program called "Do You Come Here Often?" where the DJ gives advice to lonely hearts. Grace's life is contrasted with her co-worker, Maggie, who has a man devoted to her even when she discovers she has cancer.

Jimi also becomes single when Kylie dumps him just before the wedding. The story also includes Jimi's friend, Clive, who also listens to "Do You Come Here Often?",and ponders his own single life.

The story excels in describing the ache of unrequited love as Jimi realizes he has fallen in love with Grace. But Grace is focussed on what she had wanted with Spencer. Jimi realizes he made a mistake 13 years ago.

2.0 out of 5 stars A huge disappointment, December 14, 2010

By 

Hazey (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Do You Come Here Often? (Paperback)

I had previously read Me and Mr Darcy and thought I'd give this a go. However, I have been struggling to finish it. For chick fiction it is very long winded and the best part of the story happens in the flashback section early on. There is a lot spent on set up and links that are in the end pointless and don't develop the characters much. I remembered half way through why I only liked Me and Mr Darcy, it is her writing style. Great ideas over worked. If you are looking for a fun light read, avoid this and read something like Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella instead.