Customer Reviews

The Hopeless Romantic's Handbook: A Novel

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I usually devour British chick lit. But this book... The story was good, it was, but I had two problems with the book. First, the "excerpts" from "The Hopeless Romantic's Handbook" were too wordy, too prosy, trying too hard, really, and I started skipping over those parts by Chapter 3. And secondly, some of the characters were underdeveloped in my opinion. You never "got inside their head." Though I think the three main characters had enough development, and one other character didn't need any more development as she came across quite well within her own dialogue. But all in all, it was only good. Not great, and not excellent.

Very boring, very predictable, I couldn't get passed the first few chapters because I had already figured out the ending. (I did look up the ending eventually and found out that I was correct) Very dissapointing overall.

I really enjoyed "Learning Curves", the first novel I read by this author, a few years ago, and was excited to read this one. I thought the story line - an old-fashioned advice book within a book - was quite clever, especially towards the end when it starts being read by another character, who also acts on its advice (I know that sounds cryptic, but I don't want to give too much away - suffice it to say, I think it's clever).

I also really liked the main character, which helped. I was pulling for everyone to sort it all out. I thought the writing was light and fun, and it was just an enjoyable book. Nothing too deep or thought provoking. Just fun. And fun's good.

This is the third Gemma Townley novel that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed the other two, but this one I had a really hard time getting into. I think I was halfway through the book before I started to enjoy it. I think what made it hard was the narrator was actually reading the "Hopeless Romantic's Handbook" for the first half of the book and getting advice - very bad advice - from the book. It takes me back to that book that came out in the mid-90s about "The Rules." In the end, she discovered that someone who had been right under her nose for a very long time, actually loved her for who she was, not for how she perceived she should be based on a silly handbook. I give this book three stars, its a nice little tale about finding true love, and how easily it is to be taken advantage of, but not Townley's best title.

This is a sweet story about Kate Hetherington, an interior stylist, who is a self confessed hopeless romantic, on the verge of turning 30. She's looking for the one and stumbles across a book for sale on e-bay, titled "The Hopeless Romantic's Handbook" written in the 50s, and buys in on an impulse. Coincidentally, she meets Joe, a handsome actor whiling away his time being a bartender. Is he the one for Kate? She seems to think so. Kate's best friends Sal and Tom also appear in the story, each with their own issues.

I liked how smoothly the story flowed. There weren't any real surprises, but not every story has to blow you away to be a good read.

Kate Hetherington is an interior designer on a television makeover show. She's also a dedicated and hopeless romantic. She's looking for the special man. She doesn't consider herself to be picky. She just wants to wait for her Mr. Right. You know the one; he's the knight in shining armor that rides up on the white horse, sweeps her off her feet and they live happily ever after.

What she doesn't want is to participate in any more humiliating speed dating exercises. They're futile. The guys just don't have what she wants. And even her best friend Sal isn't going to convince her to do that again.

Kate finds the Hopeless Romantic's Handbook on E-Bay. She buys it (even though it's circa 1956) and begins to follow its advice. And the advice seems to work. She begins dating Joe Rogers, an American actor. But her friends Sal and Tom aren't in her corner where Joe is concerned.

Is Joe Kate's knight? Will her relationship with Sal and Tom survive? And what is Tom's secret? And is Kate smart enough to look at the 'forest' and see the knight who has been there all along?

Gemma Townley, author of Learning Curves and Little White Lies spins a wonderful and entertaining tale of true love and the obstacles (one is Kate herself) to finding it. Her characters are interesting, fun and richly drawn. The plot is unique and fast-paced.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a romantic comedy with sizzle.

Working on a home make-over show, Kate does interior designs that help others get their dreams, but her hopes of the perfect romance with the ideal man remain only fantasies, and doomed ones at that. Then, on ebay, she purchases the Hopeless Romantic's Handbook, and sure enough, soon finds love, or at least a reasonable facsimile, or so she thinks. Her two best friends are not as sure of Joe's qualifications as Prince Charming. One of them, Tom, would like for Kate to see him in that light, while Sal has her own problems, dealing with the possible demise of her marriage and an unplanned pregnancy. Yet, it can take just a single day for Kate's world to fall in on itself.

*** Falling somewhere between romance and chicklit, this is a sweet story with a serious message that will appeal to fans of the Devil Wears Prada or Bridget Jones. The multi-faceted narration offers readers a full view of the action as the story unfolds. You will cheer for the happy ending. ***

In London Kate Hetherington blames her best friend Sal (married to Ed) for her trying speed dating. Their other pal single Dr. Tom Whitson says Kate is a hopeless romantic who will be disappointed by love. Kate is upset over the teasing so she goes on to EBay for fun and buys the Hopeless Romantic's Handbook.

Kate likes working as the interior stylist for the TV makeover show Future: Perfect. She detests the emcee, the odious one hit wonder Penny, tolerates the producer Marla, and likes the rest of the crew. The book arrives and Kate begins to apply its advice. It suggests she do something different so Kate takes the bus to work. The book says to confront cynics, not ignore them. So when Penny is nasty to Kate she stays professional. Kate goes out with American wannabe actor Joe. She forces herself to listen to him talk about his desires and does not to sleep with him just as the book recommends. She thinks she is in love but loses her job and her man to Penny. Meanwhile Tom worrying about Kate knows he loves her, but fears admitting that to her as he never recovered from when his mom walked out on him and his dad when he was eight.

This is a terrific contemporary romance with a solid extended cast and believable relationships between the three best friends. However, the key to this fine chick lit tale is the sparingly use of The Hopeless Romantic's Handbook so that enhances the story line rather than takes away from it. Though a side issue between Sal and her spouse seems inane as they should have been talking, Gemma Townley provides a delightful charmer.

Harriet Klausner