crhollins's review
SO DULL. BORED ME TO DEATH. Absolutely no motivation to read more than one chapter a night. No idea where this was going and although half way through, I actually don't care to find out. Beyond over the moon to be starting a new book. So disappointed as i adored another book of Mike Gayle’s, ‘Seeing other people’ was like it was written by someone else! Would not recommend
mazza57's review
4.0
Mike Gayle is one of my go to authors when I am in a reading doldrums. His books are generally easy reads and this is no exception. Joe Clarke an ordinarily happily married guy is tempted by a younger colleague into a one night stand and then his life begins to unravel. OR did It ? as events become more complicated by the appearance of an ex girlfriend's ghost. Gayle does storytelling 101 with the best of them.
carls2112's review
4.0
Mike's writing always keeps the pages turning and is ever so relatable - another great read that I couldn't put down!
Slightly "out-there" considering his usual style and I'm not sure the ghost aspect of the story was the right angle but the message and moral of the story was excellent in a sliding doors kind of way.
A definite summer page turner and if you like his other books you won't be disappointed (although its not up there with the to-do list or turning 30/40)
Slightly "out-there" considering his usual style and I'm not sure the ghost aspect of the story was the right angle but the message and moral of the story was excellent in a sliding doors kind of way.
A definite summer page turner and if you like his other books you won't be disappointed (although its not up there with the to-do list or turning 30/40)
casacostello's review
4.0
Another great read from Mike Gayle. I'm liking his books as they are from the perspective of a male protagonist. So often, I find my self frustrated with female characters as I cannot relate to them or they don't seem realistic - I'm obviously never going to be a man so don't find the same pressure to relate.
My one irritation was when friends of the couple immediately took the wife's side when they split up. Are people really so awful to leave someone high and dry after a mistake? Can't have been very good friends in the first place.
My one irritation was when friends of the couple immediately took the wife's side when they split up. Are people really so awful to leave someone high and dry after a mistake? Can't have been very good friends in the first place.
thatbookishgem's review
2.0
This premise sounds a lot more interesting than the actual book. Believe me, the real thing is definitely not this exciting. When I first picked it up in the library I thought it had a Matthew McConaughey Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past vibe…boy, was I wrong!
In reality, the whole ex-girlfriend’s ghost shtick has very little to do with the overarching plot. In fact, she featured so infrequently throughout the whole novel when she did appear it was so out of place with the rest of the plot it made no sense whatsoever and added absolutely nothing to the storylines of infidelity, divorce, family, kids… anything at all, really.
Full review available on my blog: https://thatbookishgem.com/2020/05/22/review-seeing-other-people-by-mike-gayle/
In reality, the whole ex-girlfriend’s ghost shtick has very little to do with the overarching plot. In fact, she featured so infrequently throughout the whole novel when she did appear it was so out of place with the rest of the plot it made no sense whatsoever and added absolutely nothing to the storylines of infidelity, divorce, family, kids… anything at all, really.
Full review available on my blog: https://thatbookishgem.com/2020/05/22/review-seeing-other-people-by-mike-gayle/
hayleyjames24's review
3.0
This was just average unfortunately. It had a really good premise that I could get behind but none of the execution. I wanted more from the dead ex girlfriend.. she turned up about 3 times in the entire book and didn’t explain anything at all, but also tried to be like that main focus of teaching him a lesson on what he actually wants and tbh I felt the book could be done either without her completely or more of her
I loved that he realised that all he ever wanted was right there in front of him, I love the real look at how devastating a divorce can be to EVERYONE around you, how one tiny moment can change your whole life and it was written well and definitely easy to read.
I didn’t really feel much for the main character, I didn’t hurt when he hurt, I didn’t get excited when he got excited I just kinda mulled along with him and finished the book. I wasn’t even happy at the end that it was all a dream cos the book explains it but also doesn’t explain it like halfway through??? The book just confused me, I didn’t know what it’s main focus was..
Enjoyable enough, but nothing to write home about. Right in the middle of the ball park for me.
I loved that he realised that all he ever wanted was right there in front of him, I love the real look at how devastating a divorce can be to EVERYONE around you, how one tiny moment can change your whole life and it was written well and definitely easy to read.
I didn’t really feel much for the main character, I didn’t hurt when he hurt, I didn’t get excited when he got excited I just kinda mulled along with him and finished the book. I wasn’t even happy at the end that it was all a dream cos the book explains it but also doesn’t explain it like halfway through??? The book just confused me, I didn’t know what it’s main focus was..
Enjoyable enough, but nothing to write home about. Right in the middle of the ball park for me.
milalakkapaa's review
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mrsbooknerd's review
4.0
Mr. Joe Clarke is not the usual hero for a 'romance' based novel. He has cheated on his wife of 20-years because of his own arrogance and a healthy dose of self-pity. Then boo-hoo his wife kicks him out and we have to feel sorry for him. Not. Going. To. Happen.
Fair review-reader, it did happen. I had so much sympathy for Joe by the end of the novel that I felt more invested in him than his wife. I am very much like Penny in that I cannot stand any form of cheating, even with characters from novels. It is hard to win me back from any form of cheating. But I grew to understand the circumstances that had bought Joe to a point where he considered cheating, and though I never quite forgave him for doing it, I felt that the ending of the novel showed that Joe had learnt his lesson and that it would never happen again.
I loved the magical elements of this novel, and thought that it really added an extra dimension to the story telling. Was Fiona really trying to help Joe? Could he really get out of this situation?
In fact I wish that Fiona had been in the novel a little more, I would like to have seen them repair their relationship so that they could both move on. They had some real banter and I felt that this could have added a nice diversion from the tragedy of Joe's life.
Secondary characters such as Van, Paul and Stewart were all written so well that I came to care about them as much as I did Joe.. That is the level of involvement that I achieved.
I guess downsides would be that at times I did feel like the pace had dropped a little, there were a lot of arguments and conversations and sections which felt a bit flat or repetitive. But this didn't really impact my enjoyment of the novel as such.
I really did enjoy this novel, it was a unique take on the cheating-husband-loses-his-family-but-finds-himself storyline.
Fair review-reader, it did happen. I had so much sympathy for Joe by the end of the novel that I felt more invested in him than his wife. I am very much like Penny in that I cannot stand any form of cheating, even with characters from novels. It is hard to win me back from any form of cheating. But I grew to understand the circumstances that had bought Joe to a point where he considered cheating, and though I never quite forgave him for doing it, I felt that the ending of the novel showed that Joe had learnt his lesson and that it would never happen again.
I loved the magical elements of this novel, and thought that it really added an extra dimension to the story telling. Was Fiona really trying to help Joe? Could he really get out of this situation?
In fact I wish that Fiona had been in the novel a little more, I would like to have seen them repair their relationship so that they could both move on. They had some real banter and I felt that this could have added a nice diversion from the tragedy of Joe's life.
Secondary characters such as Van, Paul and Stewart were all written so well that I came to care about them as much as I did Joe.
Spoiler
When the boys took Van to the hospital for his results, I was reading so quickly to see if Van was okay that I wasn't even fully digesting the words. I had to go back and re-read that whole section once I knew the outcome. At the end of the novel I even wondered about Scott. How had his life differed now that Joe was a stand-up husband again? And Scott was supposed to be the enemy!I guess downsides would be that at times I did feel like the pace had dropped a little, there were a lot of arguments and conversations and sections which felt a bit flat or repetitive. But this didn't really impact my enjoyment of the novel as such.
I really did enjoy this novel, it was a unique take on the cheating-husband-loses-his-family-but-finds-himself storyline.