girlreading's review
2.0
2.5* A Perfect Proposal was your run of the mill contemporary romance. It was fun and I enjoyed Sophie and Matilda's characters and elements of the plot were fun but at times I felt there were too many subplots, as I wasn't entirely invested in each of them. I also really wasn't the biggest fan of the romance. There were definitely examples of language used in which it was very telling that this was written over five years ago, as there were multiple incidents when it was out dated and problematic, in terms of sexism and homophobia. Overall, this was an easy read but nothing overly special.
abeth_parker's review
4.0
A good, cozy read. Perfect for fans of rom-coms and Hallmark movies. It was PG for about 2/3 of the book, then took a sudden swerve to PG-13. I'm planning on seeking out more books by this author.
cook_memorial_public_library's review
4.0
Recommended by Jane
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sperfect%20proposal%20fforde__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sperfect%20proposal%20fforde__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
squeaky_luna's review against another edition
3.0
This is a pleasant enough book but I'm baffled as to why it's done so much better than other very similar stories. Nothing against it, I quite enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for some easy-going chick lit but I could say the same about most (though not all) Mills & Boon.
mystic_dragon's review against another edition
3.0
So my iPad just refreshed right after finishing my review and it was a looong one so, not gonna lie, feeling pretty pissed off at the moment. I’ll try and make this as similar to that last review but probably won’t be as good *I cry*.
So I have a history with this book. I convinced my mum to get this, along with ‘Summer of Love’ (part of a two pack for £4 from Sainsburys!) back in 2011 or so because it was romance and it had a pretty cover. From what I remember, it was the first contemporary romance book I’d ever read at that point. Prior to then, I’d only read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ which at the time I disliked cause I thought Darcy was overrated and I didn’t understand a whole lot of the language (oh how times change 😂) ; and ‘Jane Eyre’ which I really loved because of the romance and the mystery gothic thing it has going for it. I loved that ‘A Perfect Proposal’ was set in the present world and it was all about love and romance - I had no idea that’s what it would actually be about and the cover looked innocent enough to be suitable for preteen me that mum just bought it! It does have quite a bit going for it, a fairly compelling if predictable story line, a gradual romance, a sub plot, and a nostalgic value as the first romance book I’d read.
However, reading it this time round, having read a fair amount of romance since then, was a different experience. The plot felt bland and formulaic, which it would do because I had a Katie Fforde phase back in the early 2010s and after about 4 books by her, there was a clearly defined plot to each one. Two main leads, meet-cute, sort of enemies to friends to lovers, misunderstanding right after they sleep together, gets resolved in the last few pages, live happily ever after. There’s nothing wrong with that - it can be reassuring and comforting knowing what you’re letting yourself in for when reading a book for fun. However, when reading ‘A Perfect Proposal’, reading yet again about how the female lead, Sophie, was in love with Luke, the main guy, right after they slept together just reminded me of literally every single Fforde book I’d read where this happens in virtually all of them. I don’t know how all these women realise they’ve fallen in love at the exact same moment, nor how they all have something go slightly wrong and all overreact due to their insecurities only for everything to turn out miraculously well by the end. It’s honestly frustrating to watch and I’ve read enough other romance to know this isn’t just a trope of the genre, it’s just something Fforde likes to do. Despite that annoyance though, it’s a fairly good breezy read but average for the genre. A 3.5 star read for me, half a star for nostalgia. I can’t remember if that’s everything I covered in the first review now lost to me forever but that’s all I’ve got to say for now!
PS - this book is so insanely upper-middle class I can’t believe I never noticed - a lot of Gollys and Biddys chucked around - I always thought that was just stereotype but maybe that’s how the upper class speak who knew?
So I have a history with this book. I convinced my mum to get this, along with ‘Summer of Love’ (part of a two pack for £4 from Sainsburys!) back in 2011 or so because it was romance and it had a pretty cover. From what I remember, it was the first contemporary romance book I’d ever read at that point. Prior to then, I’d only read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ which at the time I disliked cause I thought Darcy was overrated and I didn’t understand a whole lot of the language (oh how times change 😂) ; and ‘Jane Eyre’ which I really loved because of the romance and the mystery gothic thing it has going for it. I loved that ‘A Perfect Proposal’ was set in the present world and it was all about love and romance - I had no idea that’s what it would actually be about and the cover looked innocent enough to be suitable for preteen me that mum just bought it! It does have quite a bit going for it, a fairly compelling if predictable story line, a gradual romance, a sub plot, and a nostalgic value as the first romance book I’d read.
However, reading it this time round, having read a fair amount of romance since then, was a different experience. The plot felt bland and formulaic, which it would do because I had a Katie Fforde phase back in the early 2010s and after about 4 books by her, there was a clearly defined plot to each one. Two main leads, meet-cute, sort of enemies to friends to lovers, misunderstanding right after they sleep together, gets resolved in the last few pages, live happily ever after. There’s nothing wrong with that - it can be reassuring and comforting knowing what you’re letting yourself in for when reading a book for fun. However, when reading ‘A Perfect Proposal’, reading yet again about how the female lead, Sophie, was in love with Luke, the main guy, right after they slept together just reminded me of literally every single Fforde book I’d read where this happens in virtually all of them. I don’t know how all these women realise they’ve fallen in love at the exact same moment, nor how they all have something go slightly wrong and all overreact due to their insecurities only for everything to turn out miraculously well by the end. It’s honestly frustrating to watch and I’ve read enough other romance to know this isn’t just a trope of the genre, it’s just something Fforde likes to do. Despite that annoyance though, it’s a fairly good breezy read but average for the genre. A 3.5 star read for me, half a star for nostalgia. I can’t remember if that’s everything I covered in the first review now lost to me forever but that’s all I’ve got to say for now!
PS - this book is so insanely upper-middle class I can’t believe I never noticed - a lot of Gollys and Biddys chucked around - I always thought that was just stereotype but maybe that’s how the upper class speak who knew?
supera710's review
4.0
I received a copy of A Perfect Proposal courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
Sophie is completely taken advantage of by her family in England. They don't appreciate her for being frugal and helping out whenever they need her to, and since they're 'academics' they don't feel like she measures up to them. Silly Sophie, for being their door mat! Luckily for her, she has a best friend in New York that convinces Sophie to come visit and work as a nanny for a month. So Sophie heads across the pond, only to have her plans changed once she gets to America. Along comes Matilda and Luke, and now Sophie has a different set of plans...
I thought A Perfect Proposal was the greatest in chick lit! I absolutely LOVE British novels, and this one was no exception. I want to be friends with Sophie, and have her make me fabulous shabby chic clothes! I'm not sure how realistic Matilda taking Sophie under her wing was, but it worked out, since Sophie was an honest gal. It doesn't hurt that with Matilda comes her protective watch dog grandson Luke. I was expecting the outcome with Sophie and Luke (chick lit read, after all) but I felt like the end was a little rushed. I'm glad I was able to read this one tho, it was just what I needed for a winter pick me up.
Sophie is completely taken advantage of by her family in England. They don't appreciate her for being frugal and helping out whenever they need her to, and since they're 'academics' they don't feel like she measures up to them. Silly Sophie, for being their door mat! Luckily for her, she has a best friend in New York that convinces Sophie to come visit and work as a nanny for a month. So Sophie heads across the pond, only to have her plans changed once she gets to America. Along comes Matilda and Luke, and now Sophie has a different set of plans...
I thought A Perfect Proposal was the greatest in chick lit! I absolutely LOVE British novels, and this one was no exception. I want to be friends with Sophie, and have her make me fabulous shabby chic clothes! I'm not sure how realistic Matilda taking Sophie under her wing was, but it worked out, since Sophie was an honest gal. It doesn't hurt that with Matilda comes her protective watch dog grandson Luke. I was expecting the outcome with Sophie and Luke (chick lit read, after all) but I felt like the end was a little rushed. I'm glad I was able to read this one tho, it was just what I needed for a winter pick me up.
annie26's review
5.0
After reading two of Mrs Fforde's books, I'd resigned myself to the fact that while her books were lovely, pleasant reads but they were just never worthy of a five star - this book proved me wrong. Although a little slow at times, it was such an amazing read. I loved reading this.
sharonfalduto's review
2.0
Sophie, who is the youngest child and unappreciated by her family for the all the work she does, comes by some money and decides to visit a friend in New York. While there she catches an elderly woman from falling, and the woman turns out to be quite wealthy. She invites her to spend Thanksgiving with her at her palatial New England estate. Of course, she has this grandson who is so not Sophie's type.....
This was a fun read, maybe a little predictable (gee, I wonder if they'll end up together in the end??), and there was a little too much telling rather than showing: "Sophie loved when he did this!" Really, youl couldn't write "Sophie laughed at his antics?" or something.
I'm going to use the word "trifle" to describe this book. Because I think it's apt.
This was a fun read, maybe a little predictable (gee, I wonder if they'll end up together in the end??), and there was a little too much telling rather than showing: "Sophie loved when he did this!" Really, youl couldn't write "Sophie laughed at his antics?" or something.
I'm going to use the word "trifle" to describe this book. Because I think it's apt.