sparklebox1's review
5.0
Great little read really enjoyed the plot and the nutty sisters antics. A true chic lit
foxxie52's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
humnak's review
5.0
It was a fantastic read!
I received this book in a book box. And I was unsure whether it will be fun or not as I had never read any other book of the author. But damn i was in for a surprise!
It was such a cute heart warming feel good novel!! I loved it from start to end! Made me laugh out loud on numerous scenes.
The story is rich with different characters although most of the book is set in one apartment but it doesn’t mean the story was boring. The sisterly bond MC shares with her sister is a must to experience!
A proper story and character development.
Definitely a fun one!
Looking forward to read more books from Chrissie Manby!!
Thank you!
My ratings- 5 stars!
I received this book in a book box. And I was unsure whether it will be fun or not as I had never read any other book of the author. But damn i was in for a surprise!
It was such a cute heart warming feel good novel!! I loved it from start to end! Made me laugh out loud on numerous scenes.
The story is rich with different characters although most of the book is set in one apartment but it doesn’t mean the story was boring. The sisterly bond MC shares with her sister is a must to experience!
A proper story and character development.
Definitely a fun one!
Looking forward to read more books from Chrissie Manby!!
Thank you!
My ratings- 5 stars!
hanspam's review
3.0
It was enjoyable enough and an undemanding read, but Sophie was such a wet blanket! I'd definitely check out other books by the author though, I remember reading Flatmates a LONG time ago and I enjoyed this book a lot more.
bookevin's review
4.0
Rating : 4.5/5
Sophie Sturgeon can't wait for her annual summer holiday. Not only will it be a week away from work, it will be a chance to reconnect with her boyfriend Callum.
So this upcoming trip to Majorca is a big deal. Sophie's spent a lot of time getting ready. She's bought a new wardrobe. She's been waxed to within an inch of her life. She's determined she and Callum will have the best time ever.
Then Callum dumps her, the night before they're due to leave. In a show of bravery and independence, Sophie says she'll go to Majorca alone - but in fact, she hides in her London flat. But when her friends, family, and even Callum seem so surprised and delighted at her single girl courage, Sophie decides to go all out and recreate the ultimate 'fake break' . . . with hilarious results.
First and foremost, I would like to thank Chrissie Manby for being so lovely by sending me a SIGNED review copy. Bless you, lovely lady! I discovered this book on Amazon, which instantly caught my eye! The cover's gorgeous, the perfect summer read, from the looks of it! But I don't think the contents will be so "summery" after all.
The night before flying out to Majorca with her boyfriend, Callum, Sophie was dumped by that no-good wanker (Sorry!) and left her devastated. She had two options, stay home and wallow or show that she's an independent woman and enjoy the summer in the Majorcan sun alone. What made the book interesting was, why not do both? Prove that you don't care about being dumped and enjoy the holiday.. at home! The idea appealed to me, especially all the crazy antics Sophie would get herself into, as book blurb stated "with hilarious results".
Sophie was a really down-to-earth heroine, which most reader appeal to. She seemed really warm and sweet, though when being dumped, she was described as being "too clingy". Sadly, I found she lacked self-confidence, often because she thinks too lightly of herself; why would Callum, handsome and gorgeous, eye candy to every female, would want her? I mean, probably it's a bit hard to believe, but I feel her being with Callum was doing no good for her confidence. Then as the story progressed, I felt Sophie's character began to change and mature, something I'd like to call "character progression". Aside from Sophie, I really enjoyed her sister, Clare's presence in the book, which gave the sisters a chance to bond. Then there was Evan, Clare's fiancé, who was a bit of a bore with the finances, but was a real sweetheart, and Tom, the lovely paramedic, who was a really charming bloke. Secretly, I thought he and Sophie would make a fab couple! Not to leave out Sophie and Clare's mother, who has Twitter, only for some very inappropriate reasons, though what she tweeted was a total laugh!
Though there were a few exciting bits in the book, which I WON'T write about, but it was an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, for me, the beginning of the plot was a bit slow, but it managed to pick up after a while or it would have been a bit dull. The book had the perfect setting of a summer read, what with the sun, beach and cocktails Majorca had to offer, I just felt relaxed with the book!
All in all, I'm glad, I read it and enjoyed it. Chrissie managed to describe Majorca through Sophie's eyes perfectly, its sunny vistas, gorgeous azure blue Mediterranean Sea and the picturesque view really made me feel as though I was in Majorca myself, albeit sounding cliché, but true. I was contemplating whether I should give What I Did On My Holidays a 5/5, but I'm afraid due to the slow start, I would be lying to myself. Sorry, Chrissie!
Sophie Sturgeon can't wait for her annual summer holiday. Not only will it be a week away from work, it will be a chance to reconnect with her boyfriend Callum.
So this upcoming trip to Majorca is a big deal. Sophie's spent a lot of time getting ready. She's bought a new wardrobe. She's been waxed to within an inch of her life. She's determined she and Callum will have the best time ever.
Then Callum dumps her, the night before they're due to leave. In a show of bravery and independence, Sophie says she'll go to Majorca alone - but in fact, she hides in her London flat. But when her friends, family, and even Callum seem so surprised and delighted at her single girl courage, Sophie decides to go all out and recreate the ultimate 'fake break' . . . with hilarious results.
First and foremost, I would like to thank Chrissie Manby for being so lovely by sending me a SIGNED review copy. Bless you, lovely lady! I discovered this book on Amazon, which instantly caught my eye! The cover's gorgeous, the perfect summer read, from the looks of it! But I don't think the contents will be so "summery" after all.
The night before flying out to Majorca with her boyfriend, Callum, Sophie was dumped by that no-good wanker (Sorry!) and left her devastated. She had two options, stay home and wallow or show that she's an independent woman and enjoy the summer in the Majorcan sun alone. What made the book interesting was, why not do both? Prove that you don't care about being dumped and enjoy the holiday.. at home! The idea appealed to me, especially all the crazy antics Sophie would get herself into, as book blurb stated "with hilarious results".
Sophie was a really down-to-earth heroine, which most reader appeal to. She seemed really warm and sweet, though when being dumped, she was described as being "too clingy". Sadly, I found she lacked self-confidence, often because she thinks too lightly of herself; why would Callum, handsome and gorgeous, eye candy to every female, would want her? I mean, probably it's a bit hard to believe, but I feel her being with Callum was doing no good for her confidence. Then as the story progressed, I felt Sophie's character began to change and mature, something I'd like to call "character progression". Aside from Sophie, I really enjoyed her sister, Clare's presence in the book, which gave the sisters a chance to bond. Then there was Evan, Clare's fiancé, who was a bit of a bore with the finances, but was a real sweetheart, and Tom, the lovely paramedic, who was a really charming bloke. Secretly, I thought he and Sophie would make a fab couple! Not to leave out Sophie and Clare's mother, who has Twitter, only for some very inappropriate reasons, though what she tweeted was a total laugh!
Though there were a few exciting bits in the book, which I WON'T write about, but it was an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, for me, the beginning of the plot was a bit slow, but it managed to pick up after a while or it would have been a bit dull. The book had the perfect setting of a summer read, what with the sun, beach and cocktails Majorca had to offer, I just felt relaxed with the book!
All in all, I'm glad, I read it and enjoyed it. Chrissie managed to describe Majorca through Sophie's eyes perfectly, its sunny vistas, gorgeous azure blue Mediterranean Sea and the picturesque view really made me feel as though I was in Majorca myself, albeit sounding cliché, but true. I was contemplating whether I should give What I Did On My Holidays a 5/5, but I'm afraid due to the slow start, I would be lying to myself. Sorry, Chrissie!
unreliablebooknerd's review
5.0
Seriously the best book ever I've read this year at January month!!! Thought it was typical heartbroken story but proven I was wrong. This book offers more than I've imagined....
leahmichelle_13's review
3.0
Chrissie Manby is one of my favourite authors. For many years now, her books have been must-reads for me and she’s definitely a Chick Lit legend. She knows what she’s talking about, she knows how to make me laugh and her books are just plain magnificent. Her latest What I Did on My Holidays has been a couple of years in the making, having been delayed in favour of Royal-Wedding-inspired (and awesome!) Kate’s Wedding. But it’s finally here! And, I will admit, I have mixed feelings on the novel.
First up, it’s an awesome concept. Like awesome. Why the hell hasn’t anyone written about a fake holiday before? It’s genius. That pretty much sums up Manby. She’s a plot genius. All of her novels seem to have something about them that no other author has ever thought of before, even if it seems like the most obvious thing in the world. Like why wouldn’t you stay in your house for a fortnight instead of going to Majorca after being dumped by your supposedly lovely boyfriend? I know, right? Concept wise it’s just ridiculously good. However. Yes, there’s a however. HOWEVER. The novel never seems to get itself out of first gear. It never really seems to jump on the fact that, HELLO!, Sophie is at home. There’s a bit on the back cover about her re-creating the ultimate fake break. But it’s not that ultimate. In fact it’s not ultimate at all. And that was my problem. I wanted it to be the funniest fake break ever but the trouble is Sophie never really gets on board with her sister Clare’s idea of creating an awesome fake break. She’s always questioning it. Which is fine. But it’s not what you really want is it?
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy What I Did on My Holidays. It had it’s brilliant moments, but the fake holiday just wasn’t what I expected it to be. It wasn’t a genuinely funny book like Manby is known for. So I did feel a little disappointed. Which is a shame. I love Manby’s books. Love them. But What I Did On My Holidays didn’t do it for me as well as Kate’s Wedding did. It’s a nice read, and there were times I could barely put it down (the beach scene, in particular is brilliant). Rest assured, I WILL be eagerly awaiting Manby’s next one I just thought What I Did On My Holidays wasn’t everything it could be, and that was a shame.
First up, it’s an awesome concept. Like awesome. Why the hell hasn’t anyone written about a fake holiday before? It’s genius. That pretty much sums up Manby. She’s a plot genius. All of her novels seem to have something about them that no other author has ever thought of before, even if it seems like the most obvious thing in the world. Like why wouldn’t you stay in your house for a fortnight instead of going to Majorca after being dumped by your supposedly lovely boyfriend? I know, right? Concept wise it’s just ridiculously good. However. Yes, there’s a however. HOWEVER. The novel never seems to get itself out of first gear. It never really seems to jump on the fact that, HELLO!, Sophie is at home. There’s a bit on the back cover about her re-creating the ultimate fake break. But it’s not that ultimate. In fact it’s not ultimate at all. And that was my problem. I wanted it to be the funniest fake break ever but the trouble is Sophie never really gets on board with her sister Clare’s idea of creating an awesome fake break. She’s always questioning it. Which is fine. But it’s not what you really want is it?
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy What I Did on My Holidays. It had it’s brilliant moments, but the fake holiday just wasn’t what I expected it to be. It wasn’t a genuinely funny book like Manby is known for. So I did feel a little disappointed. Which is a shame. I love Manby’s books. Love them. But What I Did On My Holidays didn’t do it for me as well as Kate’s Wedding did. It’s a nice read, and there were times I could barely put it down (the beach scene, in particular is brilliant). Rest assured, I WILL be eagerly awaiting Manby’s next one I just thought What I Did On My Holidays wasn’t everything it could be, and that was a shame.
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