annebrooke's review against another edition
3.0
This was an okay read, but packed full of cliches. I also really didn't like the heroine who seemed obsessed with money from the start - she really wasn't as much of a superhero as she keeps saying she is! The two men in her life - the adorable Johnnie and the equally adorable Spencer - can definitely do a whole lot better than her. The plot was unbelievable as well.
On the plus side, I thought her son Charlie and his naughty best friend Kyle were fabulous - and I wish the book had been about them. I also think it's great to have working-class heroines, and we need more of them (just not THIS one!) - but on my copy both the blurb and the posh picture cover don't convey any of that - and that REALLY annoyed me!
On the plus side, I thought her son Charlie and his naughty best friend Kyle were fabulous - and I wish the book had been about them. I also think it's great to have working-class heroines, and we need more of them (just not THIS one!) - but on my copy both the blurb and the posh picture cover don't convey any of that - and that REALLY annoyed me!
mickysbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
teresat's review
4.0
All You Need is Love is a sweet story about not knowing what you already have when you are wishing for something different. It is a bit predictable, which isn't always a bad thing. I found Spencer to be kind of a cardboard character, couldn't really get attached to him. It kind of felt like we didn't really get to know him. Whereas we really got to know Johnny, how kind and caring he is, how much he loves Sally and Charlie, even if his role in their life is not what he wants it to be. Without spoiling the book, it's a very sweet and uplifting story and the title is very apt.
j_m_r_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I found this book somewhat predictable from the start and very slow moving. There were times where I found myself getting frustrated with the author because the writing wasn't particularly eloquent. However, as bedtime easy reading it was perfect! I never had to think too much about what was coming next and the characters felt relatable. The author clearly favoured one outcome from the get-go but that's not too much an issue to me. There were some characters which could have been developed more, and others that were introduced without much mention right at the end. Else, this was an enjoyable read focussing on the ordinary 'single mum and superwoman'.
nicolevde's review
4.0
Sometimes you just need a predictable book. And this one definitely fits in that category. Nevertheless Carole Matthews was able to hold my attention with her dead funny descriptions! She really captures the atmosphere of Liverpool and that really reminded me of my days there this summer. And one thing is certainly true everyone needs a little bit of Beatles in their lives!
dozylocal's review
3.0
There are NO bad people in this story. Everyone is ultra sweet and well-intentioned. Even the hoodlums go from peeing in corridors and tagging walls to helping out with the Community upliftment project. And then there's the rich kid doing a good turn in the slums because his dad wants him to experience "the real world" who, for no clear reason, genuinely falls in love (in a couple of days, it seems).
So this is a fairy tale more than anything else and perhaps a little too sickly sweet. A bit like one of those extra sweet, cheap treats one used to overindulge in as a kid.
So this is a fairy tale more than anything else and perhaps a little too sickly sweet. A bit like one of those extra sweet, cheap treats one used to overindulge in as a kid.
leahmichelle_13's review
4.0
Carole Matthews is a highly-acclaimed author and has novels out regularly – she has had two novels out every year for the past couple of years. As a huge fan of Carole’s later novels that’s great news to me that she’s so prolific. I’ve liked many of Carole’s books (The Sweetest Taboo, With or Without You, The Chocolate Lovers Club & Diet and You Drive Me Crazy) however there have been a few I haven’t liked (Let’s Meet on Platform 8 & It’s A Kind Of Magic). It two I disliked haven’t put me off Carole so I was looking forward to All You Need Is Love.
All You Need Is Love is reminiscent of The Sweetest Taboo in the fact that there’s two men in love with one woman. All You Need Is Love tells the story of Sally Freeman – single mum and super-woman – who is fed up of life in a Liverpudlian “sink estate” and wants out. Out comes in the form of Spencer Knight, rich, handsome and charming. But what about Johnny, Sally’s ex? It seems he is still in love with her…
I really enjoyed All You Need Is Love. I felt it gave a different spin on a chick-lit novel. For starters, Sally is a single mum living on benefits whereas your usual chick-lit heroine is single, no kids and has a great job. I enjoyed that it was from a different perspective.
I liked Sally and found her a breath of fresh air from our usual heroines, as I mentioned. I found it irritating the way she constantly referred to herself as Single Mum & Superwoman; we got it, no need to keep telling us so. I felt Sally got better as the novel wore on, at first she just wanted to get out of the estate as quick as possible but as the changes came around and her opinion seemed to change she became much more likeable.
I also found myself rooting for Johnny, the hapless ex, throughout the novel. I thought he was a brilliant character and I loved his relationship with Charlie, Sally’s son. I thought Charlie was another great character but quite mature even though he was meant to be 10. Then again 10 years olds seem to be rather mature nowadays!
I didn’t really warm to Spencer to be honest, probably because I was rooting for Johnny. He was a good character I just couldn’t warm to him.
I loved all of the minor characters; Johnny’s mum, Dora (the Explorer!), Mrs Kapur. The community feel of the book was brilliant and thought Carole captured it perfectly.
The writing style of the novel was typical Carole Matthews’ style. We get chapters in first person from Sally but we also get third-person chapters telling us what is going on with everyone else. When I first read the alternate way Carole writes her novels it took a while to get into but it’s easy to read and gives you the novel from all angles.
When I sat down to read the book it was easy to get into and I found the chapters incredibly easy to read because of the shortness of them. It was good to know that if I only had 10 minutes I could read a chapter or three.
Overall it was a very enjoyable novel from Carole. She is a brilliant writer. I also have to mention the book cover – which is gorgeous! Carole is having all of her covers re-designed and these new ones are lovely. This one is purple with sparkly writing. Definitely one of my favourite book covers.
Rating: 5/5
All You Need Is Love is reminiscent of The Sweetest Taboo in the fact that there’s two men in love with one woman. All You Need Is Love tells the story of Sally Freeman – single mum and super-woman – who is fed up of life in a Liverpudlian “sink estate” and wants out. Out comes in the form of Spencer Knight, rich, handsome and charming. But what about Johnny, Sally’s ex? It seems he is still in love with her…
I really enjoyed All You Need Is Love. I felt it gave a different spin on a chick-lit novel. For starters, Sally is a single mum living on benefits whereas your usual chick-lit heroine is single, no kids and has a great job. I enjoyed that it was from a different perspective.
I liked Sally and found her a breath of fresh air from our usual heroines, as I mentioned. I found it irritating the way she constantly referred to herself as Single Mum & Superwoman; we got it, no need to keep telling us so. I felt Sally got better as the novel wore on, at first she just wanted to get out of the estate as quick as possible but as the changes came around and her opinion seemed to change she became much more likeable.
I also found myself rooting for Johnny, the hapless ex, throughout the novel. I thought he was a brilliant character and I loved his relationship with Charlie, Sally’s son. I thought Charlie was another great character but quite mature even though he was meant to be 10. Then again 10 years olds seem to be rather mature nowadays!
I didn’t really warm to Spencer to be honest, probably because I was rooting for Johnny. He was a good character I just couldn’t warm to him.
I loved all of the minor characters; Johnny’s mum, Dora (the Explorer!), Mrs Kapur. The community feel of the book was brilliant and thought Carole captured it perfectly.
The writing style of the novel was typical Carole Matthews’ style. We get chapters in first person from Sally but we also get third-person chapters telling us what is going on with everyone else. When I first read the alternate way Carole writes her novels it took a while to get into but it’s easy to read and gives you the novel from all angles.
When I sat down to read the book it was easy to get into and I found the chapters incredibly easy to read because of the shortness of them. It was good to know that if I only had 10 minutes I could read a chapter or three.
Overall it was a very enjoyable novel from Carole. She is a brilliant writer. I also have to mention the book cover – which is gorgeous! Carole is having all of her covers re-designed and these new ones are lovely. This one is purple with sparkly writing. Definitely one of my favourite book covers.
Rating: 5/5
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