The One You Really Want by Jill Mansell Published by Headline Review on September 4, 2006
Genres: Chick-lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 480
Format: E-Book
Source: Own Copy
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It all starts with a shiny, red, sit-on lawn-mower. When Nancy spies her Christmas present from her husband sitting on the lawn, she realises the jewellery she thought was for her must be on someone else. Her best friend Carmen isn't surprised (she never liked Jonathan) and persuades Nancy to leave Edinburgh and come and stay in her luxury London flat - far too vast for Carmen since her husband, millionaire rock star Spike Todd, died. Soon Nancy's met gorgeous Connor O'Shea, who lives next door, and his daughter Mia is matchmaking - not least because she'd like to see the back of Connor's current pushy girlfriend. Meanwhile Carmen, who's always been certain she doesn't want another man in her life, feels a spark when a handsome charity worker called Joe calls round. But Joe's not quite all he seems...The one you really want could be closer than you think... A sweet, funny, romantic novel from bestselling author Jill Mansell.
So if you read my blog, it should be pretty obvious that I’m a huge Jill Mansell fan, not sure what book mood your in, or in a book slump? Then a Jill Mansell book will sort you out. Honest. And The One You Really Want is no different.
This is a hugely enjoyable read, but for me there was something slightly lacking, maybe because in Carmen’s life I wasn’t slightly sure which man I was suppose to be rooting for. I wish that it had been a bit clearer cut. And while all the secondary characters are fabulous, there are rather a lot of them. It makes for the story to be a little slower in places as we have to deal with strange sub-plots. I also wanted a bit more finality between Nancy and her husband, we’ve had time for everything else so why not this?
Despite these little moans (honest!) I enjoyed the fact that this isn’t a single thread story. It kept me more entertained and interested. And with the banter between Rennie and Rose and Mia being quite a forthright 16 year old, it’s hard to keep the giggles in check.
The One You Really Want was a book I was hooked on, and I kept reading long into the night despite my protesting eyes! This is a story that you can curl up anyway with and instantly be lost in.
[…] For anyone who knows me, it is a simple fact that I adore Jill Mansell books, they are always a feel-good story that can put a smile on my face no matter what. So today I’m really pleased to be taking part in sampler and giveaway tour for Jill Mansell’s The One You Really Want – a book which I have previously shown love for on the blog. […]