How Not to Fall in Love, Actually by Catherine Bennetto

Title: How Not to Fall in Love, Actually

Author: Catherine Bennetto

Publisher: 1 February 2017 by Simon and Schuster

Pages: 400 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: womens fiction, chick lit, romance

My Rating: 2.5 crowns

Synopsis:

Emma has a job in television which is distinctly less glamourous and exciting than it sounds. She’s managed to claw her way up the ranks from Tea-Maker and Rubbish-Collector to 2nd Assistant Director (heavy on the ‘assistant’. Even heavier on the ‘2nd’).

So when she finds she’s accidentally very pregnant and at the same time accidentally very sacked (well, less accidentally: she did tell her boss to stick his job up his bum), she knows things are going to have to change.

Luckily she’s also accidentally the heir to a lovely cottage in Wimbledon, with a crazy Rottweiler-owning octogenarian as a neighbour and a rather sexy boy as an accidental tenant. But this baby is coming whether she likes it or not, and she needs to become the sort of person who can look after herself let alone another human being – and quickly.

My Thoughts

‘Yeah, well, I’m living the dream,’ I said, detangling myself and adjusting my hemline. ‘Although most of the time it feels like a nightmare.’

This book is classic British rom-com: fresh, funny, bright and comical. You journey right along with Emma throughout the tale in a laugh-along classic British way. There are no real surprises here and therefore it’s a pleasant enough way to pass a weekend to its obvious conclusion.

‘This is me. Hair up, no eyeshadow. And my underwear doesn’t match.’

I cannot help, however, but feel there were a few too many characters and just a little too much going on - it all seemed rather busy. And if you don’t appreciate the left of centre British humour, their eccentricity may leave you confused (including interesting use of language).  Overall, for me, there were just too many people involved that I had trouble following; and a rather complex and over the top plot - I confess to skimming over some sections. It was just a little bit all over the place for my liking.

‘I tried to laugh a response, which came out as a strangled snort, and then coughed as I choked on my own saliva.’

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This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release