Book Review - Going Green by Nick Spalding

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Title: Going Green

Author: Nick Spalding

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 8th December 2020

Rating: 4.5 Stars

From the bestselling author of Dumped, Actually comes a laugh-out-loud story about saving your job…and maybe saving the planet in the process.

Meet Ellie Cooke. When it comes to all things environmental she’s, well, a bit ‘green’. It’s not that she doesn’t care about things like climate change and plastic pollution, it’s just that life has always got in the way of that sort of thing.

But when the PR firm Ellie works for is taken over by keen environmentalist Nolan Reece, it’s clear that if she wants to save her job, she’s going to have to get serious about being green—or face being recycled.

Going green is no walk in the park, though. It involves a lot of big changes, tough choices…and at least one case of accidentally showing your knickers off to your boss.

Can Ellie do enough to save her job, and maybe do her bit to help save the planet while she’s at it? And what will Nolan think of her, now that she can’t stop thinking about him…?

Ellie is one great character, she acts well before she engages her brains and that lands her in all manner of situations.  Some of them were hilarious, others just amusing, but the whole time you are willing her on, and wanting good things for her. 

I'll admit straight up that I didn't laugh anywhere near as much as I normally do with a Nick Spalding book, I'm not sure whether it was due to the subject matter, my frame of mind, or whether I was missing a trick but I didn't find it as funny.

That being said there were for me a few snort out loud moments which the author always seems to make me manage, and it certainly is humorous, so I'm guessing the issue was my sense of humour went partially on holiday while I was reading this! 

It's thought a really good story, with some certainly memorable moments such as the plastic bottle costume and the narwhal, the hunt for the composting system and Ellie's first encounters with Nolan. Oh and the meal with the birds that was brilliant! Actually thinking back although the scene with hemp underwear didn't make me laugh as I was too busy wincing in sympathy, it was certainly memorable too!

Ok... there may have been a great chapter involving fabulous descriptions of a bike ride too, a character who seemed obsessed with leeks and a very specific species of moth, and the various train journeys were of note too! I'm purposely leaving out the details so as not to spoil the reasons while all of those were memorable for me, but definitely some of the highlights of the book! 

And well I didn't see that outcome to the book coming in a million years, I wouldn't have guessed that. It was fantastic, so fitting and really unexpected! 

Then there is Ellie's inner voice that is continually reminding her of reality, of what she should possibly be admitting to, as she's doing everything she can initially to keep her job when the PR company becomes environmentally friendly,  not being completely invested in the cause, well until she has an epiphany at which point well you can find out for yourself. 

There is a clear message with this book about considering the environmental impact of everything you do, and whether you can or should be attempting to be greener yourself. 

Although not my favourite book by the author it is still another highly enjoyable read that I loved reading. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.