Book Review - Dumped, Actually by Nick Spalding - #HolidayReading Madeira

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Amazon UK

Title: Dumped, Actually

Author: Nick Spalding

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 16th June 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

When Ollie Sweet is very publicly dumped by ‘The One’, his seemingly perfect world dissolves into misery, self-pity, and a bizarre rooftop meeting with a suicidal man in flip-flops. While most would seek out the support of loved ones at such a torrid time, natural-born journalist Ollie asks the subscribers of his website: how did they get over their failed relationships?

When Ollie follows some of their more extreme advice, chaos inevitably ensues, including accidentally exposing himself to some unsuspecting wildlife, jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aeroplane, and suffering from an extremely painful bottom, courtesy of a maniacal Scotsman.

Of course, all of this goes down a storm with his online following, and Ollie soon finds himself the centre of everyone’s attention – whether he likes it or not!

With his eclectic collection of supporters to guide him, can Ollie mend his broken heart, heal his broken bottom, and learn to find happiness again?

Without a doubt the funniest book Nick Spalding has ever written. 

Even the scene that really shouldn't have you laughing out loud, due to the serious undertones, was hilarious, with perfect comic timing. 

From the opening of the over the top proposal that goes wrong, which has many humourous bits, to everything that comes after it, time and time and again I was giggling, and occasionally probably getting strange looks from those around me. 

I tend to find this is an author whose humour is on my wave length and this was no exception. 

Whatever you think may be about to happen next, may just surprise you, as  it is so well written. 

Who knew being dumped publicly could lead to all of this fun!

Ollie Sweet is exactly that, he is sweet, he is a romantic, he's idealistic and a people pleaser and it leads him into to some wonderful situations. 

I adored every laugh filled moment of this book and recommend if to for anyone who is looking for some light hearted, fun in their life. 

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

Book Review - Dry Hard by Nick Spalding

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Amazon UK

Title: Dry Hard

Author: Nick Spalding

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 8th January 2019

Rating: 5 Stars

Kate and Scott’s marriage has always been a lot of fun, with alcohol at the heart of it. After all, what’s more entertaining than a good laugh and a large drink… or six?

But recently, those relaxing drinks have become more crutch than comfort—and the couple have almost forgotten how to talk to each other sober.

Then their teenage daughter Holly uploads a video of their humiliating drunken escapades, which gets picked up by YouTube superstar PinkyPud—and goes horrifyingly viral.

In a last-ditch attempt to prove to the world they’re more than just boozy idiots, Kate and Scott quit alcohol completely. But with Holly’s… er… ‘help’, what begins as a family promise soon escalates into a social media phenomenon: #DryHard!

With the eyes of the Internet upon them, can Kate and Scott stay teetotal—and save their marriage in the process?

As you would expect with a Nick Spalding book this is really funny.  In fact I don't think there is a chapter that doesn't involve an embarrassing incident,  drunken shenanigans, the sublime or ridiculous,  leading to everything from giggles to full on belly laughs. 

I mean you wouldn't think one couples attempt to give up alcohol for a year would be so funny but it is. Yet within the humour there are clearly important modern social issues touched up. 

There is a lot about the whole YouTube "fame" culture, and features assorted YouTuber, there is a young adult who just wants her parents to drink less and as a result videos them over Christmas and ends up with a viral video from which everything spirals. 

Yet even before Christmas, we meet both Kate and Scott in individual chapters, where they both have a rather ridiculous drunken mishap. One involving a tractor and a wedding and the other involving fireworks and a gin distillery! 

Then Holly's chapters felt like they were written from an omniscient point of view, but also fly on the wall documentary tone.  It felt like the voice was all knowing but at the same time, it really was highlighting very key issues that could resonate with readers. 

This is actually a very clever novel, I thoroughly enjoyed whizzing through the pages and really didn't want it to end.  Dry Hard had quite a different feel to it than other books I've read, and I think it would translate perfectly into a sitcom, with each chapter being a different episode. 

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

Book Review - Checking Out by Nick Spalding

Amazon UK

Title: Checking Out

Author: Nick Spalding

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 22nd March 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

What do you do when the doctor says you could die at any moment? Well…after you’ve made a cup of tea, of course.

Nathan James is young, successful and has the world at his feet. Unfortunately, he’s also about to die—which ruins things somewhat. And now he’s staring imminent death in the face, Nathan is having to rethink some of his life choices very hard.

This means embarking on a hectic journey of self-discovery that includes, amongst other things, losing his dignity to an inescapable bean bag, suffering screaming nightmares about a monstrous potato, and getting up close and very personal with a bipolar donkey.

All of which is fine, but then Nathan falls in love with a charming girl called Alison, which is a really stupid thing to do. Because how can you give your heart to someone when it might be about to stop?

From Nick Spalding, the bestselling author of Fat Chance, Bricking It and Mad Love, comes a comedy about dying—which is easy—and living, which is most certainly not.

Very unexpected story, all of Nick Spalding's normal humour is there and on the whole this is an incredibly fun book, but at the heart of it is a more serious medical condition, and a character, Nathan who has no idea how to deal with this life changing news. 

For  Nathan has been told he has a condition that means his death could he imminent, or he may be fine for ages. There is nothing the doctors can do, for him and he just has to try to get on with his life. 

However this is not a deep emotional story, there is plenty to keep you smiling and laughing. He is the creator of a children's music sensation The Foodies who play their part, and we get to see some of their songs too.

The majority of the most memorable scenes involve sex, and not in a hot and steamy way, ina pure I can't believe Nathan is getting himself into these situations sort of way.   

There are some fabulous characters, Alison who is a lovely girl and potential girlfriend, Eliza, his cousin and Calum her kid, who were really heartwarming,  there is Alison's grandfather who although only a small part is easily very memorable. 

However my absolute favourite character and scene that had me a laughing my head off is Pipsqueak, and that is all I am saying on that, if you want to know read the book yourself. 

I absolutely love this author and Checking Out is no exception. It may have had deeper elements to it than I was expecting but still with Nick Spalding's excellence for comic timing, lightening the mood and generally fun storytelling.   

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

Book Review - Mad Love by Nick Spalding

Amazon UK

Title: Mad Love

Author: Nick Spalding

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 6th December 2016

Rating: 5 Stars

Can two people who have never met make a marriage work? Popular dating site Sociality thinks so, and is marrying London lad Adam to California girl Jessica to prove it.

What better way to show that your ‘love algorithms’ work than to put two complete strangers together in an expensive publicity stunt? But, as livewire Jess and lazybones Adam quickly discover, just because a computer says you’re the perfect match, it doesn’t make it so!

Two million Sociality subscribers and the media are following the happy couple’s progress, and they have to make a go of it or they’ll lose everything, look like idiots, and destroy Sociality’s reputation. But can the mismatched pair, who seem to be constantly at each other’s throats, put their differences aside and work their way into each other’s hearts?

Nick Spalding, bestselling author of Fat Chance and Bricking It, will make you cry with laughter at this story of marital warfare—complete with sinking boats, badly aimed flatulence, well aimed tennis balls and some very suggestive pastry.

I recall laughing out loud pretty much hysterically at Nick Spalding's previous book Bricking It, so when I spotted Mad Love, I figured I had to give it a go, to see if that was a one off or not. Yet again there was at least one scene and a one-liner else where that had me laughing pretty much uncontrollably. 

It seems as though this is an author that can continually hit my funny bone,  and as a result I thoroughly enjoyed this whole book, which has a rather zany concept, that does seem to work. 

Take two complete strangers, one publicity stunt for an online dating site Sociality, and pray that everything works out for the best! That is pretty much what Cassie at Sociality has done, in running a competition where the winners as matched by her "algorithms" will get married on Valentines Day, get a honeymoon, a cash prize plus an apartment to live in for a year. 

So who are the "lucky" couple that feature in this stunt, well that would be Adam and Jess, who within the two intro chapters one for each of them, you see how on face value badly matched they really appear to be.  The first two chapters don't just serve as an introduction to Adam and Jess, but also give valuable insights into the personalities, and each of them has a laugh out loud instance, that early on in the book too, to give a feeling of starting as you mean to go on. 

Thinking back the majority of chapters have one highly hilarious event happen in them, a lot of them involving the various publicity stunts that Sociality keep arranging to show how happily married their couple are. 

Amongst the events, there is a memorable speedboat trip in an Italian Lake, a French Cookery lesson where one of the bakes turns into not quite what was planned, an exhibition tennis match, which shows just how good each of their aim is when they want, a party that had me almost in stitches, and that is before I mention Bad Bad Baa Sheep! 

The pacing of the book is quick, the writing it witty but also fairly descriptive as I could always see properly what was happening, and just loved the dynamics between Adam and Jess. The ultimate questions that book makes you ponder are would you be willing to take part in the ultimate blind date and end up married to a stranger? What sort of people would even enter that kind of competition? And most importantly do seemingly opposites attract, and can a computer really predict human chemistry?

I loved Mad Love so much, I am now contemplating buying the majority of Nick Spalding's back catalogue to see just how many times he can get me to laugh out loud in public!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this copy of the book that I read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - Bricking It by Nick Spalding

Amazon UK

Title: Bricking It

Author: Nick Spalding

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: 1st December 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

When siblings Dan and Hayley Daley inherit their late grandmother’s derelict Victorian farmhouse, it seems like a dream come true. All they have to do is fix the place up and sell it for a tidy profit!

Except—as anyone who has renovated an old house knows—things are never that easy.

The walls are rapidly crumbling around them, the architect is a certified lunatic, the budget is spiraling…and then there’s the disturbingly intelligent cow to worry about.

On top of all this, the renovation is being featured on a daytime reality TV show, and as soon as Great Locations presenter Gerard O’Keefe catches sight of Hayley’s first-floor balcony, he’s determined to woo her out of her ban on romance, whether she wants him to or not.

Will Dan and Hayley survive and sell up? Or will the whole thing collapse on them like a ton of bricks?

Bricking It is probably the funniest book I have ever read. I can't remember the last time a book had my laughing almost hysterically not just once during the story but twice (and both times I was reading in public too!). There is something about the writing of this story that has touched my funny bone and left me loving every second of the story. 

You know how they say if you are renovating a large property to expect the unexpected, well Dan and Hayley had both heard of the saying and still nothing could have prepared them for what would happen during their renovation journey.  

They hire an eccentric architect, and the builder they are using wouldn't sound out of place in Eastenders. In addition the presenter of a TV Home renovations show hears about what the siblings are trying to achieve with the property and decides to feature it throughout the latest series, including one live broadcast. 

Let's just say this group of people in a house together, with a live television broadcast, and expecting the unexpected still won't prepare you for just how insanely funny this scene is. 

I often reckon a pet with a bit of character can be a standout character in a story, and a special mention has to be made to the animal that sort of thinks this house is its home too. As you may be starting to gather, this is not your normal pet, how it gets to be upstairs in the house is still a mystery to me (and I'm sniggering in recollection of it). All I will say is the animal is named by Dan, and is called Pat. 

I never thought a book that is predominately about house building works, and the people that make up the project would have entertained me and kept me reading to the extent that it did. I am now determined to read more of Nick Spalding's books, as if this is his sense of humour then I know I'll enjoy them. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.