A story about love and regret and what could have been. I requested this book because I had read and really enjoyed The Rosie Project. The overall storyline in The Best of Adam Sharp is about what would happen if you got a second chance and regrets in life. I have only given this book 3 stars as I could not understand how Charlie could let Angelina sleep with Adam again. The overall idea of the story was good and I probably would read another book by this author.

I'm an absolute sucker for books about lost loves and "what might have been" on the one that got away. So naturally I loved this book. I felt the cast of characters were engaging and I really rooted for a nice ending, one that made sense, and I completely got that and then some. Very well written tale...I was hooked! Five stars.

This book was good and I enjoyed it. It took me a while to get into it at first

I was drawn to this book as I'd heard good things of the author's previous work (The Rosie Project). However I am afraid I was disappointed. Essentially this was a work of 'lad-lit' although I am not sure if this gendered form has been coined yet. It would be fine for a wait in an airport lounge when you don't want anything disastrous happening that would cause stress for the impending flight and you don't want to get too engrossed in case you miss your flight call. I did not find any of the characters plausible or interesting. Adam of the title starts off in his mid 20s on a contract in Australia where he meets and falls in love with a minor Australian soap star and singer (not called Kylie despite his mother's repeated use of the name). After a brief and intense affair he returns to England where he eventually meets and sets up home with Claire. Fast forward 22 years and the Australian soap star gets in touch leading to emotional upheaval for at least 3 people. Suffice to say that Adam has a long think, does the 'right' thing and all ends happily ever after. There are some comic moments, some unnecessary sex description and a lot of popular song references - Adam is a piano player in his spare time. This latter was probably the best part of a rather tedious book for me and I read the end of book playlist with more interest than I had read the story! It would probably make an amusing rom-com film especially with a good soundtrack.

Oh I find his review so difficult to write. When I first read it I was overwhelmed how good it was. I just loved the story and the music so much., who couldn't. Then time happened and I was excited at love being rekindled but at this poiint, without spoilers, I lost it. Such a great start, such a disappointing finish. I am nought this was going to be a five star review such a shame.

I was offered this book to review and the blurb made me request it.
This book is a great read, of nostalgia relived and a future changed.
The music from most of the songs I read I knew which helped with the resonance for Adam and Angelica.
Sometimes it's best not to go back but to move forwards but how do you realise that?
This book was hard emotionally and possibly will be for others too.
Everyone over the ago of 35 will find some connection with this book.
We all look back but it's learning from that and knowing it's the past.

I have read the author's "Rosie" books. Loved the first, not so the second which I thought became a bit overcomplicated. So I was jumped at the chance of a pre publication copy and approached it knowing it wasn't a "Rosie". Without going into the plot too much, the things I liked were the book being divided into two parts; the first setting the current scene and using flashbacks to bring us up to date. I liked Adam, I liked that he played piano. I liked the song or playlist as I knew most of them and they added (slightly) to the atmosphere of scenes. I actually liked the bluntness of the mums in the book (gave some light relief). I even liked the start of the second part and was glad that Adam actually DID something as I felt he was just plodding along through life up to that point just taking what came to him rather than actually making things happen. Anyway, I liked the food and wine matches too (my mouth watered at some). I even liked Angelina up to that point. But from where Charlie went to fetch the lemons, it was all downhill for me I'm afraid. All the characters became pretty unlikeable and there were just too many mind games and second guessing reasons and motives for behaviour and feelings. But I stuck with it and was relieved to reach the end so that I can move on to my next book! I'm still undecided about the author was over the course of 3 books, I've loved all of the first, half of the second and half of the third so, generally speaking, scores a two out of three for me overall (but only 2 out of 5 for this book and all two is mostly for the first part of it). So I'm still looking for him to write another that I like all the way through. By the way, as well as having the playlist in my head whilst reading, I also had people in mind as being Angelina, Adam and Charlie (all British celebs though). For me these were Emilia Fox as Angelina, John Simm as Adam and, even though he's not an actor but just seems so much like Charlie physically ... Paul Hollywood from The Great British Bake Off.

Having enjoyed The Rosie Project and the sequel (though admittedly not as much as the first book) I expected to enjoy this book by Graeme Simsion as well. I was wrong.

The whole book reads as though the author is pining for some long lost love himself and honestly I had to force myself to finish reading the book. Romanticizing the underlying story did not help sell the affair angle to me. Both Angelina and Adam were characters I could not enjoy in the least.

Sorry Graeme, this one was not for me.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.

This was a slightly amusing, very engaging book which I really enjoyed reading. I really liked that a lot of it was set in 1980s with references to songs at that time, as this was my era as a 20 something. The use of the songs to convey feelings or subliminal messages was very clever.

It was also good to read a love story written from a man's perspective. Overall a very honest portrayal of the feelings for past loves and the stage in one's life where you consider and compare present relationships against past ones.

Highly recommended. 4.5****

Firstly thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Now as a male of somewhat advancing years, although I would be the first to admit that I am a bit of a romantic I would not necessarily choose a 'romance' novel as a first choice. However the premise of this book was intriguing. How many of us can hand on heart say,'what if?' when we think back to an old love affair that for what ever reason slipped through our fingers many years before? Adam Sharp gets that opportunity. What happens when he does? You will have to read the book to find out! I really enjoyed it and felt that the author Graeme Simsion gave us a great story, that I finished with a smile on my face.
I have friend called Graham, who was and is a very competent pianist and like Adam can play by'ear', although (to my knowledge) he has never been in the same situation as Adam, I am sure he would have relished the opportunity!
1* star deducted for some of the conversations with 'Mandy' (was it?) left me a bit cold and some scenes in the book were to my mind a little farcical, but that is just me.

A nice touch is a link to a playlist on Spotify of all the songs mentioned in the story and what a great playlist.

Read the book and download the playlist, you will regret neither.

Highly recommended.

What an eye-opener into the male mid-life psyche. But it's far more than that: a touching, funny, heart-breaking story that is ultimately life-affirming.