Fern has a little stall in Camden Markets where she resells vintage clothing, often matching the outfit to the person with extraordinary results. While things aren’t necessarily easy for her and money is tight, she’s happy with her shop, lives in her parents’ apartment, and is using her talents in ways that make her proud. But not all is simple: a random second encounter with an older woman in couture bring her face to face with the adage ‘no good deed goes unpunished’ with a sting of bad luck, a fire in her building, some clothing destroyed and the all-consuming presence of her mother and father, never an easy set of visits.

Cleverly played to introduce Fern to Dinah and Dinah’s tailor husband Moss, as well as a new stall occupant next door who crafts light boxes of the constellations and just happens to be dating and old schoolmate, things are at least hopping along on the work front. And, there are the moments he meets with her boyfriend, a catch you when I’m in town relationship that has few labels, fewer hours together and little to nothing in common between them. When he whisks her off to a naturist resort, after telling her that ‘clothes don’t matter” the gig is up there – and now Fern has choices to make. Pressure from her parents to get a ‘real’ job, the reliance of an elderly cross-dresser and his new friends acquired since his wife’s death, and everyone’s discovering just how much the clothes Fern shares with them bring them new outlooks, the loss of Fern would be a great one to her clients and friends.

Clever for the interactions, the clothing and the attitudes that Fern inhabits when using her clothing as a way to ‘face’ the world, and her slow recognition of her own issues, her relationship with her mother, and the need she has to make the world a new and ‘happy’ place, where people can choose outfits that bring them confidence, bravery, shields and the opportunity to see new choices and options. Clever and light, with a character in Fern who should be in everyone’s dressing room, this is a wonderful read.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Cute charming story that kind of Lee’s you guessing to what is happening, but at the same time predictable.

Great for a vacation read! Light with a bit of depth tucked in for good measure.

Fern is one of those people who really likes to help others. Not in the normal holding the door open kind of way, although she is that kind of person too, but in that she likes to help them find their inner happiness through the clothes that they wear. She has a gift for finding the perfect outfit to match her clients and for helping them to believe in themselves enough to give her recommendations a whirl. Her keenness to help others often comes at the expense of her own livelihood - giving out advice for free doesn't help pay the bills after all - but it also comes with a whole dose of warmth and good feeling that lifts those around her.

This book isn't just about fashion and a young women who runs a vintage clothes stall in Camden Market though. This is a book all about friendship and hope and having the belief to follow your dreams. Fired from her dream job (sort of dream job), Fern finds her life changed when she meets the stylish, effortlessly elegant and slightly quirky Dinah, not once but twice. It seems fated as on their second meeting she also gets an unexpected introduction to David, the man who is soon to become her next door neighbour, on the market pitch at least. It appears that Fern's one good deed could be about to cost her almost everything, but a misunderstanding soon turns to friendship and more.

I loved the mixture of characters in this book. First up there is Fern, our heroine of the hour and someone it is very easy to grow to like. I'll admit I know nothing about fashion and am as interested in vintage dresses and designers as I am Premiership football, which is to say not at all. To me clothes are the things you have to wear to prevent some very unfortunate scenes in public. Not that that always works anyway ... That said, what I did like and identify with in Fern was her big heart. The way in which she was so sure of others, so able to lift their spirits while all the time her own were being trampled by a doomed relationship, an overbearing and high achieving former fashion model mother, and a rather unfortunate incident involving her neighbours indoor sauna. Despite everything, she seldom gave up, giving more to others than she ever seemed to herself. Yes, you could label her a pushover, but she had a faultless generosity which really warmed the heart.

Dinah. Where to even begin. A larger than life character, one who challenges Fern in all the best ways and who brings a real life and spirit to the story. Eight five years young, and as obsessed with fashion and Fern, they make an unlikely and yet perfect pairing and there are so many moments which will make you chuckle when Dinah is around. She has a tragic history but is not defined by it and her seventy year relationship with her husband, Moss, is beautiful to see, if steeped with challenge at one point. Then there is Kim, an old man who comes to Fern for help to find his wife a dress and inadvertently costs her a job. Kim is hiding a secret of his own, one that both Fern and Dinah, and a couple of his wife's friends, help him to come to terms with and accept. His story is touching and believable and I really grew to like him too.

And then for eye candy, as there should always be eye candy in this kind of book, there is David, Fern's new market neighbour. David has left a high powered, high pressure job, to follow his dream, crafting wooden light boxes. He is tall, handsome, kind ... and already taken, sadly, by one of Fern's old high school friends, Gigi. That's okay as Fern is taken too, partners in a casual romance with a guy who perhaps doesn't understand her like he should, and there is one awfully embarrassing vacation involved that proves it. There is a clear chemistry between Fern and David, as well as moments where they seem to be at complete odds, but the author keeps the reader on tenterhooks as to whether the inevitable should and will happen. You know you want it, want to see Fern have a little happiness of her own, but can it really happen?

This book is a story of hope. Of friendship and family. Of how taking one small step can change your life. And most of all, how doing one small deed, one random act of kindness, can lead to some beautiful and enduring friendships and a wave of positivity that will extend well beyond the original good-doer. This is the perfect summer read with a blend of humour, romance and feel good stories and it if doesn't leave you with a smile on your face, nothing will.

Fun read, although I liked "The Forgotten Guide to Happiness" a little bit more. Enjoyed the story but the characters were not my favorite, although I loved the descriptions of all the vintage clothes. Fern loves what she does, but would give it all up because of her mom. Her mom was simply awful, she pretty much put Fern down every chance that she got. Then the "I prefer you call me Annabel." Annabel doesn't want her daughter calling her Mum. Annabel is never proud of Fern and is embarrassed to tell her friends that her daughter sells second hand clothes in a stall. Maybe I would have liked Fern a bit more if she actually stood up to her mom. The whole I'm terrified of dogs, no maybe it's not dogs, maybe's it's my mom because she terrorized me as a child for getting dirty because of a dog was a bit much. Fern miraculously is cured of her dog phobia and forgives her mom in one hour!!! I wouldn't have minded reading more about Moss and Dinah. They were an interesting couple and truly loved each other. I would have loved the engraved chopping board. Mick deserved that sunburn. That's one vacation I would not have enjoyed, even though it was in the south of France. Mercia and Betty were wonderful friends to Kim.

I recommend the book. It was a quick and fun read. I look forward o reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Great read.

The story of Fern. She runs a vintage clothes stall in a market and one day meets Dinah. She does her a good turn, and then Fern meets David. He ends up running the market stall next to hers and she thinks he is perfect - only problem is that they are both in relationships with other people.

From her one good deed on helping Dinah, Fern ends up with new friends and help with her business, changing her life in the process.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.

Perfect chick lit! I loved the premise and the characters were well developed! I recommend this for anyone looking for a light and fun read!

2.5/2.75

Overall, this was a refreshing, fun read. I love how we get thrust into the vintage clothing scene, specially since the main character sells it in a non-conventional way. It was lovely to see how having a stall made her meet so many characters that became her found family, and so many clients whose stories we got to take a peek at. In that aspect, it reminded me of Everything leads to you by Nina Lacour, because it presented me with a profession that I'm not familiar with and it made me appreciate it immensely.

However, I think it has some flaws that can't be looked over.
The amount of times the main character said something like she was saying it for the first time, even though it was like the third or fourth time being mentioned, was insufferable. Her friends Dinah and Moss have been married for seventy years, and every time someone tells her that she goes "seventy years!! that's a lot!!! a whole life!!!!", like she JUST found out when, in fact, she didn't. She also has a phobia of dogs and goes on a very annoying monologue anytime she has to confront one, which would be okay if she didn't say the same three things over and over. Dogs smell fear, so she knows they're coming for her because she's afraid. And dog owners say their dog doesn't bite when every dog bites. And, also, dog owners don't understand why she's so afraid of dogs. But she's afraid because they can smell fear and come to bite her. And so on.
The dog phobia was also a subplot that seemed like it was going somewhere until the very end. She went to a hpynotherapist ONCE and she was cured. Bitch I study psychology and I'm mad as fuck. Hypnosis as a whole hasn't been widely used for a while because it's a suggestion thing and there are some people that just can't fall into it. And when someone does, it's only after A LOT of speech sessions, because their therapist might want to be sure they can get hypnotised. And the thing you're afraid of, or the thing you forgot or whatever is NOT going to come to you in your first hypnosis. It's way more likely for your first hypnosis to be a waste of time. So, under no circumstances can you make an appointment TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE YOU NEED IT, show up in your new therapist's doorstep and have them IMMEDIATELY hypnotise you and walk out thirty minutes later completely cured. That's just not a thing.
Also, the main character was way too naive around her parents, specially her mother. And it felt like she was acting it, so I felt like maybe she didn't actually feel like this, but that was never talked about so I guess this super wonky way of being was supposed to be her being genuinely scared of her mother?????

THE OLD PEOPLE IN THIS WAS SO CUTE!!! There's a cis man that crossdresses a lot and he's my favorite, even though I think his gender journey could've been written a bit more in-depth.

I do recommend this book, but don't go in expecting a masterpiece.

This was a delightful feel-good book about friendship, finding your true self, and the apparently life-affirming properties of vintage fashion. What’s strange is that I have no style, no interest in fashion and my idea of vintage is still happily wearing the clothes I bought in the 90s, (and I’m not talking designer labels here) but I still loved the descriptions of all the different outfits.

Fern Banks lives in her perennially disappointed parents’ London flat, and since losing her job as a style consultant in a department store, is running her own business selling pre-loved vintage clothes from a stall in the Camden market. She has a knack for finding just the right outfit for women of all ages, but isn’t much of a businesswoman. One day she stops to help Dinah, a beautifully dressed elderly Jewish lady who has dropped some money, and this sets off a chain of other encounters, making her some unusual and unexpected new friends, including the handsome blue-eyed David.

I loved how each chapter begins with an outfit, which becomes important to one of the characters. Fern was such a lovely character, I wanted her to be my friend - and not just so she could tell me how to look good - she’s warm, forgiving and optimistic, although I wasn’t impressed by her lusting after her friend’s boyfriend, not cool under any circumstances.

I also adored the older characters, especially Kim - it’s actually quite unusual to read books that feature the voice of retirees so this made a refreshing change, and the pain of his loss and gradual recovery were beautifully done. Dinah reminded me of my grandmother, who was German but moved to South Africa before the war as she was married to a Jew. Unfortunately Annabel also reminded me of my mother and I even found myself highlighting some sentences because they rang so true.

I didn’t even mind the romance, as it wasn’t the main point of the story - it’s pretty obvious, from the number of times we are told how deep blue David’s eyes are, that they will end up together. (Sorry, minor spoiler here.) I was hoping the author would surprise me and allow Fern to end up happy AND single, but I know I’m weird that way. (And happily married, in case I sound all bitter and twisted...)

Overall this was a Lovely Book that made we want to visit markets and browse for beautiful clothes - except I know I’d never wear them, or want to spend the money... It brought back memories of visiting the Camden Market on visits home to London during my student rock chick/biker chic phase!
4.5 rounded down for the first person present narration.

My thanks to NetGalley for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review.
A Random Act of Kindness is available now.

Very sweet story about what can happens in a perfect world when you perform great acts of kindness. Inspiring and sweet, if not realistic.

First, thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-galley of this book.

Fern Banks is happy with her life, she has a great boyfriend, and she's doing what she loves (selling vintage clothes).

One day, as she's carting her clothes home from work in a big suitcase, she notices a lady getting on a bus, who's dropping money out of her purse. Fern starts grabbing the money and hops on the bus to give back to the lady. As she does this, the doors close, separating Fern from her suitcase of clothes, and the bus pulls away. Fern is able to give the money to the lady, but realizes that she doesn't have her suitcase.

This is how the story begins. Follow Fern on her journey of finding out that good deeds really can bring happiness!
#NetGalley #ARandomActofKindness

This is a lively fun and want to be there read that just made me all fuzzy inside. Fern is like the typical girl next door but with a style of her own. Fern loves vintage clothes and finding not just that perfect look for herself but for others too. So after not so much losing her job as being asked to leave her personal assistant position in a classy store, she sets up a stall on the market.
Now, this is not something that her ex-model mother approves of. To say that their relationship is strained just doesn’t quite match the coldness her mother puts out to Fern. Image is everything to Fern’s mother and Fern isn’t living up to her standards.
This story is made up of quirky, weird and wonderful characters that jump off the pages. I loved Dinah, classy, confident and full of mischief, at 85 it should be compulsory. She has the most wonderful stories and married to a charming man. What a tremendous story they have.
I found myself looking forward to each new chapter, that wasn’t a chapter but a ‘lot’ consisting of descriptions of vintage clothes, each making the whole thing very visual. A super idea, so very classy. Then I soon found myself giggling away at what was to come, next, with the brilliant customers that swiftly became friends. Fern’s love life definitely had its dips but the high lights were just divine.
This is Fern’s time to blossom or wilt and what a journey it is. Beautifully written I simply didn’t want this story to come to an end. A pure joy to read!

This book was a bit outside my comfort zone, I’m more of a thriller reader. But I have an antique business and thought a book about vintage clothes might be a nice change of pace. It was and it wasn’t. I found the subject a bit of a snooze. But overall I really did enjoy the book and recommend it to others as well. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

A heartwarming, cute fun read. I loved the characters and how the story unfolds. First time reading from this author and it won't be the last. Enjoyed this story from start to finish.

I received Random Acts of Kindness from Netgalley.

This is a pleasant enough story with very interesting characters, in fact a quite typical story of everyday folk 'dressed up' in quite an original manner. The backbone of the plot is vintage fashion, and it was lovely to revisit past decades via clothing descriptions.

The point must have been lost on me but the auction lot descriptions at the beginning of each chapter added nothing so far as I could see.

I would like to thank NetGallery, the publisher (Avon Books) and the author (Sophie Jenkins) for a complimentary copy of the book for me to review.

When I started this, I nearly stopped at the end of the first chapter when Fern’s act of kindness seems to cost her dearly. I walked away, feeling as though the cynical “No good deed goes unpunished” (often quoted in the book, as it happens) was going to be the theme here. I gave the book another try a couple of days later and discovered an entertaining and overall hopeful read. There are some truly quirky characters, and a mother I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, but overall I enjoyed this quick, light read. I did occasionally wonder what I was DOING reading the book – I am no fan of haute couture nor vintage clothing, which are ever present in the story -but understand the way it plays into helping many characters become who they need to be. This is not my usual sort of book, but I was looking for something less intense than my norm (long run of thrillers, mysteries and the like), and found it here.

This was an absolutely stunning and beautiful book, fit for a cozy read on the couch, in a cafe, or sitting in the summer sunshine. I highly recommend this book!

This book is cute happy fun and light I loved it and I think everyone will love it also I loved all the characters and the plot and everything it was good and easy to read and quick to get through I read it in two days I hope everyone reads this book

This was a quirky read! Fern sells vintage clothes and they basically her life! One act of kindness that a stranger gave her propelled her to do one for her in return when she spots out in the street. This causes a domino affect in Ferns life.
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We get to meet so many quirky and fun characters in this book! All Fern knows is that she loves clothes but she also feels lost in her professional life and personal one. Along the way people whose lives she’s helped intertwine and help her realize that she shouldn’t give up her dreams! It shows how one act can spiral into something we could never have imagined. You get what you give.
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Thanks to @netgalley and @avonbooksuk for my review copy. It’ll be available June 13th in the U.K.!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books for a review copy of this book.

I loved this feel good book (and was sad to see that some other reviewers hadn’t).

Fern and the other characters meet a number of challenges from their friends and family, and wear a variety of vintage outfits.

The overwhelming message I received from Sophie Jenkins was that is important to do something you really enjoy for a job and that being kind to others can help you in the future.

In this era of social media, kindness often seems to be missing - reading this book does give you hope that it may return.

Definitely worth a read and a 5 star book for me.

Fern's had a bit of upheaval in her life lately but one thing is constant- her love for clothing. Turn away if you don't like clothes because this nice novel revolves, in some ways, around the pieces Fern sells. There are wonderful descriptions, not only of high end garments, but also the things from more modest lines. Along the way, though, you'll also meet some interesting characters- Dinah in particular- who Fern helps find their perfect outfit. She also needs to find herself and does that. This is a little different as a read but it's definitely a fun one, especially for long time Vogue fans. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.