From the title I was expecting a light-hearted romantic comedy. What I got was a much deeper storyline dealing with loss, grief, suicide and mental health. Through the writing I was fully engaged with the characters feeling their pain, their compassion, their selflessness and rooting for them. Parts of the book had me laughing, others feeling sad for Charlie.
I raced through this book to find out what happens. The issues covered in the storyline will stay with me for a long time to come.

Indeed, we should be more open and talkative about subjects concerning mental health. Don't be fooled the patriarchy isn't hard on men as well.

I'm not supposed to share quotes from an ARC, but there was a lovely and funny scene mentioning a man-up attitude and tear ducts.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

I went into the book not expecting the story I read. I expected a light rom com based on the cover and blurb. At First Sight was more about grief and much deeper elements in a relationship. I started off flying through the pages as I was completely hooked on their story. It’s great to read a book that tackles different topics of a relationship.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

Nell works in a mental health charity as a telephone operator and is on a lunch break when she has a chance meeting with Charlie. Nell, being recently single and a compelling chatterbox, strikes up a conversation with the gorgeous Irishman. The two get along well and there’s an instant connection, but Nell can’t bring herself to get his cell number. Heading back to work, Nell suddenly decides to face her fears, but when she returns to where Charlie was sitting, he’s not there. Thinking she’d never see him again, she’s surprised the next day when he calls her helpline.

Sensitively written and meticulously researched, this unconventional romance must be paired with a box of tissues! Sunderland has beautifully addressed some of the difficulties those with a broken heart deal with as well as the difficulties of those who love and support them. She’s touched on suicide, mental health, grief at losing a loved one and the difficulty of finding love again. Sunderland has successfully raised awareness about topics not usually addressed in novels.

I’ll admit, when the publisher reached out to me after I had received a copy of “At First Sight,” and cautioned me about the trigger warnings prior to reading. I was upset and unaware if the synopsis had included any inkling about the sensitive subjects. I initially thought that I would return the book unread as I had enough on my plate emotionally. I’m embarrassed at my awful gut response. However, encouraged by my husband to try the first few chapters, I was glad that I hadn’t passed off a wonderful opportunity to be educated about something I knew very little about. I feel I don’t have the words to do this review justice, but I need potential readers to see this as an opportunity for awareness because this author has approached it with the sensitivity it deserves.

It must be acknowledged that the author has noted trigger warnings prior to chapter 1 and cautioned readers to proceed with care.

Published March 01, 2021.

Thank you to Hannah Sunderland, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and learn from this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Author’s Note.

“This book deals with loss, grief, depression and suicide. If any of these subjects are sensitive for you then please approach with care. I hope I have dealt with these important issues delicately.”

I have included the above note at the start of this review so that you can decide whether or not Hannah Sunderland’s second novel At First Sight maybe more than you can handle emotionally. If you are feeling mentally robust then I can guarantee you will not be disappointed by this extraordinary love story between two wonderfully engaging characters. This author is proving how adept she is at approaching the traditional love story from an unusual perspective giving hope that however flawed her characters may be they are still worthy of love even if it doesn’t reach Disney style unrealistic proportions. And that means there’s hope for us all!!

Apparently writing the second novel, especially when your debut has been so well received, can be a huge challenge but this author need not worry about living up to the success of Very Nearly Normal. The opening pages of At First Sight exquisitely sets the scene and tone for much of what follows with a meet cute between Nell Coleman and Charlie Stone that is breathtakingly brilliant for capturing the ordinariness of everyday scenarios. Nell is on her lunch break from work at Healthy Minds, a mental health charity helpline, rushing to buy her lunch and find a space in which to sit and eat in relative peace in her favourite coffee shop. With seating at a premium she is forced to squeeze into a space next to a stranger who is staring forlornly into his teacup. Don’t many of us hate those situations in which we feel obliged to fill the silence and make polite conversation with a stranger? Well Nell is no different and in juggling her food and belongings drops her sandwich onto the unsuspecting stranger who turns out to be pretty boy, dishevelled looking and withdrawn Irishman Charlie Stone. Nell dazzles him with her sunshine smile and verbal diarrhoea but having been single since the ending of her seven year relationship with Joel is too timid to ask him for his number. A decision she will instantly regret but fate has a habit of working in mysterious ways as this storyline will show. A call to the charity helpline which Nell just happens to pick up is from no other than Charlie himself and so begins what is the most tender, heartbreaking and hopeful love story that you could ever wish for.

At First Sight is a novel all about second chances in life and in love. Hannah Sunderland deals with such topics of loss, grief, depression and suicide with such sensitivity that if you’ve ever experienced these feelings either first or second hand you will feel you are not alone. Her writing exudes a kindness and sympathy reaching out to her readers who may suffer from mental ill health however mild or extreme their condition and makes them feel loved. Through the naturally caring empathetic characters that are Nell and her housemate Ned to the more complicated characters of Charlie and Jackson and Joel she raises awareness of the prevalence of male depression and suicide so that the line from film Castaway featuring Tom Hanks perfectly fits the narrative; “the sun will come out tomorrow and who knows what the tide will bring along”. Yes it may be cliched and verging on sentimental but these words do ring true even if not everyone can be fortunate enough to overcome their demons.

Nell and her work colleague and housemate Ned symbolise all the real life individuals who work in similar caring professions, yet the author thankfully doesn’t paint them as saintly do gooders. Nell and Joel are still unable to completely sever the ties of their relationship so in many ways suffer the inability to let go of the past just like Charlie does. With her messy eating, incessant chatter and desire to help improve people’s lives for the better, Nell is the ultimate caring character who deserves to find true love and happiness. Will that be with Charlie or is their mutual attraction destined never to get off the ground thanks to the ghosts from this Irishman’s past? I found these characters to be utterly enchanting and fell for Charlie instantaneously, his dark soul hiding a charm and beauty that Nell recognises in a heartbeat but for all her skills in the workplace dealing with troubled individuals, is this man beyond saving? Although the humour in this novel is subtle it compliments the more harrowing aspects so that you can’t forget you’re witnessing a love story unfolding before your very eyes. Whether it’s destined to reach new heights or doomed from the outset is up to fate to decide.

Love and loss and all the complex emotions this state of being engenders is examined in a thought provoking way as Nell and Charlie negotiate uncharted waters. “Love cannot last forever. It’s slain by poor decisions, lack of compatibility, selfishness, greed and eventually death.” This statement made by Nell relates to all the relationships that exist upon these pages and whilst it sounds rather negative it is also full of wisdom. There is always hope though, second chances at love and life which both Nell and Charlie will come to recognise, so amidst the grief and loss, tragedy and heartache is a message of hope. I thought I could predict how this storyline would conclude from the very beginning but the author surprised me by keeping me guessing until the very last pages. From start to finish you are swept away by a tsunami of emotions whilst reading this moving love story, touched by these characters lives, hoping for a happy ever after which is by no means guaranteed. Although there’s plenty of sadness to endure I left the company of Nell, Charlie and co feeling emotionally lighter and my eyes just about managed to stay dry! I actually think this novel is better than the author’s debut and without hesitation is easily deserving of 5 stars. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

“Having the guts to ask for help was a strength that all too many people didn’t possess and the social stigma around anxiety, depression or other mental health issues often deprives people of that final ounce of courage to seek the help they need”

Two strangers. Two chance meetings. One extraordinary love story.

Nell and Charlie feel a spark when they meet by chance in a cafe. But they don’t trade numbers, or surnames, so there’s no way they’ll meet again. But the next day, Nell’s phone rings at work. Somehow, impossibly, Charlie is on the other end. And he needs her help...

Thank you to @hannahsunderland, @avonbooksuk and @netgally for allowing me to read this one before it is released on April 1st. What an absolute treat because I LOVED this book!
I will quickly add in some TWs though: loss, grief, suicide and mental health.

This story is about fate, second chances, struggling severely with mental health, empathy, the grief process, forgiveness and falling in love in such an unconventional way.

This story was absolutely brilliant and I read it in less than 24 hours! At times it was heavy to read as it was surrounded in some challenging topics (suicide) but @hannahsunderland wrote it so beautifully and really captured what it is like to be that deep in grief and pain.

It is an uplifting and realistic story that will leave you laughing and crying throughout the book. It’s weird to say that a book surrounding grief and mental health can also be funny but it definitely was! I seriously recommend you get it when it comes out on April 1st! I read this book in early January but I still think about it often now 🤍

Another beautiful book from Hannah Sunderland. I was hooked on this clever, heartwarming novel from the opening chapter. There are some tough themes throughout this book but they are handled with knowledge and understanding. I loved the characters and thought the descriptions of the Ireland visit were beautiful, I could picture the surroundings with ease. One thing I loved about this book was the none traditional friendships/ relationships. Nell and Ned for example. I think this made the book a lot more believable and relatable. I’m sure this novel will be a huge success

This was a really enjoyable, not your typical at all contemp fiction and I read it really quickly. It drew me right in and Charlie's story was heartbreaking.

I requested this book as a challenge, I thought it would be educational. And it was very satisfying.
Nell is a twenty something young girl who's just broke up with her longtime boyfriend. She works at
Healthy Minds, and helps talking to people struggling with suicidal thoughts.
She meets Charlie while looking for a seat in a coffee shop and he gets blindsided by her warm smile. And the story starts to go on.
While this book could be catalogued as a romance dealing with the subject of suicide, I'd like give what I think could be a more accurate comment about it. It's about salvation. Everyone struggles, perhaps not about the same missed things, but there's always something missing, or some ideal mind state usually looked for but unfound. This book brings light about how when someone opens up, the light gets inside. How accepting is the key of healing and why patience can be the welcoming to a bright future. The characters are absolutely lovable, but mostly they are human trying to grow and get wiser in the process.
It's a beautiful story and the author did a magnificent job. I'd love to read more from her.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

At first sight is not a typical romance read and is more about second chances at finding yourself.

Overcoming grief, depression and relationships and how they all bind us to the present. Deliving into the darker side of life.

Meet Nell, she works as a caller at Healthy Minds and speaks to those who call in and try to help them with their problems. She adores her job, you can tell she has a true passion for it. Yet she also knows she is stuck in a rut herself by not fully ending it with her ex as he is her safety net which is understandable.

Meet Charlie, after losing his wife, his grief overwhelms him. To the point where he has contemplated suicide a few times previous.

A chance meeting, a chance phone call bring these two together. Or could it be fate as they both help each other figure things out.

I think it is sensitively written, but the story didn't grab me fully. I do think the cover misleads the reader into thinking it is a love story. I liked it, but a abit slow and labourous in parts.

I didn't like the writing style. Also, I found unethical how she asked him out, I was uncomfortable after that and I couldn't believe anything that was going on. But on the bright side, it was funny and the main character was witty and charming.

TW: Suicide, bereavement, mental health illnesses.

Nell is a telephone operator at a mental health charity. One lunch time chance leads Nell to meet Charlie in a cafe. They both feel a spark but regrettably don’t exchange numbers. After leaving the cafe and heading back to work Nell does a u-turn, as she rushes back to the cafe in hope that Charlie is still there. When she realises he is not, she accepts she will not see him again.

Fate has a funny way of bringing people together and that is exactly what happens to Nell and Charlie when the next day Nell’s work phone rings and Charlie is at the other end of the line. He needs Nell’s help.

At First Sight is beautifully written and heartwarming but is like no other romance story I have ever read as it delves into some of life’s darkest moments as it centres around themes such as suicide, mental health, depression, grief and finding love after bereavement.

Having been recently bereaved by suicide myself, I thought that the book was written in the most sensitive way, with an aim to break surrounding stigmas and raise awareness, and you can tell that Hannah Sunderland had researched the themes very thoroughly.

The pace of the book felt right and I felt fully invested in all the characters. Whilst, as a reader you want Nell and Charlie to live happily ever after, I really appreciated that the author didn’t include romantic cliches. I found this emphasised the difficulties those who have been bereaved, and those who support them, face and that these things are never a straight line.

Overall, a really emotionally rewarding book, which is very different from anything I have read before.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW: suicide ideation

Nell works at a mental health crisis line and has to take some tough calls. What she doesn't expect is to receive a call from a stranger she had a chance encounter with at a cafe. Drawn to Charlie, she wants more than he seems capable of giving - can they overcome his past? And does time really heal all wounds?

Such an unexpectedly raw and powerful book. Characters you can't help but love (and you also love to laugh at some of their interactions) and a journey of healing that feels genuine. This really isn't what the cover suggests it to be. Sure, it's romance, but it's so realistic and heartfelt. I would advise, however, that you don't read this during a depressive episode - not my smartest idea, admittedly.

Nell meets Charlie at her local coffee shop when she sits at his table and throws her lunch over him. Despite chatting they keave without exchanging numbers, but later in the day Charlie rings the mental health charity where Nell works. What follows isnt a typical rom com/chick lit book but something mych deeper. It brings to the forefront mental health issues for men surrounding grief and loss.
An enjoyable read with sad and funny moments
I received this book from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review

This delicious tale is far more than a simple love story as Hannah Sunderland weaves a more complex tale combining the themes of grief and loss around the slow burning love story of Nell and Charlie.
Nell is working for a mental health charity and is approached by Charlie via the charity's helpline. Although the service is meant to be anonymous, Nell recognises his voice having run into Charlie earlier in the day, in a local coffee shop. Deciding to break the rules of the helpline, Nell tells Charlie that she recognises his voice and that they should chat in person.
Both protagonists have overcome difficulties in their respective pasts but Charlie is continuing to struggle, which has lead to his calling the helpline.
While not the easiest of stories to read, it is worth sticking with 'At First Sight', due to the beautiful portrayal of the growing relationship between Nell and Charlie, showing how they learn to address their fears and the impact of the past on their current lies. A slow burning, different take on the standard romance story - a genuinely worthwhile tale. Read it.

This was not an easy book to read, specially for me when I am going through an emotionally low phase myself. That's why it took me time to finish it. The way Hannah writes about losing someone, the guilt, the pain, the moving on part it just hits you. You can actually feel the character's pain and what they are going through.
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This book also talks about toxic relationships, where you just get used to that person and it becomes habit, one that isn't benefiting anyone. It's also about a love meant to be, about a love which exists even though you have to hide it from people.
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I like Hannah's writing and how real it is, but perhaps it wasn't a book for me to read right now. The book starts off with trigger warnings, so if you are not ready to read about other people's pain then maybe don't pick it up. But if you are strong enough and are ready to read about loss, pain and grieve then please do read this book.

This was a very difficult read at times but absolutely beautifully dealt with. I was utterly invested in the book and where the story went but realise that this won’t be for everyone so I’m glad it carries a trigger warning.

I'm giving this one 4.5 stars because it was really a great story. Nell and Charlie meet at a cafe and there is an immediate spark. They don't exchange last names or numbers and leave it to fate to see if they will meet again. Well, fate has lots of plans for these two. I love books about love at first sight, especially when it isn't insta love, when there are trials and things the couple has to go through to be together. This was one of those books, and it left you with all of the feelings spilling all over the place.
I started this book a few months ago and had to pause because I didn't have any idea it would be so sad. This book is a punch to the gut and I don't want to give too much away but it deals with suicide, depression, loss of spouse and grief. This book will stick with me for a long time.
Nell and Charlie meet again by chance and thus starts the up and down roller coaster that is their friendship. Nell works as a mental health operator. She helps counsel people that need direction, like addicts or someone contemplating suicide, so she understands how to empathize and is a good person to talk to.
If you are expecting a grand romance, this book will not deliver that in spades, but what you will get is a book that is full of feeling, and little comedic relief with Charlie's uncle.
We see a person that is so far down in the depths of despair and how fate pulled him back into the land of the living. It wasn't an easy road, and honestly we don't see a lot of him after he is recovering, but this book will make you think. This book will pull all your heartstrings and make you see things from a different perspective. I enjoyed the second half of the book a little more than the first, it seemed to start slow but it moved a lot more quickly as the book progressed.
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and the author for an early copy of this book.

This story dealt with some tough subjects but it drew me in and I found I enjoyed it. It gave me the feels. Really liked it and wanted more.

Not was k expecting to read about, however it does make you think and it’s emotional. It took me a while to get into too