This is a debut book but you wouldn’t think this as it was amazing. I loved it. I went from loving to hating Tara and Collin and back to loving them. The quote almost taken from Casablanca made me smile and it made me definitely want to go to Ireland.

Tara’s sssisant Emily is so funny I loved her, and also loved Collins best friend Rory I’d love there to be a spin off about Emily as she was my favourite character.

Fling was so unique and I’ve never read anything before like it and can’t wait to see what Joseph writes next.

Thanks goes to the author for writing it and net galley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early review copy of this book. This story deals with some sensitive issues but there is a lot of humour mixed in. This is very well written for a debut novel and I can't wait to read more from this author

I don’t think I need to keep saying that I am inexplicably drawn to this art style on book covers. Of course, with a title like Fling, I expected this to be about casual relationships and perhaps two people who fall in love despite fighting against it. While that is what I got, it wasn’t exactly the full story.

After six years of marriage, Tara and Colin’s marriage is on the rocks after yet another failed round of IVF. But there’s a new dating app on the scene. Fling encourages married people to find the perfect person to have an affair with and Tara and Colin are both encouraged to sign up to it. The lost spark that appears to have left their marriage long ago might turn out to have been right under their noses all along.

The book did a great job of illustrating a marriage that has been worn down by the heartache of trying to conceive. In the first chapter, I thought this would be a pretty emotional read and I wish this theme had been explored a bit more than it was. For a topic that features so heavily at the very beginning and is a big reason for Tara and Colin’s resentment towards each other, they didn’t really talk about it much after the first chapter. I definitely wanted more of this vulnerability throughout the book.

For a male author, Joseph Murray also does a good job of highlighting everyday sexism. It’s quite rare to see in books written by men but it came up a few times in Fling, which I really appreciated.

There were also parts of this book that were genuinely really funny and original. I have never heard anyone described as ‘the human incarnation of the Comic Sans font’ but obviously, I completely understand it! Unfortunately, these jokes were very few and far between, which was a huge shame.

Colin’s friend Rory gave me the strongest physical ick that I’ve had in a long time. He is a huge misogynist and it’s not even slightly subtle. I hated reading the conversations between him and Colin because they just seemed to be obsessed with how women looked. According to them, a woman who isn’t conventionally pretty isn’t even worth talking to in a romantic way and to be honest, Colin showed signs of the same mindset. If this is genuinely how men that we’re supposed to like talk to each other when there are no women around, I’m so disappointed and angry.

Tara’s colleague Emily wasn’t any better. She seems to be fully on board with infidelity and was clearly only concerned with Tara having a fulfilling sex life. While I have no problem with people having casual relationships and being polyamorous, I do have a problem with those people trying to push those who are in committed, monogamous relationships into ‘giving it a try’ without informing their monogamous partner first. That happened twice with two different characters in this book, so of course, it felt horrible.

Another problematic statement from Emily came in the quote 'I prefer the term semi-bisexual, Heterosexual makes me sound boring'. She is ‘so quirky and Gen Z’ that she can’t possibly refer to herself as heterosexual. Because being heterosexual is boring and having a queer sexuality is so in right now, apparently.

Also, millennials don’t care about the planet or have panic attacks about failures. Those are Gen Z things only but millennials can have avocado toast and no money. I really hate it when the media divides the generations into over-simplified categories like this and I never expected to see it in a rom-com but here we are.

Fling rests on a very icky concept for an app that I like to think wouldn’t ever become a reality but let’s be honest, something similar either already does exist or certainly will one day. Both of the side characters were awful people and I wasn’t crazy about Colin either. I did get intensely frustrated by the miscommunication and the near-misses that Tara and Colin kept having and I suppose that must mean that I cared about their marriage, which I did. However, I think there were too many things that I disliked about it to be able to recommend it in good faith.

It was very compelling read. It made me laugh, chuckle, swoon all in the very same order throughout my entire time reading it. Overall, it was full 5 stars read!

I was approved for this book on @netgalley but I was enjoying it so much I put it on my wishlist and was kindly gifted it as part of an RAOK.

The book tackles some really difficult issues but I thought the author handled them well and did a good job of writing from both female and male perspectives.

The book starts with Tara and Colin being told their 3rd round of IVF has failed. We then go through the motions of how this is really affecting this once very loved up couple and the strains or trying for a baby has put on their marriage. A very difficult subject but it was written and handled with care whilst we got to really explore both sets of emotions from the couple.

The controversial app "Fling" is introduced for those in marriages that are unhappy and can explore other options. Everyone was an opinion it. Will our couple sign up to the app?

The book gave me You've Got Mail vibes but it was also good to see the characters finding things they had lost and find themselves again. There are also some very funny moments in this book which made it quite a light read considering the topic.

#netgalley #kindleread #newauthortome #couple #IVF #humour #selfdiscovery #fling #booksaremyescape #bookstagram #lovetoread #lovereading #booksmakemehappy #losingmyselfinastory

This is an incredible read. It is well written with a compelling story that gripped me and wouldn't let me go, I read this in one sitting, and well developed characters that I loved. I coudln't stop thinking about this book and I am still thinking about it, I loved Colin and Tara both seperately and together. It was heartfelt and funny in equal measure and I loved it,

An entertaining romcom with a twist - instead of enemies to lovers, or friends to lovers, in 'Fling' its lovers to lovers!
Tara and Colin have been married for years and after falling in love at first sight, they have become stuck in a rut, not helped by their unsuccessful IVF journey. There's no passion or romance left, where is their marriage going?

When they both independently hear about Fling, an app for married people to have discreet affairs, their fake profiles match 100% with what the other person is looking for. Tara becomes Clare, and Colin becomes Jack. They start an intense online relationship without knowing that they're actually married in real life. In their fake life, they can be free to be who they want to be, expressing their deepest desires, sharing steamy photos (bodies only, no faces) - and quickly the relationship between Clare and Jack is stronger than the real-life marriage. How can their marriage withstand the intensity of a secret love affair?

Some funny moments, some wonderful characters and a reminder to keep the romance alive! Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read it

I really enjoyed this book,

It had difficult topics to cover and was quite emotional however very funny in parts and I liked the fact it was written by a man.

Tara and Colin knew they were meant for each other, always and forever but with three failed IVF attempts their marriage has lost it's spark and they are drifting apart.

When they both sign up to a controversial app called Fling, for discreet affairs, no photos no real names and they both get an 100% match, an instant spark, will they throw everything away for it.

My favourite character in the book was Emily, thought she was really funny and I liked the banter between her and Tara.

There is lots of humour in the book, it's an easy read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan McMillan for the ARC.

I’ll admit I was sceptical about reading a romance book written by a man. However this book proved me wrong and I ended up really enjoying this! The issues both characters deal with are very well depicted, and with a lot of sensibility. It was both humorous and emotional. I was pleasantly surprised with the Irish connection to this book, because if you know me you know I’ll read any and all Irish romcom publications. A happy start to my 2023 reading year!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me provide an honest review.

This was a cute romance story but I have to say for me I found it hard to get into. It was only really in the last 20 pages that I started to enjoy it and by that point it was over. I think I might try and read it again in the future just in case it was a case of right book, wrong time

I honestly was not expecting to like this book as the main trope is cheating which is something I don't enjoy reading about, but it was so cleverly done and I found myself constantly wanting to find out what was going to happen next.
Tara and Colin were such interesting characters and the ending could not have been better for them.
This book deals with issues that were written really well and actually made me cry at times which was something I was not expecting from this book.
As a whole I was pleasantly surprised by this book and loved reading it❤️

💛FLING💛

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Star Read)

⚠️Trigger Warning: IVF⚠️

. I absolutely loved this book
. The way the writer keeps you guessing in many different ways is really clever
. The characters are enjoyable and well developed throughout the storyline
. It deals with IVF mentions/ experiences sensitively
. It’s funny and heartbreaking all in one, a link to true life in many long term relationships
. It kept me on my toes as to what was going to happen next between the two main
. Emily and Rory, the supporting characters to the main characters are hilarious, witty and fun
. The chapter length varies but are still probably the perfect length to keep you wanting to read on
. With an original plot and storyline, I’d give this book a go if I were you
. Thank you Net Galley for sending me a copy of Fling in return for an honest review on the book

Joseph Murray: Fling

I’ll start this with some positives.
I enjoyed the writing style. Joseph Murray has a very witty turn of phrase and there is some fantastic humour in this book.
I’ll be very keen to read future novels from this author, but sadly this story didn’t quite work for me.
The whole concept of infidelity just left a sour taste in my mouth.

Great writing, some fantastic characters and a heartwarming ending.
Unfortunately the ‘fling’ element of the story wasn’t for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for a digital arc of this title.

Tara loved Colin at first sight. Colin loved Tara at first fight but having three rounds of gruelling IVF they've lost their spark and Tara doesn't want to deal with the heartbreak anymore.
When a controversial dating app appears called Fling Tara and Colin both decide to try it and find their 100% matches. Can they rekindle their romance or is it too late?

This was such a good, quick romance read. I adored this story and will definitely read more from Joseph Murray. If you've ever heard the song Escape (The Pina Colada Song) it's that in book form. Honestly this was so good and I was sad to see it over. I hope there will be an Emily and Rory story as I'd love to watch their romance play out.

A couple are struggling to conceive and are growing apart as a direct result. Then, they become aware of an online app called ….yes, you guessed it…Fling and they are both intrigued…could this be the answer? A way of having a discreet affair?

I found this to be an ok read. Very Piña Colada for those of a certain generation!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan publishing for the opportunity to preview.

I've had to DNF this one I'm afraid. Now while I agree that some of Colins thoughts are correct, I'm finding his chapters dull to get through. I'd rather the book just be about Tara. I also don't like where the story is going, just purely due to the dullness of Colin.

I appreciate the IVF part to the book though, it's important to see the heartache from both sides. Even if Colin has been a bit inconsiderate towards Tara with some of his comments

I kinda of loved the idea of the book and it was an easy quick read however it really didn’t sit well with me that they were both having emotional and nearly physical affairs within their marriage, even if it was to one another. I had a horrible feeling at the bottom of my stomach reading some of it.

I liked Rory and Emily but I wasn’t happy they both encourage them to go ahead with downloading the app and encouraged the emotion affair more between them.

2.5 stars. I think the main two characters were likeable, but I found the story a little predictable (the surprise at the end felt a little cliche). The author writes well, but the plot felt a little dragged out in places.

I liked the basis of this story. I think it genuinely showed the struggles of a couple going through IVF. However, moments in the book were incredibly frustrating.

I felt that this book tried too hard to 1) be feminist (it was shoehorned)
2) funny - the amount of puns and jokes in the book is not how real people speak and annoyed me throughout. I think it also made the characters very 2D

*potential spoilers*

I wasn’t really a fan of the happy ending considering that’s not how a lot of peoples stories end with an IVF journey. I also think there would be a lot of distrust