I really enjoyed Scripted - Jade cannot say no to people and they take advantage of that. I could relate to this and really felt for Jade, I liked most of the characters (as intended!) and enjoyed the story but was left with some questions.

Overall I enjoyed this book. The writing was easy to read, and the characters gave you the feelings about them you were supposed to have. There were a few parts where I think more could have been said to bring the story together better though.

A reflective, honest, magical elements read. I don’t know what I’d do if I found a script literally showing my life as it happens, and Jade handled it as I would by panicking a lot. I loved the humour, the family squabbles, the idea that your life is physically in your hands would you follow the script? Or flip it? A fabulous read.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I must admit I found this book quite infuriating, and at several points debated whether to continue. Our heroine is a bit of a limp lettuce and I couldn’t find it in myself to root for her as all her issues were of her own making, and by her own admission she didn’t want to change things. As it turns out, due to the “scripts “ turning up, and with the encouragement of multiple friends who’ve also been put out by her weak willed attitude, she thankfully does start to see the need for change, but it’s a long time coming in the book, and the plot device of the scripts doesn’t properly get developed so that they feel more like an addition to the story, rather than the primary motivation which is what it appears they were intended to be

Scripted

The premise of this book reminded me of some of Alexandra Potter’s older books - and I was intrigued. At first I found the writing a little overly descriptive but that definitely settled down after a few chapters. Jade is a kind soul, she puts everyone’s wants and needs before her own, never pulling the people in her life up on how they’re making her feel.
Whilst Jade navigates her predictable family - her overbearing Dad, her dramatic sister, the tense relationship between her Mum & step mum - and her boyfriend Adam - she suddenly starts to find scripts in the most random places - detailed scripts depicting conversations between Jade and her loved ones.
The story sees Jade try to reassess the path set out in front of her and find herself a different path - one that sees her standing up for herself & making everyone else take notice.
Yes Jade is a bit of a pushover, Adam is a total plank and her family a good talking to, but I really liked this story, I liked Jade and her kind heart. A really good story and I will definitely pick up any future books Fearne writes.

I enjoyed this book. It was a bit different to other in its genre and I found the concept of our lives being scripted through habit but literally being able to rewrite the script a really interesting one. I did like the characters and I was rooting for Jade all the way through. For me, it was an empowering and uplifting book about being human and our capacity to change.

Jade is your typical people pleaser, she puts everyone’s needs before her own, including her obnoxious partner. Then one day she finds a script on a random piece of paper in a random place but her name is on it and so are other names of people in her circle of family and friends. It’s the script of a conversation that then spookily takes place sometime later exactly as is written on the script. How can this be and why is she receiving these scripts in advance of challenging conversations?
I felt this book had great promise with its unusual storyline but sadly it just never really delivered. The whole storyline could be the advice of a counsellor to a people pleaser - imagine how a conversation might go - is that how you want it to go? If you don’t want it to go that way imagine how you would like it to go………..then make it happen.
I didn’t find it funny. I didn’t take to any of the characters - Jade is walked all over and treating badly by her entire dysfunctional family. Jade’s sister Lily whose wedding features in the story is a total bridezilla and a spoilt brat to boot.
Jade finally finds her voice which is the most satisfying and enjoyable part of the book.
Where the scripts came from and who wrote them………………..I still don’t know!
Sorry, just not for me, I’m sad to say as the plot had such promise!
As always my thanks go to the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this books.

My initial thoughts on this plot when I first read about it was that it sounded quirky but fun and that's exactly what this book is! Jade is a likeable character but is clearly being used and abused by her nearest and dearest who are caught up in their own hurts and dramas without considering Jade. It was great to read how Jade slowly but surely started listening to the RIGHT people in her life, with a little nudge from the mystery "scripts", and make important changes.
I loved the ending of this, really special

I found this book very irritating and I got very annoyed with it. Not what I was expecting at all. The main character was so lame and stupid I felt like screaming at her. Shame, I was expecting better. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Jade is fed up with her life and feels she has lost her way. She can’t seem to fix anything, until one day she finds a script outside her house. She is shocked to see the script is about her and even more so when the script later on becomes a reality. Soon more scripts occur. What’s going on and can she rewrite the script?

I thought the idea behind this was really interesting and unique, unfortunately I found that it failed to deliver. The pacing was off, had parts that seemed very random and I found the story a struggle to read. I also found the writing style a bit cheesy in places and trying too hard to be funny. I didn’t care at all for any of the characters, finding the majority annoying and unlikeable. The ending was also slightly disappointing. Ultimately this book was just not for me, which is disappointing as I don’t like to leave negative feedback. Good concept but could have been better executed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I was really excited about this one, it was such a great concept but it just wasn't for me at all.
I found myself wanting to shake Jade and tell her to get a grip. I know her people pleaser attitude was part of the story, but it was so extreme that it was very frustrating.
Most of the characters were all completely unlikeable, and were so awful they felt like over exaggerated caricatures.
A nice message, but poorly executed in my opinion.

This was a book in two parts. The first part is long and messy, with characters and nicknames flung about as I tried to get everyone straight. The second part is the wedding which is fabulous. Absolutely mad as you like but full of realness ans strong words and action. Kate until this part of the book is pretty dull and lack lustre and isn’t appealing, she is saved at the wedding and she gets some panache. I wanted more wedding Kate to make me love the book.

"Pushed around by her warring family, and taken for granted by a boyfriend who’s more interested in his “brand” than their relationship, she knows that somewhere along the path to being an adult she’s lost her way."

Jade is walked all over in every aspect of her life, and finding a script that details her future conversation highlights just how much she lacks any boundaries. This is why I found the story frustrating, surely no one is lacking that much of a backbone, but then we learn that she had called off a wedding, and that just didn't seem to fit her narrative, so I felt it was a little confusing. The story felt very drawn out at the start and then a bit rushed at the end but it was an easy read overall.

I loved the premise of this book - Jade’s relationship with her boyfriend seems stale, her sister Lily, is getting married again and is seemingly unaware that the world doesn’t revolve around her, her parents continue to pander to Lily and don’t pay Jade much attention at all and her boss is an idiot, asking Jade to collect his dry-cleaning and buy intimate birthday gifts for his wife… and Jade is seemingly unable to stand up for herself and say no to ANYONE!

One day, whilst out for a run, she discovers a sheaf of papers that look like a script. On reading further, she realises that the scene features her. Situations that haven’t happened but that seem, sadly, to be very realistic.

What follows is the story of how Jade continues to find short scripts in the most unexpected places. The scenes playing out as scripted, even with tipped, until Jade’s friend Sophie suggests she start to stand up for herself more, push back and create some boundaries. Her work friend Jackson also proved surprisingly insightful in matters of taking back control too..

This is an enjoyable tale of how Jade starts to put herself first, strengthens her resolve and finally tells her boss, sister, parents and boyfriend how their behaviour feels to her and makes them understand that it just isn’t acceptable.

The characters are well written and this is an easy read.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from
Fearne Cotton the author, but I was really pleasantly surprised.

I feel like her copy-editor did her wrong in the early pages of the book though.
Some clunky and poorly constructed sentences made me fear the worst… I mean, Jade doesn’t brush her hair. We get it. We do not need to be reminded every other sentence. And I was also confused by the introduction of Jackson and then his sudden departure. And where DID these
scripts come from? Why did Jade just accept this randomness?

I think the ending was a little abrupt but I was enjoying the story so perhaps wasn’t quite ready for it to end.

Definitely a promising debut and I would read more by Fearne in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an early copy.

I enjoyed this book although silly in some ways but silly is sometimes fun to read. Jade has been with her boyfriend for several years but things are not running smoothly. One day she finds a script showing her future arguments with her boyfriend and, of course, she finds this very odd. Where did it come from. Then the script plays out exactly as is written which freaks her out but good does come out of that eventually. Over time she finds more scripts to do with her mom, dad, her boss and her sister. All the words in these scripts play out. Life needs to change and this gives her the courage to read and listen to what is said in the scripts. Jade’s sister in particular is taking advantage of her and this is something she needs to change. The book goes through the changes in Jade’s life as she stands up for herself all for the better. Some of the characters I could visualise, others not but on the whole this book was a fun read

To sum this book up in a word would be...... Nice. I know, ouch!!! I so desperately wanted to love this book as I adore Fearne Cotton and thought her quirky quick wit would be perfect for this unique storyline but it just didn't do it for me I'm afraid.
I didn't find it funny and I wish we had an explanation at the end. I was left feeling a bit like, what happened then?!?!!
I did enjoy the the outrageous caracature personalities, I'm sure we all know a Lily and some of those wedding guests, Fearne certainly has been to a few "fun" weddings in her time and set the scene perfectly. But the actual storyline left me sadly feeling a bit meh?
Thank you #NetGalley for the arc 3 star rating for the good idea and great characters

The first fiction book from Fearne. I have read some of her non fiction work previously but wasn’t sure what to expect from Scripted.

Jade cannot say no. It doesn’t matter if it’s to her sister, her boss, her boyfriend…..she just finds herself giving in and agreeing. But what if someone else started to write her script for her? When Jade finds a script of a future conversation, yet to take place, she begins to realise that things cannot continue the way they are…..

I found this book a bit slow to start but then the second half flew and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened to Jade and her story. I did really enjoy the book so thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

I loved Fearne Cotton’s non-fiction book so was intrigued to try this one and it didn’t disappoint. Such an easy reading style, plenty of fantastic dialogue between characters and a protagonist you could totally empathise with and relate to! Safe to say, I read it within 3 days of receiving my copy and would definitely read another fictional novel by Cotton.

I have removed 1 star purely on the fact that, although the ending didn’t feel rushed per se, I would’ve loved to see Jade really embrace her newfound confidence and backbone- there was slightly too much of the build up and not enough of the resolution (I wanted to be fist pumping and shout ‘go Jade!’ by the end- that’s how invested I was!)

Also- for anyone who feels the whole ‘magical script appearance’ might put them off this book, don’t let it! The scripts paled in comparison to the journey Jade herself goes on in this book thanks to them.

What a fabulous, quirky book by Fearne Cotton.

Jade is a walkover .... everyone in her life takes her for granted and she has totally lost herself in everyone's opinions of her.
When she starts getting letters that tell her of a conversation that is going to happen shortly, she is seriously freaked out. But might these scripts hold the key to her being able to establish boundaries and take her life back.

A really fun read full of family dynamics.

I loved it.

Really enjoyable and fresh, I liked the concept and I really liked the characters.
The writing style worked really well, I picked it up and struggled to put it down. It was just so easy and fun. Exactly what I needed on a lazy day and it’d be a great beach read in my opinion.