Ah I loved this one, the perfect holiday read and I inhaled it in a few days of poolside reading! Nicola Gill has such a talent for memorable characters and agonisingly embarrassing plotlines, I was squirming in embarrassment and anguish one minute and then laughing out loud the next.

It stars three generations of the same family - grandmother Liz, her son Ed and his own grown up daughter Emily. Each of them is keeping secrets from their nearest and dearest, scared to tell the truth at the risk of seeming foolish or unlovable.

The story centres around 29 year old Emily - she did have her life totally together, reliable job, reliable partner, reliable flat- the only unreliable thing is her father Ed, who left home years before and has been very absent ever since. Emily is close to Liz, Ed's mother, and the two of them have forged an unbreakable bond over the years. When we first meet Emily, she is heartbroken - her fiance Mark has put a hold on their engagement, saying he needs time to think. Emily doesn't want to tell anyone, putting on a brave face and hoping that he'll see sense and come back to her soon.

In the meantime, Emily's dad Ed is making one disastrous business decision after another over in the States. He is up to his neck in debt - and he just knows that if he can sweet-talk his mum Liz into just one more loan, it will be the making of him. When he phones Liz however, she sends him packing, telling him he's a terrible father and needs to make amends with Emily. No sooner said than done, Ed turns up on Emily's doorstep keen to ingratiate himself with her and his own mother. He's keen to help with the wedding prep - that'll be a wonderful father daughter bonding experience! -and Emily can't bring herself to tell him that its not happening.

And what about Liz herself? She's living in a care home after breaking her shoulder. Luckily she has a new beau on the scene- and the two have great plans to meet just as soon as he can get himself out of some money worries. Can anyone else hear alarm bells?

An engaging uplifting and highly entertaining tale from Nicola Gillis - recommend!

A perfectly pitched comedy about the pitfalls of keeping up appearances rather than telling the truth.

The three generations featured in this novel-- granddaughter Emily, son Ed and matriarch Liz-- all have their own secrets and they're trying their best to keep them well and truly hidden. (Only the cat is keeping it real, but the cat's not talking, even if everyone else is talking to it..)

Emily, a teacher, has been dumped by her fiancee when her wayward father Ed comes to visit from Florida. She doesn't want to admit that her life is a mess, so she embarks on wedding venue tours and wedding dress shopping without confessing that neither is needed. Ed has money problems and needs, once again, to get a loan from his mother Liz. But Liz, who has broken her shoulder and is temporarily living in a nursing home, is smitten with a new man who loves abroad and doesn't want to help him.

This novel is both funny and sad-- just like life-- and is utterly charming throughout.

First I just wanted to thank Bedford Square Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘That’s Just Perfect’ written by Nicola Gill.

4 ✨

This book is an ideal Summer read or to put you back into summer in the coming winter months.

I loved the characters and how they were written and I would read more of Nicola Gills books in the future.

A light read about relationships and keeping up appearances that’s perfect for summer but I did find it quite frustrating. Just tell the truth! I mentally yelled at Emily who was still pretending to be getting married to her now gone boyfriend. Things don’t need to be perfect, just be happy is the story.

This follows Emily who has been left by her fiancé, trying to get through an unexpected visit from her dad. Liz (his mum) also features in her temporary care home home after a fall, with chapters from all three characters viewpoints. I enjoyed this book!

My thanks to Bedford Square Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘That’s Just Perfect’ written by Nicola Gill in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Emily Baxter’s fiancé Mark suddenly decides he doesn’t want to get married and walks out on her. Her father Ed unexpectedly turns up on her doorstep and Emily doesn’t want to appear anything but perfect so doesn’t tell him she isn’t getting married, not even when he buys her a wedding dress and books a venue for the reception.

‘That’s Just Perfect’ is a well-thought-out novel that’s an ideal Summer read. The three main characters are Emily, a primary school teacher who’s worried about losing her job after shouting at an annoying pupil, her father Ed who has money problems, and his mother Liz who’s met a man on an internet dating app. I liked the characters despite occasionally being infuriated by their actions and I really wanted Emily to admit she wasn’t getting married especially after letting Ed spend money that he didn’t have. The story has a heart-warming conclusion that brought a smile to my face, and put across the message that it’s okay not to be perfect and that we should love each other’s imperfections.

I was looking forward to reading this book as I enjoyed Swimming For Beginners.

It is a nice holiday read centred around a teacher, recently split from her fiance but who maintains lying about her forthcoming wedding to her estranged Father, who has popped over from the US in order to try and get a loan from his Mother, who is currently residing in a care home in Kent.

It sounds complicated but it is an easy read. Sometimes the characters are quite infuriating and you question whether they would actually say / do something.

The Mother's friend angered me quite a lot and I felt like screaming at the book.

All in all, it was okay but not one of my favourites.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

I really enjoyed Nicola's first novel, and That's Just Perfect was highly anticipated for me. Nicola did not disappoint. I found the story compelling and completely enjoyable to read. A fantastic story.

It is an intergenerational story about a brother, father, and grandmother and the untruths they keep hidden from one another for fear of being found out and not perfect.
Emily is a teacher, yet things are a bit rocky for her because she worries about not being perfect, and her fiance has just left.
Ed—her dad—is in deep money trouble. He feels the only solution is to make up with his estranged daughter to show his mother he is the perfect dad, and then she may help him financially.
Liz is stuck in a care home after 'falling down'. She's in a bit of a financial bind after helping her online "friend' despite words of warning from her best friend.
Things come to a head, and honesty is found to be the best policy, but not before a lot goes wrong in the name of perfection.
A good read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for an ARC.

I LOVED "Swimming for Beginners," so I was really excited to see another book being released by the same author.
That's Just Perfect is a compelling and heartwarming story about family and personal growth. The book follows Emily, a 29-year-old teacher whose life falls apart when her fiancé breaks off their engagement just as her estranged father, Ed, reappears. The story also includes Emily's grandmother, Liz, who is dealing with her own romantic issues.
The book is about honesty and forgiveness and is the perfect holiday /weekend read.

Having enjoyed Swimming for Beginners, I looked forward to reading this latest offering from Nicola Gill. Once again, she has brought us a beautiful tale with great characters, an easy to read storyline, full of ups and downs. Highly recommend

The story of three generations of one family: the pain, the love, the fear of failure. Nicola Gill has a beautiful way of capturing human emotion and thought on a page and this book is no exception.

While Emily tries to hide her failed engagement from her estranged father when he shows up unannounced, she doesn’t realise he comes bearing his own secrets and his proud mother nurses a new romance she can’t wait to tell them about. After all, isn’t it better to be in love and sacrifice some dreams here and there than to be alone?

The rich character development meant I saw each of them as real people and my heart hurt with them, my joy rose with theirs and my nerves probably can’t take any more talk of teaching 😂

This quote summarises the book so wonderfully: “To be lonely was the ultimate failure as a human being.”

4.5 stars

I loved Swimming for Beginners and was delighted to receive an eARC of this multigenerational tale about 29 year old teacher Emily, her nightmare of a dad, Ed and lonely grandmother Liz.

All three characters are fantastic creations but not the most likeable; Ed abandoned Emily at a young age and has never really got to grips with adulting. Emily is determined to prove to everyone (& herself) that her life is just perfect, when it’s actually unraveling thread by thread, causing her to be stroppy, shouty and not good at coping with stress. Poor Liz, who actually is a decent sort, finds herself in a spot of bother and proves herself just as stubborn as her relations.

Honestly, if I knew these people in real life I would run a mile, they are all nightmares. But in this read, seeing them each face their demons and take control of their futures is gloriously uplifting.

The ending was a little sudden for me and I was left with a few unanswered questions about the fate of some of the characters, but I’m happy to make up my own answers!

This is an easy read - it helped me while away a few hours poolside whilst on holiday and I’d recommend for anyone who enjoyed Swimming for Beginners, or The Library by Bella Osborne.

Emily thought her life was on track for marriage and a new beginning with her boyfriend. However, her plans took an unexpected turn with a breakup, the sudden reappearance of her estranged father, and the chaos of planning a wedding that won’t be happening seeing as she has no boyfriend let alone a fiancé. As if that wasn't enough, work pressures and dramas added to her stress, causing everything to start unraveling.

Initially, I found it difficult to connect with Emily. There were moments when I wanted to shake her and urge her to pull herself together! Her dad was equally frustrating, though he genuinely tried to make amends, even if his initial motives were questionable.

A standout element was the touching backstory of Liz, Emily’s grandma, which added depth and richness to the narrative.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read about family and forgiveness.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the download!

A very strange story in some ways you follow 3 generations , grandmother , her son and his daughter. They were all hard characters to warm too. . It is a book you have to read because you get the perfect ending. The fraud bit made you sad and angry. Loved the wedding part. Read it.

I’ve become so frustrated by this book, the more I read it. I’ve reached 65% and I don’t think I can read any more of it. Having enjoyed the author’s previous book, I was happy to get this book to preview. However this story is so incredibly unbelievable, and predictable. Everyone is telling lies to everyone else, and to themselves. To believe that any daughter, even an estranged one like Emily, would go along with her father shelling out two thousand pounds for a wedding dress, rather than ‘lose face’ and tell him the truth that her fiancé has broken off their engagement, just beggars belief. That her father would go so far to get back in favour with Emily without becoming suspicious, is also beyond belief. Then we have Emily’s Gran Liz, who is sailing along blissfully unaware that she is being taken for a very expensive ride, despite her lifelong friend trying to warn her, necessitates total suspension of disbelief on behalf of the reader. Every character tells lies, every character makes completely wrong decisions.
There is nothing funny about this book, sadly, it’s not even remotely amusing. I want to scream at and shake the characters with each new lie and senseless deception. It ultimately becomes very depressing.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. I really wish it hadn’t been such a disappointment.

That’s Just Perfect by Nicola Gill
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 12 September 2024

Emily, a 29-year-old teacher, is desperate to prove to her estranged father that she's thriving. Despite his absence during her childhood and his failure to support her in crucial moments, Emily clings to the illusion of a perfect life.

Her carefully constructed facade crumbles when her fiancé unexpectedly ends their relationship. Struggling to cope with an uncertain future and unraveling at work, Emily's world is further upended by her father Ed's sudden appearance on her doorstep.

Ed, seeking to make amends for past mistakes, offers to help plan Emily's wedding as a gesture of care. Though his motives aren't entirely altruistic, he's willing to spare no expense, even offering to pay for the dress.

Unable to admit her life has fallen apart, Emily finds herself caught in an escalating charade. As father and daughter collaborate on planning a non-existent wedding, they unknowingly embark on a journey that could mend their fractured relationship.

Nicola Gill's "That's Just Perfect" is a heartwarming and humorous exploration of family dynamics, personal growth, and the sometimes messy path to reconciliation. Gill demonstrates a remarkable talent for creating complex, relatable characters that captivate readers despite their flaws and imperfections.

The novel's strength lies in its authentic portrayal of the complicated relationship between Emily and Ed. Their interactions are charged with years of unresolved tension, yet tinged with a mutual desire for connection. Gill navigates this emotional terrain with sensitivity and insight, allowing readers to empathise with both characters' perspectives.

The author's deft handling of the escalating situations provides both comedy and poignancy. As Emily and Ed become more entangled in their well-intentioned deception, the story explores themes of honesty, forgiveness, and the courage required to confront difficult truths.

Gill's writing style is engaging and accessible, with a perfect balance of humour and emotional depth. The pacing is spot-on, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Many readers will find themselves promising "just one more chapter" only to be drawn further into the story.

"That's Just Perfect" is an ideal read for those seeking a blend of light-hearted entertainment and meaningful character development. It's a perfect choice for a holiday, weekend, or anytime you need a heartwarming escape.

By the novel's conclusion, readers are likely to find themselves deeply invested in Emily and Ed's journey. Nicola Gill has crafted a delightful, touching story that reminds us of the healing power of family, forgiveness, and facing our truths.


Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bedford Square Publishers, and the author, Nicola Gill, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I really enjoyed Swimming for Beginners but I absolutely loved this story with its three wonderful main characters - teacher Emily, her dysfunctional dad Ed and her grandmother Liz. Emily has had a bad week with her longtime boyfriend ending their engagement leasing her to lose her temper with one of her pupils, she’s feeling bad enough about this when Ed turns up unexpectedly after she hasn’t seen him for years and he hasn’t been the best dad when he has been around. Meanwhile Liz is frustrated about having to stay in a care home whilst she recovers from a broken shoulder but she’s so excited about progressing her relationship with her boyfriend Peter. Each of the characters had a great voice with Emily hating to feel like a failure, so much so she fails to tell her dad about her relationship ending. Meanwhile Ed has decided the way into his mum’s good books to manipulate her into ‘lending’ him some money is by repairing his relationship with his daughter and he seizes on the opportunity to help her with wedding planning. Liz is kind of separate from all this but you can see from the start what’s going on in her life even if she can’t. This is a great read about honesty and being human and the relationships in this had fantastic dynamics, I especially loved Emily and Ed and this reflected well on the delicate nature of their relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for this ARC.

Emily, 29, is a teacher and about to marry. Or she would be if her fiancé hadn't just got cold feet and left her. She can't talk to anyone about it - her Mum is dead, her Dad Ed estranged and her Grandma Liz has just had a fall and has booked herself into a care home for recuperation. Then suddenly her Dad is at her door for a surprise visit and Emily's first reaction is to lie about her situation. Ed is a chancer who urgently needs money, so he hopes by making amends with Emily he might get into his mother's good graces and she might give him the money he needs not to lose his condo in Florida, where he lives with spiritual Shona. So he takes blindsided Emily to shop for wedding dresses and look at wedding venues. Meanwhile, Liz is talking to a mysterious man online and others begin to think he's not all he seems.

The story is told in
Multi POV with Emily speaking in first person present tense while Ed and Liz are speaking in third person past tense. I found that a strange writing style.

I thought this would be a light-hearted funny story in which Emily might fall in love with the grumpy Ofsted inspector for her school or something, but this is not the case.

Instead everyone is lying, either outright or by omission. Emily is lying to Ed and her school, Peter is lying to Liz and Ed is lying to everyone. Some of them seem naturally dishonest, but what is Emily's problem?

Also, if you want issue resolutions, this book is short of them. Nothing seems resolved at the end - has the condo been saved and Peter got what he deserved? There's an epilogue but it's not shedding much light either.

I liked the very short chapters and I love the cover but I think it alluded to a more light-hearted story with a happy ending for everyone. Instead I got very frustrated with people always doing exactly the wrong thing.

As a side note, while you can still say Ayers Rock, these days the original Uluru is recommended.

3.25 stars