This is such a sweet and charming book! The entire book made me smile, laugh & have all the good feels about romance while reading.

What I loved about the book

💻 Greta: She is determined but her vulnerabilities are real & relatable

☕️ Ewan: He is so kind & aware of Greta it is absolutely adorable

🌸 Poppy: She is just grand! She shows so much for clients but I love how she manages to develop true friendships with them; also she has a crazy amount of energy!!

💻 Love: Well, the book is a romance ❤️ however friends to lovers & the closed romance where a perfect fit for this story

☕️ HEA: Love, love, love this part every time 😍

This book is truly good for anyone who likes How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. It is a quick & fun read; just perfect for ending the summer.

4.5 stars
It’s been great being back with Poppy and the team at the Ever After Agency in this latest read, the third in the series from Sandy Barker.
I love how Sandy Barker’s romance stories are so much about the girl’s friendships and support network. Tiggy and Greta were wonderful friends and I loved how quickly Greta formed a bond and trust with Poppy. Poppy’s a fav character of mine and I always enjoy how she uses her Pyschology background to really understand the profiles of the dates she’s working on.
The chemistry between Ewan and Greta was visible from the start but I liked how we slowly saw this friendship and trust build between them. Spending time with Poppy and Tristan again in this book of the series has been lovely and in seeing a successful match again for Poppy, I’m hoping there will be an update for Ewan and Greta in the next instalment in the series.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. It was wonderful!

I wasn't a big fan of the writing style of this book. The character and plot were okay, but it felt like it was written by a younger, less experienced author, and I just couldn't get into it.

The One That I Want by Sandy Barker

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Greta Davies, the features editor at a women’s magazine, is accomplished and successful. That is, in all areas except her love life.

Determined to help, Greta's boss - and friend - secretly enlists the help of the Ever After Agency, and sets out to make her dreams come true.

Work-obsessed Greta is nothing if not stubborn, so it’ll take some creative thinking, which leads to a lightbulb moment: a new column focused on dating in the city.

With date after disastrous date, things are not looking rosy for Greta. But little does Greta know, the perfect man has been there all along. Will she realise it’s more than friendship before it’s too late?

My Opinion

I went into this book not aware that it was the third book in the series and I honestly didn't notice - it can easily be read as a standalone. The previous two books are already on my want to read list and I have moved them nearer the top as this was just such a lovely read. I found The One That I Want to be a real page-turner, I was desperate to see how everything would play out.

I have now read a few books by Sandy Barker and I really enjoy the writing style. A very enjoyable book, great for reading this summer.

Rating 4/5

‘The One That I Want’ by Sandy Barker is the third book featuring the Ever After Agency and their bubbly, creative and romantic matchmaker Poppy. This time, the team are tasked with finding matches for magazine editor Greta - the twist being that she wants to write about dating disasters and won’t admit that she longs to find “The One”…

I really love how this series focuses on the agency’s different clients and their love stories while also featuring chapters from Poppy’s perspective that allow us to live in her HEA, learn about the developments in her life and stay connected to her fabulous colleagues. In this novel, main character Greta is an ambitious career woman and her doubts are incredibly relatable - as is her initial distain of dating!

Overall, this is a really fun rom com with an intriguing media setting, themes of honesty and self-confidence, and plenty of Poppy’s positivity. Giving this four stars and would recommend the series as a whole!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Boldwood Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The only part of Greta’s life where she has stumbled is her love life.
However, can she get a little help,from her friends?
I was rooting for Greta but then I thought she almost messed it all up.
Never fear, Barker knows what her readers want so alls well that ends well.

Poppy Dean is back with her matchmaking skills and Happily Ever After Agency, but when her skills are enlisted to help Greta find love, under the guise of a new article, it won’t be long before a few terrible dates make this a bigger challenge than expected.
I love that we are back with Poppy, and hearing about how her relationship is going. The newly added characters complement this series, showing strong female characters and fantastic friendships.
I highly recommend this series and author, as they hit the right spots every time.
This is the third book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone novel.

I devour any book by Sandy Barker with relish, and this one was no exception - in fact, I think this series is just getting better and better! It's always good to catch up with Poppy and Tristan, who we first met in book one of the Ever After Agency series, but the new characters are just as delightful. Greta is a great character, multi layered and relatable, while Ewan - well, what's not to love about a cute guy who knows his coffee (and cronuts!), and looks like James McAvoy?! The story as ever gives us a great will-they-won't-they, and even though you know they will eventually it's so much fun getting there. Heartily recommended for anyone who's looking for a laugh out loud romcom - a perfect summer read, whether you're on the beach or sweltering in a city.

A decent escapism novel - Greta has a successful career, great friends, loving family but no one to share it with. Her boss enlists the help of a specialist matchmaker who does her best to find the perfect "one" for her. Cue a few dating disasters intertwined with the bumping into the same guy at the local coffee shop several times makes it an enjoyable novel. Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy

3/5
It was good. It was sweet. It's an easy read with little major drama. But, it was just okay in my opinion.

This is the third in a series, but is easily read alone. (I've only read numbers two and three.) Poppy is a matchmaker at the Ever After Agency, but is hired to surreptitiously match a magazine editor to find love. This story is highly derivative, drawing largely from How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days, which lost a star for me since often the next big thing was directly drawn from the movie plot, however it's still a light and cute read that is perfect for rom-com fans.

"The One That I Want" returns us to the Ever After Agency, where Poppy, a dedicated matchmaker, takes on a new client. Greta, an editor at an emerging online magazine, excels in her career but struggles to weave relationships into her busy life. Anjali, her boss, steps in with a plan to enlist a matchmaking agency under the guise of an article series on dating. The journey is filled with humorous dates, bewildering situations, and numerous surprise moments. Greta appears to have it all: a thriving career, a loving family, and a circle of supportive friends. Yet, her self-doubt often overshadows her achievements. If only one could reassure her to trust her instincts. Tiggy, her best friend, shines as a beacon of candor, humor, and vivacity — a friend everyone deserves. Sandy's narrative is replete with the trials Poppy endures in her quest to find the perfect match for Greta, all while adhering to her assignment.
This book, being the third in the series, can be easily read as a stand-alone.

After a late night working with her boss,vAnjali, Greta shares that she is a bit lonely and worried that she will never find love. Luckily Anjali has an in with a professional matchmaker at the Ever After agency. Enter Poppy Dean. Of course, Greta cannot know that she is being matched so they need to come up with a cover story.

Greta is a rising star in the magazine world, and is just about to launch a new online magazine. She is the editor, and the buck stops with her. When her boss suggests that maybe a series of articles on dating would be a good idea, Greta is on board, even though she sees through the ruse relatively quickly, but she cannot let Anjali know she knows. Yes, its all a bit complicated. Of course, it would be no good to go on just one date and meet your dream man so first step is to go on some disaster dates first. Perfect fodder for a column in the magazine. Let the fun begin!

I love the way that Sandy Barker writes female friendships. Greta's best friend is Tiggy and the way they support each other is so good. There's even a surprise reveal of a friendship for Anjali.

Poppy and her colleagues at the Ever After Agency work tirelessly for their clients, and contribute some fun to the story, especially George with his love of fashion. I am also quite partial to the agency's French PI. I also love being able to see how Poppy's own relationship is going!

I have now read all three books in this series and I think this was the best of the three. Yes Greta is quite anxious at times, but she is in a stressful job, trying to navigate dating disasters and trying to find love. It's probably understandable. You'll notice that I haven't mentioned much about who Greta ends up with, and that is deliberate, not because he's not a lovely hero, and that it isn't relatively obvious where things are going, but I don't want to spoil too much.

If you follow Sandy Barker on socials you might be aware that she is currently travelling around the world, writing as she goes. I can't wait to see how some of the locations she is visiting find themselves in future books. There are a lot of different locations portrayed through her previous books! Whatever comes next, I am looking forward to it.

Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog

Rating 4.5/5

Greta has it all, good friends, great career-the only thing missing is someone to share it with. Her boss and friend decides to help her find some love in her life secretly enlists the help of the Ever After Agency to find Greta a partner for life. They use Greta’s position as features editor at a women’s magazine as a cover for Poppy coming to the magazine-she”ll help Greta write a column by setting her up on dates not knowing that they’re for real

However, each time Greta goes through with another disasterous date, it leaves her disheartened, especially when she goes out with Mr. Perfect on Paper and he turns out to be a dud. What she doesn’t realize is that her perfect man may be right there in front of her, if she will only realize it before it’s too late.
This was a great blend of humor, romance and original heartfelt moments. It was lighthearted and charming and easy to read in one sitting. An interesting look at dating in the modern world (and boy am I glad I’m not stuck doing that!)
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Thank you so much netgalley,publishers and Sandy Barker for an advanced copy of The One that I Want, I absolutely loved reading this book. I loved the whole concept of the story, it was a lighthearted and funny read. Some fabulous and likeable characters and I really loved the friendship and bond between Greta and Tiggy. A must read in my opinion.

The whole story’s quite fast paced, and I found it a real page turner as I really wanted to see what path Greta chose – and whether she’d manage (with Poppy’s help) to remove the obstacles along the way. The romance, when it came, was all I wanted it to be – with an electric charge I could really feel (and he is rather gorgeous!). But I must mention the writing, because I’m such a fan of the author’s style and presentation – there’s plenty of emotion, but a lot of humour too, especially the witty one-liners that she does so very well and that always catch me by surprise (and often make me laugh out loud…). I’ll admit that the contemporary references to How to Lose a Guy… and Thirteen Going on Thirty did rather pass me by (hey, I’m getting on a bit…), but it didn’t matter a jot – this was a story I really loved, and very much enjoyed. Do pick it up as a standalone read – it’d work just fine – but I suspect you’ll find yourself wanting to pick up the rest of the series. I’m just looking forward to the next book – this was the best yet, and that one might be even better!

Another fantastic book in the Ever After Agency series, this one is such an entertaining read. It features characters from earlier books as well as new ones. Greta is a magazine editor launching an online version of a successful magazine. Career-driven, Greta's romantic life is nonexistent, and lately, she wonders if she has left it too late to find the one. Poppy, a matchmaker at the clandestine dating agency tasked with finding a match for Greta through an unconventional referral, finds this case fraught with complications, providing the reader with many laugh-out-loud moments. I like the vibrant characters, the gentle romance and the many twists that keep you turning the pages. It's a lovely romantic story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This was an enjoyable and entertaining read, my favourite one of their series actually!
I loved the concept of the story, using the magazine as a means for Poppy to sneak in to arrange the match making for Greta.
Greta is an amazing character, extremely likeable and not without some realistic dating issues. I particularly enjoyed her dud dating experiences!
Ewan was so so adorable! I instantly loved him, his gentle humour and sweet personality made him stand out as a character. It was such a pleasure to see Greta becoming friends with him.
Lots of amusing moments kept the story moving along, and I’m sure this book series would make an excellent tv series too!
A wonderful gentle story that was filled with charismatic characters, I’d love a friend like Tiggy or Poppy!
Such a sweet romantic comedy type story, quite reminiscent of a 90s chick flick, something I adored indulging in back in the day!

I love the whole concept of the Ever After Agency – a matchmaker service for top-end clients, found only by personal referral, maintaining a level of secrecy about its operations. If you’ve read the other books in this series (and it really isn’t compulsory) you’ll already have met star matchmaker Poppy – a former psychologist, an Australian living in London, now happily settled in a new relationship (and with a diva cat called Saffy… I think she’d be furious if she didn’t get a mention).

Her client this time is Greta – the particularly driven editor of a new on-line magazine, who’s rather neglected her personal life while focused on climbing the career ladder. It’s her boss Anjali who makes the introduction, but with some smoke and mirrors – an agony aunt column to be written by Poppy, a potential series on disastrous dates for the magazine – to keep Greta in the dark (and that doesn’t last very long). She really would like to find love – and that’d make best friend Tiggy very happy too – but needs to go through a few difficult meet-ups with unsuitable men before she can meet the Agency’s first choice, and he certainly looks like he might be “The One”. But it’s all further complicated by her growing friendship with the lovely Ewan after a chance encounter in the coffee shop – and the possibility that he might just be becoming more than just a casual friend.

There’s a great deal more to the story – told from the perspectives of both Greta and matchmaker Poppy – with a few family issues, a bit of corporate skullduggery, the involvement of (the quite wonderful) on-call investigator Marie, and quite a few unexpected complications on the path to true love and happiness. I just loved their individual voices, and the glimpses into their lives when they’re not on show – Greta’s friendship with Tiggy, with her rather different take on relationships, was something particularly special (I might just have mentioned before how beautifully the author always captures female friendships). And Greta really needs her support and common sense, particularly her words of wisdom after a few too many shared glasses of wine (she’s hilarious!) – for a woman in a pressurised and high profile job, she certainly has her insecurities. The rest of the supporting cast is really well-drawn too, with the most fascinating dynamics in their respective workplaces: and I really must mention gorgeous George, Poppy’s second, addicted to the celebrity world (and who can fail to love a man who wears fluffy bumblebee cufflinks?).

The whole story’s quite fast paced, and I found it a real page turner as I really wanted to see what path Greta chose – and whether she’d manage (with Poppy’s help) to remove the obstacles along the way. The romance, when it came, was all I wanted it to be – with an electric charge I could really feel (and he is rather gorgeous!). But I must mention the writing, because I’m such a fan of the author’s style and presentation – there’s plenty of emotion, but a lot of humour too, especially the witty one-liners that she does so very well and that always catch me by surprise (and often make me laugh out loud…). I’ll admit that the contemporary references to How to Lose a Guy… and Thirteen Going on Thirty did rather pass me by (hey, I’m getting on a bit…), but it didn’t matter a jot – this was a story I really loved, and very much enjoyed. Do pick it up as a standalone read – it’d work just fine – but I suspect you’ll find yourself wanting to pick up the rest of the series. I’m just looking forward to the next book – this was the best yet, and that one might be even better!