Great novel, full of love and set against a vivid backdrop of real-life events. Would recommend for fans of David Nicholls.

Consider Yourself Kissed, truly is a remarkable journey through love and self-discovery. It expertly navigates the bittersweet realities of adulthood, capturing the essence of personal growth amidst the complexities of relationships. The interplay between humor and poignancy is masterfully done, allowing Coralie’s reflections on her life to resonate deeply. It's a reminder that while we may find joy in our relationships, we also face the inevitable changes that come with time. The book left me feeling entertained and contemplative, illustrating the intricate dance between our personal lives and the broader world around us. If you're seeking a story that balances charm with insightful life lessons, this one is definitely worth your time!

A very readable story about love, families, children and how life creeps up on you without you noticing. Coralie meets divorced dad and his gorgeous 4 year old daughter Zora when she moves from Australia to London. She and Adam begin a relationship, falling deeply in love; they can't bear to be apart from one another and know that this is the love that they have been waiting for. Adam and his ex-wife Marina parent Zora amicably, she is shared between the two households in a fair and adult way, there's no acrimony.

As first Marina and then Coralie have their own children, the dynamics change. Coralie knew that Adam was a political commentator and writer but the politics change so rapidly that he never has time to complete one piece of work before beginning the next. In the background, Coralie keeps the wheels turning, looking after the children, keeping the house- and you can feel her animosity growing, and also her sense that she shouldn't grumble, this is what she signed up for. There are also the demands that older generations bring, and the differing attitudes to parenting-the scenes when Coralie's father visits from Australia are excruciating in their old-school approach to child-rearing.

Its a common situation, and I could utterly empathise with Coralie's frustrations and lack of agency, managing the endless pressures that family life and marriage bring, never giving anyone time to stop and take stock.

How much trends in the publishing industry have changed in the last decade. There was a time when authors giving their characters a lot of backstory was a huge 'no-no'. I can no longer count the number of novels I've read in recent years in which backstory makes up the bulk of the narrative. Consider Yourself Kissed, by Jessica Stanley is a case in point. Instead of focusing on fleshing out the characters and making them come alive on the page in the present, a potentially entertaining meet-cute tale is spoiled (ie. made dry and tedious to read) by containing roughly seventy percent of irrelevant backstory.

This novel is hard to rate. There are a lot of characters — arguably too many — and none of them, including the two main characters, very likeable or rounded.

Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.

This isn’t just a good debut it’s a really great book. Not my usual read at all but I found myself really absorbed in the story. The writing is superb and the representation of real life is second to none. It made me think about my own actions and how they might impact my wife and new family, and how I can be a better person to make her feel more than “just mum”. The ending was excellent and this will definitely be one to watch next year!

I thought this book was fascinating and I read the entire book in a day (train delays!), it’s incredibly hard to really describe what it’s about other than to say it’s about Coralie and her life. She could be any of us, the detail was fascinating, the ebb and flow of her relationships- with her brother, her dad, Adam, Zora. It was all throughly engrossing and very authentic. To have all been so recent and so within my memory was also Intriguing. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend

I love a long beautiful love story especially one that spreads across a long span of time. You really get to know the characters. I highly enjoyed this one!