Zoe and Greg Milton have let themselves go a bit over the years, with their self esteem falling as their waistlines have grown. When Zoe's friend, radZoe and Greg Milton have let themselves go a bit over the years, with their self esteem falling as their waistlines have grown. When Zoe's friend, radio DJ Elise, tells her about a competition the radio station are running it seems like their perfect opportunity to change things. Fat Chance will pit six couples against each other in a weightloss challenge, with the winners walking away with £50,000. The only drawback is they will have to share their journey with the radio audience.
I've read a few of Nick Spalding's books in recent years and generally find them to be entertaining and give me a bit of a giggle. They're ones I turn to when I need something easy and uplifting to read, and a way to break up the darker reads that tend to make up a lot of my reading list! This one was as expected and certainly made me chuckle. The only thing that I would say is that it's very evident from the language used that it was written 10 years ago, with some of the stereotypes and cliches used.
Greg and Zoe were brilliant lead characters. They have a strong relationship and it was refreshing to read about a couple supporting each other through something like this, rather than taking their frustrations out on each other. Both characters are immensley likeable, and believable in that they weren't without flaws.
Personally I found this a humerous look at how we judge ourselves and others based on their weight, even though we all know that we shouldn't. It hits the nail on the head in a lot of places, and I caught myself recognising some of the thought processes that Zoe and Greg went through in myself. Yes it's predictable in a lot of places, but I wasn't reading it for surprises I was reading it for the humour which was on point....more
Hayley Daley and her brother Dan had no idea that their Grandma owned a Victorian farmhouse until they inherit it. Unsurprisingly since nobody knew itHayley Daley and her brother Dan had no idea that their Grandma owned a Victorian farmhouse until they inherit it. Unsurprisingly since nobody knew it existed the place is almost derelict when they go to see it, but Hayley knows that with a few renovations they can make place look fantastic and sell it for a fortune. Unfortunately for the Daley siblings neither of them know what they are getting in to.
This was a breezy holiday read for me, the perfect thing to pick up for a relaxing evening and plenty of laughs along the way.
I've read a few of Nick Spalding's books in recent times, and have enjoyed all of them. He has a pretty well tried and tested format of taking a scenario that lots of people would be familiar with, and showcasing some of the most ridiculous problems and pitfalls that people encounter. It always makes for an entertaining outcome.
Hayley and Dan are both relatable characters, and their sibling relationship reminded me of mine and my brother's - we're very close but drive each other up the wall sometimes! Although these two are the main focus and chapters alternate between their viewpoints, there's a selection of fantastic supporting characters too. There's the fashion casualty architect, the rough and ready builder and a strangely receptive cow to name a few.
This was another enjoyable read from Nick Spalding, an author I'll keep looking out for....more
When Andy Bellows starts suffering from severe neck pain and throbbing headaches, and has a panic attack, on top of insomnia and irritable bowel syndrWhen Andy Bellows starts suffering from severe neck pain and throbbing headaches, and has a panic attack, on top of insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome, he knows he needs to do something. When google and multiple medical forums can't help he finally relents and visits a doctor. The diagnosis isn't good - Andy is spending too much time online, across various devices. He has an addiction to technology, and it is making him ill. The doctor prescribes a sixty day detox, but can Andy break the grip of the addiction?
This is the third book I've read by Nick Spalding, so I sort of know what to expect with them now. In this one our main character Andy is plagued with an addiction to technology and spends all of his time online. Whilst Andy does seem to be on the more extreme end of the scale for tech and internet use, the concept of spending too much time online is one we're probably all guilty of at times. It was interesting to see Spalding's take on this, and see how he highlighted ways in which we've come to rely on technology without even thinking about it.
I liked Andy Bellows. Although he is a bit hapless and has a tendency to get himself into some bizarre and sticky situations, he's not entirely feckless. You can see how he ends up in the messes he gets into, and if I'm being honest I could almost see myself falling into some of the same traps. His encounter with Henrietta is one I could definitely imagine happening to me. I seem to have a knack for attracting some interesting characters to talk to!
There's a lot of humour in the book, and I found it funnier because of its believability. It is a bit predictable at times, both in the unfolding of events and in the ending, but generally I don't read these sorts of books for surprises. There is a clever link in here to Dumped, Actually, which was the last book I read by this author. It won't matter or spoil anything if you haven't read it, but if you have it's a nice touch.
I thought Nick Spalding did a great job of pointing out some of the pitfalls of online life, whilst also showing some of the advantages the online world gives us. There's an overwhelming feel good factor to the book, and although there is a message in there it doesn't come across as preaching....more
Kate and Scott have always enjoyed a drink, throughout their marriage. Recently though, the drinking has started to get out of hand. Finally their dKate and Scott have always enjoyed a drink, throughout their marriage. Recently though, the drinking has started to get out of hand. Finally their daughter Holly has had enough. She takes an embarrassing video of her parents whilst drunk and uploads it to YouTube. This sparks the start of #dryhard, where Holly and her parents chronicle their struggle to quit alcohol on social media. Can they overcome their struggles, save their marriage and their family and move towards a happier future?
I really enjoyed reading this, it was just what I needed after a few heavier or more serious books. This actually did make me laugh out loud whilst reading, which almost never happens. I enjoyed it so much I read it in a day!
I really liked the three main characters. The family was fully believable, and I can imagine many households going through similar struggles to the Temples. I liked that the author showed the characters' flaws, and also showed the silly situations alcohol put them in, without making them ridiculous or caricature like.
The novel moves quickly, keeping the plot going and keeping readers interested. I thought it was quite an original idea, and the idea of drinking too much is something that a lot of people would be familiar with. It even made me question my own drinking habits (I decided I don't need to worry too much just yet haha!)
A really enjoyable read, it's funny, engaging and heartwarming in all the right amounts. I definitely recommend it, particularly if you're looking for a lighthearted read that still has substance to it. I'll also be likely to go read more of Spalding's back catalogue too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review...more
