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christi_trevi's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
c_dmckinney's review against another edition
It's a perfectly lovely book but it is just not keeping my attention.
pepperpots's review
3.0
The main story in Falling For You revolves around Maddy and Kerr and the tragic reason why they cannot be together. As with most Jill Mansell novels there are plenty of side stories that involve people that the 2 principal characters know.
Overall, an enjoyable and easy read. While the story wasn’t exactly unpredictable there were a few moments when I wasn’t sure how something was going to happen. I am not sure if I could pick a favourite character – most were likeable enough and those that weren’t often redeemed themselves towards the end. I really liked the storyline involving Kate and her struggling to accept how she looks and gaining her confidence back. I also liked how she stood up to Dexter because it frustrated the hell out of me when xxx wouldn’t.
The main criticism I have, and this is one I tend to have with JM novels, is the pace of the novel. Serious situations/developments seem to happen too quickly that it’s hard to suspend belief. I sometimes wish that she would flesh out certain aspects of a plot just to make it seem a little more believable. That being said, I will read another of her novels because the negatives are easily overlooked.
Overall, an enjoyable and easy read. While the story wasn’t exactly unpredictable there were a few moments when I wasn’t sure how something was going to happen. I am not sure if I could pick a favourite character – most were likeable enough and those that weren’t often redeemed themselves towards the end. I really liked the storyline involving Kate and her struggling to accept how she looks and gaining her confidence back. I also liked how she stood up to Dexter because it frustrated the hell out of me when xxx wouldn’t.
The main criticism I have, and this is one I tend to have with JM novels, is the pace of the novel. Serious situations/developments seem to happen too quickly that it’s hard to suspend belief. I sometimes wish that she would flesh out certain aspects of a plot just to make it seem a little more believable. That being said, I will read another of her novels because the negatives are easily overlooked.
obsidian_blue's review against another edition
1.0
This will be short. This book is terrible.
The characters are not redeeming except for two of them (Maddy and Kerr) and if the book had stayed on just Maddy and Kerry I would have liked it more. Instead we have male characters calling female characters fat, ugly, and all kinds of crap. We get some ridiculousness when one character treats a woman separate from his girlfriend with respect (that is how you know he cares about her) and the constant bed hopping though people claimed to be in love with someone was it.
Usually Mansell can juggle multiple story-lines, she can't in this one. And I am realizing that most of her books follow the same formula and it's getting old. We usually get a woman who is in her 40s and widowed (Maddy's mother) a woman who can't seem to find a boyfriend or has a terrible one (Maddy's best friend) and then just random characters that flit in and out of the story.
I didn't take any pleasure in the writing or flow since I just felt annoyed and wanted the book to get over with already. The ending was a big old shrug from me.
The characters are not redeeming except for two of them (Maddy and Kerr) and if the book had stayed on just Maddy and Kerry I would have liked it more. Instead we have male characters calling female characters fat, ugly, and all kinds of crap. We get some ridiculousness when one character treats a woman separate from his girlfriend with respect (that is how you know he cares about her) and the constant bed hopping though people claimed to be in love with someone was it.
Usually Mansell can juggle multiple story-lines, she can't in this one. And I am realizing that most of her books follow the same formula and it's getting old. We usually get a woman who is in her 40s and widowed (Maddy's mother) a woman who can't seem to find a boyfriend or has a terrible one (Maddy's best friend) and then just random characters that flit in and out of the story.
I didn't take any pleasure in the writing or flow since I just felt annoyed and wanted the book to get over with already. The ending was a big old shrug from me.
velvetsreader's review against another edition
5.0
British chic lit has a hold on me. Keeps me up into the wee hours of the night to finish it.
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
2.0
Prepare for an anedote:
I read this novel quite a few years ago when I was a lot younger and didn't really appreciate this genre yet. At the time I remember really enjoying it - though for the life of me not remembering what it was about - and this fond memory actually led me to continue reading Jill Mansell books when I could actually appreciate.
I did not appreciate this one.
There is a structure to Jill Mansell novels, in which her leading couples aren't really her leading couples. She introduces a pretty, quirky girl and a hot guy in the first chapter and then forgets about them until the last chapter. In the mean time, the lead couple brings about the introduction of all these other hare-brained characters that fill the bulk of the novel.
In "Falling For You" the lead romance was so slap-dash! One chapter they were meeting and the next chapter they were swapping "I Love You's!"
It wasn't as though this was the only issue either, I just couldn't warm to Kerr at all, he was so one dimensional.
The supporting cast were totally unlikeable - Jake was my biggest issue - He was so much of a man-slag, using and abusing everyone, including an emotionally fragile Kate, and yet everyone just went, "Ahhh that's just Jake!"
Then right at the end he says, "Oh all that sleeping around that I did? Oh just forget that, It's because I was in love with you the whole time!"
And then gets the girl.
Give. Me. A. Break.
Marcella was my second gripe. She was portrayed as being a loving and wonderful mother and all-round woman, and yet she put her own emotions and opinions above that of her daughter being happy. And then when Marcella saw how upset Maddy was, she accused her of doing it to make a point! Mother of the Year award!
The rest of the characters either had affairs, thought about having affairs, knew about other people having affairs or just gossiped about the on-going affairs.
Long rant, short... I didn' like it much!
I read this novel quite a few years ago when I was a lot younger and didn't really appreciate this genre yet. At the time I remember really enjoying it - though for the life of me not remembering what it was about - and this fond memory actually led me to continue reading Jill Mansell books when I could actually appreciate.
I did not appreciate this one.
There is a structure to Jill Mansell novels, in which her leading couples aren't really her leading couples. She introduces a pretty, quirky girl and a hot guy in the first chapter and then forgets about them until the last chapter. In the mean time, the lead couple brings about the introduction of all these other hare-brained characters that fill the bulk of the novel.
In "Falling For You" the lead romance was so slap-dash! One chapter they were meeting and the next chapter they were swapping "I Love You's!"
It wasn't as though this was the only issue either, I just couldn't warm to Kerr at all, he was so one dimensional.
The supporting cast were totally unlikeable - Jake was my biggest issue - He was so much of a man-slag, using and abusing everyone, including an emotionally fragile Kate, and yet everyone just went, "Ahhh that's just Jake!"
Then right at the end he says, "Oh all that sleeping around that I did? Oh just forget that, It's because I was in love with you the whole time!"
And then gets the girl.
Give. Me. A. Break.
Marcella was my second gripe. She was portrayed as being a loving and wonderful mother and all-round woman, and yet she put her own emotions and opinions above that of her daughter being happy. And then when Marcella saw how upset Maddy was, she accused her of doing it to make a point! Mother of the Year award!
The rest of the characters either had affairs, thought about having affairs, knew about other people having affairs or just gossiped about the on-going affairs.
Long rant, short... I didn' like it much!
maravoortman's review against another edition
3.0
I did NOT like the fact that multiple people (and even a dog) are called fat, which is def not OK & not adding to a description of someone & absolutely not necessary. Despite that, I liked the multiple storylines in this book. Done well by Jill, as usual.
carlacbarroso's review against another edition
3.0
Funny, lighthearted, exactly what I was craving for. The main protagonist wasn't has interesting as I hoped so but Kate and Nuala made up for that. And Norris, I want a dog just like Norris. :D
lectorliber04's review against another edition
5.0
I'm going to repeat myself but I love Ms. Mansell's characters. They are as 'real' as they can be in a romance novel and the plots are funny and different. Race, disfigurement, alcoholism, mixed race relationships and of course love were covered in Falling for you.