What do You think about Thinking Of You (2007)?
I finished this book in half a day, and it was SO worth the read. Jill Mansell does it again for me, and I am so glad I trusted my instincts with her and bought 6 more of her books all at once! This is only my second, and I'm so pleased.It had just the right ingredients blended together perfectly, it was utterly delightful. It made me laugh in all the right places, cringe in all the right places, gasp in all the right places, and get mad in all the right places.The characters were very well-rounded, and very close to heart and more importantly, very realistic. I could imagine them existing and imagine all the events happening like it were a film I was remembering. Yes, there were a few parts where I was like "come oooon", but looking at it from Mansell's point of view, I'm sure she thought it was a hoot to give it that twist. Like the time Finn gave the flowers sent to him by an admirer to a birthday girl, and she JUST happened to be the sister of said admirer!That being said, everything about the book was enjoyable, and even though I expected Ginny to get slightly irritating at one point, that didn't happen at all. Looking at Ginny's relationship with her daughter Jem and how much she tried to hold herself back to give her daughter the independency she needed made me get irritated with Jem instead, and then it reminded me of my relationship with my own mum, and I instantly felt guilty for all the times I got annoyed when my mum visited too often or called too often when I was in uni!I really enjoy Mansell's style of writing, and the humour and wit that fill the dialogues between characters. When Ginny was trying to act nonchalant about Finn getting back with his ex-fiancee and gave the sex vs. food analogy, I could not contain myself from laughing out loud, "Sleeping with someone doesn't have to mean anything. It doesn't automatically follow that you want to keep on seeing that person. Like last week I had a really great Chinese meal, king prawns, mushroom chop suey and a spring roll. But it didn't make me think I had to sell my house, jump on the next plane and go and live in China."Or when Laurel finally gets over her ex and Ginny discovers that "love wasn't only blind. It had a peg-on-your-nose effect as well." And that's just to mention a couple of lines that were absolutely priceless.Suffice it to say, I'm definitely on a roll here with Jill Mansell, and I'm very happy with my find.
—Suad Shamma
I love Mansell for vacation reading, but I have a hard time finding her books. She is not perhaps strictly speaking chick-lit, as her heroines are on the older side (this one is 38 with a teenaged daughter), but she focusses on female issues. This mom is fighting to restrin her helicopter-parent urges as her saughter sets off for university. A bit dowdy herself, she has a fit and fabulous single best friend, a ne-er-do-well ex, and encounters varous other characters during the course of the book. A wonderful sense of Cornall and environs.
—Sharon
You can't help but love & identify with the main character, Ginny, in this book. She's a loving mother, a loyal friend, and has been burned by her ex. With her daughter Jem off to university, she needs more of a distraction than her slightly slutty friend & neighbor to keep her busy. She ends up with a job working for one of the last people on earth she thought would hire her--thank God he's good-looking!She also decides to rent a room out in her house. This leads to a chance meeting with what could be the love of her life, Perry. Too bad her housemate turns out to be his lovelorn, depressed sister. She too has a redeeming quality at least--she bakes delicious cakes!There's a lot happening in this book to entertain. Gavin (Ginny's obnoxious ex) is hilarious--I was totally picturing Bill Nighy the whole time & cracking up! He is blunt and to the point, but with good intentions.Along with Gavin & other funny moments, this story also contains heartbreak & betrayal. It turns out that all of the characters in this book are affected by love and where the stories go will constantly surprise you. I don't want to give too much away, but I did love this quote from page 203 which refers to being betrayed by a friend with regards to love, ""with men, sooner or later you kind of deep down expected it."" You will not be expecting some of twists & turns Mansell throws in, but you will not be disappointed with how it all ends up!Great book, I highly recommend it! And if it ever becomes a movie, don't forget Bill Nighy! Now who would play Finn....Reviewed by Joelle for Cocktails and Books
—Cocktails and Books
