It’s Publication Day and it’s my turn on the BlogTour The First Date by Zara Stoneley.
About the Author
Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date. Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true.
She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say ‘ahhh’.
Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.
Zara’s bestselling novels include ‘Bridesmaids’, ‘No One Cancels Christmas’, ‘The Wedding Date’, ‘The Holiday Swap’, ‘Summer with the Country Village Vet’, ‘Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage’ and the popular Tippermere series – ‘Stable Mates’, ‘Country Affairs’ and ‘Country Rivals’.
Follow @ZaraStoneley @HarperImpulse on Twitter, on Goodreads, on YouTube, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Amazon, Visit zarastoneley.com, Buy The First Date
About the book
Right place. Right time.Wrong guy …
After breaking up with her childhood sweetheart, clueless dater Rosie has found herself in a boyfriend-drought. So when she finally swipes right on a guy who seems interested, she can’t wait to meet up IRL.
Until she’s left standing alone. In a bar. Ghosted.
Enter Noah. Confident, funny … and a serial first dater. Offering to give Rosie a crash course in seduction, this could be just what she needs. Until her matchmaker turns out to be the best date she’s ever had – and Rosie wonders if she wants the fake dates to be the real ones after all …
Review
First of all a quick nod to the third party in this couple. Hugo is an adorably chaotic addition to this fast-paced, witty and often loose-tongued romcom. He deserves a little bit of recognition.
When Rosie is waiting for a date she is filled with anxiety and the fear of rejection. She tends to say the wrong thing or just get tongue-tied. Somehow being single and having to play the field isn’t all it’s cut out to be. Being dumped by her previous partner has really left a huge dent in her confidence.
The last thing she expects to encounter is a dating expert who is willing to teach her the ropes in man-catching, and she really isn’t prepared to find him both annoying and irresistible at the same time.
It’s a witty and energetic romcom, which is no surprise because it is trademark Stoneley style. She really knows how to grab the most realistic element of relationships, love and heartache and run with it. Then all of those things are combined with a pitch perfect sense of humour.
Those of us who remember the olden days, before mobile phones, Tinder and internet dating probably feel bad for 21st century daters. It might look so much easier, faster and there are so many people to choose from. But it isn’t. Nowadays it’s easy to judge, reject and go on to the next without a thought to the person they have just rejected or ghosted. Old-school meant having to really getting to know someone face-to-face.
Once again the author manages to create a delightful and entertaining read.
Buy The First Date at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: One More Chapter; pub date 24 April 2020. Buy at Amazon com.
Read my review of Bridesmaids and No One Cancels Christmas by Zara Stoneley.
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