Cover Image: Punch-Drunk Love

Punch-Drunk Love

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Member Reviews

Easy read – it was OK, a bit predictable, woman is a man’s world etc. etc.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

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This is the first book that I have read by Pernille Hughes and I didn’t really like it but I would try to read another by this author. The story & characters did not captivated me. I lost interest in their story.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

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Unfortunately I was unable to get in to this story and had to put it down, however, I'm sure it is a highly loved book and appreciated by the right readers.

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A wonderful read with charming characters and an engaging plot!! I look forward to reading more by this author.

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Okay, so this another book that I read more than 2 years ago, but apparently forgot to review. I read it at the airport waiting for a flight back home, and boy did I enjoy it. Tiff was a hilarious main character, one that I found myself rooting for, and the relationship between her and Mike was one I really enjoyed. It was cute and just cheesy enough to be adorable, without being corny or over the top, with both main characters developing very beautifully, both as individuals and as a couple. Overall, a very enjoyable book, one that I would have perhaps enjoyed more now that I am boxing myself. Oh well.

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I absolutely adore a "dumped rather than engaged" story so that was a real plus for me here. I love seeing the dumpee turn their fortunes around, and I really warmed to Tiffanie so much. If only I had half of her determination to work out!

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I can’t believe I waited so long to read this book. I adore Rom-Coms and this book was right up my street and had everything I loved included. I really liked the characters and I can’t wait to read more from this author soon.

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I was excited to read this since it was recommended for fans of Sally Thorne but I just couldn’t get into it. It lacked the cheeky humor that made Sally Thorne’s writing so compelling. I also didn’t connect with any of the characters and eventually lost interest.

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I can't believe I let this book slip through my fingers for so long. I have been keen to read it from the moment it was announced, and having now finally devoured it, I can see my instincts were spot on. I loved this book.

Tiffanie is fabulous, I can't understand why she was ever with Gavin though, the initial chapter where he's breaking up with her on their 10th Anniversary shows just what a knob he really is, and when you read it, you will see just why I think that!

I loved that Tiffanie was unexpectedly inheriting a boxing club, despite no interest in the sport, but when you start hearing her ideas, I couldn't help but be in awe so long as she could pull them off.

Nothing is plain sailing, there is another ex-boyfriend at centre stage, someone else who clearly has a grudge against her, a boxing trainer who is a chauvinistic pig, but thankfully Tiff has the support of her friends to boost her confidence and start to build something really special.

There are plenty of laughs to be had in this, as well as some action, plus plenty of fitness scenes and classes which all sounded painfully fun, but I'm still not going to give them a go myself!

I loved this fun debut novel and really looking forward already to Pernille Hughes' next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

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A book about having the courage to step out of your comfort zone with a little help from your friends.
I love the feeling of finishing a book that you have enjoyed. Often there is a little bit of adrenaline but also a deep contentedness. For me, Sweatpants at Tiffanie's evoked this feeling. It was a good read and it made me smile.

The story was fun and drew me in but at the same time made me reflect a little on my own life.

For over twelve years my job has been to manage the Walker household. It is a role I feel secure and comfortable in. I know I'm good at it but now the kids are older, I do occasionally see job vacancies and wonder whether I should apply for them.

Doubts quickly surface though because it is much simpler to stick with what you know rather than striking out and believing in your own abilities. It is daunting to step outside of your safe zone.

For this reason, although Tiffanie's situation is very different to mine, I quickly felt a certain affinity with her. She was dealt a bad hand by her parents, which has prompted her to settle for routine and security in the form of a smarmy and domineering boyfriend. She lacks self-confidence but feels she is jogging along fairly happily.

All this changes when she inherits a boxing club where she has worked as a bookkeeper for many years. She knows nothing of boxing or even fitness. She definitely isn't part of the lycra brigade. Plenty of people, assuming she will make a mess of the club, offer her an easy way out. They make it very clear that she will fall flat on her face if she tries to run it herself.

Tiffanie is full of self-doubt and often shaken by confrontation both with the doubters, and with those who just mean her harm. She wants to grasp this new opportunity but is scared. Luckily though she has a few good friends and an ex-boyfriend who encourage her to dream big.

For anyone who has a challenge to face, and isn't sure if they can do it, this book is for you.

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This cute and charming book attempts to catch the spirit of the more popular culture version of Audrey Hepburn's version of the classic novelette. However, it fails to capture some of the deeper intricacies of Capote's original work-- which is fine, because the plot doesn't call for it.

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This was a decent enough story. It had a not-quite-standard plot and it kept my interest enough to keep reading, but that’s about it.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

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I’m not really sure what I expected when I picked up this book but what I found was a book filled with warmth, humour and a dash of romance.

I loved how Tiffanie’s character grew right from the shaky beginning where her life as she knew it fell apart to her growing in confidence. All of this easily made me root for her even more. Now Tiffanie’s character wasn’t completely perfect and I have to say I did shake my head at her over a few decisions but for me that made her seem more real. Mike and Tiffanie, well what can I say I loved seeing them meet again after so much time had passed. From their fiery first meeting to a tentative friendship being rebuilt. Then add in a chemistry that begins to build with sparks starting to fly and you get a heartwarming extra special touch.

There are some fun characters who all bring something to the story but a special mention has to go to Shelby! Basically she has no filter and speaks her mind along with coming out with some brilliant one liners. Shelby reminded me of Samantha from Sex and the City and brought a lot of fun to the story.

There is a little bit of everything in this story from friendships, drama and giggles. Sweatpants at Tiffanie’s has a lot of heart and it all combined to create a vibrant and very entertaining story!

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This was a great story with great characters. It flowed nicely without rushing the story. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author! Read it and you won't regret the time spent.

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Tiffanie Trent is not having a great week. Gavin, her boyfriend, has dumped her unceremoniously on their tenth anniversary, leaving her heartbroken and homeless.
This was a decent enough story. It had a not-quite-standard plot and it kept my interest enough to keep reading, but that’s about it.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

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Sweatpants at Tiffanie's is the perfect sweet cute romance. Basically, if you like romcoms, you will enjoy this book. I enjoyed it because I love romcoms, and it's a light fun read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

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Not for me I am afraid, too fluffy! I am sure if you like chick lit you will find it a worthwhile read!

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This book contains an entertaining tale of Tiffanie's trials and tribulations. The back and forth quips between the characters makes this fit for a movie or romcom tv show. At the start, Tiffanie is faced with a surprising breakup at a restaurant where she and her boyfriend had their first date. She was hoping for a future, but he saw the end. This author takes you on a journey where you love certain characters and despise some others. Hard to put down and very amusing.

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The ending was pretty good but I cannot say the same about the beginning. The story starts with Tiffanie and Gavin on a dinner date at her favorite restaurant. Gavin ends his relationship with Tiffanie in her favorite restaurant on their tenth anniversary. The reason he gives for the breakup is annoying all right! "You have reached someplace high while I am still trying to climb" - the reason for the breakup!

Tiffanie is the same old sweet little girl who still believes in unicorns and second chances. She's ready to do whatever it takes to get back with Gavin. They even have breakup sex. Tiffanie thinks that doing it one last time is going to mend their relationship. The next morning she finds a note by her pillow and it says "we ended it with a bang!" What an ass!

Broken and helpless, Tiffanie goes to her bookkeeping job at Blackie's gym. Blackie's talking to her one moment and two hours later, when Tiff asks him if he wants a cup of tea, he doesn't respond. The old man is dead! After the funeral and will reading, Tiff learns that Blackie has given the gym and his money to Tiff. Aaron, Blackie's stepson is not happy with this decision. Ron, the coach at the gym isn't happy either. Both men warn and gaslight Tiff saying that she doesn't deserve to be the rightful owner of the gym. To add to her voes, Gavin comes over and says that she's reached her limit and she has to sell off the building and go elsewhere, after all, she's good for nothing.

Shelby is portrayed as a sex minx. She's slept with anyone and everyone in the town. Natalie has her own issues - childless and a husband who's cheated on her once. Though Tiff's been portrayed as a weakling, in the beginning, I liked her transformation in the second half of the book. She stood up to those who belittled her. She gave it back to those who thought they could mold her and manipulate her according to their choice.

All's well that ends well. There was a twist just before the end and it made the story interesting. Overall, the story is pretty good. Maybe inspiring too, to all those who don't believe in second chances or "whatever happens, happens for good." Tiff's transformation is a proof of just that.

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***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, HarperImpulse and Pernille Hughes.**

Sweatpants at Tiffanie’s, by Pernille Hughes, was a lovely read. Instead of a ring on her tenth anniversary, Tiffanie gets dumped and kicked out of the apartment she shares with her now ex-boyfriend. That same week, Frank Black, one of her favourite clients, passes away. As if that wasn’t enough, her first love Mike shows up at Blackie’s funeral and then she finds out she’s inherited the gym. Naturally her head is spinning. She’s determined to pick herself up, dust herself off, and make a success of the gym, despite the resistance she faces.

I loved Tiffanie. What a kickass woman she was. She never gave up, never let anyone scare her. She always treated people fairly and tried hard to be thoughtful. At the beginning she was so wishy washy. I felt like Gavin, her ex, walked all over her and it drove me mad! But by the end though, wow! Her character growth was absolutely amazing. I adored Mike as well. In fact, I wish there’d been a little more of him in the book. It kind of goes without saying that I hated Ron and Gavin. Ron was such an ungrateful backstabber and Gavin was a complete slime ball. I loved the change in Natalie, though I could take or leave Shelby. I felt as though I didn’t really get to know her.

The writing was great. I thought the way Hughes wrote the break in and the almost break-up was absolutely perfect. There was great chemistry between Mike and Tiffanie, and the relationship had a delightful slow burn. This was a great second chance romance with lots of humour to temper the more serious things. Overall, it was a lovely read!

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