In her forties with a divorce behind her, Hattie is resigned to just keeping on keeping on. She makes enough from her dog-walking business to get by, and enjoys time with her son Fin. However, he’s a teen now and increasingly independent. Her mother is determined to get Hattie to remarry and is doing all she can to push a certain man her way so Hattie prefers to avoid her. Fortunately she has a good friend Jo, and it’s when she’s out buying korma for a girls night in with Jo that something life-changing happens in the baked beans aisle…
This is a very clever and upbeat novel. The fantasy element works really well amidst the very realistic setting of the rest of the story. The point of this experience is to allow Hattie to learn three things: trust, believe the unbelievable and fall in love. She’s quick to catch on to the first two – as are we readers with regards to the author and this story – but that last one might prove to be too much for jaded Hattie. She has to revisit key moments in her life to see if there’s hope for her future. I think we’d all cringe if we had to go back to those times we’re much happier to forget about so we can sympathise with our likeable heroine as she faces this ordeal. Mind you, she’s getting guidance and support from the handsome Josh, so it’s not all bad news by a long shot.
The characters we meet are varied, fun and fascinating. And in a few cases cautionary – I’m now determined not to turn into Hattie’s mother, even though, like every mum, would love to see their children happily settled!
The plot, simple but very effective, works extremely well, with plenty of humour to keep it lively.
In summary, this is an extremely enjoyable feel-good read and divine romantic comedy!

What a fun read this was!
I read this when I had a stinking cold and was feeling very sorry for myself and it was perfect for cheering me up, making me laugh out loud.
I really liked Hattie and thought she would be a brilliant friend in real life. Her mother was so annoying though, always trying to fix her up with men she really wasn’t interested in. In fact that’s the reason she was in the shop when it all happened.
I loved her time in heaven having a life review with the gorgeous Josh, a Bradley Cooper look alike. Josh helped her deal with moments in her life that she blamed herself for, and had avoided dealing with for years. As well looking at the serious issues they had a lot of fun together nuzzling unicorns, sliding down rainbows and dancing to Staying Alive by the Bee Gees.
If you’re look for a fun book to cosy up to as the nights are drawing in, I definitely recommend this one.

I have read and reviewed a couple of Debbie’s books and I can honestly say that I have loved each and every one. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of ‘The Man You Meet In Heaven’. As soon as I got hold of a copy I started reading it straightaway. Oh blimey this book really was an absolute hoot. I adored it but more about that in a bit.
I couldn’t help but take to Hattie from the start. She is a woman, who split up from her husband after discovering him getting to know one of her friends a bit too well if you get my drift. I have to say that she showed restraint because I would have been tempted to tell everyone about the affair before chasing after him with a pair of rusty and blunt scissors. Anyway enough of me and back to Hattie. She lives at home with her dog, which she got after the split because her husband wouldn’t let her have a dog during the marriage. She also has a son and a well meaning but interfering mother. Her mother tries to be Cilla Black a la Blind Date and line up lots of dates for her with her friends” sons. The way Hattie describes the potential suitors had me chuckling away into my cup of tea and she made them sound so delightful……not. Hattie is strong, she is feisty and she doesn’t feel as though she needs a man. Hattie is the kind of friend I would like to have. She’s there with a shoulder to cry on if needed, she’s loyal, she’s kind, she’s ready to join in with a bitching session and above all she has your back. I couldn’t help but keep my fingers crossed that things worked out for her in the end and she got the happy ever after ending that she so deserved. I certainly began to see her as a friend and there were times when I felt like jumping inside the pages of the book to give her a hug. I bet she would be good fun on a night out.
I was hooked on this book from the moment I picked it up. I picked it up at the right time because I was in desperate need of a distraction. I was in severe discomfort from my chronic back pain and needed to take my mind off it. Well this book was a distraction and a half. The only problem was that I was laughing that much at what I was reading that I ended up in more discomfort than I was before I started reading!! Not to worry though because at least I had fun along the way. Reading ‘The Man You Meet In Heaven’ became an addiction and if I had to put the book down for any reason, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up again. Everything else got pushed to one side and I even managed to get out of taking my dogs for a walk which didn’t go down well as you can imagine. The chapters are relativity short but this encourages you to read more because you think that you can fit another chapter in and then another one and then another one and before you know it you have cleared a sizeable amount of the book but because you are having so much fun you don’t realise just how fast you are reading. This book certainly had a bit of everything for me – drama, silliness but most of all it was one seriously funny, feel good romantic comedy.
To conclude I absolutely blooming well adored this book. I can’t adequately put into words just how good it is. I would definitely recommend this author and her books to other readers. In fact reading one of Debbie’s books will improve your mood more than any tablets can. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

The Man You Meet in Heaven- Debbie Viggiano
Hattie Green has a life, a job and a boyfriend. A life that she would like to be rather more exciting, the same with the job and the boyfriend. She left her husband when she found him in bed with her best friend. When she collides with the baked beans in the supermarket she is transported to a different place and meets Iam- otherwise known as Josh who tells her she has several things to learn to change her life and get the life she deserves. How to live life and forgive herself along the way. Something we all should perhaps take note of. When things go wrong and we take ownership for other peoples misdemeanours. This is one of those books that not only makes you smile but has wise words along the way. I loved the idea of “ essence of rainbow” Pretty much does what it says on the tin. Love it. Riding and nuzzling a unicorn. Hey this is fiction- enjoy it! . this is light romance but most of all, a truly heartwarming novel to make you think about life and leave you with a smile. Something as all need every now and then. A real tonic of a read.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

Wow, what an interesting premise for a story, this was!

Hattie is at the supermarket, doing her own thing, and is knocked out. Next thing she knows, she is chatting with a handsome man who seems to know a LOT about her, and is determined to make her look back at her life - the good, the bad and the ugly.

Such a thinker of a book. If someone took me back to my past and made me look at things in a slightly different way, how would I feel about it all and myself?

This book is impossible to describe but I thought it was very unusual and fascinating at the same time. It certainly provoked a lot of emotion in me; the whole gamut, in fact.

A solid 4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

A funny feel good story....

This book was kind of a mash up of those old George Burns’ movies “Oh God”, and“A Christmas Carol“ kind of the story of the ghosts of boyfriends past... with the part of Shmoop being played by Josh... and I guess then Ebeneezer is played by Hattie, although Hattie has a much better disposition..... having said this I can absolutely see this book as a movie it would translate to the big screen very well!

Hattie has sworn off men after her marriage to a philandering husband ends... it is Valentine’s Day and once again Hattie’s mother wants to set her up... BUT Hattie is saved by the aisle sign.... yes the aisle 3 sign literally falls on her head scattering baked beans and leaving Hattie unconscious... she wakes up to find herself in the “After Life Lounge“ where she meets Josh.... I don’t know about you but if I had to relive my love life, I don’t think I’d be in heaven!

Even though this book had a lighthearted feel about it it did make you question some things about your own life.... would I change anything about my life if I could? In particular my love life? My own answer is a resounding no! Even though I am also divorced, there is a lot I learned from that... but even more importantly I wouldn’t have my kids if I had not married their father.... although it would be interesting and cathartic, just as it was for Hattie to revisit my mistakes in 4-D....

An enjoyable read that will leave you with a smile on your face, recommend to fans of romance and fun!💕

***Thank you so much to Bookouture for my copy***

This is the second book I have read by Debbie Viggiano, the first was one of the funniest I have read this year. I couldn't wait to delve into the life of Hattie Green and Debbie has certainly produced another diamond here.

Hattie takes a bump to the head in the supermarket and wakes up in a place between Heaven and Earth with a gorgeous man standing over her. Dazed and confused by her unfamiliar surroundings Hattie is assured by the man (called Josh) that she has been given the chance to relive her life and decide what she would do differently. She doesn't need to go through this alone because the gorgeous Josh will be by her side along the way.  Additionally, he gives her three life lessons she must learn before returning to Earth.

Hattie has lived through some really difficult times in her forty-two years and at times this was an emotional read. However, the author has a fantastic talent for balancing the darker parts with some real laugh out loud humour. This is certainly a thought-provoking read. It is about forgiveness, acceptance and moving on. The storyline is quite unique which I found so refreshing and the characters are warm, likeable and funny.

For anyone who craves a little escapism, has had a few hard knocks along the way but still firmly believes that love could be just around the corner.

Hattie Green is a single mum who is constantly trying to stop her own mother from setting her up with men. After finding her husband was having an affair with her friend she had sworn off men. When she has an accident in her local supermarket, she finds herself “transported” to heavens halfway house where she meets Josh who is determined to guide her though events in her life in the hope that she will re assess her reactions and decisions made at the time. He tells her she can’t change the past but she can learn to forgive herself for things that happened.
The Man You Meet in Heaven was certainly different and not quite what I expected but in a good way. I have to say that if I was Hattie I would certainly have been a little freaked out that I was halfway to meeting my maker, never mind the fact that there was someone there who could read my thoughts… not the really personal ones but everything else. Would I like the chance to go through things of the past and react to them differently…. honestly I don’t know that I would.
I couldn’t help but like Hattie as she slowly found that by realising that maybe things were not all her fault. A couple of times I found myself chucking especially with her handling of her husband’s infidelity. That’s not to say this book was all sweetness and fun, some elements of Hattie’s past were not quite so easy to read but each time she faced them, Josh was there to help her through them and see that not everything that happened in her life was her fault…
Once I started the book I found I couldn’t stop reading it… I really wanted to know how by just some slight changes to her reactions could make a big difference to Hattie’s life. Despite some of the subjects the author has managed to keep the book quite fast paced and light and the ending although kind of what I expected was not out of place at all. Even some of the parts in the halfway lounge just seemed to fit the whole tone of the book. For the lovers of chic lit this is definitely one to read.

I must say – I wasn’t expecting this!

Hattie has told herself that she would rather be single and with her son, than with a man. However, the people in the clouds didn’t seem to agree with what Hattie had decided, as one minute she was minding her own business in a supermarket, and then the next she was…..well, let’s just say that she was no longer in the supermarket!

At first I wasn’t not taken with the idea of a ‘man in heaven’ and the whole modern day ‘Ghosts of Christmas pasts’…except that it wasn’t Christmas, but I’m sure you catch my drift. I couldn’t help but find it overly bonkers…even for me. However (sorry, put your heart back in your chest), once I stopped thinking how bonkers it was and started to think about the message the author was trying to convey, the storyline and cloud walking started making a lot more sense and, you know what, I ended up having a massive lightbulb moment. I know, it doesn’t happen often (yes, I was as shocked as you!).

Hattie has the chance to look back on her life and view her reactions to situations she found herself in, whilst also trying to rid herself of the demons which have been stuck to her like glue ever since. Again, no spoilers, but several of Hattie’s situations were incredibly emotional to read, and very hard hitting. Be prepared, whilst Viggiano’s novel may be full of giggles, cloud discos and rainbows even Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony would be proud of, it does contain a lot of relatable and rather deep scenarios that hit home.

If, like Hattie, you had the chance to do things all over again, would you? What would you change? Would you change the way you reacted to things? Or would you end up forgiving yourself? Personally, I, like Hattie, would struggle to look back on my life as several of her situations mirrored mine. That said, would I change my reactions to things? Yes. But, seeing as I can’t do that, I am now even more aware that I hold the keys to how I react to situations.

‘The Man You Met in Heaven’ started off as ‘hmmm’ of a read, but by the end of the book I found myself taking on board Josh’s advice as it made perfect sense.

All in all, I thought the message the author conveyed in her storyline was very cleverly woven into her storyline, and very well thought out. It certainly gave me food for thought and I’m sure it will be the same for many others, too. A heartfelt, touching and inspirational read.

This is a beautifully written story about a woman who has sworn off men. She has an accident and is unconscious, when she wakes up in a room between Earth and Heaven. She must revisit her past mistakes before leaving. A happier ever after story, which I loved! Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this pre-published book!

Wow... ok, let me do a quick recap of the book. Hattie Green is 46, she has a 16 years old boy and is bitterly divorce. She stopped living... she has regrets, her mom tries desperately to pair her up with some other divorcees but she is not having any of it. While doing a run to the store she starts to analyze her life, what it could never be, even if the most gorgeous man alive invites her to coffee she is having none of it. But one fateful accident makes her put her life into perspective and realize that things are not what it seemed once upon a time. If you had a chance to relive your past, knowing what you know now, would you make the same decisions? Would you feel the same?

This book was a rollercoaster... in a really good way. The story was so engaging that I really felt like I was doing this self-discovery journey with Hattie, I even dare to say that while she was doing hers, I inadvertently started to do mine. To be honest, it's been a while since a book really crawled under my skin and made me think beyond the words written, and allow me to make this story mine. I loved the characters, they were real to me. Hattie was just a person, she had flaws, A LOT, it was so easy to relate to her, her reactions, her coping mechanisms, everything. Josh was... full disclosure, just thinking about him gave me goosebumps, he was a dream, in the full meaning of the word, I mean... I can't describe him, you would need to read the book to discover him, but hands off! He's mine...

I only have one tiny little complaint/suggestion... the book was amazing, the ending was superb... just the greedy side of me really wanted, needed an epilogue... or a novella... I don't know... I really fell in love with these characters that I really just want to know more.

This started well then lost steam.

2.5, but rounding up because it did leave me feeling good.

Hattie has bee divorced for 2 years and has sworn men off her life when she faints at a Tesco and ends up in the Halfway Lounge. She's lost her way somewhere and, with a very sexy help, she needs to review key events in her life so she can forgive, trust and find love again.

I went for chick-lit knowing it would soon be turned into cheesy romance, but it actually didn't. No, it was worse, this turned into self help. Even though the narration is uplift, there isn't much there to call comedy, either. It does become cheesy sometimes but at least not too much. It was the self-help tone that put me off. I wonder if this would work better in a movie, it probably would. But as a book, it lacked action and it overflew with fillers to a point I sometimes had to avert my eyes.

But putting it like that sound like I hated the book, and that's the thing. I didn't. I think Hattie's journey did lead somewhere, and her story wasn't a big cliché, either. It all had very important points that would be great for a group discussion like in a book club.

Additionally, even though there were some unnecessary scenes to show how magical the Halfway Lounge was, the book itself was well written. It's far above the cheesy romance I feared it could become, like most self-proclaimed click lit books do.

So this can be a pleasing read if you don't mind some over-the-top scenes. The main story is actually nice, though a little sad too; and there were important lessons to learn.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

I'm coming to realize I quite like books that verge on magical realism. As a matter of fact, I smell a Weekly List dedicated to nothing but those books coming up. First, though, let's get into what I though of The Man You Meet in Heaven!

The story
When Hattie Green pops to the shop one afternoon, she never expects her life to flash before her eyes between the tins of baked beans and a special offer on sliced white. One minute she’s loading her trolley and thinking about what to give her son for dinner, and the next she’s speaking to a gorgeous man in a glowing white suit about what her life could have been… 

If you had the chance to go back and relive it all, what would you do differently? Go on that date, take that promotion… eat that second biscuit? Hattie is about to discover where she went wrong, but will her mystery second chance reveal some STONKING secrets in her past that probably should have stayed hidden? 

The opinion
First things first: this book needs a couple of trigger warnings. There's a fairly vivid description of rape as well as an emotionally abusive and manipulative relationship. The main character is made to relive both of those experiences (although she can opt out and take breaks, but still) and I can imagine that for someone who's been in a situation like that, those scenes could be extremely triggering. Especially as most of the book is actually taken up by the main character working through some of the things that happened to her.

The way the author has set up that concept of working through those things, however, is in my opinion maybe the best thing about this book. And, you know, completely unlike anything I've ever read before. I wish I could say more about that, but unfortunately, I feel that would be giving away too much of the plot. Instead, I will just repeat: this book was completely unlike anything I've ever read before. While I saw the "final solution" for the romance-aspect coming from about the fourth chapter, that was about the only thing I actually did anticipate. The entire plot just threw me for a loop time and time again - but in the best possible way.

Together with the fact that there's so many short chapters that constantly shift between the "Inbetween Place" and Hattie's past? Together with the narration, which flowed so beautifully? And together with the will they won't they-aspect that is present almost non-stop? Well, let's just say I started and finished this book only a couple of hours away from each other. Yes, I flew through the story. I mean, come on - I needed to know what happened next! And more importantly: I wanted everything (thanks to the writing style as well) to work out for Hattie. Oh, and of course: I wanted to see how far this whole "believe the unbelievable" thing would go. Suffice it to say: there's unicorns at one point. Actual, living unicorns. So, you know :)

The rating: 4/5
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, even if it was at times not the easiest of reads. As I mentioned already: some pretty hard subjects are touched upon (or shoved in your general direction, depending on who you're asking). I did feel that the author tried (and succeeded) at handling these with the necessary tact and perspective, though. If not, I don't think I would've been able to get through this book in one sitting. If you're in the mood for a happy ending, difficult road, fluffy blanket kind of book? You might just find yourself doing the same thing!

-Saar

With a little help from above ...

Om my ... This is my second book by this author and this was as great as the other one I read. 

It's fluently written and funny. The rather short chapters make you want to add another one and 'one more' and 'okay, one more' to your reading session and the author knows how to end each chapter with a sentence that keeps you hostage, give in and get tucked in again.

But not everything was peaches and cream and there are some revelations that left me shocked. As the saying goes : every dark cloud has a silver lining, will Hattie be on her way to her happily ever after?

What more can I say? I just loved it! 5 stars.

Thank you, Debbie Viggiano, Bookouture and Netgalley

4* Magical Stars

Hattie is a divorced mother in her early 40’s who has sworn off love despite her mothers endless nagging for her to find love again.

Hattie has an unfortunate accident in the grocery aisle at Tesco and knocks herself out. Whilst she is unconscious she time travels back to her past life and meets up with Josh in the halfway lounge (a place in-between heaven and earth) and he is tasked to be the co-ordinator of her past life. Hattie with the help of Josh has to learn three things before she can return back to earth and her current life. These are to trust, believe the unbelievable and fall in love. Her journey to review her past life has many ups and downs. She has to relive the heartache and disappointments that life has delivered to her and learn to forgive, let go and to love again because she is so worthy of it.

This story has some light romance to it and interesting well-developed characters. This was my first time travel read and I enjoyed the experience.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an early copy of this book.

Hattie Green is a grown woman who believes she has a good life. She has a lovely little cottage, a wonderful son and a dog who adores her. Hattie wants nothing to do with men, so why is her mother so insistent in trying to match her up?

Trying to get out of meeting her mother’s latest matchmaking attempt, Hattie goes to the grocery store to lose herself in the aisles awhile. While traversing the Valentine’s Day aisle she’s muttering to herself and trying to speed her way through when a handsome guy approaches from the other direction. He strikes up conversation and asks her to join him for a coffee at the store’s café, but Hattie turns him down and hurries into the next aisle. She’s made it to the baked beans when out of the corner of her eye she sees the overhead sign come crashing down towards her! When Hattie “comes to” she doesn’t know where she is and a gorgeous man is beside her saying that he’s there to help her “review” her life. What’s up with that?

If you could go back and relive your life, what would you change? Are you truly satisfied with the choices you made? Have you any idea of how your life impacted the lives of others? Are you really happy with the way things turned out for you?

For fans of “Heaven Can Wait” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”, The Man You Meet in Heaven is a terrific tale of one woman’s life and how the decisions she makes affect both her life and the lives of others.

Brilliant. This is a really funny book that had me laughing most of the way through it. Hattie gets the chance to reevaluate her life after a knock on the head. She gets a chance to look at certain key events in her life and think about how she feels about them. This story is about forgiving yourself and others and letting go of built up emotions. It is beautifully written and also really funny. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you so much for giving me the chance to read this book.

Well I simply loved this refreshing novel. It is a story about a girl and her life. Hattie Green has faced highs and lows in her life, heartache and drama but just plods along like we all do until a strange day in Tesco!

The author has written a very light hearted novel which touches on difficult subjects and horrible life dramas that we face and perhaps wish afterwards we had acted differently. I loved the way the author told Hattie’s story and there were a few surprises in there too!

Fast paced book where you really want to find out what happens, but you don’t want it to end.

I also discovered a new word – MENTIONITIS – something I certainly suffer from repeatedly – and all my friends would agree.

Thank you to Debbie Viggiano for bringing these characters to life and making me laugh so hard when I should have been sleeping and reminding us all to let go of past mistakes, release anger held against others when it does more harm to us than to them!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication. I will definitely be ‘gifting’ a copy to a friend on publication date!

I knew from the blurb this book was going to be a little bit different. I mean, come on, it's not like it's everyday you get to go to heaven before you actually die! That's what happens to Hattie though and along with the wonderful Josh, she is sent on a journey to review her life. I really loved the idea behind the story and it worked so well.

Whilst this is mainly a romantic and humorous read, there are also some very tender and moving parts. It certainly hasn't all been fun and games when it comes to Hattie's love life and it made her more endearing to me. At times I wanted to be next to her to give her a hug or a squeeze to let her know I was there for her. It will certainly make the reader go through an array of emotions.

The Man You Meet In Heaven is a fabulously emotive and fun filled read. It whisked me away from the real world whilst I was totally absorbed in Hattie's. I actually got quite tearful as I neared the end as I wasn't ready to part ways from Hattie and Josh. The author certainly knows how to draw her readers into her books and leave them happily devouring page after page. Great book!

The Man You Meet In Heaven is one of the funniest, down-to-Earth books I have ever read. It's my first Debbie Viggiano but it certainly won't be my last and I will definitely be looking into her back catalogue ASAP. Hattie was so real, so down-to-Earth, and it's so refreshing. I loved her abrupt honesty and the way she reacts when she ends up with Josh, in the in-between bit between heaven and Earth. I, too, would have no idea what was going on and be a bit resistant to the idea but Hattie soon came around and it was amazing to re-visit her past and learn why she had decided to swear off all men forever, if a bit sad, because it ended with her swearing off men forever.

This is a genuinely funny book, with a lot of warmth and humour and a good dose of magical realism. I devoured it in just a few days and it continues my wonderful record with BookOuture books, which rarely let me down (in fact, hardly ever), and I just wish I had Holly Martin's to dive in to next! .

Debbie Viggiano is a fabulous writer and I'm now off to peruse her back catalogue.