Cover Image: A Random Act of Kindness

A Random Act of Kindness

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Member Reviews

I enjoyed this book: it's well written and entertaining.
I liked the fleshed out characters, the plot, and the style of writing.
It's perfect for a lazy afternoon and will surely improve your mood.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

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A sweet summer read for people who enjoy positivity and fashion; this won’t change the world but will keep you smiling for a while.

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The characters were as quirky as their professions. The love story happened in the background, one moment it wasn't there and the next it was a happily ever after for the couple.

The fashion theme was fascinating in the story.

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A light romance with acts of kindness throughout. Enjoyable and entertaining.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Three and a half stars.

Fern has a stall selling vintage clothes at Camden Market in London, having lost her job as a personal shopper for a large department store. She has always had a love of fashion, probably because her mother Annabel is a former model.

A random act of kindness to a stranger introduces Fern to Kim, a pensioner buying a dress for his wife, Dinah, an 89 year old woman with an amazing haute couture wardrobe, and David. Told through sales blurb for different vintage clothes we see Fern find romance, friendship and a career.

For anyone who loves fashion the talk of Westwood, Biba, Chanel, Lagerfield et al is divine but it's also mixed up with Top Shop bargain finds and repurposing. Fern is a genius at seeing what people want from clothes, how they want clothes to make them feel, from a job interview outfit, to a mother-of-the-bride ensemble to a prom dress - she helps each of her customers feel better about themselves.

This is a feel good, fashion-forward, sweet romance, but TBH the romance is all about the clothes and our 'hero' is more of an afterthought.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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This is the first Sophie Jenkins book I have read, she has a bright future ahead as an author. I loved this book and found the characters and plot were developed excellently. I highly recommend this book.

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This is the first book that I have read by this author, Sophie Jenkins. She has one other book published, according to what I could find out. I see a bright future as an author for her. She developed the characters and plot for this book excellently. I like that her story included characters of various ages. I especially like to read books with the older population to at least have a part of the plot. There is an older couple in A Random Act of Kindness that warmed by heart with their many years of marriage and love.

The main character, Fern Banks is at her core a designer of fashion and a true lover of vintage. Her world revolves around how the perfect outfit can change a person's day or life. If you do not like fashion or do not understand how it truly can change your mind-set, then this book probably is not for you. It does go on and on about clothes quite a bit. I did not mind that though. I do not dress in designer labels, but I do know what it feels like to put on that special item and it makes the day brighter.

I enjoyed this story and want to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me to read the ARC for this book.

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Uplifting. Enjoyable characters and storyline. I read this quickly as I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for the next story from this author.

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A lovely read with delightful characters that come to life!

This will warm the cockles of your heart <3

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A lovely story, beautifully written. I do love books where people of different generations, come into each others lives and watch how the relationship evolves. An uplifting, feel good story.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was well written and had a great story. The characters were wonderfully drawn and it was not the run of the mill boy meets girl story there was so much more to it. I will be recommending this book.

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This novel’s title drew me in. Today our world focuses so much on negativity that I long for a feel-good story, just the word kindness as in the title 2as enough for me to want to read more. Sadly, I was unable to finish this book. The novel has a strong British feel which usually appeals to me as Midwesterner because it is a welcome departure from daily life. The story did not engage me and when it didn’t hook me by page 50, I gave up.

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I absolutely loved this book. In fact, I'm quite reluctant to start reading a new book in case it doesn't shape up. I love books with relationships that span across generations and this didn't disappoint. This story has everything - friendship, love, sadness, history and more. Totally recommend this even if it's not your normal genre.

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This book was so light hearted and fun. I really enjoyed it! The story line was easy to follow. It made me laugh out loud at times, which is so great! There are some absolutely lovely characters. Loved it.

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This is my first book by Sophie Jenkins, and I found her writing fun.

The book tells the story of Fern who loves fashion but has recently been let go from her position as a personal shopper at a department store. As a result, Fern, who lives in a basement apartment owned by her parents, is selling vintage finds at a flea market type area in a trendy part of London.

Fern soon meets her new market neighbor, who she told about the stall, and develops quite a crush, but Fern's boyfriend, and her neighbor's girlfriend stand in the way of true love.

Add in a German stranger with a luxurious vintage collection, a recent widower with a secret, and Fern's moody ex-model mother, plus a fire, and you have a turbulent time arriving for Fern.

I found the book mostly charming, but felt some of the characters fell a little flat, especially Gigi. I thought Fern also seemed a little uneven and one-note at times. That said, I would be delighted to read another book by this author and enjoyed her voice.

Thanks to Netgalley.com, the author and publisher for my advanced review copy.

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I liked the characters and the vintage fashion aspects but the story itself was rather boring and thin
Thank you netgally and the publisher for allowing me this arc in exchange for an honest review

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Sometimes a bit of random advice from a stranger changes your life. Such is the case for Fern, who befriends a women, Dinah, who had randomly given her life changing advice many years before. Now, Fern is in a time of transition. Recently fired, still living in her parent's flat and trying to make a living from selling vintage clothing at the market, she knows that her gift in life is to place people in clothing that make them feel good about themselves. The story follows Ferns as she makes new friends, re-evaluates her life and confirms her commitment to the fashion that she loves and the people it leads it her to.

A Random Act of Kindness follows many story lines and characters – many of whom distract from the main story rather than support it. At times, I felt that there were too many characters that did not enhance the story – but distracted from it.

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This is a wonderful read with interesting and lively characters, all sorts of tension from relationships, and a story of how several diverse people can untie to help a young woman buffeted
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Fern Banks is trying to get her business of selling vintage clothing off the ground. She loves helping people find clothes that make them feel their best but her parents want her to do something more stable. She has a crush on her stallmate David who sells constellation light boxes but he's dating a woman she went to school with. Will she have to give up her dream of being an entrepreneur?

It started out a little slow but picked up. A predictable storyline which means a happy ending.

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Fern has a knack of knowing exactly what will suit different people to wear, and unfortunately this gets her fired from her job as a personal shopper. She decides to start a vintage clothes stall in Camden market, and then a chain of events start that will change her life. She meets the stylish Dinah who at 85 is still madly in love with her husband, knows how to dress and has been through more than Fern can comprehend. When Fern stops to do Dinah a favour, her life changes forever.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the descriptions of the clothes, although I know nothing about them, and it was a lovely feel-good story. Just what I needed.

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