I absolutely loved this book! I was laughing out loud at certain scenes and when I tried to go to bed I ended up giggling myself into a fit thinking about them. Absolutely amazing comedic writing.
I loved the characters. Cat is a mess in such a relatable way and I love the strong female friendship demonstrated with Kelly. I really loved how well developed the supporting characters were. Arnold was precious, Sean a saint, even Nick holds a soft spot in my heart.

My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed. I would have liked a bit more of a dramatic scene at the love confession and perhaps a bit more detailed wrap-up/epilogue with Harvey, Sam, and Cat's dad. I also wouldn't have minded a more extensive conversation between Sam and Cat about what transpired between them and what they learned from the relationship.

Overall, a delightful, HILARIOUS book that I will be recommending to all of my friends because it was just so damn funny and relatable.

A cute and witty story of one finding out what it means to move on from relationship disappointments and give the "one who's not the one" a chance. Loved the heroine's progression through the story and really felt the ending placed her in a good spot with someone who really saw her and would support her. A ride or die best friend also rounds out the cast of characters. I'll be reading other books by this author for sure.

Didn’t really care for this. The concept was good but the book was plagued with too many problems. For starters the lead character Cat was so very annoying and unable to even take care of herself or make her own decisions as an adult. She had to look to her best friend for everything. I’m surprised Cat didn’t ask Kelly when to pee or breathe.

Also the whole Sam and Harvey thing skeeved me out. Yeah it is weird to have relationships and sex with two brothers. Then there’s the comedy thing. When Cat finally gets on stage all she does is tell the audience she was better than Sam at comedy and that ticked him off and secondly uses her stage time to confess something. I guess they borrowed the “my partner is mad I’m better at comedy than they are” plot from The Marvelous Mrs Maisel 😞 which was a bit icky.

So I guess this just didn’t work for me for a number of reasons.

This author really found the key to unlock my funny bone. There are so many hilarious conversations that you might pull a muscle if you are not careful. Sometimes people are trying to be witty and when you read it, you think : for real? That's not how a speak to a friend, child, ... But I never got that feeling here. It sounded all very natural.

To be honest, the whole story felt very much like it could happen to anyone. I think everybody might recognize one or more situations they have faced as well at one point in their lives. It makes you feel connected more because fiction can be very down to earth and not totally fairy tale-ish.

Cat is quiet a character. I wouldn't mind having her as a friend.

A very enjoyable read that makes you go 'hahahaha' and 'aaawww'. 4 stars.

Thank you, Keris Stainton, Bookouture and Netgalley.

4.5 Stars. I am so happy I received this book for free through NetGalley to review. The only reason I took off half a star is because there wasn't really much in the book I was completely surprised by. I love that this book was predictable though! Cat seemed like such a relatable character to me. She is someone who falls deeply for people, whether it be friendship or love, but is afraid and unsure of what to do with those feelings. I liked the love story being about something other than "my boyfriend left me, he is back now, now I want him again". I also loved how it wasn't just a love story between Cat and a man, it was also a love story between Cat and Kelly, Arnold, her father, a family, and Nick.
I think what I loved most about this story was that it emphasized the fact that love isn't always easy and perfect, and it can take you by surprise. It won't always come when you want it, and it may come in a form you don't expect or necessarily think you want. It made me feel good after reading this and a little more open/excited for what could come into my life. I absolutely loved this author and now am going to read everything Keris Stainton has out already!!

I loved this , was a touch slower in pace than a lot of the similar reads like this, but it suited the story. I loved Cat and her friend Kelly, plenty of humour and just the right amount of romance. Not cheesy just nice. A great read for cheering yourself up or to feel happy, books that have the ability to do this are underrated and this is definitely a arm fuzzy feelings book. Loved it.

amazing light hearted romance read! The pace of this book is not too slow or too fast and the character seemed real and the conflicts doesnt look fake or made up or rushed! also this book is absolutely hilarious

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ever feel like you have lifetime access to the struggle bus while your friends are living the Insta-perfect life with their big house, perfect husband and perfect baby?
Meet Cat. She’s just like us.
Cat was an up-and-coming stand-up comedian until her [also comedian] boyfriend, Sam, left for Australia for an opportunity her couldn’t miss, leaving Cat behind, broken hearted and unwilling to return to the stage.
Five years later, Cat now finds herself in the struggle. She’s working a boring day job, not chasing her dreams, and often finding herself bunking with her best friend, Kelly, to hide from her roommates that eat all of her food, drink her beer, and have loud obnoxious sex in front of her (and this is why I live alone).
Kelly and Cat’s relationship is the stuff of #bffgoals. She is Cat’s solid rock, always wants the best for her, and is always her voice of reason – especially when she needs it the most (like reminding her that all of her relationship problems stem from her father leaving her and Cat’s default of pushing everyone away).
One day, Cat sees Sam’s face on the front of a newspaper and decides to go to his gig as he returns to London. Interesting enough, she runs into Sam’s super hunky brother, Harvey, who makes mushy things happen to her insides. So here, we find ourselves in a story of forbidden love.
Cat soon finds herself between the choice to run from her problems by accepting a new job in New York or face her fears and stay for the possibility of love.

What I liked:
Cat is quick-witted and funny so she fulfills my need for sarcasm. The bit between she and Arnold is so adorable and always left me smiling.
Kelly was the bright and shining star of this book. While reading the exchanges between the two, I couldn’t help but think about my best friends. This book shines a much-needed light on the importance of strong female friendships and I am here for that!
Once Harvey came back into the picture, I was hooked. The dynamics between the two of them was very interesting and I wanted more.
I love a good forbidden romance, and this book gave me just that.
The dynamic between Cat and her father was interesting. The idea that she has a chance of reconciliation is fulfilling. It also goes to show how having one side of a story can heavily impact the way a relationship can evolve for years to come.
The book was a quick and light read, though I wish it had been longer. If that’s what the author was going for, she nailed it.
I hope I have a husband like Sean. That is all.
What I disliked:
It took me until about chapter 20 to really get into this book. I found myself trying to remember what the significance of the main character was and when the plot would finally begin.
There was too little of the good stuff. Readers only got a few chapters to fall in love with Cat and Harvey. Again, I LOVE a good forbidden romance, but not when we only get three good chapters of tension-laced content.
I didn’t enjoy the fact that Cat, who was apparently a very good up-and-coming comedian, threw it all away for a man and found her passion again when she finally opened up herself to love? Like, can we please not have women’s success be dependent on the success of a romantic relationship? I am far beyond tired of that social construct.
There was so much left unsaid! I feel like the first half of the book was just fodder and nothing of consequence occurred until later on in the book and then all the good content was shoved into the last few chapters.
Much more time should have been used building on the relationships and fallout of Cat and Harvey’s new relationship. Am I to believe that they just moved in together immediately? What does Sam think? Was there ever a fallout or blow up between Sam and Harvey? Where is Sam/Harvey’s dad and why is he estranged?
The stand-up bits of the novel were mildly disappointing. I expected more from her jokes, and it was a lot of sad self-deprecation that left me not laughing, but affirmed in my belief that she needs to see a therapist.
All things considered, I thought this was a good read, but it left a lot to be desired.

3.5 Stars

This book was marketed as a sort of forbidden romance with an ex's brother, but I found that the relationship with Cat and Harvey was the least interesting aspect of the book. Maybe because Cat was so self-sabotaging that it grated on my nerves and I couldn't really see how Harvey was attracted to that.

My favorite scenes were with Cat and her best friend Kelly! Kelly somehow made Cat seem more likeable which is obviously an issue when this is supposed to be a romance and you're supposed to be invested in the ROMANCE aspect of things.

It was a bit of a slog to get through to be honest and felt extremely "Bridget Jones' Diary" in the way that Cat's characters was presented. Overall not a terrible read, but not an interesting one either.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My first Keris Stainton book, but won't be my last! Warm and relateable, and genuinely very funny (as you'd hope for a book about a stand-up comedienne). Definitely ticked all the boxes for a fun, easy read.

The One Who’s Not the One is a warm, funny romantic comedy about a girl we can all relate to. Suffering from a bad break up years ago, no direction in life, crappy roommates and that one magical fairy godmother type friend who’s always there. Until one day she meets the perfect guy...who’s the brother of the ex who abruptly ditched her all those years ago, and who she vows not to date. Until she does.
This was an enjoyable, middle-of-the-road read.

I couldn't get into this story at first, and considered ditching it. I'm no doubt the wrong age group for this book (40s) and I found Cat and her best friend, Kelly, constantly referring to sex / pleasuring yourself / the male anatomy OTT. Do women of their age really talk / think like that? Also, the author wants to look at how many times she uses the word "hot" - it's used far too much. But if you can get past that side of it, and the fact that Kelly's character (whilst lovely) seems unrealistic given she's pregnant and has a young child, it's a good story. I enjoyed the build up of romance between Cat and (I won't give away the name), but sadly I felt the ending was rushed. I would have liked a little more. A good read all in all. Thanks NetGalley!

Having read super sweet feel-good It Had To Be You, I jumped at the chance to request The One Who's Not the One. This book jumped several others in the queue because I guessed it would be another quick and comforting read.

It was definitely quick - a one-sitting, breezy book. It was also much funnier than the previous novel I read by this author, although that had humor too. There were parts of the book where I could not even stifle my laughter - the main character, Cat, is a former - and possibly future - stand-up comedian, so there is no shortage of (sometimes bawdy) jokes. Cat's best friend, Kelly is lovable and puts gives both Cat and the reader perspective on why Cat is the way she is - mainly, afraid to get too close to anyone. I would have loved more scenes with Cat's co-worker, Nick - seems there is some great material there...this also means I would not have minded if the book were longer (more pages = more laughter).

What I thought could be more flushed out - the relationship Cat has with her father. There is a huge bomb dropped on Cat in a too-late, too-casual way to be real - seemed like a too-tidy way to wrap up the book. And of course, the central relationship in the book; it's no spoiler to say Cat falls for her ex's brother, Harvey. And even though said-ex, Sam, has been out of the picture for 5 years and had been living abroad, it seems their relationship would have had way more loose ends than The One Who's Not The One shows the reader.

The 4 stars is for the funny and for the mostly lovable characters, for the compulsively readable writing style; it would be 5 if it had been a bit longer and more emotionally in-depth with some of the relationships.

Thank you Netgalley for this preview!

I really enjoyed this book and Ward like 2 thank Bookouture 4 the opportunity 2 read and review it. This book is a fun and quirky read. I really liked the main character, she is totally relatable. The book follows her as she Falls in love with her ex's brother. Can she find happiness a second time round or should she quit while the going is good. I recommend this book 4 anyone who wants a light fun read with light hearted escapism.

The One Who's Not the One is the first book I've read by Keris Stainton, and I will definitely be adding more by this author to my ever growing to be read list. This is a light and funny romcom, perfect for a day at the beach, which is exactly where I read this in a single afternoon. Laugh out loud sharp and funny dialogue, and a thoroughly modern and relatable protagonist in Cat, make this a very pleasant read for any fan of the feel good romance. I would recommend as a light and fun read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this delightful ARC.

This was the first book I read by Keris Stainton, and I'm adding the rest of her books to my to be read list! The One Who's Not the One is such a great feel good read. If you love romantic comedies and Hallmark movies, than this is the perfect book for you! I think Cat is such a relatable character, I saw parts of myself in her and you can't help but root for her throughout the whole book. Definitely add this book to you to be read list, you'll be happy you did!

Sometimes, you just either 'connect' with a book and its characters/storylines, and sometimes you just don't. Unfortunately for me, this book was good, sure, but was it my favourite I've read recently? Probably not.

Cat was a nice character, clearly funny (even though she left the world of stand-up comedy behind) and there are indeed a fair few funny run-ins. Harvey, of course is at the same time, hugely attractive but also incredibly adorable - which is always a nice combination. The whole book toys with the idea about what is 'meant to be' and are there some things that, no matter how hard you try, will always happen because it's fated? And while it was a lovely book, exploring a very intriguing concept, I just didn't connect with the characters the same way as with other books - I wasn't fully invested in the novel or in their story. Having said that I did love the ending. But who wouldn't?

Overall, not my favourite book ever, but still a good, decent read to give a go.

Note: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher and the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Brilliant plot, excellent main characters that you invest in. I read this book in one sitting and I would highly recommend it.

Have you ever wondered why your life is such a mess and going nowhere, while your friends seem to have got it all together, living in beautiful houses with their wonderful children and hot and sexy and caring husbands?

Meet Cat. A former stand-up comedian, she is funny, intelligent, efficient at work, reliable, and an amazingly loyal friend. And yet, at the age of thirty, she is still living in a shared flat with nightmare roomies, her love life is non-existent, and the highlight of her week is taking her best friend’s son to see Santa’s grotto in a shopping centre. One day, she is reading a newspaper over a stranger’s shoulder on the Tube and sees that her ex, who left for Australia five years ago) is going to have a gig in London. Cat suspects parts of his routine might be about her, so how can she not go? During the gig she sees Harvey, her ex’s brother. Are relationships with your exes’ siblings always off-bounds? What if he is the One? Cat needs to sort her life and understand why the most important people in her life seem to leave her and go away.

What I liked about the book is how realistic it felt at times. The setting and practicalities of life (the nightmares of looking for a room in shared accommodation somewhere you can barely afford, packing your life in a few boxes and discarding the rest), the relationships, the Tube (yes, snow is magical). I loved the way the description of a stand-up venue was so vivid and full of sounds, smells and visual details, while Cat’s office remained uncharted territory (her heart and mind were not there, despite Cat being good at her job). Kelly, Cat’s BFF, is given such a prominent place in this book, that we almost fall in love with this no-nonsense-voice-of-reason-and-eternal-support girl.

It was a fast and enjoyable read. Highly recommended for somebody who likes comedy, banter, family relationships and thinks London is a fantastic setting for a light-hearted romantic book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

The One Who's Not the One promises forbidden love for the ex's brother, a main protagonist who is so funny she does stand-up comedy, and all the struggles of a 20-something living in London.
I was somewhat disappointed that a woman brave enough to get up on stage would be so easily embarrassed by being turned down for a date, but really enjoyed the London setting (and the unfortunately brief New York cameo). The big hang up for me was the main love story; although Harvey comes across as an all round great guy, and our main character Cat has a lack of viable love interests, I could not get on board with the "finite" decision to not date your ex's brother and then keep on asking him out.
Despite the love story not being my favourite part of the book, the best and most loving relationship was that between Cat and her best friend Kelly. The portrayal of a supportive, teasing and fun female friendship was a great aspect to the story and I was far more invested in those two (just go find someone your ex isn't related to!).
The ending seemed a bit rushed, especially as we get the somewhat genre-typical prologue but if you are looking for a romcom with a bit of British swearing and don't mind the sexy brother trope- give it a go!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher who provided a free copy in exchange for my honest review!