Cover Image: A Question of Us

A Question of Us

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Member Reviews

*4.25*

"A Question of Us" tells the story of Clarrie and Simon, best friends since childhood, and among three other of their friends, are participating in a trivia quiz competition. Simon has always asked Clarrie to go out with him, but the girl, taking it as a joke, always refused right away. But what if behind these jokes there actually is some seriousness and most importantly a true feeling?

Like I said in the beginnin, "A Question of Us" is, in my opinion, completely adorable. I'm a sucker for Friends!ToLovers romance books and this surely was a very good one. I enjoyed the dynamics between the two of them so very much, and I also adore when romance books are set in England, so that was a plus. I also loved the use of the slang and of English sayings.

The relationship between our two main character did not feel rushed at all. Surely they have known each other for their whole life, so there was no need to build the chemistry, they already have that, and I adored this aspect.
Simon and Clarrie were very touchy and affectionate for being only friends, and I really like that in book. I mean when two characters are in love, but they do not acknowledge it.
Simon, on his part, was very sure about his feelings for Clarrie, while the girl was totally oblivious. She has always taken Simon's invitations as jokes, and the poor guy has to always specify that he's being utterly serious about it.
I also think that the book dragged a little bit too much in the middle part. I know they did not communicate for the sake of the plot, but in real life they would have seem quite the idiots, and I say that with all of my love. They were in love with each other and it showed, but oh well, let's just put 100 pages of them looking languidly at one another without acknowledging the facts.

One thing I did not enjoy very much was how the guys in the team, Clarrie's friends, basically made jokes about her in a sexual way ALL THE TIME. Maybe it's just me, I've been the only female in a group of friends for a long time, and I would have been okay with a joke or two (or let's just stay on one), but I would not have suffered through this kind of jokes, all the freaking time. They're quite disrespectful and honestly they did non make me laugh.

I loved the ending, I really did like it. I loved how the fought and confronted each other but realized their love in the end was stronger. I'm a sucker for happy endings, I really am, escpecially in romance books.

After all I would really recommend this book, if you're in search of a lovely Friends To Lovers romance set in the English countryside.

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I really wanted to like this book more. The premise is good, the setting was nice and I had no problem with it being ‘too British’ as other reviewers have said. Having read a lot of books of this genre we all know the formula and this followed it to the t. However I found it largely narrative based, driven by chats between characters and no real inner monologues or detailed descriptions of anything else. Si and Clarrie spend a lot of time having the same conversation over and over and over again. If I were Si I’d have definitely given up!
I liked the idea of a group of best friends that really relied and confided in each other, but considering the fact that they are all 26 their conversations seemed to be 98% innuendo and sex chat, nothing else of any depth or interest.
I really had to push myself to finish this book as I didn’t really feel invested in the outcome either way.
Thank you to netgalley for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

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**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
I generally love British romance. But this book was a bit of a mess. I loved the pub quiz parts but this friend group is very immature and a bit codependent. There is a lot to of cheating amongst the friend group. There is so much slang it distracts from the story.
Although I loved the premise, the book itself was disappointing.

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A group of friends complete in a quiz challenge. One friend keeps asking another out. I really did not enjoy this book. I enjoy English books but this book had too many local English words that it made it hard to read. This was just not my type of book. I know there are many other positive reviews but I just could not get into the book because of the local slang.

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This was such an odd reading experience for me. From the moment I picked this up, I was hooked and did not want to put it down. The friend group was so charming and the main character, Clarrie, and her love interest, Simon, had SO MUCH CHEMISTRY. Seriously, SO MUCH. I was positively buzzin' over how much I was enjoying this. HOWEVER. Clarrie ended up becoming SO INSUFFERABLE. She was her own worst enemy and kept ruining things for herself and I am never gonna be over it. BLAH. Also worth noting: this book is VERY British. I didn't really mind it, but if you're not into that, this is definitely not the book for you. Also also worth noting: there is A LOT of cheating in this book. None of it is between the main couple, but it happens at two different times and it a lil unsettling, so just keep that in mind if you want to read this as well. ANYWAY overall I did enjoy this book, but I can't pretend that I didn't have quite a few issues with it in the end.

TW: cheating, miscarriage, cancer

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A sweet and funny read
The humour in this book was dry which I loved.
This book was different to the usual book and this was good
A hilarious book

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I really loved the idea of this book but unfortunately couldn't finish. The heavy British slang became too confusing and distracting.

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Unfortunately, I didn't finish this book. I like the idea of the plot but Baker seems to have written mostly dialogue, not to mention the huge amount of very British-slang. I don't usually notice it as a Brit myself but I noticed how overused some of the slang was. Wow. I've never seen the word 'bloody' used so much in one book.
I didn't find much scene-setting or backstory either - like I said, mostly dialogue - and didn't find myself connecting with the characters as much as I'd hoped. The conflict in the story dragged a lot and the characters seemed to be having the same conversations repeatedly that I lost interest very fast. They'd find something out then tell someone, then tell someone else...got very repetitive.
The friendship group was sweet, although I don't entirely agree with them trying to get Sonny back with Gemma considering she cheated on him. You'd think your best friend would deserve better. There was also so much sex talk and male/female "jokes" that were a little questionable at times and parts of the story that didn't need to be that long was indeed dragged out.

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I found this friends-to-lovers story well written and entertaining.
It's full of humour, it made me laugh more than once, and the characters are fleshed out and so likeable I couldn't help rooting for them
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

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I mainly had to request this book on Netgalley UK because of the cover, that was what attracted me the most. But then I read the synopsis and it became even more interesting that I just had to request and read it.

This story has a love trope from best friends to lovers and that is honestly one of my favourite tropes. Best friends mean so much to us and if there is even a chance of them to split apart in the future is honestly scary but its just a risk that they just have to take. Best friends are the ones who know us the best and to be able to live where they're right beside us one day and gone the next is terrifying. So I understand why Clarrie was very hesitant to start a romantic relationship with her lifelong best friend, Simon.

The trivia plot of getting Clarrie to date him is actually golden right there. It was brilliant and it just shows his determination that he's all in for it. He has to work so hard to win that its so sweet and is willing to bare it all for the woman he loves.

I cannot deny that I was also screaming and trying get her to stop being so scared like some the side characters where Clarrie's family and friends would tell her to just go for it. The things that she's went through and seen affects why shouldn't really commit to Simon but they love each other too much and I suppose that is more than enough for them to go along.

The banters between the gang was honestly one of the main reasons why I couldn't pick this book down. Even though they're always insulting one another, childish and so much more but deep down they care so much. The kind of friendships that they have is so precious and priceless. Its the kind where we seek to have and these kind of friends are the ones whom we will always have close by us.

Honestly, this was all in all a very fun and exciting read. I really couldn't believe that I finished it in a day but I did. I would really recommend to anyone looking for funny banterings between friends in pubs, shifting the love from best friends to couples and a whole lot of trivia!

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It was a lighthearted read. A great friends to lovers story. The hero and the heroine were hillarious togather(the heroine more so than the hero). Thank you netgally and the publishers for a chance to read this one. I finished it in one go.

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Who doesn’t love a best friends to lovers storyline? This book had a great blurb and for the most part I enjoyed reading how Simon kept trying to woo his best friend Clarrie. Clarrie always thought Simon was joking and never took his advances seriously. ⁣

The book is very British so I struggled with the humor at the start for a bit. It also was a longer read than it needed to be and some parts were slow moving.⁣

All in all, it was a cute story with the perfect ending.⁣

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It's hilarious, it's thought-provoking, but it just isn't romantic enough for me.

We have here two characters who have been best friends for 22 years. Simon has known that he's in love with Clarrie for so long, but Clarrie... doesn't. He has been asking her out for years, but coming from a playboy, what else can one expect other than that he is doing it all for fun? So Clarrie has been turning him down over and over. When she finally convinced him to cease his attempts at teasing her, he promises to do so under one condition: if they win the quiz League this year, she will have to go on a date with him.

It seems very much like the typical stories of best friends to lovers. You know, bets, a moment of enlightenment, jealousy (not too much of it, lucky me)... but there are certain aspects of it that made this special. One, the pub quiz nights. I believe this is a thing of the British, and it really caught my attention. I love how the author has described the ambience of the events so wonderfully that I could feel along with the characters the suspense and eagerness to win. All of this wouldn't have been possible without Clarrie and Simon's friends, which brings me to point two. Even if, as mentioned at the beginning, that the romance is not enough for me, the friendship... it's everything. Were it not for that, I wouldn't have given this 3 stars. They're all so hilarious! And though most of the book consists of sex jokes, I couldn't find it in me to be offended by this group of friends. Most of the time I was just left plainly amused and glad for all of the companionship and love they have for one another.

Besides that, I have to say that this book covers a lot of thought-provoking moments. At first, Simon may seem like the annoying one. But later on when I thought about it, Clarrie seems to be the one at fault too. Her constant reaction to push away is understandable. Her fear of the unknown is realistic and relatable — but she also has to understand that maintaining the status quo forever is not possible in life. Let's just say that when it comes to relationships, it is always best not to take advantage to the point where a party's self-respect is torn to shreds. Someone who truly loves would never allow that person to go through that heart-breaking ordeal.

And that's the thing. These characters have so much substance that I was really tempted to give it a 4 or a 5, but it just fell short on the romance department quite a bit, and it really disappointed me (a.k.a not enough flutters in my chest). I would only recommend this to readers who are keen on reading about the ups and downs of a 26-year-old who is suffering from anxiety, and about the friends she has kept around her all these years. It's an entertaining yet reflective piece of work. But if you're not used to reading British slangs, and is fully sure that they would disrupt your reading experience, then perhaps you might want take a step back. It didn't stop me from enjoying this book though! It takes a little bit of getting used to, but nothing I can't handle. In fact, I actually enjoyed it more, because it allowed me to bask in the British culture.

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Mary Jayne Baker makes my reading an enjoyable one each time I pick up her books and reading " A Question Of Us" is no exception. Her TRUE Yorkshire humour really does come through and believe me, it's truly appreciated. The lady is so talented in her writing, wit and describing of absolutely everything.
This book had me giggling all the way to my next pub quiz

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I didn't know what to expect from this book when I read the summary but something about it called out to me, maybe it was the mention of a pub quiz or maybe it was the childhoood/bestfriends turned lovers trope. But I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this book. It was delightfully english, funny, witty, full of banter but also angsty and so honest and real at times. I loved the relationship of Clarrie with the whole group, Sonny, Si, Dave. Gem,. it felt natural and silly and mocking but also good fun. It honestly gave me envy (of the good kind) to have a friend group like that.
The book did get a bit slow by the middle, but I've always been a fan of slowburn and getting to know each character was a delight.

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3.5 stars

From the summary of this book you can pretty much tell that it's tropey, but there's nothing wrong with that. I had so much fun reading this. I was giddy from the romance and I even cried at times. Plus, the friendships between the characters was one of my favorite parts of this book. They all had their own thing going on and they didn't feel one dimensional.

I have to say, though, that it started getting repetitive after a while. I mean, they were having the same conversation over and over about why they wanted/shouldn't be in a relationship and the resolution came too quick at the end.

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To me this read ore like a script than a book, there was a lot of dialogue, and I am a big fan of showing not telling, I wanted more telling frankly.

The story was good, but I just never connected with the characters, because I never felt like I got to know them.

I wanted to like this book, but it just wasn't for me.

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Clarrie is part of a pub quiz team. All the members of the team are close friends. All have known one another since their school days. They know every secret, can finish one another's sentences and love one another.

Clarrie particularly loves one of the other members, Simon.

This team is not extremely successful. That is not because they have not been organized. Each member has a special topic of study. But, until this year, there has not been any intensity. Of course they want to win, but having another drink has been the main goal.

This year is different. Simon has bet Clarrie that if they win, she will go out with him. If they lose, he will never ask her out again. Ever.

This book is about Clarrie but it is also about relationships, friendships and sharing a history which can create hurdles among friends.

To be honest, at times I was not a Clarrie fan. It seemed to me that by the time she was 26, she should have become better at reading the hearts of her close friends. She had shared her life with these people. In fact, she is great at being empathetic with everyone except one person.

The story is filled with humor. The kind of humor which made me laugh out loud. But, there are also moments which made me want to cry. Just as in real life, there are dark times which must be faced and overcome.

Everyone is looking for something in life. At times the journey to a happy ending can be uphill all the way.

This reader was cheering for everyone in this story. Good wishes and happily ever afters are all I had in my heart for each character.

Clarrie and Simon are very complete characters. Each of them have a presence in their world. Clarrie does not recognize her own presence, Simon is very aware of who he is.

The secondary characters are not just window dressing. Each of them are an important part of the story.

I liked this book. Ms Baker is a very talented author. At times I felt that scenes could have been a little tighter. But, that would be my one tiny complaint.

A Question of Us does not fit into any special category. It is a novel about life and the difficulties one can face in life. It is a novel about friendship and the love and support one can get from friendship. It is a novel about love and the lengths people will go in order to find and hold the love of their lives.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a story which will make them laugh, make them think and eventually make them happy they read the book.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

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Clarrie and Simon have been best friends for years. He wants to be more than friends, but she won't give him a chance.
A bet on the pub quiz could mean a change to that, but will they win?

An entertaining read.

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At 26, Clarrie is struggling to be a “proper” adult. She never has any money, her dating life is a trainwreck, and her best friend Simon is always asking her out. The only thing in her life that isn’t a mess is her pub quiz team, the Mighty Morphin Flower Arrangers. When Simon bets her a date that their team will win the quiz league, Clarrie is forced to figure out what she really wants in her life.

I’m usually a huge fan of best friends to lovers romantic comedy trope, but this book didn’t really do it for me. The characters just felt flat to me. Clarrie’s clear anxiety problems were never really addressed and it was just implied that being with Simon would fix all of that, which really rubbed me the wrong way. The plot also moved way too slow for me, when at the same time, the conversations felt hectic and hard to keep track of. There were some plot points that that felt shoe horned in for the sake of driving the plot, but didn’t feel like they made sense to me. Overall, I feel like The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a similar book that does it better. This one is a pass for me.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.

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