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Mixed Doubles

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Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

Mixed Doubles was my first book by Jill Mansell. Her writing style is fantastic. The book was well-written. The characters were well-developed and easy to relate to. The book itself .. read/felt a little out-dated. I guess that makes sense since it apparently is a re-release of a book from the 80s. Either way, cute read.

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Mixed Doubles by Jill Mansell left me with mixed feelings. I liked parts of the story, but I didn’t like other parts. I liked some characters, but I didn’t really like any of the 3 main characters. I felt that the characters remained very shallow, meaning they I never felt like I really knew the characters-who they were, what motivated them, their backgrounds, etc. On the surface, this is a light, easy, chick lit book and if you like that, you’ll probably really enjoy this book. For me, it wasn’t my favorite story by one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-copy in exchange for a review. #netgalley #mixeddoubles

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When I started reading this book, it seemed a little out of date for today. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it or if it had been earlier. It turns out to be the latter. The book was release close to a decade ago and in some ways it shows. Having said that, I still enjoyed reading the book.

Dulcie, Liza and Pru are all friends. At the beginning of the year, they all get together and find out what each one wants.

Liza has never been married and would like to find someone to love who doesn’t bore her silly after a few weeks.

Pru is married to someone that neither of her friends like. Pru is happy and wants to stay that way with her husband.

Dulcie is married to a wonderful man but a man who doesn’t give her enough attention because he is working himself into an early grave. Because of his neglect and because she is pretty much entirely self-centered, she wants a divorce.

The story goes on to follow each of these women as their lives start to either fall apart or their wishes are coming true. Where they end up is very different just one year later.

I enjoyed each of the characters and their stories. Sometimes, I wanted to reach into the book and shake a little sense into each of them but that shows that I invested very quickly into the book and the characters were becoming real to me.

I always enjoy Jill Mansell books and this was no different. It was a tad dated but I was able to ignore that and continue to read. You might want to check to see if you have the earlier version as I have ended up unintentionally buying duplicate books when authors re-release them.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

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When i requested this from NetGalley, I didn't realise it was a re-release of a rom-com from the late 80s. It's really cute the way they FAX in their work, and people leave messages on answering machines. What's not really cute is that it is full of slut-shaming, body shaming, and snobbery. But what made me DNF (at 8 percent, yes, Jill Mansell managed to pack that much dated, sexist nonsense into 20 pages) was this: Dulcie wants to leave her husband "it would be so much easier, Dulcie thought if Patrick was awful. If he used her as a punchbag, blackened her eyes and sent a few teeth flying". Yes, that's right, instead of taking responsibility for your own life, wish for domestic violence.
I have rarely picked up a book and put it down so fast.
Some things used to be OK that aren't any more. This book is meant to be fun, but just seems problematic.

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Jill Mansell’s novel starts with three close friends on New Years Day, each at very different points in their lives with varying stability. What ensues over the coming year stretches them each personally, and their relationships as well.

Mixed Doubles is an easy read, although many of the characters are not all that relatable. I did appreciate that the women’s friendship endured real ups ad downs, and wondered at times how they came together.

If you enjoy fluff reads, this book is a good read, especially on a long road trip or plane ride. Many parts of it seem a bit far-fetched unless you go into it with that perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC copy (this was previously released in the late 90s) in exchange for an honest review.

#mixeddoubles #netgalley #roadtripreads

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I enjoyed this well-written book. Three best friends make New Year's vows, but none of them could predict how things would turn out! The story was fun and lively. This was an entertaining book and I look forward to reading more books by this author.

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I love that Jill Mansell writes laid back novels well and with a solid talent as a wordsmith but this book missed the mark slightly for me.

Focusing on three friends, all having different storylines, the shine and character exhibited in Liza's plot only highlighted the unlikability of Dulcie and her life and the lacking of depth in Pru's. If the book had instead focused on Pru and Liza, I think this would have been a solid 4 star as more time could have been given to Pru but she sort of got lost in the overall novel for me. Dulcie was just not a good person from start to finish and everytime I thought she would get her comeuppance or make a major life change as a person, she did not. She was quite detestable and the fact that her two friends were the opposite only cemented this to the reader.

I loved Liza's story, it was perfectly developed and even had a great twist to it. She was the saving grace of the book and I wish I could have spent more than the one year (which seemed very rushed) alongside her as an observer.

This was a very light read from start to finish but I just craved more intention from the author when it came to the characters. I still am looking forward to reading more from her backlist and experiencing the small English towns she has a talent for creating.

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I read this book when it was first published and enjoyed reacquainting myself with it, thanks to its NetGalley listing.

Jill Mansell delivers three heroines who are struggling with different phases of love. Pru wants to stay married because she thinks that's what good wives do, Dulcie wants a divorce because her husband no longer excites or is interested in her, and Liza wants to get married, despite never having a relationship with any substance.

You will find yourself rooting for Pru to realize she can do so much better than her loser husband, and you will want her to find her way. Liza frustrates somewhat because she gets caught up in worrying about factors that should have no bearing on her relationships, yet you like her. You want her to realize what matters. And then there is Dulcie, who is fairly loathsome. I enjoyed her various comeuppances, and I found myself hoping for her to continue learning difficult lessons. She does change, but perhaps not enough to deserve the ending Jill Mansell gives her.

I am a resolute fan of Jill Mansell's. Her books captivate me from start to finish and make me want to move to cozy English towns.

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Cute novel based on friendship and romance. I love Ms. Mansell. I read this very quickly even though the length puts you off at first. Total fluff, but the perfect book to start off the New Year reading. Friends make resolutions together and hope for the best in this chick flick.

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Liza, Dulcie, and Pru are all at different stages of their love lives. This reissue of a classic Mansell novel has held up over time but in my case, at least, having read it once before, my reread found me looking at each woman differently (from my older and maybe just a little wiser place). Liza wants to get married, Dulcie wants to get divorced, and Pru wants to stay married to her rat of a husband. All of them will have a revelation and all of them will think differently about themselves and their relationships by the end of the novel. It's a light read, even though it does touch on some serious subjects. Thanks to Netgalley for the DRC.

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

So a few pages into this I realized I'd read this before --- they are re-releasing a 1998 best seller.

While this wasn't one of my favorite books of Jill Mansell, it is still a fun read.

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This book took me so long to get through, mostly because it bored me to tears. The writing is mediocre at best and really hard to follow at times. I pushed through the book because I hate not finishing something I’ve started, but the ending was even more of a letdown.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

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An engrossing and entertaining book, heartwarming and well written, that kept me hooked till the end.
I liked the well thought cast of characters and the well crafted plot.
Ms Mansell can surely write a book that will keep you hooked.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

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I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. I love Jill Mansell and I loved this book too. It is the story of three best friends who have very different love situations and outlooks on love. One is single and looking to get married ASAP but always loses interest in her romantic liasons.. Another is married to a wonderful man but finds herself wanting more and the third is married to a cheating husband and wants just to please him. This book follows the evolution of their love lives. I did enjoy this book and will absolutely it to my family and friends. Thanks once again to NetGalley.

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A light and fun story written by a favorite author. Easy to read and heartwarming. A story of three good friends, their friendships and their marriages. The 3 friends are strong women and very easy to relate to, Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

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Classic Jill Mansell never disappoints with stories of friendship, families and love. I've read almost all of her titles and her latest showcases what she does best, writing about relationships. This book was laugh out loud funny at some points and relatable on many levels. It starts with three friends making New Years revolutions and evolves throughout the year as their lives take them down unplanned paths. People often say, "life happens when you're busy making other plans," and that rings so true for this story. It's funny how different idioms like that, or "be careful what you wish for," are proven true time and time again. "Mixed Doubles," is a book you can sit back with a cup of coffee and be happily immersed in for an afternoon.

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Unlike some of her other novels I felt this one to be uneven. Some parts were interesting, funny,sad or thoughtful but most of that happens in the last 30% or so. From the time kit is in the jewelry store I couldn’t put it down
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

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I loved this book!
Jill Mansell once again cam through with hilarious characters & storylines that still hit home. Dulcie was kind of annoying (no spoilers but major eyeroll at her pathetic man-keeping attempt).
Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy!

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Loved this novel about friendships. It was a great, fun read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Mixed Doubles by Jill Mansell is a re-release of a previous bestseller, and while it does not rank among my favourites, fans of Ms Mansell will not be disappointed in this light, fun read.

Three friends make their resolutions for the new year, each committing to a fresh focus. Liza wants to get married, Dulcie decides that a divorce is the way forward, and Pru will do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo in her existing relationship. They are lofty goals, but who better to hold you accountable than your best friends?

While this was, by most accounts, an enjoyable read, I did find myself struggling to connect with any of the three women, and as a result was not as engaged with the story as I would have hoped. As previously noted, I would not rate this as one of Ms Mansell's best, although I will continue to look forward to any new offerings from this tried and true author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the opportunity to read this book.

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