Cover Image: Mixed Doubles

Mixed Doubles

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Member Reviews

I didn't download this book. Decided it wasn't the book for me. Thank you for offering the book to me.

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Lots of humour in this book about relationships and how we don't always deserve the love we have - and sometimes we do. Dulcie, Liza and Pru are good friends, and are each facing relationship issues. Some madcap capers, miscommunication, and a near tragedy serve to bring love into focus.

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Liza, Dulcie & Pru are making resolutions.
Liza would like to get married but gets bored with men easily.
Dulcie finds out her husband wants a divorce.
Pru whose husband has a roving eye wants to stay married.
We follow these three ladies for a year finding out if each of their resolutions will work out.
Thanks NetGalley

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Didn’t realise that I have previously read this book. Did not take away from the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed it & love Jill mansell books.

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Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
This book about the lives of 3 best friends and how they each come to figuring out love and their lives. It is quirky and cute and I really couldn't put it down.
If it was summer, it would be the perfect beach read.

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This is a frothy fun book focusing on the lives of three best friends: Liza, a successful restaurant reviewer, Dulcie, who is considering a divorce from her neglectful husband, and Pru, who has recently moved out after her husband tells her he wants to be with someone else.

There are few surprises as each woman works through her problems and finds new romance, but the writing is delightful and the book is an easy and fun summer read.

I enjoyed the club tying all the action together, and found the stories to be entertaining.

Thanks to www.NetGalley.com, the author and publisher for my ARC.

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Jill Mansell fans will be happy, as usual, with this re-release (take note-- not a new title, takes place in the 1990s). Mansell is the best at weaving several characters and their story-lines together for a fun, satisfying romantic comedy.

In this one, three friends make New Years' resolutions: Liza to get married, Pru to stay married, and Dulcie to get a divorce. Over the course of a year, our girls go through many varied romantic escapades. They all come through with a happy ending, as is the convention of the genre and of Mansell. I like knowing everyone will get what's coming to them when I pick up a Mansell book.

If you have only just discovered Jill Mansell-- girrrllll you got some reading to do! You won't be disappointed if you are a romantic comedy fan and/ or like Marian Keyes or Mhairi McFarlane.

Happy reading!

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First of all I'd like to thank Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was many, many years ago, but I do remember reading a couple books by Jill Mansell when I was much younger. They were okay but didn't make me want to rush off and find other books by her. I can't my opinion has changed a whole lot today. I know this is a reissue of a book published during the time period I might have read other books so I guess that makes a bit of sense.

I found this a pleasant enough read. Essentially it's three romances built around three close friends. There's Pru who seemed satisfied being married to someone who pretty much walked all over her. Then there's Liza, the restaurant reviewer who'd finally like to enjoy a bit of romance and marriage in her life. And finally there's Dulcie, who sits at home, bored and dissatisfied her husband spends more time with work than with her.

I find the characters of Pru and Liza quite likeable. They have their flaws but they seem to be good people. It's not that Dulcie isn't likeable in her own way. But at the beginning she's bored and spoiled for the most part and then she behaves pretty shallowly in pursuit of a guy she had a crush on as a high schooler. She seems to have the most character development, though, and comes out a much better-liked person in the end.

I don't find the male counterparts of the story are as well-fleshed out. In some ways it's a bit of a superficial feel at times. The arc with Liza and Kit was a bit confusing because it isn't clear exactly what happened to him. It is explained towards the end but the way the story was going, I came to some conclusions that weren't correct. Well it wasn't a terrible thing but I just felt it could have been better than it was.

I did find Pru's romance the sweetest of the three and there were lots of cute and funny moments along the way. She also had a bit of character development when she stopped being a bit of a doormat.

Overall this was pretty likeable story and I give it a solid three stars.

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I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I did not connect with the characters in this book mostly because it did not catch my attention in the beginning. I know that many love author Mansell and I always order her books, but this one was not for me.

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This book is about 3 friends, Liza, Dulcie and Pru. Two are getting divorced and one has trouble committing. This is a re issue, previously published in 1998. It wasn’t my favorite of hers, but it kept me entertained. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

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I'ma huge fan of Jill Mansell and enjoyed this book. It wasnt a favourite but written well and enjoyable to read. A lovely mix of characters and cheered through it know that the end would provide a happy ending!

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Thus is a great relaxing read with loads of laugh out loud moments! Will happily read this author again.

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I really wanted to like this book, but i just couldn't and I can't recommend it. I finished it simply because I don't like doing that, but this really wasn't my type of reading. I do believe this one was brought back from the past, where it should have stayed

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If any of the women in this book tried to befriend me IRL (especially Dulcie), I would run far and fast in the opposite direction. I almost DNFed this because of the sheer unlikeability of all of the characters, but I pushed through because I liked Mansell’s writing style. Everything wrapped up a little too neatly at the end, and I was frankly disappointed that all of the characters were rewarded after being so simpering/selfish.

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What I love about Jill Mansell's books is her ability to create such interesting characters and not just the main characters. For instance Lisa's parents next door neighbour, she only has a small part but I laughed out loud at the picture of her with her torch.

The book begins with three friends making their New Years resolutions, Lisa, Dulcie and Pru. Three very different t characters looking forward to the coming year. Lisa is a food critic who very quickly gets bored in relationships, Dulcie is married to a man who works long hours and feeling neglected she joins the local health spa. Pru's husband is a drunk, a gambler and has a roving eye. When Lisa writes a critical restaurant review what will the knock on effect be for her? Dulcie meets up with an old friend at the Health Spa and Pru has to make some dramatic changes.

As we reach the end of the book what a difference a year makes. I really enjoyed this book, it's about friendships and new beginnings.

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I recieved an advanced readers copy from Netgalley.

This was definately worth a re-read (I read the first edition a few years ago, when I went through most of Mansell's books). I just love how Jill Mansell always juggles more love stories in each book. It works.

Oh how frustrating the leads are acting in the beginning of the book and how they come to their senses later and get their happy ever after. The story is written with a lot of humor without making it ridiculous.

My favorite character of the book is Pru. I think she grows up a lot throughout the book.

My least favorite character is Liam. He is just a waste of women's time! I so wanna punch him :-D

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This is a totally classic Jill Mansell style book. Having loved Mansell since discovering her at the age of 15, and having read every single one of her books (many more than once), I was pleased to get a chance to read this one again due to it being rereleased in January. You always know what you are getting when you read one of Jill’s books - but this is no bad thing.
Mixed Doubles focuses on a trio of women in their early 30s, who make a New Years resolution based on their love lives at the time and how these unfold over the following year. Dulcie, Pru and Liza’s friendship is excellently played out, you can feel their fondness and loyalty in all of their interactions, yet this doesn’t mean that they don’t bicker and occasionally say what needs to be said even if it’s hard to hear.
Mansell’s characters are always interesting and detailed, even those that have a smaller role in the book. I adore the way that they are written, with funny lines to keep it light where needed.
This is an easy read, but still keeps you interested and wanting to read more. I definitely recommend this, along with all of her other novels. In my opinion there isn’t a weak one in her repertoire!
I honestly can’t wait for her newest one in January! Thank you to netgalley, Jill Mansell and her publishers for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

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Another awesome book by Jill Mansell! I always enjoy her stories, and Mixed Doubles was no exception. This was a super cute story about best friends Liza, Dulcie, and Pru, and their new year resolutions that will remind you a lot can happen in a year! A quick and funny read filled with romance and drama, and did I mention a beautiful cover!?

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I have read almost every one of Jill Mansell's books and I have enjoyed most of them, unfortunately this one is plain bad. The writing is not good (I was so bored) and the characters are not developed for one bit. Actually, the characters are stupid, shallow and awful. I can't believe this will be published when many of Jill's other books are great. You can really tell this is outdated with all the answering machines and no mobiles.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for kindly providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Three cheers for strong, determined women who truly care about each other and love and support each other regardless of what life throws their way. They all made their New Years resolutions come true but in car more different ways than expected. What I liked most about Pru, Liza and Dulcie is that they stayed true to themselves and knew what they deserved. The British humor always helps as well and I could read another book about Kit and Liza.

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