Such a fantastic discovery of a book.

I knew I’d like this book within the first couple of pages; Christian’s writing is sharp and funny, full of little observations that reveal so much. Her characters are warmly and fully drawn. Even characters that we don’t spend much time with come alive through just a little dialogue or description. I actually laughed out loud at early hijinx, and that’s a rarity when I’m reading.

This book was billed as a romantic comedy, and it is hilarious and has a happy ending. But it also wrecked me. I ugly sobbed multiple times, not because of plot machinations but because the distance between me and the moment in the book collapsed. Noni is a fat thirty-six year old woman who realizes that she hasn’t been very happy. Life hasn’t been miserable, but a jolt happens and she feels the need to shake up her life. She travels, she sleeps with different men and women (I noticed that one of the other reviews said that they didn’t like the “one night stand lifestyle”, which Is both judgmental and dumb. Reading about a character having one night stands which are completely in character and in plot is not the same as doing it yourself), she spends time with herself. What I especially like about the book is that while there’s a romance with a really terrific love interest (the descriptions of his long hair alone are delightful), the focus is Noni. This is her journey; she’s the one who’s pushing outside her comfort zone. As cliche as it is, the biggest love story is the one Noni has with herself.

This is one of those books that, after I finished, stuck with me. I can’t wait to revisit it in a few months to see how it reads a second time. To get technical, my rating would probably be 4.5****, since this is a book that I really wanted an epilogue for, just to make sure everyone is doing well a year down the road. It’s not a perfect book, but reading it was a pleasure, which Noni would approve of.

*I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.*

The description promises a light rom-com, and it does deliver.
I can't say this book personally resonated with me. It had its good moments, and I liked Noni, but I also never felt immersed in her narration. The idea of her pleasure quest is hardly surprising, but I suppose I'm not in a position where I could relate to her. Especially considering that I am not a fan of one-night stand culture. (Why does Noni keep making the mistake of jumping at every sexual opportunity for the sake of it?) By the end, I could not have been less surprised at her final decision, but it didn't feel sensible. Which is obviously the point, but... what's wrong with waiting to make sure that the relationship is truly worth it?
I did like some of the values that Noni's quest promotes, and she does undergo noticeable self-improvement through her journey. I only wish that so much of it wasn't centred around finding love and good sex.
Overall, I don't entirely regret the read, but it wasn't my thing.