Cover Image: Thank You, Next

Thank You, Next

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Really Enjoyed this one! It was cute and funny! Took a little while for me to warm up to it but once I was in it was very enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

Overall a cute read! As someone who has never been on Tinder, but loves hearing the ridiculous dating stories from my friends... I felt like I was listening to the same kind of stories in this book! Zoe and Dani and Zoe and Robbie's friendships were great, they might've been my favourite relationships to read of them all.

The reason I didn't LOVE this book? I don't think I loved Zoe. I did think the Zodiac way of dating was a little silly, I wish she had a few more good dates that could make you believe she might find someone online, or maybe her real love interest could've come along sooner. I just wasn't drawn into her character's search for love as much as I wanted to be, and sometimes found her slightly annoying?

I also think her and the final love, fell into it too quickly? I don't know... I was missing that draw, the flirty conversations.

While I did find the storyline slightly predictable, but what rom-com isn't! I really enjoyed the ending and who she ends up with. One thing I would've loved even more? A bit more relationship talk than Dungeons and Dragons, but hey! I'm sure D&D fans enjoyed that part!

Was this review helpful?

This books follows the dating journey of Zoe after she discovered that she was ready to date again. With encouragement from her friend Robbie, she makes the decision to join Tinder and starts the quest to date her way through the star signs until she finds 'the one'.

Thank You, Next is actually my first book by Sophie Ranald and I can tell you now it most definitely will not be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed tagging alone in Zoe's dating journey, experiencing the good, the bad and the ugly.

I simply loved Zoe. So much. The dates that she experienced were extremely inventive (the serenader in particular) and they actually had me giggling along at some points. I loved the friendship storyline between Zoe and Dani and their daily gym catch-ups which truly highlighted the importance of having a friendship like that in your life for me. It was so refreshing to read a romance story that didn't solely focus on the romantic storyline but also had other small storylines intertwined within the book.

I have to admit, the D&D scenes went right over my head as I simply feel I do not have the mental capacity to even understand the basics of that game, no matter understand a whole game of it. BUT, that didn't take away the enjoyment I got from this book as the D&D scenes were vital in establishing the chemistry that was brewing between the pair.

This book was simply a breathe of fresh air and I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sophie Ranald for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, three stars is probably a little generous for Thank You, Next. I’ve been married for 14 years, so maybe I’m way too removed from dating to appreciate the bulk of this read. However, as a romance, I really don’t want to read a book where the first 79% is dedicated to the heroine (and her friend) dating losers and then spending weeks or months with one loser in particular for whom they're constantly making excuses. Although, the h openly admits that she’s afraid to be alone, but isn’t good enough. It read pathetic to me. When she finally “sees” the guy she should’ve been dating all along, a really great guy, less than 5% of the story is dedicated to their relationship. That doesn’t feel like a romance to me.

If hot mess is what you’re looking for, you should be all over this one. However, if you want to see a relationship spark, grow, deepen and flourish, I think you should look elsewhere.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Thank You, Next by Sophie Ranald is the perfect novel for 2020! It is a romance that makes you laugh.

Zoe decides she wants to date after finally getting over her ex. Her friend and employee Robbie tells her she needs to use a dating app. There are too many people out there, but Zoe needs to find what she likes and doesn’t like in a romantic partner. Robbie decides Zoe will date one man from each horoscope starting with the least compatible horoscopes.

I really enjoyed reading about Zoe’s dating disasters. The dates were all over the top and hilarious. I was cringing so much but also laughing reading about Zoe’s dates and experiences on the app. Zoe really finds out a lot about herself through going out with different men and discussing her experiences with her friends.

Zoe is very kind and never wants anyone to feel bad. This includes when her date is putting her in awkward situations. Zoe struggles through many situations I would run away from (or at least I hope I would).

Zoe goes to the gym regularly and develops a friendship with her workout buddy, Dani. Dani and Zoe are both single and lonely at the beginning of the novel. They both are dating and looking for a relationship. They would recap dates to each other and ask each other if their date’s actions were normal or not. Their friendship and support really added to the story.

Thank You, Next was such a fun and light read. I loved the story and all of the characters.

I recommend Thank You, Next to fans of cute romances that will make you laugh and fans of Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for Thank You, Next.

Was this review helpful?

I love the Romance genre, being captivated by both our protagonists and their love interests. Unfortunately, I didn't get hooked on the plotline or with the characters. I definitely flew through the book, because it was an easy read, but I didn't love it. I wish I did love it, because dating as a 20-something in the era of technology is hrd and crazy. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I love a good chick-lit novel and you know one with a name matching a recent song from a pop diva it’s definitely going to be a lot of fun. And this one really is. I barely put it down.

Thank You, Next follows Zoe who having only recently settled down in one place. She lives above a pub called The Ginger Cat with her pet cat, Frazzle and works down in the kitchen. She’s only just gotten over her ex Joe and with the help of her friend Robbie, she decides to give online dating a go. The difference being is that she is going to try to date a man of every sign in the zodiac to see if she can find a man compatible for her.

It’s a lot of fun and unsurprisingly Zoe goes on a lot of bad dates but there’s a lot more of that in this book.

I’ve recently realised that the reason I prefer chick-lit to romance is that I love seeing the stories of the other characters in the main characters life. And this book certainly provided that. You had Robbie who is young and happily playing the field, Dani who Zoe befriended at the gym and Adam, who Zoe asks to be the DM for the Dungeons and Dragons meet up.

Yeah, you heard that, the main character in this plays DnD. She is a newbie to it, curious about playing it after watching Stranger Things. But the group that gets together isn’t just poking fun at nerds. And that was so fun to read about. Especially one of the scenes that happens near the end of the book. That was cute. I won’t lie, I wasn’t sure the DnD was quite accurate. I’ve not played it yet – though I want to – and I’m pretty sure the players are supposed to be doing the rolls not the DM. And the story they were doing was kind of dull. But I really did love this inclusion and it added something to it.

The characters were all varied and fun and I really felt for Dani. She meets a questionable guy and some stuff happens to her but she works through it. She has Zoe’s support and I think they were definitely my favourite friendship.

There were obviously a lot of dates and there’s two longer lasting relationships for Zoe in this. Obviously one doesn’t work and from the off I was like yeah, he’s using you. From the outside it seems so obvious but obviously Zoe is looking for someone to settle down with her. So at first it must have seemed wonderful. But yeah, he obviously didn’t really care. She does end up with a good guy and those last scenes of them getting together is definitely worth it.

There’s a little bit of smut. Not with the guy she ends up with and it’s certainly not long or descriptive but it’s worth noting there’s some sexual content. There’s a lot more talk of sex and definitely some kinks that can be a little risky but it’s talked about honestly. So I definitely didn’t mind the inclusion.

If you love animals there’s a lot of animal inclusion in here. You have the pet cat, Frazzle who is completely adorable though naughty. And there’s a lot of birds too and I learned you can leave bacon rinds out for birds. I think I’ll keep that in mind in the future. Animals being important is always a cute bonus and I love it.

This was an incredibly enjoyable book and I sped through it. I had to make myself put the book down when I needed to sleep as I wanted to read it in one sitting but it was late.

Amazing read and I highly recommend it to all.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eARC of this book. When I see a book from Bookouture, I need to read it,!!

Thank You, Next is a such a fun book on the era of hating game, The kiss quotient. It creates a unique tale about today’s dating scene. The book reads to be a funny, lightheaded read. The characters are fun and easy to fall in love with.

Was this review helpful?

Thank You, Next is a such a fun book! It's depicts dating in this current day and age. I enjoyed this book. It was lighthearted, but a tad rushed at the end. The characters are fun and the idea behind it was great.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Wow, this book was very interesting because it was actually different than what I usually read and prefer when it comes to romantic comedies so it was definitely something unexpected. One of the things about this book that got to me was how the love interest for our main character was not actually clear until almost the end, so there was some suspense which sometimes does work for me, but most times I do get annoyed quickly when I don't know who the actual love interest is because it leaves the ending questionable to whether will I end up being dissappointed or whether will I be happy? However, this book was a cute and fun read, I just don't think it had my style or the elements I love in a romantic comedy, but at the same time it was good for a first timer who has never read a book by Sophie Ranald before.

Was this review helpful?

"thank you, next" accompanies astrology-obsessed zoë through the hapless highs and lows of dating in the twenty-first century following the messy aftermath of a breakup with her ex, joe. over the course of the novel, online dating profiles are erected, dick pics are deleted, and cats are scratched. this book exists in a category i like to call domestic dread, which lives opposite the slice-of-life that is domestic bliss. it contains all the trappings of a home environment full of love: warm, homemade food, fuzzy feline creatures, and bird-infested beer gardens. the catch is that most of the narrative is saturated with zoë's ill attempts at finding a date with a man who isn't totally dysfunctional, and as a result, over 50% of the novel follows her on dating mishaps designed to be outrageous and therefore funny. instead, most serve to slow down an already slow narrative, and there are few, if any, genuinely laugh out loud moments.

i found the book's pacing to be something of an anomaly and am still slightly bewildered by the fact that zoë's real love interest only makes an appearance in the late second half of the book—and even then, his involvement in the narrative is relegated to brief, standout moments. he was by far and large the most interesting and three-dimensional of sophie ranald's offerings and i was immediately fascinated with the contrast created by his coldness and zoë's warmth. that chafe was short-lived, however, and so too was my hope for greater romantic development between the pair. too long was spent following zoë on terrible tinder dates, or else navel-gazing with her satirically leftist boyfriend who was clearly freeloading from the get-go.

strangely, the better moments in the book for me were the more minute details of domestic dread. i enjoyed following zoë to the gym during her workouts with dani—even if 99% of their conversations were spent discussing men, or wishing they were lesbians so they didn't have to deal with the dysfunctions of heterosexual dating—or cozying up inside her pub, the ginger cat, while she whipped up warm meals for her patrons. the food writing in this was almost more engaging than the actual romance, and one of the greatest opportunities for exploring meta-narratives was wasted when the dungeons and dragons gameplay was only briefly employed as an entry-point into the main romance and as a way to later establish their relationship at the very end of the book.

for readers who love the 'will they, won't they?' more than the actual getting together, "thank you, next" is a fun, light read with very little at stake and perhaps too much in the way of astrological musings.

Was this review helpful?

Zoe's love life is non existent! Her work colleague uses tinder and is a love em an leave them kind of guy. He suggests she uses a dating app to find love and she comes up with an idea to date based on their horoscope sign.

I found this book really funny. It jumps in with one her dates which, of course, is an hilarious disaster. We then go back 6 months to find out why she using a dating app to find love. It's fresh and modern and is the perfect tonic for these strange days we live in. A perfect escape. I loved this book.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a light-hearted and quick read about the pitfalls of modern dating. Well, I assume that's what it's meant to be, and it was done well as far as that goes. But once you scratch the surface, a lot of questions come up, the primary one being: Why do the women in this book define themselves almost purely by whether they are part of a couple? Yes, I realize this is a classic romcom, but surely someone who says she identifies as a feminist should have a bit more than just that limited view.

I loved the setting - the Ginger Cat pub - and the role it plays in the community. And I thought the friendships between the protagonist and the various people in her life were very well-written - this made the protagonist very likeable. Of course the story included the requisite happy end, which was extremely foreseeable but satisfying none the less.

All in all, 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

Was this review helpful?

I can't help but sing this title in my head 🙄.
I've never read anything by Sophie Ranald so this was a new, exciting experience for me. And I'm glad to say that I loved the book, I loved the relatable and diverse cjareacters, I loved the easy to follow plot line, I loved thay this was a quick and easy read for me. Can't wait to pick up more by the author now!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a lighthearted story about Zöe, the highs and lows her dating life as well as her friends and cat Frazzle.

This was certainly a relaxing read that had me smiling to myself as I made my way through the book. I wouldn’t say there were any moments where I fully laughed out loud, but overall this book made me happy. I enjoyed the structure of the book, although it was slightly repetitive in parts.

I think the author did a great job of the dialogue especially between Zöe and Dani, and Zöe and Robbie. It felt like a real friendship developed between them, and you could also feel it getting stronger throughout the book which was a nice touch. I found some of the internal dialogue went on for a bit too long sometimes, sometimes found myself skipping over paragraphs here and there but not huge amounts.

I really liked the majority of characters in this book and found that they weren’t too similar, there was a wide variety of different characters and personalities to navigate. I was disappointed with how quickly the author skipped over Fabian and the things he did, considering how serious they actually were - perhaps they should have been toned down a bit of the author did not have the word count to address them.

Overall a fun and easy read, with great characters and a cute story.

Was this review helpful?

This book was adorable! The characters were fun and relatable. I enjoyed reading along to Zoe’s adventures through the dating world. Sophie has a way of describing the characters and the atmosphere that allows me to close my eyes and picture myself as a character in the book.
When I’m in the mood for a rom-com, Sophie is one of my go-to authors! I really love her books.

Was this review helpful?

Online dating but by star sign. Follow the ups and lows of this attempt to find Mr Right by following zodiac advice. The book follows characters from a previous book but it can be read as a stand alone or as a follow up. It's good to follow characters as they develop become more central to the story as well as previous central characters taking more of a supporting role. Enjoy meeting old friends again, getting acquainted with others you only knew sightly and introduced to hopefully new friends.
Sophie does not disappoint.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley, Sophie Ranald, and Bookouture for my arc of Thank You, Next in exchange for an honest review.

How to find love in the age of dating apps? Ask Zoe. This book is LOL funny and so relatable to those who seek romance in a world full of dick pics.

This is my first Sophie Ranald book. I immediately clicked with Zoe and her struggle of getting over her ex-boyfriend Joe. She wakes up one morning and realizes she can breathe. This is also relatable. Sometimes her dates are hilarious. Sometimes they can be a little sad. I think that every single woman out there should read this book and realize that maybe what they are looking for is right in front of them.

This book is 5 funny stars for our heroine Zoe for pulling herself up through the ranks and finding a decent person to love!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Another fun read from Sophie Ranald! This time we follow Zoe as she tries to navigate the online dating world. Zoe had many memorable comedic experiences when meeting her online dates. I enjoyed how the characters from Ranalad's previous books were intertwined and carried on into this one. Zoe is still curious about Joe and his life. But Zoe moves her focus in studying of astrology and how it can play a part in her dating life.

Was this review helpful?

This is my second time reading Sophie ranald’s books and I do have to say .. for the fun romance part she always gets me

In Thank you Next , we get to go through Zoe’s dating journey which proves once again how exhausting and stressful online dating can be but ofcourse there are moment that will make you laugh out loud

About the book;-
Zoe a 27 year older lady , chronically single doesn’t really want to die alone surrounded by cats , she decides to go through with her friend Robbie’s idea of dating through the zodiac signs until she finds The one

As an Aquarius , she follows her everyday horoscope and start working her way from virgo to gemini.
It’s a very easy and fun book also very predictable but honestly every rom-com is predictable
I give this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 star because I loved the innocent romance between Zoe and Adam and although I’m not a fan of Dungeons and Dragons game myself I still enjoyed every moments in it

Thank you @NetGalley and @bookouture and also the author @sophieranald for giving me the opportunity to read this book ❤️

Was this review helpful?