I appreciate having had an opportunity to read and review this book. The appeal of this particular book was not evident to me, and if I cannot file a generally positive review I prefer simply to advise the publisher to that effect and file no review at all.

A fantastic four star read.
Well worth reading, as good as any of his other books! I thoroughly enjoyed this.

I loved this book and would highly recommend it to all. It has a great story line, brilliant main characters and is a real page turner. I couldn't put this book down.

You know where you stand when getting a Nick Spalding's book. His use of language is masterful and that alone is worth the reading. As usual the story is interspersed with intelligent humour and fabulous, quirky - to say the least- characters. Very light and entertaining but be prepared to find very good food for thought should you decide to read between the lines - another sign this is definitely top comedy. I couldn't help giving real life faces to the characters (both actors and, ahem, very well known memebers of public life). I can see a film (or a series?) coming out of this brilliant plot. I laughed so much! Definitely recommended and to be put on top of the to-be-read this summer.
I had the great pleasure to be able to read this book through NetGalley, before it was published. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.
#DumpedActually #NetGalley

Great storyline, amazing characters & very witty. I loved reading this book & would highly recommend it.

This book needs to be adapted into a 20 episode series - Ollie and his life encounters since getting dumped. A definite entertainer. One of the funniest writings I have come across these past few months.

Ollie was dumped by his girlfriend, yet again without a clue and was drowning in self-pity. He wrote about his breakups with a feature piece on a web-based magazine and asked the subscribers for advice on how to mend his broken heart. The way Ollie whines and exaggerates every tiny little things that were not going his way was just too much for me. I wish the author had developed the storyline with Wimsy rather than solely focusing on whiny, clueless Ollie.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An amusing tale of the woes of being human and trying to be a good one. I sniggered and snorted my way through the trials and tribulations of a character that needed to “grow a pair”. A good book, not one to push you but entertaining to say the least.

Dumped, Actually is another laugh out loud book from Nick Spalding. I received some funny looks on my commute to work but it was totally worth it. I thought Dry Hard was a bit so-so but Nick is back on top form with Dumped, Actually. I can't write anything about the story without spoiling it but look out for the episode in the forest!

I have never read a book by this author before, but, my goodness I will from now on. Hilariously funny, good storyline, believable and lovable characters. One thing I will say though is do not read this in the car (as I did in parts) as you get the strangest looks when laughing at some of the antics that Sweet gets up too. Highly recommended

When Ollie is very publicly dumped by “The One”, his seemingly perfect world dissolved into misery. Until a bizarre chance encounter on a rooftop with a suicidal man in flip flops. While most would seek out the support of those close to him, Ollie reaches out to his subscribers, writing all about his break up. What follows is a series of soul seeking adventures recommended by his readers. With the support of all his subscribers, can Ollie mend his broken heart and find happiness again?

One of the funniest, most heart felt books I’ve ever read. I very rarely laugh out loud when reading. It takes a lot, but Rolf Harris jokes while camping with deers peering in, that makes me laugh out loud. Hearing all of Ollie’s adventures spoken about so honestly are just so funny. Then of course he figures out the root of his problems and it’s sad and raw. It takes you on the full roller coaster. It was refreshing reading a romance novel from a male perspective. Absolutely loved it!

This was the first book I've read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and the characters were well thought out.

While reading this book I actually lost count of the times that I laughed out loud!! Not just the occasional small chuckle but genuinely loud cackles.

Ollie is so relatable and the way his story is told, is so captivating; you truly are on the rollercoaster of life with him. You get to experience all of his ups and downs and take some sense of joy from his misadventures.

As someone that is also trying to be more mindful, it's a really quite nice to be able to see how Ollie deals with the cards he's been dealt and how he works through new (hilarious) situations.

I went into this book thinking it would maybe be purely a romantic novel, focusing solely on Ollie's relationships but it blossomed in to so much more than that. It truly is a coming of age story; full of new truths and adventure.

*I am grateful to have been given this book as an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are mine.*


Not gonna lie, when I first started this book I was NOT impressed with it. I almost DNF'd it because I wasn't sure I would have anything good to say. The main character, Ollie, gets dumped by his girlfriend and complains about not understanding why because he is such a "nice guy". I HATE the nice guy routine, and I sort of thought he was a wimp, rather than being a romantic hero. I also knew going in that there were going to be a few cringe worthy moments (he writes a column asking how to get over his ex and follows people's advice and of course hilarity ensues), and I don't necessarily like reading/watching things where people get embarrassed. I always feel second hand embarrassment for them rather than enjoying it. I was surprised the further in that I got into the book though, I was enjoying Ollie's story and found him to be a rather pleasant and lovable character, a genuine "nice" guy if not a bit too needy for my own tastes. Toward the end I couldn't put the book down and stayed up late last night in order to finish it. It sort of reminded me of a "Shopaholic" era Sophie Kinsella novel; entertaining and just plain CUTE.

I got half way through this book,and then just didn't get any further.
It just wasn't tickling my funny bone. In fact it hadn't even raised a small smile.
I could see the humour in it,but it felt a bit too predictable for me. Possibly trying a bit too hard.
So whilst I see it's not badly written,it just wasn't my type of humour.

A very light and quick read! So many spots that will leave you laughing out loud. This is my first read by this author, and I will definitely look for more. I like following the progression of Ollie as he experiences heartbreak and then uses his experience to help others as well as himself.

Thanks Netgalley!

Not a bad read, a good story, did think ollie was a bit wet and couldn't really warm to him, previous novels of Nicks have made me laugh out loud this one not so much, but kept me engaged until the end

Oliver Sweet, your typical ‘nice guy’. I absolutely loved this book. I love Nick Spaulding and have enjoyed all of his book. Reader beware, if you’re reading this book in public you may have to hold your laughing in!! Thanks to Netgalley for letting me review this title.

Light hearted cheery uplifting book! Ollie and his disastrous love life, will make you smile and laugh out loud at his antics, nice to read a book from a more male perspective, that is easily relatable and believable!
This book is a feel good, funny treat to devour in one sitting!
Thank you net galley for this advance copy to read much enjoyed x

I was curious to see how I would rate this book; for me Bricking It, a previous book by Splading ,was the funniest book I had ever experienced and I didn't see this being any better. Boy, was I wrong. It's the utter comedy perfection I've come to expect from this author but also a really really REALLY good story with loveable, well developed characters and antics that keep you wanting to turn the page to see what happens next.

I don't remember the last time I've laughed as much as while reading this book, its definitely one you don't want to read sat alone in a coffee if you're conscious of people staring. I was there blurting out proper belly laughs, not just cute little chuckles.

It's also really refreshing to have a man being dumped and going through the phases that typically we see in chick-lit and then working through things in a quite unique way and coming out the other side with an interesting perspective.

I've really enjoyed this book and I'm pretty sad that its over. 5/5.

Oliver (the MC) is sweet and lovable but also a total pushover and sometimes-idiot, to the point that some of his actions were exasperating. At the beginning of the story I wasn't sure if he would win me over, but win me over he did!

A really fun story, full of interesting characters and plenty of truly laugh out loud moments.

Nick Spalding continues to be a winner!

Ollie plans a very elaborate proposal to Samantha, his love. Her fondness for theme parks makes the grand opening of Thorn Manor a perfect time to propose - and it is on Samantha's birthday, too.

Ollie has planned everything from a band, to a first ride on a roller coaster and even a 24K gold ring!

And then it's off to the zany adventures that only Nick Spalding can entertain with. His humor never ceases to delight!

Many Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for another great read!

I absolutely loved this book! I was crying with laughter quite a few times, Nick Spalding is my go to author when I want cheered up. I realise comedy is extremely subjective and these books might not appeal to everyone, but Nick's books really appeal to my sense of humour. Some of the situations Ollie gets himself into after being dumped by his girlfriend are absolutely hysterical. I also loved Ollie's parents, they were bewildered but always supportive,
Fabulous book, I would thoroughly recommend.

This is a fast read about a man who’s a chameleon and doormat. After a disastrous public breakup, he tries to move on and grow up. The story is predictable and sometimes the writing doesn’t flow, but Ollie’s propensity for ridiculous situations is humorous.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved this book never read any by this author before but will definitely be looking at his others - Ollie is publicly dumped - this leads him to writing about his quest for true love and we see unfold a great endearing book about finding true love

I love Spalding’s writing, but I do feel that his last two (this included) aren’t as strong as the early works.

This was an enjoyable, quick read with some absolutely hilarious moments, but it lacked the grab factor. The first and last thirds just felt a bit lacking, though the middle was fantastic.

Still recommended, but not as highly as it should have been.

Another hilarious book which most of us can relate to. I didn’t give it my usual 5 stars because, while it was funny, it didn’t make me snort, laugh out loud or choke on my coffee.

Absolutely brilliant. Loved the book so very much. It was hilarious and lovely. It had some throwbacks to a previous novel (which made me squeal with excitement). The characters were fantastic and so well written. I loved them all, even the one I loved to hate. The story is written so very well - who needs self help books when they have Nick Spalding. This book is truly extraordinary and I can’t wait for the next Nick Spalding book to come out.

Absolutely Brilliant, so much so I have already recommended it to a book group I'm part of. I love how nick spalding addresses issues people have been through and can relate to one way or another. I was up until 2am this morning finishing this! loved it. Also loved the subtle mention of Dry Hard!

Dumped, Actually is a nice well-written comedy around Oliver, a writer who's going through a tough breakup. We follow him through his internal turmoils. I laughed a lot and I caught myself cheering him up internally. The humor kept me reading until the end, but I got distracted a lot in the way. Even though I felt a lot of empathy toward Ollie, he wasn't a character that could bear the whole book.

What started out as a funny book that had me laughing out loud in places, sadly didn't keep me entertained to the end. I couldn't warm to the protagonist Ollie, and I think the book would have benefitted with more about the character Wimsy, who I found to be more authentic and likeable.

The book is well written and I liked the various ideas suggested to Ollie to help him get over his broken heart but he was just too needy and irritating for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet story about self-discovery and self-acceptance. I liked Ollie as a character and I enjoyed the side stories as well. The whole book was light and entertaining and kept me engaged.

The only thing that took away from the story was the heavy-handed humour and the third-wall breaks. There were times when the author spent a lot of time examining and re-examining the same scene, seemingly to show off his plentiful supply of euphemisms for things like boogers. Had the author toned these moments down and kept the third-wall breaks out of it entirely, I would have liked this even more.

I couldn’t stand the whiny pathetic nature of the main character- Ollie! No wonder he was dumped!
I tried to see past the irritation of the main character but just couldn’t get into the story because I didn’t feel anything for Ollie, apart from frustration
Maybe you need to be a true Nick Spalding fan or a true Romantic to love this book. I dumped this book though!

This was my first Nick Spalding novel and I have to say, this MUST be read with an English accent! Oliver Sweet is a journalist who gets very publicly dumped while proposing to his girlfriend. He writes about it in the paper and asks the subscribers for advice. What ensues is the laugh-out-loud adventures of him following their advice. However his whole "woe is me" attitude, while entertaining at first, became old fast, especially in comparison to his friend Wimsy. Also, though I understood the ending I didn't like it and was left wanting more.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fast and fun read - it's been a while since I found myself guffawing out loud while reading, and that happened several times in the course of reading this book. Having said that, Ollie is a bit of a weenie and I felt his character struggled to carry the weight of an entire book on his shoulders. The book is well-written, and as the story develops and Ollie grows throughout the book, you can see him stretching out and taking up the space he should, rather than stooping and accommodating everyone else as he was before. I also liked the fact that there was no classic "happy end", but rather a hopeful open end.

Entertaining read, the story of Ollie, who proposed to his girlfriend but was dumped instead.
As a writer for an online publication, he writes about what happened to him, and then is encouraged by his editor to follow the advice of some of the readers who responded to the article, with ways of how to get over a broken heart.

A hard book to review. I had heard of this author before but never read anything of his so took the book for a bit of a laugh.

The book started off with a proposal gone wrong which left me wondering what was I getting myself into by choosing this book, however when Ollie started to publish his break up and request ideas on how to get over his heartbreak, the story picked up to be quite funny.

Some parts of the book were a little outlandish and try hard, in my opinion, such as Ollie’s discussion with Troy the Australian elephant and his clear belief that a boiled egg mad his parents mad but I did like the message within the book on how he found his way to self acceptance.

I’d like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishers for an advanced copy of this book in reply for an honest review.

Dumped, Actually follows ‘nice guy’ Ollie, who after being dumped by his girlfriend, sets out to change his life by following the guidance of the subscribers to his column. What follows is a funny, strange yet heartwarming story about the quirky nature of humans and how the kindness of strangers can lead to monumental life changes along the road to self discovery.

I instantly warmed to Ollie as a character. I found him genuine, if a little too ‘nice’. At times I wanted him to be a bit grittier, and a bit less pathetic - especially in the beginning. He’s a bit of a push over without a backbone, but as the story progresses Ollie starts come into his own, and it was nice to see the overall arc and character development. I find there’s not enough male characters like Ollie in contemporary fiction, so it was a refreshing change.

Some of the situations Ollie finds himself in are a little on the extreme and absurd, and at times I did have to suspend my disbelief, but the humour and warmth to the writing kept it on the right side of ridiculous. This is a definite feel good book. The plot does also get a little predictable, especially towards the end, and the conclusion was obvious, but I found myself not really that bothered by it.

A lighthearted, quick read, perfect for those looking for a couple of hours escapism in a humour filled journey in self discovery.

This is the first book I have read by Nick Spalding but I am sure it won't be the last. Dumped Actually is the hysterical story of Ollie Sweet who is devastated after losing what he thought was "the one." In an attempt to get over her, Sweet, a writer, decides to write about the whole experience. His story quickly gains popularity and then he continues to write about trying out all of the various ways other people have suggested he get over this girl.

I was drawn to this novel because I found the title humorous. I stayed with the novel because I found myself frequently laughing out loud as I read it. I found myself having to explain parts to my husband because he wanted to know what had me so tickled.

Overall this was a fabulous, funny read! Get it when it comes out in July!

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After falling in love with Nicks writing after reading Mad Love I was excited to read his latest book and it didnt disappoint.
I don't think I've ever laughed as much reading a book as when I'm reading books by Nick Spalding and this one had me with tears rolling down my face at times.
The book follows writer Ollie and how he writes a column to help him get over being ditched by his latest girlfriend. It was refreshing to read a book on a man's point of view of being dumped and how he used other peoples experiences to help get over his latest loss (some not quite as successful as others)
If your looking for a laugh out loud book then this is the one for you. I loved it and will definitely be reading more by Nick!

Ollie Sweet has planned the perfect proposal for his girlfriend Samantha. A very public proposal. It never occurs to him that she might not say yes. In the aftermath of being publicly humiliated, and being dumped, he's finding it hard to move on. His boss, the editor at Actual Life lifestyle website, persuades Ollie that writing about his experience might be cathartic, and asking readers for their advice could even help him to turn his life back around. Following some of their advice leads to chaos and some hilarious outcomes, but will it help him with his ultimate goal of mending a broken heart and moving on?

I requested this off NetGalley after having read and loved Dry Hard, by the same author. I found Dumped, Actually marginally less amusing, but still a very entertaining read.

At first I thought Ollie was a bit of a wet blanket, and for the first few chapters found him a bit annoying. How could he be so clueless? He began to grow on me as the book progressed though, and by the end I was hoping things worked out for him.

I liked the idea of the story, and the suggestions that Ollie had for how to get over a break up were quite comical. Although a lot of the ideas were fairly standard for the advice you get after a break up, Spalding turns them into very funny escapades. I think part of why the book is so engaging is because you can empathise with Ollie, and a lot of the things he does and faces are things many people have done or gone through.

The only bit of the book that didn't work for me was the ending. It seemed really sudden and out of nowhere that Ollie realised he had feelings for someone new, and there had been no hints or build up earlier in the story. It just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the book. It's a minor complaint though in what was otherwise an enjoyable read.

I've given 3 stars, it's probably more like a 3.5 really. It's an entertaining and light hearted read, just didn't quite keep me as well entertained as Dry Hard did

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Lake Union Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

Ollie's journey was... comical and interesting to say the least. Nick Spalding has a very unique writing style.. and this book was no different.. you definitely know what to expect when you read his books.

For me NIck Spalding is a go to author when I need a book that will make me laugh, he's the master of finding the funny in the everyday experiences that are universal, and in his latest , Dumped, Actually, he tackles the thorny subject of breaking up.
Oliver is a features writer for a website, and he feels like he is finally ready to pop THE question to his girlfriend Samantha, and he's determined to do it in the biggest way possible. He's secured the cooperation of a local theme park, hired a jazz band and bought the ring. Since Samantha loves roller coasters, he's decided that the perfect moment to pop the question is right after they step off the newest and most exciting one in the park. So what if he's feeling more than a little queasy - it will still be perfect, right?
Wrong, Things start to go wrong before they even get on the ride, but all that pales into insignificance when Samantha flat our turns him down, and ends the relationship.
Distraught, Ollie turns to his readers for advice on how to get over the devastating break up, and then has the harebrained idea to follow that advice and write about it. Cue being waxed by a ginger Scotsman, a surreal camping trip and various other adventures as Ollie tries to come to terms with being single before following the simplest and most valuable advice of all.
While this is a really funny book, some of Oliver's adventures do have real value and insight, and I appreciated that side of the book too. I also thought it was good that the story was told from a male perspective, again something a little different and interesting .
This is the perfect holiday read, made for sitting poolside with your shades on and a cocktail in hand.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGally and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This book is cute. It sounds a bit wet and sappy but it's much better than the blurb offers.
The characters are cute and it's a good premise. Nothing special, nothing that breaks the mold, but just a bit of fun.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun and heartbreaking story at the same time.
Firstly I have to admit that it’s the first book that I’ve read by the author but definitely won’t be able to pass another opportunity to read his books again.
The fact that is told in only his POV was also a great point for me as I don’t usually read books like this or I just couldn’t find anything close to it.
I loved the humour and how real it felt. I liked how much it reflects our contemporary life style with the office jobs and what is expected from us from the society.
I liked how he wasn’t over the top about himself and knew his strength points as well as he’s flaws.
It is a really enjoyable book that I am already recommending to all my book friends.


Thanks for the opportunity to read and review to NetGalley and the publisher.

I love Nick Spalding - he never disappoints and Dumped, Actually is no exception.

WARNING - don't read on public transport unless you can laugh quietly.

Ollie Sweet has planned the perfect proposal for his dearly beloved long term girlfriend Samantha - so imagine his horror when she turns him down in front of hundreds of people! Dumped, Actually is the story of Ollie trying to put his life back together, sewed together by some other rather unexpected side characters.

This was a quick, mostly light read, with the occasional sombre moment thrown in too. I did struggle with it a bit initially as I just couldn't engage with Ollie - he was such a wet blanket that I repeatedly wanted to shake him. However, I started to like him and root for him more as the story progressed, and he started to show a bit more backbone.

Overall an easy and quirky read.

This is a portion of the review on my blog Trails of Tales
There is crying with laughter. And then there is laughing with so much uncontrollable exuberance that the stich is not just limited to the side but your whole body is thrown into a state of paralysis and you start worrying that you might not come out of it.

The kind of laughter where the pain in your jaw prevents you from making a rhythmic ‘hahahaha’ sound so you settle for a seemingly endless and breathless ‘Haaaaaaaaaa…..’

Yeah, that kind of laughter is what possessed me while I read ‘Dumped, Actually’. And while I might like to indulge in the occasion bouts of exaggeration, this is me being completely honest.

Nick Spalding‘s ‘Dumped, Actually’ is an absolute laugh riot with a purpose. Through his inspired creation of Ollie, an amazingly ordinary character who is capable of holding a mirror to any and every kind of reader, Nick Spalding takes us all on the journey of self acceptance. And if you think that that would mean some parts of the book might turn out preachy, then you are utterly wrong. It is an exquisitely hilarious book through and through.

Ollie’s blundering experiences and uproarious moments of realization tries to make us understand the most fundamental of concepts in life- you cannot find the perfect love we all wish for if you have never truly loved yourself. Want to find the One? Start treating yourself like the One of your own life. No one else can be the center of your existence.

I really commend the author for being able to make a character as widely relatable as Ollie. His predisposition to entangle himself in the best of embarrassing moments will effortlessly enamour you. Ollie’s story is profound yet simple. It reminds you of all that is important in life and it does so while making you laugh like a maniac.

I have been reading sad and tragic books back to back the last few weeks and ‘Dumped, Actually‘ was exactly what I needed.

I really do want to share all that laughter with you, so pre-order ‘Dumped, Actually’ and get ready for the onslaught of hilarity.

I discovered this author about six months ago when I found Dry Hard on NetGalley, and loved its mix of comedy and insightful relationship drama. I bought several of his other books on the strength of that, and read and quite enjoyed Bricking It, although didn’t find it quite so funny. This one was the same - there are plenty of snigger-worthy moments but nothing that had me laughing out loud. What I did really like was the moral of the story.

Ollie Sweet, 30-something journalist on a struggling Internet magazine, has planned the perfect proposal for his girlfriend Samantha’s 29th Birthday, inspired by the Rom-Com movies he adores, so is gobsmacked and devastated when she not only says no, but dumps him in front of a crowd of onlookers. His boss, Erica, persuades him to write about it, and, figuring he couldn’t possibly feel worse, he pens an article describing his experiences, and asking for ideas on how to help heal his broken heart. To his amazement, it goes viral, and so he follows it up with stories about these suggestions, from a manscaping makeover to camping in a forest. As his success starts to turn the magazine’s fortunes around, through some mortifying but hilarious adventures, Ollie learns some uncomfortable truths about love, life and becoming comfortable in your own skin.

What Spalding does very well is portraying completely relatable normal people with all their insecurities and foibles, and putting them in ridiculous and embarrassing situations. Ollie is a likeable kind-hearted doormat, and you feel his pain as the glorious future he has envisaged crumbles away - anyone who has been dumped should recognise that. While the situations he ends up in are over the top and mostly all arise from his inability to say No to anyone - even Bambi - it made following his story of how he finds his courage all the more enjoyable. I loved the ending, as I get so fed up with the predictability of almost all romantic comedies, that I mostly stay away from the genre, so this one was perfect.

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon publishing for the ARC, which allowed me to give an honest review. Dumped, Actually is published on 16th July 2019.

Enjoyed this book. Quite a few funny bits. I laughed out loud during the opening scene with the botched amusement park proposal. However, I could've done without some of the more tasteless sexual jokes (as well as the extended booger drama at the amusement park). Overall, this was a quick, light read. Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.