At First Sight
by Hannah Sunderland
Pub Date 01 Apr 2021
Description
**TRIGGER WARNING: Loss, grief and mention of suicide**
Two strangers. Two chance meetings. One extraordinary love story…
Nell and Charlie feel a spark when they meet by chance in a cafe. But they don’t trade numbers, or surnames, so there’s no way they’ll meet again.
But the next day, Nell’s phone rings at work. Somehow, impossibly, Charlie is on the other end. And he needs her help.
Nell is about to save a life, fall in love … and risk everything for a perfect stranger.
Tender, thought-provoking and joyful, Charlie and Nell’s unique love story will capture your heart and give you hope. Perfect for fans of The Man Who Didn’t Call by Rosie Walsh and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver.
Praise for Hannah Sunderland:‘Delightfully romantic’ Isabelle Broom
‘A compelling, quirky love story’ Miranda Dickinson
‘An unconventional romance – real and raw’ Anna Bell
**TRIGGER WARNING: Loss, grief and mention of suicide**
Two strangers. Two chance meetings. One extraordinary love story…
Nell and Charlie feel a spark when they meet by chance in a cafe. But they...
Description
**TRIGGER WARNING: Loss, grief and mention of suicide**
Two strangers. Two chance meetings. One extraordinary love story…
Nell and Charlie feel a spark when they meet by chance in a cafe. But they don’t trade numbers, or surnames, so there’s no way they’ll meet again.
But the next day, Nell’s phone rings at work. Somehow, impossibly, Charlie is on the other end. And he needs her help.
Nell is about to save a life, fall in love … and risk everything for a perfect stranger.
Tender, thought-provoking and joyful, Charlie and Nell’s unique love story will capture your heart and give you hope. Perfect for fans of The Man Who Didn’t Call by Rosie Walsh and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver.
Praise for Hannah Sunderland:‘Delightfully romantic’ Isabelle Broom
‘A compelling, quirky love story’ Miranda Dickinson
‘An unconventional romance – real and raw’ Anna Bell
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9780008365738 |
PRICE | A$10.99 (AUD) |
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB) |
Send To Kindle (MOBI) |
Download (EPUB) |
Featured Reviews

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A delightful love story, full of romance and serendipity, that will make even the toughest cynic believe in love again. An excellent read! |
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A chance meeting in a cafe for Charlie and Nell, when he leaves she regrets not getting his number but little does she know that she will see him again. It is clear that he is struggling but can she help him work his way through it. Some twists and surprises along the way. |
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I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review At First Sight by Hannah Sunderland is a different kind of romance. This story deals with the sensitive topic of attempted suicide. Nell works for a Suicide Line called Healthy Minds and she is out on her lunch breaks when she meets Charlie unexpectedly. Nell is quite the character so it was quite fun to see inside her head. Charlie turns out be someone who is struggling with suicide because his wife died and how he finds comfort in talking and hanging out with Nell. This story mainly focuses on the friendship between Nell and Charlie and how Nell helps Charlie deal with the way he feels. Unfortunately for Nell she is also falling in love with him and while Charlie definitely feels things for Nell, he still feels a great sadness about loosing his wife. This was touching story with a bit of humor sprinkled to help lighten the serious of the topic. |
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At First Sight, is one of those great books you stat and can't stop reading. Charlie meets Nell in a coffee shop and the two hit it off from the start. But, as time goes on Nell realizes that Charlie has a lot of issues and he might not be ready for a relationship. I really liked this book and my heart broke for Charlie and Nell but I kept reading hoping these two would have their happy ending. |
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This was a beautiful story about love and the difficult task that is overcoming grief. There is somewhat frequent mention of suicide/suicidal ideations, and loss plays a big role - these can be very difficult topics to write about, and even more difficult to write about with grace, but Hannah Sunderland really pulled it off. This the second of her books that I've read, and I look forward to reading more in the future. She is establishing herself as a fantastic writer that can tug at the heartstrings, cover difficult topics, and leave you thinking about her stories for days on end. |
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A rollercoaster! What a hard subject to explore, yet written in such a wonderful and sensitive way. Loved the characters and I wonder if there is more to come regarding them. Hannah Sunderland is a very talented writer and I really look forward to reading more by her. Keep up the good work. |
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Nell and Charlie were the perfect protagonists. I really enjoyed how they met and how their story and the details of both of their stories developed over time. Nell was such a lovely and compassionate character and I enjoyed reading how she supported Charlie through his grief.. I really enjoyed this book - thank you for sharing |
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Ah Hannah Sunderland, you have firmly taken your place in the literary world. I read Hannah’s debut novel earlier this year – Very Nearly Normal – and that was just incredible. However, At First Sight has taken over completely and in the incredible stakes…wins hands down. This is an unconventional romance in that it’s not often one that you read about. However the topics that Hannah explores are not uncommon and I love that there is finally a fictional book focusing on the reality of loving someone with depression, of love after loss, and of loss in general. I don’t always like to make comparisons between Authors but when there’s a certain book or Author that just clicks with you, it’s good to know who out there is quite similar. So if you enjoy Hannah’s books or you enjoy Holly Miller’s books – then the writing style that they both have is beautiful and very similar. The books, however, are worlds apart. But yes, both incredible Authors… both new to the literary world this year…both wonderful. This book does, as I said above, deal with difficult topics. There’s a trigger warning just before the first Chapter which gives details of what you can expect the book to cover. I urge you not to gloss over it, it’s right there to help point out that this book may be difficult for some people. Huge thanks to Hannah for respectfully including that and for dealing with the very difficult topics so well. |
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I cannot put into words how utterly in love I am with this book. I cried, I smiled, and I felt related to. This is my first time reading a book by this author, and it surely won’t be my last! I am a sucker for sad books, so this was right up my alley and it didn’t disappoint. I seen parts of myself in the protagonist and her wisdom, loyalty and caring heart. I adored her until the very end. This plot had intrigued me from the get-go, and I appreciated the trigger warnings (as most authors are inconsiderate of their readers triggers and mental well being) I loved every page, I will admit, I had to put the book down once or two to process what was happening but I loved every moment even if it ruined me. |
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An incredible story of navigating depression, grief, loss, love, friendship. I loved how this was not your conventional love story - real-life ones never are. Although the main storyline was very sensitive, this was told in such a thoughtful and delicate way. |
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As someone who writes about mental illness in my own books, I can't recommend this novel enough. Yes, this could be triggering, especially for people who are struggling with depression and the loss of a loved one, but there's a warning at the beginning of the book (which I greatly appreciated). What I loved so much about this book was that it isn't just a typical romance. There's a deeper level to the characters and what they're experiencing emotionally. Like the summary says, this book definitely has similar elements to The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, and I appreciated the emotional journey we got to go on. This is my favorite type of romance novel, and I'll definitely be following Sunderland's career going forward. |
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The premise of this book was so intriguing, and the story truly delivered. Chances and fate fuel this story, but in a way that is idyllic rather than unrealistic. It was heartwarming and a joy to read. |
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When you take a look at the cover of this book, you think that it’s going to be a really sweet romcom. That’s what I thought when I started reading it. But it’s so much more than that. At First Sight is such a heartwarming story. I loved that it touched on real life topics and real life scenarios that people find themselves in or feeling. It made it that much better for me when I felt like I could relate to what they were both going through. All in all, I loved it and will definitely be recommending this to everyone. |
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This was a cute story. I was happy how their ending turned out. The characters were great. Their story was an unusual one but ended up great. |
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I enjoyed this heartwarming book. Well written and emotional read but life enhancing. Nell meets Charlie - an unemployed widower - at her local cafe. He blamed himself for his wife’s death two years before and has yet to come to terms with life without her. Nell counsels those who struggle with life - she falls in love with Charlie and tries to support him with his grieving process. But the time is not right for their relationship. Both have to evaluate what they want from life and see whether it includes each other in the longer term. One I will be recommending. |
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This was one of those books I couldn't put down right up until the very end . Nell works for a mental health helpline and enjoys helping people in trouble. Nell's love life is not running smoothly and she's having problems in breaking away from her ex. One day when she is in the coffee shop on her lunch break she finds the only empty seat left and starts chatting to the man across from her. She has a natural rapport with Charlie and is instantly attracted to him. She fails to pluck up courage to ask him for his phone number and when she returns to the coffee shop he has already left. This story is about grief, loss and starting again. It's about wanting to leave this life because you can see no way to be happy in it. It's also about fate and the strange coincidences that happen in life. Nell is a kind, considerate person and I worried about her attraction to someone who was a long way from having the same feelings as she did. I could understand why she liked Charlie so much but I wasn't sure how it would all end . I loved Ned who was always there for Nell and always will be. The ending was very poignant and I admit I did shed a tear. I would love to read a sequel. |
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Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book received in exchange for an honest review. In At First Sight, the main character, Nell has two chance encounters with a stranger, Charlie. Both are struggling in different ways, but become fast friends. The both start to fall for each other, but have things that they both need to deal with. My only warning to the reader is that this story deals with depression, suicide, and death of a loved one. I did enjoy this love story. I found it particularly difficult to put down. Yes, there are situations that are "too perfect", ex. they just happen to run into each other one too many times. But, for me, that is to be expected with any romantic book or movie. It's all about coincidences. At First Sight told a wonderful story about overcoming difficulty and falling in love. Without revealing too much, I loved the entire progression and how the author wrapped up the story. |
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At First Sight is a gorgeous love story, full of chance encounters, opening up to strangers, and the desire to just take that leap and go for it. Charlie and Nell make for an unlikely pair; she is confident and talkative, he is brooding and introverted. Yet despite that, sparks fly right from the very start and it's clear that these two are made for each other - but of course, things are never that simple! As the story progresses, Nell finds out more and more about Charlie, his life and his past. It becomes apparent that he desperately needs help, and Nell is determined to do her best for this attractive Irishman who suddenly appeared in her life. Packed with love and loss, grief and heartache, this is a story which embraces the difficult feelings many of us try to push aside. It's okay to be lonely, to feel scared and uncertain, and sometimes, reaching out and asking for help is the best thing we can do. At First Sight tackles mental health and the stigma around it, as well as coming to terms with losing those you care about more than anything. For all its sweet romance, this is a story that gives an important message. It's all too easy to find yourself hoping for a happily ever after, but you will have to read it yourself to find out where Nell and Charlie's story takes them. The writing is compelling, the story real and honest, and this unlikely couple are sure to find a place in every reader's heart. At First Sight is a beautifully written, unconventional love story about picking up the pieces and learning how to put them back together again. |
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I loved this! Very unexpected considering that from the book cover i was expecting a cute romance but this book was so much more! I should have known considering that I was reading a piece of writing by Sunderland who had also surprised me earlier this year when I read her debut novel Very Nearly Normal. First of, I would like to adress that I highly appreciated teh inclusion of content warning as this book deals with grief, loss, depression and suicide. I think more publishing houses should consider doing this as readers have clearly a need for it. That being said, I was sad to see some low ratings for At First Sight with the reason being that the readers where not prepared to read about these difficult subjects Sunderland writes about despite it being included in the very copy we received, AND receiving an extra email by the publisher about it after we got approved for this eArc. Anyway, moving on to the story itself. I loved the characters and their development as well as Sunderland's ability to write about the above concepts in such a thoughtful, respectful and sensitive way. Incredible spot on and I wish more authors had the ability to do so when they decide to delve into such important issues. I also love her attention to detail on small everyday things we all do (well at least pre-Corona times). I selected the following quotes as examples: 'It looked as though I'd interrupted a deep thought which was lingering like fog on a wet autumn morning.' 'The messy bun sliding down the right side of my head like an icecream slipping from its cone on a hot day.' '..and she wrapped herself up in these shawls and scarves like bandages, as she was trying to hold herself together with them.' And of course, I am a sucker for Doctor Who references casually slipped in the conversation!!! 'Because I always found the Ood the sexiest of all Doctor Who creatures.' And the inclusion of Irish characters was a definite PLUS as I love their dialect and, for me, made the conversations more lively. I think I will be thinking about this book a lot and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is comfortable reading about such topics in such a down to earth way. I enjoyed every single one of the characters and I could really see this book being adapted for a movie. I think it is made for it and the screenwriters would have very little work to do to adjust it. I felt like watching a movie and it was awesome, tears and everything you know? With her second piece of work that is At First SIght, Sunderland is definitely an auto-buy author for me. She needs much more attention than she has gotten so far and i hope for more people to discover her too! Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books for providing me with an eArc of At First Sight in exchange for an honest review. SPOILERS ahead, proceed with caution! . . . . . 1. I want to know more about Charlie's uncle, Carrick, and Orlagh, the love of his life!!! A spin off maybe?? 2. The twist about the bumber sticker made me cry so much! 3. Would also be great to have a sequel about Charlie and Nell in New Zealand! 4. I will never look at cold tea the same way again... |
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At First Sight by Hannah Sunderland an extraordinary five-star read. This will be one of those that will divide the audience, some will love it like me and feel it’s the best story they will read this year and some will hate it, and that’s as the author has taken on such an emotive subject, as it deals with suicide and mental health but wow they did it so well, I lost my farther to suicide and used to work on a charity helpline that wasn’t for suicide but had a couple of calls through of people on the edge and its such a fine line, you always wonder what could I have said different, what did they do once they hung up? Nell and Charlie have a moment and sometimes that is all you need, but as Charlie lost his wife, he is a lost man, how can he ever get over that loss, the suddenness of the death is what is most difficult to get over, how a moment can change your life in so many ways. So many moments to change the path we take. Sometimes its timing and sometimes its fate, if you are looking for thought provoking, challenging yet thoroughly enjoyable reading then you need this story in your life. I enjoyed this author’s debut novel, but this one has cemented my need to read more, I will be keeping a stalkery eye on for what we will get next. |
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On starting reading this book it very quickly becomes apparent that this is something a bit more than your average romance. The tone and setting is the same, but the writing ins sharper, wittier, smarter. The opening scene in the coffee shop could have been a cringe fest, but here it is nicely handled. Our heroine, Nell, with her disastrous previous relationships and going nowhere life is nevertheless joyful and warm-hearted. She meets the mysterious Charlie when she inadvertently throws her sandwich at him in the coffee shop, they connect, but the moment passes and Nell leaves without any hope of seeing him again. In a few hours there lives will collide again, only for Charlie to leave without explanation. Nell should give up on him, but she doesn't, and when fate brings them together once again she will need a very good explanation. The first thing to say about the plot is that it goes to a lot of dark places, and very few romantic places. I started reading this hoping for a well written, witty, but ultimately light romance. It is neither light nor particularly romantic. I got a bit weepy in parts, towards the end it did become just a bit too joyless for me, but it is dealing with some big issues, so I suppose it had to go there eventually. I guess I would categorise this as 'relationships' rather than 'romance'. (on a side issue- I didn't like the way Charlie's Irish accent was written semi-phoneticly, all yer's, and missing g's off every ing, as if English people perfectly pronounce every letter as written (the irony)) |
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This book was different to what I had expected, but notin a bad way. It is a love story with a difference.Quite slow moving but that works well in this case. Nell is a counsellor working at a telephone helpline charity. She is a bubbly personality most of the time, but has issues with her ex , Joel. She meets Charlie in a cafe and gradually they become friends though there are complications on the way. At times sad, at times funny , the emtions in this book are well portrayed. As a reader, you understand what the characters are feeling and why. I don't know whether I would be able to come up with some of the solutions that Nell comes up with at different times in the book . You know that it is right, but when in that position you do not always follow the sensible course of action (emotions can get in the way) . A thought provoking and intellegent story. I will look outfor more from this author . Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review . |
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*trigger warning for suicide and loss of spouse* At First Sight was a heartbreaking yet heartwarming story of how much chance encounters can affect everyday life. The main character, Nell, meets a man in a cafe and after a whirlwind of events finds herself not only helping him heal from the loss of his wife, but falling in love and learning important lessons about life, which ultimately leads to a journey of self discovery. Nell and Charlie were such likable characters that you couldn’t help but root for them throughout the book. While there were themes of suicide, depression and loss, there were also themes of love, forgiveness and hope. The author did a great job of highlighting all of these themes and also showcased how every action in life can lead to extraordinary things. I’m very happy that I had the opportunity to read this book because it was such a beautiful read and I have a feeling that this book will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend this book, even to those who think they might struggle through it, because this is a book of healing that I believe could help people going through similar issues. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. |
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Having read and enjoyed this author’s first book I was looking forward to reading this one. When Nell first meets Charlie unbeknown to her, she’s about to save his life. When they meet again it sets off a chain of events which will change both their futures. An excellent story dealing with the difficult subjects of grief, depression and suicide. Well written and thought provoking, this was an excellent read. |
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Wow! This book is an emotional rollercoaster! There are times where you are screaming at each character, “What on earth are you doing?!?!” However, it all comes clear in the end. I absolutely loved the ending and thought it was perfect how the jigsaw fit together. |
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I don’t recall seeing any novel with the main character working in a call center of some sort.. and even less in a mental health help-line! So I deeply appreciated the career choice; having that type of things in novels definately normalise the idea of calling one, which is amazing. I thought the subject was handled pretty well, as Nell clearly had some psychotherapy formation, so in times we get little tidbits about the depressed brain like for exemple why they tend to self-neglect themselves. |
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I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. At First Sight dives into some pretty deep and dark topics. It does take a while to do so but it is definitely eye opening to see what the characters go through throughout this book. In it, you will meet Nell and Charlie. Both seem to be barely moving in their lives.. at least until they met each other. I'm not going to say that their romance was easy because it honestly wasn't. These two go through a lot of ups and downs. Whether it's romantically tied to them or just tied to their lives in general. Again, it was really eye opening to see what they went through and how they handled it. I honestly wasn't expecting so much drama in this book but I wasn't really surprised either. Ya know? From previous reviews on this book, I could see that people weren't happy due to not getting trigger warnings. Me? I'm okay with it all because it was an experience I wanted. Each and every character had some healing to do and it was just really cool to see it happening. Especially when you see certain characters at their lowest point. I just hoped that each and every one of them found happiness in something or someone. They deserved it. Truly. In the end, I am a little intrigued by what the answer was.. but I would be okay with any kind of adventure. |
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A really hard hitting story on a topic that is rarely talked about, Hannah Sunderland has done a wonderful job portraying the challenges that people face and the wider impact. |
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At First Sight was an emotional read by Hannah Sunderland. Charlie and Nell and meet in a coffee shop, but then again when he calls Nell at work, and reveals he is fighting for his life. This novel will make you feel the power of grief, compassion, and second chances. Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. |
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This book definitely isn’t your typical romance, but that is something that I actually liked about it. There is a lot of character growth and development throughout the book. This book deals with some tough subjects (see the Trigger warning), but I believe the author did it in such a tasteful way. There is definitely more of a focus on the friendship of Charlie and Nell and their own healing than there is romance in this book. But I thought that worked for this one. I was really rooting for both Charlie and Nell in this book, I loved both of these characters. My only downside to this one was that it wasn’t really grabbing my attention as much as a I would have hoped, especially in the beginning of the book. Once I got about halfway through, I had a harder time putting it down. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. |
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I would just like to say thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. When I saw the trigger warnings I wondered what I might be getting myself into but decided to carry on. I have to say I think that this book dealt with grief, depression and love in such a round wholesome way. Even though it was a romance novel it wasn’t the classic happy ending that everyone looks for and I’m glad with the ending and showing positivity that someone’s you need to be alone to work on yourself. I think having depression and suicidal thoughts as a main plot in this book made it seem more real and highlighted the darkness that can come with mental health, I just want to say thank you for writing this in a realistic view and not adding a mental health storyline just because it can be added to a romantic twist. Even with the serious plot lines the book still left me feeling content at the end as everything seemed to turn out okay for all the characters in this book. I can’t wait to see what the next book will be! |
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First off if you think this is a typical romance novel you are wrong. Secondly get a huge box of tissues you will need them. This story is literally heart breaking from early on and it is relentless throughout the entire novel. The roller coaster of emotions you go through at one point in about four chapters was so much I had to take a break just to process all of the feelings I was experiencing. It is brilliantly written and honestly I think this will stay with me for a long time. If you like to become emotionally invested into the characters of book that are very well developed and leave you wanting more than I highly recommend this novel! |
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Stunning cover which grabbed my attention straight away. The synopsis sounded good too. What followed was a brilliantly written story of hope. Mental health issues affect 1 in 4 people, so the author did a brave and clever thing by tackling it in a romance novel. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fully connect to the romance element of this story because the side stories were just so sad. I liked the characters and feel the author wrote and described them well. The story flowed well and I enjoyed the style of writing. Overall, an excellent read. Not a light and fluffy romance, but an emotional read that dug itself into my subconscious and had me thinking about the deeper issues throughout the day...the art of a skilled writer?? Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚 |
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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! Coming from a toxic relationship, Nell has the “meet cute” moment of her life with Irishmen Charlie. The chemistry and flirting? A delight! It will make you smile. She also happens to work at a place called “Healthy Minds,” a mental health helpline. So MENTAL HEALTH REP IS HERE. From the beginning the main character goes through social anxiety, including worrying about competing for the last available chair in a cafe, the pressure to make small talk, eating in front of strangers, being late, and most importantly (for a romance book’s meet cute) NOT ASKING FOR THE GUY’S NUMBER. I especially identified with the line, “you couldn’t shut me up when it came to a lifelong bout of verbal diarrhoea, but when the moment was right, when the words really mattered, I became mute.” Me to the millionth degree. Lovely writing and a quirky main character: “It looked as though I'd interrupted a deep thought, which was lingering like fog on a wet autumn morning.” “Despite all the strategic sartorial distressing, he managed to not look like he had a fight with a porcupine…” Basically I loved her instantly for her anxious and quirky thoughts. We get to see her hook up with her ex and -er maybe too many times than she should have-she realizes it's making the “old her” (bitter and angry) come back to life. Which she desperately doesn’t want, even if it feels easy to lapse back into comforting each other through hard times. Charlie has his own issues that Nell navigates with him. A heartwarming story filled with quirky banter and heavy topics. Trigger warnings for parental death, depression, and suicide. |
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I thought that this book had an excellent storyline. It was a heartbreaking read that was packed with emotions and guilty feelings. The characters were so warm and genuine I really grew to love them. This was a story that genuinely made my heart go a bit mushy. A real tearjerker and one that will stay with me - it is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!! |
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Firstly huge thanks to the publisher for the ARC I was drawn to the book blurb and the cover (can you blame me). This is a story of Neil a compassionate woman who during her lunch break meets Charlie a very sweet man. As expected they didn't exchange numbers and contrary to what I believed this was not an easy love story . It isn't cheesy but has heartbreak and grief in it. I recommend this book to everyone . |
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At First Sight, was not the story I was expecting from the title and the synopsis. I was expecting an upbeat romance/rom-com where this is a story with lots of heartbreaking moments and grief plays a big part. It gets deep at times and if suicide and the death of a loved one is a trigger point for you then maybe give this book a miss. Nell works for a company similar to the Samaritans. She talks to people on the phone when they are at the lowest point in their lives and possibly thinking about harming or killing themselves. She is a very compassionate woman who has a lot of time to listen to people, even if she does often have verbal diarrhoea and doesn’t know when to stop talking. She loves her job as it seems to be the one bit of her life that is going right. Nell initially meets Irishman Charlie in a cafe on her lunch break when she sits next to him as no other tables were available. No matter how much she tries she can’t help herself from talking to him and the two have an instant connection but they go their separate ways, that is until Nell takes a call one night and Charlie is the caller. She goes against the work policy and goes to meet Charlie. Charlie is a sweet man who is lost in this world. Two years ago his life completely changed and for him, it felt like it had ended too. Since then he has been spiralling mentally out of control and doesn’t know how to move forward, hence the phone call to the helpline. The two have a connection but there are also some things in the past that they need to deal with before they can even think about being in a relationship together. Nell also feels guilty for feeling the way she does about Charlie and at times it felt like her mental health was suffering too. The book is beautifully written and kicks you in the guts at times, so have some tissues ready. There were parts I didn’t think added anything to the plot, such as Nell’s ex-boyfriend, and parts I think played a big part even though they weren’t the main focus of the book, such as her housemate and colleague Ned. I thoroughly enjoyed the book even if it went in a direction I wasn’t expecting. |
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Trigger warning. Suicide When I seen this book was about suicide I was like oh god can I read this, but I’m so glad I did! This book was up there with one of my fav tests so far! It just goes to show you that when you are feeling you’re lowest there is always someone there willing to make you feel loved and wanted, that’s what this story was about, Charlie needed to feel loved and accept that he was wanted, after losing his beloved wife. I’m not going to write much about this book in my review as it is a book you need to read yourself to know what it is about. Have a box is tissues aside as this read can get a little bit sad, but it is so worth the read! I’m so happy I got to read this book before it has been brought out. Thank you netgalley! If you ever feel like you’re not wanted or needed or loved around here anymore, pick up the phone to talk to someone who will change your mind for you, there is always someone around who is scared of losing you.. speaking out will do you a world of good! |
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wonderful, a heartrending story of grief, thoughts of suicide, love and learning to love again. True to life. |
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‘At First Sight’, by Hannah Sunderland sensitively deals with some difficult topics such as loss, suicide and grief. If these are a trigger for you, this might not be the book for you. The story follows that of a chance meeting between Nell and Charlie in a coffee shop. Nell is a call operator for a mental health helpline, whilst Charlie is struggling with a difficult life event, but neither know of the other’s situation. There’s an instant pull and attraction between the two of them, but neither of them act upon it and Nell walks always wishing they’d exchanged numbers. It’s not until a chance encounter brings them back together that things continue and Charlie’s story eventually becomes clear. The first part of the story, I found a bit of a struggle - it was slow and didn’t have that pull about it. However, I am glad that I persevered and continued with Nell and Charlie’s story, to find out what happened in the end. I liked Nell’s character and I loved her relationship with Ned, her friend. I’d have loved more chemistry from Nell and Charlie because at times their interactions didn’t sizzle and moments fell flat. That being said, it could be argued that this was symbolic of the place that Charlie was in. A deep, emotive and thought provoking read that I’d give 3.5 stars too. I thank the author, Netgalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. I’d definitely look up other books by this author. |
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What a beautifully poignant story of love, loss, and coping. "Thank you for giving me something to hope for, something to smile about." The premise and set up of this story was intriguing and somewhat unique to this reader. I thoroughly enjoyed Nell and knew instantly there was something more to Charlie, as frustrating as he was. "Never let anyone make you work for something that makes you feel less than you are." Their relationship had a lot of hurdles, and a lot of growth. "This was going to be it. A second chance at the moment he'd screwed up before." Overall, I was enraptured by their journey. My heart broke for Charlie and Nell could easily have been a friend. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy. |
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Not your typical love story. It's been a while I've felt so much heartbreak for any character. About half way I was so emotionally drained I didn't know what else can come. Book that can pull every single emotion out of you and just shock you from one page to another. Wonderful story of unexpected love not at the right time... Or maybe the opposite? Beautifully written and unforgettable. |
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Additional Information
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9780008365738 |
PRICE | A$10.99 (AUD) |
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB) |
Send To Kindle (MOBI) |
Download (EPUB) |
Featured Reviews

My Recommendation
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A delightful love story, full of romance and serendipity, that will make even the toughest cynic believe in love again. An excellent read! |
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A chance meeting in a cafe for Charlie and Nell, when he leaves she regrets not getting his number but little does she know that she will see him again. It is clear that he is struggling but can she help him work his way through it. Some twists and surprises along the way. |
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I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review At First Sight by Hannah Sunderland is a different kind of romance. This story deals with the sensitive topic of attempted suicide. Nell works for a Suicide Line called Healthy Minds and she is out on her lunch breaks when she meets Charlie unexpectedly. Nell is quite the character so it was quite fun to see inside her head. Charlie turns out be someone who is struggling with suicide because his wife died and how he finds comfort in talking and hanging out with Nell. This story mainly focuses on the friendship between Nell and Charlie and how Nell helps Charlie deal with the way he feels. Unfortunately for Nell she is also falling in love with him and while Charlie definitely feels things for Nell, he still feels a great sadness about loosing his wife. This was touching story with a bit of humor sprinkled to help lighten the serious of the topic. |
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At First Sight, is one of those great books you stat and can't stop reading. Charlie meets Nell in a coffee shop and the two hit it off from the start. But, as time goes on Nell realizes that Charlie has a lot of issues and he might not be ready for a relationship. I really liked this book and my heart broke for Charlie and Nell but I kept reading hoping these two would have their happy ending. |
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This was a beautiful story about love and the difficult task that is overcoming grief. There is somewhat frequent mention of suicide/suicidal ideations, and loss plays a big role - these can be very difficult topics to write about, and even more difficult to write about with grace, but Hannah Sunderland really pulled it off. This the second of her books that I've read, and I look forward to reading more in the future. She is establishing herself as a fantastic writer that can tug at the heartstrings, cover difficult topics, and leave you thinking about her stories for days on end. |
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A rollercoaster! What a hard subject to explore, yet written in such a wonderful and sensitive way. Loved the characters and I wonder if there is more to come regarding them. Hannah Sunderland is a very talented writer and I really look forward to reading more by her. Keep up the good work. |
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Nell and Charlie were the perfect protagonists. I really enjoyed how they met and how their story and the details of both of their stories developed over time. Nell was such a lovely and compassionate character and I enjoyed reading how she supported Charlie through his grief.. I really enjoyed this book - thank you for sharing |
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Ah Hannah Sunderland, you have firmly taken your place in the literary world. I read Hannah’s debut novel earlier this year – Very Nearly Normal – and that was just incredible. However, At First Sight has taken over completely and in the incredible stakes…wins hands down. This is an unconventional romance in that it’s not often one that you read about. However the topics that Hannah explores are not uncommon and I love that there is finally a fictional book focusing on the reality of loving someone with depression, of love after loss, and of loss in general. I don’t always like to make comparisons between Authors but when there’s a certain book or Author that just clicks with you, it’s good to know who out there is quite similar. So if you enjoy Hannah’s books or you enjoy Holly Miller’s books – then the writing style that they both have is beautiful and very similar. The books, however, are worlds apart. But yes, both incredible Authors… both new to the literary world this year…both wonderful. This book does, as I said above, deal with difficult topics. There’s a trigger warning just before the first Chapter which gives details of what you can expect the book to cover. I urge you not to gloss over it, it’s right there to help point out that this book may be difficult for some people. Huge thanks to Hannah for respectfully including that and for dealing with the very difficult topics so well. |
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I cannot put into words how utterly in love I am with this book. I cried, I smiled, and I felt related to. This is my first time reading a book by this author, and it surely won’t be my last! I am a sucker for sad books, so this was right up my alley and it didn’t disappoint. I seen parts of myself in the protagonist and her wisdom, loyalty and caring heart. I adored her until the very end. This plot had intrigued me from the get-go, and I appreciated the trigger warnings (as most authors are inconsiderate of their readers triggers and mental well being) I loved every page, I will admit, I had to put the book down once or two to process what was happening but I loved every moment even if it ruined me. |
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An incredible story of navigating depression, grief, loss, love, friendship. I loved how this was not your conventional love story - real-life ones never are. Although the main storyline was very sensitive, this was told in such a thoughtful and delicate way. |
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As someone who writes about mental illness in my own books, I can't recommend this novel enough. Yes, this could be triggering, especially for people who are struggling with depression and the loss of a loved one, but there's a warning at the beginning of the book (which I greatly appreciated). What I loved so much about this book was that it isn't just a typical romance. There's a deeper level to the characters and what they're experiencing emotionally. Like the summary says, this book definitely has similar elements to The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, and I appreciated the emotional journey we got to go on. This is my favorite type of romance novel, and I'll definitely be following Sunderland's career going forward. |
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The premise of this book was so intriguing, and the story truly delivered. Chances and fate fuel this story, but in a way that is idyllic rather than unrealistic. It was heartwarming and a joy to read. |
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When you take a look at the cover of this book, you think that it’s going to be a really sweet romcom. That’s what I thought when I started reading it. But it’s so much more than that. At First Sight is such a heartwarming story. I loved that it touched on real life topics and real life scenarios that people find themselves in or feeling. It made it that much better for me when I felt like I could relate to what they were both going through. All in all, I loved it and will definitely be recommending this to everyone. |
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This was a cute story. I was happy how their ending turned out. The characters were great. Their story was an unusual one but ended up great. |
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I enjoyed this heartwarming book. Well written and emotional read but life enhancing. Nell meets Charlie - an unemployed widower - at her local cafe. He blamed himself for his wife’s death two years before and has yet to come to terms with life without her. Nell counsels those who struggle with life - she falls in love with Charlie and tries to support him with his grieving process. But the time is not right for their relationship. Both have to evaluate what they want from life and see whether it includes each other in the longer term. One I will be recommending. |
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This was one of those books I couldn't put down right up until the very end . Nell works for a mental health helpline and enjoys helping people in trouble. Nell's love life is not running smoothly and she's having problems in breaking away from her ex. One day when she is in the coffee shop on her lunch break she finds the only empty seat left and starts chatting to the man across from her. She has a natural rapport with Charlie and is instantly attracted to him. She fails to pluck up courage to ask him for his phone number and when she returns to the coffee shop he has already left. This story is about grief, loss and starting again. It's about wanting to leave this life because you can see no way to be happy in it. It's also about fate and the strange coincidences that happen in life. Nell is a kind, considerate person and I worried about her attraction to someone who was a long way from having the same feelings as she did. I could understand why she liked Charlie so much but I wasn't sure how it would all end . I loved Ned who was always there for Nell and always will be. The ending was very poignant and I admit I did shed a tear. I would love to read a sequel. |
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Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book received in exchange for an honest review. In At First Sight, the main character, Nell has two chance encounters with a stranger, Charlie. Both are struggling in different ways, but become fast friends. The both start to fall for each other, but have things that they both need to deal with. My only warning to the reader is that this story deals with depression, suicide, and death of a loved one. I did enjoy this love story. I found it particularly difficult to put down. Yes, there are situations that are "too perfect", ex. they just happen to run into each other one too many times. But, for me, that is to be expected with any romantic book or movie. It's all about coincidences. At First Sight told a wonderful story about overcoming difficulty and falling in love. Without revealing too much, I loved the entire progression and how the author wrapped up the story. |
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At First Sight is a gorgeous love story, full of chance encounters, opening up to strangers, and the desire to just take that leap and go for it. Charlie and Nell make for an unlikely pair; she is confident and talkative, he is brooding and introverted. Yet despite that, sparks fly right from the very start and it's clear that these two are made for each other - but of course, things are never that simple! As the story progresses, Nell finds out more and more about Charlie, his life and his past. It becomes apparent that he desperately needs help, and Nell is determined to do her best for this attractive Irishman who suddenly appeared in her life. Packed with love and loss, grief and heartache, this is a story which embraces the difficult feelings many of us try to push aside. It's okay to be lonely, to feel scared and uncertain, and sometimes, reaching out and asking for help is the best thing we can do. At First Sight tackles mental health and the stigma around it, as well as coming to terms with losing those you care about more than anything. For all its sweet romance, this is a story that gives an important message. It's all too easy to find yourself hoping for a happily ever after, but you will have to read it yourself to find out where Nell and Charlie's story takes them. The writing is compelling, the story real and honest, and this unlikely couple are sure to find a place in every reader's heart. At First Sight is a beautifully written, unconventional love story about picking up the pieces and learning how to put them back together again. |
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I loved this! Very unexpected considering that from the book cover i was expecting a cute romance but this book was so much more! I should have known considering that I was reading a piece of writing by Sunderland who had also surprised me earlier this year when I read her debut novel Very Nearly Normal. First of, I would like to adress that I highly appreciated teh inclusion of content warning as this book deals with grief, loss, depression and suicide. I think more publishing houses should consider doing this as readers have clearly a need for it. That being said, I was sad to see some low ratings for At First Sight with the reason being that the readers where not prepared to read about these difficult subjects Sunderland writes about despite it being included in the very copy we received, AND receiving an extra email by the publisher about it after we got approved for this eArc. Anyway, moving on to the story itself. I loved the characters and their development as well as Sunderland's ability to write about the above concepts in such a thoughtful, respectful and sensitive way. Incredible spot on and I wish more authors had the ability to do so when they decide to delve into such important issues. I also love her attention to detail on small everyday things we all do (well at least pre-Corona times). I selected the following quotes as examples: 'It looked as though I'd interrupted a deep thought which was lingering like fog on a wet autumn morning.' 'The messy bun sliding down the right side of my head like an icecream slipping from its cone on a hot day.' '..and she wrapped herself up in these shawls and scarves like bandages, as she was trying to hold herself together with them.' And of course, I am a sucker for Doctor Who references casually slipped in the conversation!!! 'Because I always found the Ood the sexiest of all Doctor Who creatures.' And the inclusion of Irish characters was a definite PLUS as I love their dialect and, for me, made the conversations more lively. I think I will be thinking about this book a lot and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is comfortable reading about such topics in such a down to earth way. I enjoyed every single one of the characters and I could really see this book being adapted for a movie. I think it is made for it and the screenwriters would have very little work to do to adjust it. I felt like watching a movie and it was awesome, tears and everything you know? With her second piece of work that is At First SIght, Sunderland is definitely an auto-buy author for me. She needs much more attention than she has gotten so far and i hope for more people to discover her too! Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books for providing me with an eArc of At First Sight in exchange for an honest review. SPOILERS ahead, proceed with caution! . . . . . 1. I want to know more about Charlie's uncle, Carrick, and Orlagh, the love of his life!!! A spin off maybe?? 2. The twist about the bumber sticker made me cry so much! 3. Would also be great to have a sequel about Charlie and Nell in New Zealand! 4. I will never look at cold tea the same way again... |
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At First Sight by Hannah Sunderland an extraordinary five-star read. This will be one of those that will divide the audience, some will love it like me and feel it’s the best story they will read this year and some will hate it, and that’s as the author has taken on such an emotive subject, as it deals with suicide and mental health but wow they did it so well, I lost my farther to suicide and used to work on a charity helpline that wasn’t for suicide but had a couple of calls through of people on the edge and its such a fine line, you always wonder what could I have said different, what did they do once they hung up? Nell and Charlie have a moment and sometimes that is all you need, but as Charlie lost his wife, he is a lost man, how can he ever get over that loss, the suddenness of the death is what is most difficult to get over, how a moment can change your life in so many ways. So many moments to change the path we take. Sometimes its timing and sometimes its fate, if you are looking for thought provoking, challenging yet thoroughly enjoyable reading then you need this story in your life. I enjoyed this author’s debut novel, but this one has cemented my need to read more, I will be keeping a stalkery eye on for what we will get next. |
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On starting reading this book it very quickly becomes apparent that this is something a bit more than your average romance. The tone and setting is the same, but the writing ins sharper, wittier, smarter. The opening scene in the coffee shop could have been a cringe fest, but here it is nicely handled. Our heroine, Nell, with her disastrous previous relationships and going nowhere life is nevertheless joyful and warm-hearted. She meets the mysterious Charlie when she inadvertently throws her sandwich at him in the coffee shop, they connect, but the moment passes and Nell leaves without any hope of seeing him again. In a few hours there lives will collide again, only for Charlie to leave without explanation. Nell should give up on him, but she doesn't, and when fate brings them together once again she will need a very good explanation. The first thing to say about the plot is that it goes to a lot of dark places, and very few romantic places. I started reading this hoping for a well written, witty, but ultimately light romance. It is neither light nor particularly romantic. I got a bit weepy in parts, towards the end it did become just a bit too joyless for me, but it is dealing with some big issues, so I suppose it had to go there eventually. I guess I would categorise this as 'relationships' rather than 'romance'. (on a side issue- I didn't like the way Charlie's Irish accent was written semi-phoneticly, all yer's, and missing g's off every ing, as if English people perfectly pronounce every letter as written (the irony)) |
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This book was different to what I had expected, but notin a bad way. It is a love story with a difference.Quite slow moving but that works well in this case. Nell is a counsellor working at a telephone helpline charity. She is a bubbly personality most of the time, but has issues with her ex , Joel. She meets Charlie in a cafe and gradually they become friends though there are complications on the way. At times sad, at times funny , the emtions in this book are well portrayed. As a reader, you understand what the characters are feeling and why. I don't know whether I would be able to come up with some of the solutions that Nell comes up with at different times in the book . You know that it is right, but when in that position you do not always follow the sensible course of action (emotions can get in the way) . A thought provoking and intellegent story. I will look outfor more from this author . Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review . |
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*trigger warning for suicide and loss of spouse* At First Sight was a heartbreaking yet heartwarming story of how much chance encounters can affect everyday life. The main character, Nell, meets a man in a cafe and after a whirlwind of events finds herself not only helping him heal from the loss of his wife, but falling in love and learning important lessons about life, which ultimately leads to a journey of self discovery. Nell and Charlie were such likable characters that you couldn’t help but root for them throughout the book. While there were themes of suicide, depression and loss, there were also themes of love, forgiveness and hope. The author did a great job of highlighting all of these themes and also showcased how every action in life can lead to extraordinary things. I’m very happy that I had the opportunity to read this book because it was such a beautiful read and I have a feeling that this book will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend this book, even to those who think they might struggle through it, because this is a book of healing that I believe could help people going through similar issues. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. |
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Having read and enjoyed this author’s first book I was looking forward to reading this one. When Nell first meets Charlie unbeknown to her, she’s about to save his life. When they meet again it sets off a chain of events which will change both their futures. An excellent story dealing with the difficult subjects of grief, depression and suicide. Well written and thought provoking, this was an excellent read. |
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Wow! This book is an emotional rollercoaster! There are times where you are screaming at each character, “What on earth are you doing?!?!” However, it all comes clear in the end. I absolutely loved the ending and thought it was perfect how the jigsaw fit together. |
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I don’t recall seeing any novel with the main character working in a call center of some sort.. and even less in a mental health help-line! So I deeply appreciated the career choice; having that type of things in novels definately normalise the idea of calling one, which is amazing. I thought the subject was handled pretty well, as Nell clearly had some psychotherapy formation, so in times we get little tidbits about the depressed brain like for exemple why they tend to self-neglect themselves. |
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I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. At First Sight dives into some pretty deep and dark topics. It does take a while to do so but it is definitely eye opening to see what the characters go through throughout this book. In it, you will meet Nell and Charlie. Both seem to be barely moving in their lives.. at least until they met each other. I'm not going to say that their romance was easy because it honestly wasn't. These two go through a lot of ups and downs. Whether it's romantically tied to them or just tied to their lives in general. Again, it was really eye opening to see what they went through and how they handled it. I honestly wasn't expecting so much drama in this book but I wasn't really surprised either. Ya know? From previous reviews on this book, I could see that people weren't happy due to not getting trigger warnings. Me? I'm okay with it all because it was an experience I wanted. Each and every character had some healing to do and it was just really cool to see it happening. Especially when you see certain characters at their lowest point. I just hoped that each and every one of them found happiness in something or someone. They deserved it. Truly. In the end, I am a little intrigued by what the answer was.. but I would be okay with any kind of adventure. |
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A really hard hitting story on a topic that is rarely talked about, Hannah Sunderland has done a wonderful job portraying the challenges that people face and the wider impact. |
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At First Sight was an emotional read by Hannah Sunderland. Charlie and Nell and meet in a coffee shop, but then again when he calls Nell at work, and reveals he is fighting for his life. This novel will make you feel the power of grief, compassion, and second chances. Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. |
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This book definitely isn’t your typical romance, but that is something that I actually liked about it. There is a lot of character growth and development throughout the book. This book deals with some tough subjects (see the Trigger warning), but I believe the author did it in such a tasteful way. There is definitely more of a focus on the friendship of Charlie and Nell and their own healing than there is romance in this book. But I thought that worked for this one. I was really rooting for both Charlie and Nell in this book, I loved both of these characters. My only downside to this one was that it wasn’t really grabbing my attention as much as a I would have hoped, especially in the beginning of the book. Once I got about halfway through, I had a harder time putting it down. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. |
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I would just like to say thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. When I saw the trigger warnings I wondered what I might be getting myself into but decided to carry on. I have to say I think that this book dealt with grief, depression and love in such a round wholesome way. Even though it was a romance novel it wasn’t the classic happy ending that everyone looks for and I’m glad with the ending and showing positivity that someone’s you need to be alone to work on yourself. I think having depression and suicidal thoughts as a main plot in this book made it seem more real and highlighted the darkness that can come with mental health, I just want to say thank you for writing this in a realistic view and not adding a mental health storyline just because it can be added to a romantic twist. Even with the serious plot lines the book still left me feeling content at the end as everything seemed to turn out okay for all the characters in this book. I can’t wait to see what the next book will be! |
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First off if you think this is a typical romance novel you are wrong. Secondly get a huge box of tissues you will need them. This story is literally heart breaking from early on and it is relentless throughout the entire novel. The roller coaster of emotions you go through at one point in about four chapters was so much I had to take a break just to process all of the feelings I was experiencing. It is brilliantly written and honestly I think this will stay with me for a long time. If you like to become emotionally invested into the characters of book that are very well developed and leave you wanting more than I highly recommend this novel! |
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Stunning cover which grabbed my attention straight away. The synopsis sounded good too. What followed was a brilliantly written story of hope. Mental health issues affect 1 in 4 people, so the author did a brave and clever thing by tackling it in a romance novel. Unfortunately, I couldn’t fully connect to the romance element of this story because the side stories were just so sad. I liked the characters and feel the author wrote and described them well. The story flowed well and I enjoyed the style of writing. Overall, an excellent read. Not a light and fluffy romance, but an emotional read that dug itself into my subconscious and had me thinking about the deeper issues throughout the day...the art of a skilled writer?? Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚 |
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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! Coming from a toxic relationship, Nell has the “meet cute” moment of her life with Irishmen Charlie. The chemistry and flirting? A delight! It will make you smile. She also happens to work at a place called “Healthy Minds,” a mental health helpline. So MENTAL HEALTH REP IS HERE. From the beginning the main character goes through social anxiety, including worrying about competing for the last available chair in a cafe, the pressure to make small talk, eating in front of strangers, being late, and most importantly (for a romance book’s meet cute) NOT ASKING FOR THE GUY’S NUMBER. I especially identified with the line, “you couldn’t shut me up when it came to a lifelong bout of verbal diarrhoea, but when the moment was right, when the words really mattered, I became mute.” Me to the millionth degree. Lovely writing and a quirky main character: “It looked as though I'd interrupted a deep thought, which was lingering like fog on a wet autumn morning.” “Despite all the strategic sartorial distressing, he managed to not look like he had a fight with a porcupine…” Basically I loved her instantly for her anxious and quirky thoughts. We get to see her hook up with her ex and -er maybe too many times than she should have-she realizes it's making the “old her” (bitter and angry) come back to life. Which she desperately doesn’t want, even if it feels easy to lapse back into comforting each other through hard times. Charlie has his own issues that Nell navigates with him. A heartwarming story filled with quirky banter and heavy topics. Trigger warnings for parental death, depression, and suicide. |
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I thought that this book had an excellent storyline. It was a heartbreaking read that was packed with emotions and guilty feelings. The characters were so warm and genuine I really grew to love them. This was a story that genuinely made my heart go a bit mushy. A real tearjerker and one that will stay with me - it is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!! |
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Firstly huge thanks to the publisher for the ARC I was drawn to the book blurb and the cover (can you blame me). This is a story of Neil a compassionate woman who during her lunch break meets Charlie a very sweet man. As expected they didn't exchange numbers and contrary to what I believed this was not an easy love story . It isn't cheesy but has heartbreak and grief in it. I recommend this book to everyone . |
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At First Sight, was not the story I was expecting from the title and the synopsis. I was expecting an upbeat romance/rom-com where this is a story with lots of heartbreaking moments and grief plays a big part. It gets deep at times and if suicide and the death of a loved one is a trigger point for you then maybe give this book a miss. Nell works for a company similar to the Samaritans. She talks to people on the phone when they are at the lowest point in their lives and possibly thinking about harming or killing themselves. She is a very compassionate woman who has a lot of time to listen to people, even if she does often have verbal diarrhoea and doesn’t know when to stop talking. She loves her job as it seems to be the one bit of her life that is going right. Nell initially meets Irishman Charlie in a cafe on her lunch break when she sits next to him as no other tables were available. No matter how much she tries she can’t help herself from talking to him and the two have an instant connection but they go their separate ways, that is until Nell takes a call one night and Charlie is the caller. She goes against the work policy and goes to meet Charlie. Charlie is a sweet man who is lost in this world. Two years ago his life completely changed and for him, it felt like it had ended too. Since then he has been spiralling mentally out of control and doesn’t know how to move forward, hence the phone call to the helpline. The two have a connection but there are also some things in the past that they need to deal with before they can even think about being in a relationship together. Nell also feels guilty for feeling the way she does about Charlie and at times it felt like her mental health was suffering too. The book is beautifully written and kicks you in the guts at times, so have some tissues ready. There were parts I didn’t think added anything to the plot, such as Nell’s ex-boyfriend, and parts I think played a big part even though they weren’t the main focus of the book, such as her housemate and colleague Ned. I thoroughly enjoyed the book even if it went in a direction I wasn’t expecting. |
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Trigger warning. Suicide When I seen this book was about suicide I was like oh god can I read this, but I’m so glad I did! This book was up there with one of my fav tests so far! It just goes to show you that when you are feeling you’re lowest there is always someone there willing to make you feel loved and wanted, that’s what this story was about, Charlie needed to feel loved and accept that he was wanted, after losing his beloved wife. I’m not going to write much about this book in my review as it is a book you need to read yourself to know what it is about. Have a box is tissues aside as this read can get a little bit sad, but it is so worth the read! I’m so happy I got to read this book before it has been brought out. Thank you netgalley! If you ever feel like you’re not wanted or needed or loved around here anymore, pick up the phone to talk to someone who will change your mind for you, there is always someone around who is scared of losing you.. speaking out will do you a world of good! |
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wonderful, a heartrending story of grief, thoughts of suicide, love and learning to love again. True to life. |
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‘At First Sight’, by Hannah Sunderland sensitively deals with some difficult topics such as loss, suicide and grief. If these are a trigger for you, this might not be the book for you. The story follows that of a chance meeting between Nell and Charlie in a coffee shop. Nell is a call operator for a mental health helpline, whilst Charlie is struggling with a difficult life event, but neither know of the other’s situation. There’s an instant pull and attraction between the two of them, but neither of them act upon it and Nell walks always wishing they’d exchanged numbers. It’s not until a chance encounter brings them back together that things continue and Charlie’s story eventually becomes clear. The first part of the story, I found a bit of a struggle - it was slow and didn’t have that pull about it. However, I am glad that I persevered and continued with Nell and Charlie’s story, to find out what happened in the end. I liked Nell’s character and I loved her relationship with Ned, her friend. I’d have loved more chemistry from Nell and Charlie because at times their interactions didn’t sizzle and moments fell flat. That being said, it could be argued that this was symbolic of the place that Charlie was in. A deep, emotive and thought provoking read that I’d give 3.5 stars too. I thank the author, Netgalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. I’d definitely look up other books by this author. |
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What a beautifully poignant story of love, loss, and coping. "Thank you for giving me something to hope for, something to smile about." The premise and set up of this story was intriguing and somewhat unique to this reader. I thoroughly enjoyed Nell and knew instantly there was something more to Charlie, as frustrating as he was. "Never let anyone make you work for something that makes you feel less than you are." Their relationship had a lot of hurdles, and a lot of growth. "This was going to be it. A second chance at the moment he'd screwed up before." Overall, I was enraptured by their journey. My heart broke for Charlie and Nell could easily have been a friend. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy. |
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Not your typical love story. It's been a while I've felt so much heartbreak for any character. About half way I was so emotionally drained I didn't know what else can come. Book that can pull every single emotion out of you and just shock you from one page to another. Wonderful story of unexpected love not at the right time... Or maybe the opposite? Beautifully written and unforgettable. |
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