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georginaclairep's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Great Aussie chick lit!
ruthrxo's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Cute premise and the ending made me cry
bestdressedbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
The blurb of this captured my attention and I thought (if written well and not over dramatised) that I would really enjoy this. But I didn't think I would love this quite this much. I loved these characters, they seemed so realistic compared to some ROM-COM characters I have read. I don't agree with Ty or Penny's actions but I really loved them as people. This story hurt. It was entertaining and funny with the reality show element, but it hurt.
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
First of all I have to admit that I am not a reality TV fan at all. I have never watched an episode of Married at First Sight or The Bachelor - ever! And this book is all about finding The One... on national TV... and I loved it! I was sucked right into this story right from the very beginning and read this book in a weekend binge. Once I started I just had to keep reading to see who got their happily ever after. It was a wonderful change from my usual serial killers and police procedurals. To top it all off it was set in Sydney and written by an Australian author. I can't recommend this book more - it made me laugh, it made me cringe, I cried and I was invested in the lives of these 3 women - what more can you want from a story.
The One tells the story of 3 very different women - Bonnie Yates, Darcy Reed and Penelope Baker. Told from alternate points of view we learn their stories, their hopes and dreams.
Bonnie just wants to be happy but she falls too hard and too fast for the wrong guys. When her ex-boyfriend from high school returns to town, fiancé in tow she needs to get away or risk falling under his spell again. Her sister has applied of Bonnies behalf to the dating reality show The One and nobody is more surprised when she is chosen to be on the show. When she gets there she feels a connection to the bachelor immediately, but struggles to get along with the other women in the house.
Darcy Reed is the career driven producer on The One - a show that is pretty much The Bachelor. She has been in the same job for 4 years and is desperate for a promotion and knows that she has to make this season of the show the best one yet. Her long time boyfriend moves back to her hometown to take up a teaching role, leaving her alone in Sydney doing the long distance thing. Can their relationship survive her job and the distance?
And lastly we have Penelope who takes longer to get to know. She has packed up her life and moved away to a small seaside town where nobody knows her and she can keep her secret to herself. She just wants to be left alone.
This is a wonderful Aussie book that reads like a TV show or movie - one that I would absolutely watch. These women are completely different but deep down all they want is love.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia HQ, Mira and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased..
The One tells the story of 3 very different women - Bonnie Yates, Darcy Reed and Penelope Baker. Told from alternate points of view we learn their stories, their hopes and dreams.
Bonnie just wants to be happy but she falls too hard and too fast for the wrong guys. When her ex-boyfriend from high school returns to town, fiancé in tow she needs to get away or risk falling under his spell again. Her sister has applied of Bonnies behalf to the dating reality show The One and nobody is more surprised when she is chosen to be on the show. When she gets there she feels a connection to the bachelor immediately, but struggles to get along with the other women in the house.
Darcy Reed is the career driven producer on The One - a show that is pretty much The Bachelor. She has been in the same job for 4 years and is desperate for a promotion and knows that she has to make this season of the show the best one yet. Her long time boyfriend moves back to her hometown to take up a teaching role, leaving her alone in Sydney doing the long distance thing. Can their relationship survive her job and the distance?
And lastly we have Penelope who takes longer to get to know. She has packed up her life and moved away to a small seaside town where nobody knows her and she can keep her secret to herself. She just wants to be left alone.
This is a wonderful Aussie book that reads like a TV show or movie - one that I would absolutely watch. These women are completely different but deep down all they want is love.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia HQ, Mira and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased..
hannahsutherland's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I was expecting a light hearted romance, but this book ended up being a heavy. Still an enjoyable read.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve met Kaneana May a few times at local library events, and I was excited to learn she had realised her dream to publish. Her debut, The One, is an engaging and emotional contemporary novel.
Using her experience in the television industry, May connects her characters by their participation in ‘The One’, a (fictional) reality television show in the style of the worldwide phenomenon, The Bachelor. To be honest, I abhor reality shows like The Bachelor/The Bachelorette, Married at First Sight, Love Island etc, so this aspect of the novel wasn’t particularly a draw for me, however I imagine fans of those shows will enjoy the idea of peeking behind the scenes of The One.
The One unfolds from multiple perspectives. Darcy is the ambitious producer who works long hours to ensure the success of the show, to the detriment of her decade long relationship with her high school sweetheart. Bonnie is a reluctant contestant, trying to put distance between herself and the man she believes to her ‘one’, who is about to marry someone else. Penelope is dealing with an unspecified heartbreak, of which ‘The One’ seems to be a painful reminder. And then there is Ty, the ‘bachelor’, a last minute replacement on the show, whose heart is not really in it.
Through her characters, May explores the the complexities of relationships. There is passion, anxiety, romance, regret, desire and heartbreak, as they all grapple with their questions about love. I had some empathy for Darcy and her situation, though honestly I would have preferred a different ‘ending’ for her. I was less sympathetic with regards to Bonnie and her relationship with Ollie.
Well written, combining drama, humour, pathos and romance, I really enjoyed The One, congratulations on a great debut Kaneana.
Using her experience in the television industry, May connects her characters by their participation in ‘The One’, a (fictional) reality television show in the style of the worldwide phenomenon, The Bachelor. To be honest, I abhor reality shows like The Bachelor/The Bachelorette, Married at First Sight, Love Island etc, so this aspect of the novel wasn’t particularly a draw for me, however I imagine fans of those shows will enjoy the idea of peeking behind the scenes of The One.
The One unfolds from multiple perspectives. Darcy is the ambitious producer who works long hours to ensure the success of the show, to the detriment of her decade long relationship with her high school sweetheart. Bonnie is a reluctant contestant, trying to put distance between herself and the man she believes to her ‘one’, who is about to marry someone else. Penelope is dealing with an unspecified heartbreak, of which ‘The One’ seems to be a painful reminder. And then there is Ty, the ‘bachelor’, a last minute replacement on the show, whose heart is not really in it.
Through her characters, May explores the the complexities of relationships. There is passion, anxiety, romance, regret, desire and heartbreak, as they all grapple with their questions about love. I had some empathy for Darcy and her situation, though honestly I would have preferred a different ‘ending’ for her. I was less sympathetic with regards to Bonnie and her relationship with Ollie.
Well written, combining drama, humour, pathos and romance, I really enjoyed The One, congratulations on a great debut Kaneana.
alijoy94's review against another edition
3.0
A very dynamic multi-level romance novel following 3 different women on their journeys to find The One. Definite recommend if you enjoy the Bachelor ;)
tara_ej's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
paddlefoot55's review against another edition
4.0
Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review
I am sooooo not a fan of reality TV - just the ads on TV for The Bachelor and the like make me roll my eyes and switch channels.
However, this debut novel by former screenwriter Kaneana May intrigued me, and it was wonderful to get behind the scenes (albeit fictionally) to see the machinations manipulations of a reality show.
I liked all three of our ladies - Penelope, Darcy and Bonnie. My heart hurts for each of them in different ways, and can see the strength behind their decisions.
I liked that I knew quite a few of the areas where this book is set, and could get a good visual in my mind as I was reading.
The road to finding true love is never smooth, and as each of our ladies is at different forks in the road when it comes to their paths. I loved how their stories intertwine - unknowingly- and how we see each of their thoughts and feelings as they story grows.
And the last 15% of this book - wow!
This was a wonderfully written story, and Ms May's screenwriting past shows in this.
I enjoyed this story, read it in one day, and I look forward to seeing what she brings us next.
I am sooooo not a fan of reality TV - just the ads on TV for The Bachelor and the like make me roll my eyes and switch channels.
However, this debut novel by former screenwriter Kaneana May intrigued me, and it was wonderful to get behind the scenes (albeit fictionally) to see the machinations manipulations of a reality show.
I liked all three of our ladies - Penelope, Darcy and Bonnie. My heart hurts for each of them in different ways, and can see the strength behind their decisions.
I liked that I knew quite a few of the areas where this book is set, and could get a good visual in my mind as I was reading.
The road to finding true love is never smooth, and as each of our ladies is at different forks in the road when it comes to their paths. I loved how their stories intertwine - unknowingly- and how we see each of their thoughts and feelings as they story grows.
And the last 15% of this book - wow!
This was a wonderfully written story, and Ms May's screenwriting past shows in this.
I enjoyed this story, read it in one day, and I look forward to seeing what she brings us next.