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ellsromreads's review
2.0
It was good don’t get me wrong, but that was only the second half that was good. It took SO long to get into to the point where I was gonna dnf but I persisted and it got better. I just wish there was more of Marla and Gabe. I also think that the multiple storyline was too confusing for me
kishelreads's review
2.0
There is something with Chick-Lits that are set in UK. Or writers that are English. It's slow and building but the ironic part is, its not actually building anything that would make the reader cringe or hold them dear lives. Or maybe it's just this book. There's nothing strong here that would make you root for one character or something.
cowmingo's review
I tried to like this book. I don't know if it was because I had just finished an amazing book and this book was dead before I even started it or if it just didn't click with me. I found Marla so annoying from the very beginning and had trouble connecting with the story, the characters and the setting that I decided it was better for me to not read it rather than keep getting annoyed.
shelleyrae's review
3.0
Undertaking Love is enjoyable contemporary fiction from debut UK author, Kat French. Marla Jacobs is the owner of a popular wedding chapel in a Shropshire countryside village. She has worked hard to build the success of her business and is horrified when she learns that a vacant neighboring store has been purchased to house a funeral home. Incensed, Marla insists that the business be relocated before it ruins her livelihood and her supporters begin to plan ways in which to chase the funeral director out of town, but Gabriel Ryan is not going anywhere, no matter how much he wants to make Marla happy.
The catalyst for the plot of Undertaking Love is the conflict between the business of a wedding chapel and a funeral parlour, for what bride wishes to be confronted by a hearse and a grieving widow on her wedding day, and vice versa. Marla is determined to force Gabriel to relocate but her friends, including her ardent admirer, journalist Rupert, allows the campaign to get out of hand. Complicating the matter is the sizzling attraction between Gabe and Marla, something that Rupert, and Gabe's scheming secretary, Melanie, is determined to dampen.
I really enjoyed the romance between Marla and Gabe even though, like most genre relationships, it is beset by misunderstandings and self sabotage. Marla, despite spruiking happy ever after, doesn't really believe in marriage given her parent's example and with the introduction of her mother it is easy to see why. Gabe deserves kudos for his persistence in the face of Marla's determined scorn.
Populated by a cast of quirky villagers which includes a camp wedding officiator, an over eager, over sized dog, Blue, and an opinionated housekeeper the story is a lot of fun yet there is some real heartache amongst the absurd events. Marla's best friend, Emily, is struggling with fertility and her marriage is crumbling under the strain and two significant characters are lost in sad circumstances.
Undertaking Love is a heartwarming and witty tale of life, death, love and marriage. A great debut from an author with promise.
bookish_bobbin's review against another edition
3.0
Such a cute story and most definitely one I will read again.
starkazing's review against another edition
3.0
What can I say about this book? I loved all the characters and connected with them. The story is steamy and full of drama, which is sometimes quite a lot to take in but is amazing at the same time because in the end you can connect all the dots. This book is pretty light, in my opinion.
denizyildiz's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
"Funny, romantic, and dangerously sexy, UNDERTAKING LOVE is a delightful debut from an exciting new voice in Women’s fiction. " QUOTE frome Netgalley
Undertaking Love is in many ways your typical chick-lit. To be honest I expected it to be a rom-com... And it does have its funny moments. But I wouldn't actually describe it as a rom-com.
The setting and many other factors did remind me of some of the great English rom-com movies. Rupert being actually described as a but of a Hugh Grant look-alike definitely drove that point home even more.
The plot is well as romantic novels goes, rather in the normal cliche set-up. To be honest the initial set-up the wedding chapel against the undertaker somehow made me have much higher expectations. Because that set up is a very clever idea.
The book is written in several point of views. And actually I think in to many POVs, because it does give too much away. I think the fact that one knows earlier on what Rupert thinks takes all the surprise away, same with Melanie
There are very touching moments in this book- and they actually not much to do with the romance between Marla and Gabe. I found their romance somewhat disappointing. I honestly don't really fancy insta-lust in the first place.. but insta-love? It kinda did kill the vibe for me. It was too quick too soon, and I wish there would have been more banter. I found it kinda hard to reconcile Gabe's reaction to meeting Marla. Let's face it, he is supposed to be a wee bit of a bad ass hottie with a cute Irish accent! i would have preferred more bad-ass and less smitten kitten.
What French did really well in my opinion are the different relation ship between the friends. I honestly really like the circle of friends and their dynamic. And those above mentioned touching moments were all to do with those friends. My favorite scene was the family dinner! It kinda highlighted the entire dynamic, with a wicked sense of black humor.
The character building was kinda interesting. Because while I did like Gabe and Marla- I found Emily, Johnny, Ivan and Co. - basically all the friends- were given much more interesting personalities! French showed real finesse writing them and I felt like I knew them at the end of the book. They were the unexpected and unusual in this book. And as a result I was way more interested what will happen for example with Emily's situation than with Marla and Gabe. Their storyline was set so clearly right in the beginning.
Gabe and Marla as characters were in my opinion quite a cliche. And while I didn't mind it as much, I found myself kinda disappointed by them. Because in compare to the support characters they fell a bit flat.
Their 'dangerously sexy' romance- uhm was sweet but not near dangerous.
The villains were totally disappointing in that they were very cliche and too extreme- so they felt cartoon-ish.
The end was a bit to tied up and neat for me. EVERY single thing was settled and got a HEA.
Despite those things, I found myself reading this in one setting. And really enjoyed French's prose.
To be honest, I have to admit that I am rather critical and I think lovers of this genre might enjoy this book more than I did.
An interesting debut, I am definitely looking out for the next book French is writing.
ARC was provided by Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
"Funny, romantic, and dangerously sexy, UNDERTAKING LOVE is a delightful debut from an exciting new voice in Women’s fiction. " QUOTE frome Netgalley
Undertaking Love is in many ways your typical chick-lit. To be honest I expected it to be a rom-com... And it does have its funny moments. But I wouldn't actually describe it as a rom-com.
The setting and many other factors did remind me of some of the great English rom-com movies. Rupert being actually described as a but of a Hugh Grant look-alike definitely drove that point home even more.
The plot is well as romantic novels goes, rather in the normal cliche set-up. To be honest the initial set-up the wedding chapel against the undertaker somehow made me have much higher expectations. Because that set up is a very clever idea.
The book is written in several point of views. And actually I think in to many POVs, because it does give too much away. I think the fact that one knows earlier on what Rupert thinks takes all the surprise away, same with Melanie
There are very touching moments in this book- and they actually not much to do with the romance between Marla and Gabe. I found their romance somewhat disappointing. I honestly don't really fancy insta-lust in the first place.. but insta-love? It kinda did kill the vibe for me. It was too quick too soon, and I wish there would have been more banter. I found it kinda hard to reconcile Gabe's reaction to meeting Marla. Let's face it, he is supposed to be a wee bit of a bad ass hottie with a cute Irish accent! i would have preferred more bad-ass and less smitten kitten.
What French did really well in my opinion are the different relation ship between the friends. I honestly really like the circle of friends and their dynamic. And those above mentioned touching moments were all to do with those friends. My favorite scene was the family dinner! It kinda highlighted the entire dynamic, with a wicked sense of black humor.
The character building was kinda interesting. Because while I did like Gabe and Marla- I found Emily, Johnny, Ivan and Co. - basically all the friends- were given much more interesting personalities! French showed real finesse writing them and I felt like I knew them at the end of the book. They were the unexpected and unusual in this book. And as a result I was way more interested what will happen for example with Emily's situation than with Marla and Gabe. Their storyline was set so clearly right in the beginning.
Gabe and Marla as characters were in my opinion quite a cliche. And while I didn't mind it as much, I found myself kinda disappointed by them. Because in compare to the support characters they fell a bit flat.
Their 'dangerously sexy' romance- uhm was sweet but not near dangerous.
The villains were totally disappointing in that they were very cliche and too extreme- so they felt cartoon-ish.
The end was a bit to tied up and neat for me. EVERY single thing was settled and got a HEA.
Despite those things, I found myself reading this in one setting. And really enjoyed French's prose.
To be honest, I have to admit that I am rather critical and I think lovers of this genre might enjoy this book more than I did.
An interesting debut, I am definitely looking out for the next book French is writing.
ARC was provided by Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think that I would like this novel. Sure, it sounded quirky and fun. Sure, it had a pretty cover which attracted me like a moth to the flame. But deep down inside, wasn't it a bit flaky and cliched? Didn't it read like a chick-lit how to?
Totally.
But I still enjoyed it.
The 'set-ups' and the misunderstandings made my toes curl and my brain scream in frustration. The mismatched couples made me cringe as I prayed that they would sort their lives out. the characters were so pat and perfect and stereotyped for the genre.
But did it make me laugh? Quite a few times. Did it make me cry? Several times. Did I care about each and every character? 100%.
More importantly, did I close the book two hours after starting it with a smile on my face? Abso-bloody-lutely.
Totally.
But I still enjoyed it.
The 'set-ups' and the misunderstandings made my toes curl and my brain scream in frustration. The mismatched couples made me cringe as I prayed that they would sort their lives out. the characters were so pat and perfect and stereotyped for the genre.
But did it make me laugh? Quite a few times. Did it make me cry? Several times. Did I care about each and every character? 100%.
More importantly, did I close the book two hours after starting it with a smile on my face? Abso-bloody-lutely.