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smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
5.0
I love when a book completely blows me away unexpectedly! This book came up a bunch early in the year but I haven’t seen any reviews yet. I absolutely LOVED this story about Noni, a plus-sized, bisexual Aussie in her mid-30s who goes on a six month “pleasure quest” to live life on her own terms and do what makes her happy and not what’s “right” or what other people expect. She takes a sabbatical from her job and travels around Europe. Along the way she gains greater self-confidence and learns to be kinder to herself: “I was trying my real self on for size and I fell in love.” She also finds passionate love with a tattoo artist in Edinburgh and their relationship just might be the best book romance I have read in a VERY long time (dare I say a close second to my ultimate book couple, Jamie and Claire). Noni is only the author’s second book, her first for adults, and she is now an auto-buy for me. I can’t wait to read her YA book Beautiful mess (Gideon - a character from that book, has a great cameo in this book). I HIGHLY recommend this for fans of Abby Jimenez or Bridget Jones. It is a raw, vulnerable, honest, hilarious and HOT novel about self-discovery and love. Very possibly going to be my favourite book of 2021. Do yourself a favor and get this book now!!
TW: infertility struggles and miscarriage.
TW: infertility struggles and miscarriage.
chandlerainsley's review against another edition
dnf @ 35%
liked the bi rep in this & liked the humor but i could tell it wasn't going to do much for me. the story is about our heroine sleeping with people to find herself. totally valid. but i tend to prefer my romances to have a central thread and this was a little all over the place. i guess maybe i was too dumb to see the point of it? idk.
liked the bi rep in this & liked the humor but i could tell it wasn't going to do much for me. the story is about our heroine sleeping with people to find herself. totally valid. but i tend to prefer my romances to have a central thread and this was a little all over the place. i guess maybe i was too dumb to see the point of it? idk.
theinkwyrm's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I went into this expecting a new adult contemporary, but really it’s a contemporary romance, which is why it’s only 3.5 stars and not 4. But if you’re going into this expecting a romance, I think you’ll like it better than I did. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad book, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. Bonus points though for the casual representation throughout this and for the spicy scenes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
nickcarravay's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my…wow!
This book might be my new manifesto for life. It is infrequent that a work of fiction inspires me to really look at the way I live my life. Noni’s journey to find her pleasure, absolutely and constantly reminded me to look inward and honestly assess where I am in mine.
I want to be Noni, the pleasure Noni, the one that radiates joy. I want to be Beau, open and honest, who loves with his whole heart. I want to be Lindell, who is there for his best friend, ALWAYS. I want to be Lil, who uplifts people in their journey to learn to love themselves. I want to be Zep! I want to be that communicative and vulnerable at 16.
I loved this book. The people, the places, the journey, and the sex. I loved the good sex, but I also loved the bad sex. Romance novels are infrequently filled with funny, bad, awkward, unsatisfactory sex, that tends to show up in real life. It added so much to see the good sex for the wrong reason and bad sex for the right ones and finding you pleasure.
There is so much in this book, that I am not even sure how to properly start gushing. I need Edinburgh travel stat, I need a chocolate croissant and a new haircut and a really good… I’ll be right back.
As I was saying, this book is a mantra. Find your pleasure, lean into it, shine with it. You don’t have to earn it, it is already yours for the taking.
Now go read this book!
CW: Miscarriage.
This book might be my new manifesto for life. It is infrequent that a work of fiction inspires me to really look at the way I live my life. Noni’s journey to find her pleasure, absolutely and constantly reminded me to look inward and honestly assess where I am in mine.
I want to be Noni, the pleasure Noni, the one that radiates joy. I want to be Beau, open and honest, who loves with his whole heart. I want to be Lindell, who is there for his best friend, ALWAYS. I want to be Lil, who uplifts people in their journey to learn to love themselves. I want to be Zep! I want to be that communicative and vulnerable at 16.
I loved this book. The people, the places, the journey, and the sex. I loved the good sex, but I also loved the bad sex. Romance novels are infrequently filled with funny, bad, awkward, unsatisfactory sex, that tends to show up in real life. It added so much to see the good sex for the wrong reason and bad sex for the right ones and finding you pleasure.
There is so much in this book, that I am not even sure how to properly start gushing. I need Edinburgh travel stat, I need a chocolate croissant and a new haircut and a really good… I’ll be right back.
As I was saying, this book is a mantra. Find your pleasure, lean into it, shine with it. You don’t have to earn it, it is already yours for the taking.
Now go read this book!
CW: Miscarriage.
grace_griff's review against another edition
4.0
didn’t expect to like this so much, i thought it was like a book for mums that are trapped in their lives but it was actually really engaging and cool. defs worth a read! i’m not usually one to care about stories of ppl finding themselves but idk this one really did it for me
fureverlove's review against another edition
5.0
What a joyous read this was! I had seen this book plastered over book groups and bookstagram for the past few months and when I needed something light and funny I thought I’d give it a try. It was just what the doctor ordered! A brilliant mix of wit, sex, feminism and romance all wrapped up into a gorgeous uplifting book. The epitome of “feel good” in every way. Just delightful!
lisamarieingles's review against another edition
3.0
A fair bit of repetition and unnecessary filler. Annoying how much of the 'pleasure quest' involved getting wasted and having sex with random people. As it was a repetitive concept that lacked depth. But an easy sort of 'beach read'.
kzofrea's review against another edition
4.0
Well I seriously underestimated this book. I fully expected it to be a typical ~woman goes on journey of self discovery~ but I really enjoyed it!
Noni’s decision to live her life by what brings her pleasure was complicated. She figures out how to do that with her past traumas and insecurities she doesn’t even realize she has internalized. And then the romance
Noni’s decision to live her life by what brings her pleasure was complicated. She figures out how to do that with her past traumas and insecurities she doesn’t even realize she has internalized. And then the romance