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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After reading a couple of gritty and not so happy books it was with a spring in my step I picked up The Setup by Lizzy Dent. I thoroughly enjoyed The Summer Job when I read it last year so was keen to read this one.
As the book begins, we meet Mara who has taken a solo holiday in Budapest. Being a lover of astrology she decides to visit a clairvoyant who tells her she will shortly meet the love of her life. Almost immediately after this prediction, Mara meets a musician and knows he is the one the clairvoyant must be referring to, and engineers a meeting with him in her home town 2 months later.
Excited, she returns to her home in the fictional seaside town of Broadgate in Kent where she meets her new flatmate Ash. Mara is pretty lonely – she still hasn’t got over the betrayal of her University boyfriend and her only friend is recently married and has just had a baby and Mara feels rejected. Feeling more positive about her future she starts making friends with her colleagues at the Lido when it is threatened with closure and connecting with Ash over her love of movies.
The Setup was a lovely story. I loved the setting of the old fashioned seaside town and the lido sounded absolutely amazing. I loved Mara and her journey – by fighting to save the lido, she starts to feel at home in Broadgate and become part of the community making friends. With a little help she starts to gain in confidence with new clothes and becomes great friends with Ash who I think I fancied a little bit too!
A warm, romantic and hopeful story, The Setup is that perfect beach and garden read – now we just need a summer to go with it!
As the book begins, we meet Mara who has taken a solo holiday in Budapest. Being a lover of astrology she decides to visit a clairvoyant who tells her she will shortly meet the love of her life. Almost immediately after this prediction, Mara meets a musician and knows he is the one the clairvoyant must be referring to, and engineers a meeting with him in her home town 2 months later.
Excited, she returns to her home in the fictional seaside town of Broadgate in Kent where she meets her new flatmate Ash. Mara is pretty lonely – she still hasn’t got over the betrayal of her University boyfriend and her only friend is recently married and has just had a baby and Mara feels rejected. Feeling more positive about her future she starts making friends with her colleagues at the Lido when it is threatened with closure and connecting with Ash over her love of movies.
The Setup was a lovely story. I loved the setting of the old fashioned seaside town and the lido sounded absolutely amazing. I loved Mara and her journey – by fighting to save the lido, she starts to feel at home in Broadgate and become part of the community making friends. With a little help she starts to gain in confidence with new clothes and becomes great friends with Ash who I think I fancied a little bit too!
A warm, romantic and hopeful story, The Setup is that perfect beach and garden read – now we just need a summer to go with it!
lighthearted
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:
Yes
For some reason, I just could not get into this book. I found that Maura was hard to connect with and somewhat unlikeable. I was not a fan of her attempt to revamp herself and her life for the sole purpose of winning a man. Far fetched and a touch disconnected from reality.
Mara is a dreamer, the girl who lives her life based on what's she's seen in the movies she loves so much and on her horoscope. I love that she created Project Mara - a journey of self-improvement and discovery.
Mara's flatmate Ashley (Ash) is certainly the readers version of eye-candy. He is so kind and attentive - the perfect book boyfriend.
I felt like there was a good pace throughout the book with Mara's transformations taking place slowly. However, I felt like the last few chapters were rushed and I was still left with some questions. Originally I thought the book was funny but I ended up just feeling frustrated in the end.
Was the lido saved and turned into the great vision Mara had for it?
What happened with her and Charlie?
Did Mara check up on Joe again?
Mara's flatmate Ashley (Ash) is certainly the readers version of eye-candy. He is so kind and attentive - the perfect book boyfriend.
I felt like there was a good pace throughout the book with Mara's transformations taking place slowly. However, I felt like the last few chapters were rushed and I was still left with some questions. Originally I thought the book was funny but I ended up just feeling frustrated in the end.
Was the lido saved and turned into the great vision Mara had for it?
What happened with her and Charlie?
Did Mara check up on Joe again?
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Immediately got the ick from the love interest
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted