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3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
I listened to the audiobook version of this book by accident, I have to say that I bought it by impulse because I found out that on the UK version it was read by the one and only Jonathan Bailey… so I bought it and it was an amazing surprise, this book was funny, romantic, hopeful, definitely a fresh romance contemporary book and I’m glad I found it and listened to it. I really really enjoyed it ✨
A fun premise but I found myself constantly annoyed with the protagonist, Josh. Also could have ended earlier.
A really fun quick-paced read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself very entertained by brilliant details like the Sherlock Holmes girl or Jesus the driver. My main gripe with the book is that the writer feels too present. I didn't vibe with Josh or 'Sunflower Girl' because they didn't feel fully real, they felt like they could only exist as characters in a book. Parts of the plot felt like they had been purposefully added to hit a topic but they just broke the flow and resulted in a story that hits too many themes without going in depth enough into any. Other than that, the story is sweet and funny. I devoured it in a day.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"The ending may be great, it may be awful, but with all these things, it's the build-up, it's the journey, it's the ups and downs, it's the mystery, it's the unexpected twists, it's the surprises. Where is the fun in knowing how it's all going to play out? Why do you want to turn to the last page and ruin the surprise?" - The Flip Side by James Bailey
It is such a refreshing change to read a romantic comedy written by a man. The Flip Side is whimsical, hilarious and heartwarming at times, you can almost picture the protagonist as a bumbling Hugh Grant type, or someone akin to Joseph Gordon Levitt's character from 500 Days of Summer.
In The Flip Side, Josh has just planned for an extravagant New Year's Eve proposal in a London Eye pod, complete with champagne and chocolate truffles - when he is unceremoniously dumped by his girlfriend. Thus begins the most awkward 29 minutes of Josh's life - in which he also lost his home and job.
Finding himself at his wit's end, Josh makes an odd new year's resolution - decides to flip a coin to make every single decision here on out. From deciding what to wear, what to eat, and which answer to pick on bar trivia nights, Josh and his friends revel in Josh's eccentric new antics. Josh still yearns to find a new direction in life, and struggles to move on from the breakup. Though with every coin flip, Josh gets closer to the destiny that awaits him. The third act of the book, in which Josh embarks on a rather romantic quest across Europe, adds to the whimsical, dreamy and hopeful quality of the book.
There are moments of absurd hilarity and compelling, heartwarming moments as the people close to Josh are truly the best support system anyone can ask for. Josh is perpetually awkward, yet the book focuses on his determination to be more confident, to find his true calling and to have faith in himself. While the coin flip antics may seem incredulous, the story focuses on how Josh opens himself up to new experiences, making this a charming read that would definitely light up your day.
It is such a refreshing change to read a romantic comedy written by a man. The Flip Side is whimsical, hilarious and heartwarming at times, you can almost picture the protagonist as a bumbling Hugh Grant type, or someone akin to Joseph Gordon Levitt's character from 500 Days of Summer.
In The Flip Side, Josh has just planned for an extravagant New Year's Eve proposal in a London Eye pod, complete with champagne and chocolate truffles - when he is unceremoniously dumped by his girlfriend. Thus begins the most awkward 29 minutes of Josh's life - in which he also lost his home and job.
Finding himself at his wit's end, Josh makes an odd new year's resolution - decides to flip a coin to make every single decision here on out. From deciding what to wear, what to eat, and which answer to pick on bar trivia nights, Josh and his friends revel in Josh's eccentric new antics. Josh still yearns to find a new direction in life, and struggles to move on from the breakup. Though with every coin flip, Josh gets closer to the destiny that awaits him. The third act of the book, in which Josh embarks on a rather romantic quest across Europe, adds to the whimsical, dreamy and hopeful quality of the book.
There are moments of absurd hilarity and compelling, heartwarming moments as the people close to Josh are truly the best support system anyone can ask for. Josh is perpetually awkward, yet the book focuses on his determination to be more confident, to find his true calling and to have faith in himself. While the coin flip antics may seem incredulous, the story focuses on how Josh opens himself up to new experiences, making this a charming read that would definitely light up your day.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a cute story. It took me a long time to get into though. I am glad I saw it through to the end though.
REVIEW ‼️ The Flip Side - James Bailey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance is usually such a hit and miss genre for me as I am very picky about it. I recently read ‘Worst Best Man’ and I really did not get along with it. Usually, I find romance novels to be predictable and superficial which make them incredibly unenjoyable for me as there ends up being no suspense or much eagerness for me to carry on. However, with ‘The Flip Side’ I found the complete opposite.
I was taken on a journey through Josh's mind. I especially loved how the protagonist was male, as from the romance books I have read they are largely female. It added an extra layer of emotion for me and which made me enjoy the book further. It was refreshing to read about a male character that was emotionally intelligent and very in touch with their emotions, especially surrounding the stereotype of men being completely emotionless beings in society.
Another aspect I really enjoyed was how in depth the author has explored the character of Josh. From previous romance books, I have found that the character descriptions are so on the surface that Im not able to fully connect or engage with them. However Bailey really did an excellent job of portraying Josh (and the various other characters!). Josh’s love life didn't define him and his whole existence in the book, which I have seen authors do in the past and I find very disappointing. There were so many layers to all the character but especially Josh, it really is one of my favourite elements of the book!
As a queer person though,I do have to say that my favourite part was the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters and relationships within this heteronormative story. Although it may come across as something small and insignificant for some, the representation really made a big difference for me.
The element of fate within the book really struck a chord with me, as I am also someone that believes/relies on fate in life, and this little detail really warmed my heart and kept me smiling! Can you spot my special coin in the photo?
Romance is usually such a hit and miss genre for me as I am very picky about it. I recently read ‘Worst Best Man’ and I really did not get along with it. Usually, I find romance novels to be predictable and superficial which make them incredibly unenjoyable for me as there ends up being no suspense or much eagerness for me to carry on. However, with ‘The Flip Side’ I found the complete opposite.
I was taken on a journey through Josh's mind. I especially loved how the protagonist was male, as from the romance books I have read they are largely female. It added an extra layer of emotion for me and which made me enjoy the book further. It was refreshing to read about a male character that was emotionally intelligent and very in touch with their emotions, especially surrounding the stereotype of men being completely emotionless beings in society.
Another aspect I really enjoyed was how in depth the author has explored the character of Josh. From previous romance books, I have found that the character descriptions are so on the surface that Im not able to fully connect or engage with them. However Bailey really did an excellent job of portraying Josh (and the various other characters!). Josh’s love life didn't define him and his whole existence in the book, which I have seen authors do in the past and I find very disappointing. There were so many layers to all the character but especially Josh, it really is one of my favourite elements of the book!
As a queer person though,I do have to say that my favourite part was the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters and relationships within this heteronormative story. Although it may come across as something small and insignificant for some, the representation really made a big difference for me.
The element of fate within the book really struck a chord with me, as I am also someone that believes/relies on fate in life, and this little detail really warmed my heart and kept me smiling! Can you spot my special coin in the photo?
Cute and funny.
.
He doesn't meet the girl till about halfway, but his relationship with his friends is so sweet.
.
He doesn't meet the girl till about halfway, but his relationship with his friends is so sweet.
3.5 stars - I enjoyed the audiobook of this a lot. The story was sweet and had some incredibly likeable characters. Definitely an easy read with a decent plot line.