A review by smalltownbookmom
It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake by Claire Christian

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.