A review by ashmagoffin
Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley

5.0

Thank you to Text Publishing for sending us an uncorrected proof of Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley

What happens after the meet cute, the happily ever after and all the life goals are ticked off? This seems to the pondering question. Consider Yourself Kissed takes place in London over a decade, amongst the turmoil of Brexit and Covid. Coralie is plodding along her life path, meeting Adam and his daughter Zora and falling into building a home for them all and her growing family. Amid sacrifice, building a life and grounding everyone else, Coralie is left adrift. 

Division and splitting yourself into many parts is a running theme, a blended family, an Australian living in London, political and physical isolation during Covid. This world is contemporary enough to be recognisable but long enough ago it hasn’t been in the forefront of my mind for a while. Jessica Stanley was able to create connection to place vividly and built characters who felt entirely real. This is a book where I feel like many people will see themselves within Consider Yourself Kissed. What I have said about this novel makes it sound so pessimistic but there is something empowering about what this book has to say about choosing your path and the messiness of an imperfect but happy life.