Book ~ "Old Boys" (2023) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ Will Fairweather is getting old. His back aches, his bowels misbehave if he eats spicy food and he’s completely lost his sense of rhythm. Life has taught him not to take risks but even that hasn’t stopped his marriage hitting the rocks too. The last thing he needs is a surprise call from Red Fairweather, devil-may-care rock god - and the father Will hasn’t seen for thirty years.

If Will’s old before his time, Red’s the boy who won’t grow up.

When Will needs somewhere to live, with nowhere else to turn, he finds himself back with the hellraiser who deserted his family. As Will tries to come to terms with the downward spiral of his life, he starts to realise there’s more to Red than he thought - there’s a real human being under all that leather and attitude, a dad determined to make up for lost time and help his son get back on track.

Can Will make his peace with a father seeking forgiveness?

Will is in his mid-forties and has been going downhill physically and mentally since his mother passed away suddenly four years ago. Audrey, his wife, is ten years younger and wants the fun Will back. She's had enough of him being a downer so tells him they need some time apart.

Will's parents broke up when he was three and he hasn't seen his father, who the drummer of an aging famous rock band, since he was sixteen when Red disappeared from Will's life. Will is bitter about this but he has nowhere to go so moves in with Red, who has suddenly popped back into Will's life. Their lifestyles are very different ... Will is very cautious and never takes risks whereas Red lives for challenges despite being in his early seventies.

I've read many books by this author and thought this one was okay. It was a bit of a downer because of Will's state of mind and reactions but Red's philosophy for life is a good one. It is written in first person perspective in Will's voice. I thought writing could have been tighter as some times it tended to be a bit draggy. The author is English as are the characters so there were some references to I didn't know.  As a head's up, there is a swearing (lots of F-bombs).

Book ~ "Third Wheel" (2022) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ Jake Carlisle is living his best life, thanks to the crazily successful influencer channel he created with his best friend, Sy. Reviewing wacky hobbies and adrenaline-fuelled adventures, Sy has pushed Jake into doing more exciting stuff than either ever thought possible. Then disaster strikes.

When newbie Helena joins the team, Sy quickly falls head over heels for her. All of a sudden, with romance blossoming and the business dynamic shifting, Jake is horrified to find himself becoming the dreaded third wheel.

Being the odd one out was not what he signed up for. And he’ll do anything to get his best friend back - even if that involves a little light sabotage, an unhealthy amount of jealousy ... and one very unfortunate pair of tartan Speedos.

Will Jake be relegated to the background from now on? Or will he finally learn to stand on his own two feet and succeed at getting his life - along with his friendship - back on track?

Jake and Sy have been friends for 25 years and have a business together as influencers ... they do activities and then social media and YouTube posts about it. It sounds like a fun gig.  Sy feels they need a female host to draw in more viewers so hire Helena. Sy falls in love with Helena and suddenly it's Sy and Helena hanging out all the time and Jake has become the third wheel. Because of his friendship with Sy, Jake tries to go along with the new relationships but ends up feeling left out and resentful.

I've read many books by this author and thought this one was okay, though I found it wasn't as light and fun as previous ones. It is written in first person perspective in Jake's voice and it's as if he is speaking to me, the reader. I wasn't crazy about the main characters. Jake is a bit of a wimp and lets Sy and Helena walk over him (though he gets better towards the end). Sy lets his new relationship with Helena take precedence over his lifelong friendship with Jake. The author is English as are the characters so there were some references to I didn't know like an airing cupboard, a muggins, etc.  As a head's up, there is a swearing (lots of F-bombs).

Book ~ "You Again?" (2020) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ Amy and Joel’s honeymoon in the Maldives was the perfect week of love, sun, sex and a free minibar ... but unfortunately it was also the high point of a marriage that quickly descended into an absolute disaster zone.

Eight years on, they’re back in paradise, trying to recreate the magic with new partners. What a crying shame they’ve picked the same week to do it.

Trapped together on an island small enough to spit across with the wind behind you, Amy and Joel pick up right where they left off: at total loggerheads. And so begins a hideous week of rivalry, one-upmanship and score-settling - as each tries to prove they’ve now comprehensively won at life.

The thing is, hurt and pain are strongest where there was once love. And what if being back in this island paradise, with all its wonderful memories, sets sparks flying in more ways than one?

Amy and Joel worked well together at a real estate company and ended up getting married.  Things weren't perfect and came to a head when they missed an important meeting with a prospective client ... Amy ended up getting fired, they bitterly divorced and blamed each for the lost client.

Two years later, they have moved on ... Amy is engaged to a nice fella named Ray and Joel is dating a younger woman named Cara, who is the granddaughter of his boss.  They all need a vacation and when a deal pops up on Expedia to Maldives, where Amy and Joel had pleasant memories from when they went there on their honeymoon, little do they know they both go for it the same week.  The two couples end up on the same flight, the same boat right to the resort and yes, the same resort.  It's a small resort so needless to say, it's hard not to run into each other.  Amy and Joel are still very angry with each other and when they aren't trying to avoid each other, try to sabotage each other's vacation every chance they get.

This is the seventh book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and light.  It is written in first person perspective in Amy and Joel's voices and it's as if they are speaking to me, the reader.  The author is English as are the characters so there were some references to people I didn't know.  As a head's up, there is a swearing (lots of F-bombs).

Book ~ "Logging Off" (2020) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ Andy Bellows is in a right state. Plagued with insomnia, anxiety and neckache, he’s convinced there’s something seriously wrong with him. And the worst thing is that his doctor agrees. The diagnosis: Andy is in the grip of a self-destructive addiction to technology - he just cannot put that bloody mobile phone down.

Texting, tweeting, gaming and online dating - technology rules Andy’s life. His phone even monitors his bowel movements. So how will he cope when he’s forced to follow doctor’s orders and step away from all of his beloved screens?

From having to leave the flat in search of food like some kind of Neanderthal to engaging in conversations with actual people, Andy’s about to discover just how bewildering - and scary - the analogue world can be.

And when his sixty-day detox hits the headlines - making him a hero to suffering technophiles everywhere - Andy is sorely tempted to pack it all in and escape in the nearest Uber.

Can he get himself out of this mess, and work out how to live a better, technologically balanced life…without consulting Google even once? 

Andy is stressed, his neck hurts and he's having a hard time going to the bathroom.  Convinced he has a serious disease, he goes to see his doctor who tells him he is addicted to the Internet and all the technology that goes along with it.  His doctor suggests that he do a sixty day detox ... no gaming, texting, tweeting, Facebooking, Googling, etc.  To get healthy, Andy agrees.  But he's ready to give up after a couple hours when he has to actually go outside to get something to eat ... it was so much easier when all he had to do was use an app on his phone.

His friend, Fergus, is a journalist and sees Andy's detox as a great story and perhaps an inspiration to others so writes about it in the newspaper.  So no matter how tempted he is, Andy can't quit now because he starts to gain a following.  Along the way, he finds out how hard it is to live without technology (like having to actually use a map to get where he's going) but he also discovers how nice it is when he meets Grace and goes on day trips outside with her.

Could you give up technology and the Internet for sixty days?!

This is the sixth book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic.  It is written in first person perspective in Andy's voice and it's as if he was speaking to me, the reader.  The author is English and the story happens there so some of the references weren't common to me.  As a head's up, there is a swearing.

Book ~ "Dumped, Actually" (2019) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ When Ollie Sweet is very publicly dumped by ‘The One’, his seemingly perfect world dissolves into misery, self-pity, and a bizarre rooftop meeting with a suicidal man in flip-flops. While most would seek out the support of loved ones at such a torrid time, natural-born journalist Ollie asks the subscribers of his website: how did they get over their failed relationships?

When Ollie follows some of their more extreme advice, chaos inevitably ensues, including accidentally exposing himself to some unsuspecting wildlife, jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aeroplane and suffering from an extremely painful bottom, courtesy of a maniacal Scotsman.

Of course, all of this goes down a storm with his online following, and Ollie soon finds himself the centre of everyone’s attention - whether he likes it or not!

With his eclectic collection of supporters to guide him, can Ollie mend his broken heart, heal his broken bottom, and learn to find happiness again? 

Ollie had it all planned.  He was taking his girlfriend, Samantha, to the opening day of an amusement park on her birthday.  They were going to be the first to ride an amazing roller coaster.  When they got off, there would be a jazz band playing and Ollie was going to get down on one knee and proposed to Samantha.  Well, things didn't go as planned including Samantha turning him down.

Ollie didn't see this coming and is heartbroken.  He just wants what his parents have ... the perfect loving marriage.  Ollie is a journalist for an online magazine and his boss suggests that he write about his experience and ask his readers how to move on.  He receives many emails and suggestions including get a makeover, go camping, find someone else, do meditation, skydive, etc.  Some suggestions he does use and these become the basis of his ongoing articles.  He is honest in the articles about his experiences and this begins to draw more and more readers and fans.

This is the fifth book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic.  It is written in first person perspective in Ollie's voice and it's as if he was speaking to me, the reader ("breaking the fourth wall").  The author is English and the story happens there so some of the references weren't common to me ... I had to Google what a Wendy House, for example, is.  As a head's up, there is a swearing and adult activity.

I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Book ~ "Checking Out" (2018) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ What do you do when the doctor says you could die at any moment? Well ... after you’ve made a cup of tea, of course.

Nathan James is young, successful and has the world at his feet. Unfortunately he’s also about to die - which ruins things somewhat. And now he’s staring imminent death in the face, Nathan is having to rethink some of his life choices very hard.

This means embarking on a hectic journey of self-discovery that includes, amongst other things, losing his dignity to an inescapable bean bag, suffering screaming nightmares about a monstrous potato and getting up close and very personal with a bipolar donkey.

All of which is fine but then Nathan falls in love with a charming girl called Alison, which is a really stupid thing to do. Because how can you give your heart to someone when it might be about to stop?

Nathan is 33 years old.  He's just sold the rights to a show he had created for a lot of money, his girlfriend is a gorgeous but vain model (and he's okay with that) and he's trying to figure out what to do with all his money.  Then his doctor tells him he has a brain tumour and there's nothing that can be done.  He could pass away at any time.  Not the kind of news he wants to receive.

Unexpectedly he meets Allison and they fall in love ... except Nathan hasn't told Allison that he could drop dead at any second.  He wants to find something worthwhile to do with what life he has left so sets out to figure out what that is which has interesting results.

This is the fourth book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic.  Despite the subject matter, the book is a comedy.  It is written in first person perspective in Nathan's voice.  The author is English and the story happens there so some of the references aren't common to North Americans.  As a head's up, there is a lot of swearing and some adult activity.

I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Book ~ "Mad Love" (2016) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ Can two people who have never met make a marriage work? Popular dating site Sociality thinks so and is marrying London lad Adam to California girl Jessica to prove it.

What better way to show that your ‘love algorithms’ work than to put two complete strangers together in an expensive publicity stunt? But as livewire Jess and lazybones Adam quickly discover, just because a computer says you’re the perfect match, it doesn’t make it so! 

 Two million Sociality subscribers and the media are following the happy couple’s progress and they have to make a go of it or they’ll lose everything, look like idiots and destroy Sociality’s reputation. But can the mismatched pair, who seem to be constantly at each other’s throats, put their differences aside and work their way into each other’s hearts?

On a lark, strangers Adam and Jessica complete a profile on the dating site, Sociality ... Adam did his passing time while sitting on the toilet and Jessica did hers with a buzz on from some wine.  Needless to say, neither was completely honest in their answers.  They are paired as compatible and the prize is a fabulous wedding, a posh apartment for a year and some cash.  They both go ahead with it for their own reasons.

As they live together, they discover the white lies each had told and that their personalities clash and it eventually blows up into a tense situation.  If they back out, though, they lose the apartment and the money so both have to suck it up ... especially since Cassie, the owner of Sociality, is doing all she can to make it look like the two are deliriously happy and in love.

This is the third book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic.  It is written in first person perspective, alternating between Adam and Jessica (the chapters are labeled so you know whose voice it is), plus blog and newspaper posts.  The author is English and the story takes place in London so some of the references aren't common to North Americans.  As a head's up, there is a lot of swearing and some adult activity.

I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Book ~ "Bricking It" (2015) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ When siblings Dan and Hayley Daley inherit their late grandmother’s derelict Victorian farmhouse, it seems like a dream come true. All they have to do is fix the place up and sell it for a tidy profit!

Except, as anyone who has renovated an old house knows, things are never that easy.

The walls are rapidly crumbling around them, the architect is a certified lunatic, the budget is spiraling … and then there’s the disturbingly intelligent cow to worry about.

On top of all this, the renovation is being featured on a daytime reality TV show and as soon as "Great Locations" presenter Gerard O’Keefe catches sight of Hayley’s first-floor balcony, he’s determined to woo her out of her ban on romance, whether she wants him to or not.

Will Dan and Hayley survive and sell up? Or will the whole thing collapse on them like a ton of bricks?

Haley and Dan's grandmother has died and left them a house in the English countryside.  No one has lived in it or kept it up for fifty years so it's really rundown ... no one in their family even knew about the house.  Their plan is to borrow money to fixed it up and sell it to make a profit.  They hire Mitchell, an eccentric architect, and Fred, an gruff handyman, and his team because they are cheap.  In addition, they take a leave of absence from their jobs so they can help out however they can in order to keep costs down.  Mitchell knows Gerard, the host of a renovation show, and Haley and Dan agree to let him film their renovation in hopes that it will raise awareness of their house and it will sell for lots of money.

This is the second book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic.  It is written in first person perspective, alternating between Haley and Dan (the chapters are labeled so you know whose voice it is).  The author lives in England so there are some English references I didn't get.  As a head's up, there is a lot of swearing and some adult activity.

I liked Haley and Dan.  It was interesting to see how they went from feeling that the house was a burden to loving it.  The characters are amusing, especially Fred and Pat The Cow.

It was a fun read.

Book ~ "Fat Chance" (2014) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ Meet Zoe and Greg Milton, a married couple who have let themselves go a bit.

Zoe was a stunner in her college days but the intervening decades have added five stone and removed most of her self-esteem. Greg's rugby-playing days are well and truly behind him, thanks to countless pints of beer and chicken curry.

When Elise, a radio DJ and Zoe's best friend, tells them about a new competition, it seems like the perfect opportunity to turn their lives around. "Fat Chance" will pit six hefty couples against one another to see who can collectively lose the most weight and walk away with a £50,000 prize.

So begins six months of abject misery, tears and frustration that just might turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to them in another laugh-out-loud look at the way we live.

Zoe and Greg are in their late thirties and like most of us, have gained weight over the years.  Zoe's friend, Elise, works at a radio station that is organizing a weight loss competition called "Fat Chance" and convinces Zoe (who convinces Greg) to be part of it.  Six couples will compete to see which has lost the most weight after six months, with the prize being £50,000.

The contestants are obligated to keep track of their journey is a diary and the book is Zoe and Greg's entries as they recount their efforts to diet and exercise. 

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style.  It was funny and sarcastic.  You have to read it with an open mind and sense of humour ... I don't think the author's intent was to offend anyone.  I thought there was surprisingly a lot of honesty and reality in it.  The format worked for me ... each chapter alternated between Zoe and Greg's diary entries with their names at the top and their weight loss to date.  The author lives in England so there are some English references I didn't get.  Plus the weights are in stones (I had to look it up online ... 1 stone = 14 pounds).  As a head's up, there is swearing.

I liked Zoe and Greg.  I thought they were cute as a couple who had been together for a long time.  It was fun to read how they first approach weight-loss ... Zoe tried the wacky diets guaranteed for quick weight loss while Greg got sucked in by buying crazy exercise equipment.  They eventually discovered what worked for them (healthily).

I look forward to reading others by this author.