I picked the book because it was about a character with social anxiety disorder who's coming to terms with living on her own after her husband cheats her. It was the social anxiety disorder bit that intrigued me. I was hoping for the author to execute it well. She did not.

There's not enough focus on the important bits. Rather, I felt that the author meandered a lot along with a meaningless course of events which worked against what could have been some solid story telling. There are more secondary characters than needed, and none of them sparked my interest. I also did not feel the main romance with the neighbor Alex. I was hoping for her to end up with another guy - bookshop owner. They had more chemistry, in my opinion. Also, Alex just did not appear enough in the book to garner my interest.

I found the main character Chloe to be inconsistent. For someone with supposedly a severe case of social anxiety disorder, she is successfully able to overcome through a lot of social situations without much struggle. While I cherish stories where the protagonist emerges to defeat all odds in the end, I also like seeing them go through the worst, to be able to enjoy their triumph. We do not really see Chloe suffer through the worst to be able to appreciate her overcome her troubles.

I think the author could have done a lot more with the plot, especially by delving deep into the issue of social anxiety disorder. The execution just came off as too convenient.

I struggled with this one. For me it never seemed to get going and felt like it was never going to end. It was a bit repetitive. I wouldn't say romance was in the air even though there was a number of dating events.
Sorry just couldn't get along with this one!

Chloe Piper is newly single after her long term marriage ended with her discovery of her husband’s infidelity and his decision to move in with his supermodel girlfriend.

Chloe moves to a house in the country for a fresh start. She is secretly the anonymous author of a very popular book (Spank Me Harder, Vicar) and due to its popularity has a contract for a second book - but is floundering to get it written since with the changes in her life she is lacking inspiration.

When Chloe meets her new neighbors and gets drunk with them, she agrees to join their club for local singles events. Upon sobering, she is upset to realize this as she has social anxiety disorder and struggles to do things with crowds of people she doesn’t know.

The plot had potential but it just ultimately didn’t work for me. I didn’t feel invested in any of the relationships and felt there were a lot of inconsistencies. There were some romantic relationships but I didn’t believe in any of them. The only relationship that felt real to me was Chloe’s love of her dog.

I don’t feel qualified to speak to the representation of her anxiety disorder but it felt off to me. I also read reviews from others who manage this in their lives who said the same - although everyone’s experience is unique. I felt uncomfortable with the ways it seemed used as a plot device at certain points and completely disregarded at others.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A charming romantic comedy, with a sensitive and serious look at social anxiety disorder and its disabling effects. Christmas looms dark and dangerous for Chloe, whose husband has recently left her. A successful debut author, who suffers from anxiety, Chloe is horrified when she is identified as the author CJ Knight, and can no longer find the anonymity she needs in her village. Moving to a new development in rural Staffordshire appeals but is it too remote? Will she master her writer's block? Can she survive Christmas with only Ronnie the dog for company?

The characters in the new development and those she meets in the singles club are complex, with their own emotional baggage but believable, there are no stereotypes here, only reflections of the people you may encounter in your daily life. The story charts Chloe's battle against her anxiety, her courage as she learns to trust others and her emotional journey to rebuild her self-esteem through writing her second book.

There are lots of conflicts, as the genre demands, both internal and external, and many hilarious moments, especially involving Ronnie the dog. The story is gently paced and as Chloe is a likeable character you want her to find true happiness, and learn to live her life fully. There are elements in this story that many readers will relate to, which make this more than just a lighthearted love story.

A clever balance of romance, laughs and poignancy make this an enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this book from Canelo via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a super cute and fun read. I really loved Chloe and felt that she was a well rounded character. I liked all the characters and loved the single club dynamic they have. This was such an adorable and heart felt read and the ending was so sweet.

Funny read- well written enjoyable. great characters
Thank you to both NetGalley and Canelo for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

I have just finished this amazing novel and whooping around with excitement, so please excuse me if this review comes out to be incoherent. This is Wyer's second book that I have taken up (no, I didn't read her detective novels) and is surely going to be on my favourite shelf. More than fiction, I will categorise this under self-help which is made genuinely interesting with the inclusion of a story.
Our protagonist, Chloe Piper, is not just shy, she is suffering from social anxiety disorder. She is afraid of facing people and her knees buckle whenever she is confronted with too much attention; she even avoids supermarkets, scared of mingling with a crowd. She is a character I could pretty much identify with and that is not because I have this anxiety disorder (not that I have checked). But extreme shyness is equally horrible and the worst thing is there is only one cure: confront your fears and stop running away, as Chloe demonstrates. Help is sure to be at hand when you are ready to help yourself. Yes, this is one of those stories which perfectly portrays the message of Paulo Coelho.
I am not fond of novels which include a lot of brooding, but here it felt completely natural. Since Chloe is not that talkative and keeps on thinking about the same things, the novel it seems has cleverly reflected her character. And the singleton group . . . I have only one word for you guys, AWESOME!
On the whole, this story has reminded me a lot about what I need to do. Because in spite of all the New Year pledges, I still run a mile if I am asked to be on the stage. So, Chloe, I know you are not real, but you are an inspiration to each introvert in this planet. I might be making a wild guess here, but it is possible that the author is also talking about her own writing experience through Chloe, and if that is the case, there could be someone who inspired this heroine.
So what are you waiting for? I hope this review has given you enough incentive to run to the library. Another fabulous gem from Carol Wyer that should not be missed.

A delightful romantic comedy filled with humor and hijinks. This story follows heartbroken Chloe Piper as she moves to a farm with her trusty sidekick Ronnie, where she can focus on writing her next best-seller. She's introduced to quirky neighbors, including one very handsome gentleman. The writing makes it very easy to picture the story as it unfolds, especially if you love animals.

First, thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-galley of this book.

Chloe Piper is a bestselling author, whose husband just left her for a model. She has nobody to turn to except her best friend, and agent. Chloe decides to buy a new home out in the country where she can lick her wounds in solitude, and nobody will be aware that she has Social Anxiety Disorder.

When her neighbor forces herself into Chloe's life, Chloe begins to realize how much she has grown.

I loved this story about overcoming one's obstacles in life.
#NetGalley #SuddenlySingle

Warm, witty and delightful, Suddenly Single is an irresistible romantic comedy guaranteed to make readers giggle and keep them engrossed till the very end.

Bestselling romantic novelist Chloe Piper might spend her days creating happy ever afters and writing about everlasting love, but her personal life would give a horror writer the heebie jeebies as it is a complete and utter disaster! With Christmas fast approaching, Chloe is not exactly filled with festive cheer as her marriage has just imploded and the last thing she wants is to be the subject of village gossip and be the hot topic over the holidays. Chloe wants to be by herself somewhere where nobody knows who she is or what she has gone through and it looks like the newly built Sunny Meadow Farm could provide her with the sanctuary she so desperately needs…

With her dog Ronnie by her side, Chloe is looking forward to keeping the world at bay and to some time where she can rest, recuperate and figure out what on earth she is going to do next. So, it’s just a shame that chaos seems to follow poor Chloe around. Not only does she find herself surrounded by a very lively and chatty building crew headed by the very charming Alex, but she also has to contend with a very eccentric neighbour who is determined to find Chloe her knight in shining armour. But is Chloe’s Prince Charming right under her nose? Or should Chloe resign herself to the fact that only fictional heroines get their sunset endings and happy ever afters?

Is suddenly single Chloe destined to spend the rest of her life on her own? Or will she finally find her own happy ending?

Suddenly Single is Bridget Jones’ Diary for the 21st century. Carol Wyer has penned a fabulous read with a terrific heroine, a cast of fantastic supporting characters and lashings of humour, charm and heart to keep readers gleefully turning the pages late into the night.

Whenever you pick up a Carol Wyer novel, a good time is always guaranteed and Suddenly Single is an uplifting, feel-good and unputdownable romantic comedy that is far too good to miss!

Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 Stars!

HAPPY PUBLISHING DAY!!

This was a cute story about the emotional rollercoasters of life. I don’t really see this as a romantic comedy but more of a compelling book about second chances with a background love story. It was not really a “funny’ book. I’m not even sure if the romance part should be the focus in the tagline either. Chloe Piper is a mysterious author who has social anxiety and struggles with her mental health. Her husband cheated on her and it tore her apart and the story follows her journey as she heals and finds herself.

Carol Wyner does a lovely job discussing the truths of mental illness and creates a feel-good novel on dealing with mental health, overcoming emotional tragedies, and opening yourself up for a second chance at life.

I enjoyed the writing style and the story. It was not what I was expecting. I was expecting more humor since it is tagged as a romantic comedy. It was a light and heartfelt read. It just did not immediately grab me. I am very pleased to see that mental health is a big part of the book and I enjoyed how real Carol Wyner makes the book feel when she discusses that aspect.

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo Escape for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Took me a little while to get into the story but when I did I couldn't get enough. A great cast of characters and very enjoyable story. Will definitely look out for this author in future!

Carol Wyer is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, and this book certainly ticked all the boxes for me. It was a fast read, but was entertaining, and has some very funny moments in it.

The story follows Chloe Piper, a writer who is making a new start, following the break up of her marriage to William. She moves, with her gorgeous dog Ronnie to the most perfect if remote location, into what really sounds like my dream home. Although the location is still a building site, with some of the barns still needing conversion, Chloe manages to make friends with Alex, Felix and Eleanor, and somehow Eleanor talks socially anxious Chloe into joining her singles club. Each session of the singles club is an interesting and challenging event for the people to try.

I really liked Chloe, and could easily empathise with her social anxiety disorder. The other members of the club, her new friends, are all lovely, and as for Ronnie her dog, dog dustbin that he is, he is just utterly adorable. Carol really knows how to bring a characterful dog into her stories!

The bookish nerd in me fell for Sean, the owner of what sounded like a bookshop I need in my life, although it’s entirely possible I was seduced by his shop rather than him!

I loved how by having a new support system around her, Chloe finds herself, and her own strength. I worried for a moment that when William came back into her life, she was going to be weak, but I need not have worried, because the new Chloe was not going to be manipulated in the way that the old Chloe had been. This is a book about new beginnings, friendship, and personal growth, and it was such a charming read that I read it in a day because I did not want to leave the characters for a moment.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer is out today! Happy publication day!

Suddenly Single is the story of Chloe, an author who separates from her husband and buys a new home to start over. She suffers from social anxiety disorder which makes social situations extremely difficult for her. This was one of the strengths of the book-the description of her condition and how it effected her life and relationships. The author also did an amazing job of character development-there were many characters in the book and they all were very distinct and interesting. I did, however, find the story to be a bit slow and it took me longer than usual to get through. Overall it was an enjoyable read!

Suddenly Single is a thought-provoking story of healing after heartache and overcoming obstacles. It is fun and light-hearted and even had me laughing out loud at some parts!
Chloe arrives at Sunny Meadow Farm after a painful break up from her husband; she also has a more emotional problem that she doesn’t like to divulge unless necessary.
This book sees her facing her biggest fears while becoming part of the community and daring to hope that she might meet the man that will change everything for her and accept her for who she is.
The story develops at quite a slow speed, and it took me a fair few chapters to really get invested in it, but once you know the characters, they are so likeable that it makes the book easier to read. Eleanor and Felix are hilarious and have got such fantastic imaginations with the days of fun they come up with. Although, Chloe has a very quiet demeanour she is still likeable with a fun personality.
By the end of the book I wanted to be friends with all of the characters; they were really well-developed and charismatic. They felt familiar, and I didn’t want the book to end as I wanted to stay with them a little longer.
However, the book does end, and it is the perfect ending, that makes you smile and glad you invested your time in this book.
The main thing I struggled with, though, was imagining Sunny Meadow Farm, it sounded idyllic, but I just couldn’t conjure an image of what it was like. I’m not sure if because the beginning of the book was hard to get into I missed the description or whether it wasn’t detailed enough for me to create a picture but the dimensions of the land and the proximity to the other houses I just couldn’t get my head around.
That was just a minor problem, though, and it didn’t stop me enjoying the book as a whole.

This is a brilliant, heart warming book which I absolutely loved.
Chloe has recently separated from her husband Wiliam, and is just starting to find her feet in her new home.
Her neighbour is there straight away and tells Chloe that she ‘must’ come round for drinks that night.
Chloe can’t deal with large social gatherings but after getting drunk Eleanor has persuaded her to join a club she organises for single people.
Chloe is swept along by Eleanor’s enthusiasm and starts to feel out of her depth.
Sean is there to give her a friendly smile and slowly, Chloe starts to enjoy herself.
Alex, who she knows from the building of her new home is also there, and offers her support too.
Eleanor organises fun events for the group and I loved reading about what they all got up to.
Another great character in the book is Ronnie, Chloe’s gorgeous dog, who is anyone’s friend if you feed him!
Chloe has her ups and downs and is trying to write her second novel but her close friends help her deal with everything that is thrown at her.
There’s a few gasp out loud moments and this made the book even more addictive.
I devoured the book in a few hours and love the way Carol Wyer grabs the reader from the first few pages.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Summary:

“….. how each individual, made up of unique ice crystals. Like people, she reflected.”

Chloe moved to a reclusive new neighborhood. She suffers from social anxiety disorder. For the last 15 years, she was trying to suppress it and she thought her husband helped her to get over it. But it relapsed the day she knew her husband was cheating on her. She moved to Sunny Meadows Barn (quite like the name, it brings the sun back in Chloe’s life).

Suddenly single is about a women’s journey of rebuilding life no matter what curveball life throws at you.

My take on the book:

The book oozes positive vibes. Chloe is the protagonist and suffers from loss of self- identity. Despite the troubles, she keeps reminding herself of her Nanny’s words. She has the supporting beams to push her towards the brightness. Chloe shows immense will power to move on and fights her demon to keep her sanity. I admire the author maintaining her positive and happy. The other pivotal figure in the book is Ronnie, Chloe’s dog. He is such an adorable dog. There are light-hearted jokes around Ronnie. The other characters are fit thoroughly in their roles.

That brings me to the pace and theme of the book. It drags towards the last few minutes. And the author kept the clarity of Chloe’s new love interest Alex minimalistic. There was less depth to the relationship or conversations between Alex and Chloe, whereas; it was fine with other characters. I will not say the book revolved around romance rather searching for oneself when faced with the crisis.

The metaphor used here is cheating husband but it can be everything might highlight our self- doubt. We aren’t perfect but we can always ask for help and accept that help from friends.

It’s not a weepy or self- pity instead shows hope and keeping that light on inside so the darkness doesn’t stay.

My rating for the book: 3.5

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for giving the book in exchange for an honest review.

With thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I am a big fan of Carol Wyer, and enjoy both her chic lit books and thrillers.

Chloe Piper was the best-selling author of Spank Me Harder Vicar, which was loosely based on gossip her husband William heard in the pub. When Chloe found a receipt for a meal in Williams`s pocket she discovered he had been being an affair with a model and the marriage was over.

Chloe and her dog Ronnie moved 20 miles away to Sunny Meadow, a newly built housing estate in the country. On her first evening she met her next door neighbours Felix and Eleanor After getting a little tipsy Chloe agreed to join a singles club they had just started.. However Chloe suffered from social anxiety disorder since her parents died when she was a child. Chloe found it hard to meet new people. especIally in large groups and tried to cancel but didn't want to upset her new friends.

Also Chloe`s best friend and agent Faith was expecting a manuscript for her next book. However Chloe`s next book The Ambassador was going to based on gossip from William. Without him she was suffering writers block and was unable to type a word. Chloe soon realised that William had gradually chipped away at her fragile confidence, could she find the courage to start again?

I enjoyed this book about fresh beginnings, friendships and love. Suddenly Single had some funny moments, I gasped in horror when hunky Alex caught Chloe watching a risque film looking for ideas for her book. I thought the team activities sounded fun and a little different, sumo wrestling, duck herding and learning the Haka.

I liked Chloe and all the members of the singles club. I especially liked
Sean a divorcee who owned a book shop called A Chapter In Time. I also had a soft spot for Ed a widow whose granddaughter bought him a three month subscription for the singles club.

I recommend this light hearted, fun read.

I thought that this was a really good story that kept me turning the pages

It had really strong characters that I really warmed too and I felt like I wanted to push them together and give them a helping hand! I thought that the detail was very good and the story flowed really well.

This is the first book I have read by this author and will definitely be looking to get some of her other books now, this was a delight to read and one I will certainly be recommending!

Five stars from me!!

Suddenly Single by Carol Wyer is the story of Chloe Piper a bestselling romance author, whose marriage falls apart a week before Christmas. Chloe leaves her home and gossip behind and goes to Sunny Meadow Farm with her dog, Ronnie. Can Chloe recover from her failed marriage? Read and find out in this sweet book.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.