Thanks NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"The Lonely Fajita" by Abigail Mann was a cute read about Elissa who loses her home when her boyfriend passively breaks up with her and lets her get kicked out of their apartment. From there, Elissa enrolls in a program where young people move in with elderly people. Without other options, Elissa moves in with Annie and that's when everything changes.

This book was sweet and easy. Characters were fun and unique, with stories that you wanted to hear about. Her workplace was depressing, her boss was a usual character type. This book was built extremely well.

I think this book almost touched on something deep so many times, but it never fully got there. I wanted the break up to be dramatic. I wanted Annie's past to be delved into. I even wanted to see something more extreme happen with the elder care worker. There was just nothing that seriously hooked me.

Overall, I gave this book three stars, because I liked it, but it didn't have that extra something I was craving.

If you are looking for a fun, light-hearted read for a few hours of escapism then this book is for you. Elissa's life is a bit of a train wreck - in a dead-end job as an unpaid intern at a social media company, she is broke and when her boyfriend leaves to go travelling she needs to find somewhere to live. Spotting an advert asking for live in companions for the elderly, she ends up living with Annie, a quirky, independent old lady originally from Yorkshire.

Mann paints a picture of Elissa's life that I am sure many millenials can relate to, and the inter-generational relationship between her and Annie is a heartwarming one, Add to that a good cast of supporting characters and plenty of humour and you have an easy and enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you One More Chapter for a copy of The Lonely Fajita by Abigail Mann for review.

The Lonely Fajita was such a lovely heartwarming story! Poor Elissa. Stuck in an internship that doesn't cover the bills, with a boyfriend that only seems to tolerate her and trying to find her way in both. Elissa seems like a really nice person who needs some guidance and she finds that in the form of Annie, the elderly woman she moves in with to help pay her bills and also watch over her elderly roommate. I really like Annie as well. She also had a tough life and I am glad the two of them really worked together to figure themselves out.

I requested this book on the title alone and I am pleased to say that I wasn’t disappointed. What a great debut novel. It was a very funny, light hearted read with some great characters. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Lonely Fajita offers some lovely light relief ideal as a holiday read or when you're looking for a genuinely entertaining escape for a few hours with some nice characters. It's fun, easy and nice, with lots of amusing jokes, scene-setting and insight into trying to begin adult life in your mid 20s in London.

This was a light and easy read which was welcome during the current stressful times!

I did, however, find Elissa as a person to be frustrating and I much preferred Annie, the elderly woman she moved in with. I did enjoy the book overall but I got bored and at no point was I desperate to finish it. If you’re after something light-hearted and easy-going though this fits the bill.

Many thanks to the author, Netgalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bright,lighthearted,full of comedy,The Lonely Fajita is the kind of book designed to lift your spirits and bring a smile to your face. Sit back, make yourself comfortable and lose yourself in the lives of Elissa and Annie whose unlikely companionship will reap unexpected benefits for the pair of them.
The storyline is far from original, (who cares?) using two female characters who are poles apart in terms of age and personalities, whose lives become intertwined when Elissa is looking for a cheap place to live. Elissa is the archetypal young woman often found in this type of fiction, unlucky in love, working in that strange world of social media for literally nothing and wondering how to pay the rent when boyfriend Tom abruptly calls time on their relationship. Cue Eldercare agency who are looking for live in companions for the elderly to provide friendship, run errands and maybe cook in exchange for a room. Elissa may see this as a last resort and a sign of failure but maybe Annie, who lives in Evergreen village could be her unlikely saviour.
With writing that is witty and warm, both Elissa and Annie provide us with ample opportunity for laughter and I was never quite sure who exactly was looking after who!! Hilarious anecdotes of dating fiascos and a spectacular cooking disaster involving an apple crumble, it’s virtually impossible not to like Elissa, who is joined by a colourful cast of characters as her friendship with Annie develops and they discover there is much to learn from one another. Odious Craig who creeps around the village ostensibly checking up on the elderly residents;formidable Margaret, Annie’s next door neighbour married to henpecked George are just a few individuals you’ll meet on Elissa’s journey of self discovery. However the weird and wacky characters in the social media world working on the ill fated Lovr dating app are some of my favourites and whom I imagine do probably exist in reality in some shape or form. The hot desking, the jargon and all the nonsensical waffle reminded me in lots of ways of that fabulous tv comedy W1A and I pitied Elissa having to work alongside the likes of Mitchell and Rhea and Adam. When Elissa comes up with a half decent pitch to save the dating app, she definitely surprises herself in terms of her capabilities and in doing so brings together the community as her venture gains momentum. Uncovering a secret side to Annie, kept hidden for years, is just an added bonus.
Full of friendship, hope and a sense of uniting people who perhaps ordinarily would not meet, this is a feel good novel that will brighten your day and rouse a chuckle or two. I seem to be overdosing on breezy, somewhat predictable uncomplicated fiction right now but I still think my appetite for pure escapism has yet to be sated. Happiness, positivity and laughter are contagious and whilst this isn’t a storyline that will stick in my mind for very long, I’m glad to have accompanied Elissa and Annie on their path to friendship and all that follows.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

When Elissa finds herself boyfriend-less and money-less her only option is to move in with a stranger, an elderly stranger at that. She finds herself living in a delightful London village with Annie. However that doesn’t solve all her problems, she still has a dead end job, that she is getting paid a pittance to do and her love life leaves a lot to be desired. With the advice and support from Annie, Elissa gains the confidence to begin to shine.

I love that this book focuses on inter generational friendships. Elissa gains so much from Annie and vice versa really.

This was a great book.

Living in a modern Whirl!

This was a really enjoyable read. Elissa, who just can't seem to get her life together, has a non wage earning internship as an App blogger /media start up worker for a somewhat dodgy Internet dating type organization called Lovr.
Financially she lives on the edge. Her boyfriend/partner is a jerk who obviously has lost interest but Elissa doesn't clue into that until he leaves her high and dry. Mind you, sharing his bedroom in a shared household does cut costs.
This is when Elissa meets eighty-three year old Annie. Forced to look for other living arrangements Elissa embarks on a wholly different life style and 'surprise, surprise' she begins to find herself.
On the work front Elissa is treated badly (talk about continually going around the mountain!) Just another instance where she seems to allow herself to be taken advantage of.
When Elissa decides to step up things become way more interesting!
Her work cohorts are a disconnected group, the atmosphere and design of the work place is very rah rah--living in a glass house à la Silicon Valley type arrangement, with some rather awkward/funny moment. Her boss is somewhat on par with her boyfriend and not only dreadfully sexist, but completely narcissistic. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him! On the other hand Elissa's gay female workplace friend Suki is a scream!
I loved this cross generational story where the disparate age groups find they have something to offer each other, and our heroine comes into her own--with a little help from her old and new friends. The story invoked much chuckles and laughter in amongst the frenetic pace.

A HarperCollins UK ARC via NetGalley

The premise sounded interesting and it was marketed as "utterly relatable feel-good comedy".
Instead of utterly relating and feeling good I could only shake my head at Elissa's life and relationship choices and I wanted to shake her to make her wake up.
She leads a very problematic relationship, lets herself being exploited and treated horribly at work and the only thing she can think of is how she wants to go out dancing and drinking.
That was just sad.
I also feel like that she didn't get any support from family or friends. The idea of sharing space with an elderly lady was great, but wasn't done very well.
Annie was the most interesting character, but I couldn't care less about Elissa's whining and feeling sorry for herself.
I was missing some major breakthrough and character development along the line and the ending was just unrealistic and silly.

Unfortunately not a contemporary novel that I can recommend, so 2 coffee cups out of 5.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliantly funny, well observed and relatable- the tag line doesn’t do it justice!

“Breaking up is hard to do… Or the best thing that could happen to you!” This tagline could attach itself to countless chicklit novels that have come before, but this one is most definitely different. The lack of constant romance is incredibly refreshing. Elissa has other (and bigger) problems, and had me screaming with laughter as she tries to solve them.

I particularly enjoyed the understated final conclusion to her romance with Tom (profile removed, no hesitation) and Annie’s magnificent takedown of Craig.

I hope there’s many more books to come!

Many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

I could not even begin to think how the title could relate to the synopsis - but trust me, it does make sense. A really feel good book.
Alissa is really not having a good birthday - she has accidentally booked a smear test and things just go from bad to worse. She is working as an intern - which means she only gets expenses; then her boyfriend tells her he is going travelling; then she loses her unpaid job. Now homeless, unemployed, and properly single she is struggling.

Then luckily she finds free bed and board in return for living with an elderly lady - Annie. Some characters just shine, and Annie and Alissa shine very bright indeed!

A good, fun read that makes you think 'ahh'. Loved it, great, thanks so much Ms Mann.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

A lovely feel good read. Curl up on the sofa and lose yourself for a few hours.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

There’s something about warmer weather that makes me wolf down rom-coms like there’s no tomorrow. I knew that this one would be a little bit different and something that I knew I definitely needed.

Elissa has managed to book a cervical smear on her birthday and that’s not even the worst of her problems. Her boyfriend Tom is about to jet off to Vegas on a stag do and she is penniless, thanks to her expenses-only internship as Social Media Manager at dating app Lovr. Her best friends Suki and Maggie are always busy living their best lives, so Elissa feels pretty dang lonely. Then she comes across ElderCare, a companionship scheme that pairs up lonely older people with those who need a cheap rent and a sense of purpose. Could this be the excitement Elissa is looking for?

It’s obvious that Elissa and Tom’s relationship is on the rocks right from the beginning, although Elissa doesn’t seem to know that. They’re the most uncoupley couple and the fact that she doesn’t seem to mind is another red flag. I settled in quite comfortable in the assumption that this story would be less about falling in love with someone else and more about a girl falling in love with herself and with life.

When Elissa meets 83-year-old Yorkshirewoman Annie, her life takes a turn for the much better. Annie is one of the best characters I’ve read in a long time and I’d love to meet her in real life. Her bluntly-delivered wisdom is exactly what Elissa needs and actually, it’s exactly what every struggling millennial needs. I’m constantly worrying about and questioning my ideas but Annie has inspired me to roll with them and do all I can to make them a success.

As is likely for many people who have reached their eighties, Annie has a few secrets that she is reluctant to talk about. Elissa slowly uncovers them and in turn, reveals a tragic story that will give you all of the feels. It’s sometimes easy to forget that older people once had lives outside of comfy slippers and game shows. Annie’s life has been full of self-sacrifice and heartbreak. Listening to her story gives her a vulnerability that goes beyond her physical fragility and taps into the woman she used to be and still is on the inside.

Amongst the sexism, hypocritical, toxic behaviours in her office, a string of awful dates in the name of getting ahead in said office and living pitiful pay cheque to pitiful pay cheque, Elissa learns that fitting in and following a predictable corporate life isn’t always the way to go. It’s only when she meets Annie and her neighbours that she finally learns what really matters in life and where her energy is best directed.

The Lonely Fajita is a wonderfully uplifting novel focused on a mutually beneficial, unlikely friendship that will warm your heart. It’s about stepping outside of your comfort zone, letting go of past pain and finding true profound happiness. It’s also hilariously funny, inspiring and heartwarming. Perfect for fans of Three Things About Elsie and A Man Called Ove with plenty of contemporary millennial realness, it’s a stellar choice for a quick delightful summer read.

Love, loss, reconciliation

I do find reading about brow beaten females very frustrating! And Elissa is one of those...

Elissa is with a guy who doesn’t give a damn, works for a start up dating app company on an internship without being paid and considers expenses a good deal. And lets the most inscrutable borderline-psychotic boss humiliate her on a regular basis.

When she finally realises that Tom is going to dump her she ends up single, broke and homeless. With little manoeuvrability at work.

What can she do? She contacts The ElderCare Companionship Scheme to explore the opportunity of being a live-in companion. What a great idea.... and she is very fortunate to be paired with Annie, in her 80s, a character who I loved...

Annie had skeletons in the cupboard that come to light later in the relationship. The friendship that developed between them both was heart warming. Delightful considering the age difference.

It’s a little crass in parts, more at the beginning, light-hearted and over all not a bad read. I didn’t find it as hilarious as some reviewers did, not my kind of sense of humour, however I did laugh out loud at a couple of Elissa’s predicaments...

One of my favourites being when she was out running and met quite a dishy guy who comes into his own at a later part in the book:

‘’Have you got any water with you?’ he asks, looking me up and down. Despite my brain fog, I hover my hands over my crotch so he doesn’t notice the offensive camel toe I’ve somehow developed between my bedroom and here. There’s Lycra so far up my bum I’ll need tweezers to pull it down again.’

If you want a quick, light and feel good read, ignoring the few crass parts then give this a go. It is light-hearted and has a great feel-good factor.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

Abigail Mann’s debut novel, which was runner-up in the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2019: The Lonely Fajita is a story about how finding yourself with nowhere else to go just might lead you to the very place you need to be.

When we first meet Elissa, she’s not exactly living the dream in London; her accommodation arrangements are precarious, her boyfriend isn’t being very attentive, and her job doesn’t seem to be heading anywhere close to a living wage, let alone any kind of job security.

I wasn’t sure about Elissa at first but to be fair, she’s nowhere near her best and is drifting towards becoming The Lonely Fajita of the title. But I liked her voice from the outset and there were glimmers of hope in the character’s use of humour, which hinted at someone with more spirit and fight in them, and friends Maggie and Suki, who are there for her when she needs them, pushing her out of her comfort zone every time it looks as if she’s retreating into her duvet cocoon.

It’s when the crunch point comes and Elissa is forced into making a move she initially views as an admission of failure that the pace really starts to pick up, the humour comes into its own and the story changes tack from where I thought it was headed. And I love when a book and its characters surprise me in this way with a shift in direction, bringing with it a whole new energy.

One of The Lonely Fajita‘s strengths comes from the brilliant community of characters which Abigail Mann creates around her main character Elissa. They carry you through the book until Elissa starts to find her way. And here they come in the form of antagonistic housemates and a motley crew of work colleagues to real families and neighbours separated by misunderstandings, as well as emotional and geographical distance. My personal favourites were Maggie and Suki, as mentioned above, together with Annie, George and Rodney. And I did take a perverse pleasure every time cringeworthy Craig crept onto the scene.

The Lonely Fajita highlights how beneficial intergenerational socialising and living can be for everyone involved: what we can learn from each other; that we don’t know all the answers but how both young and old can help each other to find the strength and courage to work through whatever life throws at us; and how it’s never too late or a sign of failure to start over.

The humour often comes from Elissa’s wry observations of the people and situations, even those spiralling out of control, from misunderstandings between two people and by misreading a person’s motivation, meaning or character. The Lonely Fajita is a surprising novel, in a good way; I loved the voice at the heart of Abigail Mann’s debut, and how she decides to embrace the ‘loser lit’ side of things, yet transforms this until it becomes something altogether more uplifting and reassuring, witty, generous and full of heart.

Unfortunately I was physically unable to read this due to the formatting of the e-arc. It was a shame as I was looking forward to reading this one. This has no reflection on the content of the book, but I wanted to feed this back.

Elissa is a protagonist who is going to keep you smiling throughout this novel, whether it's from those embarrassing mishaps to the friends that she keeps. Think Bridget Jones meets The Marigold Hotel, and you have yourself a wonderful, funny and uplifting read that incorporates some workplace backstabbing, Sex in the City vibes and unpredictable friendships. Usually I make notes as I go when reading books for review but I just didn't have the time, I was so absorbed in the highs, lows and drama bubbling to the surface of Elissa's life.

Let's start with the boyfriend who practically split up with Elissa on her birthday! We've all been there, blinkered by what is actually going on and then BAM single, not quite in the cringey way Elissa finds herself single but you can't help but feel sorry for the lass (and you really want to slap her ex-boyfriend in the face). The storyline that then unravels is brilliant, one that not only sees Elissa tumble through her newly single life style but also we see how she changes life paths, while beginning to have faith in herself. It's heart-warming how you see our protagonist learning about herself, her independency while also taking leaps of faith whereas before she'd not even dream about it. With truly laugh out loud mishaps, I think we can all find a piece of ourselves in Elissa and The Lonely Fajita.

Abigail has created a captivating, smile - inducing and fantastic comedy read that has lived up to her being one of the CWIP runner ups!

3.5 stars.
This was a light, easy read, with a character that I could instantly relate to (unpaid internships, loneliness and boy troubles that many a millennial will understand as well) but I don't think that Elissa or the story would alienate older readers either.
The story of unlikely friendship and the relationship between the women in this was refreshing to see.
It didn't quite live up to the synopsis for me but was enjoyable all the same.
And I would easily recommend this to fans of Beth O'Leary and Ali Pantony, having read both of their books last year.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Elissa works for a new London start-up company that is making a dating app, though the pay is rubbish. She spends more time watching videos than actually working. She lives or should I say lived with her boyfriend Tom, rent-free, in a house share. That was until Tom came back from a stag do in Vegas and declared he was moving to Asia and that Elissa wasn’t part of his long-term plans.

Desperate for somewhere to live, as she can’t afford the rent on the house share, she stumbles across an agency leaflet about older people looking for a live-in companion to keep them company and help them around the house all for freeboard.

With no other options, Elissa joins the agency and is matched up with feisty Annie, in her 80s, who the company has struggled to get a companion for due to her outgoing and no holds barred attitude and pickiness.

Elissa might have thought that she had no option to become a live-in companion but it may just be the making of her and friendship do comes in all shapes and sizes.

The Lonely Fajita is a humorous look at life through the eyes of Elissa. She may have a job she doesn’t particularly like, working for a man that doesn’t seem to understand equal rights or how not to be condescending or judgemental but she does have a few fun friends there. She may also have been dating a man that didn’t seem to be into the relationship as much as she was, but with no-one else and no-where else to go she stayed until she had to leave.

Elissa comes across as someone who wants the easy path in life, not challenging people or situations she believes are wrong and putting up with others bad behaviour instead of standing up for herself. Annie is the complete opposite. She has no trouble telling others exactly what she thinks of them and won’t do anything she doesn’t want to do. She is well-educated and won’t be made a fool of.

The two characters work well together and between them, they keep the book full of moments to make you laugh or cause you to smile. There are plenty of secondary characters too who provide some funny moments or make you want to reach into the book and give them a shake – Craig!!

The first 30% of the book felt much slower than the next 70%, this was mainly down to getting to know Elissa and chapters understanding her life, living situation, job, and friends. Once she moves in with Annie the pace picks up and so does the fun.

It was a joy to read, relatable, and is certainly a book I will remember. Elissa is just your average woman trying to find her path in life, just like so many.