This review is being posted as part of the Blogger Day for Harper Collins and through them I was lucky enough to recieve an e-book copy of The Wish List to review.

The premise of this book is fairly simple: Florence hasn’t had much luck in her love life so when her step-mum sets her up an appointment with a love coach she goes just to please her. Only this love coach had the idea that if Florence writes a list of what she wants in a guy – this guy will then appear in her life. And low and behold she meets Rory in the book shop where she works. But is he really all she wants or is this only the start of her romantic journey.

I’m going to start by saying that I’m not quite sure what to categorise this book as. Is it chick-lit or a romance novel or a bit both? My end thoughts are it’s a bit of both as it’s essentially a chick-lit novel with smut in it. Not entirely my cup of tea but because of the chick-lit elements you do get a look into her family relationships, work and friendships as well as her romantic life which I loved. This book had so many loveable characters and I loved getting the glimpses into their lives and that the dickheads got their just desserts in the end.

However, it was a little slow to start with. The first two chapters feel simultaneously too slow and also like nothing happens. And it’s only the first 10% of the book. So I wasn’t sure what I was getting in for. I’m glad I did stick it out as the book does get better after that and Florence does have some seriously random adventures. But it wasn’t necessarily a favourite for me.

I also want to add that this book should include a warning for pet death. If this isn’t the type of thing to upset you then fine. But there is a scene where a pet has to be put down and I personally wish that I could have been warned. It was easy to skip over without missing anything but it did cause a little upset so I wanted to warn others.

Overall though? This was an enjoyable chick-lit/romance novel that is exactly what it says on the tin. If you’re looking for something fun and a little quirky then this novel could definitely be the next book for you.

"You want me to write a list? Like a shopping list?'
Gwendolyn nodded. 'Exactly. But for what you want from a man, not ASDA."

32-year-old Florence Fairfax has never had a boyfriend or been in love. But she's sure it will happen one day. After all, even Hitler had a girlfriend. When her stepmother books her an appointment with a love coach Florence is mortified. But after the coach instructs her to write a wish list of what she wants in a man, she meets Rory, a handsome man who ticks everything on her list. But is he the right man for Florence? Is there such a thing as the perfect man? Or is love to be found in the place you didn't expect, with the one who's differences balance you out?

This was a funny, lighthearted and entertaining read. I loved the author's last novel, so I couldn't wait to read this one. Again the author has crafted a book that has that great mix of wit, romance and sauciness, making it an ideal book for summer.

Our protagonist, Florence, is unlucky-in-love but tells herself she's fine without a man. But deep down she wants nothing more than to be loved and to be in love. I really liked her. She's sweet, awkward, self-deprecating and a little weird. She keeps her life unvaried and ordered to avoid anything bad happening and doesn't do well with change. When she meets Rory she must learn to navigate the nuances of a relationship while trying to find confidence in herself. I enjoyed her journey and was rooting for her to find a happy ending.

The author is great at writing entertaining characters and filled the story with a great cast of secondary characters. I particularly liked Ruby, Mia and Zach, but had mixed feelings about Rory. He was well written and the scenes with his snobby family and friends were perfectly cringey.

The thing that I loved most about this book was the humour. This is definitely a book I'd recommend picking up if you need a good laugh; I laughed out loud so many times and will never be able to hear the word cowabunga again without a smile and thinking of this book!

The Wish List is a quirky, fun, feel-good read with heart. It is predictable in places, but for me that was part of its charm. If you're looking for a book to brighten a summer day, then this is the book for you.

A bookshop and a cat meant I was sold on this book already. Add to that a protagonist who like me is quite happy with just those in her life, then throw in a dysfunctional family, a love coach and some witty and cutting remarks and it’s like an ice cream sundae with not only a cherry on top but chocolate sprinkles too.

This is an easy light hearted book with not only fun characters and plot but some great one liners and literary references. I loved it when Florence described herself as wanting to be as alluring as Scarlett O’Hara with the sassy intelligence of Jo March and the porcelain delicacy of Daisy Buchanan but in reality was more like Miss Havisham.

As a lover of cheesy Hallmark movies this had the expected plot lines of one of their good rom coms and I definitely pictured Lacey Chabert as Florence sat at the table counting her chips.

Do you believe in the perfect man of your dreams or the one with faults but that balances you?
This is the story of Florence Fairfax, she has never had a boyfriend, some flings, but not a date or a long term relation, that’s why her mother decides to “help” her with some personal therapy to find the perfect partner. The problem? Something in paper, no matter how good it seems is not always the perfect thing for you… Florence will have to choose between fairy tales and reality, who do you think will win?
Florence is a special character, the shy and innocent girl we all have inside, who only wants someone that loves and takes care of her. I would have liked to know a little bit more of her weird family and how her two sister’s lives continue, or maybe there will be another book with the story of them? (Fingers crossed!). But this had been a happy read, with charming friends, funny situations and love; not only a passion love but a family and friends love too, because without love our lives will be dull and boring, don’t you think?
When Florence meets the man she has described on her wish list she can’t believe how lucky she is, but while she is enchanted by the brightness of her prince charming she will miss all the small details that make a relation to work; support, friendship and being there on the moments of need. I thought that this was a way to show the reader that sometimes we search for perfectness while the perfect thing we are looking is on our side without our knowledge. I am not only talking about a partner but for the things we need, a change or a dream, we can always ask for help, but the last word is always on us as well as the possibility of a change.
The Wish List is a happy and bright read, full of love and friendship, it will enchant you since the first page. Ready?

I wouldn't be at all suprised if Richard Curtis is reading this book right now and planning his next screenplay. The Wish List reads like a classic British rom-com - it's Bridget Jones meets Notting Hill, except this time maybe Mark Darcy isn't all he's cracked up to be. All of the character stereotypes are in there; the hilariously snobbish and overbearing (step)mother, the theatrical gay best friend, the eccentric therapist and the bridezilla to name but a few, who together make for a wonderful supporting cast. Florence herself is the most relatable, and realistic, character - the quiet bookish type whose carefully ordered world is about to be turned upside down. I really liked Florence and thoroughly enjoyed her journey as she overcame her anxieties and followed her heart. The plot is a little predictable, but this is no bad thing. Knowing where the story was heading meant I could enjoy it all the more.

The Wish List is a fun, feel-good read full of humour and heart. Check out all the other lovely book bloggers listed below for more content on this brilliant book!

I’ve never read anything by this author before, and was pleasantly surprised by what an entertaining and engaging read it was. Florence was a likeable, flawed and engaging main character and it was lovely to see her grow over the course of the book. I also really enjoyed the bookshop setting!

The secondary characters were also likeable and well-rounded, especially Zach and Florence’s sisters Ruby and Mia. Rory was well-drawn and half loved him, half hated him. The story moved along at a good pace, but possibly one of the best things about the book was the wit and humour. I laughed out loud a lot, and could often be found snorting to myself in a corner somewhere while reading it...

Looking forward to reading other books by Sophia Money-Coutts.

I adored this so much. Loved the humour , the relatable characters, the author makes you care so much for them. Obviously I loved Marmalade .I found once I picked this up I could not put it down. This book made me emotional in a good way. Looking forward to reading more by this author. A heartwarming read, full of humour and emotion, definitely recommended for an escape this summer.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I am absolutely gutted that I didn't enjoy this book. On paper it sounded perfect but I just could not get into the story no matter how hard I tried. I couldn't connect with the main character or the storyline.

Unfortunately I did have to DNF this book but please don't let my thoughts influence you reading this book. A lot of people love and enjoy this story, sadly it just wasn't for me.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this. I tend to like romcoms over straight up romance, and although there are some very funny passages in this, it didn't feel like a romcom. However, I'm glad I stuck with it, because it really is very good.

I skimmed the sex - not the interesting part as far as I'm concerned, but if you like it, more power to you. There's a fair amount but it's all quite well flagged.

I didn't think too much of Flo at first. She seemed judgy and unwilling to bend. As I read on, though, either she unbent or I got used to her. By a certain Christmasy scene I found I was laughing as I read.

WARNING, though;
Flo has an elderly cat, and halfway through she has to have him put down. It's a difficult scene to read if you're a cat person, as I am.


Overall, I very much enjoyed this. I loved watching Flo's relationships deepen and become more meaningful, I loved a certain event centred around her sisters near the end, I loved her slow realisation that she'd had all these friends all along, she just hadn't realised it. As a bookseller, I loved that she was a bookseller; it's not a very glamourous or sexy job, so it's not often shown, but I recognised several of our regular customers in the regulars here and it was great to see.

One thing that did catch me; while this is of course fiction, in real life finding a boyfriend or girlfriend is not a cure for OCD, which Flo seems to have. I'm lucky enough not to have it and can't say anything about it's depiction here, but it did just seem a bit strange in an otherwise really lovely ending.

I'd read another novel by Sophia in the future, or even a continuation of this one. I'd love to know what happened next and I think there's plenty more story in these characters.

Florence Fairfax is perfectly happy being single, thank you. Her days are more than taken up with the job that she loves at a tiny bookshop in Chelsea, and at night...well she can always cuddle up to her favourite gentleman, Marmalade the cat.

But when Florence's younger half-sister announces that she is getting married to the incredibly dull Hugo, her singledom becomes a matter for debate among her family and they arrange for her to pay a visit to the eccentric love guru Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn gets Florence to write a list of everything she is looking for in a man, and after some hastily mumbled incantations, she sends her out into the world with the assurance that she will now be able to find love.

Lo and behold, an eligible bachelor drops into Florence's lap later that same week, in the form of the handsome, and frightfully posh, aspiring politician, Rory, - who appears to have all the attributes she has written on her wish list. But is he really 'The One', or has she been looking in all the wrong places...and for the wrong sort of 'Mr Right'?

**********************************************************************
I love Sophia Money-Coutts' books. They never fail to make me laugh and cry in equal measure, with just the right amount of 'hot under the collar' naughtiness thrown in! So I was really looking forward to immersing myself in Sophia's third rom-com, The Wish List, and what an absolute joy it was!

Florence Fairfax makes for a winning heroine, with insecurities that make you want to pick her up and give her a big hug. After losing her mother at a young age and being saddled with a social climbing step-mother, and two half-sisters who are very close to each other, she has always felt a bit of an outsider. Florence relies on routine and her counting habit for reassurance, and this might make her seem a bit weird to those who don't know her well, but she has her heart firmly in the right place, and although she is not desperate to have a man in her life, she is not averse to meeting Mr Right as it might be rather nice to finally have a boyfriend.

Forced to confront her single state, Florence finds herself with love on the horizon, in the form of a man who seems to tick all the boxes on her wish list, but is is not as easy negotiating a relationship as she thought, even if the sex is a revelation, when she is barely coping with the impending wedding of the year, trying to save the beloved bookshop where she works, and juggling friends and family. How can she tell if Rory is really the man she has been looking for, or even the man she actually needs?

Well, suffice to say, Florence's search for true love does not run smooth, and to be honest the other parts of her life are a bit chaotic too, but it was absolutely lovely to be along for the ride as all the threads of the story work out to their various hilarious, romantic and 'fist-pumpingingly' gorgeous conclusions.

This is another winner from the pen of Sophia Money-Coutts, with a fabulous cast of characters drawn from the posher parts of society, mixed deftly in with us more ordinary mortals, in the way that she has made her own. I am always seeing Sophia vaunted as the new Jilly Cooper, but for me, her books are so much more heart-felt and funny, which makes them such a tonic for the soul.

Don't be shy now, get yourself copy of The Wish List and brighten up your summer days!

Review going live as part of the blogger day on 5th August.

Florence has to make a list of the qualities she wants in a man and then she finds someone who fits the bill but surely it can't be that simple. She's never really had a boyfriend before and was happy with her life but maybe she's found the one or is it just too good to be true.

Oh this is such a cute story and so funny too. Okay yes I figured out the ending but I enjoyed the ride to it. The plot is steady and builds to an expected but well written ending. I loved the scene at the wedding and I'm so glad it went the way it did. I loved Flo and I have to admit the part with her cat had me in tears. The story is sweet and real. Plus hilarious and relatable in many ways. If that wasn't enough she works in a bookshop which I loved. The characters are well written especially her sisters who I grew to love by the end. Zach is brilliant too and of course where would this be without Eugene and Jaz. A brilliant fun read.

The Wish List was a really enjoyable rom-com - predictable in a kind of satisfying way, with a great mix of genuine warmth and mockery of everything from cliched Tory parties to sage cleansing.

Florence is an odd-ball character, working in a bookshop, always the Cinderella to her more glamorous half-sisters. She’s forced into making a wish list for her perfect man...and then meets him.

While there’s lots about romance(including some ‘open door’ sex scenes), what I actually enjoyed most was the portrayal of friendship and family, and Florence’s realisation that she’s not really alone after all.

I'm pleased to share my review for The Wish List today. Thank you to HQ for providing a digital review copy via NetGalley - my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift.

I enjoyed this romantic fiction book - a much needed break from anxiety inducing news and some darker novels I've read recently. The story is set partly in a bookshop, one which needs to move forward into the modern day and encourage people to visit it more. Florence also needs to move forward with her life - or so her family insist.

The wish list is what she comes up with after being sent to see a 'love coach' and then Rory arrives, who seems to tick many of the boxes - or does he? This is fun romantic book with some sad topics covered. An uplifting read for the summer of 2020.

A book that made me smile and root for the characters. I liked the plot and the humour.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The odd one out in the family. Working in a book shop with a group of flamboyant people. Florence struggles to find her place in the world. A meeting with a love coach forced on her by step mum, sets of a stream of events. Meeting Rory her ideal man on paper or is he? Following your heart not your head leads to happy ever after.

I really want to love this book. But it disappointed me! The idea of an unlucky-in-love bookworm, with a pet cat, and two barmy half-sisters sounds like a recipe for hilarity. However, I cringed more than I laughed, which isn’t a good sign. A one-star rating for The Wish List would be too harsh, because it wasn’t a bad book. But sadly, it just didn’t make me smile as much as I had hoped.

The book follows the life of Florence, who finds comfort in routine, order, and even numbers. Constant control makes her feel safe. She obsessively counts anything and everything to keep her anxiety at ease. And it has to be even numbers. People, miles, stairs, chairs, chips, keyboard keys, cars, minutes, steps and so on. However, I expected Florence’s counting to play a much bigger role in her day-to-day life. It felt important in some chapters and non-existent in others.

I love the premise of The Wish List. Any book that fits the coming-of-age narrative is usually a very charming one. I really like the fact that Florence’s dream man appears the moment she completes her list. It sets the tale up for a really gratifying journey. Plus, Sophia Money-Coutts has a friendly and inviting tone to her writing that makes it very easy to absorb.

Tragically, The Wish List is very predictable. Sometimes that’s a good thing, it can add a level of comfort to chick lit reads. But in this case, it pushed me to want to find the ending and move on.

The biggest loss for me in this book is the characters. I can’t remember any of their names. None of them stood out to me as overly likeable, so there was no inclination to really invest in their lives. The characters I didn’t like ruined every chapter they appeared in. And sadly, Florence’s personality fell flat. The book is told from her point of view, and I expected a little more charisma. The romance also felt stale. I would have really liked to experience a refreshing journey between two people in this contemporary novel, but I never found that.

Another struggle for me is the pacing of this book. It has a very relaxed start, the reader is introduced to the concept of a wish list straight away. Then the narrative slows to the point of me wanting to skip ahead. While some of Florence’s misadventures are entertaining, a couple of chapters didn’t seem that valuable to the overall story. Then the ending seemed to appear and disappear way too quickly to be fully appreciated. When it comes to books like this, happy endings can be the best part, and I feel like this wasn’t taken advantage of.

While The Wish List is a light summer read, it lacks the entertainment factor that holds my attention. The author’s voice has a likeable warmth, but the romance and characters let this read down.

I have been reading Sophia Money-Coutts’s novels since the very beginning and I can honestly say she is one of these authors whose book I buy without blinking. I love her writing style, clean and articulate, and I can’t help but adore the protagonists of her stories.

The protagonist of her new novel, The Wish List, is Florence Fairfax. She works in a bookshop in Chelsea and she lives with her two stepsisters in Kennington. She likes her simple life among books and a few close friends and family, but when her sister Mia announces her engagement, her stepmother convinces her to meet a love coach who performs rituals and makes her write a list of all the qualities her ideal man should have. Of course, shortly after, she meets Rory, a man who seems to have all the qualities on her list. Is it a coincidence? Or is it fate? Or is he simply what she needs rights now?

I loved the character of Florence, not only because she is honest, loyal, and witty, but because I could really relate to her. Her insecurities, her doubts, her mistakes, they all felt familiar and I found we had a few things in common, not only the love for books. I liked the other characters in the story, at least most of them, especially her colleague Eugene and her sisters who created some of the funnies scenes in the novel.

The Wish List is addictive and funny. There is a scene with a dog that had me with tears in my eyes and I still laugh every time I think about it, and there is a lot of comedy, romance, and a few emotional moments, too. It is easy to see where the story leads, but I still kept reading captivated by Florence’s life and I really loved the ending and the choices she made.

The Wish List is a fantastic and engaging read that will give you a few hours of entertainment and it will make you forget the world out there. Already looking forward to the author’s next book.

Welcome To The World Of Florence Fairfax......
Welcome to the world of Florence Fairfax. Florence is perfectly content. Florence meets love coach Gwendolyn. Florence finds her world turned upside down. Rather delightful rom-com with a colourful cast of characters that the reader cannot help but like as well an endearing protagonist. A funny, enjoyable read, ideal escapism.

An absolute tonic. Great storyline, great characters and all the emotions (mixed with vomit filled rucksacks, a brilliant book shop and an irresistible cat. What's not to love?! ) A wonderful read and a complete gem of a novel.

This book will make you feel happy, warm and good about life! Main character Florence shares a house with her two half sisters, and suffers with terrible insecurity which she manages by counting things – she was well written, and she got you on side right at the start so that all the way through the book you’re rooting for her and just want her to get the best out of life. When “Rory The Tory” enters I wanted to grab Florence by the shoulders and shout at her!

I loved the Mrs Bucket (Bouquet) character of step mother Patricia (don’t call me Pat) and although she was a terrible snob, it was harmless and actually endearing!

My favourite character in the whole of the book was Eugene, Florence’s colleague and friend in the bookshop, and I would have loved to hear more of his life as he was completely adorable and a wonderful friend to Florence.

The sex scenes were quite graphic and made this middle aged woman blush on occasions!!! Thank god for lockdown, and that no one was reading those pages over my shoulder on the commute home, but now every time I hear Cowabunga I will laugh out loud!!