Andi Osho’s ‘Asking for a Friend’ follows three friends on the path to solve their relationships, love and career problems. The book focuses on the friendship between 40-something Jemima, who is trying to meet the deadline of her third book, 30-something Sima, a struggling actress looking for her first proper break and 20-something Meagan, an agent, trying to leave her life by ‘the plan’. No matter the age of the character, they all are struggling with love and forming relationships, so they devise a plan – a dating game where you ask out a person for a date with your friend, but nobody gets left behind.

I really liked the concept of ‘Asking for a Friend’, not because the dating game could lead to awkward and funny situations, but also because the book offered a friendship between three very different women at its heart. Unfortunately, the book didn’t meet my expectations fully. While the dating game was at moments fun to read about, I have not connected with any character in the book, always finding them somehow missing something. I could not always find their actions justifiable, and the climax and happy ending felt rushed, almost too easy. Written in third person, but interchanging narrative between all three women was a great tool, giving insights in each women’s thoughts and aspirations, but unfortunately, I felt that there was often more telling than showing in ‘Asking for a Friend’ which I didn’t enjoy as much. Without too heavy spoilers, perhaps the part that I found the most problematic with the book was its comments about queer sexuality – it felt like the book was brushing it off, and making a rather (uncomfortable) joke out of it, than dealing with a subject in a better manner.

Andi Osho's first book and I hope it won't be her last! A good concept where three friends, `Jemma, 40, Meagan, 20+ and Simi, 30+ are all looking for relationships but seem to always choose the wrong type for them. Meagan comes up with the idea that they will choose for each other! This means each of them approaching men and asking them to go out with their friend! A funny read which explores the three girls' characters and what makes them unlucky in love and how they can overcome that. You feel really invested in the characters. i found the ending a bit rushed but overall it was a good read.

Jemima, Simi and Meagan have been inseperable for a decade. Successful in every area of their lives except in their love lives, they decide to embark on a dating game, playing matchmaker.for eachother. After all, who is better for find your perfect match than your bestie who knows and loves you inside out?
Nevertheless, the trio of friends soon find the dating game disrupting not only their sex lives but their values, their work and even their friendship.

Match making for your closest friends was an intriguing concept and I was looking forward to sinking into a light hearted humourous tale of dating distasters and triumphs. I found the pace a little slow in the first third of the book and found I was itching for them to get started on the game. At times I got frustrated as each woman gets in their own way time and time again, with the baggage from their past threatening to disrupt their future happiness. There are some real laughs in their book and I loved the couple running the coffee shop - please can they have their own book? The last third of the book was the best. I appreciated the life affirming message about friendship at the end and finished the book with a smile on my face.

I was surprised to learn this is the author’s debut novel as it’s very well written and the story flows well. The focus changes between the three main characters and their name is at the start of each chapter so you know who you are reading about. Although I couldn’t totally relate to how the women were reacting and behaving in their situations, I did enjoy reading about them and wanted to know how the story would play out. I recommend this book and will be looking out for more from Andi in the future. Thank you #netgalley

Asking For A Friend is a hilarious debut brought to us by @theandioshow. It is centred around 3 best friends who are not only very different in personality but also at different phases in their lives. However, they’re completely connected through the sisterly love that they feel for each other. After being let down in love time and time again, they decide to bin dating apps and start asking men out face to face but there’s a catch. They’re not asking men out for themselves. They’re going to do it for each other.

Now if those last two lines don’t take you back to high school, did you even go to high school? The only difference here is that they’re all adults and have all ok’d their friends asking guys out for them.

Andi has created characters who are strong, relatable and so much fun. Plus they’re Londoners so I was sold. Anyone who loves reading about female friendships is going to love this one. The banter between the women reminded me of the banter between my own group of friends. And the way they help and uplift each other is exactly what female friendships should be about. Now, just like with real friendships, there are of course conflicts and issues that happen; sometimes the characters are frustrating and they do dumb things, but which friendship hasn’t dealt with obstacles and when have your friends ever not done something annoying or silly? Andi has put so much thought into creating authentic dilemmas and I was here for it.

I enjoyed this book for what it was; a light hearted read about love and friendship so if you’re in need of something to break up the heaviness of 2020 and the start of 2021, treat yourself to this little number.

I struggled to get into this, but I’m always glad when I persevere. I loved the characters in the main, but got a little annoyed/frustrated with their attitudes at times. Some storylines were predictable, whilst others I was less sure of the outcome. It wasn’t a ‘stay up all night’ kind of book.

What can I say about this book, it made me laugh so much at some parts!! I got a sex and the city vibe from the group of friends! They were all relatable and hilarious! Such an uplifting read

Genre: Romance

Release Date: Expected 21st January 2021



Andi Osho's first attempt at jumping from the comedy world to the literary world is exactly as you'd expect - witty and utterly hilarious.

Following the story of three friends and their escapades while they try to navigate life.

First of is Jemimia, a sucessful writer dealing with a career-destroying writers block and a serious case of the ex-boyfriend who won't go away. Simi, the aspiring actress and hopeless romantic and Meagan, Simi's agent and complete commitment-phobe with a long-term plan that nobody can derail. Ever since they were mismatched teens these women have been unseperable - despite the heartbreaks and roadbumps they've encountered on the way.

After Simi is going through yet another breakup, the girls devise a plan. It's time to play 'The Game' - they will all pick each others dates for each other to try and figure out where they're going wrong and now they're in it together.

But sometimes trying to balance everything leads to it all crashing down.

I fell in love with the trio instantly, they felt like girls you'd love to be best friends with from the second we meet them. All very real and relatable, they perfectly represent the different feelings we've had towards dating and love at some point in our lives.

Witty, razor-sharp and full of laughs, Asking For A Friend was a hilariously heartwarming tale about love but ultimately about girls having each other backs.



RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐



Thank you to Netgalley and Andi Osho for an ARC in return for an honest review.

* Disclaimer I was approved to read this book in exchange for an honest view through the NetGalley’s service *

I really enjoyed this book and laughed out loud at a lot of the book.

It left me thinking it reminded me very much of a British sex in the city. At the heart of the story is the strong friendship between 3 women, at different stages of there lives both professionally and personally. They each decide to join a dating app but can only go on dates picked by the other women.

Leading to some hysterical and emotional consequences.

I would definitely read a book by this author again.

****

I found this book a little difficult to get into but glad that I persevered as I really enjoyed the dynamics of the three women. They have all experienced hurt and heartbreak, so come up with the idea of finding dates for each other. Full of surprises. A good read.

This was such a lovely book to read, it was light-hearted and funny and I was really rooting for Similar. I found this book very refreshing in the way it was written and as this was a debut novel I’m really hoping that this author writes more like this in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Three friends, all at different stages in their lives and all stuggling with dating for their own reasons. They decide to help each other out by picking dates for each other, selecting from the men in the bar they are in so they can meet in real life and not online. Will they realie who or what they wanted all along?

I liked how it was told from all of their points of view.

A great read and looking forward to more from this author.

Aawww I loved it. This book made me miss my friends and absolutely not miss dating.

I LOVE Andi's writing style and I found myself smiling through most of the book. I loved the dialogue and how it felt so real in places. I loved that its a sort of typical three girl friends on a mission book, but its diverse and the women characters arent just plucked from the usual stereotypes.

Its not my usual genre really but I read the entire thing in two days, its very engaging and easy to read. I really enjoyed myself.

I will be posting my full review of this book on 21 January 2021. You can find it on https://jenrosewrites.blog/

What I will say is this book is a great portrayal of female friendships, dating and life as a twenty/thirty/forty something woman.

Three friends, a decade apart, play a game where each has to find another a date. No vetos allowed. One is an author, one an aspiring actor, and one an agent - mainly for comedians.

This is a sweet, lovely, amusing beach read. I didn't find the characters or situations believable but that was probably just me.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3738553201

Asking for a Friend by Andi Osho

Friends Jemima, Meagan and Simi met at a comedy workshop years ago and have been there for each other ever since. The book follows them as they deal with various work and relationship troubles which threaten their friendship. I loved the characters and their friendship, refreshingly different storylines, and the mix of comedy and poignant scenes. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This debut novel tells the story of 3 friends Simi, Jemima and Meagan who all decide their love lives need some serious help. As they're all single they form a pact to find a date for each other and not themselves. Although I expected this to be a story of romance and dating it was actually more about the ladies friendship. I especially enjoyed the way it was written as it moved between the 3 main characters point of view. An enjoyable story of friendship, career struggles and a sprinkling of love!

A lovely romance novel which is perfect for a beachy read!

I like the diverse set of characters who are on a quest to find the One but are not having a lot of success on their own. I thought the idea of your friends picking your next date was an intriguing idea and also that Jemima, Meagan and Simi were focused on their careers as well as wanting boyfriends.

It was a quite funny but not always my type of humour. I would recommend to those that love rom-com novels.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

A typical romcom of friends whom haven’t found the one yet. It took me a while to finish he book. I do like the friendship between them I think that’s what I was reading more off.

I was keen to read this book as the synopsis appealed to me. However, I simply couldn’t identify with the characters or the world which they inhabited. I am afraid that I couldn’t force myself to carry on reading it and abandoned it after reading about a quarter of the novel. Not my kind of book at all.