Wanted to like this, but Clare kept getting on my nerves with the way she self-effaced herself, and I just didn't feel any sympathy for her (and seriously, eating cereal with milk dribbling down her chin and this is made to look like a proud moment? Sorry, but no...) I wanted to see her grow and for something to finally happen in the story, but it took too long and it had all lost me by that point. The writing itself also felt rather dry and not very engaging. Not the vibe the cover and blurb gave me, sadly.

A real relatable LOL that I needed after reading a string of thrillers. I have felt invisible by employers, undervalued etc. I do not have children, but I completely loved this story. well done!

Original and fun. I enjoyed this tale of mid-life crisis and family life. I could really identify with the protagonist and think Gillian has a great way of describing motherhood and being a working mother of a certain age. I think anyone who enjoys Gillian's other books will enjoy this one too.

A really enjoyable read, lots of actual laugh out load moments, great characters and many relatable moments. A really empowering but light hearted book.

Not my usual genre but it was a good novel to read and think that many women would be able to associate with a lot the protagonist dealt with - unnoticed by her self-obsessed partner, ignored by her screen obsessed teenage children and undervalued by her employer. Although I found Clare very annoying in the way she reacted to situations, I think it probably is common of women to just carry on for the sake of the children and not to rock the boat.
Having said that it was still quite light hearted and enjoyable but too lacking in depth for me.

With thanks to netgalley.

This is a light, easy read that I managed to start and finish within a day. At the beginning of the story, I was sympathetic toward protagonist Clare as she’s overlooked and seemingly invisible in every aspect of her life as a mother to Katie and Alfie, wife to Toby and successful lawyer at the firm she’s worked at for years. After accidentally auditioning for a talent show, she’s catapulted from her mundane life into a world she’d never dreamed of being in.

I think the main reason why I didn’t totally love this book was due to the unrealistic situations Clare found herself in, from her husband of many years not recognising her when he interviewed her (admittedly she was masquerading as her alter ego Martha B. but still) down to little things like her boss Nigel not knowing her name even though she’s worked with him for over 10 years. There were also some moments that were just a tad too cheesy and soap opera like for my personal tastes. However, I do like the author’s writing style and I can see that this book would appeal to many contemporary fiction lovers but sadly it wasn’t for me.

Every now and again you need to read a book which has a feel good factor and this book was one of those.

This is the story of Clare. She sounds like so many women of today who you hear talk about how they are not appreciated by their family and employers, and feel like they are going through the motions. This was a plausible and also a funny read with a few laugh out loud moments.

She encounters an opportunity, albeit a bit of a bizarre opportunity, and although hesitant at first, she grasps it with both hands. You keep willing her on throughout the book.

I laughed a lot reading this book and it was almost as if it was someone's autobiography, as it was so believable. It was a lovely easy read.

The writer has created some great characters in this book and has given them all really distinct personalities. So much so that you are able to connect really easily with them. Maybe some of us can see ourselves in Clare a little bit and that's what makes her so easy to connect to.

So if you are looking for a nice cosy read to curl up to then this is the one for you.

Do you know that feeling when you walk into the room and no one notices your arrival? You then stand there in a corner, watching the life passing you by and becoming more and more invisible. Then you slowly shuffle towards the nearest exit to never be seen again...

The feeling of being invisible can seemingly descend at us rather unexpectedly. In reality, it arrives along with the mundanity of everyday life. And the only way to be seen again is to get up from the spectator's seat and become an active participant in the folly of our existence.

And this is precisely what the second novel by Gillian Harvey, Perfect on Paper, is about. It's a heartwarming story of Claire Bailey, a woman in her mid-30s who doesn't feel seen. Despite being a talented and overachieving property solicitor, she's not appreciated by her boss. Her husband, a rising TV star, is engrossed in advancing his media career, and her children treat her like a maid. Indeed, this is where many of us - regardless of gender - will find ourselves at some point in our lives. Absolutely no exceptions.

Perfect on Paper is a relatable story in the spirit of good, British comedy-drama, generously sprinkled with a commentary on the situation of women in modern society. But also, it's a powerful insight into the power of reinvention. Because this, my faithful reader, is what often pushes us into that sense of invisibility. Being so busy with life that we almost elect to become invisible.

The story is written with the feeling and insight of someone who has been there and done it. Harvey, a journalist and a mum of five kids, is a champion of reminding us that WE matter. All of us. The story of Claire and her journey to remind herself that she matters is simply a lesson in confidence without pomp and self-indulgence of the self-help industry. It's a very down to earth take on the notion of standing up straight and reminding yourself that you matter. Whoever you are.

The style of Perfect on Paper is slightly less humorous than Gillian Harvey's debut novel, Everything's Fine. It's more thoughtful and geared towards reflection, but you'll still find yourself smiling to the page of this enjoyable page-turner. It reads well and provides a few laugh out loud moments, but more than anything, it may help you look at your life through the prism of who you are, who do you want to become, and how you can change those little niggles in your life.

Thank you netgalley and Ellen Turner for sending me a physical copy and asked me to be on the blog tour.

I did enjoy this book. It's quite funny at points. Some women probably can definitely relate to this one.

Firstly, thank you Netgalley, Orion Publishing and Gillian Harvey for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a light hearted read which had me laughing out loud at certain points.

Some of the storyline was crazy and some bits were over the top. However, I didn’t find it detracted from the overall story in any way.

I would read more from this author.

Clare Bailey seems to have it all – a loving husband, great children, job that she’s passionate about. But no. Her husband has just landed a better job in TV and is obsessed with himself and the way he looks like and what kind of car he drives. The children spend much more time staring at their phones and when actually did they have a proper conversation together? Despite being really good at what she does, Clare’s boss seems to favour the new addition to the firm, much younger male colleague, ignoring Clare and her successes. No wonder she starts to feel ignored and invisible, right? But with one snap decision and wrong bus Clare’s life is about to turn upside down – for better or for worse?

In this light take on some of the most popular TV – shows, we are introduced to Clare. I don’t know what to think about Clare, to be honest, because with so much colourfulness and surprises in her she should have been an explosive, interesting and lively character. But she felt a bit… yes, meh. I simply think that the author didn’t use her whole potential. Yes, it was lovely and brilliant to see how she leaves her comfort zones but still, there was so much blocking her and I felt she just can’t completely let go. Nevertheless, what the author truly well captured is that you could immediately feel Clare’s frustrations, really, my blood boiled sometimes, especially when she interacted with her self – obsessed husband (but who has eventually redeemed himself, hallelujah!). I may be lucky, as I don’t feel like Clare, ignored and not appreciated at work, nevertheless it was easy to fall for her and her daily battles.

The book was lovely written, with a light touch of humour and seriousness when needed. There were moments that the story went truly hilarious and, well, yes, bonkers and even though it has made roll my eyes, it somehow worked out in this book.

So altogether, I did like this novel – there were truly enjoyable moments, however there were also some unrealistic ones and also, and this is what bothered me most, it was a slow story and felt very repetitive, especially after the middle. It was then only about taking part or not taking part, telling Toby or not and what to actually do. There was too much talking and what ifs and I missed action to be honest.

„Perfect on Paper“ was an easy, light read with hidden messages. It was nice, however I don’t think it will stay with me for long. It was filled with joyous and optimistic messages and altogether the whole book felt really uplifting – by all means the outcome. It was about coming out of your comfort zones, about daring yourself, about noticing and listening to each other, about pushing the boundaries, also touching about some more serious issues, exploring them in a subtle and gentle way. It was a warm and heartfelt observation of how easy it is to forget that there is nothing we should take for granted, that we should start to appreciate the small things again.

Perfect on Paper follows the life of Clare Bailey, a woman who – as the title suggests – believes that her life is rather perfect, but that is a far cry from the truth. Despite her having a good job, all of Clare’s efforts and hard work are overlooked as her boss seems to favour the much younger male colleague that she works with. Clare’s family also take her for granted, and they spend more time staring at their phones than they do showing any real interest as to what is going on in her life.

At the end of her tether, Clare decides to do something well out of her comfort zone, when an opportunity is presented to her, she jumps at the chance hoping this will be the first change her life so desperately needs.

Perfect on Paper is a feel good, humours story that really immerses you in the life of Clare and the situations she faces. Gillian Harvey has done an incredible job of bringing Clare to life for the readers, giving her a realistic personality and outlook on life, along with very relatable traits which so many of us can surely relate to. I truly enjoyed watching Clare grow in confidence as the story progressed, and by the end of the book you really start to see her as a friend.

The storyline flows effortlessly and combines humour and heart-warming moments as Clare embarks on a new chapter in her life. With a cast of characters with colourful personalities, and situations that have you laughing out loud, this is without a doubt one of those stories that you can lose yourself in. I read this book in one sitting, and I will certainly be recommending it to others!.

This one was a little bit of a slow read for me. A light hearted read with areas of humour. I enjoyed parts of the book, but found other sections quite Americanised and slightly over the top/ unrealistic. I personally struggled to relate to the characters, particularly the protagonist Claire. I think this would be a good read if you are looking for something easy to pick up and put down, but for me I prefer something which holds my attention a little bit more. I don’t think it’s one which will stick in my mind unfortunately, but I think it would maybe appeal to women a little older than me.

Excellent novel that I could relate to and made me laugh out loud. Harvey has an original voice and nails it when it comes to the portrayal of a woman whose life seems perfect on paper but not in reality. How far will Clare go to shake up her life? Brilliant.

Perfect on Paper tells the story of Clare Bailey – as the title suggests, she seems to have her life sorted and all together but the reality is somewhat different. Although she has a great job, all her efforts are overlooked in favour of a younger male colleague. Her family take her for granted, barely able to tear themselves from their phones to pay the slightest bit of attention to anything going on in her life. Everything is just meh! Close to the end of her tether, she takes a chance on a random opportunity that comes her way and ends up doing something very different and out of her comfort zone!

I could empathise with some parts of Clare’s life although I did wish she would be a little less passive at times and stand up for herself more, particularly in work! I found some of the office scenes to be very funny, particularly when they try some new initiatives. Whilst I don’t work in an office I could imagine the scenes and the “real life” versions of Nigel and Will! I suspect some readers may have witnessed similar events first hand and have the misfortune to work with other dubious pairings.

I read Perfect on Paper in an afternoon. It is a good choice for a bit of light entertainment which doesn’t require too much concentration but keeps you amused and happily involved in someone else’s world. I wouldn’t say that it was entirely unpredictable however I did enjoy the journey along with Clare and her family and it was a good break from my work world. There are some really good messages and although it is fiction, it did make me think about my life and relationship and making sure I don’t take my partner for granted. This will be a great choice for some summer reading, hopefully in a spot of sun with a nice cool drink in hand.

My Thoughts: I really felt for Clare as there is nothing worse than feeling under appreciated and like people are taking advantage of you.

Her family don’t notice her or anything she does for them, something she learns when she stops trying.

At work the only person who cares is Ann, her boss is constantly shushing her, sending her away or just generally overlooking her, so when she misses the bus and a whole new opportunity opens up for her she just goes for it but never in a million years did she expect things to take off the way they did!

The writing was flowed easily which made this a fairly easy and enjoyable read, I did find it a little repetitive in places but found myself really rooting for Clare!

The story is really uplifting all about how making one single decision can change your life, one I would definitely recommend to my friends

A enjoyable , easy read. I think everyone can relate to a lot of the topics, not feeling seen or heard, just not feeling good enough. Characters are relatable which makes you warm to Clare straight away! An overall good novel which will make you laugh along the way.

If you're looking for a light-hearted, fun read, perfect for a few hours of escapism, then this is a book you will enjoy. I loved the premise of this book and I think there are plenty of women of a certain age who can relate to the way Clare feels about life, losing herself a little whilst trying to juggle family and career. There are some very funny moments, particularly when she has to deal with the new wunderkind at work. Her opportunity to find herself is a little bonkers (all I will say is think Honey G on The X Factor) but suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride and this book will make you smile.

Title: Perfect on Paper
Author: Gillian Harvey
Pub: Orion Fiction
Pages: 336
Rating: 3/5

A huge thank you to the author, Random Things Tours and Orion Fiction for allowing me to be part of the blog tour.

Synopsis:

Clare Bailey’s life looks perfect on paper from the outside. She is very successful in her career; her marriage is secure and she is a fantastic mother to her two teenagers. However, not all is what it appears to be. In fact, Clare feels invisible. Her boss barely acknowledges her talents and barely remembers her name, her husband is distracted and zoned out, occupied with his own career and her children have never found her more embarrassing. So when Clare is given the opportunity to turn her life around, she is left questioning whether she should risk everything, so that her life is indeed more than just perfect on paper.

Review:
Perfect on Paper was a welcome break from my usual thrillers, the description hinted that this could be a real feel good, humorous read and I was eager to delve in. The reviews that had been left so far looked fantastic, but I made sure I only looked at these at a glance as I didn’t want to spoil anything.
Instantly I could feel Clare’s frustrations, it really tugged on my heart strings at how invincible she felt. I enjoyed how this read made you feel as though you were in a journey with Clare and it was nice to see her coming out of herself. I found Perfect on Paper instantly brought to light a very important message, you never really know what someone is going through, we shouldn’t also presume that they are happy and fine, so welldone Gillian Harvey for making sure this message is conveyed.
I found this to be a very likeable read, but I did at times find myself quite frustrated by the characters, I just wanted them all to be honest, but then again there would be no story if this was the case. Despite this, the characters were also likeable and believable. I liked how the story felt real at times, it reflected on real life and I feel many would relate to Gillian’s writing.
I really enjoyed Gillian’s sense of humour and how she kept the mood of the story light despite the seriousness of the story line at times. The book got very random and quite bonkers in places and it brought a smile to my face. It was an easy and enjoyable read, well written and down to earth and I feel quite empowering for women too. Perfect on Paper was a light hearted way to escape reality and my usual sinister reads.

I enjoyed parts of this book, but others were just a tad unrealistic. Clare’s a mum, wife and a successful lawyer but feels ignored and disconnected by everyone and everything in her life. She accidentally auditions for a talent show and is propelled into a secret life and ends up being a bit of a national hero. An easy read, but not one which I will remember.