I absolutely ADORED this novel. Completely brilliant premise set in a world where singles are seen as the absolute social norm & being in a couple is seen as abnormal, it’s clever, funny and makes you think so much at how your perceive relationship status vs happiness!

I absolutely loved this book. Having read the description, I believed it to be a classic rom-com... but the whole concept of this book was amazing, and had me thinking throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley and Zaffre for the early viewing of this book. I will be encouraging anyone and everyone to buy it when it is released!!

This is GLORIOUS. I loved it just as much as I loved The Shelf, if not more. Helly Acton writes characters that make women feel seen, and I LOVE that. Another beautifully fresh concept and executed SO well. The writing is fantastic and I laughed out loud at this one as much as I did whilst reading The Shelf.

The overwhelming message in this book is about learning to be happy within yourself and your own decisions, regardless of what society tells you that you should be doing. The anti-relationship minded society is this novel just highlights the ridiculousness of the weight the society we live in puts on being in a relationship and the anti-being-single mindset that's present. This mindset is challenged throughout this book and this, in combination with the message of doing what's right for YOU, not what the people around you think you should do, the humour, and the fantastic characters, makes for a wonderful read. I loved it.

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'The Couple' by Helly Acton is an adorable romance wrapped up in an original and intriguing premise. In a world where being single is the norm and being in a couple is taboo, feelings of love, commitment and monogamy are considered controversial. Acton opens the book with an explanation of her putting a twist on her previous feelings as a single woman. Aspects like finances, changing relationships with friends and family due to a partner and the pain of February 2nd (St Bridget's Day) provide an apt parody of Acton's experiences - a comedic take balanced expertly with some fitting reflections on societal expectations.

Our protagonist is lovely Millie. Her life is in control, perfectly scheduled and ordered. She has worked at Slide, a popular hook-up app, for 8 years and is happy in her singledom (even if she hasn't had a slide in a while). Enter Ben, a handsome and precocious new transfer to the office. When the two of them are put on a marketing project together, for the 'love-cure' Oxytoxin', sparks fly and suddenly Millie's ordered existence is thrown into chaos. Would she ever really consider being part of a couple?

This book is my first experience of Acton's work. Her style is genuinely laugh out loud and she creates a heartwarming, adorable pairing in Millie and Ben. The morally questionable nature of Oxytoxin is well explored perhaps but I wanted further resolution on it. The side characters were also well developed - I loved June, Ruth and Millie's hilarious mother Vivian. Even awful Sasha had her moments.

If you are a Hangman genius, you may have already worked out 'I loved this book!'. I have already downloaded Helly Acton's earlier novel 'The Shelf' which I am off to read straight away. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Helly Acton does it again. I absolutely adored The Shelf and so when I saw that she was writing another book I knew that I would have to get my hands on it as soon as I could. And I am so glad I did; this was really the book I needed after some less than stellar books. It felt like a breathe of fresh air. Helly's plots and writings feel so unique and intriguing; a pill to stop you falling in love and a world where couples are the abnormal and single people are the normal? Sign me up to read that.

Helly somehow manages to balance making her stories serious with an edge of comedy that is done so well that once you pick the book up you just won't be able to put it down. I loved all the anecdotes the people in couples *gasp those terrible people* told about how much more difficult their lives were; the meals aimed at single people, the rent increases, the judgement... and my favourite, Bridget's Day - a day to celebrate the single people. No joke I feel like we actually need one of these in real life... it felt refreshing, comedic, but also really well-written. It didn't come off as cheesy or corny but I actually found myself imagining what this sort of world would be like and really sinking into the story.

I loved our main characters of Millie and Ben; such a comedic duo together with a balance of heart and sarcasm. Millie is such a fab main character; you can see the development she goes on throughout the book and it was really enjoyable to just watch her grow as a person. I also felt there was a good balance of side characters who were well developed as individuals but also in their friendships and relationships with Millie.

I found this to be delightfully refreshing and I can't wait to see what Helly comes up with next!

Out 27 May 2021 for you to make your own decision!