#HesCancelled
A witty and fun read that is a little chick lit with a twist of adult social theme. I think it will find a huge appeal to readers who enjoy a good quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoture for the chance to read and review Sophie Ranald’s newest release; He’s Cancelled out on June 23!

This is my third Sophie Ranald book, and probably my least favorite.

I enjoyed Just Sayin’ and loved Thank You, Next. So when I heard she had a new release coming out? I instantly requested it and couldn’t wait! Her books are always so funny, quick, and enjoyable. This one was such a disappointment!

I didn’t like a single character. Not a one. Daisy was absolutely terrible and Archie was just a dud. The whole book is about Nat dealing with this wedding that everyone else is planning for her, and not having the guts to say what she wants and does or doesn’t like. That’s it. And it got old, fast. It got so repetitive that it got to the point where I just wanted to yell at Nat and skip to the end just to see how this all plays out.

My god the emphasis on material things was extra. I get that was the point but I DONT CARE. I don’t care about brand names and type of handwriting. There was way too much emphasis on it and it should have been cut short.

Also, why did it take so long for the plot to solve itself? It happened pretty abruptly with four chapters left in the story. No build up or anything. It just…happened. It was not satisfying. I was just so bored!

The one consistent thing with her other books though, is that the humor is there. But other than that - this one fell short for me unfortunately. I will still read her other works, and hopefully they’re better than this one was.

When physiotherapist Nat says yes to boyfriend Archie’s unexpected proposal after just six months together she cannot possible foresee the ensuing chaos and drama that will result from saying that magical three letter word. Naively imagining they can have the no fuss,low key wedding they truly desire, a simple ceremony at the registry office followed by an intimate,cozy reception at their favourite local pub The Ginger Cat, Nat doesn’t bargain for the fact once their happy news reaches the ears of her future mother and sister in law, Yvonne and Daisy, all hell will let loose! One bridezilla-esque figure is bad enough but two?!?! The minute Archie slips a ring on her finger the bride to be unwillingly enters this bizarre exclusive club where tasting menus and whether or not to have scalloped or straight edges on the invitations is more crucial than easing lockdown restrictions! And to top it all when Natalie is at the hairdressers shortly after the couple’s announcement, a quiz in a bridal magazine asking the vital question “Are you truly ready to say I do?” catches her eye, immediately casting doubt in her mind about marrying Archie full stop. But she’s already hitched a ride on the wedding preparation carousel which is only going to spin faster and faster the nearer the big day approaches. Nat desperately wants to press the pause button before things spiral too far out of control but how can she do this without upsetting her future husband and in-laws??

I have never organised a wedding or been in Nat’s position but wedding day storylines always tickle my funny bone due to their absurdity, laugh out loud moments and often highly exaggerated characters. Sophie Ranald brings all that to the table in this entertaining, lighthearted, frivolously funny (not too heavy on the romance side) read. With characters ranging from the good to the bad to the downright ugly she balances her mischievous sense of humour with more poignant, heartfelt moments and I absolutely loved it!

The character everyone will love to hate is Yvonne McCoy, every daughter in law’s worst nightmare. Wealthy, entitled, glamorous and always counting the calories she seizes the opportunity to take full control of organising the kind of wedding so far removed from Nat and Archie’s original vision that you’d think the McCoy family were minor royalty. Aided and abetted by the previously jilted Daisy this mother of the groom is proceeding at full throttle, micromanaging in a way that not only exasperates the remarkably patient and accommodating Nat but introduces an element of conflict into what was a harmonious relationship with the not overly romantic Archie. However my favourite character has to be the practical, hard working sporty Natalie whose love for her mum and grandpa and interest in her friends lives makes her worth her weight in gold. It’s her concern over her grandpa’s failing health and absence of any romantic partner in her mum’s life that sets this warm, kind hearted (if not assertive enough!) woman head and shoulders above the more girly, privileged shopaholic that is Daisy. She might not be the most feminine of brides to be but Archie is one very lucky man, something he needs to be careful not to lose sight of given his increasingly laissez faire approach to the wedding preparations. Cancelling peacocks and flamingos may not be the only be the only things being given the heave ho!

Whilst the over the top humour is to be relished because who wants to miss the chance for a good giggle (?) it’s the heartwarming interactions between Nat and her grandpa plus his beloved feline companion Teresa that differentiates this novel from other like minded ones. These scenes definitely prompt the arrival of ‘aaahh how sweet’ feelings especially when the author mentions the dreaded C word (coronavirus). I couldn’t help wondering how this lovely, wise elderly gentleman would fare in the immediate future which made me ridiculously emotional! It’s a brave move introducing a modicum of reality into what I’d consider an extreme version of bride to be reality but it balances out the more ludicrous aspects of this novel. Featuring The Ginger Cat and Zoe from Sophie’s last novel is a nice touch. I also liked the way way each chapter is headed with another question from that damned quiz. Whoever wrote it has a lot to answer for! Sophie Ranald rounds off with an ending that almost feels as if you’ve come full circle but in a good, amusing way.

Having read numerous books this year in a similar vein I’d expect to find myself suffering from a severe bout of wedding day overindulgence but it would seem I haven’t reached my quota just yet! Despite my advancing age I haven’t outgrown my love for romcoms;if the past year is anything to go by they’re now my go to reads. After finishing this novel in one sitting I was convinced I’d read more Sophie Ranald books than I actually have but He’s Cancelled is only the second one I’ve picked up. Suffice to say I liked it just as much, if not more than Thank You Next. We all need an injection of comedy in our lives from time to time especially as flaming hot June is turning into a soggy depressing mess (at least in my part of the world!) so if you haven’t already discovered this author’s writing and fancy sampling some outrageous wedding preparation shenanigans then say I DO to He’s Cancelled. Perfect for fans of Katy Birchall’s The Secret Bridesmaid.

My thanks as always to the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Don’t you love when a new book by one of your favourite authors comes out? He’s Cancelled is the latest book by Sophie Ranald, who is a recent favourite author of mine. I’ve read two of her books through NetGalley and since the last one, I’ve basically gone back and read all the connected books to those first two. Sophie Ranald always writes such fun books that also tend to contain at least a little emotional turmoil.

He’s Cancelled is connected to Just Saying and Thank You, Next. This book follows Natalie, a physiotherapist who has been dating shop owner Archie for a while. Yeah, that Archie and Natalie for those of you who’ve read Just Saying. The past is in the past, and in this book, Archie proposes to Natalie. Obviously, things are smooth sailing from there, right? Nope. Natalie is stressing out like hell over the wedding, over family stuff, and the fact her future Mother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law seem to be trying to take over the wedding. She doesn’t know what to do, and you know that’s going to impact her life.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They maybe weren’t my favourites from Sophie Ranald, but they were fun. Natalie is a generally lovely woman. Her job means that she obviously has to be empathetic. But when you see her with her friends and family, it does shine through. I did kind of have one issue though. It’s probably nothing major that would upset anyone else, and it didn’t stop me from reading. But she was a bit of a hypocrite, and it bugged me. Obviously, during wedding planning, you run the possibility of strippers for the stag and hen dos. That’s kinda normal, and that’s fine. Except, when her friend assumes a police officer is a stripper on her hen do, it’s hilarious. When it comes to the stag do? She goes on at Archie about how he shouldn’t have strippers because it goes against her beliefs? Like, I get that you don’t think women should need to be drooled over and degraded. But you know that’s not a lot of strip clubs, right? She mentions how she- the stripper – wouldn’t be allowed to touch the customers. And lamented the reasons why the women may have made the decision to work there. Errr…maybe they just enjoy it? There are usually rules in place to stop strippers of all genders from being harassed, and it’s not necessarily seedy. So this just kinda bugged me as, yeah, not exactly a feminist statement, and we’re in 2021 now, guys. Let’s try better.

Obviously, romance was an important part of this book. It always is in Sophie Ranald’s books, and we are once again following a couple. There’s going to be trials and tribulations, but from the summary, you can probably guess that this is just going to be a bump in the path. Archie could be a really sweet boyfriend, but he also kind of sucked. He really does leave everything to Natalie, then tells her not to stress. He tells her to just be honest with his family, which, yeah, she probably should have. Then keeps disappearing to go off to work on his coffee anyway. It was frustrating because they really both could have done better communicating. But that was the point. They aren’t supposed to be a perfect couple yet, and they do grow individually as well as together.

Family is an important aspect of this book. As well as Archie’s family, you get to see Natalie’s too. She was raised by a young single mum, and for a lot of years, it’s just been them and her Grandpa. Natalie wants to help her mum be happy, but when her Grandpa starts having health troubles, there’s a lot of stress there. This is where the pain of this book mostly was. Some of the stuff with her Grandpa was heartbreaking. I really felt for Nat and her mum. They can’t have had easy decisions to make, and I teared up a few times. They did what was best, and they’re clearly a lovely family.

Quick warning to say that near the end of this book, Covid does pop up. This is mostly set around the end of 2019, beginning of 2020. I wasn’t necessarily aware of that going into it, and it’s not the main plot point. It just changes their situations a little near the end. I don’t mind that, but I know some people don’t want to read anything involving the pandemic. So this book might not be for you if that’s the case.

Overall I did really enjoy this book. I expected to, but it’s always a pleasant surprise to see how easily I get through these books. I can’t wait for the next Sophie Ranald book and to see where she goes next.

I usually find something nice to say about books I don't like but I really can't find anything to like about this book. The only reason I didn't give it a one star was that I think this book might help people realize they're in terrible relationships that they should definitely get out of.

This book was like a car crash, I couldn't look away. I couldn't get behind the plot, marrying someone you clearly didn't like very much, or the characters, a woman who was willing to put up with anything because she was scared of confrontation. I also think the book titled was rather confusing. The book is called He's Cancelled and yet, for the vast majority of the book, there is not cancelling to be seen. The book should be call A Guide to Gaslighting Yourself into Staying in a Toxic Relationship.

The only saving grace of this book was Robin, Natalie's grandfather. He was very sweet and I enjoyed his scenes.

Save yourself the time and read something (anything) else.

<spoiler>
I held on to reading this book because I thought it might triumph in the end. I thought Natalie might start a new life, free from the man who didn't care much about her feelings and her controlling in-laws. But alas, the last 20% of the book disregards the first 80% to create a complete character regression. Natalie finishes the book exactly where she started.
</spoiler>

Natalie and Archie are getting married. They both want a small intimate easy wedding but her soon to be in laws don't do anything "small" or "easy"! Cute and funny, this is one of those stories that you can't help but laugh at while you're feeling sorry for the main character! I absolutely adored Natalie! She's stuck between having what she wants and trying to make her in laws happy.. I think anyone that's been married can definitely sympathize with that! Pick this up when you're in the mood for something light and silly!

Natalie and Archie are getting married... On looking through a bridal magazine at the hairdressers, Nat sees a quiz to see if she and Archie are compatible. Most chapters from there starts with a question and potential answers, before leading back into the story. It takes you through the proposal, breaking the news to family and friends, pushy relatives, and at times looking back on how they met, both Archie and first time meeting of his family.

Told from Nats perspective, she has a great bond with her Mum, who gets a new look on life thinking of a plus one for the wedding. Things don't flow quite so easily with her in-laws to be.

He's Cancelled is a great lighthearted read filled with humour, but also touching on life's challenges and current times. A definite should read.

I loved the characters in this book - from the chemistry between Nat and Archie to the awkwardness between Nat and her to-be in-laws.

The storyline is amusing and I was kept entertained throughout.

This was my first book from this author, but when I’m in the mood for some light-hearted fun, I’ll definitely be seeking out more of her books.

This is story about Nat and Archie. They are in the middle of planning their wedding. But while planning a wedding should be a joyful time, for Nat it is everything but that.

As the readers follow Nat, it becomes clear what her problem is... She tries to please everyone and forgets or rather neglects her own wishes.
As her frustration increases, her relationship with Archie begins to suffer.
What will it take for Nat to stand up for herself? And can her relationship survive if she does not?

I liked the premise of the story, and the theme of miscommunication in a relationship is always relevant.
But I have to admit that the story felt way too long-winded in the first half, (I was actually a bit bored at times), but in return the second half of the story felt a bit rushed...

Nevertheless, I would still recommend the book to fans of chick-lit and classic rom-com stories. It is a cute story.

Thank you so much for the ARC <3 @netgalley and @bookouture

I will post on Goodreads and Instagram on the 23th June 2021.

I absolutely adore this author and couldn’t wait to get stuck into this one. This is a book I have been eagerly anticipating.


This is hilarious and I have been completely addicted to this one. This has been the perfect escapist read filled with a range of stunning characters.
Ranald is a fantastic author who can pull you into the pages and take you on the journey with the characters. I felt as though I have been with the characters.
his is a realistic novel which has made me laugh on numerous occasions. I cannot say anything negative about this one- it’s guaranteed to leave you smiling.

Getting proposed to one year into dating puts Natalie into a quiet whirlwind. She loves Archie and feels they have the same wedding mindset: small, sweet and to the point. But, her mother and sister in law have a completely different idea. In a battle of wedding plans and happily ever afters, will Natalie come up on top.? Or will he truly be cancelled?
Sophie Ranald writes her characters with spunk and deep emotion. I drew to Natalie quickly and was invested in her happiness. This book reminded me of the typical mother in law versus daughter in law relationship. The pages flew by but the tale was as old as time. There is a twist that makes the novel stand out however; the middle dragged on.
I recommend He’s Cancelled to those who enjoy wedding novels and anyone who wants a wedding romantic comedy.

Thanks to the publishers for sharing this one. I've enjoyed all of Sophie Ranald's books so far and this one was no exception. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is not the first Sophie Ranald book I have received and reviewed via NetGalley, and I love the way the community around the Ginger Cat pub pops up in different books. I also liked the fact that she incorporated the pandemic into the story, as it's definitely a factor that has had a major influence on all our lives. Her characters are well-drawn and you get invested - loving them, being exasperated by them and hoping the best for them. Ranald's writing is as always witty, but the flow of this story could have used a bit of help. I felt the middle lagged quite a bit, and the resolution of the bridezilla dilemma was not at all credible. After ratcheting up to incredible levels of bridezilla-ism, all is resolved within two pages?

I am disappointed with this one to be completely honest. I was expecting a laugh out loud rom com and instead I became bored quite quickly (probably after the 20% mark). My main complaint would be that the characters felt generic and everyone else aside the main couple did not feel that they had a life of their own but were merely there to push the storyline!
I would have been enjoying this a tad more if it wasn't marketed to strongly as a fun story because it was just okay for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute book, I’ve been reading a lot of rom coms lately and it wasn’t really at the same level so I was a little disappointed. In saying that, it was definitely not a bad story at all, it was a light, fun read.

For Natalie, all of the romantic comedy tropes come at once. She's got the picture perfect... well almost... engagement, even though it was completely unexpected. Unfortunately for Natalie, that was the end of both the romance and the comedy. From the moment they announce their engagement, Natalie is up against it. And somehow she's dealing with it all on her own. I thought this was an adorable book about a woman discovering who she is outside of a relationship and how she's going to make it on her own.

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an e-arc of this book.

I really wanted to like this book and I did for the most part! But I did have to keep putting it down because I was just so frustrated with everything that the main character was frustrated with. The writing was really well done and the characters felt very real. The ending felt like a complete unexpected shift that I didn't love especially with the thrown in COVID tie in. Nonetheless it was an intriguing idea and I did finish it despite the second-hand frustration with those darn in laws.

Thanks to publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

It’s normal to get cold feet….. isn’t it?

Natalie’s boyfriends proposed and it’s supposed to be the start of their happily ever after. But the actual planning of the wedding to Archie, Natalie feels it’s like taking part in Olympic Games.

That’s because she’s up against a mother-in-law who wants her to start a diet and even goes as far as telling her the portions she has to eat for which you’d need a microscope to actually see.

Also, a sister-in-law deciding everything from dresses, flowers, invite cards etc.

She would go through all this, if only Archie was with her every step of the way. But, he’s not, in fact he’s missing, refuses to deal with his, what Natalie calls a diva family.

On his stag do he goes and this leaves Natalie thinking, will she have to do what she doesn’t want to…. cancel?

But, if not the bride-to-be of Archie, who is she?

He's Cancelled is a bowl of annoyance with a dash of fun. Please don't get me wrong. The writing was good as revealed in the characterization of the people in the story that evoked annoyance, my main reaction to Nat's people-pleasing, Yvonne's and Daisy's insensitivity, and Archie's nonchalance.

Even though the story focused more on the wedding preparation, the author was able to illustrate the reasons why Archie was canceled. His constant disregard for his fiancée's issues with his family and his best friend who drove herself up the wall revealed his lack of importance on Nat as his partner and as a woman. This is such a deal-breaker for me.

The side stories featuring Nat’s mother, grandfather, and friends created heartwarming interludes between stressful wedding planning and couple arguments.

In the comedy area, the novel fell short of my expectations. I was bracing for laugh-out-loud moments but they never arrived. There were parts that were funny, though, but only elicited chuckles.

This book is for those who are looking for a light romcom that is about an uncertain bride, wedding planning, and bridezillas. The story is a nice read with its comprehensible and well-paced plot.

Thank you NetGalley and Sophie Ranald for the ARC!

3.5/5

As Rom-Coms go this looked like it’d be a good one. However, I just couldn’t get in to it. Despite knowing the basis from the story thanks to the blurb, I felt it was very slow paced and just lacked anything to really grab me. The characters were not likeable and I just wanted to give Nat a shake.
Disappointed as I have enjoyed Sophie Ranald’s other books.