An enjoyable and well-written study of a middle class family navigating the ups and downs of life. Mostly likeable main characters with an interesting and diverse cast of side characters. A story that shows how hard it is to be a mum, even when it’s what you want most in the world.

It's messy and compelling and goes way beyond the usual boy-meets-girl happily ever after, examining a relationship that goes on for years through danger, separation, children, even brexit and covid - it does feel like a long time!

Coralie and Adam meet when Coralie, an Australian in London, rescues Adam's young daughter Zora from drowning. We follow their relationship from the early days to a seemingly inevitable breakdown several years later, when Coralie realises that all she has done has been for Adam and their children, without keeping anything back for herself alone.

It's a familiar world, and a familiar story, but it is sensitively done with some great cameos from a range of friends and family, but especially in the second half it does get a bit overindulgent, with every character in the book being so privileged and ultimately not broken by some very challenging circumstances.

It's an enjoyable read and a touching one, but at the end of the day it is a bunch of people with first-world problems, lacking any real depth of meaning beyond a surface level charm that will appeal to many.

A decade of love and family.

Coralie meets Adam when she saves his daughter from drowning. Soon they find themselves in a relationship, ten years later they have a home and two children - but is it what Coralie really wants?

Few of us have a perfect life and while life is trying at the best of times, the decade which included Brexit and Covid was more trying than most. Coralie, an Australian, has her doubts about where her life is going - but what can she do about it? I think most of us would resonate with her thoughts at some point or another in our lives. I expected a love story and that's what I got, but a bit more serious. For me, four stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

I have quite mixed feelings about this book. It had so much promise, it really felt like we hit the ground running with the opening ('she loved him so much, more than anything. But when Adam came home, she'd be gone'). I was so excited to get into a romance that spans across a nice chunk of time and follows an interesting single dad MMC and Coralie who has such a strong character. But this book lacked driving force and momentum for me to such a detriment.

Their characters are both pretty iconic. Adam is undeniably quirky and very endearing. He literally offers to swap houses for the night so Coralie can sleep better (which seemed a bit much to do after the first date, but was cute regardless). And their joint love of books is just incredible. This book was written by a real book lover. But yes, I internally squealed with excitement when I realised that the two main characters are our people (fellow book lovers!) Adam is also so supportive and such a sweetheart, so I was a big fan of him to be honest. He's also hilarious, when he asks Coralie why she moved to London in the first place he jokes (to work on your vitamin D deficiency? Craving Tory austerity? To lower your life expectancy? For the knife crime?')

The romance between these two is so sweet and warming to read ('I was hoping you'd be there', 'and I was', 'you were'). And this extends to their dynamic too. They have such a funny dynamic where they bounce off each other and that was really fun to read. I also really loved Zora's character. She's a wonderful kid and the epitome of childlike curiosity and surprisingly wise.

And this book was brimming with heart, but it just really missed the mark for me in terms of it being a page turner.

A love story but also so much more! I sped through this gorgeous book with is fabulous and believable cast of characters.
As Coralie and Adam get together so quickly and Coralie put aside her dreams to support Adam’s career and become Zara’s stepmother, you know it’s all going to come back to haunt her one day.
This clever novel uses the backdrop of a highly turbulent decade in politics, which 2 of her characters are deeply involved in, to highlight their changing relationship, and how Coralie disappears into her role as mother and partner. Her own childhood makes her determined to be the best that she can be.
I rooted for them all the way, neither of them were perfect but the love was always there. I must admit I shed a tear over the last few pages!

I thought Coralie's voice was hilarious, incisive, and had that endearingly Australian-in-London quality. The first half of the book was enjoyable to read because each character had genuine personality and depth.

However, in the second half, I felt like things lost some of their spark. Other than providing Adam with a reason to vanish and adding to Coralie's stress, the entire Brexit and British politics angle didn't seem to add much. The tone changed, which may have been done on purpose to mirror Coralie's decline, but it also slowed down the action and lessened some of the intensity that made the opening so powerful.

I loved how this book showed the Coralie's live with the backdrop of Brexit and Covid, times that made people question their choices and the future. Which feeds into Coralie and her identity.

Consider yourself kissed is a reflective, sweet and at times funny story of one couple’s relationship, from meeting through to life together with kids, demanding careers and more.

Coralie moved to London from Australia to escape an awful boss and a difficult family life, but found herself floundering in London - wanting to write but not being able to because of the incredibly noisy pub next door, thinking about having a family but without a partner, feeling a bit lonely - and worrying that her life isn’t going anywhere.

One day she saves a four year old girl, Zora, from drowning in Victoria park and meets Zora’s father Adam - funny, warm, sweet Adam…

We follow their relationship from then on as they fall in love, both try to develop their careers against a backdrop of children, politics, and world events like COVID and Brexit, and find that everyday life can be so hard if they become out of tune with each other.

The title of the book is a bit misleading I think as, for me, it suggests something very light and fluffy, and very much romance-focused, but this book addresses some solid issues - not just relationships as you’d expect but the difficulties of being a new mother, mental health problems, the crazy politics of 2015-2023 and the anxieties it bought with it, being an immigrant and feeling adrift in your adopted country, and much more…

The writing in this novel is superb. The characters were crafted so well that I could imagine them distinctly as real people. There is a LOT of politics in it because Adam’s career revolves around commentating on UK politics and writing books on key political figures, and I know for some people it might be a bit much but for me it reminded me of so many crazy moments over the years that I’d forgotten about, and I enjoyed that side of the story too.

The difficulties of relationships especially with kids seems to be so well depicted (though I have no experience of having children myself) - honest and thoughtful. There are emotional. heart-breaking moments and light relief at times too.

Following Coralie and Adam’s life together in London is so enjoyable and has resulted in a brilliant book that I enjoyed every page of.

A brutally honest decade of a relationship, through recent British turbulence.

No relationship is perfect, none keep the early bloom, not all stay the course. Stanley forces us through the good and bad with Australian Coralie and Adam, as they meet in London under unusual circumstances: it's more a meet-wet than a meet-cute, involving Adam's young daughter. Though their subsequent first courtship moments are charming. We then watch as they cement their growing love into bricks and mortar and Coralie's desperate wish for a child of her own affects their partnership as much as Adam's own growing political career.

And all the while - Brexit happens. Boris happens. COVID happens. It's a bit of a PTSD trip for those of us who also recollect the emotions of these last years, and seeing it affect this one family is quite difficult. It's very honest though in its portrayal of the rational and less rational arguments and grievances, the problems associated with getting pregnant/birthing/having a young family as well as teens, and also the blended family that Coralie finds herself being enveloped in.

Both sides of the political spectrum are represented, Coralie's own brother, father and past play significant roles in her own story and her own mental insecurities. Her mother, back home is Australia, has cancer. Adam's mother is very present and represents a different sort of parenting figure.

This is the story of an everywoman coping with all the different trials and joys of a contemporary life, living through the same circumstances that all of us did jointly, and trying to keep her family, relationship and mental sanity together.

It was quite upsetting at times, as I saw similarities with my own thoughts and experiences here and there, and taking us back to the COVID years was quite hard to put one's self through again.

I didn't know how I felt about Adam at times, but as we didn't get his perspective on the same situation, of course Coralie was going to have our sympathies more. He's a loving and good man, and I did want their partnership to weather the storms of life ultimately.

One small story as part of a bigger whole, this felt real and raw and so close to home.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

I felt like a fly on the wall whilst reading this book as it captured Coralie's life. I thought the book flowed really well and delved head-on into family situations and I must admit, I was quite invested in all the goings on.

I do take an interest in politics, however, I thought that some parts of the overly consumed with politics; although it was a revelation that Ed Milliband had two kitchens - I must have missed that story!

“Consider Yourself Kissed” is a love story set against the backdrop of life and politics in the UK from 2012 until nearly the present day. Coralie, the main character, has moved to London from Australia but is struggling to find her feet. After rescuing a little girl from what could have been a disaster, she meets the girl’s Dad, Adam. They fall in love quickly and Coralie thinks she’s going to get everything she ever wanted. But this is only the beginning of the story. Family, friends, jobs, opportunities, world events and life just happens but this means that Coralie feels like she’s losing herself and doubting her relationship with Adam. Will she ever have the time to find herself again?

I really, really enjoyed this book. The story is told with so much wit but also so much love and I really liked all of the characters and how well they were fleshed out, even the ones who appear less frequently. And I very much appreciated the author’s takes on British politics in the last decade or so. My only criticism is that there’s a part towards the end of the book which felt like it needed a bit more attention. I don’t want to say more to avoid giving spoilers but it just took the edge of what was an otherwise excellent book. Maybe in 10 years time we can have a sequel to find out what happens next in Coralie’s story and for the author’s take on what I’m sure won’t be a dull time in British politics!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I was completely absorbed in Coralie’s life, I devoured it. I didn’t think I’d enjoy the realistic backdrop of politics and Covid, but it made the story relatable and real. I also always love a novel set in London, my favourite city. It would have been more rewarding if we’d had a more in depth look into Coralie’s suffering and how her and Adam get through to the other side, this felt a little rushed, but other than that it was an engaging, witty, modern look at family, love and motherhood.

A big, gorgeous book - it perfectly captures the experience of motherhood, the feeling of losing your identity but also loving being a mother. The voice was strong, light and extremely readable. The sort of book that you can give to your mum, sister, best friend and they will all love it and you will all find something that resonates and that you want to talk about! I loved the huge cast of characters - there was joy and warmth in every page.

When Croalie first meets Adam, she is new to London & feeling adrift. Adam is clever, witty, and his charming four-year-old daughter, Zora, only adds to his appeal. Ten years on, something important is missing from the life Coralie & Adam have built & Coralie feels, having gained everything she dreamed of, Coralie has lost something she once had: herself.

From the moment I read the synopsis of this book I instantly wanted to read and all the great reviews are right, this is such a wonderful book.

I was utterly enthralled by Coralie’s story, the way that life progresses through the chapters, the years passing cleverly dated through the reference of various political events, allowing the reader to feel part of the journey travelled - after all we can all pinpoint exactly where we were through 2020 especially thanks to Covid!

The author has superbly created a story where not everything is perfect, with relationships, marriage, children and the daily routine, all parts of life that are often filled with turbulence. By not shying away from the elements we don’t see through rose-tinted glasses, this book is totally relatable on all levels.

It’s hard to describe just how the emotions can hit you with this book, it’s not necessarily what you’re expecting but, in my view, it gives so much more. A beautiful read that I thoroughly enjoyed and can highly recommend.

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Normally I shy away from love/romance stories but I was intrigued and really glad that I read this novel.

The characters are very relatable and likeable and I found Consider Yourself Kissed to be an easy read. We meet main characters Coralie and Adam and go through the ups and downs of their relationships and heartbreaks.

A good summery read.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my review.

Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley

This is the story of the relationship between Adam and Coralie - how they meet, get together and the next ten years of their lives before a crisis - set in London and against a backdrop of political events in the UK and beyond.

Wow, I loved EVERYTHING about this book and immediately pre-ordered a copy for the publication date! The author does so much in one novel it's utterly breathtaking - the romance between Adam and Coralie when they first meet, their relationship as it evolves, their blended families of all kinds of characters, the humour and the 'OMG yessss I know EXACTLY what you mean Coralie' moments, the lightly done but momentous political and world events which took place over the last ten years... I could go on but suffice to say it's PERFECTION and sure to be one of my books of the year! Please can it be a NetFlix series or a film??

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

Coralie has transferred to London from Australia where she has escaped a situation at work. She notices Adam out with his captivating daughter, Zora, and events push them together. Coralie has always wanted to write a book but life keeps getting in the way, particularly once she's involved with Adam who writes books about current affairs. We follow her attempts at juggling her life whilst wrangling her family. I found the backdrop to this novel particularly interesting as we witness the political turmoil of the last ten years through Coralie's eyes.

Well, I could not read this quick enough! I was so engrossed in the story I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next!

The book is about Coralie, it is about her life, her family, her parenting, her relationships, her marriage, her career and her friends. It is a book about life, that many of us will recognise some or if not all of what Coralie is going through. There is so much you might relate to.

Coralie is an Australian woman living in East London, married to Adam. Coralie is a freelance writer, juggling deadlines all the time. Adam is a political journalist and has a daughter called Zora, from a previous relationship. She is such a joy and I loved the relationship between Zora and Coralie. Blended families can have their challenges, but Zora and Coralie had a wonderful bond, which was very clear to see.

The book is set against a political backdrop, covering a timeline from 2013 to 2023. We therefore hear about the different political changes, different politicians including the period of Boris Johnson's leadership, Brexit and we go through the very tough times of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we also find out so much about Coralie, in so much detail which enables us to see so much about her character. It was just a brilliant brilliant read. I cannot praise this book highly enough.

I loved the political backdrop in the book because it gave us a clear timeline, we could follow through the years easily as they were so clearly defined.

The book was deeply engaging and felt incredibly realistic, as it drew from recent events we have all heard about or experienced and vividly remember. And very very sadly, many of us have been deeply and tragically impacted by Covid.

How the book is written is so cleverly done, intertwining normal everyday life against the transformative changes that occur in Britain's political landscape.

So much happened in the ten years, not only in Coralie's life but in the world too. Coralie struggled with her role as a Mother at times because she was juggling so much with Adam often away or working on his next book. Coralie feels constantly overwhelmed, her days often feeling relentless as she juggles the demands of being a wife, a mother, a stepmother, managing the household, and pursuing her career. Coralie always tried to do her best, even when the pressure of everything became too much to bear. Just like Coralie, we all have a breaking point, where the weight of responsibilities and challenges pushes us to our limits.

This is a book about finding yourself and accepting who you are and loving who you are. We need to accept and embrace who we are, love ourselves and celebrate our qualities and strengths. It is so important to be you and live as your true self. Coralie shows resilience and determination and I absolutely loved and admired her character.

This book is filled with so many relatable moments and experiences that will resonate deeply with so many readers. I found myself completely absorbed in the book, fully drawn into the world events and political events (of which we have lived through ourselves) and the story was just all encompassing - joy, sorrow, and every emotion in between.

5 Enormous stars!

Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Jessica Stanley, thank you! This book quite unexpectedly dragged me right out of a persistent reading slump, and while the exact how and why is difficult to articulate, but she's worked some sorcery here. I was so engrossed in this book while travelling I barely looked up for hours at a time.

"Consider Yourself Kissed" isn't easily summarized, and that's part of its charm. It's a deeply character-driven narrative, focusing almost entirely on Coralie and meticulously charting her journey through various periods and evolving stages of her relationships. I found it impossible not to connect with at least one facet of the richly drawn personalities within these pages.

While the synopsis accurately describes a "political landscape backdrop," be prepared for a rather vivid and sometimes jarring immersion back into the recent past, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic, the era of Boris Johnson, and the shadow of Brexit. It's a bit of a jumpscare if you're unprepared.

The title, "Consider Yourself Kissed," initially struck me as somewhat trite and seemingly disconnected from the story's depth and emotional resonance. However, upon finishing the book, I suspect this is precisely the subtle brilliance Stanley intended. It's a clever misdirection that ultimately adds another layer of intrigue to this compelling and thought-provoking read.

I highly recommend "Consider Yourself Kissed" to anyone looking for a character-driven story that will stay with them long after the final page.

I don't have anything good to say about this book. It was too dreary for me, and I wouldn't recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.