Book Review: A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans
Laura Foster is a hopeless romantic. Her friends know it, her parents know it - even Laura acknowledges she lives either with her head in the clouds or buried in a romance novel. It’s proved harmless enough, even if it hasn’t delivered her a real-life dashing hero yet. But when her latest relationship ends in a disaster that costs her friendships, her job, and nearly her sanity, Laura swears off men and hopeless romantic fantasies for good.
With her life in tatters around her, Laura agrees to go on vacation with her parents. After a few days of visiting craft shops and touring the stately homes of England, Laura is ready to tear her hair out. And then, while visiting grand Chartley Hall, she crosses paths with Nick, the sexy, rugged estate manager. She finds she shares more than a sense of humor with him - in fact, she starts to think she could fall for him. But is Nick all he seems? Or has Laura got it wrong again? Will she open her heart only to have it broken again?
Thinking about which book I was going to review first was a tough choice. I wanted to review something that was appealing to the readers here at Chick Lit Reviews, but I also wanted to review something new and recent here in the states. Instead I made a compromise. I decided to review a book I truly adore, that appeals to the readers and next week will be something new. How does that sound? Good…good.
A Hopeless Romantic is honestly a book I initially picked up because I loved the cover, the title, everything. Who of us, romantics, isn’t drawn in by a title involving hopelessness and romance all in one? It’s a match made in heaven. And this book is definitely that. It’s a bit of everything you’d expect and maybe some you wouldn’t.
Laura Foster is the typical late twenties romantic girl with her heart set on Prince Charming, but yet again is foiled in her vision of the perfect man. Her love life dashed by unspoken intentions and a lack of follow-thru by her “one true love”. Not only that, but in her attempts to secure said man she has completely neglected her friends and practically ruined her work environment. By part two of the book she reaches a breaking point which pushes her onward and upward. Primarily done by her grandmother, Mary.
One of my favorite characters in the book is Mary. She is the fuel behind Laura’s daydreaming and wishing, although Laura would like to think it has everything to do with the books and movies she has devoured over her lifetime. Mary met her one true love when she was still married to her first husband and soon after was married to her love because of the death of her first husband (no foul play, just a heart attack). One of the magical things about Mary’s story though is the setting, it all happened Cairo under the pyramids. How romantic! Right? With this story in tow, Laura has gone her entire life looking for that one charming moment, that one right man to make the world spin and life fall into place.
In the end this book is more about Laura finding herself than finding Mr.Right. More about discovering that she’s only able to get as much as she can give and likewise. She finally says toward the end of the book, “She knew who she was…She was just - herself.” and that seems to wrap it up quite nicely. Although, through a wonderful turn of events she does stumble upon another possible Mr. Right, but I won’t ruin the rest of the story and tell you how it ends. It’s a delightful and quick story, that though it seems daunting at first glance the pages will breeze by.
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April 10th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
This sounds quite alright, may be worth a read.
April 12th, 2010 at 9:43 am
I want to read this now! Great first review Danielle
April 12th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I really enjoyed this book, I think Harriet Evans is very good!
October 18th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
I read bits of this book and loathed it. Its a fairy tale. You’ll know when you read the book. Perhaps I didn’t do the book justice (I read the start and ending). A hopeless romantic is usually a “sap” and in this instance – that’s very much the case.
The ending is something you expect from a historical romance written by a misguided American housewife from the deep South who thinks Earls and Dukes are swarming the UK with pots of cash.
Anyway, I don’t want to give the plot away – but its silly.
March 11th, 2011 at 12:11 am
I am about mid way in this book and I cannot put it down! I love the characters. Thanks for the great review Danielle !
March 17th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
I loved this book! Once i got into it i literally could’nt put it down. Any suggestions on anything similar? As i prefer the light hearted type books.
June 9th, 2011 at 1:07 am
Read this book in 4 days… Simply couldn’t put it down. Harriet Evans is a really good writer! Any of her books is a must read.
June 27th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
I finished this in 4 days and was first intrigued by the title then the cover design.. pretty.
I was hooked on it and found it difficult to put down To me, this is a good fairytale in our modern days and it really made me smile though there were parts that made me cry, like th passing on of one character, shan’t name it here!
but do READ IT!