My review

We eat either to escape some emotional trauma or to fill an emotional need, and that’s why it is known as comfort food. And this comfort food is almost always something delicious, something ridiculously fattening, and something which fills the mouth with bursts of flavor and hips with a bigger arse. That is the law of Murphy… Everything good is seriously bad for us. 

The author, Sue Watson, also has her main character, Dani, doing just that: eating to forget her ex’s lousy behaviour, her mother’s emotional negligence, to forget that she is fat and to hide the pain when people point out the obvious..  

I could identify myself with Dani (but unlike her, I do not like ice creams, chocolates, or cakes..) and I understood her pain at the comments received. Ultimately, Dani has had enough with the direction where her life and her size are heading, so she decides to take charge. And there enters Prince Charming a.k.a personal trainer, Chris who helps her with her weight loss mission. Her ex Jude also would like to know her better now. And all of a sudden, a fitter Dani has a lot of options to choose from… 

The author, Sue Watson, has done a brilliant job with this piece of writing. The second half of the book is exemptuous. The way Dani grows into her confident, beautiful self is a sight to behold, and I just read the entire book at a go, all the while rooting for Dani, cheering her on from the sidelines. The other characters, her friends at work and her best friend, Karla are supportive and quirky. All of them together take the book from ordinary to extraordinary. 

When Dani reaches the finish line, no one was more happy than I (girls with curves unite!!). This is the beauty of Ms. Watson’s writing. Her words go beyond the plot line to touch the inner woman, they resonate with her genuineness, and there is something so encouraging with the way she writes that the words fills our inner core with confidence. I believe, no woman who reads this book, would come away unaffected. 

The emotions felt have a wide array, I found myself getting frustrated with Dani when she doesn’t take charge, angry with her when she gives excuses in the first half of the book. But in the second half, when Dani blossoms and there is happiness, sheer bliss and I laughed with her. The emotions felt are so exhilarating that I found myself running along with her, ready to face the world. 

The only point that jarred me and almost made me lose interest is when the main character Dani ruminates and ponders on and on and on. That goes on for pages, the same matter explained in different ways, but then the story picks up and goes back on track. 

I kept this book on hold as I wanted to read it when life was dark and gloomy. I knew Ms. Sue Watson brilliance with her words would definitely bring a ray of hope to the heavy heart. Her words light a fire in the heart and make us bolder and confident. My first book by her, but definitely not my last. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. 

My rating : 4 stars 

About the Author 

Sue Watson was born in Manchester long ago and after attending Manchester Polytechnic and hanging around the Hacienda for far too long, moved to London to seek fame and fortune. She found neither, but had a wonderful time working as a journalist on tabloid newspapers and womens magazines. Moving into Television, Sue became a Producer with the BBC and worked on garden makeovers, kitchen takeovers and daytime sofas all the time making copious notes so that one day she might escape to the country and turn it all into a book. Sue still has the notes and now writes novels in Worcestershire, where she lives with husband Nick, daughter Eve, two cats and a rather glamorous goldfish.

Book blurb 

Ten years ago, Dani fled Appledore with a broken-heart and a suitcase full of shattered dreams. Only now is she brave enough to put her past behind her and return for a summer selling homemade ice cream and getting fit by doing sit-ups by the sea. 

But the new-look cafe is filled with old memories of Jude, her teenage sweetheart-turned-sour. She thinks of him every time she swirls warm sauce onto a ‘chocolate-bockaglory’ and even with the help of Chris, her gorgeous personal trainer, the urge to break her diet is everywhere she turns. 

When Jude makes an appearance at the cafe on the eve of Dani’s birthday party, history threatens to repeat itself. Is Dani strong enough to say no? And is the love she’s been longing for much closer than she thinks? 

Product Details 

Publication date : 27th June 2017

Publisher : Bookouture 

Language : English 

Available on Amazon