Author: Claire Christian
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Genre: General Fiction
Year of Release: 2020
Release Date: 29th September 2020
Rating 🌟🌟🌟
Disclaimer: This review contains coarse Language
Synopsis
A quirky, feel-good romantic comedy about creating the life you want.
Noni didn’t expect to be starting over again at the age of thirty-six. But eighteen months after the end of her long-term relationship, she knows it’s time to find out what’s next.
While an encounter with a sexy blonde firefighter is a welcome entry back into the dating world, Noni soon realises she’s looking for more than just a series of brief-if pleasurable-encounters.
That’s how she finds herself travelling to Europe to track down the one that got away- the alluring, elusive Molly. But Europe has other surprises in store, not least of which is Beau, a tall, sexy, tattooist from Edinburgh…
Review
A year and six months ago Noni Blake’s nine-year relationship come to an end, she’s decided now is the time to find out what the next chapter looks like. Growing tied of the brief encounters an opportunity arrives that sees her dip her toes back into the dating world allows Noni to see she’s looking for more.
Noni decides to travel to Europe for six months in the hopes of finding the one that got away, Europe has other plans for the 36-year-old teacher. Will she open her eyes and allow herself to feel pleasure not to please others but herself?
A cover indulgences the minute I seen this cover; I knew I had to meet Ms Noni Blake.
“It’s Been a Pleasure Noni Blake” flowed in a way that made you appreciate author Claire Christian writing. Noni makes for a believable, down to earth character, but even more of a likeable heroin, I found myself laughing out loud at different periods in this book.
As the book progressed, I found my love of Noni wavering as this reader did find some of the events Noni found herself in a little predictable and gained a few eye rolls from me; at times this book does feel a little repetitive. I’m all for finding and participating in activities that bring you pleasure but this started to make me loose interest as Noni started to sound obnoxious and self-absorbed about the whole thing.
Pleasure isn’t a person. It’s personal. And I need to work out what it looks like to me.”
― Claire Christian, It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake
A small amount of support characters helps this story shine, her best friend Lindell was a delight! I would’ve liked to spend more time around him. I also really, thank goodness for Beau; if Noni hadn’t meet him, I might have given up on her “Fuck it List” and her European adventure altogether.
“I wish there was a word to describe this thing that happens when you meet someone new. The way they look at you through a new lens and notice things about you that you didn’t even realise about yourself. The delivery of this information is like these little explosions of recognition. Feeling seen and surprised all at once”
― Claire Christian, It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake
I really wanted to feel all the feels here, to have all the love for this book, but it just didn’t quite make the best book of the year for me. This book however was one of the best Audiobooks I have read in a while. I highly recommend this book to a mature audience.