Book Review and Giveaway: From Notting Hill With Love ... Actually

'From Notting Hill With Love ... Actually'
Author: Ali McNamara


Format: Paperback
Published: Sphere; Nov. 2010
Pages: 448
Genre: Chick-lit
Grade: B
Source: Personal copy


Synopsis: She was just a girl, standing in front of a boy ...wishing he looked more like Hugh Grant. Scarlett loves the movies. But does she love sensible fiance David just as much? With a big white wedding on the horizon, Scarlett really should have decided by now ...When she has the chance to house-sit in Notting Hill - the setting of one of her favourite movies - Scarlett jumps at the chance. But living life like a movie is trickier than it seems, especially when her new neighbour Sean is so irritating. And so irritatingly handsome, too. Scarlett soon finds herself starring in a romantic comedy of her very own: but who will end up as the leading man?


My Take: After a string of just meh books, I needed to get back my reading mojo so I went back to the tried and true genre that I always know I'll love: chick-lit! I have been hearing lots of good things about this book so I had picked up a couple of copies awhile ago and finally I dived in.


If you like chick-flicks then you can probably relate a little bit to our leading lady, Scarlett. Scarlett often finds herself daydreaming of her favorite scenes from movies to escape from her boring life. Her friends and family thinks she is obsessed with the movies. Many of her favorite movies were mine as well so I always knew what she was thinking of! 


That's not to say Scarlett's life is boring. She is engaged to the man she thinks she loves: David. David really loves Scarlett. He is just currently a little DIY-obsessed now that they have bought their first home and Scarlett isn't as into it. Scarlett also has an incredibly loving father. Her mother left when she was young so her dad raised her all by himself and they now own a business that sells popcorn machines to cinemas. Perfect for Scarlett right? Well, she is still in a funk!


So in order to kick her out of said funk, her best friend Maddie suggests that she house-sits for one of her friends in Notting Hill, yes just like the scene of one of her favorite movies! That way she could take a break from her life for a little bit while also proving to other people that things can happen just like in the movies. What Scarlett actually discovers upon moving to Notting Hill is that so much more was out of whack in her life than she originally thought and there were many more people who loved her too.


I really enjoyed this book but if there was one quibble I could find with it, it was that to those she loved, Scarlett could be a little uncaring in the name of 'ditzyness'. It drove me to distraction sometimes. Overall though I really enjoyed discovering a new Brit chick-lit author and I look forward to checking out her latest novel Breakfast at Darcy's sometime soon!

Cover Lust: I think this cover is the perfect fit! The book is set in February so the winter background fits so well!


Giveaway Details
I purchased two copies of this book so I get one and you get one! The deadline for this giveaway is Dec. 27th; entries open to those in the US.

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3 extra entries available. Giveaway open until 11:59pm PST Dec. 27th. I will draw the winners using random.org and announce them here on my blog. Good luck!