An Almost Perfect Summer by Jill Mansell #AnAlmostPerfectSummer @JillMansell @headlinepg @HeadlineFiction #BookReview

 

Nick is the most intriguing man Nella has met in a while. He's a 9 in the looks department (no one gets a 10), he makes her laugh, and he keeps her company when she ends up in A&E. But they live hundreds of miles apart.

Then Nella loses her job. There's a perfect role on offer at a Cotswolds holiday retreat. The catch is that her boss would be Nick. And that makes Nick the one man she can't risk falling in love with.

While Nella struggles with her feelings, a Hollywood star has found a haven at the retreat. Lizzie's sworn off people - especially men - until her friendly new neighbours entice her out of her shell. Maybe she needs a flirtation - with gorgeous Nick, perhaps? Not with taciturn local Matthew, though, who definitely isn't a member of her fan club. Then an astonishing secret revealed changes everything . . .

The scene is set for a fabulous new novel full of friendship, warmth and romance.

An Almost Perfect Summer by Jill Mansell is published on 16 January 2025 by Headline. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

I've been reading Jill Mansells' novels for over thirty years and each year it is an utter delight to get my hands on a copy of her latest. I am not really sure how she manages to make her stories so fresh and exciting, filled with wonderful character who the reader will immediately fall in love with; but she does, and does it so well. I'm sure that I say that her current novel is my favourite so far every year; I'm certainly saying it this year! 

The luxury retreat in the Cotswolds is the perfect setting for the story. It is one of those places where people go for rest and relaxation, to be waiting on hand and foot. Where nothing is too much trouble. 

Nella initially meets Nick at a farm shop, and then later after she's had a nasty bump in her car. There is certainly an attraction there but they live miles from each other, so Nella does her best to forget him. However, when she loses her job and realises that her perfect job is available in the Cotswolds, she is torn. Nick would be her boss. They'd need to ensure that their relationship remained professional. 

Nella takes the job and this the just the beginning of what becomes a warm and heartfelt story of people trying to find their way in life. From Lizzie, the Hollywood film star, to Matthew, the widowed father of Maeve, here are a collection of people whose differences don't matter. It is the sense of community that builds around them that is quite magical. 

There's heartbreak and there's secrets that are slowly revealed. There is laughter and joy, along with tears and sometimes some sadness, but most of all, there's love and warmth and wit and wisdom. 

Once again, the Queen of Feel-Good Romance has delivered everything that I wanted in a novel. Highly recommended. 

Jill Mansell started writing fiction while working in the NHS, after she read a magazine article that
inspired her to join a local creative writing class. Since then she has written over twenty-five Sunday Times bestsellers. Her acclaimed novels include The Wedding of the Year, Promise Me, Should I Tell You?, And Now You're Back, It Started with a Secret and You and Me, Always. Jill's books have sold over 14.5 million copies worldwide.

Jill lives in Bristol and for many years worked in the field of clinical neurophysiology. You'd think inventing characters and stories would be easier, but she can assure you it isn't.

You can follow Jill on X @JillMansell, Facebook /OfficialJillMansell and Instagram @JillMansell