28 Oct The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Bell
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Bell
Published byZaffre
Published on 10.3.2016
Genres:chick lit, rom com
Pages: 432
Format:paperback
Abi’s barely left her bed since Joseph, the love of her life, dumped her, saying they were incompatible.
When Joseph leaves a box of her possessions on her doorstep, she finds a bucket list of ten things she never knew he wanted to do. What better way to win him back than by completing the list, and proving they’re a perfect match?
But there’s just one problem – or rather, ten. Abi’s not exactly the outdoorsy type, and she’s absolutely terrified of heights – not ideal for a list that includes climbing a mountain, cycling around the Isle of Wight and, last but not least, abseiling down the tallest building in town . . .
Completing the list is going to need all Abi’s courage – and a lot of help from her friends. But as she heals her broken heart one task at a time, the newly confident Abi might just have a surprise in store . .
And Anna Bell has done it again! In such a short time span and two pregnancies included, she’s managed to write so many books, and good ones at that. I seriously don’t know how she does it and what exactly is her secret in creating such brilliant, feel-good rom coms. Could it be her amazing sense of humor? Probably. Could it be her bubbly personality? I bet that could be it too. But no matter how many things I add to my list ‘Why is Anna Bell such an amazing writer’, I’m pretty sure I’m going to miss the secret ingredient. However, that doesn’t stop me from fully, thoroughly enjoying her books and jumping ecstatically up and down every time I hear she’s got a new novel out.
The best thing about Anna Bell’s books is that the reader can actually feel how comfortable she is writing chick lits and her expertise when it comes to this genre. Simply put, she owns it! She delivers and manages to stand out in a sea of so many rom coms appearing each day.
After reading her previous novel, ‘Don’t Tell the Brides-to-Be’, I honestly thought her writing couldn’t get any better. Why? Because it was already perfect! You know how exactly reading an Anna Bell book feels like? Like watching a briliant rom com or a re-run of Friends, and no matter how many times you’ve seen that particular scene you can’t help but laugh out loud. THAT is what Anna Bell’s books are like. They are simply hilarious and the romance simply flows.
No matter how much I loved her previous books, I must say ‘The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart’ is by far her best book yet! Too much praise? Trust me, once you pick up this book you’ll see what I’m talking about. Abi’s story and her bucket list (mostly of things she’s scared of doing) will immediately pull you in, making you laugh and forgetting about every problem that was previously bothering you. Once you start reading, there’s no stopping. It’s that addictive!
Abi is such a wonderful character. She’s slightly confused as one would expect from a chick lit heroine, and so not over her ex. Despite thinking that Joseph is the one, after all they did share a year full of bliss, she ends up being dumped and more clueless than Alicia Silverstone (I think I just quoted Anna Bell on this). But after finding Joseph’s bucket list, she comes up with a plan to win him back. If she could manage to do all the stuff on his list, show him the adventurous side of her and prove him that they are not that different after all, she might just get her man back. The problem might be that most of the stuff on the list are something she dreads, but she’s determined and on a mission. As she ticks off the things from the list, we see her transform into a new, better, more confident person and this seriously made me even think of creating my very own bucket list. To be honest, I’ve never thought of that but after reading this book and finding out even Anna went through similar experience (thus the inspiration for this book), I’m eager to get that list and start working on it.
The romance was gradually built and oh so sweet! I absolutely loved all of the characters, her BFF and colleagues, even her flirty boss. Only character I didn’t like that much was Linz (yes, with a Z), her young and sexy colleague who does everything to be the star of the day. Love ’em or hate ’em, all of these characters felt way too real, and once I was done reading I couldn’t believe they are gone! Seems to me like I’m showing the usual symptoms of a book hangover, I loved this book so much!
To sum it up, if you’re looking for a light, warm, hilarious rom com to devour in a day, look no further. I can’t really compare Anna to any author as honestly, her writing is so genuine it’s like she’s in a league of her own. I’m definitely not exaggerating when I say this is certainly the best chick lit I’ve read this year and definitely stands pretty high on my all time fave list. Anna Bell, I’m your fan for life!
About Anna Bell
Anna Bell currently writes the weekly column ‘The Secret Dreamworld of An Aspiring Author’ on the website Novelicious (www.novelicious.com) and reviews modern women’s fiction for the website the Chicklit Club (www.chicklitclub.com). She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writer’s Scheme.
Anna is a full-time writer and loves nothing more than going for walks with her husband and Labrador. She has published three romantic comedies.
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