Review – Can’t Take My Eyes of You by Clare Dowling

This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.

Clara has been living in London with boyfriend Matt for years, her old life in Ireland far behind her. But when Matt decides that it’s time for a change of scenery and suggests Clara’s home town of Castlemoy, she is filled with apprehension. Going back to the life she left behind doesn’t seem to fill Clara with excitement and pretty soon we find out why. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You is chick lit with a dark side. This book isn’t your average chick lit read. It offers something different and tackles some serious issues such as stalking and unplanned pregnancy, but there are moments of humour in Clare Dowling’s writing that lift the mood of the book. Clara’s nasty ex, Jason, is still bearing a grudge about how their relationship ended ten years ago. It isn’t long before Clara bumps into him and he starts subtly wreaking havoc in her life and Matthew’s, too. There are moments of great intensity in this book and I was both intrigued and shocked by how easy it can be for someone to slowly infiltrate every aspect of your life before starting to turn it on its head. Clara and Matthew were by far my favourite characters; their strength and determination as a couple appealed to me, and I was able to relate to them as a reader. Clara is a fighter and I admired her spirit all the way through the book. Jason  – although technically “The Bad Guy” – was also a favourite of mine. With him, Clare Dowling has created a very manipulative character and you never quite know whether he is being genuine or not, which kept me guessing each time he had a scene. His gentle, persuasive attitude allows him to slowly weave his way back into Clara’s life until she finds herself trapped in a situation she doesn’t know how to handle. There are some strong secondary characters, mainly Clara’s family who bring a depth to the story and are enjoyable to read. Many of the characters are not without their own issues, whatever they may be, but they handle them well and their journeys are interesting to become a part of. It took me a few chapters to get into this book; it wasn’t the usual chick lit read that I am used to. I’d almost suggest that it’s chick lit with a dark side, but once I got into it, I became really invested in Clara and her battle for a normal life with Matthew. There is also a subtle humour to Clare Dowling’s writing that makes sure that the book never becomes too heavy despite its serious story lines. This book may not be the cheeriest book that I’ve read this year, but the characters are enjoyable, the storylines gripping and there are some good plot twists. If you enjoy chick lit with a difference then this book is perfect for you. 7/10 MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK Clare Downling’s Website