This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Roll the dice Grace's childhood home, Chadlicote Manor, is being sold to settle family debts. Will losing her home break her heart or is it the chance for a new life? … move two spaces Karen's husband has the Manor in his sights as a chance to start over in rural paradise. But Karen prefers city living and, when a new flame turns up the heat, starting again might just mean the end of the road. … climb the ladder Gemma is longing for a baby and, unlike her own loft apartment, Karen's house is an ideal family home. But the dream house can only have its dream baby if Gemma can convince her flakey sister to help out. … to land on Up-and-coming rockstar Nick has designs on Gemma's flat. He's also taken a shine to classy estate agent, Lucinda, but she's not all she seems – and neither is he, since he’s hiding a girlfriend he’s looking to ditch when the sale goes through. . . . the Love Nest where all their troubles come home to roost!
I read Julia Llewellyn's debut novel THE LOVE TRAINER back in 2004 and it was brilliant. After that I read AMY'S HONEYMOON which was also pretty good. Then I received a copy of LOVE NEST and was gutted when I found myself having real trouble finishing it.
I loved the cover of this book – so pretty, and thought the premise was an excellent way to link up the stories of very different people. The book was also , technically, very well written. But LOVE NEST'S fatal flaw – for me – was its characters.
The ones who weren't selfish and without morals were weak and a little bit pathetic. I found myself unable to relate to any of them or their situations, which in turn gave me difficulty in caring about what happened to them. A character in a book has never made me want to bash in my own head with said book, but reading about Lucinda, Karen and Nick almost caused me a self administered, book-as-weapon injury.
I'm afraid I will not be recommending this novel.
3/10