Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: How to Find Your (First) Husband
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://rosieblake.co.uk/
CITY: Berkshire, England
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY: British
“I live in Berkshire with my 1 man and 1 baby.” * http://www.darleyanderson.com/authors/rosie-blake
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: one.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
WRITINGS
Contributor of articles to publications, including the Lady, Cosmopolitan, Reveal, Best, and the Sunday People.
SIDELIGHTS
Rosie Blake is a British writer. She has contributed stories to publications that include the Lady, Cosmopolitan, Reveal, Best, and the Sunday People. Blake is also the author of romantic comedy novels.
How to Get a (Love) Life and How to Stuff Up Christmas
In 2014 Blake released her first book, How to Get a (Love) Life. In this volume, she tells the story of Nicola Brown. Nicola is an anxious and overly careful person, who worries about her health and safety in an unbalanced way. She is not interested in having a romantic relationship. However, her coworker, Caroline, tells her she must overcome her fears and go on as many dates as she can in the next three months, in hopes of finding a man to be her Valentine. Nicola agrees to the challenge and begins dating. Many of the men she goes out with are humorously ill-suited for Nicola. When she becomes discouraged, Caroline tells her that the dates make for good stories and improve her character. Mark, Nicola’s brother, also urges her to let go of her anxiety.
Emma Crowley, a contributor to Shaz’s Book Web log, praised Blake’s descriptions of “a series of dates providing inumerable hilarious moments which showcase the writing talents of Rosie Blake and proves she is a genius when it comes to writing romantic comedy.” Crowley added: “How to Get a (Love) Life was a fantastic book. … Rosie Blake is fast becoming an author who you just buy no questions asked because you know you are guaranteed a great read full of lots of laughs combined with a good storyline.” A writer on the Kim the Bookworm Web site described the volume as “really hilarious in parts, deeply touching in others! This book should make people who are in happy loving long-term relationships really grateful that they don’t have to go through these ‘interesting’ and ‘character-building’ dating experiences.”
A woman named Eve deals with the heartbreak of finding out about her fiancé’s infidelity in How to Stuff Up Christmas. Christmas is approaching, and the people in her town are preparing to celebrate, but Eve cannot find a way to be joyful. She plans to hole up on her houseboat and spend the holidays alone. When Eve finds herself in trouble, she receives help from an attractive man named Greg, who helps her heart heal.
How to Find Your (First) Husband and The Hygge Holiday
In How to Find Your (First) Husband, Isobel “Iz” Graves lives in Los Angeles and works as a prawn mascot for a marketing company, but her dream is to be a professional dancer. She is unhappy with her career and with the noncommittal man she has been seeing. Throughout the years, Iz has maintained a crush on a boy named Andrew Parker, whom she has not seen since childhood. When she turns on the news to watch a story featuring her father, she sees Andrew in the background. Iz decides she must be reunited with him. The news story was filmed in Cornwall, so Iz travels there to find Andrew. She goes on to follow him to Southeast Asia. Iz’s friend Mel urges her to be more cautious and considerate, but Iz cannot be stopped.
A Publishers Weekly critic summarized the book’s plot, stating: “This is all surface patter, straining for silliness and one-liners, and romance readers will find nothing of interest in it.” Other assessments of the volume were more favorable. A reviewer on the Lilac Diaries Web site suggested: “Rosie Blake has penned a fabulous and enjoyable love story in How to Find Your (First) Husband. Her writing is fluid and engaging as usual, with a generous amount of humour and witty incidents.” The same reviewer concluded: “All in all, this is an entertaining book. You can read it anywhere and anytime.” A writer on the Linda’s Book Bag Web site remarked: “Underlying what is essentially a light-hearted beach read are some deeper themes—the protection of wildlife, knowing what we really want from life, not letting the past adversely affect our present and future—all of which enhance the reading experience. This isn’t to say that the novel veers from a deftly written escapist text, but that it has layers that reward further thought.” The same writer added: “How To Find Your (First) Husband is a simply wonderful summer read.” A contributor to the Writing Garnet Web site asserted: “Every character in the book had their own story to tell, and Rosie Blake had them tell it in their own special way. How to Find Your (First) Husband is such a fun, hilarious and wonderful read.” The contributor continued: “Everything is on point with this book, the storyline, characters, humour; just everything. The only downside to this book … was that it had to end.”
Set in the Scandinavian town of Yulethorpe, The Hygge Holiday finds a vacationer named Clara volunteering to help the local toy shop reopen. She eventually begins an unlikely relationship with shop’s owner’s son, Joe.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, October 24, 2016, review of How to Find Your (First) Husband, p. 63.
ONLINE
Darley Anderson Agency Web site, http://www.darleyanderson.com/ (August 1, 2017), author profile.
Kim the Bookworm, https://kimthebookworm.co.uk/ (February 26, 2014), review of How to Get a (Love) Life.
Lilac Diaries, http://lilacdiaries.blogspot.com/ (June 14, 2016), review of How To Find Your (First) Husband.
Linda’s Book Bag, https://lindasbookbag.com/ (June 7, 2016), review of How To Find Your (First) Husband.
Rosie Blake Home Page, https://rosieblake.co.uk (August 1, 2017).
Shaz’s Book Web log, http://shazsbookblog.blogspot.com/ (February 2, 2017), Emma Crowley, review of How to Get a (Love) Life.
Writing Garnet, https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com/ (May 31, 2016), Rosie Blake, review of How to Find Your (First) Husband.*
Rosie is a writer, vlogger and amateur Mum. She loves to chat and write about love, sex, dating and relationships. She has written features for Cosmopolitan, The Lady, The Sunday People, Reveal and Best Magazine. She has appeared on ITV, Sky and Channel 4.
Her first romantic comedy HOW TO GET A (LOVE) LIFE was published in 2014. Atlantic Books published HOW TO STUFF UP CHRISTMAS in 2015 and HOW TO FIND YOUR (FIRST) HUSBAND in 2016. Her latest book THE HYGGE HOLIDAY will be published in September 2017 by Sphere, an imprint of Little Brown. Rosie is represented by Clare Wallace at the Darley Anderson Agency.
Rosie wishes to continue writing romantic comedies, persuade Julia Roberts to be her best friend and discover the world’s greatest Black Forest Gateaux recipe.
Rosie Blake spent her university years writing pantomimes based on old classics. The 2003 production of 'The Wizard of Odd: Search for the Ruby Strippers' enjoyed critical acclaim. This was followed a year later with a successful showing of 'Harry Potter: The Musical' (complete with moving opening number, 'In my Cupboard I will Stay').
Rosie went on to write a winning short story in the La Senza/Little Black Dress Short Story Competition, wrote a feature for Cosmopolitan magazine and started writing books. After some false starts, and horrendous jobs that she wishes to keep a closely guarded secret (or write about in the future), her debut novel How to Get a (Love) Life was published by Novelicious in January 2014 and will be republished by Corvus.
Rosie is one of the contributing authors in the short story anthology Sunlounger alongside some of the biggest names in women's fiction.
Her newest novel, How to Find Your (First) Husband, will be published by Corvus in June 2016.
For more information, tweet Rosie @RosieBBooks or click here.
QUOTED: "This is all surface patter, straining for silliness and one-liners, and romance readers will find nothing of interest in it."
How to Find Your (First) Husband
263.43 (Oct. 24, 2016): p63.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
How to Find Your (First) Husband
Rosie Blake. Corvus, $14.95 trade paper (400p) ISBN 978-1-78239-862-2
Slapdash superficiality is apparent from the opening scene of Blake's flimsy contemporary. In a total failure of dialect, an American would-be dancer declares her intention to sell "prawns" to "punters." That's Mel, sidekick to the British heroine, Isobel Graves. Iz too aspires to stardom but currently works as an advertising mascot in L.A. Then she spots her dream man in the background of a news clip--a clip she's watching because her dad is in the foreground. Undeterred by the Freudian implications, she bolts to Cornwall to track the dreamboat down. He's Andrew Parker, whom Iz last saw being picked up from primary school by his mummy. He married and divorced Iz on the playground; now, age 29, she can't forget this momentary domestic bliss. Like a Holmes-less Watson, she bumbles after him from L.A. to Cornwall to Singapore to Malaysia, often drunk, always baffled, and rarely without a lover to distract her. Part Bridget Jones and part Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Iz's travelogue wholly misses the mark, lacking any shred of genuine feeling. This is all surface patter, straining for silliness and one-liners, and romance readers will find nothing of interest in it. Agent: Clare Wallace, Darley Anderson (U.K.). (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"How to Find Your (First) Husband." Publishers Weekly, 24 Oct. 2016, p. 63. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA468771827&it=r&asid=0909d92fda4350c8f09b8fab37b8409f. Accessed 22 June 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A468771827
QUOTED: "a series of dates providing inumerable hilarious moments which showcase the writing talents of Rosie Blake and proves she is a genius when it comes to writing romantic comedy."
"How to Get a (Love) Life was a fantastic book. ... Rosie Blake is fast becoming an author you who just buy no questions asked because you know you are guaranteed a great read full of lots of laughs combined with a good storyline."
Thursday, 2 February 2017
Emma's Review: How to Get a (Love) Life by Rosie Blake
Reviewed by Emma Crowley
Nicola Brown doesn't like to lose control. Her flat is always meticulously tidy and her weekly meals carefully planned; Nicola keeps her life in order. When her carefree colleague Caroline challenges Nicola to find a date for Valentine's Day, it's a surprise to them both when Nicola agrees.
As Nicola's search for a man begins, she is thrown in at the deep end - sometimes quite literally - of the dating scene. From men more likely to sell their mother than open their wallet, to those who are determined to find a girlfriend who shares their passion for extreme sports, Nicola has to run the full gamut of dodgy dates. But as the deadline looms closer, Nicola realises it isn't so bad to lose control. It turns out that trying to get a love life can be rather a lot of fun...
Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback
How to Get a Love Life is the debut novel from Rosie Blake now being republished with an updated cover to fit in more with her two books recently published, How to Stuff Up Christmas and How to Find your (First) Husband, both of which I have read and enjoyed. So by reading this book featuring Nicola Brown and her quest to complete a challenge set down by her co-worker and friend Caroline Harper I would be up to date with the wonderful, humorous writing of Rosie Blake. I loved this book from beginning to end, it was just the read I needed as I like to mix it up between genres especially as I read so much historical fiction.
In the brief prologue we meet a woman arriving at an airport, she is on the way to Greece and is vastly different from the abundance of families waiting to travel abroad. This woman whom we discover is Nicola is embarking on her first singles holiday. The holiday booked in a moment of desperation the night before is a last chance to find that one true love but something is niggling away at Nicola and she wonders is she making the right decision going away. The reader is instantly left wondering just what was it that got Nicola to this point and will she find the love she so desperately craves?
When the book properly begins we meet Nicola as she works for an advertising agency looking to find new talent and making bookings. Caroline is her co-worker, she is married and has two children so love is not an issue or her although work/life/kids balance can be. I loved the camaraderie between the pair, they bounced off each other and although they were work colleagues there seemed to be a deeper friendship and Caroline always provided the push or support that Nicola may have needed at any one time. Their boss James flits in and out of scenes but both women seemed to have a mutual affection and appreciation for him and enjoyed their work.
Nicola is an organiser and likes to stick to strict routines and time plans. Things don’t vary with her. She is a creature of routine and predictability and Caroline knows every day what time breaks should be as she looks at Nicola and what she will have for lunch. Nicola lives alone and is meticulously tidy. She loves regular habits and letting going and being free is not on her agenda. ’Just me in my house, no hassles, no fighting over the remote, no petty things to fall out over, no seemingly innocuous comment that plunges you straight into a hideous row you never wanted .Nobody to break your heart’. To be honest I kind of agreed with Nicola in some of the ways she lived her life as I would feel the same about some things. We don’t need a man to make us totally happy but if Nicola had stayed with this viewpoint we wouldn’t have had the very funny, engaging story that followed.
As regards Nicola’s anticipation and calculation of aspects of her professional and home life, the same couldn't be said for her love life. Well basically it’s non existent. Even Nicola’s brother Mark starts to get onto her that she needs to get out there and throw caution to the wind and experience life in all its forms. Find some sort of love which may make her realise that routine is not all where its at. ‘You should be out there and living your life, not worrying about whether your carrot stick is exactly five centimetres long. You should be meeting people, you should be out with friends, you should be dating, seeing people, having fun’. I agreed with Mark on Nicola’s behalf because I could see beneath her exterior and bravado she did long for some form of friendship that could develop into something more. Mark was a brilliant addition to the story. He popped in and out at the most apt times and brought even more humour to the overall story and his own little grapples with love were a joy to read.
So Caroline double dares Nicola to have secured a date for Valentine’s Day as she has never been on a Valentine’s date before and with only a few weeks to Christmas Nicola says yes. Here is where we see the more adventurous side of her start to emerge and fair play to her because I wouldn’t have accepted the challenge. I suppose it was the side of Nicola coming out that wouldn’t ever say no to something and always wanting order in her life.’ Perhaps I could be brave enough to take a risk because I knew in my heart that I didn't want to live like this'.
What ensues is a series of dates providing inumerable hilarious moments which showcase the writing talents of Rosie Blake and proves she is a genius when it comes to writing romantic comedy. The date with Steve was perhaps for me the funniest, I couldn't even imagine myself in that situation and although I was laughing at Nicola I did feel desperately sorry for her. It was the date from hell well for me it would be anyway. As I kept reading the pace of the book was great and I didn't even notice the pages whizzing by so engrossed was I in Nicola's story and whether she would find a love life. I liked how the author started to include a bit of history re Nicola and things started to make sense as to how she found herself in the position she was in today.
How to Get a Love Life was a fantastic book that I read in a few hours as it became increasingly difficult to put it down and I have no hesitation in recommending it. For me Rosie Blake is fast becoming an author you who just buy no questions asked because you know you are guaranteed a great read full of lots of laughs combined with a good storyline. Does Nicola find the happiness I believe she deserves? Are the dates a complete disaster or will there be someone perfect for her that will make her feel complete? Do buy this book to discover the answers, you won't be one bit disappointed.
Many thanks to Alison Davies from Corvus Books for my copy of How to Get a Love Life to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
I also received a copy of How to Get a (Love) Life from the publisher but as I've already read and reviewed the book when it was originally published as an eBook, I have decided to do a giveaway for my copy.
As with all giveaways on the blog, this one is open to existing followers of the blog as a thank you for your support. The winner will be selected at random next week and contacted for their postal address to enable me to post the book. NB. Please do not add details of this giveaway to other sites without my permission.
QUOTED: "Really hilarious in parts, deeply touching in others! This book should make people who are in happy loving long-term relationships really grateful that they don’t have to go through these 'interesting' and 'character-building' dating experiences."
Review – How to Get A (Love) Life by Rosie Blake
Posted February 26, 2014 · Add Comment
Some people book last-minute holidays, walk barefoot in the grass or party on a week night. Not Nicola Brown. Nicola is the kind of girl who double-locks the front door, leaves the plastic covering on new furniture, sticks to a super-strict diet and definitely, absolutely Does Not Date.
Her colleague Caroline – loopy, warm and exasperated by her, knows that Nicola’s reluctance to lose control means she’s living only half a life. And so she lays down the gauntlet: Nicola must cast aside her hang ups and go on as many dates as it takes to find true love in time for Valentine’s Day.
The pick of local men is, quite frankly, a bit rubbish. And there are only three months until February 14th. Surely it’s an impossible task? But, as Nicola is about to find out on her dodgy dates, letting go isn’t quite as scary as she imagined. In fact, it’s rather a lot of fun…
What did I think?
I loved it! Really hilarious in parts, deeply touching in others! This book should make people who are in happy loving long-term relationships really grateful that they don’t have to go through these “interesting” and “character-building” dating experiences! It’s enough to make you want to stay single forever! Or is it?
I loved Rosie’s incredibly easily to read writing style. The story flowed really well! I became quite envious of the lovely relationships that Nicola had both with her brother and with her friend and colleague Caroline. I quite fancied working at the agency to be honest! Sounded like a real hoot!
This book reinforced for me the saying that life is for living. When Nicola lightened up a bit, that’s when she started to live again! A lesson for a lot of us to learn I think!
A perfect ending! Loved it! Super book. Lots of fun and lots of laughs. Hugely entertaining.
Rosie spent her university years writing pantomimes based on old classics. The 2003 production of The Wizard of Odd: Search for the Ruby Strippers enjoyed critical acclaim. This was followed a year later with a successful showing of Harry Potter: The Musical (complete with moving opening number, In my Cupboard I will Stay).
Rosie went on to write a winning short story in the La Senza/Little Black Dress Short Story Competition and was shortlisted in a few others including competitions run by Women and Home and The Daily Mail. Her first full-length novel, How to Get a (Love) Life, was published in January 2014 by Novelicious Books.
You can buy the book by clicking here http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Love-Life-Rosie-Blake-ebook/dp/B00I1OUFVG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390835531&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+get+a+love+life+rosie+blake
You can follow Rosie on Twitter www.twitter.com/RosieBBooks
QUOTED: "Rosie Blake has penned a fabulous and enjoyable love story in HOW TO FIND YOUR (FIRST) HUSBAND. Her writing is fluid and engaging as usual, with a generous amount of humour and witty incidents."
"All in all, this is an entertaining book. You can read it anywhere and anytime."
June 14, 2016
Review: How To Find Your (First) Husband by Rosie Blake
HOW TO FIND YOUR (FIRST) HUSBAND
Author: Rosie Blake
Genre: Romantic Fiction
Format: Paperback
Page Length: 400 Pages
Source: From the publishers
Publishers: Corvus Books
Publication Date: June 17th, 2016
Rating:
Goodreads | Amazon IN | Amazon UK
Isobel Graves moved to LA determined to be the Next Big Thing. Instead, she is dressed as a giant prawn handing out fliers promoting a fish market. Rather than attending glamorous parties and dating exciting men, her evenings consist of watching box sets with her sort-of boyfriend, whose idea of romance is a late-night drunken text.
Where did it all go wrong?
When Isobel catches sight of Andrew Parker, her childhood sweetheart, in the background of a TV news story she feels it's a sign. If she'd stuck with Andrew everything would have turned out better. Now she just needs to find him...
Join Isobel as she travels from LA to Devon and to a remote Malaysian island in search of true love.
Review photo Review_zps6tap6cs8.jpg
Thanks Corvus Books and Rosie Blake for the review copy.
Rosie Blake is back! In her latest book, HOW TO FIND YOUR (FIRST) HUSBAND, she delights the readers with the summer adventures, travelling, beach, sunsets, parties, and romance. This fast-paced, funny, and exciting book makes a perfect summer read.
Isobel Graves always dreamt about getting married to her 'school' sweetheart, Andrew Parker. When Andrew went away with mom during the vacation, Iz's heart was broken and never thought she could meet him again. After years, the grown-up Isobel sees the young Andrew on TV and is all set to go in search of him. From LA to England, and from there to Malaysia; Isobel is on a mission to find Andrew and to get hitched to him.
Rosie Blake has penned a fabulous and enjoyable love story in HOW TO FIND YOUR (FIRST) HUSBAND. Her writing is fluid and engaging as usual, with a generous amount of humour and witty incidents. I occasionally found myself giggling and smiling, while perusing.
The plot is brilliant and realistic too. Saying that, I was a tidbit sceptical about the story at the beginning; felt the storyline needed more details, as the LA part didn't conjure up any feeling in my mind. But once Isobel was back in England and then in Malaysia, I was also being a part of her adventurous and exciting trips. I became more and more excited and interested, as the pages turned by and finished the story in no time.
Iz is travelling here and there in search of Andrew, whom she loves. Rosie Blake has added Isobel's school time journal entries at the end of each chapter, it tells how crazy, she is still about him and makes the story interesting to see how she would win him again. The ending is a tad predictable, yet a pleasing one.
Isobel and Mel's friendship was amazing. I enjoyed their perk-me-up conversations and dancing, and also when Mel showed up in Tioman Island, I was really happy. Dex is also likeable, and so were Duncan and Liz. Zeb appeared as an oh-so-perfect character to me. All in all, this is an entertaining book. You can read it anywhere and anytime; be it on the beach, by the poolside, on vacation, while travelling or even on a rainy day (like I did).
HOW TO FIND YOUR (FIRST) HUSBAND. Inscribe that title in your mind, and make sure to grab it in this summer if you love Romantic Fictions. You won't regret it!
Happy Reading!
QUOTED: "Underlying what is essentially a light hearted beach read are some deeper themes—the protection of wildlife, knowing what we really want from life, not letting the past adversely affect our present and future—all of which enhance the reading experience. This isn’t to say that the novel veers from a deftly written escapist text, but that it has layers that reward further thought."
"How To Find Your (First) Husband is a simply wonderful summer read."
How To Find Your (First) Husband by Rosie Blake
June 7, 2016lindasbookbag
how to find your first husband
I’m incredibly grateful to Alison Davies at Atlantic Books for a copy of How To Find Your (First) Husband by Rosie Blake in return for an honest review. How To Find Your (First) Husband was published by Corvus on 2nd June in paperback and e-book and is available to purchase from Amazon, Waterstones, Foyles and from all good bookshops.
You can also find my review of one of Rosie Blake’s other books How To Stuff Up Christmas by clicking here.
How to stuff up christmas
How To Find Your (First) Husband
how to find your first husband
Isobel Graves moved to LA determined to be the Next Big Thing. Instead, she is dressed as a giant prawn handing out fliers promoting a fish market. Rather than attending glamorous parties and dating exciting men, her evenings consist of watching box sets with her sort-of boyfriend, whose idea of romance is a late-night drunken text.
Where did it all go wrong?
When Isobel catches sight of Andrew Parker, her childhood sweetheart, in the background of a TV news story she feels it’s a sign. If she’d stuck with Andrew everything would have turned out better. Now she just needs to find him…Join Isobel as she travels from LA to Devon and to a remote Malaysian island in search of true love.
My Review of How To Find Your (First) Husband
Oh my goodness, I adored this book. Just occasionally there’s a novel that is a perfect embodiment of its genre and How To Find Your (First) Husband by Rosie Blake is just that – perfect. I’m always sceptical about books that are said to be ‘hilarious’ or ‘funny’ as I seldom find them so, but I really did laugh aloud at this romantic comedy. I think it was because the humour felt so natural and not at all self-conscious or contrived. Isobel’s asides to herself and the reader created an intimacy so that it felt like sharing an in-joke with a close friend. For me, Isobel’s mother was a great source of amusement.
With apologies to all Geography teachers everywhere, I loved the range of characters. This is a perfect example of show, don’t tell, to create the individuals, that all writers could benefit from reading. Characters are gradually uncovered so that we get to know them at the same time as Isobel. I think the fact that there are only half a dozen characters focused on helps this too. I felt sorry for Liz and Andrew in many ways and sympathised with Mel’s fears and insecurities. Iz seemed completely natural – a real person, not a fictional character and I was desperate for her to be happy.
The plot is fast paced and thoroughly entertaining whilst retaining a realism that makes the story all the more attractive. I simply did not want the book to end because I enjoyed reading it so much. I thought the premise that Isobel is looking for her childhood sweetheart worked exceptionally well and certainly rekindled a few memories of my own early immature loves.
Underlying what is essentially a light hearted beach read are some deeper themes – the protection of wildlife, knowing what we really want from life, not letting the past adversely affect our present and future – all of which enhance the reading experience. This isn’t to say that the novel veers from a deftly written escapist text, but that it has layers that reward further thought.
Having read the story I’m desperate to be on the beach. Rosie Blake conjures up setting so well, invoking all the senses so that I really was transported to an island paradise in Tioman. There is a clear distinction between LA, Cornwall and Malasia so that a real sense of place comes through.
If you’re looking for the perfect romantic comedy to take on holiday, look no further. How To Find Your (First) Husband is a simply wonderful summer read. When is the next Rosie Blake book due as I don’t think I can wait long to read it?
About Rosie Blake
Rosie is an author of comic commercial fiction. She spent her university years writing pantomimes based on old classics (highlight: ‘Harry Potter: The Musical’) and went on to write short stories and features for a range of publications including Cosmopolitan,The Lady, Sunday People, Best and Reveal magazines. She worked in television as a presenter on both live and pre-recorded shows in Bristol and London. She has written three novels and plans to write many more.
Rosie likes baked items, taking long walks by the river and speaking about herself in the third person. Her greatest ambition in life is to become Julia Roberts’s best friend.
You can follow Rosie Blake on Twitter and via her web site.
QUOTED: "Every character in the book had their own story to tell, and Rosie Blake had them tell it in their own special way. How to Find Your (First) Husband is such a fun, hilarious and wonderful read."
"Everything is on point with this book, the storyline, characters, humour; just everything. The only downside to this book ... was that it had to end."
Book Review of ‘How to find your (first) husband’ by Rosie Blake.
Posted in book blogger, Book Review, Uncategorized by thewritinggarnet
How To Find Your (first) Husband by Rosie Blake.
Published: 2nd June 2016 by Corvus.
Paperback: ISBN-10: 1782398627
ISBN-13: 978-1782398622
Available to buy on Amazon UK/Amazon US.
‘Isobel Graves moved to LA determined to be the Next Big Thing. Instead, she is dressed as a giant prawn handing out fliers promoting a fish market. Rather than attending glamorous parties and dating exciting men, her evenings consist of watching box sets with her sort-of boyfriend, whose idea of romance is a late-night drunken text. Where did it all go wrong? When Isobel catches sight of Andrew Parker, her childhood sweetheart, in the background of a TV news story she feels it’s a sign. If she’d stuck with Andrew everything would have turned out better. Now she just needs to find him…Join Isobel as she travels from LA to Devon and to a remote Malaysian island in search of true love.’
I would like to start off by saying a massive thank you to Corvus and of course Rosie Blake, for giving me the opportunity to review the book before it is released!
As soon as the book came through my letterbox, I squealed and danced, much to the amusement of my two year old. To be fair, look at the cover, how can you not squeal and dance at it? Now add the title to the equation and it’s highly intriguing!
Have you ever had to dress up for work? No, I don’t mean by wearing something a different colour, or tartan or even dress down day. I mean dress up to look completely different. Yes? What did you dress up as? I dressed up as Betty from the Flintstones for work once, in a busy supermarket, on a Saturday….I still cringe now. Although, ha, after reading that Isobel had to dress up a prawn for her job in LA, my embarrassment soon faded!
Isobel moved to LA to land a career in Television, after all it was LA, what could wrong? Instead of living the high life as she had dreamt about, she was handing out fliers dressed as a prawn and a tomato. Not at the same time of course. But in the back of Isobel’s mind, she has always thought about her the guy that just disappeared from her life. The guy she has had a soft spot for, for many years. I mean, he shared his lunch with her at school, how could you not love a guy for that? Isobel is determined to pick up where they left off, if only she knew where he was….
Ah young love with the tales of the playground. Kiss chase, ‘marriages’, arguments because you didn’t wait for someone at lunch time; remember those days? Isobel does! I read the prologue, frowned in confusion, thought ‘what the’ once or twice, and then laughed like a hyena. That was my response after reading two pages. I had high hopes for the rest of the book and I was looking forward to delving into it with that sort of humour. The book didn’t disappoint at all. The flashbacks that happen frequently within the book are a work of art, pure genius on Rosie Blake’s part. Not only do you have the grown up Isobel trying to find her way in life, you read about the younger side to her in the flashbacks and it is brilliant. The lengths that Isobel goes to find the answer to her ‘what if’ is absolutely bonkers, but it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if many women (or men) had done that! Do you take the chance, or not? Despite it being bonkers (in a good way I must add), the obstacles that Isobel is faced with, alongside the sticky situations that she puts herself in makes hilarious reading. Don’t get me wrong, I did feel a bit sorry for Isobel on multiple occasions, especially when the sticky situations turned into incredibly cringy situations. Rosie Blake has managed to turn embarrassing situations into ‘brush it off’ situations. Imagine that you had a bad first date, and then turned it into a positive thing and ended up laughing and happier than before. Done? That’s how Rosie Blake has written this.
Each situation is completely realistic, every character is unique with realistic tendencies as well. Instead of a book having the ‘typical’ ‘handsome and rugged’ man aka Mr Darcy, it has a man who isn’t out of anyone’s reach because you’ll see someone like that walking down the street.
Isobel’s mum is absolutely crackers and she is one of my favourite characters in the story because she doesn’t give a rat’s tail about anything, and she comes across as ‘being at one’ with herself. But the other side of her shows that she does and says what she wants and couldn’t care less what anyone thinks of it, including her husband! I found that every character in the book had their own story to tell, and Rosie Blake had them tell it in their own special way.
‘How to find you (first) husband’ is such a fun, hilarious and wonderful read. I did not want to put it down at all. I just wanted to stay with Isobel and see what else she could get up to as she is fascinatingly bonkers. This was the very first book of Rosie’s that I have read, and it definitely won’t be the last. Everything is on point with this book, the storyline, characters, humour; just everything. The only downside to this book, in my opinion, was that it had to end. I cannot recommend this book enough and it is definitely one of my favourite books that I have read so far this year (& I have read over 30)!
Rosie Blake, you are a genius.