Review by Booklist Review
Australian tenth-grade English teacher Noni Blake is nearing 40 and still recovering from a breakup with her life partner, Joan. But after a hot one-night stand with a firefighter, Noni is thankful that her two-year dry spell is finally over. This new impulsive Noni pledges to go on a Pleasure Quest, or as she and her best friend call it, a "should-have-boned-list," that takes her on an erotic adventure abroad. The plan was to meet up with an old flame, but reality sets in when she finds out that "the one that got away" isn't right for her anymore. Instead, she makes new friends that she can't imagine leaving behind. Then a snap decision to get a tattoo in Scotland lands her in the arms of a giant Viking of a man who astounds her with his sincerity and ardent desire. Can Noni return to her boring, predictable life now that she's discovered true happiness? YA author Christian (Beautiful Mess, 2018) has spun an adult, female-focused romantic comedy, a LGBTQ diverse variation on Bridget Jones's Diary.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Christian's delightful sophomore outing (after A Beautiful Mess) is a vibrant story of self discovery. After Noni Blake's nine-year relationship fizzles out, Noni, a plus-sized, bisexual teacher, is ready to jump back into the dating scene. She creates a list of people she wishes she'd slept with when she had the chance and sets out to amend these missed connections on a semester-long vacation during which she'll travel from Australia to the U.K. But when a string of disappointing sexual encounters culminates in sleeping with her college crush only to discover that the woman has a girlfriend, Noni changes her focus from romance to the pursuit of pleasure. Her quest for joy sees her buying lingerie, eating without guilt, and posing in a nude photo shoot. But she's unprepared for Beau, a brazen Scottish tattoo artist, to weasel his way into her heart. As their fling grows serious, Noni must figure out how to carry the pleasure she's found on vacation into her daily life. Noni is equally sincere and hilarious as she learns to be true to herself, and Beau's unwavering support is sure to make readers swoon. Both a celebration of pleasure and a dissection of the restrictions people place on their own lives, this is sure to capture readers' hearts. Agent: David Forrer, InkWell Management. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Following the end of a long-term relationship and then a one-night stand with an unexpected aftermath, Noni Blake, a thirtysomething bisexual and overweight teacher in Australia, decides to travel to Europe on a six-month pleasure quest where she will finally put her desires and needs first. She seeks out the one who got away and explores what makes her truly happy. She has a lot of sex with different partners, meets new friends, and meets someone who might just keep her from her firm plan of returning to her life back home. Along the way, Noni realizes that not only is she desirable but she is the common denominator in her happiness and that she can find joy anywhere. VERDICT Christian's sophomore novel (but her debut adult novel--Beautiful Mess was her debut YA novel) is an inspirational chick lit/romantic comedy that should appeal to readers who like stories about self-discovery and self-esteem, friendships, and romantic and sexual entanglements. However, it is definitely not for readers who don't care for explicit sexual scenes.--Samantha Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
