Set three or four years after A Bicycle Made for Two, there have been changes in the town of Egglethwaite, if most of the people remain. Becky Finn has returned to her childhood hometown as she awaits her fiancé, he’s still working as a lecturer in London, painting on the side, and hoping to find a job closer to the little Yorkshire town. A move that makes financial sense, and provides the environment that Becky wants to raise her children in: she’s doing the wedding planning (without a date), managing a small costume for hire shop, and photographing clients in her tiny studio, waiting, planning and clinging to a relationship that, from the start, never quite felt that it fit. Reuniting with her friend Lana, meeting her husband Stew, her brother Colin (now Lana’s brother in law) and Colin and Tom’s daughter Pippa: she’s brought right back into the community with an invitation to the town council meeting at the Temp – a community hall now desperately in need of refurbishment and repair, particularly since the funding for the building was cut.

Brilliant idea – a Panto, bringing back the amateur dramatics society that produced a Panto at Christmas, one of Becky’s favorite memories from childhood. Having an idea and actually being ‘put in charge’ she starts to spend more time with other townspeople and less time waiting on her nightly skype call from Cole, or her dining alone while perusing wedding plans. And the story here starts to resemble a panto in many ways – the conversations, outbursts, steps forward and back, and the return of Hunter Brady with his ‘glamor model’ wife and a cameraman in tow. When you mix in Deano as a director, his older brother Marcus, magician by trade, and Lana and Stew’s wait to hear about their own adoption, Becky’s own desire for a baby (or more) with Cole, and her father’s sudden transformation with Billy-Idol bleached hair and staying out all night, concerning and worrying his partner Cynthia who worries he’s having an affair, there seem to be so many things playing at the edges that things could be lost.

And here is where the writing and characters that Baker has developed so well comes into play, and everything seems to fit together, perhaps not comfortably, but it fits and makes sense – if you’ve lived in a small town. At the core is Becky’s attraction to Marcus, someone she’s pending a ton of time with as they re-wrote the original script, laughed and bonded as friends, and are as well-suited as anyone could think. But she’s got a fiancé who now spends all of his time at lectures or in the attic painting, her friends and family still wonder if he’s real (they’ve gone past asking her if he’s right) and the reality television show that is Harper’s brainchild shows everyone BUT Becky and Marcus just what a bond they’ve created. Utterly British in feel, the interactions, clearly present emotions and friendships, and the interactions of these people, most of whom have known one another for years gives just the right mix of accepting eye-rolls and true heart – from grumpy Santa to reigniting long relationships, YoYo’s attempts to ‘pink up’ the world and the inability for Deano to keep his cool for more than thirty seconds at a time, the story allows us to check in with characters so loved in the first introduction to Egglethwaite, see a new love develop, and bring the community together for a show that will be remembered for years to come.

“Well I’m not doing it,” Gerry said, folding his arms. “Red’s not my colour.”
Sue nodded. “Clashes with the blood vessels in his nose.”
“Come on, Gerry, why not?” Tom said.
“I’ll look daft, that’s why not.”
Lana snorted. “And yet, you and the Egglethwaite Morrismen’ll happily attach bells to your arses every first of May.”
“That’s different. We have to do that to summon the summer.”
“This is Yorkshire, Gerry. We don’t get summer.”
He shrugged. “Never said we were any good at it.”

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-a1w/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

A sweet, endearing read that is especially good if you love pantomime/theatre. The characters are amusing and the story line is fun, it was just not as captivating to me as I was hoping but I think that's because I've read a few wow books recently.

I hate to say this but I wasn't a fan of this book. I had a difficult time getting through it. It started off with an interesting premise but I soon realized that this book just wasn't for me. It was FINE but I really struggled to get through it. I do feel like many people would enjoy this book because it has some very funny characters and a plot about panto that is original to me. Something about the author's writing just didn't connect with me. I also felt that it seemed TOO British for me. Some of conversations went over my head because I didn't understand the colloquialisms. It was a bit too niche for me. What kept me reading was seeing what would happen between Becky and Cole and how she would figure out if Cole or Marcus was the right one for her. I did like the panto at the end but overall, this book was just okay. I'm sure this is the perfect book for many but I wasn't one of them.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is a wonderful and charming story of a local amateur group putting on a panto in a bid to save their local village hall - the Temperance Hall, which holds lots of memories for the various members of the village committee. Really enjoyed this book

If you love a book that has lots of swearing, good Yorkshire humour, cringe with embarrassment moments, scenes that make you laugh your head off and characters you can't help but love then this is the book for you. This book follows on from a bicycle made for two. Most of the original characters are there and some new ones. I literally cracked out laughing throughout the whole of this book, the pantomime rehearsals were hilarious and I loved getting to know the new characters and finding out more about the original ones. it felt like visiting old friends, I just couldn't put this book down and was gutted when it ended. I really hope there will be another book to visit this little Yorkshire village again and all of its residents. I will be recommending this book to everyone, loved it!

It's panto season!!

Oh not it isn't - I hear you cry!

Oh yes it is! - or at least it feel like it having just read The Perfect Fit.

If you are a fan of the good old British tradition of a pantomime, then you will love this book as putting on a panto to save a village hally is exactly what this book is all about.

The real life situations of Becky and the cast are mirroring the fairytale ones where reality and fiction can become blurred.

All of my favourite sections revolve around the panto, the writing sessions between Becky and Marcus, full of innuendo and groan worthy jokes. The sections of the script we see read and sound just like any panto I've seen, with the right mix between child friendly and hilarious for an adult too. They also I was glad to see were inserting all the key elements of a panto - song and dance numbers, a messy scene with custard pies and the like, audience participation and generally a feeling of a fabulous night out.

The book opens with Becky taking her niece Pip to a panto, and seeing it through the eyes of a 5 year old really set the tone for the book. If you have read the previous book in the Love in the Dales series, then like me you will be delighted to see a whole host of very familiar faces, even if as the story progresses you are seeing them in a completely new light!

It does work as a standalone though, so if you haven't read the first book don't worry you won't be at a disadvantage.

There are some plot lines that address all manner of topics some far more frivolous than others and this really is a feel good read that will make you keen for the festive season to start without it being a Christmassy book. In fact the story takes place over a year and we don't get a proper sense of Christmas, so although its very panto-centric, its a really pleasurable book to read year round!

So slap your thigh, unleash your inner child and sit back and relax with this joyous book that wil make you groan and also smile, laugh, believe in magic and fairy tales and generally feel like you have had a good night out at the local panto.

Thank you to Netgalley and Mirror Books for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I've read a couple of novels by Mary Jayne Baker now and I've enjoyed every one. This one is no different! It's enchanting, gripping and just an overall lovely novel to read. All of the characters were nice to read about and I loved getting to know them all. The location of this novel was just beautiful and I longed to be there!

Overall, a lovely read. Would recommend

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

A lovely light-hearted romp through the backstage goings-on as a village puts on a panto to save their village hall. It took me a while to get to grips with so many characters and their relationship to each other but once I was in I was hooked. Good to return to this place and these people four years after their last outing, and to meet some newbies too. And, of course, there is a romance, which comes to its finale just as the panto does. I really enjoyed it.

*I received an ARC of the book from Netgalley for an honest review ** I loved this book! It had Great British humor and Becky reminded me of Emilia Clark. I read the whole thing in a English accent. It was funny and the characters meshed well. The romance was great and the story ran smoothly! I recommend this for anyone who likes British wit and a good romantic comedy and a retelling of a fairytale this is for you!

Oh my goodness where to start? I loved this book and I'm still laughing about things days later.

It was so good to be back in Egglethwaite. I hadn't realised how much I missed everyone until I saw them all again. All the characters I've come to know and love are back and what characters they truly are. As well as the return of everyone some new characters were introduced. The Perfect Fit is set about four years after A Bicycle Made for Two and let me tell you how good it was to see how much for the better certain characters lives had changed and moved forward.

The Perfect Fit had me laughing in the most unladylike way. I literally laughed until my stomach ached. I will never see, eat or think of Madeira cake again and not chuckle.

Just like with A Bicycle Made for Two this book is full of community spirit and is a gorgeous example of what happens when a community pulls together. This time I think it was even better. It's like all the towns people are parts of a well oiled machine and work together for the cause. Not seamlessly at first much to Deano's distress. Poor Deano!

I love the theatre but haven't seen a panto in years and quite frankly if I ever did again I don't think it would be a patch on what Mary cooked up here. The Perfect Fit might be a book but everything was so vivid, vibrant and alive that I became so immersed I forgot I was reading a book. I felt like I was watching everything play out in front of me for real. From Becky's first rumblings of an idea, through planning, casting, rehearsals and costume changes. By the end I felt like I was sat in the audience watching the panto's opening night. I wanted to stand up and applaud but I'd have dropped my kindle.

This was the sequel I didn't know was happening or that I needed. I don't know if there are plans for a third but if there is sign me up!

I was really looking forward to reading this book and it didn't disappoint me at all it was simply brilliant and has to be Mary's best by far she just keeps improving with each book. I was hooked from the first page didn't want to put it down and it's romantic while being fun and laugh out loud but also heartbreaking and the plot is so amazing along with the characters. It's a heartwarming story and a fantastic read worth far more than the five stars.
Becky who has lived in London and has a fiancé called Cole but Becky wants to move back to her village where she grew up which in the Yorkshire Dales. Becky moves first and stays in every night to chat with Cole but her family are wanting her to have fun and she is asked to the pub to meet people. She gets involved in try to save the village hall and is organising a panto like they use to have. Cole finally moved on but Becky is out most nights and can he settle and when there is a handsome bloke in the panto called Marcus and the further they get into doing the panto Becky wonders if she is with the right person or not. Can Cole be happy or does he move back to London or stay who will Becky be happy with. Also can Becky make money and save the village hall and how does the panto go as its had a number of problems along the way.
This is a great read and highly recommend anyone to read it so fantastic.