At First Sight is a romance with a difference. It explores, and deals well with, some deeper topics such as mental health, grief, loss and suicide. It was an emotional, poignant and at times a laugh out loud funny read. Nell and Charlie's story was beautifully written, kept me reading well past my bedtime and stayed with me after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Sutherland and her publisher for an arc of this book.

Nell works at a call center for people who are struggling with life. Sometimes the people who call in are suicidal. One day on her lunch break she meets Charlie at her favorite coffee shop. His Irish accent and blue eyes catch her attention, but she does not take the opportunity to get his number. A few days later, she gets a call at work . . . from Charlie. This book takes some very interesting twists and turns and kept me turning the pages. Despite Nell's experience with grief and distress on the job, it is a whole lot harder to deal with up close and in a long term situation. The timing for her and Charlie just doesn't seem right. Can they both move past what is in their past to have a future together? Maybe they are both better off if they don't? While the path to mental health is highly regarded and modelled, there is one avenue that is discounted quite severely and that is the church. No offense to Hannah Sunderland, but in my experience, the gospel holds a hope like no other. When I read novels like this set in the U.K., I remember how much the U.K. Blessing video has lifted me up in the past year. If you like this one, you should try 'Float Plan' by Trish Dollar. Other authors to try would be Beth O'Leary and Josie Silver.

Thank you to Avon Books and Net Galley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Nell and Charlie are both stuck. They meet in an unusual way and their friendship begins to grow from the onset. This book is a romance, but it is also so much more. We walk beside these characters and grow to love them page by page.

I loved this book for so many reasons. It highlights mental health and taking care of oneself through difficult times. You'll love the journey the characters go on and be so glad you got to see it all unfold.

Truthfully, the writing wasn't for me. I thought the plot itself was interesting but other than that, it didn't strike me anything that exciting.

I had so many emotions whilst reading this book. Hannah Sunderland is one hell of a storyteller. It was the little pieces of information throughout the book that made my heart break, Charlie and the cold tea being an example. It must be hard to write a book that's mainly focused on mental health, grief and suicide. It was very tactfully done and wonderfully wrtten. The last paragraph of this book I'd so beautifully poignant and I loved Nell and Ned's friendship. A wonderful, insightful, thought provoking read.

The back and forth first-person point of view of the same scenes was hard to follow at times. The flow of scenes stretching throughout the day was difficult to keep my interest.

Thank you to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is being marketed as a lighthearted rom-com (I did appreciate the TW though), but it's more a novel about grief, with some lighthearted moments. I liked the way the author wrote about mental health, and the message behind the story. However, I found the couple at the center of the story very unrealistic - I didn't find the "love at first sight" aspect credible, and the chemistry was almost completely lacking. It seemed more a case of her trying to fix all his problems (plus huge red flags for me in terms of complete lack of professional boundaries) and him not being emotionally available. There were quite a few secondary characters, some endearing and some annoying. The flow of the story was slow and I found my motivation to keep reading flagging.

Nell thought she was having a typical day when she entered her usual lunch spot, Cool Beans. What she didn't know is that she would meet Charlie, drop her sandwich on him, unknowingly save his life, and alter hers forever.

When I first picked up this book, I was expecting the typical rom-com style story. What I was not expecting was a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching love story that would also take a deep dive into mental health, depression and the grieving process. Hannah Sunderland did a beautiful job writing this story, making the reader fall head over heels in love with both Nell and Charlie, and root for them both the entire way through.

This is one of those books that I'll be thinking about for a long time and wishing I could check-in on the characters. Thanks to NetGalley, Hannah Sunderland and Avon Books UK for the eArc in exchange for my honest review. I'm looking forward to seeing what Sunderland puts out next!

At First Sight by Hannah Sunderland was a decent wee love story with a difference. A few wee supernatural leanings and some good mental health insights. I think the composition of the book could be smartened up grammatically but it was an enjoyable read with likeable, credible characters Three and a half stars

At First Sight by Hannah Sunderland. Pub Date 1 Apr 2021
**TRIGGER WARNING: Loss, grief and mention of suicide**
Two strangers. Two chance meetings. One extraordinary love story…
Nell meets Charlie, he is in love with someone else, and she is having trouble shaking off the ex.
Nell works as a counsellor at a helpline centre for people suffering from mental health issues.
She meets quiet, handsome Irishman Charlie by chance in her local cafe when circumstances force them to share a table; Nell clumsily drops her food over him, and their conservation begins. Little do either of them know that this encounter will change their lives forever.
The secondary characters, Charlie's uncle, Nell's mother, Ned, and Nell's ex-boyfriend, give the story added depth and credence.
I enjoyed the author's writing style and how expertly she describes love, second chances and destiny while also sensitively incorporating issues such as grief, depression, emotional breakdown, bereavement and suicide.
I want to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and author Hannah Sunderland for a pre-publication copy to review.

This book is an absolute triumph!!! I got a bit scared to read it with all the warnings about suicide but I shouldn’t have been.

At first sight is both heartbreakingly tender and laugh out loud funny! It strikes the perfect balance between the two, allowing room for all emotions.

I loved Nell and Charlie, two wonderful people brought together by fate.

I also loved Nell’s mother and Ned. So many wonderful characters in one book.

I cannot praise this book highly enough!! Read it, read it, read it!!

“𝗔 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲”

In a busy cafè, Nell has no other option but to ask a stranger if the seat next to him is available. Her verbal diarrhoea sparks up conversation and the two connect, but they must face their own personal problems before they can take their friendship to the next level and commit to each other and allow themselves to fully fall in love.

This wasn’t the cheesy romance I was expecting, it was an emotional read at times, a different love story which tackles real life problems.

⚠️ Mental health, loss, grief, suicide ⚠️

“At First Sight” follows Nell and Charlie who meet in a café and despite feeling a spark, do not trade numbers of surnames, leaving it all to chance. However, the day later whilst at work as a counsellor, Nell answers a call to find that it is Charlie and he needs help.
This is a book that will put a different spin on the typical romance, examining the dark past of Charlie, and his struggles to find some measure of happiness. He is definitely wounded, and Charlie might be the person to lead him through his struggles. Despite confronting topics of suicide and loss, which are all handle with the upmost sensitivity, there are moments of light, with secondary characters such as Charlie’s uncle, adding to the story.
An interesting story that will leave you thinking long after the last page.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The warning at the start of the book filled me with trepidation but it was not needed. Not what you expect from a book about grief and depression. The support from a mental health helpline and the resulting relationships that evolve. I became invested in the story and all the characters. Not a book to make you laugh but not one that will make you cry but you want to hug the characters.

When Nell meets Charlie at a coffee shop, they feel a spark but walk away from one another. Then he calls the mental health helpline where she works - she recognizes his voice- and, against the rules, they meet. Charlie's grief is evident and deep but the reasons for it come out slowly as he works through his pain to build a future different from what he had planned. Nell might strike you as naive at first but then her big heart pulls you in. This is not the light happy story you might be looking for but it's a good one that's worthy of your reading time. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

This is a different kind of love story and I absolutely adored it! Nell and Charlie meet in the most usual way, at first. Over coffee, at a busy cafe, Nell chats Charlie up and then they part...no numbers or sir names exchanged. Nell thinks she's blown her chance at meeting someone new....And then they meet again, in the most unconventional way...Charlie calls Nell at work...not knowing she works there.

This was such a lovely read, full of emotion but with some lighter moments of humour and romance thrown in. I love books with quirky characters (maybe because I am one myself?) and this helped offset the painful experience that Charlie is going through, which makes for a great balance of the serious and the light-hearted.

Bottom Line:
A wonderful emotive read that I completed in a single sitting...I dare you not to cry.

"Nell and Charlie feel a spark when they meet by chance in a cafe. But they don’t trade numbers, or surnames, so there’s no way they’ll meet again. But the next day, Nell’s phone rings at work. Somehow, impossibly, Charlie is on the other end. And he needs her help. Nell is about to save a life, fall in love … and risk everything for a perfect stranger."

I could tell instantly that I liked this writers style and approach to story telling. I thought this book would be a lighthearted rom com but it was so much deeper than that. This book beautifully described first loves, second chances, second loves, and fate while also delving into issues like grief, spousal loss, and suicide. This book is unlike anything Ive ever read, especially for a love story. When I finished the book I literally uttered the word 'wow'. It was truly a heart breakingly beautiful story about love. I couldn't put it down.

At First Sight is so much more than the usual light-hearted love story. It is tender and moving and I enjoyed the whole premise of the story enormously. It is incredibly well written and heartbreakingly beautiful and as the story evolves it is impossible to put down. The unexpected twists and turns the storyline presented us with definitely kept me on my toes. At First Sight is a wonderfully executed book with an amazing cast of characters and has much more depth to it than I was first anticipating. The Author’s Note at the beginning of the book indicates the story deals with loss, grief, depression and suicide, however these are sensitively portrayed by the author and depicted in such a thoughtful way that it doesn’t feel overwhelming or upsetting.

The characters are well developed and described in excellent detail, with just enough background history to give them depth and personality. Nell is a delightful character, she is kind, funny and incredibly caring and her inner dialogue is both humorous and entertaining and I laughed out loud on more than one occasion. Charlie is a dark brooding Irishman and although somewhat volatile, due to his past issues impacting on his current state of mind, he comes across as gentle, sensitive and caring and with a sense of fun. I also adored Ned, the father figure, and Carrick with his quirky dress sense and his indisputable bond with Charlie.

Although from the moment they meet there is undeniably a spark between Charlie and Nell, their love story is a slow build up and this unhurried pace and exploration of their relationship is entirely necessary because of the specific issues Charlie is dealing with, requiring time to come to terms with his emotions. It was refreshing to see a gentle romance with deeper thoughts and feelings explored without the need for a surfeit of explicit ‘bedroom’ scenes.

A beautifully written and thought-provoking book and although some serious issues are addressed it is counter-balanced with more light-hearted and humorous elements. The story is wonderfully crafted and I enjoyed it immensely from start to finish and with the ending perfectly encapsulated everything – I adored the ending. I will definitely be reaching more more of this author’s work in the future.

Thank you to the publisher for an early review copy via Netgalley.

AT FIRST SIGHT – HANNAH SUNDERLAND
PUBLISHED BY AVON BOOKS UK
PUB DATE – 1ST APRIL
TRIGGER WARNING – GRIEF, LOSS, SUICIDE
RATING 4⭐
PLOT –
Nell and Charlie meet by chance in a café and feel a connection. They talk but do not exchange numbers. But next day Nell gets a call at work and it's Charlie and he needs her help!
Nell works at a helpline centre for mental illness and it is upto her to help Charlie deal with the loss of his wife and his thoughts about suicide. But in the bargain Nell falls for Charlie. But will Charlie overcome his grief?? Will he able to love Nell back??
My thoughts – This isn’t a conventional lovestory. But the author has done a good job dealing with these strong issues discussing them as a person goes through them and tries to come out of it with success.
This book tackles all the real life issues and a lot of people out there aren’t getting the help they need!!
Via a helpline centre this book shows that one phone call can help one in the road to recovery a great deal!!
Sometimes it’s easy to talk to a stranger as compared to your family and friends as there are no judgements there!
The Irsih dialogue which occurs throughout the book at some point became a little too much for me other than that it was a good read!
Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK for this arc in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

This is a heart-warming story with two truly beautiful characters in Nell & Charlie. It was beautifully written. I will certainly be on the look out for more of Hannah Sunderland’s work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Nooks UK for kindly gifting me this ARC.