The sophomore novel from Hannah Sunderland is every bit as good as the first. At First Sight is a beautiful story of friendship and finding light in the darkness. When mental health hotline counselor, Nell, accidentally drops her lunch on Charlie in a crowded cafe, little does she know that the chance run-in changes Charlie's life forever. As their lives more deeply connect, their deeply loving friendship shines, as Charlie claws his way out of a dark depression. It is a pleasure to read about empathetic and emotionally vulnerable characters who selflessly support the people they love. I also appreciate the kindness and sensitivity with which the author tackles mental health issues. It is a book that will stick with me for a long while.

Advanced copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Content warning: depression, suicidal thoughts, grief

I just really really liked At First Sight. It was such a wonderfully sweet, emotional and touching romance. I liked out two main characters and a majority of the side characters as well. I was rooting for them and for them to be able to live their best lives. Also, the processing of grief in this book felt very real and I personally something haven't read in a romance before.

I also LOVED the growth of the characters. At the start of the book they felt very stunted in where they were in their lives (that includes the side characters as well) but as the story goes along you can see them learning from their pasts and growing as individuals.

If you are a romance fan I will say, there is no steamy scenes in the book but for the story that Sunderland is telling it doesn't feel like we're missing anything by not having that in it. All in all this was a really lovely read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon UK for the eARC of At First Sight in exchange for an honest review.

This really got to me emotionally in the way only a good book can. Really engaged with the characters and the storyline. Would recommend.

I was not expecting this book to go the way it did but that is by no means a bad thing! I anticipated that the love interest would have a secret but I didn’t think it would be what it was.

I appreciate how Sunderland wrote a romance that included themes of grief and mental illness as it is something I have never read before in this genre. I felt the development of Nell and Charlie’s relationship was pretty authentic which made them more believable as characters. The links and relationships between the main and side characters were well connected as well. I liked how we were also given some POV chapters from Charlie as his perspective was valuable to completing the story.

Personally, it was a bit jarring for me reading the dialogue when it came to Charlie’s speech as Sunderland aimed to emphasise his Irish accent on the page but I found it a bit annoying.

Overall a pleasant read that did well to address some heavy topics of conversation.

A chance meeting between strangers in a a cafe has Nell and Charlie enjoying each others company. Walking away they don't think that they will see each other again after not sharing numbers etc. However, Charlie's is struggling after the death of his wife and calls a suicide helpline - which Nell works for. The story follows their friendship journey as Nell attempts to help Charlie cope with hoow is life is now and show him that there is still a life worth living.

I've just spent about four days with Nell. Nell is kind, caring, funny and clumsy. Nell has met the love of her life, except, he is in love with someone else, and she has an ex partner that she can't quite shake off. A love story wrapped up in mental health, loss, grief, and bereavement..
A funny tragic tale, full.of warm, likeable characters. A story about the vulnerabilities that we all possess, and how we cope with them.. Read this book for the sad, warm, feel good factor.

This is a story of growth. And grief. This book is deep and made me think throughout it all!
I loved the characters, I loved the plot, I loved the writing and how the themes are explored and without any sugar coating. This was a good read! It wasn't what I was expecting at all!

When I requested this story wasn't the trigger warnings on it, I saw the cover and I thought "what a cute cover"
I thought was those cheesy romances that I love to read. But no.

This story is so deep and full of feelings that I was sobbing most of the part the book.

Do not get me wrong there is romance but not in the cheesy way. Is really slow burn and I love how Nell and Charlie relationship grew.

In "at first sight" we deal with grief and loss, with loneliness and toxic relationships, with friendship and kindness and second chances.

If I start thinking about it of this story again I will start crying so bad again.

If you are going to read it, have a big box of kleenex next to you.

Summarizing I am just BROKEN

Nell meets Charlie at a crowded coffee shop one afternoon and regrets never asking for his number. Until one day when she get's a call at her job where she works as a crisis hotline attendant, a certain Irish accent remind's her of Charlie and it turns out to be him. She ask's him out which is probably against the rules and that starts this long journey of will they wont they and Nell's long journey of helping Charlie heal from his trauma. There are a cast of secondary characters, Charlies wacky uncle, Nell's distant mom, her wacky roommate Ned, and her ex boyfriend who wants to get back together.

I really wanted to like this, but I just couldn't get into this book. It was supposed to be a love story, but I felt like it was just a story of a woman trying to fix all this man's problems and the man not emotionally available to be with her and using her niceness anyways.

Nell Coleman has a job she loves working phone lines for a mental health charity. One afternoon at a local cafe the only open seat is at a communal table across from a quiet, handsome Irishman. After heading back to work Nell regrets not having the bravery to ask for his number, fortunately for both of them, life has plans for the pair.

At First Sight is not the light-hearted rom-com I was expecting, I would classify it as womens' fiction more than anything. Yes, there is a love story (a few actually) but at its core, it's about loss, grief, healing, and learning to move on. Charlie and Nell are complex, well-written characters each learning to work through their own trauma and issues. The portrayal of mental health is well, and I feel, respectfully done, the acknowledgment that grief is never linear, and having more than one male character seeking out mental health help, are all pieces that I love.

Despite the sometimes heavy plot, it's really hopeful and has moments of levity. A different reviewer called it "unconventionally beautiful" and I think that's a perfect description. It's definitely a rollercoaster of emotions and could be a trigger for anyone who's dealt with the loss of a spouse (or anyone really) or suicide. I do recommend it, but tread carefully, it is heavy.

Rating edit: 2.5 stars.

'It’s wasn’t anyone’s fault. It just happened.’

At First Sight is a love story but not essentially a romance, if it makes sense. It's about mental health, dealing with loss and grief, letting go.

I was looking forward to reading this book, as I really liked 'Very Nearly Normal', the author's debut book. It started really well. The way Nell and Charlie met, it's kind of similar to NVN, but it was interesting. I was really enjoying their conversation.

I liked Ned's character, but to be very honest, I could not feel any connection with Nell or Charlie (the main protagonists). After 10th-11th chapter, it starts to get dull, like the author has nothing much to say. Certain scenes are interesting, poignant even but at several points, I felt the story was meandering.

The writing is good but not as engaging as it was in Very Nearly Normal.

Overall, it turned out to be an okayish read.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy. I requested this book because the cover looked like a cute romance, chick lit book. I was very wrong. This book is about suicide, breaking down, building yourself back up, facing fears, finding love and so much more. I don’t think I would have read it had I known the heavy topics of the story. The author truly understands the pain and suffering, that comes through in her writing.

Thank you NetGalley, author Hannah Sunderland, and Avon for giving me a free Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
Trigger warnings: Death of a loved one, talk of suicide attempts/ detailed suicide attempt scene.
When I started this book, I expected an adorable meet cute romance, but this book was not what I expected! It was a delightful surprise! This book follows two complete strangers who in meeting will change their lives forever. Nell was a very realistic character! I appreciated how down to earth she was. She had her own flaws and past baggage *cough Joel*, but was working hard to break out of such an unhealthy cycle. Charlie was such a heartbroken man over the death of his wife. I loved his family and friends. They were so supportive and only wanted to help Charlie. The author did a wonderful job of portraying the real struggles people go through during the grief process. Nell and Charlie had a great relationship development. I was a little hesitant for them to start something due to that fact she was the council Charlie talked to when he called the Suicide help line, but then it was not really an issue because she was not his therapist. The writing and pacing were well done. The author was not afraid to let the characters grow and carry the scene. Both of the main characters went through a lot of growth throughout this book before they got their HEA. That ending was so so good!! Overall, I highly recommend this beautiful story of loss and the growth of a new love. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

At First Sight is a romance novel with a difference as the book tackles very sensitive topics.

Nell and Charlie meet by chance at a local café and immediately there is a connection between them. I loved the friendship between them and there was a great cast of characters; Carrick was my favourite! Though there were some sad parts, there's plenty of funny moments throughout the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for a review.

I was lucky enough to be part of the blog tour for Hannah’s first novel, Very Nearly Normal, so I was excited to crack into this!

Nell meets Charlie in a coffee shop, where she strikes up conversation with him as they share a table. Despite the spark she feels for him, she doesn’t get his phone number, and they seem destined to go their separate ways. But the next day, Nell goes to her job as a telephone operator for Healthy Minds, a mental health helpline. When she recognises Charlie’s voice on a call, she throws caution to the wind, and risks everything to help him…

This book made me laugh, made me cry, and absolutely ripped my heart apart at times. It deals with grief, loss, heartbreak, death and suicide, and it manages to strike a balance between being compassionately and sensitively written, while also being engaging, entertaining and at times, very funny.

Hannah Sunderland is the queen of writing books that perfectly exemplify the messy, heart-wrenching, ‘life’s not fair’ type of relationships with main characters who somehow never slip over the line into whiney. I absolutely loved this book and am really looking forward to whatever Hannah comes up with next!

This is a sensitive portrayal of the pain of loving someone who is severely depressed and suicidal. If that is not a story you want to spend hundreds of pages reading about, this isn’t the book for you. I appreciated what the author is trying to do with this story, but I can see that it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you picked this up for a nice, light, contemporary romance.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC of this beatiful book.
This is a story about heavy topics not easy to write the risk to fall in too much drama or being shallow is extremely high
The author does it homework awesomely
Nell meets Charlie in a cage and feels a spark then again at work in a helpline she faces another perspective of Charlie
Unconventionally beatiful
4 stars

An excellent read, not my usual choice but I thoroughly enjoyed it. All the characters were described well and the story line was good.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This IS a a love story-but maybe not the one you are expecting...❤️

Two Strangers.
Two chance meetings.

The first in the Cool Beans Cafe, when Nell is forced to share a communal table, and she strikes up a conversation with Charlie, the sexy Irishman she is forced to sit beside. She is literally incapable of not making small talk with strangers when placed in intimate situations. In fact, she will know the names of an Uber driver’s wife, and kids after just a short ride!

There is definitely a spark but neither asks the other for their number or surname.
Much to Nell’s regret.

But, as fate would have it-they will meet again.

The second time-Charlie will call the Healthy Minds helpline. Destiny has connected his call to Nell, who works there. As she asks for a name, and hears the accent, she inquires as to the possibility that they had met the day prior at the Cool Beans Cafe. Breaking all the rules, she suggests that they continue the conversation in person.

She doesn’t realize that she will be saving a life.

Would you take a chance on loving a person who may not be willing to take a second chance on themself?

YES-this is a story that deals with grief, and suicidal thoughts but it handles the subject with sensitivity and ultimately it is a story filled with courage, humor, unconditional love and HOPE!

It is a “FEEL GOOD” story focusing on healing !

Nell is a delight, and her inner dialogue is honest and funny! She is a person that anyone would be lucky to have as a friend!

I was rooting for her!
I was rooting for Charlie!
And, I was rooting for Magnus the cat, to get a second chance at love too! 💕

Rated PG

You won’t have to wait long to read this heartwarming gem of a story!
Available April 1, 2021 from Avon UK books!

Thank You for my gifted copy! It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!

From the title I was expecting a light-hearted romantic comedy. What I got was a much deeper storyline dealing with loss, grief, suicide and mental health. Through the writing I was fully engaged with the characters feeling their pain, their compassion, their selflessness and rooting for them. Parts of the book had me laughing, others feeling sad for Charlie.
I raced through this book to find out what happens. The issues covered in the storyline will stay with me for a long time to come.