Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Beth O'Leary - 5 stars!

Three very different women - Siobhan, a life coach; Miranda, a tree surgeon; and Jane, a volunteer for a charity shop - have all been stood up. On Valentine's Day. By the same man.

That's all the info you need before starting this book. If you're expecting a typical rom-com, meet-cute kind of story, be prepared to be so surprised at the depth of the emotion and the twists in this book. I loved all three women - a fun book club discussion would ensue seeing which character people most relate to - plus a bunch of wonderful supporting characters. Definitely go into this one knowing as little as possible so you get to experience that twist that you won't see coming. Highly recommended - don't miss this one!

This was just an ok book for me. There wasn't a character that really stood out as a favourite and although the twist did surprise me I felt it took too long to get there. I did really like the ending though so that bumped up my rating a little.

I don’t even know where to start with this review! I don’t want to give anything away and I feel like if I say anything at all I will! Basically three women are stood up by the same guy on Valentine’s Day.. that’s about all I can tell you 😂

If you are a fan of Beth O’Leary you for sure need to pick this one up! It has her signature character/story depth and complexity. Her writing is so beautiful and I really got invested in Siobhan, Miranda, Jane, & Joseph’s lives.

This book intrigued me, then it blew my mind and made sense all in one go. Like O’Leary’s other books I’m not sure I’d file this under romance? It definitely had a romantic element but also so, so much more. It was a very interesting read that I didn’t want to put down!

The No-Show comes out 4/12! Thank you @berkleyromance for the free copy!

Quite possibly my new favorite Beth O'Leary book?! <i>The Switch</i> formerly held that title, but I loved this one so much. I think this is her best book yet.

I loved this one because of the element of mystery woven in. Three women are alternating telling their stories, but the question of who Joseph Carter is and how their three stories fit together keeps you guessing the entire time (and turning pages).

This one was full of charm and heartfelt, and I loved all of the characters and how it wrapped up in the end. It's an emotional one, and I think fans of Rebecca Serle's books and Josie Silver's books will love this one.

Siobhan is waiting for her breakfast date to show up, but it's now ten til, and while Joseph is often late, he’s never THIS late. Miranda is waiting for Carter, her boyfriend of five months, to meet her for lunch, but he still isn’t here and it's almost 3pm. Jane’s new friend Joseph Carter is agreed to be her fake boyfriend at an engagement party, but she’s standing alone at the punch wondering what went wrong. Weaving together Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane’s stories, The No-Show examines all the ways love (platonic, romantic, and something in between) can miss us, find us, and hold us together.

Within five minutes of finishing this marvel of a novel, I wanted to pick it back up again and read it from the start. There is so much I cannot say about the way Siobhan, Miranda, Jane, and Joseph’s stories fit together without giving away major spoilers, but I will say that as I figured out each of the layered links between them, I gasped, laughed, and cried (both happy and sad tears–this is very much a “read with tissues” book). As with all of her novels, Beth O’Leary has created such lovely three-dimensional characters, and it is so easy to root for them even in their many missteps and flawed moments. I just cannot say enough good things about this wonderful book or the beautifully complicated, realistic, and heart wrenching love stories (romantic, familial, and platonic) contained in this gem. Run, don’t walk. A billion stars. Read it read it read it.

This book 😭

The No-Show is a charming, quirky, sentimental, and heartwarming love story! On Valentine's Day, three women are stood up... by the same guy and they are on the verge of falling in love with the mysterious Joseph Carter. Are their hearts safe? Okay, my first thought was, "Is this guy seriously seeing all three women at the same time?" I fully trusted O'Leary with my heart, and I'm glad I did because it wasn't what I expected!

The majority of the book had me very eager to learn what the heck is going on. The women are incredible and flawed in their own ways and I felt like I was experiencing and living through all of them. The moment when all the pieces started to converge, flash and play in my head, my heart ached and the tears flowed in the best way possible. The urge to go back and reread the clues was real! Genius! An intertwining love story of heartfelt connections with complex characters, humor, mystery and unpredictable twists. Trust the process as the story moves toward the big take-away, you're going to need some tissues!

This book was just...sigh... so good. O'Leary did something magical here. If you want to feel all the emotions: pick this one up!

what to expect:
• three pov's
• emotional
• self-discovery
• healing
• UK setting
• a good, cleansing cry
• tugs at your heartstrings
• satisfying twists & turns
• gripping & unpredictable
• hard earned HEA

cw: dementia, grief, miscarriage

A special thanks to Berkley for an ARC of this book!

Siobhan is beautiful, quick-tempered and Irish. She is a life coach who seemingly has her own perfectly together. But after a disastrous breakup with a man she thought she loved, she has become an expert on pushing those she loves far away. Hookups are her way of life. No strings attached means no hard feelings.

Miranda is a tree-surgeon who is practical and, according to her younger twin sisters, boring. The only thrill she seems to crave comes from scaling trees and chopping down branches with a chainsaw. And sometimes gazing at the bearded and tattooed bad-boy at work, AJ. Too bad she's already taken.

Jane loves routine: she always chooses the same yogurt pot at the bakery, has certain clothes for certain days, and never reads more than one book a month. All of this is a way of coping after a scarring dismissal from a law firm in London, which came along with a scandal that still haunts her. Unfortunately, a sweet man with a love for books decides to make her his friend. Only Jane wishes they could be more.

What do all of these women have in common? They are all involved with the same charming, perfect, and thoughtful man: Joseph Carter.

I've been meaning to read some Beth O'Leary and so I was quite excited when I was contacted by the publisher to receive an early copy of her latest for review! The No-Show is wonderful, full of comedy and heartbreak and of course, love, and I relished every moment of it. I had an idea as to what the twist was, and although I turned out to be right, it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book. All of the ladies have unique and strong personalities and I found myself wanting each one to find her happily ever after with Joseph, who is a memorable hero with tons of heart. This is a perfect summer read, one I can't recommend enough! If you're a fan of British rom-coms like Notting Hill, I think this will surely be your new favorite (and might I say young Hugh Grant would have played a perfect floppy-haired and bumbling Joseph).

Right off the bat this gave me The Other Woman vibes. Three women are stood up on Valentine’s Day - by the same guy. Automatically, we hate the guy - but there’s more than what meets the eye.

This book is told from those three women’s POV and their relationship with Joseph Carter. Throughout the book, you experience their heartbreak and the three women each undergo their own journeys of self-acceptance, loss, and finding themselves.

I don’t want to say anything more because I believe you need to go into this blindly. I fell in love with all three women and their stories and I was so pleasantly surprised that I was wrong with what I assumed was a predictable romance. I was not expecting that twist. I loved how everything tied together. I got angry, I belly laughed, and I sobbed over this book. And I know that for those who love romances with a twist will enjoy this one. I wouldn’t categorize this as a rom-com (although there are hysterical bits) but more of a romance mystery.

Get your kindles ready or get in those cars and drive to your local bookstore because this beautiful, raw and heartbreaking novel comes out tomorrow and I can’t wait to see all those reactions.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this book. If this had been my first time reading from this author, I would have surely DNFd the book. Since I've already read and enjoyed Beth O'Leary's previous books, I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt and stick with it, though, and I'm glad I did, because that paid off.

The book hinges on a sort of mystery, which was interesting, and I liked how it played out, but I did feel like the book really dragged until we got to unravelling the mystery, because there wasn't a clear direction the story was going in for about 70% of the book.

I had a lot of issues before the mystery was unravelled, and fewer after, as most readers will. But one issue did stick for me and that's that I really disliked AJ and the way he treated Miranda throughout the book. I didn't find it charming, I found it really creepy.

Jane was my favourite character though, and I was happy with how the story wrapped up for her!

When I first started this book, I was a little uncertain if I was going to like where it it was going. Silly me, I should have trusted Beth O'Leary to craft a story that would both make me laugh and cry. This book takes you on an emotional journey with it, with three characters that seem to hold a tenuous link at first- all being stood up by the same man on Valentine's Day. I loved all three characters and what they revealed along the way, and this is a really warm, interesting story despite some immense sadness. If, like me, you start off a little unsure with this one, I encourage you to also put some faith in the author and push through a little further.

I know this is marketed as a romcom, but this one packed a real punch. Joseph Carter is the No-Show. He has stood up Siobhan, Miranda and Jane on Valentine's Day and has a lot of groveling to do.
I don't know what to say about this book without giving away all of the twists and turns, so I will just say, keep going and when you think you have it all figured out, you still probably don't.
You will fall in love with these women and their stories and there will be a lot of times you will want to punch Joseph in the face, I know I did, but at the end it all comes together. My heart was heavy at the end of this book, yes, it ends happily, but also it is just a heavy book. Beth O'Leary is magical, she will make you feel things with her books and this one is no exception.
Thank you to Beth O'Leary, Berkley and Netgalley for an early copy.

I find Beth O’Leary’s books are never quite what you expect, but they’ll always rip you apart and put you back together a little differently. The No-Show was no exception to this rule either. It had me feeling angry, made me laugh, and also had me sobbing. There were twists and turns I saw coming, and some I didn’t, but I couldn’t put it down and binged the whole thing in one sitting.

This story follows three very different women, and their unique lives, circumstances, and relationships. Each of them is dealing with something difficult…or many somethings. But the one constant for all of them is Joseph Carter. Sort of.

Each of them is stood up by Joseph, on Valentine’s Day. But I can’t tell you why. Part of the beauty of this book is the mystery of unraveling it all, so you’re going to have to read it for yourself!

I found myself having different favorite characters as the book progressed, but ultimately I think I related the most to Miranda, the tree surgeon. It was really something to watch each of the characters grow over the course of the story, and O’Leary has such a talent for creating characters that you feel like you know in real life, and are sad to see go when you turn the last page.

I can never resist a romance novel that combines an interesting synopsis with an adorably illustrated cover, so I knew I had to read The No-Show by Beth O’Leary, even adding it to my Most Anticipated Reads of the First Half of 2022 list. I was thrilled to be approved on NetGalley to read what I thought was going to be an anti-romance, John Tucker Must Die type of story…and let’s just say while the story was compelling, I was way off base in my predictions!

The story follows three female protagonists who all have the same love interest but are all very, very different. Siobahn is a calculating, high achieving life coach, Miranda is a warm hearted tree-surgeon (I had no idea that was a thing!) and Jane is a down-on-her-luck charity shop volunteer harboring a deep secret. All three fall for the enigmatic Joseph Carter, who while on the surface seems to be a charming and dedicated sort of fellow, acts cagey around his relationships and whereabouts, especially when it comes to Valentine’s Day, where he seems prone to standing his dates up.

It took me a bit to get into the story, as at first I wasn’t sure how all three women’s experiences with Joseph were interconnected, and it felt a bit jarring jumping from one POV to another. However, as I became more invested, I become more confused- I kept looking for reasons to doubt Joseph, waiting for him to be caught red-handed, wanting the girls to somehow meet each other and band together to take him down (I clearly have watched too many teen dramas). While waiting for the other shoe to drop with Joseph, the story gradually shifted in tone, going from a lighthearted rom-com to something deeper and more emotional. Secrets start spilling out that layer upon each other and explain how all the women are linked, eventually leading to a twist that I absolutely did not see coming. I can’t say much as I don’t want to spoil anyone, but I do think that the author did a clever job at layering the stories of Siobhan, Miranda and Jane and I found myself going back through the story to hunt for clues I may have missed once I discovered the twist!

While this book was pleasantly surprising and not at all what I expected, I think what stood out to me the most was not the romance(s), but rather the individual support systems that each woman had and how they all came into their own during their relationship with Joseph, not because of him but rather in spite of him. Siobhan learns to let herself be taken care of and leans on some really wonderful, solid relationships she’s always kept a bit at arms length, Miranda’s eccentric little sisters prove they are there for her through thick and thin (as well as her fellow tree-surgeon bros), and Jane finds an eccentric found family amongst her small little circle in Winchester who show her what it means to be loved even if you’re quiet and painfully shy. There’s something really beautiful in O’Leary’s weaving of friendships and found family in this story.

Overall: If you’re looking for a truly lighthearted rom-com, this probably isn’t the story for you. But if you are looking for a story that starts light but ends up tugging on your heart strings with some carefully layered storytelling, this one definitely hits the spot!

I couldn’t really get into this one. O’leary’s writing comes off kind of snobbish to me, so I didn’t care much about any of the characters.

While I didn't enjoy this novel quite as much as some of Beth O'Leary's previous novels, it was charming and sweet in the end. The first half moved slowly - probably because I wasn't sure where it was going and how the characters would connect. The latter half picked up and was more fun to read. The connections between characters are clever and unexpected. There is a lot of love and friendship and the dialogue rings true, even when the relationships don't work out. I liked this book a lot more than I expected to when I started reading it. Stick with it!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been back and forth on how much I liked O'Leary's stuff in the last few years, and I expected this to be a "John Tucker Must Die" situation. But wow, I was gooped. I was GOOPED, people.

I think it's a great build to the reveal but I do think O'Leary makes you feel a bit bad about wanting justice for the women in Joseph Carter's life because the reveal is just so startling. However, it is nice to see that it works out well for...almost everyone. I think that the redemption for Joseph doesn't really come through, as I thought he was a lying cheater the whole time so that change really was hard to pivot for, but I think the epilogue is sufficiently cute. However, I think the message of this book is and should be that men need to go to therapy.

4 stars for the gooping.

I have to admit, I was disappointed with Beth O'Leary's last novel The Road Trip, but with this one, she has come back strong! My best advice is to go into this novel blind. And I know infidelity may be a trigger for some (it is for me) but push through and you will be rewarded. This book had romance, yes, but so much more. It had character depth and growth, and honestly, a unique premise. I don't want to start giving things away, but this is a must-read! Well done, Beth O'Leary.

Wow, this was not at all what I was expecting based on the cover and on my past experience with Beth O'Leary. I really liked it, but it is not the cute, frothy rom-com that the cover might lead you to expect. As some of the other NetGalley reviewers have indicated, it's hard to describe/review this without giving up some key, spoiler-like info. Basically: Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane are all lovely (though very different) women who are stood up on Valentine's Day by the same man, Joseph Carter. For the first 10-20% of the book, I thought, ugh, why are they bothering with this loser who can't even keep a date on Valentine's Day?? But I kept reading because I was really interested in the character development of all three of the women, and I'm glad I did, because this turned out to be, in my opinion, a very satisfying and structurally brilliant read. If you also have an immediately negative reaction to Joseph Carter, it's worth it to keep reading for Siobhan, Miranda, Jane, and even for Joseph Carter.

Based on the blurb, I fully expected The No-Show to be about three women dating the same man, finding out about it, possibly ganging up and forming a bond to get the ultimate revenge. Or maybe they all rip each other to shreds and duke it out until they decide to become the best of friends. It's far and beyond my expectations.
Did I rate this 5 stars? Yes, yes I did. Did I struggle with reading the first half? Also yes. There are a lot of characters and POV switches that take a minute to get accustomed to. If any future readers question the beginning, I can't say enough: push through, keep going!
Here's the thing. I've said it in previous reviews for books written by Beth O'Leary, but I'm pretty sure she's a women's fiction/contemporary romance genius. She continually writes stories that I've not seen before. There's no routine or retelling or reworking of someone else's work. If this is incorrect, please direct me to where she gets these ideas because I need to read them right now.
There are three POVs right out the gate: sophisticated and worldly Siobhan, timid and routine-driven Jane, and reliable and hard-working Miranda. We meet them all at some point on Valentine's Day in which one Joseph Carter stands them up for a breakfast, lunch, and evening engagement party.
I've gushed about Beth as an author mostly because I don't want to spoil anything and I know I'm hyping this up. This is coming from a total fangirl. I'd say I'm sorry, but I absolutely am not as I already want to re-read it.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The first thing you must know about a Beth O'Leary novel is that you will often feel discomfort or even dislike before the payoff. But the payoff is so worth it. This was true for THE ROAD TRIP, and so I reminded myself to keep reading THE NO-SHOW even though I wasn't sure where O'Leary was taking me or that I wanted to get there. Trust in O'Leary's skill to bring the story full circle.

The second thing you must know about a Beth O'Leary novel is that she covers heavy topics. Mental health issues, abusive relationships, grief, trauma. They're all there, and she doesn't shy away from them.

Which leads me to the third thing you should know, or at least my third observation: I really like the covers of O'Leary's books, but I think they are quite misleading. They make you think the book is going to be a typical rom-com with minimal angst, which is pretty far from the truth.

THE NO-SHOW isn't my favorite O'Leary (that is still THE SWITCH), but it has definitely stuck with me since I finished reading it. I think if you go into this book understanding the three points above, you will find it a well-written, poignant story about people learning to free themselves of the pasts that haunt them.