4.5 STARS
Three women are stood up on the worst day of the year for it to happen: Valentine’s Day and all by the same man, Joseph Carter. Siobhan had a breakfast date with him; they got together whenever she was in London on business. As a life coach, Siobhan has had to talk her clients through some rough times, but when she is in the hot seat, it is quite different. Miranda had a lunch date with her boyfriend who mysteriously not only left her hanging, but did not message any explanation. As a female tree trimmer who works with a male crew, she knows what men get up to with women as they treat her as one of the guys. Jane, a shy and retiring, thrift shop volunteer had an engagement party to attend. As someone who does not people very well, she is particularly upset to be stood up as she had been counting on Joseph as a buffer.

Joseph Carter seems to be juggling three very different women who have no clue, initially, about the others. He has a friend with benefits relationship with Siobhan; however, they both have urges for it to be something more though she was badly burned by a prior relationship and so keeps Joseph at bay. Miranda believes Carter, as she calls him, is her boyfriend and that they are in a committed relationship. After his big apology, that nearly turns into a disaster, they go back to normal; however, two things are causing Miranda concern: a man she is attracted to she works with, and indications are that Carter may not be faithful to her. Jane left her job in London after a workplace affair caused major problems. She was quite traumatized and has only been able to deal with having Joseph as a friend until her feelings for him begin to change.

Each of these three women sees a different side of Joseph Carter. And while at the outset, he seems to be a philanderer, there is more going on than it appears on the surface. Joseph is a rather emotional kind of guy and is often brought to tears on more than one occasion. Living with and caring for his elderly mother, he does not seem to be the player type. This story is cleverly done and will keep readers guessing about what is really going on until the big reveal. It definitely has the theme of love hurts, and then hurts some more. Despite some reviews, I would not categorize this story as a rom-com though there are humorous moments; women’s fiction would be more appropriate because of some tragic elements. Fans of Ms. O’Leary will be well pleased with latest addition to her entertaining tales.

Jump into this book for the cover (one of my favorites this year) and then enjoy getting to know Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane. As with her other titles, O'Leary manages to gracefully insert some serious themes like sexual harassment, grief, ghosting, and dementia. Meanwhile we get three very different women who are relatable and one is a tree surgeon! There is at least one man in this book who is a complete arsehole, but decent and thoughtful ones, too. This is meant to be a "no spoiler" review, so I am keeping it short. Really enjoyed this new title and the reading guide was a great way to wind it up.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

<b>3 stars for the last 20%</b>

We went into this book thinking it was a rom-com, it's more like women's fiction, to be honest. This hampered our enjoyment slightly. We almost DNF'd a few times along the way but something kept us going.

A very slow read that felt like not much happened until the latter part of the book. The pacing was off and we didn't feel like we were getting anywhere or even where the story was going. The characters were interesting but their stories felt fractious and when in 3rd person that made it hard to form a connection.

Hurrah for the last 20%...that's when it got good, interesting, and compelling. Well worth it, so we're glad we didn't give up.

what a interesting book about 3 different women and the main guy who has interacted with all of them. There is some romance and some trials during the book. I liked that miranda found love with someone I was rooting for ...also loved jane and sioban . Great story about the day that he was a no show.

3 Stars
This was a very different type of book for me, I usually never read anything that has multiple characters all fighting for the same love interest. This had its moments, was written well, but for me, I had a little difficulty connecting.
I did read until the end because i did want to know how it was going to end, and the ending was satisfying.

After really loving O'Leary's previous books I had really high hopes for this one and while it did let me down a little, there is such a coziness to her books that is hard to match.

This book centres around three individuals Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane and their love affairs, however they are all in love with the same man. Worse than that, they have all been stood up on Valentine's Day. Join them as they navigate their own lives and try and untangle the web surrounding him.

I felt this book was a bit confusing and although the chapters were named I found myself getting mixed up between the characters and didn't find ones I immediately fell in love with. Although I was more invested by the time the book came to a close I felt like it took a bit too long to get there. I liked the mystery surrounding the main man and enjoyed as the web came all together at the end.

The No-Show
by Beth O'Leary
Pub Date: April 12, 2022
Berkely
Thanks to the author, Berkely, and NetGalley for the ARC of this great book! I went into this book blindly which I think is the best way to read it. I'm so glad I didn't know the twist and did not figure it out until it was revealed to me. I feel this is more of a romantic mystery rather than a rom-com which made this book even more enjoyable for me. None of the three women deserved to be jilted by the same man but the ending left me very satisfied.
Good Book!~
4 stars

Thank you @berkleyromance @netgalley for a copy of The No-Show. I feel duped by this book but I a good way. A book about 3 women jilted on Valentine's Day by the same man.

This book isn't a romance but we get to see Joseph's relationship with each of these women. I wasn't sure where it was going and the twist surprised me and the ending left me satisfied.

I really enjoyed this read from Beth O’Leary, and it’s probably my favourite from her so far. Watching the characters grow throughout the book, with the mixture of tough topics in their stories, I found this book to be a relatable read. I’ve suggested it to customers already!

If slow reveals irritate you, this is not the book for you. While I love O'Leary's writing, I also spent most of the novel fuming at the titular no-show, thinking he was a scumbag for stringing along all of these women. Once the twist is revealed 70% of the way through the book, though, everything clicked for me. There are hints throughout the novel, but I truly didn't expect it--it's a clever bit of plotting.

O'Leary's signature coziness and emotional depth shine here. I didn't enjoy this as much as The Flatshare, but it's a close second.

In The No-Show, Beth O'Leary weaves a story between the three jilted women and the one complicated man who connects them.

I'm not usually one to enjoy my hero being in love with multiple heroines, but Beth O'Leary tells their story in such a convincing way that you inevitably end up rooting for them all.

Then, just when you can't figure out how she will ever pull off the requisite HEA, she hits you with a twist that you never saw coming.

This is a confounding, heartbreaking, romantic, and achingly sweet story that manages to provide redemption for every character while never turning them into caricatures.

Thank you to Berkeley for the ARC to read and review.

I am very disappointed in this book. It was way to similar to another contemporary book with the same trope of a man dating three women. DNF.

Another great read! I went into this one with different expectations, and was pleasantly surprised! Beth O'Leary will be an automatic read for me now, for sure! I absolutely loved Joseph by the end of the book and of course Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane were the best. Looking forward to seeing what we get from O'Leary in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Beth O’Leary is back in the best possible way! However, I’d like to get something straight—there are so many people out there saying that this is a rom-com, and expecting it to be a rom-com, and I truly would not classify it that way. This book HURT. It had twists and turns I was not mentally or emotionally prepared for. It was GOOD, and definitely recommended, but not for my cartoon cover romantic comedy pals who read the genre for its comforting predictability. I think if you’ve ever enjoyed a single book that is housed on the “women’s fiction” shelf, this is a great choice for you. If you’re into multiple POVs, this is also for you. If you enjoyed any of O’Leary’s other books, this is also for you. If you’re looking for a simple romance with some comedic elements, this is not for you.

Welp, this one had me in the feels. It’s impossible to talk about much without giving it away. And honestly it’s best not to know anything (I will share some CW below).

Basically I did not see the twist coming and was legitimately shocked. I really liked seeing how everything came together.

Basically I would definitely recommend.






[cw - depression/anxiety, disassociation; stalking, emotional abuse/inappropriate sexual relationship]

Miranda, Siobhan, and Jane all know Joseph Carter by a different name, and at first glance, he is dating–and playing–all three. The novel opens on Valentine’s Day with each woman waiting for Joseph to show up for their respective breakfast, lunch and dinner dates. The author would like you to believe he’s a cad… and then you think, maybe he’s hurt…?

Life coach Siobhan is doesn’t want to let anyone in, thanks to her last failed relationship, so her same-time-next-month with Joseph suits her lifestyle perfectly. Arborist Miranda might like more with Carter but uses him to keep AJ, a co-worker who makes no secret of his interest, at arm’s length. And Jane is in hiding from something and takes pleasure in simplicity and routine, and her friendship and two-person book club is just what she needs in her life right now. The narrative advances in chapters that alternate from each of the women, with multiple vulnerable, heart-breaking moments and a very satisfying ending.

Through superb plotting, it turns out that all three ladies have more than just Joseph in common, and things are definitely not what they seem. Strong in plot, setting and character, with a wonderful twist, the only thing that marred the narrative for me was an outdated notion that a guy should push after a lady says she doesn’t want to date him. Several references to AJ’s pushiness with Miranda left a sour taste in my mouth and prevented this 3-star book from being a four-star book.

I received an advance reader's review copy of #TheNoShow via #NetGalley.

I absolutely loved this one. When I first started reading, I kept having to stop myself from flipping ahead to see how it was going to get resolved. I didn’t want to spoil it for myself though, so I gathered up every ounce of my willpower and did not skip ahead. And I’m so glad I didn’t.

The chapters alternate between the three points of view of the women (Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane), but you’ll have no trouble keeping things straight as each character is so unique and individual. I was equally interested in each of their stories and could have read an entire book just focused on each of them alone. There was so much underneath the surface with Joseph, and I wanted to peel back each of his layers until his story was unearthed. (It is eventually! Don’t fret.)

I wasn’t sure how O’Leary was going to put all the puzzle pieces together – although I did try to guess along the way. I think if you’re an avid reader and/or watcher of tv and movies, you will eventually see what’s coming – although at a couple points I tried to deny that’s how it was going to play out. But the beauty in O’Leary’s writing is even if you think you know how it’s going to go, you don’t know for certain until it actually happens.

This is such a surprising read full of depth and complexity, and thankfully also some laughs. It packs a big punch, and I found myself sobbing reading late into the night one weekend, but I couldn’t stop until I had finished the very last page. I stayed up way past my bedtime, and it was worth every minute.

Beth O’Leary has successfully stolen my heart with her previous “rom-dram-coms.” The No-Show has a slightly different spin with three POV’s of women who have all been stood up by the same man on Valentine’s Day. Each woman’s story slowly intertwines as they learn what really happened that day.

The story is bittersweet with a few twists and turns. Fans of One Day or The Two Lives of Lydia Bird will enjoy this book. Due to the multiple perspectives there are certain ends that aren’t tied up as well as I would have hoped, but other than that the story is enjoyable.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

Well written, but didn't appeal to me enough in the end. Three different women, each with a very different professional background, having a relationship with the same man, their stories told in rotating chapters. The book had a bit too much involved in dysfunctional lives/personalities, and a bit of humor would have gone a long way to make this a more enjoyable read. The reader is well kept in suspense about what is really happening until about 3/4 of the way into the book, so kudos to the author for that. I had enjoyed the author's previous books, and I will most likely read her next one as well.

This was an excellent adult book! It took a twist I did predict at all. I would definitely recommend having a tissue or two nearby, because I think you will cry at least once (likely more than once) during this book. Overall, I would recommend it to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.