My favorite read of the year so far 👏🏽

The No-Show by Beth O’Leary had all the ingredients of my most loved books: a bit of mystery, unpredictable twists, complex characters, & romance. I thought this would be your typical rom-com, but it was so much more. Three women get stood up on Valentine’s Day… by the same man. The majority of the book had me thinking WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON & I loved the mystery of it. Don’t want to say another word because I don’t want to give a thing away, but I highly recommend for those that appreciate an unpredictable story that keeps you guessing.

US release date: April 12, 2022

𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧

⋒ unpredictable storylines
⋒ multiple POV
⋒ UK based books
⋒ mysterious & emotional romances

—— ★★★★★

Thanks to @berkleypub & @netgalley for this early e-copy.

Beth O’Leary, you are back in top form! I had read a review that said she didn’t expect the plot twist but said looking back, the signs were there. And I can second that, even though going into it, I was on the hunt. The ending was very satisfying and the way the stories of the three female characters, Miranda, Siobhan and Jane, we’re laced together was solidly paced and pleasingly resolved. And Joseph? So many words I want to use to describe him…because they run the gamut. Anyhoo!!! So. Good. Five solid stars!

A delightful read - I will be purchasing for the library. You will find yourself relating to the characters.

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

O’Leary’s The Switch and the The Flatshare were enjoyable reads, so I had high hopes that I would love The No-Show. Three women. Three dates. One missing man…Sounds good right? Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I wanted to.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝:
- I appreciated that the author talks about mental health, the importance of having a support system and how it affects MEN and Women. Men’s mental health is not talked about often enough.
All three women had unique personalities which made the story interesting! My favourite was Miranda, and I loved her POV the most out of everyone.
- The last 15% of the book was my favourite part of the book. You see a lot of growth and realness in the characters, I just wish it happened a bit earlier on.

𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟:
- I strongly disliked main character Joseph Carter until about the last 15% of the book. I felt his character to be extremely annoying and messy in the beginning - but I guess that’s to be expected when you’re dating 3 women!
- The timeline was confusing - I felt there was too much going on.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫:
✔️Three women dating the same guy
✔️A clever twist
✔️Interesting timeline
✔️Character growth
✔️Mental health awareness in both men and women

My Rating: 3.5✩

I still recommend this for romance lovers and giving this one a shot if you're a fan of Beth O'Learys previous books!

First, a bit of backstory.  Months ago, I optimistically requested The No-Show on Netgalley.  I was thrilled (and surprised) when I received a notification that my request was accepted.  To be honest, I requested The No-Show because it was an O’Leary book, and not because of anything I knew about the story.  As usual, I intended to read the book blurb before I started reading the book and figured I would be fine.  Alas, there was no book blurb included!  Since I’m too cheap to pay for a cruise internet package (the prices are ridiculous!), I went into The No-Show totally blind.  I’m so glad I did.

About halfway through the book - which I couldn't put down once I started reading it - I was convinced O’Leary had written a thriller and not a romance, and that there was a villain who was due a major comeuppance.  And I was here for it (the thriller and the comeuppance!)!  I was even tempted to ask my travel buddy/internet package owner to look it up on Goodreads so I could read the blurb and see if I was right, but I resisted.  Again, I'm so glad I did.  Because the payoff - as you reach the final chapters and O’Leary masterfully weaves the disparate PoV threads together - is satisfying on so many levels!  Heartbreaking.  Romantic.  Complicated.  Friends, the word extraordinary comes to mind!  The No-Show isn't technically a thriller or a romance (although there are two HEAs in it), and the ending may leave you in tears.  Happy tears!  Sad tears!  Label shmabel!  I loved The No-Show any way you classify it.  It’s definitely on the short list for my favorite book this year.

Okay.  So how to talk about this tricky novel without any spoilers?  I’ll start with the three women who narrate the story.

Siobhan is a wealthy, ambitious and quick-tempered life coach.  After the abrupt and emotionally devastating end of her last relationship, Siobhan (Shiv to her two closest friends) has little faith in love or happily ever after.  Shiv only does casual relationships, and she’s always the first to bail when any of her lovers begin to get too close.  But on this particular morning, Shiv is at a trendy café waiting for Joseph.  She usually meets Joseph at a hotel for sex once a month (on work trips from her home in Dublin to London).  They don’t date and they definitely don’t meet at trendy cafés for breakfast, and she’s trying not to read too much into the date or the holiday. (It’s Valentine’s Day.)  It’s too late.  Shiv likes Joseph too much already, and deep down she’s hoping the breakfast date is a sign he wants more from her, too.  Except Joseph is late.  And Shiv is pissed.  The café is annoying, a customer has just dripped coffee on her expensive dress, and Joseph is a no-show.  Relationships are not for her - and now, neither is sexy, handsome, funny Joseph.  Shiv leaves the cafe determined never to speak to him again.  She blocks his number.  Shiv doesn’t forgive.  She forgets.

Miranda is a tree surgeon who loves her job.  After spotting a group of tree surgeons at work one day as a little girl, she attended a workshop to learn how to safely clip on and climb up - and she’s been hooked ever since.  When we meet her, she’s nervous.  Today is her first day working with a new - all male - crew, and she’s worried about making a good first impression.  But when Jamie, the team leader, shows up and introduces her to his motley crew, Miranda stops worrying.  Miranda has always been comfortable spending time with lads - and ladies - and the crew immediately makes her feel welcome.  She ignores the slow once-over AJ - a renowned ladies’ man - gives her, and listens as Jamie gives out the daily assignments.  He sends her up into a tall oak, and once she’s up in the tree with her chainsaw, Miranda is wholly focused on the job at hand.  The job is dangerous, and when Miranda is up in a tree, nothing else snags her attention.  She finishes early - reminding Jamie she has a Valentine’s Day lunch to get to.  He waves her off and after she rebuffs AJ's invitation to meet up for a drink, she heads out.  Miranda is happy with her handsome and clever businessman boyfriend, Carter.  She isn’t quite sure how she and Carter - total opposites - wound up together, but she knows she’s falling in love with him.  Unfortunately, after changing at a nearby McDonald’s and arriving early (and underdressed) for their lunch date at the fancy restaurant Carter selected, she’s forced to admit she’s been stood up.  Miranda can’t believe it.  She checks her phone for messages, again texts Carter to ask where he is, and heads home.  Miranda is annoyed - angry even, but she’s certain there’s a good reason Carter was a no-show.

Jane works as a volunteer at a local charity shop.  She likes routines and keeps her life simple - stopping in the same café every morning; ordering the same item (even though she really wants a cinnamon bun); wearing the same clothes on the same days every week - and she’s convinced she’s unlikeable and unloveable.  (Reader, we aren’t sure why Jane is so determinedly alone, and we won’t find out until this story is nearly over).  On this particular night, Jane is at a colleague’s engagement party and is trying to avoid conversation with another volunteer, Keira, by steadily eating through the hors d’oeuvres.  If her mouth is full she can’t talk, and she definitely can’t tell any more lies.  Which she hates doing.   Unfortunately, Keira kept trying to play matchmaker and Jane had to make up a fictional boyfriend.  She knows Keira is going to ask her why she’s at the party alone, so she’s doing everything she can to avoid her.  This wasn’t supposed to happen, though.  Joseph Carter was supposed to be her fake boyfriend.  But he’s a no-show.  Jane knew he was too good to be true.  Ever since the handsome stranger introduced himself one morning (after asking why she just didn’t buy the cinnamon bun she clearly wanted), she’s been waiting for him to realize she isn’t worth his time.  When he offered to accompany her to the party, she was relieved but nervous.  She isn’t surprised he’s a no-show.  Jane doesn’t deserve a great guy like Joseph Carter.  Oh, Jane!

Oh, reader!  WHO IS JOSEPH CARTER?!  Well, I’m not going to tell you!  Let’s just say Clueless Em™ finished these opening chapters convinced a Very Bad Man somehow linked these three, but unsure if it was the same person.  And it took her way too long to realize Joseph and Carter are Joseph Carter!  You’re welcome.  But that’s all I’m going to say about him and this story.  Suffice it to say, there is a MAJOR plot twist and it completely caught me unawares.  Don’t try to guess; wait for it.  It’s excellent.

Fortunately, although I can’t tell you much about the plot, there are lots of other great bits.  If you like a clever story, this one is a banger.  If you aren’t afraid to cry, get your tissues handy.  And finally, the supporting cast is brilliant.  O’Leary loves great friendships, and Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane are supported by some of the best friends ever.  Their friends - their found families, really - are encouraging and loving, supportive and kind and good, and they add so much richness to this story.  These are the kind of people you want in your corner.

Wow, I wish I could tell you all about this book.  I can’t.  You just have to trust me.  It’s great.  One of the best of the year, and probably my favorite O’Leary book.  So far.

Buy it at: Amazon, Audible or your local independent retailer
Visit our Amazon Storefront

I loved The Switch but did not enjoy The Road Trip, so I was a little hesitant to request this on NetGalley, but I’m so glad I did. Beth O’Leary is back in full form with The No-Show.

It was a quick read with alternating POVs, three different women who have been stood up by the same man on Valentine’s Day. Each woman is a unique character with seemingly nothing in common except for Joseph Carter. I spent much of the book trying to work out how they would meet up, realizing they were being played by the same man.

I really can’t figure out any more to say without verging on spoilers, so suffice it to say that I’m an O’Leary fan! I will continue to read her books and hope I don’t have to wait too long for the next one!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Reading about the three different women in Joseph's life made me impatient. I wanted to know what impelled him to switch from woman to woman, each thinking she was the one and only one for him. The women's encounters with Joseph read like a novel in three parts, each chapter showing him with each woman.

This way of writing the story made me flip through the pages, eager to get to the real Joseph. Only at the end did the stories and persons finally begin to overlap somewhat and become more interesting. There is a swist at the end, for sure, but Joseph still didn't get my sympathy.

A slow start made the book only mildly interesting.

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for an advance copy of The No Show. This book took me on a wild ride, but was ultimately amazing!

Star Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pub Date: April 12, 2022

Okay...so, this review originated in Net Galley (and I share my Net Galley reviews to GoodReads), so I want to be careful with what I write here. Possible mild spoilers ahead because I would 100% recommend going into this book blind.

I went into this book fairly blind, only knowing it was by Beth O'Leary and I love her books. This book took me by complete surprise. About halfway through, I was starting to feel a bit disappointed, not going to lie. It SEEMED the story was going to revolve around Carter dating three women simultaneously, which is fun, but not really special, you know? THEN the switch flipped about 60% through the book, the stage set for everything to start unfolding...and boy, did it!

The connections between the three women and Carter, the role he played for each of them, and more importantly, the role they played for HIM was exceptional. I had pieced together a bit of what was going down, but I missed the major point by a longshot. I'm glad I did, though, because it made the last 40% of the book an even bigger surprise. I absolutely loved the way the story played out, the growth in Carter, and the ending. It was chef's kiss perfection.

This is a book in which I feel all the characters get their due. Their storyline, their development, all of it was on point. I really liked Mir and Jane and bless me, I liked Carter even when I thought he was a conflicted cheater. he just seemed so lost at times in the story, and once it all made sense, my heart broke for him. My heart also broke for Jane so many times because I could almost feel the tangible benefit of Carter's love for her, it being within her reach but not quite there at times. I also rooted for Mir and AJ because they just gelled! And Mir's twin sisters were hilarious. I loved them!

Ultimately, though, it was Jane I rooted for from the beginning. I loved her character, I grieved for her past treatment, and I wanted her to rebound from the mental abuse she had suffered. And I rooted for Carter, again, even when I thought he was a cheater.

This book made me feel so many things, and again, the ending was absolute perfection. How could a book lover NOT fall in love with a couple who fell in love over books and reading???

Thank you for this book, Beth O'Leary. I truly think it is your best work.

This book was absolutely beautiful and, at times, incredibly heartbreaking. But it was so lovely and full of twists and turns that I didn't put together until nearly the end! I was prepared to hate Joseph Carter - the way a man dating three women at the same time should be hated -but I couldn't do it. I loved him. And I guarantee you will too! Jane, Miranda, and Siobhan's stories were unique and full of humor and charm. While at times, I was a bit confused about timing issues, it all made sense at the end. I seriously could not put this book down. Beth O'Leary has proven again how versatile she is. I am four for four in loving her books and am already look forward to the next one.

This is definitely a good read. I did wonder how our hero could balance all three women, but it seemed like he managed until he didn't. This is a book that I could give spoilers for but that would truly spoil the fun you will have reading it. One of the women's name is Siobhan. This name is not familiar to me even though I have seen it before. It is an Irish name and pronounced “Shi-vaun”. I have to admit it took me out of the book until I finally found out the pronounciation. I also found it a bit confusing trying to keep the women straight, but that was probably just me. There are surprises in this book that add to the delightful read.

I was not expecting to like this book. At the time of the reading I was on vacation. It was supposed to be a wonderful break from life with many hours spent with the one I adore the most in this world (aside from my child). And, of course, thanks to the universe conspiring against me as it so often does, I spent the entire time alone aside from one marvelous hour. He didn't exactly "no-show." Well, he did ... but I at least was given warning that things had happened. A "no-show" is far superior to a "no-call no-show," after all. Those can get a person fired. Or broken up with. Or a book written about them.

Regardless, it probably wasn't the best of times to try to read this.

But .... it was exactly the perfect time to read this.

I was thinking that it was going to end up being like a more grown-up version of the movie "John Tucker Must Die" in which one guy is caught dating three girls at the same time and they band together to pretty much destroy him. Cute enough teenish cheesy chick-flick with a decent early 2000s cast.

This was not that.

This was so much more and so much better and I so highly recommend it.

There is more than a fair amount of angst. Sometimes we need angst in our books. Sometimes the angst in the books helps us to get over the angst in our real lives. That is, more or less, what The No-Show did for me -- to some degree, anyway. I was still way angsty after reading it, but more hopeful that it would all work out the way it should.

A certain man should be very thankful that I grabbed this to be my angsty-read rather than one of my serial killer/psychological thriller/kill-kill-kill books. Even though I thought this would be closer to that with a rom-com twist, I'm glad that I was wrong... and I now have everything Beth O'Leary has written waiting not-so-patiently for me to get through more of my NetGalley shelf. Maybe I should just buy the paperbacks and keep them on hand for future vacation attempts.

Beth O’Leary knows how to write books that are hard to put down - including this one! Filled with genuine emotions and incredible characters; the story comes together in a surprising way and it was hard to want to do anything else but read this book. Each chapter is a different characters story and the story rolls at a medium pace, giving time to get to know the various characters and keep the storylines straight. The way O’Leary has woven the three female main characters together throughout the story is very well done and is what leads to such a surprising ending. I really enjoyed reading this book - I would highly recommend it to fiction fans.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so much more than I thought it would be in all the best ways. On the surface, it seems like we are getting the story of three women who were stood up by the same man on valentine’s day, but there is so much more than meets the eye to this one. I don’t remember the last time I read a book that surprised me in the way that this one has. Beth O’Leary is at the top of her game with The No-Show. This is the type of book that as soon as you finish, you’ll want to pick it back up so you can read it in a whole new light. I am keeping this review as vague as I can because you truly need to go in blind and genuinely feel everything this story makes you feel, but just know I loved this story so much, I don’t know when I’ll be able to stop thinking about it.


CW: death of a loved one, cheating, dementia, self harm, miscarriage, sexual harassment

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley publishing for providing me with an early read of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

#Netgalley #betholeary #thenoshow

The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

The best way to enjoy this story it to go into it blindly, which is what I did. I'm so glad I didn't know the big twist and this is one of the rare times that I didn't figure it out until it was served to me on a platter, towards the end of the story. The twist changed my perspective on everything that had happened earlier in the book.

Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane are stood up by their boyfriend on Valentine's Day. Men are cads, right? Oh wait, it seems that the boyfriend that stood these three women up are the same man!

We get to know Joseph Carter through these three very different women. He's almost too good to be true in a nerdy, good looking, flawed way. He really seems to care about each woman although he does have trouble being on time and sometimes will space out. He's very generous and loving but will clam up if pressed too hard about certain things.

I really cannot say more because I do not want to risk spoiling anything in the story. I don't think of this as a romcom but more as a romantic mystery, which suits me well. Once I started the book I was invested in figuring out how this story would progress and how the women and this one man would get through life. Surely Joseph can't get away with whatever he's doing, can he? How sustainable is this situation? The story pulled my emotions every which way. None of these women deserved to be hurt and it was so hard to understand the why of Joseph's actions. The story is so good and I'm thankful for an ending that left me very satisfied.

Thank you to Elisha at Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

I couldn’t get into it! I wanted to love this so badly, and I just didn’t. It took me months to finish this book, and I think it just wasn’t for me.

3.5*
This definitely wasn’t what I was expecting!

Three women…one man. Nope, you’re right. That does not add up to happiness.

I won’t reveal many details regarding the storyline. It would be like walking a minefield of spoilers.

So… I’ll focus on my feelings towards this latest work by Beth O’Leary.

The build-up was a bit too long. I was desperate for something more to happen. Waiting for the inevitable collision. I found myself enjoying the story but with a constant, nagging feeling something was missing.

And once the pieces came together it was too little too late, leaving me a bit disappointed. Again, it’s also possible I was expecting something different?💁🏻‍♀️

I’ll leave it at that and just hope it works better for you!

A buddy read with Susanne.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing

First thanks so much to the publisher for providing me an advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own.

This was actually my first Beth O’Leary and it blew me away. You think you know what the story is as you begin. And you have certain feelings about what’s happening. Each woman is so different; Miranda is probably the one I warmed up to first, then Jane, then Siobhan. And even though you have a certain image of Joseph, it’s amazingly hard to hate him. Then the story is completely turned on its head and I was reeling. I almost wanted to start the book over with new eyes.
This story explores grief, mental health, coping, being alone, figuring out what being with the right person looks like, friendship, toxic masculinity, and love. And it does it all so beautifully. The journey each character goes through is so well-done. I really loved every single one of them so much by the end. My heart and my emotions were all over the place and I absolutely cried. But it really did wrap up beautifully.
I can’t recommend this enough, but it does deal with some very heavy topics, so take care of yourself while reading.

This was my first novel by this author and I can’t wait to read more after falling in love with this beautiful story. What I thought was going to be a quick, predictably rom-com turned into a heartfelt and surprising romance filled with depth. This book follows three incredible women who have one thing in common: they all are stood up on Valentine’s Day and by the exact same man. What follows is a beautiful story of love and a journey between three women who may just have more in common than meets the eye. This book does come with some unexpected surprises. While some parts broke my heart, I walked away with the biggest smile after reading this book and can’t recommend it enough! Many thanks to Berkley publishing and Netgalley for this early copy!

Okay, this is a tough one for me to review ...

Let me start by begging publishers to PLEASE stop marketing books as rom-coms when they really, truly are not. Despite the synopsis claiming this to be so, THE NO-SHOW is definitely not a rom-com -- and I'd argue, it's not really a romance, either. Yes, the plot heavily revolves around a series of romances -- but it's truly more a work of women's fiction, as we follow three women who all appear to be dating the same man. The synopsis is a little misleading here, as well, for the sake of protecting a "twist" (which I guessed early on, tbh) -- but I don't think the synopsis does any favors. In fact, I'd argue the book would be better served be spoiling that twist from the get go. It makes for an exciting "reveal" when you get to it, but if you don't know it's coming, it makes getting through the book really tough -- because it really sets up Joseph to look like a total heel. And that's not what anyone wants in a romantic lead. It's hard to feel invested in the story when, as a reader, you're not inclined to root for him.

Once I step away from the disenchantment between my expectations of the book and what the book actually is, I do think it has some merits. It's definitely not my favorite of Beth O'Leary's, and not nearly as ambitious as it's marketed to be -- since I think too much hinges on the "twist." And that "twist" made it hard to enjoy the book in the moment. Ultimately, I think this was a good idea but wasn't pieced together (or marketed correctly) to make it a winning read for me.

The best part of this book for me was following these three very unique women, and connecting with their lives. Siobhan, Miranda, and Jane were far more interesting to me than Joseph, and honestly, I just thought they could all do better than him. These women, and the friends/family who support them, are what kept me reading.

THE NO-SHOW wasn't all bad, but it wasn't a hit for me.