Dumped, Actually

I appreciate having had an opportunity to read and review this book. The appeal of this particular book was not evident to me, and if I cannot file a generally positive review I prefer simply to advise the publisher to that effect and file no review at all.

A fantastic four star read.
Well worth reading, as good as any of his other books! I thoroughly enjoyed this.

I loved this book and would highly recommend it to all. It has a great story line, brilliant main characters and is a real page turner. I couldn't put this book down.

Sounds sappy but it’s actually rather funny as Ollie gets material to write his column as he realizes he’s on a self-discovery tour. I did want to smack him upside the head so many times he was such a wuss but his adventures made it worth reading
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this arc for an honest review

You know where you stand when getting a Nick Spalding's book. His use of language is masterful and that alone is worth the reading. As usual the story is interspersed with intelligent humour and fabulous, quirky - to say the least- characters. Very light and entertaining but be prepared to find very good food for thought should you decide to read between the lines - another sign this is definitely top comedy. I couldn't help giving real life faces to the characters (both actors and, ahem, very well known memebers of public life). I can see a film (or a series?) coming out of this brilliant plot. I laughed so much! Definitely recommended and to be put on top of the to-be-read this summer.
I had the great pleasure to be able to read this book through NetGalley, before it was published. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.
#DumpedActually #NetGalley

Great storyline, amazing characters & very witty. I loved reading this book & would highly recommend it.

This book needs to be adapted into a 20 episode series - Ollie and his life encounters since getting dumped. A definite entertainer. One of the funniest writings I have come across these past few months.

Ollie was dumped by his girlfriend, yet again without a clue and was drowning in self-pity. He wrote about his breakups with a feature piece on a web-based magazine and asked the subscribers for advice on how to mend his broken heart. The way Ollie whines and exaggerates every tiny little things that were not going his way was just too much for me. I wish the author had developed the storyline with Wimsy rather than solely focusing on whiny, clueless Ollie.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An amusing tale of the woes of being human and trying to be a good one. I sniggered and snorted my way through the trials and tribulations of a character that needed to “grow a pair”. A good book, not one to push you but entertaining to say the least.

Dumped, Actually is another laugh out loud book from Nick Spalding. I received some funny looks on my commute to work but it was totally worth it. I thought Dry Hard was a bit so-so but Nick is back on top form with Dumped, Actually. I can't write anything about the story without spoiling it but look out for the episode in the forest!

I have never read a book by this author before, but, my goodness I will from now on. Hilariously funny, good storyline, believable and lovable characters. One thing I will say though is do not read this in the car (as I did in parts) as you get the strangest looks when laughing at some of the antics that Sweet gets up too. Highly recommended

When Ollie is very publicly dumped by “The One”, his seemingly perfect world dissolved into misery. Until a bizarre chance encounter on a rooftop with a suicidal man in flip flops. While most would seek out the support of those close to him, Ollie reaches out to his subscribers, writing all about his break up. What follows is a series of soul seeking adventures recommended by his readers. With the support of all his subscribers, can Ollie mend his broken heart and find happiness again?

One of the funniest, most heart felt books I’ve ever read. I very rarely laugh out loud when reading. It takes a lot, but Rolf Harris jokes while camping with deers peering in, that makes me laugh out loud. Hearing all of Ollie’s adventures spoken about so honestly are just so funny. Then of course he figures out the root of his problems and it’s sad and raw. It takes you on the full roller coaster. It was refreshing reading a romance novel from a male perspective. Absolutely loved it!

This was the first book I've read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and the characters were well thought out.

While reading this book I actually lost count of the times that I laughed out loud!! Not just the occasional small chuckle but genuinely loud cackles.

Ollie is so relatable and the way his story is told, is so captivating; you truly are on the rollercoaster of life with him. You get to experience all of his ups and downs and take some sense of joy from his misadventures.

As someone that is also trying to be more mindful, it's a really quite nice to be able to see how Ollie deals with the cards he's been dealt and how he works through new (hilarious) situations.

I went into this book thinking it would maybe be purely a romantic novel, focusing solely on Ollie's relationships but it blossomed in to so much more than that. It truly is a coming of age story; full of new truths and adventure.

*I am grateful to have been given this book as an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are mine.*


Not gonna lie, when I first started this book I was NOT impressed with it. I almost DNF'd it because I wasn't sure I would have anything good to say. The main character, Ollie, gets dumped by his girlfriend and complains about not understanding why because he is such a "nice guy". I HATE the nice guy routine, and I sort of thought he was a wimp, rather than being a romantic hero. I also knew going in that there were going to be a few cringe worthy moments (he writes a column asking how to get over his ex and follows people's advice and of course hilarity ensues), and I don't necessarily like reading/watching things where people get embarrassed. I always feel second hand embarrassment for them rather than enjoying it. I was surprised the further in that I got into the book though, I was enjoying Ollie's story and found him to be a rather pleasant and lovable character, a genuine "nice" guy if not a bit too needy for my own tastes. Toward the end I couldn't put the book down and stayed up late last night in order to finish it. It sort of reminded me of a "Shopaholic" era Sophie Kinsella novel; entertaining and just plain CUTE.

I got half way through this book,and then just didn't get any further.
It just wasn't tickling my funny bone. In fact it hadn't even raised a small smile.
I could see the humour in it,but it felt a bit too predictable for me. Possibly trying a bit too hard.
So whilst I see it's not badly written,it just wasn't my type of humour.

A very light and quick read! So many spots that will leave you laughing out loud. This is my first read by this author, and I will definitely look for more. I like following the progression of Ollie as he experiences heartbreak and then uses his experience to help others as well as himself.

Thanks Netgalley!

Not a bad read, a good story, did think ollie was a bit wet and couldn't really warm to him, previous novels of Nicks have made me laugh out loud this one not so much, but kept me engaged until the end

Oliver Sweet, your typical ‘nice guy’. I absolutely loved this book. I love Nick Spaulding and have enjoyed all of his book. Reader beware, if you’re reading this book in public you may have to hold your laughing in!! Thanks to Netgalley for letting me review this title.

Light hearted cheery uplifting book! Ollie and his disastrous love life, will make you smile and laugh out loud at his antics, nice to read a book from a more male perspective, that is easily relatable and believable!
This book is a feel good, funny treat to devour in one sitting!
Thank you net galley for this advance copy to read much enjoyed x

I was curious to see how I would rate this book; for me Bricking It, a previous book by Splading ,was the funniest book I had ever experienced and I didn't see this being any better. Boy, was I wrong. It's the utter comedy perfection I've come to expect from this author but also a really really REALLY good story with loveable, well developed characters and antics that keep you wanting to turn the page to see what happens next.

I don't remember the last time I've laughed as much as while reading this book, its definitely one you don't want to read sat alone in a coffee if you're conscious of people staring. I was there blurting out proper belly laughs, not just cute little chuckles.

It's also really refreshing to have a man being dumped and going through the phases that typically we see in chick-lit and then working through things in a quite unique way and coming out the other side with an interesting perspective.

I've really enjoyed this book and I'm pretty sad that its over. 5/5.

Oliver (the MC) is sweet and lovable but also a total pushover and sometimes-idiot, to the point that some of his actions were exasperating. At the beginning of the story I wasn't sure if he would win me over, but win me over he did!

A really fun story, full of interesting characters and plenty of truly laugh out loud moments.

Nick Spalding continues to be a winner!

Ollie plans a very elaborate proposal to Samantha, his love. Her fondness for theme parks makes the grand opening of Thorn Manor a perfect time to propose - and it is on Samantha's birthday, too.

Ollie has planned everything from a band, to a first ride on a roller coaster and even a 24K gold ring!

And then it's off to the zany adventures that only Nick Spalding can entertain with. His humor never ceases to delight!

Many Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for another great read!

Dumped, Actually by author Nick Spaulding started strong with the main character drawing empathy from readers. Character antics brought about a couple of chuckles.
Review copy received from the Publisher via Netgalley

I absolutely loved this book! I was crying with laughter quite a few times, Nick Spalding is my go to author when I want cheered up. I realise comedy is extremely subjective and these books might not appeal to everyone, but Nick's books really appeal to my sense of humour. Some of the situations Ollie gets himself into after being dumped by his girlfriend are absolutely hysterical. I also loved Ollie's parents, they were bewildered but always supportive,
Fabulous book, I would thoroughly recommend.

This is a fast read about a man who’s a chameleon and doormat. After a disastrous public breakup, he tries to move on and grow up. The story is predictable and sometimes the writing doesn’t flow, but Ollie’s propensity for ridiculous situations is humorous.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved this book never read any by this author before but will definitely be looking at his others - Ollie is publicly dumped - this leads him to writing about his quest for true love and we see unfold a great endearing book about finding true love

I love Spalding’s writing, but I do feel that his last two (this included) aren’t as strong as the early works.

This was an enjoyable, quick read with some absolutely hilarious moments, but it lacked the grab factor. The first and last thirds just felt a bit lacking, though the middle was fantastic.

Still recommended, but not as highly as it should have been.

Another hilarious book which most of us can relate to. I didn’t give it my usual 5 stars because, while it was funny, it didn’t make me snort, laugh out loud or choke on my coffee.

Absolutely brilliant. Loved the book so very much. It was hilarious and lovely. It had some throwbacks to a previous novel (which made me squeal with excitement). The characters were fantastic and so well written. I loved them all, even the one I loved to hate. The story is written so very well - who needs self help books when they have Nick Spalding. This book is truly extraordinary and I can’t wait for the next Nick Spalding book to come out.

Absolutely Brilliant, so much so I have already recommended it to a book group I'm part of. I love how nick spalding addresses issues people have been through and can relate to one way or another. I was up until 2am this morning finishing this! loved it. Also loved the subtle mention of Dry Hard!

Dumped, Actually is a nice well-written comedy around Oliver, a writer who's going through a tough breakup. We follow him through his internal turmoils. I laughed a lot and I caught myself cheering him up internally. The humor kept me reading until the end, but I got distracted a lot in the way. Even though I felt a lot of empathy toward Ollie, he wasn't a character that could bear the whole book.

What started out as a funny book that had me laughing out loud in places, sadly didn't keep me entertained to the end. I couldn't warm to the protagonist Ollie, and I think the book would have benefitted with more about the character Wimsy, who I found to be more authentic and likeable.

The book is well written and I liked the various ideas suggested to Ollie to help him get over his broken heart but he was just too needy and irritating for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet story about self-discovery and self-acceptance. I liked Ollie as a character and I enjoyed the side stories as well. The whole book was light and entertaining and kept me engaged.

The only thing that took away from the story was the heavy-handed humour and the third-wall breaks. There were times when the author spent a lot of time examining and re-examining the same scene, seemingly to show off his plentiful supply of euphemisms for things like boogers. Had the author toned these moments down and kept the third-wall breaks out of it entirely, I would have liked this even more.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this story, even though the main character annoyed me. Ollie was a bit of a pathetic character with a “woe is me” attitude. However, the misadventures he undertook after asking his readers to give getting over a breakup advice after being dumped by his girlfriend were hilarious, and along the way he stopped taking himself so seriously. Not immediately as engrossing as some of Nick’s other books, but it winds its way to a good, unexpected ending.

I couldn’t stand the whiny pathetic nature of the main character- Ollie! No wonder he was dumped!
I tried to see past the irritation of the main character but just couldn’t get into the story because I didn’t feel anything for Ollie, apart from frustration
Maybe you need to be a true Nick Spalding fan or a true Romantic to love this book. I dumped this book though!

This was my first Nick Spalding novel and I have to say, this MUST be read with an English accent! Oliver Sweet is a journalist who gets very publicly dumped while proposing to his girlfriend. He writes about it in the paper and asks the subscribers for advice. What ensues is the laugh-out-loud adventures of him following their advice. However his whole "woe is me" attitude, while entertaining at first, became old fast, especially in comparison to his friend Wimsy. Also, though I understood the ending I didn't like it and was left wanting more.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fast and fun read - it's been a while since I found myself guffawing out loud while reading, and that happened several times in the course of reading this book. Having said that, Ollie is a bit of a weenie and I felt his character struggled to carry the weight of an entire book on his shoulders. The book is well-written, and as the story develops and Ollie grows throughout the book, you can see him stretching out and taking up the space he should, rather than stooping and accommodating everyone else as he was before. I also liked the fact that there was no classic "happy end", but rather a hopeful open end.

Entertaining read, the story of Ollie, who proposed to his girlfriend but was dumped instead.
As a writer for an online publication, he writes about what happened to him, and then is encouraged by his editor to follow the advice of some of the readers who responded to the article, with ways of how to get over a broken heart.

A hard book to review. I had heard of this author before but never read anything of his so took the book for a bit of a laugh.

The book started off with a proposal gone wrong which left me wondering what was I getting myself into by choosing this book, however when Ollie started to publish his break up and request ideas on how to get over his heartbreak, the story picked up to be quite funny.

Some parts of the book were a little outlandish and try hard, in my opinion, such as Ollie’s discussion with Troy the Australian elephant and his clear belief that a boiled egg mad his parents mad but I did like the message within the book on how he found his way to self acceptance.

I’d like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishers for an advanced copy of this book in reply for an honest review.

Dumped, Actually follows ‘nice guy’ Ollie, who after being dumped by his girlfriend, sets out to change his life by following the guidance of the subscribers to his column. What follows is a funny, strange yet heartwarming story about the quirky nature of humans and how the kindness of strangers can lead to monumental life changes along the road to self discovery.

I instantly warmed to Ollie as a character. I found him genuine, if a little too ‘nice’. At times I wanted him to be a bit grittier, and a bit less pathetic - especially in the beginning. He’s a bit of a push over without a backbone, but as the story progresses Ollie starts come into his own, and it was nice to see the overall arc and character development. I find there’s not enough male characters like Ollie in contemporary fiction, so it was a refreshing change.

Some of the situations Ollie finds himself in are a little on the extreme and absurd, and at times I did have to suspend my disbelief, but the humour and warmth to the writing kept it on the right side of ridiculous. This is a definite feel good book. The plot does also get a little predictable, especially towards the end, and the conclusion was obvious, but I found myself not really that bothered by it.

A lighthearted, quick read, perfect for those looking for a couple of hours escapism in a humour filled journey in self discovery.

A funny, witty book. Really enjoyed it!


Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book I have read by Nick Spalding but I am sure it won't be the last. Dumped Actually is the hysterical story of Ollie Sweet who is devastated after losing what he thought was "the one." In an attempt to get over her, Sweet, a writer, decides to write about the whole experience. His story quickly gains popularity and then he continues to write about trying out all of the various ways other people have suggested he get over this girl.

I was drawn to this novel because I found the title humorous. I stayed with the novel because I found myself frequently laughing out loud as I read it. I found myself having to explain parts to my husband because he wanted to know what had me so tickled.

Overall this was a fabulous, funny read! Get it when it comes out in July!

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After falling in love with Nicks writing after reading Mad Love I was excited to read his latest book and it didnt disappoint.
I don't think I've ever laughed as much reading a book as when I'm reading books by Nick Spalding and this one had me with tears rolling down my face at times.
The book follows writer Ollie and how he writes a column to help him get over being ditched by his latest girlfriend. It was refreshing to read a book on a man's point of view of being dumped and how he used other peoples experiences to help get over his latest loss (some not quite as successful as others)
If your looking for a laugh out loud book then this is the one for you. I loved it and will definitely be reading more by Nick!

Ollie Sweet has planned the perfect proposal for his girlfriend Samantha. A very public proposal. It never occurs to him that she might not say yes. In the aftermath of being publicly humiliated, and being dumped, he's finding it hard to move on. His boss, the editor at Actual Life lifestyle website, persuades Ollie that writing about his experience might be cathartic, and asking readers for their advice could even help him to turn his life back around. Following some of their advice leads to chaos and some hilarious outcomes, but will it help him with his ultimate goal of mending a broken heart and moving on?

I requested this off NetGalley after having read and loved Dry Hard, by the same author. I found Dumped, Actually marginally less amusing, but still a very entertaining read.

At first I thought Ollie was a bit of a wet blanket, and for the first few chapters found him a bit annoying. How could he be so clueless? He began to grow on me as the book progressed though, and by the end I was hoping things worked out for him.

I liked the idea of the story, and the suggestions that Ollie had for how to get over a break up were quite comical. Although a lot of the ideas were fairly standard for the advice you get after a break up, Spalding turns them into very funny escapades. I think part of why the book is so engaging is because you can empathise with Ollie, and a lot of the things he does and faces are things many people have done or gone through.

The only bit of the book that didn't work for me was the ending. It seemed really sudden and out of nowhere that Ollie realised he had feelings for someone new, and there had been no hints or build up earlier in the story. It just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the book. It's a minor complaint though in what was otherwise an enjoyable read.

I've given 3 stars, it's probably more like a 3.5 really. It's an entertaining and light hearted read, just didn't quite keep me as well entertained as Dry Hard did

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Lake Union Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

Ollie's journey was... comical and interesting to say the least. Nick Spalding has a very unique writing style.. and this book was no different.. you definitely know what to expect when you read his books.

For me NIck Spalding is a go to author when I need a book that will make me laugh, he's the master of finding the funny in the everyday experiences that are universal, and in his latest , Dumped, Actually, he tackles the thorny subject of breaking up.
Oliver is a features writer for a website, and he feels like he is finally ready to pop THE question to his girlfriend Samantha, and he's determined to do it in the biggest way possible. He's secured the cooperation of a local theme park, hired a jazz band and bought the ring. Since Samantha loves roller coasters, he's decided that the perfect moment to pop the question is right after they step off the newest and most exciting one in the park. So what if he's feeling more than a little queasy - it will still be perfect, right?
Wrong, Things start to go wrong before they even get on the ride, but all that pales into insignificance when Samantha flat our turns him down, and ends the relationship.
Distraught, Ollie turns to his readers for advice on how to get over the devastating break up, and then has the harebrained idea to follow that advice and write about it. Cue being waxed by a ginger Scotsman, a surreal camping trip and various other adventures as Ollie tries to come to terms with being single before following the simplest and most valuable advice of all.
While this is a really funny book, some of Oliver's adventures do have real value and insight, and I appreciated that side of the book too. I also thought it was good that the story was told from a male perspective, again something a little different and interesting .
This is the perfect holiday read, made for sitting poolside with your shades on and a cocktail in hand.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGally and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This book is cute. It sounds a bit wet and sappy but it's much better than the blurb offers.
The characters are cute and it's a good premise. Nothing special, nothing that breaks the mold, but just a bit of fun.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun and heartbreaking story at the same time.
Firstly I have to admit that it’s the first book that I’ve read by the author but definitely won’t be able to pass another opportunity to read his books again.
The fact that is told in only his POV was also a great point for me as I don’t usually read books like this or I just couldn’t find anything close to it.
I loved the humour and how real it felt. I liked how much it reflects our contemporary life style with the office jobs and what is expected from us from the society.
I liked how he wasn’t over the top about himself and knew his strength points as well as he’s flaws.
It is a really enjoyable book that I am already recommending to all my book friends.


Thanks for the opportunity to read and review to NetGalley and the publisher.

I love Nick Spalding - he never disappoints and Dumped, Actually is no exception.

WARNING - don't read on public transport unless you can laugh quietly.

Ollie Sweet has planned the perfect proposal for his dearly beloved long term girlfriend Samantha - so imagine his horror when she turns him down in front of hundreds of people! Dumped, Actually is the story of Ollie trying to put his life back together, sewed together by some other rather unexpected side characters.

This was a quick, mostly light read, with the occasional sombre moment thrown in too. I did struggle with it a bit initially as I just couldn't engage with Ollie - he was such a wet blanket that I repeatedly wanted to shake him. However, I started to like him and root for him more as the story progressed, and he started to show a bit more backbone.

Overall an easy and quirky read.

This is a portion of the review on my blog Trails of Tales
There is crying with laughter. And then there is laughing with so much uncontrollable exuberance that the stich is not just limited to the side but your whole body is thrown into a state of paralysis and you start worrying that you might not come out of it.

The kind of laughter where the pain in your jaw prevents you from making a rhythmic ‘hahahaha’ sound so you settle for a seemingly endless and breathless ‘Haaaaaaaaaa…..’

Yeah, that kind of laughter is what possessed me while I read ‘Dumped, Actually’. And while I might like to indulge in the occasion bouts of exaggeration, this is me being completely honest.

Nick Spalding‘s ‘Dumped, Actually’ is an absolute laugh riot with a purpose. Through his inspired creation of Ollie, an amazingly ordinary character who is capable of holding a mirror to any and every kind of reader, Nick Spalding takes us all on the journey of self acceptance. And if you think that that would mean some parts of the book might turn out preachy, then you are utterly wrong. It is an exquisitely hilarious book through and through.

Ollie’s blundering experiences and uproarious moments of realization tries to make us understand the most fundamental of concepts in life- you cannot find the perfect love we all wish for if you have never truly loved yourself. Want to find the One? Start treating yourself like the One of your own life. No one else can be the center of your existence.

I really commend the author for being able to make a character as widely relatable as Ollie. His predisposition to entangle himself in the best of embarrassing moments will effortlessly enamour you. Ollie’s story is profound yet simple. It reminds you of all that is important in life and it does so while making you laugh like a maniac.

I have been reading sad and tragic books back to back the last few weeks and ‘Dumped, Actually‘ was exactly what I needed.

I really do want to share all that laughter with you, so pre-order ‘Dumped, Actually’ and get ready for the onslaught of hilarity.

I discovered this author about six months ago when I found Dry Hard on NetGalley, and loved its mix of comedy and insightful relationship drama. I bought several of his other books on the strength of that, and read and quite enjoyed Bricking It, although didn’t find it quite so funny. This one was the same - there are plenty of snigger-worthy moments but nothing that had me laughing out loud. What I did really like was the moral of the story.

Ollie Sweet, 30-something journalist on a struggling Internet magazine, has planned the perfect proposal for his girlfriend Samantha’s 29th Birthday, inspired by the Rom-Com movies he adores, so is gobsmacked and devastated when she not only says no, but dumps him in front of a crowd of onlookers. His boss, Erica, persuades him to write about it, and, figuring he couldn’t possibly feel worse, he pens an article describing his experiences, and asking for ideas on how to help heal his broken heart. To his amazement, it goes viral, and so he follows it up with stories about these suggestions, from a manscaping makeover to camping in a forest. As his success starts to turn the magazine’s fortunes around, through some mortifying but hilarious adventures, Ollie learns some uncomfortable truths about love, life and becoming comfortable in your own skin.

What Spalding does very well is portraying completely relatable normal people with all their insecurities and foibles, and putting them in ridiculous and embarrassing situations. Ollie is a likeable kind-hearted doormat, and you feel his pain as the glorious future he has envisaged crumbles away - anyone who has been dumped should recognise that. While the situations he ends up in are over the top and mostly all arise from his inability to say No to anyone - even Bambi - it made following his story of how he finds his courage all the more enjoyable. I loved the ending, as I get so fed up with the predictability of almost all romantic comedies, that I mostly stay away from the genre, so this one was perfect.

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon publishing for the ARC, which allowed me to give an honest review. Dumped, Actually is published on 16th July 2019.

Enjoyed this book. Quite a few funny bits. I laughed out loud during the opening scene with the botched amusement park proposal. However, I could've done without some of the more tasteless sexual jokes (as well as the extended booger drama at the amusement park). Overall, this was a quick, light read. Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Poor Ollie! No one likes to be dumped but he was REALLY blown out of the water. When he decides he'll take on line advice from the readers of website as to how to recover, he finds himself in a raft of crazy situations. Some of these are funny, some are a bit silly, but they are all written with good humor. So often this sort of book features a woman trying to get over a man so it was nice to see things from Ollie's perspective. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A light and amusing read.

Another nice tongue-in-cheek almost rom-com from Mr. Spalding! I think I enjoy his books so much because they are from the male perspective when so many of these books are considered "women's fiction" and written off as romance books. His writing proves that this isn't just for women. And in this case, it is almost a matter of a guy with too much romance. Poor Ollie Sweet loves Samantha and is devastated when she turns down his proposal. He doesn't understand why he keeps getting dumped. Since he is an columnist for an online e-zine, he shares his struggles with his readers. Their responses are terrific and lead to some hysterical adventures on the part of Ollie. Too bad this wasn't done years ago so that Hugh Grant could play Ollie in the screen adaptation! As I've come to expect from Mr. Spalding, his characters are truly loveable and the stories are pure fun. I love these fluffy reads and even learned what a Wendy House is! (Does that mean they are educational too?)

(Also posted on my GR account!)

Midway, I was torn about giving it 2 or 3, but moving on, I decided 2 is appropriate.

Dumped, Actually followed a story of how a manchild Ollie Sweet overcame his break up. I have to admit, some parts were fun. In fact, if I didn't have to deal with <i>Ollie himself</i> the book would have another star.

Ollie was downright... dislikeable, is that a word? <spoiler>There was a reason why his relationship never worked out and to honestly think that he believed his parents never fought and thus cemented the idea of how <i>the one</i> should or that he truly needs someone was kind of.. off putting.</spoiler>

However, I can see the book being filmed and if they've changed some parts that I dislike (mostly Ollie), I'd watch it.

A novel about lost love and coping with the aftermath of being publicly dumped. Oliver 'Ollie' Sweet is a journalist and lives up to his name. He really is very sweet and perhaps a little bit wet at times. The novel begins with a day out with Ollie and his girlfriend Samantha at a amusement park where Ollie has big plans to propose. And it all goes down hill from there. Samantha publicly humiliates him by saying no and we launch into a very depressed time for Ollie, trying to understand where he always goes wrong with girlfriends past. There is even a very bizarre meeting with a suicidal man in a flip flops at the top of a car park which leads to an unlikely but funny friendship between two lost souls. So launches 'Dumped Actually' his column in a online website and through advice sent in by his readers, we follow him through many hilarious events in an attempt for him to get over Samantha and finally find himself. Ollie soon finds himself being the centre of attention of hundreds and thousands of readers, whether he likes it or not. Does his chance at being happy depend on love or actually finding himself?
I have read a few of Nick Spalding's novels in the past and they never fail to disappoint. It is totally refreshing to read a romance novel in the eyes of the male protagonist and Ollie ended up reminding me of a female Bridget Jones. Nick Spalding has a fantastic way of making scenes sparkle with humour. His way of writing with inner thoughts and sounds bring together perfect imagery that will have your sides splitting with laughter. i literally couldn't stop chuckling throughout this novel. There were so many moments so cleverly written that were just unbelievably funny. It really is a great, light hearted read.
Ollie is a little bit of a push-over but I think that was intentional and Spalding needs to give his personality room to grow and for Ollie to get his own backbone eventually. Sometimes his reactions to events were a little bit predictable but overall it was a sweet and funny story. It would have been nice to see his relationship grow with Wimsy a bit more, and perhaps for a new love interest to have been staring him in the face. I thought perhaps, he might get that with Rachael his boss, but I was left a little disappointed.
A fast-paced read, perfect for escaping and having some laugh-out-loud moments, this novel really is great, Booklovers. Pick up your copy from the 16th July.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so so for me. It was an okay story but it wasn’t an addictive book. The characters seemed a bit too “out there” and I found the book as chaotic as the characters’ lives.

This book made me laugh out loud and giggle to myself on more than one occasion !
Whilst not the type of book that I would usually reach for, I am so glad that I took a chance on this one. Ollie Sweet is just so ridiculous, so horrendously pathetic, yet by the end you can't help but like him. He goes on such a journey, I couldn't put the book down !
My god - you'll love the waxing scotsman !
Very well written, I will be searching out more books by this author !
I was incredibly happy to be given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion #netgalley #dumpedactually

I happened upon Fat Chance a few moths ago and literally LOLd so much I had to grab up this Nick Spaulding ARC on NetGalley and I’m so glad I did. Another relatable real and funny book that had me giggling and buying more books by Nick to read!

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

I absolutely loved reading DUMPED, ACTUALLY, by Nick Spalding. In fact, it was pretty much pretty much love at first LOL for me. ♥️

Poor Ollie Sweet is devastated by the utter failure of his well orchestrated proposal to his girlfriend (in public - at an amusement park!), which is an absolute flop. It’s not a spoiler to let you know that she, most unceremoniously, and with a completely heartless lack of compassion, said no. Cringe. Heartbreak. Despair. Humor? Yes!

Is it terribly wrong to lol at someone’s misfortune? Not when it is so cleverly written by Nick Spalding, who is, in fact, hilarious. He’s written several books which appear to be similarly witty; I’ll probably gobble them up forthwith. Laughter really is the best medicine, don’t you agree? If you do, you’ll probably love this witty RomCom escapade. Perfect summer beach read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Nick Spalding, Amazon Publishing and Lake Union Publishing for this delightful ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

This book is absolutely hilarious! Thank you so much to Net Gallery, Amazon Publishing UK and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to review it. I was standing at the bus stop belly laughing at the deer scene! I'm a big fan of Nick Spalding anyway and I thought Dry Hard was so funny but this is a whole new level of hilarious.

I don't want to give too much away (like they do in trailers for funny films and all the best bits are included) so I'll just do a brief synopsis of the story. Ollie has planned the perfect proposal for his girlfriend Samantha but she declines. He is a journalist at a lifestyle magazine that is in danger of being shut down so his editor has the idea for an article about getting over being dumped. Readers write in with their suggestions and Ollie carries them out.

If you are looking for a belly achingly funny book then this is for you.

Ollie Sweet - a hopeless romantic, possibly in love with the idea of love - plans a huge, over the top marriage proposal for Sam, his girlfriend, in public, at the opening of a new amusement park, with a jazz band, after they go on a death-defying roller-coaster ride.
And she says "NO" and walks away, leaving him stunned.
And so we descend into the murkiness that is the life of Ollie Sweet.
His boss asks him to develop his break-up into a series on their ailing website and to ask readers to submit their advice and tips via email.
The suggestions as to how to get over being dumped come flooding into his inbox.
- a makeover, in which he encounters wax in strange places.
- an interesting meeting with Bambi and family on an even more interesting camping trip.
- a strange, non-date with his immediate boss/friend.
- a disastrous golf date with his obnoxious big boss that takes a painful turn.
These are some of the suggestions Ollie tries out and writes about.
Towards the end of the book, he starts to discover some truths about himself, life and love and these affect his path onward in life.
This was not a bad read, but I just couldn't find myself liking Ollie - he just felt too "meh" for me - can't say I blame Sam for saying "No".
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

Ollie had it all planned. He was taking his girlfriend, Samantha, to the opening day of an amusement park on her birthday. They were going to be the first to ride an amazing roller coaster. When they got off, there would be a jazz band playing and Ollie was going to get down on one knee and proposed to Samantha. Well, things didn't go as planned including Samantha turning him down.

Ollie didn't see this coming and is heartbroken. He just wants what his parents have ... the perfect loving marriage. Ollie is a journalist for an online magazine and his boss suggests that he write about his experience and ask his readers how to move on. He receives many emails and suggestions including get a makeover, go camping, find someone else, do meditation, skydive, etc. Some suggestions he does use and these become the basis of his ongoing articles. He is honest in the articles about his experiences and this begins to draw more and more readers and fans.

This is the fifth book I've read by this author and I liked it. I liked the writing style ... it was funny and sarcastic. It is written in first person perspective in Ollie's voice and it's as if he was speaking to me, the reader ("breaking the fourth wall"). The author is English and the story happens there so some of the references weren't common to me ... I had to Google what a Wendy House, for example, is. As a head's up, there is a swearing and adult activity.

I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Blog review post:

Another hilarious masterpiece by the brilliant, Nick Spalding.
If you've read any of Nick's other books, then you'll know what to expect - lots of awkward and bizarre scenarios for our haplass heroes, with a hint of romance. (but never slushy)

If you haven't read any of Nick's books, then why not? Read this, then storm through the rest, you'll not regret it.

Ollie Sweet is the eternal romantic, completely convinced that there is such a thing as the perfect relationship which sees two people in perfect sync with each other, and he believes he has found it, until she dumps him. What follows is a downward spiral of self-pity and an encounter with a suicidal man wearing women’s shorts and flip-flops...
This is the first of Nick Spalding’s books I have read, but I’m asking myself why I haven’t done so sooner. His writing is easy to read and filled with humour and a healthy dose of insight into the human condition. I loved the way the story is told by Ollie, and that he takes occasional moments out of the story to speak directly to you, the reader.
I quite literally laughed out loud several times while reading, and I equally cringed more than once on Ollie’s behalf. I will never look at Nintendo’s Mario the same again, lol.
A great read that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and I highly recommend.
My thanks to #NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Uk for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review

I did try to like Dumped, Actually. But actually......I didn't like it at all. That isn't to say the story and characters didn't have merit. But I found the main character whiny, unlikable and sort of an embarrassment of a human being. I did like that Ollie (MILD SPOILER) does realize what his "problems" are and tries to rectify the issues. But for me, t'was not enough.

Now, I did like where the name of the book came from. Our hero does a Bridget Jones type of thing. And writes about issues we all have experienced. So that part, I enjoyed immensely.

Ollie's boss was also someone I really liked. She seemed like a smart, together woman.

Overall though, I didn't like it. But I would read another by the author. Just because one book isn't my cup of tea, doesn't mean others won't enjoy it. It's getting some great reviews over on Amazon. Just for me, it's a no.

I really wanted to like this book, but it had a slow start.

After Ollie gets dumped very publicly he’s distraught and uses it as fodder for his column on Actual Life’s website, in turn trying to rescue the site from its impending demise after a takeover.

The first 50-60% of the book was hard to read, repetitive and rather glum. As Ollie started to find himself as a person it got a bit better.

Thanks NetGalley for the read in exchange for an honest review.

Funny take on how to deal with a break up and the feelings that come with it. I loved Oliver's journey in this which comes with a very strong message. Great read.

Thank you Netgalley for a review copy of this book.

Knowing this author pretty well I hoped that this book would make me smile and, hopefully laugh - I was not disappointed.
I was a bit indifferent to the main character at first as he was very weak and clingy and really off-putting. However, the situations he goes through made me soften towards him throughout and I started to relate to his predicament which is the sign of good writing.
I recommend reading past the first 6 chapters to really get into the book - I was hooked from that point onwards.

I’ve read a few of Nick’s books before and have always managed to laugh out loud whilst reading each book, this one was no different. The story starts with Ollie Sweet making a dramatic proposal where all doesn’t go quite as planned, which somewhat of an understatement. Ollie is a writer for a lifestyle website which is under pressure by its owner who wants to shut it down. With a bit of persuasion from his boss, Ollie turns his disastrous proposal in to a story for the website which gets a massive reaction from the audience. He then starts to take on suggestions from the readers as to how to get over his break up which involves him getting waxed and camping in the New Forest getting a little too close to nature. All of these help his “Dumped Actually” column go viral.

Ollie is a likeable if not somewhat disastrous character. The book is written well and you see Ollie’s self discovery journey from complete sop who is desperate for love, to him trying to understand why it always goes wrong to him coming out a confident rounded man. All the way through there are good comedic moments, entirely at Ollie’s expense. A good light hearted read, which is well written.

I got this book as a free copy from Net Galley in exchange for this honest review, so thanks to them and the publisher. I give this book a 4/5 (rounded up).

Funny and witty as always. I really enjoy all of Nick Spaulding books and this is definitely one of his better ones.
Ollie is a hopeless romantic journalist is given way by his reader to get over being dumped by his girlfriend.
This short lighthearted read kept me engaged and routing for Ollie from page one.

What a cracking read! This book had me in stitches. If you like silly comedy this book will be right up your street as you travel with Ollie on his journey to fix his broken heart. I have not yet read a book by this author that has disappointed.

Having read a few Spalding books and enjoyed them, I was excited to read his newest one. We follow Ollie Sweet, a hopeless romantic who can’t seem to hold down a relationship for very long. Having been ceremonially dumped by the love of his life, he begins to write magazine articles about getting over his relationship, taking on advice from his readers. His inability to say no and his desperate need to please see him get into a number of funny (if at times quite unbelievable) situations. Some parts of this book had me laughing out loud, others I skip read through. At times it got a little too deep and meaningful, these parts sometimes went on a little too long and I lost focus. However I really did enjoy reading from a male’s perspective and did think that the realisations that Ollie comes to were important life lessons. I’d recommend this book to others.
Thank you to netgalley for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one! It's light, it's funny, it's absurd: it's right in my alley. I liked how Oliver discovered a lot about himself through everyone experiences. I liked to see the process leading to the realization of his well-being.

Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK for the e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This has some genuinely hilarious laugh out loud moments. Bless him, Ollie Sweet has taken some decent advice on how to move on from a broken heart but still managed to make a mess out of the advice. He's one of those people that is on the right track but always seems to stumble on the last step.

I liked the title play on Love Actually (such a great film). This book is an absolute cliche but done a little differently because the person who has been so brazenly blinded by idealistic rom-coms and their parents' supposed perfect marriage is a guy rather than a girl. So that was a refreshing take on this cliche. But it was still cliche - you have to wade through a novel of someone who is so unbelievably dense. It was a bit unbelievable for me that he couldn't see his issues that were so glaringly obvious - like, he never once got his back up about how he'd make himself have all these same hobbies and interests as his girls and never be fussed that they never did anything he liked? Or did he just literally not have any interests? He was that boring that he had to create the male version of his girlfriends' identities? No wonder they all left him; he was such a pathetic pushover?

So while I absolutely loved the shenanigans he got up to trying to recover, Ollie was a bit too pathetic for me to get behind and cheer on. I would have given this more stars if he wasn't quite so pitiful. I'm not gender stereotyping here too much, there are men and women who are genuinely only able to be identified as an extension of their partner, but they don't make for interesting reading. I would have enjoyed this more if we had a stronger main character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this.

Great book, I really enjoyed it. I’m a fan of nick spalding and this one didn’t disappoint. Won’t give any spoilers just read it and enjoy!

Great book yet again by this author. Really enjoy his books. Always some great laughs along the way.
The main character is likeable and you feel for him but he goes on a journey and finds himself along the way.

Oh my, what a dreadful introduction for the reader to poor, romantic Ollie Sweet. My heart broke for him. You just couldn’t imagine having to face the catastrophic events of a trip to a theme park.
The tale of a wear your heart on your sleeve kinda guy and his affairs of the heart. . A refreshing male viewpoint rather than the same old clichéd broken hearted female character.
Throughly enjoyed it.

Nick Spalding is one of my favourite make authors so I had high hopes for this book and I wasn’t disappointed.

As with all of his books I was laughing out loud throughout. It wasn’t my favourite of his but I would still highly recommend it.

This was such a funny book!! I always enjoyed Nick Spalding’s books but I think this is now my favorite.

Dumped, Actually has is following Ollie Sweet, a features writer, as he tries to get over a breakup by writing about it and asking for advice from the world how to and trying it to see if it works.

And I found myself, often laughing my head off, sometimes at inappropriate times, at some predicament Ollie finds himself in. Which means I shouldn’t have been reading it at all during those times. Hahaha. Soo funny!!! Looking silly and giggling to myself in public was worth it.

I loved how Ollie discovers why they broke up and then found some more answers. I love the promise of Ollie becoming more. And the hint of who is really meant for him.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK and Lake Union Publishing, Seattle for this copy. I really enjoyed it!!

Ollie Sweet is not a halfway sort of guy. So when he decided to ask his girlfriend Samantha to marry him, he went all out. Knowing that she is a lover of roller coasters, he got tickets for the opening day of the new theme park and special tickets that meant they would be among the first to ride their roller coaster The Blitzer. He hired a band to play her favorite song after the ride, and he had the ring all ready to go. It was all perfect. Until it all went wrong.

First, the coaster almost made him sick to his stomach. Second, the band that he had booked wasn’t able to make it after all, and the replacement band wasn’t quite what he had in mind. And third, and most painfully for Ollie, Samantha said no. While an oompah band played on just for them. Well, just for him, as Samantha walked away.

When Ollie goes back to his job at a lifestyle website, his boss suggests he write about the breakup. Ollie refuses. There is no way he wants to share this with the internet. It was painful. It was humiliating. But if he did write about it, his subconscious hints, he could call the piece “Dumped, Actually,” a throwback to Richard Curtis’s famous film Love, Actually.

The piece Ollie writes is a big hit, and others who have struggled to get over a breakup start emailing him with advice of how their got over their failed relationships. The weeks (and articles) that ensue find Ollie taking that advice and getting a makeover (including getting waxed in intimate areas), going camping (and getting interrupted during an intimate moment by a family of hungry deer looking for a snack), trying to meet someone new (Nintendo’s Mario is forever ruined for me), and throwing himself into work (probably a bad idea to go golfing with your boss).

As Ollie keeps working down his list, he really does start to realize where he may have gone wrong. He continues to work through the advice—confronting Samantha, trying mindfulness, spending time with family, taking more risks, and when he’s ready, falling in love with someone new—and finds a whole new way of being in the world. He learns to be more authentic and less focused on comparing himself and his relationships with others.

And by sharing his experience with his website’s readers, he has found more friends and offered others the same chance at becoming a better partner in a relationship.

Author Nick Spalding brings a hilarious take on getting dumped in his latest novel, Dumped, Actually. Now, this one is not for the feint of heart. There are some very funny and deeply disturbing sex scenes (not 50 Shades type, just incredibly awkward), so you definitely be aware of that, and if you think you might be better off to skip this title. But if you’re willing to give it a shot, Dumped, Actually is a charming story of genuine characters trying to find a better life.

I listened to the audiobook on this one, and narrator Steve West seemed to have a lot of fun with Ollie’s voice. He tended towards the melodramatic with an almost Shatner-esque drama to the reading, but who doesn’t love William Shatner? I thought the audio was a great way to experience this book, and I do recommend giving that a try.

There were times that this reminded me of the ‘90s Britcom Coupling. If you liked watching Coupling, then this is a good choice for you. Funny, smart, an oompah band—what more could you want?

Galleys for Dumped, Actually were provided by Amazon Publishing UK through NetGalley, with many thanks, but I bought the audiobook myself, thanks to Audible.

Oliver gets dumped....Badly...and in public. As a writer for an online publication, it is suggested that Oliver get over his ex with a series of new experiences. And so goes the journey of Oliver. He let's his readers guide his path, and in so doing, learns there is more he is improving then just himself.

I loved this book, it was so fun and original. Very easy read if you like that kind of thing also. I can't say a whole lot more about this without giving too much away. But I will say i was very surprised by how much I enjoyed the journey that Nick went on. Definitely going to check out more works from this author!

I received this book in order give my opinion and review.

This British romcom follows Ollie, who was dumped by his girlfriend right after he proposed to her. Now 'nice guy' Ollie has to pick up his shattered heart, needs to get over being dumped and turns his experience into a successful online column.

I liked Ollie from the start. He felt quite real to me, even though he was a bit of a doormat at the beginning. However, the sometimes extremely absurd situations Ollie found himself in, as well as the humour started to grind on me the further I got into the book. Also, the plot became pretty predictable towards the end of the book. I still read on, but at times it felt like not being able to turn your eyes away from an accident.

I loved this book to start with and had been really looking forward to finally getting my teeth into one of this author's books, but I found it became too samey about halfway through and I got fed up with it. Truth be told, I am at 75% and haven't been able to finish it, and that's rare for me.

What a funny and engaging read! I typically shy away from books with a male narrator as I find them hard to relate to! However, this book couldn't have been further from that. I loved Oliver and his inner voice and found his story to be easy to relate to. I wanted him to get the girl and come out on top and rooted for him despite every set back. What a fun(ny) read !

This book certainly wasn't for me, sadly.
I didn't find Ollie funny at all or like the character or the other characters through out the book. Ollie was annoying almost all the time. I had hope that it would be better througout the book, but it wasn't - only thing i actually enjoyed was these mails he got when he wrote the article 'Dumped Actually' and that was about it. I think i maybe had too high expetations for the book and it let me down after that.

Journalist Ollie has just been dumped... publicly and humiliatingly. The only thing that is stopping him from debilitating self pity is his new online feature about how to heal a broken heart. With suggestions from subscribers and encouragement from new fiends, Oliver is in a journey of self discovery and life lessons.

With Nicks trademark quirkiness this unconventional comedy is well worth a read.

I very much liked the premise of the book. A guide not on how to find the love of your life, but how to overcome the break-up of your life! And all of this written and experienced from a male perspective. I also liked the beginning, the build-up to the 'grand proposal', although we already know from the title how this will end.

But during the following episodes of Ollie trying out various recommendations of how to overcome his lovesickness, the book verged on becoming a slapstick comedy (which I'm not a big fan of) a bit too often. There were more moments that made me cringe than laugh, and in my book only Mr. Bean can get away with that.

But, in the end there was a nice message for Ollie, and some of it might even be useful to someone who got dumped, who knows. But I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a self-helf-book for heartbroken people.

Without a doubt the funniest book Nick Spalding has ever written.

Even the scene that really shouldn't have you laughing out loud, due to the serious undertones, was hilarious, with perfect comic timing.

From the opening of the over the top proposal that goes wrong, which has many humourous bits, to everything that comes after it, time and time and again I was giggling, and occasionally probably getting strange looks from those around me.

I tend to find this is an author whose humour is on my wave length and this was no exception.

Whatever you think may be about to happen next, may just surprise you, as it is so well written.

Who knew being dumped publicly could lead to all of this fun!

Ollie Sweet is exactly that, he is sweet, he is a romantic, he's idealistic and a people pleaser and it leads him into to some wonderful situations.

I adored every laugh filled moment of this book and recommend if to for anyone who is looking for some light hearted, fun in their life.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Warning: review may contain swooning…

Nick Spalding writes like a girl, and I love him for it. If he were, in fact, a woman "Dumped Actually" would be branded chick lit, but because he's a dude it's probably called 'genre fiction'. Bleurgh! Whatever the label, Spalding is a consistently competent writer. He is an astute observer, skilled in the art of transforming the mundane into utterly hilarious scenarios. His first person narrative is engaging and draws the reader into the story. This latest offering from the Spalding stable is laugh-out-loud funny (as I've come to expect from his work) yet deeply attuned to more sensitive issues. In fact, if Spalding possesses the depth of understanding of relationships and male/female dynamics as suggested in his characterisation and story arcs, then he's not only a brilliant writer but also the perfect man - so everyone else can go home now, thanks. If you want a blokey reference, Nick Spalding is Nick Hornby without the snarky air of superiority. Do yourself a favour and get stuck into his body of work.

Dumped Actually is my first read from author, Nick Spalding, and this indeed was something else.

The blurb was promising and I was very curious about it. It felt like a prompt for a series or a movie which is why I decided to request this title. This book is truly light and funny, just like its premise.

Surprisingly, this book did not hit me in the right places. I don’t know where it was coming from but some of the scenes were borderline ridiculous. Some jokes did not appeal to my humor, unfortunately.

Ollie Sweet, the main character, is a little too weird for me and being in his head was not that appealing. He can be quite frustrating and annoying and too immature for me.

This book does tell about the process of grieving and moving on, and everyone goes through it differently, so I guess that part is good. The ending also brought a redeeming arc for this story, thankfully.

In conclusion, I have to say this book is okay. It just didn’t vibe with my own tastes.

Really enjoyed this book. At times it was really funny and I laughed out loud a few times. Loved Ollie's character too.

I felt that most of this story was either completely ridiculous or extremely boring. It was not relatable and I found the main character to be very annoying.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the early copy.

I decided to put this book down. I did not connect with it.

** spoiler alert ** This is my fifth or sixth of Nick Spalding's books and it delivered on the laughs. As always with his comedies, there was a deeper, introspective lesson for the protagonist to learn.

I enjoyed the book and thought there was a fresh ending (much appreciated), but in comparing it to others of his, I have to rate it slightly lower.

Points of the book I appreciated:

-Mr. Spalding breaks the fourth wall at one point, causing the most violent of my laugh cycles.
-We are called to reflect about what we idealize (oops, idealise 🇬🇧).
-I adored that Ollie fulfilled every pushover's angry fantasy in that board room! I felt like it took care of some buried anger within me... Which was contradictory to part of the point of the book.
-"I just want an easy f*ing life!" he screams. Don't we all? But with that, there wouldn't be a book, let alone everything else packed into this story.
-As with all of Spalding's books, the physical comedy is easily pictured and laugh-stitch-inducing.

Don't read this if you're easily offended. Is this book going to bring you closer to heaven? No. But it'll give you a laugh.

I am a "religious person" as the author often refers to folks, but I can enjoy a good comedy. God laughs, too. In fact, I think He invented it.

This book is hilarious, fast paced, cleverly written and uplifting. It follows heartbreak through recovery and self awareness but without feeling too heavy!

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a funny, light hearted, quick and easy read!!

I like Nick Spaldings books and they normally entertain me hugely. This book however although a decent read wasn't one of my favorites of his, yet still managed to have me snorting with laughter on more than one occasion and I think a rating less than 4 stars is a little churlish with that being the case.

The story is set around Ollie Sweet who is unceremoniously dumped by his girlfriend Sam whilst he is proposing. This sets Ollie off on a downward slope and when he finally return to work his Boss suggests he use his experience to write a piece on the Website he works for. What happens is that 'Dumped Actually' (the title of his work) turns out to be a very popular piece if journalism. This sets in motion Ollie taking a path which has half been decided by his readers. 

There are some incredibly funny moments in this book and I really do like Nick Spaldings humour. However, this particular book I think the main character just irritated me that little bit too much for me to be able to love it. It was certainly a very amusing and decent enough read, just not one of my favourites from this author.

A quick read about Ollie, a lifestyle writer, on his quest to find himself after dealing with a breakup. There were definitely some funny parts in the book, but overall this fell a little flat. It was predictable and lacking depth.

This was a decently funny look at getting dumped and bouncing back. Ollie is a journalist and decides to ask his subscribers what they recommend for getting over a break up, leading to a wild adventure of increasingly extreme measures of advice and self-discovery.

Any book of Nick Spalding always has me in hysterics and I love every minute of them. This is no different. Fabulously good, easy reading. Loved it!

The premise of the book is great and the author really delivers. Great read. Highly recommended. .

Hilariously funny, Dumped, Actually is brimming with well-crafted characters and a fun and easy storyline to follow.

I absolutely adored this book.

Dumped Actually by Nick Spalding was a light, funny, entertaining read. I've read many of Nick's books now and will continue to do so in the future

I have very specific criteria on the rare occasion I dare to delve into the realm of romantic comedies: something light-hearted, amusing and with a touch of silliness. This one has all the ingredients for that simple formula, but it was more dirty dishwater than a soothing cup of tea. The MC was a melodramatic, attention-seeking, annoying, kinda creepy man-child. And the Bridgit Jones-esqe situations and scenarios were cringy, contrived and unfunny. Not my cup of tea.

Recommended for fans of Helen Fielding, Matt Dunn, Sophie Kinsella

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the copy.

What a wonderful, life affirming novel this was.

Based around Ollie Sweet, a journalist who has just been dumped in the most public and humiliating of ways, this story charts his way to recovery while following the advise of some of the readers of his lifestyle column 'Dumped Actually.
Loved this book and found it very funny!