Don't Want To Miss A Thing

by Jill Mansell

[Leah]

Jill Mansell is a Chick Lit stalwart. You open up one of her books and the list of her previous books is massive. You can’t be a Chick Lit fan unless you’ve read at least one of Jill’s books. She’s one of the most consistent writers around, although I will admit it’s been a couple of years since I myself have read a new Jill Mansell novel. Y’see, I read To The Moon and Back and I wasn’t entirely convinced. Then I opened up A Walk In The Park last year and I knew immediately what was going to happen and I just, I know Chick Lit is predictable to some degree but this seemed obvious before I’d even read one page. I was very much judging the book before I’d even read it, but I put it back down and read something else. So when Jill’s newest book Don’t Want To Miss A Thing arrived, I dived STRAIGHT in. It has been too long since I’ve read one of Jill’s books and that’s just not right.

Don’t Want To Miss A Thing is a really great read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mansell has such an easy, simple writing style that just flows so well that you can sit and read, read, read all day long (as I did). It’s something she’s managed to keep up for 24 books (TWENTY-FOUR BOOKS!) and it is true, you know exactly what you’re going to get from a Jill Mansell book and this was a welcome return for me. I thought the plot was excellent. I loved that Dex, the ladies’ man, had his life turned upside down, because let me tell you, Dex, the ladies’ man, was not a nice person. I wasn’t a fan at all and he became infinitely more likeable when Delphi became part of his life. (Delpi, I wanted to steal and keep for myself.) It was under sad circumstances, after Dex’s sister Laura dies which was a massive shame because she’d have been an awesome character to have around, believe it or not.

I also loved all the other plots. Molly, who is a comic-strip artist (hello, best job ever?!), is Dex’s neighbour and go-to person for anything once he moves down to Briarwood. Molly was great and really put Dex in his place which I adored. Then there was Molly’s best friend Frankie and her daughter Amber, and their apparently perfect family life which turned out to not be so perfect after all. There was such a lot going on and so many different characters and plots to keep your eye on that the pages just flew by. Mansell manages to deftly switch from character to character, plot to plot, without it being too fussy or annoying. It was a really entertaining ride and the setting of Briarwood made it even better, especially with the history attached to the cafe where Frankie works and lives, and it was just one of those well-rounded stories that keeps you satisfied from start to finish and ties everything up very neatly with a beautiful pink bow.

I really, really enjoyed Don’t Want To Miss A Thing. It had a wonderful plot and brilliant characters (I still want to take Delphi home with me, possibly to Gin Cottage, ‘cos I’d like to live there). I feel bad for having skipped A Walk in the Park, and if I get time, I will undoubtedly soon rectify that. Don’t Want To Miss A Thing is Jill Mansell at her best, and I really enjoyed every page. I enjoyed it so much I broke my proof copy. (I’m not joking, there’s a massive split 20 pages from the end where it just cracked from the pressure of being read.) I very much recommend the book, because it’s sweet, it’s warm, it has its funny moments, and little Delphi will capture your heart as soon as you meet her, much as it did Dex’s. I enjoyed it, a lot and it reminded me so much of why I love Jill’s books and always have and always will.