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Perfect Timing

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 3,054 ratings · 226 reviews

When you meet the man of your dreams on girls night out, it's hardlyPerfect Timing In this fresh and funny contemporary romance by bestselling author Jill Mansell, Poppy Dunbar's whole life gets turned upside down after a chance encounter with a handsome stranger...

Never a troublemaker, Poppy had always been content with the way things were supposed to be donewhich include...more

Paperback, 416 pages

Published August 7th 2006 by Review (first published December 4th 1999)

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May 03, 2012 Ne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biblioteca, emprestado-a, nennya

Tenho tanta coisa para dizer que neste momento nem sei por onde começar. Não, não se assustem, são tudo coisas boas!
Vamos começar então pelo inicio, este foi um dos pontos altos do livro. Cheio de acção e tensão, Jill Mansell atira-nos logo para um trio meio confuso que nos vai fazer roer unhas para saber como se vai resolver. O que eu não estava à espera era do que vinha a seguir, que, por seu lado, não tem muita relação com este inicio. O Tom e o coitado do ex-noivo vão desaparecer e só aparec...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 27, 2008 Kellie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-reads, fiction-literature

This is the 2nd Mansell book I have read and I enjoyed this one as much as the first! This is light reading drama. Great beach read! I call this Brit Chick Lit. It is light and funny and full of surprises. A bit far fetched at times but nothing to take away from the fun! This one is about Poppy. While out on her “hen night”, Poppy bumps into a stranger named Tom and she hit with “love at first sight”. So much so, she calls off her wedding and moves to London. She moves in to an apartment owned b...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 17, 2013 Wendy Hines rated it 4 of 5 stars

Poppy Dunbar is wearing a hat with three condoms hanging from it. It's her bachelorette party. She's getting married the next morning to a wonderful man. She'll get the 2.5 kids, picket fence and everything else she's always dreamed of. But then, Poppy falls down the stairs when she leaves the pub for a few minutes of fresh air. But when he helps her to a bench because of a twisted ankle, her whole life changes when she gazes into his eyes. Instant attraction, love at first site. His name is Tom...more

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Oct 13, 2012 bookowl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

"Poppy meets Tom in a night club while henning before her wedding. She thinks that she loves him which tells her she shouldn't marry Rob who everyone loves in her hometown. Everyone starts hating on her there so she moves to London? I think. There, she gets a room with Casper (handsome, talented artist and man-whore) as well as Claudia (a pretty vain and insecure woman with a maneating bitch of a mother). She is still searching for Tom... But is he really the one?"

Another chick-lit... Wow, I rea...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Violet90 rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book was too long for my liking. I HATED how Poppy thought she was in love with Tom at first only by meeting him once then breaking off her wedding with Rob and searching for Tom for like a year and then when they were finally together ditch him and go back to Caspar. I didn't like Caspar at all because he was a man whore and I don't know he just didn't click for me. I would have liked it if Poppy was with Tom because he loved her and they just seemed good together. I hated Poppy because sh...more This book was too long for my liking. I HATED how Poppy thought she was in love with Tom at first only by meeting him once then breaking off her wedding with Rob and searching for Tom for like a year and then when they were finally together ditch him and go back to Caspar. I didn't like Caspar at all because he was a man whore and I don't know he just didn't click for me. I would have liked it if Poppy was with Tom because he loved her and they just seemed good together. I hated Poppy because she broke off her wedding with Rob who I thought would have been better for her even better than Tom. I just wasted my time reading this book because it was so lame. Who the hell breaks off their wedding seven hours before their wedding day, go to London, live with weird people (a bitch of a roomate and a man whore manager), find the guy she thought she loved by only meeting once (Tom), agree to move with him then leave him after living together for what two or three hours because she thought he was too possessive just because he didn't want her to wear short dresses that would get others interest, then go back to Caspar who was obviously interested her from the beginning and get married at the end because she thinks he is the "one" for her. Well I will tell you who in the bloody hell does that. POPPYYYYYYY. God she makes me so mad I don't know why but I just hate her. The only thing I liked about this book was the end scene where Caspar propose to her and they get married that day, it was like he knew how she likes to leave people after bringing their hopes up and then ditch them badly (thats why he didn't giver her time to think lolz!) and not only that but mess up other people's life as well like her friend Dina. But I won't blame all on Poppy for the Dina part because Dina had a mind of her own she shouldn't leave her husband and new born baby for trying to get a life like Poppys' because her life in my opinion is way better than Poppys'. I feel sorry for Poppy and anyone who knows her. The only person I liked in this book who seemed geniune to me was Poppy's boss Jake. Even thought he was nerdy he was a good guy and I liked him. Anyways if you wanna waste your time and read about a romance that just stinks from the beginning than this book is for you. :(

P.S. Thank God I didn't buy this book or else I would have pulled my hear out for making the stupidest decision ever. :p(less)

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Jul 11, 2011 Nan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, chick-lit

For a long time, I've been confused. I thought Jill Mansell was another pseudonym for the woman that writes as Sophie Kinsella, and I could not understand why I liked the Mansell books so much and wanted to throw the Shopaholic book across the room.

Turns out I was wrong. They are not the same person.

That's good to know. All I can say about this one is that it was sweetly romantic and fun. The characters, for all their absurd behavior at times, were frightfully real. They struggled with the inabi...more

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May 23, 2011 Tina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, chick-lit

3.5 stars

The night before her wedding during her bachelorette party (or Hen night as the Brits call it), Poppy meets a man to whom she is incredibly attracted. Tom, a dark-haired, dark-eyed handsome doctor implores her to meet him after the party is over and not to go through with the wedding.

While Poppy chooses not to meet Tom, she does indeed call off the wedding. She realizes that if she goes through with it, it would be a big mistake. Her groom and his large family do not let her off easily...more 3.5 stars

The night before her wedding during her bachelorette party (or Hen night as the Brits call it), Poppy meets a man to whom she is incredibly attracted. Tom, a dark-haired, dark-eyed handsome doctor implores her to meet him after the party is over and not to go through with the wedding.

While Poppy chooses not to meet Tom, she does indeed call off the wedding. She realizes that if she goes through with it, it would be a big mistake. Her groom and his large family do not let her off easily and as a parting shot, her now bitter ex-fiance drops a major bombshell on her.

It propels her to leave Bristol and go to London. There she meets a great cast of characters including Caspar the sexy artist, Claudia the insecure daughter of two narcissists, Jake her shy boss for whom she itches to give a makeover, Rita and Alex a nouveau riche couple with tacky taste and big hearts, and, of all people, Tom who, as it turns out, isn't a doctor at all.

I've been on a Jill Mansell glom because right now these are about the only books that seem to be holding my attention. These books are right up my alley. I adore books that are funny, romantic and a little soapy, with a big cast of characters all of whom have their own plots going that intersect with each other and peel off in other directions as well. Not all authors can juggle multiple stories and characters and make it all satisfying. Mansell does this and in grand fashion. Not all the stories are neatly tied up in a bow, some have dangly strings, there are parts where I wished I had seen the reaction of so-and-so to something. But that is ok. Everything works great in the end for everyone.

I also think this author works well for me because even though this is chick lit, she doesn't give her heroines (and even some B & C plot characters) a HFN ending, which I believe is ultimately why some chick lit doesn't work for me. She give them true HEA endings. The are nicely romantic and you are completly on board with the pairings.

And I love learning British slang. Gonna have to work 'naff' into a sentence at some point.

(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 01, 2009 Gaby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, contemporary-romance, summer-reading

"The thing about going out on your hen night, Poppy Dunbar couldn't help noticing, was that nobody-but nobody-bothered to chat you up." So opens, Jill Mansell's newest novel, Perfect Timing.

Perfect Timing
If you haven't read one of Jill Mansell's books before, you're in for a treat! Perfect Timing is a book that you'll want to read straight through. The characters are delightful, even the scheming ones.

You'll meet Poppy Dunbar who on her hen night gets into an accident and meets Tom, the charming...more

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Nov 12, 2009 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Poppy Dunbar is about to get married. She and her friends got out for a ladies night. Poppy tumbles down some stairs and lands practically at the feet of a handsome stranger. His name is Tom. Tom and Poppy feel an instant connection. Tom invites Poppy to meet him at a café. Poppy doesn’t hook up with Tom. Meeting Tom did teach Poppy one thing…that the guy she is about to marry is not for her. She calls off the wedding and moves to London.

Poppy has a shocking discovery, involving her family. Pop...more

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Nov 06, 2009 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This was your typical fun chick lit book. Poppy is so oblivious and kind hearted that you can't help but like her even as you shake your head over her bumbling. The rest of the crew was just as interesting with Dina, the girl you have to hate for the way she treats her husband and neglects her baby and Claudia who you want to hate and yet still feel sympathy for. The story definitely keeps you guessing as to who Poppy will ultimately end up with. Will it be Tom, the...more

1 like · like · see review

May 28, 2013 Sandhya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Original Review on my blog

Perfect Timing, the second book i read by Jill Mansell is a perfect read and the title is apt for the story, i enjoyed reading it.
Poppy has become one of my favorite heroine, she is easygoing, funny, always cheerful, caring and sweet. Never a troublemaker, Poppy had always been content with the way things were supposed to be done which included marrying predictable Rob McBride. But that was before she met Tom Kennedy the night before her wedding. Even though she wanted...more

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Oct 07, 2010 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, read-2010, not-owned

I wasn't quite sure what to expect, having never read a Jill Mansell novel before. But a friend lent me this book and recommended it, so I started it a few days ago. It begins with Poppy, on the night before her wedding, meeting a rather attractive stranger after falling down some steps...

I thought the characterisation was great. Caricatured in places, to be sure; but Poppy was a believable, untidy, disorganised romantic who I warmed to almost immediately. There was a large cast of characters,...more

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Nov 07, 2009 Christine (booktumbling) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell is chick lit done right! Poppy Dunbar meets the man of her dreams the day before her wedding. The chance encounter is the catalyst needed to call off her wedding and embark on an adventure in London with hopes of finding Mr. Right again. Of course, she meets an array of delightful and quirky characters along the way. Her room mates Caspar (the terribly popular and successful artist) and Claudia (well-to-do but never happy with anything or anyone), her boss Jake (ha...more

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Oct 03, 2012 gille rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiftyfiftyme

Perfect Timing was an enjoyable read. It is the story of Poppy, a woman who met the supposed man of her dreams the night before she was to get married, and called off the wedding. She fled Bristol to start over in London, hoping to meet the handsome stranger again while there. Poppy gets some jobs, moves into a house with Caspar French, an artist, and Claudia, an insufferable snot. The story mostly begins there.

The book was really well written.. Not too predictable (but no real surprises, either...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Margarida Cruz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: segredo-dos-livros, romance

Começo a ficar sem palavras para comentar os livros desta autora. Quando me perguntam como são os seus livros, as suas histórias, as suas personagens, só me lembro de adjectivos como fantásticas, hilariantes, fenomenais, magníficas, estupendas, geniais... Afinal, para mim, é isso mesmo que são.

A verdade é que Jill Mansell nunca me desilude. Por mais e mais que leia da sua autoria, as expectactivas são sempre superadas. Folheio as páginas dos seus livros com um sorriso nos lábios ou uma gargalhad...more Começo a ficar sem palavras para comentar os livros desta autora. Quando me perguntam como são os seus livros, as suas histórias, as suas personagens, só me lembro de adjectivos como fantásticas, hilariantes, fenomenais, magníficas, estupendas, geniais... Afinal, para mim, é isso mesmo que são.

A verdade é que Jill Mansell nunca me desilude. Por mais e mais que leia da sua autoria, as expectactivas são sempre superadas. Folheio as páginas dos seus livros com um sorriso nos lábios ou uma gargalhada ainda a ecoar no estômago, acompanhados de um inevitável brilho nos olhos, tal é o agrado com que os leio.

Sei que podia passar a vida a ler os seus trabalhos pois tenho a certeza de que nunca me havia de fartar. Mansell tem o dom de nos fazer olhar para as coisas com outros olhos, dá-nos a esperança de que tudo pode acontecer e de que a felicidade é para todos e não só para alguns. Dá-nos, até, vontade de mudar, de arriscar, de sermos diferentes, de lutar por aquilo que queremos. Faz-nos acreditar que, se calhar, aquilo que vemos como um sonho impossível de concretizar é, na verdade, algo muito mais fácil e perfeitamente possível de acontecer. Ler os seus divertidos romances é, sem dúvida, uma lufada de ar fresco. Uma aventura que, assim que viramos a última página, queremos repetir tal é a sensação de bem-estar e de auto-estima renovada com que acabamos de ler os seus livros.

Esta obra não foi exepção. Lê-la foi um autêntico deleite, um prazer como aquele a que Jill Mansell já me habituou e que nenhuma outra autora me consegue oferecer. Às vezes pode parecer que estamos perante alguns exageros e que isso vai desencantar a leitura. Mas não. Tudo tem a sua explicação nos livros de Jill Mansell. Neste caso em concreto, toda este reviravolta inicial com o encontro entre Poppy e Tom no dia anterior ao casamento da primeira, pareceu demasiado fictício. Na verdade, ainda bem que assim foi tendo em conta que, depois, os desenvolvimento s na história tiveram um sabor redobrado.

Apesar da leitura leve que desfrutamos com os livros da autora, não consigo deixar de a considerar uma grande mestra na escrita deste género de literatura romântica. A forma como conjuga diferentes aspectos da realidade, incluindo os mais insignificantes e ridículos, é simplesmente fantástica, conseguindo uma grande proximidade com o leitor.

O facto de este livro ser já um tanto quanto antigo é notório no estilo de escrita e no talento, não tão exímio, com que a autora nos brinda. A meio do livro temos essa confirmação quando nos é comunicado que a acção decorre nos anos 90. Mas a verdade é que a forma como Jill trabalha com a realidade e com as suas personagens não consegue ser tão extraordinária como nos seus livros mais recentes que temos tido a oportunidade de ler.

Acho que já o referi noutra opinião anterior, mas outra coisa que aprecio imenso nesta autora é a forma como estrutura e divide os capítulos das suas histórias. Eles são em grande número (normalmente rondam os 60), mas o facto de serem tão curtos e sintéticos acelera e vicia a leitura, fazendo com que o leitor queira ler o outro a seguir e depois ainda o outro a seguir, sempre na expectactiva de "são só mais 4/5 páginas". Isto cria ritmo e dinamismo à história. Falo por mim que, quando vou a ver, já li muito mais do que esperava com este truque da autora!

No que diz respeito às personagens, todas elas são apaixonantes à sua maneira, à excepção de Dina cuja personalidade irá, certamente, irratar muitos leitores. Claudia, a companheira de casa da protagonista, Poppy, também tem as suas fases menos boas mas trata-se já de uma empatia que é melhorada com o desenrolar da história. Adorei Casper, com a sua personalidade e modos de pensar tão irresistivelmente irreverentes. Poppy, a protagonista, tem pontos em comum com todo e qualquer tipo de leitor, pelo que nos consegue cativar com a sua dose de maluqueira, empenho e grande força de vontade.

Com tudo isto, e depois de mais uns bons momentos passados com as divertidas personangens desta autora, só posso mesmo perguntar: para quando o próximo? Afinal, faça chuva ou faça sol, as obras de Jill Mansell são um autêntico bálsamo para a alma.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 Mónica Silva rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Opinião no blog http://howtoliveathousandlives.blogsp...

Quem aprecia Jill Mansell conhecerá com certeza a fórmula para os seus livros: uma panóplia de personagens com as suas particularidades e excentricidades, cujas vidas se entrelaçam numa estória de amor onde nunca falta uma o seu característico humor mordaz. Este livro não é certamente a exceção, proporcionando ao leitor momento de puro deleite perante tantas reviravoltas emotivas e surpreendentes.

As idiossincrasias de cada personagem foram...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Paula pccst rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Durante a leitura do 1º capítulo, fiquei com a noção de que esta seria uma leitura interessante e uma opinião sobre a personagem principal, Poppy, foi traçada: é DOIDA!

Como é possível uma mulher cancelar o seu casamento a apenas 6h do enlace? Apenas porque um autêntico desconhecido com quem falou na noite anterior, a deixou pensativa e com o coração a saltitar?!

Encontro Inesperado foi o primeiro livro que li de Jill Mansell e posso afirmar que a sua escrita me agradou bastante.

Neste livro, for...more

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Nov 09, 2009 Serena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm now a Jill Mansell junkie! Perfect Timing is an ironic title for this British chicklit novel because nothing is perfectly timed in this novel, from Poppy's last minute decision to jilt her fiance hours before their wedding to finding her biological father after years of not knowing she wasn't living with him.

"'The thing is,' Poppy prevaricated, 'my room's only tiny.'

'And who am I, two-ton Tess? All I'm asking for is a bit of floor space.' Dina was wheedling now. 'I'll sleep under the bed if...more I'm now a Jill Mansell junkie! Perfect Timing is an ironic title for this British chicklit novel because nothing is perfectly timed in this novel, from Poppy's last minute decision to jilt her fiance hours before their wedding to finding her biological father after years of not knowing she wasn't living with him.

"'The thing is,' Poppy prevaricated, 'my room's only tiny.'

'And who am I, two-ton Tess? All I'm asking for is a bit of floor space.' Dina was wheedling now. 'I'll sleep under the bed if it makes you happier. In the bath, even.'" (Page 106 of ARC)

Poppy Dunbar is a twenty-something mess of a girl, who thinks she has her life figured out until she meets Tom at a bar during her bachelorette party. After giving Rob the brush off, she packs up and moves from Bristol to London to start her life over and to find her biological father. She works two jobs, lands a room in a house with a famous painter Caspar French and a haughty socialite Claudia Slade-Welch, but seems content.

"'Try patches. They worked for my agent and he was a twenty-a-dayman.'

Only a lifelong non-smoker, Rita thought affectionately, could think twenty-a-day was a lot.

'I was a fifty-a-day woman.' She looked depressed. 'Anyway, why d'you suppose I'm wearing long sleeves? I've already got a week's supply slapped all over me. Underneath this dress I look like Mr. Blobby.'" (Page 391 of ARC)

Mansell's writing style draws readers quickly into the drama as they watch Poppy grow, mature, and find her center. The dialogue between Poppy, Caspar, Claudia, and Poppy's boss, Jake, will have readers laughing out loud on their transit commutes, in their bedrooms, on their sofas, or wherever they happen to read.

Poppy is a disaster, but so are Caspar, Claudia, and Jake. It's a wonder they ever get it together in this book. Some of the funniest scenes are when Jake leaves Poppy along to bid at auctions and estate sales. Readers will enjoy how easily Poppy takes leaps into the unknown and how blind she is to the love and family she has in front of her. Mansell has another winner with Perfect Timing.(less)

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Mar 22, 2011 Filipa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, portuguese-books, chick-lit, 2011-reads, romance

Acerca do Encontro Inesperado, adorei como já era de prever. Do início ao fim, foi delicioso.
Ainda tenho dois livros dela por ler e mais um para comprar, mas ela diverte-me sempre.
Adoro a escrita dela, as personagens que ela cria e os enredos. Adoro a forma como ela brinca com os acontecimentos e tem sempre alguma surpresa.
Estou muito contente.
Os livros da Jill deixam-me sempre super bem disposta.
Este não foi excepção.
Gostei muito da ideia dela e de brincar com o destino. Todas as reviravoltas...more

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Nov 23, 2009 Nely rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review

Poppy Dunbar and her friends are out on the town - having a good ‘ol time celebrating Poppy’s last night as a single lady. But when Poppy stumbles - practically into Tom’s arms - he definitely throws a kink in her plans. Before the night is out, Poppy comes to terms that marrying Robbie might not be the best thing for her. She breaks the news to her father and to Robbie and his family and quickly packs up her bags and heads off on a new adventure.... a new life in London.

Poppy's life in London -...more

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Mar 07, 2011 Lolly LKH rated it 3 of 5 stars

Okay my dirty secret- I love British chick lit. It's a bit smarter than american romances, its light, its fun...
The story revolves around Poppy Dunbar who meets her 'soul-mate' (Tom) the night before her wedding. Of course, she jilts her would be suitor but rather than running off with Tom she ends up in a household 'bohemian to boot' and that is the vortex of the story. Yes, it's a bit predictable as light hearted fiction is, but it's also funny and more realistic than you'd expect from this so...more

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Mar 30, 2011 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

A leitura de Encontro Inesperado não podia deixar de me divertir. Neste livro a autora presenteia-nos com a simplicidade de Poppy, uma rapariga que em plena despedida de solteira conhece o homem da sua vida e, de um momento para o outro, fica cheia de dúvidas e coloca tudo em causa. No dia seguinte, decide cancelar o casamento com o namorado de longa data, Rob, mas perde também de vista Tom, o homem por que se apaixonou no dia anterior. Sabendo apenas que Tom vive em Londres e devastada pelos pa...more

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Nov 24, 2009 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is much more than Poppy and her story. The characters are all super likable and their individual faults only endear them to the reader. The main characters are:

Caspar, the hot, flighty, but caring artist

Claudia, the jaded and cynical woman who is just trying to find herself a good man, preferably rich.

Jake the nerdy and shy guy who is scared of opening himself up to another person

And last but not least, Poppy, the vibrant, honest, sweet kid (she's 22) who falls into great situations an...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, i couldn't put it down. I am a big fan of Jill Mansell and her books never disappoints.

I didn't expect Poppy to call off her wedding to Rob all because she met Tom Kennedy. I didn't like him, as the book goes on he becomes very possesive of Poppy and he started buying her clothes and didn't like her wearing short skirts or anything tarty.

My favourite part of the book had to be when Poppy and Caspar finally got together, he has liked Poppy for a while. I also liked Ja...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not her best, but 'Perfect Timing' was another fun book to read by Jill Mansell- I would probably rank this more of a 3.5 than a straight 3 if I could. The main reason I'm not giving it a 4 is that the story felt kind of disjointed, lots of bouncing around to multiple points of view. In other books I've read of hers she has also used that style of storytelling and it didn't bother me, but this time it was almost like it was overused, like there was one or two more voices than there should have b...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Catarina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jill-mansell

Este foi o ultimo livro que li da autora, e mais um que me ficou nos ajustes. Mais um vez a autora não me deixou ficar mal e mais um vez passei a maior parte desta leitura a rir a bandeiras despregadas.

Quanto a Poppy, apesar de não se fazer aquilo que ela fez ao Rob, ainda bem que ela se livrou daquela familia e daquela terra. A familia McBride era um autêntico sufoco, e descobrir tudo o que descobrio depois de terminar o noivado foi algo dificil mas que ao mesmo tempo serviu para lhe dar um nov...more Este foi o ultimo livro que li da autora, e mais um que me ficou nos ajustes. Mais um vez a autora não me deixou ficar mal e mais um vez passei a maior parte desta leitura a rir a bandeiras despregadas.

Quanto a Poppy, apesar de não se fazer aquilo que ela fez ao Rob, ainda bem que ela se livrou daquela familia e daquela terra. A familia McBride era um autêntico sufoco, e descobrir tudo o que descobrio depois de terminar o noivado foi algo dificil mas que ao mesmo tempo serviu para lhe dar um novo rumo de vida e mais importante, crescer um pouco. Digamos que com 22 anos, não somos propriamente os adultos mais responsávis e totalmente formados que a sociedade pode ter.
Gostei bastante da sua personalidade, pois está carregadinha de realismo e defeitos e desmonstrou uma normalidade na personagem muito boa.

Quanto ao resto dos personagens, devo dizer que achei estranha a forma como Poppy se desfaz de Tom tão abruptamente. Obviamente que gostei mais do desfecho que a Poppy teve e com quem mas bem a separação dela de Tom foi tão abrupta e tão sem explicação que fiquei um bocado confusa. Fora esse acontecimento, todo o livro cresceu exponencialmente em qualidade entrado para o meu top 3 da autora.

Adorei o Jake e a Claudia, que apesar de no inicio ser uma autêntica estouvada e mal encaradinha lá se foi redimindo e tiveram os dois um final engraçadissimo tal como todo o seu precurso.

Depois temos a destestável Dina, mas que raio de amiga é aquela? Que penetra sem juizo e senso comum nenhum. E traições de qualquer género que possam haver mexe-me com o sistema nervoso cá de uma maneira... Esta personagem cada vez que entravam em cena apetecia-me passar a parte dela paranão me irritar..grr! A juntar á equipa temos também a Angie que bem se fosse minha mãe tinhamos o caso muito mal parado, que chaga!

E há ainda o Caspar que não sendo de todo perfeito é bastante humano e gostei de todo o desenvolvimento que o personagem teve, outro que também foi crescendo ao longo da história!

Por fim houve mais 3 personagens de que gostei bastante como o Alex, a Rita e o Hugo. Quanto ao Alex adorei o desnvolvimento que lhe foi dado e apesar do desfecho, saber que ele padeceu com a certeza de que sabia quem Poppy era foi bastane bonito, melhor ainda foi a atitude de Rita quando também descobrio o sucedido e continuou a apoiar a Poppy.

Muito bom, mais uma leitura que uma vez começada dificilmente se consegue largar e que nos proporciona momentos muito divertidos.(less)

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Nov 23, 2009 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: women-s-fiction, romance

I really enjoyed the breezy story of a young woman re-inventing her life. On the eve of her wedding, Poppy meets a man who could have been THE ONE. Thinking about this, she reevaluates her feelings for Rob and realizes that she cannot marry him. In the ensuing bru-ha-ha, it is revealed to Poppy that the man who has raised her is not her biological father. This suddenly puts a new perspective on their relationship, as Mervyn has always been distant with Poppy.

Armed with this information, Poppy is...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Whitney rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Chick Lit fans

Shelves: chick-lit, british-lit, europe, uk

I really think this book is more like 2.5 stars but I liked it more than it just being two stars. I went back and forth between being indifferent with Poppy and not liking her at all. I found her to be self involved and hard to like. I was glad that not every guy in the book was in love with her. That was at least refreshing (and worth that last half star). The other characters were way more likable even though I don't think they were meant to be (especially Claudia who was my favorite character...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Kathleen Denly rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was my first Mansell novel and I enjoyed it enough to seek out another of her novels, Rumor Has It, which I enjoyed at least as much. This novel, has incredibly engaging characters that feel like real people. I'd say Mansell's style reminds me a bit of independents films. They're different in a way you can't always put your finger on, but you know you like it. Mansell's novels haven't failed to draw me in, make me laugh, and leave me satisfied. It takes a bit of getting used to the English...more

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Dec 12, 2009 Katrina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2009-favorites

The characters were so real and identifiable. Poppy's ability to make decisions and rally when things got tough was inspiring. The book made me want to go out and experience what life can be like if I made different choices in my life. Then I got to know Dina, Poppy's friend who has it all, a home, a wonderful husband and the cutest baby. She, too, wishes she could experience what life would be like if she had made different decisions. As they say, the grass is always greener. Oh, and I was hook...more

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About Jill Mansell

Jill Mansell lives with her partner and children in Bristol, and writes full time. Actually that’s not true; she watches TV, eats fruit gums, admires the rugby players training in the sports field behind her house, and spends hours on the internet marvelling at how many other writers have blogs. Only when she’s completely run out of displacement activities does she write.

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