From Notting Hill with Love... Actually (Actually #1)

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From Notting Hill with Love... Actually (Actually #1)

by Ali McNamara (Goodreads Author)

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 3,464 ratings · 513 reviews

She was a girl, standing in front of a boy...

Movie fanatic Scarlett O'Brien dreams of a life as glamorous and romantic as all the big screen flicks she worships. When a chance house-sitting job in iconic Notting Hill comes along, she knows living in one of her favorite movie settings is an opportunity too good to pass up.

Leaving behind her skeptical friends, family, and fi...more

Paperback, 448 pages

Published November 1st 2010 by Sphere

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Mar 21, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, charity-shop-buy, chick-lit, cute

This started out pretty great. I was immediately drawn in and found it enjoyable and cute. At some point, it just got a little bit too cute, if you know what I mean.

I guess all the movie references were adorable for maybe the first half of the book but after a while, I wanted to scream. It's not even the movie references that bothered me; it was the way the main character had to explain them. I think most people who will read this book will know the references. We don't need to be told what situ...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Helen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book - a lot! I read chick lit because it is light, fluffy and entertaining - this book was all that and more. It was fun and funny, yet the characters really drew you in. The movie references had me laughing out loud and nodding my head. Great job for its genre!

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2013 Teresa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit

Set in Great Britain, this novel reads pretty much like most of the movies that it is based on. The heroine is getting married, but is beginning to have second thoughts about marrying the safe, add-value-to-my-business David (sounds sort of like Runaway Bride). She decides to house-sit (sort of like The Holiday) in London for a month, to get her head on straight. She also decides that everyone she knows is wrong and that life can be just like a romantic comedy. After all, she's staying in Nottin...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Marissa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Well, I'm happy to have at least one book finished in 2013; I'm also glad I got it for free on my Nook. There is something irresistible to me about a good boy meets girl story. Chalk it up to that stingy extra "X" chromosome or the monthly hormone imbalance, but I've always been a fan of a decent meet-cute, and a satisfactory happy ending. While this book does actually have both of those, it's the pesky in-between that gets tedious.
From the outset, the premise is, at best highly questionable. A...more Well, I'm happy to have at least one book finished in 2013; I'm also glad I got it for free on my Nook. There is something irresistible to me about a good boy meets girl story. Chalk it up to that stingy extra "X" chromosome or the monthly hormone imbalance, but I've always been a fan of a decent meet-cute, and a satisfactory happy ending. While this book does actually have both of those, it's the pesky in-between that gets tedious.
From the outset, the premise is, at best highly questionable. A girl wants to housesit at her wealthy friend of a friend's home because she wants to prove that the same scenarios that happen in the movies she loves, also happen in real life. I know what you're thinking right now. It's something along the lines of "WHAAAAAA...?" Yeah, it took me a couple of minutes for my eyes to refocus after rolling so far back in my head as well. In today's digitially addicted, pop-culture saturated world, this notion seems just, well, silly. The fact that this would be the thesis statement of this book, if this book were, say a research paper, is not even on the road to Plausible Town. However, there are moments when Ms. McNamara forgets about this idea and focuses just on telling the story. The problem is that, it's not often enough. Just when you're getting into a chapter, enjoying the will they, won't they aspect that's part of every great romantic comedy, an actual admission of "another movie moment to add to my list" is uttered from the heroine's subconscious, snapping the reader jarringly back to the real world.
The pop culture references while, on point, are pervasive to the point of distraction. Anyone who is going to pick up a book titled "From Notting Hill to Love Actually" knows exactly what they're looking to read. This isn't going to be a murderous thriller or a novel about surviving the apocalypse; it's going to be a book that we read in bubble baths, on beaches, or after terrible days of dealing with even more horrible bosses, an escape. We probably won't need to be reminded what EVERY SINGLE reference is from. It's kind of like explaining a joke after you realize the audience was already laughing. It's just excessive. While it's clear that all of the references are coming from a place of charm and homage, it's almost too explanatory. A paint-by-numbers of adorable coupling. I mean I wasn't necessarily looking for anything astoundingly original, but I was looking for something that didn't insult my excessive knowledge of Julia Roberts movies or make me feel even a little dirty for owning Sleepless in Seattle.
If you can carry on through the bits where you'd rather just say "DUH!" out loud and you enjoy your (insert favorite cheesy chick flick movie title here) well then, it's not an overly long book to finish and it does have all of the components that any good romance would, the main of which is making sure the answer to the "will they/won't they" question is "they will". However, it may also make you think "if this were a romantic comedy, I wish there were more comedy". While cinema benefits from the visuals and the allowances it can make for physical comedy, with that dimension removed, the banter should be wittier than is mostly found here.
I liked it well enough, but wouldn't necessarily recommend it across the board. The two star rating is mainly earned from the nostalgia garnered from the constant reminders about the movies that I did, in fact, love. However, if all you're looking for is that beach read, tub read, or that book to make you forget about the fact that you're sitting next to the guy who's hogging the armrest and is in constant threat of snoring, well then, this will probably get you through. But if Love Actually is the homemade bacon macaroni and cheese of the movie world, this book is the stale Kraft equivalent. It'll do, but it won't satisfy as much as you wish it would.(less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Dana Marie rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who love rom-com so much that they'll ignore everything else

Recommended to Dana Marie by: Chick-lit is not dead

I won a copy of this book and was very excited to receive it in the mail. I love romantic comedies and adore Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. I sigh like crazy over Notting Hill and Love...Actually so I thought this would really speak to me.

The problem was that I just had a hard time getting into this book. I see nothing wrong with having a hobby (I'm addicted to Pinterest and drive my roommate crazy with my "ooh, that looks delicious" or "Wow, I can't believe they did that from cardboard" but this o...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 07, 2013 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I think I'm one of the last people on earth that would qualify as a romantic. I hated Titanic, didn't cry during P.S. I Love You, have no desire to see most of Hugh Grant's movies, and I've never seen Pretty Woman. I'm still trying to understand why that movie is popular or romantic. Not that hookers don't deserve love, but all I can ever think of is if Richard Gere's character was ever tested for anything he could've caught from Julia Roberts' character. So, yeah, not a romantic.

This book kinda...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Scout J rated it 1 of 5 stars

Books don't make me angry often, but this did. I am furious I paid seven quid for it and it took up space in my suitcase that could have been filled with another book.

This is why Rom Coms have a bad name. Bad, dull, cliched writing: a protagonist so unbearable it's like being stuck in the corner of the xmas party with the office bore, except in your own house, and you're paying for it. The author has stumbled across the GENIUS strategy of interjecting terrible, insanely pointless monologues with...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Amy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, low-expectations

Have you ever walked into a classroom or meeting, listened for a few minutes, and realized you were in the wrong place? That's how I felt a few chapters into this featherweight book. It was a free download for my Nook, and I figured a little light reading would do no harm, so I gave it a try.

The main character was named after a movie character and seems to pin her life to movies and movie scenes. I knew I was in for a bumpy ride when I realized I had not seen any of the movies that she constantl...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Chelsey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Scarlett O’ Brien’s life revolves around the cinema, literally. Starting with her career, her fiancé’s career, and her deep passion for film, her entire life is consumed with all the big screen flicks and how she can adapt them to fit into her own monotonous lifestyle. Her friends and family are starting to become skeptical of her “obsession” with all things cinema, and she is on a mission to prove them all wrong. She wants to prove to them that a movie can happen in your everyday, ordinary life...more Scarlett O’ Brien’s life revolves around the cinema, literally. Starting with her career, her fiancé’s career, and her deep passion for film, her entire life is consumed with all the big screen flicks and how she can adapt them to fit into her own monotonous lifestyle. Her friends and family are starting to become skeptical of her “obsession” with all things cinema, and she is on a mission to prove them all wrong. She wants to prove to them that a movie can happen in your everyday, ordinary life!

This book was such a sweet and charming piece of one of my favorite genres out there: chick lit! It really is based around Scarlett’s love for the cinema, so there are tons of movie references. I enjoyed this for the most part, but sometimes it got under my skin. I wouldn’t say it was overdone, but you definitely get the point after the first few chapters. Besides that small factor, I absolutely loved this book and I think it was written with tons of imagination and actually made me want to watch Notting Hill!

I wanted to see our main character, Scarlett, bloom as she traveled to Notting Hill for a short “break” to figure her life out. I felt so sorry for her at the start of the novel because her life just seemed so dull and rather boring. Her fiancé, David, got on my absolute last nerve, but I believe that was the point. He was so strict with money and constantly nagged her about one thing or another. Even her best friend, Maddie, couldn’t appreciate her love for the cinema, and I just wanted to flick them all off the pages. I loved Scarlett, even though she was somewhat odd and quirky at times; this helped set her apart from other fictional characters.

I loved Sean, the rather nosy and sometimes arrogant neighbor that Scarlett meets while she is in London. The first time that I was introduced to Sean I must admit that I was not quite sure that I was going to like him at all. Once I saw him interact more with Scarlett and I saw his adventurous side come out, I immediately wanted her to leave David and fall deeply, head over heels in love with Sean. He brought out a side of Scarlett that I needed to see. Within the first few days of knowing Sean, Scarlett was being whisked off to a wedding for someone she didn’t even know. It was great to see her break free from the norms!

***A big thanks to the publishers at Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***
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Oct 06, 2012 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cnb-reviewers

"Everyone who’s seen a romantic comedy at least once in their life knows the story. Boy meets girl. They fall in love. Something happens that separates the two of them. This is followed by a swoon-worthy, grand romantic gesture that sweeps the girl off her feet. We’ve seen them, and we love them. Some of us even wish for one of those grand romantic gestures at least once in our lifetime. I know I do! And so does Scarlett O’Brien.

The spitting image of Vivien Leigh, Scarlett is madly in love with...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Catherine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

This book started off badly. The first chapter was okay, though the character of Oscar seemed very contrived for a while, and his actions very unrealistic; he was too over-the-top. Then, Scarlett recounts the story of why she's in Notting Hill in the first place, and what follows are a couple of chapters of McNamara breaking the cardinal rule of writing; she was certainly telling, not showing.

She also takes a while to warm up to writing; it doesn't flow as well as during the rest of the book, a...more This book started off badly. The first chapter was okay, though the character of Oscar seemed very contrived for a while, and his actions very unrealistic; he was too over-the-top. Then, Scarlett recounts the story of why she's in Notting Hill in the first place, and what follows are a couple of chapters of McNamara breaking the cardinal rule of writing; she was certainly telling, not showing.

She also takes a while to warm up to writing; it doesn't flow as well as during the rest of the book, and Scarlett is actually pretty annoying in the first 4 chapters. Also, the author seems to get slightly confused as to what is narrative and what is thought, so sometimes there were sentences that were italicised for no reason, or present-tense thoughts that should have been in italics and weren't. At this point, I was starting to regret buying this book.

However, it gets dramatically better from chapter 5 onwards, with the proper introduction of Sean. There were still some things that annoyed me. For example, I couldn't ever really understand why she was in Notting Hill. There were all these reasons that made sense, but she kept talking about proving that movies happened in real life, and I don't think that this was really properly reinforced at the beginning, and so that was a bit weak. There were also some very unrealistic moments throughout the book, but you kind of get used to them, and it just kind of adds to the fun.

And I think 'fun' would be the best word to describe this book. It was fun, entertaining, light-hearted. A really good romance. The character of Sean was by far my favourite. He was very endearing, captivating, and funny. After the first four chapters, I also warmed to Scarlett.

Going in to this book, you should not expect anything wonderful or life-changing. But, if you take it as it is, then you will thoroughly enjoy it, I think. I thought the author was very clever to manage to weave all those movie references in and she managed to replicate many instances. Once again, I thought this was contrived at the beginning, but it got better.

Overall, this book is a really good read for anyone looking for a good, solid romance. It's funny, the characters are likeable and I found the book engrossing.(less)

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Apr 21, 2012 Evellyn added it

The right word to define this story is charming. Yes, there is no other! You know that book that makes you sigh in moments of romance and you find yourself laughing alone? It is this!

Scarlet is a 23 year old who is engaged and has a business of popcorn machines for movies theaters (unusual, huh?) with his father. It turns out that with the wedding coming up, she finds herself wondering if she's really doing the right thing, since she and her fiance, David, no longer seem to share the same intere...more The right word to define this story is charming. Yes, there is no other! You know that book that makes you sigh in moments of romance and you find yourself laughing alone? It is this!

Scarlet is a 23 year old who is engaged and has a business of popcorn machines for movies theaters (unusual, huh?) with his father. It turns out that with the wedding coming up, she finds herself wondering if she's really doing the right thing, since she and her fiance, David, no longer seem to share the same interests. The two now live together in a house in retirement and this makes Scarlet extressed. To complete, she's simply ADDICTED in film and would like her life was exciting and fun to watch as the novels, but things are not so. Her father thinks she is deluded about films, the groom does not care and her friend think she's crazy. In short: no one gives much credence to her!

But even so, with the help of her best friend, she gets a house to live for a month (anyone who saw The Holiday knows how) in the notorious Notting Hill (after the film of the same name, became very famous and is one of Scarlet's favorite movies). She goes there with the intention of having some time alone to think, take all the tension off the head and maybe live some moments based on scenes from movies.

Scarlet soon makes friends when arrive in Notting Hill - of course, engaging in a funny situation and get to know a neighbor very interesting. Sean is the male character that made me sigh because even the person being more 'in-romantic' in life, always that they were together I loved them since the conversations were always different, fun, lively. Sean has trauma film / cinema - but in return ♥ He LOVES reading and helps her on something very important and the friendship that develops between the two (if only it) made me cheer for them - but of course, she's engaged, then the situation is complicated.

Scarlet is the narrator and she's great! At first you think that someone with that mind is foolish and live completely outside of reality, but the way she describes things and how she believes, make us believe and want her to be able to perform all their follies. May seem too ideological, but who has ever dreamed of living 'like in the movies'? The only difference is that Scarlet ends up creating situations for this to occur and these moments were the funniest because whenever she was planning a 'scene' things went wrong. At times she is too stubborn and can not get rid of preconceived thoughts, even when they should no longer be there, yet she has a personality that captivates.

The book talks about going after what you want without being overcome by negativity of others, about believing in what you want, about second chances, about romance, about the magic that life can be if you take a chance. I really was blown away because this is all handled with great care and even the 'scenes' that we saw only in movies seem totally believable as they happen with Scarlet and this gives that feeling that 'yes, you can'.(less)

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Jul 30, 2011 Swissmiss rated it 2 of 5 stars

Cliched, shallow, cringingly embarrassing, and trite, with cardboard characters, unbelievable coincidences, and a questionable moral message.

In its defense, it was meant to be cliched, with the entire premise being that the protagonist was trying to live out various moments from romantic comedies. I found that a clever enough gimmick. One flaw in this plan, though, was that the author relied on too few films: Pretty Woman, Sleepless in Seattle, Pride & Prejudice (not exactly a romantic come...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Sharon Goodwin rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’ve had this book for some time on my bookshelf. Having just finished ‘Agent 6’ by Tom Rob Smith (review coming soon) I was looking for a read that would be fun …… as I was browsing, Katie Fforde’s quote on the front cover caught my eye ‘Sparky, fun and endearing’ so I thought From Notting Hill with Love … Actually would be just what I needed.

I did have fun reading about Scarlett – but the story is much more than a romantic comedy - with a plot-line running alongside that deals with the issue o...more I’ve had this book for some time on my bookshelf. Having just finished ‘Agent 6’ by Tom Rob Smith (review coming soon) I was looking for a read that would be fun …… as I was browsing, Katie Fforde’s quote on the front cover caught my eye ‘Sparky, fun and endearing’ so I thought From Notting Hill with Love … Actually would be just what I needed.

I did have fun reading about Scarlett – but the story is much more than a romantic comedy - with a plot-line running alongside that deals with the issue of parenthood, obligations Vs freedom and perceived debts owing.

The story is written in the first person (from Scarlett’s point of view), which works really well. It begins in a rather unique way. The understanding of what has happened before and why Scarlett is house-sitting is portrayed by a conversation with a stranger (Oscar) that she bumps into as she is making her way to the house. This hooked me in straight away. It’s not as dull as it may sound - the re-telling by Scarlett is interspersed with Oscar’s endearing mannerisms!

Scarlett’s journey of trying to find her ‘happy ever after’ movie moment is so action packed I didn’t have time to be bored. Everything begins to fall into place as the story unfolds making you want to read on to find out where you will be led to next.

I loved Maddie’s (Scarlett’s best friend) wedding in Disneyland, Paris. It was such fun despite the accident and head-to-head between David and Sean (or in fact maybe because of it!).

I thought the way the author compared Scarlett’s emotions with a physical thing was unique and fun in helping her readers understand Scarlett’s feelings.

Another unique part of the story, which threads its way through everything, is Scarlett trying to find her movie moments in real life. This was quite funny but also poignant at the end.

The characters are brilliant – I loved Scarlett, Oscar and Sean all for different reasons. I probably shouldn’t slate David but he is one of the most boring characters I’ve yet to meet (which is what he IS supposed to be by the way).

I would recommend this book if you were looking for something to lift your spirits and wanted more than a light summer read. In my opinion, it is such a feel-good book it has the power to lift any gloom (which I’ve needed on these gloomy and grey summer days!).
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Jan 09, 2013 Primeballerina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Der Buchtitel klingt wie ein perfekter Hugh-Grant-Liebesfilm? Nun - ja! Denn "Tatsächlich Liebe in Notting Hill" ist ein perfekter Liebesroman, der sich um fünf perfekte Liebesfilme dreht!

Scarlett wurde mit ihren schwarzen Haaren und strahlend grünen Augen natürlich nach Filmlegende Vivien Leigh benannt, die bekanntermaßen die dramatische Figur der Scarlett O'Hara in Vom Winde verweht spielte. Wie ihre Mutter, die sie nie kennen gelernt hat, liebt Scarlett Kinofilme über alles. Sie verliert sich...more Der Buchtitel klingt wie ein perfekter Hugh-Grant-Liebesfilm? Nun - ja! Denn "Tatsächlich Liebe in Notting Hill" ist ein perfekter Liebesroman, der sich um fünf perfekte Liebesfilme dreht!

Scarlett wurde mit ihren schwarzen Haaren und strahlend grünen Augen natürlich nach Filmlegende Vivien Leigh benannt, die bekanntermaßen die dramatische Figur der Scarlett O'Hara in Vom Winde verweht spielte. Wie ihre Mutter, die sie nie kennen gelernt hat, liebt Scarlett Kinofilme über alles. Sie verliert sich in Tagträumereien und hofft auf eine schicksalhafte Begegnung mit etwa Hugh Grant oder Johnny Depp. Oder vielleicht auf eine filmreife Liebesbekundung von ihrem Verlobten David? Denn aktuell ist Scarlett leider nicht wirklich glücklich mit ihrem Leben. David besitzt zwar eine Kinokette und genügend Geld, um das neue Haus professionell renovieren zu lassen, doch dafür ist er viel zu geizhalsig. Und für Scarlett ist er vielleicht doch etwas zu langweilig. Da bietet ihre Arbeit - in einem Unternehmen, welches sie gemeinsam mit ihrem Vater betreibt - nicht viel mehr Abwechslung. Als sowohl David als auch Scarletts Vater ihr vorwerfen, nur in Träumen zu schwelgen und vor lauter Filmen das Leben nicht ernst genug zu nehmen, beschließt sie, eine kleine Auszeit zu nehmen. So kommt es, dass sie eine tolle Villa hüten darf - und zwar ausgerechnet in Notting Hill. Und nachdem sie die Bekanntschaft von Oscar, dessen netten Freunden und ihrem aktuellen Nachbar Sean macht, merkt sie auf einmal wie häufig sich Filmszenen in ihr Leben einschleichen...

Scarletts fünf Lieblingsfilme? Die besten und kitschigsten Liebesfilme! Notting Hill, Bridget Jones - Schokolade zum Frühstück, Pretty Woman und Tatsächlich...Liebe. Wer sich in Filmen wenigstens ein klein wenig auskennt und liebend gerne romantische Geschichten liest oder schaut, wird mit diesem Roman von Ali McNamara vollends auf seine Kosten kommen! Trotz einigermaßen typischer Chick-Lit-Handlung schafft es die Autorin die Leserin doch hin und wieder zu überraschen. So bleibt das Geschehen zum größten Teil scheinbar vorhersehbar, aber trotzdem spannend! Neben dem leichten, lockeren und flüssigen Schreibstil bildet das wahre Highlight des Romans für mich persönlich die verblüffend passende Verflechtung so vieler Filmszenen in die Handlung. Fans beider Arten von Liebesgeschichten kommen hier also vollends auf ihre Kosten, da sie sozusagen zwei zum Preis von einem bekommen - Buch und Film. Wobei, eigentlich sogar unzählige Filme!

Ach, was kann man eigentlich mehr sagen? "Tatsächlich Liebe in Notting Hill" ist schlichtweg ein absolut empfehlenswerter und perfekter Liebesroman! Mehr Worte braucht es hier nicht, wer wenigstens tief im Herzen ein wenig auf eine ordentliche Portion Kitsch steht, MUSS dieses Buch lesen!(less)

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Oct 10, 2012 Kelly Moran rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-reviews

Movie fanatic Scarlett O'Brien dreams of a life more glamorous than her own. So, leaving behind her family, friends, and fiancé, she travels to the infamous Notting Hill to house sit. There she meets eccentric new friends, a hot, sarcastic neighbor, and a mystery from her past. One should be careful what they wish for...

This is one of those rare cases where I think a movie version might supersede the book. This first half of the book I had a hard time relating to Scarlett, and it dragged a tad....more

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Jan 07, 2013 patrycja polczyk rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm giving this book 5 stars not because it's some kind of groundbreaking masterpiece, but because it's absolutely adorable and perfect read for romantic comedies sucker. I have to admit - I got it as a freebie on Amazon and wasn't hoping for much, but I was nicely surprised. It's good to read book like that from time to time and be completely charmed by the story. It's well written, page-turner about girl, who reminded me of myself a bit. I love romantic comedies, movies in general. I sometimes...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Kathleen Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Funny chic lit at it's best. Scarlett, the main character, needs to prove to her family that her obsession with movies is not an obsession at all. To her it is who she is. She takes some time and takes a house sitting job to just get her head on straight. While in Notting Hill she meets one of her neighbors who stirs passion in her. The fun part of the story is that she is able to recall every instance in her adult life with a scene or line from a movie. A side story is of Scarlett trying to fin...more

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May 12, 2013 Ellie Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

“There’s something very comforting about watching a Hugh Grant movie. You know no one’s head will be blown off in the first three minutes, no one will be tortured, and the worst thing that might happen is seeing a lanky Welshman eating mayonnaise in his underpants.” Ali McNamara

How can you not enjoy a book with thoughts like this? “From Notting Hill with Love Actually” was such a fun read. It is all about Scarlett, a young girl, (ok early 20′s is not necessarily a girl anymore, but the older I g...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Emily Topinka rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

I need fluff. This appears to be nothing but.

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Nov 20, 2012 Samantha Robey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of From Knotting Hill with Love...Actually in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first I have read from Ali McNamara, and I was really excited for it. Everything about it just screamed classic chick lit, and it left me with a smile at the end. Main character and movie fanatic Scarlett O'Brien has an obsession with movies. She loves dreaming about the glamorous and romantic lives some of her favorite leading ladies have had. There is a tiny problem though – her life is q...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Anne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: language-german, genre-romance-chicklit, read-2013, age-adult

Erstmal ein großes Dankeschön an Goldmann/ Randomhouse sowie Ali McNamara für dieses Leseexemplar. Ich habe mich tierisch gefreut an dieser Leserunde teilnehmen zu dürfen und ich wurde auch nicht enttäuscht. Ein lustiges romantisches Buch, welches einen in diverse Filme entführt. Aber Achtung, wer einen Chick-Lit Roman sucht, der realistische Züge hat, ist hier verkehrt. Darüber sollte man sich von vornherein im Klaren sein. Achja, und man sollte vor Beginn des Buches, sich eventuell die Filmlis...more Erstmal ein großes Dankeschön an Goldmann/ Randomhouse sowie Ali McNamara für dieses Leseexemplar. Ich habe mich tierisch gefreut an dieser Leserunde teilnehmen zu dürfen und ich wurde auch nicht enttäuscht. Ein lustiges romantisches Buch, welches einen in diverse Filme entführt. Aber Achtung, wer einen Chick-Lit Roman sucht, der realistische Züge hat, ist hier verkehrt. Darüber sollte man sich von vornherein im Klaren sein. Achja, und man sollte vor Beginn des Buches, sich eventuell die Filmliste hinten anschauen und ggf. unbekannte Filme zuvor schauen ;)
Das Cover ist wirklich schön, da ich violett sehr mag, auch die Zeichnungen sind gut getroffen, und es stellt sogar einen Bezug zum Inhalt dar, was mittlerweile auch nicht immer gegeben ist. Ebenfalls praktisch finde ich das Verzeichnis mit Filmen, sowie den Zusatzinformationen zu den Filmen. Nach dem Lesen kann man sogar ein Quiz machen, wie gut man Scarlett’s Lieblingsfilme überhaupt kennt.
Normalerweise habe ich häufig an Chick-Lit Romanen viel zu meckern und mindestens eine markante Stelle, die mir so gar nicht gefallen, aber hier ist dem nicht so. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass ich die Filme, welche hier eine wichtige Rolle spielen, ebenso sehr wie die Protagonistin Scarlett. Denn Filmwissen ist hier unumgänglich. „Notting Hill“, „Tatsächlich Liebe“, „Bridget Jones“ oder „Schlaflos in Seattle“ sind nur einige Beispiele von Filmen, die hier eine zentrale Rollen. Denn immerhin möchte Scarlett beweisen, dass die Realität durchaus wie im Film sein kann. Dabei stößt Scarlett natürlich auf einige Hindernisse. Ali McNamara schafft eine wirkliche romantische Komödie, die sich weg liest wie Butter. Natürlich handelt es sich hier nicht um einen Josè Saramago oder ähnliches, aber das erwartet man gar nicht. Man wird einfach gut unterhalten, und schwupp waren schon die nächsten hundert Seiten weggelesen. Man fiebert mit Scarlett einfach mit, auch wenn sie manchmal schon recht naiv erscheint. Doch ihr Wille es allen zu beweisen, macht sie sehr sympathisch. Auch die anderen Charaktere mit ihren Ecken und Kanten passen alle durchaus in die Geschichte. Nur schade, dass nicht alle Charaktere so viel aufmerksam bekommen, aber dann wäre das Buch wahrscheinlich zu lang geworden. Aber Ali McNamara schafft eine wundervolle Atmosphäre, vor allem durch die Schauplätze von London. Denn mal ganz ehrlich gesprochen, wer träumt nicht auch mal davon, dass sein Leben etwas mehr von einem guten Film mit Happy End hat. Natürlich gab es auch hier ein Happy End, obwohl es fast nicht danach aus sah, aber alles andere hätte nicht zu dem Buch gepasst und hätte damit auch die Geschichte verfälscht. Zwar hat das alles schon die Kitsch-Krone auf, doch diese Kitsch-Krone ist verdient und das meine ich jetzt nicht negativ. Manchmal brauch man einfach so etwas, um dem tristen grauen Alltag zu entfliehen.
Ali McNamara hat ein wunderschönes Werk geschaffen, was mich begeistern konnte. Ich liebe Filme, und jeder der sie auch liebt, sollte zu dem Film greifen. Nun werde ich sicherlich mir einige Filme noch mal anschauen, und warten bis Miss McNamara’s nächstes Buch in Deutschland erscheint. Das ist ein Buch was einfach nur glücklich macht und einen düsteren kalten Wintertag etwas fröhlicher stimmt.
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May 22, 2013 Jill rated it 5 of 5 stars

After the book showed up on my daily Kindle recommendations from Amazon, I ordered it after glancing at a few reviews. I try not to read detailed reviews beforehand because they frequently include plot spoilers. But I did read enough to see that many others had found it entertaining and lighthearted, and I wholeheartedly agree ! It was a fun page turner, and I found myself cheering Scarlett on in her escapades.

With her pending marriage looming on the horizon, Scarlett it feeling a bit trapped an...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Alyssa rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-ebooks

I got this book free on my nook and was really hoping for a quick, adorable read. Unfortunately it wasn't quick enough. The quirky movie obsession got old fast. The main character, Scarlett, was trying way to hard to make movie scenes out of her life. The coincidental movie quotations by characters was too forced. I also couldn't believe Scarlett could accidentally run into that many real life movie stars. It was probably added in as a quirky comical gag but it just disrupted the flow for me. I...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Charlotte rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: advanced-readers-copy, nook

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From Notting Hill with Love...Actually is a super cute book. Quotes from all of your favorite Chick Flick movies are rampant in this book. The characters are colorful and fun. In my mind as I was reading, I was envisioning how it would be staged on the big screen. Admittedly there were parts of the book that were a bit predictable, but then again, aren't most Chick Flicks?

Bottom line, I don't think there are many, if any women out there who has not sat th...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Danyelle Ferguson rated it 3 of 5 stars

A friend of mine recommended this book - said it was awesome, so I picked it up to read during my holiday break. The first several chapters were highly annoying. So many flashbacks! It was hard to keep track of who was who and what setting or time period they were in. Normally I would have put the book down after a few not-so-good chapters, but I forced myself to keep reading since I normally agree with my friend about books that are fab. There was a definite improvement in the story once the st...more

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Nov 23, 2011 Milka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-during-2011

The first time I bumped into this books months ago in a bookstore at Finland I knew that it would be a perfect read for me. The synopsis sounds great; movies, London, handsome neighbor. Already from the cover you see that this is one of those books that you know what is going to happen in the end. But aren't you even a bit curious to see how it will happen?

Scarlett, the heroine is in many ways like me; she is completely obsessed with movies (I am reminded about my obsession daily by my friends a...more The first time I bumped into this books months ago in a bookstore at Finland I knew that it would be a perfect read for me. The synopsis sounds great; movies, London, handsome neighbor. Already from the cover you see that this is one of those books that you know what is going to happen in the end. But aren't you even a bit curious to see how it will happen?

Scarlett, the heroine is in many ways like me; she is completely obsessed with movies (I am reminded about my obsession daily by my friends and family). She also tends to relate everything to movies, which is something I do all the time. She is in love with Hugh Grant, she has seen Notting Hill way too many times, and she keeps hoping that a life would be a bit more like a movie. Her fiance David is a totally opposite to Scarlett and her personality. He seems uptight and annoying most of the time. It is still a bit unclear for me way Scarlett is with him in the first place.

When Scarlett's wedding is looming around, she realizes that she needs some time on her own to think. When she is offered a position as a house-sitter at Notting Hill, she cannot refuse. Her first moments at Notting Hill are (of course) like straight for a movie. She meets a gay guy, they become instants friends and she is invited to a dinner. She also meets her new temporary neighbor, who of course is steaming hot, but also a bit arrogant (Mr. Darcy, much?) And of course they meet at the dinner again... And that is just the beginning.

As the time goes by at Notting Hill, Scarlett sees that life truly is full of movie-like moments. She and Sean (the hot neighbor) also seem like polar opposites as you get to know more about them, but they at least have chemistry between them. It just takes a bit of time for Scarlett to fully realize it.

As I said before, this novel is totally obvious one. But I did not expect anything else from it. It is funny, full of nice movie mentions and the ending is SO romantic that it made me cry for good 10 minutes. I want my own Sean ASAP!

(From the end of the book you can find nice movie trivia and a guide to Notting Hill)(less)

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Jan 02, 2013 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, finished

This isn't an earth-shattering tale. It is the standard chick-lit fare. While the ending is predictable, it is the journey that makes this book worth reading. Ali McNamara has managed to bring together the literary world of chick-lit with the cinematic world of the romantic-comedy.

The main character is obsessed with romantic movies. While on a month-long stay in Notting Hill, she takes the opportunity to rethink her life and her passions. Many humorous scenes take place in which the movie world...more

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Dec 26, 2010 Indiaskye rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-couldn-t-finish, books-read-in-2010, chick-lit

In the beginning this book was really cute and funny, even though Scarlett's obsession with movies and re-creating movie moments in real life could be a tad annoying. However, as the story progressed I liked the book less and less, until I got to the point where it really made me angry!

I liked the whole idea of the book, and the writing was not all bad. Basically, there were good parts, and there were bad parts, but the further the story got the worse the plot (and the writing) became.

Scarlett...more In the beginning this book was really cute and funny, even though Scarlett's obsession with movies and re-creating movie moments in real life could be a tad annoying. However, as the story progressed I liked the book less and less, until I got to the point where it really made me angry!

I liked the whole idea of the book, and the writing was not all bad. Basically, there were good parts, and there were bad parts, but the further the story got the worse the plot (and the writing) became.

Scarlett was likable at first, but sometimes I found her to be too immature and out of touch with reality. Her fiancé, David, is painted as an impatient, self-absorbed control freak, and I wondered from the start why she would be engaged to him.

Sean, now him I actually liked. However, considering the fact that we learn pretty early on that he owns a successful company I was actually a bit surprised that he never really seemed to be working. He was certainly able to jet off with Scarlett anywhere and everywhere at all hours of the day.

Fair warning --- there are spoilers ahead!!!

There were parts in the story that were just completely implausible and unbelievable. For example, when Scarlett goes to Paris for her best friend's wedding she spontaneously invites Sean along --- even though she knows that her fiancé will be there. Now, how would you explain to your fiancé that you invited your temporary neighbor - whom you have known for maybe two weeks, and who is really handsome - to go to Paris with you to attend the wedding of someone he has never met?

And that's another thing --- Scarlett keeps dreading meeting David at the wedding, yet while she is there she promises David that she has no feelings for Sean, and that she is still looking forward to marrying him (David) a few weeks later. But she has no qualms about spending the next day - which happens to be Valentine's Day - with Sean in Paris instead of going back to England with David. Also, it is already clear at this point that Scarlett is in love with Sean, and he with her.

What really made me roll my eyes in disgust and quit reading was this:

There is a scene after about 270 pages in which Sean and Scarlett are together in his hotel room in Paris, and are talking about her upcoming marriage to David. Sean is trying to figure out why she is so set upon marrying David even though they are not really compatible.

Suddenly Sean asks her if the reason why she wants to marry David could possibly be to merge his family's chain of cinemas with her father's popcorn machine business, and after hesitating a moment she tells him that yes, that is a big part of it.

So, the author actually expects her readers to believe that a 23-year-old woman who is completely obsessed with romantic movies would get married for a business opportunity????

I'm sorry, but for me that was just the last straw, and I quit reading at that point.(less)

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About Ali McNamara

Ali McNamara attributes her over active imagination to one thing - being born an only child. Time spent when she was young dreaming up adventures, has left her head constantly filled with stories waiting to be told.

When stories she wrote for fun on singer Ronan Keating's website ten years ago became so popular they were sold as a fundraising project for his cancer awareness charity, Ali realised t...more

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