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Brand New Friend
by
Mike Gayle
Finding friends is hard to do...When thirty-two-year-old Rob Brooks's long term girlfriend asks him to leave London and live with her in Manchester not only will it mean moving cities and changing the only job he's ever had, it'll also mean leaving behind his best mate in the entire world, Phil Clarke. Believing in love conquering all Rob takes the plunge and convinced of...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
May 22nd 2006
by Hodder & Stoughton
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'Do you want to hear an interesting fact?' said Jo. 'Eskimos apparently have over fifty different words for snow. Snow's really important to those guys - I suppose it's because sometimes the difference between one type and another can mean the difference between life or death.' She paused and laughed self-consciously. 'You know they've got words for dry snow and wet snow, fluffy snow and compact snow. They've got words for snow that comes down fast and for snow that comes down slow - they've tho...more
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Oh, I really enjoyed this book. So much so in fact, that I'm gonna give it a 4,5 instead of a 4. (I mean, yeah it was good, but I'm kind of picky about the fives now a days)
I just loved how it was about friendship instead of romance. Friendship, in my opinion, should be so much more valued than romantic love anyways. It's our main source of happiness, I'm telling ya.
The story was just light and fun. I mean, it did contain some surprises in the end, but mostly it was just a semi funny read that m...more
I just loved how it was about friendship instead of romance. Friendship, in my opinion, should be so much more valued than romantic love anyways. It's our main source of happiness, I'm telling ya.
The story was just light and fun. I mean, it did contain some surprises in the end, but mostly it was just a semi funny read that m...more
OK, I'll say right off, it's just plain weird reading a book in which a major character shares a name (fore- and sur-) with one of your friends. And even though this Jo bore little resemblance to my Jo, it still made it difficult to remain objective about her.
I'll also say I'm glad I didn't pay any money for this, a magazine freebie. Although this is kind of a shame, as I have in my life bought two copies of 'Mr Commitment', having enjoyed it enough to lend it to someone and miss it when it fail...more
I'll also say I'm glad I didn't pay any money for this, a magazine freebie. Although this is kind of a shame, as I have in my life bought two copies of 'Mr Commitment', having enjoyed it enough to lend it to someone and miss it when it fail...more
You can always count on Mike Gayle to present a unique take on life from a man's point of view, filled with funny punchlines and painfully acute observations. This book is for those who have friends-turned-lovers, those who have lovers-turned-friends and those who have platonic heterosexual friends who are still just-a-friend.
This is the third novel I've read by Mike Gayle and I enjoyed it. It was an interesting topic to focus on. I just assumed guys found it easy to make new friends.
What did I like about it? I enjoyed the writing style. It's conversational ... funny at times. I liked the short chunky chapters. I'm happy it ended the way it did ... it could have gone one of two ways. And there were a few opportunities to tidy things up but Gayle didn't go there.
What didn't I like about it? I didn't feel anything for...more
What did I like about it? I enjoyed the writing style. It's conversational ... funny at times. I liked the short chunky chapters. I'm happy it ended the way it did ... it could have gone one of two ways. And there were a few opportunities to tidy things up but Gayle didn't go there.
What didn't I like about it? I didn't feel anything for...more
Like all of Mike Gayle’s books, this one gets a big fat 5 stars! I stayed up way too late reading this book because I just couldn’t put it down, and when I was done I could hardly sleep because my heart was aching and I was still crying.
I think this one hit home for me more than others because it’s a story about a guy who moves to another city to be with his girlfriend. He has no friends there and in his early 30’s he finds it incredibly difficult to make any. He’s lonely and feels out of place…...more
I think this one hit home for me more than others because it’s a story about a guy who moves to another city to be with his girlfriend. He has no friends there and in his early 30’s he finds it incredibly difficult to make any. He’s lonely and feels out of place…...more
Well this is the first book on my shelf by Mike Gayle...!!
I bought this book because of its tag line, "He doesn't fancy her. She doesn't fancy him. So what's with HER being HIS..."
It's the thing I have always tried to explain my friends.
At first I found this book a little boring but when he moved to manchester and when he found Jo,is from where my interest started to build in this book.
'Jo' and 'Ashley' are quite interesting characters and 'Rob' is kinda boring when he doesn't have anyone to ea...more
I bought this book because of its tag line, "He doesn't fancy her. She doesn't fancy him. So what's with HER being HIS..."
It's the thing I have always tried to explain my friends.
At first I found this book a little boring but when he moved to manchester and when he found Jo,is from where my interest started to build in this book.
'Jo' and 'Ashley' are quite interesting characters and 'Rob' is kinda boring when he doesn't have anyone to ea...more
I have been alternating whether to give this a 3 or a 4 and went for 3. I quite enjoyed this story of Rob who decided reluctantly to move from London to Manchester to live with his girlfriend Ashley (after she had given him an ultimatum). His reluctance was due to the fact that at 32 he was sure he would be able to make friends in Manchester and did not really want to leave his London friends behind. But went he and have trouble finding friends he had, until he met Jo (first at a party then in a...more
This was the second of four back-to-back audiobooks I listened to by Mike Gayle and I enjoyed all four.
I love the twist with this book, that a man can be friends with a woman, although in Harry Met Sally-style, there are some close calls.
A book works well when a reader believes that the characters are real and, although I'm a tough crowd (a writer myself), Mike's characters are utterly believable (especially the Trekkie). I lost some sympathy with Rob's situation when he was so mean to the men h...more
I love the twist with this book, that a man can be friends with a woman, although in Harry Met Sally-style, there are some close calls.
A book works well when a reader believes that the characters are real and, although I'm a tough crowd (a writer myself), Mike's characters are utterly believable (especially the Trekkie). I lost some sympathy with Rob's situation when he was so mean to the men h...more
I loved this book. It was about a guy moving in with his girlfriend, so that they could stop with the long distance relationship.By moving in he is now placed in a new city with no friends. So he goes on a search to find a new best friend, but has a hard time finding any guys he can get along with. So he ends up finding a female friend. I was interesting to read from a guys perspective on a relationship. The chapters were short and the book was divided into many parts, which added to the quirky...more
I can see why 'Lad-Lit' is thriving and safe in the hands of authors like Mike Gayle, thanks to great novels like this. It was a hugely enjoyable, simple story about a man called Rob who is loving his life in London but his girlfriend (Ashley) of two years is sick of the commute down from Manchester to be with him so she gives him an ultimatum. Either he moves to Manchester to be with her or their relationship is over. Rob makes the monumental decision to go to Manchester for one year, just to s...more
Now I am a great book lover and I have stumbled across the works of Mike Gayle. Gayle, who is better known as the brother of newsreader, Phil Gayle has been writing hit books for years but I have never gotten round to reading them. Feeling bored one day I took a browse through my book collection (which I admit is pretty huge) and I found his latest book Brand New Friend. I got right into it and have been unable to put it down. ‘Brand New Friend’ is the story of Rob, a bit of a commitment-phobe,...more
Ever had a girl or a guy friend that you worry your partner wouldn't like if they knew about them? That's pretty much the theme to this book. I am pretty sure many of us have found ourselves in a similar situation and I thoroughly enjoyed following Rob's journey through his relationship with his girlfriend, the people he meets, and in particularly, the one girl he gets close to. Would recommend this to friends if asked for suggestions, but I can't see myself reading it for a while.
When I read a book, I like to get lost in the writing and the plot, however I was a bit disapointed with this book, as I struggled to get into the story....dont get me wrong the plot was good but unfortunately I just couldn't get over the writing style.
I felt that this book lot of the book read to me like a summary of a story rather than a story in its own right, and I found myself wishing he'd give me the witty banter I was promised the characters were partaking in, rather than just being told...more
I felt that this book lot of the book read to me like a summary of a story rather than a story in its own right, and I found myself wishing he'd give me the witty banter I was promised the characters were partaking in, rather than just being told...more
I picked up this book as I like the author. This book was no different, a quick read, funny at parts and I liked the story. Initially, I really like the idea of a male author for the equivalent of a romantic-comedy, but one of the limitations is the lack of details on some of the emotional parts. As a woman, I felt some emotional parts were glossed over and at parts, some of the decisions are arrived at much too neatly, but overall it was entertaining. An enjoyable read.
I was attracted by the blurb rather than the cover or title, as I had not heard of the author before. Reminiscent of 'When Harry Met Sally' this book explores the possibility of true friendship between opposite sexes. Told from the POV of the male character, it gives good insight into the male psyche that a lot of women should value. I, for one, definitely want to read more books by this author.
In which Mr Gayle, probably after watching When Harry Met Sally, asks himself whether it is possible for men and women to be friends without sex getting in the way, and comes up with a resounding "maybe, but..." A fluffy little concoction, but not without some pertinant conclusions and some "yeah, I can understand that entirely" moments and characters that you will recognise. Rated PG. 3/5
Aug 01, 2012
Lorenjwm2
added it
Wonderful insight to how a man can function differently with and without his best buds. Just like how many things are un-explainable in this world, Mike wounds his words on the different emotions and feelings, allowing raw truth out on the subject of men and women being 'just friends'
Mike Gayle seems to have perfected the art of writing the male version of 'chick lit' (I'm sure there's a term for it, I'm just not savvy enough to know it) that both men and women enjoy. His books are very readable, witty, and filled with plausible characters (both men and women) one finds easy to identify with. Brand New Friend is my favourite this far: a story of what happens when a (straight) man in need of a new best friend finds one in a (straight) woman. How many kinds of love are there r...more
Oh, hilarious! Loved the book, had a nice, happy, easy feel to it. However, I didn't really like how the story ended. As in, I like it, but at the same time, something grated. Still, a good read. Great to see these sort of stories from a male's perspective~!
its an easy reading book, pretty direct with what was happened between them.. i may put myself in it, since not everyone has established a group of friend at the age of 30's... it might happen to anyone in any circumstances... i just love it !
This book has a sweet storyline with a nice ending but I found it to be over-edited and the writing style to be a bit bland. Might try something else of Mike Gayle's to see if my opinion changes.
One of Mike's best book. Touching and something you can relate to when you have know you love a friend but will always be a friend regardless.
Read all of Mike Gayle's novels! They're funny, well written and you can't drop it once you've started, rather like Pringles!
Mike Gayle is a freakin Genius! he is so funny and entertaining is his writing. another book i sped through and wanted more of.
Overall, it's about the When Harry Met Sally predicament: can men and women ever be just friends? Of course there are the thoughts on friendship, the 50 words for snow, the take on relationships and love, and more importantly, the thoughts on our "self" - the loser and the winner in us. You'd have to read it. It isn't Crime and Punishment or Pride and Prejudice, but it's a good, sweet read. I do so enjoy a Mike Gayle book, particularly because I can always identify with the main characters of hi...more
Relationship between a man and a woman? Friendship, love, something in between and the awkwardness that comes with it.
Aug 07, 2011
Anniina
added it
Found it quite boring and uneventful. On the basis of this book would not read any more of his novels.
A little bit boring at first but halfway through, it gets interesting and I can't put down the book!
i liked it.
but i'm still unsure if i liked how it ended. they should have talked!
but i'm still unsure if i liked how it ended. they should have talked!
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