All You Need Is Love

by Carole Matthews

Sally Freeman is a 20-something single mum and superwoman trying to make her world a better place. Hopelessly in love with her is Johnny, an artist with not a penny to his name, and Spencer, a rich city slicker with a Porsche and a penthouse apartment. But will she choose the right man to love?

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Humor, Romantic Comedy, British Literature

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Carole Matthews is an international bestselling author of hugely successful romantic comedy novels. Her unique sense of humour has won her legions of fans and critical acclaim all over the world.

A Minor Indiscretion and A Compromising Position both reached the Top 5 in the Sunday Times bestseller chart in the UK. You Drive Me Crazy reached number 8 in the original fiction charts. The novel Welcome To The Real World was shortlisted for RNA romantic novel of the year 2007.

In 2006 Carole co-edited - with writer Sarah Mlynowski - two new editions of the hugely popular Girls' Night In charity series called Girls' Night Out - one for the USA and one for Canada. All proceeds go to War Child.

Carole has presented on television and is a regular radio guest. When she’s not writing novels, television or film scripts she manages to find time to trek in the Himalayas, rollerblade in Central Park, take tea in China and snooze in her garden shed in Milton Keynes which is near London, England.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

All you need to keep me happy is a book with interesting characters and a fantastic setting. Single mum Sally from Liverpool looks after her son Charlie the best she can. Torn between the ex boyfriend, best friend and surrogate dad to Charlie, Johnny and rich to become top man in a posh house, Spencer.

I love an underdog, I love Johnny and was rooting for him just like Charlie. He deserved much more just like Sally. Spencer was not all bad just not right for Sally. He did not have half the qualities of Johnny that I loved. I did not like Spencer's father. The least Spencer could learn from his experience is not to turn into him.

I loved all the mentions of Liverpool. The best part for me though was the sentence "Cuba for the weekend, has your fella not heard of the Lake District?" The other was when Sally took great delight in telling Spencer, Charlie's dad is in prison for armed robbery. Not like the kid is anything like his father.

4.5 stars

[Jayden · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just went on and on...and on. I don't understand why Carole Matthews felt the need to put down every single emotion, every thought the main character was feeling. I tried to skip these paragraphs but realised I was leaving out three quarters of the novel. Most aspects of it were just plain ridiculous and unrealistic like "Sally" saying a 30 second speech that drives a large part of Liverpool to suddenly reform and live good lives, another thing was a rich guy like Spencer (younger version of Donald Trump)all of a sudden falling in love with a woman who got knocked up when she was a teenager and now is living off benefits in a such a scanty area that even poor kids in Africa who live in the ghetto would laugh at.
To make it worse it was utterly predictable but just took ages to get to the point.
I really liked the way the chapters were so short though, made reading the book relatively bearable.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carole Matthews is a highly-acclaimed author and has novels out regularly – she has had two novels out every year for the past couple of years. As a huge fan of Carole’s later novels that’s great news to me that she’s so prolific. I’ve liked many of Carole’s books (The Sweetest Taboo, With or Without You, The Chocolate Lovers Club & Diet and You Drive Me Crazy) however there have been a few I haven’t liked (Let’s Meet on Platform 8 & It’s A Kind Of Magic). It two I disliked haven’t put me off Carole so I was looking forward to All You Need Is Love.

All You Need Is Love is reminiscent of The Sweetest Taboo in the fact that there’s two men in love with one woman. All You Need Is Love tells the story of Sally Freeman – single mum and super-woman – who is fed up of life in a Liverpudlian “sink estate” and wants out. Out comes in the form of Spencer Knight, rich, handsome and charming. But what about Johnny, Sally’s ex? It seems he is still in love with her…

I really enjoyed All You Need Is Love. I felt it gave a different spin on a chick-lit novel. For starters, Sally is a single mum living on benefits whereas your usual chick-lit heroine is single, no kids and has a great job. I enjoyed that it was from a different perspective.

I liked Sally and found her a breath of fresh air from our usual heroines, as I mentioned. I found it irritating the way she constantly referred to herself as Single Mum & Superwoman; we got it, no need to keep telling us so. I felt Sally got better as the novel wore on, at first she just wanted to get out of the estate as quick as possible but as the changes came around and her opinion seemed to change she became much more likeable.

I also found myself rooting for Johnny, the hapless ex, throughout the novel. I thought he was a brilliant character and I loved his relationship with Charlie, Sally’s son. I thought Charlie was another great character but quite mature even though he was meant to be 10. Then again 10 years olds seem to be rather mature nowadays!

I didn’t really warm to Spencer to be honest, probably because I was rooting for Johnny. He was a good character I just couldn’t warm to him.

I loved all of the minor characters; Johnny’s mum, Dora (the Explorer!), Mrs Kapur. The community feel of the book was brilliant and thought Carole captured it perfectly.

The writing style of the novel was typical Carole Matthews’ style. We get chapters in first person from Sally but we also get third-person chapters telling us what is going on with everyone else. When I first read the alternate way Carole writes her novels it took a while to get into but it’s easy to read and gives you the novel from all angles.

When I sat down to read the book it was easy to get into and I found the chapters incredibly easy to read because of the shortness of them. It was good to know that if I only had 10 minutes I could read a chapter or three.

Overall it was a very enjoyable novel from Carole. She is a brilliant writer. I also have to mention the book cover – which is gorgeous! Carole is having all of her covers re-designed and these new ones are lovely. This one is purple with sparkly writing. Definitely one of my favourite book covers.

Rating: 5/5

[Hestia Kibou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enojoyed this book.
It took me a mere 2 days to complete, which is quite a big achievement for me.
Although the title doesn't really grab your attention at first glance, the contents of the book will definately glue you to it for hours on end.
I guess the term 'don't judge a book by its cover' really is relevant for this particular book.
The story is of a younge mother, who had fallen pregnant at the age of 17, and is forced to raise her 10 year old son all on her own. Without the help of her criminal ex lover (father to her son) who now spends the rest of his days behind bars.
The book really does involve you in the problems that the small family face in their day-to-day life style. But when the mother finds herself involved with a very rich posh man, the fun and laughter and suspence is added to the plot line.
What really appeals to me about the book is that it does show what life is really like for the under privilaged and you are constantly hoping to find out how it ends.
It is filled with good british laughs and a great love triangle.
The title refers to the song 'All You Need Is Love' By The Beetles. Carole chose this because the story is infact set in Liverpool, were the Beetles originated from, and it reflects the intensions of the main character. As, if the Beetles managed to make something of themselves from nothing. They why can't she? Thus, the 'All You Need Is Love' project is put into effect.
I highly recomend this.

[Barbara Elsborg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Apart from the chocolate ones, I have loved her books but I really didn't like this one. The voice of the mc drove me mad - She was supposed to be from a rundown Liverpool council estate but her language hovered between common (supposedly hip) and highbrow. The plot was completely predicatable - that might not matter to some readers but I do like a few surprises. The loser in love never got to give us his POV - which made him seem very shallow. What the hell did he see in this 'superwoman'? He had a lucky escape I think. The mc couldn't have been much shallower herself. IMO it's important that the reader identify with the heroine and I disliked her intensely.
Sadly, I won't buy any more now. I'll go back and reread the earlier ones and see if I've changed my taste or Ms Matthews has changed her style. After all - it could just be me!

[Kat Mitcheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a happy easy going read. poor single mother wants more in life than her high rise flat and no money. her ex isn't her way forward who is too sweet and doesn't want anything other than her and her son. Sally meets a rich passionate man and his family are not nice to her.
she tidies up the council land around her area falls in love with her ex without realising it. he meets someone who helps Sally get a focus in life and in the end they become a family. Sally the ex and her son, charlie.
although it's a very happy read it's quite emotional.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great find in the holiday swap box! It was a good easy read, predictable but hey most books are these days! I really got Sally, and felt the passion she had for where she lived. A great read.

[Marjan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In tijden van verhuizen, heb ik boeken nodig waar ik gewoon een paar minuten in kan duiken, niet hard nadenken, ontspannen voor t slapen gaan. Dan is Carole Matthews ideaal! Ik las er verschillende en allemaal hebben ze initieel niet zoveel om het lijf, maar toch blijven de karakters wel wat hangen, ondanks de vaak erg voorspelbare verhaallijn. Ontspanning dus, niks meer.

[Nava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the way that the community feeling within the story. I also enjoyed reading the different chracter’s point of view.

[Meital Ben-Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book for a great summer read !!!

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read an awful lot of thrillers lately and this was a refreshing change. It's a story about Sally Freeman, a young single mother who lives on a council estate with her son Charlie. Spencer Knight comes along and sweeps her off her feet. He is rich, charming, affectionate and sexy and Sally can't quite believe her luck. However her ex Johnny is still in love with Sally and has to try to win Sally back. As a penniless aspiring painter, who also lives on the estate and cares for his ill mum, he doesn't have a lot of chance.

I am quite a fan of Carole Matthews and this story is no different to my previous opinions. The story is warm and funny and a thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are a little different to her previously tried and tested formula for leading women. However, somehow she seems to have hit the nail on the head and created loveable people that you end up loving or hating in equal measures. No there isn't a deep underlying moral to the story, but it is what it is! An enjoyable funny and warm chick lit book that is easy reading.

[V H · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of those books where I could guess how it would end by the first page, but it was interesting to see how they got there.

The love story between Sally and Spencer moves a bit too quick and with some too over-the-top situations to be believable. Actually the love story parts of the books I didn’t really like, what I did like was the interactions of the residents on the estate and what was happening with Sally’s son Charlie. Charlie is like any other 10-year-old and young teenager and Matthews manages to capture his thoughts about the choices he has to make quite well.

It was an okay book but very “bland”, it doesn’t really stand out from any other chick-lit book.

[Emma Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very slow to start with and I struggled to get through this, but once I was about half way it picked up. It was very obvious from the beginning how it would end but it's quite a nice light hearted book to read

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay, predictable a little bland though

[Amira Fanous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of Carole Matthew's best books. Just seemed to go on a bit and at times the story was very flat and not really going anywhere.

[ღ❀ ℭaroline ❀ღ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The most ludicrous book I think I have ever read. I have given it 1 star for the simple reason I couldn't give it any less.

[Francesca Ghiribelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

RECENSIONE LE DONNE PREFERISCONO L’AMORE DI CAROLE MATTHEWS

ISBN: 9788854132948
Pagine: 384
narrativa n. 240

Trama

Sally Freeman è una madre single energica e idealista, decisa a fare del mondo un posto migliore in cui vivere. Da quando ha realizzato che il suo quartiere – un agglomerato di palazzoni popolari anni Settanta – versa in pessime condizioni, ha deciso di rimboccarsi le maniche e ha cominciato a reclutare gli abitanti perché si diano da fare per il bene di tutti. Il suo ex fidanzato Johnny, aspirante pittore, è dolce, carino, simpatico, affezionato a suo figlio Charlie. Ma Sally non ne può più di lui e delle sue ridicole ambizioni: è ora di depennare la parola “amore” dalla lista delle cose di cui occuparsi. Se non che, un bel giorno, a stravolgere la sua vita si presenta Spencer Knight, un uomo sofisticato, ricco, affascinante e sexy. Sally non riesce a credere che Spencer si sia preso una cotta per lei! Intanto lo spiantatissimo Johnny vuole riconquistarla a tutti i costi… E così la nostra Sally, in mezzo a graffiti da rimuovere e stracci, secchi e scope, deve vedersela anche con un complicatissimo dilemma d’amore: Spencer o Johnny? Riuscirà alla fine a scegliere l’uomo giusto?

RECENSIONE
Un romanzo brillante, carino, piacevole, anche se forse per il genere di romanzo, trovo che sia una stesura troppo lunga! Comunque sia si legge d’un fiato e lo stile della scrittrice è ironico, ben fatto, mai banale e per niente erotico, anzi rappresenta quel sano tono romantico e al contempo moderno e originale. Sally Freeman, superdonna e mamma single, nelle sue descrizioni incoraggia la sua personalità con un po’ di autostima, ma senza mai lodarsi, anzi alla fine si decanta sempre una ragazza piena di guai, spiantata e quasi una buona a nulla!
Una protagonista normale in cui tutti si possono rispecchiare per la sua semplicità e straordinaria caparbietà. Il suo cuore, dopo la grande delusione d’amore avuta con il padre di Charlie, il suo adorato figlio, adesso si trova divisa fra Johnny il suo ex, che ha da poco piantato, e un nuovo amore di nome Spencer. Johnny è il classico ragazzo della porta accanto, semplice simpatico e molto carino fisicamente e nei modi, sogna da sempre di fare il pittore ( ma Sally non ha mai condiviso la sua passione), dall’altra Spencer riccone e affascinante, il classico uomo che non deve chiedere mai, ma che ho trovato un po’ sottotono, quasi come se l’autrice volesse far capire al lettore che la sua storia tenda ad avere una preferenza per Johnny. Ma alla fine ci sarà qualche colpo di scena, non tutto sarà banale e scontato o facilmente atteso come può sembrare dall’inizio. Ho amato il personaggio di Charlie e l’ambientazione della storia in uno di quegli stabili, dove la gente è povera e bisogna arrampicarsi fino a dieci piani per raggiungere la propria casa. Adorabili le vicine di casa di Sally e il rapporto fra Charlie e Johnny! Ecco che il romanzo e il titolo diventano un connubio di romance perfetto da divorare in poco tempo. Non prediligo da sempre questo tipo di letture, ma la leggerezza e al contempo il messaggio morale del libro mi hanno fatto ricredere su questo genere. Una scrittrice da consigliare!




Francesca Ghiribelli

[Paula Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't beat a feel good novel and this hits the spot. The story of Sally on her run down council estate in Liverpool is one that is kind of close to my heart,but enough of that for now!

Sally has a 10 year old and lives in a run down council tower block. The estate is scruffy, and the outlook is grim for all. Starting a computer course sets off a chain of events that changes the lives of everyone concerned. The posh bloke, the ex done good, the kids and the estate as a whole all change for the better.

I was born and bred on a council estate with a reputation, and my mum still lives there. It's got it's problems (more than some others!) but there is still a core of residents that have the true community spirit. We received money from Europe to regenerate the area and got a community centre, a cycle path to the coast (about a 25 mins walk from my mums) and a host of other things. Estates like this get a bad reputation, but as this novel shows, not everyone is a scally, a slapper or a druggie. There are some good, decent, hard working people who look out for each other - the way it should be.

A great novel - but it has one MASSIVE black mark...the Wirral was spelt with 2 'L's - criminal!!! And I did love it when she was talking about my home town, and yes you can see the posh houses from the ferry! (you can also see some of the dodgy bits too!!)

[La scrittrice impazzita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devo dire la verità, mi ha messo un po' in difficoltà leggere questo libro. Il fatto che ci abbia impiegato un po' a leggerlo è stato perchè avevo anche altre cose da fare, un nuovo impegno iniziato proprio di recente. Questo romanzo sembra iniziare lento, non riesco a capire realmente quale possa essere lo sviluppo della trama. Da quanto mi sono immersa nel mondo di Sally, mi sono anche arrabbiata con lei, infuriata! Avrei voluto essere io stessa a farla ragionare e a riportarla sulla retta via. Ma l'autrice penso che abbia capito da sola i miei pensieri e per fortuna si è sistemata tutta la vicenda, ahahahah! A parte gli scherzi, è stato un romanzo molto carico di contenuti e di cose da ricordare, anche perché ogni tanto ci sono stati dei cambi repentini del protagonista del capitolo: inizialmente è Sally, poi passa a Johnny, poi sopraggiunge Charlie e si combinano tra di loro. Molto dinamico ed elettrizzante, perché ti lascia sulle spine su ciò che può accadere, e alcune volte non è sempre la strada che vorrebbe il lettore.
Un'autrice che ho scoperto dal nulla e che secondo me devo ancora capire bene il suo stile e i messaggi che vuole lasciare, ma nel complesso molto originale e fantasiosa.

[Margaret Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started this a month ago then had to go onto others with requests on the books! Carole is my 'go to' author when I just need a lift up to cheer me up. I had 4 more back injection n Friday and this book is just what I needed. I love these chit lit ones pushed into between my other books. This is a wonderful little story of a tight knit community just not that far from where I came from but minus the flats and poor area. I left a beautiful community where everyone knew each other and looked out for each other. Something I'll ways treasure and miss. I love the way Carole writes as it reminds me of home. She has such a clear way of making it all so real. I'm was so glad the way this one ended. Sally had the chance of a lifetime but love conquers all and her love for her young son won her over in the end to do what she knew was best for him and herself in the end. The bottom line is true friends are hard to find and when you do find them you should never let them go! Community love would win me over every time. Loved it Carole, well done again and thank you.

[Shiva Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

All you need is love is a wonderful feel good read by Carole Matthews.
Sally Freeman is a single mum trying her best for her life and her ten year old son, Charlie.
Sally has started a computer studies course and she thinks her luck has changed when her teacher, Spencer Knight asks her for a date. Spencer is charming and a true gentleman.
Johnny, Sally’s ex boyfriend is a little jealous but can see Sally’s happiness.
Johnny adores Charlie like his own son and hopes things would be different. Johnny spends his time painting which is his passion in life.
Sally gets involved in a regeneration project of her estate and she loves the challenge.
Sally and Johnny motivate the local community to get involved in the project and is a great success.
Spencer proposes to Sally and she is torn between a better life for Charlie and herself and leaving the friends she loves.
Will she make the right decision?
A truly enjoyable page turner to the end.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find @matthews.carole to be one of my go to authors, finding comfort within the stories, that are so easy to read.
All You Need Is Love was no exception and I loved that it was set in Liverpool, which is literally on my doorstep. The various places mentioned I could easily picture and relate to.
I liked the storyline of the book and found Sally to be such a strong and driven woman, who strives to give her son the best she can. A couple of times within the book, I felt like shaking her, especially in regards to her relationship with Spencer and I really wanted her to wake up and see what was in front of her.
Johnny for me was such a loveable character with a heart of gold and I was rooting for him throughout. I was so glad how things turned around for him and his relationship with Charlie was so sweet.
This was such a loveable and easy read with its short chapters and it's one that I really enjoyed.

[Allison Hurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected to enjoy this story a lot more than I did. Don’t get me wrong, it’s worth reading. But I just found it hard to get into at the start. Usually I can pick up where I’ve left off, even if I leave a few days in between, but with this book I couldn’t. You think it’s just going to be from Sally’s POV, but then part way into the book it switches to other people’s for some chapters. Usually I like this in Caroles books, but with this one I didn’t. It’s a believable story, but did have some unbelievable parts. Like the amount of money paid out etc. £10,000 for the grant but then £250,000 for a mural? And tower blocks that need that much work doing usually get demolished, not regenerated. I did like Sally though, but not too keen on her best mate Debs, but if a sour face. I did like Jonny. Worth reading but not one of Carole’s best books

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally wants to change her life to give her son the best she can. The book is a beautiful tale whether it is a rags to riches one is up to Sally. Two lovely men that would do anything for her, a new community spirt and project to get her teeth into. Slow to start - initially I was unsure if I liked Sally’s character but very soon warmed to her. In the end it was addictive reading. I wanted to see Sally choosing what was best for her but as each chapter went on it was as fuzzy a picture for her as to the reader - all decisions could lead to a happy ending. It is a bit unrealistic in places good fortune seems to turn up very easily but it is fiction, it is intended to warm the heart and who doesn’t love a bit of happiness.

[Anne Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read, but packed full of cliches. I also really didn't like the heroine who seemed obsessed with money from the start - she really wasn't as much of a superhero as she keeps saying she is! The two men in her life - the adorable Johnnie and the equally adorable Spencer - can definitely do a whole lot better than her. The plot was unbelievable as well.

On the plus side, I thought her son Charlie and his naughty best friend Kyle were fabulous - and I wish the book had been about them. I also think it's great to have working-class heroines, and we need more of them (just not THIS one!) - but on my copy both the blurb and the posh picture cover don't convey any of that - and that REALLY annoyed me!

[Jolene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about community, love, friendshp and how when everyone pulls together, great things can happen. I enjoyed this book and the characters, it's read in the character of Sally Freeman who is a single mum living in a poor area of Liverpool. Spencer is a rich man from Surrey who falls head over heels for her but their differences lead to some issues within the relationship, not to mention an ex that still holds on to hope he can win Sally back.
Not Carole Matthews best book but I enjoyed it and have already recommended it to a friend.

Thumbs Up: the community spirit in this book :)
Thumbs Down: A little predictable at times but that made it an easy read.

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can understand why people have reviewed this book and mentioned the length, it’s very long for a contemporary and it does feel like it goes on for a bit too long once you’re so close to the end. I did enjoy it though. I liked the premise of the book, the idea that someone from a rundown estate can do something with their life is always nice to read. I think the book was written though in a way that Spencer could have bought Sally the world and given her every ounce of happiness he ever could and she still wouldn’t be happy mind but still, who doesn’t love a man like Johnny eh?

[Mya · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are NO bad people in this story. Everyone is ultra sweet and well-intentioned. Even the hoodlums go from peeing in corridors and tagging walls to helping out with the Community upliftment project. And then there's the rich kid doing a good turn in the slums because his dad wants him to experience "the real world" who, for no clear reason, genuinely falls in love (in a couple of days, it seems).

So this is a fairy tale more than anything else and perhaps a little too sickly sweet. A bit like one of those extra sweet, cheap treats one used to overindulge in as a kid.

[Johanna Cogbill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, it's the first book I've read by Carole Matthews and definitely won't be the last.
Brilliant characters, laugh out loud moments, as I was reading, I read in a Scouse accent, loved the dialogue.
Particularly liked the friendship and chat between the 2 young lads, Charlie and Kyle, very whitty, and Mrs K her neighbour was such a likeable character.
Felt a bit sorry for Spencer and Dana, caught in the crossfire, maybe they would make a great couple?
All in all, a fun feeling good read.

[Lucy Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an easy read but very predictable. I hated Sally kept referring to herself as a Superwoman - quite irritating. I liked Jonny and Charlie's characters. A bit unbelievable at times - a weekend trip to Cuba??! From the start it was clear the book was going to put a positive spin on unemployment and being on benefits. Even the lads peeing in the corridor weren't really bad just bored apparently. Still enjoyed the book just would have preferred a slightly more realistic look at life...