Self Love

by T.L. Clark

Have you ever wondered... What if the most important love is the one you have for yourself? Is it possible for a shrinking violet to grow? Molly, a bumbling thirty-something single florist with issues, certainly hopes so. With her health, happiness, and possibly her sanity hanging in the balance, Molly must find a way to silence her inner critic, which sounds uncannily like her mother and just won't shut up. This is her personal-growth-whilst-shrinking story, sprinkled with toils of weight loss, dredging dates, flowering friendship and blooming self-discovery. As Molly discovers the path to personal growth is no bed of roses, will she blossom or will she wither?

370 pages, Paperback

Published August 6, 2018

About the author

TL Clark is an award-winning, best-selling, British, romance author who stumbles through life as if it were a gauntlet of catastrophes.

Rather than playing the victim, she uses these unfortunate events to fuel her passion for writing, for reaching out to help others.

She writes about different kinds of love in the hope that she‘ll uncover its mysteries.

Her loving husband (and very spoiled cat - RIP) have proven to her that true love really does exist.
Writing has shown her that coffee may well be the source of life.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have never related to a character before, meet Molly, the woman who is every-woman at one point in their lives. Live in Molly’s head, feel her joys, her sorrows, her insecurities. Help her with her inner monologue…because as realistic as she is, you won’t be able to NOT add a few tidbits, yourself!

Molly is her own biggest critic, not that she has had a lot of support from family or “friends.” I just loved her strength and her sense of humor toward HER life, but most of all, I loved how she did something about what bothered her most! Those lemons became lemonade and Molly became my heroine! She was unhappy, a little unhealthy and she did something about it, for HER! (And I laughed out loud one minute and gasped in pain for her the next!)

T.L. Clark has nailed, and I mean NAILED human frailty and strength with that crisp British wit and spot on delivery in SELF LOVE! If you have EVER had lemons handed to you, by your inner self or some outside torturous influence…grab a glass, be Molly and enjoy what could be the best lemonade ever!...And love the one you are always with-YOU.

A MUST read!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from T.L. Clark!

Publisher: Steamy Kettle Publishing (September 24, 2018)
Publication Date: September 24, 2018
Genre: Humor | Chick Lit
Print Length: 263 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Cassie Faber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self love is a book I recommend you keep on your bedside for those days when you need a pick-me-up! Full of emotion and lots of hilarious drama, it’s filled with laugh out loud moments and little nuggets of wisdom. Molly’s struggles with weight, self-love, her blooming florist business, an overly critical mother and dating makes for one hell of a rollercoaster ride filled with issues that’s sure to hit close to home for many of us. Her sense of humor and strength picks her up when her inner critic beats her down. Get ready for a mixture of happy and sad tears! I think all of us can take a page out of Molly’s book!
Reviewer note: I received an ARC of this book.

[Lindsey Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book.
A refreshingly honest approach to life when you don’t love yourself.
Molly is the main character and has several issues with herself. Weight worries, health worries, over bearing mother worries, man worries.
Having started her own business as a florist, we see a rather frazzled Molly trying to keep herself together after being dumped the day before attending a wedding. Cue a quick romp with an ex co-worker and a decline in her self worth.
After attempting online dating, she finally (after some disasters) meets Nick who appears to be lovely. As their relationship grows, Molly’s business thrives and her weight/health worries start to get better.
The writing takes you on a journey that resonates with real life issues and makes you root for Molly the whole way through.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the way the story was told. A solid 5 stars!!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Self Love By T.L Clark is a great standalone story that took me on a journey full of emotion, angst, a little drama, interesting characters, self-discovery, personal growth, and much more.
Molly is thirty-four-year-old florist who hasn’t had a lot of dating experience. Her experiences have left her somewhat dubious about the whole process. She has issues and is quite self depreciating- feeling fat and unattractive, she thinks she may never find love or settle down and start a family. A visit to the Doctor pushes her into making some lifestyle changes….. and so this story unfolds. We get to follow along as Molly goes through all the different stages of this journey, experiencing self- doubt, angst, and all the highs and lows. Molly is very realistic, believable and relatable. I think women everywhere have experienced what Molly has gone through and can relate to her feelings- I know I have and do.
As I would expect from Ms. Clark, this story is beautifully written, engaging and connectable. The story had depth, and the character growth and development over the course of the story was pretty good, even though there were a lot of times where Molly frustrated me with her apologies and thought processes. She was a lot stronger than she believed. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Clark has in store for us next!

Thank you, Ms. Clark!

[E.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Self Love by T.L. Clark was a okay enjoyable read that kept my attention and got some of my funny feels moving.

Not my first read by this author, but my first for her non-paranormal books. I have to say, I did have a rough start with this book, I wasn’t too keen on the opening, but as the story went on it did grow on me and it turned out to be quite the enjoyable read.

Our MC Molly, started out for me, the winey type. I get that she has some stuff happen, her boyfriend leaving her and all, but it was the way she kept going on about the flowers she did for the wedding, and I have to say what almost made me not want to go on was the length of that wedding, for me it took up way too much room in the first bit of the book. I get why it was there, I just felt like it was too drawn out and, it pulled me out of the story.

Now as I said, as the story went on it picked up and before at I knew it I will hooked. Molly turned out be a great character, someone who is trying to find herself in this mess we call life, and trying to get her business smoothly running. There are ups, downs, a wicket best friend and of course some troubles on love/lust/dating.

If anything this book has a great message, a great plot and the overall great entertainment. Not only all that, but the writing is smooth, easy to ready and it has this brash humour that really got me laughing. I will tell you that it might not for everyone, but I like it.

This book has a bit of everything, and I highly recommend you get your hands on it. So please take my stamp of approval that you will get hooked on Molly’s crazy journey.

Happy Reading

-E.A. Walsh

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much I liked about this book and one major thing that bugged me enough to drop a star.

The good:
Loved that the author broke the "4th wall" and let the MC speak directly to the reader.

The humor in this story was perfectly paced. Some times it's over the top, in your face, humor and other times it's subtle and "quiet".

The friendship between the MC and her best friend. I hope everyone has a great friend like that.

The thing that bugged me: The number of times this girl apologized. She is a business owner, smart and not afraid to take charge, yet she days "I'm sorry" every third paragraph. I seriously wanted to shake her every she did it

Over all, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Star
Self Love : A British Tale of Woe and Wit By TL Clark is book that pulled at my strings because I can totally relate to Molly and her self doubts.So get ready to be taken on a journey of growth and I think determination. There is some drama and some parts for me were emotional. This isn’t my first read by this author but my first non-paranormal book from her. I was hooked from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down, I had to know how things turned out. Molly is a woman who is opening her own florist business. She is a stubborn woman but is also very caring, compassionate and giving.Molly doesn't give her self much credit, she doesn't see what others may see.she seems to look at her faults instead of focusing on the good. She can get sad,feel lonely and depressed. Can Molly find her true happiness?Will she find Love? Can she find Self-Love? Find out the answers to these questions and many more you will have by reading this book.i cant wait to read more from this author.

[Erica Fish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self Love is a tale by T.L. Clark that I would highly recommend reading this story that needs a pick me up. TL Clark is becoming one of my favorite authors. Clark has a way to work you the reader into her story by making one of her characters seem just like you. This story is no different. Molly is the main female character. I identify with Molly. She is a hot mess at times. In the second chapter Molly thinks about a former employee:
“We weren’t exactly bosom buddies. I didn’t expect him to contact me. But Please don’t lie and pretend you miss me.”
It is this that tone that kept me reading to the end. I have to tell you that I am not going to tell you much more because I do not want to say spoilers. You will have to read the story and enjoy Molly.

[Pauline Tait · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman has been some aspect of Molly at some point in their lives which makes this such a relatable read. It's written in such a fun way that you can't help but glide through the ups and downs of Molly's life with her all the while hoping all will come good in the end.

[Faith Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an entertaining book! I absolutely loved reading this. Immediately the reader is captured by Molly’s humorous and realistic character; she talks directly to you so you feel completely immersed in her story. It was wonderful to simply read a character which could exist in real life! She is relatable, which creates a chance for more sympathy and more of a connection between character and reader. I loved how I could go from crying to laughing while reading this book (and sometimes both at the same time!). This is truly a lovely read, I would definitely recommend!

[Laura Furuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self Love: A British Tale of Woe and Wit
By: T.L. Clark
5 out of 5 stars

The story Self Love: A British Tale of Woe and Wit by T.L. Clark is a book I loved reading. It is a story that draws you in from the very beginning and I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the final page. The book is about the amazing character of Molly. I loved reading about her. She is a woman who is stubborn, independent, and has taken a big step in opening her own florist business. She is a woman who helps those on their wedding day and when someone has passed. She is kind, compassionate, and generous. Molly doesn’t always see herself in the best light and tends to look at her faults rather than focus on the good. She can become sad, lonely, and depressed. As I read Molly’s story I began to care about her with each chapter that I read. I couldn’t help but root for her to find happiness. Weight loss, finding love, and trying to cope with the judgment of others are all part of Molly’s life. Molly’s story has some parts where I had tears in my eyes and others that warmed my heart. Will Molly find true happiness? Will she finally find the love that she is seeking? Will she find self-love? Read this book to find out. This is a story that you don’t want to miss reading. Molly’s story is inspiring, and I found myself thinking about it even after I had finished the book. There are other characters that are introduced in the story and I enjoyed reading about them and how they interacted with Molly. The book is a stand alone and would be recommended for those 18 years of age and older due to mature content.

[Felicia Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self Love: A British Tale of Woe and Wit
TL Clark
5 out of 5 stars

I honestly don’t even know where to start. Self Love is my first experience with TL Clark’s writing and if any of this author’s additional work reads as well as this, it certainly will not be my last.
I was hooked on this novel from the very first blundering words. I loved that we are thrown right at Molly and her honest, inner self.
I don’t know if it was because I saw so much of myself in Molly’s character, but I felt that she and the story as a whole was incredibly relatable. I feel this has to do with being a woman in general but you read the story and be the judge.
There were so, so many times I found myself smiling, cringing but more importantly cheering our main character on. The progression towards self love and accepting no less of what she deserves from herself, her family and her potential love interests was empowering.
There were so many pearls of wisdom within these pages, some you’ve may have heard before but definitely quotes from a story I will keep with me. One that struck me as I read was this, “Of course not. But you know, how others treat you is their own karma, how you react is entirely yours.” This sentiment is something I’ve learned along my self love journey and we all will be a little better off as we come into it on our own.
Well, it’s honestly 4 am and I could go on and on forever at this point. Overall, this was a great balance between fun, realistic, quirky and deep and meaningful. Well done.

[Candida Furbush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self Love: A British Tale of Woe and Wit
By TL Clark
I loved this book. This story is written like Molly is talking right to you. It's different and I loved it. As I'm reading this story I'm thinking I totally understand what she's feeling. This book is very relatable on many levels. Molly has insecurities as many of us do and the judgement we receive from people whether it's on purpose or not plays on those insecurities. Molly struggles with her weight and her love life, and all around self confidence, but as the story unfolds we get to witness her growth and accomplishments as she works on self love. I felt like I was on this journey with her, I laughed and I cried, and now I have started my own journey to better self love, so thank you Mrs. Clark! I also enjoyed Wendy her best friend who stands by her through thick and thin and Nick the guy she meets online, unfortunately he isn't the first guy she meets. I love Molly's wit and determination, even when she falters, don't we all falter at times. This book had me hooked from the beginning and I couldn't put it down till the last page. This isn't the first book I have read by this author and I have enjoyed every one I have read, but this one has become one of my favorites. I highly recommend this book it is an awesome read.

[Krystal Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self Love: A British Tale of Woe and Wit by TL Clark
4 out 5 Stars

Honestly, I had a hard time with this book. I love this author. I love her detail to her characters. The plots she develops are both complex and simple at the same time. And this book is no different. The story development was exactly the right pace for Molly and Nick, the two main characters. Molly has some major body issues. She spends most of the book in one form of self deprecation mode or another. My heart was breaking for her each time I read a statement where she dragged herself through the mud again. Nick, for all that he is, is getting her to see herself for what she is worth, not what she has fabricated insider her head. Molly and Nick's relationship was hard won, and if it was not for some EXTREME patience on Nick’s side and some serious come to Jesus understanding on Molly’s, I am not sure these two would have panned out.

I struggled rating this book because reading a character over and over again who was constantly berating herself was getting tiresome, but Nick was a solid character and I grew to love the two of them together. The technical structure of the book was near flawless. The paragraphs were full, The plot easily flowed and I kept up with the storyline easily enough. For those alone, I had to give a full star because writing a book on its own is hard work and the rest was just my personal opinion. I recommend this book for book clubs.

[Melanie A. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self Love is an astonishingly funny and relatable story from word one. I absolutely adored that it was written as if Molly, the main character, is personally letting you in on her snarky, self-deprecating inner dialogue. Perhaps I connected so well with this story as I, too have been in exactly her position on multiple fronts - unhealthy in mind and body, with an overly critical mother, and the life and dating struggles that naturally result from both conditions.

Though while this book is hilarious and real, it also drops mind-blowing insight and wisdom I wish I’d had earlier in life. In fact, there are two absolute gems in particular I plan to take on as mantras - “(H)ow others treat you is their own karma, how you react is entirely yours” and “Self-love is not selfish, it’s essential.”

Ultimately a story about love in its many forms - romantic, familial, and, of course, of self - this witty, introspective tale will have you laughing, crying, and choking up with happiness as you follow dear Molly’s journey to self love. And it may just help you with your own along the way.

Reviewer note: I received an ARC of this book

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could identify with the main character's emotional pain so much, that I wanted to hug her every day I read the book. She faces numerous obstacles: an overly critical mother, deceitful and unscrupulous men, a severe health issue, and very little self-esteem. Over time, she begins to develop self-confidence, self-worth, self-care habits, and most importantly self-love. I admire the tough journey she traveled to get there. Though she had a few setbacks, she persevered and refused to give up. I admire how she achieved her goals and made her dreams come true. Even that made me cry and want to hug her again! I learned some things about myself from reading this book that I have to work on myself.

[Carol Paxman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Molly! Her humor is right on and I think most women can identify with the way Molly thinks about herself, constantly putting herself down, always thinking she will never be enough. Throughout the book it seems as if you are Molly's friend and she is telling you everything, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Although this book is seriously funny, you will find your heart broken for Molly and feel the embarrassment of choosing the wrong guy yet again.
Molly, however, is persistent, she is not about to give up on herself or on love.
I received and Advanced Readers copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fiona Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self Love: A British Tale of Woe and Wit by T.L. Clark is the story of thirty-something, aspiring entrepreneur (her own florist business), attractive but overweight Molly. Our heroine is plagued by what seems to be a malevolent fate. Her weight has become an obsession, her self-doubts are fuelled by the voice in her head that sounds very much like her mother, her boyfriend – Nigel the wanker - has dumped her, and she seems to be spiralling downward in a cycle of binge eating and despair. What’s it going to take for Molly to turn her life around, regain her confidence, and realize that loving yourself must come before anyone else can love you?

Full of charm, realism and British humor, Self Love will resonate with most, possibly all readers. I defy anyone who reads this story not to have experienced at least one of Molly’s issues, be it being dumped by the boyfriend before a client’s wedding, despairing of one’s weight, lying awake at night with the worries of a fledgling business, discovering health issues, undergoing the humiliations of online dating, trying yet another diet… the scenarios are myriad and real. There are funny moments and bitter-sweet moments. The reader hopes that Molly does discover the value of true friendship, real love, a relationship with her mother and, mostly importantly, a relationship with herself just as she is, and embraces who she is.

The story is simple, as most life stories are, without complex plot twists and turns, but that very simplicity is part of the appeal of this tale of woe. Molly is hilarious in dealing with her dramatic events, and her inner monologue/stream of consciousness narration ensures the reader is with her all the way. Molly is very real and relatable and the secondary characters, while not so fleshed out, are still very credible. Her parents, especially her mother, are hilarious. The dialogues are natural, and this makes the events believable. The story flows well and events transpire smoothly. I enjoyed Molly’s story and rooted for her all the way. Most readers will nod their heads in a ‘been there, done that’ way while turning the pages. A delightful, witty, and hilarious escapade through life with an unlikely but tenacious heroine.

[Sherry Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self Love by T. L. Clark @tlclarkauthor
Ms. Clark had me laughing and crying right from the start with her main character, Molly, a 34-year-old single woman who owns her own florist business and despite being smart and self-sufficient in many ways, has a very poor self-image. She is overweight, but pretty, with a strong personality waiting to emerge if she could only love herself. She is also very funny, warm-hearted, and despite her lack of confidence physically, she can have a temper and get grumpy. She is also over sensitive, which leads her to being overly apologetic. It makes her a real person.

Molly speaks to the reader directly throughout the book, which enables you feel like you are living her life with her. You are inside her mind, knowing everything she is thinking. It was a technique well-employed. There is also Molly’s most wonderful friend, Wendy, who is a pleasure and a real friend. Then there is Molly’s mom, who has always been highly critical. Molly never feels she can live up to her mom’s expectations. So you get a sense of where this feeling of being ugly comes from. The conversations between her and her mom are well done and there is a wonderful and tearful climax between them that works well and demonstrates the growing confidence of Molly.

We go with Molly on her journey of dieting, dating, (painful and funny), and meeting Nick, the relationship we get to see truly evolve. We experience her growing sense of self-acceptance as she slowly but steadily makes changes in her life for the better. This story does not have action-packed events (though there is some adult and sexy scenes, so not for kids!). It does not have a complex plot or the entire world too save; maybe just Molly’s. It is about a woman, with flaws, lovable and sometimes annoying, modern and old-fashioned at the same time, someone many women can identify with. It is an up-lifting story of the big differences small successes in self-awareness and self-love can make in the all-over contentment of our daily lives.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not think I was going to like this book. The beginning had me thinking I was right. But by the end everything made sense and I was glad to have read it and finish it. Molly is self-deprecating of herself all through two-thirds of the book. I was not smiling while reading her diatribe. Molly feels she is fat, ugly and over the hill being thirty-four. What little dating life she has, the men are mean and extremely brutal. She hopes to find everlasting love, marriage and dare she hope for a family? At the same time, she gets medical advice that if she does not make some lifestyle changes she could develop a serious medical problem. Wendy, Molly's best friend, helps get her headed in the right direction. Molly tries to be confident and find different ways to make her lifestyle changes. Once again, she again uses the dating app and meets Nick. He is sweet, funny and kind. But Molly has her self-doubts about her weight and her looks. She is always putting herself down. Nick turns out to be a nice guy and Molly is willing to see him again. But both of them have busy schedules and it is hard to find time to spend together. They have their ups and downs. Molly also has to deal with the changes she has to make to be healthier. In the beginning it is not an easy task for Molly, but if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. The rest of the book is about her emotional and physical victories and how she achieves them. The way the book is written, it's like she is talking directly to the reader like a best friend and confidant and sharing everything. It is an unusual format, but it works. You have to read it in order to understand what I mean. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman; single, plump, and totally unconfident in her appearance.
That's Molly.
But she's a great florist, and a good friend, though she can be a bit self-absorbed sometimes.
But let's be honest, who can honestly say, hand on heart that they never think about themselves, and only others?
And that's why many readers will identify with Molly.
As I read her story, trying to find love, and acceptance for herself, as well as that elusive ideal weight, I found myself comparing certain parts of her life with mine.
I totally got her with the dieting, and 'life-changing' health plans. I've been up and down my whole life, and though many who know me, would say I've never been 'big', I know I have, compared to my previous, svelte self.
That hating what you see in the mirror? Yup. Been there, done that.
I read about her dating mishaps with intrigue, probably because I never went through all that online dating malarkey, myself.
She had her ups and downs, but Molly learns how to accept herself, and build changes into her life so she really does end up loving herself - and, no spoilers here, but she might just find someone else who loves her too!
There's a lesson in the story for us all.
Self-care, and self-love is as important as getting acceptance from the outside.
I'm just glad Molly stopped apologising for herself by the end!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read about finding yourself. Molly is a florist struggling to find love. After a fiasco booking at a wedding and its events after with an old work colleague, she decides to focus on herself. As her florist business grows, she decides to lose some weight to find love and rediscovers herself along the way. But will she find love and happiness in the end?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns. Well developed characters like Molly going after what she wants despite the criticism of others or Wendy as a caring friend trying to help others. Molly's struggles with being tired of being alone and her weight and finding love were beautifully written and relatable.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel with the colourful flowers or the interior details of Molly's house full of details or the wedding scenes full of people and life but also claustrophobic at the same time. The first person narration helped to display Molly's thoughts and feelings.The only issue I would raise is that the narration broke the fourth wall and felt more like a blog post than a novel If this was addressing the audience was reduced, it would be five stars. Overall, a great read and I would give it four stars.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliantly funny story, interspersed with some darker moments that make you stop and think. I think a lot of British women will see themselves in Molly - those feelings of insecurity, always apologising for everything, beating yourself up for those silly little mistakes... I could go on!
Molly is bright, funny, witty, with everything going for her, but thoughtless comments from her mother over the years and cruel bullying when she was little have destroyed her self-confidence. But despite that, she still craves what everyone wants - love, happiness, and a better life.
The scene where she receives nasty replies from an online dating site made me sad, and then angry - it may be only fiction, but these things really happen to people. And the guy who thought he was getting lucky because he chose the fat, ugly one - well, I was really hoping Molly would give him a punch in the face!
I loved the way Molly speaks to the reader all the way through, it gives the story a fresh appeal that works really well. An interesting story full of humour and witty remarks, and well written too, I highly recommend it to anyone who loved Eleanor Oliphant!

[Polly Barreto · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was reading this story, I kept thinking that Molly was reading my mind. She and I are so much alike, it was scary!

This was a fabulous story about, well, self love. We need to learn to love ourselves before someone can love us. It really is as simple (and hard) as that. We all have our own self-doubts about weight and looks, but we all need to overcome those issues and be the best person we can be.

We follow Molly along her journey of self discovery. Her journey has ups and downs, highs and lows, but no matter what her best friend Wendy is right there to help her!

It was hard to pick a favorite line or passage in this book, since there were so many I truly enjoyed. However this passage was like my inner self yelling out to world, “Is Mr Right really out there? If you’re out there, please come and find me. I’m right here. I’m a large target, you can’t miss me. Hello!” . Spot on….spot on!

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gail Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self Love by TL Clark

Four Stars

This books deserves six stars if I could. Never has a book spoke to me so much. Never have I ever related to a character has much as I did with Molly. Weight loss, self confidence and dating we all struggle with these three things daily. Finding the confidence in yourself is so hard. Most women that I know have their own special routines or saying that help them remember that they’re beautiful and that they’re loved. I know plenty of people that look good on the outside but inside they’re depressed and lonely. I really enjoyed this book. It made me look at myself from a different viewpoint. Molly was self destructive. When things started to not work or her mother sad something negative to her she let it effect her relationship and her health. Nick was seriously flaky and I am still suspicious about him. I loved the fortune cookie moment it was so unexpected and sweet.

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self Love: A British Tale of Woe and Wit by TL Clark

4 Stars

This was my first read by this author and I truly enjoyed it although a lot of parts were hard to read, and this is simply because so many thoughts Molly had were thoughts I've had through the years before I made some changes and went on my own type of journey. Remembering a lot of those feelings was fun while I was reading along but I sure could relate to almost everything in this story.

It took me a bit to actually fall in love with Molly, there were just a few too many SMH moments but that changed as it all got going and then i was hooked. I loved her best friend Wendy, she was simply awesome and always there for her.

I'm definitely going to be checking out more by this author..I did really love the writing style and how smoothly it was written and it was very easy to read and get lost in.

I highly recommend this story and this author.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Self Love” by TL Clark is a lovely story about an overweight, unhappy woman named Molly and her challenges in life. Molly owns her own floral business and is always around very happy brides to be which tends to bring her down as she can’t find love herself. Add in an overbearing mother who can’t say anything nice and general low self-esteem and Molly is a bit of a wreck. Molly is a very relatable character who says so many things I’ve heard many woman, including myself, say before. Her struggles are very real and honest and that makes her quite lovable to me. I found the story to be a less raunchy “Bridget Jones” type story filled with fun British terms and written almost as a diary. TL Clark’s story is one I believe many women could benefit from reading as the moral is the title and that self love is necessary and important to us all. If you like a sweet romance, or if you struggle at all with loving yourself then please read this book! I give “Self Love” by TL Clark four stars!

[Katie Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self Love: A British Tale of Woe and Wit by TL Clark. While I did feel this story had a bit of a slow beginning and didn’t immediately draw me in, once it picked up a bit I found myself lost in it’s pages. Molly is trying to figure out who she is in this crazy big world. She’s a bit on the downer side when it comes to her view of herself but I can honestly say I connected with her on many levels even though I hate to think that at times. You truly get to see inside the head space of Molly and it’s quite the ride. This story took me on a bit of an emotional journey right along with Molly. It’s a bit different from this authors other books and for that alone I was excited because I love the others and it’s nice to see an author right in more genres. The storyline is well written and easy to follow and I really did love the characters. I’m giving this book a four star review and recommend it to everyone.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self Love is the fun, funny, relatable tale of a thirty-something woman dealing with career shenanigans, weight loss, relationships, body image, and losing weight. While I wasn't ever able to connect with Molly as a person, I felt she was a well developed and well written character--just not someone whose mentality/behavior was in my personal likability range, but that's true to life, isn't it? Everyone isn't for everyone else, and for me that actually added to the believability of her story. I found most of her struggles to be intriguing and easy to commiserate with, and I loved that it's very motivating if you are trying to lose weight or want to, and I especially loved that there were some good tips about eating right. Watching the way she self-deprecates, over values the appearance of others, and flies off the handle if she feels jilted in some way, reminded me to stay mindful of how I treat myself and others. This would be a fantastic poolside/beach read!!!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self Love
By T.L. Clark
4 stars

I really enjoyed this story, it made me laugh and the way in which the author wrote the story made me feel really engaged with the main character. It was almost like I was reading her diary and living her life with her. The pace of the story was quite slow and the author did go into detail which in some parts was maybe a little too much but I still thought that it was a really good read. I really appreciated the British humour in the story too. I thought that the flow of the story was good and the writing really smooth – I found it really easy to read. I really felt a connection with Molly, the main character, I thought that she was really relatable and I did like her, although she did tend to apologise a lot!!
Overall I thought that this was a really enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it to other readers!