Laura the Explorer

by Sarah Begg

She’s starting life again… with new friends and plenty of men.

Divorced from her high-school sweetheart at twenty-seven, Laura Baker finds herself single for the first time in her adult life, her now-gay ex-husband the only man she’s ever slept with.

Looking for a fresh start, Laura moves into an apartment on Sydney's Northern Beaches where her two new eclectic roommates convince her that she needs to get herself out there and start dating (and sleeping with) as many men as possible.

But as Laura’s fun new lifestyle kicks off, her work ethic begins to slip. Her mum won’t stop pestering her about her biological clock and trying to set her up with Eric from the pub. And to make things even worse, the volleyball-playing guy with the sky-blue eyes and rippling muscles that Laura has become infatuated with is hiding a secret that could shatter her world.

Amidst all the change in her life, Laura is forced to confront one crucial question: does she even know who she is anymore or how to be happy?

A fast-paced, fly-on-the-wall account of one woman's hilarious adventures in the contemporary Sydney dating scene. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Sex and the City.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2019

About the author

Sarah Begg is the Australian author of the Laura the Explorer series of novels. She hangs out in Sydney and loves when strangers tell her stories about their dating misadventures. She loves it even more when she manages to sneak those stories into her books.

Reviews

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
As a book reviewer and a strong supporter of Australian authors, one of the perks of my role is discovering brand new writers. Breaking out into the contemporary fiction scene with her debut novel is Sarah Begg. Laura the Explorer is an insightful, hilarious and fun journey into the modern dating world, with appealing lead Laura Baker.

Laura the Explorer is about starting over, at the tender age of twenty seven years old. Laura Baker married her high school sweetheart, but when he reveals he is gay, Laura ends up with a broken heart. After her divorce, Laura makes a pact, she will change her life for the better, and meet some exciting new love prospects along the way. Laura makes the brave from her previous life, the one she shared with her now ex husband, and she moves to a suburb in the northern beaches region of Sydney. Taking up residence in a shared style of living, Laura’s new roommates encourage her to explore the dating world. But Laura’s new adventures in the world of dating offers up plenty of complications. She is also dealing with pressures from work and her mother’s expectations. There is no doubting that Laura’s life has changed significantly since her husband dropped a bombshell, but Laura now faces the challenge of believing in herself again and finding a sense of happiness.

I don’t tend to compare books, but in the case of Laura the Explorer, I got the strong feeling that this is a modern day Australian Sex in the City, crossed with The Wrong Girl by Zoë Foster Blake. Laura the Explorer sits very comfortably in the contemporary fiction genre. It offers plenty of romance, laugh out loud moments and instances of self reflection.

Sarah Begg’s main protagonist is twenty seven years old when she finds herself divorced and dealing with the fallout the shock revelation by her husband. I did have some reservations as to whether or not I would be able to connect with Laura. I am ten years older than Laura and in a different position, married and with young children. I also have dated for over twenty years! I didn’t need to be worried about this as I really connected with Laura. I felt downright sorry for her, I respected her decision to move on and I cheered her along the way as she indulged in her dating situations. Above all, I wanted Laura to rediscover herself, gain some more confidence after that big knock she received from her husband, and have some much needed fun along the way!

Laura the Explorer is narrated solely by the female lead, Laura Baker. As the book is told completely through Laura’s eyes, we are privy to her innermost thoughts, emotions, opinions and fears. I appreciated this aspect of the novel and I feel this is the area where Sarah Begg really displays her power as a writer. Readers will find the supporting cast just delightful. I enjoyed the interactions and dialogue in this book. The accompanying speech is snappy, fresh and realistic. I think many readers will connect to the writing and the experiences Laura goes through – which is also thoroughly entertaining!

Interspersed within the narrative are Tinder and Facebook alert notifications, as well as messages to Laura from her friends, lovers and family. This adds another layer to the unfolding story. The inclusion of these messages and notifications for me signalled Begg’s awareness of the current climate of communication, our habits in connecting with others and approaching dating. It is completely grounded in today’s world which centres on technology as the main method of communication. I’m just so glad that I wasn’t faced with the same situation as Laura, the present day dating world can be incredibly daunting!

I loved the underlying message of Laura the Explorer. Life definitely delivered Laura a huge knock, but she faced her fears and re-entered the dating world head-on! It is never too late to begin again, start afresh and live your life to the fullest. What a great parting message!

It is with great delight that I introduce and recommend Sarah Begg, with her brand new novel, Laura the Explorer. This fresh new release is sure to be a smash hit. A sequel is in the works too! Fabulous news!

P.S. I love the cover design too!

*Thanks extended to the author for providing a copy of this book for review purposes.

Laura the Explorer is book #54 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge .

[Aya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a delightful book. It gave us hope that even after a failed marriage, we could still be able to discover ourselves. This reminded me of Marian Keyes's books... fun, sassy and touchful.

It was very brave of Laura to get back to the dating scene after she had gotten burnt. The author was able to paint a vivid picture of what dating was all about now. The situations Laura landed in were hilarious and weird especially with the strawberry tarts and sex swing.

Laura had a supportive relationship with her flatmates. She was lucky to have them to share her adventures and gave her advices. The author also created some minor characters that made the book alive.

I loved the flirtations in the book.. believable and not so cheesy. Overall, this was a feel good book and made you want to explore outside our comfort zone. We all deserve second chances in life. An excellent debut from the author, I'm looking forward to reading more books from her.

[Joelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura the Explorer is a fun and witty tale about a girl named Laura who has recently separated from her husband after finding out he is gay.

At 27 and newly single, she moves into a shared flat and begins to explore what life has to offer on the singles scene. On their first night out, her flat mate Kalina helps her to create an account on Tinder and after getting several matches right off the bat, she dubs her Laura the Explore and her adventures begin.

From her first date with a Tinder boy that ended with him having a weird fetish, to a night with Sydney’s #1 playboy to sleeping with a co-worker, Laura definitely gets herself into some interesting situations all while laughing her way through.

I love the message throughout the book in that we can always start over again even when it feels impossible. This rom-com felt fresh and unlike any others I have read which can be predictable at times. This was definitely not predictable and always kept me wanting to read just one more chapter to find out what Laura was getting herself into next. lol

I definitely look forward to reading the continuation of this in Eat Pray Shag.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Sarahs debut book and it certainly doesn't seem like one. it flows so well and I was able to get caught up in the story and I was rooting for Laura to get her happy ever after. Laura has been with Jack for 11 years when he drops the bombshell that their marriage is over as he's gay. This sends Laura's world upside down and she begins to question everything she believed about her marriage and about herself.

Even though this is mainly about Laura and her experiences in the dating world and getting over her heart break, I also enjoyed hearing about her flat mates Ben and Kalina and her work friend Rose. I'd love to have a spin off to read more about another character. I loved Sarahs writing and look forward to reading more.

Thanks goes to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It's full of so many emotions and Laura is a character you can really relate to. This book made me laugh so many times with the escapades she's gotten herself into. Thinking those things could so happen to me.
I love the fact you start reading and can't stop till you finished it. Tomorrow morning I'm ordering the sequel, can't wait to see what happens next. I so hope she finds what she's looking for.

You can read this book as a stand-alone but be warned after you are finished you NEED more or Laura.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young woman looking for a second chance in life in general. Whilst during the story - which is written with good humor, even when the circumstances are bleak, I stopped to think how many times in life I had stopped to think things over and start again. It´s so rewarding and freeing, that even not being young and naive anymore, I still believe that is never late to begin again.
Well written, sometimes endearing, this story is good food for thought and entertainment.
I downloaded a free copy of this book through StoryOrigin and this is my honest review.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In depth ★★★½

Flirty, funny and full of vibrant characters, Laura the Explorer is a perfect poolside summer read. Exploring the experience of recovering from the end of a long-term relationship, Begg takes us on a rollicking ride of emotions, sexual adventures and cocktails across Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Laura Baker is a twenty-seven year old almost divorcee, moving into a sharehouse in Manly, Sydney. Her ex-husband, her high school sweetheart, came out as gay just as they started considering having children, long after the wedding and the house. Starting again as a single person feels daunting, but her new housemates Ben and Kalina, as well as her best friend at work, Rose, cheer her on as she returns to dating. Navigating Tinder, Sydney's beachside exercise culture, a lot of alcohol and awkward coincidences, Laura's story is told with an irresistible, down-to-earth sense of humour.

Laura is exactly what you'd want from a contemporary Australian heroine - she's got such relatable insecurities, but an admirable sense of adventure. She tries to do the done thing (there's a great scene where she orders a green smoothie despite really wanting a vanilla one) but ultimately she learns that doing what's right for her is more important.

I also enjoyed the dynamic Laura had with her housemates, especially the easy friendship with Kalina. Kalina's liberal attitudes to, well, everything, make the perfect foil for Laura, and Ben was immediately likeable from chapter one. Every heroine needs a strong supporting cast, and Laura's friends make for a good one.

While mostly a plot-driven novel, Begg does invest in her characters, including many of the minor ones, who all grow in some way throughout the story. We learn from Rose, Laura's Mum and even some of Laura's conquests as they stumble through her life.

Begg captures the awkwardness of dating and the accompanying inner monologue with great humour, with the odd cringe-worthy moment. She intersperses the narrative with phone notifications and texts - I particularly enjoyed the pointed texts from Laura's Mum (rather keen for grandchildren) - without overdoing it, to great comic effect.

The writing has an easy, breezy feel that matches the beachside setting, and I very much enjoyed the dialogue throughout - it felt both authentic and fun.

Begg's style sits alongside Sunni Overend, Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus, and Helen Hoang in the comic romance genre, and she looks to be engaging in the same sort of world building by not wrapping up every loose end - I look forward to the sequel due next year.

Recommended if you liked: The Book Ninja

I received a copy of Laura the Explorer from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Bernadette Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this debut novel by Sarah Begg! It flowed so easily through each chapter and I laughed out loud several times throughout as Laura negotiated her new single life. I also loved, loved, loved the ending which had me cheering for Laura as she takes charge of her life. If you're looking for a funny read with a good dose of reflection on life in general I totally this recommend this book. Looking forward to Book 2!

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has colorful, fun and flirty characters that come with some awkward moments and some laugh out loud situations. Laura married her high school sweetheart, never dated anyone else, only for her husband to ask for a divorce because he is gay. Since she only date one man, Laura is awkward with flirting and reading social cues from guys leading to some OMG moments. There are also some plot twists, both good and bad, the definitely keeps you interested. I’m looking forward to starting the next book in the series tonight.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily giving an honest review for no compensation

[Sassy_99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura The Explorer is fabulous!
Sarah Begg has really gotten into the psyche of the all-of-a-sudden single woman, the one whose life has always been defined by her relationships and societal expectations. What do we do when the lives we have always known disintegrate in front of our eyes? I would suggest taking a leaf out of Laura's book and doing some exploration....

[Jen Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was recommended on the basis of me liking Sophia Kinsella! Definitely enjoyed the style of writing and was hooked to find out what would happen to Laura.

Disappointed that I can’t read more now!!

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in Laura the Explorer series and also a first time read for me by this author. I'm always looking for new authors so I was excited to read this. The story was fun, with humor and insightfulness, and I enjoyed it. It is a story about new beginnings and starting over. Laura had married her high school sweetheart, only to learn later that he is gay. She decides to move to a new place for a fresh start and vows to do more to make herself happy. Laura's new roommates encourage her to step back into the dating world and explore what's out there. What comes next is a journey of self exploration and finding herself in a new and exciting world that is full of possibilities.
The story caught my attention from the beginning and held it all the way through. This was an insightful and delightful read, and left quite an impression. The book definitely left me with a smile on my face and a happy feeling afterwards. The characters were interesting and well-developed with realistic qualities that gave them an authentic personality and were easily relatable. The story was cute and had some really fun moments.

I received a complimentary copy from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my review

[Amelia M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an entertaining read! I love Laura as a character, and her adventures made me laugh (literally out loud). If you like Sophie Kinsella - you'll love this book. Highly recommended!

[Lizz · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I love about reading, is going in blind, not really knowing anything about the book before reading it. Laura The Explorer surprised me! It was such a fun, light hearted and hilarious read.

I loved Laura, being 27 and going through a divorce, learning how to start over and experience life in a way that many of us, experience without a second thought.

Ben and Kalina are such a huge part of this story as a whole, even though they are more surrounding characters, they really helped make the book shine.

Some parts of the book were just straight up hilarious and had me laughing out loud, especially the night of and night after stories ;)

For a debut novel, Sarah really knocked it out of the park and I can’t wait to read more of her work in the future.

*A very big thank you to the author, Sarah Begg, for reaching out and providing me a copy of her book ☺

[Oksana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, sassy, and cheeky story which was an absolute delight to read!

[Patty Mele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was very good from the beginning to the very end.

I thought the story line was fantastic from beginning to the end.

The characters were great and worked in the story in my mind.

[Kate Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable dialogue and setting, likeable characters. A story of awakening and friendship. And happily (for me as an Aussie) it sounds genuinely Aussie. Received as a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review.

[Lidwina Lumbewe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, cheeky story. Loved the characters and the settings.

[Hannah McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fast-paced and enjoyable. Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments!

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Begg’s ability to write a light hearted and very contemporary story which has enough twists to keep you surprised and turning pages, while touching on current social issues, has made this a satisfying and very entertaining read. I really appreciate the way she described the sexier scenes with just enough detail to provide a clear picture and keep the story interesting but still not sound smutty or cloyingly flowery.
I’m very much looking forward to the sequel.

[Keira S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary ARC copy, and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

3.25/5

Story of a young woman who tries to find herself after being molded into a relationship for far too long. Depicts the harsh reality of being heartbroken and trying to find yourself with a comical twist. Laura's journey has been heartwarming and her awkward stunts, are far too relatable yet hilarious! I enjoyed this book, there's no love seeking, but rather a woman trying to seek herself. It's sweet. An amazing debut by Sarah Begg!

[Bernadette Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute laugh-out-loud brilliant read! So hard to find romantic comedies that are truly funny but this one delivers in spades.

[Denisa Parete · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was hilarious, full of vibrant characters & great story line. If you are a fan of Sophia Kinsella’s novels and are looking for a fun read I highly recommend this novel. The novel is also thought provoking with a substantial dose of reflection on life in general.

[Katie (IG: katie.reads.things) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️REVIEW⭐️ #LauraTheExplorer by @sarahkbegg is about Laura Baker, a 27 year old almost-divorcee. Her husband, who she started dating in high school, has recently come out as gay, and Laura is faced with the daunting task of moving out and moving on– into a sharehouse in the beachside suburb of Manly and into the Sydney dating scene. Supported by her new flatmates Ben and Kalina, Laura needs to learn to navigate life on her own, complete with some dubious Tinder profiles, a few too many glasses of wine and some very awkward dating mishaps (including an extremely hilarious encounter with a room full of strawberry tarts 😂).
•
I really enjoyed this one! I read a lot of contemporary romance, but I’ve been avoiding the genre a little lately because I was starting to feel a bit burnt out by it. But I loved this one! I loved that it was set in my home town, and it was so fun to read about Laura’s dating mishaps around Sydney. I loved her inner monologue and the host of supporting characters. The writing was snappy, witty and easy to read. Laura’s various romantic encounters were HILARIOUS (like, snorting-out-loud-in-public hilarious) and made me REALLY glad that I’m not single 🙈 This story also had a huge amount of heart, and I really loved the fact that the author focussed on Laura’s own personal growth, rather than allowing her to define herself by reference to a man.
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Overall, I would definitely recommend this one for a light, fun, and hugely funny contemporary romance! It would make the perfect poolside read this summer. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel later this year!
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As an aside, I know I’ve said this before, but I am always so impressed by self-published indie authors. The amount of dedication, time and effort that must go into self-publishing must be enormous. Huge congrats on your debut Sarah 💫

[Catharina Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

We follow Laura as she needs to discover who she is again and how she needs to move on. She needs to set goals for herself again.

She started to date around with no strings attached. It was a fun read although it was slower than I am use to.

Laura tries to pull her life together after her divorce and needs to find out what she wants in life again.

Volleyball - playing guy is a suprise that I saw coming but I did not expect this books ending.

[Caroline Kovacic · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often that I get caught up in a book, but I just couldn't put this one down! Sarah Begg has really created a character who is both fun and entertaining, but also has depth and complexity. Whether it's her personal life, her work life, or even the iconic Sydney locations, everyone can relate to Laura in some way. I hope we don't have to wait too long for a sequel!!

[Kimberly Thibeault · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good book but with a slow pace that makes me want to skip some pages because i'm not used to it. Wasn't a good Idea to read after all that Smut 😂. I hope we Will See more of confident and strong Laura because she's Much more funny and interesting than wifey material Laura. I was.hoping more with volleyball Guy, but It Makes me want to keep reading hahaha so.good job!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free due to winning a giveaway the author held.

I really enjoyed this book. One thing that I found funny while reading was the part where Laura went on a date with someone who was basically turned on by tarts. I definitely laughed out loud during that section of the book. “The tart was raised like it was an offering..”

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an enjoyable read and it was interesting reading a book set in Sydney. I thought it was a standalone so I was a bit disappointed when I realised that the sequel is another 7 months away (but that's just me being impatient!).

[Heather Dunston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about a young person dating, can be enjoyed by both young and mature adults. Throughout the book the storyline is infused with humour. Added bonus is this story is set in Australian locations and reflects the Australian lifestyle.