The Chocolate Run: AND The Cupid Effect

by Dorothy Koomson

THE CUPID EFFECT: Ceri D'Altroy is going to follow her heart's desire. Going back to college might not be everyone's dream but all Ceri has ever wanted to do is teach. Though her professional life is sorted, Ceri's personal life is still a no-go area. In fact her pent-up energies and frustrations seem to have been diverted into solving other people's romantic problems. Is Ceri destined to always play Cupid? Or can she use some of her powers where they're needed most - to help herself?

THE CHOCOLATE RUN: Amber Salpone doesn't mean to keep ending up in bed with her friend Greg Walterson, but she can't help herself. And every time it 'just happens' their secret affair moves closer to being a real relationship, which is a big problem when he's a womaniser and she's a commitment-phobe. Slowly but surely, Amber has to confront the fact that chocolate can't cure everything and sometimes running away isn't an option ...

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Hello, my name's Dorothy Koomson and I'll try to make this bit that's all about me as interesting as possible.
I wrote my first novel called There's A Thin Line Between Love And Hate when I was 13. I used to write a chapter every night then pass it around to my fellow convent school pupils every morning, and they seemed to love it.

I grew up in London and then grew up again in Leeds when I went to university. I eventually returned to London to study for my masters degree and stayed put for the following years. I took up various temping jobs and eventually got my big break writing, editing and subbing for various women's magazines and national papers.

Fiction and storytelling were still a HUGE passion of mine and I continued to write short stories and novels every spare moment that I got. In 2001 I had the idea for The Cupid Effect and my career as a published novelist began. And it's been fantastic. In 2006, third novel, My Best Friend's Girl was published. It was incredibly successful - selling nearly 90,000 copies within its first few weeks on sale. Six weeks later, it was selected for the Richard & Judy Summer Reads Book Club and the book went on to sell over 500,000 copies. Oh, there I go again, this is meant to be about me, not my novels.

Okay, back to me. I recently spent two years living in Sydney Australia, and now I'm back in England. But I can't say for how long I'll be in the UK for because I've been well and truly bitten by the travel bug

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book, it`s the second book by Dorothy Koomson that I have red and I have found them both very enjoyable. This book had me from page one although I did find towards the end I was getting a bit sick of the chocolate references but I think it was because I was enjoying the story and I wanted to see what the out come with the four main characters would be, I was getting a bit impatient. I liked the humour the book had and found myself laughing out loud on many occasions while I was reading in the garden, I should think the neighbours we`re wondering what I was doing. The book had a good ending and the right out come for me. I wish Dorothy had at the end skipped five years and wrote a short chapter to tie everything off and see how the main characters were doing in future years.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this author; she writes some excellent chick-lit type books, always with a black lead character. So far I have read The Chocolate Run, which was nice and light... a Thornton's Viennese Truffle of a book ;-)

Have now finished The Cupid Effect, which I enjoyed, particularly the Buffy and Angel references... a girl after my own heart!

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

gave up on this one

[Kamilė Strach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pagaliau, pagaliau, pagaliau pabaigta dviejų D. Koomson romanų knyga!
Išties tai buvo puikus laikas praleistas romantiškų santykių sūkuriuose!

The Chocolate Run ir The Cupid Effect neveltui išspausdintos kartu, nes abu romanai labai panašūs! Daug daug meilės-seilės.:) 100% atitiko mano atostogų lūkesčius.
Labai lengva anglų kalba parašytos istorijos, su daug juoko dozių, intrigų, ironijos, pykčio scenų bei, aišku, daug meilės.

The Chocolate run istorija apie dvi geriausias drauges. Kaip jų gyvenimai klostosi vienai draugei susiradus antrąją pusę ir su juo apsigyvenus. Kita draugė taip pat turi simpatiją, tačiau nenori įsitraukti į rimtą draugystę dėl vaikino audringos lovelaso praeities.

Žodžiu, susipina draugystės, meilės, šeimos, rasizmo temos. Ar lengva išlikti draugais po išdavystės? Ar galima pasitikėti žmogumi žinant jo pakilimus ir nuopolius? Ar įmanoma visiškai pasitikėti kitu žmogumi? Ar galima pasikeisti? Ar galima duoti dar vieną proga žmogui, kuris tave įskaudino?

Nenoriu išsiplėsti, bet romano pabaiga visiškai nustebina! Verta skaityti iki paskutinio puslapio!

The Cupid Effect šiek tiek lengvesnis romanas nei The Chocolate Run. Mažiau intrigų ir painiavų. Kelios meilės istorijos ir Ceri - moderniųjų laikų Kupidonas - padedantis išspręsti įsimylėjėlių problemas. Vėlgi autorė ir toliau kelia klausimus ir bando į juos atsakyti: Kodėl aš negaliu pajausti meilės, bet turiu būti nepamokama santykių specialiste kitiems? Kodėl net nepažįstami žmonės mane susiranda, kad išsiverktų man ant peties ir gautų patarimų, o aš neturiu kam išsikalbėti? Kodėl visiems atrodo, kad aš gyvenu laimingą gyvenimą, nors neturiu nieko pastovaus? Kas yra vienatvė? O, palaukite, kas visgi yra meilė?

Visas romanas palaipsniui juda link kulminacijos, bet ne per daug užkelta intrigos kartelė. Tad pabaiga pernelyg ir nenustebina. Viskas buvo laukta ir tikėtasi beveik nuo istorijos pradžios. Kaip ir minėjau ankščiau, super duper lengvas skaitalas. Tikrai jaučiasi, kad tai - pirmasis autorės darbas.
Visgi jeigu reiktų pasirinkti iš šių dviejų skaityti tik vieną, vienareikšmiškai rinkčiausi ilgesnį The Chocolate Run kūrinį. Jame rasite visko, ko reikia geram atostogų romanui!

[Ali Nembhard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early ones but still good read

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book as it's two different books in one.

[R Kes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm have 2 of her books now, page turners with likeable characters but loads of similarities in the 2 stories, white English girl and black Brit besties, some cheats or try's to cheat with other one BF, queue fall out, then make up. Still enjoyed the and have the 3rd on hand to start if that one is also similar, I may give up on her books, which would be a shame as very well written easy to read beach type books but I guess why pay for the same book with diff cover eh? I shall update what I think once have read 3rd .... maybe final book?

[Sheu Quen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot reminds me of what reality is all about: a friendship torn apart by the drama and lust of love and relationships. It also reminds me of how much we value friendships to the point of being unable to choose between your significant other and your best friend. What we should know is a healthy balance of both, although more often than not, that's easier said than done. But if I had a friend like Amber Salpone does in the book, I'd be more than ready to dump her and drop the friendship because with friends like Jenna Hartman, you don't need enemies.

[Phoebe Poh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I read a book by Dorothy Koomson, and it's 2 story in 1. I have to say I enjoyed every bits of it. I think there was too much affections among the main characters in Chocolate Run then when The Cupid Effect came in, which lack of affection on the main character's love life, I got a lil disappointed. Nonetheless it was still a pleasant read and I'm glad of the happy ending. I'll be looking out for more reads from this author from hereon. ^^

[Ally Budd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to reading this as I love the author and a few friends had told me I'll love it. I was a bit disappointed :-(. Usually I fall in love with the characters in Dorothy's books but I guess I just didn't really likeAmber and Greg that much. Having said that it is a page turner and I wouldn't want to put anyone off reading it.

[Msdot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont like the main characters too much. I feel like there were too much drama within one story. I do however enjoy the way it was written and reading the detailed description of chocolate references.

I was quite put off by the first book that I didnt end up reading the 2nd book because I suspect the story would be as typical chick lit as the first story.

[Elle LaBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was the first book I read by this author and I quickly found myself seeking out all of her books. Her characters are well written and relatable. Hands down one of the best novels I've read with a interracial couple. I only wish other interracial writers' novel were as good as this.

[Jennifer Susan Antony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is an excellent author. The story starts off with the usual girl meets the boy. But as I start reading, there’s more to dwell into. The depth of lust, friendship and lust. The main characters are very interesting, with humor elements.

[Nuzra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm.... nothing much in terms of interest, kind of predictable and maybe even a little too melodramatic for my liking. But if heart fluttering romances with 'happily ever after' is the icing on your cake, then it fits.

[Bisma Safdar · Rating 5 out of 5]

There
just wasn't a single bore moment..It was my first book of Dorothy and
she made a fan outta me..i absolutely adored all the characters even
those that weren't that easy to adore..thank you for a beautiful read..

[lebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

in short ,its a good book.

I loved how she described the characters (like actual people you`ve bumped into at some point in life)

its predictable in an unpredictable way .

ag this was a good book

[Hannah Abd Manaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Dorothy's books that I'd read. Enjoying, easy to adapt and the most important is Dorothy's books has give me a good impression of her by reading this book.

[Diana Matias · Rating 2 out of 5]

Indeed, it's a funny book but not a great one.
I loved Amber's chocolate definitions! And I think it's obvious that there is always a special one in a Casanova's life! :)

[Vaisola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this book. Dorothy Koomson you are an awesome writer!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love LOVE this book - Perfect holiday read

[Shanella Ralph]

love it

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the chocolate definition onto a person...

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 heartwarming stories but personally I prefer Dorothy Koomson's other stories such as The Rose Petal Beach which are more gritty n gripping :)

[Kittypiggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running away is really not solving the problem but will make you suffer with the unsolved problem.

[Lisacrooksbtinternet.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellente ! koomson at her best.disappointed with ending of cupid effect but she hits you with a stick in the epilogue ;-)

[Lala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was very entertaining and I found myself identified with some situations.
Bad boys and chocolate! some of our favorite things!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Mack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hated the ending, can't stand her making up with that horrible fake best friend and that horrible fake best friend's boyfriend

[Valerie Harewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book by Dorothy Koomson I read and I haven't stopped reading any of her books yet. I look forward to every new title she puts out. Excellent writer.