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The Life and Love (Attempts) of Kitty Cook

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Kitty Cook may be a great school teacher, but learning the lessons of online dating is a harder subject than she first thought.

Finding herself alone again in her thirties, she decides to take her friend Sophie's advice and sign up for an online dating site. After recently leaving a failed five-year relationship, Kitty is hesitant to get her hopes up.

All she wants to do is graduate from the school of love, but will she ever find someone who will make the grade?

The Life and Love (Attempts) of Kitty Cook is an emotional yet heart-warming read that takes you on an unforgettable journey through the highs and lows of online dating and looking for love in your thirties.

What readers are saying about Helen

"Warm hearted and funny, a bit like a more street wise Maeve Binchey."
- online reviewer

"Helen Aitchison draws out the beauty of the world, of the human spirit, and holds it firmly up above her head for all of us to see. Written with the most powerful words." - online reviewer

"Watch this space Helen Aitchison will be a household name in no time.. Can't wait for the next novel." - online reviewer

"I cried, I laughed, and I cried again. Adding Helen to my list of 'must buy as soon as they release a book' authors." - online reviewer

"I cannot wait for the next book this brilliant author has to offer." - online reviewer

"A talented author and a wonderful debut novel. I'm looking forward to her next book." - online reviewer

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2023

6 people are currently reading
31 people want to read

About the author

Helen Aitchison

19 books61 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah Caine.
144 reviews7 followers
March 4, 2023
I was so excited to be on the book tour for this book - especially on publication day! I just hope I can do this book justice! When I read Helen’s first novel #thedinnerclub it became one of my favourite reads of 2022 - I have recommended it to so many people and if you haven’t read it you should…
So I was excited to read this one… and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT - this book spoke to me in a way that Bridget Jones did in my twenties…. Loveable main character that I think most women can relate to! Helen’s writing style is so relaxed you feel like you are there and it makes you want to read on. This is a one sitting book! Buy it for single friends- struggling with the horrors of online dating and for your smug married friends that don’t appreciate the perils of online dating! This is a laugh out loud read! Grab a bottle of #prosecco and some #chocolate and settle in for a comedic uplifting rollercoaster of Kitty’s story. Helen’s books should be read and then reread! Love love loved this book! Well done @helen.aitchison_writes and well done @cahilldavispublishing for again recognising Helen’s talent - this will be a favourite book of the year - I can already tell
Profile Image for Sharon Williams.
595 reviews10 followers
February 26, 2023
Really enjoyed this and listening to kitty's dating disasters and winners at times this made me laugh so much. Very enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Linda Jeffreys.
100 reviews
May 11, 2023
Kitty Cook after recently leaving a failed five-year relationship finds herself alone again. At thirty years old she decides to take a friend’s advice and sign up for an online dating site. She very quickly learns that online dating is not as straight forward as she first thought. I was lucky enough to get hold of a signed copy of this book.

After reading and loving Helen’s first book “The Dinner Club” I couldn’t wait to read this book.
It’s set in North East of England which is where I come from…so the people and places feel very familiar.
The storyline is emotional as well as being brilliantly funny, while taking you through the delightful highs, lows, trials and tribulations of online dating.

Kitty's journey searching for love is hilarious as well as probably being very relatable to many readers.
Its one of those books which is perfect after a stressful day because you are guaranteed to laugh out loud…it’s immediately uplifting.

Helen has a mesmerising and entertaining writing style so the book has a wonderful easy flow to it.
She has also created super characters with whom you will easy relate to and they definitely bring a lot of personality to the book.

If you are in the mood for a light hearted, quirky read…full of wit, heart and truth then this book is perfect. I would definitely recommend “Kitty” to all contemporary romantic comedy lovers.
Profile Image for James Ashard.
14 reviews15 followers
October 31, 2024
The Life and Love (Attempts) of Kitty Cook by Helen Aitchison is a delightful read, filled with humor, warmth, and relatable characters. The book perfectly captures the charm of the North East, which made it feel like home to me as a Northerner. Kitty’s journey through life and love, with all its ups and downs, is both funny and heartwarming, and Aitchison’s storytelling shines with an engaging, down-to-earth style. Each character feels vividly real, adding layers of charm to the narrative. Overall, it’s a wholesome and feel-good read that left me with a smile.
Profile Image for Rowan MacKemsley.
Author 7 books13 followers
April 1, 2023
I've made no secret of the fact I adore Helen's writing. This book did not disappoint.
It's a heart warming journey through the trials and tribulations of online dating following a painful break up. I laughed, cried, worried for Kitty's safety, and cheered certain characters on. Kitty's friends were written beautifully with their humour and support for Kitty as she navigated the online dating world. Congratulations Helen on a wonderful novel.
Profile Image for Anne Scorfield.
6 reviews
June 11, 2025
Yet again, another wonderful book from Helen! The emotion that comes across in Helen’s writing, really knows where to hit you. I laughed, I smiled, my heart ached at times with Kitty’s love story! The supporting characters, I adored too, the strong support group they were for Kitty, I recognise from my own friendship groups. Wonderful story, leaves me wanting to know more about what happened next for Kitty!
Profile Image for Mary Tippett.
Author 11 books60 followers
October 19, 2023
I read this book while on vacation in Spain. It was a great beach read with eye-opening insights into dating app horror stories. There’s something about the British manner of storytelling that reels me in for books like this gem.
Profile Image for N Bookstagram.
Author 4 books63 followers
March 9, 2023
I’m a big fan of Helen’s writing, she has a talent to just capture everyday people and tell their unique stories.

Kitty is a sweetheart and her journey through internet dating apps so relevant! Anyone whose ever dated this way will utterly relate and recognise all the types!

It’s a lovely setting in the north east of England and the people and places feel familiar and friendly.

If you want to settle down for a cosy read with a lovely cup of tea (Kitty’s fave!) then this is a lovely book for you!
Profile Image for Eve Koguce.
Author 6 books397 followers
April 23, 2023
Kitty has a perfect life. She has a job she loves and is good at. She has fantastic friends and caring, supportive parents. But then, one brick falls out of the wall of her structured and mainly satisfying life. Determined to fix it, Kitty embarks on a journey that promises adventure and excitement. Although she knows that even on a pleasure cruise you can encounter a storm, Kitty can’t imagine what awaits her.

When we meet Kitty Cook in “The Life and Love (Attempts) of Kitty Cook” by Helen Aitchison, she has just broken up with her boyfriend of many years. They lived together for not so long, but they dated for much longer. So, even though it was clear their relationship doesn’t work, for Kitty, it wasn’t an easy decision to ask Liam to leave. While trying to adjust to life alone, with an empty chair at the dinner table and a similarly empty bed, Kitty decides to give online dating a try. Life without love feels as empty as her house.

Reading about Kitty’s dates made me remember my own online dating experience. Two decades ago, many aspects of it were different. People weren’t as savvy as they are now, and I certainly didn’t even think about taking pepper spray in my bag on a date. Besides, “matching algorithms” I believe weren’t sophisticated back then. Still, some things never change. Human nature remains more or less the same across centuries and continents. Some of Kitty’s dates make me giggle, so similar men’s behaviour was to what I myself had seen. It is rather astonishing, to be honest, that even people with let’s call it peculiar fantasies about relationships aren’t unique.

I thoroughly enjoyed living through the challenging time of exploring the online dating maze together with Kitty. She is someone you’d love to be friends with in real life. Besides, I could relate to many of her daily routines. Gym and weekly food shopping are the things I stick religiously to as well. With one tiny difference that food shopping has moved into an online area. I still like to browse virtual shelves, check what’s on offer, wonder at some really strange items, and end up buying mainly the same things every week.

Kitty meets different men on her search-for-love spree. Some don’t look like the pictures they posted on their profiles. Others aren’t who they pretended to be. Kitty has a few rather disturbing dates when things seem to be getting a little out of control. She does manage to get out of such situations, and sometimes the solutions she finds become long-term anecdotes among her friends.

“The Life and Love (Attempts) of Kitty Cook” is a lovely story that left a warm feeling after I turned the last page.
Profile Image for Daniel Munro.
Author 5 books23 followers
June 16, 2023

You follow Kitty Cook, who is healing from a recent break up of a long term relationship. True to Helen’s detailed and heartfelt way to write people and their emotions, it is heartbreaking, but also warming to see the close family and friends helping Kitty through the healing process.
After some encouragement from a close friend, Kitty decides to join the online dating community. This is all new to Kitty, so it’s a complete learning curve, while also gaining confidence to get back out there.
Now, (I’m still processing this part), some of Kitty’s dating experiences are based on actual real life dating moments for the author, and I won’t lie that I did laugh at some of them, others are just bizarre and down right terrifying. I won’t go into spoilers, but what I’ve learned is that internet dating is also a potential breeding ground for people who should be on some kind of watchlist.
Characters, pacing, and detail are on point as i much expected from Helen, and it truly holds her Geordie charm too. This is a must read, add-to-your-tbr, for all lovers of heartwarming, romance comedy fiction.
If you loved Helen’s first book, The Dinner Table, I can safely say she’ll capture your smile again.
Absolutely brilliant ❤️

Profile Image for Julie Yelland.
11 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2024
If you like the idea of Bridget Jones and Sex and the City, meets Derry Girls, I promise you are going to love Kitty Cook!

Kitty, heartbroken after a recent breakup, is about to embark on a mission to find love.

When Kitty isn’t spending time with her family, you will find her in her workplace, the gym, the supermarket, out on the town. Or on yet another date! Prepare to be taken on a riotously funny, and emotion-packed ride through the madcap world of online dating as Kitty searches for Mr Right. But is she looking in all the wrong places?

I chuckled throughout Kitty’s love attempts. I adored her three best friends, Sophie, Sadie and Jane. And the catchphrases had me in stiches.

But despite the comedy, there is true heart in Helen’s writing, (She writes as if she’s sharing a hilarious & candid journal with her best friends, which is what I loved the most!) and a beautiful love story which will sneak up and surprise you as much as it did Kitty!
❤️❤️
Funny & heart-warming!
Profile Image for Bruce Spydar.
Author 11 books39 followers
May 12, 2023
A wonderful, and very British journey towards love.
“... although I don’t want to date Mr Bean, I also don’t want to date Jeremy Paxman.” This does leave quite a range of prospective suitors for Kitty, a 30+ schoolteacher from Newcastle, in her search for love ... and quite a range is what Kitty seems to attract.
Having experienced my own bumpy road to love as a male, I enjoyed measuring my own attributes against Kitty’s criteria; I kept contemplating whether I’d have passed the best friend approval test. Somehow, I think not ... but I might’ve fared a little better than some.
This is a light and witty rom-com deriving, at least in part, from the author’s real-life experience. Such familiarity enhances the colour and depth of the characters, and helps to make this book a real winner.
Profile Image for Shari Mitchell.
Author 4 books19 followers
August 18, 2023
If you ever existed in the online dating world, or simply wondered about it, The Life and Love (Attempts) of Kitty Cook Kitty Cook is for you.

Join Kitty on a journey filled with romantic trials, tribulations, and side-splitting laughter. You will find yourself rooting for her as she navigates the world of online romance.

This delightful novel, penned by the talented author Helen Aitchison, is truly a genuine narrative of the craziness that exists in the online dating arena.

The Life and Love (Attempts) of Kitty Cook is an essential read for those seeking a laugh, a sympathetic cry, and a “from- the-heart” read.
Profile Image for Janice Coy.
Author 8 books11 followers
January 22, 2024
A fun romp through the ups and downs of internet dating. Kitty is recently our of a long-term relationship and hasn't dated for a while. Her friend successfully met the love of her life on an internet dating site, so Kitty decides to give it a whirl. I laughed out loud at her description of a long-term boyfriend and some of her dating meetups. Other times I was wishing she would just ditch the date and her manners! Will Kitty get her HEA?

All-in-all a lighthearted, yet insightful and uplifting read about friendship, family, and looking for love in all the wrong places. (Some frisky language)
Author 2 books7 followers
March 28, 2023

I have been out of the dating game for over 20 years, but this brought me right back into it!

We meet Kitty who is fresh out of a long term relationship that left her pretty down. Her friends convince her to sign up on a dating site and then start all of the crazy dating mishaps that will leave you laughing and feeling sorry for Kitty all at the same time. You will become so connected to Kitty that you will be rooting for her by the end to find her happily ever after! Loved the banter and witty lines- especially from my favorite character, Sadie!
Profile Image for R.A. Hutchins.
Author 30 books67 followers
March 9, 2023
Laugh out loud, feel good romance!

This book is pure entertainment! Kitty's foray into online dating is as hilarious as it's relatable, and I was immediately invested in her journey. There are poignant moments too, and a great cast of side characters of which Sadie was my firm favourite - I loved her lack of filter! The story has a definite sense of time and place, and I think would have wide appeal. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Donna Scuvotti.
Author 3 books47 followers
March 29, 2023
The minute I opened up this book, I knew I would become immersed in the pages. It's real life and laugh out loud funny. But it's more than that. It's a glimpse into the struggles of on line dating. The trials and tribulations that is knowing what/who to believe and what you may want to take a chance on.

Kitty Cook, a high school teacher, is forced into unfamiliar territory when her long time partner and her break up. She's lonely and sad missing someone to share her life with. So, she does what any young woman would do... she opens an online dating profile with hopes of meeting Mr.Right.

This is where the calamities begin. And trust me, there are plenty. The profile names, her interactions and descriptions are entertainment at its best.

You will root for her from day one as she fully submerges herself into the process and sets off on her adventures. The cast of other characters only add to the charm, with Sadie being my favorite. Everyone needs a Sadie in their life as she supports Kitty with no filter, hilarious moments.

Not only is it funny but it is relatable, insightful and sad at times with poignant moments. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves to laugh and be fully entertained!

This author has quickly become a favorite of mine. Check out her other two fabulous book.
The Dinner Club
Veterans' Voices
Profile Image for Emma Hardy.
1,286 reviews77 followers
April 1, 2023
This is quite a different read from the author's first book but delights just the same.


The book reads almost like a break up diary followed by a dating diary, with some interesting men along the way. Amusing and entertaining, Kitty is an endearing character that I'm sure many will relate to.


A good escapism read, that is fun and good hearted in all the right places. One to snuggle up with and just immerse yourself.


Just lovely.

Profile Image for Lillie Alexander.
Author 6 books205 followers
May 4, 2023
Another sensational read by the talented Helen 🤗😍 The book takes us through Kitty's heartbreak and her online dating experiences. I loved, loved every single minute of it. Helen made me laugh out loud 🤣, tear up 😪, worry about Kitty 😨 and had me guessing until the very end 🤔

If you enjoy romcom stories with laugh out moments, friends that will hold you through your best and worst moments of your life and family drama then this is a book for you. Highly recommended 💙
Profile Image for Susan Dalessandro.
Author 5 books234 followers
May 29, 2023
Follow Kitty Cook on her online dating journey and laugh, cry, and cheer for her success and happiness as she navigates online dating. This book is another fun, witty, and heartwarming read by the fabulous writer, Helen Aitchison. There were parts where I laughed out loud, and others where I wanted to give Kitty a hug, as her best friends in the book often did. This story felt so authentic, and had me guessing until the very end. A must read for anyone who wants to be thoroughly entertained.
Profile Image for Sandra Damiani.
Author 1 book10 followers
April 11, 2023
Online Dating: Is it a yes or a no?
In The Life and Love (Attempts) of Kitty Cook, Kitty is an adventurous woman looking for love. As she searches for the one, she meets some men ranging from what just happened to extraordinary. I especially appreciated Kitty's friend's on-point evaluation of the men Kitty meets. I highly recommend this book and all the others written by this author.

Profile Image for Paul.
2 reviews
March 3, 2023
Easy to read book with plenty of laugh out loud moments with an added spice of northern hunour. A great addition to to anyone's bookshelf, highly recommended. This is the second book I have read by Helen Aitchison, they never fail to disappoint. A*****
Profile Image for Abigail Yardimci.
Author 13 books32 followers
July 14, 2023
Ah, what a relatable, authentic and utterly feel-good story this is! It’s a novel but it kind of reads like a personal life experience, full of highs and lows that will have you nodding in recognition. Poor Kitty meets some very questionable characters in her online dating adventure, all of them teaching her something new about herself. I loved the cast of side characters - Kitty’s mates cheering her on from the wings whilst also living their own lives with truth and wisdom so that Kitty learns even more to help her in her quest for true love. If you’re looking for a book with warmth, honesty and just the right sprinkling of romance, then you’ve found it right here.
Profile Image for Gemma Frances.
Author 6 books9 followers
September 9, 2023
Another awesome read from the author of The Dinner Club, bringing with it more of Helen's trademark wit and sensitivity as we journey with her through the highs and lows of internet dating and hold onto hope that by kissing a few frogs, she will eventually find her prince.
44 reviews
January 27, 2026
This book is a heartwarming story of friendship, love and modern dating. The humour throughout is brillliant, which I especially enjoyed! I wasnt expecting to laugh out loud as much as I have.

A relatable tale, this book has been a tonic.
Profile Image for Elaine M.
315 reviews5 followers
March 1, 2023
Another great book from Helen. Really funny, likeable characters & lovely northernisms x
Profile Image for Kate Baker.
35 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2023
Really enjoyed this fun book. Really liked the main characters especially Sadie!
16 reviews
January 7, 2024
Compulsive reading and a frightening insight into the world of online dating. Loved Kitty.
Profile Image for Caroline Myers.
53 reviews
March 14, 2023
I devoured this in 2 sittings, willing to out if Kitty found her happy ever after. I laughed out loud at parts (especially sh*t gate), I cringed for Kitty and some of the weird experiences she encountered. I wanted to smack certain characters (both Liam and Gary).I wanted to wrap my arms around Kitty I feel like Kitty went on a journey, she set boundaries, learnt to love herself and realised she deserved the best. Another fabulous book which I loved.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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