Sally

by Freya North

Meet Sally – well-mannered primary school teacher. Sally has decided to re-invent herself as a femme fatale and all-around sex goddess. Meet Richard – architect, confirmed bachelor and the unknowing target of Sally’s masterplan – to be the erotic heroine of his life. Join Sally and Richard on their roller-coaster ride of self-discovery and seduction in this fresh and funny first novel.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Novels

322 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 1996

About the author

Freya North is the author of many bestselling novels which have been translated into numerous languages. She was born in London but lives in rural Hertfordshire, where she writes from a stable in her back garden. A passionate reader since childhood, Freya was originally inspired by Mary Wesley, Rose Tremain and Barbara Trapido: fiction with strong and original characters. To hear about events, competitions and what she’s writing, join her on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible.

The Author couldn't decide which tense she was writing in and from who's perspective. Was very badly written, no storyline.

One star.

[Bookguide · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, it's no good; I can't take it any more! I tried to ignore the weird changes of tense and the insistence on trying to fit a one-liner at the end of every chapter. I continued in the face of purple prose, yawned through descriptions of Richard shopping and cooking, showering and dressing for his romantic meal with Sally. Obviously I was supposed to be appreciating what a wonderfully domesticated and tasteful man he is. Next I endured a mouthful-by-mouthful review of the meal itself, including a technical description of the sensations experienced by someone tasting tiramisu for the first time; Marks & Spencers' food adverts are sexier. I even put up with the blow-by-blow account of a sexual act which could have been the script and directions for a film written by a control freak (this before reaching the bedroom where "he made slow and languid love to her", fullstop. Page 53 and here's the deal-breaker; the morning after, and "a careful fingertip brushed away an endearing pip of sleepydust". Life is too short to waste my time reading this drivel!

Copy of Bookcrossing review: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2...
Taken from Castricum in June 2009. Released to ForeignExchange in February 2011.

[Nadia King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally inhaled this book. North's descriptions will transport you. Sally and Richard were believable, relatable and gorgeous characters. A perfectly executed romance. Highly recommended for fans of romance.

[Barbara Elsborg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I just did a review of Ms North's latest that I wasn't so keen on, I thought I'd better redress the balance because this author is an auto buy for me - I do like her.
Sally - is an usual story - the style is unique and it's one that wouldn't please everyone. But I really liked it. The setup is that Sally who's really a very extraordinary girl but thinks she isn't, is determined to be a sex vixen and have a no strings affair. She chooses carefully but of course life isn't that simple. I loved Richard and Sally. The sex was great! The conflict great too. In fact, I'm going to read it again!

[Sally · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read about 10 pages, not for me.

[Rosie Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taken from my blog www.rosiereview.wordpress.com

Re-released with new artwork, Sally is still as good the second time round as the first. The way it’s written is so personal; the interaction between author and reader. Almost more like a play, where the narrator (the author) interacts with the reader. It’s wonderful reading it again, a book written in a time where mobile phones or email wasn’t so popular as it is now. No mention of a computer or mobile ever! It’s a reminder of how relationships were and shows perhaps how modern technology can spoil dating for modern people. Sally is a romance with a twist; a story which I think quite a few women can relate to.

It’s funny, and quite frustrating in places – but in a good way. Freya is such a good writer that her books are enjoyable again and again even many years after they’ve been written. Dare I say timeless??? You can see how her writing style has evolved throughout her career. I’m rating Sally as a Must Read.

[Ceh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it, it was a lazy read, but its just one of those books, i just had to finish. Its writing was one of the things that got me reading it and always put a smile. I had a soft spot for Richard from the get go, i mean Sally's described him as quite a dishy man :)
The story takes us through the life of Sally Lomax who sets out to seduce a classic bad boy she meets through friends of friends. Well you would expect that alot of drama would ensue but really it plateaus. Sallys character has me angry at her for her behavior and her denial to view the obvious. However her ability to describe her lovescenes in novelesque stature had me smiling though.
It definitely doesn't clalssify as a gripping read, but then again, it was after all Freya Norths first book, and i hope the next book i pick up (secrets) will be a page turner.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple story line. Boy girl meet. Boy girl fall in love. Girl is scared of love. Girl accepts love. Boy girl reunite.

Very simple.

Very simple.

But it was well written. I don't know how FN managed to turn such a simple story into something amusing - but she did.

I LOVED the narrator, which is maybe why I continued reading the book. I liked the limited number of characters.

I didn't like the 10 year age gap.

Sally was an extremely childish and strange person. Not strange in a funny way. I thought she was verging on clinically insane.

Richard was dull due to perfectness.

Why do the men always have to be amazingly good looking heartthrobs? Who wrote that rule?

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really did not enjoy this book. Have loved others from this author but this one was just boring. There was no real plot and I found my self disliking Sally more and more as the book went on. She was playing games the whole way through and I still don't get why she would decide she loved him - he would say something and she would go home in tears. I was getting annoyed at how selfish she was and the only thing I could endure was the bit when she went to visit her grandmother which I thought was lovely. It was a very very slow book with nothing to it.

[Joëlle]

Die Lehrerin Sally Lomax, 25, will ihr langweiliges, braves Leben verändern: Als Femme fatale möchte sie die Männerwelt erobern und ihr Vergnügen haben. Bei einer Party lernt sie den gut aussehenden Architekten Richard kennen, mit dem sie sogleich eine Affäre beginnt. Alles geht gut, bis Richard ihr gesteht, dass er sich in sie verliebt habe - Sally ist entsetzt: Das hat sie nicht geplant. Aber Richard bleibt hartnäckig ...

[Hannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het boek leest vlot en de twee hoofdpersonen, Sally en Richard, zijn sympathiek. Toch is het boek niet heel bijzonder. Een beetje standaard chicklit. Vrouw ontmoet man en na wat ups & downs krijgen ze elkaar. Ik heb tussen twee en drie sterren getwijfeld. Ik heb toch voor drie gekozen, omdat het geen slecht boek is. Maar eigenlijk is het boek maar 2,5 ster waard. Helaas bestaat die optie (nog) niet bij Goodreads.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, the good: Freya North has a lovely warm gossipy style of writing that really draws you in and makes you care about her characters.

The bad: there was barely any plot to sustain this story. Sally's reasons for the way she acted were paper-thin and didn't justify the running time. Sally, herself, ended up being pretty unlikeable. There were too many sections involving soul searching when the reader already knew exactly where this story was going.

[Rebekah]

Sally made me think, and that was more than most bawdy books do. This, I assume had more sex than a 50 shades (not that i ever read that, but many said it was more about talking about S&M rather than actual sex) but had an actual character trying to sort through her life. Playing a role and trying to decide if that was one she would like.

tres interesante

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was going through relationship problems and I could really relate to the characters and I was gripped through the book to see if the characters were going to have a happy ever after ending

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freya North is one of my favourite authors & this is her first novel. I struggled a bit & about 2/3rds of the way through, I realised that I didn't much like Sally, the main character.

Much prefer the McCabe sisters books.

[Jacqueline · Rating 2 out of 5]

this started well but deteriorated into tedious navel gazing that went on and on. I found myself skim reading to avoid it. the narrative style was intrusive and irritating. the least enjoyable Freya North novel I've read to date, I've enjoyed her more recent novels much more.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off ok but gradually just got a bit dull. I like the interaction between the characters but i just found that a lot didnt really happen and whereas i like Sallys character i couldnt really relate to her

[Lucy Rodrigues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, fairly easy to read introduction to Freya North. I think the main issue I had was that the characters just avoided talking to each other which got a bit frustrating really, otherwise a very cute read!

[Daisy White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read Chloe, and loved it, I was really excited to read this one, but unfortunately Sally annoyed me so much I couldn't finish it. She is an incredibly selfish and irritating girl, and the plot was very bland. I left the book as Sally fell off a cliff.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really easy reading... very enjoyable. Didn't need to think about it at all!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re read this following the kindle in the bath incident. Sadly, my love for it has waned. So I'm going to stop writing about it.

[Vicky Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

wasnt too impressed with this book, didnt flow as well as her later books

[Popelorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So easy to read

[Johan Chalmers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freya's first book - an old friend I return to occasionally. Freya's style has changed over the years so it's good to return to Sally from time to time

[Holly Hollyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book all the better for remembering that Sally was in Chloe! It was an easy-to-read chick flick. It wasn't particularly insightful. But highly diverting!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Wasn't fussed in this one mainly due to no sympathy at all with the main character. The perfect man tells her he loves her and so she runs away??? Stupid woman.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok - not as good as some of her later work

[Bibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grappige schrijfstijl, maar nogal flutterig verhaaltje. Het heeft absoluut geestige elementen, maar is wel ontzettend voorspelbaar en gaat eigenlijk nergens over.

[Rowena Reads Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, another Freya North original. I’m working my way through the whole back catalogue. The early books have been re-released with updated artwork so I’m taking the opportunity to re-read. Freya’s writing style is second to none, she has such a way of writing Chick Lit Romance without making it seem trashy or off putting. Her humorous, witty attention to detail is refreshing – which is funny really seeing this book is about fifteen years old! You always know what to expect with a Freya North novel. Not in a bad way, you expect to be hooked from the first page, you expect to warm to the leading lady and falling in love when she does. And most of all you expect to be transported to another life, which for me is why I read. I enjoy the escapism, the questions it makes me ask about my own life as well as inspiration it provides. Such an uplifting read, I always feel so empowered once I’ve finished 🙂

I’m rating this as a must read – more Freya North re-read reviews to come soon.

[Lizp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally was flawed. So what?! There are so many reviews where Sally is highly disapproved of. She’s immature and she doesn’t know her own mind. Hardly a firing squad offence.

I like the way Freya North writes. Sally is a teacher. She wants to reinvent herself as a bit of a sex goddess. She decides she will have an affair with Richard. She hasn’t reckoned on Richard falling in love with her. This complicates things for her. She isn’t looking for love, rather a memory of excitement to ruminate on once she has settled down.

On a school trip to Paris, still determined to be that sex goddess/ vamp, she sleeps with a Frenchman.
This doesn’t work out well.

This book is well written. Sally and Richard are believable and likeable characters. I liked the scene with her grandmother in it. Go with Sally on her journey of seduction and self discovery. It’s worth it.