Synopsis:
Boy meets girl...Alex Bradley can't help but feel that life is rather passing him by. And not just life - promotions, invitations, romance; the girl he loves only has eyes for his flatmate and his 9-5 job as the Immigration department skivvy is slowly numbing his soul. Until he meets Nadia. Girl meets boy...Nadia Osipova is running out of time. With no money, no lawyer and a totally fictitious boyfriend, she's got one last summer and one last appeal before the British government deport her back to Russia.
Girl gets deported? It's going to be a bumpy ride, one she's dragging her new friend Alex along for. As Nadia races through a list of all her favourite London adventures, for what may be the last time, Alex can't help but start to see the city, and his life, through Nadia's eyes. From hazy summer days on the Common and heady nights in Soho's basement bars, to twilight walks along the Southbank, will Alex realise what he's got before it's too late? Funny, addictive and always honest, this is a love letter to London, friendship and the unexpected from the author of the bestselling The Best Thing I Never Had.
What did I think?
I was completely hooked right from the start of this one and had quite a late night reading! I liked the layout of the chapters with sections on Alex and Nadia. Alex working in the Home Office with pointless Friday afternoon team meetings and Nadia wanting to poke her eyes out with a fork rather than watch daytime TV.
It's fate that brings Alex and Nadia together at a pub quiz, right after he has passed along her application to stay in the UK. There's a definite spark between Alex and Nadia but Alex doesn't really notice it so when Nadia meets Matt the same night she agrees to go out with him. Alex and Nadia become friends and you can feel their relationship growing whilst Nadia's relationship with Matt is very flat. Events always seem to conspire against Alex and Nadia as each time you think they're going to get together something happens to get in their way.
Alex and Nadia have an amazing time going through Nadia's bucket list of things to do in London before she's deported. I could really feel the buzz of the city and Nadia is so vibrant whilst Alex is so British! I liked all of the characters in the book and felt the strong bond of friendship between Nadia and Holly shining through the pages.
It's a really excellent feel good book which doesn't have a predictable ending but leaves us instead with a message to make our own lives extraordinary.
I received this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Published August 2015 - pre-order from the Book Depository
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