A Perfect Proposal: A Novel

I've read many other books by Katie Fforde and found this one to be disappointing. Why? Two major reasons: First, there is no sense of place or work. In other books, we learned about where the heroine worked (an auction house, a hotel, etc.) or where her passion was (gardening). Here, Sophie's passion is to add "bits and pieces" to clothing that women already own. Huh? Nothing wrong with tailoring, per se, but this is just a throwaway and without some strong interest, the book is as light as a dandelion. Second, the story progresses nicely with the hero and heroine having their various adventures and getting closer then, wham. About halfway through, it all just stops and the remainder of the book just limps along. I understand that the heroine can cry but this crying jag goes one for pages and pages and pages....Ouch!

And here is another reason why the book is less than compelling: Every single situation is a stereotype. Nothing unpredictable or realistic.

Sorry, Ms. Fforde, but I cannot recommend this one.

Have read many of Katie Fforde's books, but wish I'd saved my money on this one ~~ in spite of reviews, it was obviously written for an audience of very young girls or the simple-minded !! The "hero" Luke ~~ apart from being good-looking and rich ~~ a fact of which the reader is constantly reminded ~~ is spineless and stupid ~~ completely controlled by his grandmother and an older woman who works in his office ~~ it is obviously from the writer's introduction of that latter into the story just who is the "boss" in that particularly lawyer's office. The young heroine, Sophie is a child being sent on one errand or another throughout the book by anyone who happens to need or want her services. Really like Katie Fforde and look forward to reading other books by her in the future. For this one, it will go to the Friends of the Library donation box tomorrow !!!

Sophie is always cleaning up after everyone else's drama and specifically her family's financial schemes to squeeze money from one source or another. Sophie has tried on numerous career hats but none so far has been a good fit, but she will not give up and l not let go of her dreams. When a short-term job opportunity takes her from England to New York, a door opens for her that she runs through to find a taste of the life she craves.

Having a friend in New York helps ease the pain when the job falls thru however, it is the new friend that Sophie makes that warms her heart. Meeting Matilda creates an instant rapport that the two of them may treasure but sends up warning signals to Luke, Matilda's grandson. No one is going to take advantage of his grandmother especially one Luke sees as out for money. Sophie is not a woman looking to do any harm and does not have a malice bone in her body but Luke is going to have to be convinced. Sophie's friendship with Matilda grows steadily as does her attraction to Luke who is still eyeing her scornfully. Sophie's sweet nature has Matilda bringing her home and reminding Matilda of something she left behind in England. Luke may keep an eye on Sophie but as time progresses he seems to be watching her more carefully than required.

There does come a time for Sophie to return to England but Matilda has a deal to barter with her that will help everyone out. Sophie must achieve a goal in England, Luke will search for a treasure Sophie is seeking in New York, and everyone will get what they want, maybe. Everything seems simple enough until Luke appears in England and winds up on Sophie's doorstep getting a glimpse of how the other half lives. The two then start out on an adventure together with Luke having a taste of what life is like from Sophie's perspective and seeing the depth of her beauty and kindness. The travelers have good days and some just down right gloomy ones but Luke and Sophie appear to have the ability to mesh two lives that may be in search of one perfect union.

Katie Fforde is a must read book with diverse characters and an astonishing English flair for romance.

very good

Katie Fforde has the magical gift of engaging the reader from the first page, drawing you into the everyday lives of her characters, and keeping you there happily throughout almost 400 pages. That takes real skill. A Perfect Proposal was a good example of that skill. The story is pretty bland (not much happens plot-wise) and yet the heroine is engaging (if a bit young) and you find yourself rooting for her HEA. The supporting cast of characters was fun to read about, the hero was nice (though a bit bland and one dimensional,) and the settings were pleasant to read about. In all this was a fun, easy read. I'm not sure I'll remember it a few days from now but it was a very nice ride and I was sorry when I got to the last page. Can't ask for more than that!

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've seen Fforde's name a ton since she was always shelved next to my beloved Jasper Fforde but for some reason I never picked up one of her books (no, I don't know why...it's a mystery never fully explained). However it did mean that this was the perfect opportunity to pick up her book and I was utterly charmed. I didn't really know what to expect but I was absolutely swept away.

My one quibble about this book was the significant age difference between the love interests, which is mentioned several times as a negative or at least not the best situation but is not really something they discuss. I think that Sophie is certainly on the more mature side for her youthful age (something I empathized with as I have had several people recently tell me that I'm very mature-I don't really know what to do with that as I think I am exactly as I should be but always with room for improvement) and I fully believe in the HEA but I think that could have been hashed out more.

The rest of the book was great though. The genre would probably be "chicklit" as it focuses on a young woman, struggling to figure out her career, love, and life in general while also dealing with familial pressures and friendship travails. In this instance, Sophie is the youngest in a family of intellectuals and has forgone acquiring a degree, pursuing something more practical like design so that she could go into business for herself. Although her family is happy to enjoy her skills, they also constantly deride them to her face. Thus Sophie leaps at the chance to travel to America where she meets an elderly woman and sparks with that woman's grandson.

Sophie is rather passive at the start, allowing her family to run roughshod over her but she grows more of a spine through her experiences. There are many funny moments as well as sweet and sexy times. This was a great introduction to Fforde's writing and I am eager to read more of her fairly extensive backlist.

Recommended for when you need a light, humorous romantic read, perhaps in between some darker denser material :)

Another fun book by one of my favorite chick-lit writers.

Sophie Apperly is the Cinderella of her family and they're happy to send her off to care for their grumpy great uncle Eric for a while, hoping they'll all share in his inheritance. She actually gets on really well with the old man and when she tells him she's off to New York for a temporary job, he asks her to look up another family member who could help them all to a lot of money.

In New York, she meets Matilda, an old and very rich lady, that she happens to run into at an art gallery. She has a dashing grandson, Luke, who is very suspicious of Sophie, assuming she is friendly with his grandmother for her money.

Luke promises to search her family member in the USA while Sophie is on a quest for Matilda back in England. Turns out Matilda has some plans that neither Sophie nor Luke expected...

This is a fun and predictable story. I had some idea which way this story would go but not how it would get there. And it was a great, quick read that took the reader from England to New York, to Connecticut and back to England, to the lovely Cornwall countryside.

A fun, light read. I flew through the 400 pages!

A Perfect Proposal is a classic in the making. With two amazing main characters, and great supporting ones, Ms. Fforde has written a novel that is easy to read, and easy to love. Sophie's attitude toward her unappreciative family makes her lovable and relatable. Getting to take a vacation from the demands of her family, Sophie finds herself in America, with no job and little money. Meeting Matilda, by chance, helps to change her life in a way she's always hoped for, but thought would never happen. Matilda's grandson, Luke, is the complete opposite from Sophie, being brought up very rich and privileged, but somehow manages to make a connection with Sophie. When Sophie returns to England, she assumes that the friendship she and Luke had will not continue, only to learn that Luke is coming to England for a special project. When she and Luke pair up, trying to accomplish a task for Matilda, they find that opposites really do attract. But can they overcome their incredibly different backgrounds?

I loved A Perfect Proposal from start to finish. While it may be somewhat predictable, it is still a heartwarming, fun read. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read those "make you feel good" books! I look forward to reading another book by Ms. Fforde!

Rating: 4

Heat Rating: Sweet

Reviewed by: AprilP,My Book Addiction Reviews

I just finished the best book! Sophie Apperly is the youngest child the "dumb one" no one will listen to because she isn't "degreed" and actually is the one with the most common sense. Her two best friends are behind her with her choices but she won't stand up to anyone.
Finally fed up, Sophie decides to take a holiday to American to see friend Milly and look up a distance relative about some oil leases. She doesn't find the relative, but does end up saving an elderly lady from crashing to the floor at an art exhibit opening.
Matilda Winchester is above wealthy. She is also English and immediately falls in love with Sophie. Matilda's grandson, Luke, however; is not - English nor Sophie loving. He assumes Sophie is after his grandmother's money or his. A talented lawyer, Luke is business-like, gorgeous, intense, gorgeous, etc. He and Sophie come to a truce eventually.
This book was so fun to read! Miscommunication, family secrets, family disorder, oil leases (??!) and all Sophie wants to do it sew. Her family is typical of the "talented, artistic" mindset. Not much for money but no one is to know. Matilda's family is fun, reserved and quite special. When Sophie returns to England, the search for the house Matilda remembers is a tale all in itself.
For just a plain, fun time you must get this book!