Book Review - Reading Upside Down ~ Jo Platt

TITLE - Reading Upside Down

AUTHOR - Jo Platt

Pages - 253

Buy Link - Amazon UK // Amazon US

SYNOPSIS
Happiness could be just around the corner…

“…perfect setting, perfect dress, perfect flowers, one hundred and eight guests – and one, total and utter, rat.”

Abandoned at the altar, Rosalind Shaw descends into the kind of depression which involves watching too much daytime TV and not bothering to shower as regularly as her mother would like.

Relocating, she begins a new life at antiquarian bookshop “Chapters”. Here Ros finds herself working alongside the intellectual, and intensely private, Andrew; the kind-hearted, sartorially splendid, Georgina; and Joan, a free-spirited, loose cannon of a pensioner, with a penchant for amateur dramatics and outdoor nudity.

But just when life might be starting to improve, Ros’ rather hairy neighbour, Daniel, knocks on her door with a bunch of flowers, a nervous grin and some rather distressing news…

Reading Upside Down is funny, intelligent and fast-paced – a feel-good novel of mistaken assumptions and misread intentions; of feelings hurt and forgiveness.



MY REVIEW

Rosalind seemed to have it all and is just about to get married when she is dumped at the altar. Her Friends and Family then watch as she spirals into a state of depression. She is a mess; she loses pride in her appearance and lets herself go.

One of her Friends then gets her involved in a business. It's an old bookshop and there's a real mixture of people working there. In fact the whole book has a great mix of characters. Ros makes good friends with all those working in the shop. The author makes it feel like they become a little "Family". I love the way the author is very descriptive with her characters as it brings them alive and I could picture each of their faces and believe all their quirky ways.

Then there's Daniel, who lives at the bottom of the garden. Ros meets him initially through an unfortunate "incident" with her guinea pig, and there the strange but awkward friendship begins, with Ros making a fool of herself on more than one occasion.

It really is a comical read. My favourite quote from the book is - "she thanked him with a smile and a look so intense that I wondered if she was attempting to convey the sat-nav co-ordinates of her bedroom telephathically".

I loved the way the author had intertwined the relationships of all the characters, giving it a small town feel where everyone knows everyone. It made it a comforting read and a book that will make you laugh out loud.

This book will certainly lighten any mood that you are in. I recommend it.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Jo Platt Blog
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