Emma Hughes

No Such Thing As Perfect

'I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud, I was rooting for Laura from the first page. Tender, funny, smart and brilliantly observed. The perfect blend of uplifting escapism and social satire, an utter page turner and such a clever, perceptive moving one. I LOVED it!' DAISY BUCHANAN No one's life is as perfect as it looks. Least of all Laura Morrison's. (Although she's not sure how perfect hanging onto your job by a thread and sleeping on an air mattress at your sister's looks, in all honesty.) When Laura gets the chance to trial Cupid - a high-tech new dating service which will draw on everything she's ever done online to find her perfect match - she figures it's got to be worth a try. She can't believe her luck when good-looking, kind considerate Adam turns up for their first date. On paper he's...well...perfect. But when Laura develops feelings for the person who led her to Adam in the first place, familiar doubt creeps in. Maybe for life to start falling into place, Laura has to learn to let go... Sharply-observed and laugh-out-loud funny, NO SUCH THING AS PERFECT is the perfect novel for anyone who has ever wondered if there's a formula for finding love. ____________________________ 'Brimming with wit and razor sharp observations' SOPHIE COUSENS, author of This Time Next Year 'Poignant, warm and very, very clever, this is perfect for anyone who thinks they're the only one without the answers. I felt vindicated and lifted after I'd read it!' LAURA JANE WILLIAMS 'I ADORED it! Fast, funny, relatable and super uplifting, with a genius premise and a loveable lead character I was hugely invested in. Every page had me hooked.' HELLY ACTON 'This is a smart thoughtful romcom with real heart and a deeply satisfying ending.' RED 'A fresh, funny, sexy tale of dating woes, family expectations, technological adventure, and loyal friendships, this book will make your world a brighter place' KATHERINE HEINY 'It is so funny (properly laugh-out-loud funny) and smart and full of characters I feel like I know' LAURA KAY 'Whip-smart on relationships, especially the trickiest of family dynamics, all so tenderly and charmingly drawn too' ABBIE GREAVES

Laura Mitchell Hutchinson

A cute story of self-discovery, friendship, family and dating. The dating app idea was very interesting (they profile you and find a match based on your internet search history) and Laura causes a fair bit of drama in the second half which was great. It was a lighthearted read, though I wish it had dived into some of those deeper themes (Laura's family of origin! Her toxic dating history of breaking up when things get too real. Mental health and her sisters' infertility, etc) It did take me a little while to get into as there were so many characters to try and keep track of and the plot didn't really get moving with gusto until the final quarter, but it was a sweet story nonetheless. The audiobook narrator did a fantastic job with all the different voices and accents. If you like complicated romances and family drama, you'll like this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook before its release date in exchange for an honest review.

Anika | @chaptersofmay

No Such Thing As Perfect is a bubbly and reflective story of self-discovery. But it reminds me more of a coming-of-age tale than a contemporary romance. It still fits in the brackets of women’s fiction, and is ideal for fans of films like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Bridget Jones's Diary.

Laura Morrison earns the opportunity to trial a new dating service named Cupid. It generates matches based on internet search history, and Laura, who feels unlucky in almost all aspects of life, jumps at the chance to find a happily ever after. 

Emma Hughes has a really effortless and undemanding writing style, which is evident in her likeable protagonist. The book is an easy read, and you are naturally drawn into empathising with Laura while experiencing the journey with her. There are times when her actions really frustrated me, but in the face of desperation her behaviours feel authentic. 

As easy as this book is to read, it failed to hold my attention from start to finish. The excitement was missing in quite a few places due to the sluggish, almost standstill pace. By the middle, I stopped looking forward to the end and it was a push to keep reading. Laura is well developed but the other characters feel one-sided. And I think if the romance played a bigger role this would be more of a memorable read. 

However, there are parts of this book that are vibrant, really made me chuckle, and provided a relatable escape. Overall, this is a great summer read!

No Such Thing As Perfect

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