Reviewer: Samantha
I received a review copy
Summary:
An original, funny and poignant story about those things in life that you just can’t plan for…‘A very modern fairytale, full of Claudia’s trademark wit and humour’ Sheila O’Flanagan
Eloise Elliot is one of the youngest newspaper editors in the country. Respected and revered by her peers, she’s at the top of her game.
But, on the eve of her thirtieth birthday, finding herself surrounded by some pathetic looking balloons and mangy sandwiches in The Daily Post’s conference room, Eloise is hit but a long sharp pang of loneliness.
Suddenly, and with dazzling clarity, she realises what she wants to make her life more complete. A baby.
One successful trip to the sperm bank and almost three years later and she is the adoring mother of a gorgeous little girl, Lily. Juggling a high-powered job with motherhood is not easy and when she finds herself without childcare she sends an SOS to her sister Helen. Yet it’s when Lily starts asking about her ‘daddy’ that Eloise really starts to panic. What will she tell her?
So Eloise decides there’s nothing for it – she’s going to find Lily’s father. After all, she chose the perfect donor so surely there won’t be any surprises. Except that there are plenty, and Eloise gets a lot more than she bargained for.
Review:
I have read a few books by Claudia Carroll and enjoy her writing, so I was looking forward to reading A Very Accidental Love Story. While it was somewhat predictable, there were parts that were unpredictable to me and kept the storyline fresh, which I did appreciate. One big thing that stuck out to me is how… mature Lily seemed for not being able to get over the fact her father is a sperm donor and constantly bringing that up and talking in near full sentences for being such a young age. That part seemed questionable to me, but it didn’t totally hinder my reading experience. It was nice to see Eloise go through a journey of growth – who we meet in the beginning quickly changes upon having her daughter, and while some might think the turnaround is too extreme, I’ve seen it happen in real life, and don’t doubt having a child is a huge game-changer. Overall, I enjoyed this one!
4 stars
