Genre: Women's Fiction
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: 11/5/13
Format: ARC
Pages: 432
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 4 stars
Dexter Yates loves his fun, care-free London life; he has money, looks and girlfriends galore. But everything changes overnight when his sister dies, leaving him in charge of her eight-month-old daughter Delphi. How is he ever going to cope?
Comic-strip artist Molly Hayes lives in the beautiful Cotswold village of Briarwood. When it comes to relationships, she has a history of choosing all the wrong men. Leaving the city behind, Dex moves to Briarwood - a much better place to work on his parenting skills - and he and Molly become neighbours. There's an undeniable connection between them. But if Dexter's going to adapt, he first has a lot to learn about Molly, about other people's secrets...and about himself.
Jill Mansell is an author who's been repeatedly recommended to me, particularly as I love British Women's Fiction. I was so excited to begin Don't Want to Miss a Thing. That excitement was immediately rewarded.
Don't Want to Miss a Thing was sweet, and sad, funny, and exceeding charming story of a circle of friends whose lives are all thrown into a much different path than they expected. For me, I found this to be a story of embracing the unexpected journey. If that doesn't convince you that DWtMaT is worth a read, let me add this: I was reminded of Maeve Binchy, one of my all-time favorite authors. I loved how many of her books included several points-of-view, centered around a place or time, such as Evening Class or Nights of Rain and Stars. Needless to say, this is a huge compliment to Jill Mansell.
Don't Want to Miss a Thing's characters/stories included: Dex, single and successful, who's life is completely altered by his sister's death, and the choice to raise his niece; Molly, Dex's new neighbor and new best friend, who's torn between wanting Dex and knowing he may hurt her; Molly's best friend Frankie, who's happy life may be a façad; and many more characters, Dex's friend Henry, Frankie's daughter Amber, the local barmaid, a former television star and her lost love, and believe it or not, more characters. Just reading this, it might seem like the book had way too much going on, but Mansell managed to create these very interesting and intersecting storylines, and maintained cohesion to tie all together.
Don't Want to Miss a Thing is a really good story in it's own right. But if you're looking for a story that will remind you of Binchy, I highly recommend it.
Favorite Quote:
Frankie's eyes stayed closed but she felt the beaming smile spread unstoppably across her face. Did that make her a shameless, loose-morale trollop?
It did?
Yay! ~ARC, pg. 306
Interview with Jill Mansell
You've written so many books. How do you continue to keep each book fresh?
JM: Ah, it does get trickier as the years go by! These days I have to actively seek out plot ideas I've not used before...or sometimes I'll start writing a storyline then realise fifty pages later that I used something similar twenty years ago. Of course, if I leave it in, someone will read those two books one after the other then accuse me of just writing the same old book every time!
Do you control your characters, or do they ever surprise you by taking over the story?
JM: I'm not much of a pre-planner so I kind of rely on my characters surprising me. Basically it's like trying desperately to think of an interesting present to buy your auntie for Christmas then suddenly getting a flash of inspiration and finding the most perfect gift just in time. And once you get your flash of inspiration it's impossible to ignore it - that's the way you have to go. With the characters, it can be brilliant but it can sometimes make the rest of the book tricky to complete!
Does Don't Want to Miss a Thing have an overall message? If so, what do you hope readers take away from the story?
JM: I write feel-good fiction. I trust in the innate goodness of people. Dex is a hedonist, terrified of the responsibility of stepping up to the plate and taking over the care of his niece, but he does it. Anything truly worthwhile is never going to be easy, but achieving it is going to make you feel better about yourself.
Can you recommend a recent book you've read?
JM: Wonder by RJ Palacio is one of my favourite books of all time. Ooh, and a brilliant one just out in the US is The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Try it - you'll LOVE it!
Is there a particular book or author who's inspired you?
JM: Every time I read and enjoy a book, that book's author inspires me. I'm always trying to improve my writing and create the best book yet. And every time I struggle to write more than two hundred words in a day I remind myself that Nora Roberts writes a squillion books a year. That both terrifies and inspires me!
Can you tell us about any current or future projects?
JM: Oh, I'll carry on writing to the best of my ability and hope that ONE DAY a wonderful movie producer will fall in love with my books and bring them to life on the big screen. That's my dream scenario. Fingers crossed...
Praise for Don’t Want to Miss a Thing
“A little bundle of joy changes everything in this quirky chick-lit tale... charmingly well charted.” —Publishers Weekly
“Utterly charming from the first page, Mansell’s engaging tale is as welcome and warming as a cup of tea on a rainy night.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars
Purchase Don't Want to Miss a Thing
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Giveaway
Two winners will receive a Jill Mansell Prize Pack, containing a copy of Don't Want to Miss a Thing & another of Mansell's books, courtesy of Sourcebook.
Open US/Can only, must be 18 years of age to enter.
To enter: Fill the form with your name/email address. For an extra entry, leave a comment. "Could you give up your lifestyle to take care of someone you love?"
Giveaway
Two winners will receive a Jill Mansell Prize Pack, containing a copy of Don't Want to Miss a Thing & another of Mansell's books, courtesy of Sourcebook.
Open US/Can only, must be 18 years of age to enter.
To enter: Fill the form with your name/email address. For an extra entry, leave a comment. "Could you give up your lifestyle to take care of someone you love?"
About the author
With over 7 million copies sold, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Mansell writes irresistible and funny romantic tales for women in the tradition of Marian Keyes and Sophie Kinsella. She worked for many years at a neurological hospital, and now writes full time. She lives with her partner and their children in Bristol, England. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter, or visit her website for more information: http://www.jillmansell.co.uk/.
