Working It Out by Nicola May

I have just finished Working It Out by Nicola May. When this book arrived on my doorstep I had already started another book but it was hard not to just pick this one up and start reading I felt like the book was winking at me from the shelf! The cover of this book is very eyecatching, I was surprised to find out that Nicola May is self published as the quality of the book is as good if not better than some of the books which are in the paperback chart at the moment.

Plot

After an unexpected redundancy, Ruby begins to question her priorities. Inspired by a quote from Kahil Gibran about loving your work, she launches her mission to find the ideal job.

Her year of gainful ( and sometimes painful!) employment includes nannying for clients in the south of France; dealing with embarising ailments in a Harley Street Clinic; waiting tables in a buzzy Soho Cafe; and meeting celebsof years gone byin a home for retired actors. And even though love is no longer top of her list, relationships just seem to start happening along the way which sees her handing out some P45’s of her own!

But will any of the jobs, or men she meets, see her dreams come true? Or will Ruby just end up back where she started?

My Opinion.

I loved the whole concept of this novel. Who would know the idea of the 12 different jobs in 12 months could be such an entertaining read. Our heroine in this book is Ruby and she is such an easy character to connect with I think we all wish we had a friend like Ruby and I think there is a little part of Ruby or at least Ruby’s ideas, in each of us. Although the storyline is entertaining it truly is Rubys character that makes the book such a humorous read.

This book starts off at a quick pace and has us wrapped up in the storyline from the beginning. The story continues at an easy pace all the way through with no dull moments, I found the book had my full attention the whole way through and this is because there was always so much going on. Each job that Ruby takes on is completely different, some jobs we get to read more about her experiences than others but I feel each of the jobs are not over done as there is only so much that can happen in each job without the risk of the reader losing interest.

What I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was the humour. The humour was very much day to day humour so didn’t feel false and there were points in the story where I did laugh out loud. I do love a book that can make me laugh and this book had me in stitches in some parts.

Nicola is very clever in her style of writing because although most of the storyline is hilarious, she also manages to weave in more emotional parts in this book but she does this in such a way that it doesn’t dampen the storyline.

I loved the character of Ruby but another character I enjoyed was her brother Sam. Sam is blind and I think this is the first book I have read where a blind person appears so much in a book and he was such a great character, he also seems to have Rubys sense of humour, he just seems so determined to make the most of his life and I would say he has more of a social life than I do! I found with both of these characters they were so life like I had to keep reminding myself that this is fiction these characters are not real!

My one personal negative about this book is Ruby’s taste in men!! This girl is not fussy when it comes to men and boy there is a wide range of male totty in this book each completely different to the next it was like a bag of pick n mix!! 

Nicola gives a great ending to the book which wrapped  it up nicely which is the icing on the cake to this hilarious, entertaining read. I look forward to reading more books by Nicola May if this book is anything to go by.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough it is one of my top reads for 2011. A gripping storyline with likeable characters and a splash of humour what more can you want in a book?

Nicola May is a self published Author. She has two previous books Better Together and Star Fish. More information can be found on her website www.nicolamay.com .

If you live in the Reading area then there is a great chance for you to meet Nicola and to pick up your signed copy of Working It Out this Saturday at Waterstones in Oracle Centre at 10.00am so Pop on down!!