Warm, witty and a pleasure to read.

From the blurb:

In this delicious romantic comedy, a young Englishwoman gets an unexpected proposal from a dashing American, but it’s not what you think

Sophie Apperly’s frustratingly dismissive family has never taken her seriously, but they do take advantage of her. So when an old friend offers her the chance of a lifetime, she decides to swap Little England for the Big Apple, and heads off to the land of opportunity.

From the moment Sophie arrives in Manhattan, she’s determined to enjoy every minute of her big adventure. And when fate throws her together with Matilda, a spirited grande dame of New York society who invites her to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, she willingly accepts. English-born Matilda is delighted with her new friend—though her grandson Luke, undeniably attractive but infuriatingly arrogant, is anything but welcoming.

When Luke arrives in England a few weeks later, Sophie hardly expects him to seek her out. But Matilda has hatched some complicated plans of her own—and so Luke has a proposal to make, but it hardly seems perfect.

This is a book to curl up with on a wintry day, or to slot in your handbag when you know you’ll have time to spare in the day, commuting or waiting in the doctor’s surgery – it’s easy to dip in and out of, and you feel keen to pick it back up after taking a break.

The characters are likeable and believeable – especially Sophie, with whom you empathise, and Matilda, who is just the kind of feisty, fun new friend any woman would be happy to have. Luke is a wonderful hero – imperfect, of course, and prone to negativity, but that just makes him real and makes the ending all the better. I did find myself a little impatient to meet Luke early on in the book; the author takes her time brining him into the plot. But the early chapters build a foundation for the character of Sophie and the tale to follow.

I enjoyed the story, and did not find it predictable. I especially liked a dramatic sequence towards the end in which Luke’s feelings become clear, and the kisses – wonderfully romantic.  The settings are also vivid and appealing; I liked the juxtaposition of American and British in terms of place and characterisation.

The writing style is fresh and light, and makes for easy reading, making this a quick-grab book that will lighten your mood in a jiffy. If you’ve read other Katie Fforde books, then this one won’t disappoint, being very much in her usual author voice and delivering all the elements that the genre encompasses.

If you like modern, sassy romance with strong, realistic characters and an edge of humour, this is a great choice of book.

A Perfect Proposal is available now from Amazon; click on the book cover below to visit the store.