Huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers & Zaffre Books for my spot on the blog tour for #TheCouple and for providing me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
SHORT SYNOPSIS:
The author of The Radio 2 Book Club Pick The Shelf returns with her brand new novel.
Millie is a perfectionist. She's happy, she's successful - and, with a great support network of friends and family (and a very grumpy cat) around her, she's never lonely. She has her dream job at a big tech firm and is on track to become the company's youngest ever Innovation Director. The last thing she needs is romance messing up her perfectly organised world.
Besides, normal people just don't have romantic relationships. Everyone knows that being in a couple is a bit . . . well, odd. Sure, everybody has that one coupled-up friend who messes up the numbers at dinner parties, but it's a bit eccentric. You know, like having a pet snake or living off the grid. Why rely on another person for your own happiness? Why risk the humiliation of unrequited love or the agony of a break-up when you can do everything yourself? No, Millie is perfectly happy with her conventional single life.
So when Millie lands a new project at work, launching a pill that stops you falling in love, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. That is, until she starts working with Ben. He's charming and funny, and Millie feels an instant connection with him. Is this the spark that science and society are trying to suppress?
MY REVIEW:
The Couple is my first experience of Acton's writing. Her style is easy to read and offers a different take on an incredibly captivating concept where it's 'in fashion' to be single and couples are frowned upon. It was very interesting to experience this concept, and it made me think about what would the world actually be like if this was our reality.
I honestly enjoyed how honest and relatable the main characters in the novel were, each had a relatable personality and a fear of relationship status. It made me chuckle and think at the same time!
I loved the message of this book - learn to love yourself and be happy with you and your life choices first before getting in a relationship! The humour and the fantastic characters make this book an absolutely wonderful summer read.
Funny, bold and morally challenging, The Couple is a light but a very interesting read with a big message. Overall, a happy ending always does it for me!
The Couple is out now, published by Zaffre Books. You can follow other reviews and wonderful bloggers on the #blogtour here:
