Favourite Book of February: The No-Show by Beth O’Leary

Like last month, I wanted to review my favourite book of the month that has passed, since it is now March. However, I have been a bit too enthusiastic in writing my review for Days at the Torunka Café right after finishing it, because now it turns out to be my favourite book of February. But, never fear, I have read many great books so I decided to review my second favourite book of February which was The No-Show by Beth O’Leary.

I have mentioned O’Leary’s books multiple times already on my blog, but that is because I truly enjoyed all of the books I have read by her so far. The storylines are original and her characters unique, displaying both depth and growth. The No-Show was no different, and it is also the first romance book I read that had a big plot twist in it.

When three different women get stood up by the same man on Valentine’s Day, you are not inclined to like this man. Siobhan has a breakfast date with Joseph, Miranda is waiting for her boyfriend Carter at a lunch place, and Jane needed a fake date to her colleague’s engagement party, for which she asked Joseph Carter. The story involves three very different women, whose only similarity is that they get stood up by the same man.

What I enjoyed so much about The No-Show, is that O’Leary creates a situation in which the readers cannot easily root for the male protagonist, but eventually warm up to him. It is hard to give my full thoughts on it without spoiling the book, but when going in to it, you know that it is a romance book. As I read about Joseph’s situation with all three women, I kept thinking: there has to be an explanation for this, right? All the while believing there was to way O’Leary could write her way out of this situation.

Like all of her books, the characters were well fleshed out, and I was rooting for everyone to get their happy ending. Siobhan is the first character we meet, and she is fierce, passionate and fiery, a real go-getter. Miranda is similar to her in that aspect, since they are both very strong characters. Her occupation as a tree surgeon made her really cool in my opinion, and I enjoyed the interactions with her co-workers. She has a softer side as well, which is something she shares with Jane who is a real sweetheart. She is kind and more introverted, set in her routines, but that is because she has some bagage from her past. Finding this out feels like a plot in itself, but it was also wonderful to see how the people around her cared for her and wanted her to get out of her shell. While they all go through an evolution, Joseph is the character who grows the most. While he comes across as chaotic, and sometimes deceitful, he is going through hardships of his own and in the end I found him a very likeable character.

The side characters added to the plot and showcased different types of relationships and what they can bring: love, friendship, family, colleagues, hardship, loss, forgiveness and growth. As a reader, you can see the compatibility Joseph has with each of these women, and at times I didn’t know who to root for. The plot makes it so that you don’t know what to think the entire time, and while it can seem like there is no good possible ending, it all works out.

If my review of the book intrigues you, don’t wait any longer to give it a chance, because it really is worth your time.