Book Review: Take A Look At Me Now By Miranda Dickinson

Name: Take A Look At Me Now
Author: Miranda Dickinson
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: 24th October 2013

Summary: How far would you go to make a new start? When Nell's on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, the last thing she expects is to lose her job. Heartbroken and unemployed, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to San Francisco. But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind.

Review: Prior to reading Take A Look At Me Now I had read and enjoyed It Started With A Kiss as well as a few short stories by Miranda. I also have When I Fall In Love and Fairytale Of New York ready and waiting for my crimbo treats to start. I missed a few out last year so I am hoping to start indulging on crimbo fiction from November 1st this year and these are already on the top of my to be read pile.

WOW WOW WOW! It was a true honour to be a part of #TeamNell. This book should come with a number of health warnings and if you are not instantly ravenous then what is wrong with you. I want to thank Miranda for bringing me and Kirsty together as part of Team Nell and I am thankful to Kirsty for finishing this awesome read first so she could warn me that chocolate and wine are needed to fill the void and to get through the surreal twists. I instantly fell in love with Nell and Vicky and I want to read it all over again. There is at least one of my close friends who will receive a copy of this book and I know she'll inhale it just like I did.

Miranda has taken a real and rather not nice subject in redundancy and she has created a positive story from such a real and unkind thing to go through. Nell Sullivan has so many expectations when she walks into Aidan Matthews office and what happens is not what she expected at all. I love that Nell took her life and said I will make a choice, and the choice she made was brave and some people would say irresponsible. Hey, she took on life with both hands and the emotional rollercoaster she endures is well worth the ride. Nell knew she wanted to enjoy life and get to know herself again when she went to stay with her cousin Lizzie, but she couldn't have predicted how much would change. It just proves that if you make the right changes life can really change for the better.

The characters Miranda has created are all loveable in their own way but I have to mention the adorable Max Rossi. Who would've thought a few spilt coffee's would bring a handsome stranger into your life. That sure as hell didn't happen to me on Pier 39, I feel like I need a refund lol. I won't spoil anything but there is much more to the eye with Mr Rossi. There were a number of times when I wanted to scream which would have got me some weird stares on the commute to work. I also got increasingly frustrated which made me unsure whether to keep reading but I'd want to know. This story will stay with you long after the very last page. I also feel that I need to watch a few of the San Fran based films that I haven't seen. Just because Miranda mentions them at the end of the book.
Both myself and Kirsty believe this book NEEDS to be a film although be warned wine, chocolate and tissues are needed oh and a good friend. This book needs to be shared....:) I really hope this is just the beginning of Nell as I would love to read more about her....a character that will never fade.