Skip to main content

Note To Boy - Sue Clark



Description
Eloise is an erratic, faded fashionista. Bradley is a glum but wily teenager. In need of help to write her racy 1960s memoirs, the former 'shock frock' fashion guru tolerates his common ways. Unable to remember his name, she calls him Boy. Desperate to escape a brutal home life, he puts up with her bossiness and confusing notes. Both guard secrets. How did she lose her fame and fortune? What is he scheming - beyond getting his hands on her bank card? And just what's hidden in that mysterious locked room?

I'm so thrilled to be on the Blog Tour for this book today.



Review

I liked the description of this novel, but it was when I read the author's bio that I knew I wanted to read it. Reading that she has written comedy for some of the greats, I knew this was going to be a funny book and I wasn't let down. There are some classic lines and right at the beginning Eloise is describing her previous "help" who couldn't even say essential words, such as "Gin and Tonic" - had me laughing out loud straightaway.

Once I got the characters voices in my head I cast Taron Egerton from the Kingsman in the role of Bradley - his grammar leaves a lot to be desired and Eloise tries to improve him in this respect.  Eloise is a sort of Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous, but if anything more outrageous and ditsy. 

Each chapter gives the heading of one of the characters and in the case of Eloise could be in the present day, which at times paints a sad and sorry picture or it could be her recollection of her colourful and  past life in the world of fashion. 

Meanwhile Bradley has his own issues with a prominent strawberry birthmark and a bully boy of a brother. I was routing for him to get on with Eloise and maybe improve his lot. Eloise employs him as her help and feigns not remembering his name and refers to him as "boy" leaving him notes - while she ponders why he hasn't yet brought her the requested "gypsy creams". Bradley has no idea what gypsy creams are, but does an admiral job of trying to track them down. There are quite a few 70s references so you might not get all of them if you're from a younger generation but for me it was perfect. She gets a little confused and at one point talks about Lionel Blair who used to live down the road - "you know he used to be PM!" 

This is a fab story of two unlikely people coming together to form a team who go on to take on some unscrupulous people in a funny yet at times sad and poignant landscape.

I'm giving this book five out of five stars. My thanks to Random Things Tours and Unbound digital for the ebook to review.


AUTHOR 


Sue Clark has grilled John Humphreys, quipped with Ronnie Corbett, danced with one James Bond and had a one-sided conversation with another, and penned funny lines for the likes of Lenny Henry, June Whitfield, Roy Hudd and David Jason. She's been a BBC radio and TV comedy scriptwriter on such shows such as Alas Smith and Jones, Weekending, The News Huddlines and The Jason Explanation, a copywriter, a PR, a journalist, a magazine editor, a writer of guidebooks, a secretary and was, briefly, paid to read books all day long for a film producer. And now she's written a novel. 

Twitter: @sueclarkauthor 

Facebook: SueClarkAuthor 

sueclarkauthor.com



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog and by providing their comment they have published their own personal details on this blog and also consented to our use of that personal information for that specific purpose.

Popular posts from this blog

No One Would Do What The Lamberts Have Done - Sophie Hannah

  Description The twistiest murder mystery you are ever likely to read? A story about a family that does the unthinkable in order to save the life of one of its beloved members? Both? Or something else altogether? You'll have to read until the very last word in order to find out… You think it will never happen to you: the ring of the bell, the policeman on the doorstep. What he says traps you in a nightmare that starts with the words, 'I'm afraid…' Sally Lambert is also afraid, and desperate enough to consider the unthinkable. Is it really, definitely, impossible to escape from this horror? Maybe not. There's always something you can do, right? Of course, no one would ever do this particular something – except the Lamberts, who might have to. No one has ever gone this far. Until Sally decides that the Lamberts will… 'An incident involving a dog in a small village escalates to an all-out conflict, turning neighbour against neighbour, and culminating in murder. Bu...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Dilemmas of Work Women - Fumio Yamamoto

  Description The classic Japanese bestseller published in English for the very first time -  a darkly funny and relatable book portraying the lives of five women 'Witty, wise and thought-provoking' Cecelia Ahern 'Crackles and pops with humour, empathy and intelligence' Lisa Owens, author of  Not Working 'So brilliantly written that I kept trying to memorise sentences in order to repeat them to people later' Roxy Dunn, author of  As Young as This Izumi  needs to get a job. Haruka  needs to stop talking about how she once had cancer. Katō  needs to get through a shift at the convenience store without being harassed. Mito  needs to break up with her boyfriend - or marry him. Sumie  just needs somewhere to live. In this classic Japanese bestseller, published in English twenty-five years after it took Japan by storm, the lives of five ordinary women are depicted with irresistible humour and searing emotional insight. Review A collection of short ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder - Louise Candlish

  Description A gripping new thriller from the author of  Our House,  packed full of stunning twists! ‘Louise Candlish has a gift for examining hotly topical issues with intelligence, wit, and a keen eye for observational detail.  A Neighbour’s Guide to Murder  is a smartly constructed psychological thriller with a wicked twist in the tale. Flawless!’  Lucy Clarke ‘A terrific story, witty, engaging and a total page-turner.’  Liz Nugent 'A whip-smart, razor-sharp domestic thriller… a fiendishly twisty plot. Gwen is my new obsession!'  Isabelle Broom ‘A brilliant mess-with-your-mind slow burn thriller. Louise is a master manipulator and this is not to be missed’  Nikki Smith 'Louise Candlish excels at issue-led plots. A clever “through the keyhole” take on neighbours.'  Jane Corry 'Meticulously plotted with twists and turns aplenty. It's a truly addictive read.'  Hannah Beckerman Her secrets will be the death of you. It’s rare for a r...
Post a Comment
Read more