YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME by SARRA MANNING

So I have had this book on my tbr since reading “Unsticky” by the same author. I finally got round to it and I have to say I really liked it. It was NOTHING like Unsticky (which is one of my fave’s this year so far) so in a way I was really disappointed in that!! However, seeing as I am not a real fan of chick lit, I’ve got to say this is the best book I’ve ever read in that genre. It was REAL, it was FUNNY, and I could RELATE!!!!

The story was so well written. I completely got the issues getting over what happened during childhood/teenage years/issues with body image and self-esteem…and the need to find that special one. This book is a journey of someone who wants to be noticed not only for who she is but for her perseverance and her journey of pulling herself out of the shadows to the light by learning to LOVE herself AND letting others LOVE her.

This story is about sweet, innocent, self-doubting and body conscious Neve. She is a very intelligent and focused girl. Neve has always had issues with food. She became extremely over weight and this marred her for years. She has been in love with William since University but unfortunately he moved to LA and has been gone for 3 years. When William left for LA, Neve decided that she was going to loose all the excess weight so that by the time William came back he would fall in love with her and find her irresistible.

After a couple of years Neve is almost at her target weight but a new problem crops up. Neve is completely inexperienced when it comes to men! Her sister Celia takes it upon herself to rectify this by taking her out on “pulling nights” trying to set her up with her work colleagues…this is where we meet Max (who is *sigh* completely YUMMY HOT!!)!!!! I LOVED Max…how could you not!!! Max works with Celia and is a serial flirt!!

Max and Neve are complete opposites, they are Night and Day!! It should never work….not even a “pancake relationship” LOL..loved the analogy so won’t spoil this one!! This is where I was absolutely HOOKED!!! The interaction between Neve and Max is HILARIOUS, SWEET, YUMMY, and HEART-WRENCHING!!! Ultimately they bring out the best in each other during their time together, however neither of them are perfect. Max is hiding a ton of issues behind his “male-slut” persona and Neve, well I don’t even know where to start with her. There were times where I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall and shout at her to stop putting herself down and enough of the weight obsessing already, but Rome wasn’t built in one day and neither is self-esteem!! That being said I was totally in tune with Max getting more and more annoyed and irritated with Neve!!

I really liked the other characters in the story too (except for William YUK!!)and the other running story lines only added to Neve and Max’s journey. One being the bullying tension between Neve and her sister-in-law Charlotte, this one kind of cemented why I felt sorry for Neve rather than jump to the easy option of hating Neve’s character for her obsessive self-doubts!!

I have a feeling this is a book you will either love or dislike depending on how you feel about Neve. I have no doubt that Max will win everyone over cause he is totally scrumptious…but Neve..well I’ll let you decide but I loved her!!!