Ghosts

If you can skim through the sometimes overly long monologues of personal reflection, this is a poignant read about love and lose, and showing up for your relationships

I hadn't read a single book in lockdown (2020) despite averaging 1-2 books a week in normal times. So when I was reminded I had preordered 'Ghosts' many months previous (love Dolly Alderton from the High Low podcast) I had a looming sense of sadness it would sit on the shelf gathering dust like the rest of my unread books. When it arrived on publication day I absent mindedly read a few pages of the prologue. 2am and I had devoured the whole thing! Unputdownable!I really liked the main character, Nina, for her strength and humour, and the subject matter is surely one close to a lot of the hearts of us singles. The descriptions of vapid and cruel nature of online dating were painfully true, though I think there are regional variations (i.e. if you're not a Londoner). It was so relatable I just had to read one more chapter until there weren't any left! I had to see how it played out between Nina and Max, though if you've ever spent any length of time in that world.. you probably know. I'm glad the author gave the protagonist some sort of cathersis, even if it wasn't directed towards the source of her own pain. I also liked the subplot with Nina's noisy downstairs neighbour, Angelo, which really did keep me guessing (hint: it is NOT Emily in Paris!).An engaging and addictive tale about a sadly increasingly common phenomenon in modern dating, glued together with the signature friendships where the authors heart really shines through. Thanks Dolly for reminding me of my love of reading!

Let me start off by saying I LOVED Dolly’s first book. Loved it. Love her podcast.But this was such a disappointment! It is relatable, as was her first book, but that’s about as far as it goes. The writing style is terrible, with elaborate, gimmicky metaphors that don’t make sense or fit - almost as if Dolly thought of them and wrote them down thinking ‘ooh I’ll put that in later’ but they just don’t work; thus a bit indulgent. The characters were uninventive and a the plot never really thickened. I got to the end of the book and felt flat - not hungry for more, but not satisfied either. It’s not bad for a debut novel but could definitely do with some work. However, praise to Dolly for her honesty and relatability of the modern day millennial woman.

Couldn’t put Dolly’s first book down. However, this one is painful to read. I just don’t understand all the amazing reviews. It’s rehashed stuff and not well written. It’s sad, as I bet loads of unpublished authors have written some amazing books, this seems to have got a deal on the back of the first book. I probably won’t bother finishing it.

I wanted to love this book...I adored EIKAL (her previous book) and I really enjoy her wit and opinions on the High-Low and on twitter.However, I was left feeling disappointed after reading this.The main character just isn't likeable! She's judgemental and seemingly dismissive of other characters who've made different life choices/aren't dealing with things as she thinks they should. ( For reference I, like the main character am a child-less women in my 30's)The storyline is also clunky and predictable.I would like to see Dolly step out of her comfort zone and have a protagonist who isn't a single women in her 30's living in North London.

After reading this I can still confidently say I love Dolly Alderton and her writing.Nina is a 32 year old newly established food writer, after giving up her career as a teacher to take the plunge and go into writing full time. After her consistently single friend Lola persuades her to have a go at dating, she meets the mysterious and handsome Max on the dating app Lynx and falls head over heels. While her new relationship is blossoming, Nina comes to the realisation of how she and those around her are getting older. Most of her friends now have children and live in houses outside of London whilst she has just brought her first tiny flat in Central London that needs a lot of work. What she finds hardest about getting older though, is the fact that her Dad has dementia and his memory is sadly getting worse and she feels like her Mum is slightly in denial about it. We join Nina through the "weirdest year of her life" and how she deals with the different relationships around her.Within the first few pages I was hooked, I don't know what it is about Dolly Alderton's writing, but it just makes for effortless reading. I feel like I resonate with every word on the pages and with the experiences and challenges Nina faces. I like reading about modern day, contemporary references as I can relate so much. The term ghosting is something I am familiar with and something which has happened to me before so it really got me in the feels, I was almost shouting at the pages " Nina, I feel you girl!"Honestly, when people say they laugh out loud at books, I don't usually get it, I feel like its a bit like when I text someone lol whilst I'm doing anything but laughing out loud. But - within a couple of pages I was already laughing out loud and that is rare! (I'm not miserable I promise)This was book was so perfect, I devoured it in a couple of sittings. There is only one reason I couldn't give it a full 5 out of 5 and that is because of something that happens near the end (NO SPOILERS) which I just didn't understand and was a bit like "Reeaally? Why Nina? WHY?! ". Aside from that I loved it and will be recommending it.It is safe to say Dolly Alderton has established herself as one of my favourite authors and anything she writes will find its way to my tbr list as soon as it is announced.P.S. I want to be best friends with Lola.