You Can't Fall in Love With Your Ex (Can You?) Paperback – 10 Sept. 2015

I loved this book - All of us have what-might-have beens in our life, romantic or career, and to have them seem possible again when your life seems settled is a great premise for a romance.Combine the thrill of rediscovering lost love with the consequences of that for real life gives you a great story, combined with sympathetic, human, flawed characters, some wonderful scenes describing the wonder and hard work of dance and ballet, plus genuinely funny descriptions of life and love and real emotional moments - well, you have a winner.

This is the type of book which is made to be read whilst reclining by the pool - plenty of action but easy to leave when you fancy a dip. Not too many characters so easy to remember names, and an unexpected twist at the end. She'd get 5 stars if she ever learnt another adjective. Easy to read, so recommended.

I'm a big fan of Sophie Ranald's books and this is my favourite to date. I really related to Laura - it's fair to say I have quite a bit in common with her (but alas not the ex-ballerina's perfect posture). I felt her dilemma her past came crashing into her present and she struggles to work out what she really wants - there were times in fact when I wondered whether the author had eavesdropped on conversations I've had with my husband.As well as Laura's extremely tempting ex Felix, there's a fantastic cast of supporting characters - including an awesome new best friend, and all-too-recognisable school gate cliques.I loved Laura's backstory which surprised me by not unfolding the way I was expecting. But my absolute favourite thing about the book was the description of the theatrical experiences Laura encounters. Oh, how I wish I could slip into that dream...

My friends recommended this book as a well written not-chick-lit book, so I had quite high hopes for it. The book is well researched, I was completely absorbed in the ballet sections and the immersive theatre parts.However, I found the "school gate mum" characters and dynamics to be really cliched. Nearly every book with mum characters has something similar and, to be honest, it would have been more interesting if the author hadn't relied on this trope. I also found myself disliking the main character by the end if the book. I also found the ending to be disappointing, with loose ends tied up unrealistically. I know this is fiction, but I found the end to be a step too far.Overall, I liked the writing style and the level of detail in some areas made this a really absorbing and affecting read. It was just a shame that other parts were disappointing.

Having read all of Sophie's books so far, I've been waiting for this latest one. It did not disappoint, in fact I think that it is her best so far. Sophie has managed to engage me with her characters in each of her books but for me Laura felt like the most real, her story is one that so many Mums could recognise, including myself. It is witty, real and in places heart wrenching. Thank you Sophie for such an entertaining read, can't wait for the next one.

After 'Groom with a view', which I found pleasant enough, but hardly compelling reading, I don't think I'd have ever tried another Sophie Ranald novel unless I got it for free on Kindle unlimited. Sadly I've now reached the stage where most of what's left that I haven't already read is trashy badly written porn, so I was actually quite pleased to find something by an author who at least has a talent for prose.I was very pleasantly surprised by this - The characters are believable - I particularly liked the flashbacks to the past when the heroine - now married with children - is an aspiring ballerina - that felt very authentic indeed, either Sophie has really done her research or she has some personal experience of the lifestyle. I liked the 'Midsummer Night's Dream' theme running through the novel and how the love tangles of the play are mirrored in the lives of the characters.Best of all this one actually has a plot and it all kept me nicely entertained. The ending was a bit flat for me, all the tangles resolve themselves a little bit too easily - but overall I would recommend it for anyone on Kindle Unlimited who is looking for something good actually given away for free!

I have read and enjoyed all of Sophie Ranald's books so far but this one I absolutely adored. This book takes you backwards and forwards through the main character's life now, as a wife and Mum, and in her early life as a dancer. I felt such an affinity with Laura - a character beautifully crafted and incredibly well-observed. Her thoughts, feelings and relationships - especially her desire to recapture something long ago lost - rang so true and were utterly absorbing. I laughed, cried and experienced a couple of heart in mouth moments. The moves between past and present in the book are seamless and well-judged so that the whole story flows and leaves you with a deep sense of understanding of why everything has happened.You won't regret reading this - I was sad when it was finished!

I could not put this book down. It is really good and I recommend it wholeheartedly!I enjoyed all the characters, they felt much more complete and well rounded than in previous novels and the story was great.The only thing I did not like was the emphasis on how little the main character eats. Anyone eating that little in real life would surely be an anorexic!?That is nitpicking though as the book is fab.Go buy. Go read. Go enjoy!

Adorei a personagem principal, uma mulher jovem, com defeitos e qualidades como qualquer pessoa. A estória é divertida, cativante e original. Recomendo à todas, de todas as idades!

Mir hat das Buch sehr gut gefallen und die Geschichte war sehr mitreißend. Ich werde die anderen Bücher auch lesen.

decisamente la cosa che mi è piaciuta di più di questo libro è che non segue il classico filone del marito rompiscatole da cui uno si deve liberare a tutti i costi, ma ci presenta due uomini ugualmente interessanti fra cui scegliere.poi la scrittrice non è eccezionale, la protagonista la si ama solo a tratti e ci sono dei vuoti strutturali da colmare, ma l'ho letto con piacere e mi basta

Really enjoyable. And it makes me even more disappointed that Punchdrunk finished their season before I got to London last year! The story follows Laura, a bored London housewife, who unexpectedly meets her ex-boyfriend Felix and is drawn to the glamour and romance that he offers. We also experience Laura and Felix's original relationship, and the circumstances that led to him leaving.

A good read for lovers of ballet. Liked the characters, too long to wait for. Some of the tie ins. Will another one of her books.