Can you get to know someone in just 5 ‘play dates’?

Synopsis

New from the NUMBER ONE bestselling author of The Note. A must-read uplifting romance for fans of When Harry Met Sally and One Day!

When Jesse Lightning meets Minnie Byrne, he is having a bad day.

Reeling from the effects of a very bruised heart, the last thing Jesse wants is a new friend. But Minnie is hard to say no to, and reluctantly Jesse realises that her impetuous playfulness might do him good.

So when Minnie suggests they go on fortnightly platonic dates with no strings, no promises, no expectations beyond good company, Jesse agrees before he has a chance to think too deeply about it.

Two friends.

Five days.

No chance of another broken heart.

Until Jesse reveals a secret that proves Minnie’s heart isn’t as safe as she thought. Thank goodness five days isn’t enough time to fall in love…

Once you meet Jesse and Minnie you’ll never forget them. This is bestseller Zoë Folbigg at her absolute best with a story of friendship, love and taking chances. Perfect for fans of Cathy Kelly, Mike Gayle, JoJo Moyes and David Nicholls.

My review

Jesse Lightening is a bit flabbergasted when on one of his worst days, he is approached by Minnie Byrne. He doesn’t need a new friend, especially one as persistent as Minnie. But somehow he finds it impossible to resist Minnie’s proposal: going on platonic dates, just to get to know each other without researching each other or knowing each other’s last names.
Together they go on 5 ‘play dates’, with the ingenuity of children, just do what puts a smile on them.
Slowly Jesse realizes that Minnie is what he needed in his life, to make some dark cloud disappear. And it’s remarkable how easy their friendship grows stronger. But there is a secret that Jesse has that can jeopardize everything they have been building. Luckily there isn’t love at stake, as five days, or rather dates aren’t enough for such strong feelings, right?

When I started reading this book, I wasn’t that sure I would actually like it or believe it. Not that I doubted the author, because I have read several books of her.
But I found it hard to grasp the fact that two strangers could have the romantic kind of feelings after only five days.
Lust, falling in love, that is possible in five days, but actual love? Difficult to believe, or at least for me. And I thought that in the book it would be actual five days, like from Monday till Friday, with just occasionally seeing each other.

Luckily, I got it wrong, and the story took place over a longer period, and Jesse and Minnie meet five times, for a long time, almost spending greatest period of the day together. So in that aspect I could believe that there could be something great growing between the two.

Normally, I sympathize the most with the female main character. But while Minnie is obviously delightful, I felt that my heart went more out to Jesse and his story.

As an introvert, I cannot imagine something worse than a stranger approaching me, start conversation and almost ‘forcing’ a friendship. And when I have a bad day? Just leave me alone, will you??? 😊
Jesse has everything happening all at once, and my heart broke for him…
It’s obvious how losing his father has affected him, and how in a way he is still in denial. The loss hasn’t really resonated yet…
But to make things even worse, around the same time he discovered that his marriage is falling into pieces, as his wife has been and is still being unfaithful.

The last thing Jesse needs is a cheery woman, being positive about everything. And the more I saw the pair of them together, the more I realized that Minnie is exactly what Jesse needs. Because Minnie is light, cheerful, positive while Jesse is darker, more ‘depressed’ and for sure needs someone to show him the beauty and fun all around him.

With such a light attitude, I was surprised to read that Minnie has had her own struggles, and still is struggling with the break – up. She seems a strong character, yet her ex truly played her one, in a way breaking her.
I liked it to read that the author didn’t make a great deal about Minnie seeking help, because there is nothing wrong about having someone else showing you how to cope.

The friendship started perhaps (or rather, it just started that way 😊) randomly and a bit forced, but I found it wonderful to read how in their own way Minnie and Jesse are able to lift each other up. Their relationship as friends took off by accident, but I believe that in a way it was just meant to be.

Of course there has to be a second act in this story too. I have to admit, I didn’t find it that a terrible secret that Jesse kept from Minnie. But on the other hand, I could also understand Minnie a bit.

This was a sweet story, showing how random things can turn out to be the best thing that could happen.
But we also see how the struggles in life can affect you and put a damper on everything. Yet with meeting the right person, everything can be put into perspective, or make you see the beauty and easiness that are in life.