Why wait for the proposal?

Synopsis

Three women. One crazy hen weekend. A life-changing decision.

When three women meet on a mutual friend’s hen weekend on the Scottish island of Arran, they get more than they bargained for when one of them has the genius idea of proposing on 29 February, like the age-old Irish tradition.

High-flying businesswoman Anouska and boyfriend Zach are deliriously happy and madly in love. If only they had more time together. But now she’s pregnant and doesn’t know how to tell him since having kids hadn’t featured in their plans.

Dog walker Jess lives with her childhood sweetheart, but they’re already like an old married couple, without the romance, or the wedding, or the ring. When Mark doesn’t propose on New Year’s Eve, Jess is gutted and decides to take matters into her own hands.

Ellie and Scott still live apart after six years, and his lack of commitment is a sore point. She’s up for a huge promotion which involves moving country. It’s make-or-break time. She needs to know he’s worth turning down the job for.

The women meet weekly, helping each other with decisions big and small, becoming each other’s support system in the run-up to ‘the big ask’.

Will love conquer all or will their hopes and dreams come crashing down around them?

My review

Anoushka, Jess and Ellie meet at the hen weekend of a mutual friend. And even if they didn’t know each other before, there is an instant connection and the three women become friends. They are all in a relationship, and when the idea of a leap year proposal suddenly rises, all three start to think about proposing to their partners. But can it all be that straightforward? Because Anoushka is a successful businesswoman, flying all over the world. And her boyfriend Zach is building his own empire in the hospitality sector Being busy is an understatement, and they don’t always manage to spend a lot of time together. But now Anoushka is pregnant, and she doesn’t know how to tell Zach, as children were never part of their plans… Jess and Mark are childhood sweethearts and are living together for a while now. But it seems that the passion has gone over the years, and Jess feels that they have become an old married couple. Especially when on New Year’s Eve, Mark doesn’t propose as Jess expected, makes Jess wonder if perhaps she needs to take matter in own hands. Ellie meanwhile has been together with Scott for six years, but feels a lack of commitment from his side. Not only is there absolutely no talks about going to live together but also the prospect of Ellie’s promotion and a required move makes her wonder where her future may be. The run – up towards that last day of February, the three friends find the much needed support, encouragement and help with each other. But will they all have the finale they were hoping for?

I like it when women take matter in own hands, no matter what the occasion may be. And while it is tradition for the pan to propose to the woman, why cannot it be the other way around?

The story evolves around three women, Anoushka, Jess and Ellie. I loved it how these women are very different from each other, yet they connect very easily during a hen weekend.

It shows that sometimes you don’t need to know each other for many years to build a genuine friendship with someone.

As the three main characters are very different, it also gives them the perfect change of perspective. This new friendship gives each character the chance to see what is lacking in their relationship, or (and perhaps that is even better 😊) what the strength is.

I cannot say which character I liked the most in this book. I admired Anoushka’s strength and her ability to adapt to the big change in her life. But on the other hand I was a tiny bit angry with her, as she isn’t able to tell her partner Zach about her pregnancy. And we all know that procrastination, especially on something this important, is a bad idea.

Maybe with Jess I was the least sure about the idea of the leap proposal idea. Jess says it herself, she loves Mark, and they have been together for years. But is a proposal the best way to get the excitement back in your relationship? And perhaps with a new arrival I was worrying that things would take a turn for the worse, as it seems that there is an instant connection?

And then there is Ellie… For me, it felt like she was in the saddest relationship of them all. Because she wants to move forward with Scott, but it’s clear that he doesn’t feel the same. To make it even worse, at least in my eyes, was that Scott only agrees with going forward when he can gain something from it. Nope, not a fan of Scott at all here, and while I was in one way happy to see my suspicions getting right, it saddened me to see how it all evolves for Ellie…

While the story’s premise is about three women proposing their partners as it’s leap year, this story is so much more than just a way to pop the question. Because we see three different women, in three different relationships, at three different stages in not only their relationships but also in their lives. And they are all at a crossroad, doubting which direction they should go with their lives.

Yet beside the doubts and many questions crossing the main characters’ minds, the bond they have found with each other is what truly stands out. Because they find each other, they find real friends. Despite the short period they have known each other, they have found support, comfort and strength with each other.

And that is the force of this book, and the talent of Susan Buchanan, because she always finds something special with each character, with each storyline. This is a story about three normal people, with a special plan in their minds, but most important, they find special people to share everything with. And that is an invaluable something!

I absolutely loved reading this book, as it made me laugh, it made me sad and it even made me angry. But most important, it made me just feel happy with the outcome for each character!