I started five (yes, five!) books as soon as I’d unpacked my suitcase on my recent holiday and couldn’t get into any of them. I’d been looking forward to working my way through some of the books on my Kindle and was beginning to fret that there wasn’t anything I could get into… then I remembered I’d bought BIG SEXY LOVE!

I spent the entire first day of my trip consuming Kirsty Greenwood’s entertaining novel – this probably isn’t the best way to begin a holiday with your husband, but I couldn’t tear myself away from Olive Brewster’s story. Olive is happy content with her safe life, she likes the comfort of working at the same fishmonger where she’s been employed for the past nine years, chatting to the regulars and then returning home to follow her usual routine. She also feels safe sharing a house with her brother, although isn’t so keen on sharing with his annoying girlfriend, Donna. Heartbreakingly, her best friend, Birdie is dying. Birdie is everything Olive isn’t, she’s brave, edgy and has always lived life to the full, but she has one regret. She also has a final wish that she’s asked Olive to fulfill for her… in New York, taking Olive completely out of her comfort zone. But how can she say no?

Olive hasn’t been on a plane before, so to travel to another continent alone is utterly terrifying. Olive’s troubles begin before she boards the plane to New York with an annoying queue jumper. An off-the-cuff fib that she tells the stewardess sets in motion chaos that spirals throughout her trip. I don’t want to give anything away, because it was so much fun reading about her adventures, but I loved the brilliant characters in this book, especially the hero. Sighs longingly. I also loved the quirky, eccentric socialite and wannabe hairdresser, Anders.

What happens to Olive while she’s in New York is hilarious – the scene in the park had me howling with laughter! But this book also has a serious side that made me cry. I loved Olive’s loyalty to her friend and her steely determination, despite unexpected setbacks and her own fears, to carry out Birdie’s wishes. This book would make a perfect romcom film with someone like Emma Stone playing Olive.

This book is funny (brilliantly so), sad (I shed a few tears) and gorgeously romantic (I have a huge crush on the hero). I loved Olive Brewster’s story and missed her terribly when the book ended.

I keep recommending BIG SEXY LOVE to anyone who’ll listen, because it’s utterly brilliant!