#abigail mann

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[Free eBook] The Lonely Fajita by Abigail Mann [Award-Nominated Contemporary Comedy]

The Lonely Fajita by Abigail Mann is her standalone contempory comedy novel, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher HarperCollins' One More Chapter imprint.

This is the featured Free eBook of the Week in the iTunes UK store, and was the shortlisted runner-up for the 2019 Comedy Women in Print Prize.

The story is a feel-good tale of unexpected friendship across generations, set in London and starring a young woman experiencing a quarter-life crisis, who gets the chance to live rent-free for a time with a prickly pensioner, if she can impress her more than the previous twenty-two candidates…

Offered free in the UK (and possibly other selected regions worldwide), probably just through Monday August 30th, available at multiple retailers.

Currently free @ Amazon UK, Kobo UK, iTunes UK, & Google Play UK (change the country code in the URL or run a search in your local store to check if it may also be free in your region)

Description If you liked The Flatshare, you will LOVE this book…

It’s Elissa’s birthday, and she’s accidentally booked a cervical smear instead of a celebration… Great. The icing on the cake? Her boyfriend is kicking her out of their houseshare.

So when she’s offered the chance to live with a pensioner rent-free, Elissa knows she needs to impress Annie, who turned down the last twenty-two applicants. Somehow, even after Elissa goes on about ‘definitely not being an axe-murderer’, Annie chooses her.

And just like Elissa, prickly, sweary, big-hearted Annie could use a friend. Elissa may have nowhere else to go, but is she just where she needs to be?

A book you’ll want to share with all your friends. The perfect uplifting read for fans of Marian Keyes and Beth O’Leary – and if you love The Lonely Fajita, don’t miss Abigail’s next book The Sister Surprise!

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Review: The Sister Surprise by Abigail Mann

Last year, I read and adored Abigail Mann’s debut rom-com The Lonely Fajita, so I was delighted when the wonderful people at One More Chapter invited me to read her follow-up. I was involved in the cover reveal for this book months ago and I’m happy to say that the story inside is just as cute as its appearance.

When Ava finds out the results of an ancestry test live on social media and promptly vomits all over the studio, she takes it as a sign that she should probably get away from her life as a journalist in London for a while. Tasked with an assignment while there, she makes her way to the Scottish village of Kilroch to find Moira, the half sister that she has only just discovered exists. Staying on a farm that is in danger of financial ruin, Ava learns both the basics of rural living as well as some long buried secrets about the father she never knew.

Although at first glance, the communities of Dulwich in South London and Kilroch may seem worlds apart, there are some very strong similarities -primarily in the way that news and gossip travels fast. The people of Kilroch are very interested in Ava as soon as she arrives and this is very typical of small town life. In fact, I think the author depicted the atmosphere of a tiny, self-serving community perfectly. Once I was in Kilroch, it really did feel like I was a whole world away from anywhere else.

As a farm volunteer who knows absolutely nothing about the reality of farms, Ava has a few hilarious ordeals while running her first errands. The rather harried, patient Kian, who has inherited the farm from his ailing grandfather, talks about the animals as if they’re his children and this leads to some rather funny lines from him that Ava misunderstands at first. Their friendship is really wonderful to watch!

Ava is a very socially awkward, anxious protagonist and I’m pretty sure that means she’ll resonate with a lot of readers. Kilroch is blessed to be temporarily hosting an extremely handsome young minister named Ross, who takes a shine to Ava, much to the dismay of the other women in the village. I knew that as soon as Ava set her sights on the most sought-after man in the village for her love interest that I’d be in for some cringeworthy flirting and hilarious mishaps. When the chapter of their first date rolled around, my suspicions were confirmed!

Moira turns out to be an old family friend of Kian’s family and it transpires that she has been in love with Kian forever. She and Ava become fast friends a long time before Moira discovers the truth. I understood Ava’s reasons for holding it back for so long but I can’t pretend that I didn’t get hugely frustrated with her for not just coming out and saying it. Instead, Moira found out in the worst way possible.

Moira is a fantastic character who has big dreams but is afraid of leaving her mum and life in Kilroch. She is smart, sassy and apparently incredibly understanding because it doesn’t take her too long to forgive Ava for not telling her the truth sooner. I think this was the only part of the book where I wasn’t quite sure if this matched up with the probable reality. I would have liked to see Moira resist a little more to Ava’s attempts to apologise, therefore creating a bit of tension between them. But I am also happy enough to take this as a thoroughly light-hearted, joyous read!

Passages like this make me want to pack up my things and never go anywhere near a city again. The slow pace and tranquil atmosphere surrounding Kilroch makes it seem like some kind of pocket of serenity that is the perfect place to disappear. Knowing that there are places like this in the world causes the ending of the book to make so much sense to me.  

The Sister Surprise is a funny, cute story about discovering the roots and finding where you truly belong. There is also a romance element, so I guess it could be considered to be a rom-com. However, the focus is on Ava and Moira coming to terms with a truth they should have known long ago and realising that they don’t need to let the past hold them back. It’s a wonderful, smile-inducing novel that you can escape safely into.

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Review: The Lonely Fajita by Abigail Mann

There’s something about warmer weather that makes me wolf down rom-coms like there’s no tomorrow. I knew that this one would be a little bit different and something that I knew I definitely needed.

Elissa has managed to book a cervical smear on her birthday and that’s not even the worst of her problems. Her boyfriend Tom is about to jet off to Vegas on a stag do and she is penniless, thanks to her expenses-only internship as Social Media Manager at dating app Lovr. Her best friends Suki and Maggie are always busy living their best lives, so Elissa feels pretty dang lonely. Then she comes across ElderCare, a companionship scheme that pairs up lonely older people with those who need a cheap rent and a sense of purpose. Could this be the excitement Elissa is looking for?

It’s obvious that Elissa and Tom’s relationship is on the rocks right from the beginning, although Elissa doesn’t seem to know that. They’re the most uncoupley couple and the fact that she doesn’t seem to mind is another red flag. I settled in quite comfortable in the assumption that this story would be less about falling in love with someone else and more about a girl falling in love with herself and with life.

When Elissa meets 83-year-old Yorkshirewoman Annie, her life takes a turn for the much better. Annie is one of the best characters I’ve read in a long time and I’d love to meet her in real life. Her bluntly-delivered wisdom is exactly what Elissa needs and actually, it’s exactly what every struggling millennial needs. I’m constantly worrying about and questioning my ideas but Annie has inspired me to roll with them and do all I can to make them a success.

As is likely for many people who have reached their eighties, Annie has a few secrets that she is reluctant to talk about. Elissa slowly uncovers them and in turn, reveals a tragic story that will give you all of the feels. It’s sometimes easy to forget that older people once had lives outside of comfy slippers and game shows. Annie’s life has been full of self-sacrifice and heartbreak. Listening to her story gives her a vulnerability that goes beyond her physical fragility and taps into the woman she used to be and still is on the inside.

Amongst the sexism, hypocritical, toxic behaviours in her office, a string of awful dates in the name of getting ahead in said office and living pitiful pay cheque to pitiful pay cheque, Elissa learns that fitting in and following a predictable corporate life isn’t always the way to go. It’s only when she meets Annie and her neighbours that she finally learns what really matters in life and where her energy is best directed. 

The Lonely Fajita is a wonderfully uplifting novel focused on a mutually beneficial, unlikely friendship that will warm your heart. It’s about stepping outside of your comfort zone, letting go of past pain and finding true profound happiness. It’s also hilariously funny, inspiring and heartwarming. Perfect for fans of Three Things About Elsie and A Man Called Ove with plenty of contemporary millennial realness, it’s a stellar choice for a quick delightful summer read.

‘There’s no point counting yesterdays when we’ve got tomorrows.’

The Lonely Fajita by Abigail Mann is out now in eBook and will be published in paperback by One More Chapter, a digital-first imprint of HarperCollins, on 21st January 2021.