Title: Love Me or Leave Me by Claudia Carroll
Published by: HarperCollins, Avon
RRP/Availability: Available in Paperback £7.99 and e-book £1.49 (available for download now!) from Amazon
Rating: 4/5
THE BLURB
‘Welcome to the Hope Street Hotel – where you check in married, and check out single.’
Chloe Townsend was dumped at the altar. But now she's landed an incredible job, running a brand new boutique hotel with a difference. It's a pioneering 'divorce hotel', designed to make every aspect of breaking-up pain free – all in a single weekend.
No one is better qualified than Chloe to deal with relationships at crisis point, but, with three unhappy couples needing her help, she's forced to tackle her own secret heartbreak. Can she hold it together and prove that she's up for the job?
The hotel's opening weekend brings troubles and surprises, and it soon becomes clear that some endings can be very exciting new beginnings...
MY OPINION
When I first began reading Love Me or Leave Me I nearly left the book. I found it hard to get into during the first three chapters as it was quickly switching characters perspectives rather quickly. However, by the start of chapter 4 I was intrigued - enough to carry on reading as I'd heard such good things about this book.
The book is held together by a central leading character; Chloe Townsend who after being jilted on her wedding day made an escape back to Ireland and once she'd 'pulled herself together' landed herself a job in a NEW hotel that was part of a leading chain. It was to be a hotel with a difference, it was a Divorce Hotel. Initially I wondered how this would work out, but can happy report that by the end of the book, it worked out perfectly.
When the hotel officially opens, it welcomes in couples for a long weekend of divorce proceedings; from counselling to agreeing financial settlements, the whole weekend is planned to perfection for the couples to ideally sweep in and out of the hotel... and their marriage. It's a hotel for couples who are amicably divorcing.
However when we meet the characters; Lucy & Andrew (Celeb & Banker), Jo & Dave (Businesswoman & Aspiring Actor), Dawn & Kirk (Innocent Girl & Bonkers New Age Hippy-Dippy), we realise that relationships, marriage, breakups, and divorce are never what they seem. As so beautifully put by the Hotel Tycoon Rob
"There is his story, her story and then somewhere in the middle lies the truth"
I loved how we saw both sides of the relationships, gaining perspective of feelings and thoughts along with intentions of both husband and wife as they worked through their pain and anguish.
Halfway through and I felt myself really connecting with and sympathising with the characters, especially Dawn (Us 'Dawn's have to stick together) and even tweeted about my utter shock at what her husband Kirk did to her... basically he cheated but not in the most obvious of ways. Chloe called Dawn her 'little pet' as she'd really warmed to her as she was only 25 years old (same age as me) and was facing divorce so early on in life. We really were all championing Dawn to happiness.
By the end of the weekend it's clear to see who will be divorcing at Hope Street Hotel, and who may have had a little Hope Street Magic sprinkled on them. Do they all get their very own happily ever after?
I really loved this book, and although I could go into more detail why I loved this book and the intricate details of the characters I don't do 'Spoiler reviews' so I can only urge you to go ahead, buy it, read it and experience your very own moments of what I call #PlotShocks
ABOUT CLAUDIA
Claudia Carroll is a number one bestselling author in Ireland and a top ten bestseller in the UK, selling over 300,000 copies of her paperbacks alone. She was born in Dublin where she still lives and where she has worked extensively both as a theatre and stage actress. She now writes full-time. Her 2013 novel ME AND YOU was shortlisted for the Bord Gais Popular Choice Irish Book Award.
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