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Unexpected Lessons in Love

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Unexpected Lessons in Love

By: Lucy Dillon
Narrated by: Charlie Coletta
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The SUNDAY TIMES bestseller from the author of Where the Light Gets in and All I Ever Wanted

What happens when 'I do' turns into 'I don't know'?

Jeannie always wanted to fall in love, and now she's finally got the whirlwind romance she dreamed of. Dan's gorgeous, he's a successful young vet, and he flew her to New York and proposed on Brooklyn Bridge. Jeannie has to remind herself this is actually her life. It seems too perfect, too magical, to be real. Yet it is.

But now she's on her way to the wedding she can't shake off the tight sensation crushing her chest. Is it just nerves . . . or is this all happening a bit too fast?

Jeannie has one last chance to shout, 'Stop!' But just as she grabs it, a twist of fate throws everything she knows into the air like confetti. What Jeannie learns about Dan, about her own heart, and about the power of love itself, will change her world for ever . . .

'Real, heart-breaking - I loved it' Katie Fforde

'A heartwarming romantic comedy that tells us to be brave and to listen to our hearts' Veronica Henry

'My heart is smashed and repaired for reading this wonderfully romantic and strong piece of fiction.' Milly Johnson

'A heartwarming romantic comedy that tells us to be brave and to listen to our hearts.' Veronica Henry

'Brilliantly well-written and believable, this book is a real class act.' Fabulous

'An incredibly touching & insightful story' - Penny Parkes

© Lucy Dillon 2019 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

 Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Romance Women's Fiction

Critic Reviews

'Real, heartbreaking - I loved it'
'My heart is smashed and repaired for reading this wonderfully romantic and strong piece of fiction.'
A glorious tangle of cold feet and mixed messages, Unexpected Lessons in Love is a heartwarming romantic comedy that tells us to be brave and to listen to our hearts. Suffused with Lucy's trademark warmth and gentle humour (with a splendid canine supporting cast), it's sure to win your heart. Irresistible!
'Such a great ‘what would you do?’ book about love, truth, friendship and of course dogs. Kept me guessing all the way.'
A wonderful read
Praise for other titles by Lucy Dillon
Lucy Dillon's books never fail to make me happy.
Touching narrative . . . We loved it.
Where the Light Gets In is full of love, truth, art and dogs. I absolutely loved it.
Dillon has delivered another blinder . . . A bittersweet, moving examination of letting go and trusting one's own instincts in the face of self-doubt.
All stars
Most relevant
This is a well read romance but with earthy, gritty real aspects that lift it above a standard chick- lit story
The characters are very well written and the talented reader really brings the book to life
Very pleasant and satisfying audiobook

Sweet story with backbone

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What a spectacular story, so beautifully written with a poetic almost musical narration that did the writing justice. I love how characters from other Lucy Dillon books have been woven into this one. I do hope there’s another book taking over where this one left!

Brilliant story!

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The book is wonderful - like all of hers. But this narrator is truely dreadful. Scottish characters sound like they’re from Belfast, Yorkshire becomes Liverpool - and some words - such as secretary, become secatary. Really distracting to the story. Please don’t use her again

Dreadful narrator

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Not only was the story beautiful and engaging but the narrator was AMAZING!! I definitely want to hear more books read by her

4 stars

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really enjoyed the story, something a little different with characters that had hard decisions to make.

Lovely twist

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I've read two of Lucy Dillon's novels previously and enjoyed them; there are always dogs with fabulous personalities and this novel is no exception. This novel had mixed reviews but I thought it was worth a try. I'm not sorry I listened but overall, it seemed to draw me in but not quite deliver. I was immediately intrigued by the plot; not a standard romance trope. And yet... Jeannie's humanity was real, her desire to "do the right thing" a believable premise but after a promising start, the story felt as if it were plodding verbosely to a conclusion that could have been seen coming in Chapter 5. A few of the supporting characters drew me in, I liked that the author was approaching marriage from a slightly more complex perspective, the puppy farm rescue was endearing. I kept listening to see how the conclusion would be written and characterised despite knowing where it was going, but felt the last hour & a half drew too much together in a simplistic, almost trite way, like the stories we wrote as children that went on and on and then suddenly, in one page, wrapped up. I would concur with other comments regarding the narrator's inconsistency with accents.

Engaging but flawed

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This story is average, but Charlie Coletta does a fantastic job of the characters. Her accents were really good. I would buy an audio book just to hear her perform.

Charlie Coletta is fantastic.

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