This is my least favourite book by the author among all the books that i read. It tell the story of Nat and Neil who initially thought have the perfect marriage but their marriage changed overnight when Neil going against his own word. He wanted to have a baby now.. their baby. Nat who is known to be very stern with her principal, is unrelented. She doesnt understand the reason for Neil's change of mind. Neil, who is frustrated with Nat's refusal, begin to visit to the stripper club and befriended a stripper, Cindy who have a daughter, Heidi whom Neil felt himself to be attached to. Meanwhile, Nat, who feel sad for Neil's change of heart, begin to call up all her exes, in order to convinced herself that Neil is her ONE.

I find the story plot getting weirder and weirder especially the part where Neil's involvement with the stripper while Nat's contacting her exes. Both of them have never sit down together to thrashed things out. They seems to be walking around each other throughout this book even when Nat confessed her adultery to Neil. As a reader, it was rather frustrating as the author did not really touch on the reason for Natalie's refusal to have a baby until almost at the end of the book. ( )

Nat is happy, married to her soul mate Neil in cozy domesticity, dedicated and well regarded in her career she is firmly in control of her life's direction. Then Neil drunkenly confesses his desire to start a family and Nat's perfect life begins to crumble under the pressure of an argument where no compromise is possible.Initially I was interested in the dynamics of Nat and Neil's relationship as it began to buckle under the strain of Neil's desire for children and Nat's determination never to be a mother. Nat's choice has both partners questioning their choices and their marriage. It's a thoughtful examination of a subject that is still taboo as they begin fighting and then ignoring each other, but unfortunately I felt that the situation quickly descended into farce as Nat begins meeting up with largely idiotic ex boyfriends, questioning her devotion to Neil and Neil becomes obsessed with a stripper and her toddler daughter.I felt the author tried to blend a chic lit plot with a women's fiction sensibility which results in an awkward mix. The story was either treated too seriously or not seriously enough depending on which label you want to apply. Both Nat's and Neils behaviour becomes increasingly inexplicable and frustrating and I lost respect for both characters. The conclusion set my teeth on edge, particularly with the stereotype it reinforces (which I can't reveal without a major spoiler), and sadly I was just relieved to have finished it.This is the only book I have read by this author and I liked the writing style enough to give her another shot probably, but for me Men I've Loved Before was ultimately a disappointing read after a promising start. ( )

I wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been a book club selection and it wouldn't have been a book club selection had she not publicised her links to Chiswick and her use of it in the book. Even though she's moved to Guildford.

What a load of tosh. I have read other chicklit which had more depth to it.

The idea that any woman who does not want children must have some deep rooted trauma that once exposed will make her want for children is insulting to women.

The characters are stereotypes, main female could be a cardboard cutout, couldn't empathise with her at all and certainly couldn't care less. The astounding ease with which she managed to track her previous boyfriends down, the way in which they were all happy to meet up (none of them moved away, none of them didn't want to know?), none of this was real.

Her husband was a lot more real but even so, could you not go to work for 6-8 weeks, get fired and not even notice? I do wonder where the money came from.

On the other hand of course chicklit is supposed to be escapist fantasy so does any of this matter? Yes, because the lack of depth spoilt what could have been an interesting exploration about the desires to have babies, or not.