Brand New Friend

Such an enjoyable book. I wasn't surprised that it was a fast, easy, fun book - most of this genre that I pick up are like that. But I was surprised that it left me with such a good feeling, and not that after-taste of annoyance and the feeling that the author made some stupid story-telling choices - like I usually do with chick-lit rom-coms. This may have been the most enjoyable story in this genre that I've read yet. Yes there were points that it became repetetive, and yes some of the conversations and name-dropping got a little boring for me, but that was so easy to forgive when the author delt with the characters so kindly, so honestly. Good story, good writer.
(That said, what I don't get is the cover. The friends in this book show more never once drink coffee! They go to the pub for beers. Coffee does not even make an appearance anywhere in the story. So if you're expecting Starbucks and literary or philisophical conversations, think again. But there is pleanty of beer, and talk of bands and films.) show less

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” Elbert Hubbard

In this novel the author explores friendship. Rob is having a long distance relationship with his girlfriend Ashley. When she gets fed up with the commute she gives him an ultimatum, move to Manchester and live with her or stay in London and lose her. Rob loves Ashley but finds the prospect of leaving London and his friends daunting but after much prevaricating he moves North. However, once in Manchester he struggles to make friends. He eventually meets someone who has a very similar outlook as him and someone who he likes to spend time with talking about all the inane things that friends talk about. The only problem is-she's a girl. Can men and women show more be 'just good friends' or will 'sex' always get in the way?

The author explores this question by regularly looking at the question from Rob's and Jo's (his female friend) perspective.

Thirty years ago I moved from Cornwall to Derbyshire to be with my now wife and can sympathise with Rob's predicament to a certain extent but whereas I initially went to work in a factory Rob works from home making it more awkward to meet people. Strangely I actually found it easier to make friends up North than it was down South and have not had any contact with my former friends for a number of years.

The book looks at the genuine difficulties people face when they move in with their partners and the obvious changes this will make with their relationships with their friends even if they stay locally. This book is generally an easy and at times amusing read, capable of being read in one sitting or put down and picked up as you like. The characters are realistic as is the discussions that Ashley and her friends about Rob's and Jo's burgeoning friendship rings true - they are all convinced that there must be a sexual element in their friendship and certainly made me wonder how I would react to it if my wife told out she was friends with a man just as our own relationship was in it's early days. However, at times I also found Rob infuriating and wanted to scream at him to man up, join a gym or a club of some form if he was so desperate to meet people. An interesting read which I liked but didn't love. show less

I've read a few of his now and enjoyed them all. 4.5 stars would suit this nicely. It's difficult to tell if he aims his writing at men or women because he captures both gender's personalities and behaviour so well.

Rob is having a tough time, he loves his girlfriend but the move to Manchester from London is a scary prospect. He eventually gives it a go but struggles with how to make friends. Had he not been working from home it might have been easier but without the office then it is that bit harder - although he could've always joined a local gym or something similar. He eventually meets the perfect mate to do all the things with that he was doing with Phil back in Manchester - but she's a girl. In steps Jo, everything he wants in a show more mate but can't really have because men and women can't just be friends, can they?

The novel dips in and out of Jo's and Rob's perspective so makes for regular changes during your reading. Is it possible for men and women to be 'just good friends' or does there always have to be an element of sexual attraction between them? Quite interesting as I've had a couple of male friends and when I moved away they didn't keep up the contact whereas a woman would have. Good exploration of social stereotypes and the gneuine difficulties people face when they move to be with their partners. It is very well-written and hugely entertaining, this novel is easy enough to read in one sitting. The characters are so realistic and the discussion between his girlfriend and her friends is very true - they are all convinced that Rob must be in love with Jo, otherwise why would he want to be friends with a girl? It made me wonder how I would react to it. I look forward to reading one or two more by Mike Gayle. show less

An interesting little book. Ian moves to Manchester, to be with his long term girlfriend Ashley. He leaves all of his friends behind. Now however, hes finding it very difficult to make friends as he works from home. He meets Jo, a woman at a party and subsequently 2 weeks later and they hit it off - as friends. But he doesn't tell his girlfriend that Jo is a woman and she thinks his new frend is Joe.
The book is about a friendship thats lovely but becomes slightly complicated. I enjoyed the aspects of Jo and Ian's friendship and how it develops. You get a feel for all of the characters and can imagine why there is some doubt about the friendship being just that. The ending was well wriiten too. 4 stars for me.

Another great Mike Gayle book. I love this kind of "male chick lit". It's chick lit where the chick is a guy :o)

It took me 2 days to read this one. I laughed, sometimes I almost cried. The caracters grab us, and at one point we are divided to how we really want the book to end... Rob was a nice guy, Ashley too perfect to be true, and Jo just the right girl. So, what happens here? You've to read it to find out... ;)

I think I'm becoming a fan of Mike Gayle. This is the third book I've read of his. Like his style. I was really interested in finding out, from a man's perspective, whether men and women can ever really be "just friends". I wasn't particularly fond of the first third of this novel. I found all the little details unimportant and boring really. Perhaps these things are more interesting to a man (it is written from a man's point of view after all). But things like old friends names, what they did for a living, and their interests etc may have served a purpose in one intance, but not multiple times. I quite liked the ending to this. I actually had a smile on my face as I finished it. A nice light-hearted read. Good to unwind with. Not much show more thinking involved. Can't wait to read another book from this author. show less

Excellent read, specially for someone who has lived in London and then has been forced to move away. Also a very frank look at a relationship between a man a woman at a stage where it can't be classified as a love affair. An interesting saga of ups and downs and twists and turns and over-the-time complexities in modern relationships.
Oh yes, it makes you laugh too