Book review: You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me by Sarra Manning

Sarra_manning_youdonthavetosayyoulovemeThis is Sarra Manning’s second adult novel after a succession of best-selling teen books. Perhaps the most autobiographical of her books, we follow the story of Neve, a bookish twenty-something, who has spent the last three years shedding over ten stone of weight.

Her driving force? The return of her one true love, William, who is currently in California teaching English Literature at a university. They were best friends at Oxford, and they exchange wordy airmail between the time before their reunion, each one making Neve’s heart skip a beat when she sees it waiting on the doormat.

But with her constant swooning over a man over 5,000 miles away, she’s forgotten the fact she’s never actually been in a relationship or had sex, as her sister Celia so helpfully points out. How can she be the perfect girlfriend for William, when she has no experience?

Cue Max, Celia’s editor at Skirt magazine, a charming womaniser who flirts his way into Neve’s life. Maybe he could make good practise?

We follow Neve as she continues to struggle with her body image as she looses weight, but fails to accept herself. Her long boring days at the literary archive with her B.O. immiting boss Mr Freemount and avoiding the wrath of her former bully and now sister-in-law Charlotte, who lives below her.

You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me, is a heart-warming and addictive story of Neve’s personal struggles written with witty prose and issues that all women can relate to.

We’ve all looked in the mirror and not liked what’s staring back at us. Most of us have had issues with our weight. Sarra Manning herself, went through a long and arduous journey to lose weight, much like Neve. This story comes from the heart and Neve is an honest and relatable character.

If you like books with passion, honesty and humour, this book, as well as Sarra Manning’s other novels, is a must-read.

The truth about speed-dating…

Couple at dinner - Photo by dannyman (Flickr)

Couple at dinner - Photo by dannyman (Flickr)

Apparently I’ve missed Singles Awareness Day – a day to celebrate being single, or rather wallow in the SADness of it…get it? Well anyway, for a recent radio package, I found myself singled out to try speed-dating. I am not a fan of public humiliation but truthfully, I wanted to find out what it was really like!

Speed-dating has its origins in formal matchmaking events organised by Aish HaTorah, a Jewish Orthodox organisation, in a bid to get young Jewish singletons to meet ‘the one’ and marry. More recently, the tradition has been made popular by TV shows like Sex and the City, Gilmore Girls and The Vicar of Dibley.

I have to be honest with you, my version of speed-dating was a mock up, but for all intents and purposes, it felt like the real thing. My colleagues had picked the men and I was expected to offer my funniest jokes and best lines in a bid to win their hearts. Embarrassing doesn’t come close to what I felt.

As the day drew closer, I looked up the top questions asked at speed-dating to get some tips. What I found was the cliched “Where do you see yourself in five years?” And “What’s the most romantic thing you’ve done on a date?” Cliche or not, it’s better than what I had, “If you were an animal in a jungle, what would you be?”

So, the moment of truth…how was the speed-dating? I’m not going to lie, I was a giggly wreck, if only to mask my embarrassment of the situation. And the men, well obviously I hadn’t expected Brad Pitt, but a girl can still hope for some eye candy, even if it’s research for a story, right?

No, I’m joking, they weren’t that bad and it was actually quite a laugh. Except the moment when one of the guys asked my jungle question to which I replied “A lion because they’re king of the jungle and I like to be in control, roarrrr”. It can’t have been that cringe-worthy though; when I asked the same guy what he was doing the following week, he said “Taking you out” with a cheeky wink.

So go on girls, give it a try. If only for the funny memories that you can tell your friends for years to come.

Listen to the Mode girls talk about speed-dating on our podcast here.