Title: It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake
Author: Claire Christian
First published September 29, 2020
400 pages, ebook
ISBN: 9781488078323 (ISBN10: 1488078327)
Rating: 3.88
Overview
Get ready for a heartwarming and hilarious journey with It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake by CLAIRE CHRISTIAN. Noni is on a mission to live life to the fullest after her long-term relationship ended.
When she meets a charming firefighter, she’s excited to start dating again. However, Noni quickly realizes she’s searching for something more meaningful.
With the help of her adventurous spirit, Noni sets off on a quest to Europe to find her lost love, Molly. But along the way, she meets Beau, a handsome tattoo artist from Edinburgh.
Join Noni as she discovers that the journey is just as important as the destination in this quirky, feel-good romantic comedy. Preorder your copy today and get ready to fall in love with Noni’s story.
About the Author
Meet Claire Christian, a talented novelist and playwright based in Brisbane. She made a splash with her debut young adult novel BEAUTIFUL MESS when it won the 2016 Text Publishing Text Prize.
This gem of a book has since been translated into four languages and is available in five different countries. Claire is currently working on adapting BEAUTIFUL MESS to film.
Her success continued in 2019 when she secured a three-book deal with Text Publishing. The first book, It’s Been A Pleasure, Noni Blake, is a romantic comedy that promises to delight readers.
You can expect to see it in bookstores from October 2020.
Claire’s writing isn’t just limited to novels, she has also written a range of plays that are available to read. These include TALKING TO BRICK WALLS, LYSA AND THE FREEBORN DAMES, THE LANDMINE IS ME, and HEDONSIM’S SECOND ALBUM.
In 2017, she even had the privilege of directing Michelle Law’s acclaimed play, SINGLE ASIAN FEMALE.
When she’s not writing or directing, Claire loves to teach and facilitate workshops across multiple education and community sectors. Her focus is on helping teenagers to tell their own stories, and she has over fifteen years of experience in this area.
Claire is also a proud member of the theatre collective, THE MAMAS BOYS.
Editoral Review
Its Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake is a remarkable novel by Claire Christian, first published on September 29, 2020. This novel is Christians second book, following her award-winning debut novel, Beautiful Mess.
Its Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake is a contemporary novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. This novel is suitable for adult readers who enjoy books that deal with themes of self-acceptance and personal growth.
The novel is set in Brisbane, Australia, and centers around the life of Noni Blake. Noni is a women in her thirties, who has always lived her life by the book.
She decides to leave her long-term relationship and sets off on a journey of self-discovery. Noni discovers that she has been living her life on autopilot and wants to finally experience life on her terms.
Noni explores the world of casual sex, polyamory, and self-love. The novel is well-written, and Christian does an excellent job of making Nonis journey of self-discovery feel both personal and universal.
Christians style is simple and accessible, but she does not shy away from subjects that are typically taboo in everyday conversations. Christian uses sex to explore Nonis new-found freedom and power.
Still, it never feels gratuitous or vulgar because she approaches the topic with sensitivity and depth. The characters in Its Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake are richly drawn, and the pacing of the novel is excellent.
Each character, including the minor ones, has a distinct voice and back story, making the novel feel both realistic and complete. The conflicts in the novel are intriguing, but they never feel over-the-top or contrived.
They arise naturally from Nonis journey of self-discovery. One of the strengths of Its Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake is how it touches on contemporary issues while still feeling timeless.
Christian acknowledges the societal pressures and expectations placed on women. She explores sexual freedom, multiple romantic relationships, and the importance of self-preservation.
Christian makes a compelling argument for the importance of self-care, self-love, and the essential nature of connection in the world. One of the main flaws of Its Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake is that the ending feels slightly rushed.
Christian wraps up the story in a neat and tidy way. While it is satisfying, it feels a bit too convenient.
As a whole, Its Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake is a beautiful novel that takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery. This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy books that deal with themes of self-acceptance, personal growth, sexuality, and love.
I would highly recommend Its Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake to fans of books like The Hating Game by Sally Thorne or The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. Its Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake is an outstanding novel, and I would give it a four out of five stars.
