About Books #116: The Plus One Pact

You know that movie, The Wedding Date? It’s horribly cliché and so very, very nillies – but I unabashedly love it. The Plus One Pact? Basically the same kind of thing – only way, way better. (that’s right, I said it – I liked this book better than a movie I’ve seen about 8 times)

I was offered an ARC by Book Sirens in exchange for a review. All opinions are strictly my own.

The story

What if your plus one could be the one…?

Cara has officially run out of men. Her most recent dates have gone from bad to worse, and when her dating app informs her there is no one left in her area to choose from, she is at a dead end.

But with a summer of events ahead of her, she needs to find a solution, fast; someone to keep her company at the never-ending weddings, family gatherings and gender reveal parties that she can’t face going to alone.

So when she meets handsome, confident, Millsy on a night out she may be in luck. They could not be more different in personality, but he too has a summer of events ahead and is desperate to get his family off his back about finding a ‘nice girl’. What if they made a pact to help each other out and be a plus one for the summer? Just as friends of course…?

The opinion

C – characters A – atmosphere W – writing P – plot I – intrigue L – logic E – enjoyment	8 7 5 7 7 7 8
TOTAL SCORE	7

Leeds is one of those cities I’ve never really felt any need to go visit – which is weird, admittedly, as there’s hardly any part of the UK I haven’t felt the need to go and visit. After this book, though? I really want to. The descriptions from Cara’s apartment, to the night life, to the abbeys and surrounding villages? Portia MacIntosh basically makes it sound like the most attractive location ever.

What surprised me more, though, was that – while, as I said, the plot of this story is fairly obvious from the get-go? The author managed to hit me with a couple of surprises along the way. Like Cara’s brother’s feminism. Or Millsy’s insistance on “not the face”. A make-over that was actually really positive and respectful of who Cara really was. Or even which characters actually managed to get their feelings out there – and I’m not even just talking about Cara and Millsy for this one.

Writing-wise, and this is a hugely personal thing, I know, I’m not the biggest fan of a first person-, or a present-day narrative. Even with those (huge, in my case) strikes against it, though? The Plus One Pact got me from the first page, and I thoroughly enjoyed making (racing) my way through it in just one breezy Sunday night!

The rating: 3.5/5

It was really just a huge coincidence that I read this book on a weekend, but honestly? It kind of feels like the perfect book for that setting. Get a cocktail, a snack, a blanket – and just settle in for a fun and fluffy read that will leave you smiling and feeling infinitely better than you did beforehand! (Goodreads)

-Saar