Jess by Pauline George

Jess has been badly hurt and emotionally drained by a previous relationship. Now she won’t allow anyone to get close to her. In fact, she’s adopted the rather cavalier attitude of ‘love them, don’t get involved, then leave them’.

Jess’s sister, Josie, issues her with a challenge to get to know a woman on a personal level before sleeping with her. Jess accepts the challenge. After all, it can’t be that hard, can it? Jess does have morals after all. Morals that she is going to find hard to keep in the face of Josie’s challenge.

When Jess meets Josie’s best friend Katie, she finds her life spiralling out of control. She is totally smitten with her. Now Jess is wondering if she can ever have a loving and lasting relationship. Will she ever be able to have the happy ever after she wants deep down? Or will she be destined to spending the rest of her life going from one woman to another? Unfortunately, even though Jess may be willing to give a relationship a try, Katie has too many personal issues that only she can resolve. Will Katie sort her life out and choose Jess? Or is Jess going to be alone forever?

Now and then I come across a debut author who shines through. Pauline George is one such author. She has written a wonderful story with believable and loveable characters. All well developed, multidimensional and easy to get to know. Jess and her group of friends are fun and down to earth. I lost myself in with them and completely lived the story with them. I couldn’t put this book down and read it in one sitting. So, allow plenty of time before you start it.

The story is set around Croydon, Surrey, England and goes over to Canada. There are a lot of Britishisms throughout, but they shouldn’t be too hard for overseas readers to follow. I think this is one of reasons I particularly enjoyed this book too, I could easily identify with the group of friends and the settings.

Getting back to the story, it is well written, told by Jess from her point of view and full of passion and hope. It did go backwards and forwards a bit and there was a bit of repetition, but nothing that pulled me out of the actual story. So, I’d still give this book top marks.

If Pauline George comes up with another book as good as this one, I’ll be first in line to buy it.