Don’t Want To Miss A Thing by Jill Mansell

I’ve had Don’t Want To Miss A Thing (along with a hell of a lot more of Jill Mansell’s novels) on my book shelf for quite some time. I picked up this one when I was in the mood for a lighter read that was a little more predictable and lovey. I wasn’t disappointed.

Title: Don’t Want To Miss A Thing

Author: Jill Mansell

Genre: Chick-Lit, Romance, Contemporary

Publisher: Headline Review

Publication Date: 10th June 2013

Pages: 432

Summery : Dexter Yates loves his fun, care-free London life; he has money, looks and girlfriends galore. But everything changes overnight when his sister dies, leaving him in charge of her eight-month-old daughter Delphi. How is he ever going to cope?

Comic-strip artist Molly Hayes lives in the beautiful Cotswold village of Briarwood. When it comes to relationships, she has a history of choosing all the wrong men. Leaving the city behind, Dex moves to Briarwood – a much better place to work on his parenting skills – and he and Molly become neighbours. There’s an undeniable connection between them. But if Dexter’s going to adapt, he first has a lot to learn about Molly, about other people’s secrets…and about himself.

Don’t Want To Miss A Thing follows for the most part, Molly and Dex. Dex is a city lad who sleeps around a drinks a lot. That is until his sister dies unexpectedly and he’s left holding his 6 month old niece, Delphi. To start a new life for him and Delphi, Dex pitches up in a small village outside of London where your business is everyone’s business.

The one thing I really did love about this novel was the sense of community you had. I love novels that are based in small villages where everyone knows each other. They have a sense of family and love that other novels just don’t have. Admittedly, if I was to read them often they’d become dull and predictable, but it had been a while since my last so it was a very nice change.

However, on the opposing side to that I have to admit that there might have been a few too many characters within this novel. At least for me to keep up with. At the beginning you think it will be based upon Dex and Molly and their relationship blossoming. However we get the back stories to at least four other families or couples intertwined in the village. It quite frankly gets very confusing sometimes and overwhelming to read. If you’re good with names and remembering family set ups then this book is for you. If that doesn’t sound like you, stay far far away!

Another small thing that bothered me a little was the change in themes Don’t Want To Miss A Thing adopted. For example in one chapter there was a calm scene by a canal with two characters, and in the next there were sex, drugs and rock and roll. It was all a little confusing and at some points just didn’t seem to fit together that well. As I read the final page it felt like I’d just read ten different books in one go.

Jill Mansell will always be one of the queens of chick-lit for me. Her novels are pure guilty pleasure for the days when you really do just want to cuddle up with a cheesy novel. However Don’t Want To Miss A Thing just wasn’t her best. It was slightly frustrating and confusing with some very cute and funny moments intertwined. If you enjoy books that are perfectly wrapped up at the end with the intricate story-lines, this book is definitely for you. If you’re not looking for a light hearted novel, keep your distance.