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It’s 8:03pm, and I’ve just finished reading The No-Show by Beth O’Leary. I am sitting here trying to process how to even write a review for a book like this, without spoiling what makes it phenomenal.
People did tell me there was a twist, and I spent most of the book trying to predict what it was, but I did not see it coming. What. a. ride.
Let me back up a moment before we dive in. The No-Show is the latest from Beth O’Leary, who has become one of my favorite authors for her knack for compelling romances with well-rounded characters. Here’s the synopsis:
Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth.
These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: they’ve all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up — Valentine’s Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they’ve all been stood up by the same man.
Once they’ve each forgiven him for standing them up, they are all in serious danger of falling in love with a man who may have not just one or two but three women on the go….
Is there more to him than meets the eye? Where was he on Valentine’s Day? And will they each untangle the truth before they all get their hearts broken?
— Bookshop.org synopsis
What I Liked
All three women are distinct, whole people who get to grow and change and overcome challenges that aren’t all centered on the mysterious Joseph Carter and his Valentine’s Day disappearance. Even though they’re incredibly different, I loved all of these women and found myself rooting for them.
The multiple POV storytelling really works here with a close third person look into all three of these women and their relationships with the same man.
The aforementioned twist is just so brilliantly done. I won’t say anything more because I think it really does need to come as a surprise to pay off as it did for me.
What I Didn’t Like
Obviously this review is quite fresh off the tails of finishing the book, so I’m still mulling over how I will ultimately feel about it. I do wonder whether, upon reflection, I’ll feel a bit like the twist is too much trickery on O’Leary’s part.
But I don’t think so. I think it’s a really well told story with a lot of complicated characters who are all treated fairly. So, for now, there’s not much I didn’t like, and we’ll see how I feel in the morning.
In all, I can’t believe I’ve been putting off reading this book for so long. It was a wild ride and I absolutely tore through it after a certain point in the story.
I recommend this book for fans of a well-woven plot with compelling characters and a little bit of a mystery to pull you through.
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Your Book Friend 
I have seen many reviews where the readers felt “tricked”. I thought it was brilliant, and what an emotional impact it had. In the “after”, I looked back on earlier events in the book, and they made more sense. This was absolutely NOT what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but I loved it. All about the feels for me, and I felt a lot from this one.
Yes, I agree. It really plays upon our assumptions in a smart way and really delivers an emotional punch that would’ve been hard to achieve otherwise.
I’m so glad you. enjoyed it! It’s one of my favorites from this year. I thought the twist was very clever, and I liked that it was a bit different from other romances.
Yes, I think it will end up being one of my favorites, as well. Beth O’Leary is such a talented writer who manages to weave complicated issues into her romances.