Book review – From Notting Hill with Love … Actually by Ali McNamara
16 Nov
She was just a girl, standing in front of a boy … wishing he looked more like Hugh Grant. Scarlett loves the movies. But does she love sensible fiance David just as much? With a big white wedding on the horizon, Scarlett really should have decided by now … When she has the chance to house-sit in Notting Hill – the setting of one of her favourite movies – Scarlett jumps at the chance. But living life like a movie is trickier than it seems, especially when her new neighbour Sean is so irritating. And so irritatingly handsome, too. Scarlett soon finds herself starring in a romantic comedy of her very own: but who will end up as the leading man?
Before I say anything about the contents, I have to say how much I love the cover for this book. Not only is it very pretty (the snowflakes are all shiny!) but it sums the book up perfectly and is wonderfully eye catching with its red and black lettering. Definitely one of my favourite covers of the year so far! In keeping with the theme, the book itself is a bit like a DVD – it comes with extras at the back; a map and tour of Notting Hill, a movie quiz and some really fab facts on some classic chick flicks.
From Notting Hill with Love … Actually starts with lead character Scarlett arriving in Notting Hill. Her film obsession is apparent from the opening line as she compares herself to Julia Roberts. Scarlett’s movie moments start straight away with a brief encounter with a handsome (but grumpy) man in The Travel Bookshop from the Notting Hill movie. As she leaves the bookshop she literally bumps into fashion boutique owner, Oscar in the street, getting soaked with orange juice in the process. The first part of the story is told in flashback as the flamboyant Oscar rescues Scarlett and her shirt and plies her with tea and biscuits while she tells him how she came to be house sitting in Notting Hill. The flashback part of the story sets up the plot nicely and includes some very funny moments.
Scarlett confesses her love of films to Oscar and explains that her husband to be (David), Dad and best friend (Maddie) all think that she can’t live her life in the movies so have orchestrated the month long house sitting break to allow her some time to get her head together before her impending wedding. The book is written in the first person, from Scarlett’s perspective which gives the reader full access to all of her movie obsessed moments. Despite the frivolity of wanting to live her life like it is in the movies, there is a serious side to Scarlett. Her mother left when she was a baby and she hasn’t seen her since. She can see that her fiance loves her and that her Dad has her best interests at heart but she just can’t let go of the feeling that something is missing. I liked Scarlett as a character and found her very funny. Although I did find her a bit selfish at times, she realises her mistakes and moves on to become a better person – just like a good movie heroine should!
The plot steps up a gear with the introduction of Scarlett’s neighbour Sean, whose sister Ursula just happens to be best friends with Scarlett’s new pal Oscar. Oscar invites Sean and Scarlett to a dinner party where Scarlett confesses her aim to ”collect’ movie moments to prove to her family and friends that it is possible to live her dream. The story is packed full of anecdotes and references from classic films like An Affair to Remember and romantic comedies including my all time favourite – When Harry met Sally. As Scarlett spends more time with Sean and he begins to help her in her quest to find her Mum, she realises that her feelings for him might be more than just friendly! I thought the tension between Scarlett and Sean was fab and the relationship between the two felt very realistic. I loved the contrast between Sean and David too and Ali McNamara kept me guessing right to the end about who Scarlett would end up with.
Despite being packed full of scenes that are reminiscent of classic chick flick films, From Notting Hill with Love … Actually is very fresh and the movie moments are cleverly woven in without becoming cliched or annoying.The plot includes two fantastically out of this world weddings which I loved for their originality and I also enjoyed the sub-plot around Scarlett’s search for her Mum which added some more serious and heartbreaking moments to the story and even brought a tear to my eye in one part.
I have been known to judge a book by it’s cover and in this case my judgement was entirely right. From Notting Hill with Love … Actually encapsulates all the things I love about romantic comedies; lovable (and eccentric) supporting characters, a ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ plot line, laughter and tears and above all an amazingly romantic ending leaving me with a big smile on my face. This is a great debut from Ali McNamara and I’m very excited to read more from her in the future. My final thought it that someone really should turn From Notting Hill with Love … Actually into a film 
5/5
From Notting Hill with Love … Actually will be published on 25th November and I’d like to thank Hannah at Little, Brown Book Group for sending me a copy to review.
I have five copies of From Notting Hill with Love … Actually to give away! Full details can be found in the ‘giveaways’ section of the site or by clicking the link below:
From Notting Hill with Love … Actually Giveaway
You can find out more about Ali Mcnamara and From Notting Hill with Love … Actually on her website at: http://www.alimcnamara.co.uk/
This sounds like such a good book! I can’t wait for this one to be released! Great review
i just finished the book. I like it. Its fun and its a romantica comedy. Just like of of those “you’ve got mail” movies… hahaha
DO you think its gonna be adapted into a movie?
I LOVED THIS BOOK! it was so gripping and i couldnt put it down. i love how much i seemed to have in common with Scarlett when it came to loving movies and when cliches’ instantly came up i recognized them straight away. I loved it from beginning to end a DEFO recommended read. the tense bit in the hotel room was so GOOD and i loved the wardrobe and balcony situation! lol! it would make an awesome film!
I have just read From Notting Hill with Love… Actually. I do agree that the cover is beautiful and I fell in love with the title the moment I saw it. However, I didn’t think it was that great of a book. I applaud McNamara’s attempt to try and make it as original as possible but it was rather predictable and cliched. I didn’t understand the point of Scarlett meeting actor/actress such as Johnny Depp or Kate Winslet. Rose’s reasons for leaving Scarlett and Tom behind were very weak and unrealistic. However, that may be because I am not a mother and therefore have no personal experiences towards that matter. Many of the moments in the plot were too close to the movies that it was just annoying. For the most part, Scarlett is a very believable character, except for her obsessive movie addiction. The addiction itself was believable but the way it was portrayed was not. I also think that Rose’s existence should have just been an excuse for Scarlett and Sean to spend time together, which it initially was. However, I think that it would have been much more believable if it just ended their and that Scarlett should not have met her mother. Although, I did fall in love with the part where Scarlett opened all her birthday presents.
However, I did like the book. It was funny and as a click flick fan I loved how McNamara incorporated some of my favorite movies into it. I give it a 3/5