Come Together - Softcover

Lloyd, Josie; Rees, Emlyn

3.59

2,789 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 009940611X ISBN 13: 9780099406112

Publisher: Random House UK, 1999

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Told in "he-said, she-said" alternating chapters, this People magazine "Beach Book of the Week" takes you into the London singles scene, where a woman looking for the love of her life meets up with a man looking for the love of tonight-and sparks fly in more ways than one.

"Entertaining, funny, genuine and sweet."-Newsday

"A hybrid of (Helen) Fielding and (Nick) Hornby."-St. Petersburg Times

"Page-turning fun."-People

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

He says: "A one-night stand. No complications. Just another chalk mark on the board. A bit of harmless fun." She says: "You have no idea how much I hate being on my own."

They are Jack and Amy, two twentysomething singles living in London, and the central characters in Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees's joint effort, Come Together. Jack is an artist who scrapes out a living by day working part-time in a gallery and prowls the bars by night looking to "pull." Amy is a temp with dreams of becoming a fashion designer. When the two meet at a party, they spend the whole night talking; both enjoy the conversation, but while Amy starts thinking that Jack "could well be my perfect man," his thoughts run along more basic lines--he wants to see her again because "I haven't had sex for over a week and you haven't had sex for over six months. Because, Amy, we therefore have a mutual need. And, yeah, because I fancy you, too."

That last sentiment is important. Though Jack starts out trying to seduce Amy into a casual fling, he ends up falling for her hard. There's only one problem: the little matter of the nude portrait he's doing of Sally McCullen, a drop-dead gorgeous blonde and former obsession. Told in alternating he said-she said chapters, Come Together is fairly predictable plot-wise, but the prose is effortlessly comical, the characters endearing, and the details of dating in the '90s hilariously spot-on. An added frisson of enjoyment comes from the fact that Lloyd and Rees became a couple themselves in the course of writing this novel. --Alix Wilber

From the Inside Flap:

Original, perceptive and very funny, Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees collaboration is the first romantic comedy to be told from both the mans and the woman's perspective -- in alternate chapters. Jack Rossiter,  a single guy who'd rather run a marathon than have a relationship, meets Amy Crosbie, a beautiful and earnest woman who is looking for The Man.   Its a disaster from the start.  Jacks vaguely interested, but then Amy tells him that she was really interested in his best friend.  She tells him this after sleeping with him. Then he doesn't call and she wonders why.

But for some reason, Jack eventually does call Amy.  And they go on a date.  And another one.  They like each other.  They acknowledge they like each other.  Amy begins to think that she may have finally found her man, but she may be very wrong.

As the two voices reveal their story, which involves dates, drink, shouting matches, misunderstandings, a romantic weekend get-away, best friends, true love and undisguised lust, we experience a true modern romance through this unlikely couples amazing affair.

Come Together is the story that proves that love is still possible even for the most improbable people.

Meet Jack. . .
Jack Rossiter.  I'm twenty-seven years old, single, and live with my best mate, Matt.  Matt and I started hanging out when we were eight.  Life was simpler then.  Our idea of fashion was polyester.  I told him that I wanted to be a spy and he asked me who Id marry.  I imagined falling in love with a girl so perfect I couldn't even guess her name.  Things have changed since then.  I did fall in love for a while but it didn't work out.  And single is good, single is fun.

Meet Amy. . .
I know this all sounds dramatic, but H (my best friend) knows my horrible secret. . . Oh, God, I cant even bring myself to think about it, but the truth is. . . .I haven't had sex for over six months. I guess this technically makes me a virgin...  Whatever it makes me, its not normal for a healthy twenty-five year old girl. SIX MONTHS!  I mean, I've got my own flat, I've got A levels -- so come on down Mr. Right.  At least it would get my mother off my back.

NOW FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY MEET EACH OTHER. . .

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