The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
Published by Berkley
Publication date: April 12, 2022
Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Mystery
Bookshop
I’m keeping it simple with another rom-com winner for post-holiday enjoyment reading. Valentine’s Day is supposed to be one of the most romantic days of the year, but for Jane, Miranda, and Siobhan it’s been a big disappointment. Three strangers, each stood up at a different place, but… by the same man. In The No-Show by Beth O’Leary, we follow these women and the one man who seems to have captured their hearts, even as they can’t quite capture his.
For Jane, Joseph Carter is a good friend. Both are introverted types who met at a coffee shop and formed their own little book club, but neither has been interested in romance despite their growing closeness. Siobhan is a high-powered consultant and Joseph a sexy diversion when she’s in town. Neither has any interest in anything other than physical fun. Miranda is an independent arborist, spending her days climbing frighteningly large trees, and either cutting them down or caring for them. She meets Carter in a casual encounter, but while she feels they’re hitting it off he’s always quite closed off about his past.
Three very different women at very different stages of their lives, all interacting with an elusive man. The stage is set for what looks like a traditional rom-com, but O’Leary opts for something more interesting by unearthing aspects of Siobhan’s, Jane’s, and Miranda’s past and present lives that make them come alive on the page. Even Joseph Carter, who could easily be a cardboard cutout character, evades easy dismissal as a cad. Instead, O’ Leary unwinds this tangled story so smoothly that the plot feels organic not forced. The result is a perfect amalgam of romance and a bit of mystery, with several twists in the story that are completely unexpected. Fun and clever, The No-Show kept me thoroughly engrossed from start to finish. I loved this book.
Want more rom-com with a twist reading? O’Leary’s novel The Flatshare is another favorite.
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I tried this once but only read a few pages and couldn’t get into it, but your review wants me to read it now. I loved The Flatshare so hopefully this will be another good read. Thanks for the review!
I got aggravated by it, but kept going thinking O’Leary must have something up her sleeve and she did.
Sounds like the three women need to turn the tables on Mr. No-Show. I’ve read one of O’Leary’s books — The Flatshare — and she’s pretty fun. Clever. Glad you liked this one.
Hope all is well and you had a nice Christmas holiday. Wishing you a Happy New Year. (2026 has to be better than 2025. fingers crossed.)