The Cupid effect (by Dorothy Koomson)

(Amazon UK link)

It was a couple of years ago that I first read a book by Dorothy Koomson, given to me by friends. I enjoyed it so much that I put some of her other novels on my wishlist, although this is only the third of her books that I have read so far.

'The Cupid effect' is about - and narrated by - a young woman called Ceri. As the story starts, she has given up her London job as a journalist, so as to follow her heart's desire in Leeds - as a lecturer in psychology. She blames this move on watching too much Oprah, but also hopes to make a new start in life.

She has spent far too much time (in her view) getting involved in everyone else's problems, either finding solutions or messing them up further, and would like to concentrate on her own life...

Naturally, it's not that simple. Ceri is a friendly, likeable person with massive intuition and strong feelings. She can't avoid becoming involved with those she cares about, even if she works hard to avoid eye contact with strangers in queues and shops.

She finds a great lodging with two likeable young men, both of whom are having problems - in very different ways - with their love lives, and she gets to know some of the other lecturers at the small college where she now works.

I found Ceri delightful, and could relate to her ability to 'feel' other people's problems, although the extent to which she does so - and the eventual 'Cupid effect' theory - seem a little surreal. The other characters are believable too, even if they all seem a great deal more promiscuous than anyone I've personally come across. Despite this, and a certain amount of bad language, there's nothing explicit to spoil the story, which was extremely well written and very enjoyable.

I was surprised to find that this was Dorothy Koomson's debut novel, and look forward to reading more of her books in future. Recommended if you like light women's fiction that's a little more thought-provoking than most.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 5th August 2011