Article contributed by Simone Richter
Let’s face it, don’t we all sometimes just do something… “for the gram”? Whether it’s carrying a bag full of books with us for the perfect bookstagram picture or letting our friends take one thousand photos of us in front of the same statue in only slightly different poses whenever were on holiday, I feel like doing something ridiculous for social media is at this point the norm.
Izzy however, who is the protagonist of Anna Bell’s new novel We Just Clicked, takes the sentiment of “fake it ‘til you make it” to a whole new level. It’s Izzy’s dream to become a proper influencer. One that gets paid and lots of freebies, but she seems to be stuck and is running out of ideas to get her popularity levels up. When she meets fellow bookstagrammer and IRL work colleague Luke, he suggests that they should fake a relationship – of course – only for the gram. With her dream in reach, Izzy says yes and what begins is a whirlwind of new followers, paid campaigns, and a lot of time spent with a man Izzy seems to be barely able to tolerate. But then suddenly handsome Aidan comes into the picture and Izzy is not at all sure anymore if Instagram fame is really worth it.
We Just Clicked is an adorable and easy read that will surely make you ‘aww’ as much as make you facepalm (selfie-sticks are involved!). Izzy is absolutely lovable. She is a young woman who has had some hardships in her life which have shaped her personality. It is also for that reason that she is able to agree to the shenanigans involving Luke and the fake dating because she has sworn off any real relationships only a couple of years prior. Izzy’s friends are just as delightful as she is and her best friend is just as obsessed with Instagram, which makes for wonderfully hilarious conversations and situations. Aidan is… well. Dreamy. Very dreamy. From the first moment he appears on the page, it is impossible not to root for him. One, he seems to be incredibly sexy (according to Izzy, but we’ll believe her). Two, he has a dog – we love a man with a dog, don’t we? And three, he seems to always have food available for Izzy, especially a packet of pick’n’mix never seems to be far away when with him.
The only character that you will be frustrated about is Luke with his selfie-sticks, his smoulder, and the way he treats women around him. Every time we get to see a more vulnerable side, he manages to ruin it by doing or saying something absolutely idiotic. Don’t get me wrong: he is highly enjoyable. I absolutely loved reading about Luke even though I cringed and groaned my way through the pages. He is a great target to laugh at.
Going on this adventure with Izzy was a lot of fun and I can only recommend this story for everyone who is looking for a lovely summer read that has both funny and sad moments that feel absolutely real with a cast of characters who will worm their way into your heart.
We Just Clicked is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
Will you be picking up We Just Clicked? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A fabulously funny, feel-good novel that will make you laugh until you cry, for anyone who’s ever presented a perfectly-filtered life online to hide the unglamorous reality.
Izzy Brown has always dreamed of being an Instagram influencer. So when her colleague and fellow Instagrammer Luke suggests they ‘fake date’ to boost their profiles, Izzy says yes – against her better judgement.
Now Izzy’s profile tells the story of a confident, glamorous thirty-something with the perfect boyfriend, and her follower numbers are shooting upwards. So what if Izzy can’t stop bickering with Luke, his habit of checking his quiff in every single mirror is driving her insane, and behind the scenes she’s hiding a secret heartache? Everyone tells a few fibs on social media, right?
But when Izzy runs into Aidan, the mysterious stranger who saved her the day her world fell apart two years ago, major sparks start to fly between them. Izzy’s sure she can have the online success she’s always dreamed of, whilst continuing to fall in love – and heal her heart – in real life. After all, Aidan doesn’t use social media… what could possibly go wrong?
If you loved Sophie Kinsella’s My Not-So Perfect Life, Laura Jane Williams’ Our Stop or Sophie Ranald’s Sorry Not Sorry, you will fall head over heels for this touching and hilarious new novel from Anna Bell, the bestselling author of The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart.
