You're the One That I Don't Want [Paperback]

When Lucy meets Nate in Venice aged 18, she believes that he's The One and that they're destined to be together forever. When Lucy and Nate learn of the Bridge of the Sighs and the legend behind it - that everyone who kisses underneath the bridge, at sunset, are destined to be together forever - they go ahead and do as the legend says. Ten years later, Lucy has moved to New York and she and Nate have lost contact until the Legend brings them back together again. Lucy thinks they're fated to be together and everything's fine for a while, until the both realise they've changed and their relationship goes sour. The Legend, however, keeps bringing them back to each other again, and again, and again. Is Nate `The One' for Lucy and if not, just how is she going to get rid of him?

Unlike most chick lit books, which seems to start to blend into one another should you read too many in a row, Alexandra Potter's books are a little bit different due to her magical aspects that have been present in her last four books. The only other chick lit author to insert a bit of magic into her stories is Cecelia Ahern but Alexandra and Cecelia's writing styles differ wildly so there's no cross-over or same-ness. The only problem I've had thus far with Alexandra's book is the inability for the magical aspects to fully stick and I've found the explanations a bit twee so I was hoping You're The One That I Don't Want would fully restore my faith in Alexandra's magical aspects.

You're The One That I Don't Want opens with a prologue set in Venice, when Lucy and Nate first meet, and just before they fulfil the Legend of the Bridge of Sighs. It pulls you right into the story before heading into present day New York where Lucy works for an art gallery. It takes a few pages for Lucy and Nate to be brought back together and they quickly fall back into the relationship they left off 10 years ago. They both soon realise that they've changed dramatically since their holiday in Venice and they're soon fed up with each other and the relationship quickly goes wrong. That's where the fun starts; as Lucy and Nate try to get away from each other for good, but they keep ending up in the same place, at the same time, driving them both insane. It soon turns into some sort of game as they try to avoid each as best they can and they fail dramatically, with some hilarious consequences.

You're The One That I Don't Want is written in a very easy, chatty style, which works so so well, particularly since the book is told entirely from Lucy's point of view. It must be such a difficult writing style to pull off but Alexandra appears to do it with apparent ease. The book was a bit slow in some parts, and predictable in others, but it was a fun way to spend my Sunday afternoon. I enjoyed the ways in which Lucy and Nate tried to get away from each other, and I liked how everyone else pitched in to try and help Lucy in her quest. But what really made the book for me was the fact the magical aspect made a lot of sense. I have no idea if the Bridge of Sighs legend actually exists, and I don't want to Google it for fear of disappointment, but I liked the legend itself, probably because it was such a romantic kind of legend (not that it turned out that way for Lucy). I definitely recommend the book, it's the perfect way to whittle away a day or so!

As I read this book I must admit it was easy to read, even funny at times and did have lots of couples and changing of partners so was quite fast moving and I felt it carried me along with it. On reflection after reading you realise that it has too many coincidences and somehow ends a bit too happy ever after for too many. Yet I must admit that although I have never read a book like it I did enjoy the reading of it and have read many books that are much worse. A light ,light hearted quite comfortable story. I think you would quite like the flaky Lucy and Adam but all characters, even the minor ones in Martha's Vineyard, were well drawn and likable. I would suggest that the reader just relaxes and reads it without too much thought. Great escapism

I actually laughed out loud reading this book, it was so funny. A great story line that kept me guessing all the way through. Such a good read.