[Book Review] A Perfect Proposal

Title: A Perfect Proposal
Author: Katie Fforde
Date Published: April 9, 2013
Publisher: Century
Source: ARC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit
Rating: ★★★★★



Links:
Goodreads
Amazon

Book Information:

Sophie Apperly's family has never taken her seriously. Fiercely academic, they see her more practical skills as frivolous whilst constantly taking advantage of her. So when her best friend Milly invites her over to New York, she jumps at the chance. It'll do her ungrateful family good to do without her for a while. What s more, she's on a quest America holds the key to solving her family's financial woes, even if they don't deserve her help. 

From the moment Sophie hits the bright lights of Manhattan she's determined to enjoy every minute of her big adventure. So when an evening at an art gallery throws her into the path of Matilda, a spirited old lady who invites her to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, Sophie willingly accepts, much to the dismay of Matilda's grandson Luke. Undeniably attractive but infuriatingly arrogant, he is very protective of his grandmother and seems to doubt Sophie's motives for befriending her. No match for the formidable Matilda, he eventually admits defeat, but first he has a proposal to make. He'll help Sophie in her quest to save her family from financial ruin if she repays the favour. But just what does she have to do in return...?

Review:
The perfect book to keep in your bag to combat dull moments and kill lots of waiting time.

This story showcases the adage  which says, 'You can't choose your family'. Sophie Apperly, the protagonist of the story, seemed so out of place in her family of academics, as she was the only one who was practical enough to learn basic household chores rather than drone and research about theoretical knowledge. Though most of her family undermines her skills because she was considered as the 'dim' one, she practically runs the whole household because she's the only one who actually knows how to work menial jobs.

I like Sophie. She's not book smart, but she has a good head on her shoulders and has a big heart to stand and love the family that always undermines her. I would admit though, that I would have smacked some sense into her head with a broomstick had she stayed with her family instead of finding the adventure of her life. Thank God the story gave her the chance to grow and find the love she deserved.

Character-wise, I really loved the fact that aside from Sophie, there were other very colorful characters included in the book! I love Matilda! She's probably my favorite character in this story. I'm a huge fan of quirky Grandmothers, and Matilda definitely fit the bill! She's very generous bordering on being gullible, but she's also cunning because she knew just what to do to bring Luke and Sophie together!

Then of course, how could I forget the banter between Sophie and Luke. They always end up arguing because of being too different from one another. While I understood that Luke was merely protecting his Grandmother, he should also learn to distinguish which people should be trusted and not.

Story-wise, it was a little predictable, but the character growth and the quirky grandmother were a fun mix. All in all, I really enjoyed reading this one!