Book Review: Five Things I Love About You by Clare Swatman

It’s so lovely to be welcoming Clare Swatman back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Five Things I Love About You.

Forty-nine-year-old Miranda is at a crossroads.

Her children have left home, her perfectly civilised divorce is more than a decade behind her and her romances since have been lacklustre, and her career has stalled. The bright spots in her life are best friends Sophie and Kirstie, but it’s clear something has to change.

So, when she’s knocked off her bike and wakes up in hospital bruised but not broken, Miranda wonders if the universe is trying to tell her something. And when she starts to be plagued by recurring dreams featuring the same featureless man, Sophie insists it’s a sign.

Her repeating dreams offer five clues to the man’s identity so, with nothing to lose, Miranda sets off on a journey to the future she’s always longed for. Somewhere there’s a life and a love waiting for Miranda, but will she grasp it with both hands or will she let her destiny slip through her fingers even when it’s right in front of her…

An uplifting, magical story about fresh starts, best friends and soulmates. Perfect for all fans of Lucy Diamond, Beth Moran and Jill Mansell.

*****

Miranda has found herself at a bit of a crossroads. Having lost her job, she doesn’t know what she’s going to do next. So, when she gets knocked off her bike and gets helped by a man she knows only as ‘J’, she decides to try and find him. Will fate help her along the way or is it a lost cause?

I am so pleased to be invited onto the blog tour for the latest novel from Clare Swatman. Having enjoyed previous books by this author, I couldn’t wait to get started on Five Things I Love About You.

The premise of this novel has such a destiny feeling to it – like Serendipity and While You Were Sleeping (I love both films).

Miranda is a great protagonist despite the fact that I did full on silently scream at her in frustration at one point in the novel. Haha. Kirsty and Sophie are also brilliant and the scenes with them were funny and full of warmth. Everyone needs friends like them. I feel like I can’t say much about the men in the book as it would spoil it and I really don’t want to do that.

The story unfolded in a compelling way and I adored the thread of fate that runs right through the book. I am a big believer that things happen for a reason and the events of this novel has a big dose of that.

Five Things I Love About You is a beautiful story of finding love, discovering yourself and realising that it’s never too late to find happiness. You just have to be open to finding it. Another lovely novel from Clare Swatman that’s a perfect companion for days off or holidays – I read it in one go and recommend giving yourself time to do the same.

About Clare Swatman –

Clare Swatman is the author of nine women’s fiction novels. Her latest, Last Christmas, is a sliding doors love story set in New York and London in the early 2000s. Her next book, Five Things I Love About You, is out on 24 April 2025.

She also writes psychological thrillers under the name CL Swatman. Her debut thriller, No Son of Mine, was released worldwide on 21st December 2024, and her second will be released in September 2025.

Clare lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and two boys. Even the cat is male, which means she’s destined to be outnumbered forever.

Connect with Clare on Facebook, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter. 

Five Things I Love About You was released by Boldwood Books on 24th April 2025. Click to buy on Amazon, Kobo, Waterstones and Blackwell’s. 

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.