Jean Ballands – 16 January 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved the references to art in this book and the clever connections between intriguing characters. A feast!

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Ess – 17 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fast paced and funny

I loved reading this story. The way the storylines interweave and relationships intertwine is surprising and immensely satisfying. This is a great read for every woman who has ever doubted their worth and looks back and thinks to themselves – WTF was I thinking? Especially gorgeous, funny, intelligent, talented, and well-travelled women. But can laugh anyway. My only ‘critique’ is that the lovely surprise that was the Spotify playlist at the end, could have been at the beginning. I think it would’ve worked to have a soundtrack to the book throughout, like Dirt Music by Tim Winton, rather than at the end. Regardless, I’m loving it now! I also love that donations from the book mimic the storyline pact between two kick-arse women. Loved it and looking forward to the next already!!

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Veronica – 9 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐

The Manuscript wasn’t at all what I expected, although it was still an entertaining read.

Accomplished author Edith Scott, recently divorced, wishes to shake-up her life. She starts meeting men through dating apps and also decides to switch her writing genre from historical drama to thriller.

She goes on many dates, falling for some and simply befriending others. When some of the men in her life treat her badly she decides to kill them off through her characters, obtaining a literary revenge. Little does she know that karma is dealing with them in real life.

Bloom is an advocate for women and there is quite a feminist lean to the story but not all Edith’s male interests are cads. There are those that simply make wrong decisions and one that is totally chivalrous.

Cleverly plotted with interweaving loops and connections that will leave you speechless. No character is safe from Bloom’s authorial sword.

The Manuscript is candid, raw and intriguing; filled with laugh-out-loud moments it also has depth, with a lot of fact mixed in with the fiction.

I did however find it hard to connect with Edith, she came across as self-centred. Edith’s best friend Rachel was a fabulous supporting character; married with children she lived vicariously through Edith’s adventures.

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Tia – 24 February 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Utterly devoured this book in 3 hours with absolutely no regrets. It was fast paced, funny throughout, and so gripping I haven’t moved since I opened the first page.

This book was so delightfully Australian I was beaming the whole time! I found it really easy to read with its short chapters and interesting characters. The way the characters lives intertwine quite literally had my eyes bugging out the entire time. I was shook.

Now that ending. OMG. I’m still thinking about it. The author toys with our emotions for sure but it was a rollercoaster I want to be on.

I can’t believe I didn’t savour this book, because now I’m going to think about how I can never read this book again for the first time.

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Sofie Darling – 28 January 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was hooked from the first chapter and left gasping when I finally set it down but be warned this isn’t a book for the faint of heart. It’s punchy, clever and fast paced with plot twist after plot twist.

The characters are so beautifully drawn, and felt incredibly real. They are introduced to you warts and all, raw, flawed and wonderful, main character included. This is a huge part of the charm.

I am going to read again because it’s just so damn good

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Samantha Blagg – 22 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lucy has written a brilliant interwoven novel of real and unreal events.

What is make believe and where does it cross the line? You as the reader will only know by purchasing this page turner ASAP.

I couldn’t put it down. Congrats Lucy on a brilliant 1st fiction – can’t wait to see more one day.

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Lyndal Johnston JP – 7 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bloody Fantastic! Well done Lucy! Great Read

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Lisa – 7 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I so wanted to read this and I’m so glad I did. Awesome! Best book I’ve read all year.

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Naomi – 10 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Currently reading The Manuscript, not my usual read as I’m too busy with uni text books but it is a great diversion and i’m thoroughly enjoying it. Looking forward to the book launch in my local area at the end of the month to get my copy signed by the author.

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Kate Bocca – 28 January 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Woah, what a ride! I felt like I’d been through the wringer by the end of each chapter!

With lyrical yet punchy prose, Bloom deftly interweaves connections between characters and their stories that either make you laugh out loud or gasp in disbelief. She writes such good characters: some are so relatable that I was cheering for them throughout, while others are so dreadful it feels kinda fabulous when they are wiped out. Is it bad that I found that so satisfying?

An absolute page turner. 5 stars!

Goodreads review

Vickie Hingston-Jones – 18 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ever felt like pushing your ex off a cliff?

A lighthearted romp for women of a certain age who’ve been kicked to the curb a few times and lie awake at night plotting revenge. When finally single again, Edith makes up for lost time, not always as planned, and no punches are pulled.

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Andrew – 8 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved it! Lucy is a gem. Funny and Heart-warming

Explore the wild side with Edith Scott as you learn about her exploits, victories, and literary career. A character who will make an impact. It creates a surprising turn when fiction becomes reality and the plot starts unravelling in real life. The fact that Edith was born to a capable, intelligent mother helped to shape who she would become. After a brief marriage, she settles in and enjoys the benefits of being alone. meeting and sleeping with a variety of attractive men from different countries. Like sliding doors, two events can occasionally play out with intriguing results. I adored the unpolished, flawed individuals and the travel to remote locations. This was amusing all through.

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Frances Forshlager – 12 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved how the threads of each story entwined in the later part of this book. Each character had a background story that couldn’t be left in the past for various reasons but when surfaced, well researched by Lucy. If you don’t believe the saying ‘six degrees of separation’ you will after reading this book. Love your work Lucy.

Goodreads review

Ali – 6 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cracker of a book

Loved this novel by Lucy. Dead funny and hard not to binge-read.

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Ariel Marguin – 24 February 2023
⭐⭐⭐

Somebody lent me this book and I enjoyed it a lot. I was too dumb to see how it relates to killing Eve cos that series of deaths seemed so intentional..but what do I know!!?? obviously NOWT – cos I realised belatedly it was in the Manuscript that treacherous persons were slaughtered..sort of..plus I’m a hopeless reviewer cos I can’t stop myself reading really fast and maybe don’t retain much. It reminded me of the Pledge by Friedrich Durrenmatt..read it if you haven’t already! Subtitle Death of the detective story..cos a person always wants to KNOW..and Lucy baits us by not telling us – and certainly not telling Edith. There was a movie too..not suggesting that Lucy took anything from that but it’s about karma I guess. This book could be a fine movie I reckon or tele series…Very zappily written and pushed me along like an outboard – lots of kultural references which I may be too old to pick up..Characters and dialogue well written and real to me. Dunno about those foreshadowings and past furrowings (of brow..like when we’re told we can’t know what Sione had writ)..Ambience pretty good from Oz to Africa and all around. Not keen on all the arses even though they may be smart cos I prefer AAAsss – the American way. Thanks for a fun day Lucy bella and look forward to more! BTW I rarely give 4 * – it deserves that in its sort of genre but I can’t give it against my own criteria.

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Clair – 6 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great book

Couldn’t put it down

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Mell Millgate – 2 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved this. Easy to read, hard to put down. And will be reading it again soon.

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Ellie McRea – 13 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I laughed out loud reading this which is just what I needed. Fierce, funny and a rip roaring ride. They should turn it into a TV show!

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Wendy Frere – 7 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ll read anything and everything this writer comes up with. Always a great slice of life!

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Jenny Riches – 22 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Can’t put it down…

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Shirl – 16 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I don’t want it to end!!

Awesome read with very clever twists and turns, romance and travel. Brilliant!

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Craig / Phil – 2 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you for sending us a copy to read and review.

Take a ride on the wild side with Edith Scott, a journey covering her escapades, conquests and her writing career. A character that will leave an impression. When fiction becomes fact and the story written is unravelling in real life, it makes a unique twist.

Edith was born to a strong intellectual mother and this paved the way for her becoming the woman she became. After a short marriage she finds her groove and enjoys the perks of single life. Meeting and sleeping with all sorts of handsome guys from around the world.

Each encounter has its own flavour and drama. Like sliding doors, two scenarios sometimes play out piquing outcomes. What a great and intriguing book. Loved the raw and flawed characters and the journey to places not many of us have been.

A white pages phonebook and an atlas are required to keep up with cast and places. This contributing to a fast paced and clever read with many twists and turns. I found this comedic throughout and shocking in places as masculine toxicity was exposed. Not only is Lucy generous in entertaining us, she is donating all proceeds of this book to providing birth kits for those around the world in need.

Goodreads review

Susanne West – 13 January 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be an “early adopter”/reader of The Manuscript. It is a WILD and wonderful RIDE.

I fell completely in love with Edith Scott and was totally enthralled by her adventures with men, parenting and life. The coincidences for the characters were delicious and while I was reading my partner was constantly asking me “what the hell are you chuckling at?”. Usually that was a moment where one of the coincidences was revealed and gave me a solid punch to the face 😊

I loved the world travel and the descriptions of Africa and the Congo felt very real and present. Lucy has nailed an incredibly engaging tone in her writing. So much fun, so many good messages and a total riotous joy.

Make sure you go on the wild ride with Edith!

Goodreads review

JO BUCHANAN – 13 January 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story will take you on a roller coaster of emotions through the lives of its spectacular set of lifelike characters. You will recognise a bit of yourself in the protagonist, Edith, and your friends and family in the other characters. You will step into this story as an active observer. You will recognise modern Sydney and you will travel around the world – from the UK to Africa – to follow the paths of the characters. There are plenty of heart-in-your-mouth moments that will surprise you and add to the richness of life surrounding the heartache and joy of the characters. You will laugh and cry and you will want more. Please don’t miss this book, it has a beating heart and a warm soul

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Ann Cahill – 26 February 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a tale full, of action and “action” that covers a broad landscape geographically, socially and culturally. Fast paced and funny (dark in places), Lucy engages with the diverse challenges that women face.

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Caroline Scott – 7 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I wanted to leave a five star review but my fat fingers hit the second star and now I find I am unable to change it. This book is awesome, had me in the edge of my seat and utterly gunning for our heroine… ladies do yourselves a favour and pick it up, you will sail through it in no time and have an engaging experience, loved it, thank you.

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Andrew B – 8 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The lives of this story’s incredible cast of real-to-life characters will send you on an emotional roller coaster. In both the main character Edith and your friends and family in the other characters, you will see a little part of yourself. You will enter this narrative as a participant. You will recognise contemporary Sydney and journey from the UK to Africa to follow the characters’ journeys. The heartbreak and delight of the characters are surrounded by a wealth of heart-in-mouth moments that will surprise you and contribute to the richness of life. You’ll want more and you’ll laugh and cry. This book has a warm soul and a pulsating heart, so don’t miss it.

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Helen – 14 January 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Absolutely devoured this book! Characters so relatable and writing style punchy and fresh. A delight from start to finish

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Charlotte – 12 March 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Written with honesty and passion, Lucy has captured Edith’s deliciously chaotic life perfectly. A story within a story within a story and all of which we can relate to.

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