Starter for Ten: A Novel

Alright, so I just finished "Starters for 10" by David Nicholas, and let me tell you, it was a bit of a rollercoaster. It's basically a coming-of-age story about a young guy trying to navigate his way through early adulthood, with a hefty dose of romance thrown in. Not gonna lie, the first few chapters were a drag. I mean, I get it, the author was trying to set everything up, introduce characters, and all that jazz, but man, was I bored. The writing style? It's a mixed bag. Sometimes it feels fast-paced and you're flying through pages, but other times it really drags. The highs are pretty high, but the lows? They're down there. One thing that really bugged me was the main character, Brian. He's supposed to be this relatable, awkward guy, but sometimes he's just plain frustrating. He makes some pretty questionable decisions, especially when it comes to chasing after this girl who seems to have no personality beyond being beautiful. It's like, come on, dude, get it together! But try to hang in there, because once you push through that slow start, this book does pick up. The middle part? Pretty solid. I found myself laughing out loud at times – it's got some genuinely funny moments. And some of the characters do grow on you, even if Brian can be a bit much. Now, let's talk about the romance, which is a major theme here. I'm not usually big on mushy stuff, and honestly, this love story isn't exactly groundbreaking. It's cute at times, but also kind of shallow and predictable. If you're into coming-of-age stories with a dose of British humor, this might be up your alley. It's all about university life, first loves, and finding yourself – you know, the usual young adult stuff, but with a quirky twist. But here's the kicker – the ending. Oh boy, the ending. I was starting to enjoy the journey, but then the author just had to go and drop the ball. I'm not even exaggerating when I say it pissed me off. It was so disappointing and out of left field, I couldn't believe it. Despite the issues – the slow start, Brian's annoying moments, and that letdown ending – I'd still give it 3 out of 5 stars. It's got enough fun parts to make it a decent read, especially if you've been through (or are about to go through) university, or just enjoy a laugh at the awkwardness of young adulthood. But maybe borrow it from the library rather than buying it outright. So, yeah, overall, it was an okay read with some good moments and some not-so-great ones. It's not going to change your life, but it might entertain you for a bit – just don't expect too much from the ending.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

It is not often that I enjoy a book where I dislike the main character so much, but this was the case with Starter For Ten. Brian Jackson is the kind of cringeworthy, socially awkward, insincere person I would have avoided at uni. It’s his inauthenticity and desperation to be someone he cannot be which bothered me the most. I was just willing him to accept himself for who he was, and to make better decisions in life the whole way through the book. Nonetheless, this was a quick and enjoyable read, mostly because it was a fun trip down memory lane. I was at university in the UK in the nineties and a lot of David’s experiences (this book is set in the eighties) were very similar.