Good afternoon readers, hope you’re all having a wonderful Thursday. The weekend is finally in sight after another busy week at work. I’ve got some exciting bits to bring you in the next few weeks and a plethora of new books spilled into my inbox yesterday so lots of reading to do. I have, however, had a little bit of a wobble with my reading in the past week. I’ve been the busiest I’ve been in months, and with my little sister having to go into A&E yesterday and today and a rather stressful evening last night I’ve had no time to think let alone read. However, I thought I would bring you today one of my all-time favourite books. It’s one I go back to time and time again and whenever I’m suffering from a book hangover or just need something to spark my interest I go back to this time. My copy is battered and bruised through the sheer number of times I’ve read it but I fancied finally giving it the review it deserves; enjoy.

 Amber Salpone doesn’t mean to keep ending up in bed with her friend Greg Walterson, but she can’t help herself. And every time it ‘just happens’ their secret affair moves closer to being a real relationship, which is a big problem when he’s a womaniser and she’s a commitment-phobe. While Amber struggles to accept her new feelings for Greg, she also realises that her closeness to Jen, her best friend, is slipping away and the two of them are becoming virtual strangers. Slowly but surely, as the stark truths of all their lives are revealed, Amber has to confront the fact that chocolate can’t cure everything and sometimes running away isn’t an option. The Chocolate Run is a delectable tale of lust, love and chocolate

 The reason I have yet to review this book is that I’m worried about not getting across how wonderful it is so I’m going to try my best. The book ultimately revolves around four characters; Jen, Matt, Amber and Greg. See, Jen and Amber have been friends since before they can remember and when Jen invites her to meet the new man in her life he brings along the rather wonderful Greg. Greg is utterly beautiful but Amber quickly works out he really knows it. They strike up a strong friendship like two peas in a pod. However they end up tumbling into bed together; Amber is hiding her commitment issues relating to her parents’ divorce as a child and Greg is a fully-certified slut. He’s a womaniser who cannot help himself. Mix in Jen who will do anything to keep the two apart and Matt who is a mysterious and quiet character it looks like it’s all going to end in tears? Or will it?

 So now that bit is done onto the good bits; I find it really difficult reviewing books I absolutely love but here I could go on for days with why I loved this story so goddamn much. The characters are wonderfully written. Amber is a regular girl. She eats chocolate for breakfast and loves binge watching films. Both sarcastic, witty and also a little insecure she’s a real character and I adore her. Greg is a flirt but he is adorably sweet and his affection for Amber comes in the bucket load. Throughout we see them grow; Amber learns to let people in whilst Greg begins to yearn to settle down. Jen and Matt are equally well described; she’s bubbly and excitable but she hides a serious jealousy complex, Matt is your typical bloke but he’s quiet and difficult to warm to.

 The story weaves well, plotting a number of different story lines including the hiding of the burgeoning relationship between Amber and Greg, the splitting of the friendship between Jen and Amber, the secrets that Greg is holding for Matt they all weave and bob along giving us more and more information until we hit the final climax of the story. The book moves with pace and dexterity so that it’s always throwing more at us. It moves forwards and backwards in time at places to allow an interesting development of Amber and Greg’s relationship. I’ve just thought I bet you’re wondering about the chocolate part of the book; well Amber loves chocolate and the theme of it is woven throughout. A lot of the book is focused on dependency and Amber, when struggling with something ultimately depends on chocolate. Throughout it plays a large part in symbolising Amber’s need to let go and allow herself to trust someone. She constantly thinks that Greg is going to up and leave and this constant toying with the idea of trusting him is written beautifully.

 In terms of writing style throughout, it is also absolutely beautiful; for example. Our friendship was getting more and more tenuous. Etheral. We weren’t even like two Twix, seperated before consumption, any more. We were more like Dairy Milk and Caramel. Two chocolates made by the same people, but so different you couldn’t put them together under any similar category. …We melted at different temperatures, we felt different, we tasted different, we were different. Now, nothing but our source linked us. Just brilliant. In one of my favourite scenes in the book she describes the four of them as different types of chocolate and as we meet more supporting this is continued. It’s a rather delightful and wonderful additional theme for the book to take.

In all honesty I adore this book and I don’t say that very often. It’s one that if you did ask me my top ten this would be the chick-lit that makes it and I haven’t read anything that comes as close. I think it’s because there is so much in there to be explored. The friendships, the secrets, the dependency on others and the constant use of chocolate there’s just something incredibly special about this book and I for one cannot wait to read it again.