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The Plus One #2
Plus Two
Hot mess Charlie and perfectionist Amy met in a whirlwind of intense romance and now they’re married and settled. Or are they?
Amid the passion of newly married life, they suddenly find themselves face to face with one of the biggest obstacles any couple can face… Children. Do they want to be parents? Can they be? And if not, what next?
Amy and Charlie’s love finds itself tested as the world throws challenges at them that include fertility questions, interfering parents and a border terrier with an endless supply of urine.
In the long-awaited sequel to her hit novel, The Plus One, Natasha West gives us the next chapter of the story that gave everyone the serious feels. Romance, comedy and drama blend in this tale of what happens after you say, ‘I do.’
Amid the passion of newly married life, they suddenly find themselves face to face with one of the biggest obstacles any couple can face… Children. Do they want to be parents? Can they be? And if not, what next?
Amy and Charlie’s love finds itself tested as the world throws challenges at them that include fertility questions, interfering parents and a border terrier with an endless supply of urine.
In the long-awaited sequel to her hit novel, The Plus One, Natasha West gives us the next chapter of the story that gave everyone the serious feels. Romance, comedy and drama blend in this tale of what happens after you say, ‘I do.’
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2017
31 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 27, 2017
I liked it
I enjoyed the first book and honestly didn't predict a series to come of it but I'm glad. In this one Charlie and Amy get married and have the babies yay or nay talk after the fact...Pretty much spells trouble. Charlie really did annoy me in this one with her antics and I kept feeling the need to yell at her. I honestly felt Amy wasn't wrong about a lot of what she did but her dad was a prick. Regardless, it was an enjoyable enough read (I liked the first one better still) and I look forward to the next one!!!
I enjoyed the first book and honestly didn't predict a series to come of it but I'm glad. In this one Charlie and Amy get married and have the babies yay or nay talk after the fact...Pretty much spells trouble. Charlie really did annoy me in this one with her antics and I kept feeling the need to yell at her. I honestly felt Amy wasn't wrong about a lot of what she did but her dad was a prick. Regardless, it was an enjoyable enough read (I liked the first one better still) and I look forward to the next one!!!
June 23, 2020
Amy and Charlie are now married, after the events of book 1 (The Plus One). They realise they may have forgotten to discuss a few things beforehand. Like children.
Struggling with their own insecurities and personality flaws this novel has them both coming to terms with their issues and prospects regarding family.
I'm not particularly fond of the family drama element, but there is ultimately love at it's core, and truth and vulnerability, which I appreciated.
It leaves things very open for a book 3.
Struggling with their own insecurities and personality flaws this novel has them both coming to terms with their issues and prospects regarding family.
I'm not particularly fond of the family drama element, but there is ultimately love at it's core, and truth and vulnerability, which I appreciated.
It leaves things very open for a book 3.
October 26, 2017
It was ok. The vast majority of the book is spent in sads and bad feels. That doesn't really work for me. Don't think I'm a good fit for West.
October 29, 2017
I dind't connect with the story and the characters.
August 21, 2020
I'm not sure if I want to write this review, but I'm going to try.
There's a reason they say, "Sequels are never as good as the original," and I sadly find that often to be true. If I'm not enticed enough, I rarely read book series or sequels.
I knew going in that this book would be family-centered, and I was prepared to see a portrayal of Charlie and Amy's domestic life.
What I was not prepared for was the amount of negative emotions this book would pull from me ☹️ The good and bad moments were not sufficiently balanced that I almost gave up on finishing this. What was baffling was, the good communication the MCs had in book #1 seemed to be absent here in book #2. And I don't understand that, because aren't married couples supposed to get better at communicating over time? Of course rough patches will always be there, but why Charlie and Amy were in their own heads most of the time instead of having the vital heartfelt conversations was beyond me.
There was a lot of cursing in my notes while preparing the points I wanted to discuss in this review, but instead of dumping everything here, I'll just try to be concise about them and tone down the rant.
First, Michael Sinclair (Amy's dad) needed to mind his own business. There's a fine line between caring for your daughter and being inappropriately meddlesome in her married life. I'd rather be caught dead than let my father railroad me into seeing a gynecologist when I'm not prepared to see one. TYVM.
Second, I sort of hated Charlie in this book. I think we can all agree that having "a dead phone and no charger" as the reason for not contacting your wife to inform her of your whereabouts, is such a cop-out when you're just sitting in your sister's house ('cause you know, she has a phone too 🙄).
And Charlie thinking...
What immature nonsense was that?! Don't even get me started with how she entertained the thought of Effie, because... 🤦🏻♀️ Let's just say reading Charlie's thoughts during a particular scene with Effie will have your fists a-clenching 🙂
In the end, although I'm happy Charlie and Amy were able to sort things out, I'm not satisfied with how their relationship as a married couple was painted in this book. Despite ending with a "TO BE CONTINUED…," I get why book #3 is a no-go (according to West).
There's a reason they say, "Sequels are never as good as the original," and I sadly find that often to be true. If I'm not enticed enough, I rarely read book series or sequels.
I knew going in that this book would be family-centered, and I was prepared to see a portrayal of Charlie and Amy's domestic life.
What I was not prepared for was the amount of negative emotions this book would pull from me ☹️ The good and bad moments were not sufficiently balanced that I almost gave up on finishing this. What was baffling was, the good communication the MCs had in book #1 seemed to be absent here in book #2. And I don't understand that, because aren't married couples supposed to get better at communicating over time? Of course rough patches will always be there, but why Charlie and Amy were in their own heads most of the time instead of having the vital heartfelt conversations was beyond me.
There was a lot of cursing in my notes while preparing the points I wanted to discuss in this review, but instead of dumping everything here, I'll just try to be concise about them and tone down the rant.
First, Michael Sinclair (Amy's dad) needed to mind his own business. There's a fine line between caring for your daughter and being inappropriately meddlesome in her married life. I'd rather be caught dead than let my father railroad me into seeing a gynecologist when I'm not prepared to see one. TYVM.
Second, I sort of hated Charlie in this book. I think we can all agree that having "a dead phone and no charger" as the reason for not contacting your wife to inform her of your whereabouts, is such a cop-out when you're just sitting in your sister's house ('cause you know, she has a phone too 🙄).
And Charlie thinking...
Amy had vowed to love her as she was. And now who she was wasn’t good enough. So if Amy had broken her vows, then Charlie could break her own....had me going like this:
What immature nonsense was that?! Don't even get me started with how she entertained the thought of Effie, because... 🤦🏻♀️ Let's just say reading Charlie's thoughts during a particular scene with Effie will have your fists a-clenching 🙂
In the end, although I'm happy Charlie and Amy were able to sort things out, I'm not satisfied with how their relationship as a married couple was painted in this book. Despite ending with a "TO BE CONTINUED…," I get why book #3 is a no-go (according to West).
January 26, 2018
This was a wonderful sequel to The Plus One. A terrifically well balanced story with humor and serious issues with two very different and appealing leading characters. This will be a comfort read for me.
January 12, 2022
A short novel which takes Charlie and Amy though the first 2 years of married life. Nothing particularly exciting or unexpected, good dialogue and a continuance of the tale. Brick wall ending (another book to come?).
December 11, 2017
As the subtitle asks, What Happens After the Honeymoon? In Plus Two, will baby make three?
The sequel to Plus One picks up the story eight months after the honeymoon. Charlie and Amy take their first giant steps into married life. Amy hears her biological clock ticking and pops the question to Charlie. Do you want to have a baby? Charlie has a deer in the headlights response, but means to pick love and marriage over divorce and losing Amy. Amy's father is a classic type A personality and wants Charlie gone from the family photos. He keeps yammering his doubts about Charlie into his perfect daughter's ears. Charlie's foot dragging coupled with daddy's destructive nagging pulls Amy into a downward spiral.
As part of an ongoing series, Plus Two felt far from complete. The journey starting at wedded bliss and heading toward marital conflict made for a welcome relief from typical lesfic narratives. Amy and Charlie are loving and lovable. The secondary characters that comprise their families provide valuable counterpoint to their relationship. Parents and siblings can supply roadmaps or detour routes to couples starting out in life. The central theme in Plus Two highlights an important life lesson. After a year of marriage, the main characters ask themselves "would it take them their wholes lives to know each other?" The true mystery doesn't surround what we don't know, but instead it's what we can't even begin to question. Natasha West plans to continue her series. The story already has engaging characters, interesting plotlines and blanks to fill in. For me, any additional books will a big fat plus.
The sequel to Plus One picks up the story eight months after the honeymoon. Charlie and Amy take their first giant steps into married life. Amy hears her biological clock ticking and pops the question to Charlie. Do you want to have a baby? Charlie has a deer in the headlights response, but means to pick love and marriage over divorce and losing Amy. Amy's father is a classic type A personality and wants Charlie gone from the family photos. He keeps yammering his doubts about Charlie into his perfect daughter's ears. Charlie's foot dragging coupled with daddy's destructive nagging pulls Amy into a downward spiral.
As part of an ongoing series, Plus Two felt far from complete. The journey starting at wedded bliss and heading toward marital conflict made for a welcome relief from typical lesfic narratives. Amy and Charlie are loving and lovable. The secondary characters that comprise their families provide valuable counterpoint to their relationship. Parents and siblings can supply roadmaps or detour routes to couples starting out in life. The central theme in Plus Two highlights an important life lesson. After a year of marriage, the main characters ask themselves "would it take them their wholes lives to know each other?" The true mystery doesn't surround what we don't know, but instead it's what we can't even begin to question. Natasha West plans to continue her series. The story already has engaging characters, interesting plotlines and blanks to fill in. For me, any additional books will a big fat plus.
April 10, 2019
I wanted to like this book, I really did. However, I just really couldn't.
First off, how do you marry someone and NOT have any discussions regarding children before doing so.
Second, how the hell do you have a successful relationship, nevertheless a marriage if you're communication is shit and you look at everything your partner does as them having a nefarious purpose? If you think that badly of your partner, if your first thought about any of their behavior is that they did it maliciously or to be mean then why did you mary then in the first place? Ok, yes, once in awhile you might have a thought that your partner is acting maliciously, shit happens, but every, single time? If that's the case then it's not a good match.
Third, after all of the horrible communication your wife makes a massive, huge, incredible decision and you just get over it in two days? Really? One brought home a puppy and one said yes to a sperm donar - both without talking to the other and, all of a sudden it's just happiness and roses? That's not believable! Neither is the fact that one partner is completely unsure of whether they want kids or not but, suddenly, changes her mind to make the other happy? That's a recipe for disaster!
All in all, I was very disappointed in this book.
First off, how do you marry someone and NOT have any discussions regarding children before doing so.
Second, how the hell do you have a successful relationship, nevertheless a marriage if you're communication is shit and you look at everything your partner does as them having a nefarious purpose? If you think that badly of your partner, if your first thought about any of their behavior is that they did it maliciously or to be mean then why did you mary then in the first place? Ok, yes, once in awhile you might have a thought that your partner is acting maliciously, shit happens, but every, single time? If that's the case then it's not a good match.
Third, after all of the horrible communication your wife makes a massive, huge, incredible decision and you just get over it in two days? Really? One brought home a puppy and one said yes to a sperm donar - both without talking to the other and, all of a sudden it's just happiness and roses? That's not believable! Neither is the fact that one partner is completely unsure of whether they want kids or not but, suddenly, changes her mind to make the other happy? That's a recipe for disaster!
All in all, I was very disappointed in this book.
January 31, 2020
There is so much truth to this story. I think all the worries and scared feelings that Amy and Charlie were having are spot on. Sometimes life is messy and you need to deal with difficult issues. Love and communication are key to working things out. A little bit of laughter also goes a long way. I look forward to book 3.
June 6, 2019
representation: lesbian mc, bisexual mc, f/f romance
January 5, 2018
This has me excited!!
Possibly a ***SPOILER ALERT***
I don’t know if it’s much of a spoiler, but Charlie gave me some strong anxiety. I started having a panic attack somewhere near the end because of her, even if I already somehow knew it wouldn’t end that way. I started to full on cry at some point and almost stopped reading. I didn’t even know I was that emotionally invested in their relationship.
I’m damn happy that Amy is shown to have flaws. All the characters were made to be so real with the fact that they’re not perfect. There is so much insecurity in life, and seeing it in these characters made me feel like I could pass them on the street with how real it made them.
The relationship between Charlie and Amy is so great to read. The growth in their perspective of each other is something I think the world should learn from. I know these are fictional characters, but so much of it is from our real world. There’s always so much more to learn about a person, and voicing your fears doesn’t have to lead to the end of the world. Honesty is good for all relationships, it’s the foundation. That’s something that Amy and Charlie were kind of lacking at the start, but it doesn’t have to be out of spite or deception, it can be from fear (like in their case).
I’m very much ready for a book 3, I really want to see how Charlie will take on raising a child. Amy is already pretty passionate about it, as we can see with how she was with Mia, but I want to see what happens with Charlie; it’ll be her own kid, it’s totally different than interacting with General children. I feel that she will be a very loving and extremely protective parent.
If you are on the fence for whether or not you should read this book, I recommend you do. I also hope my review didn’t spoil it for you.
Possibly a ***SPOILER ALERT***
I don’t know if it’s much of a spoiler, but Charlie gave me some strong anxiety. I started having a panic attack somewhere near the end because of her, even if I already somehow knew it wouldn’t end that way. I started to full on cry at some point and almost stopped reading. I didn’t even know I was that emotionally invested in their relationship.
I’m damn happy that Amy is shown to have flaws. All the characters were made to be so real with the fact that they’re not perfect. There is so much insecurity in life, and seeing it in these characters made me feel like I could pass them on the street with how real it made them.
The relationship between Charlie and Amy is so great to read. The growth in their perspective of each other is something I think the world should learn from. I know these are fictional characters, but so much of it is from our real world. There’s always so much more to learn about a person, and voicing your fears doesn’t have to lead to the end of the world. Honesty is good for all relationships, it’s the foundation. That’s something that Amy and Charlie were kind of lacking at the start, but it doesn’t have to be out of spite or deception, it can be from fear (like in their case).
I’m very much ready for a book 3, I really want to see how Charlie will take on raising a child. Amy is already pretty passionate about it, as we can see with how she was with Mia, but I want to see what happens with Charlie; it’ll be her own kid, it’s totally different than interacting with General children. I feel that she will be a very loving and extremely protective parent.
If you are on the fence for whether or not you should read this book, I recommend you do. I also hope my review didn’t spoil it for you.
March 22, 2019
Once the "I Do's" & Honeymoons Fade
“It was the official end of the honeymoon period. … They hadn’t been perfect and they knew that, but still, something about it had always felt easy and natural, even as they’d had the odd row. It had never been hard to love each other. But now, it was becoming tougher.”
“She didn’t know what word would come first, what word would come last. She hoped to god it wasn’t ‘Goodbye.’ But she knew it was possible.
She might be going home to start the end of her brief marriage to the only person she’d ever loved.”
…•…«‹§›»…•…
I loved following the journey of Amy & Charlie thru the next phase & evolution of their relationship!!! It felt very realistic & authentic with the struggles, difficulties & obstacles in pursuing, protecting & providing love.
It was just so realistic & relatable. I appreciate the rawness, vulnerability & sincerity in how very sensitive & awkward ideals were respectfully approached & addressed without resorting to distorted &/or diluted tropes & clichés deflecting distracting from the conversation!!
“Family is family. You can’t swap them, you can’t change them and – yes - you technically could murder them as they slept, but that would probably create more problems than it solved. Which left only one thing to do.
Try to make it work.”
Awesome & Amazing!!
“It was the official end of the honeymoon period. … They hadn’t been perfect and they knew that, but still, something about it had always felt easy and natural, even as they’d had the odd row. It had never been hard to love each other. But now, it was becoming tougher.”
“She didn’t know what word would come first, what word would come last. She hoped to god it wasn’t ‘Goodbye.’ But she knew it was possible.
She might be going home to start the end of her brief marriage to the only person she’d ever loved.”
…•…«‹§›»…•…
I loved following the journey of Amy & Charlie thru the next phase & evolution of their relationship!!! It felt very realistic & authentic with the struggles, difficulties & obstacles in pursuing, protecting & providing love.
It was just so realistic & relatable. I appreciate the rawness, vulnerability & sincerity in how very sensitive & awkward ideals were respectfully approached & addressed without resorting to distorted &/or diluted tropes & clichés deflecting distracting from the conversation!!
“Family is family. You can’t swap them, you can’t change them and – yes - you technically could murder them as they slept, but that would probably create more problems than it solved. Which left only one thing to do.
Try to make it work.”
Awesome & Amazing!!
November 2, 2017
This really is an entertaining story of the pitfalls of being married. Charlie and Amy are still in the honeymoon stage of wedded bliss when they begin to get asked what every newly wed is asked, when are you having kids?
This has been something they have not actually talked about and so things start to unravel due to lack of communication. Na stash West have a wonderful writing style that can have you laughing and feeling heartbroken in one sentence. I love her characters and Charlie is adorable but I'm not sure I could live with her. She decides that the best way to see if she is fit to be a parent is to buy a puppy, with mixed results.
The big take away from this story is that communication is essential in any successful relationship. Also Natasha West is still very much in my top 5 Lesfic authors and I can't wait to see how Charlie, Amy and Pickle fair.
This has been something they have not actually talked about and so things start to unravel due to lack of communication. Na stash West have a wonderful writing style that can have you laughing and feeling heartbroken in one sentence. I love her characters and Charlie is adorable but I'm not sure I could live with her. She decides that the best way to see if she is fit to be a parent is to buy a puppy, with mixed results.
The big take away from this story is that communication is essential in any successful relationship. Also Natasha West is still very much in my top 5 Lesfic authors and I can't wait to see how Charlie, Amy and Pickle fair.
November 9, 2017
Better than the first!
I'll admit that I found this book by surprise while perusing Kindle Unlimited. I read the first one over a year ago and remember it as funny, but I was truly emotionally moved by this sequel. It was a beautiful story about being afraid to lose a precious gift (a brand new marriage), seeing your mate as less than perfect but still perfect for you, learning it's safe to share your insecurities, and learning to communicate and grow together amidst pressures from life and families. That was certainly a run-on sentence, but I also just stayed up way too late because instead of just reading a chapter or two before bed, I read the whole book in one sitting. This definitely worth a read!
I'll admit that I found this book by surprise while perusing Kindle Unlimited. I read the first one over a year ago and remember it as funny, but I was truly emotionally moved by this sequel. It was a beautiful story about being afraid to lose a precious gift (a brand new marriage), seeing your mate as less than perfect but still perfect for you, learning it's safe to share your insecurities, and learning to communicate and grow together amidst pressures from life and families. That was certainly a run-on sentence, but I also just stayed up way too late because instead of just reading a chapter or two before bed, I read the whole book in one sitting. This definitely worth a read!
October 27, 2018
Excellent!
This very well written book is a wonderful second installment of Charlie and Amy's story. Character development becomes more complex as they face their future together and the possibility of expanding their family. To fully enjoy this book, I recommend reading "The Plus One" first, but by all means, jump right in with both feet by putting both on your must read list.
This very well written book is a wonderful second installment of Charlie and Amy's story. Character development becomes more complex as they face their future together and the possibility of expanding their family. To fully enjoy this book, I recommend reading "The Plus One" first, but by all means, jump right in with both feet by putting both on your must read list.
March 16, 2018
3.5
This book caused me a lot of anxiety. Their stress on the subject brought up my own stress on the subject. I forced myself to finish it.
I can't imagine what trouble would be in the next book, and I think I might need to quit while I'm ahead.
It was very honest though, and I appreciated that.
This book caused me a lot of anxiety. Their stress on the subject brought up my own stress on the subject. I forced myself to finish it.
I can't imagine what trouble would be in the next book, and I think I might need to quit while I'm ahead.
It was very honest though, and I appreciated that.
February 3, 2020
Oh my god the realism in this book. Glad it’s in the same sphere as Medford and maybe Julia can get pregnant next (I have a thing for that woman) at the same time I don’t think I ever want a life partner at this rate. Compromise is such hard work, glad they managed to work it through in the end though
July 2, 2020
Thumbs up
What a rollercoaster. It was good to come back to these characters after awhile. The love between Charlie and Amy is evident but the communication was horrible. I wanted to slap Charlie and tell at her to just talk to Amy instead of bottling it up. Eventually it got turned right side up and they finally talked and worked things out.
What a rollercoaster. It was good to come back to these characters after awhile. The love between Charlie and Amy is evident but the communication was horrible. I wanted to slap Charlie and tell at her to just talk to Amy instead of bottling it up. Eventually it got turned right side up and they finally talked and worked things out.
October 24, 2017
Plus Two = Five Stars
What a wonderful follow up to The Plus One! This author never disappoints or fails to make me laugh out loud. Charlie and Amy are two of my favorite characters and finding out how married life is going for them was fantastic and hilarious. More please.
What a wonderful follow up to The Plus One! This author never disappoints or fails to make me laugh out loud. Charlie and Amy are two of my favorite characters and finding out how married life is going for them was fantastic and hilarious. More please.
January 30, 2018
Cute
I enjoyed reading this book. I should just hurry on over to book 3. The way these two are together along with their worries and doubts makes you think and reflect on yourself and your own relationship woes. We could learn a thing or two from these two
I enjoyed reading this book. I should just hurry on over to book 3. The way these two are together along with their worries and doubts makes you think and reflect on yourself and your own relationship woes. We could learn a thing or two from these two
April 19, 2018
Cute
A cute story. It's fun to revisit these characters, who where such great fun in The Plus One. Here we get a bit more character development, as well as a couple of new characters added in.
A cute story. It's fun to revisit these characters, who where such great fun in The Plus One. Here we get a bit more character development, as well as a couple of new characters added in.
May 6, 2021
Natasha West Is a Gem...
of a writer. I love her witty, humorous, serious descriptions of her characters and their situations. I sure hope we hear more about Amy and Charlie, Pickle and baby!!
of a writer. I love her witty, humorous, serious descriptions of her characters and their situations. I sure hope we hear more about Amy and Charlie, Pickle and baby!!
December 3, 2021
Brilliant, if not for
Poor spelling, poor grammar, poor punctuation, and poor editing, generally. This book has so much raw potential that Charlie and Amy deserve the extra effort.
Poor spelling, poor grammar, poor punctuation, and poor editing, generally. This book has so much raw potential that Charlie and Amy deserve the extra effort.
November 3, 2017
Enjoyable.
Plus Two is an enjoyable read. I liked Amy and Charlie as the young couple starting out a relationship. The book is a little short, but as part of a series it works.
Plus Two is an enjoyable read. I liked Amy and Charlie as the young couple starting out a relationship. The book is a little short, but as part of a series it works.
November 19, 2017
Good book
This was a cute story that continued from the first book. I enjoyed seeing the points of view from both women.
This was a cute story that continued from the first book. I enjoyed seeing the points of view from both women.
January 11, 2019
Very cute, fun, and quick read.
February 29, 2020
I'm Charlie. Charlie is me. I love them.
Read
September 24, 2020Great read. Loved the 1st book but this one was better. Can't wait for the sequel find out Amy and Charlie handle their lives with children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews