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Brand New Friend | 
 enlarge | Author: Mike Gayle
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £6.98 (100%)
New (26) Used (65) Collectible (2) from £0.01
Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 25861
Media: Paperback
Edition: New edition
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 1
ISBN: 0340825405
EAN: 9780340825402
ASIN: 0340825405
Publication Date: May 22, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 Classical Gayle August 21, 2008
P. DATTA (Stockton on Tees, Teesside)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Brand New Friend" represents one of Gayle's best pieces of literacy prose to date. Gayle's novel the "Brand New Friend" continues to deal with subject areas relating to the thirty age range and relationships. Gayle demonstrates the strong expertise within the area. The expertise is directly linked with the experience of being a former agony aunt.
Brand New Friend focal point is about a couple, Rob and Ashley. The couple are finally togather, following a long distant relationship that almost tore them apart. Rob made a few sacrifices to be with her financee in Manchester. These sacrifices include being denied the right to socialise with close friends, a messy lifestyle, going to the pub and the corner shop. Basically, Rob needed be adaptable to a new life in the North that is far different from the buzzing city life of London. Does the shift to a new life work out for Rob? Has Rob's move to Manchester has been the right decision? The key answers will be revealed in the novel.
Mike Gayle is a tremendous author. The novel is written with an unique style of writing, a perfect setting and an interesting range of characters. I am strong admirer of Mike Gayle's novels and the "Brand New Friend" impresses me a great deal. It is definately in my books one of his best. It is very well written with a mixture of both humour and serious issues facing any relationship.
 Can men and women ever be 'just good friends'? May 23, 2008
Snapdragon (London)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Rob Brooks has been in a long distance relationship for some time when his girlfriend manages to persuade him to move to Manchester. Rob is apprehensive because he will have to leave his group of male friends. Nevertheless he goes. As Rob works from home and doesn't really know anyone he has difficulty making new friends (despite his girlfriend making him go on 'man-dates') until he meets a girl called Jo at a party. He instantly feels a rapport with Jo and what could be wrong with being friends with someone of the opposite sex?!
Like Mike Gayle's other books, this rattles along at a good pace and is quite easy reading. There are some wonderful observations made and it deals with a time-old question in an entertaining way. If you have read other Mike Gayle books and have enjoyed them, you'll be on safe ground with this one.
Enjoyable March 30, 2008
SJSmith (UK)
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
I've read a few of his now and enjoyed them all. 4.5 stars would suit this nicely. It's difficult to tell if he aims his writing at men or women because he captures both gender's personalities and behaviour so well.
Rob is having a tough time, he loves his girlfriend but the move to Manchester from London is a scary prospect. He eventually gives it a go but struggles with how to make friends. Had he not been working from home it might have been easier but without the office then it is that bit harder - although he could've always joined a local gym or something similar. He eventually meets the perfect mate to do all the things with that he was doing with Phil back in Manchester - but she's a girl. In steps Jo, everything he wants in a mate but can't really have because men and women can't just be friends, can they?
The novel dips in and out of Jo's and Rob's perspective so makes for regular changes during your reading. Is it possible for men and women to be 'just good friends' or does there always have to be an element of sexual attraction between them? Quite interesting as I've had a couple of male friends and when I moved away they didn't keep up the contact whereas a woman would have. Good exploration of social stereotypes and the gneuine difficulties people face when they move to be with their partners. It is very well-written and hugely entertaining, this novel is easy enough to read in one sitting. The characters are so realistic and the discussion between his girlfriend and her friends is very true - they are all convinced that Rob must be in love with Jo, otherwise why would he want to be friends with a girl? It made me wonder how I would react to it. I look forward to reading one or two more by Mike Gayle.
Wonderful January 24, 2007
S. Piper (UK)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Brother of newsreader Philip, Mike Gayle is that unusual male writer who can write chick lit for women that men love to read too... and I've loved every one of his previous books. This one tells that story of Rob, a bit of a commitment-phobe, who finally ups sticks and moves to Manchester to be with his girlfriend, only to find himself friendless and feeling too old to make new ones. Until he meets Jo. Why Mr Gayle's books dont feature higher up in the bestseller charts I have no idea - he's great, and if this is the first of his books you read - go and buy all his others immediately.
 Hmmmmm January 12, 2007
Mr. Philip J. Sowerbutts (Hull UK)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I'm a Mike Gayle fan - I read his stuff as soon as it comes out and usually enjoy it. It's good to have this kind of story told by a bloke! I enyoyed this one too - it does what Mike Gayle does best in gently helping us see the pridicaments relationships get into. I have to say though that I don't think this is his best. Two reasons... first I think he borrows an idea from his earlier book 'Dinner For Two' - in the way the main character keeps an important piece of personal information from his partner, thus causing 'the problem'. Second... I don't think Ashley's character was developed far enough. We didn't love her enough for us to be satisfied with the outcome of the story in general.
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