Dopey Women

I fell in love with the premise of this book before I even turned a page and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. It's ludicrous, hilarious and a whole lot of fun. Laura Barnard writes the kind of stuff I love to read - potty-mouthed heroines and steamy sex scenes. Uh huh. Dopey Women lays it on thick and juicy. Sadie is a terrific lead character - smart, caring but not immune to the occasional act of stupidity. She's supported by a fun cast of misfits, each endearing in their own way and tending towards foolishness on a slightly more regular basis. Dopey Women also include my favourite hero - the anti-hero - the one Sadie is not supposed to like but simply cannot resist. I love those bad boys. The story is fast-paced and hard to put down - riddled with twists and turns you won't see coming. I loved it and I can't wait to read more of Laura's work.

Oh wow, I loved this book. The plot was not only unique, it stayed on point, never lost focused, and it was surprising. I loved all the characters, their struggles and just connecting with each one on a emotional level. I never knew I could feel so much for fictional characters as I have with these woman. Each struggle, heart break, happiness, and joy, I felt. I was sad when this was over, but fulfilled. For me I felt that there where no lose ends, or questions unanswered. The road to rebuild was touching, but the way it was written, I couldn't stop laughing. Witty, fun, and consent I was never bored. Throw in a sexy detective, that is always around the corner, and you have the perfect mix for an out-of-this-world romcom. There are very few books that I can read in one sitting, and this was one of them. To me the ability to write a world so captivating that you are lost with in it's pages, is pure magic. To make me laugh out loud, will that pure witch craft. I would like to thank Laura Barnard giving my the opportunity to read this astonishing work of art. Happy Reading -Emily

Laura Barnard has nailed it again! Not only has she created several well-developed characters, a romance embedded in a super plotline, she also has the gift of humour! In every single one of her books, thus far, I have been in stitches, and never without a smile on my face, and Dopey Women is no exception! Dopey Women is full of ‘sexcapades’, adventure and suspense that will keep you glued to the very end. Written in first person from Sadie’s point of view, the reader follows her character as we realise she hasn’t had a great life, despite what her colleagues think of her initially. She has came from a shady background, has experienced foster homes and homelessness. She has built herself up to management level, and for what? Just to be made redundant, leaving her barely able to pay her mortgage, not to mention her car and credit cards!! “I’ve flipped the crazy switch and there’s no going back.” After meeting up with her colleagues some time later, she begins to realise that none of them have had it too good either: Lexi is living with an abusive boyfriend, Steph has become a single mum since her man left, and poor Mags has recently lost her husband and is now suffering from breast cancer. And, none of them have been able to find work. After spending time with Mags during her chemo sessions, Mags mentions to Sadie about wanting to try marijuana, hoping that it could help ease the pain. Sufferers like Mags are in a vulnerable position, not necessarily having a clue how to go about these things, or who to ask, and therefore Sadie has a lightbulb moment that between the four of them they could grow and sell their own weed. I mean, of course, with any luck it would take off and they could all be receiving a little profit to help with those bills!! This is where the fun really starts. Believing that a sex shop sells Marijuana plant seeds, all four women decide to check it out. The scenes that take place in the store are hilarious, with Mags, Steph and Lex checking out the stock and playing with certain toys, while Sadie is trying to buy the seeds. With one member of the team having an orgasmic ‘seizure’ and someone later getting beaten with a dildo you will certainly be crying with laughter. Before she knows it, Sadie has an unexpected visitor in Detective Harry McKenzie. He is investigating new reports that a new drug dealer is in town. Sadie is a suspect, but when they encounter each other they find a little more than what they were expecting. Arrogant, rugged and muscly Harry is taken in by this unlikely suspect. And she in turn finds herself thinking about him. But, she can’t get close to him with her being a suspect. Surely he’s trying to get close to get her to confess? Maybe she should get close to him to find out what he knows? These thoughts constantly go through Sadie’s mind. He’s so god damn sexy though and she just can’t stop thinking about what she desires him to do to her. “… This will make him think I’ve been dreaming about him. When I have. A normal person wouldn’t have replayed the coffee shop in their head fifteen times, each time ending with us naked and covered in coffee beans. But I never claim to be normal… … He knows my name. It sounds so sexy on his lips. He must have tracked me down. It seems I’m not the only one fantasizing about coffee beans.” The author has done a great job in telling parts of the story from Harry’s perspective too in opening up the reader to Harry’s diary. Sadie is a suspect, but he finds her so hot that he just can’t stop having the most savage thoughts. He wants her, and just maybe then she’ll open up about the drugs too. Not only has Sadie got Harry to worry about, but it also isn’t too long before the already established drug dealer of the area begins to threaten her when they realise that she is dealing on their patch. These moments are intense and suspenseful at times as the reader awaits what will become of Sadie and just how far these threats will go. Especially when Sadie and her friends think up incredible ways to encourage the drug dealer to back off. I found Dopey Women slightly darker than Laura’s other stories possibly because of the criminal element and the hot, hot sex. However, this did not affect just how funny the author’s work is. Dopey Women is a bizarre combination of Breaking Bad (tv black comedy drama) meets Miranda (tv sitcom), with a dash of Bridget Jones (I have actually likened Laura’s work to the latter two in previous reviews). I mean, imagine Miranda and her friends setting up a drug business, to help people and pay their bills, but then they get caught up with a hot detective on their trail who ultimately himself gets caught up in erotic thoughts and dealings with one of his suspects, while they also have an enraged, aggressive drug dealer out to stop them at the same time! The girls’ methods of dealing with the fiasco, particularly Sadie’s, are outrageous, quirky and usually wind them up in further trouble… …which is just what you should expect when reading a Laura Barnard book! Enjoy! An ARC of Dopey Women was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

This is my second book by this author and it won’t be my last. I love that she writes strong women and gives them oodles of personality and character. The storyline was unexpected and super funny and there was just enough steam and not much cheese. I loved that the women stood up for themselves and each other. It’s a super fast read and a fun way to spend a day.

Well I have read all of Laura's books they get funnier and better along the way with an original story to each but one thing that remains is the laugh out loud moments and the total bonkers story line which grips u throughout & transports me to another world - a real page turner I read this in two days just because I have to cook for my kids I'd ha e done it in one. I seriously I can't wait for the next book and laura banard is fast becoming one of my fave authors keep up.the good work.

As a huge fan of Laura Barnard's books I couldn't wait for her latest release and she certainly didn't disappoint! Another fantastically written book full of humour and wit with a lot of laugh out loud moments. I loved the storyline, very gripping and I couldn't read quick enough to find out where it was going to lead. Can't wait for her next release, Congratulations on yet another awesome book!

I love Laura Barnard. I've read another couple of her books (the others being the debt and the doormat, followed by the sequel the baby and the bride) and absolutely love her style. She has such a great style of writing that makes the story so easy to read and I didn't want to put them down, which to me is a sign of a very good book :). As well as a serious side to her leading characters, there's also humour which made me laugh out loud.

Another winner from the hilarious and lovely Laura Barnard ( I can say that as I've met her!) This will have you laughing out loud from the first chapter right to the end and it is a story which you will find hard to put down! I won't give anything away but if you've read Laura's previous books then you'll appreciate her humor and great writing( I loved 'Harry's Diary' excerpts-giving a slight male POV as the books from's Sadie POV). Of course once I got to the end...I wanted more!!

I really enjoyed this , it really is laugh out loud funny. These bunch of different but crazy ladies all decided to sell “brownies “ and well things go tits up from there really lol