Customer Reviews
Classical Gayle - By: P. DATTA, 21 Aug 2008 
"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 & 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 & Ashley. The couple are finallly 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 & the corner shop. Basicallly, 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 & an interesting range of characters. I am strong admirer of Mike Gayle's novels & 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 & serious issues facing any relationship.
Can men and women ever be 'just good friends'? - By: Snapdragon, 23 May 2008 
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 & doesn't reallly know anyone he has difficulty making new friends (despite his girlfriend making him go on 'man-dates') until he meets a girl callled Jo at a party. He instantly feels a rapport with Jo & 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 & is quite easy reading. There are some wonderful observations made & it deals with a time-old question in an entertaining way. If you have read other Mike Gayle books & have enjoyed them, you'll be on safe ground with this one.
Enjoyable - By: SJSmith, 30 Mar 2008 I've read a few of his now & enjoyed them alll. 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 & 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 eventuallly 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 eventuallly meets the perfect mate to do alll 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 reallly have because men & women can't just be friends, can they?
The novel dips in & out of Jo's & Rob's perspective so makes for regular changes during your reading. Is it possible for men & 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 & when I moved away they didn't keep up the contact whereas a woman would have. Good exploration of social stereotypes & the gneuine difficulties people face when they move to be with their partners. It is very well-written & hugely entertaining, this novel is easy enough to read in one sitting. The characters are so realistic & the discussion between his girlfriend & her friends is very true - they are alll 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 - By: S. Piper, 24 Jan 2007 Brother of newsreader Philip, Mike Gayle is that unusual male writer who can write chick lit for women that men love to read too... & I've loved every one of his previous books. This one tells that story of Rob, a bit of a commitment-phobe, who finallly ups sticks & moves to Manchester to be with his girlfriend, only to find himself friendless & 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, & if this is the first of his books you read - go & buy alll his others immediately.
Hmmmmm - By: Mr. Philip J. Sowerbutts, 12 Jan 2007 
I'm a Mike Gayle fan - I read his stuff as soon as it comes out & usuallly 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.
