London, Can You Wait? by Jacquelyn Middleton (Review by Samantha Hartlen)

Rating: 4.5/5*

I fell in love with all of the characters in London, Can You Wait? (LCYW), and enjoyed being whisked away to incredible London (and Dublin, Manchester, New York…) in a world of comic-con, play-writing, and stardom. I highly recommend you read London Belongs to Me before diving into LCYW, as the journey continues for Alex and Mark as they explore their own struggles, values and dreams. The novel emphasizes mental health challenges in a way that is easy to relate to. I really enjoyed Middleton’s perspective on living with anxiety and trauma. While the love story is somewhat predictable, the nuances of each character and sub-plot are not – they are complex, with details continuing to unravel throughout. While not a central role in the story, I also appreciated the inclusion of queer and racialized characters.

I really connected to Alex as I too have a passion for theatre, but mostly because my partner is English (and I love all things London). I could relate to many elements of seeing England through the eyes of being American/Canadian.  When it came to expressions like “chuffed to bits” and deciding who gets which Celebrations at Christmas – I found myself smiling along and feeling my own experiences reflected perfectly. I loved that she was a bit of a “geek” and not your typical woman in a boy-meets-girl story.

Next time you are traveling (especially to the UK) I recommend reading: London, Can You Wait? I’ve started following Jacquelyn Middleton on Instagram – in hopes for another novel. I think there is another chapter in Alex & Mark’s story….

Grab your copy today here