Men I’ve Loved Before

Written by Adele Parks

Narrated by Catherine Bailey

What if The One was actually the one that got away? A riveting story of love and the paradox of choice from the Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author of Lies Lies Lies, Just My Luck, and Both Of You.

Natalie and Neil everything they could want: a stylish London house, two high-flying careers, a close-knit group of friends and family. And best of all: an ideal marriage. Having children, they’ve agreed, would only disrupt their carefree lives.

But then Neil turns thirty-five, and suddenly he’s longing for a baby. However, Nat has not had a similar change of heart.

As they no longer agree on this fundamental issue, their once perfect relationship starts to crumble. Nat starts to think about her exes and wonders if one of the men she has loved in the past can offer her a future, or by looking over her shoulder is she simply going to trip up?

Sunday Times Number One bestseller Adele Parks asks the ultimate ‘what if’ question in this insightful, smart, funny novel about revisiting your past…

Praise for Men I’ve Loved Before:

‘A fabulous mix of comedy, real life and emotional depth’ Daily Express

‘A wicked pleasure’ Woman & Home

‘Observant, sensitive and we like this a lot!’ Closer

‘A dazzling novel full of emotional set-pieces and real insight into relationships between men and women… This is Parks at her best’ Heat

‘She is a particularly acute observer of relationship ups and downs, and her stories are always as insightful as they are entertaining’ Daily Mirror

Praise for Adele Parks:

‘Adele Parks never takes her foot off the gas, every book is tighter, faster, better than the last’ Lisa Jewell

'Gripping, moving and elegantly written' Marian Keyes

‘Brilliantly twisty… but is also so insightful about human nature. A triumph’ Lucy Foley

‘A compelling take on one of those “what if” scenarios that we’ve all wondered about. Addictive, provocative and thoroughly relatable… brilliantly crafted’ T.M. Logan

‘An absolute joy’ Jane Fallon

‘As ever, Adele Parks does not disappoint – you’ll love it’ Ruth Jones

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: May 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9780008409159

Adele Parks

Adele Parks was born in Teesside, North East England. Her first novel, Playing Away, was published in 2000, and since then she's had seventeen international bestsellers, translated into twenty-six languages. She's been an ambassador for The Reading Agency and a judge for the Costa Book Awards, and is a keen supporter of The National Literary Trust. She's lived in Italy, Botswana and London and is now settled in Guildford, Surrey, with her husband, son and cat.

Reviews for Men I’ve Loved Before

[jolzyn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is my least favourite book by the author among all the books that i read. It tell the story of Nat and Neil who initially thought have the perfect marriage but their marriage changed overnight when Neil going against his own word. He wanted to have a baby now.. their baby. Nat who is known to be very stern with her principal, is unrelented. She doesnt understand the reason for Neil's change of mind. Neil, who is frustrated with Nat's refusal, begin to visit to the stripper club and befriended a stripper, Cindy who have a daughter, Heidi whom Neil felt himself to be attached to. Meanwhile, Nat, who feel sad for Neil's change of heart, begin to call up all her exes, in order to convinced herself that Neil is her ONE. I find the story plot getting weirder and weirder especially the part where Neil's involvement with the stripper while Nat's contacting her exes. Both of them have never sit down together to thrashed things out. They seems to be walking around each other throughout this book even when Nat confessed her adultery to Neil. As a reader, it was rather frustrating as the author did not really touch on the reason for Natalie's refusal to have a baby until almost at the end of the book.

[shelleyraec · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Nat is happy, married to her soul mate Neil in cozy domesticity, dedicated and well regarded in her career she is firmly in control of her life's direction. Then Neil drunkenly confesses his desire to start a family and Nat's perfect life begins to crumble under the pressure of an argument where no compromise is possible.Initially I was interested in the dynamics of Nat and Neil's relationship as it began to buckle under the strain of Neil's desire for children and Nat's determination never to be a mother. Nat's choice has both partners questioning their choices and their marriage. It's a thoughtful examination of a subject that is still taboo as they begin fighting and then ignoring each other, but unfortunately I felt that the situation quickly descended into farce as Nat begins meeting up with largely idiotic ex boyfriends, questioning her devotion to Neil and Neil becomes obsessed with a stripper and her toddler daughter.I felt the author tried to blend a chic lit plot with a women's fiction sensibility which results in an awkward mix. The story was either treated too seriously or not seriously enough depending on which label you want to apply. Both Nat's and Neils behaviour becomes increasingly inexplicable and frustrating and I lost respect for both characters. The conclusion set my teeth on edge, particularly with the stereotype it reinforces (which I can't reveal without a major spoiler), and sadly I was just relieved to have finished it.This is the only book I have read by this author and I liked the writing style enough to give her another shot probably, but for me Men I've Loved Before was ultimately a disappointing read after a promising start.