The Ick by Holly McCulloch
Thirty something Gem never has a steady boyfriend because she always finds something about the men in her life that give her ‘the ick’. When flatmate Shanti bribes Gem to try dating the physically attractive Atlas as part of Shanti’s research, will Gem’s pattern of failed relationships be over, or might it be worse than ever?
The Ick book review & synopsis
I admit that the one aspect of The Ick I didn’t like was the title! However, it is absolutely perfect because it created the same response in me that totally irrational things about other people create in Gem. I thought that was a really clever element.
The plot is thoroughly entertaining. It’s filled with humour that transports the reader away from the cares of the world, making it a perfect escapist read. The different scenarios are just the kind of situations any one of us might find ourselves in so that there’s a completely engaging realism in the story.
Although the cast is quite small, somehow the author has presented a microcosm of society. Gem’s Mum’s disability and Shanti’s ethnicity are a natural part of the narrative. Whilst they add authenticity, they are included with sensitive dexterity so that, as real life should, they simply reflect the world. Indeed, there are themes of considerable depth in this laugh aloud, romantic story. You’ll find insecurity, workplace exploitation, a sense of familial responsibility, the need for money to live appropriately, alongside deep, abiding love and friendship. The Ick might be hilarious, but it is also moving and actually quite affecting.
Every character is a gem in The Ick, including Gem…
The characters are a joy to meet. I was in love with Atlas from the very beginning. I thought it inspired that he wasn’t a stereotypical grump with hidden depths, but instead was a genuinely charming and lovely man. That’s not to say that he is one dimensional. As the story progresses we learn more about how he has become the man he is. Gem is also brilliantly observed. Shanti’s insight into her character is spot on and as we learn more about Gem’s obsession with the ick, the more we understand her because she could, in fact, be any one of us.
The Ick is a smasher of a book. It’s bright, breezy with just enough romance and sexiness to make it a wonderfully uplifting story. But don’t blame me if you read it and find yourself with the overwhelming urge to play Twister!
The Ick by Holly McCulloch is out now (Hatchet, £9.99).
Read more fiction reviews by Linda Hill including Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney, A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft, Foster’s Mill by Val Wood, All I Want For Christmas by Karen Swan, City of Silk by Glennis Virgo, Things We Lose In Waves by Lucy Ayrton and Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings.
