It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake

A Novel

By: Claire Christian

Narrated by: Ione Butler

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

"A vibrant story of self-discovery...sure to capture readers' hearts." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

A sparkling, feel-good tale about starting over, for anyone who's spent too much of their own life making other people happy.

What if you made yourself your number one priority?

Of all the women and men Noni Blake has pleased in her life, there’s one she’s often overlooked - herself. After the end of a decade-long relationship, Noni decides it’s time for that to change. She’s finally going to prioritize her wants and desires and only do things (and people) that feel good in the moment.

As she embarks on a pleasure-seeking quest that takes her halfway around the world, she discovers that maybe she can have everything, and everyone, she’s ever wanted.

Effortlessly hilarious and relatable, Claire Christian spins a fresh, uplifting story about starting over as a 30-something woman who’s been living life for everyone else. A story of self-discovery for the ages, Noni’s journey serves as a reminder that life is what we make of it - so why not enjoy it?

"Funny, refreshing and empowering." (Lindsey Kelk)

"Pure pleasure...sexy and joyful." (BookPage, starred review)

©2021 Claire Christian (P)2021 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Gut Bustingly Funny and Relatable

Where was this laugh out loud, light, funny, and relatable story when I was going through my divorce many years ago?! Definitely not a deep read, but a perfectly lighthearted "chick flick" of a book ♡

I see a movie in the future

I see a movie and Ben Robson IS Bo. Not sure who to cast as Noni, but…
Anyway, was at first a bit disappointed that it wasn’t the lesbian romance I thought it was, but I was quickly won over.
This was a fun trip from Australia to Scotland, and a little bit cathartic for all of us along for the ride with Noni.

What does pleasure look like in your own life?

I didn’t want it to end. Noni is fantastic! This book made me laugh out loud, blush and smile the whole time I listened. It really resonated with me, her quest for pleasure and the adventures pleasure took her on. It made me take a look at the things I do to please everyone else and look at the things I should do to please myself. Get this book! So good, great narration. I’ll never get tired of Ione Butlers voice. I took down a few quotes from my favorite part of the book.

“I realized I’ve been using people as my biggest pleasure center my whole life to validate me. I’ve been letting their acceptance or rejection of me dictate my value. I didn’t speak up when I knew things weren’t right because I didn’t value my own opinion. I put what other people thought first because it was easier or more comfortable to be in it than disrupt it.”

“I disregard my feelings and don’t value my desires, I don’t nurture myself.”

“Pleasure isn’t a person it’s personal. What does it look like to me?”

Go out there & get it. Let Noni inspire us. Thanks for this Claire Christian!

Relatable and heart felt

I absolutely loved this book. I turned 40 this year and I felt this book. As we get older we more often than not way too critical of ourselves. Noni let’s it all go and has amazing adventures being her authentic self on her pleasure quest. You have to read this!

Enjoyable!

Enjoyable listen and story line. I didn’t realize the accent was Australian at first and so was very confused trying to place the British accent, and even wondered if this was a new Americanized British accent. Haha Overall, I enjoyed Noni’s experience of self discovery.

Great story

This was a great story. Very entertaining and voices that keep you listening for more.

It HAS been a pleasure!

I loved this book! Noni and her quest was so fun to follow along with, but also her insights that we could all learn from. Definitely give this one a listen, the narration was great, too!

I had no idea

I never suspected, when I began this book, that it would be eye-opening, would be therapy, would be life changing. Maybe it won’t be life changing, because just listening and feeling aren’t enough to change a life. But it has made me think about things in my own life. It has made me really look at myself.

I never suspected, when I picked out this book, that it would turn out to be profound.

I want to know the person whose mind was able to write these words. She could be my guru.

I want to spend six months halfway around the world, and meet strangers, and say yes to adventure, and change my miserable ordinary life. I’d like to be half as brave as Noni Blake.

The story was fabulous. The narration was wonderful. I’ll now sleep with British words and Australian accents dancing in my head.

Loved it.
This one will stick with me.
Thank you Claire and Ione.

I will listen to this one again. Maybe many times.

Fun because it’s not real life

You know the Family Circus cartoon, where the kid travels a loopy dashed line all over the page to get home? Yeah, it’s like that; a humorous story about the journey being just as important as the destination- and the fun to be had in the twists and turns along the way… except with shagging.

It’s more fun and entertaining than sexy or explicit, but there is a ton of shagging as Noni sets out to check men and women off her “should have boned” list. She’s like an Aussie Bridget Jones, complete with her colorful friends, who are fully supportive of her pleasure-tour walkabout. There’s cheeky bits about turds rolled in glitter and David Bowie’s prodigious Labyrinth codpiece. There’s big and little life lessons from the basic idea of seizing the day (carpe diem! .. or maybe carpe d!ck?) to wise tips like “always wee after sex.” And, considering how many old friends and complete strangers Noni beds in quick succession, there’s zero angst about STDs, and relatively low fallout. I also appreciated that this book avoided LGBTQ-centric angst or the stereotypical, 80’s jazz-hands gay BFF… the LGBTQ characters and storylines were organic and grounded.

So, as long as you don’t mind casual shags and occasional F-bombs, or think too deeply about how this plot would play out in the real world, this is an entertaining listen.

DNF

I couldn’t continue listening. The book is one sexual encounter after another. Not what I thought it would be after reading the synopsis. The synopsis should be rewritten.