Product Description

Recovering in hospital from an appendix operation, Ali Harris whiles away her time by entering magazine competitions. A few weeks later, she's delighted to discover that she's won first prize in Complete Woman magazine's Most Romantic Couple of the Year competition. There's just one problem. Ali has been dumped by her fiance, and there's no way she can claim her prize - a romantic holiday for two in Antigua - on her own. Help is at hand in the unlikely form of Jeremy 'Boily' Baxter, the spotty boy next door. But Ali's troubles have only just begun.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #295848 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Review
'She answers the prayers of all those suffering from post-THIS LIFE disorder' -- GQ

From the Publisher
A wickedly funny romantic comedy
Ali Harris emerges from hospital minus two useless organs: her appendix and her fiance. Winning a dream holiday for two in Antigua should cheer her up - but the holiday is first prize in Complete Woman magazine's Most Romantic Couple of the Year competition. And there's no way Ali can claim to be one half of Britain's Most Romantic Couple on her own. With a holiday in the offing, Ali's fiance is keen to kiss and make up - but he's not prepared to give up his new girlfriend. So Ali takes matters into her own hands and discovers that revenge is sweet. It's also a whole lot of trouble . . .

'Cross your legs, boys: in the best tradition of Kathy Lette, this is girl power at its most painfully funny' Helen Lederer

'She answers the prayers of all those suffering from post-THIS LIFE disorder' GQ

'A shagadelic giggle with a good twist in its tale' Ms London

From the Author
Life imitates fiction.
When I started writing Deep Heat, I thought it was hilarious to put the heroine, Ali Harris, through all sorts of trials and tribulations in her search for true love. More recently I've been laughing on the other side of my face, having been dumped, almost as cruelly as my heroine, just seven days before I had to be my best friend's bridesmaid!!!! It did cross my mind to follow in Ali's footsteps and revenge myself with a tube of something that stings, but you'll be relieved to know that I haven't. So far. I suppose the point of this little note is to let anyone out there who's feeling down because they've been let down know that there is happiness beyond the gloom. When you're going through a heap of emotional cowshit, the best revenge is to take notes on some of the worst parts and then publish them!!!

Customer Reviews

Suspend Reality and Laugh
I'm going to state something and I just want to make it clear that I mean this in the best possible way. This is a very silly book. But it's great, it really is! I understand the one star reviews - these are people who are looking for a book about meaningful relationships, a woman's struggle to find the true meaning of life, or a good sloppy hearts and flowers romance (oh yes, we all say we don't read romances, we read contemporary women's fiction!) But this is a funny, snappy, well-written - yet silly - book. And that's more than OK with me. Yes, the plot is totally improbable. This is not a story that maybe could happen to you. Oh, there's no time travel, liaisons with aliens, body snatching, or talking farm animals. But think about your very favorite sitcoms, the ones that are so well-written (for me, I think Seinfeld, early Frasier, Will and Grace in the first year). You had "normal" people that ended up in preposterous situations and you still laughed along with them. (I call this the "Green Acres Syndrome". For those of you in the US, we all knew that Oliver and Lisa would never live in a hillbilly shack and farm in a three pc suit and peignoir, and you just had to give over that.) You can read the basic synopsis of the plot here, but it doesn't do the whole farce justice. Not only does Ali lose her fiancé on Christmas in the hospital, she ends up careening down a course that leads her to lie to everyone, go on holiday with the dork of her childhood (who has miraculously turned into a hunk and "controls Eastern Europe"), competes in the world cup of Most Romantic Couples with said reformed dork that she barely knows, and ends up on trial. And I won't even tell you what the "Deep Heat" stands for, but it's critical to the story! I stayed up way too late reading through the last fourth of the book, trying to see what horrible fate would befall our heroine next. Manby has such a concise, snappy, witty style she can carry off this improbable story. Try it, you'll like it!

Good read for the recently rejected.
I don't normally read this kind of book but a friend told me it might cheer me up after my boyfriend dumped me. And it did! You probably shouldn't follow the heroine's recipe for revenge or you'll get arrested, but it was great fun thinking about doing the same!

BRILL!!! A WORK OF ART! PITY THERES ONLY 5 STARS!
Well what can i say. what a smashing book, if you are single or have just been dumped it is a great pick me up. READ IT YOU'LL LOVE IT....