I'm sorry to say that I really struggled through this one. At 448 pages it was much too long for its rather weak story line and there was much too much information about cycle racing included which was also to the detriment of the story telling. I was obliged to skim large chunks of the text especially the bits where certain characters sat and had mental debates with themselves. That was an odd narrative technique that I could not come to grips with. So for me a bit of a disaster really:)20 s Jo LinsdellAuthor 23 books96

This is the second book I've read by Freya North and I'm fast becoming a fan. Not only was this book a great read it has also inspired an interest in cycling. I've already made plans to follow the next Tour de France!

Freya North has a talent for creating characters that you feel you can connect with. You feel the ups and downs they face and become a bit a best friend cheering them on from the sidelines.

I'll definitely be adding more Freya North books to my to-read list.3 s Chris Spaight26

This was a reread for me, and honestly I can't remember why I kept it. And British chick lit is one of my top three genres.

The writing is just not particularly good.

There are two major flaws:
1. A really annoying storytelling device where the characters have interior dialogues with the third-person non-existent narrator. I guess they're supposed to be representing the reader. Or maybe the writer? Either way it disrupts the flow of the book and rather than making me feel I'm part of the story it has the effect of pointing out for me that I'm reading a story, which wreaks havoc with the whole suspension of disbelief thing.

2. Even more problematic is the fact that Freya North felt it necessary to include every single bit of Tour de France research, much of which is awkwardly shoehorned into conversations. Makes it pretty clunky at times.

That said, I did end up finishing this book again even with the bad writing. Simple fact is she has a gift for creating able characters that you care about. I especially Luca Jones.2 s Amanda707 98

I just love this book. Have read it about ten times over the years, I think. For anyone to be able to make me care this much about cycling and the Tour de France is doing a sterling job as a writer, in my opinion. I love Cat and Ben, and the colourful characters that make up the peloton are just an added bonus. Fab!

2022 - reread. Wow, what a difference in reading experience in less than 10 years. Shows how my reading tastes have changed. I loved all the Tour de France stuff. I HATED all the romance stuff. And I especially HATED the cutesy way Freya North has pretend conversations between author and characters. It was so HARD to read. Dropped from 5 star to barely 2 stars.buy-on-kindle2 s Lesley Book Lover 375

Enjoyed reading this again, as it's several years since I read it.read-more-than-once2 s Fiona Story202

A sweet, lovely, funny, light-hearted book. I now know more about cycling than I ever wanted to. Look forward to reading more books from this author.2 s Siobhan436 2

This book started my love of the Tour de France over a decade ago. You can tell how much the author loves it as well. I'd love another McCabe book.2 s Soho_Black548 9

Years ago, my then girlfriend, aware of my interest in the Tour de France, suggested I read Freya North's "Cat", purely on the basis that it was set against the backdrop of the event. Quite a few years later, when my bookshelves became our bookshelves, it returned to its rightful place amongst her other Freya North novels, still unread by me. Until this year's even combined with the appropriately bright yellow cover in a prominent position in the bookcase reminded me of my wife's failed attempt to make me read the book several years ago.

The "Cat" of the title is Catriona McCabe, youngest of three McCabe sisters, who is part of a huge pack of journalists following the Tour de France, as she is writing daily stage reports for the Guardian, whilst hoping to sufficiently impress Maillot magazine into giving her a job as their Features Editor. She is also hoping that a change of location for the three week duration of Le Tour will also help keep her mind off an ex, who is gone but far from forgotten. Cat, cheered on by her two sisters and their Uncle, is hoping that 3 weeks of doing her dream job whilst in close company of 198 men with shaved legs and highly toned thighs will help her finally get over him.

We are introduced to members of three racing teas, all out for glory in Le Tour, the fictional Système Vipère, Megapac and Zucca MV. Système Vipère and Zucca MV have riders capable of winning each of the available jerseys on the tour and Megapac are a newly formed team hoping to upset the status quo and sneak a stage win or two. We meets everyone involved in the Tour, from the visible faces of the riders, to everyone involved in getting them through the Tour, their team mechanics, doctors, directors and soigneurs, to those less directly involved, but still hard at work, the journalists. The 198 riders may be working physically harder than anyone else, especially in the mountains, but everyone else is doing their own job and trying to fit in moments of being normal human beings when the bikes are racked for the day.

There are so many reasons I disd the book that it's difficult to know where to start. Perhaps the most annoying aspect was the general writing style. Virtually every character seemed to have an internal conversation, so that if there was an aspect of their character than needed explaining to the reader, the character acted as their own narrator. Annoyingly, this seemed to happen on the majority of the occasions they were alone, but also mid-conversation with another character, which made things very confusing. Sometimes, these internal conversations became so detailed, it felt as if the characters were interviewing themselves. Had this happened occasionally, or been a quirk of a single character, it would have been a far less annoying literary device, but almost every chapter had at least one example, as if North couldn't be bothered to build relationships between characters up to the point where this conversation could happen between two people when one could achieve the same result by talking to themselves.

The other problem I had with the writing style was that it was horribly over-written, much this paragraph. North seems unable to leave verbs or nouns to speak for themselves and sprinkles adjectives with abandon. One paragraph quite early on was covered with them to the extent that reading it was as exhausting an endeavour as cycling up a mountain. Amusingly, North doesn't seem to see the irony in having Cat's editor berate her for the overly flowery language in her stage reports. Strangely, however, this over-writing doesn't extend to the frequent sex scenes, which are by contrast very mechanically written, with an almost total lack of emotion, passing in a rush of named body parts, which were described in the same way in sex scene after sex scene, as if North only knew how to write one sex scene, but had to include several such scenes.

What proved to be something of a distraction for me personally was the setting of the Tour de France itself. North mixes fact with fiction, using the names of actual cycling teams and riders mixed in with her fictional characters, but doesn't always take them from consistent places. One of the stages North describes on Cat's Tour happened for real in 1997, but a stage she later refers to as due to happen the following year wasn't on the real Tour until 2000. Additionally, whilst crashes occur, they're not nearly as frequent as happened on Cat's tour, which seemed to have a major incident on every stage and one of the real-life riders who was injured and taken away in an ambulance after crashing out never suffered such an incident as described, although the cause of the crash has occurred in real life. There was also surprisingly little mention of drugs, despite the era the book seems to be based in being during the period when drug use was rife in the peloton and North's fictional Megapac team clearly being a facsimile of Lance Armstrong's US Postal team. Of course, it could be that North was threatened not to reveal anything she saw relating to drugs, as many were threatened with around the time. It may well be that, in my case, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but the mixture of fact and fiction, especially mixed as unreliably and inconsistently as here, frequently took me out of the moment and lessened the book even further for me.

To be fair to North, there were a couple of aspect of the book that I felt were done reasonably well and certainly well enough for them to stick out amongst the mess I felt the rest of the book was. The hidden aspects of the Tour, particularly where they followed the stages in the team car and where Cat described life in the salle de presse with the rest of the journalists did seem well described and the interactions seemed realistic to someone who has never been there. In addition, North's passion for the event and the excitement of the racing comes across very well in Cat's passion for the sport and the Tour and some of the descriptions of the cycling, whilst frequently over-written, came across as quite exciting, almost to the extent of seeing it. Sadly, there is too much bad writing elsewhere for this to be enough to salvage the book.

Someone with little of no prior knowledge of the Tour de France may enjoy "Cat" more than I didn't, if they're a fan of the s of Jilly Cooper. However, the book is generally so poorly written and the sex scenes so repetitive and mechanical, even within the genre, that this may not prove to be the case. "Cat" is one only to be borrowed or, preferably, avoided completely. owned-books reviewed1 Heather898 18

This one was for Women Bike Book Club, but I didn't go to the discussion that night because children.

The librarian told me this one was a bit of "chick lit" and I dismissed that but was shocked that a librarian would write off a book as chick lit when we all know referring to books as"chick lit" is a way to make women's writings seem less important.

But she was right- this is chick lit in the romance way.

This is supposed to be about a young woman, fresh off a hard break up, being a reporter on the Tour de France for a British paper. She's hoping to land a big job after this gig

To start off: North tries to have WAY TO MANY CHARACTERS. It takes 4 or 5 chapters to revisit the original and titled character after chapter 1. Keeping them all straight all at the beginning is a pain. It also took me about 130 pages in to feel invested in the story. There is A LOT of references to bulges and bananas and giant quads/thighs in lycra. A fair amount of sex (but the book can go a while without it at times) and at least one scene where you're , "I know the author is a woman, but does she even know how female orgasms work?" Maybe I expect too much from my sex scenes.

Anyway, if you're looking for a fluff romance for summer reading, this one is fine.1 Karen Jean Martinson188 1 follower

Looks awfully chick-litty. And so it is. I couldn't finish it, it was so bad.

Admittedly, chick-lit isn't my thing. I happen to believe that women think about more than just men, and I think they do this in a way that goes beyond mentioning that they think about other things and then writing about men for 300 pages. I also think that they way they think about men goes beyond the boys-on-bikes way she talks about them in this book. Finally, I think that relationships are more complicated than just going on the Tour press junket, being noticed by a handsome young doctor (and handsome pro cyclists, too), having amazing sex (I mean, come on, he makes her orgasm with one finger?!?), and having the false conflicts of minor misunderstandings and embarrassments be made to seem grave and life-shattering. Blech. Also, the writing is lazy. Too many repeated phrases - arched eyebrows, gestures made over the phone that are lost on her sisters at home, shallow descriptions. Glad I bought it for a buck that went to charity.cannot-do-it1 Amk256 King763 6

I started originally reading this book years and years ago, read some, never got into it and gave up ... but it has sat there looking at me and I loved other books by this author ... so yep ... started it again and it has taken me forever to bring myself to finish it .... let’s put it this way ... whilst I admire the research done ... if I have to read the words Tour de France once more I think I might actually puke ... bikes, bikes, men, thighs, bikes, stop already ... I’m sure there was a story in there someone and I did some of the characters although a fair few seemed well creepy to me .... I was just pfffttt I really just want to finish this so I can get rid of it .... was a long hard disappointing slog!! I wouldn’t waste your time with this one ... she has much better books!1 Juliana Graham485 8

I'm so glad I didn't read this Freya North book first, as I have read lots of her other books and much preferred them to this. I found that there was far too much discussion of the various riders of the Tour de France - so many that they merged into one and it became confusing which rider was which. This made the book hard to get into. I also found North's style irritating in this book - constant 'he said', 'she sighed', 'he confirmed', 'she gasped' at the end of every line of dialogue struck me as poor writing. I also found some of the sex scenes a bit tacky - not something I've felt about her other books. If I'd read Cat first then I doubt I would have gone on to read any others by Freya. Disappointing, and I hope that the next one I read is better!1 Aileen434 4

Cat McCabe is 28 years old, she is a Reporter she is very excited about
going to the Tour De France for 3 and a half weeks to report for the
Guardian, to help her get a promotion, she has a keen interest in
Cycling. She is mending a broken heart.
Cat finds it hard it is a male dominated environment and she has to
fight for her stories, does Cat succeed and get her promotion? Does she
find love again?
I found some parts of this book really good, however in other parts I
was bored, this was an ok read not sure I would recommend.
1 Barbara ElsborgAuthor 88 books1,652

I really d it. I've just watched the Tour de France and this brought it all alive again. Ms North has a very unusual style that's instantly recognisable and I LIKE it. I know it wouldn't suit everyone, just as the detail on the Tour wouldn't suit everyone either but CAT was fun and educational and as much fun to read for the second time as it was the first!
Be warned though, I don't think it's fair to call this chicklit. If you're expecting a sweet romance - this isn't it. It's far more than that.1 Jacqueline371 27

This is a light hearted novel that follows sports journalist Cat as she gets to grips with the mad world of the Tour de France while working on her first reporting assignment. This is a well researched book that combined my love of writing, cycling and reading, where I could feel the real tingle of excitement at the finish line each day. There was also plenty of romance and humour mingled with life behind the scenes of one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

I loved this book, I loved the character of Cat and if I’m honest I really wanted to be Cat, she has the job of my dreams.cycling france paris ...more1 Tracey206 3

When I found this book I wasn't sure whether to read it as it combined the sport I love with romance fiction but I thought I'd give it a go. It took me a while to get into and that is partly because Fraya North mixes real life cyclists, cycling teams and events with fictional ones so that took a little getting used to. Also the personalities of the fictional cyclists didn't fit with the personalities of the once I'd read in autobiographies. Once I'd got over that I d it and read it as a fun chic lit novel.
1 Ruthie409 7

A bit of 'seasonal' reading. Good, fun rollick through the Tour de France. Felt she did some research and produced a moderately accurate picture of behind the scenes. However, the book was published in the late 90's, a time when doping was rife among the peloton (c.f. review of 'Racing through the Dark' earlier this year). A couple of oblique references. Was the 'omerta' so strong nobody spoke to the author about it? Or would it have inconvenienced her plot line? left-in-sardinia yet-another-cycling-book1 Jacqueline1,667 152

Not my favourite freya north novel. I wasn't too interested in the racing and there wasn't enough between the various cyclists to make them distinctive and so i mixed them up. the attraction between cat and Ben was its saving grace and what kept me going.
the narrator was intrusive to the point of irritation . glad that this author has reigned in this style in more recent novels they're better for it.1 Dark-Draco2,222 41

I have to say that this wasn't quite as good as the other two books in the series - I found the constant switching to a third viewpoint intrusive and totally unnecessary. But I loved the story. the other two stories about her sisters, this is Cat's journey from a bad relationship into fiding the man of her dreams. The vivid descriptions of the race itself were great too, as I know nothing about the sport. A good, happy read. Thanks again for sending this to me. chick-lit1 Kat Ashworth214 1 follower

Great narrative, excellent setting. The depth to which the author brings to life the Tour de France makes this novel so much more than a soul searching romance. I could really feel the strength & determination of the riders and the commitment of all those who work with them. It gave me an appreciation for cycling I didn’t previously have. The characters were beautifully crafted, creating intimate and clear identities to each. Highly visual and tantalizingly immersive.1 Julie H.1,451 24

My best way of characterizing this book is that what Best in Show was for the dog show world, this is for the Tour de France. The main character, Cat, is a sportscaster who is thrown into the drama queen world of the Tour de France. The perspective is hilarious, as are the riders, the podium girls, and even Cat grows a bit along the way.fiction1 Mariana599 1 follower

The style of writing is annoying. It's naive. You're led the entire book by the proverbial hand and given obvious hints to predict what's going to happen next. And using the narrator as another character who pops up randomly throughout the book is juvenile. I don't it!

In saying that, I loved reading about the Tour de France, really. I can't wait for it to come around this year!1 Laura620 18

This was a good read. Personally I would have d more emphasis on Cat and Ben and their developing relationship, rather than so much interest on the bike riders and the tour itself. If you are interested in cycling or journalism then this book is for you. If you're looking for a deeply romantic encounter, I'd give it a miss!1 Tasneem1,759

I really enjoyed Cat. The setting in France with the atmosphere of the tour d'France was very nice and very well done. I enjoyed the tension, the passion and the storyline. Cat's a super heroine, she's got issues, but she's strong and funny too.1 Nicki252 18

A 3.5 star reread to coincide with the Tour de France. I suspect this would be a bit boring if you weren't a Tour fan, and it is dated thanks to the Lance Armstrong doping scandals, but it's still a fun read. Vive Le Tour!2016 chick-lit re-read1 Suzie White17 4

Months I've been trying to get into this book. At page 138 I've given up. So disappointed as I loved her other book 'Pip'. 1 Paula Nichols434 3

I want to give this book 4 star, but at the same time the things that stop me really deserve a 2 star review. I loved the setting of the story - the strange world of the Tour de France, the teams, the press...it almost made me start watching it. Cat was a decent character, but I didn't really care for her family for some reason. I think the eccentric uncle was a little too eccentric for me. The first problem I had with this book was the voice of the narrator. It wasn't there enough to be familiar, but popped in an unwelcome cousin at your small soiree. The other problem I had was with the love scenes. Now, I am no prude, and of course I have no issues with sex scenes in books. What I did find jarring was the language used, it was very...direct in style shall we say (or crude!). It felt out of place with the rest of the story and to be honest I skipped the couple of paragraphs because I felt they did not add much to the story at all, and the narrative would not have suffered if they had not been included. My final problem was Him - this big monster was built up and then ended up a McDonald's burger - in your mind you build it up to be big and juicy, then you see the squashed, sloppy mush that is real life. The spanner in the works wasn't really a spanner, more of a tiny broken toothpick. Shame, as it could have been a good narrative strand... Zoë262 1 follower

I'll always have a soft spot for Freya North and her romantic heroines. The stuff of my youth: Chloë was gifted to me at 13 by a friend's mum who can't possibly have known about all the raunchy bits... Could she?

Cat fits the Chloë (and Sally) mold in that she's articulate, self-aware, bruised by love, intelligent and kind, with a bevvy of supporters and advocates of varying levels of eccentricity. I'd quite to adopt Cat's uncle Django, mad cooking and all... And North's heroines also never seem to need stable work (though they will muck out the ponies, if you'll forgive the pun); I wonder if North's world is one of comfortable inherited wealth... The golden glow of being a twenty something in the late 1990s seems a long way from today's reality where our heroine would be crushed by student debt, still living at home and stumbling between unpaid internships...

I digress.

Really did enjoy this, in all its lightness and ease of reading. There's a warmth in all the characters, and in addition to the relationships with Django and sisters Fen and Pip, I loved the burgeoning friendship with Josh. And I might even have developed an appreciation for the Tour de France! Lydia123 2

Started off well but I couldn't finish it I'm afraid. Skim read most of it. The cycling stuff is quite interesting if you're a fan me, but there's too much detail and not much of a plot apart from the romantic intrigues.
Don't want to criticise too much as this was written 20 years ago, but it's incredible how attitudes towards male-female power dynamics have changed. The male protagonist (Ben) is sexually aggressive and other characters are even worse. I don't mind sex scenes or racy language, but there's very little romance in this.
Having said that, I was a youngish woman 20 years ago and I think a lot of the incidents described in the book would have made me squirm then. A female soigneur seeing the men buck naked, then wrapping up their race food in porn magazines as a "treat"? Ugh. I completely gave up the book at this point.
Obviously well researched in terms of cycling though and I do feel sorry for the author that only a few years later, her cycling heroes came crashing down to earth. Doping is barely mentioned in this book... Jeremy62 1 follower

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