Review: 'Out of Practice' by Phoebe Fox (2016)

When your relationship is on life support, the Breakup Doctor is on call. 
There’s no shortage of broken hearts in Breakup Doctor Brook Ogden’s successful breakup counseling practice—if love is a battlefield, then Brook is the cavalry. Luckily her own love life is in full recovery: after a long, tortuous road, she and Ben Garrett are finally headed down the aisle. 
But when a local TV personality—and former frenemy—invites Brook onto her show, she’s blindsided live on the air when the interview turns into an act of long-delayed revenge meant to publicly humiliate her. Brook’s an expert at getting back on your feet when life knocks you down, but as the blows keep piling on—with a betrayal she never saw coming and a family crisis that threatens to pull the foundation out from under her—her confidence starts slinking away. With her clients dropping her faster than a one-night stand, suddenly the Breakup Doctor’s career is in critical care.
I love a good book series and that’s exactly what I found when I picked up Phoebe Fox’s ‘The Breakup Doctor’ in 2014. This novel was the start of a thoroughly enjoyable four-part book series (click here to read my review of the third part ‘Heart Conditions’) and I have to admit I had some mixed feelings about the October release of the fourth part ‘Out of Practice’! On the one hand I was really excited to jump back into the story and see what was going on with all the characters, especially main character Brook, but at the same time I was really sad to reach the ending of the series. But, I guess it’s unavoidable; everything comes to an end, so I just had my fingers crossed it would be a pretty good one…!
Breakup doctor Brook Ogden is doing pretty well; her business which focuses on helping others deal with a broken heart is still going strong and she is now engaged to her lovely boyfriend Ben. However, things slowly start to fall apart when Brook is invited to appear on a morning TV show where she is publicly humiliated. It doesn’t take long before other things start to go wrong and catch up with her, such as the relatively recent death of her father and the fact that she’s been working non-stop for the past few years. It’s definitely time for Brook to take a break, but will she be able to take some time for herself while also dealing with the effect the bad publicity has on her business, some serious family issues that need attention, and, oh yes, the planning of an entire wedding…? 
I can't believe 'Out of Practice' is already the fourth and final part of Phoebe Fox's 'Breakup Doctor' series; what a ride it has been! We are once again looking over the shoulder of main character Brook who owns her own relationship counselling practice while at the same time also doing a weekly radio show, a newspaper column, planning her very own wedding and dealing with family issues (which there always seem to be at least one or two)... no wonder Brook is getting a bit stressed out! Once again Phoebe Fox has filled a novel with a thoroughly entertaining story, focusing on different parts of Brook's life with appearances from some loved familiar faces such as her best friend Sasha, fiancee Ben, a few patients and the most adorable dog ever, Jake.
I really enjoy Phoebe Fox's writing and think this novel, just like the other parts of the series, has everything an entertaining chick lit read needs. It's a great ending to a great series and I have to admit I'm quite sad to see this series coming to an end, but it's been a great journey and I've loved following Brook during this quite tumultuous period in her life. I wouldn't necessarily give this book 10/10 or 5 stars, but I feel that this series and Phoebe Fox both deserve it. 'Out of Practice' is a simply great and thoroughly enjoyable read, especially when read as the last part of the 'Breakup Doctor' series which I can recommend to any chick lit fan. Sad to see this come to an end, but incredibly excited about Phoebe Fox's next read!

Rating:10/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.