Mixed Doubles

Love’s Unexpected Game

In Mixed Doubles, Jill Mansell serves up a delightful romp through the tangled courtship rituals of modern romance. Published by Headline Review in 2007, this edition follows four very different friends whose lives collide in a whirlwind of chance encounters, mistaken identities, and laugh-out-loud misunderstandings. When Ellie’s ambitious career plans lead her to share a flat with free-spirited journalist Rhiannon, sparks fly as one woman’s quest for stability clashes with the other’s craving for spontaneity. As these roommates swap secrets and scramble through London’s vibrant social scene, Mansell’s sparkling prose reminds us that finding “the one” often happens when you least expect it.

Between Fault Lines and Funny Lines

Amid the swirl of cocktail parties, blind dates, and impromptu dance-floor confessions, Mansell’s ensemble cast comes alive. There’s Graham, the endearing baker whose oversized heart can’t seem to keep out of other people’s dramas; Priya, the fiercely independent graphic designer whose family expectations threaten her chance at true love; and Marcus, the charmingly hapless DJ whose playlists may be on point but whose love life is in total disarray. Through late-night phone calls and frantic coffee-shop meetups, Mixed Doubles explores how vulnerability can be the key to connection—and how laughter often paves the road to romance.

Serving Up Second Chances

More than a lighthearted chick-lit adventure, Mixed Doubles is a warm, heartfelt tribute to friendship, resilience, and the courage to leap into the unknown. As Ellie, Rhiannon, Priya, Graham, and Marcus navigate heartbreak and hope, they discover that life’s greatest matches aren’t scored by perfection but by the willingness to keep playing—even when love’s rules seem impossible to follow. Headline Review’s 2007 paperback, with its playful cover art and breezy narration, makes this novel a go-to pick for fans of witty, character-driven storytelling.

. Author’s description: Jill Mansell is a bestselling British novelist celebrated for her feel-good narratives, quirky characters, and hilarious take on love’s unpredictable journey. With a background in magazine writing, she crafts heartwarming stories that blend humour, emotional depth, and the promise of new beginnings.