Love in the Cupboard

A quirky, uplifting, contemporary romantic comedy

Romance - Comedy
396 Pages
Reviewed on 03/07/2023
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Mari Jane Law lives in the UK and loves cats and chocolate. She also loves books, TV series and films that make her laugh. Through her writing, she discovered she could make other people laugh too.

She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme and The Society of Authors.

Her Catholic upbringing gave her ideas for some great fictional characters in the Love & Mishaps quirky romantic comedy series. As a child, she was amused by Giovanni Guareschi’s Don Camillo books. As an adult, she was entertained by Father Ted. In between, among other titles, there was Jon Cleary’s Peter’s Pence and Paul Burke’s Father Frank, which nurtured her taste in Catholic-themed comedy.

She hopes those who buy or borrow her work have as much fun reading it as she had in writing it.

There will be more to follow in the Love & Mishaps series, so you can meet your favourite characters again, to see how they’re doing, as well as enjoy new quirky romance stories – happy ending guaranteed!

    Book Review

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Love in the Cupboard by Mari Jane Law follows the strangely endearing story of Faith as she struggles with love. Faith finds the man of her dreams in a dark cupboard, but she has no idea who he is. Faith hopes to find him again but instead, she meets Tom, a man she can hardly stand. However, it seems like Faith is the only one who despises Tom because everyone else in her life loves him. Little does she know; Tom is the man she met in that dark cupboard and fell in love with. But she doesn’t know it, and she certainly doesn’t know that he is also a Catholic priest. What will Faith do when she does find out? Will she give love and Tom a chance?

I loved every second of Love in the Cupboard! I finished the story and wanted to immediately start reading it again. Faith is hilarious, and the way things turn out for her is perfect. Mari Jane Law is correct in calling it a quirky romance because it is exactly that. Tom and Faith are two very different people with different values. Tom wants a wife, and Faith wants a partner who will love her and not lie to her. They complement each other, and there are sparks that neither of them can deny. Even when Faith hates Tom, she feels a connection with him. I loved the other characters as well. Hope is hilarious, while Gavin and Luke are the voices of reason but sassy. In short, it was perfection. I highly recommend this to all romance fans.

Dawn, Goodreads

I absolutely loved this book, I stayed awake far too long to finish it. I love the premise, where the main protagonists encounter each other in a cupboard; and the ensuing shenanigans (which could have been easily resolved by a question or two – but then, it wouldn’t be much of a story, would it?) made me laugh out loud in places. There are a couple difficult issues that are treated in a sensitive, believable and for me, educational manner. All in all, a thoroughly good read. Really, really enjoyed it.
I received an ARC for an honest review.

Karen Warren, Goodreads

Love in the Cupboard (Love & Mishaps, Book Two) is completely packed with ridiculous, unimaginable, absolutely farcical, life-altering events from cover to cover… Spoiler Alert: Hearse (I rest my case). In fact, so ridiculous, unimaginable and farcical are events in the lives of Mari Jane Law’s characters (some of whom we met in Love & Pollination), that that’s the whole point.
Don’t miss this one, it’s a cracker and I can all but guarantee you will rip through it in short order, having laughed out (very, on occasion) loud often as well as giving the smile and belly-laugh muscles a thorough work out!
A very well deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from this reader who can’t wait for Mishaps Book Three!

Jude Srivalsan, Goodreads

I loved this and couldn't put it down! At first I wasn't sure by the title but it was an excellent story; funny, poignant, sensitive and very readable. Who would have thought that a priest in a cupboard would have so much fun! Definitely get this book! You won't regret it!
I received an ARC for an honest review.

Rebecca Charlesworth, Goodreads

Oh what a lovely, light hearted read with quite a few chuckle moments to boot. I loved the storyline and how the characters and everyone’s bit of the story intertwined. A really enjoyable read I just so loved Tom and Faith and Luke and Gavin.

Geordene Miller, Goodreads

I've just finished reading and I'm all teeth and smiles

Emma Hardy, Goodreads

What a tangled web of entertainment this is. Packed with quirky characters that are so closely interlinked it makes for a humorous and delightful read. Great representation seen in the ensemble of characters too.

The cupboard situation is so unusual that it makes for addictive reading to see where this might go next. Some totally hilarious moments, a couple cringe, and one show stopping ending.

I was gifted a copy of this read in exchange for an honest review.

Ruth Matheson, Goodreads

Overall 4.5*

If you are looking for something light, funny and in the genre of the classic British farce, then look no further. This book will have you giggling and laughing like a schoolchild with all its goings on. You do need to keep your wits about you though trying to recall who knows what about whom however it is a good paced tale which will have you turning pages just to see what happens next!! I usually read crime and murder/mystery books so this was so this was a lovely light read in between the usual dark tales for me. I would certainly recommend this book.

Thanks to the author for the ARC to review.

Mary Styles, Goodreads

I fell in love with the characters of Law's first book, "Love & Pollination." It was one of those books I didn't want to end, and so I was delighted that she has written another, weaving the familiar characters in with new protagonists added.
Love in the Cupboard is a delight; gentle and quirky - occasionally bordering on hilarious farce. The characters are the sort of people that we live next door to, brought to life through Law's words - and a few very unexpected twists and turns to keep our interest. Another book I didn't want to end. I'm hoping Mari Jane Law has more up her sleeve for a third book.

Dawn, Goodreads

I adored "Love & Pollination" (Perdita has remained my imaginary best friend ever since I read it!), so I was worried about this second book. Would I like the characters as much? Would the humour feel forced this time? Would the story be as entertaining? Yes, no, and yes! I read the entire book with a smile on my face (apart from when I was snorting, chuckling, or making other noises that showed my enjoyment). This is a cracker. I'd love to have a coffee with Faith and Hope...and I may have a tiny crush on Tom!!

My thanks to the author. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Geordene Miller, Goodreads

I've just finished reading and I'm all teeth and smiles. I have so much to say I don't even know where to start but to say well written and I loved every page. It was so refreshing and just what I needed to help me get back in the groove of reading. I don't know whether it was because I haven't read in so long but, I had an entirely different outlook on the whole writing of novels. Anyone can write a couple of words and give it a title calling it a story. However, it takes true, pure and raw talent to be able to give readers a vivid imagination throughout every chapter and to draw on ones emotions. So congratulations on another successful novel. It was unique and not the regular boy meets girl story. The story also taught me a thing and two about priesthood and an illness that was unheard of. I lovvveeeeed it and I am not just saying it, I actually mean every word. Congratulations again girl you deserve it

Kenneth Benn

Rom Com Farce Well Worth the Read

This is not my genre. Uh-uh. I watched Bridget Jones diary simply because I didn't have control of the remote. So, reading Mari Jane Law's Love in the Cupboard was a leap of faith. It paid off. She kept my interest which is why I gave it five stars.
I had my doubts at the start, but in stepped Father Tom Sheridan, a disillusioned Catholic Priest wanting 'out' of the priesthood. He wants a wife, children, mortgage - the full catastrophe. His disillusionment and fear, starting up a photographic business, has him hiding in a cupboard. Now the recently dumped Faith is also in said cupboard, licking her wounds. Faith and Tom, masked from each other by the dark, well ... they kind of make out and leave the cupboard still having not seen each other's face. And it all spirals out of control from that point on.
Love in the Cupboard reminded me of the great Tom Sharpe. A well-handled narrative. Even though there is a large cast of characters, no chapter is ever over-crowded. And the characters are everything you'd expect of a farce. Faith's nemesis, Roxanne, is an old school friend marketing adult toys as if they were Tupperware. Roxanne is the reason Faith lost her first relationship and certainly complicates the chemistry around Father Tom. But Faith does have Gavin and Luke who listen to her woes sympathetically. However, they, as a gay couple not yet on the same page with regard to having children, also contribute to the complexities of Faith's rapidly spinning down the plughole life.
As I said, not my genre. And yet here I am, reviewing a highly entertaining novel with multiple good outcomes.