Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus – Fancy Meeting You Here (Literature Review)

Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus’ third collaborative novel Fancy Meeting You Here is witty, romantic and pure escapism.

Australian collaborative duo Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus’ entry into the world of Australian literature has been nothing but successful. Their previous books, The Book Ninja and While You Were Reading have earned them a myriad of fans and praise from critics alike. And with their latest novel, Fancy Meeting You Here having just been released, they look set to dominate sales charts once again.

Having recently turned 30, aspiring screenwriter Evie Berry has found herself in something of a rut – both creatively and romantically. While her collaborative podcast with best friend Ben, Pasta La Vista has been a fun detour from real life, and her ‘friends with benefits’ relationship with ever ready Freddy has suited her well enough, she can’t help thinking she’s screwed up somewhere along the way.

So when a chance encounter sends her back in time to her early 20s (and closer than ever to her Hollywood crush, Hugo Hearst) she’s ready to make some changes that will hopefully alter life as she knows it in the present. But living in the past is never easy, and things aren’t always as dreamlike as they seem in celebrity culture.

Australian authors Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus have been on my radar since the release of their debut novel – The Book Ninja. But it wasn’t until I was given the opportunity to review Fancy Meeting You Here that I was able to get the chance to find out what made this duo so popular.

And let me tell you, now that I’ve started reading Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus’ books, I can’t wait to dive into their back catalogue and discover more of what I’ve been missing out on.

Fancy Meeting You Here grabbed me from the first page. A lighthearted, heart-warming romantic comedy that blends an insight into screenwriting and filmmaking with a traditional romantic comedy, it had me hooked from the very beginning. With loveable characters, an intriguing plot and a little dose of romance, you can’t help but imagine the plot play out on the screen. It’s loveable, engaging, and witty all at once.

I haven’t had the best experiences with collaborative novels in the past, which is probably why I’d waited until now to read Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus’ work. But honestly I needn’t have been worried. Where I’d found other collaborative novels by other authors clunky and not quite meeting the mark in terms of writing, Berg and Kalus’ Fancy Meeting You Here was a refreshing change.

 As best friends since childhood, it’s understandable that Berg and Kalus know each other quite well, and this translates well to the page. The writing is flawless, seamless in transitions which help keep the plot moving at a fast pace and really help the characters come to life. I enjoyed every second of my reading experience in Fancy Meeting You Here.

If you’ve yet to pick up a book by Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus, start with Fancy Meeting You Here. It’s witty, dynamic, engaging and an all-around good time for lovers of literature everywhere.

Fancy Meeting You Here is out now through Allen & Unwin. To find out more about Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus’ books, click here.