We Just Clicked is a feel-good romcom read with all the ups and downs you’d expect. When Izzy and Luke concoct a plan to have a fake relationship to become Instagram famous, never in her wildest dreams did Izzy expect to fall in love for real. Faced with a choice between her dream career and true love, Izzy doesn’t always get it right and it’s an enjoyable ride following her story.
If you’re a fan of Sophie Kinsella or Lindsay Kelk, you’ll like this!
Genre: chicklit
4/5⭐️
I do love Dawn O’Porter’s edgy brand of chicklit. There’s always a great balance of humour, diversity and shocking scenarios and this was no exception.
The Cows is a strange combination of light chicklit that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Some small elements are as dark as something you’d find in a twisty thriller.
I enjoyed the book on the whole and thought the ending was well wrapped up. I didn’t see everything coming which was a bonus.
I did have some negative thoughts which I’ll address below:
The whole ‘incident’ for me didn’t work. I’m all for a bit of scandal and creative licence, but I don’t think the aftermath played out in a way that seemed plausible. It seemed quite odd how the character justified her actions and I don’t think it worked as a device to empower women at all but that’s my opinion.
The act was wrong for a person of any gender and the way it was deemed a ‘silly moment’ was quite jarring. I ‘get’ the message and the comparison to Hugh Grant and his infamous incident, but there’s a difference between being in your car and the London tube and I don’t think the message translates.
‘Women don’t need to apologise for being sexual’ is true, but they do need to apologise for indecent exposure and these lines are so blurred in the book, they don’t exist.
Having said that, I was engaged with the rest of the story, Stella and her quest, Cam and her strong-minded and often un-popular attitude and Tara’s career / love story and foibles of being a single parent. I still liked the book even if I disliked one element (plus the excessive plate smashing but that’s a tiny thing).
Genre: chicklit
Rating: 4/5
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My Year of Saying No, in true Maxine Morrey style, is an uplifting and heartwarming read. Lottie is a sweet heroine with a kind heart and Seb is just perfect. The slow-burn romance is so satisfying, especially when the two finally realise (after several ups and downs) what we knew all along.
I loved the idea of Saying no to things you don’t really want to do, it seems quite freeing. I also loved Humphrey the rescue dog!
A wonderful read.
Genre: Romcom / chicklit
Rating: 5/5⭐️
I’m a huge fan of Jane Fallon’s books and have read most of them so I was super excited to discover she has a new book coming out soon.
Queen Bee is a story of the haves and have-nots. The contrast in lifestyles of the wealthy and those struggling to make ends meet is clear. The characters are colourful and lively and Jane has an eye for observation. I did feel there was some stereotyping and cliques but it is a light read so that’s to be expected.
The story follows Laura, the owner of a small cleaning business, who manages to find herself embroiled in the scandal of the rich. There’s a mystery to solve, secrets to spill and lives to shatter so in theory, it has all the makings of a juicy chicklit. Unfortunately, for some reason, I wasn’t as drawn into the story as I hoped. Laura perhaps seemed a little self-riotous and I didn’t always think she behaved any better than Stella, the spoilt rich trophy wife whose husband had a secret. Towards the end, the story picked up and I found myself more invested in the outcome. I did find the ‘one year later’ section cram packed with story that I would have liked to see unfold and developed (or possibly not included at all) but that’s just my opinion. There’s lots to love about this book – it’s witty and a great insight into how the other half live.
Genre: chick lit
Rating: 3/5⭐️
The School of Starting over was my first Lisa Swift book and I absolutely fell in love with it. It’s a feel-good book, which indulges you in all the wholesome warm and cosies you could want from a romance. The characters are a lively, eclectic bunch and there is plenty of humour from main and supporting cast members. I was invested in their stories and really rooted for them,especially since some of the issues they face are much deeper than expected.
I have to give a special mention to Xander who is the perfect, unassuming hero (ahhh, hearty-eyes).
The plot had me hooked; there was drama, secrets and a little bit of mystery throughout!
Once thing I loved was how deep the author dug for a popular reference that was probably less mainstream than most – I had a few ‘oh my god I remember that’ moments!
All in all there was nothing to dislike about this book (other than having to put it down at the end). If heartwarming, contemporary romance with laughs and feels is your thing; it’s a must-read!
Genre: Contemporary romance / Romantic comedy
Rating: 5/5
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4.5*
I’ve been dying to read The Flat Share since seeing so many glowing reviews on social media last year. The book grabbed my straight away; I love quirky Tiffy and Leon is a dream. There was plenty of humour and I loved reading the notes Leon and Tiffy left for each other.
The Flat Share is an uplifting romcom with a great storyline and interesting subplots giving it a bit more depth than you often find in the genre. I can’t wait to read Beth O’Leary’s next book.
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Rating: 4.5⭐️
I Owe You One was a sweet and pleasant read with warm humour and some poignant moments. I liked heroine Fixie, although a little naive at times she did just want to do the best by her family and those around her (whether deserving or not). Some of the romance did feel a little rushed to me and some parts surrounding the family business did feel a little like they slowed the pace but overall it’s a light, entertaining read.
Genre: Chicklit
Rating: 3/5🌟
When I found out there was a sequel to How To Bake A New Beginning I was thrilled because I loved everything about the first book. The second book follows on the sisters’ stories as they continue their lives and strive to succeed in their chosen careers but can also be read as a stand alone. Reading this was like catching up with old friends especially as the story is told through the three viewpoints of Amanda, Sabrina and Louisa.
I loved the Italian setting but being a Manchester girl myself, I particularly adored the familiar references to my home city too – especially The Northern Quarter. The recipes at the start of each chapter seemed wonderful (I’m not much of a cook but I have a good imagination and when I read them, my mouth watered) and I loved how the author added little bits of humour or nostalgia to the ‘method’ section.
The heart of the story is family and there’s a real warmth that comes through whenever any of the characters talk about or interact with their family which gives the book a really nice feel.
It’s the perfect book for curling up with this summer.
Genre: Light-hearted women’s fiction
Rating: 5/5⭐️
DaydreamReader 