3.5 stars - I love the premise and I love a rugged and handsome farmer. The book captured the dynamics of small-town living well (fast-spreading gossip, support systems, life-long friendships, close-mindedness, etc). And although I enjoyed the side stories and side characters it began to get a little crowded half-way thru. If the author chose to write a sequel (or preferably 3) with the other love lives of various townsfolk, I'd read it/them! ( )

Hello Fellow Readers,

I really wanted to love this book, it seemed to check off a lot of my wants; Literature loving main character (Evie), small town feels and vibes, plus DOG! I thought it would have been a match made in romance heaven for me, but sadly I just couldn't get into it. There was just one main problem. Evie. I just couldn't click with her.

At first I was sympathetic, she just got passed up for a promotion even though she probably deserved it (I hear you Evie!) She also gets stood up on a date, which is tough but is it enough to completely swear off men? No, especially when she has only been talking to the person and has never actually met them. Evie then makes a spontaneous trip to run a bookstore for a month in another country, yep we all need a change of scenery once in a while. This is understandable.

She then meets Roane when she saves his dog from being hit by a car. He's sweet and funny and so very obviously into her but since she has sworn off guys...basically this is where I lost any connection with her. Any conflict that arose between her and Roane was of her own making, she was basically her own worse enemy. I was hoping for Evie to develop character grown but everything just felt so forced. At the end of the day this book just didn't live up to what I hoped it would be.

Overall, not my cup of tea but it may be yours.

*A Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this. This is my honest and unbiased review* ( )

I really liked how easy-going this book was. I think the conflict between the main couple was contrived. I think there was plenty of other ways to bring about conflict (e.g. her mother, the local feud, sickness) for something that seemed so small. ( )

Evie goes on vacation to an English village and on the first day meets a local farmer, Roane, who is gorgeous, but more importantly, immediately shows interest in Evie, who is escaping from dating disappointments.

Add to that a bookshop, a great dane, interesting villagers, and walks in the countryside. Well! if that's not the formula for a pleasant listen.

Personally, I wish it had a bit more substance, but also, I shouldn't put that on a novel that's about being on vacation.... I think that is a genre in its own right?

This book doesn't appear to be part of a series. After the On Dublin Street Series this novel seems very tame but enjoyable enough - so far (I'm about 1/3 through it).

Written in 2021, it's interesting to remember that On Dublin Street, so passionate and intense, was written in 2012, long before Normal People in 2018. ( )

This was a cozy romance comfort read. I loved everything about this book. Evie was over-all fed up with her life and chose to vaction for a month in England. Part of the deal was that she had the opportunity to run the bookshop over her apartment for the entirety of her stay. Evie went there to find herself and figure out what she truly wanted from future life, without current life getting in the way. What she found was a tiny English village full of friends, found family, and love.

This was a slow burn without being a slow burn. Everyone in town, including Evie and Roan knew they were going to end up together. But she made a valiant attempt and tried not to fall for him, but also gave in when she knew there was absolutely no fighting it. But the build up... The banter...

This book gave me everything I wanted; it had me grinning at the banter and the UST, and the sweeteness of it all. This book even gave me things I didn't ask for; various types of tears and sniffles.

Absolutely adored this; please excuse me while I check out the author's back catalog. ( )