Reviews

Much Ado About You by Samantha Young

farhana101's review against another edition

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5.0

*4.5 stars.
Ahh this book gave me all the feels! A slow-burn romance between a woman working at a bookstore and a sexy farmer. Its also a friends to lovers and the characters were honestly so wholesome, pure and genuinely kindhearted. I’ve been reading sooo many books with cocky asshole type male lead that it was very refreshing to have an honest, open and caring hero. Will be recommending this to everyone I know!!!

thephdivabooks's review against another edition

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3.0

Find my full review on my blog

Evie Starling is underappreciated at work, and is passed over for a promotion for a less-talented, less-experienced man, despite her decade of hard work, dedication, and stellar performance. So she basically quits on the spot. Couple that with another man who she had a great rapport with ghosting her with no explanation, and Evie is ready for a major change, so she leaves it all behind.

She takes a holiday package that lets her move to England and live above a small book store called Much Ado About Books and run the shop in it’s tiny English village. Soon after arriving, Evie fits right into the small town life in the village and meets a handsome farmer named Roane. Despite some great chemistry with Roane, Evie avoids getting involved because she has come to England to self-reflect about her life.

Still, eventually the two can’t stay away from one another. I was quite swept away by their story! Evie and Roane are both caring, empathetic souls. I loved all of the scenes with them helping the people around them. This holiday was healing for Evie in more ways than one.

A few things made me roll my eyes, but nothing too much and I was glad Evie (who I adored) got her fairy tale after all!

book_concierge's review

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3.0

Digital audiobook performed by Imani Jade Powers


Evangeline Starling feels her life in Chicago has stagnated. She’s thirty-three and has just been passed over for a promotion... again. She needs to evaluate and regroup, so she plans a holiday in a quaint English fishing village. A lover of Shakespeare, she finds the perfect opportunity when she agrees to run a bookstore – Much Ado About Books – and rent the above-the shop apartment, while the owner takes a month-long vacation.

Evie loves the village, and the lovely shop. She’s a natural at bookselling and the villagers seem friendly and welcoming, especially handsomely rugged sheep farmer Roane Robson, who charms Evie each day with his flirtatious remarks.

This was a fun rom com, which happens to end at Christmas time, but isn’t otherwise very Christmasy. All the tropes are here – she’s sworn off men, he’s devastatingly handsome, his dog is even more attractive, they’re in a quaint village full of colorful characters. Of course there will be bumps in the road to HEA. He’s keeping a secret (with the help of all the other villagers), she’ll be hurt when she discovers it, and break everything off. But, of course, the HEA is powerful and cannot be denied.

This is the first book by Young that I’ve tried; I may have to look into others by her.

Imani Jade Powers does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She has a good pace and her diction was clearly understandable even when I was listening at increased speed.

amberdlewis's review

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lighthearted relaxing
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book was light fluff that made for a quick read. At first it gave me similar vibes to "The Holiday" but with a summery twist as opposed to a Christmas story. The premise was intriguing and I loved the little village the MC was visiting. There were also lots of cute and fun book references all throughout that made me smile. However, the story itself fell a bit flat.

I really didn't feel much chemistry between the MC and the LI and pretty much all the characters were relatively underdeveloped to the point of being dull. The story itself was a bit weak and drawn out and the pacing didn't quite flow. I was also a little disappointed in how needlessly slow the romance was, especially considering how insta-love their attraction was.

Overall this was a cute book, but honestly, I felt a little let down. 

marieintheraw's review

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2.0

Overall, unfortunately, the romance fell just as fast as the characters did for me in this one.

 I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.

brianne_k's review against another edition

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3.0

*3.5/5*

I am a sucker for fish out of water, small town romances.. and if those romances have Roane? Count me in. But the reasons for swearing off men? Meh. The conflict?! Even bigger meh.

amy_mcmillan's review

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3.0

Cute but predictable and not that complex in terms of writing

neffcannon's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

laura_cs's review

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4.0

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After being stood up on her first date in two years and overlooked for a promotion in favor of some fresh-out-of-college guy nearly ten years her junior and just generally feeling like she's the sidekick in her friends' lives, Evie Starling decides to do something bold and daring. When Evie discovers "Much Ado About Books", a bookstore located in northern England where tourists can stay and run the shop during their visit, Shakespeare-loving Evie takes the store's name as a sign and books her trip. For three weeks, Evie will find herself and follow one single rule: no men.

So, of course, her first day there, she saves the life of a Great Dane, who happens to have a sexy English farmer owner. A very, very, very sexy English farmer, who makes Evie want to break her one rule. Good thing he's got one big flaw: he doesn't like Shakespeare. Evie can't like anyone who doesn't like Shakespeare, no matter how big their biceps are and how pretty their face is and how much he loves his dog, right?

Evie quickly takes to life in the small English village and makes friends easily, though she tries not to get too comfortable. After all, her life there has an expiration date, and it's quickly ticking away. When an opportunity arises for Evie to stay longer, she jumps on it. Now she begins to wonder, is this where she belongs? Does finding herself mean starting over an ocean away from everything she knows and loves? And where does Roane--the world's sexiest farmer--fit into this?

Funny and sweet, "Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune" meets "The Tourist Attraction" in this novel that gives you cozy BBC sitcom feels in "Much Ado About You." Full of nerdy Shakespeare references, drama, and heart, Young has crafted a plotline, a setting, and characters that make the reader as well as Evie feel at home in Alnster, like it is a place to belong. Take inspiration from Evie and find yourself and follow your heart, no matter where it takes you! You won't regret the adventures doing so will bring!

lousyiza's review against another edition

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4.0

This story is so cute. I want to have this kind of getaway too.