Scan barcode
spaces_and_solaces's review against another edition
3.0
I have so many emotions about this book! I’m all for dramatic holiday reads that end with a sweet declaration of love, but this book fell a little flat. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a sweet romantic book but it could have had more character to it.
Jess is finally living her dream life. She is newly single, a 29-year-old girl who made the decision to move to London and start life afresh by accepting her dream job in the publishing company in December. She used to earlier work in Marketing.
As luck would have it, her friend Becky recently inherited this huge mansion type house in a posh area and is renting a room for basically peanuts.
Becky hosts a gathering at the house for all her renters and Jess falls hard for Alex, it was like connection at first sight. Alex, too is like an oddball like Jess, having left his job as a lawyer to start a career in nursing and has just ended a serious relationship with his fiancé.
Jess had to leave for a trip the next day and when she returned, she saw another one of their flat mates, Emma coming out of Alex’s room that night. Jess, thinking she lost her chance with Alex, settles for just being his friend and they bond over exploring London together.
The story progress over the course of a year as they navigate through work, friendships, and love.
My Thoughts: There was a lot of repetitive stuff and the characters lacked depth. Alex keeps talking about how tiring it is to be a Nurse and how he is really not interested in a Friends with Benefits relationship with Emma. Also, the fact that they got to rent the room for cheap comes up a LOT and I mean a lot! It would have also been a great to see more of Jess’s and Alex’s work life instead of just hearing about it. But it’s the first book by the author and I am excited to read her next one!
Jess is finally living her dream life. She is newly single, a 29-year-old girl who made the decision to move to London and start life afresh by accepting her dream job in the publishing company in December. She used to earlier work in Marketing.
As luck would have it, her friend Becky recently inherited this huge mansion type house in a posh area and is renting a room for basically peanuts.
Becky hosts a gathering at the house for all her renters and Jess falls hard for Alex, it was like connection at first sight. Alex, too is like an oddball like Jess, having left his job as a lawyer to start a career in nursing and has just ended a serious relationship with his fiancé.
Jess had to leave for a trip the next day and when she returned, she saw another one of their flat mates, Emma coming out of Alex’s room that night. Jess, thinking she lost her chance with Alex, settles for just being his friend and they bond over exploring London together.
The story progress over the course of a year as they navigate through work, friendships, and love.
My Thoughts: There was a lot of repetitive stuff and the characters lacked depth. Alex keeps talking about how tiring it is to be a Nurse and how he is really not interested in a Friends with Benefits relationship with Emma. Also, the fact that they got to rent the room for cheap comes up a LOT and I mean a lot! It would have also been a great to see more of Jess’s and Alex’s work life instead of just hearing about it. But it’s the first book by the author and I am excited to read her next one!
ricas_library's review against another edition
2.0
Rating: 2.5/5
This book is a slow-burn romance where I would have loved to have had more sparks, angst and even some messy moments between the two main characters, Jess & Alex.
All the characters were really likable, including the secondary characters, and the idea of this “house of misfits” coming together as roommates was interesting.
It was a quick and cute read, but I was left wanting more out of the story. It’s also not the Christmas/winter romance book I thought it would be.
This book is a slow-burn romance where I would have loved to have had more sparks, angst and even some messy moments between the two main characters, Jess & Alex.
All the characters were really likable, including the secondary characters, and the idea of this “house of misfits” coming together as roommates was interesting.
It was a quick and cute read, but I was left wanting more out of the story. It’s also not the Christmas/winter romance book I thought it would be.
suzyq436's review against another edition
3.0
**Contains spoilers**
A cute and light-hearted chick lit about Jess pressing the reset button on her life down in Bournemouth and taking the plunge to follow her passion by moving to London and starting afresh in the publishing industry. Jess moves in to a house share with four other people in Notting Hill, where she meets Alex, a nurse in training after pressing the reset button on his life as well by giving up a comfortable finance position to follow his passion. These two have a connection off the bat but due to rules, missed opportunities and misconceptions their feelings for each other are kept from another.
The book follows from the perspective of Jess starting her life in London, adjusting to the fast-paced lifestyle of the city, settling in to her new job and discovering what she truly wants out of life. It also follows from the perspective of Alex who is healing from a break-up and adjusting to the pace of his new career path whilst figuring out what type of relationship person he is.
This book is adorable and sweet and I absolutely love Alex and Jess and really enjoyed Jess' relationship with her grandmother as well. The book has a great hallmark feel to it yet I would have preferred a little more angst and romance. The book was more about Alex and Jess pining for each other whilst building a solid friendship and figuring out their lives rather than romancing each other.
A cute and light-hearted chick lit about Jess pressing the reset button on her life down in Bournemouth and taking the plunge to follow her passion by moving to London and starting afresh in the publishing industry. Jess moves in to a house share with four other people in Notting Hill, where she meets Alex, a nurse in training after pressing the reset button on his life as well by giving up a comfortable finance position to follow his passion. These two have a connection off the bat but due to rules, missed opportunities and misconceptions their feelings for each other are kept from another.
The book follows from the perspective of Jess starting her life in London, adjusting to the fast-paced lifestyle of the city, settling in to her new job and discovering what she truly wants out of life. It also follows from the perspective of Alex who is healing from a break-up and adjusting to the pace of his new career path whilst figuring out what type of relationship person he is.
This book is adorable and sweet and I absolutely love Alex and Jess and really enjoyed Jess' relationship with her grandmother as well. The book has a great hallmark feel to it yet I would have preferred a little more angst and romance. The book was more about Alex and Jess pining for each other whilst building a solid friendship and figuring out their lives rather than romancing each other.
bethmorvant's review against another edition
3.0
One. Why is this book on all the Christmas book lists?! This is definitely not one. And two. It was meh. That is all.
aimee_amina's review against another edition
3.0
Was kinda long and boring tbh.
Also think James was better than Alex, she deffo made the wrong choice.
Also think James was better than Alex, she deffo made the wrong choice.
ezatt's review against another edition
1.0
everyone in this book was boring and lacked personality. Jess and Alex never said or did anything that made me believe in their relationship
anxiouslyreading33's review against another edition
2.0
I was just not a fan of this. Instead of talking to each other the guy would get drunk and sleep with one of thier friends. and because he did that she would go on blind dates it was ridiculous
violetheart34's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
k_lenn's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty cute! A great option if you're looking for something simple to relax with during the holidays :-)