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lisastein's review against another edition
4.0
Solid 4 1/2 stars. I liked the story, and the writing, and there's just something about books set in England that really appeals to me. The quips, the different words than I'm used to, it stretches the brain and makes me chuckle. I could use a good chuckle.
Sweet story, perfect for a flight last night. Would recommend easily.
Sweet story, perfect for a flight last night. Would recommend easily.
yeahorneighreviews's review against another edition
3.0
The Perfect Fit was cute, but not for me. It took me 5 different attempts to get through this book - the writing was just not my style and a lot of the British phrases went straight over my head. The story line is what kept me going, because I always need to know who the main character ends up with, but overall it just wasn't one I enjoyed as much as I was hoping.
jesslouiseporter's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
thespinsterlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I am going to say honestly that I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I don't read a lot of romance or chick lit but as a new librarian, I am trying to expand my reading and explore genres that I am not familiar. Right off the bat I enjoyed the writing and characters, Becky was instantly likable and the supporting characters were given enough story to be important but didn't take away from the main love story. I liked that the author wrote as if we were friends with these characters and didn't feel the need to over explain or rehash the existing relationships. (full disclosure, I have nor read #1 in this series but did not feel that I needed to in order to enjoy or understand this one.)
One of the plot points that has usually made me put down romances is the idea that there has to be a bad guy in the story. I loved that Baker didn't feel the need to make Cole into some super villain that the audience had to hate in order for them to feel good about the blossoming Becky/Marcus relationship. Sometimes in life, people fall out of love or find themselves not "fitting" as much as they did in the beginning and that's fine! That's life and the author did a great job writing about the end and beginning of relationships.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing (especially the British terms!), the characters, and the non-cheesiness of the story. Even the somewhat over the top finale was fun! I would recommend this book to people hesitant to try romance and hope they will like it as much as I did.
One of the plot points that has usually made me put down romances is the idea that there has to be a bad guy in the story. I loved that Baker didn't feel the need to make Cole into some super villain that the audience had to hate in order for them to feel good about the blossoming Becky/Marcus relationship. Sometimes in life, people fall out of love or find themselves not "fitting" as much as they did in the beginning and that's fine! That's life and the author did a great job writing about the end and beginning of relationships.
Overall, I enjoyed the writing (especially the British terms!), the characters, and the non-cheesiness of the story. Even the somewhat over the top finale was fun! I would recommend this book to people hesitant to try romance and hope they will like it as much as I did.
readaholic19's review against another edition
2.0
I just couldn't get into this book. There was so much dialogue and so many secondary characters. While I did enjoy the love triangle/story between Becky and Marcus, there was just so much other stuff that was going on. I honestly had to skim some pages to get to scenes between Becky and Marcus. I really liked how strong and independent Becky was and how much she loved her small town, but ultimately I didn't really like the writing style or the love story.
**ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review**
**ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review**
bookedandlit's review
4.0
::I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read your work!::
This week I read The Perfect Fit by Mary Jayne Baker . This book is set in a small town in England and for my fellow Americans I suggest reading everything with a Hugh Grant-type pacing. I know it's silly, but it helped! Our leading lady in this story is Becky Finn, she is returning to her hometown with her artist fiancé Cole. This story is really sweet and unfolds at a nice pace. Becky decides to help put on a play for her community and ends up meeting someone new. A male someone new..a lovingly supportive and hilariously charming someone new. I really like that this story doesn't pit the two men against each other in an aggressive way. It's basically about Becky deciding what kind of life she wants and pursing it. Honestly it was refreshing for a romance novel. Baker also takes great care in developing really lovable side characters to help fill the story out. By the end, you kinda want to stay with this cast of characters. Oh..and if you decide to give this a try, just know that this is book 2 in a series, but it totally works as a stand alone story.
This week I read The Perfect Fit by Mary Jayne Baker . This book is set in a small town in England and for my fellow Americans I suggest reading everything with a Hugh Grant-type pacing. I know it's silly, but it helped! Our leading lady in this story is Becky Finn, she is returning to her hometown with her artist fiancé Cole. This story is really sweet and unfolds at a nice pace. Becky decides to help put on a play for her community and ends up meeting someone new. A male someone new..a lovingly supportive and hilariously charming someone new. I really like that this story doesn't pit the two men against each other in an aggressive way. It's basically about Becky deciding what kind of life she wants and pursing it. Honestly it was refreshing for a romance novel. Baker also takes great care in developing really lovable side characters to help fill the story out. By the end, you kinda want to stay with this cast of characters. Oh..and if you decide to give this a try, just know that this is book 2 in a series, but it totally works as a stand alone story.
bubblegirljulz's review
2.0
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I hate to say this but I wasn't a fan of this book. I had a difficult time getting through it. It started off with an interesting premise but I soon realized that this book just wasn't for me. It was FINE but I really struggled to get through it. I do feel like many people would enjoy this book because it has some very funny characters and a plot about panto that is original to me. Something about the author's writing just didn't connect with me. I also felt that it seemed TOO British for me. Some of conversations went over my head because I didn't understand the colloquialisms. It was a bit too niche for me. What kept me reading was seeing what would happen between Becky and Cole and how she would figure out if Cole or Marcus was the right one for her. I did like the panto at the end but overall, this book was just okay. I'm sure this is the perfect book for many but I wasn't one of them.
I hate to say this but I wasn't a fan of this book. I had a difficult time getting through it. It started off with an interesting premise but I soon realized that this book just wasn't for me. It was FINE but I really struggled to get through it. I do feel like many people would enjoy this book because it has some very funny characters and a plot about panto that is original to me. Something about the author's writing just didn't connect with me. I also felt that it seemed TOO British for me. Some of conversations went over my head because I didn't understand the colloquialisms. It was a bit too niche for me. What kept me reading was seeing what would happen between Becky and Cole and how she would figure out if Cole or Marcus was the right one for her. I did like the panto at the end but overall, this book was just okay. I'm sure this is the perfect book for many but I wasn't one of them.
sperchikoff's review
4.0
Sometimes you go into a book expecting one thing and end up with something completely different. While that wasn't exactly what happened with The Perfect Fit, it's pretty close. I went in expecting a romance, but it turned out to be a hilarious, quirky, and absolutely lovely story. And romance too!
This book is such a breath of fresh air after reading so many sad or dark stories. Let's get to the review!
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
After years living in London, costume shop owner Becky Finn is trying to build a new life for herself and fiancé Cole in her old home of Egglethwaite, a sleepy village in the Yorkshire Dales.
Keen to raise funds for the struggling village hall she loved as a child, Becky soon finds herself at the head of a colourful group intent on resurrecting Egglethwaite s Christmas pantomime. But, as she quickly discovers, there s more to panto than innuendo and slapped thighs.
As opening night grows closer, Becky starts to wonder if her embattled panto will ever make it to the stage and, with handsome co-star Marcus on the scene, if she s picked the right man for her after all.
Becky is happy to be back in her hometown and cannot wait for her fiance, Cole, to join her. She is back around her friends and family and is ready to start this part of her life which includes having a kid of her own. But while she waits for Cole to make his way to Egglethwaite, she begins to get involved in the town.
While at a town council meeting, she learns the local community hall she loved so much as a child doesn't have the funds to stay open for much longer. So, Becky along with her friends and family decide to put on a pantomime (is that how you say that?? I'm an awful American).
And what ends up happening is possibly the funniest story I have ever read. We don't really have anything similar to a panto here. It's kind of like a play and a comedy skit in one and I found in entirely too much fun to read and learn about.
Casting each role turns into a shambles of an audition process. They decide they're going to do Cinderella and when the two fathers auditioned for the step-sisters, I thought I was going to pee myself I was laughing so hard. Rarely does a book make me laugh. Usually, it's more chuckling, screaming, or general shock. But The Perfect Fit is absolutely hilarious. And also...INCREDIBLY British (which I always love).
Let's get to the romance part!! Becky and Cole have been together for quite awhile. He's an artist and she owns a costume shop in the village. They clearly love each other, but as soon as she brings up kids, every alarm and red flag went up in my head. Based on Cole's response to her and how he interacts with the children in the story, it's clear he doesn't want them.
And he doesn't seem all that interested in Becky either. Or at least...not int he way he should. That being said, they do have a connection and Becky loves him. She makes excuses for his behavior and tries to see the best in him
Then comes Marcus. He is part of the group putting on the panto and one of Becky's co-stars. He is funny, sweet, and seems to get her in a way Cole doesn't. But up until the last 1/4 of the book, they don't realize they're perfect for each other. It isn't until other people start bringing up their relationship that they start to think that maybe there's something between them.
No spoilers, but...if you've read a good amount of romances, you can probably guess how the story end. *wink wink*
Oh and head's up, this is the second book in Love in the Dales series but you don't need to read the first book to understand what's going on. There are some references to the couple from the first book and they are featured a little bit in this one, but you won't miss anything by starting here.
The Perfect Fit by Mary Jayne Baker is fun, hilarious, sweet, and an overall joy to read. I am giving it 4 out of 5 stars. If you've been reading all the sad and dark stories lately (hello, I am there with you lol), you might want to take a break and read this. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Perfect Fit by Mary Jayne Baker came out September 21, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror Books for the free ecopy in exchange for my honest review.
This book is such a breath of fresh air after reading so many sad or dark stories. Let's get to the review!
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
After years living in London, costume shop owner Becky Finn is trying to build a new life for herself and fiancé Cole in her old home of Egglethwaite, a sleepy village in the Yorkshire Dales.
Keen to raise funds for the struggling village hall she loved as a child, Becky soon finds herself at the head of a colourful group intent on resurrecting Egglethwaite s Christmas pantomime. But, as she quickly discovers, there s more to panto than innuendo and slapped thighs.
As opening night grows closer, Becky starts to wonder if her embattled panto will ever make it to the stage and, with handsome co-star Marcus on the scene, if she s picked the right man for her after all.
Becky is happy to be back in her hometown and cannot wait for her fiance, Cole, to join her. She is back around her friends and family and is ready to start this part of her life which includes having a kid of her own. But while she waits for Cole to make his way to Egglethwaite, she begins to get involved in the town.
While at a town council meeting, she learns the local community hall she loved so much as a child doesn't have the funds to stay open for much longer. So, Becky along with her friends and family decide to put on a pantomime (is that how you say that?? I'm an awful American).
And what ends up happening is possibly the funniest story I have ever read. We don't really have anything similar to a panto here. It's kind of like a play and a comedy skit in one and I found in entirely too much fun to read and learn about.
Casting each role turns into a shambles of an audition process. They decide they're going to do Cinderella and when the two fathers auditioned for the step-sisters, I thought I was going to pee myself I was laughing so hard. Rarely does a book make me laugh. Usually, it's more chuckling, screaming, or general shock. But The Perfect Fit is absolutely hilarious. And also...INCREDIBLY British (which I always love).
Let's get to the romance part!! Becky and Cole have been together for quite awhile. He's an artist and she owns a costume shop in the village. They clearly love each other, but as soon as she brings up kids, every alarm and red flag went up in my head. Based on Cole's response to her and how he interacts with the children in the story, it's clear he doesn't want them.
And he doesn't seem all that interested in Becky either. Or at least...not int he way he should. That being said, they do have a connection and Becky loves him. She makes excuses for his behavior and tries to see the best in him
Then comes Marcus. He is part of the group putting on the panto and one of Becky's co-stars. He is funny, sweet, and seems to get her in a way Cole doesn't. But up until the last 1/4 of the book, they don't realize they're perfect for each other. It isn't until other people start bringing up their relationship that they start to think that maybe there's something between them.
No spoilers, but...if you've read a good amount of romances, you can probably guess how the story end. *wink wink*
Oh and head's up, this is the second book in Love in the Dales series but you don't need to read the first book to understand what's going on. There are some references to the couple from the first book and they are featured a little bit in this one, but you won't miss anything by starting here.
The Perfect Fit by Mary Jayne Baker is fun, hilarious, sweet, and an overall joy to read. I am giving it 4 out of 5 stars. If you've been reading all the sad and dark stories lately (hello, I am there with you lol), you might want to take a break and read this. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The Perfect Fit by Mary Jayne Baker came out September 21, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror Books for the free ecopy in exchange for my honest review.
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