Rom-com chick lit and although the book was enjoyable it did not hold my attention. A light hearted read for those who enjoy the genre

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

The heart-warming, funny and unputdownable new novel from bestseller Jo Platt is perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Anna Bell and Joanna Bolouri.

Sometimes, life needs a rewrite…

Author Grace Waterhouse has hit rock bottom. Her ex-husband has just had a baby with his new partner and her latest novel is… well, the less said the better.

Desperate for distraction, Grace impulsively takes on a friend’s cleaning job, parachuting herself into a new social circle including an eccentric OAP, a heartbroken twenty-something and one James Brooke, an enigmatic lawyer with an unblinking stare.

Add to this mix an anxious literary agent, a hairdresser who doesn’t mince words and a newly repentant ex-husband, and Grace's career break proves to be more breathless than breather.

They say that all you need is love – but what if that's the one thing you haven't got?

Typical fluffy chic lit perfect for a summer holiday or something lighthearted to read in the garden.

I think it's safe to say that the rom-com genre isn't my usual genre. It's also safe to say that this is about to be a glowing review and I absolutely loved this novel!

First of all, I adored Grace. Everyone loves to love a main character of a novel, it just makes the reading experience easier. It feels cliché to say that she is a realistic, lovable character, but she is! The writing perfectly captures the life of an author, and especially one that is struggling with their latest work. Jo Platt's writing is like a dream, moments were funny, moments were poignant and the novel itself just felt like reading a book about a friend.

If you enjoy rom-com's and books written by authors such as Sophie Kinsella or Anna Bell then I think you'll enjoy 'You are Loved'.

The pacing of the novel felt well-rounded. Certain events didn't happen too quickly and the plot was different from your average rom-com. It was great to read a book of this genre about a writer, as I haven't before. What was also refreshing is the fact that Grace isn't perfect. She doesn't have a perfect life, and that makes her all the more likeable.

The opening of chapter 6 also really made me laugh and is just testament to Jo Platt's writing, it really is like reading about a close friend!: "I looked again at the various aprons hanging on the wall of John Lewis’s homeware department, feeling hugely drawn to one patterned with oversized poppies and another covered in waddling geese. But neither seemed to scream professional" I related to the main character, and I think you will too. This is just an example of one of the things said, that I thought was funny and made me see Grace as a likeable character. Grace is relatable as another event that happens is she mistakes another characters' sister and thinks he is cheating. Leading to him overhearing the conversation. Silly misunderstandings like that happen to me all the time. I constantly get myself into weird or just plain silly situations and this made me laugh and love Grace even more.

Overall, 'You are Loved' is seriously funny, relatale and has a cast full of characters that will make you feel like you've just made new friends! Definitely my rom-com for the summer, I highly recommend!

Grace is an author who is currently stuck in a rut - her head is everywhere with her ex-husband having a baby with his new partner and her agent can see that her work is no longer good enough to become a novel and needs a distraction.

This was a light-hearted and easy read with a great amount of humour between Grace and lawyer, James Brooke. Grace never seems to be able to do anything right around him or manages to find herself in awkward predicaments when he walks in to a room. James is not the most likeable man to read about, but gradually grows on you with each turn of a page. He never smiles or blinks, for that matter and no matter what Grace does, he is never impressed.

I loved the friendship between Grace and OAP, Percy. They both become entwined in each other's lives and find comfort in being around one another, making it easy for Grace to let off some steam.

A more than expected happy ending is just what was in need with this book and Jo did not disappoint. It was a wonderful journey of seeing Grace and James connect with one another and develop a friendship before taking it further and all other characters involved in the story were also such a joy to read about!

This is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. It was captivating, a modern love/life story with a hint of 'Bridgit Jones', I laughed out loud so often; a real page-turner. Thoroughly captivating and highly recommended.

A light-hearted, feel good read, ideal for beach-side reading, especially if the world is getting you down.

Not high fiction but you don't always want to read serious stuff do you? And sometimes, you need to know that other people are just as messy, or have lost things under their bed, or have idiotic coincidences happen to them - just like you.

I do have a bit of a thing though, against writers writing about writers. I know that writers do have writers' block from my own experience but still, would you willingly clean other people's houses for a friend? For months? Just because you can't write?

But don't let me put you off - the fact that I wouldn't do it is irrelevant.

This book is fantastic. I read it in less than a day, I couldn't put it down.
Grace, the main character, is so likable. You really root for her from the start. I also find all the other characters so interesting, especially James. .
There are some real laugh out load moments, and also bits that made teary and i absolutely loved (as a huge fan) the multiple Harry Potter references.
I would absolutely recommend this book to others, and I look forward to reading more by Jo Platt..

A quirky book so easy to fall in love with

If you're a fan of clumsy, awkwardly endearing characters, this is a book you'll enjoy. Grace, is an author but after a bit of a tough time with love she's become understandably cynical. She can't seem to write a magical love story at all, anymore. Her friend suggests she take a break for a while, do something to inspire her. When her cleaner/friend needs someone to fill in for her, Grace accepts the opportunity. What could possibly be more exciting than playing 'undercover cleaner'? What could possibly go wrong? She's all too quickly intrigued by the lives of her clients, particularly a rather handsome but cold lawyer. The experience becomes rather life-changing.

This is a funny book, on par with Bridget Jones' Diary (the character James, ever-reserved, was Mr Darcy played by Colin Firth in my mind) and while not nearly as serious as Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, Grace's antics were similar to those of Louisa (Lou) Clark. Grace never failed to create some seriously embarrassing moments: from talking absolute nonsense to all too quickly making assumptions. A fun story guaranteed to make you smile even when just thinking about the book. I certainly plan to read more of Jo Platt's work. You can't go wrong with one of her stories. 'You are Loved' is so wonderfully joyous, and hilarious.

I received this book through NetGalley

An utterly charming novel that leaves you wanting more. I devoured this read in a matter of hours and could not put it down.
I came to love Grace and her anxious babbling, she is an enthralling and easily likeable character. Jo Platt has an incredible knack of bringing each character to life and I felt as though I really knew the incredible people Grace met along the way (especially lovely Percy who had me laughing every time she was around)
I found myself routing for James incredibly early on and ended the book grinning like a Cheshire Cat!
An easy read that definitely hits the spot if you're looking for heart, romance and laughter.

What a delightful read!!! Read this in two sittings and thoroughly enjoyed every word. It made a nice change from the thrillers I normally read and I’m so glad I requested it! Loved grace the main character and her story highley recommended!

I don't like giving bad reviews as I am no author, there was nothing wrong with this book per se I just could not get into it.

Really enjoyable book! This is a relatable and light-hearted read packed with humour and a great plot!

All the characters are well-written and really likeable, and I'm only sad to have finished the book as I didn't want it to end! I haven't read any of Jo's other books, but I'll definitely be catching up with them now - I'm a confirmed fan!

You Are Loved is the best kind of British rom-com. Full of wonderful, larger-than-life characters, with great humour and addictive writing, it was a joy to read. Grace bumbles along awkwardly through a difficult time in her life, while the people around her conspire to give her the happy ending she deserves. She starts out bitter and depressed, a place most of us have been in, but events and situations come together to bring her out of her dirge and into life. Funny, touching, romantic and unputdownable, You Are Loved really was a lovely book to read.

I loved this book. Full of quirky characters, fairly fast paced but easy to keep up with.
First one I have read by this author and can't wait to read more of her books.

Funny, sweet and very enjoyable. Just what was in the mood for, although I didn't know it at the time. The characters were all very human, dialogue realistic and it still had that magical something that good romance novels have.

Have you ever taken one look at your life and thought 'screw you'?

Have you ever been stuck in mud so thick, that all you wanted to do is put on your comfy bra and hideous pjs (which hadn't seen Persil since circa 1990) and camp out in your living room watching re-runs of 'Men Behaving Badly'?

Have you ever wanted to re-write your life and start again?
(If only, eh!)

If you've said yes to all of the above and laughed at question number two, there is a high chance that 'You Are Loved' MIGHT just be the book for you. Sorry to disappoint you but there are no 'Men Behaving Badly' re-runs featured in this book. I know, I know - I'm devastated too. However, a bit of cringeworthy assumptions by our main character, Grace, is more than enough to make you forget about wanting to watch Gary and Tony's antics over, and over, and over again. Trust me.

Grace Waterhouse has had her heart-broken, stomped on, and spat on by the man who she believed that she would be with until the end of time. I'm sure I don't need to spell it out as for why, BUT, I weirdly admire Grace's calmness later on down the line. Would I be like that? Hell no! Blunt scissors thankyouplease! Ironically, Grace puts the pen to paper about the very subject she is now a teensy bit bitter about. Look, I know some females are renowned at faking particular things, but let me tell you, emotions certainly isn't one of them. Luckily for Grace, her best friend seems to know her better than she knows herself, and tells her to take a time out. And by golly, what a time out it is!

When books have tagline at the end of the blurb, I usually see them as a challenge. However, with Jo Platt's 'You Are Loved' and her 'unputdownable' tag, I didn't see it as a challenge at all. No. I saw it as a fact. Why? Because I couldn't put it down that's why! From the moment I opened my kindle to the first page, until the moment I closed my kindle on the last page, my eyes were fixated on one thing and one thing only; this book. Neil and Gavin (Grace's best friends) had me in absolute hysterics - Gavin especially! Without giving too much away, Neil and Gavin weren't the only hilarious and memorable characters from the book, and I loved them all!! Well, except one. But I believe I made my opinion on that particular situation pretty clear above? Oh, I didn't? Grace's ex-husband, Aiden, is an absolute cactus. Funnily enough, him being a cactus works well with the name of his new lady! Bet you're absolutely gagging to find out what her name is now, aren't you?

Whilst I snlaughed multiple times throughout the duration of 'You Are Loved', I did find that the whole Aiden situation dragged on a little bit. I really wanted Grace to kick him to the curb, instead of grabbing the carrot every time he dangled it. No! I don't mean like that! Filth.

That aside, I enjoyed the whole 'reinventing yourself' part of the storyline, especially as the author managed to get such an important message across in amongst the hilarity and awkwardness. Sometimes we do need to take a step back from mundane situations, with it often being someone else who tells you that you're sinking. Sometimes we need to do something out of the ordinary, regardless of what people might think and, to be honest, Grace did such a brilliant job. 

All in all, 'You Are Loved' filled me with a lot of joy, a lot of giggles, and made my heart exceptionally fuzzy. Sometimes you just need a book like 'You Are Loved' to remind you of what is important and what isn't. I really did enjoy this gem of a book (Aiden aside), and I am so looking forward to read what author, Jo Platt, releases next.

Thank you Canelo.

You Are Loved by Jo Platt is a very well written story about Grace, an author whose life is getting on top of her. On a whim, she offers to take on her own cleaner's job when she goes off on holiday. Grace is feeling dejected as she's just split from her boyfriend and her life seems to be a bit of a mess. Throw into the mix her less-than-great latest novel and you realise there's a lot against her. Then, she meets an eccentric businessman and a whole host of other people which opens up her social circle. The one thing she still hasn't got is love......

You Are Loved made me laugh, smile and like Grace as a character. It is a sweet chick lit read for anyone who feels they want to read something different. Jo Platt set the scene and introduced the characters well and it was a joy reading about what they got up to. Percy, Rose , Emily, Neil Gavin and even James won me over as characters.

This is the first book I have read by Jo Platt, and I'd like to thank her and Canelo for a copy of the book via NetGalley. I'm very honoured to be participating in the blog tour for this ARC.

This is a romance with some real bite- lots of humour which comes effortlessly out of Jo's characters' mouths. I enjoyed her easy, fluent writing style where nothing jarred and nobody seemed to act out of place. The subsidiary characters are a joy, especially Percy who added some real humour to the story. It is quite ironic that Grace, a writer, cannot read the signals and interpret just what is going on with her friends and acquaintances. All her conversations with James have a sassy edge to them which means that the story is never saccharin or overly sentimental- far from it- but it is a touching celebration of friendship and rising above what life throws at you.

I also enjoyed the fact that Jo's identity as a writer is hidden from some of the people she meets. This seems to give her a certain depth of character as there are several aspects to her personality, both from her past and present life which play on her thoughts and affect how she behaves. In Grace, Jo has created a thoroughly likeable character, with some very human flaws and insecurities. I'd quite like to meet her again...

In short: an entertaining read with a whole cast of characters to meet.

Thanks to publishers, Canelo, for a copy of the book.