Becky has returned to her hometown and takes the role of the head of a group trying to save the local village hall by holding a Christmas pantomime. Through the journey of writing, staffing, rehearsing and performing the pantomime, she discovers who she is. She begins with a man she thinks she is in love with and learns whether this love will endure through their differences.

I found myself getting angry with some of the characters, and pulling for others. My favorite character may be her niece, who must have been based on a real child. She says just the right wrong things at right wrong time!

I have recommended this to some of my friends. It was one of those books that I couldn't put down, then found myself upset because I was finished way too soon!

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was a such a fun and sweet book! I LOVED IT! The writing, the plot, and the characters were amazing!

Wonderfully fun, quick-witted, full of Christmas laughs, romance and Yorkshire spirit, what's not to love?
Great storyline, is funny and engaging but most of all unique and utterly charming, fabulously likeable characters all set in one of the most places counties in the country (Yes, I am biased, being from Yorkshire) I loved the quirkiness, the gentle mix of heartwarming poignancy and laugh-out-loud scenes, plus who doesn't love Panto?
A definite must-read!!

The Perfect Fit is the second installment of the Love in the Dales series. I have not read the first one but it isn't necessary, The Perfect Fit is wonderful as a stand alone. Every single chapter made me smile at least once, if not chuckle or down right giggle out loud. This is a sweet and funny romantic comedy. It is about a town putting on a pantomime and the book itself becomes a pantomime of its own.

The Perfect Fit is a romantic comedy in the truest sense. It's a heartwarming story and such a fantastic read, I absolutely adored this book. Just like Cinderella it is enchanting, gripping and just an overall lovely novel. All of the characters were lovely to read about and I so enjoyed getting to know them all. The location of this novel was just beautiful and I yearned to be there. I have every intention of reading the first book, A Bicycle Made for Two. That should tell you how much I enjoyed this romp!

I read about a third of the book, and though there were many amusing moments, it felt like the story was going nowhere. I kept waiting for something to happen, but I just don't have that level of patience. Sadly, another DNF for me.

The story of Beck who has moved back to the village where she grew up. Her partner is reluctantly moving too, so will he give village life a chance?
Some great characters!

Yet another book that I have requested that is part of a series.

I must have good taste though as the fact that I've missed the beginning of it, I don't feel that I was hampered by this at all.
I am however off to buy the first book so that I can re-read this again.

'The Perfect Fit' is the second of Mary Jayne's books that I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing. I read the synopsis and I just knew that it would be the kind of read I needed at that moment- a light hearted, fun romantic comedy that would whisk me away from the horrible weather outside. Can I just say that this book was as described and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Perfect Fit' but more about that in a bit.
I couldn't help but take to Becky Finn from the first moment I met her. She is the typical girl next door. She is bright and bubbly but at the same time I got the vibe that she had a vulnerability about her. She moves back to the village where she was brought up as she wants to escape the rat race in London and she sees Egglethwaite as the perfect place to live and to hopefully bring up her future children. When she moves back, her boyfriend stays behind in London to work. He says that he is waiting for a vacancy to come up near Egglethwaite. I just got the impression that he was a snobby love rat and he was coming up with excuse after excuse as to why he can't move up or he can't socialise with her friends. Becky throws herself into village life and she is shocked to learn that the community centre (the Temperance Hall) is in need of vital funds, so she and her friends come up with the idea of putting on the sort of pantomime that Becky used to love attending at the Temp when she was a child. Becky is also a determined, optimistic, fun loving, tenacious and funny young lady. I kept everything crossed that she achieved the happy ever after ending that she so deserved. Does this happen? Where does Becky's future lie? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my word, 'The Perfect Fit' was a hoot and the ideal tonic for a rainy day. I was gripped by the story and I was under the book's spell from the moment I picked the book up until the moment I closed the back cover. 'The Perfect Fit' was a brilliant read from start to finish. Reading 'The Perfect Fit' soon became an addiction. I couldn't bear to be parted from the book for any length of time. If I had to put the book to one side for any reason then I would immediately look forward to be picking the book up again. I found every excuse that I could to ensure that I didn't have to move anywhere and that I could keep on reading. I loved the description of Egglethwaite as it sounded so much like my own home village- even down to the fact that the Temperance Hall is the hub of community activities. Our local village hall is a former Temperance Hall and at the centre of many community activities. I also loved the descriptions of the different villagers and I found that I was comparing the villagers in the book to the villagers in our village. I absolutely adored this book.
'The Perfect Fit' is brilliantly written but then I found that to be true with the author's other book too. The author creates fun and intriguing characters. She does put some of them through the mill but I loved the way in which she combined the drama with the humour. Certain parts of the book had me laughing out loud as the characters spontaneously got up to some unexpected mischief. I have a very vivid imagination and as I read the book, I was imagining the story play out in my head.
In short, I simply adored reading 'The Perfect Fit' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I look forward to reading more of Mary Jayne Baker's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Becky Finn has returned to her beloved childhood home of Egglethwaite to prepare to begin family life.  He fiancee Cole had to remain in London due to work commitments and Becky is a little lonely and relishes the opportunity to stage a Christmas pantomime to raise money for the village hall.  As Becky throws herself into the project, she begins to question her relationship with Cole.  Has Becky made the right decision?

This book is part of a series but to be fair I didn't know that until I'd read it and it made no difference.  It worked perfectly well as a stand alone.  That said, I loved it so much I will be reading the first one as soon as I can.

I adore books with community settings and this one is just perfect.  Not only is it set around a quaint village in the Yorkshire Dales but the characters are very realistic and the community spirit is 'real'.  Lots of supporting characters really add depth to the setting and bring the whole village alive.  

As a recent convert to amateur dramatics I loved watching the development of the pantomime and found this part my favourite.  The banter, the laughs and the occasional stress but also the closeness of the group and how the relationships develop is such a marvelous thing to belong to.  

This is such a cosy and heartwarming novel that involves much more than just a romance.

Good book, second to a lovely story, I would love to read the first book of the series.

Great character description and story, interesting end and good writing techniques !

Thank you to netgalley for this great copy!

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.

If you’re looking for great British humor and romantic comedy, then look no further than The Perfect Fit! It will have you laughing. From the characters to the story plot it will have you turning the page and saddened that the book has ended. Becky, the main character in this reminded me of the actress, Emilia Clark. One of my favorite parts in the book was about the Madeira cake, I can no longer hear about it without laughing. Those who love laughter, love, and good comedy will love The Perfect Fit.

The second in a series but I read it not reading the first and felt comfortable. I don't normally actually smile at a book let alone actually laugh but I did work this one multiple times. It's about a girl who wanted to move back to her childhood town and status getting very i involved in it. For a bit she and her fiance who decided not to make to be move were able to keep their relationship up but it crumbled as you would think. In mist of "heartbreak" can see save her village?

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.

The Perfect Fit is a super cute and feel good story about a group of residents in a small town who organize a Christmas pantomime to raise funds to save their beloved theatre. I had expected this to be a romantic comedy, but it's more a small town comedy than anything else. I love the large and colourful cast of characters -- the theatre grand dame who has aged out of leading roles, the grumpy old men best friends who discover their love for the stage, the famous actor who agrees to a cameo on the condition that his beautiful but talentless girlfriend gets a leading role, and the newly discovered acting talent. I also really love the small town feel, and the various relationship threads that connected all the characters with each other.

I'm not too familiar with the tradition of the Christmas pantomime, and admit that some of the humour went over my head. But overall, it was easy enough to catch on, and I love the sheer silliness of the entire spectacle. 

Most of the romantic part of the plot -- between Becky the costume shop owner who launches the pantomime in the first place, co-writes it and ends up starring in it, and Marcus her co-writer and an actor in a comic relief part --  happens near the end. There are hints of their attraction throughout, but not a lot of heat. There is also a love triangle subplot involving Becky's fiance, but there's little heat with either men. We mostly see Becky and Marcus falling in love through cute moments where they're rehearsing a scene and a moment where their characters' eyes meet renders them speechless. Their realization of their true feelings for each other is cute, and the climactic Big Romantic Gesture delightfully silly and cheesy, as befits the true pantomime spirit.
Still, the true star of this novel isn't the romance so much as the pantomime production itself. It was a sheer delight to spend time with the residents in this town, and to see all the hilarious twists on their way to opening night.

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Thank you to Mirror Books for an egalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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My review will go live on my blog on June 24, 8 am ET.

A bit slow to get going but picked up and was a good read.
Not much in the way of excitement or intrigue but a nice easy read.

First, thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital copy of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Oh, this one missed the mark for me. Maybe I need to be British or have a fond interest in innuendos. I didn't get the whole pantomime skit sleezy jokes and they are littered throughout the book. I don't find it funny, I don't find it clever or enjoyable. I found it to be distracting and immature. I liked the sweet romance story of two meeting, becoming great friends, and eventually realizing they were in love. Predictable, but nice. I didn't connect with anything else in the book though and was quite glad to be done with it. I am just not the right audience for this one. Sorry

Not just a pretty cover, The Perfect Fit by Mary Jayne Baker was a satisfying read. You will be whisked away to a Yorkshire village where there are rumours of hot tub orgies and a pub which only serves a pie and a pint. There you will find a young woman who takes on the challenge to help save the building that brings their community together by putting on a Christmas panto, a tradition which had been abandoned years before. A motley crew of friends, family and even the odd celebrity, join the plucky heroine on her journey of transformation. She suffers a lot for her wish to keep the village hall open, but will she risk everything to keep the man she truly loves?
There are happily ever after's and there are times when you have to walk away, this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ story has everything to keep you turning the page.
My thanks to #Netgalley and #MirrorBooks for given me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of #ThePerfectFit

An absolutely delightful British chick-lit. This laugh out loud read features Becky Fin, a costume shop owner, who has moved home from London to be close to her family. Fueled by a desire to rediscover her place in country-life, she finds herself leading the community panto. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding.

The Perfect Fit is the first book I've read from the author. This is a charming and fun read with loads of humor and shenanigans. The characters are likeable, witty and engaging. I'm a fan of romcoms and retellings, so I enjoyed many aspects of the story. I will read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.