Meg Cabot does it again! I love her fun writing style. This is such a perfect summer romance. Perfect to read during quarantine.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

SO CUTE!! I love Meg Cabot's books. I loved this book. The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

This was different from of other of Cabot's works. I like how the main character, Bree, wanted to see the animals to safety during this huge hurricane, but it was far fetched that she do it at risk to her own safety when she refused to evacuate the area when told. I think the book spent a lot of time on the hurricane and then rushed through the "romance" portion of the book.

I'm hoping the second one in the series will focus more on the love story...

Meg Cabot always writes cute and fun books that are easy to read in one sitting, and this was no exception. While none of the characters were super memorable, they were fine and there was nothing offensive about the love interest. It was cute how they bonded over their love for animals.
It's a beach reach for sure.

I know you shouldn't go into books with expectations. That being said... It wasn't what I expected. It started off so well. The build-up before the hurricane was giving me so many reminders of the last time I stared down a hurricane. It was almost hard to read because it felt like I was back in that time. But as soon as the hurricane actually hit the island-- that's when she lost me. And I continued to be lost through the end of this novel. Maybe it's because I was expecting a story more accurate to my personal experiences (which isn't exactly fair to Meg Cabot), or maybe it's because it all felt a little too easy, and I wanted more than what this story was.

It’s no secret that I am a longstanding fan of Meg Cabot, and have faithfully been reading her books for the better part of two decades. While her YA series The Princess Diaries and The Mediator will always have my heart, I always enjoy when she rolls out a new adult series too. I was thrilled to learn that her newest adult romance series, Little Bridge Island, was set in the Florida Keys, as I know Meg lives there and I was excited to get her perspective on her tropical hometown after seeing her mention it frequently on social media and her website.

I have to admit I’ve recently read a few books set in the Florida Keys back to back, and Meg really captured the feel of the close knit, tropical community. The island of Little Bridge was teeming with interesting characters and fun local establishments, from the cafe protagonist Bree works at to her lovable yet demanding feline companion (Would it even really be a Meg Cabot novel without a sassy cat? No, no it would not). It was easy to become immersed in Little Bridge and feel it as an established community that the protagonist has carved her own little niche in while running away from her problems back in the big city.

The fun and quirky elements of the story were balanced with hurricane that drives most of the plot of the novel. As someone who has never lived anywhere near a hurricane zone, Bree’s initial anxieties yet deep under appreciation for the seriousness of the storm were believable, and I liked how each chapter kept with the theme of the storm by offering preparation and survival tips from “local” authorities. Also, I don’t know if hurricane parties are actually a thing but it was an interesting premise to kick off the romance that developed over the course of the storm.

In terms of the romance, it was OK- it felt pretty typical for a Meg Cabot novel and while it wasn’t the selling point of the story for me I didn’t mind it (Drew was an OK guy if a little overzealously masculine for my taste). I was much more intrigued by his family who Bree ends up sheltering in place with during the storm, her eccentric neighbors and her well-meaning (if annoying) family. It was a fun, flirty and slightly silly story with a romance to match.

The real star of this story is the animals, and it set the novel apart from a lot of other rom-coms for me. As previously mentioned, Bree has a hilarious (and toothless) cat named Gary who is basically her #1 priority, and once her passion for the well-being of animals becomes widely known she becomes a defacto hurricane animal rescue service. From dogs to birds to guinea pigs, Bree becomes an animal rights vigilante of sorts and her escapades in saving the animals were fun and heartwarming to read.

Overall: A fun start to a new small-town series. I’m excited to return to Little Bridge and check up on its residents in its next installment!

A quick read and escape. A summer read, prior to hurricane season though! A predictable plot,, but charming none the less.

I have loved Meg Cabot books for years and this was a great one! Super fun story and really great characters. Loved every single second.

I have a soft spot in my reading heart for Meg Cabot. It might just be that I grew up with her books (The Princess Diaries made up a formidable part of my teen years), but I can count on her for feel good, sweet, romantic plotlines.

No Judgements was a perfectly okay escapist read. The island setting and its inhabitants provide a quaint and homey back drop for our protagonist, who has recently relocated to Little Bridge Island. When a hurricane crashes into the island, Bree finds herself taking up the cause for many of the pets left behind by evacuees. With the help of her boss's nephew, Drew, she undertakes an elaborate plan to help as many animals as she can.

While the premise of the novel is sweet, Cabot tries to tackle some more serious issues. Bree is working through trauma from an abusive ex-boyfriend and some other family issues. Her resolve to help all the animals on the island is heartwarming, and her relationship with Drew is sweet. Unfortunately, it's all surface level to provide just enough conflict to keep things moving with Drew. There isn't a lot of depth or character development, so there's little to analyze. If you're looking for a lighter, escapist novel, this one is okay. I read it quickly and still enjoy Meg Cabot, though this might not be my favorite of her books. This would be a perfect airplane read.

This was such a cute story! I loved the banter between Drew & Bree. This was my first Meg Cabot book, but it will not be my last!

I picked this up because I adore Meg Cabot. I started when I was a teen with The Princess Diaries, discovered Vanished and Mediator (one of my all time favorite series), and eventually grew into her adult series such as the "Boy" and the Heather Wells books. I went into No Judgments with...no judgments, but high expectations...I was disappointed.

The book was not bad, per se. The "chick lit/modern romantic comedy" genre is not my go to by any means and No Judgments was a decent "feel good" story. But the only reason I picked this book up was because Meg Cabot authored it and I am used to quite a bit more from her, particularly her characters. I am a YA Librarian, so I am far more familiar with her YA books, but I have read several of her adult titles as well (see above) and the things I enjoy most about them are the strong, independent female characters and the complex relationships they have with potential love interests as well as family members. No Judgments fell short in both these areas.

My biggest issue was with Bree Beckham's hypocrisy. She spends the entire book being frustrated with people judging her, mainly telling her to get out of dodge of the oncoming hurricane since she has little to no experience with them, and all the while she is judging them. It is particularly irritating in regards to her main antagonizer/love interest, Drew Hartwell. There are several instances throughout the book where Bree becomes downright irate over Drew calling her "freshwater" (a reference to her not having been on the island during a hurricane before) and "judging" her ability to weather the storm. At the same time, she is basing her opinions of him and his previous relationships based (and whether or not she should date him) on local gossip and a few interactions he had with others when she was a bystander. While she does come to the eventual conclusion that she should not judge people without knowing them/their circumstances, at no point does is it acknowledged that her thoughts and actions were hypocritical in regards to demanding Drew not judge/stereotype her, while she doing the exact same thing to him.

In addition to the issues I had with Bree's character, the ending felt incredibly rushed and there were several elements that were unnecessary. Last minute drama was added when Bree's ex borrowed the house his cousin just happened to own on the island and then falsely reported a pet that needed to be looked in on in order to meet up with the woman who refused to speak with him and give his alcoholic best friend, who assaulted her in order to get her to agree to go out with him instead(?), an opportunity to apologize. I suppose this was intended to be an I am over it and you and I am not afraid moment, but I honestly felt that the former relationship was already resolved prior to the book's opening. Bree's real issue with the assault/break-up always felt like it was more geared toward her mother's opinion that the assault was not a big deal and that she should not have broken up with her boyfriend for excusing his friend's behavior and not taking it seriously. And, while Bree and her mother have made up by the end of the book, that never seemed resolved to me.

This ties into the other unnecessary element, the introduction of Bree's biological mother in the last five pages. While Bree wonders about her throughout the book, at no point is she actually even contemplating look for her and her addition feels incredibly forced. The entire subplot actually feels more like an excuse for Bree having different interests and talents than her parents, which I feel like many children do regardless of whether or not they are genetically related, and as a way to downplay how hurt Bree is by her mother's failure to support her after she had been assaulted. Throughout the story, Bree's mother seems convinced that the reason Bree "ran away" and was not talking to her was because she never told her that she was not her genetic mother.

Overall, I do not think this is the worst book you could possibly spend your time on. If you are a fan of Meg Cabot and just want to read everything she has written, it is okay (as long as you do not deep dive into it).

If you are new to the author or the genre in general, read Size Twelve is Not Fat or The Boy Next Door instead.

*I received an e-arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A cute story about weathering a storm on a small island. Bree Beckham runs away from her old life to Little Bridge Island and works as a waitress. When a hurricane comes and cuts the island from the mainland, she begins to help all the animals that were left. No Judgments explores the close connections you make with people who look out for you but aren't necessarily family. Light on love and big on heart.

Pure fun from Meg Cabot that old and new fans will adore. This is full of quippy dialogue and funny scenes that any Meg Cabot reader will be so happy to return to. Meg Cabot's first adult release in a a few years will make you swoon, smile, and remember why you fell in love with reading in the first place. It has a unique setting and catalyst for the plot and it's compulsively readable.

CW: sexual assault, not on page but discussed

It read like Meg Cabot trying to update her style to fit with today's contemporaries and it didn't quite mesh. To me, the pacing was off, the romance rushed, and the sexual assault and resolution to that story line was underdeveloped and felt tacked on. I didn't not enjoy it and this is the first Meg Cabot I've finished in years but it wasn't that great.

eARC provided through Netgalley

Bree Beckham moves to Little Bridge Island to escape after her emotional breakup. Little Bridge Island is now in the line of a hurricane. To late to evacuate Bree finds herself stuck in Little Bridge. Her boss’s from the Mermaid Cafe nephew, Drew Hartwell is known for being a player. She finds him attractive, but has only heard bad things about him. The aftermath of the hurricane finds Bree upset, because many animals have been left behind. Drew gets nominated to help get into residence houses to check on them. With the help of her famous mom Bree is able to help many animals in need. Her connection grows with Drew as they begin to clean up the mess of the hurricane. This is a fun flirty read!

My initial reaction, 'MEG CABOT HAS A NEW BOOK?????'
Confession: I have read all her YA books multiple times and own them all in paper copies. I am a big fan.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this quite a bit but did feel it was a little shallow. Things happened pretty quickly and there wasn't as much funny lines or engaging banter or charming characters as there are in some of her other series. I would still totally read the next one if there are going to be more in this series.

What girl hasn't felt the need to find herself at some point in life? I mean if I could I would run away to live on an island in a heartbeat. That is exactly was Bree does. While beginning to build her life she ends up smack in the middle of a major weather event and chooses not to leave. Even though she swears of boys as she is finding herself, Mother Nature has other plans and throws Drew right into her path.

While I adored the premise of the book, I wanted a little more. I loved watching the relationship blossom, but the simi slow burn that is set up does not seem to reach as high of a climax as I would have liked. The end of the story wraps up nicely, but it almost is too neat. It felt like everything was put in a gift bag two seconds before being dropped off at the birthday party, complete but not in the most neat package. There was no cliffhanger so I am wondering what the next book in the series will be about.

No Judgements is a story that follows Brie and Drew as they prepare for a category 5 Hurricane heading toward their tiny island in the Florida Keys. In this hate to Love romance, it follows the 2 as they realize their feelings for each other as they keep getting thrown together in the diner that Brie works in, at the Hurricane party held by Drews Aunt, and in the aftermath of the storm when Brie goes looking for Drew to make sure that he and his dogs survived the storm.

Pros:
I liked that the 2 were very concerned about helping out the abandoned animals that were left behind when their families evacuated the island ahead of the storm.

Cons:
-the story did not flow. The first half of the book is about how much Brie dislikes Drew and then bam, the storm hits and she jumps into his arms...Literally...Gagging commence
- I don’t care what is going on, you do not leave your pets behind. They are a member of the family, and if they have to sit on someone’s lap on the drive or you have to sneak them into your hotel room, you take those animals with you. That is not acceptable
-I realize that the story is a fluffy romance novel, but the romance between Drew and Brie is not believable. There was no slow simmer, just i hate you, i hate you....Love of my life, lets move in. Just cheap writing.
-Brie was just an idiot. She literally did nothing to get ready for the hurricane, and used the excuse that her cat was sick so she couldn’t evacuate. Oh please.

I really struggled to read this book. I started reading it in August and just barely finished in February. It is not a long book, just incredibly boring, and could not keep my interest. It took me 2 weeks to finish the last 3 pages of the book.
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"No Judgements" is about a woman working her way through the mental aftermath of a sexual assault, including running away from her life to a picturesque island in the Florida Keys - just in time for a hurricane. She gets swept away by a rough-hewn local guy and together they take care of business post-hurricane (and maybe even get a little busy).
This would make a great beach read!

Fun, mindless summer read. Perfect for by the pool, with one eye on the crazy kids and one ear on your neighbor's boring story that you've heard 56 times. Some funny parts, cute characters and I dug the island vibe.