This is a refreshing and cute story not only about rescuing pets left after a hurricane but also the rescue of a young woman from her personal experiences. Her experiences led Bree to escape to a small Florida Keys island to rethink her life. She learns that rescue comes in many forms.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

No Judgments is about a girl named Bree who moves to an island near Florida from New York City to recuperate after a bad breakup and some surprising reveals about her family. Her mother is a celebrity judge and Bree enjoys her anonymity at her new home. However, there is a category 5 hurricane heading her way and she refuses all offers to evacuate, deciding to stick it out on the island. She ultimately, with the help of Drew, ends up checking up on the pets of people who had to evacuate, saying she’ll pass no judgments on them for leaving them behind.
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.

One issue that I had with the book is that it tries to tackle sexual assault (and the way people dismiss it to try to make situations more comfortable rather than having to deal with cutting off the assaulter) in this really offhand way that did make it seem a minor part of the story, and especially with the way it was handled. There was legit a scene at the end that felt so out of place that I was surprised it came from the same book. And the book tackles natural disasters (how does a category 5 hurricane offer so little damage that people have hurricane parties? Tell that to Puerto Rico. Or Cuba, since there were offhand comments about Cuba protecting the damage to Florida), gun violence, adoption, and other serious topics with this same offhand way. It really put me off.

Ultimately, this would be a good beach read and the characters are likable enough, but I would recommend other Meg Cabot books more.

Description:
The storm of the century is about to hit Little Bridge Island, Florida—and it’s sending waves crashing through Sabrina “Bree” Beckham’s love life. When a massive hurricane severs all power and cell service to Little Bridge Island—as well as its connection to the mainland—twenty-five-year-old Bree Beckham isn’t worried . . . at first. She’s already escaped one storm—her emotionally abusive ex—so a hurricane seems like it will be a piece of cake. But animal-loving Bree does become alarmed when she realizes how many islanders have been cut off from their beloved pets. Now it’s up to her to save as many of Little Bridge’s cats and dogs as she can . . . but to do so, she’s going to need help—help she has no choice but to accept from her boss’s sexy nephew, Drew Hartwell, the Mermaid Café’s most notorious heartbreaker. But when Bree starts falling for Drew, just as Little Bridge’s power is restored and her penitent ex shows up, she has to ask herself if her island fling was only a result of the stormy weather, or if it could last during clear skies too.

MY REVIEW:
No Judgments is my first book from Meg Cabot. The book is entertaining and made me laugh which is always good. The characters were very well written. From someone who has experienced several hurricanes I was intrigued to see how the author build up to the approaching hurricane. One thing I found disconcerting was the confrontation between Kyle and Bree. Wish that had been explained differently.

Overall I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to a sequel.

This book was provided free in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve always been a big fan of Meg Cabot, and I enjoyed reading Bree’s story. I was surprised at some of the pacing of the book; a large portion of the story was the build up to the approaching hurricane, but the way it built up so much suspense was very typical to riding out a hurricane and sheltering in place. The romance between Bree and Drew was expected, but cringey at first with the way Bree spoke to him. There were also so many other elements addressed in what felt like somewhat of a rushed way - between Bree’s past with Caleb, her father’s death, confronting her attacker, and meeting her biological mom, as well as navigating a new relationship and reevaluating her job and life on the island, it felt like so much was packed into the second half of the book. Like other reviewers, I also found the confrontation between Bree and Kyle to seem very out of character. I did see that there are sequels to come, and all in all, I’m excited to see the direction that this series takes. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

I don't know how a comedic veteran like Cabot managed to make a hurricane boring, but she did. No Judgments follows lackluster heroine Sabrina "Bree" Beckham, the daughter of a celebrity judge who is in the midst of hissy and ran away from her NYC life, as she literally wades through a hurricane that hits the remote Florida Key where she has made her escape. Bree's life is ashambles, though readers will find that she doesn't seem very inclined to actually do something about that. She is, however, inclined to pet rescue, and there is plenty of opportunity for that in the aftermath of the hurricane. This brings her in close quarters with reputed bad-boy Drew Hartwell, the nephew of her bosses, who is a dog lover. Drew has about as much personality as Bree and their romance reflects this.

No Judgments appears to be the first in the series. Since the rest of the islanders seemed much more appealing and funny than Bree and Drew, I have hope for the next book in the Little Bridge Island series.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this! Meg Cabot has created a world that feels so real and I want to move there now!

Bree moved to Little Bridge after several incidents in her life cause her to need a breather from everything. Working as a waitress and trying to figure everything out starts to move on with her life and then a huge hurricane forms and makes its way to her new home. Bree works with a local guy named Drew to rescue the animals left behind during the evacuation and because of the forced closeness of this she begins to wonder if she's ready to move on with her life and deal with the feelings she is developing for Drew.

The characters were so engaging, the setting was incredible, and of course Cabot's writing had me instantly captivated and hoping for a series to get to know more about the people of Little Bridge Island.

Bree Beckham moved to Little Bridge Island, Florida roughly six months ago, as an attempt to leave her old life behind and try to start over. Now there's a hurricane about to hit the island, and it's being called "the storm of the century." Bree can't really evacuate, due to the health concerns of a new pet and the gas shortage after the wave of evacuees; nor does she really want to once she is presented with the option. Her mother doesn't understand, nor does her ex-boyfriend. Bree isn't alone, however, her boss and his family are hunkering down to weather the storm and have offered Bree a room. Once the storm passes, Bree finds herself with a new concern: someone has to take care of the pets that have been stranded on the island. But she's not alone for this either, her boss's nephew, Drew, is more than happy to help her care for the stranded animals.

I really wanted to love this book, but I can't honestly say that I did; at best I liked it. There were a lot of aspects that were good, which I will talk about, however... some of the build up of the romance struck me as... odd? Not quite right? Sometimes Bree would think something and my reaction was always, who talks like that?

Here are some of the examples that didn't click with me:

"Why did I feel so turned on by the tone of cool authority in his voice?"
"I tried not to notice how enticingly male Drew looked as he swung from the truck,"
"I even sort of liked having him there, his long hairy legs wrapping around me with so much masculine energy."
"The men in orange jumpsuits who were cleaning up the piles of seaweed were prisoners he was supervising. Prisoners from the Little Bridge jail!"
That last one in particular felt completely unnecessary. I mean, it was used as a plot device to make certain characters meet back up again, but it was obvious, clunky and awkward. And honestly, the story gained nothing from the interaction overall.

But it was also more than just the romance that felt off... reader's don't find out the reason Bree left her old life, and refuses to evacuate when given the chance, until 2/3 - 3/4 through book. However, it was extremely easy to figure it out. Bree was sexually assaulted and her mother and ex-boyfriend, especially, don't support/believe her. Moreover, there was a climactic scene towards the end that really felt out out character and came almost out of nowhere. While I can understand the idea that Bree wants to have a moment with her attacker, to feel some sort closure... I'm not sure how accurate that is... or common. As a woman who has faced numerous instances of harassment, I know I have never wanted to confront the person responsible. And while I realize that I'm just one person, and one truth, I think it more about how Bree decided to confront her attacker makes this stand out more. She confronts her attacker with a gun, and shoots a bottle near him to make a point/threat. I think that this does not belong in the story at all. Nothing in Bree's characterization made her seem like the type to be that physically confrontational. I also think, that given some of the themes of the book overall, glorifying gun violence was not the best way to have Bree gain closure?

That said, I think this book had some really great character building and the relationships between the characters were awesome! I really liked the depiction between Bree and her mom, Justine, how there was still clear love there despite the tension between them. Moreover, it is revealed that Justine is not Bree's biological mother, and I super appreciate that this fact does not ultimately change their relationship. Although the way Bree finds out does hurt their relationship, Bree continually still refers to her as mom.

Some of the other problems I had with this book was with the description provided, but I'm assuming that's largely on the publisher. The book is 2/3 lead up to the storm and therefore the lead up to the relationship between Bree and Drew. So while there is a lot of animal rescuing, it all happens in the last handful of chapters. I also think the description implies the climactic scene is going to be between Bree and her ex-boyfriend, Caleb, and while he makes an appearance, it is not a "who will she choose?" scenario at all.

I still recommend this book! It was a great read overall. I'd call it a beach reach if it were coming out before September. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance, healthy female relationships, healthy communication, and animals! With warnings about sexual harassment, and gun violence. I also just wish this book were a bit better.

This is the story of a love triangle. that includes Hurricane Marilyn, Bree, and Drew. The hurricane causes most of the residents of Little Bridge Island to evacuate. However, Bree, a waitress at the Mermaid Cafe, decides to stay since The Hartwells plan on staying open. There are a lot of quirky characters and strange happenings in No Judgements. Multiple pet rescues and good imagery. And definite proof that things aren't always as they seem. I enjoyed No Judgements and would recommend it.

A perfectly charming Meg Cabot book. More straight romance than some of her others but with the kind of humor I've come to expect from her books. I loved the setting. I tend to prefer romance where with the both people's POVs but Bree was a good narrator. I loved all the pets!

This book was a lot of fun! As someone who's been through her share of hurricanes, that part of the story felt really true-to-life to me, though it was much more fun to read about than to live through in real life! I really loved Bree's determination to be independent and her journey towards being able to both accept and offer help. She was such a fun person to spend time with, and I could really relate to her experiences trying to start her life over Also, as an animal lover, getting to spend time with lots of fictional animals is always a treat. This was a wonderful book to curl up with over a cup of tea on a weekend. I'd definitely recommend it!

Meg Cabot does it again! As always, the book is filled with humor, but the characters are still interesting and three dimensional.

Meg Cabot always provides a wonderful chick-lit story and No Judgments did not disappoint. I was quickly wrapped up in the place that is Little Bridge Island and worried for the people there and the imminent hurricane coming their way. Bree's voice was relateable as that of a woman who feels lost on where her life is going. But as she becomes a part of the community, she gains her footing only to be figuratively swept away in the hurricane. Drew is the perfect hunky island carpenter who has been misjudged by many on the island. Their story and their love of pets was a beautiful and fun one.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the eARC!

I felt the author was phoning it in here. I can tell that Meg Cabot is a good author. Her characters are well drawn and dialog is humorous. However, the setting and interactions with a few characters felt contrived. I live on near the Gulf Coast and, although some characters voiced alarm at the approaching storm, hurricanes really aren't something to take lightly. This is decent rom-com fare, but not great.

Super cute, perfect for a beach read! Bree rides out a hurricane in the Florida Keys and finds love and purpose in her new community. The other characters are really well written and integrated into the story.

Cabot's customary humor comes through in this contemporary romance set during a hurricane on an island in the Florida Keys. Bree feels like an islander even though she's only been there a few months (on the run a traumatic event and newly discovered information about where she comes from), so when a hurricane sets a course for the island, she decides to stay and take care of her medically vulnerable cat. Drew is a native to the island and fresh off a break-up when Bree crosses his path as everyone hunkers down to prepare for the storm. The "No Judgements" title comes through in many situations involving the main characters, and is a nice thread that runs through as the characters talk their way around the nuanced perspectives of situations, such as why pet lovers would choose to leave their pets when they evacuate. The setting was interesting, the hurricane brought welcome tension and close proximity situations, and the romance was satisfying in this breezy, perfect for the beach romance. (Advanced copy read courtesy of NetGalley.)

I really wanted to love this book-a newcomer with a dramatic past moving to a funky Florida Keys island with an eclectic cast of characters and a light romance. Cabot struggles to capture any real sensuality between her characters and the steamy scenes leave something to desire. The relationship with her celebrity mother and assault in her past weren't well developed. I won't be highly recommending this to readers.

Very cute story! I am a huge Meg Cabot fan and she did not disappoint with this fun, quirky book. I am very much looking forward to more!

I’m not very good at writing reviews, but this is a cute story of how we misjudge people based on what we hear from others.
Bree has heard enough about Drew’s overnights at many of the island’s female population to know better than to get involved with him. When an approaching hurricane puts Bree and her cat in the home of her boss, she begins to worry about other animals left alone and sets out to help them with the help of Drew.
Cute romance.

I've been an avid fan of Meg Cabot ever since I first read the entirety of "The Princess Diaries" series as a teen. I've loved everything I've ever picked up of hers, though admittedly I'd never read her adult romances before.
The romance in "No Judgments," which is obviously the most important part of a romance, did not disappoint in the slightest. Drew was extremely hot and I was really ready for him and Bree to get together from pretty early on, and it was really satisfying when they finally did. I felt all the warm fuzzies for these two.
I also enjoyed the cute little island setting and having the story center around a hurricane was different and interesting. Bree's back story was sort of developed oddly, but I thought the treatment of her past sexual assault was done well and I liked how she resolved things with her ex, her assaulter, and her mother.
The beginning was a little rough. I got through it pretty quickly still because I was very interested in Drew, but it really made absolutely no sense for Bree to stay on the island when so many people were evacuating for the hurricane and everyone was telling her to get out of there. I think she just kept throwing out a million different half-baked excuses, and I just wanted her to stick with one, solid reason and be stubborn about it. For an actual, solid reason. So that was bothering me for a while in the beginning of the book. But once the romance and the meat of the story really got going, I was over it.
So, ultimately, Meg Cabot delivered once again where she's always shined the most—romance. And really hot guys. And that's what really matters here, after all.

Another classic, fun comedy of errors from Meg Cabot! Bree came to Little Bridge Island three months ago, hoping a change of place (and hair color) would help her get past some recent events. But as chaotic as her old life was, none of it could have quite prepared her for a hurricane. Refusing to leave the island because her cat can't travel (among other reasons), Bree has no choice but to accept the help of Drew, her boss's insanely hot nephew with a bit of a reputation, in her quest to make sure the animals that have been left behind by their owners are taken care of - no judgments from her on why they did it, she just wants to help. And Drew just can't seem to let her out of his sights...

So cute! As we have our own bought of insane weather here in the midwest (it's 99 degrees!), this was a great story to curl up with. There was cheeky banter, a heroine I could get behind, and while this is very much a romance, that's only a part of the story. A lovely summer read!