I liked Laura Jane Williams' first novel - Our Stop - as a fun, easy read that offered a sense of escapism. But I am finding this one a struggle in comparison. I don't have any great feelings about the heroine and, so far, I dislike both the male love interests that the book has introduced. I don't feel there is much depth to the characters, they seem to rely too much on their occupations in place of their personalities. I just cannot feel any enthusiasm about reading it, I'm afraid.

This book was an okay read, it has so much promise and started off really well.
I got lost in the middle and didn't have any care of who Penny ended up with.

This does not put me off though reading another of Laura's books unfortunately this one was not for me.

This book was a Did Not Finish for me. The beginning was very slow and to me, the characters were not like able.

Such a fun and refreshing romantic comedy novel!
Penny is a very likeable protagonist - she's overcome a lot of obstacles to become the successful cafe owner that she is. I was rooting for her the whole way, and appreciated that she is a woman putting her needs and feelings first. Her search for a partner is a lovely ride, and even though there is only one obvious choice, the author lets you sympathize with the other men and believe that there's a version of Penny that exists with all three of them.

The characters in this book are all well-developed, and avoid stereotypes. Overall a very lovely read!

Overall, this was more heartwarming than I thought it would be. Penny was a lovable character who succumbed to family pressure. She had some fun flings, but ultimately got a very happy ending.
I really loved the chef-aspect of this novel, I really enjoy cooking and secretly wish to be a chef so it was really nice to live vicariously through Penny's day-to-day!
Also, cannot wait to read Our Stop. I added it to my TBR list directly after finishing The Love Square. Well done, Laura Jane Williams!
*I received a copy of this ARC ebook from Netgalley for an honest review.

After reading and enjoying the author's debut novel, I just had to give this a go. I will admit that Penny Lane as a character didn't grab me as much as the female lead in the previous novel did but this was an enjoyable story nonetheless.

I really liked Francesco and believed the incident that happens about a third way through the book was all a misunderstanding from the moment it happened. I found James very up himself and it almost felt like he was pretending to care about Penny rather than actually caring - it all seemed about him. I liked the fact that Penny got Priyesh to loosen up a little but did feel she could have handled the whole situation with all three men a little better.

I loved the family dynamic - with a deceased mother and a deadbeat father, Penny's family was her, her sister, her sister-in-law, her uncle and her uncle's husband. You could tell how close they all are and how devoted they are to each other. It was heartbreaking to read Penny's realisation that Uncle David had pretty much saved her life on countless occasions and it was now her turn to save his, even if it meant turning her back on her own business, her friends, her life in London and budding love.

I loved the ending - Penny ended up with exactly who I felt she was meant to and it was so interesting to see the dynamic change between her and the two other men as they both made an appearance here too but as something different to Penny than what they were before.

The book was emotional in places, full of humour in places but mostly just reminds us that no matter what we go through, sometimes we need to take a step back and think how our fears and worries may be impacting other people.

I loved this book so much! It's a great book and the main Character Penny reminds each of us about ourselves. It's such a feel good mordern love story

The Love Square is about a girl named Penny who is a chef and gets caught up in a love square with three men who comes in her life. This was a fun read and a bit emotional. Lots of family relationships, friendships, and love that will make you smile.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars for this new novel by Laura Jane Williams!

It's about a chef, Penny Bridge who's had a bit of a tough life, but is still optimistic and trying to find love. Enter amazing guy. His name is Francesco Cipolla, and he's got it bad for Penny. What happens next in their budding relationship, and will they end up together in the face of all the difficulties they come up against? Find out for yourself, it will definitely be worth it!

I enjoyed this unique story a lot, and definitely recommend it for anyone who's feeling the need for a lovely, fun, and emotional read about love of all kinds, and the choices we make in life. Penny refocuses on the things she wants in life, and her journey to getting them are truly enjoyable, and made me feel a little more understood than I have in a while. Thank you Laura Jane Williams, this story is lovely as the note you sent out to readers at the end of the book.

'The Love Square' is the sweet read you need to fall asleep thinking of, and I hope it inspires people to examine what they want as well! Now is a time for thinking and trying out those things we've been putting off for ages!

I'm very thankful to Avon Books UK for sharing an advance reading copy with me, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good read, if not quite what I was expecting - which I struggled with a bit Rather than a romance with a light and humorous touch -which is what I was expecting - it was a story about friendships, with emotional depth and some real heartache involved. I loved the friendships, and particularly the fact that the story effortlessly included non-heteronormative relationships. At the same time, the characters were realistically drawn, warts and all - no pastel-colored rainbows. And I really liked the way the author dealt with the infertility storyline - compassionately and with sensitivity. However, the romance part of the book did not work for me at all. I didn't want the heroine to end up with any of the three different men involved.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

This book was a bit of a mess. The description would lead you to think this book is funny, but much of it is a real downer. The ending was so predictable that there was no dramatic tension at all. The author threw so much into the main character's back story (dead mom, absentee father, cancer, infertility, horrible ex-boyfriend) that it felt like she was being tortured & went to such lengths to appear inclusive (gay uncle, lesbian sister, non-binary friend) that it felt more like ticking boxes than actually being inclusive. Penny also happens to be incredibly unlikable. There was also a very off-putting perspective shift 90% of the way through the book for a few pages that was completely out-of-place & unnecessary.

A nice, easy read. There are no massive plot twists here, but there are characters who are full of heart, dialogue that will raise a smile and exploration of serious issues.

A good, wholesome read, perfect for passing the time.

I found this book to be enjoyable at the beginning, but the both lack of character growth from the main character (and then her extraordinary character growth after just one therapy session) felt a little too authored. I know the power and desire to change your life can be strong, but it felt artificial without really 'feeling' that drive from her.

Review copy via NetGalley

I loved the sound of The Love Square from it's synopsis, as the thought of someone getting caught in not just a love triangle, but a love square was an amusing prospect, and all too possible with modern dating.. I was expecting high drama, lots of light hearted romance and a few laughs along the way, However, The Love Square was not the light hearted love story or chick lit read that I was expecting, instead having quite an emotional and raw storyline.

The Love Square tells the story of 31 year old chef Penny, who runs a successful cafe The Bridge in London.

Penny's love life hasn't been straight forward so far. She has huge trust issues, largely after as a child her Dad abandoned her Mum when she was diagnosed with cancer. When her Mum passed away, she and her sister were raised by their Uncle Davvy, who became the father figure she never had.. At just 25, she got diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer herself, and knowing that she was unlikely to be able to carry her own child, she had her eggs fertilised and frozen in the hope that someday in the future, man or no man, she would be able to have a family of her own.

Penny has almost accepted that any child will be raised alone, with her sister offering to be a surrogate, when during a chance encounter she bumps into Francesco, an Italian chef who she falls for hard, becoming friends and lovers in a matter of weeks. Just as she starts to imagine her future with Francesco, her uncle is taken ill, and Penny has to move to Havingley to take over her Uncle's pub, meaning her relationship is torn apart just when it was getting started.

Unexpectedly, she then meets not one but 2 new love interests in Derbyshire, An anti monogamy free spirited band manager named Thomas and Priyesh, an older and divorced wine merchant.

They 3 men are are all so different, with different views and approaches to life, but does she love any of them? Do they love her? Before she realises what's happening, all 3 men are in the same place at the same time, and Penny is well and truly in a love square.

There are some real positives to this book - firstly the way serious issues such as infertility and cancer recovery are covered in a mature, realistic and sensitive way, without glossing over or glamorising any of the details.
There is also some real diversity in this book - with a number of LGBTQ+ characters including 2 same sex couples and Charlie - a non binary character. In some novels I've felt these themes are over highlighted and forced in order to try and be diverse, but with Laura's writing it doesn't feel this way at all - these themes are introduced naturally, as real life examples of modern families, and this is done so really well.

Unfortunately however, I personally found the book really hard to get into. The beginning half had a slow pace and I found myself willing something exciting to happen. I struggled a little to believe some of the language that was used (it felt a bit cheesy in parts), and I took a dislike to some of the characters that Penny had fallen for, so it was hard to. picture them in the way they were being portrayed. There was a real shift in the way I imagined the characters in my head and how they were being suggested and its pretty rare that the image I get in my head differs so substantially.

The romance element in The Love Square was far more serious and raw than I was expecting, and the ending somewhat predictable. As such, I didn't find this the romantic escapism that I was hoping for.

The Love Square is a story about Penny Bridges. Penny has always been unlucky in love until Francesco walks into her cafè one day.

All is going well with Francesco, he seems the perfect guy, possibly The One, until Pennys life is disrupted when her Uncle takes a heart attack and she has to move to run his restaurant.

Once Penny is settled in her new surroundings, she meets Thomas, a fun, life loving guy who explains monogamy is not his thing but he likes her and wants to have fun. Thomas is a tour manager for Lizzo so he isnt around much and since he's ok with sleeping around, Penny then in walks Priyesh, the wine merchant for the restaurant.

Penny is in a "love square", 3 guys she really likes and enjoys spending time with but what will she do? What would make her happy?

I really enjoyed certain characters in this book, Pennys friendship with Charlie and Sharon, her sister Clementine and the close bond she has with her Uncle David. You are obviously meant to be rooting for Penny and Francesco to be together but to be honest by the end of the book i found myself disliking him. There was just certain things he said and he was possessive of Penny which I just didn't like.

I thought this book would be a light hearted, funny read but it was quite emotional and heavy in parts but I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to netgalley, avon books and Laura Jane Williams for the advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Great to read a romance novel where the woman isn’t just waiting to be saved...

Loved the characters and how the story unfolded, nothing being held back to long and no awkward revelation of history.
Great story.

To anyone looking in on Penny's life from the outside, they'd think that she had the perfect life. She is a young, talented chef who runs her own cafe in London. But to Penny, her life is far from perfect. Her life lacks the fulfillment she needs, she wants to start a family. This is a constant thing she had wanted when she decided to freeze her eggs once she knew she would not be able to have babies 'the conventional way' when she was battling cancer.

Penny believes that once she finds a partner she can share her life with and start a family with, she will finally be happy. So Penny goes on dates, but instead of finding love, she is left insecure about her body and personality. Luckily for Penny, its the 21st century and she doesn't need a man to start a family and be happy. So maybe she can do this on her own?

Cue Francesco, a handsome Chef in London who meets Penny and completely hits it off with her. So Penny thinks maybe she should put off her baby plans for a little bit, to see how it works out with him. But her time with Francesco is cut short when Penny has to move to Derbyshire to help her Uncle manage his restaurant.

Once in Derbyshire, Penny is blue and misses her cafe and friends, and above all Francesco. Then she meets Thomas, a celebrity manager who shows her a new side of Derbyshire, and then Priyesh who is her Uncle's age and unlike any other man she's ever dated. Without realizing it, Penny finds herself in a love square with 3 men.

Even if you haven't experienced life in London, or dating a bunch of guys at the same time, The Love Square and Penny's life is still very relatable. Penny discusses feeling like a "bad feminist" for wanting certain things in life.

"Bloody hell, I feel like a bad feminist for wanting a bloody kid in the first place, and now I feel like a bad feminist for waiting."

This novel is a journey into a modern woman's life, who is just trying to figure out what she wants. I especially liked The love Square because of Penny's character development throughout it. She is far from perfect, but she does her best, and don't we all?

*I received this ARC from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, it was well written and engaging. I enjoyed the deeper aspect of the story with the infertility issues and the main character’s battle with cancer. However I didn’t feel the relationship between her and Priyesh it felt a bit forced and not natural - the encounter in the bathroom just didn’t fit with the rest of the novel for example. Also some of Penny’s reactions to Francesco felt a bit double standard. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Our Stop but was still a strong story. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Avon for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Love Square is honest and emotional read with lovable characters and a satisfying conclusion. It highlights the importance of finding yourself, and discovering what will make you truly happy.

The book started off strong. It was engaging and funny, I liked the characters and it felt mature and relevant. But as the plot went on it started to lose me. I think part of that is because I expected the book to have the same levity to Our Stop. And while it did have some sunnier moments, it was much more of an emotional story as opposed to a fun romantic comedy.

The story follows Penny Bridge, a café owner in London who temporarily moves to Derbyshire to run her uncle’s pub in Derbyshire. I loved Penny. She’s a business owner but also a family-orientated, strong-willed and courageous woman. We also listen to the same podcasts so I was instantly a fan. Although she considers herself unlucky in love, Penny soon finds herself at the centre of affections from three men: Francisco, Thomas and Priyesh.

One thing I realised early on in the book was that I didn’t particularly care who Penny ended up with. I wasn’t keen on any of the men, and I found their individual arcs to be unimpressive. Romantic chemistry was seriously lacking between the three and Penny. I was more interested in her infertility struggle and journey to IVF than who she actually fell in love with. The Love Square didn’t read like a romance despite its title, which was disappointing.

The main character is a cancer survivor, and I really liked how the author highlighted the struggles that come after treatment. The character points out how anyone going through treatment is desperate for it to be over, but no one really talks about what happens when it’s actually over. And as someone who has not been through that kind of traumatic experience, it was interesting to learn how someone who is cancer-free feels after their victorious battle. It doesn’t all just go back to normal, and I really wished this was explored a bit more in the book.

Laura Jane Williams is brilliant at writing conversation. The dialogue in The Love Square, much like Our Stop, is appealing and charming. As a reader, you thoroughly get to know the characters through their speech. The personalities of each of the characters really shines, especially through the way they interact with one another. I found it really easy to distinguish the difference between Penny’s love interests, her family and her friends.

When I first started reading, my imagination was as active as the plot. But sadly, I felt like the book slowed in the middle and I had to push myself to keep reading. A lot of the time I felt like I was turning pages but the story wasn’t moving forward. There was a huge urge to skip chapters because I kept waiting for something to happen, which is a shame because the premise really excited me.
I had the same issues with this book I had with Our Stop. While it’s well-written, it still feels like a giant BuzzFeed article. The jokes didn’t make me laugh, the celebrity name dropping was irritating and it made a book with heavy topics feel surface level.

Overall, The Love Square was okay. I adored it in the beginning, but as the story developed I lost interest in the original concept. By the end, I was only focused on Penny’s stability rather than her love story.

I loved this book. I am a big Laura Jane Williams fan, I thought #ourstop was one of the best books I read last year so this had a lot to live up to. ⠀⠀⠀
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But the story of Penny and her life is wonderful. I love that she wants to become a mother solo and isn't reliant on a relationship to do so. I also love that she's running a successful business on her terms after health issues. She's a kickass feminist who you'd love to be friends with.
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I read it so quickly, desperate to find out more. This is a wonderful love story not just about romantic love but about the love and support of family and friends. Funny and smart - the perfect summer read. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Thank you to @avon_books and @netgalley for the advance copy!