Strictly Come Dating has the same cosy factor as watching the show. A gorgeous book with likeable characters and a pacy plot. I have never read this author before but will remedy that ASAP. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this book. I adored it.

Oh gosh, this was cute! I was a wee bit annoyed at the amount of time she spent worrying over their age difference, but I also could understand why she was concerned. Everyone was so lively and supportive, so cute!

This was a really lovely story! The characters immediately captured my attention and pulled me right in! It slowed down a bit then, though. But when it picked up again, it had me tearing through the pages!

I loved how the age difference really wasn't a concern, not in the grand scheme of things. The concerns were more about life philosophies and stages of life, something we all struggle with and can relate to. I loved how Seb didn't truly see Maggie as older, in part due to having much older sisters. But he also had a maturity about him that was just him and how he saw the world. An old soul in a young body.

I loved that Maggie was able to recapture - not her youthfulness, that's too twee. Rather, she rediscovered her love of dance, allowed herself the freedom to have fun, and learned to live a bit more in the Now rather than spend all her time worrying about the future and what-ifs. Having gone through similar life experiences, I really appreciated that she was able to find a balance between being a mother and being a woman.

The girls, Penny and Tabby, were adorable and - in my opinion, anyway - were age appropriate. Too many times I read stories wherein the three year old sounds like a high school student, or a ten year old can barely form a coherent sentence. Kudos to the author for getting this so right.

The other characters were all lovely and distinct. I'd love to read Sarah's story, too, one day.

Overall this was a delightful read. I also didn't mind that the love scenes weren't as graphic as most of the romances I read! What did it for me was the connection between the characters. I can't wait to find the author's previous books and get stuck in right away!

I loved this book so much, it’s funny, and romantic, and lovely, and a little bit steamy. I loved the fact that dancing ran through it. The characters are excellent, all lovely people, with their own motivations etc. I think the character journey that Seb and Maggie go on, together, the way they bring out the best in each other, and care for each other and Maggie’s children, is just beautiful. I love the way that, by the end of the story, they make a great, loving, family together.

I didn’t like the fact that an important character died, I prefer books that don’t have such sadness and grief in. However, it was an important plot point, and it didn’t make the book too depressing.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming tale of romance and family, with a bit of heat to it, I’d recommend this book.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Maggie’s spark is gone, broken down by her ex Paul. No longer dancing, she vicariously lives through the show Strictly come dancing, enchanted by their grace and elegance. Seb, who’s travelled the world to find his purpose must return back home for his dad. There is instant attraction for another but there’s a catch. Seb is 10 years younger than her and the brother of her best friends. Can Seb change Maggie mind and give herself back the women she lost?

I instantly love in love with the characters. Maggie is so real. In the beginning of the book you can feel just how broken down she is. She’s left to be a single mother of two and much be the responsible one for her family. You can also tell how many sacrifices she’s made in her life for the people she loved. Freeman gives depth to her characters making them feel like real. Seb is such a delight to read about. Thought he’s known as the carefree youngest brother, he desperately want to make his dad proud. He wants to find his purpose in life and maybe even settle down. Both of them agree to keep it light but we can immediately tell from their chemistry that it will be more than that. Freeman writes her character so well it feels like we know them,

I loved seeing Maggie slowly rediscover herself and come out of her shell. Seb’s and maggie’s romance was so cute to read about. I loved how they brought out the best in each other. A great fluffy sweet romance.

I recommend this to anyone who loves romance, loved dancing movies and loves cute family dynamics.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was a book that had me smiling! I loved the chemistry between Maggie and Seb. Seb I thought was a great character and honestly would have loved a book focused just on him. But I enjoyed the dancing aspect that Maggie brought. Not a pacy or racy read, but has great character development.

I've been loving Kathryn Freeman's novels recently and didn't realize she had a new one coming out until I saw this one listed on Netgalley! Like her previous two, I enjoyed this heartwarming novel which sees Maggie, an almost forty year old divorcee with two children find happiness again. 

Based on the tv show Strictly Come Dancing, Maggie, her kids and her friends all get together each Saturday night hooked to this dance show. When Maggie expresses her desire to dance again, her friends encourage her and she signs up for classes. But Maggie needs a dance partner. And the most unlikely person has stepped up for the job...

Strictly Come Dating by Kathryn Freeman is a light older woman/younger man romance. I love OW/YM books, but the ages have to be right. I’m not a fan of the teenager & OW, but in this case Seb – 27 and Maggie – 37/38 was just about perfect.
This was my first book by this author, and I wasn’t disappointed in her writing style which was smooth, flowing, and engaging. Her characters were well developed and there was a lovely chemistry between Seb and Maggie.
My only criticism is that the sex scenes were not well done. All the lead up was building up a nice head of steam. Maggie and Seb’s chemistry was on point and the sexual tension was rising. After the sex, the tone was beautifully romantic and intimate. It was just the actual scenes themselves. They were, well perfunctory is the only word I can think of to describe them, very much slot B goes into slot A. There was thrusting, there was touching, but the author may have as well as been describing a car engine racing down the track. It just didn’t have any heat to it, and fast, well it was certainly a race car! I love a good sex scene, but honestly, this may have been one case where it would have been better to fade to black or close door. They added nothing, and in fact distracted me so much with my ‘that’s it?’ thoughts they ruined the flow of the book. Fix the sex scenes and this book would straight away become a 4 – 4.5 star read.
Having said that though, I did enjoy this book. The story itself was lovely, the writing and characters kept me turning the pages, and it’s a book I’d read again.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I thought this book was a lot of fun. The relationship between the two main characters was a slow burn, but they were surrounded by such wonderful and memorable family members & friends who almost stole the show for me. The writing style was solid and the book was very easy to read. It was one of those book that I was sad to see end because it felt like saying goodbye to friends.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Kathryn Freeman for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
If you’re in the mood for a slow burn romance, wicked dance moves and a second chance for love, look no further! Strictly Come Dating is the story of Maggie, a divorced, 37 year old, mother of two and Seb, a 27 year old who left life in Australia and moved in with his sister in the UK to support his sick father. They are in completely different times of their lives and the age gap is just inappropriate... right? Strictly Come Dating reminds readers that sometimes getting everything you want in life takes a giant leap of faith.
Personally as a 25 year old with no kids, Ii can’t say I really connected with Maggie. The dancing classes/competition plot was what pulled me in and I really felt like there was so much missing. This book felt LONG and the romance may be one of the slowest burns I’ve read in awhile, but maybe that’s because I didn’t feel invested in Maggie as the main character. I did really like Seb’s character and his relationship with Penny and Tabby was sweet.

I loved this so much, it’s such a fun lighthearted read. Who doesn’t love strictly , so the idea in a romance was so appealing. I found as much as I loved the romance and the dancing, I actually loved the friendship and family relationships in this more, they’re so warm and funny, people you’d want to be friends with yourself. I felt Maggiewas a wonderful character, so realistic with misgivings, esteem issues, but so great watching her character grow and develop, just wonderful escapism and a fabulous read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Strictly Come Dating is a totally delightful, charming treat. It’s a quick, fun read that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Maggie is a 37 year old physician and single mother devoted to her two young daughters. Her greatest pleasure is spending Saturday night watching a dance contest on TV with her children and friends Alice and Sarah. Their brother Seb, a 27 year old happy-go-lucky world traveler, home to help after their father’s heart attack, joins them one night and is instantly attracted to Maggie. Extroverted, impulsive, and open, Seb is a perfect foil for responsible, practical Maggie. Soon, they are not only watching dancing on TV, they are taking dancing lessons and finally enter a competition. Their dancing skills grow as does their relationship. While Maggie breaks out of her shell to become more spontaneous, Seb tries to rein in some of his impetuosity. You know they will end up together but there are several wrong turns along the way.

I loved this story! I’m not sure what I enjoyed more - Maggie’s friendship with his sisters, her developing confidence, the happenings at dance class, Seb’s behavior with Maggie’s daughters or the dance competition. I”m looking forward to more books from Kathryn Freeman. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and Kathryn Freeman for this ARC.

As one who doesn't know a sashay from a soufflé this was definitely a different choice of book for me. Although it is centred around Strictly Come Dancing this isn't what the book is really about, more how a divorced mother of two who is used to having a strictly regimented lifestyle is mutually attracted to a younger, spur of the moment younger man. Going through trials and tribulations, with a smattering of dancing in the middle, they both start to show each other who they really are. Can they overcome their differences in temperament and ages to make a lasting relationship? You'll have to read the book to find out, I did and didn't regret it.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I love Kathryn Freeman’s books and love Strictly come dancing , so this novel was just something I really enjoyed. All the characters are likeable and all have a lovely story about them too! Well written

Thank you One More Chapter UK, NetGalley, and author Kathryn Freeman for a free E-book Arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the third book this author has published just this year! I completely enjoyed this book. The author did a great job of using the usual tropes and reversing them in order to make a wonderful romance.
This book follow Maggie, a 37-year-old divorcee with two children, and Seb, the 27 year-old little brother of Maggie's best friend and the romance that develops between them. Are the feelings they begin to feel turning into something real or just strictly feelings that stem from dancing?
This story was not overly complicated, but had good character development and the pacing was very good. I did not feel any scenes were unnecessarily dragged out, but kept the story moving at a steady speed.The reader is really able to get a good grasp of Maggie's character by putting a voice to the insecurities she has when in comes to wanting to start dancing as well as a relationship with Seb, a much younger man. I felt Maggie was a realistic in her misgivings. I also appreciated how she was able to grow from the advice given to her throughout the story. Seb was just too cute for words. At the beginning of the book, he is very interested in Maggie, but also is dealing with his own insecurities as being seen as the younger brother of Maggie's friend and an unable provider due to his past of traveling and living in other countries for short times. I loved how Seb was not intimated by Maggie's age nor her children, but was eager to accept them as part of dating Maggie. His growth and maturity were also much appreciated. I was a little put off by the misunderstanding they seemed to have at the end, but it was easily resolved with a simple conversation. Overall, I really believe the author hit the ball out of the park with this book and I enjoyed it so much that I finished it in one sitting. I would recommend this book to those who would love to read a reversal age gap/single parent romance. I can't wait for her next book.

Kathryn Freeman certainly writes great and witty romcoms. Strictly Come Dating is the third of Kathryn’s books that I have read, and I throughly enjoyed it.
Maggie has recently divorced from the father of her two children. She is not particularly looking for romance, but when she reunites with Seb, the younger brother of her best friends (twin sisters Alice and Sarah) she begins to have second thoughts. But can Maggie who is sensible, highly organised, mother of two and a GP really fall for Seb who is ten year younger, nomadic, devilishly handsome, carefree and only back from Australia to care for his sick father? Will she be able to return to ballroom dancing that she loved so much but gave up when she married? Will the pair bond over Strictly? Will they tango together or will it be ‘a disaster darling’?
A great, comical and light and lovely romantic novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A quick fun rom com read! The story of almost forty-year-old Maggie, a recently divorced, physician and mother of two. Maggie lives here humdrum life day to day as rigidly planned except for Saturday’s... reliving her love for dancing with “Strictly” the dancing show she watches religiously with her best friends, kids and Seb!

Seb the brother of her best friend, ten years Maggie’s junior and the total opposite of Maggie rekindles a spark in Maggie she thought was long gone.

Now after several weekly “Strictly” shows and Maggie signing up for dancing lessons... the chemistry between Maggie and Seb continues to build.

The author did a great job not only with character portrayals but also in the relationships they are in be it family, friend or romance. The dancing competition was also a fun concept.
I did enjoy reading this book and it was my first from author Kathryn Freeman. I look forward to reading more from this author and would recommend this book to others that enjoy a fun rom com!!!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Let me preface by saying, I adored Freeman's The New Guy and style of writing. But, I could not get into Strictly Come Dating. The pace and characters felt off and forced. Within the first few pages, I found myself trying to keep track of characters because there was nothing that stood out about them. The concept of this book sounded great - light-hearted, funny, and charming. Sadly, it missed the mark for me - I, unfortunately, didn't feel a connection to Maggie or Seb making this read harder for me to get into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for inviting me to read this book.
Strictly Come Dating is an age-gap romance, where the female is around ten years older than the male.
Maggie is a doctor with two young girls who is sometimes in contact with her ex. Seb is the younger brother of Maggie's close friends and he's come back to England from Australia, after finding out his father's health is deteriorating.
I think what really made this book work, is the pacing of the romance, the characters themselves, and realism of the situation. They slowly got to know each other, in a relaxed environment, around others. Maggie and Seb were genuinely lovely people who got along well. Maggie's children were a big part of the story and school pick-ups and homework were in amongst the angst. It was all so real, and you felt that it would work out, because you could see it happening.
It's definitely a story a lot of women can relate to, and enjoy.

Heat Factor: More of a Viennese Waltz than a Tango
Character Chemistry: I liked that they didn’t try to fight it
Plot: He’s a 27-yo free spirit, she’s a 37/38-yo obsessed with structure, they’re both very good looking
Overall: I was mostly able to let go of people being messy people and enjoy a charming romance, but there were some latent value judgements I didn’t like

A Best Friend’s Sibling + Age Gap Older Woman/Younger Man trope! Saweeeeet!

This book starts off super strong. These characters aren’t perfect, and there are assumptions and misunderstandings and uncertainties, and that’s what makes it interesting. Overall, the story is charming. In this Best Friend’s Sibling, the best friends are the heroine’s besties and the hero’s older twin sisters. In the way of sensible, well-adjusted people, the sisters are generally supportive of and not weirded out by their best friend and their brother being in a relationship, even with the 10 year age gap (which we probably wouldn’t blink at if it were the hero being older, so, unlike Maggie, I’m not going to dwell on it).

That said, things I would like to see more of: friends/siblings who aren’t seagulls at the picnic and instead say things like, “You’re both adults, it’s your decision to make and I’m here for you either way.” Because “I just don’t want either of you to get hurt” is a perfectly understandable sentiment, but is also worthless in terms of real support because it doesn’t really get to the heart of what the person wants, and it doesn’t support the person in making that choice. Ugh.

Things I would also like to see more of: fictional parents who don’t try to manage their children so much. They can do it by themselves and make mistakes. It’ll be fine. Especially a 9 and 7 year old. Sheesh.

But the siblings and the children don’t factor too much, so let’s move on…

Seb, the hero, is a 27-year-old who’s been a divemaster or whatever on the Great Barrier Reef for two years, which was preceded by other years of globetrotting and finding work as it came. He returned home because his father had a heart attack, and he’s helping his mother/family so they can all focus on their father healing. (Although, full disclosure for CW: death of a parent. It’s not drawn out, though.)

Maggie, the heroine, is a 37-year-old divorced mother of two. Doctor, homeowner, listmaker extraordinaire. Basically she’s the antithesis of Seb. She’s also super angsty because she’s fixated on all the reasons her husband dumped her for a younger woman (because he told her that’s why he dumped her for a younger woman), she’s fixated on the age gap for a looooooooong time, and she’s fixated on Seb being untameable while she’s determinedly tame.

The best thing about this book is that Seb totally sees Maggie and appreciates her just the way she is, which her ex totally did not. Heroes who do that are so wonderful. Would he have started taking dance lessons if not for her? NO. But he ends up loving it, in no small part because it’s something they can enjoy together. Is he going to start planning every part of his day? NO. But he thinks it’s pretty cute that she does. Please hand me that big spoon so I can gobble it up.

Probably the number one thing that frustrated me about this book is that Seb is a totally open book and is willing to have any conversation at any time, but Maggie refuses to see that. She constantly internally monologues that he’s going to go back to Australia or wherever the wind takes him - as in, don’t get your hopes up or your feelings engaged - but Seb never actually says that he’s going to leave. He says he doesn’t know what he’s going to do and that leaving is a possibility but not a definite, and the fact that Maggie doesn’t listen to that, that she in fact clings to the idea that he’s some young, free spirit who can’t be tied down, tells me that she doesn’t see him.

Short story: Maggie can think Seb’s sexy and wonderful ‘til the cows come home, but every time she doesn’t believe that he knows what he wants - every time she says, “he’s only 27, and he blows where the wind takes him, so he might have good intentions but…” - is a time that she doesn’t see him, doesn’t trust him, doesn’t view him as an equal. And it might be couched in terms of she’s still recovering from a divorce and recoils from the possibility of rejection or in terms of she’s so boring why would a sexy young thing want to stay, but it’s still there and it’s still infantilizing and fantastically uncool. In reality, Seb generally behaves with more maturity than Maggie. Don’t @ me - owning a house and having a certain kind of job does not equal maturity, especially where relationships are concerned.

Speaking of which, with all the different relationships in the story, there was a real opportunity to discuss how people’s personalities and choices don’t increase or decrease their value. Or mean they are more or less feeling. Seb might have been a non-career-oriented globe trotter, but he was happy and taking care of himself, not expecting his family to pay for him or his lifestyle. By contrast, Maggie’s choice to have a more socially normal lifestyle of becoming a doctor, marrying, having children, owning a house is also a totally legit life choice if that’s what makes her happy. Bottom line, there is a difference between “Seb’s basically a big kid who’s not driven to succeed” and “Seb is spontaneous, and he doesn’t feel compelled to join the rat race.” This book does not escape from the former sentiment, even when it’s trying to do so.

That said, the writing in this book is solid and engaging. The pacing chugs along, and the flow of the plot works. It’s a fun book that’s meant to be a fun read. So if you don’t get hung up on social expectations (or wanting to fling them out the window), this will probably be a fun, light read that you can easily enjoy.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.