This book was cute and I finished it in one day! I definitely could relate to Alice wanting to quit her job and figure something else out for herself. I found that part of the book to be very inspiring. While I found Joe buying shoes for Alice to be really cute (read the book to find this out :) ), I didn't find the book to be so romantic because most of it took place in the pub Alice worked in. I do think that the insertion of the #MeToo was handled very well and realistically. Overall, an entertaining read but found, at times, that it strayed from the romantic aspect of it.

I LOVE Sophie Ranald - so many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC and chance to review this book!

Alice has it all - she's training to become a lawyer in a prestigious office and even has an in-office job lined up for after her training, she lives with her fantastic boyfriend, everything seems perfect! But then, she and Joe run into his ex, Zoe - and Alice also runs into some unexpected problems at work, so she quits and Zoe moves in to their spare bedroom.

The synopsis above sounds like a mess. And really, the story kind of is all over the place, but in a good way. It's so much more than I expected. There's workplace drama, Alice coming to terms with past trauma in the #MeToo era, a new and different job prospect, and - of course - plenty of suspicious activity between Alice and Zoe. Yes, it is a romantic comedy of sorts, but it's also so much more.

I would like to thank #bookouture for sending me an #ARC of Sophie Ranald's book, #JustSaying, via #NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Just Saying by Sophie Ranald is a stand-alone book, about a woman named Alice, who, just as life was shaping up the way she thought it ought to, with her wonderful boyfriend of two years, their own flat, and job offers at a pretegious law firm, has it ripped away after finding out her boss was terminated, and the position she was offered, no longer there. Instead of looking for work in her field, she ends up wandering into a local pub, and after helping out there, ends up working there and falling in love with the run down place. To make ends meet, her perfect boyfriend suggests moving in his friend ... who happens to be his ex who he was in love with ... into their second room, which, as you can imagine, leads to a slew of new problems.

This is the hard part of receiving advanced reading copies. The books that leave you ... stumped. I don't want to be too rough, but I need to be honest. Just Saying is ... a bit of a mess. For a few reasons. But I want to say what I liked about it first.

I liked that the raw emotions felt from the characters in this book, given the situation, were realistic. Insecurity. Jealousy. These are normal, human emotions, that happen even in the best, and most trusting, of relationships. We are a flawed species, and it's natural. I also felt, in the too short times that Alice and Joe were together in the book, that their chemistry was there. The emotional turmoil one goes through when going through a rough patch with their partner was pretty dead-on. I also enjoyed that our main character, while pushed out of her job in a way, found something she actually loved, instead of something she felt she should do.

Now for what I didn't like.
1. The cover, and the description don't match with the book. At all. "Who Needs a Boyfriend When You Have A Bottle of Wine." doesn't even remotely make sense with this book. The description, makes you think that our main character Alice is fighting for man ... which, spoiler alert, isn't the case at all.

2. This book is labeled as a rom-com. I didn't find it funny. There is a bitter under-current to the whole book. I found the whole time I was reading it mildly anxious. Living with your boyfriend's ex, and watching them get along better than you are ... it's icky feeling, and not at all comedic. The most comedic scene in this book was Alice and her best friend talking about the "Ick" factor that ruins relationships. A couple of pages of dialogue doesn't make for a comedy.

3. It was hardly romantic. Most of the book is about Alice and the pub she works at. I won't lie, I ended up skimming chapters (which I NEVER do), because a lot of it was pointless. It had no bearing on the story that was described. For a romance, we hardly see Alice and Joe together at all in the book. I know their separate schedules could be blamed, and their rough patch, but in order to be classified as a romance, you actually need a couple to read about, and the only times I felt like they were a couple, were the first couple chapters, and the last one.

4. I mentioned this already, but there was a lot of pointless "scenes" in this book. I think Alice falling in love with the pub could have been established with a lot less.

5. There is a bit of a back and forth in timeline in this book. Which I am fine with. I only wish it was more clear at the beginning of a chapter, that we were going back in time.

6. The plausibility of someone EVER agreeing to have their partners ex, who they loved and had sex with once upon a time, to move in with them ... no. I read fantasy, and THAT even seems far-fetched to me.

The characters in this book were okay. Often, though, I found I was mostly frustrated. So many times I read that Alice KNEW she needs to talk to Joe, but continually found excuses not to, but then was in constant turmoil over the state of their relationship.

Just Saying is a bit of flop. The cover and description, hell, even the genre, is all wrong. The story itself had promise ... but it kind of went everywhere, and by the end, I didn't quite know what I just read. I still don't.

If you are looking for a book to lighten/brighten your mood, this may be the book for you. It is described as "an absolutely perfect and feel-good romantic comedy". The book takes place in the U.K. and Alice is our protagonist. She is a young professional, has always done what's expected of her in terms of school and career choice. She is in a committed relationship with someone who is her equal and is loving and good to her. There are portions of the book that are laugh out loud funny, particularly early on in the book. Alice does have a bit of an identity crisis, in terms of her future and what she would like to do with her life. Throughout these bits of the book, there are themes that are more serious and some of them are troubling. Alice could easily represent any one of us. She is easy to root for. Even while dealing with subjects that may be upsetting or a trigger to some, Alice and the author of this book have a way of still leaving you with a smile on your face at the book's conclusion. Thank you @NetGalley, @bookouture and the author for the advance e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Release date is 7/3/20. #NetGalley #JustSaying #sophieranald #goodreads #sophieranald #booksandmrdarcy #withhernosestuckinabook❤️📚

An invite to a book tour featuring a book by this author? YES, PLEASE! Her book covers and titles already put a smile on my face even before I have read one single letter of the content, but I also know that the author hides some deeper subjects inside. 

A story by this author guarantees tears, either caused by laughter or by feeling the pain the main characters go through. There is another certainty that comes with reading feel good books : a happy ending. No matter what the protagonists have gone through they always find their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

'A problem shared is a problem halved' is one of the proverbs that fit here, but sometimes you are too afraid, too ashamed to share. Once you have overcome these feelings, you can heal. 

The author succeeds, once again, to entertain me a lot with her new book. 5 stars

Thank you, Sophie Ranald and Bookouture

I will definitely be reading more from this author! This book was fun!!! I love books that I can laugh and learn a thing or two. Thank you so much #net galley for the ARC!

MY THOUGHTS

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy! This book releases in early July, and it’s really good. The synopsis of this book is a little offbase, though. While there is a romcom element to it, and while relationships are a crucial part, it’s actually much more focused on Alice’s own personal journey. She is in line to become a lawyer and is suddenly let go from her job without reason and finds herself working in a rundown pub near her apartment. Alice’s career moves drive most of the plot.

This is advertised as a “feel good page turner”, but it’s only half correct. It is a page turner, but I would not categorize this as something that necessarily made me feel good. I did laugh and smile, sometimes. But I also cringed, stressed, worried, and wanted justice. It should come with a trigger warning for sexual assault. The first half of the book definitely reads like a romcom, but the rest is deeper and heavier.

If you’re up for a book about a woman trying to figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life as she finds herself working in a dirty pub, living with her boyfriend and his ex girlfriend, and maybe crushing on someone else, this book is for you 😉

‘Just saying’ was a really enjoyable read- the perfect feel good chick lit for any time of year (not just one for the beach!)
I was immediately invested in the main character Alice, and couldn’t put this book down until I knew how things turned out!
4/5 stars and I will certainly be looking out for this author again.

Totally brilliant! This is funny and heartwarming whilst also having serious issues running through it. I read it over 2 nights during lockdown and loved every page of it

If you need to laugh your ass off, this novel is for you. I loved the main character alice who decide to give up on love because she never found her true perfect love until she mets jo, MR RIGHT, until the day they bump into Zoe, Joe's old friend who seems to have feelings for him. If you're searching for a good light page turner novel, you need to read this cute rom com .

Description

Alice thought she’d found Mr Right. Her blue-eyed boyfriend Joe gives her butterflies, makes her bacon sandwiches when she’s hungover, and doesn’t have a nickname for any of his body parts.

She should have known it was too good to be true. Because one day, Alice and Joe bump into Zoe. According to him, Zoe’s ‘just an old friend’. But Alice saw the way they froze, and heard the strange note in Joe’s voice when he said her name.

Then, out of the blue, Zoe needs a place to live. And Joe has the bright idea of inviting her, and her fluffy ginger cat Frazzle, to stay with them.

Alice tries her hardest not to feel threatened. But the thing is, Zoe doesn’t survive off microwave meals, or go days without washing her glossy copper-coloured hair, or accidentally get mascara in her contact lenses.

Joe’s ex might be pretty much perfect, but there’s no way that Alice will let Zoe steal him. She’s on a mission to prove that three (four, if you count the cat) is definitely a crowd…

My thoughts

I’ve already read a Sophie Ranald book before (you can read my review of that one here) so I was expecting a funny, sassy book like that one. Just Saying definitely delivered on this – and more.

The book centres around Alice, who ends up losing her job and – when her boyfriend Joe’s ex, Zoe, moves in – she considers the thought of losing him, too. Admittedly, Alice (or how she handled situations) at times annoyed me. I just wished I could reach into the book, shake her and say please stop doing that! Saying that, she was still likeable (whenever she wasn’t annoying) but also quite vulnerable, too. In amongst Alice though is a series of different characters – various regulars at the pub, Archie, even Frazzle the ginger cat is worth a mention!

It was your typical romance, except with the “other woman” mixed in. I don’t really tend to read books like this but this was a different take on the idea, one that didn’t leave me angry at the end – or heartbroken. The relationship is real, too. Though Joe and Zoe are great together, you can definitely see signs of strain in their relationship- something I don’t think a lot of books focus on.

I liked how Ranald inserted current affairs into this book, too. At times it felt as though she was taking on too much at once but it was good to see how she added in parts about the Windrush Generation, Brexit and #MeToo. Sometimes books have this quality of being so focused on the mushy lovey-dovey parts you almost forget about the real bits and the lives they explore. Luckily, this wasn’t a story all about love.

The one thing I wasn’t too crazy about was the ending. It felt abrupt and I just didn’t feel like it fit with the rest of the story. Saying that, it was still an enjoyable read.

This book has the humor and romance that the world needs right now. It also includes the #metoo movement and #lgtbq rights. You will grow to love Alice as she figures out if law is what she wants to do with her life. Her relationship with Joe as his ex Zoe is brought into their lives. Her friend Heather and brother Joe are a nice treat as well.

Thanks to NetGallery for the free e-book to provide an independent review

This was my first Sophie Randall book. I had not heard of her before, which I was surprised by given the number of books she has written. I did have a quick flick through previous books on GoodReads, and she is an author I would choose. I was therefore quite excited that NetGallery had introduced me to a new relevant author for free.

Overall, this book was OK, but I will not be rushing to read any previous publications. I would usually expect to read this type of book quite quickly in a day. This seemed to drag though, and I had to read others before forcing myself to come back to it and finish.

It is chick lit, which is a genre I like and read a lot of – especially during lockdown. I like the easy language, and even enjoy the often-predictable nature of many books within the genre. I state this as I don’t want my criticism to be viewed as a result of being a book snob or anything!

The book felt too simplistic. Not necessarily the plot as such, but for example with Gordon she was dreading speaking about it, and then when she did it seemed to resolve within 2 minutes. If you are going to include workplace inappropriate behaviour in a book, please do it well. I do admire the effort though! Also, HR doing the firing in the situation is not realistic (I used work in HR). HR would be present, but it would be done by a senior manager. Finally denying a female a job because of sexual harassment is extremely dodgy and not something as a HR professional I would ever advise.

I have given it 3 stars as I don’t think it is terrible. If you found it on a swap shelf on holiday for example read it. However, I would not encourage you to go out of your way to find a copy.
I do note other readers have been more favourable, so perhaps I am just in a grumpy mood this week

Just Saying, Sophie Ranald

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Humour, Romance,

My first Sophie Ranald read, and what fun it was. I really enjoyed this, laughed at parts and had tears at others. Its a very apt book with the #metoo still causing notice, and of course stories from the Windrush generation. .

I loved Alice, she was like so many people I know, internalising hurts, showing one face to the world while feeling very different inside. I think what I found so, so sad was her reaction to what happened, to blaming herself for not doing anything to stop it. That doesn't make her complicit, its a natural reaction to shock, and yet still something used as a defence far too often. Victim blaming – despicable defence.

When Alice met Joe it was a perfect match. Joe is wonderful, solid, dependable, a true support to Alice, and when she loses her job and starts at the pub he's very supportive. It means though that their work hours conflict and they see little of each other, just at the time their new, gorgeous lodger, Zoe, Joe's ex, the girl he says he loved and broke his heart, has moved in. Zoe is stunningly attractive, a great chef, and Joe loves to cook. Alice enjoys eating but cooking isn't her thing. Slowly it feels like its Joe and Zoe, rather than Joe and Alice, she's always there, laughing with Joe over their shared past, reminiscing over old mates, singing along as they cook, and of course enjoying the garden. The one Joe and Alice had such plans for but never found the time to do so. Poor Alice, Joe assures her they're just friends when she moves in, but its hard seeing that toned body parading around in sexy, skimpy nightwear. Does she want Joe back ? That's what Alice fears, and feels “less” in comparison to the gorgeous, talented Zoe.

Then there's the pub ( and that picture – I could just visualise it!! I loved Shirley's poem too, Princess Diana has that reaction for some people...). There's Alice's brother Drew, her best friend Heather, landlady Shirley and the locals, and of course handsome Archie, who owns the craft brew shop next door to the pub. They all form a tale that's is cleverly woven together, along with a secret burden poor Alice has been carrying for far too long. Its a fabulous read, well written, paced out just right and

Stars: Five. A great read. Has a perfect blend of romance and jealousy, topical issues, things that affect real people, us with our imperfect lives. And of course a HEA, a romance isn't right without that for me.

Arc via netgalley and publishers

Alice has a wonderful relationship going with her boyfriend Joe when suddenly his ex, Zoe, is in the picture. As in, she comes to live with them to save on rent, haha! As this blurb goes I was ready to read a good comedy about all the mishaps when dealing with an ex, sadly it wasn't as comic as I thought it would be. The writing was good and the main character was also developed well about figuring out what she wants to do with her life. Really liked how well her boyfriend treated her right from the start of the book. Plus points for including current topics especially lgbtq and the #metoo movement. Zoe is not a likable character and I guess that's valid. Overall, this was a good read and I feel people would like to read about a strong and relatable female lead.

An emotional, heart-warming story with plenty of love and laughter.’


This book is absolutely brilliant… I devoured it in a few hours because it was impossible to put down… Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions… Packed full of laughs… Had me laughing all the way through…

After months of struggling to find another author I love as much as I love Sophie Kinsella I have found her!’


**Thankyou Netgalley and publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of a honest review**

I have to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

I thought it would be a lighthearted rom com but like many other Sophie Ranald book its sole focus was not on the heroine. The author did a wonderful job on this story. Its equal part comedy and romance with lots of ups and downs. I adored this hilarious and heartwarming story. If you want to find out what happens when your boyfriend's ex comes to live with you then read it and find out for yourselves. I think readers are going to love it. It was surprisingly realistic with a witty and clever prospective on a seemingly straightforward love story. I loved it and will highly recommend it.

Happy reading!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The book is about a beautiful female protagonist Alice.

Alice, who is is relatable, confident and ambitious.
How her relationship with Joe, and how their relationship was depicted was lovely. They had their ups and downs.
Her relationship with her bestie Heather was also relatable and lovely. All those from The Nags Head were enjoyable to read about

.A breath of fresh air Is how I would describe this book.

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

This is the second book I've read from this author, which I didn't realize until I had started reading. The author again centers the story on a strong female character... except I didn't feel Alice was quite up to the role she was given. There's a lot of casting for identity and teenage/early 20s angst, a #metoo plot point, and a BF/GF relationship which is not developed and doesn't seem to exist for much of the book.. A lot of the issues causing Alice uncertainty could have been resolved with an open and honest conversation with said BF - but then the book would have been a lot shorter. The ending was a bit abrupt, but maybe on a par with the underdeveloped characters and loose ends. All in all, not bad, but this author can do so much better.

3.5 stars

This is my first Sophie Ranald book and I have to admit it was an easy read. However, I found it rather odd in that it seemed to try to incorporate most current societal issues - gay marriage; farm to table and organic foods; the #MeToo movement; crowdfunding, etc. I actually found it a little daunting that so many issues were addressed.

This is the story of Alice & Joe, two legal trainees waiting to complete their program to earn their permanent spot as lawyers. They have been dating for two years and live together in complete happiness. Until one day when Alice loses her job - before her job actually begins. This couple is about to be faced with many changes that will test their relationship.

But the main question I have to ask is WTF? Who would actually let their boyfriend's ex (and the one that he was in LOVE with) move in with them just to save on rent? I think I can come up with other ways to close the financial gaps.

This ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are mine without biases.