An e-copy of this book was kindly provided to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book starts when, Hailey Kidd, the main character, starts her dream job. An ex primary teacher, Hailey retrains as a lawyer and succeeds in landing a much coveted 6-month training contract with her idol – Vivian Jones. For Hailey, Vivian is the woman who has it all, partner at an important law firm in London (the only woman), a loving husband and amazing daughters. Hailey wants to impress Jones and learn from her.
The new job comes with new challenges and obstacles. As she finds herself moving in different, more affluent and powerful circles, Hailey struggles to reconcile what she sees as her values and morals with this new world.
Shortly after she starts, Hailey witnesses something that helps her be thrown into the deep end of this world. Vivian starts taking her to all her meetings, charity and social events and dinners. As their relationship evolves, so do Hailey’s question. She is questioning everything about her life and her relationship with her lovely and understanding boyfriend, Dom, and her interactions with her best friend, Sophie.
This book is funny, but also emotional. Hailey is very likable. She is not perfect, she is insecure, selfish at times, cruel at others, careless, but ultimately, she learns from her mistakes and apologises. She reads as a real person who struggles with the big changes in her life.
I have enjoyed this book and the development of the plot.

I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would.

Yes it’s easy to read, yes it flows well, yes it’s about love, yes it’s funny in places. But it’s so much more than a chick flick!

It follows an journey of self-discovery, of balancing friendships, relationships and work.

I felt it very easily to relate to this book and the main characters! Would recommend.

What an enjoyable tale that turned out to be really mysterious!
Loved how the book made me feel so freaked out sometimes. The author has got a really nice writing style. The characters' problems seem familiar and they feel very real. The protagonist is gray and sometimes gets really annoying but well that's the beauty of the book. Very simple language.

DEFINITELY PICK IT UP if you want to get started with reading. An enjoyable book for a weekend.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author. Firstly, I liked the writing style; it flowed well and I felt invested in the storyline throughout.

Secondly, I had genuine feelings about the characters. I consider this to be the sign of a great author, Hailey frustrated me and Vivian made me mad!! This only happens when characters are written so well that you feel like you know them enough to make a judgement on their personality.

The book did remind of Devil Wears Prada; but not enough to detract from the storyline.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

Never Say No By Elizabeth Neep

Rating 3 / 5 Stars

Publication Date - 9/4/2020

** Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and of course, Elizabeth Neep, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The second I finished this book, I thought to myself that Neep better be ready for the Devil Wears Prada stans coming out in full force. Yes, Never Say No has a similar vibe, but at the same time, it is unique! This book focuses on self-discovery, friendship, and love through the lens of Hailey Kidd, our protagonist. She is a perfectionist and in her mind, the glue to keeping her life together in all aspects. Hailey is a lawyer but wishes she could be on the battleground of the courts versus the back room doing the countless paperwork and research needed for those court battles.

Then we meet Vivian, the senior partner of the law firm who has a presence that can fill the room. This is also the case for this novel. Vivian is the best part of this novel, even though it is told from Hailey’s perspective. Hailey idolizes her, and I kind of do too.

I found the rest of the characters to be kind of lackluster. Dom had no depth to him, Liam was kind of annoying.

At its core, the best relationship in this novel is Vivan and Hailey, especially as they continue to find themselves and come full circle. - I LOVED IT.

I struggled to get "into" this book. It reminded me just too much of "The Devil Wears Prada" - the movie version not the book. Although the setting was different - London and a family law office; not New York and a fashion magazine - I kept "seeing" Miranda, Emily, Andy and all the others. Even the office setup is similar plus the tiny flat Hailey and Dom share gives me flashbacks to TDWP. And the similarities between Hailey and Andy's new jobs - working longer hours; spending less time with friends and relationship issues are also echoes back to TDWP.

The storyline wasn't all that bad - you were kept guessing as to what was going on between all the characters - who was involved with who etc. I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more if I didn't "see" all the similarities from "The Devil Wears Prada".

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

Never Say No was a great read about a relationship challenged by life changes. Hailey has just started work in a law firm and is struggling to find her feet in an office filled with high flyers. We meet her as she questions what she really wants in life, her long-term boyfriend, dependable and secure, or the excitement and possiblity of her new life. Thanks Netgalley

This book had the feel of a coming-of-age novel, but for adults instead - and I really enjoyed and appreciated that. This book focuses on our main character reassessing her life and commitment, and going through the process of finding herself and her values again. I loved the focus on her personal growth and goals. All in all a super fun and inspiring read!

Haily Kidd wants to straddle the fence so she can have her grass on both sides.

This one fact was Haily's driving force throughout the book. Fresh out of law school, Haily has scored an incredible opportunity to train with the woman who inspired her to quit teaching and go into law.

Late nights, missed dates with her boyfriend, and runs with her best friend have Haily wondering if her FOMO is her private life or career?

Everyone at work and in her personal life has advice, and she is conflicted about what it is she wants. Haily doesn't even KNOW if her old life is what she misses or if that comfort is keeping her from growing as a woman approaching her 30's

This book was a quick read. It was a slow day at the library, and I tore through most of it in a few hours. When I got home from work, I ignored my family until I had gobbled up the last page.

Part of the thrill of this book is how IRRITATED I was with Haily. I didn't know if I should help her, hurt her, or hurl her. That always means the author has created a complicated character who is about to experience growth. I thought I knew what was going to happen, and I just had to keep turning pages to make sure I was right.

Neep didn't hold back. I was right on some fronts, wrong on others, and not until I got to the HEA I hoped was coming on the last page did I relax.


I have not read many Bookoture published books, but I can see requesting more in the future. They are funny, smart, and the kind of lighthearted read that makes me still think.


The book takes place in London. I loved that the characters weren't wild and crazy 20-somethings but almost 30-year-olds ready to "settle down."


Well, maybe. Perhaps ready. At least thinking about it.

If you are looking for a light, funny, HEA with depth, this is your book. Her friends are great; her co-workers are complicated. It isn't a swoon-worthy read, but it was a great way to spend a rainy day.

When you see the cover and read the blurb, you think this is one of those wonderful stories that everyone hates but secretly enjoys.

I really loved this novel way more than I thought, It’s not about the conflicts of a young woman that is approaching her thirties and has no idea what life will bring on her doorstep next, it’s so much more and so many other characters’ lives covered.

I like Hailey and her quirky mind; she is the perfect heroine that we all love, with feelings and vulnerabilities, with aspirations and dreams for her destiny and doesn’t take everything for granted. She is devoted and fatefull, she is that friend that you can call or text at any time of the day and trust her with all your secrets.

There are many characters to look up here, from her fiance, the one that I loved and hate at the same time, to her boss woman, her idol and her perfect life, but it proves that not everything you see sparkles and to get there there are many layers of the truth and many covered secrets. The other side characters are adding so much to Hailey’s character arc and I liked them all because they are so reliable in so many aspects, just like real life friends and colleagues.

Overall, it’s a very well-written story that kept me reading it in one sitting and had my heart feel full in the end, because it’s not a light read at times, but it’s a real and heartwarming story.

The Devil Wears Prada meets Suits, this novel shows how easy it is to get swept away with keeping up with the Joneses - in this case, one called Vivian. But all that glitters isn't gold, and this is a cautionary tale about appreciating what we have an d making time for those we love.

This book follows Hailey, a primary teacher turned lawyer who is adjusting to a flashy new world, in an internship with Vivian Jones, one of the leading family lawyers in the region. Vivian Jones is the only female partner at the firm and she is renown for having it all, power, money, a perfect family, a perfect life... Or so it seems. Along for the ride are Hailey's high school sweetheart, Dom and her best friend Sophie, as Hailey starts to doubt everything in her life that she thought was a sure thing.

I enjoyed reading about the flashy lifestyle that the lawyers at this firm lived. Having worked at an accounting firm, it's not that far off. Power and money can drive people to do some crazy things. Affairs were not unusual. It was exciting to read about that world again.

Otherwise, I found plot wise, there wasn't that much that happened. It was a bit predictable. I would've loved a bit more drama.

It was an easy read, something light to read if you're in the mood for it.

3.5/5, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the eGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I tried really hard to get into this book but I just couldn't. After starting and stopping reading it over half a dozen times, I'm taking a break. I don't have anything negative to say other than the first few chapters just didn't pull me in enough to keep going.

Maybe it's just a timing issue. For now I'll give it a 3 star rating because I didn't specifically dislike it so when I return to it, I'll update as needed and post a more substantial review beyond just "the beginning didn't hold my attention."

Having thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Neep’s novel The Spare Bedroom I was excited to read her latest offering, which going by the cover alone suggests a storyline that is in a similar lighthearted, feel good, uplifting vein.
Beginning with The Moment, an as yet unknown individual witnesses something which goes on to form the basis of this storyline. Everything that happens thereafter hinges on this one moment and has a relevance to the protagonist, Hailey Kidd’s own personal circumstances. I had to double check I wasn’t muddling up the titles on my digital bookshelf as the narrative, in the main, has more in common with those with a psychological suspense vibe. However I do think with this observation, I place myself in a minority and plenty of readers no doubt will disagree!!

Hailey Kidd is one of two trainees starting in a law firm renowned for taking on high profile divorce cases. The only female partner in the firm is Vivian, a strong successful woman who has managed to combine a glittering career with a long, happy marriage to city banker Jason and is mother to three daughters. To Hailey, and indeed the majority of those that encounter Vivian, she is an inspirational woman, someone Hailey aspires to be like. A natural born leader with an amazing work ethic, Vivian is revered by Hailey, almost to the point of taking on god like status. It is Hailey who has witnessed her boss in an uncompromising position, becoming the unwitting keeper of her secrets, which is definitely an unenviable position to find yourself in as the new girl. This immediately puts Hailey on the back foot, so eager to shine and attract the attention of her boss and other senior associates in the company that her work life quickly becomes her sole focus,her relationships with boyfriend Dom and best friend Sophie relegated to the bottom of the pile. However she doesn’t just attract the attention of Vivian but also that of the enigmatic,charming Liam Hartman and as the storyline develops so does Hayley’s infatuation with every aspect of her work life.

This is an enjoyable and interesting moral tale of how easily heads can be turned,attracted to the bright lights of success and the power that brings. Through Hailey’s character the author explores that age old dilemma of fatal attraction, how we react to that situation and the consequences of choosing a particular path. Hailey is not the first person to be seduced by the dark side, and won’t be the last but how she allows her work/life balance to become so weighted in one direction and the rapidity of this is quite alarming. Formerly a primary school teacher like Dom and Sophie, by the time the storyline comes to a head, Hailey is virtually unrecognisable from the slightly awkward, nervous, eager to please trainee who first stepped through the doors of Taylor, Laters and Jones. In neglecting the two most important people in her personal life in favour of the lifestyle Vivian is offering her, will Hailey discover that the grass is greener on the other side? Will her fear over missing out turn her into a flaky friend and an increasingly absent and/or potentially unfaithful partner? In this particular instance is change good or bad?

Vivian is a character I didn’t have much time for. Her stance in the divorce case she is currently involved in, that of Russian billionaire Aleksander Ruslan and his wife, British runway model, Talia Laurent makes her such a hypocritical figure, given the way she conducts a secret private life. It’s this aspect of the storyline that prompted me to feel the narrative has a suspenseful element as the reader is left guessing,along with Hailey, who might be part of Vivian’s secret life and there are a few potential suspects! I think she has to shoulder some of the blame for leading Hailey astray, for causing this impressionable underling to doubt her own happiness with her life with Dom.

Why did I struggle to find the humour in this novel that the cover suggests I would find in these pages? I think because some of the themes explored surrounding the sanctity of marriage and the way adultery threatens what to some is an outdated institution are not lightweight subjects to deal with. Contemplating affairs and condoning such behaviour as acceptable providing no one gets hurt just isn’t funny. Some individuals in this law firm suffer from a severe lack of a moral compass, their behaviour hypocritical and self indulgent, almost as if this is inevitable given the high powered cut throat nature of this working environment. I felt anyone entering this domain needed to show a strength of character sadly lacking in our protagonist Hailey, who is like a lamb to the slaughter. However I do recognise that she’s caught between a rock and a hard place, desperate to impress Vivian, her idol but unfortunately that excuse only works up to a point. Hailey didn’t endear herself to me along with all the other law firm associates, apart from Daniel! I wanted to yell at her ‘wake up and smell the roses before it’s too late’, disgusted and frustrated at her treatment of both best friend Sophie and long term boyfriend Dom. Constantly reneging on their plans outside of work and viewing her loyal and dependable boyfriend in an unfavourable light made me think her unworthy and undeserving of their loyalty and affection. Hailey’s character is like a rabbit caught in the headlights, this new career forcing her to question the current status quo at home and quite simply she panics, losing sight of the person she really is. Although this is a novel about embracing change I think the way Hailey chooses to do so is indicative of the way many of us may behave in similar circumstances so the author’s writing places much emphasis upon the consequences of such behaviour and how as human beings we are often not satisfied or happy with our lives, forever searching for that elusive something that promises to deliver what we feel we are missing. Isn’t this one of the reasons why so many people embark on affairs in the first place?? I think the author is trying to show two sides of the coin when it comes to change, that it can be both good and bad, reevaluating circumstances is an important process in life but the more positive aspects of change are, in my opinion, more pertinent to Sophie’s storyline than Hailey’s.

I think when secrets are finally revealed and truths are laid bare, concerning Vivian, Liam, Sophie, Daniel and Dom then the tone of writing changes, and diverts the reader along the usual path of predictability, answering the question that occupies you from the start. Is the grass greener on the other side or is it a case of better the devil you know? You can probably guess the answer!!

Whilst I did enjoy this book (just maybe not in the way the author intended!) I take issue with promoting Never Say No as a hilarious, uplifting novel. Yes, towards the end the writing takes on a more lighthearted tone, one that I’d been expecting from the very beginning. As I read the last few pages, I thought the outcomes were of a nature more in keeping with the bright, breezy happy ever after kind of fiction I’d anticipated which makes me feel this is a slightly confused book in terms of genre. Unless of course I’d simply lost my sense of humour for the short while it took me to read! This is by no means a criticism of the author’s writing and I shall keep following her career with interest. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Never Say No by Elizabeth Neep
3.5/5

This novel, set in London, follows Hailey through a few life changes. She recently decided on a career change from a teacher to a lawyer. You go along with her trying to balance the changing pace of her work and ambitions all the while trying to maintain her relationships with her boyfriend Dom and her best friend Sophie. When she continually gets asked to stay back at the office by her boss Vivian who is a famous family lawyer and finds out a few secrets about her, she begins to blow off her friends and make excuses to spend more time with her coworkers, not necessarily working. I thought that this was a good portrayal of the confusion that comes along with a huge life change while also balancing other competing priorities, such as relationships. Overall, I would recommend this one to people who want some reassurance in the confusion that huge changes can make in our lives, and if you want an interesting story with a female friendship in the center.

(slight spoilers below)

I was a bit disappointed by the way that the portrayal of Hailey owning her own life and independence was so intertwined with a romantic interest that she has with a coworker, and the absolutely terrible advice she receives from her mentor and idol, Vivian. I felt for Dom and Sophie a lot during this novel and was disappointed by how unaware Hailey was to their feelings, which made me dislike her in a large chunk of the book. I greatly enjoyed the development of the strong female friendship in this novel, as well as how realistic the ending is rather than just tying things up in a metaphorical bow.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for this e-book.

This book sent me on a roller-coaster of emotions. I started off loving Hailey, then falling out of love with her, then back to loving her again. It's a great book of self discovery and realising that your life is perfectly fine, even though you may not think it. I think this is something that most of us are guilty of. There's plenty of touching moments (Hailey, Sophie, and Dom's friendship throughout the years) and a few twists and turns, which albeit were a bit predictable but overall this was a lovely read and perfect for fans of The Devil Wears Prada.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 Stars.

Hailey is a woman on the move. She's completed law school and is training at a Family Law firm under her widow, Vivian Jones - a powerhouse divorce attorney and everything Hailey strives to be. Soon, Hailey finds herself devoting all of her time to her new job, forsaking the roles of friend and girlfriend, for what she believes is the job of her dreams. Never Say No is very reminiscent of The Devil Wears Prada. I think the book really focuses on the importance of balancing life. It takes a lot for women to "have it all" and often we're asked to do more, more, more. Throughout the book, Hailey finds that doing more and meeting all of life's expectations isn't all it's cracked up to be, and it isn't really necessary either. Sometimes it's okay to not be okay, to not be perfect, and to set your own expectations in life. Sometimes it's okay to say No and make your own happiness.

As a quick reminder, here is my rating structure:

1 star: Did not finish
2 Stars: Finished but do not recommend
3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
4 Stars: Loved this book!
5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.
Being a big fan of Elizabeth Neep’s previous novel, The Spare Bedroom, I couldn’t miss out on a chance to read her sophmore outing, Never Say No. Considering that the blurb talked about The Devil Wears Prada, I knew going in that I would like the book.

Never Say No is a finding yourself novel set in the workplace, specifically, a law firm in London. Hailey is a former teacher restarting her career, becoming an attorney after spending years being what she thought she should be instead of what she wanted.

She soon finds out that changing jobs is not always enough to find what you want in life.

Elizabeth Neep is a great writer, with a very easy-to-read style while not shying away from conflicted characters with deep emotional turmoil. Sometimes, with contemporary fiction/romance, the books are easy reads because there isn’t any depth, but somehow, through both of her books, Neep manages to bring complicated characters with big life problems to the usually light genre.

Hailey is a great character because she is a flawed heroine. She isn’t sure about herself, her work, her boyfriend, or pretty much any decision she has made in her life. While infuriating at times with her indecision, Hailey is every person who has ever questioned what they want out of life. It is infuriating to ask these questions because there are never easy answers. Hailey was the physical embodiment of a fork in the road of life.

I could have used more from Dom and Liam, though I definitely appreciated how Elizabeth Neep kept their characters extremely neutral. I got the feeling she didn’t want to tell us who to root for, since Hailey didn’t know, and I appreciate that a lot. I just wanted to know them more.

The story wasn’t predictable at all and I loved, loved, loved the format. It was original but didn’t feel forced in the least. I honestly enjoyed reading Never Say No and looked forward to the moments I was able to tuck into the pages.

Hailey has always been the one to say yes - yes to friends, boyfriend, everyone. She is a people pleaser.
Then she starts a new job and needs to be more involved at work but still tries to always say yes to those in her life. The work starts to blur the lines of her personal life and Hailey has to start making some serious decisions on her job and the type of personal she wants to be.

I enjoyed this book - it really reminded me of the movie The Devil Wears Prada. It has that vibe to it - a law firm versus and magazine. The story lines seemed familiar.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

I loved this book! Never Say No reminds me of The Devil Wears Prada, but with a different take of course. I really enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, so it attests to this story.
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Hailey rarely says no to her boyfriend Dom, her best friend, Sophie & her role model/boss Vivian Jones who is a partner at the law firm Hailey has recently started training at.
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Hailey wants to make a good impression & have a seat at the “big boys’ table”, but she finds herself making sacrifices to get that seat.
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I had to take a big risk to give up a full-time job after making a decision to go back to school to pursue a career in something that I truly wanted to do. I felt the determination & the fear of failure of not reaching aspirations of attaining the type of position I worked so hard to achieve. Needless to say, I got there after hard work, fortitude & pushing down inner voices of insecurities. While Hailey wanted to please everyone around her, she began to forget what she, herself wanted.
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I liked how the moral of the story was that life is messy, people make mistakes & it’s okay if you don’t always know what you want. Focus on today & tomorrow, but sometimes the future is intimidating, so it’s important to enjoy the ride.