Member Reviews

I'm a huge Jill Mansell fan, and love everything she's written. And Now You're Back is no exception.

Didi and Shay shared a magical experience in Venice on a school trip and fell deeply in love. Something terrible happened to pull them apart, however, and it's 13 years later when they reconnect.

The plot is typical and predictable-- they both feel the the spark, but each is unavailable at different times.

However, Mansell's touch with character and description makes the book come alive, and all the subplots and secondary characters are unique enough to make you care about them while Shay and Didi flounder away.

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I’ve been a fan of Jill Mansell for many years. Her books always leave me feeling happy. While the endings are feel good, there is much of real life also included.

In this book, we follow the relationship between Didi and Shay. They were together as teenagers but split apart when Shay moved away following a huge blow up. Years later, Shay is back in town but Didi is engaged and is to be married shortly.

There are also stories of other relationships. I have to admit that Rosa, a widow of several years stole my heart. She is trapped in grieving but is doing so in secret. What Rosa gets up to and where she ends up is truly funny and heartwarming. I loved reading about her shenanigans.

I am, as always, looking forward to Ms. Mansell’s next book.

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Didi and Shay met thirteen years ago on a trip in Venice, Italy. They were each other’s first loves, but unfortunately, something tore them apart. Thirteen years later, Shay is back in town and staying at the hotel that Didi owns and manages. He has really made a name for himself and is back in town to fix up his childhood home for his dying father. When Shay returns, old feelings are brought up between them. Didi had moved on and gotten engaged to a sensible man. Shay knows that he missed out on his chance to get back together with her. This book chronicles the lives of Didi, Shay, Red, Rosa, and Layla in a Love Actually style romance that will suck you in from the first chapter.

I really love books like this, where the author tells many different interlocking love stories. I loved each of the characters’ stories so much, but I think Rosa’s was my favorite! The writing was really beautiful, but sometimes I got confused at the beginning of each chapter because there were so many narratives. This was a cute and fun read that romance lovers will adore!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the Advance Reading Copy in return for an honest review.

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As a massive Jill Mansell fan for nearly two decades (yikes, has it been this long?) I request arc's as soon as I spot them. Even after reading over 30 of Jill's books, she still is able to captivate you with a very romantic story. Jill's stories are the ultimate chicklits in my opinion: they are cute and cozy and although you can see the happy ending coming from a mile away, you just want to read on.
And Now You're Back is no exception: we follow the residents of Elliscombe. Didi and Shay have been high school sweethearts, when there was an incident and Shay disappeared forever. But now, thirteen years later, he appears again in Elliscombe to fulfill his father's dying wish to relocate back to their old home. Their re-appearance in Elliscombe triggers a lot of memories from various
So sit back and enjoy yet another great read from Jill. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

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Fourteen years ago, teenagers Didi and Shay fell in love during a magical trip to Venice. But Shay fled their Cotswold village when accusations were leveled against him, breaking Didi's heart. Just as abruptly, he returns to rehab his father's house. Sadly, his father has terminal cancer and wants to die in the home where he was happiest.

Didi thought she was in love with her fiance, Aaron, but Shay's return makes her question the depth of her emotion. At the same time, Shay's and Red's returns to Elliscombe seem to light the fire under other romances. Will Didi and Shay admit their love for each other before it's too late?

Jill Mansell has crafted another emotionally compelling romance with lots of subplots and some laugh-out-loud moments. Her settings, characters, plots, and dialogue are always immaculate. Her books make me happy, and that's not something to discount. Ever. #AndNowYoureBack #NetGalley

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Such a cute book, I’m glad I got to read it. I think people will enjoy this one. Thank you for letting me read it

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I wasn't sure what to expect after reading the description, and yet I found myself staying up late flipping the pages trying to figure out why he left... It was definitely a book I enjoyed and I loved the characters. I loved the hotel setting most of all.

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If you like cheesy romantic stories, then this book might be for you.

Thirteen years ago, Didi was in love with Shay in Venice. But then their romance was shortlived when Shay disappeared without telling her. Now thirteen years later, Didi is working in a hotel and Shay comes back into her life, again.

Initially, the beginning was a bit bore to me--too much of characters and dialogues but by the middle of the book, it became good and interesting. Truth to be told, I am not much of a romantic fanatic but this book to me was OK. Characters to me are likable, plot was OK and the rest of the 50% of the book was OK to me. Though I have always wanted to read Jill Mansell's books, to me, this was an OK romance book.

Worth four stars in my opinion! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

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This is a lovely layered second chance romance that made me smile. Thirteen years ago, as teens, Didi and Shay found one another on a trip to Venice but events back in the UK led Shay to disappear. Now, Didi is engaged to Aaron, running her family's hotel, and having fun with her BFF Layla, whose mom Rose is now a widow. And Shay turns up once again to help his father Red, a rather infamous criminal and Romeo who is dying of cancer. Didi has some decisions to make, Layla has a sketchy boyfriend, and Rosa is climbing the wall of her old home to talk to her deceased husband while Shay has a dalliance with a famous actress, Red moves in with Rosa, and so on. The relationships are delightful, there's an old mystery which isn't solved til the very end and you'll find yourself rooting for the various couples to see what's really happening in their lives. Mansell is a terrific storyteller and he characters shine off the page. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this very much.

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I love reading feel good, second chance romances and this book is exactly that. My interest was kept from the first page until the last and I loved all of the characters. The little twists kept the story moving along. I can't wait to read more of Mansell's work!

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This story was sweet and cute, I will not deny that. There just ended up being way too many characters and I didn't really care about their stories, just wanting to find out what is happening with Didi and Shay. I wish there was more context and history of their relationship. I think there was too much going on to allow room for good character development and a good main plot. It also just took them way too long to get back together.

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This book reminded me of how much I love Jill Mansells books. A feel good, second chance romance story that kept my interest from page one. The Venice setting sounded magical. I loved all the characters in this book but I have to admit that the secondary characters and their storylines kept me hooked. Loved Red, Rosa and Layla. So many little twists kept the story moving along nicely to a satisfactory ending. You always knew that Didi and Shay would get together but it was an enjoyable read getting there.

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I absolutely loved this book! This is the story of love lost, of knowing when to walk away, forgiveness, and finding love again. Jill Mansell wrote with humor, poignancy, truth, and created lovable characters. The main character Didi has met her first love Shay after a beautiful snowy night in Venice. They are together and everything is going well until one night changes everything. When Shay disappears after that night no one thinks they will ever see him again. Until thirteen years later when the past comes and Didi finds herself back where she was and all her old feelings for Shay are brought up again. The secondary story lines of characters like Rosa, Shay’s father Red, and Layla added interesting layers to the story. There was also an element of sadness to the story that was emotionally raw and I liked that element in the flow and overall feeling of the book. This is a feel good beach read, fans of cute romantic comedies will love this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy!

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4.5 Stars - I fell in love with this book and the entire town of Elliscombe!

Centering around Didi and Shay, who fall in love as teenagers, until a mysterious event causes Shay to run off. Fast forward 13 years, he's back in town to fulfill his father's dying wish.

Author Jill Mansell gives the reader more than a wonderful second-chance romance with And Now You're Back. I enjoyed the storylines of the secondary characters around town just as much as I did Didi & Shay's! You will find yourself smiling while following along with the love stories of this adorable small town.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for an advanced copy of this and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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2.5 stars

I normally enjoy books by this author, but this one missed the mark for me. It is a second chance romance but I didn’t get enough excitement and anticipation from the characters. There were some flashbacks, some supporting character development and side plots, but something was missing. That won’t stop me from reading future books by the author, though.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

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I expected a lot from this! It was okay, sometimes boring. The premise sounded so good but it didn't deliver as I hoped. The relationships between the characters didn't do it for me.

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I love Jill Mansells books and this one was so brilliant. As I was reading it I felt that the characters were very real and I could see them in my mind’s eye. Such a great lighthearted read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

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Heart warming story of real life situations, lost loves, heartbreak, and second chances.
Didi and Shay were high school sweethearts torn apart but a theft in the hotel of Didi's parents with Shay's name written all over it. They meet 13 years later when Shay returns home to help his dying father fix up his house. Didi and Shay have both moved forward making lives for themselves, but somehow the chemistry is still there.
This isn't a simple love story where everything falls neatly into place. These characters face real life situations, and the emotions that come with them. There were lots of subplots, got a little confusing at times until I mastered who everyone was.
Great, emotional read that will leave you feeling good.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Thank you NetGalley, Jill Mansell and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC of And Now You’re Back. This is my personal review.
Jill Mansell does it again. She has given us a feel good second chance book that left me filled with all sorts of feelings and emotions.
Did and Shay took me for an emotion filled ride and it is one I can read again and still feel the same emotions I did reading it the first time.
I connected with everyone and liked the way the author made me feel like I have known the characters for all my life.
I look forward to each of Jill Mansell’s books and this one will find a place on my shelf to read again.

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And Now You're Back is a second chance romance between hotel manager Didi and app owner Shay. Once high school sweethearts, forced apart after a robbery at the hotel with Shay's name written all over it. Shay up and vanishes for 13 years. Shay's father, ex criminal and shit stirrer Red has cancer and wants to move home for his final days which brings Shay back to his old life as an adult staying at Didi's hotel. shocked and confused Didi and Shay toe the line of friendship as old feelings stir, but the only problem is Didi is engaged and the famous starlet has eyes only for Shay. Will they or wont they get back together?

This book was super cute. Based off the description I didn't realize there would be so much story on the side characters. While I loved the side character sub-plots, I felt like there was one too many stories going on and it took a lot away from the main storyline. I also would have liked a little more of the relationship between Shay and Didi, not just the lead up the whole book. Otherwise this book was wonderful. I loved Layla's crazy boyfriend storyline, the who-done-it of the past robbery, and the friendship between Benny and Laya's mom.

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