I really liked the first novel I read by this author ( Maybe This Time ) so I thought I'd give this second chance romance a try and I am so glad I did. The first chapter alone, reading about Didi and Shay's first kiss, was so romantic. And although this book has some tough subject matter, it's really just about life as it happens. There is a later in life romance, a death from cancer, a bit of catfishing going on, a bit of a mystery added in and of course Didi and Shay keep trying to get together, but someone else is always in the way.

This was a very enjoyable story about second chances...Not everything goes smoothly in life...But love and friendship can pop up in the most unexpected ways, with some amazing people. You will definitely enjoy this book if you are looking for a lighthearted romance that ticks all the boxes.

This book was lovely! If you're looking for a fuzzy feel good story, then look no further!

This was my first novel by Jill Mansell and it left me with a smile on my face 😀 It is set in a quaint little town in the UK and there's a fun cast of characters. The storyline is mostly lighthearted with tidbits of emotional moments scattered throughout. The book doesn't have any major surprises and the plot moves along somewhat predictably, which I didn't mind one bit. This review is sort of hard to write as I'm just left feeling happy. Plain and simple, this was enjoyable!!

I'll definitely be checking out this author's blacklist for more fun reads!

And Now You Are Back is a feel good story about second chances in life and love. Didi Laiing met her first love, Shay Mason, on a magical trip to Venice when she was young. They had an incredible 6 months together. After Shay came to work at Didi's parents hotel in the Cotswolds, an event happened that changed everything. The event shocked the town and prompted Shay to disappear. Didi was devastated and never expected to see him again but thirteen years later she receives a big surprise. Shay unexpectedly appears at Didi's hotel for a long stay. Didi's world is turned upside town and she realizes that they still have that spark of attraction between them. The entire town of Elliscombe is interested in the situation and wonders why he is back. Many of the secrets of the residents of the town come out in this story. It is an enjoyable story that I recommend reading.

A girl(Didi( and a boy (Shay) meet when young(18) during a winer sojourn to Venice Italy. The 1st Chapter held much promise for my reading delight..As the 2nd Chapter began the story became bland for me.
I have read 6 of Jill Mansell's books and would rate them all in the 4 -5 star category. This book was a lackluster read for me: it seemed dreary.It is my least favorite book by this author so far. It, however, will not deter me from reading more of this authors work. Everyone has their own thoughts on what they read and this book did not do it for me.
I would like to thank Sourcebook Landmark, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book. The release date is June 8, 2021.

And Now You’re Back is a poignant and sweet second chance romance that took my heart on a roller coaster ride! The book is filled with many great characters, and besides the main couple, Shay and Didi, there are also secondary characters who have romances of their own! It was a fun ride, with lots of obstacles in the way, but the end is worth the angst!

I'll admit, I'm a HUGE fan of Jill Mansell, so I expect to like everything I read. But I also open each new title with trepidation and fear that Jill has lost her touch. I'm delighted to say that Jill has constructed another delightful narrative with relatable characters. She weaves multiple colorful threads into a beautiful tapestry.

And Now You're Back by Jill Mansell is a poignant, funny, feel good story about second chances and finding your way home. Didi Laing met her first love, Shay Mason, on a magical winter visit to Venice. For six months after that they were rapturously happy together and Shay came to work at Didi's parents' hotel in the Cotswolds. One event changed everything, shocking the town, and leading to Shay's disappearance.

No doubt the book is cute and a feel good one, but at times during the plot it felt flat. Nothing great nor new was coming out of this book. It's the same old chick lit, romance novel with a very expected plot and ending. The characters were good.
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Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC!

I’m not typically a romance reading kinda girl, but this sounded so cute I had to give it a shot and thankfully, it lived up to my expectations. Super cute and perfect for a sit down with a cup of tea.
Didi and Shay were friends who went on one last group trip abroad before they all went their separate ways for uni, etc. They had some magical moments while there and started their relationship and all was going well until an incident causes everything to change.
Fast forward 13 years, and Didi is on her 3rd fiancé and running her family’s hotel when Shay comes back to town and their feelings for each other start to bubble up again. They both have to deal with the issues in the past and sort out their present in order to face their future together.
I enjoyed the story and the characters had depth, which I am always a fan of. Even the supporting characters were important to the building of the main characters story. And the setting was brilliant!
Thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

And Now You’re Back: Thank you @netgalley and @bookmarked for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review!

I adored this book. I’ve been in a real rom-com zone recently and this just hit the spot.

Didi and Shay met on their friends 18th birthday trip to Venice. After bumping into each other during a late night snow at the Piazza San Marco, and building a snowman together, they were head over heels. Back home in Elliscombe, Shay begins working at Didi’s parents hotel and they are happy... for 6 months. Then something happens, Shay leaves town, never to be seen or heard from again, until one day 13 years later, he’s staying in the hotel, now run by Didi.

Didi and Shay are clearly the focal point, but the entire book is about second chances, in life and love. Whether it is Shay’s wayward dad, trying to make things right before he dies, Didi’s best friend Layla who is unlucky in love, or Layla’s mom trying to move on from losing her husband. The characters provoke a feeling of protectiveness, I just wanted them all to find their happiness.

This book was heartwarming and enjoyable. @jillmansell thank you for this lovely story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Didi and Shay are meant to be. Until one incident separates them. Shay leaves town and both start living their own lives.

But Shay returns to town to fulfill his father's wish and, as luck would have it, he stays at Didi's hotel. And the rumour mills that had gone quiet after Shay left start again.

I liked the book but some parts felt too slow, too cautious. The characters were quite predictable as well.

3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I want to thank Jill Mansell, Sourcebooks, & Netgalley for the advanced copy of And Now You’re Back.
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Didi Lang & Shay Mason fall in love in their late teens in Venice while there for Didi’s best friend’s birthday. The attraction is so acute that without them even saying anything to each other, everyone else knows exactly what is happening. Fast forward 13 years, Didi is running her family’s small British hotel & who is one of the guests, but her ex beau, Shay. Didi is now on her 3rd engagement to men that never quite measure up to her first love, but the timing is wrong for Shay & Didi to really rekindle those feelings. Shay’s back in town to help take care of dying ex con father, Red. Red has plans of his own up his sleeve. He gets Shay to spend the summer in the idyllic town of Elliscombe & Red tries to manufacture a new romance, or actually many new romances, before he passes away. Things hadn’t ended well between Shay & Didi 13 years later, but Red has some secrets the need to be aired out. The question as always is, is the time finally right for Shay & Didi to figure out the past? Or is it too late?
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This was my first Mansell story. I didn’t know what to expect when I headed in to reading it & I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the little town of Elliscombe, it’s definitely what I picture the quaint towns of the UK to be. The hotel sounded darling. Didi was such a strong character, except when it came to the other men in her relationship history. They all manipulated her & definitely didn’t treat her how she should be treated. Shay was a great counter balance to that. He was strong, but also wasn’t intimidated by Didi’s strength. The biggest issue I had with this one, was that there seemed to be a few too many voices. I understood why, but at times the extra voices seemed to take away from the book. I would have liked to have seen more interaction with Layla, Didi’s best friend. Overall, this was a cute rom com & I’m looking forward to reading more of Mansell’s books. Thank you again to everyone for the chance to read this one early! It’ll be out June 8th!

I usually enjoy Jill Mansell books, but I found this novel quite slow to begin with. However, as I got further into the book I became more intrigued and began to enjoy the story of Didi and her first love Shay. I also particularly enjoyed the sub plots regarding Didi’s best friend Layla and her mother Rosa. I felt that the characterisation was very good and the plot was interesting and well thought out. Mansell has the ability to give characters depth that leads you to empathise with them, as is evidenced in the character of Red in this novel. Another very good novel from Jill Manse. Thank you very much to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for an arc of this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. I am not a regular reader of the "modern romance" genre but was interested to read a book by Jill Mansell, since her books are rated highly. And Now You're Back is the story of Didi, Shay and Layla - friends since their youth and now in their 30's. At one point Didi and Shay were very much in love but Shay disappeared from her life for 13 years. The descriptions of Italy, the realistic characters and real-life issue rang true as a reader. Ms. Mansell's writing flows nicely and she is a good storyteller. I look forward to reading some of her other books.

3.5 stars

A lovely, feel-good yarn about love and hope and friendship and second chances. Didi is likable and 'real'. Shay made me swoon a little and the failed relationships were believable because, well, we've all been there! The interwoven lives and the 'nearly made it' moments are not too cliched and there are some twists and turns as the path of true love never does run smooth!

All in all, a wonderful romantic tale with a hint of humour and positive friendship reinforcement which I have come to expect from this author.

There are a few American spellings that seem to have snuck in?! 'Traveled' etc. Didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book!

Thank you to Jill Mansell, Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

I enjoyed reading every bit of this lovely book, even the parts that had me a bit anxious, since I knew Jill Mansell would have written a “happily ever after ending”. There are wonderfully flawed characters in this book that I care about even now after I have finished the book days ago. My mind keeps going back to the story, which is a sign of a fantastic book.

There are many plots going on at the same time, all interwoven in some way. I was completed drawn into each one of them and was concerned & joyous along with the characters as they went about their lives. One specific sub plot is about how fragile life is and the author handled this subject with great care and even humor.

I look forward to each new book by Ms. Mansell and she has written another gem with “And Now You’re Back”. It is a definitely much more than a second chance at love story. It is a reflection of life and how each choice a person makes will lead to a different future.

I want to thank NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Thank you #Netgalley for this read!

This was a fun read about Didi, her family runs a hotel. The story begins with an experience from highschool and visiting the hotel where she makes a special connection with Shay. Then we jump to present times, Didi runs the hotel now and still spends time with her best friend Layla. Then one day, Shay arrives at the hotel and surprises everyone with his current success and reasons as to why he is back. We then follow a few characters all intertwined with different families and histories. The concept of second chances is evident....you never know who you will run into and how things will play out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have been reading Jill Mansell’s books fir at least 10 years. I still look forward to each one and will continue to do so. Unfortunately this book did not make me laugh as the others have. I found myself skimming the chapters through the middle of the book. Thus, I am being generous at 3 stars but I don’t feel like it is only 2 stars either.

I’ve read most of Jill Mansell’s books and I was lucky enough to get the ARC for this book. So thank you Netgalley for sending this book to me for a honest review. And the timing was perfect because I’m free from work this week and the weather is good so I got the chance to fully enjoy the book.

The book is all about second chances. The main characters Didi and Shay had a relationship when they were teenagers, but when an event happens that changes everything for them and they go their separate ways. The story starts when Shay returns to Elliscombe unexpectedly after being away for thirteen years. When he returns it seems like Didi has the perfect life. She is managing the hotel of her parents and she has the perfect fiancé. But everything is not as it seems to be.

If you like a light and fluffy romance then you will like this book. I thought the chemistry between the main characters was there and I felt for the characters. I would have liked if the characters had more depth, but most of the characters in the Jill Mansell books don’t have a lot of depth. I liked Didi but she was a bit run of the mill. I missed a bit of personality. Shay on the other hand is his own person and it is easier to understand why he does some things.

I had fun reading this book and it gave me the feel good feeling I was hoping for. The book is a light and easy read and the characters are likeable. It’s the perfect book to read when you’re sitting in the sun and just want to relax and feel good.

This was an adorable and well-written romance that takes on three woman: beautiful and successful hotel manager Didi, her best friend Layla, and Layla's recently widowed mom.

When her first love shows up a the hotel, it rocks Didi's idea of love. Meanwhile, Layla is sick of trying to find love in the wrong places, and Rosa is healing from the loss of her husband while taking in a lodger. With a subplot involving a decades-old mystery, there is a lot to love in this witty and cute book.

I always look forward to Jill Mansell's books, and this is one of the best I have read. I really loved the swoony romance between the main characters, and the British setting is always a plus for this American.

You cannot go wrong adding Jill Mansell to your beach bag or carryon this summer.

First time reading this author but have seen great reviews on her books so was so happy to be granted a wish for a copy of this book. I adore second chance romances, and I really tried to get invested in this story but I just couldn't unfortunately. The characters, plot and writing just didn't work for me and I lost interest sorry.