Member Reviews
Lucy Score delivers it all with Maggie Moves On.
Maggie is a YouTube Home Flipper who comes to small town Idaho with her best friend Dean looking to break 1 million YouTube subscribers and another challenge. Silas is the hometown landscape architect who is after meeting Maggie is looking to draw his way into her life.
This book has a strong woman main character, romantic love interest and witty banter that made me laugh out loud many many times. I enjoyed the diverse side characters, the addition of a cozy wild west historical mystery and how author Lucy Score found a way to bring all the elements of the story to life.
Maggie Moves on has everything I have come to expect from Lucy Score - humor, heart, mystery, romance, and self discovery. Her writing style draws you right in and the characters feel like best friends. Kinship, Idaho was the escape I needed.
Maggie has a growing following on YouTube as a home renovator. She produces her own series of home makeovers around the country, selling the homes and moving on to the next adventure. Her newest project, a run down Victorian monstrosity in Idaho, may prove her biggest challenge yet. From a cursed kitchen to a historical gold heist to a landscaper who tempts her to break her nomadic ways.
Silas is a man who loves his hometown and his big family. Working as a landscaper with his rescue pup, Kevin, gives him the amazing opportunity to design the landscape for the historical Victorian house on the hill. And when he meets Maggie, he knows it's a sign. Now, if only he can convince her to slow down and see it!
Another marvelous tale from Lucy Score, who clearly knows about flipping houses, home improvement TV, and the vagaries of social media. (See her previous "Mr. Fixer-Upper" and "The Christmas Fix.") This story, which takes place in Kinship, Idaho, pairs Maggie, whose peripatetic life is one house flip after another, with Silas, the local landscaper who's smitten on sight and wants her to stay. She's strong-willed and skeptical, he's charming and persuasive, the banter is witty, and the chemistry is scorching. There's the rambling Queen Anne Victorian with 18 rooms and a lakeside view, a pit bull who loves on everyone he meets, a homeless teenager, a mysterious parentage, a buried treasure, and the author's usual collection of sharply drawn supporting characters. The story may seem overstuffed with subplots at times, but everything is wrapped up in a feel-good Happily Ever After.
The timing worked out in my favour this weekend and I managed to snag an ARC of Lucy Score’s upcoming release, “Maggie Moves On.” Although her books have all been published independently to date, this is the first of her offerings through a contract with Grand Central Publishing.
The story is a Lucy Score classic with engaging characters, a plot that sucks you in, and enough detail to make the world feel real and comfortable. Silas takes one look at Maggie and decides that she is the one. Maggie has built a life that protects her from reliving the hurts of the past, and she needs a little more convincing to take a chance. While Silas is convincing her, they renovate a grand old home, cuddle cute animals, save an at-risk youth, and solve the mystery of the missing stage coach gold. This is a steamy read, with explicit sex scenes (no kink), so if that’s not your thing, either skip this one or be prepared to skim past.
While I can enjoy a well-written angsty read, I think we’ve firmly established that I prefer a story that models adult behaviour. Not that the characters are perfect or never make mistakes, but that they own up to their errors and that they are willing to learn and grow. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but the title of this book works on multiple levels.
This was an ARC, and although I’ve read published works in worse shape, it could stand another round of editing to meet the standard I’m used to from Lucy Score’s books. Given the scheduled release date, there’s lots of time, so I’m guessing the official text will be shined up. I highly recommend reading this one.
This is my first ARC review and I’m so glad it’s for one of my favorite authors books. Lucy Score’s Maggie Moves On has become one of my new favorite books. It has a little bit of everything and the kitchen sink and it still works great! It’s a rom com with a very well written heroine that even with issues has a great wit and a spine of steel that doesn’t let her quit. Let’s not forget the extremely hot landscaper with a heart of gold and a mischievous pit bull named Kevin! Lucy gifts us with another small town, this time in Idaho and just like all her towns it’s full of awesome characters that show us the true meaning of community and family. Lucy also includes a town mystery that kept me entertained and guessing until the end. I loved the building scorching hot romance between the characters too. Overall it’s another spectacular hit for Lucy and I greatly recommend it!!! Keep them coming Lucy because I can’t stop devouring them fast enough. 😍
I absolutely loved this book. I admit I am a fan of Lucy Score. And something she does that I really enjoy is fully develop not only the main characters, but the secondary characters, as well. You become so attached to everyone that it feels like you are right in the middle of being a part of the story.
She also fully develops story lines that make twists and turns and totally connect by the end of the book. Lucy has such a talent for telling a story that is engaging, fun and romantic.
I loved that this story is set in a small town in Idaho. I love that there is a mystery to solve. I love that there are ties to the past that make so much sense in the present.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends!!
First, let me share that I am a huge fan of Lucy Score. My first Lucy read was "Rock Bottom Girl" in which I had so much laugh-out-loud fun reading it, that I have read most if not all of her titles. "Maggie Moves On" does not disappoint on this as well. Complex and well-formed main characters that are (relatively) realistic and a full cast of supporting characters make for a hilarious and engaging read. Not a spoiler, but KEVIN - oh my, Kevin! Hilarious! You'll be rooting for each and every one of these characters and not get bored doing it. "Maggie Moves On" should be on every romance readers TBR list! Trust me, you'll love it.
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Maggie Moves on by Lucy Score is a delightful rom-com that will appeal to fans of Sophie Kinsella and Tessay Bailey. The story revolves around Maggie, a YouTube star whose videos involve renovating and flipping old houses. When she arrives in Idaho to restore a dilapidated Victorian mansion in four months, she has plans for everything. But then, she meets handsome landscaper Silas. Will he convince her to stay in Idaho longer than expected? Will the relationship-averse Maggie change her plans for the sake of love?
Here is a humorous excerpt from Chapter 1:
The house rose in front of them through the rain-slicked windshield as the truck squeezed through the overgrowth on both sides of a rutted lane. Three stories. A massive porch that disappeared around one side. Shingles and carved wood with several layers of peeling paint battled it out to draw the eye first.
...
He flopped back in his seat and shook his head. “This better be the first and last time you buy a property sight unseen.” His voice was its usual morning rasp when Maggie dragged him from his beauty sleep.
The property wasn’t exactly unseen, but she doubted the truth of it would make her business partner feel more confident. “I saw pictures,” she argued instead.
“I saw the same pictures and distinctly recall trying to talk you out of it.”
“Whine later,” Maggie told him as she slid out from behind the wheel. The ground was soft and wet beneath her work boots."
Overall, Maggie Moves On is a rom-com that would make the perfect beach read. It will appeal to fans of home renovation shows like Jo and Chip on Fixer Upper. One highlight of this book is the absolutely adorable premise. I love that Maggie and Silas end up meeting on the site of one of Maggie's jobs. I also found Maggie's occupation to be original and empowering. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would have to say that I lost interest in the plot about midway through. That might just be a personal thing though, because I can see many romance readers enjoying this book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt, or if you're a fan of rom-coms in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!
This was such a cute book! The dynamic between Silas and Maggie was so cute. At first I was really turned off by how pushy Silas was at the beginning of the book. But he grew on me, with how much Maggie needed him without knowing she needed him. The sense of community and a found family made this more than a romance.
If you are in the mood for a light-hearted, fun, steamy romance then this is the book for you!
I was blown away by how Lucy Score filled out her cast of characters with rich, well-developed characters. The ensemble nature of this book is where it truly shines. I fell so in love with all of the side characters. They helped drive the story along, but also brought in new and interesting aspects of the story.
The romance in this book is great, Silas and Maggie were clearly made for each other. And oh damn, it is spicy. I was literally holding my breath reading their sex scenes. Damn.
Silas turned me off a little with how possessive and a bit controlling he was with Maggie right off the bat. I don't mind insta love, but I do mind men treating women like breakable little objects for owning and protecting. The Silas weirdness and the slightly slow, clunky start to the book is what knocked it down a bit for me. BUT Kevin, the pitbull??? My favorite character in any rom-com ever.
Lucy Score did it again. Maggie Moves On is a terrific read. The characters come to life and feel like family. Silas’s easy going nature and Maggie’s logical approach to life show that opposites attract and create a bond that is life changing. Kinship, Idaho is an idyllic image from Maggies past that leads her to find her fairy tale, happily ever after. Plus, Lucy Score manages to weave a wild west treasure hunt mystery into the background. This book will give you a book hangover for sure.
Lucy Score books are very either/or for me. I don’t understand it, but she always elicits a very strong reaction! I either love them and think they’re the best thing ever (Rock Bottom Girl, Riley Thorn, Things We Never Got Over) or I hate them with the power of a thousand suns (Forever Never, Sidecar Crush). I am happy to report that Maggie Moves On was a *love love love* read!
Maggie Nichols is an independent, practical, goal-oriented house flipper who is taking on one of the most ambitious projects of her career. Silas Wright is the swoony landscape designer who believes in signs from the universe and love at first sight. Silas loves big and loves hard, and spends most of the book convincing Maggie to stay in his town instead of moving on to another project on the road. There’s also tons of fun renovation bits, YouTube star moments, and a surprisingly enjoyable treasure hunt plotline that made this whole book an enjoyable read.
Silas falls in instalove with Maggie, and let me tell you, heroes that fall hard and fast are my catnip. He’s just a tall, curly headed teddy bear that also leans into his feelings, while doing his best to foster open communication between him and an understandably closed-off Maggie. I was practically already in love with him by the third chapter when he started chasing his dog in his boxers. I want to snuggle right into his chest and bask in his emotional intelligence. “Silas was a fan of things that made him feel. He chased deep, complicated feelings and wrung every ounce of pleasure out of them.” Ok, just end me. He’s such a lovable book boyfriend.
Lucy Score is always a compelling story teller, and I think one of her greatest strengths is creating strong secondary characters that you actually get to know and care about. There are no “quirky best friend” or “gay bff” tropes that are just a sounding board for our protagonists, but rich characters with their own motivations and subplots. While I didn’t love the blurb style postscripts on all the characters’ futures we get at the end instead of a proper epilogue, it’s a testament to Score’s character building that we needed so many updates.
Overall this was a great read, and just solid proof that I’ll keep coming back to Lucy Score books even when some of her books make me ragey.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! Not only was the romance really good, but I found myself getting really attached to all the characters.
I was a bit skeptical about the whole Youtuber plot at first because I am not usually a big fan of that, but I feel like it played out really well in this book.
I also loved how this book was not only focused solely on Silas and Maggie's romance and instead made sure to bring focus to the other characters and their relationships. The characters in this book are really amazing and this was such a fun read.
Also, I absolutely adored how Silas was head over heels in love from first sight. So cute.
Also, Kevin reminds me so much of my dog haha.
I was provided an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and words are my own.
Maggie Moves On is the newest book by Lucy Score which focuses on famous Youtuber Maggie and her mission to renovate an estate and move on to the next property. However, hot landscape guy, Silas, throws a wrench in her carefully laid plans. The journey Lucy takes you on between both POVs of the main characters is a laugh out loud aww worthy rom com thats light hearted in nature but has a good amount of depth in it (or as I like to call it, the ultimate combination of feels\fun).
One of my favorite parts of this book was how well developed the supporting character arcs were-Maggie and Silas are the focus but Lucy does an outstanding job of giving a third party perspective to some really difficult life changes that are happening to the group around them. You're never just rooting for one central story, you're rooting for that plus five more.
The mystery surrounding the Old Campbell Place and the reason all the town windows have gold in them adds a nice additional storyline that had me guessing until the last page. It was an awesome addition to the "just the gal renovating and moving on" giving the house and the town more meaning than just a location and plot device.
My only complaint is that I wish the book would have come with a fleshed out epilogue instead of smaller paragraphs summing up things that happened post the story, but that is small in comparison for how much I adored the novel.
I cannot wait to see what Lucy has in store next!
Lucy Score has a way of drawing you in at the very beginning of a story and taking you on a heartfelt journey no matter what book of hers you are reading. This new one from her is no different. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the book from her publisher and literally finished it in one day. I couldn't put it down. This is a must-read from Lucy. Maggie and Silas are adorable. You will fall in love with Kinship, Idaho, and all its residents.
May contain spoilers…
Ok. I’m diving in.
Is Dean gay?
I can’t blame her. Backwards baseball caps are hot af.
Ok. I love Kevin.
And the Cat King reference.
What’s Maggie’s connection? Is she related to the Campbell’s?
They were married? I’m confused now.
I want some finger steaks. Whatever they are, they sound yummy.
Ah. I get it now.
I wish my gif game was that strong.
Maggie has good taste in music.
Aww kittens.
Treasure!
Am I the only one that’s thinking about Black Jack Randall now?
Damn. Score on another super hot sex scene by Lucy.
Who the hell is Dayana? And how is that pronounced?
1million. Yay!
Lol. Just had to throw some hot springs in there huh?
I want a secret room.
Sister. Ok then…
That’s so sad!
And now I’m crying. But they are happy tears.
“I’ve been carrying you around with me since I was twelve years old,” Cue crying again.
Wallace went on to write a book about Mrs. Campbell and dedicated it to his family: Maggie, Silas, and Cody. Maggie cried when he gave her a signed copy.
I’m not crying again. Nope.
This is my first by the author and I'll definitely be checking out her other books. I liked all the characters, I loved the ending and found the writing witty and romantic. 5 stars.
I never expect anything less that sheer perfection, laughter until I'm in tears, love, and tacos, from a Lucy Score book. This is AMAZING! Lucy didn't let me down! Maggie appealed to me from the get go, and I love her mission to find where she belongs, as she fights it every step of the way. And Silas, the hottest landscaper himself, stole my everloving heart! I don't know of I'll ever look at a yard the same again! As a native Idahoan, Lucy magically captured our small town feels, our quirky neighbors, and love of local (and not so local) history. She utterly NAILED IT! This is one story of chosen family (down to a rotund pit bull babysitting two newborn kittens) that will bring a smile to your face and stick with you forever. What a Score! Lucy has absolutely outdone herself and I AM HERE FOR IT!!! Five Idaho Potatoes, five stars, and I'll see you on another page!
📚Review - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
Maggie Moves On is a sweet (and sometimes steamy) story about Maggie Nichols, a house flipping YouTube star. She recently purchases an old mansion that is going to be her biggest project to date. She gives herself a 4 month timeline and then it’s onto the next project for her unless if Silas Wright, the “hot landscaper guy,” and his adorable dog, Kevin, can change her mind, make her stay, and lay down some roots.
I absolutely loved this story. This was definitely HGTV meets YouTube, with some steamy romance, family issues, and somewhat of a mystery thrown in.
The author did a great job making the characters really unique and different. There was also a lot of inclusion and diversity. Maggie’s best friend and producer, Dean, is gay along with Silas’s brother, Michael. Silas’s parents are also divorced and have a very diverse and blended family that get along so well.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the witty and sarcastic banter between Maggie and Silas. I found myself laughing out loud on more the one occasion. I also loved that at the end (no spoilers), everything felt rounded out and finished. I didn’t end the book feeling like I had a ton of questions and needing to know more.
The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is because I was not a fan of how possessive Silas was at times. I know he was trying to be protective, but occasionally it was a little too much.
I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of romantic comedies.
Maggie Moves On is set to be released on June 21, 2022.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie Moves On is a fun and easy read. I was able to live out my house flipping dreams through Maggie, who reminded me too much of myself with her overly determined and independent to a fault attitude, while she moved to rural Idaho to flip her biggest house yet. Maggie meets a fun spirited, confident landscaper who turns her life upside down and makes her question what she really desires in life. This book is full of life, love and a bit of mystery. I enjoyed the characters, and the narrative. A definite must read for romance lovers