Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.

Blurb: Matt and Abbie have been together for 20 years. Now they’re both 37 years old, living together & fighting over the most inconsequential things. Abbie will try “Operation Memory Lane”, to remind her husband - and herself - about all the times she loved him and rescue her marriage.

I ate this book up in one sitting. I loved it, it was perfect. Witty, funny, and heartfelt, exactly what I’d expect from a romance like this. There were very emotional scenes and from those as well as other daily & domestic little things that span throughout the course of 20 years, we get to see in a real light what a relationship is all about.

The author did a wonderful job with the main characters, their quirks & memories, their chemistry and love. This was so genuine, I felt like my heart was in my hand the whole time.

This second change at romance book is perfect for fans of You Deserve Each Other, Relight my Fire, Landline & People We Meet on Vacation

It’s typically hard for me to really get into stories about struggling marriages. I’m not married, and thinking about people who were once desperately in love and now aren’t just depresses me, usually. That being said, I am in a seven-year relationship (a long time for any 24-year-old). Though they were married 20 years, Abbie and Matt’s struggles were ones I could certainly relate to.

Ranald does an incredible job of showing what it takes, in my opinion, to make a relationship work. Abbie takes advice from friends to recreate some of her and Matt’s past thinking she can spark a connection. I absolutely love that this is not the solution Abbie thinks it will be. This novel was really a display of how putting work into your relationship is necessary for it to thrive, and Ranald is so smart for the way she portrays this.

I loved how normal Matt and Abbie are. So many novels will try to give you characters who proclaim themselves to be special or just different from anyone else in that world. Abbie and Matt are not those people—they could be anyone which makes them that more relatable.

I also really appreciate how Ranald handles the topic of infertility. Not everyone who goes through IVF will end up pregnant, and I think it is really great to have that representation for couples struggling with infertility.

I personally prefer romances with a little more tension between the two characters, but this this is a really solid romance with lots of emotion and value.

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the concept of this book. A romance that was more or less told in reverse about a couple who'd been together since their high school years (or rather, since this is in England, since secondary school) and who now found themselves at a bit of an impasse, emotionally speaking.

Abbie and Matt are the perfect couple, at least from the outside. All their friends, singles or couples, think so. Abbie knows this. Her friends tell her as much. So when she realizes one morning that if she has to put the teaspoon her husband left out on the counter yet again int into the dishwasher herself, she is going to scream, or poke his eye out with it, she knows something has to change. With her friends' advice, she sets off trying to relive their significant moments--first date, special vacation, fancy drinks night out at the Ritz. But until she and Matt are honest about the one thing that she believes is holding them back, nothing works.

The structure of the novel is intriguing. It's a back and forth between present day (which works in the fact of the pandemic in ways that are spot-on without ever once mentioning the actual pandemic) and the past, telling Matt and Abbie's story from the end, as well as from the beginning. There are several fun side characters (I, for one, want Marc and Bastian's story) and the bits where Abbie attempts to be creative about her marketing firm's new sex toy client while struggling to reestablish the lust in her own marriage are great.

My favorite things about P.S. I Hate You: the British humor and slang. There is a lot of it. I caught 99% of the references. but I credit my two and a half years living in England for that.
The main thing I enjoyed was the lack of sappy or obvious resolution. It would have been easy to have Abbie get all dolled up in the sexy lingerie from the sample box she gets and resolve all their problems with One Special Night. But the realism of her attempts, Matt's honesty about them, and the way they finally do figure themselves out made this a wholly satisfying read.

The only thing I found jarring in any way were a few minor plot holes but they in no way affected my enjoyment of this well told, honest romance novel about a marriage at a crossroads.
4.5 stars

CW: Infertility, Miscarriage

Abbie and Matt were high school sweethearts. They've now been married for 10 years and as many couples do, they've experienced their fair share of ups and downs and just... life in general. Abbie is worried their relationship has reached it's peak and questions whether she's still in love with Matt. There is not infidelity, just the gradual decline of two people who have grown comfortable with one another. Abbie embarks on "project memory lane" to try to rekindle the flame. She and Matt set out on various dates and adventures reminiscent of the start of their relationship.

This book started out kind of slow for me and I considered shelving it as DNF, but I forged on and followed the course of Matt and Abbie's relationship. I didn't particularly love any of the characters or feel drawn into their lives. The whole book was just kind of... meh.... for me. I didn't love it, didn't hate it. It just... was. I could relate to the nuances of marriage and the ups and downs the couple faced, but I was definitely ready for a resolution one way or another by the end. There were a lot of elements that were touched on, but not explored. Everything felt very surface for me. And I still have no idea why the title is P.S. I Hate You ?!?!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I finished PS I Hate You with a big fat smile on my face. Abbie and Matt have been together for over 10 years, and the spark appears to be gone. Still in love with her husband, Abbie decides she'll do whatever she can to rekindle her relationship with her husband. Relying on her friends guidance and advice, Abbie decides to go down memory lane with her husband. However, years have passed since the couple initially experienced the world together, and the experiences aren't quite the same all these years later. Revisiting their old homes, their old restaurants, and so much more we see Abbie and Matt's relationship develop over the past ten years and the present. Secrets are shared, trusts are broken, and love seems to be missing.

Written in two timeframes, PS I Hate You is the perfect book for fans of contemporary romance. Though the book isn't spicy, it's very much a feel something romance. It might not always be a feel good romance - but it's real. A real, fiction, romance. I'd definitely suggest checking out Sophie Ranald's PS I Hate You!

This book did not disappoint. As someone who has read a couple of Ranald's other books and a fan of her writing style, I think its safe to say that I enjoyed this book. The progression through the characters relationships was interesting and definitely one of the parts I preferred more. Sophie Ranald is an amazing author and continues to deliver amazing stories.

Let me start of by saying… I did not dislike this book, it just wasn’t for me. I kind of went in semi-blind to this and the plot line and the vibe of the book just isn’t what I usually go for. I tend to like a little more angst and tension and it just fell a little flat on that aspect of it. It was a super cute read and I know plenty of people who would love this book! I just didn’t vibe with the plot line and the characters.

That being said, I did read this book super fast and it’s a great read to get you out of a reading slump!

I AM A SUCKER FOR SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE

This book was raw you guys!! I don’t like reading flashbacks sometimes because it can get all over the place but this book made the emotions so raw in past and present. Its so realistic and make the whole plot of trying to build back up the once fairytale marriage. Its not at all gonna be like the perfect smooth sailing ride and just like marriage it requires hardwork. This story didnt have the spice factor (or too much drama) which was a bit disappointing for me but I FELT THE LOVE GUYS. And it can make me swoon, im not complaining.

Matt and Abbie have been together for twenty years. Twenty years of love, sadness, anger, and annoyance. Twenty years of memories and shared experiences.

Then Abbie wonders one day, “Do I still love my husband?” This triggers her to take a path down memory lane and start recreating their past to get back to who they once were. Soon enough, she learns that you can’t go back, you can only move forward.

Along the way, Abbie and Matt will open up to each other in ways they never have before. Together, they accept the change that time brings to all of us and become stronger for it.

This *is* a happy ending! It is a true romance, with a little spice thrown in, and Abbie and Matt get their well deserved happily ever after, even if it isn’t what they once imagined it would be.

I was really in the feels reading this book. While not a heavy or dark read at all, I didn’t find this *light*. As a tale of a love story in trouble, there are points where you feel heartbroken for these characters. But that seriousness, and the feelings Ranald evokes, spoke to how good a story it is, and how these feelings are relatable and scary to even those of us who have never been in the situation.

At the end of the day, Abbie and Matt’s love story is beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful.

4.5/5 stars
1/5 on the spice scale

Spoilers for content warnings:
Miscarriage, infertility

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! :)

This was my first Sophie Ranald book and I enjoyed reading it so much! I can't wait to read the rest of her backlist. I absolutely loved the writing style and the story was executed so well. Matt and Abbie's story is told through alternating chapters of the past and present from Abbie's POV - this was such an impactful way of telling their story.

I love marriage in crisis books and this one did not disappoint whatsoever! The only thing I could wish for is Matt's POV. I also loved the side characters as much as Abbie and Matt.

This was a great book and is definitely one of my new favourites.

I liked this book, it was cute and enjoyable, but I feel like it lacks something - I don't know why. Maybe a little bit more action? I mean, it feels like nothing really happens in this book. I know it's a story about rediscovering the love between Abbie and Matt and rebuilding their relationship, but nothing happened that made me connect with the characters or feel something for them.
It was a quick and nice read though.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

P.S. I Hate You by Sophie Ranald is a new rom-com that will appeal to fans of Sophie Kinsella or Jennifer Weiner. The story revolves around Abbie, a middle-aged woman who has been married to Matt for twenty years. They were high school sweethearts, and their earlier days were full of romance and delight. Somewhere along the way, that spark has settled and is on the verge of going out. Will they be able to rekindle the flames by revisiting their past?

Here is a humorous excerpt from Chapter 1, which is from Abbie's point of view:

"I remember the exact moment when the thought leaped into my head, as fully formed as if it had always been there, yet alien and frightening.
Oh my God. Do I still love my husband?
In that instant, it felt almost familiar, like my wonky left incisor or the silver necklace with my name - Abbie - on it, which Matt had given me for my twenty-first birthday and I'd almost never taken off."

Overall, P.S. I Hate You is an adorable rom-com featuring a middle-aged couple, which I haven't seen too often. One highlight of this book is that this book is like a love story in reverse. Instead of talking about how the couple falls in love and starts their romance, this book starts at the end and tells us the couple's story through flashbacks. I thought that this was original and interesting. I did take off 1 star, because I wasn't expecting so many sad and emotional parts in a rom-com. If you're intrigued by the excerpt, or if you're a fan of rom-coms in general, I recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

Chick fic isn't the first type of book I would reach for as it's often quite slow moving and if I'm not drawn in from the first few pages I tend to get bored and not pick it back up again but I found this book very entertaining. The book is split between the present day and the early nougties and Sophie Ranald has shoehorned as many cultural references to that period as she could which made for good nostalgia for that era. The characterisation was very good and the storyline was believable and something a lot of the audience will be able to relate to. The writing style is very easy to read and flowed well. It's not often that a book makes me laugh out loud, I may smile at things, but it's not often I laugh, however there were parts in this book which did make me chuckle, so well done Sophie. I've not actually heard of the author before reading this book, probably because it's not my usual reach-for genre, but this book would encourage me to read other work by her.

You are young and you fall in love. Do you remember the incredible feeling? One look, one little touch and sparks were flying. You love everything about them. Well, maybe not everything but those little things did not disturb you. With a smile on your face you picked up the wet towel from the bathroom floor or you put their dirty cup in the dishwasher.

Twenty years later though things have changed. Sparks are non-existent or the only thing they do is ignite fights. In fact they are the same little things, but they annoy you thoroughly. You would rather put the wet towel In their underpants drawer or throw the cup at his head. That’s when you start wondering where did the love go and when did hate creep in?

Two solutions: you break up or you try a walk down memory lane. Memory lane it is and Abbie and Matt invite us to tag along.

We get to know the couple as youngsters at 17 and as a more mature pair at 37.

Secrets are being revealed. Is their marriage strong enough to survive and will they find their way back to each other or are these the final straws?

The author added quite a few funny bits but she touched my heart deeply too. I loved it. 5 stars

Thank you

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this earc

Let me start with the fact that this cover have nothing to do with the story. NOTHING
I’m also going to tell off the bet that this is not a rom com.
This is not DEFINITELY not about a bad husband

This a story of Abbie who are being together with her husband for 20 years trying bring spark back to their relationship. I’m happy a book like that is out there. It’s important to remember that marriage doesn’t just happen. That people need to work on it. This story took us through the pain of two people who’re unable to have kids and again, it’s a very important topic.

And even with having flashbacks to how Abbie and Matt fell in love, not at any point of this story I felt like I was reading something light and fun which this cover and blurb suggested.

This book didn’t have crazy ups or downs. Didn’t have fights or make up sex

This is just a story of a very regular married couple that somehow added up in chick lit section instead of drama/relationship section

Abbie and Matt were childhood sweethearts, friends have got together, had kids, split up etc but Matt and Abbie keep going, twenty years together and nine married. But lately Abbie has felt something is missing, they've lost that indescribable spark that let her forgive him for always leaving a dirty teaspoon on the side of the sink instead of putting it in the dishwasher (and Matt forgiving her for never closing a cupboard door - which my husband also does).

Abbie's WhatsApp friends group suggest she tries to recreate some occasions from their past, first date, etc. Of course what they are forgetting is that first dates when you are sixteen or seventeen are at Burger King and Nando's - not exactly the romantic dream LOL. Nevertheless, Abbie does try, and revisiting some of their old haunts/memories does bring them closer together, but there are some big issues and secrets causing the rift between them - will Operation Memory Lane heal the rift or break them apart?

This is the first book I've read which neither ignores lockdown nor dismisses it as something that happened in the past. Instead, there is no mention of COVID, just the grim reality of Abbie and Matt working from home together, at either end of their kitchen table, for months on end, the inability to get away from each other or do anything else, albeit that in Abbie and Matt's universe things are starting to return to normal.

There's humour, nostalgia (how I loved those trips down memory lane with the music and the food and the TV shows), pathos and so much more. Loved it.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book is about a couple breaking apart and trying to get their spark back by recreating some of their old, romantic moments. I really like Abbie. I like that she tries so hard. It's an interesting book and I like how the story was told present and flashback.... One warning: it's not all light rom-com. There are some serious moments... An interesting read overall.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy of one of my favorite authors, Sophie Ranald!

This book did not disappoint! As a fan of Ranald's writing, I had been looking forward to getting an early read. In this book we follow Matt and Abbie. They met when they were young when Matt helped save Abbie from school age mocking when she begins to feed a pigeon daily at the school bus stop. We flash back and forth from present day to their school then college days. Life did not go as planned for these two, they wanted to have a child but fate had other plans. Though this tends to be the overarching theme of the book, we watch as Abbie tries to bring the romance back into their lives. She tries to recreate many of their early experiences to help rekindle the spark. Though there were many funny situations, I found this read a bit more serious than her others. Still very good but not as light as I was expecting.

Ever since Matt saved Abbie from a pigeon when they were seventeen, they were meant to be. But fast forward, and their happy ever after is light on the happy. Their sex life is officially extinct, Abbie’s lingerie is officially dusty, and Matt officially doesn’t know how to use the dishwasher. Plus, there’s always a but coming…
Hoping it’s just a phase – aka the longest dry spell on record – it’s time to initiate Operation Memory Lane. Maybe they can spice things up by recreating their first date (Nando’s fixes everything), their first holiday (getting jiggy on the beach), and even their wedding.
But revisiting the past isn’t always plain sailing… Abbie didn’t bank on her secret coming to light – the one she’s kept for two decades. And she had no idea that Matt’s been hiding something from her too.
This was a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish with a great storyline, interesting cast of characters and all capped off by skilful writing. It's well worth your time if you appreciate great storytellers.