So, I didn't really like this. I thought I would from the premise: grumpy x sunshine romance. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. Although it was a cute romance with a nice message, and a cute little dog, there were just too many things that I didn't like.
I predicted most, if not every single plot twist and the direction the book went in. There was nothing that surprised me. Also, this book gave me the exact level of anxiety as Mr. Bean gives me (which I hate). Especially the scene where she cooks soup for the first time in Dan's kitchen. I had to put the book down several times to calm down. Plus, the miscommunication trope didn't help my dislike.
Speaking of our main character, Bella was the most infuriating character for about 80% of the book. Not being able to do anything, brand-name-dropping every chance she can, being just dumb in general. I cannot. In the last 20% of the book, she goes through a little development which made her much less aggravating, but by then I just didn't care about her. Also, Bella and Dan's romance was lackluster, it felt like there wasn't really any chemistry. It needed some more development in my opinion.
Overall, it was an okay romance, I honestly think it was just a personal issue.

Arabella is heir to a famous soup company, one her great grandfather built. She's used to a life of luxury. When her father is voted out of his own families company, Bella takes it upon herself to quit. Now broke and after discovering her fiance and best friend in bed together, she sets off on her own. She gets her own flat, starts work at a soup kitchen and discovers new friends and a new love interest.
Bella was delightful to read as a character. I loved reading of her growth as a person and of her relationship with her new friends. I'd say this is a sweet romantic tale that kept me well entertained.

Lighthearted, funny, and will put a smile on your face! I enjoyed this one and thought it was a really great riches to rags type story!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is exactly what I needed ! Been so poorly at the moment I thought this looked like a great comfort read and I certainly was not disappointed !

This is the ideal book to snuggle up with after a bad day at work or for a summer rom com read.
It reminded me of early Sophie kinsella books . I loved the naivety of the main character and her initial attempts at cleaning after her ‘come down’ as a soup heiress .
Cleaning the carpet with a mop and cleaning the toilet with fairy washing up liquid .
And I hope in my old age I have the strength of Elsie .

This was a really enjoyable easy to read book the only slight criticism is I was predicting what was coming at times but there were still lots of plot twists I didn’t expect .

Well done to the author on this fantastic debut novel !

Thank you to and the author for sending me an advance #netgalley proof. This review as always was given freely.

Danielle is a pretty good writer, and to be honest, the rest of my review has nothing to do with her or her novel. My rating is a 3 star due to the fact that I did like her writing. However, this book is not for me - I thought I would like it based on the blurb I originally read when I applied to be an arc reader, however that just isn't the case any longer.
I have tried reading it, and listening to it via my kindle app, and I just can't get into the book. Maybe this is something I need to shelf for now, and try picking up again later.
I typically don't pick up romance novels, but after reading the Love Hypothesis, I thought I had grown to like them. I don't think that is the case - although I do love DARK romance, so maybe it's just this fluffy, rom-com stuff that I can't deal with lol.

Arabella Whittington, Soup Heiress, finds herself out of a job, fiance, and out of an inheritance. As she puts her life back together, she meets Dan - the owner of a soup kitchen who hates her family's company. Determined to hide her identity, Bella and Dan begin to work together, but can they overcome her secrets and privileged background?

I really liked this book! It reminded me of Confessions of a Shopaholic - a heroine who starts out as quite spacey but proves herself. I liked Bella - she was fun (if a bit naive and clueless about how most folks live) and had a heart of gold. I liked watching her grow. The supporting cast of characters was great - I adore Elsie and would read a spinoff about her any day.

If you want a fun, light read that will leave you smiling, I recommend this book,

This book was such a cute, funny, feel good story! I loved it, I loved the characters, I loved the dog!! I loved the ending. It was great, looking forward to reading more by Danielle Owne-Jones!

Started out fun, if tropey, but the last third of of the book feels rushed. Many of the plot threads are solved with convenience or unrealistic events just so everything can be tied up in a neat uncomplicated bow for the HEA.

I loved this riches to rags story of Bella, the soup empire heiress, and Dan, the soup kitchen owner. This story has the definite vibes of the classic chick flick rom coms that we all love, and Bella was oddly relatable at times (who hasn't used a cleaning product completely wrong because they haven't read the label?), while also staying as out of touch and naive as you could expect someone to be going from chauffeured cars to buses for the first time!

I enjoyed the friendship that formed between Bella and Susie, and the way that Bella navigated her relationships with people from her former life. It would be very easy to turn this into a rich = bad story and I appreciated the nuance that people can be terrible no matter their wealth.

This book is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella or Portia MacIntosh as the book made me laugh out loud plenty of times while also having plenty of heart.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A quick easy read. I liked Bella’s growth in this even if I did find some of her naïveté/ lack of experience with the real world a bit unrealistic. I think I would have liked to feel more of a connection between her and Dan. There were some funny bits and interesting if not a little predictable twists and turns. Overall 3 ⭐️.

Six months ago, I was the heiress to a soup empire worth millions. Now, I’m standing in a giant dumpster.


Who doesn't want to read a story that starts out with this?!?! Here we have a romcom that fits the bill. I was entertained throughout the story and want to read more!!

I blitzed through this book over the weekend as I just could not get enough. Light and witty I enjoyed every second. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I absolutely adored the theme, LOVED Dan and fell in love with the way Bella developed as a person through the book, finding herself and a life she loved. A solid 4 stars from me. I would've liked some more Dan and Bella time, but that's more of a selfish want, the book was amazing without those extra (spicy) scenes I wanted haha!

I received a proof copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest rating/review.

A fun read that is perfect for a weekend read or a book to take on vacation.

It's a fun adventure with great character growth in Bella and then character depth with Dan and his backstory. I was iffy about Bella at first but she grew on me. The story starts a little all over the place but then once she is at the soup kitchen it started to change her through growth and I like her better. Dan is a great character and I loved him right off the bat. The side characters are crazy and I want another story just to have more of them.

Danielle Owen-Jones has created a lighthearted, entertaining romantic comedy that was nearly impossible to put down once I began reading. Bella is flawed and we see her growth in beautifully written moments of honesty. I am a sucker for a good trope and Stone Broke Heiress satisfies that itch in spades with its riches to rags storyline (and a glimmer of grumpy/sunshine).

An absolute joy to read. A real heart warming hug of a book and a tonic to curl up with during the stormy weather - but would have been just as good company with a glass of fizz on a sun lounger.

Ms. Owen-Jones has created a fabulous cast of characters that had me smiling and cringing for them in equal measure.

Bella in the earlier part of the story reminded me of Goldie Hawn playing alongside Kurt Russell in Overboard and I loved her for it.

A cracking debut, I look forward to reading more of Ms. Owen-Jones books in the future.

Highly recommend

It only took me 100 books for me to find my favorite read of 2022. This book has everything I like in a romcom: grumpy male lead, sunshiney female lead, hint of enemies to lovers, funny, heart warming, good chemistry and that’s not even mentioning the angst, attempted murder, and mystery as well. This book has it all.

I really enjoyed this novel so much and I highly recommend it!

A wow read!

I had to have some soup while reading this 😋 😁

A heartwarming story with adorable characters... I loved every one of them!

Definitely looking forward to more from this author..

Stone Broke Heiress is a riches to rags story focusing on the "heiress", Arabella (AKA Bella) Whittington. It started with how her world falls apart where her fiancé cheated on her with her best friend, her family lost their family business and how she lost her job. Bella ended up living in a tiny apartment after her parents moved across the country, and land on a job working in a soup kitchen.

Stone Broke Heiress is witty, heartwarming, and overall a quick and easy read. I would recommend this book if one should find themselves looking for a fun and lighthearted read, this book is the way to go. This book is set in Liverpool, UK and I think the author did an awesome job describing the settings, and as a reader it really helps me visualize it and feel more connected with the story.

As far as critics go, I think the book lacks a little bit in character building. Personally, it took me several chapters in before I was able to connect with the characters (especially Bella), I find myself looking for more dimensions of personality in the characters, especially Bella's and her parents'. It makes me wonder what growing up as an heiress feels like? How does it shape and affect Bella's personality?

Sometimes you need to escape the harsh realities of our world and lose yourself in a light romantic comedy such as this book. Stone Broke Heiress was a quick read and very enjoyable.

Arabella Whittington is an heiress to a large soup company, and she is engaged to be married to the son of her father's partner. When her father loses a takeover of his company, Arabella learns that her family is broke, she no longer has a job, and she discovers her boyfriend cheating on her with her supposed best friend. Arabella needs to regroup and figure out how to survive. She lands a job at a soup kitchen run by the very attractive Dan. While learning how to perform several life skills that she has never done before, Arabella discovers she has strengths and abilities that she never knew possible.

This story is very much a take-off on the "Schitt's Creek" theme, and Arabella could very well be Alexis. I enjoyed the many characters, especially Susie and Elsie and the authors writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.