First of, thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this book, I will most definitely get a physical copy of this one (assuming it will be available in South Africa) Now for the fun part...
I flew through this book, the writing was beautiful and had me hooked, the two main characters really worked well together, I loved how both Wendy and Harper had their flaws and had a qualities I could relate to. I also really appreciated that the author handled Wendy's mental illness really well and it didn't feel like something she just pushed into the plot to make Wendy interesting. Definitely will lookup other books by Jamie Beck in the future

I have read Jamie Beck books in the past and enjoyed them. This new book did not disappoint in that in kept my attention and the story progressed quickly. I liked how in the beginning I had already judged how I felt the two women characters were and was pleasantly surprised that as the story went on, I saw how they matured and changed. Each are struggling with their own issues that they don’t really want to face head on and each woman is afraid of what the outside world would have to say about who they really are. I found I understood both ladies and saw pieces of myself in each of them as the story progressed.
This was a fast and enjoyable read!

Here is another book that could be a tv show, I absolutely adored this story. This book will get you hooked in the first chapter. We all have made decisions that we have regretted eventually, some of us have grown because of this others, take a much longer time to realize its time to change. This is a great heart warming story as well as an insight to mental health and how something is not always as it appears to be. Great read for anyone wanting something new and fresh to read.

I struggled initially to get through this one..I had a hard time liking the MC as she seemed really whiny and felt like she had a tendency to play victim rather than acknowledge how she got to where she is.

However once the dynamic began to unfold between our two MC’s I was hooked on the budding friendship. Each character is struggling with serious life issues and they use each other as an anchor. That doesn’t last long as their secrets start to cause a rift between them.

This book handles some sensitive topics in a beautiful way such as handling work situations, mental health, attraction, self awareness and friendship.

Firstly, can I admit that this was my first Jamie Beck book? I have been aware of her as a good author for a while, but you know what it's like with tbrs being the size of houses and never getting round to reading.
What I can say is that it definitely won't be my last!
Harper is an author at a low point in her career who moves to a small suburb outside of the city to gain fresh inspiration and perspective, in the hope that the next book she writes will be more favourably received than her last. She's up against it since the last one tanked and fears losing everything she has worked for, including her home. This move could be her saving grace.
Wendy is a middle-aged empty-nester who finds herself drawn to the new young neighbour in a way she can't quite explain. Harper tests her own beliefs and thoughts, and she imparts her own words of wisdom to this young woman who doesn't seem to have an anchor to keep her grounded for long.
But both women are hiding their own secrets that threaten to put an end to this fledgeling relationship. One, is rooted in a mental health issue that she has been trying hard to fight, and hide for years. The other finds she is developing more and more feelings for a place and its people when she should be using them and it as a base for her career, not for her life.
Beck has created two fantastic characters in Wendy and Harper, and also, with it, she has touched upon mental health and work-related dilemmas in an extremely sensitive way.
Light-hearted, but not something to laugh at.
It certainly puts a new spin on that thought that you should be careful what you say in front of a writer, or you could end up in their next book!
Really enjoyed it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another great read from Jamie Beck! I loved both lead characters and the unconventional take on mental illness. It was a light and easy read, balanced with a depth that many books in this genre lack.

Ok - I was fully intending to only give this book 2 stars .. until the end. I don’t relate well to the main staunch feminist character … her constant arguing and complaining about what seems like everything, gets a bit whiny to me. However, about 3/4 of the way into the book, I started to see her finally open up and see her life, relationships & situations from other perspectives. I don’t like the “world is out to get me and my life isn’t fair” attitudes. So it’s hard to read a novel where that’s the main POV. But- in the end she grew and was able to see & not shut out other viewpoints & and even opened herself up to love and future possibilities. I would recommend reading this book as it does display great hope for friendships, love, forgiveness and even dealing with mental illness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake publisher for the ARC of this book!

I enjoyed this one! It was cute, light, and airy and I was hooked on the storyline quickly. Highly recommend to anyone who is needing a lighter read or in a reading slump.

Jamie Beck has written a beautiful story about two women who become great friends but the secrets they hold could threaten their futures.
Wendy and Harper's relationship felt so true and so layered, I could feel them coming right off the pages, but I also believed in their friendship, and I cheered for them to find their connection.
The story itself is very compelling, an emotionally-driven plot that I found unputdownable. It kept me invested from the very beginning.
This won't be my last read by this author because I whipped through this very enjoyable and entertaining story. It was perfect. Exactly what I needed.
A fun, amusing and heartwarming novel about friendship and all its little secrets.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Montlake,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.