Although Kate Clayborn has authored quite a number of books, the first time I’d heard of her was when I saw Georgie, All Along on a list of most anticipated romance books for 2023. But I’m glad that I’ve discovered her now and I really liked this book!

The story is focused on Georgie who is moving to her hometown after her latest job has wrapped up and she is planning on spending some time with her pregnant best friend while she figures out her next move. Her parents - being total free spirits - have forgotten that they doubled booked their house while they are away to both Georgie and local bad boy Levi. Naturally Georgie & Levi are forced to get to know each other and form a connection.

For me personallyI found it a little hard to relate with Georgie as she is very carefree and has tried her hand at a few different gigs in life. Her lifestyle is so opposite to my own that it was sometimes disorientating. But that feeling of not knowing what you should be doing with your life is definitely still relatable and this is ultimately a journey of self-love and self-discovery which did resonate with me.

I always enjoy dual POV storytelling in romance novels and it worked really well here. It’s fun to read from both perspectives and get to understand the motivations and feelings of each character.

The story line with Levi & his family felt particularly emotional. I’m very close with my family so the journey Levi goes on with his family made me very teary, but it’s also one of the highlights of the book. I was only marginally disappointed that Levi is a very reformed bad boy rather than embracing that stereotype fully.

Overall a very enjoyable romance and a solid 4 out of 5 stars. I do think there was something missing here to make it a more exciting novel. I think I would describe it as a very comfortable story without being anything groundbreaking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Georgie Clayton is a personal assistant who has been wrapped up in her employer's life to the point where she has not thought about her future in a while. When her boss steps out of the spotlight, and Georgie is between jobs, she heads to her hometown to support her bestie for a while. While there she finds herself unexpectedly sharing her accommodation with a terse dock builder, and exploring the dreams she had as a teenager.

This novel wrapped me up in that relatable feeling of hitting a point where you are not sure where you are going next. Georgie is not sure what she wants, and goes back to a time of her life when she had future plans to see if anything from there might provide her direction. I found that sense of searching to be engaging, and Georgie to be a likeable character. The romance side was enjoyable, with a slight slow burn and some palpable tensions.

The story was life affirming. I really enjoyed this one, and hope you will all give it a go if you have ever felt directionless.

The title would seem to indicate that this is Georgie’s story, but, in my opinion, it’s Levi’s. After losing her job and housing when her celebrity boss decides to retire, Georgie heads home to try and figure out what she wants to do with her life. However, replacing this “blankness” she feels with a man or by completing a bucket list she wrote in 8th grade seems lame. Conversely, Levi’s story is complex, heartbreaking, and ultimately much more redemptive than Georgie’s. Yes, they need each other to find fulfilment, but Georgie’s journey pales in comparison.

I’ve marked this lower because I just can’t get past the fact that Levi is clearly autistic and Clayborn should have acknowledged that. What’s worse is that his autism is used to villainize him, and it takes ten years of his continued suffering and self-recrimination before those who should love him unconditionally make amends. If it weren’t for Georgie’s presence, he might have lived the rest of his life in a small metaphorical cage he created to keep himself and those around him safe.

Despite these flaws, this grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, small town romance ranks higher than most in the genre. Clayborn has a gift for storytelling, with the talent for imbuing her characters with richness and depth and painting a physical landscape that takes on a character of its own. She doesn’t rely on tired, manufactured conflicts due to poor communication to drive the plot, but also doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that human frailty and insecurities can throw up roadblocks that make the path of love anything but smooth. The romance between Georgie and Levi is a beautiful demonstration of how two mature, empathetic, fallible people can successfully navigate a relationship.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Oh my gosh this book was amazing! I loved this book with all my heart. Two adults who understood that they need to respect each others boundaries, communicated like adults? It was perfect! I loved Georgie's quirky personality, and Levi was just a dream!!

This is the story about Georgie Mulcahy who has been recently out of job. After working as an assistant for years in LA, now she is back in her hometown and she is feeling lost.

She then finds a forgotten artifact which is a diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To Georgie, who has been feeling lost and overwhelmed, this diary’s simple and small scale ideas kind of form a guideline to navigate her new life.

But she unexpectedly has a housemate now- Levi Fanning who was once a troublemaker but now he is a hermit. He offers to help Georgie in fulfilling her quests. And of course, they start catching feelings!

This was such a wholesome and delightful book.

Read this book if you’re into
- Forced proximity
- Small town romance
- Grumpy x sunshine
- A doggy pet

I liked Georgie as a character and could relate to her in still trying to find her path in life. She was so cheerful and lively, and so kind. Levi and Georgie were vastly different from one another but still they had good chemistry and their relationship felt genuine and organic.

I loved the ambiance of the small town. It felt so cozy and wholesome. Also, Levi’s dog, Hank, made a great addition to the story. I also loved Georgie’s friendship with Bel, it was one of my favorite aspects of the book. Both of them have been so supportive of one another and never left each other’s sides despite their differences. Their friendship was so sweet and I wish I had a best friend like that.

Overall, this was an adorable romance to read, highly enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book!

I've been meaning to read Claybourn for a few years now, and idk if this was the best place to start but it did make me want to read more! Georgie's parents were endearing, her bff was delightful, and I appreciated her character arc though some emotional notes seemed drawn out/stretched/unrealistic?

A story about returning home and going with the flow 💗

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn is a wonderful witty novel. I enjoyed the plot and characters much more than I was expecting! I would highly recommend this novel if you’re looking for a cute rom-com.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for my digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Do you ever get a vibe from a book that it is going to wreck you in the best way before you even start reading?

This is that book. I could feel it when I got it, could feel it in the first chapter. The connection was IMMEDIATE. I was immediately in there with Georgie, noting all the ways her small town has changed in her absence. That blank void of a future chasing her around. I got it.

And I was there with Levi, struggling with his upbringing and the choices he made in the past. Trying to learn to do better in the future. It was all so beautiful.

I could see this story so clearly. It's my first Clayborn and I know I'll be picking up others down the line. This is such a gorgeous tale about finding yourself and your way and being proud of that. It made me cry and it warmed my heart.

I'll be recommending this to everyone for a long time!

Boring, predictable and full of red flags.

The synopsis seemed like the set up for a great read, but the execution was non-existent.

Georgie is lost in life after dedicating her professional and personal life to her personal assistant job for a Hollywood writer. She leaves California and returns home to Virginia to house sit for her parents and help her friend Bel prepare for a new baby. She finds an old “friendfic” she created before high school detailing all her hopes for her high school years. She also meets Levi Fanning, the older brother of her teen crush, through an instance of miscommunication on her parents’ part. Georgie and Levi’s relationship actually moves pretty quickly.

I didn’t expect Georgie to fall for Levi as fast as she did. She is so independent and carefree that I didn’t think a relationship with Levi, who is the opposite of her, would be something she would want early on. While there were instances where Georgie seemed to give in too quickly to Levi or want to give in after he’d hurt her in some way, there were many great moments. Overall, it was a great instalove story and it was nice to see how much Georgie and Levi grew by the end.

I received a free copy through Kensington Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the advance review copy; all opinions are my own!

As with all Kate Clayborn novels, GEORGIE ALL ALONG was a tender, deeply emotional story. Clayborn writes beautiful prose, and the pacing of this one reminded me a bit of LOVE LETTERING, which was leisurely yet intentional, like a walk on a beautiful spring day that's in no rush to get to a destination but instead invites you to savor each step along the path. I really appreciated having Levi's POV, not just Georgie's, and thought the two of them had fabulous chemistry as well as a strong, easy to root for, romantic connection.

📓Summary📓
Georgie has been working in LA as a personal assistant. When her most recent employer decides she wants to take a step back, she encourages Georgie to finally take the time to do something for herself. But Georgie doesn't know how to do anything for herself. So she moves back home to her small town, where everyone remembers her as a screw-up, to help her best friend as she prepares for her first child. While cleaning out boxes with her friend, she finds the 'friendfic' notebook they wrote in as a teen; complete with plans and goals for the future. Georgie decides to try to find the girl she used to be by attempting all the different challenges she and her best friend set for themselves. But an unexpected roommate at her parents, in the form of Levi, the older brother of her old crush, Evan. Levi has a reputation from his high school days, and now keeps to himself in their small town and has zero relationship with his family. Georgie learns there is a lot more to Levi than everyone thinks, and learns there is a lot more to her and what she wants from life, as well.

📓Review📓
Small town, Dual POV, grumpy/sunshine, finding oneself... this book was everything I could have asked for. I loved watching Georgie's growth, along with Levi's. They both had to overcome their past, as well as the ideas everyone had of them, to move forward. I really love a dual POV so I can see the motivations behind both characters, instead of questioning why one or the other makes the choices they do. At the same time, it can be frustrating when you know both characters want the same thing, but they don't realize it and you just want them to talk to each other and figure it out! I adored both Georgie and Levi and their journeys and loved this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I started this book and then fell into a book slump. I am so beyond happy I decided to pick this book back up. It had everything I could have needed. Women trying to find herself after one chapter closes. Then ends up back home in her small town back in her childhood home with her best friend expecting her first baby. Georgie is not only trying to find herself but also helping others along the way without even realizing. This has good spice nothing too spicy or too little in my opinion. I love the care free personality of Georgie and her play it safe man Levi who was not always a play it safe man. Once a bad boy not always a bad boy. Read it to find out once bad boy now play it safe Levi’s life was like.

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn is a novel about two people that are just trying to leave their pasta behind and figure out how they fit into the world. Georgie Mulcahy is back in her hometown after losing her job in Los Angeles. Levi Fanning is the former teenage troublemaker—current town recluse turned dock builder. The two characters develop an unlikely friendship when a misunderstanding forces them to share a house together. When Georgie needs help with her teenage diary challenges—Levi unexpectedly steps up. The novel follows the growth of the two characters, their adventures, and their love story. Kate Clayborn is a brilliant storyteller. She weaves so much heart and emotion into all of her novels and Georgie, All Along is no exception. Georgie, All Along By Kate Clayborn is another winner.

🐶BOOK REVIEW🐶

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️

“Clayborn spins a gentle tale of two people who set out to find themselves and stumble into love along the way…The smooth, vivid prose makes it easy to invest in the protagonists’ well-rendered character growth. This introspective romance is a treat.”—Publishers Weekly

This one was a bit of a slow start for me. I struggled to really get into it because it was such a slow burn. The characters were real, genuine and well-written - but I struggled at times with just how wordy and sluggish a lot of the book was.

This is definitely a great story about being true to yourself and about how sometimes you have to look back and deal with past trauma in order to move forward.

Recommend if you like:
🐶Hometown Romance
🐶Cute doggos
🐶Dual POV
🐶Grumpy-Sunshine
🐶Bucket lists
🐶Reformed bad boys
🐶Strong female friendships

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
Published: January 24, 2023
Netgalley Digital ARC
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trigger warnings: Emotional abuse by a parent, sexual content, pregnancy, addiction
Summary (Amazon): Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.

But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.

Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wish list, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back.
Review: Two characters, Georgie and Levi, each lost in their own way, have overcome criticism of their character and other obstacles, to be successful in their own right. They both seem to have a creeping self-doubt about their own worth but happen to fatefully meet as Georgie is pursuing a quest to relive the goals set in a diary she created with her best friend when they were teenagers. The theme of finding family with another person is strong throughout this novel, but the real strength is how the author keeps us interested in the blooming romance between Georgie and Levi, but also shows us how they can heal from their past and become stronger individually while also continuing their relationship. I loved this heartwarming romance. This romance not only had some spice, but it had beautifully developed characters and a strong plot of redemption. 4/5 stars.

Georgie lives in Los Angeles, but has to return home due to circumstances. Georgie returns to her parent's home, but is surprised that she has to face a roommate. He's a former bad boy that she had a crush on while in school. This is a love story. But, Georgie is so relatable. She's a real person with real feelings and is not afraid to share them with the reader. I love that the chapters alternate between her point of view and that of Levi. Georgie finds her teenage diaries which bring back so many memories and so many feelings she had while growing up and knowing Levi.

This was a great book, a feel-good book, one you want to spend a day curled up reading.

This is one was so so cute.

A story about…
loving all the pieces of yourself
new beginnings
opposites attract
self-awareness
friendship

Not going to get into the synopsis because I don’t think it is necessary. If you love a good rom com that leaves you feeling good, this one is for you. But I have to add, what I loved most about Georgie was how authentic she was throughout the novel. And Levi was socially awkward but in the most endearing way. It worked! It starts off a little slow but by the second half really picks up. I definitely look forward to reading more by Kate Clayborn!

This book was so so cute! I loved Georgie and love, love, loved Levi and how they came together and how they learned from each other. I liked the alternating perspectives, it helped to truly understand where each character was coming from. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and the setting on the water. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.

I had a lot of fun getting into this story. It was a quick read and great chemistry. I'll be looking for more of her books.