Cute premise for a book. Ellie has started a "Break-Up agency" called Softer Landings and will do your dirty work for you to break up with the Too Nice to Dump Guy. (TNTD)

Positives:
I enjoyed the characters in this book: especially Ellie, American Dan, and of course the dog Gus.
Solid writing and character development including the minor characters
I liked the surveys the characters filled out as to why theyr needed to break up with someone interspersed in the chapters


Negatives:
This book really was too long for what it was.
And in all that writing I wish we had seen Ellie and Dan;s realtionship develop more.

Unfortunately, this was not my book. It took me quite some time to get through this one, and I have been putting it aside more than a view times. The humor was not funny, the idea of the story sounded interesting and original, but it was just not for me and it sometimes was just to cliché.
Rating: **
Thanks NetGalley and Lake Union for this galley!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I think the cover could use a little bit of work, but I enjoyed the complicated backstory and trying to find love with someone you've already technically broken up with through a friend's relationship with him. I will definitely be reading more of McClure in the future.

A lighthearted romantic comedy, perfect for lovers of romance who like their plots with a pinch of comedy. I have never read McClure’s works before, but this book has made me her fan. Her writing is easy, flows smoothly, and I appreciate how she doesn’t write complicated sentences. I loved all the characters in the story, and especially could relate with Ellie and Dan. I found myself rooting for the characters, which I believe is a sign that I am enjoying my read. I pities Ellie in so many scenarios; I felt her job is truly a difficult one, which takes a toll on one’s mental wellbeing. For me, this is a perfect vacation read. A fabulous 4 out of 5 stars.

McClure's writing style is engaging and light-hearted, making it easy for readers to become immersed in the story. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own quirks and flaws. The witty dialogue and humorous situations add an enjoyable element to the overall reading experience.

I thought I knew what this book would be - the movie Hitch with a bit of a twist—but trust me, it’s so much more.

McClure definitely has a talent for writing characters. I loved them all. Our MC and her co-workers were so real.

That being said, I think we could still have that amazing character development with about 100 fewer pages. The story itself is great, but it’s just too long.

**Such a fun story, and the audiobook was stellar!** Ellie is a little lost in London. She is no longer with her boyfriend, the reason she moved to London. She isn't crazy about her current job, and feels as though she has no close friends. Now, if you are a frequent romcom reader, you know that break ups, lousy jobs, and no friends usually leads to love. But not so fast! Ellie doesn't find love instead she finds a new career path. Softer Landings, where she helps people break up with their partners, in a kinder gentler way. I thought the idea of this “break up agency“ was quite clever, made me wonder if there is actually such a thing? Ellie was a sympathetic character. I really wanted her to find her confidence and realize her self-worth. Thea and Simon, her coworkers, who eventually become her friends were definitely colorful characters.

Now there is some romance in the story, it's just very complicated. Ellie is certain that “American Dan “is perfect for her, the problem is, he’s in a relationship or out of the country for most of the book. I did like Dan I just was a bit conflicted with the entire situation. Both he and Ellie were hiding things. But don’t fear there is a character in the story that will steal your heart, Gus, the dog! absolutely adored that furry guy, he absolutely stole the show.

**I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Imogen Church, who is one of my favorite narrators. She did an amazing job of bringing all these characters to life. If you are an audiobook person, I definitely recommend.** And bonus. It is available in Audiobook and Ebook on KU in the US.

**Big thank you to Lake Union for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.**

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I thought this was a very slow romcom with a thin, unrealistic plot. The idea that someone could make such a successful business from providing a relationship breakup so elaborate that it involves employing actors instead of the parties being able to communicate was bizarre, especially in view of the cost. The poor communication continued amongst the characters (Vee chose the weirdest way to teach an employee about her strengths and weaknesses and Thea can't survive without swearing). Likewise, the author's description of 'big old hands' and an 'ankle length puffa jacket (a coat?) were strange. Whilst a romcom relies on misunderstandings I thought this was overdone and the book could have been much shorter. There are definitely some funny moments, which improved my rating from 1 to 2 stars.

This was absolutely adorable. The writing was solid for the most part, and I thought the characters were cute, too. Honestly, and this is thrice repetitive... but cute. The word for this book is CUTE. I would recommend if you like sweet romances, a little Briticism throw in, with a darling doggy.

"The Break-Up Agency" by Sheila McClure is a quirky and heartfelt adventure that offers a fresh perspective on relationships and self-discovery. This novel is a delightful exploration of love, growth, and the unexpected ways in which our paths can intersect.

McClure's writing style is witty and engaging, infusing the story with humor and authenticity. The characters in the novel are wonderfully unique, each with their own quirks and personalities that make them stand out.

At the core of the narrative is a clever concept that challenges traditional notions of romance and relationships. The author skillfully navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and the pursuit of personal happiness.

"The Break-Up Agency" seamlessly blends humor with moments of introspection, resulting in a narrative that is both lighthearted and thought-provoking. The exploration of unconventional career choices and the exploration of personal goals add depth to the story.

In conclusion, "The Break-Up Agency" is a charming and amusing read that offers a refreshing take on love and self-discovery. If you're looking for a book that combines humor, heart, and a dash of romance, this novel is a delightful choice that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This rom-com was absolutely delightful. The characters were engaging, the whole premise was so interesting and the book is really well-written, filled with funny and emotional moments.

I totally identified with Ellie, particularly her self-esteem issues. Dan is and actual cream puff, just delightful in every way.

There's a teensy bit of angst but seriously. nothing to worry about because these two main characters are too smart and too in love to let anything get in the way. They are both heroes, and demonstrate the best of humanity, even when they mess up.

I loved Simons and Thea as well, although for me, it was all about Gus.

Read this book and then go hug your dog and tell them how much they make every day brighter and better.

Ellie Shaw is a expert at break ups. A nice and sweet rom com. My heart broke while at the same time I was smiling. A nice read.

This was an interesting book, the concept of the book pulled me in so I was quite interested with of an agency that would break people up so I was quite interesting and it also seemed quite logical. To be fair. I thought it was going to be a little bit of a push, but everything seem to fit into the place and I love the way that behind the scenes were spoken about, so the emails the thoughts, the concepts, the ideas of how to break someone up, I also really enjoyed the romance aspect of this book as it was absolutely adorable although it did annoy me that he kept secrets from her, but I can’t be too annoyed because she also kept secrets from him, so they’re kinder as bad as each other, which made me feel a little sad, but everyone’s human and they are very relatable so I understand where they’re coming from and why they did what they did I would 100% red more from this author in the future.

When Ellie helps her friend break up with the American guy she's seeing, Ellie doesn't expect to see him again. It's a shame as he seems like such a nice guy. When he turns up again with another woman who wants to break up with him, Ellie is shocked. Especially when the two of them seem to get along themselves. As they get closer, Ellie knows she needs to let Dan know about her break up agency.

This was a super cute read that I really enjoyed. I loved all the characters and the storyline. The only downside would be that perhaps the book was a little too long but otherwise I have nothing but good things to say. If you like romcoms, this one should be on your shelf.

I found this book to be more tedious than entertaining. It took a really long time to get started and I felt my interest piqued only after reaching the half-way mark. It was not the read I was anticipating.

Quite a long time is taken to establish the story and it didn’t do any favours in helping me warm to the characters. Ellie seems considerably weak and a push-over around her colleagues, even though her dumping agency – ‘Safer Landings’ – is her brain-child. In contrast, Thea is incredibly annoying and I could not really fathom Simon’s role in the story, apart from provoking sympathy with his personal circumstances.

The premise of the story is quite cute. Ellie’s team work with failing couples where one has written in asking for their services – breaking up with their partner in a gentle way. With a variety of options including coaching and providing dramatic relationship rescues, this was the key element that drew me to this book. However, I don’t think the writer truly capitalised on this element of the story and I was left wanting more scenarios where Safer Landings went to work. Application forms increase in the latter half of the novel, but I think I was expecting the story to jump hilariously from one escapade to the next.

Instead, a lot of the story focuses on Ellie mooning over American Dan. He owns a dog with Ellie and through a turn of events, Ellie has grown to adore him. As you would expect from this type of story, the feelings aren’t reciprocated and he is in a different relationship. She continues to spend more and more time with Dan, her adoration inevitably increasing and this is called into question when his girlfriend also wants to use this agency – against Dan. Can Ellie accept this task at the risk of her feelings and friendship with Dan?

Whilst the sparse agency challenges were entertaining to watch, this was more of a romance than a comedy. I didn’t find it as light-hearted as the cover implied and I thought the narrative was quite waffly and unnecessarily long-winded. This really deterred me which I thought disappointing when the concept of the break-up agency was so appealing. I think the writer could have added entertainment by detailing less background of the agency and more about the different couples that are involved.

With thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really clever concept, such a fun idea to have someone help you break up! Well written, showing the pitfalls of dating and breaking up with men who seemed too good to be true and as it turns out, we're too good to be true. Definitely recommend, I enjoyed this book alot. It's funny too.

I thought The Break-Up Agency had a great hook: a place that helps you break up with significant others. Ellie was a sweet character and I liked the romance with American Dan (although this is more women't fiction since the romance is definitely on the back-burner). There were definitely some enjoyable parts but the writing felt a little disjointed at parts and hard to follow. I did like the break-up scenes though, they were funny and moving.

Thank you for the ARC! Okay it’s a cute romcom and I did enjoy reading it. I understand our MC, Ellie like that feeling after a break up sucks. Also wow poor “American Dan”? Dude keeps getting dumped lol but at least he gets his HEA.

The Break Up Agency was ok, i like a premise of a dating agency but in reverse but it did not really stand out for me. The pacing was good, the characters were likeable enough and there was a cute dog.