Member Reviews
Lovely contemporary Rom com read.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.
Thank you netgalley and publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I picked this without really paying attention and I was surprised on how heavy the issue brought since the first chapter was. It gives clear picture on what's going on and where the main character will go from there. I really sympathize with what happened to Hannah and kind of anxious throughout the whole story untill the main issue was resolved, but I enjoyed it a lot! The plot and story was well-written, it almost feels like I'm fighting side by side with the main characters and oh boy what an adorable male character Andrew Brody is! Though I said that I was anxious, but everytime there's a scene of Hannah and Andrew together, it's heartwarming and so overwhelmingly adorable! (please tell me where to get Andrew Brody irl!!). I also love how this book highlighted how Hannah, a woman, pick herself up and get back up again and solve the issue on her own strength (not to discredit the whole support she got from the town and Kate, of course!). It's really satisfying to see! Also all the side characters are adorable except for Victor.
Overall, it's truly an emotional yet heartwarming and overwhelmingly cute story and I can't get enough of their little family cuteness!
TW:: domestic abuse victim
This was a really sweet read that ended up being a lot deeper than I was expecting. I really liked the characters, especially the dogs and I felt the story line was really enjoyable. I did have issues with the writing being choppy and the way the dialogue was written through me off a bit but overall it was a good read.
A sweet, lovable story that I enjoyed from start to finish. Was stuck in a book slump but this book pulled me right out. A definite must read! Perfect for readers who love single-parent romances.
Wow. This story gave me a huge mix of emotions, it was chilling to the core but the adventure Hannah goes on was absolutely beautiful. There were so many layers to this story, filled with self-discovery, maternal instincts and finding trust in people.
Following Hannah through this journey had me on the edge of my seat, I was rejoicing at her new found love, not just from Andrew Brody! (sigh, what a character) but all of her new friends, congratulating her when she got a win (for leaving Victor, for getting a house, for getting a job) and also cried for her when the times got hard. I wanted her to win at life, to thrive and be happy. I’m glad that she and the other characters in this story, got their happy ending.
This story is so hard hitting and I loved the language used, the writing style was engaging, brutal in areas but soft in others. Details to certain things were almost minut and I found myself being protected from the brutality of the situation. Events that were explained weren’t in high detail, as if all that I had gleaned from conversations made the full picture instead of it being spelled out for me or the gaps were filled in from my imagination. Hannah’s situation was brutal, and horrible and even unthinkable to those who are lucky to not witness/experience these acts. But we know they happen and it’s almost like the writing was supposed to reflect that. Keep us guessing, thinking, imagining what the situation would be like and be thankful to not be in it.
I loved Hannah, I fell in love with Ava and Brody and Bullet. Seeing her blossom from a little seed in the grass into a full blown oak tree with maternal instincts to match was such a joy. I was rooting for Hannah, I almost thought it was justifiable that Victor should have died (I really didn’t like him) and I like that it didn’t happen, because it would have tainted Hannah and all she deserves is joy and love, not to have something sinister haunting her like a cloud.
A wholesome read, one with a very important message to send to this world and I loved every word of it. Courage and bravery is always there, you just need to grab a hold of it and let it lead the way.
What a great read! Fabulous characters except Victor (he was an ****!) Tackled a very difficult emotional topic (domestic violence) with sensitivity but also managed to convey Hannah’s terror too. I will definitely be looking out for other books by Rachel Dove.
Someone Like You - Rachel Dove
Hannah doesn't just leave her unhappy marriage, she escapes, with enough possessions to fill a bag and that's it. Her main focus is keeping her little girl Ava safe and ensuring their anonymity.
When Hannah comes face to face with police officer Brody, she hadn't expected her conflicting feelings. In the past, the police have brushed her claims aside and left her scared and alone, but officer Brody scares her in a different way when Hannah finds herself letting her guard down.
As she builds relationships with the people in her community, Hannah finds herself desperately wants to stop running, but is she willing to face her past to put it behind her?
This book, just wow. The cover is a bit misleading because I expected a rom-com type book and was greatly mistaken. This book is about a mother doing whatever it takes to keep her daughter safe, and the strength it takes to do so. I loved Hannah's quiet strength and watching her confidence grow as she opens herself up to the people in her life.
It was an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
This is my first Rachel Dove book, and if her works are even remotely as beautiful and moving as Someone Like You then I have found a new favorite author!
I first want to say that, in my opinion, Dove has done a real service to victims of domestic violence. This story really tugged at my heartstrings.
At first, I found the premise to be a bit triggering, and felt my heart and my teeth clench as Hannah and Ava navigated their new life. But as the story unfolds, and as Hannah and Ava make connections and in Leadsham, I could feel the strength and support building up around this mother and daughter. I think that the most touching part of this story is the community of Leadsham that brought these newcomers into the fold and fiercely loves and protects them. And, of course, the strength and bravery of Hannah as she fights for her and her daughter's future is at the core of this story. The relationship between Hannah and Brody (sighhh... perfect man) was the icing on the cake!
Bravo, Rachel Dove!! Special thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital Publishing for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.
Hannah's husband is violent and abusive. One night, with the help of a friend she takes her baby daughter Ava and flees to the village of Leadsham. With barely any money, too afraid to use any documentation that her husband might use to trace her, Hannah is keeping a low profile, until an opportunist mugger tries to steal her bag in the park. Hannah is rescued by off-duty police officer Andrew and his dog. Despite all efforts to repel him, Hannah gradually finds herself drawn to Andrew, sensing that he is an honest and decent man, especially when he helps her get a part-time job in the bookshop owned by his former partner. However, Hannah is too ashamed to share her past with Andrew and scared that her husband could sweet talk his way around anything she claimed, after all he's done it before with the police. Hannah's inner monologue is 'this man is kind and gentle, but I am ashamed of being beaten up by my husband, I can never tell Andrew and so I must push him away, but he has been kind so I must return the favour'.
Frankly, Andrew is a pretty poor cop if he doesn't see a young woman with a baby, no money, terrified of men and violence and can't infer that she may be an abused spouse, certainly the slow and quiet way in which he moves and talks to her suggests he has his suspicions. However, his inner monologue is all 'what is she hiding, why won't she tell me, I must know the truth'.
Overall, it's slow, it's dragging, and it's totally predictable.
Finished this in one sitting because it was impossible to put down. After escaping a horrible relationship, Hannah has made a new life for herself and her daughter in the quaint village of Leadsham. Although she's not looking for love, she just might find it in the handsome officer, Brody.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ, HQ Digital for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warning for Domestic Abuse. I’m not sure If I saw that at all within the book.
Someone Like You by Rachel Dove was INCREDIBLE. I had a hard time relating to her personally since I’ve never been in that kind of situation but, I respect how she dealt with the events that occurred and got herself out of that terrible situation.
Andrew Brody is a saint and that’s how all men should be. He was understanding, lovely, and compassionate. He let her take her own time with telling her side of the story even though he wanted to know what was going on. The budding relationship between him and Ava, Hannah’s Daughter, was the cutest thing Ive ever read. I’m not a huge fan of babies in books but, Ava captured my heart.
Overall, this book is one that I would recommend to anyone. It’s heartwarming. It’s beautiful. It’s a little funny too. Major Found Family vibes in this book. You find yourself getting lost in the store and i couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Dove, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy of this book!
Cute and heart warming read that you can easily get lost in! 💫
I wish this novel had a summary on the GR page as usually novels do.
Especially as this was such a cute fluffy read.
Be aware this novel involves physical abuse and overcoming it.
This novel is a heart warming read about Hannah and her baby daughter Ava who have moved to Leadsham, a small town for the fresh start they need. Not long in, they meet Broady (also known as Andrew) , a police officer who is a gentleman and has been drawn to her since he laid his eyes on her.
There is so much cuteness within this, the friendships as well and the love they are showing Hannah and Ava, two strangers who have arrived at their village. This novel mentions the serious topics in a nice way. As in, I wouldn’t normally pick up a novel that would mention it but it done so in a not ‘in your face’ type of way.
I agree with others where the dialogue was a bit confusing with no he or she said.
Normally novels fill you in on what was done over the last few weeks I felt this could have been done a bit better.
If you are looking for a slow romance as well as rebuilding yourself then, this novel is it.
Hannah is running from an abusive marriage with her baby, Ava. She's determined to give her daughter a better life regardless of what Hannah has to sacrifice to give it to her. When she finally lands in a small town that seems safe, Hannah finds an unexpected community of support. Keeping her identity a secret is a must, so when she meets police officer Andrew Brody she tries not to get too attached to the stoic, kind, gentle giant of a man. Don't be fooled by the cover-- this story is full of depth about finding courage, fresh starts and sensitive topics such as PTSD and abusive relationships. I enjoyed the overall concept of love in unexpected places.
Incredibly heart warming, committed to finding out what happened to the characters and their journeys.
Just another book that I went into blind and I loved it! I just wanted to keep reading about this story. This definitely had some strong topics so if domestic violence is a trigger please be warned but this is told in such a respectable way. This book has a great romance story with a ton of plot and will put so many smiles on your face your going to fall in love with all the characters.
This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!
I went into reading this book thinking that it's going to be about starting a new, finding one's self after overcoming such a horrendous past. It quickly turned to a romance which I see what Rachel wanted to achieve but I didn't feel it was very realistic given all that Hannah and Ava had been through.
It was great to see her build up friendships and begin to trust other people. This book just unfortunately fell a bit flat for me.
4 stars!
"Someone Like You" by Rachel Dove is a splendid read about finding new love in an unexpected place after an abusive marriage.
This book is much more emotional than I thought it would be based on the cover. It's a sweet little story that's easy to read. Good characters, funny and well-rounded banter, charm, sincerity, and honesty. It had a wonderful FMC and MMC that were easy to root for. Unfortunately, towards the middle of the book, it gets pretty repetitive. Check TWs, it can get very intense as its subjects are related to emotional and physical abuse, as well as stalking.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Dove, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.
I received a advanced copy from the publisher and this book drew me in right from the start. It was a great story about being brave and starting over and learning to trust again. Finding your people that love and support you know matter where you come from.
Well, when I saw this book I thought…Nice, cosy romance novel. Perfect for reading whilst sitting under the sun.
How wrong was I? This is perfect for the (literal) lesson of “Never judge a book by it’s cover”.
Was I disappointed with what I read? No, not at all. It starts off strong with reference to domestic violence. But quickly turns into a love story. With the main character moving forward with her life, getting over her toxic relationship and finding hope in someone new.
Really well written, the characters had a lot of depth and personality. Clearly, a lot of thought and research has gone into this book.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. An enjoyable read, with a surprising amount of depth coming through. May not have been what I expected, but still a great book.