This was an enjoyable read- not a heap of action or plot, but I liked how well-drawn the supporting characters were. The miscommunication in this novel was pretty outrageous- so many assumptions made or misinterpretations- but overall it was quite wholesome and a really quick read.

Jo Platt is superb at writing those kind of feel good stories that you know are going to take you along for the ride and leave you somewhere great. I really enjoyed how she explored all the various relationships featured in this book and gave them all satisfying resolutions that didn't seem forced or contrived. I don't read much in the way of chick lit, but Jo Platt is one of those authors I'll make an exception for because I know she'll always deliver.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC without obligation.

Everyone’s worst nightmare. Having your ex next door in a place where you run into them and all the bad memories on a daily basis. Impossible to escape. Even worse? Your ex with their new partner next door. This book took a long time for me to be invested in and around 60% of the book was completed before everything seemed to come together. Perhaps because in a very bad relationship and breakup I didn’t like who I became but when I was reading about this main character it reminded me of myself and not in a good way.

I found this funny and brilliant from the beginning.

I loved the main character Esme. And I found the build up story was great in leading to unexpected turns that the story took.

I really liked how quiet and sweet David was.

The side characters were also great and really funny, I absolutely loved both Cass and Lloyd.

Two of my favourite quotes are actually from Cass and Lloyd;

“Ok, so his cooking was great, but the service was crap, if you know what I mean.” - Cass

“She’s always telling me that I wouldn’t understand body language if someone punched me in the guts and kicked me in the goolies.” - Lloyd

The story starts when Esme has to relocate from her flat due to a leak in her apartment to find the new cottage to live temporarily. Her neighbour next door is no other person but her ex boyfriend Elliot who is living with his girlfriend. This brings up old memories of Elliot’s and Esme’s relationship and soon the pair are hiding their past relationship from others and meeting up to rekindle on old times together.

My overall thoughts of this book was that it was good. I thought this book would be a second chance romance but I was pleasantly surprised. The secondary characters in this book were perfect in particularly David and Lloyd.

I loved reading about Esme’s character as a strong woman who co-owned her own gallery with David and the the different relationships that ran throughout the book.

I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me and kept me turning pages until I was done. Finished it in two days! The character development was strong, and the premise was unique enough that it didn't feel like anything else I've read.

Enjoyable read, interesting storyline, easy going, characters likeable, good paced book, 4 out of 5 stars!

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

This was such an entertaining and delightful read - and not at all what I expected it to be when I started reading. I loved all the characters, especially Esme's friend Cass and Lloyd, the butcher next door.

There's a lot of laughs in this story, but I found it really touching as well. It's about seeing the goodness in those around you and mainly yourself.

The story unfolds at exactly the right places and I put the book down after reading it with a huge smile onm y face. Definitely a feel-good book.

An enjoyable read and not with the ending one might expect from the start. The characters are beautifully described, making the reader wish the best for the ones that are likeable. Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for my arc.

This was an ok read. It had some funny moments and the characters weren't to bad. They had their moments. This was a slower read for me. This is my opinion so it doesn't mean that you won't like it so I would still say if it sounds good to you give it a try.

Thanks NetGalley and Canelo for allowing me to read this ARC.

This is not your typical love story, break up story or getting back together story.
Its about a woman who overcomes self doubting in the relationship department because she learned how to listen to her own guts. We all have that feeling of insecurity sometimes and this is a nice story to learn how to handle it. I had a tough time getting into the story and liking the character because when you write something true it resonates in one who has seen that kind of truth.
Regardless it is a book for people who are not seeking the sweeping of your feet romance but the down to earth help of true friends.

Thanks to Canelo Escape and Netgalley for a review copy of this book. An enjoyable, easy read with good characters and a nicely flowing plot. Esme has tried to move on from her uneasy break up with Elliot five years before, even though it had ended on more of a stubborn note on both their parts. Her life is filled with her gallery that she co owns with David and their easy, seemingly surface level working relationship. When her flat is flooded and she’s forced to move to a cottage temporarily she’s horrified to find that a few weeks later her ex moves in next door with his beautiful and all too nice girlfriend, Morgan. All her efforts and thoughts she has about where she is in her life are turned upside down. Even as, despite her best efforts, Morgan works hard to establish a friendship between her and Esme, Esme begins to question whether she should leave the past behind and if it really wasn’t the end between her and Elliot.

Jo Platt produces solid, enjoyable novels and this is one that goes well in her library of romance novels, providing all the ingredients any reader could hope for with the sure footed plotting and likeable characters. A good weekend read to curl up with if you’re looking for a contemporary romance.

This book wasn't for me. I didn't really like Esme and I found the side characters more interesting than the actual story. It's also very slow. Nothing really happens in the first half of the book, so I gave up. Wont be reviewing anywhere else as I DNF.

Apologies, but I had to DNF this one at Chapter 12. The start of this story was too slow for me and focused on the side characters more than the Ex, and I’m here for the story about the Exes meeting again. there was only one meaningful full scene with Elliott where they discussed not telling his current girlfriend they dated. Needless to say, that doesn’t give a good impression of him, especially since there seems to be tension with Jasmine, current girlfriend. I enjoyed the prologue, the flashback to the “not really a break up” was well written and intriguing. Maybe it’s poor marketing or the synopsis, but this did not deliver what I was expecting.

Esme is shocked to discover her temporary next door neighbour is her ex boyfriend. Things ended badly for them, but he seems to want another chance, despite the fact he is living there with his girlfriend. Esme is also distracted by business partner David - will he ever let her in?
A great read.

I loved the description on NetGalley, the lovely cover, the promise of something light and funny. It started good, the first chapter and then I waited for the promised laugh - out - loud. Unfortunately, it never came.
I'm not sure what the book tried to be. It wasn't a romantic comedy, it wasn't a drama, it was confusing. Reading about Elliot I was seeing red flags coming righ and left and it was good to see Esme resisting his charm offensive and the more I read about him, the more I hated him, or rather I was irritated by him. I think that this time those were the background characters that made the story, Lloyd, Gwen that we actually have never seen but heard such great things about her, she was a lady with an attitude, Cass, Douglas... The main characters seemed plain, without depth.

I've finished this book only yesterday evening and I already am in trouble to remember it.
And I am very sorry, but this book is not "A laugh-out-loud romance of second chances and near misses, perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Jenny Colgan". Mhairi McFarlane and Jenny Colgan are in another league.

Esme comes home from work one day to find out that her ex and his new woman have moved in next door. This brings up memories and feelings, and soon Esme and Elliot are sneaking around behind his partner's back.

The MC grated on me. Knowing how she felt shortly before the break-up with Elliot and befriending the his new partner, why does she still meet him clandestinely?

Great secondary characters - perfect best friend and a neighbour who doles out advice unknowingly!!! Also short chapters!

I'd have to give this book a solid 9/10 did not expect it to be so good really enjoyed it would defo read another from this author!!!!!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a light read that I would read again

A charming read from beginning to end!

Esme never really got over the break-up with a previous boyfriend, but she has moved on. A partner in an art gallery with David, she has had to move out of her city flat after burst pipes caused extensive damage and is currently living in a cottage in a nearby village. When a couple move in to the house next door, Esme is rattled to find out that one of them Elliot, her ex . .. ,

There is more to this one than the blurb led me to believe but, having read Jo Platt previously, I was not surprised. The story is well planned and very enjoyable. Esme has all the feelings and reactions I would expect of any one of us and there are enough other characters and goings on to entertain. A delightful read, and one I'm happy to give four stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy and my apologies for the lateness of my review; Due to an eye problem I haven't been able to have any screen time and am just easing myself back in.