The House Sitter by Elizabeth Drummond

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

His house. Her rules. But who’s in charge? Pippa Munro had everything planned for her perfect wedding. What she did not have planned, was for her boyfriend to break up with her. Or sell her beloved farm. So instead of being blissfully engaged, Pippa finds herself jobless, homeless and loveless. Things couldn’t be going better…

Wolfie Squires needs someone to look after his family’s ancient house. He’s too busy with his hot shot city job to deal with a country manor several hundred miles away.

The perfect solution? Find someone to house sit.

The less-than-perfect candidate? Pippa Munro.

Pippa is more comfortable working on a farm than dusting a chandelier, and definitely not the ideal choice for the job.

As tempers fray, ideas clash, and secrets are spilled, Pippa and Wolfie might realise they have the same ambitions for the house, if only they could stop arguing long enough to find out…

My Opinion

I had read the blurb to this book before I started reading it, but it wasn't what I expected. To be honest, I am not entirely sure what I expected. From the opening chapter Pippa finds that her world has been turned upside down and yet she manages to pick herself up and take us on a wonderful journey. This was such a light-hearted read that I had no issues with slowly working my way through the pages.

Pippa was such a relatable character that it was difficult to not get sucked in by this book. For me, the only thing was missing was Wolfie's perspective. I would say that you have to go into this book without any expectations, just enjoy it for what it is.

Rating 4/5

Forced proximity romance will always hit different. The trustration the characters feel being in forced proximity with a person they probably shouldn't be feeling certain feelings about, transfers to readers. And it's always a fun game guessing when will one of them crack and end our frustration. Elizabeth Drummond's "The House Sitter," thanktully didn't have us suffer too long. I loved how the grumpy and broody and elusive Wolfie Squires eventually softened up and be the most head over heels in love with the sunshine Pipa Munro. He would literally do anything for her. He's like an entirely different person when it comes to Pipa, and we love to see it. This book was a fun and heartwarming story to read. The end was a little bit rushed, I'm glad it had an epilogue. I wished there would be a bonus epilogue or bonus content for Pipa and Wolfie in the future. I need to see more happy moments!!!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

A delightful and heartwarming tale of love, humour, and unexpected connections. When Pippa Munro's life takes an unexpected turn, she finds herself jobless, homeless, and loveless. Meanwhile, Wolfie Squires needs someone to look after his family's ancient house, and Pippa seems like the perfect fit. Despite their differences, Pippa and Wolfie must learn to work together and find common ground as they navigate the challenges of house-sitting. With its charming characters and engaging plot, this is a delightful read that will leave readers with a smile on their faces.

Wolfie needs a house sitter and Pippa needs a job!

Pippa Munro had thought she was doing everything right, helping her boyfriend Alex run his farm, taking care of the finances plus taking care of Alex’s dad. But she never expected for him to sell the farm out from under her leaving her without a job or a place to live.

Wolfie Squires needs someone to house sit his family home while it’s for sale and Pippa needs a place to stay so she’s perfect for the job if she could get along with him. But dislike could turn to friendship and maybe love if the rat of an ex-boyfriend didn’t come back around to cause problems while they were figuring things out.

I grew up in a very agriculture area and I totally understand how Pippa would feel when Alex sold the farm without letting her know and his family knew about it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was sweet and fun, but it wasn’t my favorite. Overall, the characters were likable, but I don’t think Pippa was super relatable. She was a little immature for her age and she allowed some pretty terrible treatment from an average man. I just can’t relate to that. In addition, I had trouble reading because of the character name “Wolfie”, and the fact that it was in third person. Not my favorite read.

It was sweet and okay-ish!

Thank you netgallet and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh dear. I loved the cover and even the title, but this book would need to be completely rewritten to make it enjoyable. I wish I could find something positive to say because I know it takes a lot of hard work from a lot of people to get a book published, but the story and the characters were just bad, and the writing couldn't save it.

I'm sorry!

Pippa gets a job as a house sitter, looking after Wolfie's family home. She loves the house and he hates it and wants to sell - can she convince him otherwise?

This was a cute, slow-burn, rom com.
Slow burns usually aren't my favorite, but this one definitely made me feel things!
I liked the way it built the anticipation. There were scenes where you would think the characters were going to get together, but then it was like, nope, not yet!
My favorite character was definitely Juniper 😂. We love chaotic pets 🤣.
One thing that I found a little lacking was Pippa's character development. It seemed like she was only interested in finding love but not in creating her own successful life. It seemed like she just attatched herself to whatever guy she was with instead of trying to be independent.
Other than that, I really liked this book! I would definitely recommend it!

The House Sitter - Elizabeth Drummond 🏡

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pippa Munro has the perfect life, on track to get married to her high school sweetheart and running the families farm or so she thinks. The shock of her boyfriend dumping her and being forced out leaving her homeless and unemployed sends Pippa into a rut, however a house sitting gig in her local area may be exactly what she needs.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The perfect start to my romance binge in February. The concept of house sitting and the mysterious owner was perfect.

I thought that this was really well written and I don't think I have come across this concept before so I really enjoyed it, would love to read more Elizabeth Drummond books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for sending me this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own*

#netgalley #TheHouseSitter

I really liked the premise of this and also thought the cover was cute, so I wanted to give it a go, and I was so glad I did.
Wolfie and Pippa are fantastic leading characters. There are also a host of fantastic side characters such as Tom, Mae, and Frankie that bring this altogether.
Unexpectedly, there was the mention of childhood/domestic abuse and alcoholism. I hadn't been expecting something so dark to be mentioned in a light romcom.
I felt really sorry for Pippa, as Alex was a total jerk, but im glad she was able to learn and grow.
It's a wonderful setting, and I'm sure a series could grow from this. I'd love to know how Tom and Pat came to have their farm, and I'd love to see more of Mae!
I really enjoyed the authors style. The chapters were short and snappy and had me racing through and finishing over the course of an evening.

I thoroughly enjoyed The House Sitter! Pippa and Wolfie were great characters and I loved their grumpy/sunshine relationship. It was fun to watch their relationship develop!

I really enjoyed this story! I was a bit wary because the last novel I read based in the UK was a bit dry, but this one met and exceeded expectations. This a grumpy/sunshine, small town, forced proximity, city guy/small town guy story.

Pip fresh off of a nasty breakup that left her homeless and jobless, jumps at an opportunity to house sit a large manor she has loved since she was a child. Hired by the gruff, rich son of the family who has owned the manor for generations, she works to discourage him from selling this legacy.

Sharing the space of the home as she cares for the inner workings and he in and out dealing with buyers and his own job, this two bump heads, share intimate moments and slowly open to each other.

I loved the comedic moments of her shenanigans when a buyer came to visit, and when Juniper chortled around the garden. The next-door neighbors were super helpful and kind. Frankie and Mae were amazing and fiercely loyal. I found myself finding reasons to shirk my responsibilities to read just one more chapter. While there is some mild spice, I would consider this almost a closed door. Maybe a 🌶/5, because there is one scene and some mild language, but nothing to make you really blush.

A quintessential, charming English romance! Enjoy being transported to the gorgeous English countryside in this novel literally set in an old, manor house!

Pippa's life has been planned out since she started dating her high school sweetheart and took over his family's farm. On the night she was finally expecting a ring, Alex instead surprises her with the news that he's sold the farm and expects her to move away from the town she's called home her whole life.

Devasted, Pippa is left adrift and takes the first job she can find, caretaking for the old manor house that's in a state of disrepair. The current owner breaks the news that he's planning to sell since his memories of the town are much less pleasant than hers.

Pippa and Wolfie trade barbs each time he visits, but the more time they spend together, the more they start to understand each other and their version of the future becomes something completely new.

I loved the descriptions of the house and the work required to maintain a place like it. It was fascinating to see a behind the scenes look at all the menial tasks needed. Plus, the slow burn between Pippa and Wolfie was delicious!

Alex and Pippa's ongoing spats became frustrating, with how poorly Pippa was treated and how clueless everyone seemed to be about how he took advantage of her. Otherwise, I loved the support of the side characters, especially the neighbor couple who quickly became friends!

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.


This was a sweet, introspective romance novel. The leads are emerging from their twenties, both having endured suffering that really shapes their relationships with everyone around them. And the novel introduces some lovely themes around self-confidence, healing, and community.


Pippa has lost sight of her own identity at the start of the novel. She has so entwined it into the dreams she created for her relationship and the work that she has been caught up in that she struggles to be herself, even with her childhood friends. But she can find herself again and explore her interests. She even finds new passions that give her a real sense of accomplishment. I liked that Wolfie supports her in her passions and work, but does not, even subconsciously, combine their relationship with her passions or turn it into a shared activity. She still has her own things, even as their relationship progresses.


I really liked the setting for The House Sitter. It is such a cute, older town in England. But it’s also not stuck in the past to its detriment. Some of the shops have a more modern feel or service, while still being town-run and not upsetting the vibe. Of course, there are always the drawbacks to small-town life that plague the main characters. Folks are quite chatty and interested in any news and are happy to share that information with everyone. But it’s not malicious and often serves as a motivating force for Pippa and Wolfie. Pippa and others love the town and their community, but it’s not perfect and they get frustrated by it, without condemning it for its nature. There is definitely a focus on the power of community in the book. Neighbors get to know each other, quests are launched in support of others, and support is frequent.


Wolfie is certainly a brooding male lead. He is open with Pippa very early on and really tries his best not to hurt her emotionally (or physically) while still following what he thinks is the right thing to do. He is very much a fell first lead and is devoted to her once the relationship has started. The tribulation that they face as a couple is genuine and honest. Communication is stressed throughout the book as vital and important for healthy, loving relationships. We see both positive and negative examples of communication within relationships and the negative makes the positive really shine. Relationships take work and elbow grease. Sometimes there are tricky spots, but they are snags that can be worked through if both parties are there for each other and communicate and love.


Overall, this is a sweet, lightly spicy romance that focuses on healthy relationships, supportive communities, and love. I enjoyed it and loved getting to spend a few hours in the countryside with glorious vistas.

I admit the main character drove me a little crazy. I desperately wanted her to wake up and own her power and tell her loser boyfriend to kick rocks! But by the end she had completely won me over. I really rooted for her and I discovered along with her as she learned new things about herself. I shared her love of her sweet village and the way they rally for their community members. This is mostly a closed door romance, but the descriptions of the lead-ups are pretty wonderful. Overall a very fun and sweet read!

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

This book had the grumpy-sunshine trope and i really do love that in a storyline! It was also such an easy book to read and it pulled me in right from the very beginning and kept me engrossed all the way through until i had finished it and found out how it all unfolded.

It was such a light hearted and heart warming read and i thoroughly enjoyed the whole story.

I really do love the rom com genre and this one fit the bill perfectly. It was such a cozy read and a lovely small town romance and left me with a warm heart and a smile on my face…….

This is a delightful romantic comedy that follows the misadventures of Pippa Munro and Wolfie Squires as they navigate unexpected circumstances, clash of personalities, and perhaps, find love in the most unexpected of places.
I enjoyed this light-hearted read.

This book read like a traditional lovely romantic comedy. It was an easy, fun read. While the ending was predictable, the story that developed to lead to that ending was enjoyable. It was a light, easy read and was perfect for Valentine’s week. If you are looking for a book that will remind you of the Romantic comedy movies of the 1990s, this is a fun read. I am glad that I took the time to read it and thank NetGalley for the copy.

Pippa is left homeless and alone after her boyfriend that she has been with since they were teenagers suddenly sells the farm where they live. She struggles to find somewhere to live and work until she takes on the temporary caretaker role at the local country manor for the reclusive Wolfie Squires.
You could see from right at the beginning what kind of a boyfriend Alex was, which Pippa seemed to be blind to. Wolfie has his own troubles, which gradually are revealed as the story develops. The story gives a probably realistic view of living in one of the old manor houses, which can be money pits, but also what charm they can have. It also has the plus and minuses of living in a small community, with support in bad times, but gossip doing the rounds. It did hit the right spot for me, with the idyllic setting, a full cast of characters and the will they /won't they romance.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book