This is Jessica Dettmann’s third novel and was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023.

This was a quick easy read with witty banter between the main character Willa and anyone she comes in contact with.

I enjoyed the way the author portrayed different relationships within the story. Couples, singles, couples with kids etc, all of which were totally relatable.

I liked this one for the most part and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next from Jessica Dettmann.

I loved Dettmann’s previous two books and recommend them both wholeheartedly. But… I was a little less enamoured with Without Further Ado.

Willa works for a publishing firm run completely by the male members of one family: father Gladstone and his four sons. Willa oversees the romance book department where she choses manuscripts which give her the same feeling as her favourite movie, the Sir Kenneth Branagh version of Much Ado About Nothing. I too adore that movie. But… While this book references the movie quite a few times, and one of the plotlines is basically the same as the play/movie’s, I thought the romantic part of the book is not even vaguely similar to that of Benedick and Beatrice (who are definitely in my top ten list of fictional romantic couples and the whole reason I love that movie). It also annoyed me how Willa idolises and praises the movie and then suddenly, about at the 80% mark, rips it to shreds and basically declares that the movie and its storyline is not that great. Huh?

Willa tended to be fickle about many things, now I come to think about it. Her friends, babies, her job, her romances. Actually, the romantic storyline of the book was very confusing as I was never really sure which potential boyfriend I was supposed to be cheering on, if any of the candidates at all. I found I didn’t really care whom she would end up with in the end and, as it turned out as my download of the book (received via the Netgalley app which is utterly useless) crashed at the 94% mark which probably equates to the second last chapter and I never got to find out. *sigh*

One thing I won’t deny is that the book is funny. This was a real factor with her other two books and she shines with this aspect once again. It’s just a shame that perhaps Willa wasn’t as endearing as her other characters.

I think 3 ½ stars out of 5

Willa has always loved the Kenneth Branagh movie based on Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing. She uses the fluttery feeling she got during its opening scenes in her job as a romance publisher for a company run by the Smith family. However, Willa may know everything there is to know about romance in books, but not in real life.
She is good friends with one of the Smith boys, Ewan; his brother Dougal is dashingly handsome but dull; and her cousin Imogen is dating one of the twins, Angus.
From there a similar fate befalls Imogen as befalls Hero in the Shakespearean version. And of course, Willa and Ewan take on the Beatrice and Benedick roles.
Inspired by the Bard, this is a fun rom-com set in Australia. And you don’t need to know anything about the classic play to enjoy it.

Great dialogue, it's so funny my jaw is sore from smiling and laughing. The romance is interesting and I really liked the characters as they felt easy going. I loved how lighthearted the plot is and it makes it so fun and easy to read. A joyous book that I highly recommend.

Willa has spent most of her life chasing the same feeling she got as a teen watching Much Ado About Nothing, a feeling she has used in her work as a publisher of romance novels and in her personal life. The problem is that it has left her with unrealistic expectations of both herself and others and of course we don't all get a "happily ever after." Willa's life starts to unravel when her cousin is set up by members of the family Willa works for and when her best friend confesses his love for her all on the same day. Not to mention the fact she is feeling betrayed by her closest friend who has found happiness. This was a great read just like Dettman's previous novels. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

As a lover of all things romcom and adaptations of classic romances, when I came across Without Further Ado, I had to read it. Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher, and the author, I was able to read an ARC. The review below is my honest and unbiased take on it.

I enjoyed the tropes Dettmann wielded in this book: the close proximity/office romance, the meddling family, the wedding drama and misunderstanding, the missed opportunity for romance, etc. And Willa’s character was relatable most of the time, however, I struggled to reconcile with her two sides that clashed: she’s crazy about romances and works in the field and wants her own Mr Right, but then again, she doesn’t believe that kind of romance exits in real life and takes every opportunity to knock it down, whether it’s her own life or that of others. That aspect of Willa’s character made it difficult to sympathise with her situation or even understand her to a degree and it often took me out of the story. While I loved the office situation and the bond she shared with Ewan, the book focused too heavily on his family and Willa became sidelined. I kept waiting for the romance to sizzle on the page, but it didn’t come until well into the second half of the story and when it did happen, the magic of it didn’t land for me. The plot was busy with events happening to people other than the MC. Instead of action, Willa’s life was all reactions until the very end and that lack of agency dragged the pace down. Even though I was hoping to love this story from the cover and the blurb, the book just wasn’t for me. However, it may be something others who love Much Ado About Nothing, absolutely enjoy.

This is a really enjoyable read that I couldn’t put down. The story moved along at a nice pace and the description of the train trip down to Kiama was so spot on I felt like I was on the train. The wedding scene!!!! You’ll have to read the book to know what I’m saying.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

A courageous and caring story about finding love and being true to yourself.
The storyline did seem complicated at times, but mostly we follow the ups and downs of Willa’s life.
Willa’s friendships are special to her and help provide grounding, her publishing work keeps the romance alive, unlike her real life!
The men that Willa associate with don’t stop the loneliness, eventually she must find what and who makes her happy.
Will we see Willa realise what’s important and find her happiness or continue living in the past, keep reading!

Thanks so much to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

I was obsessed with Much Ado About Nothing when it came out in the late 90's and watched it at least 100 times. So when I saw the synopsis of this book and who the author was, I had to read it. This is one of those books that you just never forget. It's not just a romance, or a book about happily ever after, but an eye-opening and hilarious look at those of us who are absolutely obsessed with romance novels and why some of us are.

Willa, the main character, is entirely relatable. She's also obsessed with romance novels and is passionate about publishing them. And she's amazing at it. But this obsession has an unexpected impact on how she relates to the wonderful people around her. The other characters in this book are so real, I can imagine sitting around and chatting with them. The depth of love they feel for each other is so honest and wonderful.

Her best friend Ewen, is complicated and fantastic. They are all fantastic - even the parents are so well-rounded and real. It's not often you get to read a book where you feel like it's happening around you. Like you are part of the story.

The author is Australian, and so am I, so there were parts of the book that as an Australian I think I had a better understanding of than international readers, but this takes nothing away from the actual story or one's enjoyment of it.

There's nothing like reading a book and thinking 'what on earth am I going to read next that will somehow match up? Go and buy it and read it so you know what I mean.

Without Further Ado is a story about Willa, a 36yr old woman living in Sydney, who publishes romance novels out of a family run company. She’s looking for love but not in the traditional sense through marriage and motherhood.

Looking at the cover and reading the description of this book, I thought it would be about a female book lover, with elements of a love triangle, some workplace drama, self exploration and funny laugh out loud moments. Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I kept waiting for the romance to begin and it never happened.

I found Willa to be a bit unlikeable, always negative and complaining. There was a whole heap of side characters and side plots, some I liked and some I feel didn’t add anything to the story. Some of the chapters were long and boring so I found myself skimming over whole paragraphs of drawn out explanations. The plot twists were confusing and hard to believe at times. Willa’s strong relationships with her friends were great. Even when she wasn’t being the greatest friend, they stuck by her.

The first and last chapters were probably my favourite. I will always wander what happened to the guy who saves time and water by washing his dishes in the shower.

This was my second read of Jessica Dettmann’s and while I didn’t connect with either of them I’m sure her books while connect with the right readers.

Without Further Ado was not what I expected but a whole lot more fun. With not so much Shakespeare but rather much more quirky, laugh out loud moments, Jessica has delivered an engaging read that I would definitely recommend.

‘For a moment Willa felt her heart race with excitement, and she put her hand to her chest. It was The Feeling: the Much Ado feeling. She let it wash over her, this wave of hope and elation and joy.’

Watching Willa’s realisation and growth throughout the story was a highlight. Her quick comebacks and one liners were hilarious! I was most definitely laughing out loud! Willa is surrounded by a cast of characters that likewise bring much to this tale of friends, life, family and futures.

‘You live too much up here - ’ Kat tapped the side of her friend’s head ‘ - and not enough in here - ’ she patted the left side of Willa’s chest.’

Don’t be mistaken - this is not all fun, romance and laughter. Sometimes subtle but more often right in your face, Jessica delivers her take on many contemporary issues surrounding life and relationships.

‘…regret’s not the end of the world. You’ll regret things you do, and things you don’t do. It’s part of the marvelous insanity called the human condition.’

This is a romantic comedy you will not want to miss. Light, quick and easy to read this is the epitome of perfect escapism but with an underlying message that many of us can relate to.

‘… you might learn to just live your life and stop thinking about where everything fits into your story. You don’t get to decide that. Life just goes where it goes. Always seeking some sort of ultimate happy ending can stop you from enjoying the life you’re living right now.’






This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

This was such a fun and engaging book!! Jessica Dettmann is such a funny, witty, clever author!

What a fun, heart warming laugh out loud rom com, packed with drama and love!!

Willa is such a hoot! She’s a romantic novel publisher who struggles to find love herself. She works in a family business with four sons, the father and her cousin and things get really really complicated!

I couldn’t put this down…thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, light, quick read!

The female lead character in this story is 36 year old Willa. She is single and searching for love but doesn't want marriage or children.
She works as a book publisher focusing on the romance genre and this colours her views on life and relationships. Willa is an amusing but sometimes frustrating character with her opinions being very particular.

The story is relatable and told with a generous dose of humour which helps balance some of the drama that occurs. At times it did feel like too much space in the story was given to the Smith family which didn't always feel necessary. I enjoyed the rest of the book and the interactions between the characters.

I loved Jessica Dettmann's last book and this one is another winner. Hilarious dialogue, witty commentary on today's society and a poignant story make this novel constantly engaging. I preferred the last one though, which was more about family than romance. This one is quite dark at times.

Willa wants a huge love like the one in the spectacular film Much Ado About Nothing. I can see why because I also adore this movie. However, although she publishes romantic novels, she hasn't had much luck with romance. Her ex-boyfriends include some creeps. She is feeling lonelier than ever because her best friend is in love and she can't work out how she feels about the Smith brothers, for whom she works. Dougal is the handsome one, but she has always got on well with Ewan, and she misses their closeness now he is married.

Strangely, her life starts to reflect the film, and when a terrible thing happens, she realises that she needs to re-evaluate her life, and even what she does for a living. She also needs to understand what she really wants.

I would give this book five stars, except that Willa really irritated me at one stage, and, as another reviewer pointed out, Shakespeare is discussed from today's perspective without much understanding of the historical context.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Without Further Ado is a refreshing, immersive and beautiful read. From page one, I was drawn into Willa's life; her character shone through with every page. Jessica Dettmann has done a phenomenal job with her eclectic narration and hilarious dialogue. The banter between old friends was well-captured and so realistic. The awareness of capturing "The Feeling" while spiralling in one's "story" made me stop and reflect on numerous occasions. While our protagonist brings romance to life through publishing and doesn't believe in marriage and having children, something is holding her back from addressing her attraction to one of the Smith brothers. How this was deciphered individually and through her supportive tribe of friends and family was memorable. The ending was well crafted, but one of my contentions was the little surprise that Ewan unveiled. I felt it was a compensation package that made the outcome more favourable. Despite this, this book made me feel a rollercoaster of emotions on many levels.

I look forward to reading more of the author's work.

It's safe to say this is one of my top reads this year!

Thank you, NetGalley & HarperCollins Publishers Australia, for giving me a free ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

🌿 Without Further Ado 🌿

I love reading books about books. Jessica Dettmann's newest release is exactly that, a book about publishing romance books and the 90s film, Much Ado About Nothing - which I have never seen but it doesn't matter as you are given a play-by-play so now I basically have.

I giggled many times throughout and it definitely gave me The Feeling our main character, Willa is searching for.

Definitely one to pick up when it's released this week!

Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsaustralia for the early copy 💚

“Without Further Ado” explores relationships in a way I found too dark to regard this as a straight romance. However, it’s definitely an easy read and most of the themes aren’t too heavy. I suspect it will appeal to those looking for a read that’s more entertaining than challenging, but not predictable.

Willa is grumpy. She doesn’t want marriage and kids, but she does want a great love. Something that sparks the same feelings in her as the first time she saw the film “Much Ado About Nothing”. Definitely not something that sparks the kinds of feelings produced by her latest date off the apps.

Her job might not be helping. Willa has a created a little niche for herself at a publishing firm that produces manuals. She alone created and runs a very successful little division that publishes romance novels. Willa can pick a successful romance and give it the polish that appeals to readers. It does, however, mean that she tends to regard relationships as a series of tropes.

Her job also presents other complications: a small family firm, Willa is working for Gladstone Smith and his four sons. Ewan has long been such a good friend that people keep asking her if there’s an attraction there. But it’s Dougal she idly eyes up. And if she ever was attracted to Ewan, well, it became moot when he married someone else.

I very much enjoyed Dettman’s debut, “How To Be Second Best”. “Without More Ado” shows the same acute awareness of the ways that people become entangled in webs of obligation, allowing others to take advantage of them. A secondary theme of this novel might well be that it’s not always a bad thing to put your own interests first.

She’s also got a good eye for mixed emotions: for example, for the way parenthood is wonderful and horrific at the same time. Her ability to portray the way people can hold more than one feeling about something is an important part of successfully exploring Willa’s search for a lasting romantic relationship.

Characterisation is one of Dettman’s strong points, and in particular the ways her characters interact. Willa and her two best friends, Kat and Bec, are all very believable. Their characterisation is enhanced by the excellent dialogue between them. Dettman has caught exactly the way old friends talk to each other, loving, supportive, understanding, caustic, larded with jokes and occasionally unkind. I really enjoyed all their interactions, and looked forward to the next time they came together.

One minor blip for me is that as the characters discuss “Much Ado About Nothing” and its ‘ plot, no-one ever notes that there’s a historical context that affected Shakespeare’s attitude to women and marriage. They all seem to expect that he should reflect today’s values.

However, I enjoyed this novel a great deal. It’s an enjoyable read with vivid characters, and a particularly believable plot and character arc.

This was different than what I was expecting from the blurb, but in a good way. It was very funny (and also had less of a focus on Shakespeare than I was expecting). I loved watching Willa's growth, even if I wanted to shake her several times. A great story about personal growth and realizing what you want out of life. The friendships were fantastic too.