Member Reviews
This is my first book to read by Katy Turner, and it was lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were so lovable and the storyline was smooth. The transition between characters was also perfect. It was such a fun read.
Thank you Netgalley for the arc of Let’s just be friends by Katy Turner
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Let’s Just Be Friends is a truly enjoyable read from Katy Turner. As a debut novel, it lands exactly where you want it to. The story unfolds in a really pleasing and engaging way, by the end you’re rooting for all the characters and enjoying every surprise as they come. Following Hannah’s journey from her reluctant arrival in the town, to where she ends up, had me hooked.
I want to live in Eastercraig, wave hello to Sporran and have a drink in the pub.
The only thing I would wish for would be more detail of what happened between Chloe and Angus! Their story needs to be told next.
This book is an absolute charmer. The reader is transported to a little coastal town in Scotland. The main character is a vet, so there is a lot more to this book than romance. We meet a host of characters and their animals. The other supporting characters at the vet clinic are well developed, and we follow their stories as well.
The main character, Holly, faces challenges in her boss, an irascible older veterinarian, and in adjusting to small town life. There is humor, a Scottish ball, and of course, the animals in this unputdownable novel.
This book has so much potential! You can definitely pick up from the first few chapters that this could be her first book. Regardless I enjoyed it! I tended to get a little lost sometimes and some of the British terminology kind of threw me off. Mostly because there being three different couples that this story follows. But it also brought some light to storyline.
However if you generally enjoy romance, enemies to lovers type of book, this is for you. I liked it!
I cannot believe this is Katy Turner's first book! She (and the team at Joffe Books) has made an amazing job. Thank you for letting me read an ARC of this fantastic story.
It all starts off with Holly missing out on her "it's in the bag" veterinary job in Ascot. Instead she is strongly encouraged to take up a position in a small fishing village in Scotland for a year. With no other job to fall back on, she reluctantly heads north.
Quickly making friends with two of her work colleagues Holly settles in pretty smoothly; if only the boss was that easy to get on with.... As the year progresses we follow Holly and her friends through events like cake sales, dances, dog shows, and Friday nights at the pub.
I really enjoyed that there were more than one leading couple in this story; this is much more a story about life in Scotland than a narrow minded enemies to lovers romance story. Holly and Greg, Chloe and Angus, Paolo and Fab/Hamish, but also the interaction between Greg and Angus, Hamish and Daisy, as well as the evolving friendship between Holly, Chloe and Paolo; and to some extent their boss Hugh.
I thoroughly enjoyed the great pace, character developments and the glimpses into village life. There are definitely plenty of characters to create more stories about in the endearing village and hopefully this is the first of many stories.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This book sounded like a cute fluffy friends to lovers romance and it was. I think some of the British slang was hard to understand if you aren't familiar. Despite having read many books set in the UK, and loving Bridget Jones, I was a little lost at times. Holly is a vet and Greg comes into her life unexpectedly. Dealing with rebound and friendships w crushes or feelings that may be u requited can be tough to read. As a 1st time author this book has some potential
Wow. Wow. Wow.
This book melted my heart, The first published novel by author Katy Turner and it was magnificent.
I loved this book so much, I felt wholeheartedly attached to all of the characters. The bond between Holly, Chloe and Paulo made my heart swell. Colleagues turned great friends. Crabby ol’ Hugh MacDougal even tore at my heartstrings.
From the moment I started reading, I did not want to stop. This book transported me to the quaint village of Eastercraig, nestled in the Scottish highlands. Eastercraig was filled with astounding views, unpredictable weather and an amazing community of people.
While Eastercraig and working for crabby ol’ Hugh MacDougal was not what go-getter, career driven Holly Anderson envisioned for her life, she found herself growing attached to the people of Eastercraig and the beauty of it.
I knew where the ending was headed but the way events unfolded… I think I forgot to breathe for a whole chapter. Katy Turner, you had me on the edge of my seat after the dog show,
Please read this book if you enjoy:
-friends to lovers
-grumpy/sunshine vibes (not only in the sense of romance but also working relationships)
-pets, pets, pets and more pets
-Scotland/Scottish Highlands
-Farm boys
-small town romance
-getting out of your comfort zone
-marmite
-your heart growing 3 sizes
-feel good romance
Thank you so much NetGalley, Katy Turner and the amazing team at Joffe books for the opportunity to read this wonderful book in exchange for my honest review.
A sweet and funny read . Holly is a vet who has to work for a year in Scotland in a practice so she will get the recommendation letter from her boss . Her boss is always grumpy but her two co-workers Chloe and Paolo became her best friends . Then she meets Greg on her first night when he has the key of the cottage she now lives in . Between them there is atraction but she has no plans for men in her life , only her job . Will she give him a chance ?
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .
The chemistry and the tension between these two, furniture maker Hudson and lawyer Rebecca was off the charts and so well done. The scenes where they are hanging out for each other are absolutely gold and set the tone for this funny steamy, quirky, and very banter-y opposites attract romance. Loved New York so much. So close to 5 stars with all that delicious tension and steam, but by the end I wanted more. More conversation, more commitment, more explanation of their worldviews, and much more about how they could build a future together. Clapham or Chelsea? How will she find balance with her job? Will they have a family with all that ambition?
That said, Cassie has done an amazing job with this wonderful book. She can invent me a boyfriend any time if Hudson is the prototype!
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC.
Like the book, I'm not really sure where to begin with my review except to say that the description of the book feels a bit misleading. It felt like the reader was given more information about Chloe and Angus' relationship (or wannabe relationship) rather than Holly and Greg's. I think having three separate but interlocking storylines running concurrently was extremely confusing, and unnecessary. The main storyline was supposed to have been Holly and Greg, but I felt like we barely saw them interact, and when they did, Holly acted like a child. This was seen more when she called her mother to ultimately have a heart-to-heart, but then when her mom tried to open up to her, Holly shut her down. The end of the book left me unsatisfied, especially since we did not get to be privy to the big "I like you reveal" between Chloe and Angus.
It really just felt like for as old as the characters were supposed to be, they could all use a lesson in communication and maturity. Also, the trope of "my mother had lots of boyfriends because my dad left her when I was little so I no longer believe in love or trust men" is really overdone - that's not directed just towards this author, but in general.
I was hoping for more!
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Kilts, secret crushes, cranky bosses, grumpy farmers, and more than one romance trying to brew with onstacles galore. More fun than your average romance with great characters who have fun chemistry and a solid plot.
Holly is on her way to spend a year in Eastercraig, Scotland as a vet for both pets and farm animals. During her first night in the provided cottage, someone lets himself in…he has a key. Greg is friends with the cottage’s owner and didn’t realize Holly was living there. They hit it off, but it turns out Greg is a serial flirt and that is not Holly’s thing, even if she hadn’t sworn off dating for the year. Will Holly last the year? Will she learn what she needs to get her dream job? Will she finally find a home?
Hugh, Holly’s boss, is grumpy and clearly pushing people away, but he is lonely and missing his wife. He was a tough sell but I really enjoyed his scenes and liked him in the end. Chloe and Paulo, the other two staff at the practice, are awesome. The Chloe and Angus plot line was adorable and the same with Paulo and Hamish. (TBH, I didn’t love the characters speculation about Hamish’s sexuality. I could have done without those scenes). Greg was misunderstood as well as a fabulous love interest and friend. He is someone anyone would like to have in their life.
There were some linguistic choices that made me feel as if this is the authors first book. I appreciated the use of the correct Scottish vernacular and the glossary in the back was extremely helpful. I knew most of the terminology, but I was tripped up a few times and definitely needed it.
If you want a book that will take you away to a small town, won’t stress you out, and has a lot of cute animals (a wolfhound name Wolfie, for instance) then you should check this book out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an arc of this
This is the author’s first book- so I think that shows. She has great potential for characters but I feel like there were too many characters and things going on and the story line got lost somewhere in the middle. It wasn’t for me, but I can see someone who is better versed in British culture perhaps understanding it better. Maybe adding that it’s set in Britain to the description could help. Calling a vet a surgery and the other terms along with the plethora of characters because quite chaotic in all the fluff
Very excited for the chance to read, review, and acquire this title. I can’t wait read about Holly and Greg. I love a good city girl gone country book and this seems like it will meet the perfect criteria. How perfect that handsome Greg is about to stumble into her life
and they both are going to be forced to interact at this lovely cottage each of them has dealings with. I love these types of books and I know our readers will as well. Full review to come. I’ve been looking for a light and fun read to add to our ever growing collection and its looks like Let’s Just Be Friends will fulfill that duty,