This was a cute story, but a little too tame for me. Jess was kind of infuriating at times, but relatable and overall like-able. Loved Nick!

When Jess's older brother has a stroke, her parents lack of action makes Jess his carer. Giving up her career dreams her boss gives her the simplest and smallest events to plan. This includes helping out East Lothian Wildlife Park with a series of events to ward off closure. Here she meets Nick again. A man who tried to hit on her when crying in the hospital gardens.

Nick is head gamekeeper at East Lothian Wildlife Park. He has been hurt badly by his ex wife, which has left him grumpy and difficult. While Jess thinks Nick was trying to hit on her at the hospital, Jess comes to learn that she misinterpreted the situation, causing tension at the wildlife park.

Jess and Nick are a lovely pair and this book is more about their journey to becoming partners than a true romance. I think it lacked angst, which is strange because there were issues between Jess and Nick. They just never came across as big angst. I did love the animals. Sun bears are my all time favourite. Spice was closed door.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Nina Kaye

📜 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩
✍️ Nina Kaye
💬 English

As the title suggests, this book finished just like that.

I'll start my review from the things I liked. Using the wildlife park as the background setting, this book successfully portrays the lives of the animals in the park. What the staff do, the realities of the animals' lives, and the potential problems that arise in the daily activities there. If the book had focused on the poor animals alone, then my review might have been different. Unfortunately, the main point of the book is the romance, which brings us to my dislikes as explained below.

First, the childish characters. Jess and Nick are portrayed as both stubborn and always arguing every time they meet. They are supposed to be nemesis, who slowly fall in love (cliche thing we loved as readers), but this book doesn't provide that. This book is more likely to be instalove. Jess and Nick can fight, date, fight again in a short period of time, without any valid and realistic explanation. Hence, the romance becomes shallow.

Second, the unfocused plot. I was confused by where the book was taking me. I thought it was about how Jess improved her career and family. I was wrong. This book is about how great Jess is and how lame everyone else is. Jess is always valid, no matter what decision she makes. I'm confused about what the author wanted to convey through this book. Not enough development of plot.

Third, I'm so done with how many times Jess and Nick are called to their boss's office. There's always "Nick, Jess, I'm waiting for you in my office" almost in every chapters to the point I could tell what will happen next.

But at least, this book ends happily. That's what matters.

ARC received from @netgalley in exchange for honest thoughts.

I thought this book started off strong, but then it went downhill in the middle, redeeming itself towards the end. I couldn't understand some of the decisions Jess made, making her appear very judgemental and unreasonable sad to say. Nor did I like her constant references to Nick's body. We don't like men doing that to women, so it's not okay to do it to men. Some of the language/dialogue was clumsy. I loved the story of Jess's brother and his recovery, and the story about saving the zoo. Some good points, but really, Jess's character was not very likeable. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars!

Be prepared to spend your time reading this, it is addictive!

I found myself unable to put this down.
Watching the main character Jess go from a high powered position in her job to being demoted and watching her annoying boss Craig use the excuse of her caring for her ill brother Seth but we got to see her take on these smaller projects and the friendships that spark for her at the Wildlife park.

However I didn’t like her constant attitude of ‘why am I being given this job it is way beneath me’ when she should accept it more so at times for what it is instead. She did enjoy this project but she would have more so if she didn’t worry as much.
When Jess’s brother was first ill, she presumed this man, Nick was flirting with her with how he was coming across. But Jess has a bit of a temper and she was proper rude to him! Then, as she got demoted, the wildlife project happens to include this attractive man who was very verbal and clear of what he thought of her.
They eventually get on as she attempts to help them find a new revenue scheme for their park as they are close to closing.

Nick shows her the animals and getting her to feed them including Rana. It was adorable how attached they became and seeing what Rana and the others plus with the nature vibes of this novel and how it calmed Jess down she became a different person for the better at times.

The ideas: the animal style personality quiz and being matched based on your animal? Such a unique and fun idea! I’m the opposite of single but even I would love to have fun things like this going on in the wild life parks / zoos we have here.

As the novel progressed and things take a downward spiral for Jess we see her finally reflecting upon her decisions and the consequences they have and watched how she became more grateful and in the moment more so by the end.

Watching new friendships form in different ways for Jess and watching her getting on with Laura, Gwen, Allison and the rest was just lovely in how it was written. There was quite the dynamic between all the different characters.

Some twists and turns that I wasn’t completely expecting.
This is a very emotional book, from health problems to career dilemmas and useless parents. This novel quite warmed my heart .
An uplifting read that will put a smile on your face.
Plus, it has animals in it, have I got you hooked yet?

The average rating for this one needs to be higher.
I absolutely enjoyed this and certainly look forward to Nina’s other novels, in particular the Gin Lover’s Guide To Dating! A new favourite author.

So glad to have received this ARC in exchange for my honest words.

Just Like That was a really cute romance for me. I liked that there was a lot of substance to the book, it wasn't just a love story. We follow Jess as she juggles taking care of her bother who has just had a stroke and her flagging career as a high flying event planner. Her parents are completely unsupportive and decide it's best for them to stay away in Spain, rather than help care for their ailing son. Jess is shouldering all of the burden and is forced by her boss to relinquish her high profile projects because he doesn't believe she would be able to handle it along with her brother. She is assigned to bring a wildlife park back from the brink of death while working with a mercurial man, Nick, who she accused of trying to pick her up when she was at the hospital after her brother's stroke. Jess pulls out all the tricks in her hat to make sure the animals and the people she slowly falls in love with won't lose their home. This is the perfect grumpy vs. sunshine book for those of you who like that trope. I loved all of the character's in Just Like That. All of their personalities were so well thought out and you see the depths of everyone Jess comes into contact with. I also would recommend Just Like That to anyone who is an animal lover and is concerned with wildlife conservation efforts. The author puts a great deal of detail about the animals the wildlife park works with and it will be perfect for you!

Just Like That
by Nina Kaye

Pub Date 1st June
Publisher @Canelo

Our female protagonist, Jess, has been tasked with working at an animal sanctuary in order to help them collect money so they can continue operating. She encounters Nick, the irritable animal caretaker, here. While fighting and falling in love, these two have a lot of sparks going on, but Jess is also juggling caring for her brother, dealing with her boss, and attempting to have a personal life.Her brother's stroke causes life to abruptly take a dramatic turn. Her job is placed on hold while she prioritises her brother's health, forcing her to reassess her familial responsibilities. The setting of the animal park is cool. Have a female lead character who is powerful and career-driven, loves animals, is devoted to her family, and read like foes to lovers.

#NetGalley #bookstagram#bookreview #goodreads#read#bookstagrammer #romance #generalfiction #womensfiction

I don’t know this book just wasn’t for me… I found both the characters kind of.. boring? simple? stubborn ? I liked the premise and the setting but the characters were a miss for me.

DNF @ 20%

When I initially saw this book I loved the blurb. However reading it I just could not connect with the characters.

Alot happened in just the first few chapters and it was hard to go on.

A lovely little book by Nina, who does pen great reads. Good to have a change of setting too, in a zoo. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book features Jess as our female main character, who has been assigned to an animal sanctuary for the purpose of helping them raise money to stay open. Here she meets Nick, the grumpy animal keeper. These two have a lot of sparks as they fight and fall in love, but Jess is struggling to take care of her brother, deal with her boss, and try have a personal life.

Jess is so fierce when it comes to her brother and making things happen in her professional life! She just doesn’t take care of herself like that. It was good to see that growth take place. Nick came across as a grump, but Jess was really the issue. I loved them together though. I also loved the storyline with her brother and how all of that played out. I think that was handled very well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An easy, light hearted book about Jess who is a bad ass event manager - having a great career (something I've always wanted to do). Life takes a dramatic turn in an instant with her brother's stroke. She must re-evaluate her familial duties and in doing so, her career takes a back seat as she puts her brother's recovery first. On one of her projects, she meets (or in this case re-meets) Nick, a grumpy zoo keeper. The animal park setting is cute and unique, but at times the interactions between Nick and Jess were too drawn out for me. Read if you like enemies to lovers, have a love for animals, loyalty for family and a strong career driven female lead character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

'A lovely return to the world of Nina Kaye. A feel-good, bookish romance that is perfect & wholesome. Simple but satisfying' - The British Bibliophile

*Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ebook Advanced Readers Copy for me to read and leave an honest review*

I first came by Nina Kaye while picking up One Night in Edinburgh from a local Facebook Marketplace listing. The book's cover captivated me to see what the book was all about--aside from the obviousness on the cover--, and give a new to me author a chance. Unfortunately, the copy sold before I could get my hands on it but I did not despair! I grabbed a copy from Amazon and dove right on in.

One Night in Edinburgh was a pleasant introduction to Nina Kaye, and I just happened to spot an ARC for this read on Net Galley and decided to hop on the opportunity to see if I would like any of her other novels. I'm very pleased to say that I did.

Just Like That is what it says on the tin. Or rather, the tagline. It's a perfectly good feel-good romance that did indeed make me smile. I can't ask for anything more than that out of a romance, in its essence. As much as smut, steam and spice are in equal demand in my reading repertoire, it's good to dip your toes back into the humble, the romanic and the feel-good. I love a book that can make me laugh, but I also love one that can make me smile and I'm so happy that this was the book to do it.

Jess is as real to life as a book character can get. She's taking her job in her stride when life throws one of its massive curveballs and her priorities and commitments have to change. She doesn't think to put herself first, but instead puts the person who needs her the most first which in itself is very admirable. Like in the real world, her boss was not as understanding of her decision. Jess was able to be herself, make mistakes and came across to myself at least, as 'very human'. She wasn't simply written to be a book character full of all the stereotypical things seen in and across many books, her realism is her biggest compliment and Nina did a wonderful job in creating and writing about her.

Nick...oh Nick. He's the grumpy to her sunshine and I can speak for myself and other readers when I say we love book men like Nick. He's all grumpy and gruff on the outside but on the inside? A whole different story. A different side to the man. The fun for both Jess and myself was seeing the development in Nick to show that side TO Jess when he felt comfortable enough to do so. He's not afraid to admit that he wants a baggage-free life--as horrible as that sounds, it's honest--, and he's not going to get that with Jess. Yet, she seems to be the exception to that steadfast rule.

Jess & Nick are your typical not-so-meet-cute couple, and I loved getting to know them both and how they were going to navigate life together after Jess' assignment to the animal park that Nick is the head keeper of. There are pitfalls, speed bumps, times where you want to jump through the page and yell the obvious at a character but in essence, Just Like That was a read you need when you need a pick-me-up when our bookish world--or real--gets too heavy.

Strap yourselves in for a story in the East Lothian Wildlife Park, where it isn't the animals who are the only ones that have claws.

Four stars!

DNF- 24% - I could just not get into this book, but I’m not really sure why. The quality of the writing is okay, although at times seemed a bit cheesy (to me), although that could possibly be a cultural thing. The premise sounded good, but by the time the love interests solved their “misunderstanding”, I was just not at all invested. Generally even a pretty good book can be like a movie in my head and this wasn’t. It was mostly just words on a page. One thing I will say that I really disliked about the mmc, was him getting angry with the fmc after trying to comfort her in the hospital (when they were still strangers). She was obviously going through something horrible and he took her somewhat abrupt rejection so badly. A decent person wouldn’t do that! They did sort things out pretty quickly, but it just gave me the ick.

Jess’s life comes crashing down when her brother has a stroke. She goes from her job as an events manager in Edinburgh to working in a small animal park. Her life seems to go from bad to worse, when she clashes with the arrogant head keeper, Nick, who is never happy with her. Jess thinks he is a lech whilst he can’t keep up with her drama-filled life. However, tension between them, soon turns to something more.
A sweet romance between two people, who at first seem at odds, but, have similar ideals. Whilst Nick is portrayed as the grumpy guy, but his past has made him who he is. With Jess, he is actually quite sweet as he does understand the challenges that she is faced with. Jess is a great character who whilst driven in her career, values her family and puts her brother ahead of everything.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

(Thank you NetGalley and Canelo Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Just Like that)

This book was just not it for me. I felt it was too drawn out and some of the errors (words and phrases typed twice) really bothered me. The FMC was hell bent on self destructing her own life. Jess was thrown off when her brother suffers a medical emergency and she becomes his main caregiver. She meets Nick through a work project and we follow their attempts at a relationship. I do appreciate the character development of both characters throughout the story. The last chapter was really enjoyable and I’m glad to see a happy ending.

This book has a simple plot and the writing style is also easy to read.
I really like the setting of the place in Edinburgh and also the conservation with the adorable animals. I also like the ideas the characters put into saving the conservation, I would’ve love to participate in some of them.

However, I’m having difficulties connecting with the main characters especially the FMC – Jess.
Even though I like how Jess finally redeem herself and accepting her situation, I feel frustrated with how she makes decisions for herself and other people for the most part of the story.

As for the romance, it felt forced to be honest. I don’t feel the spark connecting both main characters. They always argue after saying a few words but then in the middle of the story suddenly they decided to kiss and date.

Overall, this is a simple story. I do love the setting and the character development of Jess at the end, but other things still need development.
You can give it a try if you’re looking for a simple story with a career driven FMC and enemies to lovers trope.

I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

Overall, this book was just ok. I felt the relationship between Jess & Nick was way too rushed to the point where it almost didn't make any sense. Also, the fact that Jess & Seth's parents didn't drop everything when Seth had his stroke was extremely bizarre to me - do parents really do stuff like that in real life?

The animal aspect of this book was cute but the two MC's were both a little unlikeable and the whole thing just felt really rushed. However, if you're looking for a light read that you can breeze through, this may be a good one to read in-between books!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Nina Kaye for an arc of this in exchange for my honest review.

I loved One Night in Edinburgh by Nina Kaye so I knew I would love the next book she wrote just as much and I did.

Just Like That is such a good book and perfect for the summer months. Being Scottish I loved reading about places close to home. Jess's brother suffers from a stroke and she is left to care for him. Putting her much loved career in events management on hold so she can care for him she battles with loosing her clients as her boss puts her on a job to save a local Wildlife Park. There she meets Nick who makes her realise that this job is maybe what she needs.

I thought this book was so sweet and you could see the MC's struggle with trying to do everything for everyone but herself and I think that is defiantly a situation we have all been in.

Read it! You won't regret it.

*4.5

Jess and Nick were so cute!! I loved seeing him soften up as she got to know him more. The two of them with Raya were adorable. I also really enjoyed her relationship with her brother. I would however like a bonus scene with their proposal.

I received an arc through netgalley.