I am a Jackie Fraser fan, and I love a slow-burn romance between two folks in their forties. This one was more personal to me than The Bookshop of Second Chances. We meet Jess when she's living rough in a Welsh cemetery, sleeping in a tent and dishwashing at a local restaurant. She finds a home that's been sold but not yet inhabited, and decides to stay there for as long as it takes for the new owner to take possession. One day, the new owner Gerith surprises her and offers a lifeline - in exchange for her helping with the restoration of the house, she can stay rent-free until Gerith moves in. That brief period becomes indefinite, when he invites her to remain as his tenant after he moves in.

What follows is an introspective and thoughtful slow burn about love and the resilience of the human spirit.. What I loved was how open hearted and kind Gerith is to Jess. You know early enough, but come to know in more depth, that she's escaped an abusive boyfriend. The way Gerith works to quietly but steadfastly offer her safety above all is a testimony to the kind of man he is, and the kind of hero Jackie Fraser has written. I'm a DV survivor myself, and a lot of the sentiments behind Jess's struggles to open up her heart are deeply familiar to me.

It's a little heavier than her previous book, but just as heartwarming. As a heads up, beware that there are multiple descriptions of DV. Everything is handled respectfully in my opinion, but your mileage may vary, depending on your own personal connection to the subject matter. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

I had such high expectations...

I had one big issue with this book that almost was enough to make me stop reading. There was what I would consider OW drama. Technically, Gethin didn’t cheat (although he did mention he had cheated in a previous relationship and Jess just got out of an abusive relationship where he was cheating on her). At the point in the book where he has one night with another woman, the relationship has already significantly developed for both MCs even though they are both still working on communicating that and the MCs had slept together. What made it even worse is that Jess was down the hall and hear ~things~ and also ran into the woman the next morning. This event pushed her to move out and finally mature (I felt like she wasn’t making a lot of progress on maturing throughout the book). It also led to them eventually coming back together. The ending fell short. For having to deal with some OW drama and the frustrating MCs (which I will get to in a moment) the end was a bit of a letdown. I kept reading hoping that when they finally got together there would be some strong emotions and I would really feel for them, but I didn’t. At the end all Gethin really has to say about it all is “I wish I hadn’t slept with that girl”.

My problems with the MCs were surrounding their maturity. One of the reasons I like this author and loved The Bookshop of Second Chances is that her characters are older and have lived a life and that life is what brings them together. In this book, the MCs’ pasts were almost too different that finding that shared experience failed. Also, I think Jess’ character was meant to be healing from a bad relationship and finding herself again but she was lacking maturity. Women who escape bad situations, even if those situations shelter them from the world, are often matured and hardened to the world in a way that someone outside their circumstance will likely never be. She never at any point, until the OW drama, pushed outside her limits unless it was following behind Gethin who was trying to build a life with friends and his house. Also, the communication between them was baffling. I had to remind myself I’m reading about older characters not characters in their late teens.

I originally rated this four stars but could not sit down and write a review, I needed to think about it a bit. After processing, I am changing my review to three stars because I can’t get past the OW and the characters. I’ll admit I had high hopes for this because I loved The Bookshop of Second Chances and that will remain one of my top five star reads, but I’m disappointed.

What a lovely story. Gave me all the feels as these two people find each other by odd circumstance but help each other heal through their friendship and companionship.

This was an amazing story. I was so emotionally involved I felt a loss that I could not connect with the Jess and Gethin directly. I did try to speed read some sections, however I had to double back as I surely missed important parts. Each page is gripping and exciting. A must read.

This was just lovely!!! Love a story with a “broken” main character who tries to navigate life after trauma. Something I can relate to. Jess and Gethin’s friendship is just so amazing and makes me want to believe in happily ever after. Wraps its arms around you like a cosy blanket. Another well written book where I will watch the author closely.

The Beginning of Everything follows the story of Jess Cavendish, a middle aged woman who runs away from a toxic relationship. The story starts with Jess living in a cemetery after leaving home. She soon finds a house that has been sold but no one has moved in yet, she tells herself that she will stay in the house until the new owner move in. One day, Jess meets the owner of the home Gethin Thomas when he finds her inside the house. Unexpectedly, he lets her live in the house with him as he moves in. Jess and Gethin start off as acquaintances but soon become friends. Together, they renovate the house from stripping wallpaper to buying furniture. Like every love story, they fall in love.

I enjoyed reading this book because it showed such a realistic story of two people getting to know each other and finding themselves. There was no excessive plot twists that were added and the story stayed true to itself. I enjoyed getting to know Gethin, who was trying to find himself after being in a relationship for over a decade in which he did not feel satisfied in his life. While the main character was Jess, I did not like her as much. Maybe its because I couldn't relate to her, but she was just boring to me. I wished that this could have been a dual pov book shared between Gethin and Jess.

Overall, this was a pleasant read for anyone who wants to read a friends-to-lovers story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book for the character development and the picturesque setting. It's a romance with substance. Jess is lost and with the help and kindness of Gethin she finds out who she really is.

The main character, Jess, had my engrossed from the moment the book begins. When we first meet this middle aged woman, she’s living in a tent in a cemetery and is about to start squatting in a recently purchased but not yet moved into house. Gethin, the middle aged owner of the house eventually discovered her and invites her to stay. Why? How? Who? What? The reader is plagued by many forms of these questions through the reading of this book but while it’s never boring, it’s always very gentle and meandering. The story of two people - who help each other rediscover themselves after their own individual pasts. It’s a really lovely little love story featuring realistic middle aged characters and situations. Dialogue plays s significant role in moving this story forward and some of my favorite conversations I’ve ever read can be found here, in these pages.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
Okay, I have to say that I find this book pretty unbelievable in many ways BUT I loved the characters and their relationship thoroughly and had a hard time putting it down. I also enjoyed the house redecorating parts. Go read it!

This was the most unconventional romantic comedy book I have ever read. I loved it! While it contained the tropes one looks for in a book like this, the premise is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The characters were awkward, damaged, and completely lovable. The storyline was never boring and kept my interest throughout. If you’re looking for a fun read about the most unlikely scenario leading to love, this is the book for you!

SO SO SO AMAZING! This was a love story but not the same old love story.

Jess is escaping from a bad relationship and is willing to skip town and camp in a cemetery if it means she is safe. After a few weeks of doing exactly that, she comes across a house that is recently sold, but no one is living there yet.

Gethin is the owner of the house. He just got out of a relationship too and has moved back to town. He plans to do some renovations before he moves in. Imagine his surprise when he finds a stranger living in his new place!

For some reason Gethin tells he she can stay. Jess is wary of men and does not want to depend on anyone. So an offer is made - lodging in exchange for helping with renovations. Is he crazy for offering? His sister certainly thinks so. Is she crazy for agreeing? Her friends sure think she is.

What no one expect is for Jess and Gethin to become such good friends, Jess officially becomes his roommate and pays rent. As their friendship turns to attraction, will Jess be brave enough to open her heart again?

I absolutely love this book from beginning to end. I love the story between Jessica and Gethin. At first I did not kow where this was headed but then I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't want their story to end. I want more of where there life is headed.
I was hesistant at first to read this because of other reviews I read but I am absolutely glad I did.

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser starts off dramatically with the main female character, Jess struggles being homeless and encountering the main male character, Gethin.
The storyline begins to evolve around these two characters with the house Gethin owns, the friends, families, jobs and feelings that begin to slowly appear for each other. It gently evolves into a confused love story.
Only it has a wonderful ending.

A cozy romance with all the intricacies and struggles of midlife, this book follows two protagonists who have been through their share of difficulties. A moment of grace and kindness opens up an opportunity for them to develop a friendship and then a relationship, leading to healing for both. This is a sweet read that is occasionally dark (sad, not horror) and full of real-life.

I liked reading about a couple in their 40s like I am! Fraser has crafted and entertaining romance. I liked both the main characters and the story was cute. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Three stars.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Jess is escaping a bad relationship and runs away. She has nowhere to stay and ends up sleeping in an empty house that has been sold. Gethin just bought a fixer upper and is surprised to find a woman sleeping in it. He offers that she can stay if she helps him with the house. As the two tear down wallpaper, pick out rugs and paint colors, and furnish the house, they form an unexpected friendship. They bond over food and begin to open up to each other. There is attraction there but can Jess risk being hurt again?

It was refreshing to read a romance involving two people in their mid 40s. The romance part is slow, but I liked reading as their friendship grew. They discuss a lot of important topics together. 3.5 stars.

Jess meets Gethin. Love and romance begins. Friends first. Jess is homeless. Gethin is rebuilding an empty house. They strike up a deal. She will live there while they work. This talented author has written a quickly moving story of modern day relationships. What will happen next? The characters are likable and realistic. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and author.

This book meant so much to me. I want to start by thanking Jackie Fraser for writing this because I know that I am not the only person who needed it.

From the beginning, I had an instant connection to Jess and was immediately invested. That is easily one of my favorite parts of this book; the characters are so real and relatable.

The writing is really comforting; I love Fraser's turns of phrase and her dialogue is brilliant! It's like being apart of a real conversation, stilted with unfinished sentences. Brilliant!

This premise- starting over after living rough and being abused is not unique, but Fraser turned it into the most beautiful love story; not just between Jess and Gethin, but Jess and herself. While you're invested in Jess and are curious about her past, Fraser poses the story so that you are more concerned with her new life and her fresh start rather than dragging through her past. I appreciated that.

This book was a really beautiful story, such an unexpected gem, and I feel so thankful to have read it. This will be added to my very short list of Favorites 💖

Thank you Jackie Fraser, Netgalley, and Dell for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

What a lovely lovely read. It was sucky a surprise, too. I never expected to be transported to Wales and then to learn so very much about that area of the world. I didn’t expect to encounter homelessness as a story line. I was especially delighted to have learned to temper my judgment about what and who we each “deserve” based on our choices for our lives. It was unsettling to find that I felt this way…to learn that about myself. Ouch. But I feel like this book helped. Oh, and I ADORE the fact that the MCs are both approaching 50!!! I love that so much. It’s a lovely book, y’all. So so lovely. 💜💜📚

I really enjoyed this book. I feel I need to include a disclaimer to that since I read romcoms 95% of the time… please know this is not a romcom. I’d categorize it more as women’s fiction or emotional fiction. Yes, romance is involved, but it’s more about Jess’s journey. Told from Jess’s point of view, there are some heavier topics. Also of note, the main characters are in their mid-40s, which is a nice change since I am too, but most of the books I read focus on characters in their 20s and 30s.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for The Beginning of Everything to come out September 26, 2023.