I was not sure about this book in the beginning. Jess is living rough and just scraping by. The mood was quite dismal until she met Gethin. Gethin seems too good to be true and based on Jess's past she is reluctant to trust him. However, this ended up being such a sweet story. I spent much of a Sunday reading the second half of the book, eager to see how it would end. Jackie Fraser is a wonderful author and really builds the tension between the primary characters. The conflict that is instrumental in all romances is not forced or manufactured. The audience can see what is happening and understands the struggle. The characters are well developed and I found myself rooting for them throughout the book. Get this one!

Emotionally and heavy at times, but a good read. There are people who will connect strongly with this story. I liked her writing style and I'm going to look for more books by this author.

Absolutely loved this book about a woman starting over after leaving an abusive relationship. Jess has nothing but the clothes on her back and a bookbag and finds herself sleeping in an unoccupied house because she has nowhere else to go that feels safe. The new owner, Gethin, finds her one day and instead of asking her to leave, her asks her to help with renovations in exchange for lodging. A beautiful story about finding ourselves again after trauma.

This book started off with an interesting premise (un-homed squater meets homeowner/love interest), and sub plot (I love a good house fixer-upper), but progressed as slow as watching paint dry.

The writing was fine. The dialogue was fine. The story, the drive, and the attraction was lacking for me.

This was an intriguing story that doesn’t fit easily into any of the accepted tropes, it’s far from a standard friends-to-lovers romance. Jess has escaped a bad relationship and difficult early life with little more than the clothes on her back, but in one way she carries a lot of heavy baggage. She’s reduced to sleeping rough until she spots an unoccupied house and decides to squat there temporarily. The new owner, Gethin turns up to work on renovating the property and is himself bruised from the break up of his recent long-term relationship. The only reason I’m giving this book four stars instead of the five it in many ways deserves is because I found the idea that Gethin would welcome this stranger to stay in his house in return for her help with the renovations stretched the reader’s credulity. I wasn’t convinced that Jess, who has good reasons to be pathologically terrified of men, would be willing to stay under the same roof as a man she knows nothing about. But setting that aside it was a wonderfully told story and seeing the slow blossoming of Jess and Gethin’s relationship held my attention to the last page.

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser is a sweet story about starting over, friendship, and romance. Set in Wales, it features two unlikely main characters, Jess Cavendish and Gethin Thomas. This is a friends-to-lovers read with a second chance at love. Overall, I did enjoy reading this book about two individuals starting over with their lives, first time reading from this Author and I enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy.

A forced proximity romance with each of the characters dealing with difficult issues from their past. Insecurities and FMC dealing with fleeing from an abusive relationship.

This one was ultimately not for me, but I hope others looking for a sweet romance will enjoy it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for this ARC. I love The Beginning of Everything! I truly appreciated that the main characters were in their 40s and hadn't ever gotten married- while it may not be the norm, it's not unheard of! While it was a story that lead to love, it felt believable. The main character had issues and a messy path and it had truly affected her. Keeping that in the story and discussing the implications of it made it feel so much more real than many other "romance" books. I'd give this a 4.5 stars, only docking some because I wish that the author would have had the main character seek therapy and make that more acceptable as opposed to dealing with it on her own. She needed help and it should have been from a professional. Otherwise, this was a great book!

DNF @ 33%. "The Beginning of Everything" has not captured my attention in the slightest. I just don't believe there is any chemistry between the characters, budding or not. The story feels very familiar, and simultaneously unbelievable and unrealistic. just don't buy that Gethin would allow Jess to stay with him after discovering her there without permission. It was difficult to suspend my disbelief on this front. I found the writing style hard to get into, so I will not be finishing this book. Sorry!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jackie Fraser, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Dell for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser is an interesting and unique novel of a romance that develops when two people are thrown together. I love this trope and was intrigued by this novel. However, the characters were not my favorite and the story seemed unnecessarily prolonged at times. So many secrets were kept until the very end of this book and that did not make for the best reading experience. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Jess is on the run after leaving an abusive boyfriend. She finds a recently sold but vacant home and decides to crash there. Gethin just purchased a home to renovate and is shocked to walk in and see Jess living there. They strike a deal that she will help renovate in exchange for a place to stay. Jess has a hard time trusting people, but they start a friendship that slowly turns into more.

This was such a heartwarming love story! These two characters were so well written and I didn’t want this book to end! It was a slow burn and worth it! I cannot wait to read what’s next fri Jackie Fraser! This one deserves all the stars!

📘: The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser
🗓️: September26, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, Jacki Fraser, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantinefor this ARC!

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

*Reviewed on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Having read Fraser's previous book, The Bookshop of Second Chances, I was excited to read this book. However, I found it quite confusing and unrealistic. Although the story moved along, I didn't care for the characters. What type of person invites someone to live in their home who has burgularized and been squatting there? And why would a victim of abuse readily trust someone and thus accept to live there? Jess and Gethin did not seem jive or have chemistry. No sizzling moments that one usually sees in a rom-com. Gethin was portrayed as too nice, and rather like a milk toast. While I think it's great to feature older characters in a rom-com, both Jess and Gethin seemed more like teenagers cast adrift, impulsive in life decisions, than adults in their forties. It was rather boring their by-play which consisted of question after question to each other and very wishy-washy. I didn't care for that. The story line had a lot of potential, but fell short for me. Certainly not a feel-good book although there is a happy ending. I really wanted to like this more, but was disappointed. Many thanks to #netgalley #thebeginningofeverything #jackiefraser #randomhouse for the opportunity to read and review this book. I rate it a 2.5 rounded to 3.

A slow-burn romance for a middle-aged man and woman both trying to start over after leaving their past relationships behind. The writing was a bit different from my normal reading, with a fair share of inner dialogue. The plot covers a unique situation where Jess, the main female character is living in a vacant house. The house has just been sold and the new owner, Gethin, finds Jess living in his house. Instead of asking her to leave, he proposes that she help with the renovation of the fixer-upper in exchange for free room and board. This was a cute story that I enjoyed reading as somewhat of a palate cleanser from the police procedural mystery thrillers that I most often read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.

Jess has run away. She’s been camping in a tent in a cemetery, but then she sees an older house that’s been sold but is empty for the moment. She figures she can use her lock-picking skills and stay somewhere a little more comfortable for a bit… until she’s saved up some money for her own place.

Then the new owner happens to walk in his house and see her. Jess runs off, but Gethin leaves her a note telling her it’s OK to stay. Jess insists on helping with renovations in return. Soon enough, the two are working on repainting, doing floors, and shopping for a new kitchen and furniture.

When Gethin is ready to move in to his refurbished home, he invites Jess to stay as a housemate. She reluctantly agrees, insisting on paying rent. The two establish a routine, and they spend a lot of time together, quietly sharing meals and things they enjoy. What they don’t share much of is their pasts: Gethin doesn’t talk much about his longtime ex-girlfriend, and Jess is tight-lipped about the relationship that she fled.

While they develop a lovely friendship, it’s also clear the two have feelings for each other. But Jess is afraid to let down her walls.

This novel is a slowly building friends-to-lovers story about two people in their 40s with some baggage. Gethin is genuinely a kind and generous person, and Jess has been hurt. She’s skittish. It’s so sweet to see how patient and good Gethin is with her and how she slowly starts to recover and be herself. I liked just being with the characters, observing them getting to know each other and enjoying each other’s company. It’s very natural and real. There aren’t manufactured “big obstacles”; the conflicts feel organic.

If you’re looking for a sweet and gentle love story, look no further. (And enjoy the setting of small-town Wales. I did!)

Gethin and Jess meet when she is squatting in the empty house he has just bought. She is escaping from.something or someone, which is explained as the book unfolds. Nice to read a book set in Wales.

If you've found yourself amongst these reviews, you are among fellow friends-to-lovers lovers!

Jess is after a fresh start and finds herself in an unoccupied how when the new owner, Gethin, shows up for renovations. Striking up a deal, Jess helps with the renovation and Gethin lets her crash there.

While the storyline falls a little unbelievable to me, who reads to live in a world that mirrors reality perfectly? It's refreshing to break up all the reads about young folks at their peak finding love or the woes of early adulthood and curl up with a good second-chance, starting-over type book!

I haven't read The Beginning of Everything, another novel by this author, but I'll be adding it to my TBR after this!

I liked the main characters and enjoyed the story line once I allowed myself to suspend reality because there is no way this would ever happen.

If this would’ve been your typical roommate trope I would’ve liked it more, but I can’t just get past the absurdity of the storyline.

You know, I just don't think this book was for me!! 2 stars.

I thought the chemistry between the two leads wasn't as strong as I would like, and the premise threw me for a loop and never let me go. There is... no way that man was that trusting. Like he doesn't know her! To let her live in his house.

It was the adding her to the insurance after maybe two weeks that made me realize that this was bonkers.

But also - I listened to a lot of the audiobook and it was delightful for this season. I liked that the narrator really lend into the cozy and lovely.

But it made it very slow, so when I switched to the e-book, I flew through it, and realized very clearly that the chemistry was off. But overall, it was cute. But not for me!

Thanks to Dell and NetGalley for an early copy for a chance to read and review.

Thank you NetGalley, Jackie Fraser & Random House Publishing Group for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last! Even though this was a little more of a slowburn than I normally go for, I really enjoyed this plot point and loved the characters and their love story! Cannot wait to check out this authors first book!

Solid 4 star read for me!

Jess is trying to flee from an abusive relationship and she takes only what she needs to survive. She has little money and finds a newly sold, but unoccupied home that she is using as shelter. Until one morning she hears a man entering the home.

Gethin is also recently out of a relationship and he bought this fixer upper in his hometown. He’s going to renovate before he moves in, when he meets Jess. Rather than shoo her away, he offers her a place to stay if she helps with the renovation. She has an eye for decorating and helps peel old wallpaper at night.

They are both skeptical, but they work together well and find they have a lot in common such as music and a punk rock, pink hair phase in their youth. After saving money, and getting a better job, Jess is able to pay rent to Gethin just as he’s ready to move in. Everyone assumes they are dating- maybe they should try it?

This book definitely has some problems, but I found the romance to be very sweet and genuine. Both Jess and Gethin have some insecurities they are working through, but each other understands that. Jess is just out of an abusive relationship and just seems too trusting for her dire situation. It’s also hard to believe that she doesn’t have any friends or family that would have housed her?

Thank you @penguinrandonhouse for my gifted ebook. The Beginning of Everything is out now.

3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫