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. It does take a big leap of faith or suspension of disbelief to move beyond how the two met.

Jess is roughing it after running away from an abusive relationship. She is wary of people and men in particular. Gethin is not on the run, but is hiding away from a previous relationship that ended badly. Their friendship slowly begins when he allows Jess, who has been squatting in his newly purchased house, to stay on with her rent being in the form of remodeling labor.

I loved that the romantic relationship developed slowly. Had it not, I would have found it too unbelievable to continue reading. I liked both the characters well enough to care about their journey back to trusting people and having someone to rely on. I loved that the characters were more mature, and that they were both patient and kind people. I loved the message of not letting the past drag you down, but to always move forward.

This book was so lovely! A poignant romance. My only qualm was the use of present tense, which is just a personal preference.

This didn't have enough of a plot or character development to capture my attention at all. I was confused by the awkward relationship of the homeowner with money and the squatter in his house and even a 1/4 of the way through the book they were still yabbering on about themselves like old friends and I found it odd and I was bored and not invested in either of them. As much as it was meant to be a slow burn, friends to lovers romance I didn't buy the fact he was so friendly or that she would be so trusting considering her past and the things she was running from. Yes, he really is just that nice guy. And not that there's anything wrong with that but he was also just very boring and the romance just didn't connect. I don't think this book was reached me the way it can for others though, I didn't relate though or feel pulled in by this in. I wanted cozy, heartfelt, new beginnings but was left feeling kind of depressed and unrealistic.

this book isn’t for everyone, but i couldn’t put it down. i loved seeing how gethen and jess navigated around each other as they went from strangers to friends to lovers. i enjoyed how their completely separate lives started to intertwine. i wasn’t a fan of what caused their falling out, but at the same time, i knew jess had to figure some stuff out on her own before she could fully be with gethen. overall, i really enjoyed this angsty, slow burn!

thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. my thoughts are my own.

After Jess Cavendish flees an abusive relationship, she finds herself starting from scratch in a small Welsh town, sleeping rough and isolating herself from her friends and family. Gethin Thomas is ready to leave his long-term relationship behind and make a home for himself. The perfect place to start is the fixer-upper he just purchased, but there is one slight problem: it is already occupied by the unhoused Jess. Gethin is drawn to Jess and empathizes with the situation she is in and immediately offers her a place to stay with the stipulation that she helps renovate his home. What follows is a slow burn, friends to lovers story about the power of friendship and new beginnings.

The Beginning of Everything had all of the elements of a potentially great story, but unfortunately those elements were not expanded upon, thus leaving characters undeveloped and a basic storyline that was simply fine. The majority of this novel focuses on the relationship between Jess and Gethin and that would have been perfectly acceptable if Jess and Gethin had an actual conversation. Rather, the reader had to wait until quite literally the last five minutes of the book to see what Jess went through and her inner thoughts. Five minutes. There was also a…situation where Gethin did something I did not agree with, even though he was not in the wrong whatsoever. I was still seething and I felt our main character should have had some reaction, but rather she shut down. I love novels that focus on people having a second act later in life, but both Jess and Gethin read much younger than they were supposed to be and I never felt a connection between them.

*I received an electronic copy of this book via Netgalley and the publisher. The views established in this review are my own.

I was a huge fan of The Bookshop of Second Chances so I was excited to read this and it did not disappoint!
Jess Cavendish finds herself freshly out of an abusive relationship, leaving everything behind but what she can carry, she’s on her own to begin again. Homeless and moving around to find places to sleep, she comes across a vacant, recently sold, home and decides to stay for a few nights. Her goal is to crash there as long as she can while she saves money to get a place of her own.

Gethin Thomas has recently purchased a new home but because it is a fixer upper, he is not living there yet. He’s also fresh out of a relationship and seeking a fresh start.
As fate would have it, he walks through the door of his recently purchased home and finds Jess.

Through some back and forth he offers to let her stay in the house if she will help with the renovations. Reluctantly, Jess agrees to stay and help. The story revolves they’re working on the house all while getting to know one another. Their relationship is so heartwarming to watch unfold. The book does a wonderful job of developing their characters and balancing back story with their current lives. I really enjoyed it!

THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING - Jackie Fraser

CHARACTER STUDY - 3.5 stars

Plot - 4 stars - While Jess and Gethin peel wallpaper and shop for new furniture, an unexpected friendship develops as they bond over music and food, and slowly open up to each other about their pasts. When it’s time for Gethin to move in, he convinces Jess to be his official housemate and she agrees—so long as he lets her pay rent. The connection between them soon shifts to an attraction that seems both inevitable and overwhelming, and Jess must decide what she wants.

Characters - 4 stars - This is where the story shone for me. The characters both have strong yet unassuming personalities, and they became alive for me. Jess is very quiet and keeps to herself, although she has surprisingly extensive knowledge and opinions about a lot of things (decorating, gardening, cooking, etc.). Gethin has recently gone through a very public breakup to a TV star, so he's rebuilding his life in his hometown. He's never really been on his own, so he's happy to have someone to share his situation with. They seem to mesh well together. I loved that this "romance" was between 40-somethings--people with life experience and the resultant worries and concerns.

Writing - 3.5 stars - The writing was good, building a world that made sense, even though it was an unconventional situation. The only negative was that there were a lot of idioms specific to England and Wales, and I had to stop and look up many of the sayings to understand what was meant.

Title - 3 stars - Even after having read the whole book, I'm still not sure what the title means. Does it refer to starting their lives again? Or beginning a relationship? It seems to be off from what I can tell of their personalities since they both recognize that their current lives are built from their past experiences.

Cover - 3 stars - The light blue cartoon-y cover is too whimsical for such a solid and character-filled book. The teal cover with just a few items tucked into the edges is much more effective, hinting at shared experiences without being too pushy.

Overall - 3.5 stars - I just didn't quite understand the point of this book. The characters were pleasant, and I saw that the author intended to build them and create a small world for them to blossom within. But, even with the character study, this book didn't seem to offer a lot. Was there a message to be given? It was a pleasant read, but I felt a little disappointed at the end, as though I'd missed something. The witty banter was enjoyable, but the hesitations and concerns went on way too long and eventually distracted from the story somewhat. All that being said, however, I very much enjoyed the characters and watching them struggle to build a relationship. Not only together, but to discover themselves and their strengths.

The Beginning of Everything was an absolute delight of a book. I wasn’t sure how I would like the book to start out with because how the main characters met and got along just seemed unrealistic… HOWEVER, I ended up LOVING this book. The character’s had really good rapport and I was really rooting for their romance! This was such a warm, happy book and it was exactly what I needed to read! I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Even though this book had some dark topics skimming the surface (abusive ex, homelessness, loss of sibling...) the overall feel was just lovely. I know the storyline probably wasn't truly realistic. We have Jess who has escaped her abusive ex and is staying in an unoccupied home. Only to find out it belongs to Gethin, a stranger, who allows her to stay while the home is being renovated. I enjoyed the everyday interactions and the simple way the two connected. They just seemed to fit. Both of our main characters are in their forties but felt younger by their actions. Between the two, there was a lot of baggage, but Gethin was so patient and supportive of Jess. Other than his one action (grrrr!) that almost ruined the whole book for me. I know Jess was sending mixed signals, but still. I just wish couples learned to speak their mind and communicate!

Overall, I enjoyed the final direction of the book and the happily ever after.

4 stars

Jess Cavandish has ran away from what seems to be an abusive relationship and is homeless. She has been living in a ten in a cemetery but as cold weather sets in, she finds a vacant home to live. She finds a job as a dishwasher in a nearby restaurant.

Gethin Thomas has recently left a relationship with a high profile personality. He purchases the house where Jess has been living in. When Gethin first meets Jess, he invites her to stay and help him renovate the home. Jess accepts Gethin's invitation which is the beginning of a lovely friendship.

Its very unusual to read about main character in their 40's embarking on a new friendship turn romance. Gethin was the perfect man for Jess. He was kind, trustworthy, a good listener and understanding. The both felt comfortable in each other's presence which Jess hasn't had with a man in a long time.

I love the Second chance romance that both Jess and Gethin endured. It was wonderful to see Jess open up to Gethin and find trust in him. Its difficult to do for several relationships at times.

Overall, I found The Beginning of Everything to be a warm story of two mature adults finding each other at low points of their lives. Throughout the story, I was rooting for both Jess and Gethin to have their "happily ever after"

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC.

The Beginning of Everything was a very sweet story about two people who found each other and that little by little start sharing a bit of themselves.
It is a lovely story that deals with important topics such as domestic abuse and finding yourself and trusting again. I really liked Gethin and I enjoyed being in Jess’ mind, although sometimes it was quite exasperating the way she was handling things. However, you can understand why she acts the why she acts.
I really enjoyed the story and I loved how it portrayed sweet but simple moments that in the end where important for both of the main characters. What I did not liked was that it became quite slow at times and sometimes even repetitive. I would have also liked to know Jess background from the beginning instead of getting snippets, in the end she basically said the same thing. I just feel it would have been useful in order to understand her better.
But overall, I liked it. It is the first book by the author that I read but I will certainly read her other work.

Thanks to Penguin Random House for sending me this ebook via Netgalley. I looved looved the story of Jess because she is a woman in her 40s who does have it all together and is running away from something. At the beginning I was like what shes homeless and shes over 40 and then I started thinking as a woman who is also in her 40s that maybe if I didnt have my son would I also be homeless. I enjoyed the story of Gethin as well because he also had a story to tell and then how both of their stories just came together. The characters were so raw and so real and so wonderfully written

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser is a warm, heartfelt romance. The story is more than you get in most romances

2.5 stars rounded up.

I feel like there was a story in this novel, but the writing style was not for me. So much dialogue and telling rather than showing. So many ellipses in the dialogue.

I didn't get a sense of the characters, or their past experiences (for Gethin's brother and ex, and even his sister) and Jess's mother.

Jess is unhoused after escaping an abusive relationship. She sleeps in an empty house in Wales and has a run in with the new owner. He senses something bad has happened and he convinces her to stay for a couple of weeks until he moves in. She helps him renovate the house and he proposes that she stay when he moves in, and she is adamant about paying rent.

A friendship forms, and Jess's feelings grow stronger but she feels her past experiences have broken her for love.. It's an interesting plot, and shines light on the issue of domestic violence and the housing crisis, that leaving an abuser is hard and even more challenging when you don't have a safety net.

Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

*3.5

The two of them were cute but the book needed more work overall. It just should have gone more into depth with how she was feeling and everything that she was going through. I also liked them together but it felt like the author was doing a lot of showing, not telling. Lastly, they were almost 50, why was there so much miscommunication.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Escaping a bad relationship, Jess Cavendish, was on the run and trying to start over. After living outside for weeks, Jess broke into an empty house to seek a roof and a semi-safe place to live. Sneaking in and out, she knew her luck might run out eventually, but has to take that chance. Eventually her time ran out when the new owner, Gethin Thomas, finally arrived to start renovating his new house. Oddly though, even though Jess ran out immediately, when she comes back to retrieve her items, she finds a note from Gethin sayin he wants to help her and he is letting her stay. She doesn’t believe it’s real, but he is insistent that in return, she can help him renovate. Slowly over peeled wallpaper, persian rugs and new kitchens, they build a friendship. That slowly turns into something more, but with her past, Jess can’t seem to risk it again and doesn’t believe she has a bright future and someone like Gethin would actually love her.

I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of this book. It really brought a certain level of emotion to the plot. It was such pleasant idea that both Jess and Gethin were in their 40s and trying to figure out life after a love lost. While I can’t say they were the most likable characters, they were very relatable at least. The author certainly weaves hard topics into their lives. I struggled slightly in that the entire plot didn’t seem exactly plausible. I still thoroughly enjoyed this one and would absolutely recommend it. It’s a very good curl up with a cup of tea and relax type of book.

Thank you Net Galley, Penguin Random House & Jackie Fraser for the advanced copy for my honest review. This is out today! Grab a cup of tea and cozy blanket as you curl up to enjoy this one.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Running away from an abusive relationship, Jess stays in a vacant house with her camping gear. When the brand new owner, Gethin, walks in and discovers her, he lets her stay. They come to an agreement that she'll help with fixing up the house, removing wallpaper, and painting, in exchange for a place to stay until she can afford to rent a room.

This was such a beautiful story. It has a slow pace that matches well with the emotional and healing journey for both main characters. I appreciated that the main characters were in their forties and facing new beginnings.

I can't give this five stars because some aspects of diverse representation felt thrown in for secondary characters rather than authentic. I would have liked more nuance in the secondary characters throughout.

But I loved following Jess and Gethin and rooted for both throughout.

Hannah Curtis narrated all of the Welch and English accents very well. I was caught up in the audiobook format.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Dell for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by the author of The Bookshop of Second Chances, Jackie Fraser - 4 stars!

Jess is escaping an abusive relationship and leaves with just a few belongings. She sleeps where she can and finds a job washing dishes. When she comes across a recently sold, empty house, she begins staying there while trying to save money for her own place. It works great until the new owner, Gethin, walks in and finds her there, and she runs out the door leaving all her belongings behind. But the new owner is escaping his own past, and offers to let her stay if she helps him remodel the house. Their friendship begins but Jess is still running scared.

While the premise of this book is not quite reality (who would let a stranger stay in their home like that?), I found myself not able to put this book down. It was a sweet story of a friendship turning into something more, both working to move on from the past. I also liked the story of the house remodel and found myself wishing I could see pictures of this imaginary home because the author described everything so perfectly. You'll find yourself rooting for these characters and their story!

It’s a warm and cozy style book. It is a slow burn, where nothing specific happens but you learn about 2 people that unexpectedly come together and create a life together.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This is a pleasant story about a woman starting over and finding unexpected kindness -- and possibly more -- from a stranger. It's a quick, nice read, but lacks much drama or excitement.