Member Reviews
From the very beginning, I empathize with the character of Hannah. After having two children, essentially back-to-back, I felt overwhelmed, drained, and that I was no longer anything but “mommy”. Basic hygiene and self-care went out the window to make sure my kids were fed, happy, and healthy. Not to mention all the stress/anxiety and mom-guilt worrying if I was doing everything right.
I like the relationship that develops between Hannah & River. It isn’t perfect, but good communication and a little self-discovery make it work. I also enjoyed the familial relationship with her mom/stepdad and how it was repaired with a little understanding.
I may or may not have teared up at a certain point while reading this book…. 4.5 stars.
I’m thrilled to be part of the release celebration for HANNAH TATE, BEYOND REPAIR by LAURA PIPER LEE! This was exactly the kind of romance that I enjoy - funny and warm, while also swoony and sexy.
Hannah is on maternity leave and coping with all the indignities of motherhood. She and baby Bowie live with her boyfriend Killian, who swoops in after work to coo at his kid before leaving again to perform with his band. Hannah is a mess - but no more than any other new mom - and shrinks under Killian’s critical eye. When they go out for a much needed date night, Hannah thinks Killian is going to propose. But instead of asking for her hand in marriage, he proposes “conscious co-parenting” where they are no longer romantic but still living together as a family.
Hannah furiously refuses this role as live-in nanny to her child. She leaves Atlanta and joins her mother and stepfather in Blue Ridge. And it’s there her new life begins.
Here’s what I loved about this book:
🐻Big-hearted characters
🐻Motherhood as a beginning, not an end goal
🐻Sexy man who lives in a treehouse and is skilled with his hands
🐻Lots of swoony, flirty, sexual tension
🐻Hannah’s constant witty asides
🐻LGBTQ+ rep
🐻”Y’all lesbians?…Y’all like ham?”
🐻Set in Atlanta and Blue Ridge, GA
If you are a fan of rom coms, character growth, well-developed supporting characters, and spicy scenes that don’t overwhelm the plot, this book was written for you!
Thank you to Union Square and NetGalley for this ARC.
Sometimes my experience with a book is more about expectation than it is about the actual book. That is, I went into Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair - excited about a romance. What I found - was basically women's fiction. I lost patience SO quickly because I was dialed in for swoons and butterflies, but it was more about Hannah's personal journey through motherhood, failed relationship, and personal growth.
If I had gone into it expecting this, I likely would have been more patient with it (although, truth-be-told, I probably wouldn't have picked it up at all, because I am decidedly not in my women's fiction era). Unfortunately, I found myself not connecting with the story, impatient for the romance, and honestly - not really liking any of the characters.
In the end, this was a DNF for me at 20%.
I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review! Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me.
4.5 stars! I finished this book a couple weeks ago and am still thinking about it. Hannah Tate is supposed to be a hot mess, but to me she was just very relatable. No one has their life together 100% and it can be a struggle. Watching Hannah learn how to stand up for herself and go after the things she wants made for many "yes, girl!" moments.
This did read more of a women's fiction novel instead of a romance, though there is romance and a (spicy!) love story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.
Hannah reminded me of my friends, except for the dialogue. I could not connect to this book, so it took me a while to read, but it does have its moments.
Hannah Tate, Beyond repair it's a second chance romance, but above all, a story about finding your place again and prioritizing your happiness and well being.
This book has a great emphasis on character development, which I always appreciate on romance novels, and a great set of secondary characters.
Why only the 3 starts? Although this book clicked with most moms, it just didn't click with my post-partum brain. I've felt the author made a great effort to make Hannah relatable to moms, but I was at the exact same point in life as Hannah (in terms of the baby age) and I didn't feel seen at all. I wish I did though.
This is a great story for contemporary romance readers who enjoy single parent, small town and found family tropes.
<i>I would like to thank to Union Square & Co and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>
P.S - The review for retailers was adjusted to exclude the second paragraph.
3⭐️
{ARC review - huge thanks to Union Square and Co for the early copy in exchange for my honest review}
There was a lot that I liked about this book. Firstly, I love a book where the FMC finds herself and stands up for what she wants and deserves which is what happened throughout this book. I especially liked the portrayal of Hannah’s journey of rediscovery after having a baby and going through a breakup, two major life-altering events. Her confidence in her own abilities grew so much throughout the story and it was so satisfying to go on that journey with her. I loved that although River supported and encouraged her, all of Hannah’s growth and self-belief came from within - she didn’t need a guy to ‘save’ her. I appreciated the LGBTQI+ rep too especially for a book set in the South.
Now, for what I didn’t like. This book was SO millennial. And I’m saying that AS a millennial. I can’t even pinpoint what it was exactly, but it just felt like every millennial stereotype was unironically crammed in here somehow and there were parts that made me cringe. There were also waaaaay too many lactation references, and again I’m saying that as someone who has personal experience there.
Overall this was a nice easy read, the cast of side characters were quirky and loveable and the journey that the FMC went on was satisfying and rounded out nicely.
dnf at 31%
I really tried to like this book but I can’t. I tried to push through it since it’s an arc but I just don’t want to put myself in a slump. I did not like the writing style at all and found it cringy at times. Also this books feel more like women fiction instead of romance.
Hannah it’s a bland character and I could not for the life of myself like her. She went so over board in some scenes that it made me internally cringe and the way she also thought, no. Her also calling her parents G-ma and Big Daddy literally through the book downhill.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
I’m pretty sure the cover is what first drew me to this book, and I’m a sucker for single parent romances and figuring out what adulthood looks like. This is such a delightful, fun read. There’s a part in the last quarter that had me stressed and crying, but everything worked out and no one dies. In some ways this felt more like women’s fiction because it’s about Hannah’s personal growth and journey, but the romance with River is still sweet and I especially love how evident his love for Bowie as well as Hannah is from the start. All around a fun, emotional story.
Hannah Tate has recently had a baby, Bowie, with a partner who doesn’t appreciate her, talks down to her, isn’t there for her and Bowie, and is just overall not a match at all, yet she wants so badly to make the relationship work. I will admit I had trouble getting into this book, since over 10% is spent following this pair even though you know from the synopsis he’s going to break up with Hannah. I’m glad I stuck with it, since this book does a great job combining the rom and com, and Hannah is an incredibly realistic FMC who just doesn’t quite have her mess together but really wants to. When the literal treehouse residing, yoga doing, carpenter MMC, River helps renovate the AirBNB Hannah’s parents have, the story moved more in the direction I was hoping for when reading the synopsis and picturing an HGTV romance. Following Hannah as she tries to figure out the future she hadn’t imagined was really enjoyable. The quirky small town side characters were also a highlight of this book, and I will absolutely read the next book from Laura Piper Lee, especially if set in this world (romance for Zoe, please!).
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co, for giving this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Highlights:
✨Love the setting descriptions: I haven't visited the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia, but Piper Lee's descriptions capture what I imagine: sunrise in the mountains, a treehouse in the forest, a porch swing overlooking the lake, and how can you resist a hot hippie neighbor practicing yoga at dawn.
✨Single-Mom self-discovery and romance: I enjoyed Hannah Tate’s journey. This quote perfectly captures it: “People learn how to live and love in their own timeline.”
✨Family comes in all shapes and sizes: This story portrays a diverse range of family structures, including a single mom, two moms, step-parents, and co-parenting. Piper Lee showcases the ups and downs of each, proving that there‘s no picture-perfect family type.
✨Other quick bites: small-town trope, home improvement vibe, sarcastic humor, and a few open-door spicy scenes.
Pick up this book if you like;
• Single mom FMC
• Small town romance
• A bit spicy!
I really enjoy reading through Hannah’s journey in chasing her happiness because she deserves so much better.
It’s not an easy journey for Hannah who is a single mom raising her newborn baby while also handling her parents Air BnB and also a complicated new love she’s terrified to explore due to her experience with her baby’s father.
This book is such an emotional roller coaster, it brings out so many different emotions that this book makes me laugh, smile, touched, proud and sad throughout the story.
The characters aren’t all perfect which makes them feel real and feel connected easily, even though the nicknames they have for the grandparents is slightly cringey…
Overall, this is a heart-warming story which would be perfect for those who enjoy small town romance with some sweet and spicy moments thrown inside!
I’ll keep an eye out for another book in the future by this author!
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
Hannah Tate is a mess. It's right there in the title, but it was still a little painful to read. My heart hurt for her; how her childhood shaped her view on life and love, and also how her relationship with Killian really did a number on her self-esteem. Honestly, I just really wanted her to go to therapy. The same goes for River, he really, really needs therapy.
This made me a little bit ambivalent towards the romance, I might have preferred it if Hannah ended up single by the end of the book. This is in large part due to the single POV of the book, we never get to know what River is thinking and he is absent (physically and emotionally) throughout most of the book. This was a point of contention in their relationship (that he refuses to use a phone. I understand that someone might not want to be available 24/7, but point blank refusing to have a phone? As a business owner? And especially as someone that wants to be in a relationship with a single mom? Heck no. Add to that that River would just *be gone* quite frequently, without even telling Hannah he was leaving and that he was completely unreachable during an emergency, I felt that he needed therapy to deal with his issues). I didn't really believe in the progression of their relationship, since most of it happens off-page or during time-jumps.
Hannah also has a tenuous relationship with her mom, which got mostly resolved at the end, but I felt that Hannah still didn't really get closure. One relationship that was well done, was with her ex, Killian. After their breakup, Hannah learns to stand up for herself. Killian also evolves into a better father for their son, and he realises that he treated Hannah terribly. In the end, they've become friends and co-parents, which was lovely.
While the dialogue was occasionally a little bit cringey and I sometimes had issues with Hannah, I did mostly enjoy the book for her growth. The romance could've been fleshed out better, but there were some interesting subplots to keep me engaged.
This one was so much fun to read! I was immediately engrossed and it only got better. I was kind of bummed that the baby daddy ex’s name was Killian though, because I’m always a sucker for a Killian LOL He’s not all bad though.
But River was just a cinnamon roll and exactly what Hannah needed. He wasn’t perfect. He lives in a treehouse for goodness sake. But he doesn’t judge her, and that’s just what she needed for herself to flourish and not hide away her creativity and talent. At it’s core, this book was about abandonment issues— Hannah with her mom when she was younger and how she wasn’t really there for her, and River how his mom just completely cut off Zoe after it was revealed she’s gay, and contrasting the belief that love is unconditional. Hannah has a baby now and can’t think about just herself, but she really has to do what’s best for her in order to do right by her baby, Bowie, and that’s a lot of what this book was. I very much enjoyed it!
Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours for the gifted copy.
I'm not sure what it is but I'm in my romance reading phase of life. I've been really into reading romances lately. I'm also a sucker for their cute covers. I enjoyed Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair. It's about a new Mom who thinks her boyfriend is about to propose to her but ends up dumping her. She has to start over at her Mom and Stepdad's place. She learns life doesn't always go the way you'd hope and that's okay. It's okay to start over. I
I have to say I enjoyed this book but didn't end up loving it. I think the main thing that threw this off for me was the romance. I just didn't feel there were actual sparks there. I really could have done without it. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more. He definitely was an interesting romance. I do give him that. I was having so much fun with Hannah helping out with the AirBnb & and all the work that went into it. Plus all the drama that ended up going along with it. I think it that was the main plot I would have enjoyed so much more.
Overall, this was a fun read. I really loved the single mom aspect of the story. I'm still new to romance but that's something I feel you don't see very often in romances. I also loved that it's about a new mom rediscovering herself and learning to go with the changes in life. Things happen and she learns to accept them for what they are. It's realistic which I like and don't like. I like it because it's always nice to see real life situations but also sometimes you want to escape real life. An enjoyable read and worth checking out!
this was a pleasant surprise! netgalley arcs can be very hit or miss for me and i truly enjoyed this one. i thought it was a nice mix of romance & contemporary women’s fiction. hannah tate had lots of growing to do in terms of finding herself and love again, as did many of the other side characters in this story. i thought it was very funny and quirky. the romance and ending for this one just wrapped up a little too quickly and nicely for me. i wish we had gotten to see more of hannah and river developing their relationship.
overall enjoyed and would recommend this one! thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader.
This fun and sweet read is perfect for fans of small-town romance. Set in the beautiful world of Sothern Georgia, Hannah Tate finds herself dumped. Picking up the pieces and her new baby boy - she moves in with her parents to start all over. She volunteers to help them with a rental property, but it's a ton of work and needs some desperate TLC! In walks, River - the hot neighbor next door who is hired to help her fix up the place.
I really enjoyed the hilarious banter between the two main characters, and Hannah's character totally related to me. Let's be honest: I can be a hot mess most of the time, and I could easily picture myself in her shoes. The sparks between Hannah and River fly, and I loved the whole HGTV vibe. I adored how River cherished Hannah and was willing to jump in, even with her being a single mother. The well-written plot was cute, and the spice was limited, but it worked well within the story. There were some cringe moments, but nothing that fully hindered the impact of the plot. I definitely recommend it if you're a fan of single-mom romance focused on a story of love, triumph, and redemption.
As someone who lives about an hour away from Blue Ridge, I was really excited to read a book set there! It’s a beautiful place and this story made me fall even more in love with it.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. All of them were lovable in their own way. It had a lot of laugh out loud moments as well! If you’ve looking for a good romcom for the spring time then I highly recommend checking this one out!
Thank you so much to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the e-arc! This baby releases on February 13th so make sure to pick up a copy!
If you like Emily Henry, you’ll probably like this author too!
The book was good, but it definitely was more women’s fiction than romance (and I don’t really enjoy reading women’s fiction). This just came down to preference for me.
Hannah Tate mistakenly finds an engagement ring belonging to her Rockstar boyfriend and baby daddy. What she thinks is going to be a long-awaited proposal takes an unexpected turn. Hannah leaves Atlanta as a newly single mother to move in with her mother and step-father in Blue Ridge. Her job is to help renovate their unsuccessful Airbnb with her self-taught home decorating skills. Which just so happens to put her in closer proximity to her handsome hippie neighbor, River, who just so happens to be a contractor. Hannah has a complicated past and with the help of her friends, both old and new, and her family, she's able to navigate through life until she realizes the difference between who she wanted to be and who she actually is.
I have to admit that I've been in a bit of a reading slump to start off my year. This book definitely got me out of it! It's witty, comical, lively, and clever right from the get-go. It drew me in immediately. The way the author builds the characters is perfect. Each character has their own battle they're fighting.
What to Expect:
✨️Opposites Attract
✨️Small Town Romance
✨️Fear of Commitment
✨️Emotional Scars
✨️Single Mom
✨️Loving Thy Neighbor
What I Didn't Like:
❗️ The constant mentions how it "fits" almost every time she breastfed her baby and how her baby is her "comfort" every time she holds him during a difficult situation. It seemed excessive to me.
❗️The chapters were a bit too long
Overall, it was a slow paced read, but not boring. The characters are relatable. It was cute, and it made me laugh.
Thank you to Netgalley, Laura Piper Lee, and Union Square & Co. for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.