I really wanted to love this book. With a hook like that, how could you not be invested?? But once they set off on the road with Luke, it just fell flat for me and I wanted more growth from Jenny.

Thanks so much to Netgalley for my ALC. All opinions here are my own.

Jenny James is a very likeable main character. She is like the girl next door and very relatable. I loved reading her unexpected romance with the neighbor who housed her after her world fell apart. It is an uplifting and sweet story of a women finding who she is and opening herself up to loving others. I would recommend this to my friends who like romance!

Felt this book has a great description of setting and characters as well as a story that kept me interested throughout the book. The characters were not typical and yet were believable. involving descriptions that kept me involved with the story. Narrator was very good as well.

I was having a really bad day. A really bad string of days really. Then I stepped into Jenny James world and I got some really great perspective.

Debbie Johnson wrote a book that hits just right. It was everything I needed to hear in my own life as a reminder not to let the hard days win.

Oh this book!!! My heart was just tugged at the whole time. I loved it and did not want the story to end. Highly recommend this great audiobook!

I loved this book so much! It truly encapsulates the persistence of a mom when everything comes crashing down around her, literally. It was funny, insightful, heartfelt, and left me wanting to know more about Jenny's future.

Funny, quirky, and a delight to listen to. I enjoyed this story from beginning to very satisfying end.
Jenni is have a very bad day. Her place of employment is closing, her car quits on her, and when she finally makes it home it is to watch her home slide into the sea. What follows is a sometimes silly but perfectly delightful book. I think more than one of us would like all our troubles to slide into the sea and give us a second chance on our lives.
So, relax, put your feet up and grab a glass of wine and enjoy this tale for what it really is, just a good story that will make you laugh, cry, and wish you were there with them all.

Jenny is having a seriously bad go of it. Her car wont start, her job is in jeopardy and her home literally fell off a cliff. She’s always tried to deal with everything with aplomb, but really what is a single mom to do? She has her beloved son to think about and has always and only wanted to make his life the best it could be and to never know of her hardships. With almost nothing left, she is trying to figure out what is next. Turns out her next is so fabulous. Her temporary neighbor Luke invites them both into his camper van for a fantastical road trip. And it is fantastical and so much more! It is eye opening, allows her to recognize what a strong smart woman she is and always been, helps her to reconnect to her estranged family, reflect on her life choices, find her own happiness, develop a healthy adult relationship with her beloved son, heal her heart, be open to love, discover her love of travel, reconnect with her passion of writing and more. Luke is a good and kind man dealing with his own emotional demons and loss. Together, they each find themselves and find their happily ever after. A wonderful story to read and or listen to. The narration was wonderful and added to the experience.

This was a heartwarming story about Jenny, a single mom who reaches a crossroads in her life in a way so disastrous that it’s almost comical. The audiobook narrator did a great job at bringing me through each step of Jenny’s journey, making it a very easy listen. The RV trips were cleverly done and my favorite part, especially the interactions and growth between Jenny and her son. Recommended if you want a cozy women’s fiction with a HEA. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollons Focus for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

"Jenny James is Not a Disaster" is a captivating read that offers a delightful blend of humor, drama, and personal growth. The book follows the life of Jenny James, a character who initially appears to be navigating a series of unfortunate events, but whose journey reveals deeper layers of resilience and self-discovery.

The author does an excellent job of portraying Jenny’s complexities and the challenges she faces with authenticity and wit. The narrative is engaging and often humorous, providing a lighthearted take on serious themes. The dialogue is sharp, and the interactions between characters feel genuine, adding depth to the story. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of tension and introspection interspersed with lighter, comedic elements.

Overall, "Jenny James is Not a Disaster" is a well-crafted novel that resonates with readers who appreciate a story about personal growth and overcoming obstacles. It’s a testament to the idea that even in the face of adversity, there’s room for hope and transformation.

I really enjoyed this one and loved its theme of starting over, new beginnings and self-discovery! I also enjoyed the setting! The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life.

Despite the difficulties in her life, Jenny has always tried to make the most of it for her son Charlie. Her life becomes even more difficult when an abrupt chain of terrible events leaves her jobless and homeless. She's lucky to have a sparkling knight living next door! Her neighbor Luke is a solitary man who lives in a cozy mobile home with his beloved dog, Betty. With little other options, Jenny accepts Luke's invitation to go on a cross-country journey. A voyage of self-discovery, adventure, and relationships of all kinds are what come next.

This was such a great story. Indeed, there were moments of laughter and smiles, as well as very obvious crying moments. Jenny in particular had a great sense of humor and handled some really bad situations with it. I understood her struggles and the difficulties she faced.
I like how the boy was being raised by a single mother. The relationship has a natural feel to it, complete with a certain amount of distance, inside jokes, misguided teenage angst, and, deep down, true love.
Jenny and Charlie had such a great relationship, and it was fun to witness the three of them develop closer as they traveled to interesting places together.

The narration was excellent, and the plot was charming. I could actually picture the narrative in my head because of the way she presented it. Additionally, the narrator made Jenny's persona incredibly entertaining as she handled each absurd situation.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Audiobook Review

This is such a great summer escapist novel! This book really transports you to England and all over! It best compares to Bridget Jones and a road trip rolled into one. When Jenny’s life falls apart she ventures off on a road trip is an RV with her son and a handsome man! I loved the healing that took place and all the humor! The characters were endearing and relatable.

The audiobook was narrated by Beth Eyre and she did wonderful. Her accent was perfect and the best touch to this read. It was so much more fun to listen with the British accent and the fun lingo.

Quote: “Sometimes it takes life falling apart…to piece yourself back together.”

Spice: 💋 Kisses only

Thank you to the author Debbie Johnson and Net Galley for the advanced listener copy of the audio book!

This was cute and heartwarming. The main character was relatable except maybe for her relationship with her parents. I would definitely try this author again.

4.25 of 5 stars
As someone who feels like her life is a disaster right now, it was reassuring to be reminded that there’s always a way to find joy.
If such a thing exists, I describe this novel as “middle age coming of age” - rediscovering self and nurturing relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for my gifted audiobook copy.

▪️I enjoy books set in England which is why I initially picked up Jenny James. Debbie Johnson does a fantastic job with detailing the places in the novel and it was like my own personal road trip through England.

▫️Jenny James had many layers to her story and we slowly learn about her past as she tries to give her son Charlie the family that she knows he always wanted.

▪️Jenny James is not just a light-hearted road trip novel, there are bigger topics such as teenage pregnancy, estranged family, mother/daughter relationships, and more.

🎧I also listened to Jenny James on audiobook, thanks to @netgalley and @harpercollins and really enjoyed the narration by Beth Eyre.

🌟Overall, I would recommend Jenny Hames is not a Disaster by Debbie Johnson if you are looking for a novel that is heartfelt yet upbeat and a novel that will make you feel as if you too are traveling through England while grounding you to reflect on the important aspects of life.

Jenny James can’t catch a break. Her job is in the possibility of closing the company. Her car won’t start and her house….it fell into a cliff. It seriously fell into a cliff. When she is trying to save her precious son’s baby pictures she almost fall and is saved by him. This grumpy man named Luca that lives in a van. While she is processing everything, she decides she needs to figure out what her next step is with her son. After learning Luca isn’t so grumpy and just might have the best ideas. She finds her joy.

I really really enjoyed this book. Starting off Jenny was honestly just so real. I felt like she was a friend that I just wanted to hug and support. I enjoyed all the characters and development. I recommend this book so much for anyone who feels like they need to start over. Because you 100% always can


Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this book

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a good book!!! Such a good story and great writing style. This was my first by this author and will not be my last. Such a cute read.

What a heartwarming read! After reading the blurb, I was looking forward to this and I was not disappointed! It turned out to be a more thought provoking story than I expected.

Because of the blurb, you know that Jenny has a life full of normal mishaps and some more bizarre but when the events of one day wreak havoc on her life, she is at her wits end. Raising her teenage son on her own, she is faced with some hard decisions.

I really wanted to see Jenny thrive and recover from her hardships. Even though she made some baffling ( to me ) life choices, I grew to like her and longed for the story to have a sweet, happy ending! You’ll have to read it to find out!

If you enjoy stories about second chances later in life that are full of humor and a bit of romance, you will like this book.

Many thanks to HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse, and Debbie Johnson for the ARC via NetGalley!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for allowing me a copy of this audio book in return for an honest review.

After a series of bloody awful events hit single mum Jenny all in one day, getting laid off, her car breaking down, a fight with her 18 year old son, Charlie, and her house falling off a cliff, Jenny needs a break. So when Luke, the man currently parked in the next field with his massive motorhome and friendly dachshund Betty, suggests she and Charlie join him on his adventures touring around England for a couple of weeks, it doesn’t take much for her to agree, and so the journey of finding her joy again begins.

Beth Eyre did an exceptional job bringing this story to life. She gave Jenny’s bubbly inner narrative a truly believable voice, this was a joy to listen to.

What I liked: I really appreciate a romance where the attraction plays a back seat. This novel was more about Jenny finding herself and dealing with her past than her growing connection to Luke. I loved the details of the road trip and the descriptions of the places they stopped at. The relationships between all the characters were brilliant, and the back stories that brought them there left a lump in my throat at times.

What didn’t work for me: This feels unfair as there was nothing that stands out that I would change about the book, so it’s a very top 4 out of 5 on my personal scale. As much as I enjoyed it, it’s not a book that leads me to being obsessed with it, which is what triggers a 5 star review for me.

Final thoughts: A sweet, entertaining novel about a mum rediscovering herself and facing her past. Especially helped by the vocal talents of Beth Eyre.

Who would enjoy this book: Fans of light romance (no spice), those who enjoy stories about people rebuilding their lives. Travel fans, or those interested in out of the way spots around England.