Things go from bad to worse for Jenny and yes, she really is trying to save her house from sliding off a cliff.
This book was a great light-read that reminds you when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. There's also a cute slow-burn romance. Luke was an excellent character and I enjoyed this story a lot more than I thought I would.

Jenny James Is Not a Disaster by Debbie Johnson
Audiobook narrated by Beth Eyre
Publish date July 9, 2024

As you can tell from the absurd cover of an woman trying to push a house back on the shore, the set up is indeed a bit ridiculous. Jenny James is having a particularly bad day of endless rain, an announcement of a potential job elimination and her car not starting. She gives up on her car and arrive at home to find her home slid off the cliff. Suspend your disbelief and come join us on an adventure of life time with Jenny and her son Luke, as they accept an offer from a friendly neighbor to go on an adventure of life time! The story is not realistic, but there are plenty of moments you can relate if you have lived a life when one bad thing piles on top of another somehow. The situation gets so bad to the point when it becomes laughable. I happened to be in a very stressful situation myself and wanted to have some laugh and escapism - and this book provided exactly that.
I wanted a light and funny book to escape my reality, and this book provided exactly that. It was also a good opportunity to think about what I would live for if I lost everything all of a sudden. What I would be thankful for.
Speaking of which, I really appreciated a slow-developing closed-door romance.

Overall, I feel the book synopsis does a very good job to represent the book as well as the cover - if it's something you think you might enjoy, then definitely go try this book, I think it will be enjoyed! On the other hand, if you want something realistic, this probably isn't it.

An advanced copy of this audiobook was provided courtesy of NetGalley and HarperCollins Muse for review purposes. Thank you so much - this was fun!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"So, this is my story. A story of falling and getting back up again. Of stepping back and moving forward. Read it in whatever voice you like—for me, that will be my own voice.
The voice I've finally found, and the voice I finally listen to."


Jenny James Is Not a Disaster was such a fun book to listen to. In this, you will obviously meet Jenny, but you also get to hear (or read) about some adventures. Sure, when it rains, it pours (or whatever the saying is). So, it definitely sucks when things go from bad to worse.

Or maybe it doesn't since her new neighbor is kind of cute? Enter Luke, the guy with the very nice RV campervan. On the day Jenny loses her job, her car, and who knows what else... Luke, the angel, is there to offer up some help. It also doesn't hurt that he has the most adorable dachshund named Betty either.

Throwing caution to the wind, Jenny and her son Charlie join Like on an adventure. They decide to travel to all these places with one goal in mind: to just have fun. Along the way, they are bound to have some sparks of romance between Jenny and Luke. As well as some family drama between Charlie and Jenny. Which is completely understandable since he doesn't really know what happened between Jenny and her parents.

In the end, it's an emotional journey and a fun adventure. I'm definitely happy that I got the chance to dive into this and look forward to the next book Debbie writes!

Jenny James is Not a Disaster by Debbie Johnson follows Jenny James- obviously- who some would indeed believe to be a disaster. Jenny is on a journey of self-discovery, finding herself at a series of decision points in her life, she opts to hop in a motor home with a handsome stranger and her son. Their journeys through the British countryside made me nostalgic for the literary tour of England I gifted myself for graduating undergrad, plus introduced me to a number more off the beaten path destinations. But more than travel, this book is about relationships, parent-child relationships, the complicated relationship between an adult daughter and her mother, possible romantic relationships, dachshund-motor home relationships, and Jenny's relationship with herself. In a book which could have been a light romp through the countryside, Debbie Johnson has layered in a lot of life.

I was lucky enough to review this in audiobook format, I enjoyed Beth Eyre's delivery of Jenny's internal monologue, I felt her voice captured the humorous, self-deprecating tone conveyed in this book.

Thank you to Debbie Johnson and HarperCollins Focus for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of Jennie James is Not a Disaster.

What a delightful book. If you like quirky characters who are finding their way in life, along with a side of romance and laughter, this is the book for you.

Wow this book was absolutely amazing! The character development for Jenny James was so perfectly written that I wish I could read the Sausage Dog Diaries for myself and see where her and Luke are these days!

While I did feel like this book did start off a little slow I really enjoyed it and had me waiting to see where in the UK Jenny, Luke and Charlie would end up next. I really enjoyed that this book also showed a "grown up" relationship and how Jenny had to find herself before realizing her feelings for Luke.

I listen to the audiobook and really enjoyed the performance by Beth Eyre.

This was an enjoyable novel about letting go, forgiveness, family, motherhood and love. This was lighthearted and Jenny' perspective on life is so refreshing, yet relatable. I. listened to this on audio and thought the narrator was pleasnet and easy to follow. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, heartwarming novel about finding your way.

thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the ARC.

This was a fun, interesting story. It really surprised me. I can't imagine going through what Jenny did but I loved the way she handled it. The relationship between her and Charlie was a refreshing take on a mother/son bond.

Happy Publication Day!
For anyone who has ever been down on their luck, they know how hard it is to recover. Jenny James is not a Disaster reminds readers it’s possible to embrace the calm before, during, and after the storm and that every day is a good day to try to find joy.

Single mom Jenny is raising her 18 year old son, Charlie, doing the best she can. She is optimistic even when she gets a message that her bank account is overdrawn by seventy-two cents and will be charged a $25 overdraft fee without a deposit by midnight. She tries to remain hopeful when a coworker tells her that their company may soon close. And she tries to find the silver lining when her car won’t start again after picking up her son when she gets off work. Saying she’s having a rough day would be an understatement. But the worst is yet to come.

Forced to get the bus, Jenny and Charlie walk to the cliff side rental cottage she’s turned into a home for them but it’s not there. Due to month long rains, her home has slid on the cliff side. As Jenny tries to frantically recover pictures blowing around she almost falls over the cliff herself when a stranger pulls her back, rescuing her.

What do you do when you’ve literally lost everything? Having walked away from her family as a teen, Jenny has no one to rely on but herself. Thanking the stranger, Luke, who saved her from literally going over the edge turns into a couple more visits to his place which is a motor home. Not sure what to do next, Luke offers a suggestion: take a couple of weeks to travel with him in his motor home while she decides her next steps. After finding out her work is officially closing, she decides this just may be the break Charlie and her need so they hit the road!

The journey that unfolds is raw yet heartwarming. I absolutely love how Jenny remained positive and hopeful, refusing to ever give up. The playful and sarcastic banter Jenny has with both her son and with Luke made this a delight to listen to!

This is a must read for anyone who has lost it all or has had to start over again. Thank you NetGalley, Debbie Johnson, and Harper Collins for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

"Jenny James Is Not a Disaster" by Debbie Johnson is a heartwarming and humorous journey of self-discovery and resilience. The story follows single mum Jenny, whose life seems to be in shambles after her cottage falls off a cliff, leaving her homeless and jobless. As Jenny grapples with the chaos of her situation, she decides to embark on a spontaneous road trip around England with her teenage son, Charlie, and their quirky neighbor, Luke, and his adorable dachshund, Betty.
Johnson masterfully blends wit and emotion, creating a narrative that is both relatable and uplifting. The road trip not only strengthens Jenny's bond with her son but also forces her to confront painful memories and reconcile with her past.
The characters are richly developed, with Jenny's strength and vulnerability making her an endearing protagonist. The dynamics between Jenny, Charlie, and Luke are heartwarming and authentic, adding depth to the story. The random destinations chosen from prompts like "Brontë sisters" and favorite songs add a charming and whimsical touch to their journey.
"Jenny James Is Not a Disaster" is a delightful read that beautifully captures the essence of starting over and finding joy in the unexpected. It’s a story about embracing change, healing old wounds, and rediscovering one's dreams. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a feel-good, inspirational read that will leave you smiling and hopeful.

This delightfully fun book shows how one horrible day can result in the best changes of your life.

Single mom, Jenny James, is losing her job, her car breaks down and her house literally falls off a cliff. This results in Jenny & her teenage son, Charlie, losing everything. A kind neighbor, Luke, and his dachshund, Betty, are camping in their fancy RV nearby and offer to help Jenny & Charlie by inviting them to travel across England on a week long adventure.

This was not just a fluffy romance novel. This book introduced you to characters that had been through tragedy and the author touched on some deep issues, but there were also explorations that the characters experienced that were pure fun. Just returning from England recently,
I loved hearing the different places that Luke, Jenny, Charlie & Betty traveled on their beautiful England escapade.

I very much enjoyed listening to this Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks. Beth Eyre narrated and did a fabulous job. I will be looking for other books by Debbie Johnson and will definitely recommend this book to my friends. #NetGalley #JennyJamesIsNotADisaster

This was a really cute book. Completely relatable main character. Narrator was great! You can see where the book is going, but that’s what makes it cozy. Just a lovely story all around!
Tw: child loss

This was absolutely charming! I loved the relationship between Jenny and her son Charlie. I’m a sucker for a great road trip story and I didn’t want this to end. It had no sex, nor was it full of the characters constantly musing on the hotness of characters. It was a delightful story of people finding their way and finding love along the way. It was a story about finding joy and beauty after disaster. The narrator was perfection!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review!

Jenny James is Not a Disaster, by Debbie Johnson, is a quirky, character-driven story about Jenny James who experiences a cataclysmic event, or two, and decides that it’s the perfect time to make drastic changes to her life. Jenny lives alone with her 18 year old son and is estranged from her family. She’s lost her job and needs to not only figure things out, but also reinvent her life and change her perspective.

When her nomadic neighbor offers to take Jenny and her son on a road trip throughout England, along with his dachshund, Betty, Jenny agrees. The small group experiences all kinds of adventures that lead to reflections, discussions, and eventually life-changing revelations.

Jenny James is a feel-good work of women’s fiction full of insights, thoughtful themes and surprising depth, given the light-hearted nature of the story. There are moments that work out a bit too conveniently to be realistic, but all-in-all, it’s an enjoyable, heartwarming, thought-provoking tale. This story is narrated by Beth Eyre by Harper Muse Audiobooks and brings life and flavor to the story.

A super cute, UK Chic-lit story. Road Trip vibes, found family/friendships. Oh and an adorable lil weiner dog named Betty.

I was lucky enough to receive this book early via NetGalley. I listened to the audio version and the production did an excellent job. This was a great story about finding yourself and the power of yes. The storyline served as a great reminder to take any of life’s harder times and grow from them. A cute little adventurous summer read that’s easy to follow

Not what I was expecting to be honest. I thought it would be more of a light hearted summer read. It was an easy read but brought elements of real life too. Sometimes things don’t end up the way we hope. Broken relationships, hardships and learning to trust again. You won’t be disappointed. Pick this one up!

Jenny James is not a Disaster by Debbie Johnson
This was a very easy and enjoyable read. Jenny the main character has had a series of life altering events happen to her all at once, her house literally falls off a cliff, her car dies and she loses her job. She along with her 18 year old son embark on a journey with their neighbor Luke exploring the country and coming to terms with their past.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this Audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Think you’ve had a bad day? Jenny has you beat. The single mom heads home after finding out her job is downsizing, only for her car to break down in an awful rainstorm. She and her teenage son finally arrive home only to find it’s not there. In fact, their little cottage has slid off a cliff. Yikes! With an uncertain future and nowhere to live, their RV-wielding neighbor offers a proposition…Jenny and her son Charlie can join Luke and his spunky dachshund Betty on the road for a nomadic adventure…from zombies to Jane Austen and a visit to her past, this is an adventure for the books.
As awful as the bad luck circumstances were, I couldn’t stop laughing for much of this book (though there are tough topics brought up as well). Highly recommend this as a fun afternoon read. And the narrator brought so much fun to Jenny’s character as she navigated each wacky predicament.
Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Book Title: Jenny James is not a Disaster
Author: Debbie Johnson
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Beth Eyre
Publisher: Harper Collin Focus. Harper Muse
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
My Rating: 3.4.Stars
Pages 320


Jenny James is on the edge of disaster.
• Her job is downsizing,
• Her car won't start,
• Her eighteen year old son Charlie is acting like well yes! A teenager.
• And will it ever stop raining.
• Plus now she truly is on the edge of disaster as her cottage on the Norfolk coast literally falls off a cliff.

Jenny decides she and son Charlie will join Luke their neighbor and Betty his dachshund on a road trip around England. They travel in his van and visit and hike historical sites, ride rollercoasters. Jenny is reminded of the dreams she gave up long ago. Jenny left home when she was seventeen and was expecting – her parents never knew about their grandson Charlie nor that her high school boyfriend Rob is Charlie’s father. Jenny parents always thought Rob wasn’t the right guy for Jenny and they were correct as Rob left Jenny when Charlie was only two years old.
Although my thought were-Yikes! What’s next? Additionally it was slow at times (not sure if this is a spoiler) but it does end as a ‘feel-good’ story.

Want to thank HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 9, 2024.