The Do-Over by Phoebe MacLeod was an okay read. It had some entertaining, comical moments, but I felt it lacked romanticism. I felt it needed more banter, attraction, and sizzle. I wasn't convinced the two main characters were really it; I thought this read more like a primary female lead story than a rom-com book, which is unfortunate because I've heard nothing but positive things about this author's work. I'm not going to let this book taint my opinion of this author. I'll pick up another of her books and give it another try. I usually prefer to give an author another chance when I've read one of their novels that hasn't worked well with me since sometimes it's simply the book or even me, and you never know; their next book could be fantastic.


⚠️I was gifted an ARC courtesy of The Bold Book Club and Netgalley and this is my honest review.

The Do-Over follows Thea Rogers, a driven corporate lawyer whose life has been defined by ambition. On track to become her firm’s youngest female partner, Thea seems to have achieved everything she’s ever worked for. Yet behind the veneer of success lies a life devoid of meaningful connections. Her only personal relationship is a long-standing friends-with-benefits arrangement with her colleague Alasdair, and she has sacrificed friendships, family ties, and personal fulfilment in her relentless pursuit of professional glory.

When a senior partner unexpectedly passes away, Thea is jolted by the lack of genuine emotion at his funeral. This moment forces her to confront a deeply unsettling question: if she disappeared tomorrow, would anyone care?

As Thea begins to re-evaluate her life choices, she faces a critical crossroads. Should she continue down the path she’s always known, or take a bold step towards something entirely different? What follows is a journey of self-reflection, growth, and reinvention as Thea seeks to fill the emotional void in her life. Along the way, she learns that change, while daunting, can also bring unexpected joy and fulfilment.

This thought-provoking and uplifting novel delves into themes of ambition, identity, and the importance of human connection. Thea’s struggles are portrayed with raw honesty, making her journey deeply relatable to anyone who has ever questioned their priorities or felt trapped by their own choices. The story’s balance of poignancy and hope ensures an engaging and satisfying read.

Perfect for fans of character-driven narratives, The Do-Over is an easy yet meaningful read. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to reimagine your life and focus on what truly matters. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy stories of personal growth, second chances, and the courage it takes to start over.

3.5/5.

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The Do-Over by Phoebe MacLeod

Thea Rogers is on target to have the kind of career most women dream of. She is in corporate law, she is the youngest junior partner ever created but to get where she got to she had to give up her entire life and none of that mattered until one day it did…. When one of the senior partners died she wondered who would care if she died tomorrow and the answer shook her to her core.

I loved this. She literally crashed her whole life to the ground. She didn’t just find a new path she burned everything to the ground and allowed her neighbor to go into business with her. Man oh man the things that could have gone wrong…. ARGHHHHHHH.
The difference is that Thea didn’t regret her choice to leave and I loved the heck out of that. I loved the way she found her people, how she saw her family in a new light and she gave herself over to something better for a better outlook on life.
It was sweet, and gently weaved its way into my heart. I could see how it might translate to everyone because it had some wooden moments but I think it was necessary to give us the full range of what the book was giving us.
4 stars

This book is an absolutely delightful and charming read! The characters are so fun to get to know especially with their quick banter and silly antics that play out in the story. There was a small twist in the story that was fun as well. The ending is satisfying and the cutest happily ever after ever! Definitely pick this book up for a feel good read!

I really enjoyed this book. I fell in love with the characters and it really made me contemplate quitting my job to live in the country. I absolutely adored the relationships that blossomed in all ways, from the romance to just the family relationships and connections made and strengthened. It was a really sweet book, full of lots of contemplatitive scenes with more serious undertones. The beginning seemed a little slow for me personally, with a bit of legal jargon that I didn't fully understand or connect with, however I soon fell in love with the story and flew through it!

Do it over was the first book I read for this author. The FMC is a lawyer who is at crossroads with how her life and job is going. After a coworker unexpectedly passed and she discovers that coworker was not well liked she’s begins to wonder about her own life. She quits her high pressure job. Thea seems frustrating and frustrated at times. Alisdair the mmc was not a like character he was also a lawyer from the same company they mostly had a friends with benefits type of thing. This story didn’t engage well I almost dnf

2 stars

This is a good book but the whole idea of it is misleading, i mean where is the romance? or the comedy? it's much more some type of self discovery book than anything else and please even her perceptions felt kinda flat.

Unfortunately I could not connect with anyone in this book, what is sad for me. Talking about the main character She is boring, not only she but all the characters present there have no depth to show. I felt like no one there but the personal assistant (a kiss to her) had personality, and when things were getting interesting because the character was walking according to what she had presented to us, the book has a drastic change that takes us to a feeling of page one meeting a new character.

Thea has no opinion, no strong thoughts about herself, or even lives life as a person would. The criticism at first is understandable but I can't stop thinking that all the changes in her life were because of other people. Absolutely all the decisions made, in addition to her career, were situations suggested by others that after considering she just accepted. And I don't believe that this kind of behavior is characteristic of a strong character that I could be enchanted by.

This was a cute book, easy read but not one that had me very invested. Thea was equally great and frustrating. I enjoyed seeing her grow outside of being a lawyer - learn to connect with her family and build friendships.

I don’t know if you have ever picked up a book and thought,’ OMG, that is ME!’ I never had until I started reading The Do-Over but as soon as I started reading about Thea, I recognised myself immediately. I used to be that young woman, corporate lawyer focused on nothing but work, determined to make partner by the time I was 30 (although I never had a PA like Janice, that must be a London Thing.) Then, like Thea, something happened that turned my whole life around and rearranged my priorities and what had seemed like the be all and end all become not so important after all.

From that point onwards, our paths diverged and I did not end up doing the same thing as Thea (that would have been too much of a coincidence) but I did relate hard to a lot of what she went through, which might be one of the reasons that I really loved this book. It wasn’t the only reason though. This is such a great story, with lots to say about life and priorities and what we really want and what really matters. It is also about focusing so hard on one thing that you don’t see other obvious things that are right in front of your eyes. The characters are fabulously drawn, completely believable and draw you through the story with ease because you really care about what happens to them.

The plot itself is fun and sweet and aspirational and you will love it if you are the kind of person who likes to live a life vicariously that you are unlikely to live in reality. The way Thea’s life path unfolds (and I am trying to review this without including any spoilers) is entertaining and unlikely but then I started to wonder if people do really make life decisions in that way. Then the series of mishaps and changes that unfold one after another are plausible in that fictional kind of way and I have to say that, although the ending could have gone another way, I am really happy the way the author took it and think that was the perfect solution to the book.

This has been one of my favourite romance reads of the year and Phoebe MacLeod is a real talent in this genre who is on the way to being one of my ‘must read’ authors. If you are looking for books to gift to your romance-loving friends this Christmas, you should add this to their stocking, or maybe ask Santa for it yourself.

Thea Rogers has dedicated her life to her career in corporate law. Apart from her colleague and long-time friend-with-benefits Alasdair, she’s forgone friendships and relationships, and now she’s on track to become her firm’s youngest ever female partner. She should be ecstatic. But when a senior partner dies unexpectedly, Thea realises the people at his funeral are only there out of duty. Suddenly, Thea can’t shake the question: if she disappeared tomorrow, would anyone care?

As the life choices she's made suddenly make less and less sense, Thea is forced to make a decision. Stick with the original plan or take a completely different path.

Thea has a chance to do it right this time and fill her world with the things that matter. But can people really change? And once life starts looking up, why does it feel like there’s something… or someone she can’t seem to replace?

Loved it. will recommend to others

A lovely story about a change of life style and career.
Theatre has become the youngest ever partner in her firm, she has Alasdair a friend with benefits, and a house she loves. She has it all. But when a senior partner dies, it has an unforseen affect on Thea.
Is it time for a change?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really just could not get into this book. It took a lot for me to push through and not DNF. There was a lot of potention but it just fell flat. The characters were plain and lacked depth, and the story line was just meh.

This book had under developed characters, under developed romance and a plot that felt all over the place. I’m all for friends to lovers but not when the FMC is totally indifferent and suddenly in love? I did not connect with any part of this book.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Enjoyable book but lacked depth and characterisation.
Having read other books by this author, I liked the premise of this book - I too have harboured thoughts of leaving corporate life behind (if it wasn’t for the money!) but I felt this book was lacking… insufficiently descriptive and characters that didn’t seem multi dimensional.

Overall it was an enjoyable read but could have been so much more with a bit of depth and description!

This book wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, but I enjoyed the banter between the FMC and the love interest. The dynamics between them made me laugh out loud in certain parts.

I found myself oh so eager to read this book - the tropes, the premise all had me so excited and giddy to read. What resulted was not the book for me - it started off fine, the exhilarating thrill of watching Thea become the youngest partner at her firm, and then the sadness I felt for her at having no one to celebrate with? I truly felt that. The writing seemed really inconsistent from that point forward; the pacing was just really off for me - it would go from eating it up as it was high paced, to being so slow I considered a DNF and that pattern just continued to. repeat itself. The romance itself was also entirely lackluster, the chemistry never once appeared, the sex was dull, heck Alisdair was so dull himself - did he even have a personality? It was just overall such a dissapointment which saddens me as I really wanted to enjoy this one!

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Not my favourite Phoebe MacLeod book, for me personally the story took a while to actually get going. Thea as a character is really well written, from her time as a corporate lawyer to her leaving her job and 'finding herself'
I have to admit my favourite part was 'car war' with the neighbour, I found that really quite funny as part of the book.

Thea Rogers is a high-power attorney with a plan. She is in the office before the sun is up and there until dark, and that is the way she likes it because she is climbing the ladder and making it! This is working for her, and her sometimes date Alastair, until Thea has a crisis. Is this everything she really wants? What is the purpose?

This resonated with me because I have asked myself these questions. How important is this? At what cost? While some of the second half of the book was a little far-fetched, and I learned a lot about grinding grain, I found this to be a delightful read about taking charge and changing your life midstream.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I love her books and they just keep getting better. A brilliantly written romantic comedy with a fabulous cast of characters who were believable and engaging. I couldn’t put it down and loved the storyline, aspirational but attainable and packed with fun, love and all the feels. Highly recommend

The Do-Over by Phoebe MacLeod is a quirky, light read with a distinctly British flavour, featuring fun cultural nods like Homes Under the Hammer (IYKYK). Set primarily in London and the South East, the story follows Thea as she embarks on a dramatic career change and navigates some unconventional life choices. While the pacing felt uneven and Thea’s decisions could be frustrating, the book offers a few well-drawn side characters who bring warmth and charm. It’s a breezy read for fans of feel-good fiction with a touch of romance, but I personally wouldn't rush to pick up another book by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC :)