This book has an interesting premise, an engaging writing style, and likable characters. The set-up in the first part of the book was especially well-written. To me, the second part of the book fell a little flat; I was expecting something more meaningful to come of Thea’s life-changing decision after a colleague’s death, and some of the plot events in the last part of the story jolted me. I still really enjoyed the book though. It was a lovely feel-good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC. This review contains my honest opinions.

I was looking forward to reading this because the cover, the title and the blurb drew me in. I enjoyed the premise of self discovery, of trying new things and of realising what really matters to you. I thought this was cool and different from any other romances I’ve read recently. Thea felt like a real person, flawed but understandable and I really liked her journey.

That said, the book didn’t go anywhere for me. It was a pleasant read and I’ve rated it 3 stars - the second half fell short compared to the first half. I would still recommend to others because it could be a better fit for them! I did enjoy the writing style too so I’d be happy to try any other books by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Thea Rogers, 32, has just become the youngest junior partner at her prestigious corporate law firm. She is elated as she lives for her job, but then an elderly, not very well-liked senior partner dies suddenly and everyone just attends his funeral out of duty. Even his wife and ex mistress seemed to despise him. Thea re-evaluates her life and finds that she has no relationships to speak of. Her parents and sister don't understand her job and the man in her life, Alasdair, is only a friend with benefits.

So she impulsively jacks her job in and moves to Kent where her parents are, to make money flipping a property with Rebecca, the ex mistress who lives in her street and has a son called Rollo. They find an old water mill to renovate but there's a problem - the water mill is actually functional so a charity gets involved to make sure they don't dismantle it. They have help from Ben who sold them the mill and George from the charity. But then Alasdair contacts her again, and Thea is torn what to do, especially as the plans for the mill have just changed considerably.

The plot is interesting, and I like the cover. I expected it to be predictable and it was but I surprised myself how much I enjoyed the story. This is light-hearted and extremely well-written, with well developed characters. I like a good renovation and people who change their lives. The book is full of heart and humour, and at the end everyone is happier.

Sometimes what you want and what you need are two totally different things, and it takes something big to open your eyes and figure it out. Of course it helps if you have a huge income and a Porsche that the company lets you keep! What you need may be totally different than you thought ...

This novel started off with a bang and ended with a whimper. I was thoroughly engaged as I was introduced to Thea Rogers, an ambitious, successful corporate lawyer; in fact, she was the youngest candidate to make junior partner at a prestigious London firm. Her professional commitment started to unravel as she made an obligatory appearance at the funeral of a respected but feared senior partner. To her dismay, she observes that the man was reviled by his wife and former mistress, unknown by his two adult sons, and despite the large turnout of colleagues, lacked any devoted friends. Consequently, she begins to reflect on her own life. She has all the trappings of success – wealth, a beautiful home, an expensive car – but she realizes her whole life is consumed by her role. She seldom sees her parents and sister (who do not understand her work), she has one friend with benefits, and no hobbies or recreational pursuits. After one serious misjudgment in her distracted state, she abruptly resigns with no plan for her future.

It was at this point that I began to lose interest in Thea’s path. Creating a partnership with the aforementioned ex-mistress, she purchases a large parcel of land with a cottage, several barns, and a watermill with the intent to renovate and sell it at a profit. The reading got bogged down by a slower pace, which was compounded by tedious descriptions of the inner workings of the mill and uninspired characters.

Overall, the storyline and character development felt uneven, which diminished my enjoyment of the book.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Thea Rogers is a powerhouse in corporate law, on track to be the youngest female partner at her firm, but life throws her a curveball when a senior partner passes away, making her question everything. The plot dives deep into self-discovery, relationships, and what really matters in life. I loved watching Thea reevaluate her choices and wonder if she can truly change. The characters felt real, and the story hit all the right emotional notes without dragging on—it was just the perfect length.

Definitely recommend this one if you’re into stories about finding yourself and what really matters!

Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

#TheDoOver #NetGalley

This was a goooood book. The plot and characters were well developed. The book was just the right amount of pages to tell the story. Definitely recommend.