This was such a heart warming book, I just couldn't stop reading, Felicity and Jesse were just amazing characters and their story was really special, I really liked the fact they were more adults
Thanks Netgalley and Boldwood books

A lovely funny and engaging rom-com that's well worth reading. Thanks n5 and publishers for allowing me a copy of this book.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I loved this book! A fun romance with the perfect amounts of drama, comedy, and friendship. The characters were the kind of people I'd live to sit with and have coffee and a chat. Thanks #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks

This was a sweet romcom with a super appealing MMC! Jesse was super swoony and he broke down Felicity’s walls like a bulldozer! There was witty banter, loveable supporting characters, and two MCs dealing with loss. Overall, it was a great story and I will definitely be checking out more of this author’s work!

In this emotional, engaging, and charming new rom-com from Maxine Morrey, readers join city girl Fliss on the adventure of a lifetime. Having recently lost her job and her fiance (and seeing her ex-fiance’s extravagant wedding on social media), Fliss moves to her new beautiful country home to find that it’s a wreck in dire need of serious and extensive repairs. When a tree falls through her roof and everything else seems to follow, handsome handyman Jesse Woods is there to help Fliss out even when she least wants it. As Fliss heals herself and works on her new house, she might learn that maybe Jesse Woods might be the exception to her experiences. With a complex and relatable protagonist and great chemistry between Fliss and Jesse, readers will love this new title for its tropes, obstacles, and heartwarming moments. Morrey’s characters continue to impress with their wide range of emotions and their brilliant personalities and interactions with other characters that readers will really connect with. The location and the obstacles it presents for Fliss are really charming and add to the atmosphere and enjoyability of this new release that romance readers and fans of Morrey’s other books will love.

Fliss is every woman who has seen her ex move on in a fabulous way and just doesn't know what to do. Enter Jesse.... enough said. I devoured this book, it was so good and I could not put it down! I so wanted Fliss to have everything she deserved! Now to go find more Morrey books to read.

City girl Fliss finds herself falling for the bucolic charms of the countryside in Maxine Morrey’s latest romantic comedy, Reach for the Stars.

Everything seems to be going wrong for Fliss. Single, unemployed and with her life in tatters, Fliss seems to be having a horrible run of bad luck and just when she thinks things cannot get any worse for her, she becomes the unexpected owner of a dilapidated farmhouse in desperate need of renovation. Fliss will need to win the lottery to reverse the ailing fortunes of her farmhouse. But living in the countryside does have its compensations – mainly her handsome neighbour Jesse Woods, who looks like he’s just walked off a magazine cover.

When a tree has an unexpected encounter with her roof that leaves Fliss seeing stars – literally! – she realises that she needs help and somewhere to live. Luckily for her, dishy Jesse is on hand with the perfect solution to her problems. As the two of them begin to get closer, Fliss realises that she’s falling for Jesse, but having been burnt many times before by men, is she willing to take a chance on romance? Will she break her own rules for the sake of her own happy ending? Or is Fliss about to lose her last chance at happiness?

An adorable romantic comedy that made me laugh out loud, Reach for the Stars is a fantastic read by Maxine Morrey perfect for Sarah Bennett and Phillipa Ashley fans. Funny, heartwarming and delightful from start to finish, Reach for the Stars by Maxine Morrey is a lovely tale about fresh starts, learning to trust and falling in love sure to brighten up every reader’s day!

Fliss has run away and bought a falling apart farm house. Neighbour Jesse rescues her more than once, but will these opposites attract?

Thank you author Maxine Morrey and @netgalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book.

This book is an absolutely hilarious, beautifully written, heartwarming, romance.

Fliss grew up in a family with money, that is until her father and step mother frittered it all away. Not one to give up, she worked hard in school and now is a high flying interior stylist, when suddenly her life implodes. Firstly, she has to see the photos of her ex-fiancé getting married to an heiress all over social media. In a fit of rage, she resigns from her job. Then, whilst drowning her sorrows in a month's supply of wine, she sells her swanky London flat and buys a house in the country. What she doesn't realise is, just what a rundown shell the house she has bought actually is.

Jesse, owns his own construction business. Sadly, there's just him and his dog Ned after losing his wife in fatal car accident 5 years ago. But he is resigned to how his life is now and makes the best of it.

Fate, and a really bad storm throw these two together. Well, that and Fliss nearly taking Jesse's head off with a piece of 4x2 in a DIY shop. Slowly, they become begrudging friends and Jesse helps Fliss restore her new home.

This book really is a fantastic read. The descriptions of the beautiful landscapes and the catastrophic storm have you imagining you are right there. The emotions felt by so many of the characters have you on an rollercoaster, right there with them. But, most of all, the storyline has you rooting for these two wonderful characters, in the hope that they will eventually find happiness together.

Felicity tries to channel her heartbreak and embarrassment into a project. A huge project; a fixer-upper farmhouse outside of London. Jesse is the swoony guy who keeps coming to her rescue. Cue the sparks!

Felicity's independence is both admirable and frustrating. Jesse's insistence on rescuing her is charming and frustrating. Their communication skills grow at a remarkable rate and you can't help but rooting for them as a couple.

Reach for the Stars by Maxine Morrey ⭐⭐⭐⭐

After a slow burn, it was a light cozy small town romance.
The characters are very likeable, easily to be friends with.

Can't wait to discover more books from Maxine, as this one was my first.

Reach for the Stars by Maxine Morrey completely charmed me. I went into it expecting a light, cozy read, but it ended up hitting me right in the feels. It’s one of those books that pulls you in so quickly, you forget about everything else for a while—and honestly, that’s exactly what I needed.

The story follows Felicity, who’s having the absolute worst time. Her fiancé dumps her for someone else (and marries her in a wedding Felicity paid for), and after drowning her sorrows in one too many drinks, she impulsively buys a rundown farmhouse in the countryside. It’s supposed to be her fresh start, but when she arrives, it’s more like a disaster zone. Things spiral from there—storms, trees falling through the roof, and so much mud. Enter Jesse, her grumpy, too-good-to-be-true neighbor who reluctantly helps her piece her life (and her house) back together.

I loved Felicity. She’s messy, stubborn, and so relatable. I’ve definitely had moments where I’ve felt like everything was falling apart, so seeing her find her way again was really satisfying. And Jesse? Ugh, he’s the dream: kind, dependable, and a little rough around the edges. Their slow-burn romance was everything I wanted—sweet, funny, and so natural. Even though it’s a closed-door romance, the chemistry between them was perfect.

What really made this book for me, though, was the small-town vibe. The neighbors, the gossip, the sense of community—it was all so comforting. The side characters weren’t just filler; they felt like real people, and I loved how they rallied around Felicity when things got tough. It gave the story such a warm, feel-good energy.

If I had one tiny complaint, it’s that the ending wrapped up a little too quickly. After such a great buildup, I would’ve loved a few more chapters to spend with these characters. But honestly, that’s more of a “me not wanting to let go” problem than a real issue with the book.

This story was just so lovely. It’s funny, heartwarming, and full of those little emotional moments that stick with you. If you love small-town romances with messy-but-lovable characters and a focus on personal growth, you’re going to adore this one. I know I did, and I can’t wait to read more from Maxine Morrey.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read this one early—it’s a book I’ll be recommending to everyone!

I really enjoy this book. It feels like a Hallmark movie
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the book

This is such an uplifting and funny small town romance! I absolutely adore it. I laughed out loud so many times because of both the outrageously silly situations and the banter of the characters. This book is a true heart warmer. It reads quickly and easily plus it can make any reader smile from the start to the end.

Felicity (Fliss), a true London city girl, finds herself living in the English country side after her ex-fiancee dumbs her right before the wedding. What better revenge than to sell the flat, buy a house in the country and discover the house is falling apart (and apparently she now owns chickens)? Felicity’s whoas get worse from here and the craziest situations begin. I was engaged the moment I read the opening scene!

Then there is Jesse. He is the absolute sweetest! He is much calmer (and level headed) at times. He offers help to Felicity with her crumbling house. But my favorite part is when he banters with her and helps with her moments of spiraling. I found it entertaining every time he reined her back in from her moments of stubbornness. Definitely swoon worthy moments!

Both Felicity and Jesse are smart, stubborn (at times), determined and even have trust issues with others. They have pasts they find difficult to share. They fight hard and they love hard.

Overall, this is a good read! The opening alone had me laughing at the entire situation! I absolutely love this rom-com & recommend adding it to the TBR pile. It is perfect for reading now or later, just make sure to give it a read!

I was not familiar with Maxine Morrey's previous works so I was not sure what to expect. I was intrigued by the premise of this book. I am very happy that I read this book. This is a fun rom-com that is Close Door romance (which I greatly appreciated).

I will definitely be looking for other works and future releases by Morrey.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
1 like

Maxine Morrey has found herself a new fan!

This was such a sweet, cozy, fun, warm and really funny read. When your life turns upside down and there is nothing else you can do but start over, where do you go and what do you do? Well like Feliciy you up and leave and get yourself a nice country farmhouse. But, since the stars have it out for you, the farmhouse comes with so much work and it is definitely not what you thought it would be. With the help of the locals and perhaps a love interest Felicity will regain faith in life, love and learn how strong and resilient she really is.

A great book, with wonderful characters and such a beautiful read. If you feel like reaching for a great book, make sure to Reach For The Stars!

A lovely book to read on a winter's day and this one really hit the spot. I loved these types of books especially this time of year as you are so busy getting ready for the big day. This is a beautiful book to loose yourself in. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I LOVE a good "hide from a break up in a run down county house" trope, and this did not disappoint!

Of course what is one to do with a run down farmhouse, except accept help from the hottie next door, and when the roof collapses we move into the forced proximity trope - sigh - and our love story is off to the races.

I love a good small town romance, and the whole fixer-upper is just another fun way to represent the way Felicity starts to rebuild her heart.

“i came here and i found everything i was missing.”. Swoon.

Its giving Tessa Baily Castle Sisters vibes, and I LOVED it

Felicity’s ex-fiancée and her new wife are all over the glossy magazines, with their wedding and their perfect life. She just lost her job and she ends up draining her sorrows home shopping. Without thinking she ends up with a ruined country farmhouse that needs a lot of help, help she refuses to take by her handsome neighbor, Jesse.
What is a city girl to do in the country? With no job, a broken heart, and a broken house?
It’s a funny rom-com in a small-town setting, where Jesse is the kindest neighbor always ready to give a helping hand.