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My Year of Saying No
Lottie Wentworth has never been more pleased to hear Big Ben ring in the new year and wave goodbye to The Year of Saying Yes!
When a long-term relationship ended, her best friend’s scheme to get Lottie back in the swing of things seemed like a good idea. She’s kept her promise to Jess to see it through but, as a lover of the quiet life, Lottie couldn’t be happier to say hello to a brand new year � The Year of Saying No!
Unfortunately, the one thing she still seems unable to say no to is the crush she has on her best client and now friend, Army veteran, Seb Marshall. But she’s working on it, and with rescue dog Humphrey at her side, she knows that she’ll manage just fine.
Lottie’s decision to stop trying to please everyone has brought a sense of relief beyond what she had expected. Her actions and determination have also begun to send ripples throughout her life and those closest to her, bringing about changes none of them could have expected.
But will all those changes be for the good?
When a long-term relationship ended, her best friend’s scheme to get Lottie back in the swing of things seemed like a good idea. She’s kept her promise to Jess to see it through but, as a lover of the quiet life, Lottie couldn’t be happier to say hello to a brand new year � The Year of Saying No!
Unfortunately, the one thing she still seems unable to say no to is the crush she has on her best client and now friend, Army veteran, Seb Marshall. But she’s working on it, and with rescue dog Humphrey at her side, she knows that she’ll manage just fine.
Lottie’s decision to stop trying to please everyone has brought a sense of relief beyond what she had expected. Her actions and determination have also begun to send ripples throughout her life and those closest to her, bringing about changes none of them could have expected.
But will all those changes be for the good?
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2020
1,256 people are currently reading
8,668 people want to read
About the author
Maxine Morrey
26books292followersMaxine has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember and wrote her first (very short) book for school when she was ten. Coming in first, she won a handful of book tokens � perfect for a bookworm!
As years went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal� work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a book on Brighton for a Local History publisher. However, novels are what she loves writing the most. After self publishing her first novel when a contract fell through, thanks to the recession, she continued to look for opportunities.
In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas� competition with her romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale�.
Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read sew and listen to podcasts. As she also likes cake she can also be found either walking or doing something vaguely physical at the gym.
As years went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal� work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a book on Brighton for a Local History publisher. However, novels are what she loves writing the most. After self publishing her first novel when a contract fell through, thanks to the recession, she continued to look for opportunities.
In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas� competition with her romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale�.
Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read sew and listen to podcasts. As she also likes cake she can also be found either walking or doing something vaguely physical at the gym.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
April 28, 2020
5� A Fun, Uplifting, Witty, Light Hearted Rom Com.... A Book I Urge You to say "YES" to!
My Year of Saying Nois a fun, uplifting, heart warming rom com and as the title suggests it's all about changing things up and being ok with saying "No" to people.
Lottie is fed up with always saying yes, when really all she wants to do is say "No" and to be honest I think were all guilty of doing that at some point, I know I am 🙈
So she sets herself a task to say "No" when she wants too. It felt slightly liberating to witness Lottie's empowerment.
Lottie meets the endearingly charming Seb online through work, who she has become really good friends with and grown particularly close to.
But never meeting up is a big mistake as there is clearly chemistry between them!
But when they eventually meet up will they just have a connection online or will it sizzle into real life too?
Either way if your anything like I was, then you will be gritting your teeth willing them to see what's right in front of them!
I adored Seb's character, not only is he incredibly charming, caring, but he is broken, endearing, feels he is unworthy of being loved, and I guess you could say vulnerable. But when you discover he's story then you understand why and my heart went out to him.
Lottie is such a wonderful character, she's relatable, empowering, at times bloomin frustrating, kind, caring and has the most adorable rescue fur baby ever!! Any book with dogs is a winner for me!
My Year of Saying Nois a light hearted fun book and I loved the concept of simply saying "No"! It was such a brilliant idea.
There was plenty of witty humour, a will they won't they romantic suspense, fabulous characters and an entertaining plot. What more could you want!
I love Maxine Morrey's books, she's incredibly talented, and this was one book I would Urge You To Say "YES" To Reading!
�
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
My Year of Saying Nois a fun, uplifting, heart warming rom com and as the title suggests it's all about changing things up and being ok with saying "No" to people.
Lottie is fed up with always saying yes, when really all she wants to do is say "No" and to be honest I think were all guilty of doing that at some point, I know I am 🙈
So she sets herself a task to say "No" when she wants too. It felt slightly liberating to witness Lottie's empowerment.
Lottie meets the endearingly charming Seb online through work, who she has become really good friends with and grown particularly close to.
But never meeting up is a big mistake as there is clearly chemistry between them!
But when they eventually meet up will they just have a connection online or will it sizzle into real life too?
Either way if your anything like I was, then you will be gritting your teeth willing them to see what's right in front of them!
I adored Seb's character, not only is he incredibly charming, caring, but he is broken, endearing, feels he is unworthy of being loved, and I guess you could say vulnerable. But when you discover he's story then you understand why and my heart went out to him.
Lottie is such a wonderful character, she's relatable, empowering, at times bloomin frustrating, kind, caring and has the most adorable rescue fur baby ever!! Any book with dogs is a winner for me!
My Year of Saying Nois a light hearted fun book and I loved the concept of simply saying "No"! It was such a brilliant idea.
There was plenty of witty humour, a will they won't they romantic suspense, fabulous characters and an entertaining plot. What more could you want!
I love Maxine Morrey's books, she's incredibly talented, and this was one book I would Urge You To Say "YES" To Reading!
�
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
April 22, 2020
Book reviewed on
After a year from hell in which she was persuaded to have a year saying yes to everything, including numerous terrible dates, on the stroke of midnight New Years� Eve Lottie Wentworth decides that she is going to do the opposite and have a year of saying no to everyone and everything.
She decides to get herself a dog to keep her company as she will be spending more time at home. She also has the gorgeous Seb Marshall who she chats to regularly online but whilst she might have a crush on him she is unwilling to take it further as he is her best client.
Can Lottie actually see the year out saying no to all occasions and could love be in the stars for her and Seb?
My Year of Saying No is a fun, occasionally laugh-out-loud book about one woman who has had enough with trying to be positive and say yes to everything and deciding that this year is going to be the opposite, time just for herself and her new rescue dog.
The book did feel more of a will-they-won’t-they love story between Lottie and Seb than her determination not to take part in any events or go on dates she didn’t want to.
Whilst Lottie was a great character I found myself enjoying Seb’s parts more. He was funny, sarcastic and lovable. He had a kind heart and had been through some terrible times in his early Army days which make him feel quite sensitive and vulnerable at times.
If you are after a book that will make you smile throughout and has an enjoyable plot that will keep you turning the pages, plus you like reading about two people who are obviously meant for one another yet they take their time finding that out, then this is a book for you.
After a year from hell in which she was persuaded to have a year saying yes to everything, including numerous terrible dates, on the stroke of midnight New Years� Eve Lottie Wentworth decides that she is going to do the opposite and have a year of saying no to everyone and everything.
She decides to get herself a dog to keep her company as she will be spending more time at home. She also has the gorgeous Seb Marshall who she chats to regularly online but whilst she might have a crush on him she is unwilling to take it further as he is her best client.
Can Lottie actually see the year out saying no to all occasions and could love be in the stars for her and Seb?
My Year of Saying No is a fun, occasionally laugh-out-loud book about one woman who has had enough with trying to be positive and say yes to everything and deciding that this year is going to be the opposite, time just for herself and her new rescue dog.
The book did feel more of a will-they-won’t-they love story between Lottie and Seb than her determination not to take part in any events or go on dates she didn’t want to.
Whilst Lottie was a great character I found myself enjoying Seb’s parts more. He was funny, sarcastic and lovable. He had a kind heart and had been through some terrible times in his early Army days which make him feel quite sensitive and vulnerable at times.
If you are after a book that will make you smile throughout and has an enjoyable plot that will keep you turning the pages, plus you like reading about two people who are obviously meant for one another yet they take their time finding that out, then this is a book for you.
November 21, 2020
This one turned out to be not really my cup of tea, although I'm sure many will enjoy its gentle pacing and sweet romance. Seb was an appealing hero, but actually, not very much at all happened in this book, and I admit I did some skimming. Their online relationship was an OK idea, but the romance moved forward in super slo-mo. Slow-burn taken to the max. And then very little payoff at the end. The 'year of saying no' idea was not very convincing, either. (And what had preceded it). Pretty unrealistic to me.
The plot mainly revolved around some miscommunications and some difficulty in the MCs expressing their real thoughts. Hmmm. I wanted a little more, I have to admit. I got a bit annoyed by the heroine's difficulty in admitting her feelings to Seb. Just say it!!! It got a little tedious, actually. And yeah, she likes to relax in her jammies, but she wears them "70%" of the time. Really?? Just no to that. Get dressed and get involved in real life!
I stuck it out to the end, hoping there would be a marvellous romantic conclusion, but in the end, it wasn't much. Oh well. It was okay, not horrible. But I don't think I'll be seeking out more books by this author. I like a bit more intensity in my romances, and a bit more happening than just inability to express feelings.
The plot mainly revolved around some miscommunications and some difficulty in the MCs expressing their real thoughts. Hmmm. I wanted a little more, I have to admit. I got a bit annoyed by the heroine's difficulty in admitting her feelings to Seb. Just say it!!! It got a little tedious, actually. And yeah, she likes to relax in her jammies, but she wears them "70%" of the time. Really?? Just no to that. Get dressed and get involved in real life!
I stuck it out to the end, hoping there would be a marvellous romantic conclusion, but in the end, it wasn't much. Oh well. It was okay, not horrible. But I don't think I'll be seeking out more books by this author. I like a bit more intensity in my romances, and a bit more happening than just inability to express feelings.
April 15, 2020
Just couldn’t connect with this, I was looking forward to it based on the premise and the start of the book had me interested, but it just lost my interest, too much dialogue, I like slow burn, but this was way too slow. It started with such promise but just seemed to go nowhere. Disappointed.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
April 14, 2020
There is "slow burn" and then there is "comatose burn". This book was the latter. It's a shame because the characters were nice and the premise was good, but this author needs to craft stories with pace and in which the scenes contribute to the story.
This book really struggles with having any sort of intent. It feels like you're running meaningless errands with these two main characters for 90% of the book. There is no spark, no sizzle, and no focus. And the amount of times these two asked each other "are you okay?" and "are you alright?" was extremely annoying. I'm pretty sure that question was included 50 times in this book. But the answer never led anywhere.
Overall this book had promise, but lacked any sort of momentum.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
This book really struggles with having any sort of intent. It feels like you're running meaningless errands with these two main characters for 90% of the book. There is no spark, no sizzle, and no focus. And the amount of times these two asked each other "are you okay?" and "are you alright?" was extremely annoying. I'm pretty sure that question was included 50 times in this book. But the answer never led anywhere.
Overall this book had promise, but lacked any sort of momentum.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
March 13, 2020
Another very enjoyable story from Maxine Morrey.
There were many many occasions where I wanted to either slam Seb and Lottie's heads together, or lock them in a room - either way for them to work out what I'd realised very early on that they would be made for each other!!
Despite the characters not really wanting to admit to their true feelings, much less act on them, the rest of the book did nothing but please me greatly.
I loved the idea of Lottie's year of saying no - well saying no to things she really doesn't want to do, and it's lead to her family viewing her differently and i loved the way it inspired positive changes in her friends lives too.
One thing Lottie though did say yes to, was getting a rescue dog, and Humphrey is just adorable,and he's not even the only dog in this story. I do love dog loving humans!
I really enjoyed Lottie and Seb's interactions, they have such a great connection between them, and I was willing them to see sense continually. Their friends and families were also characters I really liked.
I always enjoy books from this author, and this was no exception. I seem to have scrambled my brain so I can't get my thoughts in order, but I do really recommend it, it's great to while away a few hours from the current horrors of the real world situations. Pure fun escapism.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
There were many many occasions where I wanted to either slam Seb and Lottie's heads together, or lock them in a room - either way for them to work out what I'd realised very early on that they would be made for each other!!
Despite the characters not really wanting to admit to their true feelings, much less act on them, the rest of the book did nothing but please me greatly.
I loved the idea of Lottie's year of saying no - well saying no to things she really doesn't want to do, and it's lead to her family viewing her differently and i loved the way it inspired positive changes in her friends lives too.
One thing Lottie though did say yes to, was getting a rescue dog, and Humphrey is just adorable,and he's not even the only dog in this story. I do love dog loving humans!
I really enjoyed Lottie and Seb's interactions, they have such a great connection between them, and I was willing them to see sense continually. Their friends and families were also characters I really liked.
I always enjoy books from this author, and this was no exception. I seem to have scrambled my brain so I can't get my thoughts in order, but I do really recommend it, it's great to while away a few hours from the current horrors of the real world situations. Pure fun escapism.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 25, 2020
You can find this review of My Year of Saying No on my blog,
A big shoutout to Rachel’s Random Resources and the the publisher, Boldwood Books, for including me in the blog tour and providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot stress enough, how much I related to the protagonist of this story. Be it her introverted needs—like staying at home, choosing to say no to things so on so forth—that all her other friends think isn’t a good sign. People automatically presume that staying in is a boring, unhealthy or unproductive thing to do. I love how much the heroine—though I wish she didn’t have to—stands up, even gently, for herself and her choices. I adored her very very much and I teared up at the same moments she did and enjoyed being inside her head so much! It was a safe and loving place to be.
The rapport and friendship between the protagonists was just so heartwarming. It’s not always easy to write about a friendship that’s already developed, especially between a hero and heroine, BUT, Maxine has nailed it. I felt from the first page how amazingly connected, relaxed and comfortable they were with one another. Seb and Lottie were fantastic friends before they were anything else and I’m going to add MYoSN to my now growing list of books that speak of real and gentle love stories that are just so heart-warming and uplifting to read.
The story flows almost tenderly but without feeling forced or slow, the characters find their balance in their own lives and with one another, clearing the air on their pain and misconceptions and encasing the other with love and appreciation.
My only issue, the smallest, is where I felt I wasn’t wholly convinced by the last issue that came up. Maxine had spoiled me by handing issues very well and taking care of my emotions that I would like for them to be, that I expected the same thing at every turn of the page.
Four stars! This was a definite definite feel good book with a clean romance that I would highly recommend to anyone—especially given the difficult times, this is something you can allow yourself to get lost in and cry happy tears.
A big shoutout to Rachel’s Random Resources and the the publisher, Boldwood Books, for including me in the blog tour and providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot stress enough, how much I related to the protagonist of this story. Be it her introverted needs—like staying at home, choosing to say no to things so on so forth—that all her other friends think isn’t a good sign. People automatically presume that staying in is a boring, unhealthy or unproductive thing to do. I love how much the heroine—though I wish she didn’t have to—stands up, even gently, for herself and her choices. I adored her very very much and I teared up at the same moments she did and enjoyed being inside her head so much! It was a safe and loving place to be.
The rapport and friendship between the protagonists was just so heartwarming. It’s not always easy to write about a friendship that’s already developed, especially between a hero and heroine, BUT, Maxine has nailed it. I felt from the first page how amazingly connected, relaxed and comfortable they were with one another. Seb and Lottie were fantastic friends before they were anything else and I’m going to add MYoSN to my now growing list of books that speak of real and gentle love stories that are just so heart-warming and uplifting to read.
The story flows almost tenderly but without feeling forced or slow, the characters find their balance in their own lives and with one another, clearing the air on their pain and misconceptions and encasing the other with love and appreciation.
My only issue, the smallest, is where I felt I wasn’t wholly convinced by the last issue that came up. Maxine had spoiled me by handing issues very well and taking care of my emotions that I would like for them to be, that I expected the same thing at every turn of the page.
Four stars! This was a definite definite feel good book with a clean romance that I would highly recommend to anyone—especially given the difficult times, this is something you can allow yourself to get lost in and cry happy tears.
March 28, 2020
What do I say when I didn't enjoy a book but yet I stayed up until 4am to finish it? The romance never really went anywhere until the very end which is why I didn't put it down, I kept thinking the next chapter things will start happening. The love interest was an oh so boring, protective, serious male who just didn't come to life. There was just no spark here.
March 12, 2020
This was honestly pretty bad. There was barely any plot - virtual assistant flirts with boss, they meet, a couple of misunderstandings happen like in ANY romance novel, etc - but it's all quite poorly done. A lot of the chapters are just dialogues, but not particularly lively or engaging - they are often meant to be flirty but that did not quite work.. The characters were both irritating - the virtual PA who is super organised and overthinks, and the cute veteran who apparently "grins" every second sentence, and has soooo much wisdom to share with the world.
I cringed a bit more at each chapter. Honestly would not recommend - there are so many good romance novels out there and this is not one of them.
Free ARC received from NetGalley.
I cringed a bit more at each chapter. Honestly would not recommend - there are so many good romance novels out there and this is not one of them.
Free ARC received from NetGalley.
May 11, 2020
This book was very slow. To me it didn’t seem like there was an actual storyline happening. The two main characters just seemed to talk a lot and it felt like the same conversation over and over. Lottie also seemed to think she knew everything and was never wrong which annoyed me. The characters were grinning a lot and I didn’t realise it would annoy me so much but it did. I didn’t know people grinned this often.
I really wish I liked this book, the premise was good and I thought the story would be too but unfortunately this book wasn’t for me
I really wish I liked this book, the premise was good and I thought the story would be too but unfortunately this book wasn’t for me
April 25, 2020
After a year in which she committed to say ‘yes� to every opportunity that came her way, Lottie is fed up and just wants a quiet life. So this year, she’s giving herself permission to stop worrying about what other people want. If she doesn’t want to do something, she’s just going to say No. Starting with the drunk jerk who just propositioned her outside the pub�
Working as a virtual PA, Lottie’s biggest client is Seb, who runs a veterans� support charity. Since they started working together, Seb’s become one of her closest friends, but Lottie works very hard not to let Seb know she has a giant-sized crush on him. Only, after finally meeting him in person, it’s getting more and more difficult!
I’m just going to note here that it’s really nice to read a romance with a disabled protagonist. Seb’s an army veteran who lost most of his leg to an IED in Afghanistan and wears a prosthesis, and he has a few hangups and issues around it, but it never affects how Lottie sees him at all. There’s a nice subplot regarding Seb’s family and some messy relationships where they haven’t really dealt with the emotional fallout of his injury which felt very realistic.
There’s a few misunderstandings which are clearly in service of the plot, but I actually bought into them pretty well because most of them were based in a tenet Lottie was trying hard to stick by; don’t mix work and pleasure. She didn’t want to risk losing her biggest client and one of her best friends by trying to add romance into the mix, and she actually behaved very professionally in turning Seb down when he asked. Of course, it wasn’t going to work because she was already head over heels for him even if she couldn’t acknowledge it to herself, but she was trying.
This is actually the first ‘rom-com� I’ve read in a while which deserves the label. No, it wasn’t laugh-a-minute funny, but it was charming, amusing and very definitely a romance from early on as we met Seb in the first few pages. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’d definitely read more books by this author. Five stars!
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Working as a virtual PA, Lottie’s biggest client is Seb, who runs a veterans� support charity. Since they started working together, Seb’s become one of her closest friends, but Lottie works very hard not to let Seb know she has a giant-sized crush on him. Only, after finally meeting him in person, it’s getting more and more difficult!
I’m just going to note here that it’s really nice to read a romance with a disabled protagonist. Seb’s an army veteran who lost most of his leg to an IED in Afghanistan and wears a prosthesis, and he has a few hangups and issues around it, but it never affects how Lottie sees him at all. There’s a nice subplot regarding Seb’s family and some messy relationships where they haven’t really dealt with the emotional fallout of his injury which felt very realistic.
There’s a few misunderstandings which are clearly in service of the plot, but I actually bought into them pretty well because most of them were based in a tenet Lottie was trying hard to stick by; don’t mix work and pleasure. She didn’t want to risk losing her biggest client and one of her best friends by trying to add romance into the mix, and she actually behaved very professionally in turning Seb down when he asked. Of course, it wasn’t going to work because she was already head over heels for him even if she couldn’t acknowledge it to herself, but she was trying.
This is actually the first ‘rom-com� I’ve read in a while which deserves the label. No, it wasn’t laugh-a-minute funny, but it was charming, amusing and very definitely a romance from early on as we met Seb in the first few pages. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’d definitely read more books by this author. Five stars!
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
March 31, 2020
This book was a joy to read. It was soul soothing, like watching an episode of The British Bake Off. The quiet and easy friendship between Lottie and Seb was refreshing, and it just left me feeling good. It is on my bucket list to have a 'Year of Yes' so the fact that Lottie had done one, hated it and responded with a 'Year of No' was both hilarious and intriguing to me. I think a lot of readers will see themselves in Lottie, she is a really relatable and lovable character who feels like a real person, and not some exaggerated caricature of what a person should be as is often the case in these rom-com type books. I also really loved Seb, his chivalrous and traditional personality was a nice change to the arrogant male archetypes that have become popular in the genre. I have never read a book by this author before but I am definitely planning on reading more now!
September 9, 2020
Maxine Morrey first grabbed my attention and kept it with her dazzling "No Filter." She has a lot of my favourite catnip: interesting heroes, slow build chemistry, fantastic settings and an unputdownable voice. I also like that she uses the trope of romantic comedy to spotlight on some of the deeper issues that plague many of us living in the 21st Century. There is a humanity to balance the sparkling the rom com elements: here grounded with Seb's past experiences and Lottie's feelings of unworthiness.
In both fallible, insecure people they find an uplifting chance at love. It is the bright comedy strokes matched with the undercurrents that had to Morrey's layered stories and keep me wanting to read more.
In both fallible, insecure people they find an uplifting chance at love. It is the bright comedy strokes matched with the undercurrents that had to Morrey's layered stories and keep me wanting to read more.
April 15, 2020
I've read and enjoyed books by Maxine Morrey in the past so jumped at the opportunity to read this one - and I'm so glad I did. This is one of those romances where everyone else knows the couple are meant to be together but the couple themselves aren't acknowledging it to anyone else, even though they know they're attracted they don't believe the other person will be attracted to them. Actually, for some of the time this meant I felt like figuratively banging their heads together - they were so frustrating!
Lottie Wentworth is a virtual PA who has a huge crush on her client Seb Marshall, who is also her friend even though they've never met in reality. They regularly chat and message each other online and on the phone and not only about work. When Lottie and her long term boyfriend broke up, her friend Jess challenged her to have a year of saying yes. Now that year is over, Lottie is determined to have a year of saying no. That's actually brilliant because it means she no longer agrees to do whatever others suggest (like hosting her sister's book club for her) and this causes some unexpected changes in her relationships and how others look at her.
Seb is an army veteran who was seriously injured, losing part of his leg, whilst on duty overseas. He's also harbouring some feelings of guilt that are impacting on his ability to relate to others and sees himself as no longer being whole, even though he's a very attractive, kind and considerate gentleman. When he invites Lottie to go to the theatre with him, will this be the kick start their potential romance needs or will it just fizzle and die?
This is another delightful easy read story from this talented author. There are lots of other great characters in the story, including their families, friends and their dogs. You just have to love Humphrey, especially. If you're looking for a fun read, I highly recommend you go get yourself a copy of this book� to escape into!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and giggling my way through it.
Lottie Wentworth is a virtual PA who has a huge crush on her client Seb Marshall, who is also her friend even though they've never met in reality. They regularly chat and message each other online and on the phone and not only about work. When Lottie and her long term boyfriend broke up, her friend Jess challenged her to have a year of saying yes. Now that year is over, Lottie is determined to have a year of saying no. That's actually brilliant because it means she no longer agrees to do whatever others suggest (like hosting her sister's book club for her) and this causes some unexpected changes in her relationships and how others look at her.
Seb is an army veteran who was seriously injured, losing part of his leg, whilst on duty overseas. He's also harbouring some feelings of guilt that are impacting on his ability to relate to others and sees himself as no longer being whole, even though he's a very attractive, kind and considerate gentleman. When he invites Lottie to go to the theatre with him, will this be the kick start their potential romance needs or will it just fizzle and die?
This is another delightful easy read story from this talented author. There are lots of other great characters in the story, including their families, friends and their dogs. You just have to love Humphrey, especially. If you're looking for a fun read, I highly recommend you go get yourself a copy of this book� to escape into!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and giggling my way through it.
November 17, 2020
I completely enjoyed Lottie's tale. Every now and then I need an adorable rom-com to cleanse the palate of thrillers and angst-filled stories, and this was perfect for that. Warm, romantic, funny and a heroine that I could completely relate to. I think I've been living not just a year of saying no, but a decade of it!! This was a lovely, cozy little escape. Curl up with a blanket, a warm beverage, and spend some time with Lottie.
February 3, 2021
Hmm, an odd book this one. I was tempted to give 4 stars as I genuinely liked the characters and the relationship. The premise of the ‘year of saying no� is a bit off since it sort of fades out part way through and only pops up to lead to an insightful point or event, conveniently.
I found it hard to put my finger on why but somehow all the way through, despite the characters being definitely adult and in adult situations, this book read like a YA/teen book. Something about the very chaste love developing between Lottie and Seb just didn’t ring true and the arguments towards the end of the book felt very melodramatic and much more suited to teen angst. Not that there is anything wrong with YA/teen books, it was just unexpected.
Overall a nice, easy read but not one I’m likely to remember or recommend to others, so 3 stars it is.
I found it hard to put my finger on why but somehow all the way through, despite the characters being definitely adult and in adult situations, this book read like a YA/teen book. Something about the very chaste love developing between Lottie and Seb just didn’t ring true and the arguments towards the end of the book felt very melodramatic and much more suited to teen angst. Not that there is anything wrong with YA/teen books, it was just unexpected.
Overall a nice, easy read but not one I’m likely to remember or recommend to others, so 3 stars it is.
May 3, 2020
Wow oh wow!!
What an absolutely gorgeous read, with utterly amazing characters. I have loved this book so much. It has been an absolute joy to read.
I have loved main characters Lottie and Seb, so much that I’m hoping for a follow up of this book. I have been rooting for them from the start.
This is filled with many ups and downs. A book which will definitely stir up your emotions- but guaranteed to leave you smiling.
This is definitely a book I’d recommend and I can honestly say that this is a heartwarming and magical story which should be on everyone’s TBR.
Definitely a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ worthy book, even though this is highly deserving of five million stars. It is a fantastic read!!
What an absolutely gorgeous read, with utterly amazing characters. I have loved this book so much. It has been an absolute joy to read.
I have loved main characters Lottie and Seb, so much that I’m hoping for a follow up of this book. I have been rooting for them from the start.
This is filled with many ups and downs. A book which will definitely stir up your emotions- but guaranteed to leave you smiling.
This is definitely a book I’d recommend and I can honestly say that this is a heartwarming and magical story which should be on everyone’s TBR.
Definitely a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ worthy book, even though this is highly deserving of five million stars. It is a fantastic read!!
May 17, 2023
The risk with slow burn is that it makes the MCs look lukewarm. These two certainly got together at a very leisurely pace, which dial down the heat significantly. I liked her, though, and he had a good reason for being such an idiot and uncommunicative.
April 22, 2020
While this story was overall enjoyable, I found the main character, Lottie, to be kind of annoying - more so in the first 40% of the book than the latter half.
Getting over all of that, this story was the perfect amount of light-hearted and fun that we need in these really weird and unsettling times. Seb and Lottie have been virtual colleagues for a while now but when the opportunity finally presents itself, it's time to meet in person. Lottie doesn't know how mixing work and a personal relationship will play out but she is determined to keep things platonic, despite the huge crush she's had on him. The two get along wonderfully and after they break the ice, they can't seem to stop wanting to see each other. Lottie has made it her mission to make this next year the year of no, so when she agrees to hang out with Seb it's clear that this is something she wants to him. The problem is that he's her biggest client and this crush isn't going anywhere, so Lottie has to keep her mind in line or else there is quite a bit more than she'd like at risk.
Honestly, I think what was most frustrating in an equally good and bad way was how LONG IT TOOK. It took so long for these characters to figure out what was going on inside their head. It was like reading a book where the characters were in denial.
I enjoyed both of the characters' families but I ESPECIALLY loved Harry and Jess' story.
Overall a good read. Perfect as a beach-side read.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Getting over all of that, this story was the perfect amount of light-hearted and fun that we need in these really weird and unsettling times. Seb and Lottie have been virtual colleagues for a while now but when the opportunity finally presents itself, it's time to meet in person. Lottie doesn't know how mixing work and a personal relationship will play out but she is determined to keep things platonic, despite the huge crush she's had on him. The two get along wonderfully and after they break the ice, they can't seem to stop wanting to see each other. Lottie has made it her mission to make this next year the year of no, so when she agrees to hang out with Seb it's clear that this is something she wants to him. The problem is that he's her biggest client and this crush isn't going anywhere, so Lottie has to keep her mind in line or else there is quite a bit more than she'd like at risk.
Honestly, I think what was most frustrating in an equally good and bad way was how LONG IT TOOK. It took so long for these characters to figure out what was going on inside their head. It was like reading a book where the characters were in denial.
I enjoyed both of the characters' families but I ESPECIALLY loved Harry and Jess' story.
Overall a good read. Perfect as a beach-side read.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2020
Lottie has had a rough year, as many changes hit with a breakup from which her best friend convinced her that she needed to ‘put herself out there more� and ‘say yes�. Now the year has changed and she is more than ready to start to say NO to everything that doesn’t interest her. While not quite retreating into the trope of the “people pleaser� with her past year- she really is craving the ability to start directing her own life and not be at the whim of people who push her further outside of her normal self. She’s ready and willing to grab onto the ‘new her� and she can’t wait to share the news with her friend Seb.
Seb is former military, has more than a bit of a crush on Lottie, and isn’t quite sure how to tell her. When he’s told of her new plan to ‘say no� more often, he’s discouraged and more than a bit disconcerted, thinking that their relationship will change. Although his crush isn’t one-sided � Lottie feels the same for him, but his issues and a bit of back and forth with his dealing with them have her wondering if it is even possible. With her rescue dog Humphrey, she’s started to feel her own independence, knowing she doesn’t NEED a man, but Seb still intrigues her.
Morrey took a clever concept, and put a character into an opposite world: from never saying no to anything and running herself ragged, she’s been given the opportunity to truly decide what she does or does not agree to � without the guilt and second-guessing of her choice that so many of us encounter when trying to redirect and re-consider choices and options. There’s plenty of information and a rather fraught backstory for Seb, the solidity of the friendship between them and the reliance he has on Lottie, even when he’s pretty good at hiding just how much he needs her, is clever and easy to see as well as empathize with. I’m not saying that everyone SHOULD make such an effort as Lottie has � but taking time for yourself and not just ‘saying yes� at the expense of yourself is a novel, if not quite revolutionary act for many. And so very much needed in this life of too many commitments, not enough time, and limited energy to do everything with full effort. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Seb is former military, has more than a bit of a crush on Lottie, and isn’t quite sure how to tell her. When he’s told of her new plan to ‘say no� more often, he’s discouraged and more than a bit disconcerted, thinking that their relationship will change. Although his crush isn’t one-sided � Lottie feels the same for him, but his issues and a bit of back and forth with his dealing with them have her wondering if it is even possible. With her rescue dog Humphrey, she’s started to feel her own independence, knowing she doesn’t NEED a man, but Seb still intrigues her.
Morrey took a clever concept, and put a character into an opposite world: from never saying no to anything and running herself ragged, she’s been given the opportunity to truly decide what she does or does not agree to � without the guilt and second-guessing of her choice that so many of us encounter when trying to redirect and re-consider choices and options. There’s plenty of information and a rather fraught backstory for Seb, the solidity of the friendship between them and the reliance he has on Lottie, even when he’s pretty good at hiding just how much he needs her, is clever and easy to see as well as empathize with. I’m not saying that everyone SHOULD make such an effort as Lottie has � but taking time for yourself and not just ‘saying yes� at the expense of yourself is a novel, if not quite revolutionary act for many. And so very much needed in this life of too many commitments, not enough time, and limited energy to do everything with full effort. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
March 9, 2020
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review.
4 1/2 stars
My Year of Saying No by Maxine Morrey intrigued me because usually it's all about the “yes� so I was really curious to see where the author was taking this story. So after a year of saying Yes because her best friend convinced her to try, Lottie realizes how many things she said yes to, that she really didn't want to do. So saying No was going to help her do the things she really wants to do. The first thing she does is adopt an adorable dog she names Humphrey. The next thing she did was tell her friend Seb about her decision. Well this throws a bit of wrench in Seb's plans because even though he has been interested in Jess for a few years now he was worried he would get caught up in Lottie's year of saying No. This was delightful story about two people who enjoy each others company but are afraid to want more in case it ruins their friendship. I wish we got Seb's pointed of view but other than than I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
4 1/2 stars
My Year of Saying No by Maxine Morrey intrigued me because usually it's all about the “yes� so I was really curious to see where the author was taking this story. So after a year of saying Yes because her best friend convinced her to try, Lottie realizes how many things she said yes to, that she really didn't want to do. So saying No was going to help her do the things she really wants to do. The first thing she does is adopt an adorable dog she names Humphrey. The next thing she did was tell her friend Seb about her decision. Well this throws a bit of wrench in Seb's plans because even though he has been interested in Jess for a few years now he was worried he would get caught up in Lottie's year of saying No. This was delightful story about two people who enjoy each others company but are afraid to want more in case it ruins their friendship. I wish we got Seb's pointed of view but other than than I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
April 14, 2020
This was an absolute joy to read. It felt relaxing and easy to read, which was exactly what I needed! A real cosy book that with characters who feel like old friends.
Seb and Lottie have a beautiful friendship despite Seb being one of Lottie's clients. That being said, the pair of them infuriated me at times by not seeing what was plainly in front of their eyes. It's immediately obvious that the pair belong together but for most of book, they are determined to do anything but admit their feelings for one another.
I loved the concept of the book being about saying 'no' rather than saying 'yes' to everything. She's not forcing herself to do things she doesn't want to or restricting herself from being open to new opportunities either.
Seb is a unique character and I loved that he wasn't the typical hunky male romance archetype. He has more guilt and trauma than he's quite willing to admit as well as being sensitive and caring. He's very chivalrous and considerate of others without exception.
I've read and enjoyed books by Maxine Morrey before and have enjoyed them, this was no exception to this. Another superb book, I always enjoy books by this author.
A perfect read for when the world feels mad, a cosy book you can snuggle up with.
Seb and Lottie have a beautiful friendship despite Seb being one of Lottie's clients. That being said, the pair of them infuriated me at times by not seeing what was plainly in front of their eyes. It's immediately obvious that the pair belong together but for most of book, they are determined to do anything but admit their feelings for one another.
I loved the concept of the book being about saying 'no' rather than saying 'yes' to everything. She's not forcing herself to do things she doesn't want to or restricting herself from being open to new opportunities either.
Seb is a unique character and I loved that he wasn't the typical hunky male romance archetype. He has more guilt and trauma than he's quite willing to admit as well as being sensitive and caring. He's very chivalrous and considerate of others without exception.
I've read and enjoyed books by Maxine Morrey before and have enjoyed them, this was no exception to this. Another superb book, I always enjoy books by this author.
A perfect read for when the world feels mad, a cosy book you can snuggle up with.
April 18, 2020
This was such a fun, witty rom com. Lottie is trying out something new after her best friend had convinced her of having a year of saying "yes". Lottie is over saying yes to everything and is ready to change things up. The first thing she does is adopt a dog named Humphrey.Then as a new year's resolution Lottie is allowing herself to be able to say "No" to things she really doesn''t want to do.
I also enjoyed the relationship between Lottie and Seb, they met online but never in person it was clear to me they had a chemistry that I was very invested in to see if was still there when they met in person.
This is definitely a fun, easy, light, enjoyable read. Perfect for if you need something to take your mind off the current world.
I also enjoyed the relationship between Lottie and Seb, they met online but never in person it was clear to me they had a chemistry that I was very invested in to see if was still there when they met in person.
This is definitely a fun, easy, light, enjoyable read. Perfect for if you need something to take your mind off the current world.
July 1, 2024
What a beautiful and heart warming read. I loved everything about this book and especially how unconventional it was.
Highly recommend it.
Highly recommend it.
July 21, 2020
After a challenging Year of Saying Yes, orchestrated by best friend Jess, virtual PA Lottie has had enough and embarks on a Year of Saying No. This causes upheaval in her life but a steady, reliable influence in the background is client Seb Marshall. Morning and noon he's there, on screen - it was only a matter of time before they met in the flesh...
An addictive will they, won't they, romance, with warmth and humour across every page. Gorgeous Seb is one of those book heroes that makes you wish you could dive into the story to meet him.
An absolute treat!
An addictive will they, won't they, romance, with warmth and humour across every page. Gorgeous Seb is one of those book heroes that makes you wish you could dive into the story to meet him.
An absolute treat!
November 14, 2020
I jumped right into this book after finishing Stuck On You by Portia MacIntosh. This was recommended as a similar fun and flirty romance. It was such a disappointment.
I actually think the book got off to a fairly strong start. At the beginning, the characters only interacted virtually and hadn’t met in person. At this stage, I thought their relationship had a decent amount of sizzle walking the line between professional and something more. Unfortunately once the characters met in person it all started to fall flat. Their conversations were dull and repetitive. At one point, while the characters were supposedly flirting and delaying having to say goodbye to one another, I found myself groaning and praying she would just get in her damn car so the scene could end.
I felt like the writing was much weaker in the middle and end of the book. Unnecessary dialogue, irrelevant characters, uneventful plotlines...this was not at all what I was looking for and I would not recommend this to anyone.
I actually think the book got off to a fairly strong start. At the beginning, the characters only interacted virtually and hadn’t met in person. At this stage, I thought their relationship had a decent amount of sizzle walking the line between professional and something more. Unfortunately once the characters met in person it all started to fall flat. Their conversations were dull and repetitive. At one point, while the characters were supposedly flirting and delaying having to say goodbye to one another, I found myself groaning and praying she would just get in her damn car so the scene could end.
I felt like the writing was much weaker in the middle and end of the book. Unnecessary dialogue, irrelevant characters, uneventful plotlines...this was not at all what I was looking for and I would not recommend this to anyone.
April 24, 2020
My choice for World Book Night 2020.
Lottie used to be the type of person to say yes to everything. Because if she didn't, she felt sad, uncomfortabe and like she'd let herself and others down by not being outgoing or sociable enough.
She has a good friend Jess and one New Year's Eve, they are remembering how the year went. They both want to have a change in the new year but of the two Lottie is more reluctant at first. She's more comfortable spending her days at home in her PJs when not working as a virtual personal assistant.
With some persuading, she comes round to the idea of wanting change but is not sure how to go about it. Then, she suggests having a year of saying yes rather than no. But can she do it?
Small steps first. She has met a guy called Seb online through work and he's a client she regularly video calls, but that's it. They have never met in person.
She feels lonely and decides to adopt the cutest dog who she names Humphry. He boosts her confidence and she keeps chatting to Seb.
He has his own challenges having been in the army. Despite his injuries, he has fought to rebuild his life.
I have to say, I found Lottie's job as a virtual personal assistant a unique job choice and very fitting for the plot since in a job like this she didn't have to have much contact with people.
She seemed chatty and sociable but a little unsure still. I loved the spa scenes!
Can she meet Seb? What will happen when she does?
My Year of Saying No is a novel with very short chapters but I did find that it took me a time to get into. There were some parts where there was more happening than in others and some did drag a little. I found Seb's job choice clichéd, and wanted the characters to be more developed.
I have listened to other books with injured army officers and romance and I have to say I was more engrossed in them.
I think it was the lack of background and atmosphere in this novel as well as the incredibly slow burning pace of the romantic parts that made the book not really grab ne.
I felt good that Lottie came up with her own idea to spice up her life and I was rooting for her, but on the whole I would have liked to have connected with the characters more. I liked her and Seb together but wanted slightly hotter scenes.
Humphry was so cute! He was what helped the story for me.
If you're looking for a very clean, slow-burning romance about two people who are trying to find their places in the world after living traumas, than this is for you.
I prefer more action, description and more fleshed out characters and surroundings. I felt interested, but not sucked in and my mind wandered at the times when there wasn't much happening. I would have loved more internal dialogue and individual reactions to each trauma.
I loved the cover!
Thanks to Maxine Morrey and Boldwood Books for me ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
3.5 stars.
Lottie used to be the type of person to say yes to everything. Because if she didn't, she felt sad, uncomfortabe and like she'd let herself and others down by not being outgoing or sociable enough.
She has a good friend Jess and one New Year's Eve, they are remembering how the year went. They both want to have a change in the new year but of the two Lottie is more reluctant at first. She's more comfortable spending her days at home in her PJs when not working as a virtual personal assistant.
With some persuading, she comes round to the idea of wanting change but is not sure how to go about it. Then, she suggests having a year of saying yes rather than no. But can she do it?
Small steps first. She has met a guy called Seb online through work and he's a client she regularly video calls, but that's it. They have never met in person.
She feels lonely and decides to adopt the cutest dog who she names Humphry. He boosts her confidence and she keeps chatting to Seb.
He has his own challenges having been in the army. Despite his injuries, he has fought to rebuild his life.
I have to say, I found Lottie's job as a virtual personal assistant a unique job choice and very fitting for the plot since in a job like this she didn't have to have much contact with people.
She seemed chatty and sociable but a little unsure still. I loved the spa scenes!
Can she meet Seb? What will happen when she does?
My Year of Saying No is a novel with very short chapters but I did find that it took me a time to get into. There were some parts where there was more happening than in others and some did drag a little. I found Seb's job choice clichéd, and wanted the characters to be more developed.
I have listened to other books with injured army officers and romance and I have to say I was more engrossed in them.
I think it was the lack of background and atmosphere in this novel as well as the incredibly slow burning pace of the romantic parts that made the book not really grab ne.
I felt good that Lottie came up with her own idea to spice up her life and I was rooting for her, but on the whole I would have liked to have connected with the characters more. I liked her and Seb together but wanted slightly hotter scenes.
Humphry was so cute! He was what helped the story for me.
If you're looking for a very clean, slow-burning romance about two people who are trying to find their places in the world after living traumas, than this is for you.
I prefer more action, description and more fleshed out characters and surroundings. I felt interested, but not sucked in and my mind wandered at the times when there wasn't much happening. I would have loved more internal dialogue and individual reactions to each trauma.
I loved the cover!
Thanks to Maxine Morrey and Boldwood Books for me ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
3.5 stars.
April 16, 2020
Maxine Morrey’s books always make for delightful reading and she is back with an effervescent, sparkling and compelling romantic comedy that is sure to brighten up anyone’s day: My Year of Saying No.
For most people, the New Year heralds new opportunities and daring adventures � but on January 1st, Lottie Wentworth wants absolutely none of that. She spent 365 days saying yes to everything after the acrimonious break-up of her relationship and promising her best friend to stop hiding in the shadows and she is now looking forward to retreating back to her quiet and sedate life. Forget about throwing herself into everything, it’s time for Lottie to spend a year saying a vehement no to whatever does not strike her fancy. However, there is someone she finds it hard to say no to � her crush and friend, Army Veteran Seb Marshall.
Lottie might have a mammoth crush on Seb, but she is working on not making a fool of herself and on keeping her emotions at bay. But that is easier said than done. With rescue dog Humphrey by her side, Lottie knows that she does not need a man to be happy and now that she is saying no to everything and not running around like a headless chicken trying to please everybody while putting herself on the backburner, Lottie knows that happiness can be within reach. But with her crush on Seb showing no signs of abating, maybe, just maybe some much needed change in Lottie’s life could be good for her�.or will it?
As Lottie’s actions and determination send ripple effects throughout her life and of those closest to her, will she find herself regretting her stubborn resolve to say no to everything � as saying yes might just provide her with all the joy and happiness she has been looking for for so long.
My Year of Saying No is a fun, uplifting and captivating read that is just perfect for curling up with. Maxine Morrey sprinkles her story with all the heart, humour and warmth she has become known for and has created a fabulous read about taking chances, stepping out of your comfort zone and second chances. Lottie is a lovely heroine you are going to absolutely adore alongside a terrific cast of supporting characters sure to bring a smile to your face.
As feel-good and invigorating as a chat with your best friend over a couple of glasses of wine, My Year of Saying No is an irresistible and immensely enjoyable read you will love.
For most people, the New Year heralds new opportunities and daring adventures � but on January 1st, Lottie Wentworth wants absolutely none of that. She spent 365 days saying yes to everything after the acrimonious break-up of her relationship and promising her best friend to stop hiding in the shadows and she is now looking forward to retreating back to her quiet and sedate life. Forget about throwing herself into everything, it’s time for Lottie to spend a year saying a vehement no to whatever does not strike her fancy. However, there is someone she finds it hard to say no to � her crush and friend, Army Veteran Seb Marshall.
Lottie might have a mammoth crush on Seb, but she is working on not making a fool of herself and on keeping her emotions at bay. But that is easier said than done. With rescue dog Humphrey by her side, Lottie knows that she does not need a man to be happy and now that she is saying no to everything and not running around like a headless chicken trying to please everybody while putting herself on the backburner, Lottie knows that happiness can be within reach. But with her crush on Seb showing no signs of abating, maybe, just maybe some much needed change in Lottie’s life could be good for her�.or will it?
As Lottie’s actions and determination send ripple effects throughout her life and of those closest to her, will she find herself regretting her stubborn resolve to say no to everything � as saying yes might just provide her with all the joy and happiness she has been looking for for so long.
My Year of Saying No is a fun, uplifting and captivating read that is just perfect for curling up with. Maxine Morrey sprinkles her story with all the heart, humour and warmth she has become known for and has created a fabulous read about taking chances, stepping out of your comfort zone and second chances. Lottie is a lovely heroine you are going to absolutely adore alongside a terrific cast of supporting characters sure to bring a smile to your face.
As feel-good and invigorating as a chat with your best friend over a couple of glasses of wine, My Year of Saying No is an irresistible and immensely enjoyable read you will love.
April 17, 2020
I received an e-ARC from the publisher/author via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book in any way.
Slow-burn, employer/employee, friends-to-lovers romance - My Year of Saying No has everything I love in romance fiction. It's also British and it tells of a heroine who is an introvert. But somehow, it fell short in some aspects.
I love how slow-burn it is. I actually enjoyed following Lottie and Seb's relationship, from mere employee-employer to friends and eventually to two people who are obviously in love with each other. But I only enjoyed it because I'm a major sucker for slow-burn. That said, I don't think this pacing will work for everyone, even the ones who love slow-burn. The pacing is really slow. Not every scene is interesting. There's no rise and fall of the plot, mostly it's just straight line.
I do love the main characters. Lottie is very relatable for me. Her joy lies not in going out but on her couch in her pajamas and tea in hand. Later, she also got herself a pet dog who is absolutely precious. Lottie is also very kind-hearted and committed to her work. She's very likable. Seb, on the other hand, is very admirable. He's an army veteran and does charity works for other veterans. Lottie is his virtual assistant. Seb also has a prosthetic leg. I think the author did a good job of showing the reality of Seb's situation. Like how it affected his past relationships and his effort to have one. By the way, I don't judge his ex and the women he tries to date who end up realizing they can't live with Seb's situation. I'm actually thankful that this book is in Lottie's POV so there's never a scene with Seb and these women. And he also has his own dog.
Finally, I want to stress how positive this book is. Despite its title, My Year of Saying No, this book actually exudes so much positivity, which I think is already obvious because of the characters. I just didn't get any negative vibe from reading it which is really nice.
Slow-burn, employer/employee, friends-to-lovers romance - My Year of Saying No has everything I love in romance fiction. It's also British and it tells of a heroine who is an introvert. But somehow, it fell short in some aspects.
I love how slow-burn it is. I actually enjoyed following Lottie and Seb's relationship, from mere employee-employer to friends and eventually to two people who are obviously in love with each other. But I only enjoyed it because I'm a major sucker for slow-burn. That said, I don't think this pacing will work for everyone, even the ones who love slow-burn. The pacing is really slow. Not every scene is interesting. There's no rise and fall of the plot, mostly it's just straight line.
I do love the main characters. Lottie is very relatable for me. Her joy lies not in going out but on her couch in her pajamas and tea in hand. Later, she also got herself a pet dog who is absolutely precious. Lottie is also very kind-hearted and committed to her work. She's very likable. Seb, on the other hand, is very admirable. He's an army veteran and does charity works for other veterans. Lottie is his virtual assistant. Seb also has a prosthetic leg. I think the author did a good job of showing the reality of Seb's situation. Like how it affected his past relationships and his effort to have one. By the way, I don't judge his ex and the women he tries to date who end up realizing they can't live with Seb's situation. I'm actually thankful that this book is in Lottie's POV so there's never a scene with Seb and these women. And he also has his own dog.
Finally, I want to stress how positive this book is. Despite its title, My Year of Saying No, this book actually exudes so much positivity, which I think is already obvious because of the characters. I just didn't get any negative vibe from reading it which is really nice.
April 20, 2020
This is definitely a slow burning romance filled with laughs to boot. Lottie is a dear and after one too many bad date stories from her past, I totally get why she'd right off finding love for her career toot suite. Funny thing about love though...it often finds us when we're least expecting. Enter the object of her noteworthy crush, Seb Marshall. I gotta hand it to her, she stuck to her guns! Lottie harbored that crush like Fort Knox harbors currency, and there was nothing that could break down her defensive walls. Nope. Not a thing...or so she thought.
In the end, it provided the happy ending we were after with only tender tears to shed. You'll be rooting for the love connections throughout the story, while also shedding a few pounds laughing at their antics and banter. A definite must read to get you out of your head space whether you're a part of the self-quarantine crowd or one of the many essential workers out on the front lines.
**ebook provided for review; opinions are my own
In the end, it provided the happy ending we were after with only tender tears to shed. You'll be rooting for the love connections throughout the story, while also shedding a few pounds laughing at their antics and banter. A definite must read to get you out of your head space whether you're a part of the self-quarantine crowd or one of the many essential workers out on the front lines.
**ebook provided for review; opinions are my own
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