Jess has not had any luck with finding a good man. After leaving a bad relationship with little to nothing, she camps out in a cemetery until it gets too cold. She takes refuge in a vacant house, being very careful not to make her presence known. When the new homeowner shows up, she is surprised to find one of the kindest most patient humans she has ever met. Trusting people and opening up is not easy for Jess but slowly Gethin(the homeowner) is able to help Jess trust again.

I really enjoyed this book. Jackie Fraser delivers a slow burn romance that I couldn't put down. The story is about a woman who runs away from her old life towards the possibility of a new one. It's great to read a story about a heroine who is not a twenty something at the beginning of life, but a woman who made choices and needs a fresh start. Great book!

What a heartwarming tale of second chances. The premise seems a little crazy, because who let's what is essentially a homeless squatter stay in your newly purchased house? But as their friendship grows into something more, the beauty of taking chances and hoping for something great overpowers the ridiculousness of it all in the end.

Thank you you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the digital copy for my review.

I love Jackie Fraser for writing loves stories for those we don't see that often: 35-50 year olds. Reading about 45 year old Jess still feeling as though she doesn't know what she's doing with her life makes me feel better about being almost 29 and still wondering what I want to do. We need more stories like this to remind ourselves that there is no set way to live your life, and there's nothing wrong with having it all figured out at age 20 or not figured out at age 50. We all go at our own pace.

As for the friends-to-lovers romance, this story was so sweet! Set over the course of about a year and a half, the slow burn is lovely to watch as neither Gethin nor Jess wants to ruin the new platonic relationship that they have developed (even though it's clear to everyone how in love they are).

Giving this one about a 4/5 because while I really did enjoy it, it's not high up on my list of my favorite novels ever. There are a few aspects that bugged me, and it was just an above average love story. However, I do think that this is a lovely novel that almost anyone would enjoy, and I can see it being a good pick for a cozy romance book club. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an older age love story that doesn't have high stakes and is ultimately just a very cozy read.

3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up instead of down simply because the premise is a bit of a stretch. This is a very low angst, simple, quiet and straightforward contemporary romance. I enjoyed the characters. Our female MC is pretty self-aware and comfortable with who she is (the male MC is also, come to think of it). I think that's why it's low angst. And they are both older characters (in their 40's) so they are past a lot of the drama that might ensure. I really enjoyed a nice breath of CR fresh air with this one.

I really loved The Bookshop of Second Chances, by Jackie Fraser, so I was excited for The Beginning of Everything. I didn't love this one as much as the former, it was more like a 3.5-star read for me, but I still really enjoyed it. I was completely invested in the characters and their backgrounds. The introduction to our love interests is a little strange, But other than that it was a fun read.

📖My Thoughts📖

This was the second book I read by this author and goodness, it most definitely won’t be my last. She knows just how to hit you in all the feels, bringing all the emotions out. I allowed this book to just completely pull me in, shutting out the world around me. I loved the simplistic yet powerful relationship that develops between the two main characters. It was such a moving and heart wrenching story. While there was some romance between the two lingering yet seemingly tucked to the side as though it were two teenagers that were shy and ignoring the obvious, the friendship they developed over time was far more powerful and elicit. As with all books, there are mixed reviews, but for me, it was a fairly well written and enjoyable read. I’ll be on the lookout for more books by Ms. Fraser in the future.
Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing and Jackie Fraser for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Look, I know we're not here to read romance novels because they're realistic, but I was pretty frustrated by the implausibility of some of the characters' behaviors in this book. It distracted me from anything else I might have enjoyed.

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

This book got off to a very slow start, but then it got better from there.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing me with an eARC of The Beginning of Everything in exchange for my honest review!

This friends-to-lovers tale isn't one of the best romances I've ever read, but it boasts enough breezy charm to help me be a little more forgiving toward its flaws. To get those elements out of the way first, I think it's implausible for Gethin to let Jess stay with him here. Then there's this strange penchant that Jess's narration has for constantly ending trains of thought on questions, which adds a jarring uncertainty to the tone. Other little aspects like these bugged me, but thankfully they're not major enough that they drive me to dislike the book outright. I still like following along with Jess and Gethin's dynamic as they gradually bond together and learn about each other's lives. Their dialogue flows along smoothly and convinces me that they're truly comfortable in this space they're sharing. And the third act is handled quite well, leaving me feeling satisfied once I turn the last page.

Overall, I'm officially rating The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser three out of five stars. I don't think this is something I'd reread, but I had a good time with it while it lasted, and I'd be up for diving into more of Fraser's writing.

Such a wonderful story and yet hard for me to describe why. There were so many insightful commentaries about life in general that really struck me. Both characters are starting over, looking for second chances, making this friends to lovers book a new favorite. The slow burn feels genuine and therefore the love that comes after. If you like details in your story that are insightful, vulnerable, and genuine, this will be a winner for you, too.

I never thought I’d give "The Beginning of Everything" four stars. The premise is ridiculous: a man finds a homeless woman living in his newly purchased home and invites her to stay. Because most people would call the cops on her, not say, “Hey! You can continue to live here if you help renovate the house.” It’s such an unbelievable response to the situation.

But that’s how this love story begins, with Gethin finding Jess squatting in his new house and offering her a place to stay. And then you follow along as their relationship moves from landlord-tenant to roommates to friends to maybe more.

I was so skeptical about all of it, especially when Gethin tells Jess he’ll put her on his car insurance. I mean, really? Who does that? But my skepticism fell away as their relationship evolved, and before I knew it, I had fallen in love with the love between these two damaged, middle-aged people.

Jackie Fraser has written a heartfelt romance about gathering the courage to love again when you’re old enough to know you may be better on your own. You just have to accept the story’s initial absurdity to see the beauty of it.


My sincerest appreciation to Jackie Fraser, Dell, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

While I didn't have any specific issue with this book, it just wasn't what I was expecting and hoping for. I still greatly appreciated the opportunity to read it, and I know not every book I read is going to resonate with me. However, I would still highly recommend this beautiful tale for other bookworms, as it might be for them.

3.5 This book I feel like should be categorized more as women lit than romance in this story following Jess a women in her 40s who was fleeing a bad relationship. We follow Jess as she moves to a new town with no where to go she finds her self breaking into an abandoned house to camp while she saved up money for her own place. That is until Gethen shows up having bought the house getting ready to remodel. Gethen catches Jess and decides he can use her help remodel in exchange for a place to live.

This book was a little darker topic than I was expecting for a romance. I enjoyed that it was different just wasn’t expecting it. I enjoyed them becoming friends and them helping each other through their struggles but if you are looking for a steamy romance this is not it. I did like the writing and might pick up more from this author in the future. I would like to thank net galley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I just devoured this story. I read it pretty much in one sitting, Just wonderful slow burn romance. My apologies for the late review, I fell a bit behind.

In "The Beginning of Everything" by Jackie Fraser, readers are treated to a heartwarming friends-to-lovers story that radiates with resilience, hope, and the promise of new beginnings. Jess, determined to leave a toxic relationship behind, finds herself on a journey of self-discovery, carrying only a few cherished belongings. Her path crosses with Gethin Thomas, who is also seeking a fresh start after the end of a long-term relationship. The two characters, both in need of a new beginning, find themselves unexpectedly sharing a recently sold, unoccupied house. What starts as a practical arrangement, with Jess helping in the renovation in exchange for room and board, evolves into a beautifully unexpected friendship as they bond over shared interests in music and food.

Fraser skillfully weaves a tale of healing and connection as Jess and Gethin navigate the restoration of the house and, in the process, restore a sense of hope in each other. The narrative unfolds with warmth and charm, capturing the essence of the characters' vulnerabilities and the gradual opening of their hearts. The author explores themes of friendship, resilience, and the transformative power of second chances as Jess, with a painful past, grapples with the possibility of love again. "The Beginning of Everything" is not just a charming tale of a budding romance; it's a testament to the courage required to embrace new opportunities and the healing that can arise from unexpected connections. Fraser's storytelling invites readers to root for the characters' journey, making this novel a delightful exploration of love and the transformative potential that lies within the courage to start anew.

This is a cute story about our leading lady Jess who escapes a really difficult life and we follow her on her journey to a second chance. She meets Gethin who strikes a deal with her to allow her a place to stay. We are then taken on a journey into their slow burn blossoming romance. Sweet story!

I wanted to love this soooo bad because the premise is right up my alley, but where was the chemistry?? The story was pretty depressing and I just didn't like Jess and Gethin together.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This one just really wasn’t for me. I liked the premise, and I enjoyed bits of it, but it also felt super unrealistic to me that someone could feel so comfortable with having a complete stranger live in their house.

Also, the style of writing bothered me with how every dialogue seemed to end on a questions.
"It's cold out here, isn't it?"
"That bad, was it?"
I found myself cringing every time and it kept pulling me out of the story. Normally this stuff doesn't bother me but I think it was used so much that it just really bothered me.

A beautiful story about two people finding each other in the most unusual predicament - a friends to lovers slow burn romance to be cherished. What a beautiful story! Enjoyed it a lot