I tried. It was an okay book but from the beginning I wasn't super into it. I wish I liked though, since the concept is amazing! I will still try the author's other books though. The description sounds amazing, but the book wasn't.

I used to read Jill Mansell books quite a bit, around the time this book was originally published, but it isn't one of her best and seems very dated now,
There's a huge cast - a Cotswold village full of characters and it is quite a long rambling story for all "aliento have their scenes included.
However enjoyable it would have been it has been adapted for the US market and so has grating terminology. As an example, apart from cookies and diapers and other obvious changes, the wife of a wealthy film star is stood in the grounds of her country home and discusses her affairs with a neighbour "in the backyard" which suggests Coronations Street rather than Millionaires row! I wonder just how necessary it was for the poor American readers to have every reference to biscuit changed?
The actual story is a revamp f a cosy People[s Friend type serial with the addition of a few, then shocking, elements.
It is readable, but not as funny or as endearing as many ofhte author's other books.

This was my first Jill Mansell and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was a fun, dramatic and quick read. Definitely going to read more of Mansell's work.

While I absolutely like Jill Mansell, Head Over Heels is so far to be a favorite. Sure, I still think it is a fun read as always, but there are just too many characters at play and so expect multiple POVs, too. And while I don’t mind reading books with multiple POVs and I know the author is fond of such, this book just has too much of that. I feel like because of that, the main characters weren’t given enough space to properly develop. Also, because of the several characters, there are too many storylines to follow that it gets confusing at times. It also made the book a bit too long and dragging, as some stories are not as interesting as the others. Another too much is the infidelity. I’m telling you, it’s upsetting how much cheating is going on and how the others whom you think has more sense are at it, too. One thing I like is the setting, a small English town in a countryside, which sounds really lovely.

As this is a Jill Mansell book, expect a lot of laughs and for that, I still enjoyed reading it. Would I recommend it, though? Sure, if you’re a Chick Lit and Jill Mansell lover and looking for a good laugh, you could give this one a try.

This is one of the books that made me fall in love with Jill Mansell books. It's fantastic and so relatable!

When an old boyfriend, Toby(a famous actor) moves back into the village, Jessie is shocked and worried. She has never told him that he has a son. A son that is now grown and starting his own life. But a son that looks an awful lot like his father.

Toby isn't thrilled to know that he had a son who grew up without knowing him, but adapts quickly. His beautiful wife accepts the situation with grace, although that may be because her attentions are frequently elsewhere, they seem to have a don't ask, don't tell type of marriage.

There is some weirdness as Toby's daughter seems to think she's in romantic love with her new brother -that provided a little ick factor. In the meantime, there's a local bachelor falling in love with a messy divorcee. And Toby and Jessie are finding their attraction may be rekindled.

Another great Jill Mansell book - it's so easy to get lost in her characters! It always makes me want to move to England because it seems like all you have to do to find your true love is to move to a new neighborhood! She usually doesn't write so many cheating characters though, that was a bit of a bummer.

This author never disappoints with another enjoyable read. This book blends family ,, secrets and romance seamlessly to a pleasing story. A very nice afternoon read that is uplifting and fun to read.

Head of Heels was just what I was looking for at the moment. Light, funny, clever it is a story of love and romance, but also of friendship. Mansell has a very chatty, readable style and I am sure I will be reading more of her books in the future!

Book blurb...

"Witty and warm."—RT Book Reviews for Three Amazing Things About You, 4 Stars

Welcome to Jill Mansell's wonderful world! In the picturesque village of Upper Sisley, everyone thinks they know their neighbors, but nobody knows what scandalous surprise is going to happen next.

1. An unexpected reunion between two former lovers changes both their families forever.
2. Old friendships fade and new ones blossom as neighbors begin to see one another in a new light.
3. A young woman finally asks for what she really wants, a young man atones for bad behavior, and both find that courage brings its own rewards.

PLUS!
Surprises, companionship, crossed wires and self-discovery in a story that will leave you completely satisfied, and begging for more.

"Full of heart and surprises...will captivate readers."—Booklist for Three Amazing Things About You

My thoughts…

Is this a new book? It seemed very familiar, and therefore I did not finish.

This was a lovely, easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of this tight knit community in a small village where everyone knows everyone......and everyone else's business. Jessie and Lilli are best friends, and lead seemingly uncomplicated lives, however, we soon find out that Jessie's past is about to catch up with her and her son, and Lilli's life is about to take an exciting turn. There were a lot of characters in this book. They all gave to the story in a beautiful manner, though at times I did have to remind myself who was who due to the number of names and people involved. The people of a small village are all impacted in some way when a famous actor moves in, unsettling quite a few of the villagers. Some of the characters were very amusing, Lilis nosey mother in law in particular, Moll the 'easy' barmaid; some were annoying, Micheal the male chauvinist husband of Lili, Deborah the conceited wife; some were just funny, poor Dizzy, son of said actor, Toby Gillespie, whom I pictured as very handsome and charming. All in all a great read, if a bit of a busy storyline! Highly recommended. I would definitely read more by Jill Mansell and am grateful to NetGalley for the arc of this book.

Reminiscent of Jilly Cooper… Rural village life seems to be a hotbed of romance and affairs. Everyone poking their noses into their neighbours’ business. Throw in a celebrity couple and mayhem ensues. An easy read – probably best read by the pool with a cocktail in hand.

Of all the Jill Mansell books I've read -- and I've read many -- I think this has to be my least favorite.

It starts out pretty good with a small town atwitter over a big time movie tar celebrity couple moving into their town. Only one of the townspeople, Jessie, was in love with and had the secret baby of the male half of the movie star couple 21 years ago. So his moving to town is threatening to unearth one of her biggest secrets.

But soon this central plot point gets overshadowed by all the other stuff that happens in the book: Philandering husbands, secretly gay husbands, transgender husbands, philandering wives, promiscuous doctors, questionable paternity, meddling mothers-in-law, petulant teens etc.

Usually this author is able to manage multiple storylines and large casts of characters with charm, wit and a deft hand in keeping the story moving , fun and readable. For for some reason this one felt rather meandering, lacked focus, and none of the characters had any of the charm I am used to seeing in her books. My feelings for the characters ranged from exasperation to downright dislike.

Not a winner for me.

I'm currently on vacation and this was the perfect vacation read! I loved every second of it - the characters and story line are so rich and vibrant and really hook you in!

I love Jill Mansell books but felt this was not one of her best. It is still a good book for a light hearted, easy read but it felt dated with its reference to the Spice Girls and other little observations and I have read much more rounded and well developed characters from this author.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of this book. I really enjoyed it. The book was a quick read and a British author, always a plus. The several story lines once established grabbed you and didn't let go until you were finished. I will definitely be recommending this book to several of my friends.

Every time I read one of Jill Mansell's books, I wish with every breath that I could live in their settings. That certainly is the case with this book, which continues to prove Mansell's point that the best fun is to be had in small English villages.

Jessie, Lili, and Drew are the primary cogs in the wheel, and each struggles with perhaps not being head over heels. I mean, think about it. Your head is supposed to be over your heels, right? "Head over heels" implies a certain amount of level thinking. All three main characters dearly need to think a little less and feel a little (a lot) more.

Jessie is a single parent to a 21-year-old son, leading a quiet, tidy life. When a former lover moves in down the street from her, that tidy, quiet life gets upended. Feelings linger, even two decades on. But feelings are messy. It's easier to have her head over her heels.

Lili might as well be a single parent. Her husband spends months at a time working in Dubai, leaving her to tend to their three children, plus take care of an additional child, plus manage her mother-in-law. If Lili were to listen to her gut--if she were to listen to her heart--she might find that her head is misleading her.

One of the village veterinarians, Drew wants a woman. He has an idea of what she ought to look like, and he is ready for her. Granted, sometimes he only wants her for an hour or two. But he wants her. For the most part, though, he approaches life with an even keel. He isn't one to give into rambunctious emotions.

Mansell populates this book with a host of characters, including spouses, children, coworkers, and lovers. Nearly all harbor a secret or two, some more obvious than others, and most of them are more of the "heels over head" variety, operating on instinct rather than thought. One of the exceptions is Lil's mother-in-law, a horrifying woman who will make you laugh, even though the thought of you laughing at her would send her into paroxysms of furor.

My only complaint about this book is its robust cast. Some characters get a short shrift, whereas others have a bit too much time given to them. There were times when I wanted the focus to be spent more on Jessie, Lili, and Drew.

The central question here is how you approach love. Do you give into your carnal needs and ignore emotions? Do your feelings inform your decisions? Do you run from your heart or do you run to it? Through her characters, Mansell shows you how we seek, approach, and accept love, letting you find yourself in their stories.

Happy to see more Mansell published in the US. I first read this after buying it in Heathrow years ago. It's not the best of her books (IMHO) but it's a good example of her sometimes complicated but engaging casts of characters. This time around, we're following the ups and downs of old romance between Jessie and Toby which resulted in a son. Other residents in their Cotswald village (love the setting!) all have something to say. This is not exactly checklist as there are marriages and other things at stake but it's lighter than it could be. It makes for a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of the US edition. Try it if you haven't read Mansell before.

Jill Mansell will always have a special place in my heart, as hers was the very first contemporary romance book that I read. I’ve read all Jill’s books over the years, and always look forward to the next one. ‘Head Over Heels’ didn’t disappoint – beautifully written with plenty of romance, humour, warmth, wit, and fun. There is so much going on in the English village of Upper Sisley, but not so much that the reader gets confused. A fabulous read which I would highly recommend!

My Disclaimer:

I was provided a free copy of this book by the author’s representative. I am voluntarily providing an honest review in which all opinions are fully my own. I am not being compensated in any way.

~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review

My Review: ✰✰✰✰

Jill Mansell always writes a good story and this is no exception. But this time there were so many people involved that I simply had trouble keeping them all straight, who was who and who was with who. The main characters were easy, but all those secondary characters kept getting mixed up on me. I couldn’t always remember who was in which family.

The love affair was 20 years behind them, but that didn’t keep it from flaring to life as soon as they kissed again. She wanted to do what was right by them all, but he just wanted her. Never mind his children by his current wife or his current wife.

This is one cheating story. It seemed like everyone in the village was cheating on someone or being cheated on. Or not who they seemed to be. Michael was cheating on Lili twice over. Deborah was cheating on Tobey when it was exciting. Bernadette was who she appeared to be but not who she’d always been. And she had lied to Eleanor about who she was. But no one told Eleanor anymore than they could help since she was bound to judge it first by her own interpretation and then tell the whole village.

But it’s Jill Mansell, so in the end, everyone gets their chance at HEA, even Eleanor and Deborah. I highly recommend another Jill Mansell masterpiece. I have two more on my soon-to-read list.

Another great book from Jill Mansell. Enjoyable and easy to read story. Full of fun!

Quiet life in the village is interupted when a star moves to town. Lots of different characters and stories interwoven into the book, but easy to keep up with the story.

Thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book to review.