I connected with Tina so much! As I have dealt with this big milestone recently this book felt so relevant. I don’t believe I’ve read anything from Ms. Bohnet before, but I would definitely grab another.

*I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Another great read by Jennifer Bohnet. This book kept me interested till the end. Some outcomes where obvious but didn’t spoil the enjoyment. Would love a sequel to see what happens with these characters.

I guess I just expected more from the story? I never managed to connect with neither Jodie nor Tina and tbh the plot was a bit bland. I find myself more curious about Maisie compared to Jodie and Tina. I think the 3rd person pov might play a part there. I love the setting though, it's so vivid as the authors lived in both UK and France.

This book started off really well. Strong willed women who make their dreams happen by making tough choices and working hard at them. A woman starting her own business, and another taking a leap of faith and moving abroad. I loved the concept and it was sweet. However the end was a bit too moralistic for me.

This book is really slow and hard to really get into. While the characters are struggling to really find themselves in this book I was just hoping for more excitement and adventure. By chapter 4 I was ready to check out of this book.

This is a lighthearted novel sure to please romantic comedy/chick lit fans. It’s a great story about friendship.

Best friends Tina and Jodie make a pact that if their lives haven't changed by their 30th birthday's that they would move to Wales and raise alpacas and cats. They should their agreement into the cosmos and New Years Eve to the background of fireworks.

Well if you are wanting alpaca farming you have come to the wrong book as their lives do start to change. The chapters alternate between Jodie now living in France, and Tina who is in London and taken in the most unlikely of lodgers.

I loved reading about both of these ladies lives and seeing how over the course of the book that they changed. There are huge secrets to be discovered in both their storylines, one of which made me feel really emotional.

What I loved the most was that Tina is a literary agent, and the descriptions of the preparations for London Book Fair felt so real to me having attended this year myself.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and found myself whizzing through the pages. I am a huge fan of this author and this was one of her most enjoyable. I can't finish this review without mentioning the cover - just how gorgeous is it? Complete fits in with the story and so strikingly pretty!

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A lighthearted read about two friends and their attempts to reach their life goals. Tina is finding that her life isn't changing at all, while Jodie's life has changed almost too much after getting married, quitting her job, and moving to France. Both friends go through major transitions throughout the year and get a bit closer to reaching their goals. This book is happy and well-written, and the perfect read when you want something light.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Tina and Jodie are best friends with a “life checklist” and changes on the horizon. A New Year’s pledge had them asking the cosmos for big changes before they turned 30, and the universe answered. PR specialist Jodie is introduced to a high-flying author by literary agent Tina, and surprisingly for both of them – Jodie was romanced and soon in love with Ben: only to move to France and be married soon after. Left behind in London, Jodie is increasingly uncomfortable and feeling unsettled in the small literary agency, a series of ‘mishaps’ orchestrated by the new junior in the office start a niggling thought about her own agency, as well as a general sense of loneliness and ‘samey samey’ as Jodie’s move to France left her apartment far too quiet.

Enter several options - from a chance meeting with a uni friend brings Tina to meeting Maisie, a just twenty year old girl who followed her long-term boyfriend to London, only to find he had a new girlfriend – leaving her with few funds and sleeping rough – Tina has her roommate (on trial for 30 days) at least temporarily, she takes the plunge and makes her move. Thus, the Tina Matthews literary agency is born, with a boot-sale desk, a laptop and plenty of PR help (and a loan) from Jodie. First client – the author of a wonderful time slip romance she first spotted in a slush pile when working with Kate – only after learning that no one had actually offered representation to Lucinda, the author.

Twists, turns, a female’s pen-name and a serious attraction between her first (and she believes most promising) debut author, a series of troubling encounters for Maisie with her ex-boyfriend, even as their friendship continues to grow, and Josie’s struggles with life in a small French village. Josie’s husband Ben is prone to hours spent writing and revising while she is left to her own devices: language classes and walking the dog just aren’t removing that sense of ‘unease’. Still missing her Mum, she’s not yet gone through the boxes stuffed at the bottom of the closet in the spare room, although Ben’s mother has been lovely, Ben is wholly unreasonable about his mother’s ‘friend’ Thierry. And when you add in her starting back with PR, an unexpected (and at first unwelcome) stranger with ‘family’ news, and the stress of finding and moving house – Jodie’s got plenty of changes coming, if only she could shake that nausea…….

See – here’s the thing about this book – you won’t want to put it down because each character draws you into their life and struggle of the moment: you must know how it all turns out. I started with the plan to read for a few chapters and looked up to realize that I had ignored all I had to do and was starting on chapter eighteen! Bohnet writes with such heart it makes it easy to enjoy the characters and understand their moments that may not be their best, but she lets the best of them shine through. Plenty of chances are taken here, many aren’t quite the smoothest sail, and there are secrets revealed – but nothing is unconquerable – and the New Year’s pact between Jodie and Tina seemed to give them the confidence boost they needed to push forward in decisions that could change their lives, for the better, even as they found happiness in the changes that had never been there before.

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 <a href= “https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9JU/’ > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I picked up this book looking for a nice light hearted read and this book did not disappoint.

Tina & Jodie are best friends who have decided that they need to take a few chances to help them get what they want in life. Since this decision Jodie is married and living in France and Tina is left pondering how she can change her destiny.

This book is light hearted and fun a highly enjoyable read that makes you feel warm and fuzzy

What a fabulous and a half book!! This book was gorgeous, delightful, and an absolute breezy read about 2 best friends Tina and Jodie, wanting the Cosmos (I meant the Universe, not the magazine) to change their lives before they reach the big 3-O.

And the cosmos responds via the author Jennifer Bohnet; the story follows the lives of these girls, with husbands and significant others joining in along with the people who become a part of their lives thus becoming their extended family.

I loved the way the author has shown that distance does not matter, and friendship can still go strong with technology, Skype, chat, text messages, mails. Both Tina and Jodie see to it that they are a part of each other's lives, and it made a joyous reading, just to see that.

The strives of a hectic week just washed away by the words of this riveting story about two best friends. My first book by Jennifer Bohnet, and it was everything that I needed to make my Saturday evening fabulous.

A Year of Taking Chances opens with the very drunk Tina Matthews and Jodie Saville on New Year's Eve ordering the Cosmos to forever change their lives. They will be thirty in less than two years and do not want to be single any longer. Fast forward and Jodie is now happily married to Ben. Living in France now, Jodie makes a whole new life. However, with no love life to speak of, Tina has decided to focus as a literary agent, even making career changes to that end.

As happy as I was to see Jodie’s life evolve, being the hopeless romantic that I am, well, I wanted the same kind of happiness for Tina. She has a great heart and deserves a great future as well. Jennifer Bohnet definitely kept me engaged in rooting for Tina. There were also some other elements to this story that kept my interest as well, including good character development. The only thing I would have liked to see changed is things expounded upon in Tina's budding relationship.

Thank you to. HQ Digital and NetGalley for the ARC to review.

A Year of Taking Chances is the kind of book to read when you need a little motivation to stop being afraid and chase after your dreams. The story is heartwarming and the characters likable and relatable. I couldn't help thinking about my current situation and it made me want to do something more. The writer in me enjoyed the sneak peek the book gives about what goes inside the publishing industry. Often, we read about writers and their struggle, but what about agents?

Reading the first chapters, I immediately lost myself in the story. You're thrown in Jodie and Tina's lives instantly, consuming everything they're about, learning about the changes they made and are dreaming of. You want them to succeed, to live their dreams and be happy with the decisions they're making. Honestly, even though I don't really have anything in common with the characters - except for my ability to dream of course - I did find myself connecting to them.

Jodie went from a hectic, busy life in London to a quiet one with her husband in France where she tries to find herself and a way to cope with everything that's changed in her life. In the meanwhile, Tina is ready to shake things up and start her own literary agency. I don't think I need to tell you guys how intrigued I was reading about her career as a literary agent, right? I think it was by far my favorite thing about this novel, haha.

Then we have the love interests. First of, the fact that Jodie's married and already established a romantic relationship? Definitely worth extra points! I love stories where it isn't all about falling in love, getting into a relationship so this was pretty darn awesome indeed.
Of course, Tina doesn't have any love interest at first and that was fine by me. I think it was pretty balanced the way it was. Either way they had their own goals to reach, paths to find and fights to fight all while maintaining their long distance friendship.

Unfortunately, I did find some of the conversations and one particular event come across as a bit forced. The conversations are so genuine and feel like they could actually be most of the time real, but then suddenly it.. feels off and orchestrated. It turned me off a bit sometimes. I'm just glad it didn't happen all that often!
As for that one particular event... Let's just say two of the characters had some more growing to do before getting to a certain point and it killed me that it felt wrong to me.

3 / 5!

Kathy

Closer to thirty than twenty, two friends make New Years Eve resolutions that they will change their lives for the better by the time they are thirty. For Jodie, the chances come sooner than she imagines and she spends the next New Year on honeymoon. When Jodie moves to the South of France Tina is left behind in London. She wonders if life will change too.

A Year of Taking Chances follows both women's lives which diverge and connect as they take the opportunities offered them. Jodie has to adjust to life in a different country with a man she doesn't know well. Still hurting from tragic loss, she makes new relationships and discovers hurtful secrets as she forges a new life in France. Tina takes a courageous step to change her life, which reconnects her with Jodie and opens up the possibility of the life she wants and maybe someone to share it with but it's complicated.

The plot is fast-paced and absorbing; there are lighthearted and touching moments as the women follow their dreams.Sharing the women's hopes and dreams is a rollercoaster ride but they are both likeable characters, and you want them to succeed. A story of family and friendship and being brave enough to take a chance even when you don't know the outcome. An easy read, perfect when you want to escape for an hour or two.

I received a copy of this book from HQ Digital via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a really cute and well written story. It was heart warming and uplifting and encouraged you to follow your dreams but not to be afraid of hard work. The story moved along at a good pace with well rounded characters who were quite endearing.

I've read other books by Jennifer Bohnet and I do recommend her as a must read author.

This book was a great one to read. Started on a Sunday morning and finished before I went to sleep that night. Couldn't put it down. Look forward to reading more by this author

As good friends Jodie and Tina near their thirtieth birthdays, they realise life hasn’t panned out as either of them expected but agree now is the time for change - they’re just not sure how. A Year of Taking Chances follows the determined twosome as they set out to fulfil their dreams – for Jodie this means settling into French village life; whilst Tina must decide whether to take the gamble of setting up her own literary agency.
The premise of this novel felt very real to me as I recently celebrated a significant birthday and appreciated the women’s need to take stock and look forward to what the next decade might hold.
When I began reading A Year of Taking Chances it was meant to be spring but was still hailing outside, so escaping to the beautiful French countryside with Jodie felt an absolute treat. Bohnet uses her intimate knowledge of French life to expertly weave interesting details throughout. Couple Jodie’s rural lifestyle with that of her ambitious literary agent friend Tina, and you have protagonists who tick all the right boxes for me. Friends supporting friends, building a better future together.

Two friends make a pact on new years eve to change their life. The book sees what has happened to Jodie and Tina as they accept more chances that come their way. An entertaining read.

This book was a winner for me from the start. Two friends approaching a milestone birthday,,make a bucket list of things to achieve before that day arrives. There are many things in this story that i can truly relate to. There are some wonderful moments and really likeable characters. Its a lovely read.