Cute read. I enjoyed the setting and the characters were a delight. Fun, quick read - very enjoyable

The Year of Starting Over by Karen King was a joy to read. I escaped with Holly to the Spanish camping and enjoyed every minute. Would recommend as a feel good read.

A really fun read that transported me to the warm of Southern Spain. Loved the descriptions of the villa, the fabrics and the scrumptious man!!

A fun, summery read - transported me from the cold to the warmth of summer!

4*

A free copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Year of Starting Over is the story of Holly, who after inheriting some money from her grandparents decides to ditch her boring boyfriend and think about what she really wants from her life. She makes a list of everything she wants to achieve over the next year and then takes a trip to Andalusia where her friends have set up an artist's retreat. There, she has a literal run-in with their handsome neighbour Matias.
I love a good finding yourself story and this book fulfills that nicely. Holly is an engaging character and you really want her to complete everything on her to do list that will make her happy. I loved the tales of her getting used to daily life in Spain and I especially appreciated that King didn't make everything absolutely simple for her from the start, which you so often see in books where people move abroad. I also really enjoyed that although the book has romance in it - Matias is a great leading man - the majority of the book deals with Holly's work to make herself happy and it's great that that ends up being the focus rather than the romance. By the end of the book, I was really rooting for her.
A great summer read about starting over and making yourself happy. This was a lovely book to spend time on holiday with. 4.5 stars.

I absolutely loved this book. Having never read anything by this author before I didn’t know what to expect. I can tell you I was not disappointed. The story was fabulous.

It was a lovely escapist story as well as being relatable. I imagine most people have dreamed of just leaving and going to start a new life or have a break from life in a new country. Is the grass always greener? Well Holly’s story tells you one girl’s dream and the possibilities it can lead to.

I devoured this book in 1 sitting, it was so easy to read and didn’t take me long to connect with Holly and want the best for her. The story made me laugh and happy and also made me feel sad with despair and not just when it ended. The story flowed really well and didn’t make you have to think about the story line you could just enjoy it. I loved being able to picture in my mind all the scenery that was described and being able to almost feel the Spanish air on my face. It was so easy to escape into that world.

I didn’t want the story to end and I would love to read a sequel to this book. Karen reminds us that it is never too late to start over and do whatever we want and I will definitely read more books by her.

A story about making the most of a new situation, and of taking a year away from your regular life to follow your dreams.

Holly manages to come up with a list of 12 things over the next year to complete, from riding a motorcycle, to trying 50 different flavours of ice-cream, to larger ones such as being herself and living abroad, and conquering a fear.

I love how she moves to Spain for a few months to help her friends set up an artists retreat, while also expanding her online design business.

I would have loved to have seen all of Hollie's designs as they sounded impressive.

I loved this look at Andalusian life in the countryside, high up in the hills, and seeing how Holly is able to integrate herself into life there.

Her new neighbour Matias is rather sexy and they are both adamant that they don't need romance in their life... but their friendship is really good to watch.

I loved reading about Hollie's year, the new friends she makes, her attempts to accomplish everything on her list, and just her courage to start her life over and try to enhance it the best way she can.

It's a really enjoyable book, and had me really entertained for a few hours.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

Loved this. Karen King was a new author to me, but I am so glad I picked up this book. I have now downloaded a few of her others. I've been to Andalucia and loved it. She evoked the countryside well and I so wanted to be there again, and that's all you can really ask for in a book. I loved the love interest, the friendships, the village and community spirit and the secrets, as well as her bucket list. Fab.

After "Snowy Nights at the Lonely Hearts Hotel" (which earned a rare 5 stars from me)...Karen King was going to have to work hard to keep impressing me...most authors don't strike gold twice...

I was pleasantly surprised! Solid 4 stars!!!

**OMG! I cannot believe that these reviews haven't been done! I am so sorry they are so late!!!**

A thrilling and heartfelt story; draws you in very quickly and doesn't let go. Excellent character development. Highly recommended!

Holly has had it with her current boyfriend Scott, who is oblivious to how much she loves him and wants to marry him. When he takes an unplanned trip with his buddies out of the blue and asks her to pick him up at the airport the next day, she packs up and moves back to her mother's home. Luckily, Holly is due to inherit a sum of money from the sale of her recently deceased grandfather's house. This helps to fund her very own personal "year of starting over". She goes to Spain to visit a friend and winds up making new friends, starting a business and meeting an exciting new man. In addition, Holly has created a list of things she'd like to accomplish in the upcoming year and as the story progresses, she checks them off, one by one.

This was a cute, light read. It is perfect for a trip or day at the beach. I came across some inconsistencies in the story line, but hopefully these were corrected before the book was actually printed and released. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Karen King and the publisher Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Holly is fed up with her dead-end life. So she decides it's time for a change, she makes a list of goals to accomplish in one year and sets off. She packs up her yellow mini and heads for a farm house in Spain.

This book has all the things I love in a romance- The evolving character, the slow-burn romance, the vivid scene setting, and alcohol! I would definitely recommend this to my romance reader friends!

4/5 stars

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review**

I really, really enjoyed this book! I thought the main character, Holly, was great and I really enjoyed the whole idea of her ‘finding’ herself. All of the other characters in the book were also likeable, which I think is rare as there’s usually someone that’s annoying! This was such a lovely, quick and easy read and I would highly recommend it for a holiday read due to the setting.

Gosh writing this review two days after finishing it and I’ve already forgotten the plot, whether through age or the fact it didn’t really bowl me over at all. ??
Don’t get me wrong the story is fine, the main character (although somewhat under developed and flat) likeable enough and you want everything to end well and it was a light read although I found the writing perhaps needs more editing.
Unfortunately I kept putting it aside and wondered several times whether to start again as i knew that all would end well but I endeavoured to finish it.
The storyline is great a bucket list of development to overcome certain phobias and to discover more in life set in fantastic Back drop of Spain, a country dear to my heart after living there for three years, which appealed to me.
If you want a light read mills&boon type this is for you. I personally like a few twist and meaty characters. I didn’t even grow warm to the lead man but other characters were ok. Thank you to net galley for the ARC for a truthful review.

This was a fun and lighthearted read. I liked the characters development, and that the romance was there but not central to the story. This would be a great summer beach read.

If somebody gave you £30,000 and a year to spend this money on reinventing yourself, where would you go and what would you do?
Holly grew up with a loving example of her grandparents’ marriage. When she inherits 30,000 from her grandfather, she wants to spend it on a wedding with her boyfriend of two years and possibly a deposit on a house. Unfortunately, he seems to be more interested in spending time with his mates than committing himself in a marriage to Holly. Suddenly, Holly realizes she’s been taken for granted for too long and has made too many compromises. She leaves Scott, moves back to her Mum’s, and starts thinking seriously about changing her life. Holly draws up a list of things she would like to do in the upcoming year. Her friends Fiona and Pablo have just bought a house in Andalusia. Aso ne of the things on Holly’s bucket list is living abroad, Holly sets off on her journey to help her friends turn their house in an artists’ retreat and at the same time figure out what really makes her happy. Love isn’t something she expects or wants at this stage of her life.
What I loved about this book is that, although there is a love story, it isn’t central. It is something that happens to the main characters Holly and Matias as they sort out their lives, face their fears, engage in meaningful interactions, and discover themselves.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book is warm cherry and romantic
It is a charming uplifting read.
Another amusing and warming book by this author

Bookouture book so just clearing this down as a review for my profile so my feedback looks better - Kim Nash

Lovely feel good read. Leaves you feeling happy. Was easy to read and and enjoyable also. Nice characters and a good storyline

A lighthearted, fun read with a great heroine and an unusual setting (Spain!) Loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel! It was a light hearted and easy read. I would definitely reommend it to others!