Cover Image: No Judgments

No Judgments

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Member Reviews

Meg Cabot is a veteran author, and though I've only read The Princess Diaries I was excited to give her more adult work a go, but unfortunately, it ended up being quite a letdown for me. I loved the setting of Little Bridge Island, it was certainly unique and I don't come across many books set on islands, so this coupled with the storm felt like the perfect setting for some dangerous behaviour to happen! However, I wasn't expecting for the animal-based plot to be of such importance, and I felt the romance in this was honestly so lacklustre that I forgot it was meant to be building up. Whether this was a case of misleading marketing, or just a not-fully-fleshed out relationship, either way I didn't really enjoy this, and don't think I'll be continuing on with the series, sadly.

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An enjoyable read that I will go on to recommend. I found the characters interesting and the plot line engaging. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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@officialmegcabot was a strong staple throughout my teenage reading years. All American Girl is probably one of my most re-read books. When I saw No Judgements, the first book in The Little Bridge series, compared to one of my favourite authors @christinalauren I knew I wanted to read it. I received an ARC from the publisher via @netgalley.

The story is all about our main character, and narrator throughout, Bree. Bree is a fairly new resident of Little Bridge Island, moving there to escape from her controlling mother and emotionally abusive ex. Bree works in the local Cafe and weathers the storm with its owners.

Throughout the story Bree’s romance with handsome, brooding islander Drew Hartwell. Drew is the nephew of Bree’s boss so is always in her space. For a book titled No Judgments the pair do a lot of judging of each other allowing their assumptions to get the better of them. This helps to build the angst and chemistry between them along with the building weather system.

The story is set in the Flordia Keys. If you’ve read some of my reviews you’ll know I love books set in The Keys (Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras most recently) so this was giving me some serious I miss Florida vibes! Although set on the lead up to and during a hurricane, I still loved reading about the island and the community feel.

I will definitely be picking up No Offence soon and I feel like this year I’ll be reaching for All American Girl again!

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Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

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Having been a Meg Cabot fan as a teenager, I was really excited to see that Meg Cabot is writing books for adults too. It is a fantastic, romcom of a book and it won't disappoint!

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This was my first adult book of Meg Cabot's, who I adored when growing up. So I guess you could say there was a lot of pressure on me to like it.

I found it ok. Bree can be a little overbearing at times, and I often found characters I didn't love. I really liked Danielle though, and think she's the kind of friend everyone needs. I also want a Gary in my life.

This book isn't all sunshine - there are some mentions of or references to abuse, which may make for difficult reading for some people.

I really liked the hurricane facts, tidbits and survival tips at the start of each chapter. You never know who that's going to help in the future.

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Now whether or not reading a book featuring a hurricane in Florida, while on holiday in Mexico, on the day my holiday which had a lot of wind and rain, was a smart idea I'm not entirely sure.

I did start panicking that maybe what I experiencing could be calm before the storm and then I remembered it wasn't hurricane season and that the book was clearly getting under my skin!

I knew I was going to love this book from the first few pages onwards, it was easy to read, and although I'm not completely sure how much of a good idea ignoring evacuation warnings are when there is a hurricane heading towards your small island, I'm kind of glad Bree did, as it made for one fabulous story.

At the start of each chapter there was useful advice in what to do in case of a hurricane, assorted preparedness checklists, and news broadcasts from the local weather stations, to give a sense of what was going on. And to really highlight the situation to anyone that doesn't come from a place that is has a hurricane season.

I loved the community of Little Bridge Island and how they came together. I found Bree and Drew passion for animals really heartening and I adored how the story develops for them.

For a book with a storm at the centre of it, as you may expect there are storms in the characters pasts that also need to be resolved, and I loved the scene where Bree is finally able to do something about one of the factors that led to her being on the island in the first place.

An incredibly enjoyable and fast paced story, and I'm eager to read more books set on Little Bridge Island.

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

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This book was easy to read and had a good flow!

It felt at times that it didn’t have the most substance and there could be a little more going on? It was just light hearted goodness with a classic ending.

Not spectacular but perfectly pleasant.

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This book was a continual struggle for me. The excitement was strong for Meg Cabot's return to the world of romance and I may have hyped this up a little too much in my head. I can only hate myself a little bit for that, but this book sadly felt like a perfect romance read for when I was younger and reading Cabot's tried and true classics like Guy Next Door and Queen of Babble. I just wasn't feeling it with this book.

I think the book suffers more from my tastes changing rather than Meg Cabot's failings... but then maybe she hasn't moved enough with the times? Without reading more of her newer releases it's hard to say, but this one felt like old Cabot and it didn't appeal enough for me. For others that will be a total bonus and they'll love this for it.

I will say I expected to love Drew more. He came across a bit of a grumpkins at the start and usually that appeals... but I just... I didn't like him. I think liking the hero is a big thing for romance so that was a big sign this book wasn't going to go well for me. And there was Bree, don't worry, I didn't dislike her, I just didn't totally warm up to her either. She had moments of being adorable, like when it came to Gary, the cat, but then her fleeing to Florida after a big event (no spoilers) but I didn't like her avoidance. Bree did read as well as Cabot's previous MCs though and she wasn't awful. Maybe I just didn't adore her because she felt similar to the characters I'd read before.

It was... ok. Ok isn't great, but I have definitely read worse.

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Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read.

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Having never read anything by Meg Cabot, but having heard lots about her books, I was looking forward to reading this. And overall, I got what I expected - a light, quick read and a bit of fun. The book tells the story of the developing romance of Bree and Drew, set against the backdrop of an advancing hurricane due to hit Little Bridge Island, Florida where they live. The setting was well described, and the characters were likeable if a little underdeveloped. If you're looking for a bit of escapism for a few hours you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins and William Morrow for an advance copy of the book.

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Having read all the princess diary books and the size 12 is not fat books by the author. I was so excited to read this book

It did not disappoint

I did read this book in autumn and it would have been better suited to a novel to read round the pool on your summer holiday

However. Despite that, it was a fun book with hints of romance. There is a sexual assault in the book but the author deals with this well

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Having grown up reading Meg Cabot and being a diehard fan of the Princess Diaries, I was ecstatic to come across No Judgements on Netgalley and even more so at receiving a copy to review.

No Judgements is the story of Bree and Drew, who choose to remain behind on their Island despite the onset of a Hurricane. It follows them as they develop a relationship and weather the storm.

It wasn't bad, was my immediate thought upon finishing the book. I found some of the writing and handling of events to be rather simplistic. I found the relationship between Drew and Bree to be quite hollow/lacking in chemistry and just generally found the entire thing to be unexciting. This book took me a week to finish where I generally finish in a maximum of 3 days no matter the length of the book.

I think my dislike of this came from personal preferences. I'm sure I would have enjoyed this a lot more had I read it a few years ago.

I would recommend this for fans of Chick-Lit.

Thank you to both NetGalley and the Little Brown Book Group for providing me with a copy to review.

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The summer is over… but you can make it last a little longer with the perfect summer read – the first of the Little Bridge Island series by Meg Cabot!

“No Judgements” has everything you need to feel good and keep that summer feeling a little longer: Florida year-round sun, a hot guy to dream about, romance, some cute pets to care about and a happy ending.

Bree is enjoying her life on Little Bridge Island with her rescue cat Gary, working at the Mermaid Café, and taking a break. She needed to get away from her previous life in New York and from Calvin, her ex, and his best friend Kyle. She needs time to process what happened and the island is perfect.

Then, a Category Five Hurricane is heading for the island in the Florida Keys and residents are urged to evacuate. Except Bree decides to stay along with some of the long-term residents of the island. They make the most of the situation and have a hurricane party, the café gives out free food and everyone is helping each other.

But what about the pets left behind during the hurricane? Once Bree finds out about the first few residents who left their animals at home when they evacuated, she starts a mission to help ALL the abandoned pets and it becomes a task she cannot handle alone. There is one other animal lover who is willing to help though and that’s her boss’ nephew Drew…

Do we know there will be a happy ending for Bree and the animals? Of course we do.

Does it make it any less fun to read? Of course not!

This is the feel-good novel you are looking for to extend the warm, fuzzy summer feeling just a little bit longer.

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This was a nice love story, with good characters and an interesting plot. My one small criticism would be that it took a little longer than I would have liked to 'get going' - but that said, once it did I was gripped and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen at the end.

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I usually love Meg Cabot and I’ll admit I haven’t read a book by her in a few years, but I was so excited to be approved for an ARC of this, unfortunately that’s the last bit I had, this book really didn’t feel like Meg Cabot book. It wasn’t entertaining, t felt a bit confused and all over the place. Unfortunately and I hate to say it, but this one really lost me almost from the start.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

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Sadly, not one for me. I can be so temperamental with chick-lit/women's fiction and this one just did not gel right with me. I'll always have nostalgic memories for some of Meg Cabot's other writing, but after a few pages of this one I was bored out of my mind, not really caring about the issues of these characters. A great choice for some, perhaps, but not for me.

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Now, I’ve not read everything Cabot’s written, but I’ve read a decent chunk of her YA stuff as a teen, before graduating onto the ‘Size 12 is not fat’ series when I got older.

I haven’t read anything else though, and sort of forgot about her as an author until I saw this available for request. So obviously very excited to be granted approval to review.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. It was dull, disjointed, so rammed film of contemporary issues and basically just badly written, badly plotted and badly handled.

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A great read.

Bree is living on Little Bridge Island. A hurricane is about to hit, but she doesn't want to leave her cat Gary behind. This ends up being a bit of a theme, as she looks after the pets other people have left behind on the island, helped by Drew. She has always been warned to keep away from him, but will she be able too?

Some great characters, especially Drew's family.

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This book wasn’t for me
I didn’t like the way that this book had been written. It felt like it was disjointed and just didn’t flow well
The characters were not likeable either.

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