I thought this contemporary romance was just ok. This is a second chance romance. Our main characters have each kept a secret for an extended period of time. This book follows the fallout after the truth has come out. We see how each person is impacted by the truth and how it looks to shape their furtures. Easy and sweet read, but very forgettable.

this book ripped my heart out & chewed on it before placing it back in my chest. a story of love & forgiveness & family & second chances & making our way back to one another after everything just seems so ... lost. i felt like maddie & greg’s story was important in seeing that life isn’t stuck where we think it is. & maybe, just maybe there’s something in our life we’re needed to change as well

Take a Look at Me Now by Kendra Smith don’t know if I would give it a second look three star read. I had high hopes for this one, and it could just be me on a negative read at the moment but this one just felt overly wordy, it felt like the author had a word count they had to hit, but only remembered about it half the time, so described some things in such crazy detail and then other things that I would have enjoyed getting more details on just felt glossed over. I did like Maddie most of the time and felt for her as a fellow woman of a certain age, but I was also left wondering about her in others. I would say that if you like this type of story and the blurb appeals give it a go as this is just my opinion and honestly right now its kinda negative so try it if you fancy it.

I wasn’t a big fan of this book to be honest. The writing style was not one I enjoyed, I’m not a fan of objects and places being excessively described. I find myself skim reading to get past it.
I really wanted to connect with Maddie, being a 40 something myself, I was hoping for a story of reclaiming herself and empowerment. Unfortunately I don’t feel this was achieved.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book 📚

[Thanks Netgalley for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]
It's supposed to be uplifting and romantic, but it really isn't, it a mix of things and almost none is interesting.
I couldn't connect at all with the story and I didn't like Maddie, she was so childish sometimes! But anothe times she seems like an old lady, and she's only 40!
Everything is mixed and I couldn't see the whole point of the story. I'm sorry but it isn't for me.
-----------------------------------
Pues nada, otro libro más que parece una cosa y luego es otra. De uplifting y romantic, nada. No digo yo que no tenga cosas buenas. Las tiene pero no es algo que a mí personalmente me guste ver en una romántica o chick lit (que es lo que es). El libro es una mezcla de mil cosas y la mitad no tiene sentido, no he entendido que mezcle la parte de Maddie con la de Olive, que es estupenda pero muy muy triste. Tampoco entiendo toda la parte de Bali, que aporta más bien poco (especialmente el personaje de Johnny, que es un encanto pero a ver para qué lo mete).
No he conectado para nada con Maddie, me ha parecido bastante simplona y sin personalidad. Las relaciones sentimentales que tiene son interesantes pero muy mal llevadas y resueltas, algunas cosas directamente pueriles.
No quiero ser dura porque esto no deja de ser nada más que mi opinión personal, no hay nada mejor que leer y juzgar por una misma, pero, para mí, es un libro fallido, a pesar de sus buenas intenciones.

Take a Look at Me Now by Kendra Smith is a book about a woman coming to terms with being a 41 year old woman experiencing the empty nest for the first time. She is unhappy in her life and even less happy in her marriage. The book promised some self discovery as well as some romance. It also carried the message of Alzheimer's and how Maddie's aunt (by marriage) is diagnosed and the sad reality of an Alzheimer diagnosis. I enjoyed what little I got to read about Aunt Olive and really wish more of Olive's life was talked about.

Sadly, for me the book just fell flat. A lot of the book felt like an overview. Weeks and months would pass by in a chapter and it just did not feel natural to me. I found that I was not interested in Maddie, nor what she ultimately decided to do. I appreciate that other people like this type of story, perhaps it is just not for me.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher for an open and honest review. All opinions are 100% mine.

This was such a heartwarming read about a woman who reclaims her life after losing her way. I loved Maddie and found I really related to her. And, of course, I loved the romance between Maddie and Gregor!

This was my first read from Kendra but it definitely won't be my last! Five deserved stars from me.

Mediocre Maddie? More like irritating and immature! Who keeps such a massive secret from both the father and son and expects everything to be okay? And then he forgives all the lies and married her?

This was such a cute romance. I absolutely loved it and devoured it in one sitting! Off to find more books by this author.

Take A Look at Me Now is a light, feel-good romance read. Maybe it's because I started this having just finished an absolute cracker of a romance novel, I just found this a little too slow-paced for my liking.
The story had a number of storylines that had potential but didn't particularly go anywhere, for example Maddie's husband cheating on her and blowing all their money just seemed to dissipate with no resolution. It just felt like the story had so much potential but lacked any depth and as a result, was lack-lustre.
If you want a very light read with no thought involved, then this is for you but if you're looking for a strong romance novel that will leave you beaming, then give it a miss.

I did not finish this book. I was not enjoying what I read of it and find that I should be spending my time on books im enjoying

Thanks to the author publishers and Netgalley for a free ARC of this ebook.
This book tells the story of Maddie, a 40's something empty-nester, how her life unravelled and a number of associated characters. It is a story of many words (fat too many) and many happenings. There is too much action and not enough substance. There is a decent tale in there somewhere, but it is swamped in unnecessary and repetitive details. Where I take issue is with the excessive use of adjectives, and incessantly bloated language.e.g.
"a raspberry flush creeping up her neck'," aubergine clouds rolling in'. 'hot steaming tea', 'a huge bright canary yellow,... WHEEL CLAMP!! (NO, its just a wheel clamp). I found this book hard work to get though, it was implausible and the characters were unrealistic. I can't recommend it.

I had high hopes for this book based on the cover, title and the blurb on the front of the book. After I finished, I realize the reason the book felt so long, and like many different stories in one, is due to the main character Maddie living a lifetime in one year. I really loved Maddie and Olive. I felt there was a lot of repetition in the book, which frustrated me as the reader.

Take A Look at Me Now by Kendra Smith

Warms the heart!, Beautifully written story about two long lost loves trying to reconnect.

"Out with the old... Maddie Brown has spent most of her life putting everyone else's needs above her own. But with her marriage crumbling and her nest scarily empty, she realises it may be time to spread her own wings"......

Kendra Smith has done a bang up job have having the reader truly connect with this cast of characters! As you read, you feel this sense like you are part of the group. There for the good times and many low times that life throws at you. What a beautiful story. Im lucky to have been able to experience this ARC.


Thank you #TakeaLookatMeNow #NetGalley and #aria for allowing me read this book in exchange for my honest review

The story of Maddie, a forty year old who suddenly comes to a realization that she has been living a drab and dull existence with an equally drab and dull wine-salesman husband when she actually believes herself to be a lively and energetic person.

All her emotions come brimming to the surface when her only child travels to Bali for his Gap year and newly lonely Maddie chances upon her ex-boyfriend at a reunion party.

As the title goes with a series of crashes Maddie finally gets her life sort of on track albeit with the help of a great aunt aka fairy godmother who helps her out in many a “situations”.

The abundance of unnecessary details were quite frustrating at times like who cares what a nurse on duty at a hospital in Bali is wearing at 5AM (just the uniform description if you’d like to know).

The story is far too long by a hundred pages or so and the writing felt lackluster.

All I can say is I’ve read better books.

Thank you Netgalley and Aria Fiction for the ARC in return for an honest review.

If one's looking for an easy, light read, Smith's novel is ideal; with plenty of drama, laughs, and emotion "Take a look at me now" is a gentle, contemporary and engaging story.

This book was such a good read, I couldn't put it down! The story and the characters were so well written it felt as if you were actually in the story!

Take a Look at Me Now by Kendra Smith is a well written book with a captivating storyline and characters I could easily connect with.
Meet Maddie. She's a 41 year old woman who forgot to live her own life. Now that her son is away on a gap year and she met the one that got away - Greg - she becomes a new chance.
I read the book, cover to cover, in one sitting, I had to know what happens to the characters. I liked everything about the book, 4,5 beautiful stars.