You see the tagline laugh-out-loud rom com sprinkled about like confetti these days, but Accidentally in Love absolutely lives up to it—Belinda Missen is a new-to-me author and as far as firsts go she delivered, and then some.

“I do love a good bit of bants.”

There’s never a dull moment for Katharine as she takes hold of her life and makes the major decision of leaping from art curator to gallery owner. Stubborn and determined, she’s cheered on by her supportive, eccentric family who waste no time in introducing her to brooding, frustrating local artist, Kit. And the sparks fly.

“You were getting on like a house on fire. If that fire was lit with petrol and a match and was burning off toxic plastics.”

Katharine and Kit’s verbal sparring was absolutely on point for me, dry, quick and with innuendo, not only were they funny, they were natural. And I loved how this story didn’t just focus on their romance which to a point is secondary to Katharine’s own journey and her family play a huge part bringing even more giggles and some touching heartwarming moments.

“We get along well when he’s not being rude.”

With drama that wasn’t too overplayed and swiftly tied-up, Katharine and Kit hit all the right spots. There’s always something special about discovering a book set on your turf—I loved how the gallery was Sheffield’s historic Old Fire Station—and curling up with this was simply home to me. If a fresh, charming, fun read with a grumpy man to love takes your fancy, this is one to tickle it with.

What is the book about:

In the space of a week, Katharine Patterson has quit her job, decided to move back home, and broken up with the guy she thought was the one.
No big deal.
Because Katharine has a plan. She’s going to open her own art gallery, just like she’s always wanted. What she’s not going to do is worry about boyfriends.
Then she meets Kit, a handsome and talented local artist. He might be the most stubborn person Katharine has ever met. He might also make her feel like no one ever has before.
And Katharine might be about to fall accidentally in love…

My opinion:

Soo this book was really cute, I liked the characters and enjoyed reading it.
But for me the relationship felt kinda rushed, it was enemy one minute and best friends the other, well at least I got the feeling that it was. Although it was kinda predictable, but that is often the case with RomComs, so that it didn't bother me too much.

What I really liked about the book were the relationships between Katherine and her family, especially the one with her brother and Fiona. It really helped me to get to know Katherine better and to understand her choices and what it means to have a supportive family is really nice put in this book.

So to sum it up shortly I'd say I liked the book, but didn't love it.

Rating: 3,5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and HQDigital for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars
This book was everything i didn’t know i needed.
Katharine’s life did a 180 when in one week she quit her job, she broke up with the guy she thought she had a future, and she moved back home.
In London, she worked as an art curator, and back at home, she is planning on opening an art gallery.
Kit is an amazing artist, who hasn’t shown his art in 2 years, he is sometimes unbearable, and the first time he meets Katharine, they don’t get along.
As she starts working for her opening, she will also start working in her relationship, with Kit, with her best friend, with her family and with herself.
This book is heartwarming, really funny, and cute.
I love how Katharine grew throughout the book, how she discovered she could do things she thought she couldn’t, how she started trusting herself.
Kit is a cinnamon roll boyfriend, cute, lovely on the outside, but hurting on the inside. Katharine is the same, on the outside she is living a happy life, but on the inside, she is suffering with everything she has going on in her life.
Will they be able to help each other and themselves without fighting? Without wanting to stop everything?
Ps: if you are a fan of art, paintings and all that, you will love this book , because it includes lot of that; but if you don’t, you should read it anyways because you will start appreciating it with this story ✨❤️

I picked this book up wanting a lighthearted fun read, and that's pretty much what I got. I loved the family element, particularly Katherine's stepmother, the characters were decently well written with relatable backstories, and the story moved at a good pace.

While the book was entertaining, I did had some frustrations with it. First, the romance was seriously rushed. I read a lot of romance, so I am certainly no stranger to the insta-love concept. I can't fully explain why this was worse than most, but it was. While I think it's very probable that Kit and Katherine are compatible for the long term, I just didn't see ANY development to their relationship. They were portrayed as enemies, started to form a bit of a friendship, crossed over into "more than friends" territory, had a massive fight/misunderstanding/falling out, and were engaged, all in about a month's time (with the bigger events fitting into a week or two). A couple of little tweaks could have fixed my issues here (forgo the engagement or move it to an epilogue, add a couple chapters, etc), but as is, especially given the characters' relationship histories, it was too much, too fast, and with too little substance.

My other problem was that Katherine was portrayed as this strong woman that doesn't take a lot of crap, but she put up with being treated like total dirt by her supposed BFF Lainey. I get that Lainey was planning a wedding and was stressed by all that goes with that, but she repeatedly abused her relationship with Katherine, ignored Katherine when she needed her, and ultimately never even apologized for being a raging b**ch. Maybe Lainey was a better friend before she got engrossed in wedding planning, but we certainly don't see that side of her in the book. I can't believe that the Katherine that quit her job on the spot after being unfairly passed over for a promotion would put up with being treated the way she was by a supposed friend.

I also really wish we'd seen more of Katherine embracing her passion for photography. It came up plenty through the book, but the primary focus was on her opening her art gallery, we never really saw her truly pursue her love of photography and I wish we had.

I gave this book 3 stars because despite my issues with it, it was an enjoyable enough read.

Hands up – who loves the enemy to lovers trope? It’s one of my favourite tropes and usually consists of the main couple hating each other from their first meeting, either due to rivalry or bad vibes. As the story goes on they both realise the other is not as bad as they first thought and soon they are lusting after each other.

I thought Belinda Missen did a great job at making her characters Katherine and Kit really despise one another over Katherine’s new art gallery. It was clear on both sides why there was dislike for each other; Katherine was letting her ambitious streak get the better of her and not taking any regard to local talent within her home town of Sheffield. Kit was an art teacher who had a class full of budding artists who just needed someone to showcase their art. Belinda did such a good job at creating tension between them because when they finally did come together – there were flutterings inside of me..

One of the many things I love about the enemies to lovers trope is that once the characters begin to see the other person in a different light – big things happen! In this book Katherine and Kit became better people. I loved both the character arcs of these two feisty and strong willed people.

Belinda Missen is at the top of her minor character game. Blimey she brought out a good cast of fun and likeable supporting characters; Fiona (Katherine’s father’s girlfriend) who was adorable, hunky Adam, Katherine’s brother, John, her ex and best mate Lainey.

This was a fun read with a good premise, great characters, some good heartwarming moments and it had a Bridget Jones vibe to it which I loved. More please, Belinda!

Accidentally In Love is a lovely easily readable RomCom.
The characters were likeable. I loved the chemistry between Kit and Katherine,you could even feel it when they first met despite Kit being very abrupt with Katherine at the beginning.
Overall this book took me a while to get in to and it, like most romcom’s, was predictable but it was an enjoyable story none the less
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Accidentally In Love is a cute, somewhat predictable romance. It took me a few chapters to really get into the story, but after that I enjoyed it very much and finished it quickly!

This book was well written, funny and cute. Some parts had me laughing out loud. I was invested in the characters and overall really liked this book.

Major thank you to NetGalley and publishers for providing me with the opportunity to view this ARC.

Accidentally in Love is the epitome of a perfect rom-com. It was so sweet, and such an easy read. We follow Katharine, a curator at a well-known London art gallery, who is consistently overlooked for promotions by her male coworkers, as she moves back home to open up an art galley of her own. Her first night home, her father tries to set her up with an acclaimed local artist, Christopher (Kit), but they get off on the wrong foot.

Where do I begin? I'm currently sitting here beaming after finishing Accidentally in Love. Accidentally in Love was just so adorable. I loved Katharine - As a character, I thought she was dynamic and hilarious and so real, and I have so much admiration for the decisions she made. Moving cross-country and following her dreams is something that I've definitely thought about before - Who hasn't? Following Katharine's character growth and development was such an enjoyable journey.

One of the best parts of this novel was the relationships - not just the romantic relationship between Katharine and Kit (which was done spectacularly; I'm always a sucker for enemies to lovers, and the banter - don't even get me started on the banter), but the familial ones and platonic ones as well. Katharine's relationship with her stepmother, Fiona, was so heartwarming, and I loved reading about her relationship with her brother, Adam, and her father as well. I loved reading about Adam's arc as well, and I felt like Katharine's ex (who was also Adam's coworker), was a great foil for Adam. Reading about two siblings who had each other's back completely, and their tight-knit family brought such a smile to my face. And Lainey, Katharine's best friend - Belinda Missen has so perfectly captured this dynamic between two best friends, who have to relearn how to keep in touch and stay connected once they're not seeing each other daily.

It felt like the book took a little while to pick up, and the ending felt rushed to me - although, that might just be because I wanted to see more between Katharine and Christopher. I have some unanswered questions about Katherine and Christopher, and think Accidentally in Love could've used another chapter or two.

Overall, it was an incredibly easy read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is a fan of rom-coms.

When Katharine doesn’t get the big promotion at her job in London, she quits and moves back home to open her own art gallery. While trying to open her gallery and help her best friend, Lainey, with her wedding, Katharine meets Kit - another artist.

Oh man, this book. I don’t think I liked a single character aside from Fiona, Katharine’s stepmom. Everyone else was over the top selfish, and I never felt the build up to Kit and Katharine’s relationship.
It seemed really long to me, but that could have been because I didn’t enjoy the book. It’s hard to tell on Kindle. I found myself skipping pages and pages until i reached some dialogue.

I love it when a book surprises me and Accidentally in Love by Belinda Missen did just that. I read the first few chapters of the book, expecting it to be a typical romance, but it sprang a change on me and I loved it. I enjoy the enemies to lovers trope and this book did just that. I loved Katherine and Kit and loved the witty banter between them.

Katherine is down on her luck, she missed on a promotion and has an undefined relationship with John. On paper John seems like the perfect character for a romance novel, but Missen flips it upside down. After an embarrassing night, Katherine decides she has had enough of John and London and is going to leave it, and John behind and start her own art gallery back home. Katherine is a well written character, she is witty and goes with her gut a lot of the time. She is a totally relatable character, and someone I could imagine myself being friends with. I liked that she is not a perfect character, which makes it so much more relatable.

Enter Christopher, aka Kit, and a lovey enemies to lovers romance happens. Christopher is an artist that her father knows and he and Katherine do not start off on a good footing. He also comes with his own baggage. Christopher is such an honest and blunt character that you just want to love.

I found this book laugh out loud funny and really enjoyed reading these two as characters. I love how Katherine never gives up and takes her lumps too. My favourite part of the book was how Missen wrote all the different relationships in the book, and how you could see how genuine they are. The only problem I had was how quick they went from hating each other, to being okay with each other, and I found the wrap up a little fast. I really enjoyed this book and found it a light easy read.

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

I enjoyed the Art Gallery story line and found this different from all other romance books I have previously read (giving us all a cheeky little look into the Art Gallery World). Overall a great enemies to lovers romance. I found the beginning a little steady but slowly became invested in the couple's relationship to need to see how it ended. I really enjoyed the ups and downs between Katherine and Lainey's relationship.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

A fun, enemies to lovers romantic comedy! Perfect for anyone who enjoys this genre or is looking to experiment outside of their comfort zone. A slow build featuring fantastic relationship building between the two main characters. There is just enough tension and movement through the plot to keep the reader engaged without feeling rushed. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC.

Katie's had enough! She's had enough of being passed over at work, of her love interest John being clueless, and generally of everything in London. SO, she takes herself to Sheffield, where she opens her own galley. And meets Kit. Kit's an artist with attitude and these two have amazingly fun repartee as Katie works to get him to show at her galley. This is a friends to lovers rom com (well, they aren't friends at first but you know what I mean) but it's also about Katie taking charge of her life. It's a fun light read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This will make you smile.

Am I the only one loving the slow progress of the love relationship? There were definitely sparks between them when they first met and they are aware of it. But they didn't rush into a relationship and took their time to know each other. That is why I was so mad about the argument they had at the end of the book because I expect a mature relationship from them that involves talking to solve the problem.
But what I love the most about this book is the family bond between Katharine and her family. They question about Katharine's big life-changing decision but you can always count on them to be there with her throughout the journey. It's so lovingly to see them showing up all the time to help up with the renovation and listen to her concerns and troubles. It puts a smile on my face when all of the hard works result in one successful opening night And with Adam moving back, I think I can read another book just about the family!

I've been in the mood for simple rom-coms recently, I think it's a sign of the times we are living in at the moment, that I need something light and diversionary.

This book fit the bill perfectly. It covers the story of Katharine who is passed over for promotion at work for the third time and realises that she's had enough of the London art world and decides to relocate to Sheffield to open her own art gallery. She leaves behind her on/off relationship and never really looks back.

Of course every rom-com needs it's romantic hero, which is where Christopher / Kit comes in, a moody, cantankerous artist who Katharine is determined to work with. It's more of a love / hate relationship story and includes an emotional rollercoaster and a couple of red herrings as they realise their feelings for each other.

Overall this is a great book, written with good pace and full of likeable characters. There is more emotion than comedy, each of the characters with their own issues to work through. I really enjoyed it, and it was just the ticket for me at the moment.

Ah, this book was so lovely. I like being proved wrong when I get 10 pages into a book. I was expecting a predictable romance, but I got so much more. I love when romances have brilliantly written characters who are nothing like you expect them to be. Characters who surprise you at every turn and make you smile with their shenanigans.

Katharine was such a brilliant character too. Sure, she’s familiar and relatable, but she’s also a total wild card. She’s a curator at a respected art gallery in London and she’s worked hard and devoted quite a bit of her life to the job. But when she’s overlooked for a promotion - again - and it goes to a bumbling oaf, Katharine has had enough. And to add to that, there’s John. Who looks perfect on paper and is the kind of man we’d all like to read about in a romance novel. He’s charming, funny and attractive, and he’s not looking to commit. But Katharine wants more. After nine months of romping in the sheets, she wants more from John, who is clueless beyond belief. So after a particularly shitty evening in a gorgeous dress, Katharine is done with John and she’s moving on with her life.

Meeting Christopher aka Kit is a refreshing change for Katharine, but their relationship doesn’t start off on the right foot. He’s a little moody and grumbly and Katharine is a little judgey. But, like all good enemies-to-lovers, you know that they’re going to evolve from being at each other’s throats to actually falling in love at some point. Because I loved Kit from the moment we meet him. He’s so blunt and honest and he’s funny and keeps Katharine on her toes. And every meeting from there on is just so entertaining.

I had such a blast with this book. Lots of giggles and chuckles here and there and the need to cover my mouth while I was reading in public. Katharine and Kit are quite the pair and every interaction they have is just so entertaining. For all her misery and all of the things that keep going on, Katharine is a tough cookie. She picks herself up and goes after what she wants. Even when things look to be really dire, she doesn’t let that get in the way of following her dreams, of making it all happen. Katharine doesn’t let the past become a fixture in her present, she’s got a plan and she’s going to follow through with it.

Seeing all the relationships develop was a big part of why I loved this book. Katherine and Adam, her brother, have such a great relationship. It’s not perfect, because sibling relationships aren’t, but they rely on each other and they’re so solid together. Katherine’s relationship with her father and his girlfriend is so beautiful. I love how she refers to them as her ‘parents’ and how she bonds to well with her dad’s girlfriend. To see positive relationships like that really warms my heart. Katharine and Lainey have a normal friendship, which comes to a head over little things.

While the conflict and resolution was all happening a little too fast for my liking, I genuinely did enjoy reading this book. Belinda Missen created a wonderful world of art and family and love and friendship and somehow that just made me really happy. It’s a fun light-hearted book and it’s a quick read. Indulge in a little cheesy romance with a dollop of witty banter and you’ve got ‘Accidentally In Love’.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“A beautifully and realistically written laugh-out-loud romance."

Katherine’s ideal world in London comes crashing down when she is passed up for promotion, and she quits to show her discontent. A couple of days later, she breaks up with her not really boyfriend, John, for his utter lack of respect for her and her work. A visit to her Dad’s house in Sheffield and Katherine realizes what she’s been missing all along. Kit, aka Christopher.

I loved the chemistry between Kit and Katie. There wasn’t just passion and lust; there was mutual respect, understanding for each other’s work, and a mature outlook. The effortless writing was complemented with intelligent humor, and I was entertained thoroughly. Katie had her flaws, but who doesn’t, and she knew what they were and worked on it. That’s my favorite part when it comes to female leads.
In most romance novels I’ve read, the leads when they separate just keep missing each other and sulking and doing nothing about it. I wonder why they don't talk to each other about their issues. But here, Belinda Missen has kept things so real when she makes Katherine decide to talk about the issues arising with Christopher and her best friend, Lainey. I loved that so much. Why can’t all authors follow suit and make woman characters practical?

I loved the book's pace, although Kit did not have a significant appearance until well into the middle of the story, I loved every buildup that led to him. I kept turning pages and frankly only realized I read 300 pages so quickly when I sat down to write this review.
Books like these make me glad I review because, without that, the opportunity to read this book would never have come my way. In short, I loved Accidentally in Love immensely.
Other than a couple errors, I found no other editing mistakes, these too, did not hinder my reading experience in any way.

To talk about the negatives, the first and last thing that pops up in my mind is Katherine's name. I am truly sick of all the Katherines and Elizabeths in romance novels. Think of new names, please authors. These common names make the characters forgettable for me.

Sharp and witty dialogue between leads always wins my heart.

Romance buffs must read this; those looking for steamy passionate scenes will be disappointed. Read it for the creative story-telling, witty dialogue, and laugh-out-loud moments that’ll have you smile when you turn the last page. Happily-ever-after story fans, here’s another one for you.
Thank you Netgalley and HQ Digital for the reviewing opportunity.

Happy reading!

This was a fun, mostly light read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It made me laugh in several places as well as had me holding back tears in others. The main character definitely had her fair share of angst, but was a very likeable character. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romantic comedy.

Accidentally in Love is much more than an enemies-to-lovers rom-com. It explores one young woman’s journey from being an employee passed over for promotion to being the owner of her own art gallery. The inside look at the art world and what goes into opening an art gallery were very interesting. Another theme was family - moving back to her hometown of Sheffield versus staying in London. I loved her family members: Dad, brother Adam, and stepmother Fiona. Her love interests were very different: John the London lawyer and Kit/Christopher, the Sheffield artist. I did think the switch from enemies to lovers with Kit was a bit abrupt, as was the ending. I enjoyed the banter between Kit and Katharine and I loved that they could relate over art and that it was more than just a physical attraction.