Much Ado About you was a great charming comfort read that took me on an adventure to a small town in the United Kingdom. It was a great escape from everyday life and the situation we are in all over the world.

I love small towns, having lived in some myself, it was so nice to be transported back and feel the comforts, familiarity and love that a community of people can bring. Northumberland is now on my to see list!

I loved the pace of the book as you not only got to get to know Evie, you got the know the whole town as well. To then top it off you have the charmingly handsome Rohan and his beautiful dog. Evie and Rohan, have a funny but also unique meet cute, which had me hooked. If you're a fan of Samantha Young's On Hart Boardwalk Series, you will fall in love with this unique romance story and Evie as she finds her way back to herself.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for my complimentary e-ARC.

Much Ado About You by Samantha Young is absolutely wonderful. Young writes with the perfect combination of romance and genuine warmth. Evangeline Starling, lonely and feeling left behind, leaves her job and her life in Chicago for a month-long vacation running a bookshop in a small English village. She finds acceptance and friendship and even love in this unlikely little hamlet, but she struggles with whether this wonderful escape from her reality could become her actual reality. White lies complicate her happily ever after and she has to decide if she’s brave enough to chase after what she really wants.

The Shakespearean allusions and bookish references radiate from the pages. Both Young and her character, Evie, are book lovers to their cores, and as a bibliophile myself, this book felt like a cozy hug. I couldn’t put it down; I couldn’t quit smiling.

While she writes a wonderful romance, Young doesn’t shy away from humanity’s complexity. Her characters grapple with addiction and its implications, racism, homophobia, physical and emotional abuse--realities faced by so many. These challenges make her characters’ successes even sweeter and imbues her story-telling with genuineness and sincerity.

By the end of the book, I was ready to move in England, open a bookstore, and marry a hot British farmer. (Never mind I’ve been happily married for twelve years.)

Much Ado About You was fun, emotional, and charming! I have always been a fan of Much Ado about Nothing, so I was excited to dive in. You have the beautiful small town, the zany townsfolk, the miscommunications, the lies.

I think middle aged readers will feel a kinship with Evie right away-she can't find the right guy, she quits her job, and she just feels like life has passed her by. Evie's complicated relationship with her mom really resonated for me as I understand what it is like to be the child of an addict.

Roane is the hunky young farmer who falls hopelessly in love with Evie. However, Evie isn't going to make it easy, which leads to some deception on Roane's part. I wasn't a huge fan of this because it seemed unnecessary after awhile.

The secondary characters are fun, and honestly, I felt like this was their story as much as Evie's and Roane's. In that sense, its very much like Much Ado about Nothing! If you are looking for a book to curl up and escape with, Much Ado About You is a great pick!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Much Ado About You is littered with an honest, heartwarming protagonist, Evie, and side characters who needed her as much as she needed them. After experiencing yet another failed attempt at pursuing love, and reaching a feeling of stagnancy at her long-term position as an editorial assistant, Evie abruptly quits her job. It was at that moment I fell for Evie’s character. She may not have known what she wanted, but she knew what she did not want- to stand still. While searching for a vacation to take a break from her life in Chicago and reset, Evie comes across an ad to rent an apartment above a bookshop; and not just live above the bookshop, but run it, in England! As a voracious reader and lover of the written word, Evie leaps at the opportunity and is on her way to the charming village of Alnster. Throughout her initial four week stay, Evie regularly proclaims herself determined to steer clear of love. Despite her personal vow, Evie quickly becomes the subject of the attentions of a local, a handsome farmer, Roane. Throughout her stay in Alnster, Evie lovingly “meddles” in the lives and relationships of the villagers in an effort to give peace to those who need it most. The most enjoyable aspect of Much Ado About You was in fact the manner in which the villagers embraced Evie as one of their own so easily. She was so quickly and lovingly accepted, and while it may not seem likely in the real world, in Evie’s story it’s undeniably believable. I believed in her capacity for kindness, and in the end, forgiveness as well.

Much Ado About You will publish on February 2nd, 2021! If you’re looking for a rom-com, and a new girl-bestie, Evie might just be the girl you’re looking for.

This was cute and cozy. I didn't like it quite as much as her previous book, but I could see those that are fans of sweet, small town love stories liking this one. I expected a little more sizzle in the romance storyline.

Okay I really wanted to love this book. The entire concept of dropping everything and moving to a small English village to work at a bookstore is fantastic. I was completely sucked in by the first few chapters of this book, but I found that once the side characters started to be introduced, the story got clunky. The fact that essentially every single side character had problems that seemingly only the main character, Evie, could fix was honestly kind of weird. Evie became the worst sort of meddler, getting into everyone's problems despite the fact that she hasn't known these people for long. Much of the plot around this felt far too convenient.

I did really like Roane and his dog, Shadow. They were my favourite part of this book, but I wish we had more actual interactions between Roane and Evie. It felt like most of their interactions, especially in the first half of the book, were off-page.

Overall, this was good, but I found that Evie wasn't really a character I was wholly invested in.

Really enjoyed this sizzling slow burn friends to lovers story. With the small town charm, flirty banter and some hilarious moments, I didn’t want to put it down. Secretly hoping we get some books about the side characters in this story!

I really enjoyed this whimsical friends to lovers storyline with a Shakespearean feel. The chemistry between Evie and Roane was a slow burn then sizzling hot and all the side stories will keep you invested until the end. It’s definitely worth the read.

Evie's impulsive decision to vacation in a tiny village in England and run a bookstore might seem crazy, but from day one it seems like she's found her real home. She fits in with the people, she loves the delightful little bookstore, and her instant chemistry with hot farmer Roane Robson is the sort of discovery no woman should pass up. Evie is determined not to be impulsive about jumping into more than friendship with Roane and his Great Dane, Shadow, but they are the perfect fit, instantly comfortable with each other in conversation and quiet. The more happy she is in England, the more she wonders if she's putting off thinking about her life- or if she's finally living it. It was really interesting and thought-provoking for me every time Evie wonders this, because she's voicing what it takes some of us our whole lives to acknowledge- we aren't supposed to live by anyone else's timelines or milestones, we aren't supposed to worry about other people in place of our own happiness. We should live the life that makes us perfectly happy. And if we can meet and fall in love with our perfect match in only a matter of weeks- should we spend years worrying about what could go wrong or take the leap and discover all the things that can go right.

Evie is impulsive, caring, thoughtful, and always puts others before herself. She's a delightful person to spend a book with and I enjoyed every moment of her. Roane, her amazing farmer, is intelligent, caring, thoughtful, and doesn't think twice when he meets Evie. He and his dog Shadow know she's the right one- but I loved how Roane doesn't push to get what he wants exactly as he wants it right away. He convinces Evie they should be friends and through him, Evie finds village life much more layered and complex than she guessed. Secrets, Romeo-and-Juliet-style tragedies, and more abound in a village of caring people, and Evie is instantly right at home. Inevitably, Roane's long game works and Evie sees him as more than a friend, but they've gotten to know each other so well it doesn't feel crazy to follow up on their feelings. I liked how they decided not to put an end date on the relationship, not to go into it thinking it would only be for while she's in England, but to see what happens as it happens. I was rather dreading the inevitable, when one of them makes a mistake that will cause the other a crisis of faith (things can't happen TOO perfectly for our characters after all!) but, spoiler alert, we get a perfect happy ending.

Much Ado About You is a delightful, feel-good romance that had me smiling with every page. A wonderful, comfortable, magical book, this is definitely going to be one that I reread regularly. I definitely recommend curling up with Much Ado About You this winter with a blanket, hot drink, and fuzzy pet, and let Samantha Young, Evie, and Roane sweep you away!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book was the perfect romance! I mean Evie got to travel and stay in the beautiful countryside in England, run a bookstore and meet a hunky guy. Do I even need to say more? 😊 But really, it was such a sweet and fun read! I loved Evie and Roane’s relationship and how even though they were instantly attracted to each other, they took their time to develop a friendship first. I also adored all the townspeople and how they all befriended Evie, the outsider. My only complaint was that the ending felt rushed, but all in all It was such a charming story!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐⭐/ 5 stars

I don’t think I have been so jealous of a fictional character in such a long time. At 33 years old, Evie Starling finds herself left behind when all of her friends are settled down, having babies, or in successful careers. After being stood up from a tinder date and being passed over for a well-deserved job promotion as editor, she decides for a life change. Out of impulse, she books a 1 month trip to a small village in England to run a bookstore and live in the flat above. (WHAT A DREAM!) She immediately falls in love with the village and the locals, feeling immediately at home and immersing in the town gossip and news. This includes Roane Robson, a very handsome, sexy farmer who flirts with Evie mercilessly, but she is hesitant to start a relationship with someone who is somehow so perfect and she was leaving back to Chicago in a month.

Evie and Roane have amazing and immediate chemistry. Their scenes made it so much fun to read - he is such a dream guy for the booknerd (i.e. taking her to beautiful libraries). However, some of her thought processes on why she is holding out on him is SO annoying. I know it’s the whole plot of the book but come on! I enjoyed the side stories of the other characters also falling in love and even the mental imagery of Roane working the fields. It’s a contemporary romance, so some parts are definitely cliché. However, it was definitely a fun, lighthearted read!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

US Pub Date: February 2, 2021

I was so excited to pick up this read and it didn’t disappoint! I absolutely loved the characters and the setting was dreamy. The romance in the novel was very believable and it was developed very well. Not too fast, not too slow! I highly recommend this one if you love a good romance novel with a little bit of steam! Thank you netgalley for my free copy.

This book started out strong, loved the “fleeing Chicago to rent and run someone else’s bookstore only to find a gorgeous farmer” thing. Then it kinda went south, tried throwing a lot of side stories in and let Evie and Roane’s story drift away. I wanted more for their story but she made up for it in other areas! Not my favourite but I finished it!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this free copy to read and review! I loved this book! I had a few issues, with the believability of the situation - renting an apartment above a bookstore and getting to consoles run the store as a vacation including buying new stock 😅, that would never happen - and I’m not huge on insta attraction/feelings, there was so much more about the book that I loved! Even if the situation isn’t thag believable, it’s every book lovers dream, running a bookshop in the quint English countryside/coast. Plus I was loving for all the Shakespeare love 😆 And Roane is just 🔥 Perfect. Plus I loved that this book touched on quite a few deeper subjects as well! I cried multiple times 🙌😂 To be fair I cry pretty easily with books though, lol. But if you’re looking for a cutesy, cheesy, bookish romcom, this is the book for you!

A romance set in the quaint English countryside with a bookstore as one of the primary settings and major "The Holiday" vibes? I was completely sold on Samantha Young's book MUCH ADO ABOUT YOU from the summary (and the adorable cover didn't hurt!).

When we first meet Evie, her life has hit a dead end in Chicago after one too many dating fails and a missed promotion at work. Her solution? Quit her job and head to England on holiday for a month while doing some serious self-evaluation and figuring out what comes next. And what's definitely *not* part of that plan? A handsome farmer named Roane Robson...or at least we think he's just a farmer.

In general, I enjoyed this book and give it an overall 3/5 stars. I was looking for a quick, fairly unsubstantial (not in a bad way but in a "I want to shut my brain off and enjoy this book" kind of way and this was definitely that. Insta-love isn't my favorite romance trope and this one relies pretty heavily on it in terms of Evie and Roane's feelings for one another. I don't know that I was ever fully sold on their chemistry beyond a physical attraction and the book wants you to believe they both understand and see one another in a way they never have with anyone else before despite having just met and knowing very little about one another.

The dialogue was mostly good if somewhat cheesy. If I were to rank this on a flame scale of 1 to 5 for the sex/romance scenes, I'd give it a 2.5/5 flames. You could definitely recommend this to a casual acquaintance without worrying they'd be scandalized. It's a good intro book for someone wanting to delve into the romance genre.

I liked the secondary cast of characters well enough even though the book goes a little heavy on the small town village gossip stereotype to the point it it often came across as over the top. At times the secondary cast of characters got in the way of our main story. There were a lot of competing mini plots within the book (Caroline's, Viola and Lucas, Annie and Maggie, etc.) that distracted from the main plot, especially because I felt the book dragged way too long in getting to the big SPOILER reveal about Roane's true identity. I wanted what took place in the final 20% of the book to get more time because the ending was way too rushed. Evie was going through a lot of emotional whiplash and you definitely felt that as the reader, too.

At the end of the day, this book isn't going to stick with me forever but it was a nice bit of romantic escapism especially at a time when we are all stuck at home and can't go on dates or travel.

Utterly charming! A heartwarming and literary romance. As a Chicagoan, I loved the beginning :). The book is honest and also had some heated moments- both in emotion and in the bedroom! This is a very positive read if you’re in need of a pick-me-up.

Evie is incredibly unhappy in Chicago. She’s fed up with love and hates her job. She decides to take a much needed vacation to England. She finds a woman who rents not only her apartment, but her bookstore too! Evie jumps at the chance and quickly meets Roane, a VERY eligible bachelor.

If you are a Shakespeare fan, don’t miss this.

When Evie is passed over for a much deserved promotion and then stood up, she plans a holiday away in a small seaside village abroad which includes running a bookstore and living in the flat above it. Maybe changing things up entirely and giving up on men for a bit will give her fresh perspective so she can figure out what exactly she wants out of life. Enter Roane, the attractive and clearly interested local. Evie has her hands full trying to resist his persistence and struggles to keep focused on what she came here for.

This modern friend to lover story has all of the elements for a book lover’s dream. I found the villagers and the way that Evie melded into their lives (and also meddled in their lives!) to be charming and full of heart. After finishing the book, I wish I was as attached to Roane and Evie as I was to the rest of the story. Somewhere along the line, their much talked about physical attraction to one another overshadowed their actual relationship, which made the proposal, break up, and reconciliation feel rushed. I do hope the author writes more books about the villagers I grew to love and I look forward to more from her.

Young’s words had me engaged once again. Her descriptions and characters had me addicted to this friends to lovers romance. The idea of traveling to a new destination and falling in love with the town and everything there is my kind of story. Who doesn’t want to pick up and create a new adventure? I totally ship Evie and Roane. Their story was charming and sweet. A must read romance for 2021.

I wanted to love this book. Hot farmer hero! Bookish heroine! Bookstore setting! Get in my eyeballs now! I gave it every chance and waited with bated breath with every turn of the page for something to happen, for anything to happen. Alas, nothing does.

A series of unfortunate events lead Evie to pack up and take a holiday running a small bookstore in a tiny seaside village in Northumberland. There, she meets hot farmer Roane. He has a dog and he's nice, that's about it. He also has a bad case of Insta Lust. Evie, with her shattered confidence and many hang ups, somehow turns into a confident, wise supermodel somewhere over the Atlantic. It's the only way to explain her character's sudden ability to do it all and attract everyone in this village. She gets in and immediately charms everyone. She proceeds to meddle in everyone's life, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes because she just got there and she's suddenly fixing everyone's problems and matchmaking like a boss? Sure, Jan.

Speaking of the village, I adore well-developed side characters. I do not love it when there is a literal village of side characters and they take away from the main romance. Everyone Evie met had a backstory and that's great but let's get back to the relationship development but sadly that never happens. The relationship arc is more of a flat line, there's no tension and the little bit of conflict is too flimsy to carry on an entire book.

I also have a hard time with slow burns when the emphasis is on slow. The burn in this book never really comes until about 60℅ in when they suddenly have sex completely out of the blue. There was no lead-up. Not even a first kiss and then they are humping and there are I Love You's and the hero is proposing and I'm flipping back pages to see where we went from point A to point Z 🙄

In the end, I skimmed quite a bit. The beginning was promising, the middle sagged horribly and the conflict at the end was just meh. I'd recommend it to readers who like zero-conflict romance where the spotlight isn't necessarily on the main characters and for anyone who loves a quiet slow burn and uncomplicated main characters. It was well written and the setting was charming. Aside from that this would have been a DNF for me had it not been an ARC.

⭐⭐/5
🔥/5
🍆/5

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for my copy. All opinions are my own

Much Ado About You is a sweet and heartwarming read perfect for booklovers. Plot and tone-wise, this novel draws a lot from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. I can’t say much more to spoil things, but a lot of what’s happening among the village-folk mirrors the subplots in the original (yet they’re different enough to make it unique and, thankfully, much more politically correct).

Roane is not your typical romance novel hero. He’s a farmer, attractive, but not too attractive, but most importantly, he’s described by the townsfolk as a “monogamist”. This just isn’t seen often in romance books, where the hero is often a player. The fact that he’s ready to settle down with Evie almost right after their initial meeting (He's got a bad case of love at first sight!), makes for a fresh approach to common tropes that are found everywhere in this book.

Evie is your typical romance novel heroine. She’s somewhat dissatisfied with her body, yet she’s not unattractive. She’s unhappy with her career, and is passed up for a promotion over a man who’s younger than her, because of his “experience”. All of this is piled on top of the fact that she’s been unlucky in love. 

That said, Evie's choices make her a tad unrealistic. She decides to quit dating men, which is understandable, but when she goes on vacation to run a bookstore in the little town of Alnster, she really, really doesn’t want to explore the obvious attraction that she and Roane share. It almost makes sense when you consider that she’s only staying there for a month, but it just doesn’t quite sit right with me. Of course, this desire to keep away from Roane was necessary for the entire plot of the book (otherwise it would only be three chapters long rather than twenty-eight), but this plot device still could have been written a little better.  For instance, she has a somewhat angsty past (with an ex-boyfriend who did a number on her self-esteem back in college), and perhaps if she had more frequently drawn on those experiences while pushing Roane away, it would have made it more palatable.  This plot device was very similar to the one in On Dublin Street, the only other work by Samantha Young that I’ve read, but with that book, the heroine’s desire to not fall in love (ever!) was stronger, and made more sense given her circumstances.

Partway through, I definitely asked myself if I’ve already seen this as a Hallmark movie. The plot twists are apparent almost from the very beginning, and I had a serious sense of deja vu almost from the very first page.  While the plot and even the twists are reminiscent of Hallmark movies, this novel has much more depth than you would see in those types of films.  As mentioned earlier in this review, the events are similar to those in Much Ado About Nothing. In addition to this, Evie’s “meddling” in the affairs of the village folk also mirrors the subplots in her own life. This is a spoiler-free review, but it’s sweet to see how her meddling helps her to explore parts of herself and her relationships with others to figure out where’s she’s gone wrong and how she can improve.  The execution of this is incredibly clever, which ultimately bumped up my enjoyment of this book (and subsequently my rating) quite a bit.

I recommend this novel to booklovers looking for a sweet escape that is literary in more ways than one.

*This review will be posted to https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/2021/02/03/much-ado-about-you/ on February 3, 2021*