Thirty-three-year old Evangeline Starling’s life isn't going the way she wants and she now only has two rules for dating. No wealthy people and no one younger than her, When her job of ten years passes her over for a rom option she quits and decides not in the time to leave it all behind and go on an adventure to find herself.

She finds a room share in England where she can run a bookstore and throws herself into village life. Not realizing how hard it will be to leave it all behind after. Roane is the epitome of a rugged farm hand and as he and Evid get closer they have to decide if she wants to stay permanently in England.

I love Samanatha Young's books and this one might be my new favorite with all the bookish feels and quaint country life.

I finished this book in less than a day because I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN!

This book was everything I needed and didn’t know.

In this book you meet Evie, a 33 year old woman who hasn’t had it easy. After a failed date after a two year break of dating, and being passed over from a job promotion once again, she decides she needs a break. She leaves her Chicago home for a month vacation in England while running the owners bookstore. What she doesn’t expect is to meet the incredible people and love the town so much. And Roane.

Roane is literally the sweetest man ever. He ADORES Evie. He treats her so well. And let’s not forget Shadow, he’s precious dog. He is a farmer who is loved by everyone in the town. He’s just... wow.

This story brings so much. It’s about Evie trying to find herself. It’s about realizing what you want out of life. It’s just everything.

It’s not easy for Evie and Roane. Things come between them. And they spent A LONG TIME before they got together. That sexual tension was intense!!! But once they got it figured out you could see they were absolutely perfect for one another.

I loved this book!! I’m so excited!! And I’m interested in some of the secondary characters as well.

I can’t wait for everyone to read this book!

Samantha Young is an autobuy author. I loved chatting with her a few months ago and we chatted about this book. This book was delight.

When 30 year old Evangeline "Evie" Starling escapes to a small town of Northumberland in England to temporarily run the bookstore: Much Ado About Books. Away from her busy Chicago life, she hopes to find herself as she immerses herself around books and the life of the small town gossip and friendship and family.

When Evie meets the charming and hot Roane Robson, there is something about him that she can't stay away from. As Evie lives her life in the Northumberland, she finds the truth about herself and her life that means so much more.

I gave Much Ado About You four stars, enjoying the way Evie took control of her life and made it her own. She felt trapped in Chicago and she found her soul in Northumberland to find what she truly wanted to do. With the help of Roane and their friendship begins to bloom — and perhaps become something more than sexual tension — Evie is finally able to find the place she belongs.

This was something I really enjoyed, a small town romance, with a friendship that begins to bloom into something more. And when Evie began to find herself, away from Chicago, away from her burdens and her past in Chicago, it is evident that she truly begins to find herself.

And the romance between Roane and Evie was stunning. Their friendship started off strong because they were there for each other. This was the base of their love story and what better way to fall in love with someone you can share your secrets to.

I had a fantastic time reading Much Ado About You and recommend picking up this romance.

Thank you again to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Delightful read - not only did I enjoy the setting, the premise and the very hunky hero, I definitely connected with Evie as a thirty something myself very happy with my single life but constantly having to deal with others not believing me. While I am happy Evie got her HEA, I will just take the fantasy of running my own bookstore in England and enjoy remaining a singleton lol

This was a really quick read but sadder than I expected. I loved the scenery and that the MC worked in a bookstore! Some of the character miscommunication really frustrated me but was very realistic. I loved the dog lol

This was cute and loved the setting of this book! Small town, set in a bookstore and sexy farmer? Yes, yes & yes! The romance was cute and slow build and I enjoyed reading the build up. I didn't love the main character and how she meddled in everyone's business and also how she handled the big plot twist.
Overall it was a cute and refreshing read!

They say when you stop looking for love it will find you and that is certainly the case for Evangeline Starling.

Evie is done with dating and men and her life in Chicago. Needing a change she books a month long rental in a small coastal village in England. The apartment she rents is above a bookstore and she gets to run the store during her stay.

She immediately falls in love with the pace of life and the people that she meets. And then, of course, there is Roane Robson. The instant attraction is obvious to anyone that sees them together, but Evie sticks to her plan to avoid dating and search for what she wants to be happy.

Evie and Roane finally give their relationship a chance after her plans to return to Chicago change. With three more months to work things out, Evie is finally ready to stay in England with the man and the town that she fell in love with.

Alas, she discovers that Roane has kept a truth about himself from her and she runs away. Thankfully she has a few great people in her life to talk some sense into her and she is able to reconcile with Roane.

Much Ado About You is a well written love story. Not just about the love between a single couple, but a love among family and friends and a town that comes together for each other. There are vibrant and well developed secondary characters that add a great depth to Evie and Roane’s love story.

Recommended for: readers of slow burn romance

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

After being stood up on her first date in two years and overlooked for a promotion in favor of some fresh-out-of-college guy nearly ten years her junior and just generally feeling like she's the sidekick in her friends' lives, Evie Starling decides to do something bold and daring. When Evie discovers "Much Ado About Books", a bookstore located in northern England where tourists can stay and run the shop during their visit, Shakespeare-loving Evie takes the store's name as a sign and books her trip. For three weeks, Evie will find herself and follow one single rule: no men.

So, of course, her first day there, she saves the life of a Great Dane, who happens to have a sexy English farmer owner. A very, very, very sexy English farmer, who makes Evie want to break her one rule. Good thing he's got one big flaw: he doesn't like Shakespeare. Evie can't like anyone who doesn't like Shakespeare, no matter how big their biceps are and how pretty their face is and how much he loves his dog, right?

Evie quickly takes to life in the small English village and makes friends easily, though she tries not to get too comfortable. After all, her life there has an expiration date, and it's quickly ticking away. When an opportunity arises for Evie to stay longer, she jumps on it. Now she begins to wonder, is this where she belongs? Does finding herself mean starting over an ocean away from everything she knows and loves? And where does Roane--the world's sexiest farmer--fit into this?

Funny and sweet, "Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune" meets "The Tourist Attraction" in this novel that gives you cozy BBC sitcom feels in "Much Ado About You." Full of nerdy Shakespeare references, drama, and heart, Young has crafted a plotline, a setting, and characters that make the reader as well as Evie feel at home in Alnster, like it is a place to belong. Take inspiration from Evie and find yourself and follow your heart, no matter where it takes you! You won't regret the adventures doing so will bring!

A lighthearted romance in which the premise hit very close to the imaginary home in my head. Evie is 33, living in Chicagoland, loves books, and is sick to death of dating. All her friends are married and or having kids, meanwhile she’s still swiping (so far, this is exactly like my memoirs haha). Hoping a change of scene will do her good, she is able to rent a bookshop to run in a small town in northern England while she sorts her life out and takes a break from men. So of course almost as soon as she arrives, sparks fly with a very handsome, very single farmer. I breezed through this book in 2 days and it will make a fun beach/vacation read for those who enjoy the genre. One section of dramatics had me going, “really? Seriously?” But I recognize these types of books for what they are, and the aim at the end of the day is fun and swooning and happily ever afters. On that front, this book ticks the boxes.

I loved this book! Having been stuck at home for most of the year, it made me want to book a plane ticket to England, in 2022! The relationship between Roane and Evie was sweet and sexy and complicated all at the same time. I also like how the other villagers had their own plot lines and how they all intersected with each other. The sense of family and community was lovely. And I decided that I'll work in a bookstore when I'm no longer a librarian! One more thing, I love when the main characters don't have "perfect" bodies, whatever that is.

Who is ready to take a much needed trip abroad? Well get ready to do so in Much Ado About You! In this book we are transported across the pond to a small English town.

Evie needs to get away from her daily life in Chicago, so she rents out the Much Ado About Books bookstore in Northumberland. Evie hopes to be able to make decisions about her life while in the small town, never did she expect to fall in love with the town and the local farmer.

Roane has a little secret, that he is willing to keep as long as he is given a chance to win over Evie. Since the day she saved his dog Roane has been slowly falling in love with Evie, but since Evie has been hurt so many times in the past, he has to take his time in winning her over!

Much Ado About You is a super sweet romance novel that shows you what can happen when you step outside of your comfort zone. Not only do you fall in love with Evie and Roane, you will fall in love with the whole town. This book is about new beginnings, finding love, and finding a new home!

I definitely recommend reading this book, as you will enjoy it. A little different than Fight or Flight but overall still an enjoyable read.

Thank you to both Berkley and Netgalley for the ARC.

I hugged this one when I was done. I did! With a smile on my face, and my heart full of warmth, I love that this one is bringing my year to a happy close.

Evie Starling’s life in Chicago has stagnated in love and work, and she decides to book a vacation in a northern English village. There, she befriends some charming townspeople, meddles in their lives in the most innocent fashion, and of course meets a handsome farmer with whom she tries SO hard to just be friends. (I pictured Richard Madden for this role, and he did not disappoint my imagination.)

The relationships are tender and vulnerable, with lots of great hidden back story that keeps you guessing. Plenty of low-key small village drama to keep you flipping those pages, as well! The romance is a slow burn, and so fun. There are nods to Shakespeare in some plot and dialogue but it isn't overdone. Just enough to be so charming! I also really enjoyed looking up the locations and getting a better understanding of the setting of this story. Northumberland is gorgeous, and just the perfect location for this warmhearted, swoony, feel-good romance!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this advanced review copy with me in exchange for my honest opinion.

5/5 stars thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the early copy!

Lately I've found that romance has been a favorite genre and this book definitely did not disappoint. Not only was Evie's character very believable and realistically flawed, so was Roane. The small town vibes and the friendships in this book added to the story. I lived that it wasn't ALL about the romance we also got other characters that were important to the story and not just mentioned in passing. I absolutely adored this book and highly recommend.

When Evie's despair of a dating life becomes too much and she needs to get away, she rents a room above a bookshop in a quaint English village. Soon, the village begins to feel like home, and it doesn't hurt that she's caught the eye of a sexy farmer...

The first third of this book was aggressively fine--neither good nor bad, just kind of there. The undeniable chemistry between the two characters became too much and you're like just KISS already--the reasons they "couldn't" be together were BEYOND stupid. But at about 40% in, this book really picked up! There were subplots galore about other villagers, which really drew me in and kept me entertained. And once the main characters gave in and Evie put aside her idiotic reasoning, I was really rooting for them. I even like the ultimate "hurdle"/twist thrown in towards the end, which I normally find contrived--here I could see the groundwork over the course of the book and appreciated its originality. The last half of this book clawed my rating from a 4 star mediocre read to a 5 star great read (I may have got emotional near the end...).

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for my free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 stars - 8/10

I really love Samantha Young’s books but this one was a miss for me. I had a hard time connecting with the main character and the love interest didn’t sell me either! I think this just wasn’t for me, but others might enjoy it!

I do love nothing in the world so well as you." - William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

Evangeline (Evie) Starling decides she needs some clarity in her life. Overlooked for a promotion and with no dating prospects in sight, she finds a holiday booking online and takes a chance. The holiday entails working at a bookstore, Much Ado about Books, over her rented apartment in an idyllic English town.

Evie instantly loves the quaint town, the residents and the bookstore. This is the perfect place for her to get some perspective. Among her new friends is Roane Robson, a local farmer who is sexy, strong, and loved by those in his community. Evie is drawn to his charm, but she has strict dating rules and keeps him at arm’s length even though she is drawn to his personality, charm and good looks.


We all know where this is heading, but it is the journey, people. It all comes down to the journey! It also comes down to the cast of characters in this book. Most are quirky, likeable, and fun while a few are aggravating and stuck in their ways. We get to know their stories and watch as they interact with others. This is a small village where everyone knows your name (like Cheers), you are related to them, or have a past with them. The good, the bad, the messy, everyone knows your business, but they also have your back and look out for you. The setting in Northumberland is wonderful and I could not help but think that this is the type of place I would like to visit.


In addition to the lovely characters and the beautiful setting, the story itself is engaging and drew me in. Again, it is about the journey here. Evie as well as other characters are on journeys, to grow, to get perspective, to get independence, to get acceptance, and to find love. I loved the banter and back and forth between many of the characters. Evie and Roane stole the show of course (as did Shadow). They kept me turning the pages to see how things would turn out. The pacing was perfect, and nothing felt drawn out or rushed in this book. This was a delight and I look forward to reading more of Samantha Young's books. Plus, it turns out there really is a bookshop holiday in the lowlands of Scotland. Samantha Young found the listing for it, while searching vacation listings online. This listing ignited her imagination and thus, Much Ado about You.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I stumbled upon this one on Netgalley and couldn’t resist the cover. It also didn’t help that it’s about an English village. I just love books with that kind of setting. Although there were good moments, this book also had it’s issues.

One of the reasons I liked this book was the setting. It was perfect and I liked that all of the minor characters knew each other, although they gossip quite a lot! Most of the minor characters have a side story and they were interesting but also kind of took away from the romance aspect of the plot since it felt like there was a lot going on.

When it came to the main character, Evie, I didn’t mind her but sometimes she could be annoying. Her life in Chicago wasn’t going great so she booked a flight out of there. The vacation was unconventional since she would also be running a bookshop but I was here for it. Yay for an exciting adventure! Before she left she told herself no men while she was away. That lasted one day. The guy uses the line, “let’s just be friends” and she figures why not. Obviously, I knew what was going to happen. She was also jealous a lot and it kind of got old.

The romance in the book didn’t happen quickly when it came to the physical nature but you could tell from the instance they met there was an attraction between them. After that, their friendship moved rather quickly and they were seeing each other a lot. I guess I feel kind of in the middle when it came to their relationship. On one side, it’s great they started out as friends but it also moved rather quickly too. At least their were cute moments.

*Spoilers*

As with any romance, there is a plot twist that has to ruin them. I did not like it at all. Two of Evie’s other rules for dating were that she wouldn’t date a younger man (She’s 33) and that they couldn’t be rich. Well, surprise surprise! Roane is both of those things. She finds out from one of the villagers who isn’t friends with Roane and hell breaks loose. She gives him back the engagement ring and heads back to Chicago saying he isn’t the same man.

I feel like Evie blew this way up too much. It honestly killed the ending of the book for me. She can help all of the villagers with their troubles but can’t deal with her own and runs away again. Except she isn’t gone long and basically forgives him anyways. I just didn’t get the point of it all.

Also, it’s crazy to me that she was so close to her friend in Chicago but was ready to give up her entire life for a guy and a bookstore within a span of a couple months.

*End of Spoilers*

Overall, I liked it for the most part but it could have been better. I know it may not seem that way, haha. I do think other readers will like it and if it sounds good then give it a chance!

Evie decides to make a change in her life. Renting a bookstore in England sounds like just the right adventure for her. She’s not looking for romance, but life has other plans for her! I found this to be a delightful story! I really liked Evie and her perspective on life! I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would!

I was hoping to like this more than I actually did. The beginning of the book was enjoyable, but I felt that the side stories were more interesting than the main story. I also felt the author was telling rather than letter the characters reveal things about themselves and the community. It's clear the author is trying to set this up as a series. I will not be reading any more if that turns out to be the case.