I love a take on Shakespeare, and this book that plays on themes from Much Ado About Nothing is a delight. It’s a book about love and confusion around love. There’s a lot of “will they/won’t they?” storylines, and a European bookshop is at the center of the story. I definitely recommend this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an ARC!

I went into this one with high expectations, and it did not disappoint! This is the perfect novel if you’re looking to escape from reality, even for just a little bit. It’s like a tiny getaway in one book.


Leaving her life behind in Chicago, Evie decides it's time to reevaluate what she wants from life. In Alnster, Northumberland Evie discovers a quaint community filled with stunning views and lovely people. Evie and Roane have a wonderful, insta-love dynamic that didn’t feel forced. They start off as friends in the beginning, which made their story feel even more natural. I enjoyed how Evie was a real down to earth woman, who was naturally curvy and not afraid to be honest with herself. She was a fantastic lead and a wonderful narrator. Roane was the perfect match for her, and together, they spun a great story.

I would highly recommend this novel. It’s the perfect get-away!

If you ever wondered how Shakespeare would write Hallmark movies set in England, then this is the book for you.

Our protagonist, Evie, is passed up for a promotion and quits her job. Afterward, Evie decides to go to a small village in England to find herself in a hasty moment. The small town in Northumberland is welcoming to Evie, but Evie starts to doubt her friendship with the local farmer, Roane.

The great thing about this novel is how it reflects many people are trying to figure out their lives. At the beginning of the story, Evie is trying her hand at dating and is stood up but brushes it off as she prepares for a promotion at her job. After learning that the promotion will be going to a younger male, Evie rightfully quits, and the cracks in her life result in her fleeing to a small bookstore in England.

It’s in the small village, Alnster, Evie starts working at the Much Ado About Books. Evie’s goal is to figure out the source of her loneliness. On the first day of her stay in Alnster, Evie runs into the local farmer Roane after saving his dog. From the moment they met, Roane didn’t keep his attraction to Evie a secret. Evie, swearing off men during her stay in Alnster, ignores his advances and writes off his interest in her. As the villagers start to welcome Evie into their inner circle, Evie finds herself getting involved with the locals. It’s because of the locals welcoming Evie that she starts to see her loneliness lessen.

This book’s commentary on loneliness for people approaching their thirties is a problem for people. As people are putting their lives on hold for their career, a career that isn’t as fulfilling or is mentality drains them. During her stay in Alnster, Evie ends up helping the few younger girls in the town navigate themselves in life and love. In the end, Evie is a relatable character trying to find happiness and self-value as she realizes her life is going in the direction she initially expected.

A delightful read. I loved the setting and the secondary characters really gave the story depth and charm. Roan was pretty swoon worthy and I liked seeing the ways Evie got involved with the town.

Full of cozy potential, escapist romance, and book-lover catnip, Much Ado About You is a book that I wanted to love and disappear into for awhile, but it didn't quite work for me. I honestly kept forgetting I was reading it and almost unintentionally DNF'd twice. Yikes.

Thirty-something Evie has been burned by a mother struggling with grief and then addiction, by long-term relationships, by the dating scene in Chicago, and now by a promising online relationship that stood her up at the first planned meetup. She feels like she's being left behind by friends who are married, settled, and having children. And now, after putting in years as a capable, experienced editorial assistant, she's being passed over for a promotion to editor AGAIN. She needs a break. She follows her English-Lit loving heart and impulsively books a getaway to a charming Northumberland village where she'll be working at a bookstore part-time as part of the vacation rental agreement. There's a quintessential pub. Village drama to meddle in. A friendly Great Dane. A sexy farmer to absolutely not get involved with. Perfect.

Maybe it'll be the perfect romantic escape for you — books! seaside village! meet-cute involving a dog! a Beatrice-and-Benedick side plot! a cameo of the castle where Harry Potter was filmed! slow-burn romance that heats up into a steamy relationship with a kind, charismatic male lead! — but somehow it all felt a bit flat to me. Definitely too long. Maybe too linear. Perhaps relying too much on telling, especially in the main characterization. I didn't connect with Evie (though I definitely should have), didn't like the "meddling American fixes things" vibe, and didn't really buy the way Evie remained ignorant of what developed as the main conflict. Still. A book about a bookish Chicago girl maybe finding true love on a bookstore vacation at a seaside village in northern England? It was worth the effort.

Content notes: body image issues, strong language, steamy sex scenes, backstory death of parent, parent struggling with addiction, abusive and controlling guardianship, racism, heterosexism, family rejection

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for a digital ARC.

Chicagoan Evie Starling has been stood up and passed over one too many times. So she decides to book a month's vacation on the coast of England running a bookshop in a small village. Soon after arriving she saves a dog from getting hit by a car and his sexy owner, farmer Roane Robson, is forever grateful ... and a little bit in love with her. But Evie came to find herself, and that means no new romances - right?

This was a fun and charming read perfect for the beach or a cozy afternoon. And really, who wouldn't want to run a small but successful bookshop in an English village while a hot farmer lusts after you? Young introduces us to the quirky cast of characters living in the village who befriend Evie and some of the long-running problems that she seems to have a knack for solving. When it came to Evie and Roane's "friendship," methinks the lady protested a bit too much, but I guess it gave her more time to do some neighborhood meddling, including helping Roane's cousin Caroline break free of her aunt's toxic influences.

I have two quibbles with the book: (1) I would have liked Evie to embrace her size a bit more. (It doesn't come up often here, but it would be nice to see more fat-positive romance novels. Early on Evie declares she hates the word "fat" and Young proceeds to focus our attention on her very thin and delicate legs anytime Evie is feeling sexy or confident in herself - even after Roane tells her how much he likes her *whole* body.) And (2) the ultimate conflict and climax is really a bit ridiculous. I mean, I know Young had to get from one point to another, and I've read other similarly silly blow-ups, but it had me knocking half a star from my rating. Oh well - can't have it all, right? In reality, this was an enjoyable book and I look forward to more from Young. Maybe a sequel featuring another village couple?

“Sigh no more ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever-One foot in sea and one foot on shore.” —Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About You, Samantha Young’s latest standalone from Berkley, will without a doubt be one of the top reads for 2021.

I don’t say this lightly. I’m a romantic comedy lover from way back in the day. Much Ado About You is the perfect rom-com come to life. The description of the characters and the small coastal town, as well as the depth of emotion which are portrayed in so many scenes are all so richly and vividly painted on the page that I became invested immediately in the story.

Evie Starling has the tenacity to rent out a bookstore in Northern England on a whim. Her sudden hiatus from reality becomes a way to find herself. Evie resolves she would focus on herself, especially after a too long streak of dating mishaps. Once she lands in England, her jet lag leads her stumble upon a man—and a dog—that she had never intended upon meeting. Roane is the mysterious, yet enigmatic, and oh so charming farmer that challenges Evie’s resolution to stay away from men on this trip. Roane is the perfect book boyfriend, and honestly I was impressed at the willpower Evie showed throughout the book.

Samantha Young has a way of creating characters, as well as small towns that are enchanting, whimsical, and so delightfully life-like. On more than one occasion I felt like I was sharing a table at the pub with Evie, trying one of Caro’s baked goods, or could feel the soft ears of Shadow the Great Dane. I also felt each and every sexy, silly, and heart-wrenching emotion that Evie went through. Evie is a fantastic heroine, and I adored that she found resolution for her character on so many different levels. Her romance with Roane was a true wonder to watch unfold, and was so easy to get swept away with all the delicious heat between the two.

I honestly cannot recommend Much Ado About You enough. I truly hope that this book isn’t the last we see of all of Evie’s friends in Alnster. I’ve been a fan of Samantha Young since she was writing YA paranormal fantasy and I can honestly say that Much Ado About You is tied with my favorite book she’s ever written. Much Ado About You will become one of those books you just want to read over and over again because reading it is like giving your soul a hug.

Bee on the lookout for Carla’s IGTV review of Much Ado About You in the next few days so you’re all ready for the fantastic Much Ado About You to release on February 2nd, 2021!

This review originally appears on Lit.Buzz.

Much Ado About You is such a refreshing romance novel that leaves you staying up all night to make sure the character’s conflict has been resolved. Evie is American, looking for an escape from her ‘lonely’ life on a path to self-discovery (might sound familiar but Samantah Young, creates a character and story that makes the reader invested). Of course, enter Roane...cute, sexy, English farmer (yes, please) who falls for Evie, but Evie is determined to focus on herself. I immediately fell for both characters and how their story intertwined, yes I had a couple of doubts in the beginning but then the story makes a turn that answers those doubts. Well done and well written, Samantha Young.

Thank you to @BerkleyPub for providing an eARC via @NetGalley for review.

After a massive work disappointment, a failed date with a younger man, and her best friend’s pregnancy news, Evie Starling decides to escape her life in Chicago for a few weeks to figure out what she wants. She rents an apartment above a bookshop called Much Ado About Books in a small English village and runs the cozy shop during her stay. Evie finds herself drawn into the village community, feeling a deep connection with a local farmer and his dog that she is determined to resist.
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Much Ado About You is a lighthearted and relatively predictable escape into a book lover’s dream vacation complete with a meet-cute, lovable side characters, and literary references galore. As far as friends-to-lovers slow burn romances go, this one is relatively drama free, and I love that Evie makes time to prioritize her friends in addition to her budding relationship with Roane. Though I enjoyed the read overall, I kept getting distracted by how idyllic the story was. I was always hyper-aware of the fact that I was reading a romance story as opposed to getting swept into the story itself. Stilted dialogue pulled me out of the story and there were several moments where I felt like I was told what was going on in Evie’s world rather than shown.

I went into this book expecting an enemies-(or at least verbal sparring partners)-to-lovers story resembling Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship in Much Ado About Nothing and was pleasantly surprised to find Much Ado’s influence woven into the story in an unexpected but satisfying manner. The overall premise surprised me, yet blatant foreshadowing made the major conflict very predictable. Despite this predictability, the journey from foreshadowing to conflict makes for a sweet and entertaining read.

If you’re in the mood for a quick and easy romance read whose protagonist loves books as much as you do, this one’s for you!

Much Ado About You releases on February 2, 2021.

I loved this book,it had everything i love, England, books, bookstores and falling in love. I loved how the relationship developed between the two main characters, but I do think the last conflict the author introduced was a little too far fetched and seemed there to just add unnecessary drama. Overall though I really liked it.

4.5* Who hasn't dreamt of running a bookstore in a foreign country while on vacation? Add in meeting a cinnamon roll farmer, his goofy dog, and a wonderful mix of English villagers, and you have this delightful, if unlikely, romance.

Evie Starling isn't having much professional or romantic luck in Chicago, so after getting passed over for a promotion at work, she decides to take some time to decide what she wants in life. A lucky internet search leads her to a small village in Northumberland where she can work at the Much Ado About Books bookstore while renting the apartment above the shop. She's sworn off men for her vacation, but she is soon tempted by the oh-so-sexy and sweet Roane Robson, a local farmer who is definitely interested in being more than friends. If the romantic drama isn't enough, Evie also finds herself enmeshed in the villagers' lives- making friends, meddling with feuds, and becoming a true part of the village.

Much Ado about You provides a solid balance of small town holiday romance and enough drama and angst to be interesting but not over the top. The cause of the big conflict at the end was very obvious from the beginning, so I appreciated that it didn't become too ridiculous.

This was such a fantastic holiday story--Samantha Young truly sold Alnster, the little town where Evie stays, and the rest of the Northumberland area. The descriptions were thorough enough to feel like you were there but never drowned out the story. After reading another book just before this one that failed at descriptions, I was so happy to get back to an author that understands how to do it well.

Other than the location, the characters made the story for me. Evie and Roane were adorable and I was rooting for them from the beginning. The majority of the villagers were also delightful with believable small town drama, but there were also enough jerks to keep it realistic. There are a lot of little side plots going on throughout the book- Evie likes to meddle- but Evie's story was definitely center stage.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet holiday or small town romance and to book and England lovers looking for a bit of wish fulfillment.

One of my new favorite books of Samantha Young's (and contemporary romance)! This is a book lover's ideal romance novel. There's a bookshop, a cute English town, a relatable protagonist, and a super handsome love interest with a perfect dog. It made me want to hop on a plane and start a whole new life abroad.

There are several things I love about this book. Number one, the protagonist is in her 30s, which makes the romance much more mature and not so drama-filled. Number two, the romance is swoon-worthy. Some of Young's romance novels can be pretty steamy and smutty but this one wasn't and I appreciated that. Evie and Roane become friends and get to know each other well before jumping into a relationship. Roane never forces Evie to do more than she's comfortable with and respects her space when she rejects his romantic advances. Also, this is a sloooooow burn but not too drawn out. Number three, the setting is so vivid and the characters of the town are so dynamic. They all felt like real people, not just 2D supporting characters.

I can't really find a glaring annoyance or flaw in "Much Ado About You." This is definitely one I'll recommend to patrons looking for some romance but nothing too steamy.

Fun, but not great. I liked the premise of Evie setting out on a bookshop apartment rental in a small English village and adjusting to life there but in practice I never truly connected to any of the characters. And I never quite understood how they all felt so magically connected to Evie. I kind of expected a little more small town grumpiness but when there wasn't that much it seemed like there wasn't enough conflict to fill what honestly could have been a much shorter book. I did think the narrative handled her relationship with her recovering alcoholic mom well, and I did like the sense of place we got with the town itself. Bonus points for Shadow, my favorite great dane sheep herder.

⭐ 2.75 / 5 ⭐

A cutesy “finding yourself” rom-com set in an idyllic village in England.

I don’t like NOT liking books. I don’t like writing negative reviews. I just - Okay, here’s the thing: this book wasn’t terrible. I’ve read worse. But it wasn’t particularly memorable, either.

"Thirty-three-years old Evangeline Starling's life in Chicago is missing that special something. And when she's passed over for promotion at work, Evie realizes she needs to make a change. In a burst of impulsivity, she plans a holiday in a quaint English village. The holiday package comes with a temporary position at Much Ado About Books, the bookstore located beneath her rental apartment. There's no better dream vacation for the bookish Evie, a life-long Shakespeare lover.

Not only is Evie swept up in running the delightful store as soon as she arrives, she's drawn into the lives, loves and drama of the friendly villagers. Including Roane Robson, the charismatic and sexy farmer who tempts Evie every day with his friendly flirtations. Evie is determined to keep him at bay because a holiday romance can only end in heartbreak, right? But Evie can't deny their connection and longs to trust in her handsome farmer that their whirlwind romance could turn in to the forever kind of love."

Decent premise, right? I was so excited. But the deeper I got into the story, the more I realized that I wasn’t enjoying it all that much. I wanted to connect with the main character, but it just felt like she had no personality. Evie was bland, and so was the story. Roane was cute, but I honestly felt like we didn’t really get to know him as a character.

If this story were food (stay with me, here), it would be a big bowl of unseasoned, bland french fries (“chips” if you’re across the pond). Yeah, it’s nice. But it has no zing. I really liked Roane, but I felt like the author did him wrong heading into the middle part of the book. He was super cute in the beginning, but there was no BUILD. You don’t really get to see how they fall in love.

Evie would just mention that she had spent time with him in passing to the reader, and I was left like, “What? And we don’t get a play by play of that???” As someone who lives out her love life through fictitious characters, I was rightfully outraged.

Anyway, in conclusion, finally, lastly - however you wanna say it - this was cute, but it wasn’t for me. Just my personal opinion. But please don’t let my opinion sway you if you loved this book!

A big thank you to Berkley Romance + Netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book!

*An official review will be posted on Goodreads on 1/29/21*

My oh my. This book was feel-good, schmaltzy romance, push-me-pull-me, and YASSS-WOMEN all at once, and it was great. Let me say, I don't read a lot of hardcore romance novels, but I do love romance when it's written well and appears in the novels I love. This book appealed to me for a number of reasons - bookstore/book love, independent woman looking for a reboot from life where she feels so inept at romance and love and feels comparatively worse off than everyone around her at her age ( she's 33!!!!!! NOOOOOO!!! ), and small bookshop in small northern British village that's basically Scotland. I think what works best in this book is that Evie is no shrinking violet. She's strong, tall, has a love/hate relationship with her squishy human belly, and is OVER being passed over for a promotion in a place she's been working for 10 years just because she's female. She decides she doesn't need a man to be "complete" and the only way to stop feeling the pressure she feels from society around her telling her her biological clock is ticking and she should have her stuff figured out by now, is to get away for a long trip to reset. And the reset locale just happens to be Northumberland, renting an apartment while working in a small indie bookstore. She cuts through a lot of the small-town-crap that's been happening for along time, including a warring family situation, a la Beatrice and Benedick from Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," and gets very friendly with a very handsome local farmer named Roane Robson (swoon) who has a big galumphing Great Dane named Shadow.

It definitely gets "Hallmark," for sure, but not in a terrible or unbelievable way. It doesn't suffer from bad acting, for example. It's definitely romance and it definitely gets that heart aflutter.

Calling all bookworms! This one is for you!

Shakespeare loving Evie Starling is a girl after my own heart. After quitting her job and giving up on romance, Evie books a three week vacation in a cozy little village in England. The best part? Her stay includes running a bookshop! How fun is that?

Evie quickly wins the heart of the whole village, including one sexy farmer. But is she ready to give up her entire life back in the states for them? We journey along with Evie as she finds love, friendship, and the meaning of home.

Every single character is just amazing. Unique personalities and small village drama abound. Oh, and there is a freaking awesome and adorable dog who plays a pretty big role.

Much Ado About You is a sweet, fun page-turner with all the cozy British vibes. All the Hallmark movie feels with just the right amount of steam thrown in. If you want to escape to a magical little world full of feel good romance and friendships, this is the one.

Did I stay up until 230 AM to finish Much Ado About You? Yes. Was I happy about that? No. This was NOT the book for me. This was one of those books that I wonder how it got past an editor. The constant speeches from literally every single character in the village was more than I could handle. They were like the equivalent of a drunk girl that corners you in the bathroom trying to give you a hyped up pep talk and the whole time you're wondering if she is legally old enough to drink. Long-winded and really, really immature. Not to mention the CRASS language. Language doesn't even bother me all that much, but the level of it here just sounded...unintelligent. The "twist" was...well. yeah. And the BIZARRE dialogue...like, very bizarre lines at really integral parts of the book. I found every single plot point unrealistic and the unrelenting meddling from the MC to be entirely annoying. The romance is wide open door and goes on way, way, way too long. Way. Too. Long. Again, I don't even mind open-door romance but like cut it off please for the love of pearl.

If you depend on me at all for *personal* book recs, skip this one 🤣 I'm sure lots of people will love it...like with any book...but there isn't a lot of merit here IMO.

This book was an absolute delight! With everything going on we all could use a great swoony book in our lives and that's definitely Much Ado About You.

What I loved about this book:

1. The characters are so loveable and I was absolutely addicted to their storylines. Evie is a character I'm sure a few 30ish readers will relate to as she tries to find her purpose and what will make her happy after a few things don't work out for her. I mean we've all been disappointed before, I'm just regretting the fact I never took a trip to Northumberland when it happened 😂. While there she meets Roane and he is so swoony that he may be my new favorite book boyfriend. Roane is so caring and sweet that you'll fall for him right along with Evie.

2. The setting of Northumberland made me want to hop on a plane, but Rona has me firmly planted in the AZ desert. Even though I'm surrounded by cacti and dirt, I enjoyed visualizing this country side town. This quaint and charming small town made me miss home and I hope we get to read more stories about this town and its charming community.

3. I liked how this book emphasized putting your own happiness first even though it may disappoint those you care about.

Seriously you should definitely pick up this sweet, swoony book that's sure to have you feeling all the Hallmark vibes. This was a quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed, easily a 4⭐ read.

Evangeline has reached the point of needing to get away and tune-up her life at age 33.. Her dating life is bad, her mom and she are not communicating well, her bestie just told her she is pregnant and she is passed up for a promotion as an editor. She quits her job and answers an ad to run a bookstore in a village on the coast of Northumberland, England for a month. She adores Shakespeare and since the store is named "Much Ado About Books" she sets off with a little hope for a reboot. She meets the villagers and finds romance and friends and interferes with the villagers lives. The characters won me over and I wish I could go there.

I really wanted to love this but I just could not get into it. There's nothing wrong with it per se, I just wasn't vibing with it. I didn't feel connected to Evie (so much so that I had to look up her name just now). The writing was just okay and everything felt a bit rushed, which is probably the reason I couldn't connect with any of the characters.

One thing I did like was what Evie had to say about loneliness and contentment and societal pressures to be in a relationship. It was also nice to see a protagonist who isn't in their early 20s.