This book was so adorable. Seriously, one of the most fun and feel good books I've read in a while. It's been some time since I've read a Samantha Young book and I forgot how much I love her writing. This one was a real treat!

Evie is having a rough time. She's in her thirties and back in the dating pool and things are not going well. After quitting her job, she decides to take a chance and do something new. A small village in England where she can work at a book store and live in the apartment above for a month seems like just the thing she needs.

Evie ends up falling in love with Northumberland, and what's not to love? It's one of those places where everyone knows everyone and she starts to make a place there for herself. The last thing she wants is to fall for someone, but after meeting and becoming friends with Roane, it's impossible not to love him.

Roane is the absolute best. He cares about Evie so much and is so loving and patient with her. Evie was great as well. I loved watching her grow and change on this journey of hers. There were also some fabulous secondary characters that added so much to the story. I truly hope Young writes more about this group because I'm dying for a Lucas and Violet book, and I'd also love one about Caro.

Much Ado About You is not only a romance, it's a story of starting over and of self discovery. This is one of those books I could easily see being made into a film. I loved so much about it and highly recommend it for all lovers of contemporary romance. It made me so happy while reading, and that's just an amazing feeling! This was an incredible friends to lovers romance with the swooniest hero.

Super cute, great characters. I'd love for this to spawn a book for Caro, because she has so much to tell. Only downside was Greer and Evie felt a bit toxic at times

Well, Much Ado About You is a delight. It's a confection of wanderlust and electric chemistry that I didn't even know I needed.

When 33-year old Evangeline finds herself unemployed, single, and ready for a change; she rents an air BnB in North Umberland, England that includes the responsibility of a local bookstore. Enter the adorable villagers who befriend her, the crusty locals who hate her, and one SUPER hot local farmer who wants her, and you have my kryptonite.

BRB, booking my flight to England.

I loved everything about this book! I found it fun and realistic to a T!
Evangeline Starling is questioning her life. Being alone, not married and no kids when all of her friends have gotten married, had kids and moved on. When she sees an opportunity to move to a small village in England and run a bookstore, she jumps at it.

This is a romance per se, but also so much more. I loved all the secondary characters. I loved the feel good aspect of this book. I loved that Evie found herself when she needed to! I loved this book!

Trigger warnings for alcoholism, death of a parent.

I absolutely adored Much Ado About You. It was whimsical, cute, and everything that I could ask for in a whirlwind travel romance. While I figured out the entire plot very early on, I didn't mind at all, as it was done in a way that made sense. Much Ado About You was an incredibly easy read, and I found myself chuckling along again and again. Evie is a reliable character that I just couldn't help but love and want the best for, and I found her chemistry with Roane so believable. I was incredibly charmed by all the other villagers as well, and thoroughly enjoyed the storylines that they were given. Young does a wonderful job of interweaving them and making the reader fall in love with Evie, Roane, as well as the entire town.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC!

Samantha Young was one of the first romance authors I ever read, and her series, On Dublin Street - set in Edinburgh - holds a special place in my heart (for obvious reasons). I was very excited to see that she had a new romantic comedy coming out – and one with such a dreamy premise!

“Much Ado About You” follows Evie Starling, a thirty-something woman living in Chicago who, after getting fired from her job and stood up on a date, decides it’s time for a break. Looking for a change of scenery, she impulsively plans a holiday to a quaint seaside village in England. The flat she rents includes a temporary position managing the bookstore below it, Much Ado About Books. As she settles into small-town life, she becomes acquainted with the various villagers and their drama, including sexy farmer Roane Robson. And when she saves his Great Dane, Shadow, from an accident, he becomes smitten. Evie has sworn off men for the holiday, as she believes it can only lead to heartbreak, but can farmer Robson convince her to try a whirlwind holiday romance?

With such a fun premise and promise of a comfort read, I was excited to read this story. However, it fell a bit flat for me, mainly due to the primary romance. I couldn’t really see the reason behind Roane’s “insta-love” with Evie, and that carried on throughout the book as I could not see any real chemistry between them. This also could have been because I didn’t feel an emotional connection to Evie, and couldn’t see why everyone in the village was automatically drawn to her. That being said, I did love all of the villagers, and the B-storylines about them. My favorite part of the book was the Romeo and Juliet-esque (or Benedick and Beatrice-esque, as Evie describes it) relationship between the son and daughter of rival pub owners.

Overall, it was a fast and easy read – but a slightly frustrating one. I think that if you are looking for a comforting vacation rom-com set in a small town, you would enjoy this book!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for access to this ARC!

4.25/5

I had high expectations going into this book, and I was not disappointed. After yet another failed date, another one of her friends getting pregnant, and abruptly quitting her job, Evie Starling decides she needs a change. When she finds a Bookshop vacation in the idyllic small town of Alnster in Northumberland, England, she jumps at the chance to find peace and direction in her life. She doesn't go looking for love or friendship, but when she meets a hot farmer... well, you know where this goes.

This book was such a breath of fresh air. With fleshed out, quirky side characters, the town on Alnster was perfectly populated and became a character of its own. At first I was concerned that this story would be a bit too Hallmark (outsider comes in an shakes up the town for the better) and not enough HBO (*cough* spicy scenes *cough*) but the friendship building at the beginning of the novel really solidified the love story and made it more believable and lovely. And as expected, it got a little spicy too. All in all, this book was pure escapism and I loved every minute of it.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Much Ado About You has all the elements of a delightful bookstore romance: a windswept British setting, book-loving but searching heroine, a Renaissance farmer hero, and a cast of characters that are quirky and in each others' lives. It''s a cozy and contemporary tale and a wonderful place to spend a few hours. I suspect there will be more tales to come from the Much Ado About Nothing Bookstore and I'm ready for that. Cheers.

A chance to find your true soul mate is what Evie has in this magical romance, filled with angst and true emotions that will have you fluttering through every page...

I gotta say, Samantha Young knows how to write a romance novel that transports you to another world. Taking place in Northumberland, Evie and Roane meet under some heroine circumstances that brings them together in an angst and intimate way. I have not read a book like this one in such a long time, and that's because I have been on an insta romance wagon band. Though it's an angst-y romance, Evie and Roane start as friends due to Evie's emotional walls being up after being in relationships that have not given her hope for true love. Leaving the life of Chicago for a small vacation of three weeks and renting out a bookstore and running it during the duration of the trip, is what makes her realize what she is truly looking and missing in life.

The people in Northumberland are in a tight community filled with lots of fun, drama, and honesty. It's truly beautiful reading a small town romance not taking place in the states, because of the very well described sceneries surrounding the characters. With that being said, Evie is surrounded in a world filled with the beauty or romance. Whether it's finding a partner, or simply enjoying life, she instantly falls in love with everything around her.

After spending some extended time in this magical town, Evie realizes that fighting the emotional flutters she gets for the people, and more specifically the attraction she gets for Roane are some intense emotions that she cannot go against. And when her time comes closer to an end, she needs to figure out what she really wants or where she really wants to stay.

There are so many beautiful characters, like Caro, Viola and Lucas in which we NEED their stories. I am keeping my eyes out for them because Caro needs to find her happily ever after. While Lucas and Viola need to stop with that banter and just be together already! With that being said, Samantha Young has not disappointed once again with this marvelous novel. I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us!

The small-town romance is a staple for a reason, and Much Ado About You manages to be a very cute addition to the genre. The charm starts with the main setting - a charming village bookshop that, I imagine, most readers will daydream about for days after. A dreamy bookstore, a colorful (and deliciously gossipy) set of background characters, a lovable Great Dane - what more does a rom-com need other than charming leads?

For the most part, the book delivers on that front, although I would have liked to see just a little bit more unpredictability from them. Both Evie and Roane are the kinds of characters you root for, both individually and as a couple, but there's just a little something missing from them - it feels like we've missed some steps with them, and the major obstacle turns out to be both predictable and somewhat contrived. That doesn't make it any less enjoyable, to be clear, but it does mean it's missing that little extra something. In some ways, the supporting characters are actually more interesting - I'd gladly read a spinoff of Roane's cousin Caro! But all in all, it's still the kind of sweet romance that offers a few hours' respite from a stressful world.

This book starts off like Evie and the no good, horrible, terrible week. Poor Evie has some serious issues going on, and decides that it's time to take a step away from life as she knows it to evaluate and reconsider. At one point, she says that the reason she decides to go to England during her breakdown is that she knows if she doesn't take charge of her life, she'll spiral into an even worse place from which it would be incredibly hard to escape. I love this about her! The descriptions of the charming village, the pub, and the local residents were so lovely that I feel I've escaped to an English summer. What an incredibly fun book. I highly recommend it!

And if that's not enough to convince you to read this book, there is a GREAT DANE. Be still my beating heart. Enjoy!

This book was about a 3.5 stars for me. Samantha Young had me with the bookshop rental premise, but I wish it had more of a place in the story. Other than that this was a cute and sweet romance and while some of the plot and twists were obvious I really enjoyed the ride.

Perfect for anyone who wants to read a book that will give you Hallmark movie vibes! Evangeline is working my dream job at a publishing company where she meets Roane. She's 33 and I love that this book focuses on two adults going through life.

This was a great contemporary romance featuring a solid “friends to lovers” structure. My first by this author, but the book lived up to the praises for her past works.

What I liked:
* Great location and supporting cast
* The “meta” way that the Shakespeare fan moves to a town where everyone is the living embodiment of various
plays, complete with a “If I Were a Man” hat-tip
* Tropey classic Romance format (we love these for a reason!)
* Bookshops and libraries are my kryptonite, these settings are always a winner

What I disliked
* Fatphobia. It is very important that Evie be “not like other girls,” but the hyper focus that she is just
tall/unique/curvy, but definitely Not!Fat! (as if that would be a bridge too far for someone to find her attractive)
missed the mark on body-positivity
* The handling of race, especially the “villagers don't see color” aspect could use some sensitivity reading.

Overall a good read that has me putting many other works by this author on my TBR list.

I love the Samantha Young On Dublin Street series! This was a very sweet fairy tale. More than one happy ending!

Much Ado About You picks up with thirty-something year old Evie Starling as her life hits rock bottom in Chicago. On a whim, Evie applies to run a quaint bookshop - Much Ado About Books - in the Northern English seaside village of Alnster. Evie is immediately welcomed into the small community, and even saves the local farmer's (and most eligible bachelor's) dog from a potential accident. The farmer, Roane Robson, quickly takes a liking to Evie where their friendship always walks the line of possibly something more. It's up to Evie to see past what is holding her back from welcoming Roane and happiness into her life.

This book was such a delight! I loved that there were so many sub-plots with such heart from the local villagers: involving emancipation from abusive guardians, a 30-year-old village feud that keeps two fated lovers apart and a tale of love and acceptance of an LGBTQ child. The author does a wonderful job of fully immersing the reader in this town with her poetic descriptions of the scenery, as well as her thoughtful inclusion of some tips about the local dialect through the main character's thoughts! As for Evie and Roane's relationship - WOW! I loved this tale of friendship to love - it was so heartfelt (and heart-racing), yet realistic! I loved every moment of it! Also, huge thank you to the author for making sure that Evie had not only a body type that I felt represented myself, but also including moments of Evie's introspection around her body-type!

If you loved - The Switch by Beth O'Leary, In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren, One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London, A Rogue of One's Own and Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore, Beach Read by Emily Henry or any other recent "friends to something more" romance novel - you're going to LOVE this one! I promise!

I came into this a big fan of Samatha Young. I adored On Dublin Street and Fight of Flight!! Much Ado about You seemed to have all the ingredients I usually love, but it fell a bit flat for me. The romance itself didn't give me a whole lot to latch on to. That said, I still enjoyed the idyllic UK setting and bookstores are still one of my favorite romance tropes. Not the best Samantha Young, but I'll still read anything and everything she puts out!!

I couldn't get into this book. I'm not sure if it was the writing or the plot but I was really struggling. DNF.

Sweetish- softish- swooning and absolutely Hallmark-ish, feel-definitely-good romance takes places in magical Northumberland!

And a lucky cow heroine having a dreamy holiday at this sweetest town, taking my dream job (a special bookstore with collections of Shakespeare plays) , meeting with friendly, quirky but also vivid town’s people ( I loved how the characters were portrayed in this story),flirting with charming farmer Roane!

Nope, I’m sold! Amazing escape opportunity from the compelling real life problems and stressful situations! Just open it and start your entertaining, lyrical journey at this small town, in this lovely bookstore!

Evangeline Starling struggles in her life. Since 10 years, she’s been working as an assistant position at the same publishing company. For 2 years, she stopped dating after her heartbreaking experiences but now she’s 33.

All of her friends moved on, getting married, changing their career direction, living their dreamy lives as she suffers from loneliness and emptiness. Of course she has also problems with her mother which holds to live her life fulfilled. Now her best friend is pregnant which makes her feel like third wheel at the other people’s lives.

After being stood up at her last date and losing the promotion to a 25 years newbie, she decides to think through what she has been doing wrong in her life. She plans to take a break, quitting her job, spending her 4 weeks at small English town, working in a bookstore, discovering the scenery which will help her gather her thoughts for making her fresh start!

But unfortunately when she jumps in from of a car to save a dog’s life, her heroic maneuver results in meeting with one of the hottest guys also the dog’s owner she’s ever seen in her life: farmer Roane Robson.

She promised herself to stay away from the men to find out who she is and what she really wants in her life but Roane is big distraction. He accepts to stay friends with her but why he needs to be so sweet, caring, protective. He’s the one, isn’t he?

Maybe staying friends is not good idea! Maybe he’s more than a 4 weeks long holiday fling but what if he’s hiding something which will be game-changer for her!

I already gave too much away. I had incredible time and visualize to spend my holiday at miraculous Northumberland and spending my time with those amazing fictional people.
I’m giving 4, Shakespearian, I feel good like I said I wouldn’t so good, I feel nice like sugar and spice stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this incredible reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This was so cute! I loved the characters. The village was a character in itself. I read Fight or Flight a couple years ago and purchased it for my library where it has been popular. I will buy this one as well, and expect that it will also be checked out often.