I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. Each character is unique in their own way. It is set in a small town in Massachusetts. Hannah, Layla, and Cassie were my favorite characters in this story. This book is in stores for $7.99 (USD).

If you are a fan of sweet adult romance, you're in for a treat! The writing of these mundane things - whether it be the antics of Hannah's baby nieces, or Collin's no filter, loud mouth old aunts- is spot on, and very entertaining. This played like a Hallmark movie so cozy and cute.

I don’t understand why authors end books on cliffhangers. Just write a longer book. Being honest it feels like a cash grab to sell the next book so it puts me off. The story is ok, characters relatable but I wouldn’t recommend because of the cliffhanger ending. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an egalley.

Quarantine is a introverted bookworms excuse to crack open a lot of the books that have been collecting dust on our e-readers and bookshelves. If you're going to have to stay indoors and avoid the spread of a virus, what better way than to escape in the pages of a book. While being a mom to a rambunctious 5-year-old during this time has left many a book neglected, I have finally found the time to curl up with my favorite quilt, a chilled cup of ice coffee (I live in Florida, warm beverages are not very popular), and my reassuring e-reader. Where We Began seemed to be a good place to start at witling away at the old TBR.

Hannah has found herself tucking tail and leaving her life in New York City after being dumped by her boyfriend to find solace in the home of her adopted sister, Cassie. While she knows her brother-in-law would sooner chew glass than have Hannah staying with him, she would much rather focus on spending much needed quality time with her twin nieces and loving sister. However, she knows that eventually she will have to come back down to reality and rebuild her life. The first step: a job. The coffee shop down the street would be perfect as its within walking distance and the barista, Layla, makes her feel like she's the long lost friend she never knew she was missing. Then she meets him.

Collin's life is a circle of misery and guilt over the loss of his fiancée two years prior. His love life is not even a blip on his radar. But when his eyes lock on the feisty female klutz spilling coffee all over the floor of his coffee shop, he wonders if he has been alone too long. But the circumstances of his fiancée's death hangs like a shadow over his budding romance with Hannah. He has to tell her the truth but he can't find the words. But Hannah may be hiding something painful from her past as well. Will the two open up their hearts again for a perfect future or will their past ruin everything?

As with any book I read, I like to highlight the pros and the cons I found in the story, structure, and characters I encounter. Some of the pros lie in the likeability of the characters. Hannah and Collin, while having some flaws in logic over their issues, were delightfully well constructed. Hannah was feisty but also clumsy to the point of comedy. Collin was stoic but also has a silly side that complimented Hannah well. But the true stars of the book were Collin's Aunts. They were the funny no-filtered sass machines that we all long to have in our own elderly relatives. Lucy and Ethel meets Laverne and Shirley on an older scale would be how I would best imagine them. The antics they could have could fill the pages of their own stories.

One of the more pronounced critique I have for this story is the structure. The story had promise. It could have gone a plethora of different ways. There were many potential antagonists and situational hurdles that were not utilized. It was only in the last few pages of the book that the actual antagonist was introduced and then it left on a cliffhanger. It was similar to waiting and waiting for something exciting to happen and then getting just a taste of what that excitement could be before being told it was over. It felt like the author struggled to find a new obstacle once the main reason for the couple being apart was dissolved. Between the snarky brother-in-law, the narcissistic ex-boyfriend, the potential distance if Hannah chooses to leave, you'd think the main conflict would not be some random character dragged into the story on the last few pages. When the story layout is shaky it makes the reader unsure of how to appreciate all the finer elements.

While I personally struggled to give my full approval of the story, I did find enough enjoyment to finish the story and want to see what happens next. I will be picking up the next book in the series when it becomes available and I encourage you to try this one out if able to. Let's see if you agree with my point of view or have an entirely different one all your own.

I loved the cute love story aspect of the novel. I always enjoy small town romance, and enjoyed the second chance at love angle. Overall I liked the story but the way the characters spoke to one another was not believable to me and made them seem at least decades older than they are supposed to be. I live in the south and no one in their 20's even call each other darlin' and honey here, so I'm thinking it's less likely that they do up north. I don't know why but it irritated ke to no end and continually took me out of the story. I know it's keant to be a series as well but the abrupt cliff hanger also rubbed me the wrong way. I still liked the book, but I am not sure I would read the sequel.

Where We Begin definitely left me wanting more and I will be looking for book number two. The characters and backdrop were unique and interesting. Not your typical "boy meets girl" both the main characters in fact are very anti "meet cute". The only thing that bothered me was the age of the characters, they seem to be so accomplished and confident for being so young.

Where We Begins is a romance by Janey King that shows us not just new love but a man grieving as well. We have Hannah who has been once again dumped and learning to be well her ownself. All her life she has run away from finding happiness and thought she had it. Not only has she been dumped but is now jobless and well relying on her sister to help her back in her life. Then we have Collin, sexy and mystery man of the town yet has his own secrets. Everybody around the town knows he hasn't let go of his first love. Even though it has been a couple months since he lost her Collin really hasn't let go of the pain. Meeting Hannah is a huge surprise that he is having feelings for another woman after all this time. Janey King not only shows us a woman trying to move on but a man afraid to move on. These two together are beautiful showing each other how they can help one another but most of all that this is a town that cares for them. This is the first in the Berkshires series and there is still so much more in this little town. Loved it.

"I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own."

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, first off a new adult book with rom-com feels? Yes, pleaseeee! AH OMG HANNA AND COLLIN ARE ADORABLE AND I JUST REALIZED THIS IS GOING TO BE A SERIES! I NEED MORE!!!

The story was ok. Kind of dragged and then the ending left me like: "wait, what ???"
I struggled with it and being from Massachusetts, I thought it would be more for me. But, it was not.

I liked it but it was a bit slow. There was a lot of background. The characters were good characters but I found it a bit hard to connect with the heroine. I wish the main characters became a bit more a bit faster.

This one just didn’t do it for me. I’m giving it a 2 1/2 rounded up to 3 stars.
For me this one dragged and I just didn’t care what happened to any of them. Hannah and Collin just didn’t really work as a couple and the ending made the book even worse. There was barely enough story for one book, let alone more. It didn’t help that the dialogue didn’t really flow and everyone seemed to behave as though they were teenagers.
Really not for me, sorry.