3.5 stars for an interesting read..

A workplace fiction and it touches upon different issues and has some drama as well. I liked the MCs and the secondary characters also seemed well written.

Though it started a bit slow, I had a big smile towards the end :)

Note: My first by this author and while the book cover mentions "Love", the categorization clearly is Gen Fiction/ Women's Fiction (with slight touch on romance). I went with that expectation and I would say this book definitely met my expectations...

This was a really interesting read! Following Edith, a young architect living in Bristol, the reader joins as she navigates messy relationships, workplace politics, and neighborly drama! What I really enjoyed about this book is how unpredictable and realistic it was. I really enjoyed it!

What a stunning book! I loved the writing and there were so many moments where it broke my heart. I can't wait to read more by this author.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Canelo and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Though it was predictable, quite cute and entertaining.

This was a quick read, however I don't believe it's your typical romcom, chick lit book. I wasn't particularly overwhelmed by the book, perhaps because I wasn't really engaged with Edie. Try as I might, I didn't really come to root for her. The miscommunication plots were growing tiresome, but I was invested enough to finish and read to the end. Some will love, some will not, but definitely give it a go and decide for yourself.

Edie and Cameron work in the same office but Edie was away when Cameron started and since she’s come back they haven’t hit it off and her other work relationships in the small office have changed.
Can things get back on track or will she be looking for a new job?
I’ve loved all of Jo Platt’s books for her laugh out loud and feel good moments. I did enjoy this just as must but it felt a touch more serious and I’m not sure it would call it a rom com. It’s more about toxic friendships and believing in yourself and the romance side is more of a slow burn.
A really easy read that certainly did make me smile and one I flew through.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC!

Honestly i went into the book with very high standards set for the whole book and sadly, I was disappointed which is really sad.
The plot was very long and i felt like the progression of the story and romance took too much.
Seemingly so, the synopsis is better than the actual book because i went in thinking it was a workplace romance, and don’t get me wrong it is but the romance is lacking and we didn’t get much of the relationship.
Otherwise, the whole thing was confusing because i was trying to guess in the beggining who the rest of the characters.

I was expecting more romance from the cover and description of this book, I think it is definitely more woman's fiction. That said I really enjoyed the story. I loved the careful, considered firat few chapters and the clever weaving of the interwoven relationships. I also loved the sharp wit throughout, and the noticeable development of the characters. It is very relatable and I loved every page.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

The premise of this book showed a lot of promise, and I went into it expecting a quickly workplace romance. What I got was a quintessentially British, VERY slow burn book full of miscommunication…. And little to no romance.

Edie is a successful architect who has been trying to juggle her friendships, her incessant ex-boyfriend, and her professional life. Upon returning from holiday, she meets the new coworker in her office and is immediately turned off after seeing him as cold and hearing some not-so-great things from her best friend in the office. Shortly after, she decides to move in with her (step) cousin, and finds friendship with the woman next door… who just so happens to be friends with the new coworker Edie can’t stand.

Even though this was a slow starter for me, I really enjoyed most of the characters and the descriptive language Jo Platt uses to tell the story. She makes Edie a relatable character even in the face of rampant miscommunication and a little bit of chaos. The two subplots were very obvious to me, and I was so frustrated with the lack of romance until the last 1/6 of the book - Edie was just completely oblivious until all of a sudden she was obsessed? There could have been so much more lead up that would have made that relationship more fulfilling and rounded out the book. I’m a little bit confused by the publisher designation as a romance because there truly is little-to-none in this book.

I’m giving it 3 stars because I was able to read it quickly - I enjoyed the characters and the promise of romance enough to keep me going! I don’t love the miscommunication trope (especially when it’s only one POV), so that definitely impacted my overall feelings about the book.

I love Jo Platt’s books - so seeing this new piece of work ‘Working it Out’ was exciting. I was delighted to be approved for an advanced copy.

The books started slowly for me; I actually struggled with the first 25-30% and felt it dragged. I understand the author is setting the scene, providing the reader with the bones of the story to enable the story to flow and come together. However, this was hard work for me.

At approximately 30% the grip had started and I felt engaged with the story and the characters. The two main plots - Ruby and Giles’ love life were very clear to spot. Although our main character, Edie, was oblivious.

The characters of the book were well written and contributed to the story. I liked Giles and Luke!

The romantic element of the story - Edie and Cameron, fell so flat for me and I found this to be a real disappointment. Their attraction was noted at around the 85-90% mark. From here it snowballed at a strange speed. From nothing to ‘I want to touch you’ in the blink of an eye.

We then fast-forward to one year later. Edie kisses Cameron and we are led to understand that they are now living together? I was left with so many questions - when and how did they get together? The night of the cheese and wine party?

As a die-hard romance and rom-com fan, this was a difficult ending. I don’t need a happy-ever-after, but a build up, some chemistry, an understanding to what has happened, how it happened, where it’s going, is so important.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but having read the authors other works, it falls short for me. It wouldn’t put me off reading future work as I have loved everything else she has written.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

An excellent premise, however unfortunately this was a very slow starter and I found it quite difficult to get into.

The story
Edie (Edith) is a thirty-something architect living in Bristol. She broke up with her ex two years ago after finding out about his serial cheating. Her best friend Ruby, a colleague, is leaving to live in Bath, but before she leaves, she tells Edie that she was sexually harassed by their new colleague, Cameron. When the truth comes out after several months of Edie giving Cameron the cold shoulder, it has a ripple effect in her friendships, her home life that she shared with her cousin and the work relationships.

My thoughts
This story is told in measured thoughts, and rational emotions. It’s a gentle dealing with the complications, Edie being honest with those she has hurt, albeit unintentionally. I loved the supporting characters of her step-cousin who takes her into his home, his welcoming neighbours and her guy friends in her office who support and care for her. I loved that despite this measured and controlled vibe that lasts throughout the story, Edie in fact wears what she likes, mostly very colourful and bold outfits. It’s a goodie!

This was a slow starter for me and I began to feel exasperated that Edie took so long to realise she’d been lied to and was therefore being a bit of a muppet! But once she realised, and it became clearer what lay behind the troubles she had, the story began to move faster. I loved the characters of Giles, Cameron and Kerry in particular and the Avenue sounded a great place to live! An enjoyable read once I got going.

For a woman.deemed as a successful architect, Edie certainly has a loss of facilities and immaturity that makes this book p!od along. Who couldn't figure out the relationship between Giles and Kerry? So quick.to.call in her resignation due to her relationship with a co-worker? There needs to significant character redevelopment of Edie to entice a reader.

This was a cute workplace romcom, chick lit. Two coworkers who over time grow to like each other. Overall this was a quick read. I did enjoy this book, but it left me wanting more.

I received this ARC through #netgalley and I am voluntarily reviewing this book

Life for Edie is full of stressful events at work and in her personal life. Presumptions and inadequate information wreak havoc on her thoughts and muddy up relationships. Story felt like it stood still at too many points and slowly progressed the rest of the time.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

i was so excited to read this book but unfortunately it didn't not work out for me. loved the premise, the workplace rivalry turning into romance but the way it was executed did not live up to my expectations. the first half of the book was very slow, i just wanted it to get to the point but in the end i couldn't manage to finish it.
i'm sure other people will enjoy it more than i did.

I absolutely loved this! What a fantastic plot, beautifully written, intertwining the relationships between the characters in such an ingenious and realistic way.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would give the romance a 2/5 but the actual story a 3.8/5

This book was recommended to me as a romance but there is barely any in it. I would call this story more of a women's fiction. It is really interesting to see Edie's growth as a character and the dynamic she has with her cousin and neighbors, I will say this book did have me staying up trying to find out what will happen next. I like drama ;) Certain scenes had me gasping and honestly I felt so betrayed too because I was tricked alongside Edie. Its filled with friendships, betrayal, workplace problems, bantering and a drop of romance,

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

The cover is definitely quite misleading as I felt this was more of a character driven book rather than a romance, so don’t go into it expecting that. I enjoyed reading about Edie’s journey of navigating through awful friends, learning from mistakes and trusting people.

I think I started to enjoy this more once I took the romance notion out and began to appreciate Edith’s attempts at patching up issues after the exit of a manipulative coworker. The characters were interesting, but I wouldn’t say I felt quite attracted to them as I was to the main character. I found Kerry and Edith’s friendship quite fun.

I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a slow burn romance, as Edith spends most of the book with friends and focusing on her career rather than looking for love. The final chapter was my favourite and I wish there was a continuation but I’m really happy with the ending.