I really enjoyed this book! The heroine was great and I loved her path to independence and self-discovery, but there were so many brilliant supporting characters too (Joan is my personal favourite). The writing and development of the characters was very well done, and I will definitely be looking out for more books by Beth Moran in the future.

This was a fun read! While it definitely has hallmarks of a romance novel, including like five meet-cutes, romance is definitely the side plot and there’s a very VERY long wait for even a kiss.

Our heroine was fantastic and I liked that right off then bat, we are seeing her put her foot down. Often we see the heroine be a doormat for a while until she decides to do something about it, but not so in this case. We have one scene with the mom and the line has been drawn.

The only downside I can think of is that there was A LOT of side plots. So many things are happening, especially in the beginning, that made it a bit complex. I would have rather had more romance. 😁

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Just the Way You Are by Beth Moran is a soft, perfectly enjoyable read that had the potential to be so much.....more. It is a perfectly enjoyable read, with perfectly enjoyable characters and a perfectly enjoyable (and rather predictable) plot. Some days those are exactly the books a reader is in the mood for! I happened to be isolating with Covid when I read the book, and the absence of mental load was appreciated. I liked Just the Way You Are, but ultimately I felt like the story hoovers around each character, teasing the opportunity to flesh any one of them out into a more complex (and interesting) part of the narrative, and then it skitters away from the challenge.

🏘Loved it! So warm and full of love & friendship🤗
Highly recommended😍
What a lovely story! It's got so many interesting supporting characters and Ollie, the 29 year-old lead, navigates her way on a personal goal journey, inspired by her schoolgirl Dream List, out of her mother's suffocating dependency to a full life of her own in a cottage skirting Sherwood Forest.

My favorite characters? A bit hard to choose because author Beth Moran gave me so many great ones. At the top of my list would have to be eleven year-old Tolkien-lover Joan, "Ebenezer" (Ollie's curmudgeon of a next door neighbor), and Irene, the crochety librarian. Joan gave me heart, smarts and proved endearing from the start whereas Ebenezer and Irene took a while to come out of their hard shells and grow on me.

Yes, there's romance and a happy end for Ollie and many of her new friends, but I think it's the often whimsical ensemble of characters that fill Ollie's independent life that make this book sing. Ollie gives generously to them and they end up giving back in spades.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I received this book from NetGalley publishers and I liked it.
I loved the cover and the title and the story I can't wait for more by this author I have not read any from this author..

An interesting book...

The story line was different and well written. 

I liked Ollie, Steph and all the other secondary characters - I had the 'ah this one is well developed' feel for most of them.

Toxic relationship and mental abuse is a serious subject. Especially between a mom and daughter it's really indigestible.

I was impressed when Ollie simply did not up and leave her mother but took efforts and worked towards it (there are several people in real life who either don't understand that its a toxic relationship/ even if they understand they cannot come out of it/ just snap and leave one fine day both parties downward spiraling due to it)...


A bit more of Sam and Ollie (maybe an epilogue or bonus scenes?) would have been a perk!


Overall, a good read.

I loved the premise of this story, and I loved the first few chapters. Ollie's mother... oh my god, I think we all someone in our life we can compare to Ollie's mum.

I enjoyed this story, and while I did skim a little through the middle, I liked joining Ollie on her path to self-discovery.

Great writing; very descriptive. What I love most about reading is when the author has the seamless ability to describe a scene with such detail (yet not so much that it becomes boring) that you - the reader - almost feel a part of it.

This was the first of Beth Moran's books that I have read, and I will certainly give her other books a go!

💞Just The Way You Are 💞
By Beth Moran
Publisher: Boldwood Books (Feb 17 2022)

What do you do when you have a no-boundaries mother who is stifling you in so many ways and yet, you know she just loves you and is afraid to be left alone???

Why you create a “dream list” of stuff you want to accomplish (even mini things such as hosting a party) before your 30th birthday …

I’ve only read 1 other of Beth Moran’s books but the easiest way to describe them is “light romance”. They both took me to the British Countryside that I love with quirky characters and a MC you want to root for.

Have to say that her mom drove me bonkers with her fake ailments and the passive-aggressive controlling relationship. More than once, I want to tell Ollie to stand up for herself and just figure it out. But alas, that doesn’t happen right away 😉 as in most romance books.

For me, I like more grit for my rom com… but I certainly enjoy these “palate cleansers” as I call them. This was was an easy read but definitely not a favourite. So kind of disappointed. Perhaps it just wasn’t the right time for me to pick up.

I do however enjoy her writing so I will still try another backlist books. Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy in return for an honest review. All views are my own.

Have you ever finished a book and didn't want it to end. You felt a deep connection to the characters and wanted to continue to follow their lives. That was this book for me. Honestly I went into this thinking it would be another romance but instead discovered so much more!

Olivia Tennyson is fed up with her mother controlling her life and choices. Realizing that living with her mother will get her nowhere, she moves out. Starting a new life at 29 years old, Olivia decides that she'll finally start on her Dream List, a list she made with the intention of completing to prove to herself she's capable of tackling life all on her own...

This was such a delight to read I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the oddball cast of characters the author created, from the curmudgeon librarian, grumpy neighbor, hottie forest ranger/friend, protective best friend and so many more. These friendships and found family are what helped Ollie find her path forward on her own terms.

I cried and laughed and loved throughout this whole book!

Thank you to Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I couldn’t finish this book. , I loved the premise of it but couldn’t completely get into it.

Thank you Boldwood books for the ARC to read and review.

This coming of age story for Ollie was a great read. Determined to get out from under the domination of her mother, Ollie moves out, buys a house and settles into her own life. She is just a good person. Befriending a young girl leads her to meeting her potential love interest and her HEA.

Ollie has a lot of anxiety and lack of confidence, but she grows up so well. It was. a pleasure to read.

Really enjoyed this book! If you are looking for a cozy, comfort read, pick this one up. I usually read suspense and just so enjoyed reading this novel and it was quite relaxing to do so. The plot follows our main character as she pulls away from her overbearing mom and creates a life of her own--but certainly not how she intended. Thank you, Beth Moran, for a great pick me up!

I liked this book for what it was. A story about growth, connection, loving and leaving. But most importantly about having the courage to learn about who you are and what you need. This book had Mhairi Mcfarlane vibes, but with a bit more zing.

I've decided to give this 4 stars because I did enjoy reading it, and I love the way Beth Moran writes. I loved the character development and how we got to see so much life leaping off the pages.

At times I did feel a bit withdrawn, though it did not take away from my overall experience of the book. Would I read it again? Maybe? But most probably not. But I'm glad I picked it up this time.

ARC generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect read for me, it had everything I wanted in it, great characters, a fantastic and uplifting and moving story line. Ollie is a teenager when she writes her Dream List of what she wants to have and do with her life when she is older, fast forward several years later and she is unhappy. She has no one to come home to apart from her way too protective parents that just do her head in. She wants to break free so she decides to go for it and change her life for the better. Once she has grabbed the bull by the horns she decides to complete her Dream List but will the other things fall in to place and will see find her happy ever after? I really felt a connection with Ollie and wanted her to achieve her dreams, I was rooting for her all the way. It was such a joy to read and I would rate it higher than five stars, and recommend it to everyone.

This book was absolutely lovely and I enjoyed it immensely.
Not only was Ollie very likable and relatable, the side characters were just as fun to read about and they all contribute really well to the story.
Ollie’s progress was very fun to read about; how she fails but gets back up again, how she gets in some really stupid situations. At some parts I laughed out loud! Nesbit (the dog) was so cute!!
I also really related to her because of her job. She works for an organisation that helps illiterate adults to learn to read, and as a speech therapist myself that was very interesting!! The organisation is also based on a real one, so it’s definitely good that it gets some attention this way!
But not everything was as happy. The book definitely tackles some harder topics as well, like poverty, drug/alcohol addiction, … Leanne and Joan’s storyline was often really heartbreaking and made me tear up a couple of times. I’m so happy they found Ollie and I’m so happy Ollie found them.
And then of course there is Sam, the love-interest. It’s definitely a slow burn, and usually I don’t really like those, but there’s so much going on in this book, the romance doesn’t take the spotlight, which I really liked.
There are some more side characters that I really loved, like Irene (the Library Lady) and Ebenezer and all of Ollie’s clients.

The writing style was really fluent. We only read from Ollie’s first-person perspective. The pacing was variable. At times, it was really fast and I couldn’t put the book down, at other times, especially the more emotional parts, were medium-paced.
What did struck out to me, Ollie definitely didn’t read like she was almost 30-year old. Often she came across as someone in her early 20’s, but maybe that’s because of her moving out only now? I did relate to her though, so I didn’t mind that.
to summarise
This was a super-enjoyable feel-good book that tackles some harder topics as well. It reads very fluent and I really liked all the characters and the plot!

Just the way you are is a very heartwarming story about a woman who steps out from the clutches of her overbearing mother and live a life just the way she likes and not what her mother wants. Olivia made a list when she was 16 but right now she's 29 and she hasn't achieved anything. Therefore she moves out of her house and ends up at End Cottage.

The plot wasn't something very amazing but it was good enough to keep me invested. I loved each and every character in this book except for Olivia's mother especially Joan. The romance was cute but not that great. I have read better romance books but like I said.... Ollie and Sam were cute together.

Thanks a lot to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book.

#BookTour

This is the kind of book you consume in one evening. You have great sympathy for Ollie from the beginning and you are constantly rooting for her to get out and find herself. Her mother is incredibly manipulative and even fakes illness and symptoms to get Ollie to stay with her. Her mother always acts out of fear and has let her abandonment issues hold Ollie back. When she finally gets out of that house, you can feel the sense of freedom Ollie experiences.

Her personal journey is lovely - though if you're not a fan of second hand, toe curling embarrassment, you're in for a bumpy ride because Ollie really does find herself in some awkward and cringe worthy situations! Seeing her out on her own, coping with emotions and adjusting to change, we watch her confidence grow.

We meet a whole host of people along the way and this story is very much a 'don't judge a book by its cover' and 'there's more to people than your first impression' kind of vibe. In these people, Ollie finds the support and love that she hasn't been shown. Their love is pure, honest and liberating. This found family is a very special one and really makes the book shine. I tell you what, theres a scene that made me shed tears. I won't spoil anything. I'll just say Ebenezer, Little Women. Once you've read this book, you will understand my emotions.

The romance in this book is incredibly slow burning. There is focus on friendship and helping each other through what life is throwing at them but the spark is always there. And then THAT KISS. You wait a long time for it but when it happens, it's glorious. So romantic and the chemistry just envelops you.

This story is one of courage and freedom. It's about riding the waves of life and using every moment to discover who you are and who you want to be. When Ollie is making her way through the list, she realises that though things don't always work out the way you hoped, the right thing is waiting for you and you never know, it might be just around the corner... or in Ollie's case, the forest.

After reading a previous book by Beth Moran, I couldn’t wait to read this one and it did not disappoint.

Ollie is approaching 30, and has had her life held back for so long by her mom. Somethings got to give….. and this book gives it all

I think my main reason about this book as it really goes in deep in struggles with families and not just partner. Which is really important for people to realise.

There are parts where I was howling with laughter, cringing and tears. This book has it all.

Beth Moran is an author not to go unnoticed.

This is a sweet book about a woman called Ollie, who lives at home with her emotionally draining mother. Ollie has put her own life and dreams on hold and reluctantly stays in the small world her mother has created or them. As Valentines night approaches and Ollie has a date, her mother becomes 'very ill' and this causes Ollie to cancel her date.

But it turns out the illness was not that bad and her mother was emotionally blackmailing Ollie to keep her at home with her.

Ollie has had enough of the drama with her mother and vows to change her life and her relationship with her mother

And so begins Ollie's quest to complete all the 'Dreams' on her 'Dream-List' before her 30th birthday, which is only a few months away.

As Ollie moves house, makes new friends, somehow unwittingly adopts a dog and becomes a kind of carer to a whole other family...

Can she get her list done in time and will she be able to stick to the 'No Man' rule.

Set in the gorgeous countryside, this is a really sweet book and you will be rooting for Ollie from the get go. I definitely was.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC to review. While I enjoyed the book overall, I often felt like I was just being told and not shown the story. This was especially true in the first half of the book, which felt rushed at times. I found myself rooting for Ollie to grow and become her own person, which kept me engaged. I enjoyed seeing how Ollie's relationships with the secondary characters developed. Although it is listed as a romance, the romantic aspect was relatively minor in the plot.