I finished this in the early hours of this morning and I have to say I absolutely loved it.
I have read 2 books by Maxine Morrey and both have had me reaching for the tissues! Brilliant book by a brilliant author!

Bee is a girl we can all relate to. She regularly feels unseen, and far too often she just settles. An outsider looking in may think she has it all - a job she's good at, her own London flat and a great group of friends. And yet, none of it seems quite 'right'. Her best friend, Luca Donato, is incredibly handsome, wildly successful and a genuinely nice person. Yet, like Bee, he has yet to find 'the One'. So, when they are both challenged to use online dating as a way to find their 'person' they agree. Bee however, is rather less enthusiastic about the situation! What follows is a series of events that may well force Bee to revisit how she sees herself, and how others see her.

I always jump at the chance to read a Maxine Morrey novel, and it was no different when I found out about Living Your Best Life. In fact i'm not sure she can write a bad novel! Bee is a great character, and one I could definitely relate to. So many of us women second guess ourselves, or doubt our abilities, so Bee really could be one of us. Obviously Luca sweetens the novel beautifully, he's handsome and kind - he's really rather perfect! All good romance novels require a perfect man for us to visualise (and fantasize about!), and Maxine has definitely achieved that with Luca!

Living Your Best Life is a real 'feel-good' novel. I loved the characters and their relationships. It was great to follow Bee, and watch her really achieve her potential, not just in her personal life but in her professional life too. It was also wonderful to follow a male character who really champions women and lifts them up - they are out there and it's nice to see them out and about in the world of fiction! I am more than happy to recommend this novel to you all. If you love Maxine Morrey, and you love a good romance novel this could be the book for you!

Just a few pages into this book, I knew two things:

1. Bee's self-esteem is locked in a cellar somewhere

2. [SPOILER]

Don't worry about number 2, Bee doesn't know it either, and yet both these things hinder her tremendously when she and her best friend, handsome Luca Donato, are challenged to try online dating. It's entertaining, awkward, and sometimes frustrating to watch Bee get shoved out of her comfort zone on her way to living her best life.

I have an awful lot of sympathy for Bee, as emotionally and often physically absent parents did a number on her. Her friends - particularly Tia - provide much needed moral support, and Luca does his best to convince Bee that she's worth it. Unfortunately, her insecurity is almost more than their friendship can take, especially when Luca's flaws seems so few.

Best enjoyed when warm and dry (unlike poor Bee on more than one occasion!), Living Your Best Life is fun, funny, and sometimes all too relateable.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

This was an entertaining, well-written book. For the most part it was fun, cute and creative, though at times the main character had a viewpoint that became annoying. It held my interest and I wanted to find out what would happen. I enjoyed this book and would read more books by this author.

I had already read another book by Maxine Morrey (Things Are Looking Up), which I enjoyed very much and I have another one (No Filter) on my TBR pile. So I was super exited to read Living Your Best Life.
This is an ejoyable read, not my favourite by this author, but definitely nice and fun especially if you like the friends to lovers trope. But please, take into consideration trying also other titles by the same author, because I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fun and sweet story about a group of friends who challenge two in their group, Luca and Bee, to join an online dating site to find love. The resulting events make up the plot of this charming story. It’s well written with great dialogue and is a perfect example of the entertaining friends to lovers trope. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and see their dates, some of which were disastrous! I thought the pacing was good and I especially enjoyed the ending. Very little steam, but definitely a good story.

Oh my goodness when I tell you this book was frustrating in the best way possible I loved it so much!

Bree is stuck in a sort of rut, she’s stuck in a crappy job that doesn’t appreciate her, she strikes out in the dating world, and it doesn’t help that the rest of her friend group is staring to move on and slowly drift away, at least it feels that way to Bree.

When her friends challenge her and their other single friend Luca to a bet to see if online dating will end up being their savior of finding their one true love Bree decides she’s tired of everyone looking at her with pity, she’s going to prove herself!

I found myself identifying with Brees immense self-doubt, lack of confidence, and self sabotaging so this was very difficult to read as I continually heard her friends tell her what everyone says or what I wish they would say.

I love love love Luca his admiration and support for Bree made me feel fuzzy and smile because I hope I can find someone as dedicated to my happiness as he was for Bree.

Minor spoiler but I am so happy they ended up together they were always meant for each other and I knew it the whole time, I knew it the moment Tia mentioned all the things he was looking for. Bree just fit, she always did, it just took her a bit longer to realize.


Thank you so much to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and of course Maxine Morrey for writing this incredible book I’ll never forget it!

If you like friends-to-lovers stories, then this is a fairly good one.

Bee has very serious low self esteem. She is constantly comparing herself to her friends, especially her best friend, Luca, and his gorgeous dates, and coming up short. Luca is looking for The One to spend the rest of his life with. Their friends are paring up bit-by-bit and, of course, would love to see everyone around them also in love. Bee is skeptical that an online dating site can lead to long-lasting romance, and she finds herself accepting a dating challenge against Luca.

I have mixed feelings about this book and it was difficult to come up with a rating. Let’s start with what I liked about it. The writing style kept my attention and I really wanted to know what’s going to happen next. I liked Luca a lot and it’s clear from the beginning that he has feelings for Bee. And since the book is from Bee’s point-of-view, it says a lot about her perceptions that she didn’t see this. Bee’s poor opinion of herself was portrayed very well and it stayed consistent, there was no miracle cure. She did go through some experiences that brought her out of her comfort zone and drove her to make some much-needed changes in her life.

What I didn’t like: Bee and Luca are supposed to be best friends since they were five, and we get told that quite frequently, but in this book we don’t really see it. They are constantly at odds with each other, and not in a fun, banter-y kind of way. Luca has the patience of a saint, but he and Bee were quite rude to each other at certain points. And while I really liked Bee’s “aha” moment, it was only at the very end, and I wish there were more of them together as a couple.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review is also on my blog at https://hookedbythatbook.com.

Living Your Best Life is a sweet romance that reminds its readers that sometimes the one we are meant to be with is right in front of us.

I enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of Jenny Bayliss's book The Twelve Dates of Christmas, minus all the Christmas stuff. I loved going on all these first dates with Bee. It was fun and, at times, a little horrifying as she kept on meeting Mr. Wrong and Mr. REALLY Wrong. I think anyone who has done online dating will relate to all the experiences Bee and Luca went through while trying to find the one.
Bee is a character that I instantly connected with. I think that is because I see a lot of myself in her, so I really understand why she feels the way she feels. She doesn't have much confidence in herself, and the dating world leaves her feeling nervous and unsure. Bee would rather stay in her comfort zone than take any risk, whether at work or in her love life. Bee's childhood shaped how she sees herself and how she thinks others see her. Her parent's complete lack of interest in loving their daughter or showing her any support or encouragement really did a number on Bee. Maxine shows readers how our childhood experiences shape who we are as adults. I just loved that Bee has a great support system around her; Luca, Tia, and her friends are incredible at building Bee up and encouraging her to take those chances.
Luca is a gem. I just loved everything about the man. He really is a great modern-day rom-com hero. He is this perfect blend of sweet, spicey, and such a gentleman. Luca’s family is delightful and endearing and I couldn’t get enough of them. I actually wished they made more appearances in the book. They just added just so much warm and richness to the story.

This book is a friends-to-lovers romance book. Luca and Bee are close and have known each other since they were wee ones. I loved the friendship between these two. The way they tease each other is both sweet and funny. Their relationship is like a drawn-out slow-burn love affair. The majority of the book is about them dating other people, and even though it was super obvious to their friends, and me, neither one of them made that first move. I wish Bee would have recognized her feelings for Luca a bit sooner. There is one thing that I have to say: Maxine made my heart stop near the end of this book; she definitely was playing with my emotions and almost had me crying. Thankfully everything worked out, and I didn't have to throw my Kobo across the room.
Thank you, Boldwood Books and Rachel Random Resources, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Maxine Morey, Net galley and Rachel’s random resources for gifting me a digital copy of living your best life in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved this book; I stayed up to 3 in the morning reading it. It’s been a long time since a book kept me up at night (as a mum sleep is very precious to me) but I just couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters and the development of their stories independently and together. I don’t want to give anything away so can’t go in to much detail but I am more than a little love with Luca and his family. This was my first book by Maxine Morley and I loved her story telling and characters so I am very excited to discover more of her books.

Maxine is a new author for me and wow, I need all her other works of art! Best friends to lovers, what more could you want? The back story through out was marvellous and I devoured this in 1 day.
I’ve since purchased all Maxine’s previous books. I can’t sit to get stuck in.

I received a gifted copy of ‘Living Your Best Life’ by Maxine Morrey in return for my honest review.

This book follows Bee and Luca who have been best friends since they were kids.

One night they have a discussion about dating apps, and both have different views on whether you can find love through them.

They decide to have a bet, they will both join the same dating site and actively date to see if it is possible to find true love through the app.

Will either of them find true love? What bad dates will they have along the way?

I found this book hilarious and also heart-wrenching, it was the perfect book for me at the moment and even made me sign up to a dating app. Although after hearing about some of the bad dates, I did wonder if I had done the right thing.

I loved the characters and really related to Bee as she was going through her dates and the way she felt about herself too.

I couldn’t put this book down and loved every minute, it was the perfect rom com for me, and I will be looking for more books like this as it made me feel uplifted.

Overall, a perfect rom com showing the ups and downs of dating and love.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an eARC for an honest review.

This follows the story of a young woman with self-esteem issues, which has stemmed from her upbringing by her parents, who is pressured along with her childhood friend, Luca, by a group of their friends, into signing up on a dating app. Bee is undervalued at work and has given up on relationships, whereas Luca who always has women falling at his feet, says he wants to find "The One".

Bee constantly looks down upon herself, and would rather settle in her comfort zone, afraid to take risks, despite her friends encouraging her to step out of her shell. Luca, on the other hand, loves adventures (e.g. ice climbing). Despite their differences, Luca and Bee have known each other since they were children, with Luca's family having Bee over on many occasions. However, believing that they know each other inside and out, the beginnings of the online dating app opens their eyes, realising that there have been many things they have to learn about each other.

Told from the POV of Bee, we are shown her world, thoughts, denials and insecurities, and while as a reader, we want to scream at her to open her eyes and heart, everything clearly stems from her lonely life as a child. While the romance story ends predictably, I still enjoyed the read and would have loved to read Luca's POV and his journey as well.

Really loved this novel and can’t wait to read more by this author. Great storyline, interesting characters - what else could you ask for!?

I found Bee, the female protagonist, very annoying. There were passages which dragged on, all to do with her repetitive thoughts. It was completely obvious she and Luca were meant for each other, and I found it irritating she was so dense about it. I didn't like the Adrian subplot and the cheating. I think it was unnecessary. I did like Luca, although at times he was a bit overbearing. The romance was so angsty and the couple took so long to get together (which you can predict right from the start so I don't think this is a spoiler), that the abrupt ending was a disappointment. I would have liked to have seen Bee and Luca together more than we did at the end. This story did hold my attention, despite my skimming over some of Bee's long internalised though sequences, but it's not a story I'd return to.

This book really spoke to me. It’s identifiable, relatable and humorously warm. I’d gladly recommend this and devour any future work of the author’s

Special thanks to #netgalley and #boldwoodbooks for allowing me to read this ARC. Maxine Morrey is a new author to me and I wasn't sure what to expect. I love the title, who doesn't want to Live their best Life?
We meet Bee, Tia, Jono and Luca. Jono is newish addition to the trio and the Fiancé of Tia.They met on a dating app.
Bee and Luca have been best friends since the day they met at school.
Bee's parents weren't ideal for an only child, something I could emphasise with as my mother wasn't ideal to be a single parent to me and the bond that Bee forms with Lucas family is something I have my own experiences of in real life.

Tia sets the pair a challenge to try online dating and whilst Bee is totally against it, her playful rivalry with Luca, nudges her to eventually agree.

Both end up on dates. We follow Bee as she frees herself from a past that meant she leant heavily on protecting herself against hurt and the unknown.
I have tried all kinds of dating apps and can fully appreciate the experiences Bee has, I think anyone who has tried online dating will tell you that you need thick skin and a sense of humour with an excellent poker face to protect you from what can lurk behind a match. Sure, there are the ones who find their true love, will this be the case for Bee and Luca ? Or is love already a lot closer than they realise?

I am glad I read this book, it's offered me new ways of viewing my own single life existence.

I adore books that offer me personal insight as well as entertainment. So glad this is one of those books. Enjoy.

I'm a fan of Maxines books anyway so it was a no brainer for me to read this one.

I'm a sucker for a good friends to lovers storyline as my husband and I were friends forever before we took the plunge and got together.

I really liked Bee's character and loved watching her confidence grow with every disastrous date.

You can tell that they are made for each other from the outset of the story and I kept constantly changing my mind as to how I thought the book would end.

A good read for all romance fans.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bee often feels unseen by the world and people around her. Stemming from her self absorbed parents Bee has self-esteem issues that have had a knock effect on her love life., Stuck in an underpaid, undervalued job, Bee is just plodding along through life. The one constant in her life is her best friend Luca.

Friends since he pulled her pigtails in infant school they have remained in each other’s lives across the years. Whilst Luca is popular with the ladies he wants to settle down and find ‘The One’, which in reality is Bee – but he has just never confessed his feelings for her hoping she would see the man in front of her in a new light.

Their friends challenge them to join a dating app, although Bee and Luca think that it is a waste of time. Bee is betting that he’ll be the only one to find love by Christmas. With Bee’s dates somewhat disastrous it makes her take stock of her life and start making changes. But when Luca drops the L-word, what will Bee make of it all?

This wasn't for me. Even though the characters were relatable, the ending was waaaaay to obvious from the beginning. Nonetheless, that beginning was actually decent, I liked it but then I kept reading and I got a little bit boring. Besides, Luca was a jerk sometimes, and Bee's thoughts were repetitive. So in the end, I wanted to know how the story would end, but I didn't feel the connection I expected.