I really enjoyed Georgie and Levi's story--it's the quintessential opposite attracts and it definitely attracted me. She's a creative and a dreamer--she kind of floats rather than walks through the world--and while she may appear to be flighty and unconcerned about what happens next, she' really not. She's a little lost and looking for that something that will launch her on her next thing.

Meanwhile, Levi is precise and orderly and maybe even a little of a control freak. He doesn't color outside of the lines (anymore) and isn't a fan of surprises...and really of anything. He comes off as a grump. Really he's just been burned so badly, when it comes to love and trust, that he doesn't love and he doesn't really trust. He guards his heart..and everything fiercely.

So when Levi and Georgie inadvertently have to share a space for a little while, it would seem that disaster would be imminent but crisis is averted when they get to know each other better and can see that neither of them is there to judge the other. As Georgie goes on a quest to find herself, Levi decides to help and inevitably they fall in love. Of course it's not that simple; it never is--there are misunderstandings and hurtful words and hurt feelings--but the ultimate ending really is a happily ever after.

At first, I hesitated as I read the first chapter, wondering if I would find Georgie driving me crazy with her seemingly disoriented disorganization. As the chapters continued on, I realized the Georgie's gift and flare for where she was in life was hidden so fully from her, that her journey to find herself became my journey of cheering her on when things went horribly wrong and beautifully right in those moments. There were chapters where I winced with her in pain, and chapters where I smiled as she recovered with grace.

What I loved most about this book is the fact that Georgie kept a spirit of trying when we live in a world where it seems so easy to give up and accept the status quo of what is versus what could be. The optimism that no matter where things fall flat or become mud coated, Georgie shows us how to remember to be resilient in a world where nothing is always as it seems. A resilience that we can lose in a moment, or perhaps in some ways didn't always learn well within our own lives. If every reader takes a little bit of Georgie's resilience with them into their own world, then our world may become a little bit brighter and lighter.

I’ve really enjoyed Kate Clayborn’s other books and, while I wasn’t sure about this one at first, it turned out to be lovely. Georgie’s journey of rediscovery made me want to look back at my own diaries and childhood dreams and do all the things I missed.

Der Klappentext hörte sich nach einer wunderbaren „romcom“ an, wie es im englischen so schön heisst, einer „romantic comedy“, und sowas mag ich ja für zwischendurch immer sehr, sehr gerne. Die Autorin sagte mir nichts, aber jetzt gleich vorab: das Buch war wundervoll, und Ms Clayborn muss ich mir vormerken 😊.
Also, auf Deutsch, hierum geht es: Georgie Mulcahy, knappe 30, Personal Assistant aus Hollywood, kehrt zurück in ihre heimatliche Kleinstadt. Die hat sie damals gerne und schnell verlassen, denn zu Schulzeiten fühlte sie sich immer eher unbeachtet am Rande. Jetzt ist ihr aktueller Hob ausgelaufen, und da ihre beste Freundin Bel hochschwanger ebenfalls wieder in der alten Heimat wohnt, lag es für Georgie nahe, zumindest vorrübergehend hierher zurück zu kommen. Jetzt ist sie da, und im Haus ihrer Eltern, das sie eigentlich leer aufzufinden gedachte, wartet eine Überraschung auf sie: es gibt noch einen weiteren Hausgast. Levi, ein paar Jahre älter als sie, dessen eigenes Haus gerade renoviert wird und der nun mit seinem Hund zusammen ihr neuer Mitbewohner ist. Levi war seinerzeit stadtbekannt als Troublemaker, ein Ruf, mit dem er immer noch zu kämpfen hat, obwohl mittlerweile geschäftlich erfolgreich.
Und dann findet Georgie in Bels Umzugkartons ein altes Tagebuch, ein „friendfic diary“, in dem die beiden Mädels ihre Teenagerträume aufgeschrieben haben. Alles, was die Mädels sich damals erträumten für die Highschool, für das neue bedeutsame Leben, haben sie aufgeschrieben – und beim Lesen wird Georgie sehr nachdenklich. So viele Dinge, die sie damals vorhatte, hat sie nicht verwirklicht. Sie beschließt, das nachzuholen, und macht ein Projekt daraus. Bel ist dabei, und Levi auch – es wird spannend! Und Georgie stellt fest, dass einiges, was ihr damals extrem wichtig war, es heute nicht mehr ist – und was wichtig ist, das stellt sie auf dem Weg fest.
So, und hiermit hätte ich jetzt grob die Ausgangssituation beschrieben, die Lovestory aber noch gar nicht erwähnt. Natürlich haben wir eine Liebesgeschichte zwischen Georgie und Levi, die sich zart anlässt und teilweise sehr witzig wird (ich sage nur: das Tagebuch!), es wird romantisch, es wird heiß und sexy, und eine Prise Drama fehlt auch nicht. Was mir persönlich aber am besten gefallen hat, waren die Entwicklungen von Georgie und Levi. Beide eher auf Außenseiterpositionen, kommen sie beide peu a peu bei sich selbst an, und das fand ich teils herzzerreißend zu verfolgen. Georgie, die immer damit kämpft, „a mess“ zu sein, und doch eigentlich nur sehr spontan und kreativ ist. Schon krass, wie man sich selbst immer an den Maßstäben anderer misst, und nicht sieht, wieviel man doch selbst zu bieten hat. Das hat die Autorin sehr gut herausgestellt. Hatte Identifikationspotential (und bestimmt nicht nur für mich). Levi, der als „bad boy“ abgestempelt wurde, und sein Leben komplett umgekrempelt hat. Und der sich jetzt ernsthaft verliebt hat. Auch da waren spannende Entwicklungen. Und nein, es war nicht klischeehaft, und genau das fand ich richtig gut umgesetzt.
Ich spoiler jetzt mal: es gibt ein Happy End. Natürlich, das war klar – ich liebe glückliche Enden, und dieses hier hat mein Herz erwärmt 😊.
Also, mein Fazit: es war eine richtig schöne Geschichte. Protagonisten zum Mitfiebern und -fühlen, und für mich hat alles gestimmt.
Wunderbar flüssig geschrieben, sehr bildhaft und lebendig, immer abwechselnd aus der Sicht von Levi und Georgie, sehr emotional, sehr mitreißend.
Alle Daumen hoch! Vielen Dank an den Verlag und Netgalley für das Rezensionsexemplar, und ich hoffe, ich kann viele deutsche Leser bewegen, sich auch mal an ein englisches Original zu wagen – dieses hier lässt sich flott lesen und macht einfach Spaß!

What a breath of fresh air. Georgie, All Along is a beautiful romance involving two characters who are trying to change their past in order to figure out their future. Based in a small town, Georgia and Levi’s relationship starts off a bit rocky but when they are forced to live together you get to watch their relationship evolve. I love how mature the characters were. If there was a miscommunication they discussed it like adults. I love the modern take on a small town romance. The whole story was adorable and so refreshing to read. 4 ⭐️

Thank you to Kensington Books and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Georgie, All Along, Kate Clayborn
Kensington Books, January 24, 2023

Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Georgie is used to taking care of everybody, but herself. Her busy career as a personal assistant in LA leaves very little time for self-care and her needs. Unexpected unemployment brings Georgie back to her home town for some R&R. Upon arriving home Georgie finds her childhood diary detailing a bucket list of sorts -- and Levi who seems to be her roommate for the time being. Georgie and Levi form an unlikely alliance and of course sparks fly -- but they both find themselves on a path to finding what's missing.

A romance, yes, but also a book that will fill your heart up and feel like a warm hug.

@kateclayborn.author @netgalley @kensingtonbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #romance

I AM SO HONORED I GOT THE CHANCE TO READ THIS NOVEL. It hooked me immediately and I love how much we focused on all the side characters as well.. I really enjoyed the storyline and wow my heart melted so many times.

Tightly written, earnest, laugh-out-loud funny at several parts—one of the best romance books I've read in ages

From @heasonmytbr

Thanks @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the advanced copy of @kateclayborn.author book #georgieallalong

Georgie has always lived in the moment, which made her great at her job as an assistant to a famous screenwriter but also got her a reputation for being flaky growing up. After losing her job and housing, she moves back to her small hometown to help her BFF prepare for her baby—and also to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Enter Levi: a gruff, quiet dock builder who ends up staying at Georgie’s parents house with her. As they get to know each other, they realize they have more in common then they thought.

I found myself rooting for these characters and wanting to give Levi a big hug. Highly recommend adding this book to your TBR!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥
Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, dark past, small town
Publication date: January 23, 2023

Georgie and Levi are the couple of the year for me, Kate Clayborn has written a triumph of a contemporary romance.

Georgie is good at her job, but lacks any ambition or plans for her life. Levi has restricted and disciplined his life to a paralysis.

Slowly, Georgie begins to remember who she used to be by working through and old high school journal. Levi is just gobsmacked by her sunshine.

The way they maneuver through his traumas and her self esteem is lovely.

I loved this story.

This is my first book by Kate Clayburn, so I didn't know what to expect from her writing. Overall, this was a cute read that I enjoyed.

Georgie was a funny character and I enjoyed seeing her return home and embark on a mission to try and achieve all her wishes from an old diary from her childhood. I liked seeing the scenes between Georgie and Levi and seeing them grow closer throughout the course of the book.

While this book took me a while to get into at the start, once I hit the midway point, I found myself more invested into the plot and found this to be a cute, quick read.

FLEW through this excellent, incredible book. Tightly written, earnest, laugh-out-loud funny at several parts—one of the best contemporaries I've read in ages.

As a personal assistant to the rich and famous, Georgie Mulcahy spent the last several years in California running other peoples’ lives to the extent than her own wants and desires never even surfaced. After her last employer decides to retire from the crazy hectic Hollywood life, Georgie returns home to her rural Virginia parent’s house who are the epitome of hippies from the sixties. Georgie’s best friend from school years, Bel, with whom she has kept in touch has also moved back, and is expecting her first child. Georgie’s scatter-brained parents are off on a road trip; she is quite surprised to learn they had offered their house to Levi Fanning whose reputation as a troublemaker has lingered long after he matured. Levi’s house is undergoing renovation so though it is way beyond his comfort zone, he agrees to be roomies with Georgie.

Georgie discovers an old notebook in her childhood bedroom which she calls a friendfic as it was written with Bel having all their young hopes and dreams for high school in glittery, heart drawings filled glory. Adrift with no clue what she wants for her life now, Georgie decides to live out some of the schemes that had never come to fruition enlisting the help of the taciturn and man of few words, Levi Fanning. It is often said you cannot go home again; however, Georgie in her enthusiastic and sometimes very lively way, thinks she can somehow find herself in those old dreams. Levi has spent years atoning not only for his misdeeds, but avoiding his wealthy family out of not only guilt, but a father who essentially disowned him.

While Georgie's attempt to accomplish her old goals seems either nonsensical or even childish, they provide a sort of template for exploring who she was and where Georgie would like to be in life. She has rather strong self-esteem issues feeling that her life has been low on accomplishments or adulting. This Women’s Fiction has a very slow burn romance coupled with a sort of navel gazing (which would please her parents) and reevaluation of Georgie’s life thus far. In a small community where she runs into people who knew Georgie back in the day, not all the memories are good and some even cringe worthy. Both Georgie and Levi learn the value of letting go of past hurts and moving forward with a life even better than either could have imagined.

I cannot say this is one of my favorite Kate Clayborn books though I did like Georgie and Levi very much. Ms. Clayborn's stories are always contemplatively written and at times, thought provoking as well as imbued with deep emotions so perhaps this one will inspire people to view their early lives with a different lens.

I heard so much buzz about this book so I was delighted to receive an advanced copy.

This is my first book by this author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. A lot of Kate Clayborn fans have said Love Lettering was their favorite, so I want to make sure I check that one out.

The beginning of the story was really slow for me, just took awhile for me to figure out the characters and where it was going. Usually I read books in a couple of days or weeks but this took me a couple of months. Some people like a slower build in books but I prefer a bit faster pacing. However, the 2nd half of the book was easier to get into and more interesting but it was still a slow read overall.

I adored Georgie and Levi. Their sweet romance was fun to see develop…they had a natural chemistry and as they overcame different hurdles it made me root for them to work out. I also really liked how Georgie and her best friend interacted.

Im surprised not much was made of Levi and Cal’s relationship, since that was a big part of the story arc and tension throughout the story.

I really enjoyed this book, it was my first Kate Clayton book and won't be the last! Overall this is well written, romantic & full of character through out. I loved the main character Georgie & found her very relatable. I highly recommend this book for all readers who love a romance book & make sure to add it to your 2023 wish list!
Huge thank you to Netgalley & Kensington books for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review

This latest from Kate Clayborn was a delight! I loved Georgie and Levi and their sweet, tender, and messy relationship. With multiple moments that made me laugh out loud and even more that made me smile, this love story is layered, thoughtful, and real. Clayborn has become a favorite author of mine because she always makes me laugh, swoon, and think. Releases in January, 2023, highly recommend!

I absolutely adored this book. It was exactly what I needed, just when I needed it. I wanted to feel safe in a story about people falling in love. I wanted interesting characters and relatable struggles. I wanted good writing and a happy ending. If you're in that kind of a mood, I highly recommend this one!

Also, shoutout to our hero Levi Fanning who was a kind of male representation that really meant a lot to me. Someone who has suffered and is doing their very best. I have such love for how the author dealt with him and his particular struggles, and I just know readers will get a lot out of the journey with him and Georgie.

Three and a half stars.

Georgie is living her best life as PA to an LA superstar, until boos decides to streamline her life and semi-retire. Now Georgie is homeless and jobless, so she decides to returns home to Darentville, Virginia to lick her wounds and help her BFF Bel, who begged her to come home only a few weeks earlier. Driving thousands of miles cross-country, on very little sleep with a car stuffed to the gills with plastic bags containing all her worldly possessions, Georgie feels like nothing has changed from her nineteen year-old self who left all those years ago. Then to add insult to injury when she tries to buy a couple of milkshakes at the local store she finds she has no money, giving the locals another chance to put her down and the very rude man in the line behind her the opportunity to grumble, and then pay for her drinks.

Helping Bel to unpack her junk room at the new house she and her husband have bought in anticipation of their first child, Georgie comes across an old diary which she and Bel wrote together, but less of a diary and more of an anticipation of what life at High School would be like, the thins they would do together. Georgie is mortified to realise that she didn't do any of those things and decides that this is her chance for a do-over, perhaps doing all these things will help her find her direction because it seems as though she still doesn't have a vocation, or even any inclining of what she wants to do next.

Moving into her parents' home while they are on one of their wacky roadtrips, Georgie is horrified when the grumpy guy from the shop lets himself into her parents' home accompanied by his big dog. Little does she know that her scatty parents offered to let Levi Fanning and his dog stay at their place while his home is being remodelled, and forgot to tell her when she said she was coming home.

Levi was the town's bad boy, when Georgie was at school there were all sorts of rumours about him, basically anything bad, he had done or was responsible for (a bit like the guy in the film Ten Things I Hate About You). He was also the older brother of Georgie's teenage crush who features very heavily in her diary. Levi has cleaned up his act and is a responsible businessman now, but his parents, brother and sister no longer speak to him, which is a pity because the family owns and runs a large up-market hotel where he could otherwise have stayed during the remodel.

Although Levi might have scared her initially, Georgie can't force him to sleep in his truck, or put his dog in doggy day-care, especially after he is mauled by a much smaller dog so she agrees to share the house with Levi. In return, Levi offers to help her with her diary to-do list, especially since Bel being so heavily pregnant means she can't do several things on the list. Can these two lost souls find redemption together?

I like Kate Clayborn, I really enjoyed her Chance in a Lifetime trilogy about three friends who win the lottery, and I liked this too. Intelligent characters, a tightly woven plot, cutesy small town, lovely dog - what's not to like?

Recommended for those who like small-town romance, reluctant roommates and curmudgeonly heroes.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I've read a couple of Kate Clayborn novels and they never disappoint to be an absolute delight and this one is no exception. Levi's and Georgie's struggle to be accepted by the community they grew uo in and never feeling like they fit was so relatable and I just wanted to give them both a hug. After some initial hiccups they worked so well together and really understood each other.
The storytelling flows really well and there are plenty of hilarious moments. How could there not be with the most cutest dog in the mix.
The only tiny little thing that annoyed me was Georgie's best friend. While she apologizes in the end for not supporting her the whole way through, it didn't really feel enough to me. Georgie was always doing her absolute best and I didn't really see what she was getting out of the friendship with Bell.
All in all I absolutely adored this book and will for sure be picking up other novels be this author.

TW: mentions of verbal abuse by a parent, past substance abuse

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own.

Oh my gosh this review breaks my heart. I love Kate Clayborn. LOVE Kate Clayborn. Have read her other books multiple times, and was so so SO excited for this one, so you can imagine my crushing disappointment when it just...fell flat. 3 stars at best for me. It fell so inexplicably flat for me; I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and if I didn't love Kate Clayborn so much, it would've been a DNF for me. The pacing felt off, the story dragged...I have no idea y'all, I'm so confused.

HOWEVER, I initially reviewed Love Lettering as 3 stars and then re-read it a year later and and loved it. LOVED it. 5 stars, and it's now one of my favorite books and have gotten many of my friends and followers to read it. So who knows, maybe I need to re-read this one in January 2023 before it releases and see if my mind changes?

I really love Kate Clayborn’s writing, and getting to read this early was a treat. Georgie, All Along is a romance, but it’s also a book about a best friendship, a book about family, and a book about a woman realizing how good she is at all the many wonderful things she is. I loved the weird little town, and Georgie’s parents, and Levi’s coworkers, and all the side characters who add so much to the story. This is a book that I think will strike a chord with a lot of people in 2023.