Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
💛💛💛💛/5

Kate Clayborn puts together a witty, charismatic, emotional story about Georgie Mulcahy who returns home to try to figure out her next steps. Using a high school friendfic as her road map to figuring her life out, Georgie crosses paths with Levi Fanning, the troubled older brother of her high school crush. The dual POV of Georgie and Levi takes the reader through this emotional and funny journey of two people figuring out who they are. Georgie is an absolute mess but in the most “expansive” and “moonbeam” way-which is to say she is absolutely wonderful and shines light on everyone around her. She is an immensely likable character, the perfect foil to Levi’s brooding but tender hearted personality. I couldn’t get enough of this grumpy X sunshine pairing, of Georgie’s best friend Bel, and of the glimpses into their sweet little hometown. I absolutely adored both the romance and friendship aspects of this story and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys books by Colleen Hoover, Ali Hazelwood, or Carley Fortune.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

#netgalley #arc #smalltownromance

This settles it: Kate Clayborn can do no wrong!

This book was adorably sweet and I looooved the second chance at "life" Georgie receives by virtue of finding her way back to her past. Love this one!

I really liked this contemporary romance! I thought Georgie and Levi were good main characters. Overall, I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Was this a good book? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Not really.

Which is strange considering how I teared up more than once. I loved the start and the end, but the middle felt like a disappointing drag. I thought about DNFing 60% in but heck, I was already more than halfway through, so.

What I wanted/expected was a girlboss story where the protagonist discovers herself, confront past regrets and legit starts over. Basically, something I could relate to. Something that would inspire me in my rut. But this book was far from the case. I loved the revelations at the end, but also, *rolls eyes*. Maybe I should have guessed from the title?

On the plus side, there's a great cast. I enjoyed the personal growth of Georgie and Levi individually, but wasn't hot on the romance. Like, it was fine but mostly bored me. However, I loved Bel's arc because it takes courage to admit that maybe something isn't working out for you. Hank is perfection, of course.

Overall, this just didn't pull me in nor did I connect with it as much as I'd hoped. It's a book that you have to read in the right mood at the right time and unfortunately wasn't for me on both counts, especially since it tackles some heavy themes. Definitely did not make me feel better.

I loved this great romance! It was sunshine/grump with depth. I’m often a bit annoyed by the sunshine girls in that trope (the word “chirpy” comes to mind) but Georgie is fun without being flighty. And Levi is grumpy without being an asshole. There is a lot of growth and character complexity in this book, and some good steamy scenes. I would definitely recommend it. I’ve read several of Kate Clayborn’s books and always enjoy them.

OMG This book! Absolutely amazing! This is the first book I read from this author even though I have at least two more waiting in my kindle. Apparently their time it’s coming!
Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page. But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.
Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back.
I read this book in less than two days. These characters are amazing. It´s impossible not to love Georgie, spontaneous, generous, open-minded Georgie. She’s such a beautiful and engaging character. I adored the way she grows up during the story. Just the small things, the little steps she does looking for her destiny.
Levi is this super cute hermit hero with a really difficult family who is paying for his past mistakes. When he meets Georgie, he starts to realize that a future full of happiness and light is available for him. But she is not there to stay so he needs to protect his heart for another break.
I absolutely love the dynamics of this book, the way it takes you oh so slowly in a journey to enjoy the little things in life. Love, family, friendships, dreams, fears, every human emotion that makes us real and better. I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 stars

I was so excited to read Georgie, All Along, and enjoyed so much of it in the moment—but I ultimately came away with mixed feelings about Kate Clayborn’s latest release. In a vacuum, Georgie is a wonderful book, with two complex main characters who face their need for growth with calm maturity. I also loved the friendship between Georgie and Bel, who have the kind of relationship that can rise and fall over the decades but never weaken in its sturdy foundation. The initial setup that put Georgie and Levi together as temporary roommates is a trope that I rarely enjoy, but Clayborn constructed it in such a way that it didn’t seem completely ridiculous. Once that section of the book is over, the story really picks up and becomes more engrossing.

What kept me from really losing myself in Georgie is that as wonderful as this book is … I’ve read it before. By Kate Clayborn. The main plot structure of Georgie is very much the same as in Love Lettering, and the loving, quirky environment in which the book is set echoes that from Love at First. Clayborn writes her characters so, so well; now I’d like to see her plots stretch and grow in new directions, too.

“Georgie All Along” is a fun, cute, light-hearted read. After a sudden change in her life in LA, Georgie goes back to her hometown to think about her future. When she arrives home, she finds herself very surprised to see a housemate. Georgie's parents let Levi Fanning (the brother of Georgie’s teenage crush) temporarily live in her home, while his house gets fixed (Georgie’s father forgot to tell Levi she was coming home). Also, Georgie finds her old “friendfic” diary where she wrote everything she wished she had done as a teenager. Now in her twenties, with no way to go, she decides to let the diary guide her future. While Georgie and Levi are very different, they eventually bring positive changes in each other's life. Levi helps Georgie complete her wishes, and as they do, they find they each need to let go of their difficult past and find what makes them happy.

I loved the book's characters and felt I could relate to them from the beginning. Georgie is caring, wild and self-determined in finding herself, she is relatable and fun. Levi has such a nice development and makes readers fall in love with him. The connection between these characters is beautiful and meaningful. They have a lot of chemistry and are made for each other.

The dual POV makes the readers know both the character's thoughts and creates a more interesting plotline. The pacing of the book was good, but it did not leave any amazing impact. However, it is worth reading and I would recommend it if you are interested in a cute romance book.

4 ⭐

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC.

This book, wow. I’m amazed, this being the third book I’ve read by Kate Clayborn, by her writing style every time. This book was so thoughtful and beautifully written. I’m in constant awe of it. The only reason it’s not an automatic 5 star read is because it took me a while to get into the story. However, I predict that will change on a reread.

Georgie and Levi, can you just say “couple goals”. They are so beautiful and skillfully written. We’re given a chance to get into both of their heads and learn how they came to this moment in their lives. Levi especially is consciously choosing every action he takes as a result of his past and is unable to break from that hold. Georgie is back home after her all consuming job and is trying to figure out the next step in her life. I related to Georgie so much. She eventually comes to the realization that not everyone needs to plan out their lives and that it is totally okay to live in the moment. And wow, does that realization hit home so much. Reading this book, I kept making plans about gifting copies to people in my life who would benefit from and appreciate the beauty of this story!

This book. This book! I'm not sure I can say enough good things about this book.

From beginning to end, I loved this book. 🥰

Why?

I loved the dynamic between Georgie and Levi. Their curiosity about each other and toeing the line of what should or shouldn't happen between them.

I loved the awkward moments like green beans in a pasta dish.

The laughable moments like the nicknames Georgie made up for Mr. Fanning like her Dad always made for her, even though she had an inkling none of them were close.

The sweet moments like Levi deciding he wanted to help Georgie.

The 'figuring-it-all-out' moments.

And, oh man, the steamy moments. 🥵🥵😏

But really, I love this book because, while there is a love story, this story is for anyone who worries they may have missed out. For anyone who fears they screwed it all up. For anyone still trying to figure it out and believes they're the last to do it.

It all made me want more, and it all tied together perfectly.

I also loved that it helped get me out of an ungodly reading slump - I'm forever grateful!!! 💕

So many thank yous to Kate Clayborn, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Well, I loved this. I think it's my favorite so far by this author, and I've been a fan of almost everything I've ever read by her. I definitely think this one qualifies as a comfort read. I was hooked right from the start and fell in love with both of the MCs really quickly. I also loved all the side characters, and was especially pleased with the casual inclusion of a side character using they/them pronouns. This was one of those books where I just really enjoyed being immersed in the world of the story. I was worried about how a couple of the story threads would play out, there was definitely potential for drama and some big misunderstandings, but actually the way it ended up unfolding felt so right for the story and really low stress to read, which I appreciated. I'll absolutely be recommending this as one of my favorite romances so far this year. A real treat to read.

A delightful modern romance about two people who don't quite fit in with the overachievers around them finding they do fit perfectly with each other. Clayborn's greatest gift is how realistic the relationships are between her romantic leads - they behave like real, natural people and I love that.

Lord bless Kate Clayborn. She is an instant buy author for me and Georgie, All Along was a true gem of a book. I really loved Georgie and her growth from lost and hot mess express from LA.. to new woman in her small hometown. This book is sooooo freakking sweet, relatable, fun and SWOONY AND SPICY. Levi... I love you and Hank..I love you and Georgie and Levi, I love you!. Their chemistry was so amazing and seeing them open up together and be there for each other is... *chef's kiss*. This book has it all. It brought me SO MUCH JOY.

I *really* loved this one. It was equal parts emotional (with out being manipulative) and squee-cute (without being cheesy). It turns a few tropes on their head in the best way. My only real critique is it could have been a tad shorter with a tighter edit - but no matter, loved it.

From my initial opinion, I did not think this book would hit me so emotionally hard, make me think, or be so easy to binge. I'm not a huge romance reader, but the main character's personality description in the synopsis is what sold me to pick it up. This is now an all time favorite, and probably my favorite adult romance I've read to date.
I loved Goergie and everything she offered to the story, but I looooved Levi's character and his growth. I knew I'd be sold on his character when his dog, Hank, made an entrance. This was the small town, country setting, grumpy x sunshine or my dreams. I was holding back tears for 20% of this book towards the end.
The best part? The third act conflict was actually amazing! A lot of third act conflicts make me angry because they're stupid, but this one felt reasonable, wasn't over the top, and it made sense for our characters!
And author? Evan needs his HEA now! I'm so glad his character wasn't used to be a "bad guy." These characters all felt so real and relatable at times. The overall message was BEAUTIFUL and perfect for people who don't have their lives figured out and think they should.

GEORGIE, ALL ALONG - KATE CLAYBORN

ARC WAS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND PUBLISHING COMPANY VIA NETGALLEY!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

TW:
- mentions of verbal abuse

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Georgie Mulcahy is not really used to being contemplative of one's life decisions, five-year plans or even with exact plans for the weekend. She usually thrives in a chaotic mess, usually successfully navigating her clients through the not so shiny everyday bumps along the road.
For several years she enjoyed not having to think about the future, but then came the life-altering decision made by her boss. Now, she finds herself jobless and homeless in the manner of speaking. Trying to find some resemblance of "Georgie-Normal" things, she jumps on a chance to help her best friend with all her nesting plans. Even if it means going back home and facing the past her 18-year-old self happily left behind.
As she faces the unknown, surprisingly enough, her old fictional diary she founds becomes her guiding light.
With the help of a newly attained - and handsome - former bad boy/reformed caring citizen roommate, Levi, in her wake, Georgie re-lives the tales of a once 13-year-old girl, whose silly dreams and expectations may be the thing to keep her going forward.

REVIEW:

I never imagined I'd got to be lucky enough to receive a Kate Clayborn ARC, but here we effing go!
I tweeted my confirmation email as soon as I got it from NetGalley, as I generally don't have the biggest luck with such things.
I would’ve purchased the book - and I probably still will if the paperback will be available for my country - but getting my grabby hands on such treasure in advance made my week.

And it made me happy and giddy and ecstatic while reading it, too!
I must admit, after the first three chapters I re-aligned my Kate Clayborn books' rankings in my head.
I figured it out pretty quickly, that with her prose I really like when she writes in the first-person narration. So, this... this was everything I could've asked for.

Georgie seemed - from the description - someone I couldn't possibly have anything in common with, but I was too quick to judge. As my peer, her struggles and life experiences had a lot in common with mine. Her "mini" crisis was honest, relatable and I admired how determined she was to find a solution, a path, or any sort of guidance. She was not afraid to make fun out of herself, was always supportive of her parents and friends. Tried to make amends about past mistakes and was all-around a caring, warm individual.

Levi Fanning had a complexity I like when it comes to contemporary romance heroes. He was the right amount of caring and mysterious. Had good intentions, but not always knew how to express his true self and feelings. He was a flawed, anti-social man, who stumbled upon a force to be reckoned with and started to develop feelings for someone, who sits comfortably in chaos.

The banter was - as always - witty, heartfelt. I cherished the small moments that we had a chance to witness, really appreciated how the quietness could direct the movement of a story in ways which were more profound than any big declarations or acts could have been.
There's just always-always something about Kate's prose that has me feeling big feelings, they give me a reason to be grateful and peculiarly joyous about the fact, that I voluntarily chose to be a lit-nerd.

Thank you again for the reading opportunity!

TROPES:
- opposites attract
- quiet, serious MMC - sunshine, boisterous FMC
- homecoming girl
- small town romance
- opposites-attract
- found family
- forced-proximity

Georgie, All Along was such a fantastic feel-good novel. I think every reader can identify with Georgie’s situation. Losing their job and finding themselves floundering of life’s choices. Also, finding a connection with a grumpy but sexy man. Well, I did the first, but not the second but her journey of finding herself, with Levi’s help was emotional, personal, and oh so fun to read.

Like I said above, Georgie was so easy to like. She may have been a little lost but her heart was in the right place and her method of finding her way entertaining. Levi was also that grump you always secretly crushed on. A troubled past combined with his taciturn nature made him slightly mysterious but also his story pulled at your heart. I knew immediately that I was going to root for these two to find their way to each other. Georgie never had that feeling of completeness, and Levi never had his own person to belong to. They were perfect for each other!

Most of my favorite romance authors include great groups of friendships in their novels and Georgie was a girl that collected friends. I loved how each of them wanted the best for her and supported her in finding her way, but also delivered the truths that she needed to hear. Levi didn’t have that gang, but that made his need for Georgie resonate even more and their union supreme.

If you are in the mood for an emotional journey that hits those storytelling high notes, this is the book you need to pick up. I enjoyed this one a LOT and this author is now on my must read list.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

Did I thoroughly enjoy this book? Yes. Yes, I did.

Georgie, all along, is a book about Georgie Mulcahy (ex)personal assistant to a famous screenwriter/director who chose to give up the Hollywood life for a more peaceful farm life, now leaving Georgie unemployed and not too sure as to what the next step in her life is.

She finds herself more than a little lost as to what to do next until her childhood best friend Annabel (Bel) asks her to come to help her and her husband with the prep of their new house as they wait for their baby to arrive. The kicker is that said house is in their hometown, a place where everyone considers Georgie to be an irresponsible and unreliable flake… And as soon as Georgie steps back into her old town she’s shown just how much their previous impressions of her have stuck.

What helps Georgie (sort of) get over the town’s thoughts of her is the bucket list/fic/journal she finds while helping Bel unpack. It contains all the things that the two girls had wished to accomplish during high school but never got the chance to complete (or even start — I think).

With this new goal in mind, Georgie heads to her parent's house, where she’d be staying for a couple of weeks while they’re away on vacation. What she wasn’t expecting, however, was a man — specifically Levi Fanning, older brother of Evan Fanning, her high school crush — to show up, with his dog in toe, claiming that he was meant to say at the Mulcahy house while they were away.

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
Contemporary romance. Grumpy sunshine.
Georgie returns to her childhood home to help her best friend set up her new house before the baby is born. Georgie has to decide what she wants to do next in life since her last boss retired, leaving Georgie as loose ends. A journal written in junior high might be just the thing Georgie needs to make some decisions.

Georgie wants to try to figure out what to do in the future as a career. She feels empty and hopes the goals she had as a teen will direct her in the future.
Levi keeps his head down but is drawn by Georgie’s effervescent smile. As Georgie and Levi spend time together, Levi also has work to do on more than just building a dock.
I fell in love with the characters. I highlighted a few passages of Levi’s thoughts about Georgie and I also cried as life throws them a few hurdles.
A heartwarming and emotional novel of discovery, self analysis, and personal growth. For the characters.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Her best work yet!!! I LOVED this story. Georgie has to start over. Levi has hardly been living. She falls for her childhood crush’s brother!!! He falls for his complete opposite! There was so much growth and so much love! Levi and Hank were the sweetest! Georgie and Bel were friendship goals! There was family drama, there was healing, and there was happiness. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for a review!!!