Recommended if you enjoy funny, heartfelt stories with found family, a great cast of secondary characters, cute dog sidekicks and a good low steam friends to lovers, coworker romance. I loved the Canadian setting and the wintery vibes in this feel-good debut.

Reasonable Adults was a really fun and entertaining book. I loved the setting of cottage country in Ontario in the winter. I really liked the self discovery the main character went through and how she found passion in work again. The resort sounds like a place I wouldn't mind going to visit!

An enjoyable romance with entertaining characters set in Toronto and its nearby cottage country of Muskoka. I loved Kate’s character development and personal growth as well as her relationships with all the secondary characters almost as much as I enjoyed the romance. .

Reasonable Adults was the light romance read I needed in December. It is the 31st, the last day of 2022, and I really just needed Reasonable Adults. I was expecting more smut, but honestly I loved what was given here. If was still half door open for the smut, and that was lovely. I also find that some romance authors take too long in the sex scenes, and I just really wish that we could just continue on with the story itself. We know that all romance characters have great sex... Anyways, that's a tangent.

Kate and Matt are lovely characters and I really loved their dynamic, but I really think Kevin was my favourite character. He was so snarky and rude and I loved him for it. I did not think that would be the ending we would get, especially with Graham's future of Treetops. Alas, it all worked out for the better.

If you are looking for a light read, that is funny and has the best dog ever named Eric, read it.

An enjoyable read, especially if you're Canadian. I can picture what the surrounding territory looks like, having been in Ontario's cottage country many times. The descriptions of the landscape are spot on, yet relatable to anyone that has visited something similar.

I don’t hate this book. It was well written and an interesting journey for the main character. The setting was absolutely perfect and so authentic to that area of Ontario (as were the parts in Toronto). I do, however, think that the description, branding as a romance, and cover design is a big misstep. I went in expecting something completely different than what I got. This looks like a fun, holiday romp from the cover but it very much is not that. Also, Matt is a jerk.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Canada and Robin Lefler for the free e-book I’m exchange for an honest review.

Such a easy and quick read. I instantly understood her life struggles and wanted her to be my bestie. I loved the retreat outlook and all the people that worked there. They were easily loveable and I’d love another novel with these characters. Definitely recommend. It’s so fun and wintery!

Reasonable Adults follows the story of Kate Rigsby who takes an unlikely job in a remote (and somewhat strange) artist-centred resort after losing her job and hitting rock bottom. There, she hopes to rediscover her purpose in life and make some good money while doing it. Instead, she encounters impossible coworkers, cooky bosses and a stunning yet mysterious guy, Matt.

I gave Reasonable Adults three stars. It was a quick and easy read, perfect for the December season. I found it to be quite funny if a bit cheesy at times. I also thought the specific "Canadian-isms" were quite charming and endearing.

At the same time, I didn't love the relationship between the main character, Kate and her love interest, Matt. It felt a bit forced and guided more by lust than substance. I also wished that the cast of background characters were flushed out a lot more. For as often as they are mentioned, I ended the book knowing precious little about them and caring even less.

Kate's "growth" at the end of the book also seemed a bit superficial. While I did enjoy her voice and found her to be quirky and relatable. her development as a character (which seemed to be a central premise) took a backseat to the romantic subplot. There were also quite a few strings that the book left undone. I can't get into it without spoilers but a specific scene toward the end of the book and the lack of recourse left a sour taste in my mouth.

- 3.5 Stars -
This book was a very well-done debut in my opinion! I really liked that it looked like a romance book, and while there were romance aspects within the plot, it wasn’t the entire idea behind the book. Instead, this book harbored a focus on self-improvement and growing to learn who you really are. It also included sections on knowing what your values in life are and I really liked that as well.

I found that Kate was sometimes a little whiney but yet she still was able to get the things she wanted in the end. She did need to grow in herself and her faith in herself as well. When she took a stand for what she believed in, I actually wanted to put the book down and clap, I was v proud! Matt was a sweet romantic interest for Kate to pursue and I was definitely not let down by this match-up. This is a closed-door book for those of you who need a little more spice in your life!

The thing that I especially enjoyed about this book was the secondary characters. Tania, Jay, Serge, Kevin, and Mike were all such fun characters to walk alongside and to see Treetops through their perspective as well! Brooke was actually the worst, hated her. Eric and Delilah stole the show each time they made it on the page though, but that might just be because I’m a dog person!

Overall, this was a fun read and I enjoyed that it was based in a Canadian setting as well! If you need a good book to read, I would recommend you look into this one!

⚠️TW: toxic relationship, sexual assault

Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsca for this digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! All of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The story starts off funny and then loses its momentum, but then picks up again.
Kate loses her PR job after a little too much wine & a video online. She accepts a job at Treetops resort which seems a little good to be true.
The first part of Kate’s story at Treetops lost my interest. There wasn’t much going on, just everyday life however, the story does pick up.
All the characters were well written with relatable personalities.
I did like the ending of the book and the self discovery journey as a whole.

3.75/5⭐️

This wasn’t exactly what I had expected going in, I’m not gonna lie. However, that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. It took me a little bit to get fully into it but once the story captured my attention it was pretty easy to keep reading! It was definitely a cute story although I did get annoyed a couple times throughout: however, I feel that was intentional so I’m just gonna let it slide.

I really enjoyed this part women's fiction/part romance story from a new Canadian author! Set in the Muskokas at a struggling Resort slash Corporate Retreat, newly single and newly fired Kate finds herself discovering a new purpose and group of friends as she helps them turn around the business despite a number of obstacles.

Recommended if you enjoy funny, heartfelt stories with found family, a great cast of secondary characters, cute dog sidekicks and a good low steam friends to lovers, coworker romance. I loved the Canadian setting and the wintery vibes in this feel-good debut.

Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I switched between the print and audio versions and enjoyed both thanks to Hoopla and the narration skills of Vanessa Johansson.

Super cute and festive rom-com set in my home province/country which really made it more authentic! Fun, witty and loveable characters made this debut novel so much fun to read and provided a light read for me! Definitely recommend for reading this holiday season!

4 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

- I absolutely loved the Muskosa winter setting. Muskoka is one of my favourite places to visit, and it made for a charming setting.
- Kate's uncertainty about her work and her struggle to find her passion/her purpose was both funny at times and relatable.
- Kate and Ros' friendship is friendship goals!
- Eric - the giant labradoodle - made me laugh throughout most of the book.
- The mix of self-discovery, comedy and romance generally struck the right balance, though the self discovery aspect was maybe too prominent at times.
- The supporting cast of characters was mostly well developed and I enjoyed Kate's relationships with them.
-My only real complaint is that I wish Kate's relationship with Matt was a bit more developed. It took more a backseat to Kate's journey than I was hoping for and I didn't quite feel the spark between them.

Overall, this is a solid debut! If you're looking for a light-hearted, fun and romantic cozy winter read, pick this one up!

I enjoyed this debut novel from Robin Lefler.

Kate is a single 31 year old, whose closest friend is her dog Eric. After abruptly being fired from her PR job, she stumbles on an opportunity in Muskoka that is too good t9 be true. There she meets a misfit of coworkers ranging from the grump, the lovable bestie and of course the ominous love interest.

The story takes you through Kate's journey of finding herself in the last place she expected. She is well written with a quick wit and sassy mouth. As a fellow Ontarian, I appreciated the local references and detail really showed Muskoka just as it is.

Although the story had moments that were easily predicted, there were also some moments that took me by surprise. This book had female empowerment, romance, humour and self discovery, all with the added benefit of a nice Christmas feel.

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for this ARC.

I love reading debut novels that check all the boxes I’m looking for in an entertaining read and Reasonable Adults does just that. I love the strength of the protagonist despite the many obstacles she faces while trying to restart her adult life.

When Kate loses her job after calling out her cheating boyfriend on social media, she begins a new job at a retreat in Muskoka. I loved that this book is set in Canada. For those readers who have seen the mini-series Nine Perfect Strangers this retreat is very reminiscent of the setting. For those of you who have not, think quirky, artsy and wholistic.

The situation that Kate is put into with this new position is something I wouldn’t wish upon an enemy. The office and living quarters are closet-like and non-hospitable. The author does a great job of describing the setting – the good and the bad.

Kate is an interesting and well-developed character. I enjoyed her way of looking at life and her wonderful sense of humour. The slow build of the romance in the book was fun to read and I loved their time together exploring the area around the retreat. Kate’s dog Eric was a fun addition to the story and his charming ways stole my heart.

I recommend Reasonable Adults to those readers who enjoy General Fiction with a touch of romance. I look forward to reading more books from this author.

I received a DRC of this book from the publisher by the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Reasonable Adults by Robin Lefler is a holiday rom-com set in wintery, Ontario Canada.

After both her professional and personal life go up in flames, Kate finds herself on a journey of self discovery at an artist retreat. Throw in an adorable dog and a hot hero and this novel is everything needed for cool winter nights read.

Reasonable Adults was an enjoyable debut that is a combination of RomCom and a journey of self-discovery that follows Kate Rigsby, a 31-year-old woman whose personal and professional lives have recently taken a beating. After she loses her job and finds herself single, she and her dog Eric head to northern Ontario for a job at an artists' retreat centre. But things don't go according to plan. Naturally.

This debut had all the right pieces - self-discovery, romance, humour, and beautiful setting. The plot took a while to get going, but soon readers are pulled into the story and its beautiful wintery Muskoka setting. I was impressed with the depth that Lefler gives her large secondary cast and while Kate is a resilient main character, she pales a bit in comparison with her rampant self-doubt stemming from her work and personal lives going spectacularly wrong as she weathers a series of unfortunate (and contrived) events.

A sweet romance quickly springs up for romance lovers, but my favourite parts of this debut were the sprinkling of humour, the gorgeous wintery Ontario setting and the secondary characters who simply shine - including canine Eric.

This was an entertaining debut that romance and dog loving outdoorsy readers should enjoy - especially snuggled up by a roaring fire while the snow flies outside. Despite a slow start, Lefler has proven she has writing chops and with some tweaks, I predict this is an author to watch out for.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to HarperAvenue books for my complimentary digital copy of this book which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

2⭐️
TW: sexual assault

Reasonable Adults follows Kate Rigsby, freshly fired and taking on a new business opportunity at a luxury retreat in Muskoka. Once there, she realizes she has been set up for failure, but manages to slowly fall in love with the retreat and the family of workers there, along with one attractive worker in particular.

Being a Canadian debut author, and having the setting take place in both Toronto and Muskoka, I was really hoping to love this book. After reading the synopsis, I was anticipating a wintery camp romance, but unfortunately it did not deliver the way I thought it would.

For the first third of the book, it took me a long time to get into the story or even Kate's head, and I was not feeling connected to the plot at all. The setting and Eric the goldendoodle were great, but the pacing was not, and I could not understand why Kate would stay there.

Throughout the middle of the book, we are introduced to many staff and patrons, and I liked how they all had their own personalities and weren't just invisible side characters. There were a few entertaining interactions, but again, I was still not invested in their stories. After Matt is introduced as the love interest, I could not determine any foundation for a "spark" between Kate and Matt, she simply found him attractive and it seemed as though they just wanted to hookup.

After questioning why Kate's ex-boyfriend would even attend the retreat, an incident takes place that I reference in the trigger warning. It did catch me off guard, but what caught me even more off guard was Matt's reaction to the incident. There is essentially victim blaming, and Matt still remains the love interest afterwards (not a fan).

I fail to understand why Brooke's ex-husband would trust her with one of his companies; you can see from the start that she is not invested at all and actively destroying the business. While I questioned Kate staying, I definitely question how the staff even allowed things to get to the ending point. Along with that, the ending of the story was very convenient, and I'm not sure how I felt about it.

What I do feel for sure is that Matt and Kate are the type of couple to break up after the story is over, or they will remain together solely because of the cult-like vibes of the group. While I am not a fan of Matt, I did like how Kate had a voice and ideas, and she didn't just lie down and accept her fate. She managed to make something good out of a bad situation, and I admire her character and her attitude!

I think this author has potential, the ideas were there but just had to be buffed out more in my opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada for the eARC!

DNF @ 25%. I liked the (idea of the) setting, but was having a hard time getting into the book itself with the strangely hard-hitting friends (“it’s not enough to work to pay the bills—it has to be something you’re passionate about!”)—especially right after she was fired(!), the frustratingly unreasonable new boss and work conditions (recording keystrokes on the work computer), and the fact that she was stuck in a portable (so not even taking advantage of the cozy resort setting). Then when I found out that there was a sexual assault I decided it probably isn’t the book for me anyway.