As an 80's kid superfan of Press Gang, this book SANG to me! A brilliantly touching tale of community spirit, fighting "the man" and finding the good folks amongst the bleakness of town centre development. Positive, uplifting and kinda romantic...I'd highly recommend this!

Following redundancy, Zoe sets up a newspaper which only gives good news from her community. She then gets involved in saving an out of date and half empty shopping centre. An unusual theme, I really enjoyed reading the book. Ideal for a cold winter's day reading.

3.5★s
The Good News Gazette is the first novel by British author and former journalist, Jessie Wells. Made redundant after nine years at the Northern News, Zoe Taylor has an eight-year-old son to support, a house, a run-down car and a significant debt to service: once the redundancy package runs out, she will need work.

Her best friends have some ideas, but the best one, after reflecting on how negatively her last employer represented their town, is to start a paper reporting only positive things about Westholme. She’ll call it The Good News Gazette, and rope her former colleague Ollie in to help.

The online response to articles she posts is good, and tips on lots of positive stories see her following up on a Football Academy for troubled boys, Meals for Mums, volunteer gardeners beautifying the run down Westholme Parade shopping precinct, Salsa Classes and a Book Club.

But a shocking proposal to bulldoze The Westholme Parade and build a supermarket threaten to derail all their good news. Before she knows it, she’s campaigning against the development, arranging a festival and trying to convince the local council to reject the application. At the same time, even though Zoe has maintained that there is no room for romance in her life, two possible candidates begin paying her attention.

This is a story that showcases how a town can overcome the negative image the press paints. Zoe’s narrative is supplemented with comments from the Westholme Community Facebook page, which reflect the mood of the town, and reactions to events as they occur. While the plot is a little predictable, a few small twists keep the pages turning until the resolution.

It’s a little surprising that a protagonist who is a university-educated journalist so often errs in the use of “I” and “me”. Or is that due to poor editing? Also, floor and ground are not the same thing. A nice enough feel-good tale.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.

We all badly need good news and a Good News Gazette would be perfect in this winter.
This is a story about Zoe, a single mother who used to be an investigative reporter, and the power of news and of community.
It's a well plotted, compelling, and engrossing novel featuring a cast of well developed characters.
It's a first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last as I loved the storytelling and the style of writing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Thank you to #NetGalley for the copy of #TheGoodNewsGazette by #JessieWells
Zoe is on a mission to broadcast good news.
A great feel good novel that will make you smile.

The Good News Gazette by Jessie Wells
She may be down but don't count this determined single mum out just yet.
Nine years ago, Zoe Taylor returned from London to the quiet hamlet of Westholme with her tail between her legs and a bun in the oven. Where her job as a journalist saw her tearing off to Paris at a moment's notice after a lead, now the single mum covers the local news desk. At least, she did until she was unceremoniously let go.
When Zoe invites her friends over to commiserate, wine and whining soon turn into something more… and before the night is out, she's plotted her next step: The Good News Gazette.
Now, as a developer threatens to force Westholme into the twenty-first century, Zoe's good news movement finds her leading a covert campaign as a community crusader. She may have started The Good News Gazette to save herself, but she might be able to save Westholme in the process.
The Good News Gazette' is a well-written appealing, good-humoured story. The writing style is relaxed and flows nicely. Jessie has obviously spent time developing her characters, and this radiates through in their realistic representation.
This cheerful and uplifting story, with its essence of community, the coming together of people to make positive changes, and a woman's personal journey to happiness, has been a delight to read.
I want to thank the publishers, One More Chapter, the author Jessie Wells and Rachels Random Resources, for a copy to read and review.

After losing her job, single mum Zoe makes a plan for herself following too much wine with her friends. The good news gazette is born - can she make a go of it?
A great read.

I was invited to read this novel and I’m so happy I did.
This is my first time reading this author and I am looking forward to reading more from her.
It was such an uplifting, fun read.
Loved the characters and the storyline.
We need to see and hear more positive things during difficult times, we all had a very challenging
two years and this was exactly what I needed just before the holidays.
Thank you
Highly recommend. 4 stars

Zoe has just lost her job as a journalist for the local newspaper, but while the newspaper writes about the depressing things which are happening Zoe decides to start her own newspaper writing about the good news which is happening in the town instead.

This is a really happy and uplifting novel with moments that were so funny I had to burst out laughing and wipe away the tears of laughter, I love the main character who was realistic and really down to earth, with the minor characters of the town adding to a great narrative.

Wells writes a realistic novel with scenarios that happen in everyday events which makes this novel relatable to any reader and one that anyone will love.

Thank you to One More Chapter for a digital review copy of The Good News Gazette by Jessie Wells. I’m sharing a mini review today.

I enjoyed meeting Zoe, her family and her friends in Westholme, a location that needed a local person to remind other people what was good about the area, and why community spirit is important.

I loved how the story evolved and the addition of the social media posts from a ‘local residents social media’ forum. Zoe encounters some challenges but throughout the story her love for her son and local community shine brightly.

Life is tough for many at the moment and our news channels seem to concentrate on the doom and gloom. This is a book to gladden the heart and to inspire us to look for what is good in life, however small it may be. I look forward to reading more books by Jessie Wells in the future.

Single mum, Zoe, has just lost her job at the local news desk. Having already come home to Westholme, pregnant and not having her journalistic career go the way she planned, this last blow hits her hard.

When Zoe and her friends meet up they start whining about their town. Things are slowly going south. Business are shutting down and jobs are going. That's when Zoe hits upon the idea of writing only positive stories about the town and launches The Good News Gazette.

Then she hears of the plan to tear down the shopping centre, which is the heart of Westholme and to build a supermarket. She realizes that this going to result in more small businesses shutting down and decides to launch a campaign to save the community from this development. Will she succeed in taking on Daniel, the developer?

Zoe is juggling a lot of things. Making sure her son is well cared for, trying to make a go of the Gazette and now this campaign. How will she manage to pay her mounting bills and repair her car that's constantly dying on her? And then there's her attraction to Sam, her son's football coach.

The author did a fantastic job with characterisation. So many colourful and quirky characters, and with people like Daniel having layers that are slowly revealed.

On one hand, this is the story of a single mum trying to get by and yet, it's also the story of a wonderful community, that pulls together despite difficulties and is there for its members.

There were so many elements in the book - job loss, entreprenuership, single motherhood, big business takeovers and the attempts of Zoe to bring positivity and a feel good spirit back to the town. Loved the element of humour and romance as well.

I couldn't put the book down, enjoying every moment of the story.

A perfect story for the holiday season....maybe for every season. This young woman finds herself alone and pregnant without a job. The only thing she's ever wanted to do was write for a newspaper.....so she starts her own. What starts as a job, becomes a rallying spot for a community that comes together to protect their town. If you need a feel good story....this is for you.

A positively heartwarming read , let me introduce you to The Good News Gazette. Zoe is a single mum working for the local news that is until she is let go. Zoe then comes up with The Good News Gazette which reports just what it says good news. I loved the pace of this it was a gentle flow all the way through and had a few surprises. The plot is basic but interesting and kept me engaged. The characters all have backstories and are relatable. I laughed a lot while reading some of the funny antics and felt emotional during some of the sadder parts. I loved how the ending was wrapped up perfectly in a neat little bow. I was thoroughly entertained by this uplifting book.

When I read the synopsis of this book I thought it sounded like a nice, gentle lighthearted read. In many ways I was right, but it’s much more than that too. This genre of book can be great but can also often be a bit too silly and one dimensional – thankfully this was not the case. As I read further into The Good News Gazette I found myself immersed in the story and pleasantly surprised at the depth of emotion and social commentary.

Zoe is a single mum and she works really hard to do the best for her son, often to the detriment of her own wellbeing. She is very self-deprecating and lacking in self-esteem, but as the story develops it becomes clear that she is determined, kind and competent. There are themes of friendship, self esteem, deprivation, weight loss, poverty, gangs, loneliness, relationships, new beginnings, community and collaboration. I love the fact that Zoe’s focus is on spreading good news and as she develops her new venture it brings out the best in both her and her community. I was really invested in the story and wanted everything to work out. I love it when I genuinely care about characters and their stories. The connections and support networks that developed between the characters were really heartwarming.

The pace is steady and there are moments of tension providing a satisfying rhythm. The characters are really well developed, believable and all have backstories that provide a fitting emotional backdrop. I love the stories that Zoe works on, and some of them have really heartbreaking elements such as the new mums meal service. The ending was tied up very neatly and I felt like it was appropriate. The novel is rich with detail and a brilliant mix of highs and lows. I highly recommend the book, to anyone really, especially to anyone who wants a warm, comforting, uplifting read.

I really enjoyed reading this book,it was such a feel-good and heartwarming read. I love the idea of a good news Gazette, I would definitely read it.
This a fantastic book and I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

We all need a bit of sunshine in our lives – particularly on these long, cold winter nights – so allow me to introduce a book that’s all about the power of positivity – The Good News Gazette!

When Zoe is made redundant she makes a life-changing decision to only look to the good, and use her journalistic skills to launch a newspaper that’s all about good news. This leads her down avenues that she’d never previously considered and challenges her to make a leap of faith on behalf of her community and herself. Could this lead to a happy ending all round?

I really enjoyed this book that was full to the brim with positivity and community spirit – that’s not to say that there aren’t some downs for Zoe as she tries to help the people in her town save their shopping centre from the threat of demolition, but by not wallowing in what’s going wrong in her life and her community, Zoe is able to create something good and worthwhile.

The setting and characters were incredibly vivid and this was backed up with extracts from the local Facebook group – I’m sure we have all seen some of these random and naysaying comments that Jessie Wells has included!

A really good read and, as I’ve said, chock-full of the power of positivity – very much recommended.

Zoe Taylor is 33 years old and lives in Westholme with her football-loving son Charlie (8) and Lola the cat. She (Zoe, not Lola the cat) works as a journalist on the local newspaper The Northern News – or at least, she does until she is made redundant.
She meets up with her best friends Emma and Beth for sympathy and wine and they discuss ideas about what Zoe could now do for a job. Despairing at the amount of bad news printed in the local newspaper and on the local Facebook page, they have an idea for Zoe to produce a newspaper focusing on positive news stories – The Good News Gazette.
I found the story really easy to get into, it’s written really well with lots of humour and relatable situations (such as the countless school charity days parents need money for – oh yes!) and great characters. Zoe is lovely, I liked her immediately and loved her excuse for being late to work!
Zoe, Emma and Beth all attend a slimming club called Slim City and boy, could I relate to that too. We’ve all had a leader like Barbara, I’m sure! Well, maybe not quite so bad… but I recognised many aspects of the club!
The community feel is really good in the novel, especially when the café and other shops on the parade become under threat from the possibility of a big supermarket redevelopment. This all leads to a campaign organised by Zoe and in all this, it’s great to see people rallying around to help out.
There’s so much in the book that is wonderful, but one point I need to make is how accurate the Westholme Community Facebook page is. When I read the complaints about dog poo, it reminded me so much of my old village and I’m sure that was the top complaint there too! Beautifully observed.
The Good News Gazette is a lovely book full of warmth, heart and positivity. Just what we all need to read!

Delightfully heartwarming and highly addictive reading!
I really, really...really loved this book, from the first page to the last word you become fully absorbed into the story..... and what a glorious story to become immersed into!!
I loved the sound of this book from the moment I set eyes on it, it sounded to be a great feel-good weekend read, but it turned out to be so much more than that; It has all the feel-good factor but there is a beautiful message behind the story of how you can turn your life around with putting one step in front of the other with the help of kindness and friends. ....Plus, it shows the positive side of social media, which is always a nice change!
I instantly liked Zoe, she is just doing her best in life, but then things go wrong and she left wondering what to do next and where she will go. I absolutely loved what she does, to create the wonderful; The Good News Gazette a way to not only help herself but to help others in her little village too - I won't say too much about that as it is an integral part of the story but it so lovely and will make you smile from ear to ear and leave you feeling warm and happy ....and positive which is what Zoe and her Good News Gazette are all about, she would be pleased!
I loved the easy writing, I flew through this book which says a lot for someone who isn't the fastest reader but I couldn't put it down. I was completely transported to the village and would love to return there again, I am sure there are more tales from Westholme that we all should know about - hint, hint!!
This story is heartwarming, charming, feel-good and full of the message of never giving up and the importance of friends and kindness overall a brilliant story, and I can't wait to read more from the author!
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Thank you to the publisher for the arc copy.
@chicksroguesandscandals

Jessie loses her job on the local newspaper, but she hated it anyway.

Her life looked so promising to start with, but she somehow lost her way and ended back in the town where she grew up and feels stuck.

This is the story of her attempt to bring life back into the town - will it work? will she find love again?

However, the book didn't quite work for me.

Just in case my review leaves you in any doubt (and I do hope it won’t!), I thought this book was absolutely fantastic – in fact, I’ll say upfront that it’s going to be one of my books of the year. It promised to be feel good fiction – I picked it up at lunchtime, finished it the same evening, having laughed, cried, made new friends, and rooted every step of the way for its wonderful heroine. And when I put it down, and reluctantly had to leave the Westholme community, my first thought was “that was absolutely perfect”.

I took Zoe to my heart from the very beginning – a single mother just doing her best and frequently falling short, her life going particularly pear-shaped when she loses her job on the news desk of The Northern News. Ok, it was never the best job in the world – she was on the path to greater things when she worked on a national newspaper in London, but had to return to Westholme when she found she was expecting – and the stories she covered were particularly negative and depressing, but it paid the ever-mounting bills. After a heart-to-heart with her closest friends – one of the good things in her life, so supportive but sometimes brutally honest – she decides to take to social media, together with also newly jobless Olly, with the plan that a newspaper might follow, focusing on all the good things about living in Westholme, and calls it The Good News Gazette.

Her posts slowly begins to win people over – despite the questionable comments that follow each post and cleverly end each chapter, bringing a smile – and she finds that there’s (rather unexpectedly) plenty of good news to cover. But Westholme itself isn’t the community it used to be – the gangs from the estate have brought it down, despite the many efforts of individuals there’s very little pride in their surroundings any more, and that’s particularly evident from the neglected state of the local shopping centre. But when plans emerge to demolish it, and to build a large new supermarket in its place taking away the livelihoods of the small shopkeepers and tearing out the heart (however broken) of the community, Zoe finds a cause she really wants to fight for.

Zoe herself is the the most wonderful character at the story’s heart – I loved her unreservedly as she struggled in her personal life, propped up by her fantastic friends, the only thing that ever seems to go right for her being her relationship with her lovely young son. Her money’s running out, her car’s on its last legs, she’ll never be the weekly star at the slimming club – and every new thing she tries makes her feel like a failure. But as she squares up to the developers and finds she has more people in her corner than she could ever have imagined, she finds she’s much stronger than she thinks, and she slowly learns to love herself – and I simply loved seeing her personal transformation. And there’s even a rather lovely tentative romance – football coach Sam (he’s just gorgeous in every way) helps build her son’s confidence, but makes Zoe’s heart beat rather faster too.

Every single member of the supporting cast is beautifully drawn – there are some real characters, and they all have their own lovely stories, both funny and touching. And, of course, there’s a villain – Daniel the developer, who proves to be rather more nuanced than he initially appears as Zoe works to convince him to abandon his plans. Acts of everyday kindness abound – and so many of them really touched my heart. And I loved the focus on friendship and family relationships – her father’s interventions were a particular highlight for me, however misjudged, but there are so many wonderful moments in this book that I’d be here all day if I mentioned every one that touched my heart. The writing is just fantastic – the storytelling is superb, and the whole book just wrapped me up in the warmest of hugs.

Can you tell how much I loved it? I do hope so! And the best news of all is that this book is the first in a planned series of four – I couldn’t be more delighted. Go on, add it to your reading list – I promise you won’t be disappointed, and you might just love it as much as I did…