Emotional, uplifting and heartwarming, Always on My Mind is the fabulous new novel by Beth Moran.

Jessie had left home at eighteen and vowed never to go back ever again. However, fate had other ideas – as she discovered when things got complicated and she found herself with no other choice but to move back in with her twin brother, Isaac and his two best friends. Jessie isn’t exactly overjoyed about the prospect of moving back home – especially as one of her brother’s flatmates is the boy she once loved whose life had been changed during a terrible accident she still blames herself for.

Cohabiting with three unhouse-trained males is not joke as Jessie soon finds out, but when she gets a generous rent discount in exchange for teaching Isaac, Elliott and Arthur how to reverse their ailing dating fortunes, she accepts the challenge. But is she up to the task? Or has Jessie bitten off more than she can actually chew? As Jessie begins to put down roots and settle in her new home, she quickly realises that it’s not just her housemates who are in desperate need of change. Will Jessie be able to forgive herself for the past and forge forward into the future? Will it be second time lucky for her and Elliott? Or is it all going to end in tears?

Beth Moran’s books never fail to touch the heart and make readers laugh out loud and in her latest page-turner, Always on My Mind, she has once again written a fun, dramatic, feel-good and romantic tale readers will find hard to put down. A wonderful read about coming home, new beginnings and second chances, Beth Moran’s Always on My Mind is a witty, enjoyable and delightful tale that is simply sensational.

This is the story of Jessie and it is told over the course of 40 Chapters plus a prologue. Now this may seem like a long book, but when you get invested in this story those chapters soon fly by!
This book is easy to get stuck into and really grips the reader right from the very start. From learning about Jessie when she was younger to finding out how she came to be in her current situation.
Jessie on her own is a brilliant character and is trying to move on from a childhood accident she believes is her fault. Add in her roommates that include her twin brother, his best friend (aka who she once loved), and the funeral director you get an interesting mix of characters in one story.
When it comes to the background characters it is hard for readers not to fall in love with them and I am not talking about in a romantic sense. From the 'Outlaws' to the 'Harriers' this book is full of interesting characters that readers will adore.
Overall this was a heart warming read that readers will love. This is a Brothers best friend, young love, redemption story that is sure to delight the readers. Whether they are already a fan of Beth's or not.

was so excited to be sent a copy of this as i have loved all of Beths previous books and i wasnt disappointed. it follows the story of friendships and first love with some twists and turns.
a great book to curl up and lose your self in.

I’m a huge fan of Beth Moran’s writing and this book is no exception. It’s a feel good story that is funny and uplifting at the same time. Jessie is a treat to read. Pickup this book if you want a great relaxing read that you won’t want to put down!

Always On My Mind is just my cup of tea. Beautifully written, a wonderful and wacky cast of characters, and a beautiful love story. It is also a testament to the power of kindness.

Jessie has recently moved in with her twin brother Isaac and his two housemates, Arthur and Elliot. Jessie and Elliot were childhood sweethearts until a devastating accident left Elliot with a traumatic brain injury, and Jessie wracked with guilt.

This guilt has affected Jessie all her life. And being faced with Elliot every day is a stark reminder not only of the enduring effects of his accident, but also her feelings for him.

All of the boys have become somewhat insular and hopeless when it comes to love, so in return for a reduced rent, Jessie agrees to be their life coach, and The Boys to Men project commences.

But as Jessie coaches the boys, she realises she is healing herself as well. As both Arthur and Isaac declare their love to two special women in their lives, we also see Jessie and Elliot rekindle their friendship as they spend time together. It's clear their feelings become deeper, but can Jessie ever let go of her guilt?

The Outlaws and the under 9's football team are also the heart of this book, and prove that spirit and determination combined with kindness are where it's at.

My first book by Beth Moran is an absolute delight. Her writing is warm, witty, and wonderful, with not-to-be forgotten characters. This story takes tragedy, guilt, and weaves it with kindness, love, and redemption. If you like an original, thought provoking narrative, unique plots, and interesting character development, I would suggest reading this book. I will be seeking more books by Moran myself, as I'm always looking for books with romance as well as depth and emotional connections to home, family, and life circumstances.

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, Net Galley, and Boldwood Books for the advance reader's copy. My review is my own.

Beth Moran shows us that life often has a way to be its wonderful genius self if you let it, and people (whatever their age) can be formidable towards one another. This was a lovely book with a dash of Queer Eye fun and laugh out loud characters, I will now get on with my day with an extra bounce in my step.

This was SO lovely and heartbreaking. Jessie’s love for those around her is only slightly stronger than her belief that she doesn’t deserve their love in return, but it’s blindly apparent (to everyone but her) that they all do.

Elliot’s injury isn’t underplayed at all, and the way his friends have helped him adapt and also adapted with him is so beautiful. Seeing Jessie battle with her guilt while also being genuinely in awe of the way he has bent life to his will was a force to recon with. And seeing Isaac’s relationship as Elliot’s best friend and as Jessie’s brother end up being the biggest benefit of all was heartwarming as well.

I cried so many times reading this. There was definitely a lot of side plots going on at the same time, which I felt occasionally detracted from the main story just because of the sheer chaos, but that’s also how life goes sometimes, so I suppose it stands to reason books would too 😉

This is a beautifully written and emotionally charged story, Beth Moran writes characters that are so real and relatable, I love their quirks, they are so well developed and three dimensional, you feel like you know them.

The plot itself is so engaging, it’s a gorgeous story, full of humour whilst also being so emotional, it’s a read full of love and also forgiveness and ultimately it’s so full of hope. I finished this in a day because I just didn’t want to stop reading.

This book is even better than I expected and I’ve read a lot of Beth’s previous books, so I was expecting really good things, but she exceeded my expectations and pulled my heartstrings more than ever and I can recommend this to everyone who loves an uplifting story and romance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A heartwarming story of grace, forgiveness and not setting limits for yourself, no matter your ability. Jessie and Elliot seemed destined to be together when they were young, but an accident on their prom night put that future out of reach until Jessie comes home and learns to forgive herself. This book features lots of humour and some great characters, especially among the senior crowd at the day centre.

Always on My Mind is a heartwarming story of learning to forgive yourself and taking that first step of finding your HEA.

I quickly remembered how fast I could get sucked into a Beth Moran book. There is just something about her storytelling abilities that just draws you in and doesn’t let you go until the very end. Her ability to craft a beautiful and emotional story continues to amaze me. Always On My Mind follows Jessie, who has returned home after losing her job and home. Coming home is not something Jessie wants to do because it means facing her past, but more importantly, facing Elliot. Elliot is Jessie’s first love, but she blames herself for a terrible accident that forever changed Elliot’s life.

I loved the wonderful mixture of humour and heart in this book. Whenever this story started to feel a bit heavy, Beth lifted her reader’s spirit with sweet and funny moments. I loved the Outlaws, who are seniors who attend daytime programs at the local senior centre, which Jessie’s parents own. This group of people were a hoot, and the things they got into just had me laughing and cringing at the same time. I hope I can be that much of a troublemaker when I am older. Jessie’s living experience with her three male roommates was fabulous. These guys were dorky, sweet, and slightly quirky. I loved being a part of their boys-to-men mission and watching them try to win over the women of their dreams. Fans of Beth’s books will be delighted that some of the characters from her other books appear in this one.

In this book, Beth tackles some pretty tough issues, such as grief, living with a disability, anxiety, and depression. I can tell that Beth has taken her time to research the issues and has thought about how she can include them in her story. She approaches with thought and with hope. I got this sense that these are tough and terrible things, but there is always hope that things will get better.

Jessie and Elliot are adorable and just so so sweet. My heart melted every time Elliot told Jessie that he would never forget anything that had to do with her. There were so many quiet moments between these two that greatly impacted me as a reader. The simple act of eating breakfast or sharing a cup of tea had so much depth and meaning. There was this chemistry/feeling of rightness between Elliot and Jessie. I knew as a reader that they were each other’s soulmates. This book is great for those who want to read a romance but want something not chock-full of romance cheese. There is this realism to all the love stories in this book.

Always On My Mind is a breathtaking story about love, forgiveness, and coming home.

Thank you, Boldwood Books and Rachel Random Resources, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Elliot remembers little about the freak accident that caused him so many ongoing problems with his memory and confidence – but Jessie has struggled with guilt about her part in it ever since, while mourning the loss of their very special secret relationship. Ten years later, Jessie – on the verge of homelessness, the man she hoped to marry having gone on a trip to find himself, and having run out of options – returns to her childhood village, moving into her twin brother Isaac’s spare room. There’s a job on offer too – working for her parents as activities co-ordinator at their day centre for the elderly, perhaps also helping out Isaac with the weddings he organises there at the weekends. But she didn’t know that he shared the house with two friends – funeral director (and oh-so-socially awkward!) Arthur, and Elliot.

While life at home is initially awkward – although Elliot’s support dog Penny is particularly welcoming, and Elliot himself unfailingly warm and friendly – her work at The Barn is an absolute joy. The friends who spend their days there have become known as The Outlaws – they might be getting on in life, but they’re hellbent on living life to the full and enjoying every moment of it. Keeping things under some kind of control becomes a constant challenge, as they all thrive on behaving badly – and it’s all very funny and non-stop entertainment, but with a few very poignant moments along the way.

At home, in return for a reduction on her rent, Jessie agrees to be the men’s life coach – the Boys to Men project – getting them to move on from their distinctly teenage-style obsessions, to help Isaac and Arthur win the hearts of the women they love, and cheering from the sidelines (that doesn’t last long – she soon becomes his assistant) as Elliot takes over as coach of the under-nines football team. And all the while, Jessie is on her own journey – building confidence in her own abilities, discovering what makes her happy, and reaching the point where she can make decisions about her own future.

This book was just glorious – the most wonderful humour, all perfectly judged, but quite a few other moments that really moved me to tears. The characters are quite wonderful – and perhaps none more so than the totally lovely Elliot, facing real challenges as a result of his brain damage, unable to function without post-it prompts around the house, finding it difficult in noisy settings, struggling to control his temper, fierce in providing opportunities for others (I’m no football fan, but some of those scenarios were just fantastic), and the most caring and gentle man.

The whole story is filled with warmth and love and hope, the difficult issues are so sensitively handled, there’s a lovely focus on family and friendship, the romance gets everything absolutely right, and the author’s writing has never been better – and I have to say that adored every single moment. Without question, one of my books of the year – and I recommend it really highly.

Cosy, cute & contemporary are three words that spring to mind when thinking of 'Always on my Mind' by Beth Moran.

This book would be ideal to curl up with, glass of wine in hand & getting snuggly. It radiates warmth & love, leaving you feel a little bit gooey inside.

The character relationship progressions were well written & kept me reading to find out what became of them all. It's also incredibly inclusive & diverse, which was another plus point! Truth be told, it did get a bit TOO mushy for my liking sometimes, but nonetheless, it was sweet & an easy read.

4 out of 5 stars from me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Beth Moran & Boldwood Books for allowing me to read & review the ARC of 'Always on my Mind'; all views are honest & my own.

This book was so sweet. Jessie returns home after 10 years and has to face the man she loved at 18. He was in a terrible car accident where he only just survived. His brain injuries meant he had forgotten the day of the accident and the fact he and Jessie had declared their love. Ashamed that she was to (partly) blame, Jessie runs away and has a series of failed jobs and relationships only to return home. There’s lots more but that’s the gist. The book has Jessie helping her brother and housemates become the best version of themselves. In the process Jessie finds peace. I loved the story and now am seeking out ALL of Morgan’s books! This eARC was provided to me by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

A truly heart-warming and adorable read!

Jessie left home at eighteen, swearing never to return. She didn't want village life, she wanted bright lights but things don't always work out as planned and she finds herself heading for home again. She draws the line at living with her parents though, and arranges to move in with her twin, Isaac. What she doesn't realise is that he shares with two other guys, one of whom she knows very well but, following a serious accident just before she left, she's not sure he'll remember her. On a practical note, living with three males who don't so much have a home as a gaming empire is no fun, but then Jessie realises that perhaps they're not the only ones in need of making some changes ...

Having read Beth Moran's novels previously, I expected to enjoy this but it went beyond that - it was really quite beautiful. The characters, the story line but, more than anything, the 'then' and 'now' definitely played on my heart strings. A gorgeous read, and a perfect break from the gritty thrillers either side of it. Nothing to find fault with and easily meriting a full house of stars and my highest recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

BOOK REVIEW: Always On My Mind by Beth Moran
2023 Publication Date: March 28

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐

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"When it comes to love, never settle for less than a total — and mutual — recognition of how blessed you are to have each other..."

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
Enjoy the Ride with Beth Moran's Always on My Mind...
Beth Moran has done it again! Her newest book, Always On My Mind, is a heartfelt story of love, acceptance, and redemption that will leave you wanting more... You will truly find it difficult to say goodbye to these wonderful characters!

In this charming story, Jessie has to move back in with her twin brother and his two best friends. But one of those friends happens to be their mutual childhood best friend, Elliot — the boy she once secretly loved and left behind after a tragic accident resulting in a near-death experience changed his life forever leaving him with a brain injury that affects his memory... while Jessie blames herself for what happened.

Jessie's journey is an enjoyable ride full of delightful surprises. With each chapter, we get to know Jessie better as we follow her through her new job at her parents' day center supporting rambunctious seniors aging with vigor.

We also get to tag along while she helps her housemates "makeover" their disastrous social skills. Through these events, we watch as Jessie's inner relationship develops and she comes into her own... learning more about herself than she ever thought possible.

Let’s dive into what makes this book so special...

Writing Style
For starters, let's talk about Beth Moran's writing style. Her writing is heartwarming, filled with witty banter, and sure to draw readers in from the very first page to the very end. Moreover, the main characters she creates are one-of-a-kind, vibrant, and likable. They feel like people you could actually meet on the street... or wish you could at least!

Each character has their own unique backstory that Moran weaves expertly throughout the narrative via masterful character development that allows readers to truly connect with each character as they navigate their struggles together.

In addition to being an entertaining read, this book also offers resonating themes such as forgiveness, inclusivity, and personal growth that many readers can relate to.

As such, this book makes for an enjoyable escape while also teaching valuable lessons about life along the way.

Story Setting
The setting of this book is quite distinctive as well. It takes place during a particularly turbulent time for Jessie as she deals with her tenuous current relationship as well as her past feelings for Elliot.

The descriptions used by Moran transport readers directly into Jessie’s world while still leaving plenty of room for interpretation and personalization.

Every reader can take away something different from this story depending on their own life experiences — which makes reading romance all the more enjoyable.

Theme Of Love
Finally, there is an underlying theme of love that permeates throughout this book — not just romantic love but familial love too.

But the real gem of this story is the exploration of loving our community... and all the different types of people who make up a community.

Moran does an excellent job at illustrating how a community can often be complicated but ultimately filled with loving relationships that we should cherish no matter what circumstances life has thrown a person's way.

It's a beautiful message that anyone can relate to — and benefit from — regardless of where they are in life right now.

All in all, Always On My Mind by Beth Moran is an incredible read full of warmth and wit.

Even if you don't usually enjoy contemporary romances, this one is sure to capture your heart — and remind you that sometimes embracing the present moment one step at a time can be just what we need when moving forward feels overwhelming or uncertain.

Sometimes we need to wear a sign saying "temporarily undergoing maintenance", right?!... As you read this book, wear your "sign" with a smile...

The novel culminates in unforgettable sequences that will leave you feeling satisfied yet hungry for more, making Always On My Mind an absolute must-read for those looking for a great book escape on your "reading menu" with some added wisdom on the side.

Perfect for book lovers of contemporary romance novels looking for an enjoyable read full of uniquely charming characters, captivating writing style, laugh-out-loud funny circumstances, and heartfelt moments that will leave you wanting more — long after you finish the last page.

Buy your ticket now... And enjoy the ride...✨😎✨

Pages: 383
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub-Genre: Second Chance At Love Romance
Time Period: Present Day
Location: Houghton (England)
Publisher: Boldwood Books

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Movie: Champions (2023)

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After leaving home at eighteen, Jessie never imagined that she would eventually be back in the very place she sought to escape.

But as fate would have it, life's complexities have forced her to return, only this time as a roommate to her twin brother Isaac and his two best friends.

Much to her surprise, among those friends, is Elliot — the one-time secret love of her life — with the shared history that continues to haunt Jessie of the dreadful accident that forever altered Elliot's life, all while shouldering the burden of self-blame.

With the daunting challenge of living alongside three unforgettable characters, Jessie soon finds herself reluctantly accepting an offer to assist in their 'Boys to Men Project', hoping to put an end to their string of "social disasters".

Surprisingly, Jessie starts to rediscover a delightful life for herself in her new role at her parents' day center surrounded by its quirky and rebellious senior residents.

Exploring themes of love, acceptance, and inclusivity... Always On My Mind is a must-read book that delivers a heartwarming story, loads of laughs, and insight into accepting what life throws our way with no regrets...

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• It’s never too late to make the best of any situation, no matter how difficult life has been in the past... with no regrets.
• We must appreciate and cherish our communities and all the different types of people that make it up. Each person has their own story and circumstance, which must be respected and cherished.
• Love doesn't always manifest itself in ways we expect, but it can still be beautiful nonetheless. Learning to love and accept yourself can be a powerful tool for embracing all forms of love.

BOOK QUOTE:
"I've not got enough time left to spend it regretting what I did or didn't do. Wishing it had been different. All I can do now is make the most of here and now..." — Always On My Mind by Beth Moran

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Jessie finds herself in a bit of a predicament. She recently lost her job and her boyfriend, Seb, payer of all the bills informed her he plans to travel for a year to find himself. Without her. Now she's jobless, homeless, and heading home to her family for the first time in years.

Her twin brother Isaac said she can move in with him and his roommates. He has an extra bedroom after all. When Jessie arrives she's shocked to discover that Elliott Ollerton is one of his housemates. Jessie was madly in love with him in high school until a terrible accident sends Elliott into a coma. Luckily, he comes out of it but he has severe memory issues and doesn't seem to remember their magical night together. Jessie blames herself for the accident and what Elliott has had to endure since then.

Isaac's other roommate is Arthur and all three of these men could use some work in attracting the love of their life so they hire Jessie to help them learn to cook, dress, and charm in exchange for decreased rent. Dubbed the Boys to Men project it appears Jessie has her work cut out for her.

Will they all find love and happiness? You'll have to read this to find out!

With some books you grow to love and appreciate characters as they develop on page. Watching them evolve and grow allows me to see them in a new light which often changes my initial opinion of them. The opposite happened here. The longer I spent with these characters the more I disliked them. The one exception being Elliott. He's the only reason I didn't ditch this book sooner.

Jessie is constantly weeping. Her guilt for Elliott's accident is ridiculous because she had nothing to do with it besides being there at the time. Isaac, known for always being a ladies man with numerous girlfriends, is now completely befuddled around a woman he loves and works with. Yes, he LOVES her even though they have never gone on one date. He can't form simple sentences around her and if he is able to say anything he does it by yelling at her. Like, what? 🤨 And Arthur is suppose to be the super nerdy guy that is socially awkward, loves video games, and going grave hunting. He too, is in LOVE with a co-worker he hardly knows. 🙄

With all this love in the air you'd think I'd be feeling it but NOPE! 💘 = 💩

Meanwhile, we're also suppose to be feeling the tension between Jessie and Elliott but alas, there was none. No chemistry whatsoever. When they aren't coaching a soccer team together then she mostly just hides from him the entire time. While weeping.

There is also a subplot of Jessie working for her parents at a retirement center which I think was suppose to provide comic relief but I didn't find it humorous at all. Womp, womp.

I honestly didn't think this book was ever going to end. At nearly 400 pages this book was too long. I skimmed from 75% to the finish just so I could be done with it.

I think it's safe to say that the cupids arrow missed my cold black heart this time around. 2 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my complimentary copy.

I jumped at the chance of reading this Beth Moran as she has become one of my favourite authors due to her writing style and how these are such easy and enjoyable reads. Jessie returns back to the village after 10 years away due to starting a new job and having to move in with her brother. There are a lot of familiar faces she catches up with and meets again, one in particular Elliot who Jessie has a complicated history with. This follows Jessie on a few self discovery’s that she deserves more, deserves to me happy and her roommates need all the help they can get.

I loved how Jessie’s emotions were all over the place when it came to Elliot and you could tell that there was still the attraction between them after all this time. I loved Madeline’s character and you could see how much she helped Jessie after Elliot’s accident even though Jessie was her carer, it was nice as it felt that it was full circle as Jessie made madeleines dreams come true and I absolutely sobbed towards the end.

I loved that Ava and May and their mobile beauty parlour featured in this book as well as they also feature in ‘because you loved me’ as they are all around the Sherwood Forest area.

Always On My Mind by Beth Moran

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Sometimes when you can’t see the way forwards, the best thing to do is to look back...

When Jessie left home at eighteen, she swore she’d never go back. But when life takes a turn for the complicated, she’s forced to move in with her twin, Isaac, and his two best friends. To her dismay, one of these is Elliot, the boy Jessie once loved, until his life was changed forever by a terrible accident that Jessie still blames herself for.

Cohabiting with three alarmingly unhouse-trained males was not in Jessie’s life plan so when Isaac, Elliot and Arthur offer her a generous rent discount if she’ll help them with their ‘Boys to Men Project’, designed to end years of disastrous dating, she reluctantly accepts the challenge.

As Jessie embraces the comfort of being home, revelling in her new job at her parents’ day centre full of people determined to grow old disgracefully, she realises her housemates aren’t the only ones needing to make some changes. And maybe, if she can finally forgive herself for Elliot’s accident, she can start to look forward to a future, with or without him by her side.

My Opinion

Beth Moran has written another delightful novel here - I have yet to find a book that hasn't grabbed my attention. Jessie left home at eighteen and unexpectedly finds herself needing to move in with her twin brother and his housemates. This was a lovely, cosy book to curl up and read and would make a lovely holiday read. For me, the ending came too soon - I wasn't ready to let the characters go.

If you enjoy Beth Moran's previous novels then this is definitely a book you should read. A highly enjoyable read!

Rating: 4/5

Always On My Mind is an excellent read. It's got so much going for it. There's the classic boy meets girl, will they won't they storyline, but add in to that a bunch of feral OAPs, a life changing car accident and an inclusive kids football team, and you've got a cracking read on your hands.

What I really enjoyed about Always On My Mind was the realism of the characters and their situations. The main character, Jess, is coming home to bunk up with her twin brother Isaac and work with her mum and dad in their day centre. Jess is carrying a lifetime of guilt after a car accident on the night of her prom has significant consequences for Elliot - her brother's best friend (and the secret love of her life). She has to deal with a whole host of emotions when Elliot comes back in to her life, complete with his lasting brain injury. This, along with challenges faced by other characters, is dealt with so beautifully in the book. It's what really sets Always On My Mind apart from others in this genre.