DNF @ 20%

When I initially saw this book I loved the blurb. However reading it I just could not connect with the characters.

Alot happened in just the first few chapters and it was hard to go on.

A lovely little book by Nina, who does pen great reads. Good to have a change of setting too, in a zoo. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book features Jess as our female main character, who has been assigned to an animal sanctuary for the purpose of helping them raise money to stay open. Here she meets Nick, the grumpy animal keeper. These two have a lot of sparks as they fight and fall in love, but Jess is struggling to take care of her brother, deal with her boss, and try have a personal life.

Jess is so fierce when it comes to her brother and making things happen in her professional life! She just doesn’t take care of herself like that. It was good to see that growth take place. Nick came across as a grump, but Jess was really the issue. I loved them together though. I also loved the storyline with her brother and how all of that played out. I think that was handled very well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An easy, light hearted book about Jess who is a bad ass event manager - having a great career (something I've always wanted to do). Life takes a dramatic turn in an instant with her brother's stroke. She must re-evaluate her familial duties and in doing so, her career takes a back seat as she puts her brother's recovery first. On one of her projects, she meets (or in this case re-meets) Nick, a grumpy zoo keeper. The animal park setting is cute and unique, but at times the interactions between Nick and Jess were too drawn out for me. Read if you like enemies to lovers, have a love for animals, loyalty for family and a strong career driven female lead character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

'A lovely return to the world of Nina Kaye. A feel-good, bookish romance that is perfect & wholesome. Simple but satisfying' - The British Bibliophile

*Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ebook Advanced Readers Copy for me to read and leave an honest review*

I first came by Nina Kaye while picking up One Night in Edinburgh from a local Facebook Marketplace listing. The book's cover captivated me to see what the book was all about--aside from the obviousness on the cover--, and give a new to me author a chance. Unfortunately, the copy sold before I could get my hands on it but I did not despair! I grabbed a copy from Amazon and dove right on in.

One Night in Edinburgh was a pleasant introduction to Nina Kaye, and I just happened to spot an ARC for this read on Net Galley and decided to hop on the opportunity to see if I would like any of her other novels. I'm very pleased to say that I did.

Just Like That is what it says on the tin. Or rather, the tagline. It's a perfectly good feel-good romance that did indeed make me smile. I can't ask for anything more than that out of a romance, in its essence. As much as smut, steam and spice are in equal demand in my reading repertoire, it's good to dip your toes back into the humble, the romanic and the feel-good. I love a book that can make me laugh, but I also love one that can make me smile and I'm so happy that this was the book to do it.

Jess is as real to life as a book character can get. She's taking her job in her stride when life throws one of its massive curveballs and her priorities and commitments have to change. She doesn't think to put herself first, but instead puts the person who needs her the most first which in itself is very admirable. Like in the real world, her boss was not as understanding of her decision. Jess was able to be herself, make mistakes and came across to myself at least, as 'very human'. She wasn't simply written to be a book character full of all the stereotypical things seen in and across many books, her realism is her biggest compliment and Nina did a wonderful job in creating and writing about her.

Nick...oh Nick. He's the grumpy to her sunshine and I can speak for myself and other readers when I say we love book men like Nick. He's all grumpy and gruff on the outside but on the inside? A whole different story. A different side to the man. The fun for both Jess and myself was seeing the development in Nick to show that side TO Jess when he felt comfortable enough to do so. He's not afraid to admit that he wants a baggage-free life--as horrible as that sounds, it's honest--, and he's not going to get that with Jess. Yet, she seems to be the exception to that steadfast rule.

Jess & Nick are your typical not-so-meet-cute couple, and I loved getting to know them both and how they were going to navigate life together after Jess' assignment to the animal park that Nick is the head keeper of. There are pitfalls, speed bumps, times where you want to jump through the page and yell the obvious at a character but in essence, Just Like That was a read you need when you need a pick-me-up when our bookish world--or real--gets too heavy.

Strap yourselves in for a story in the East Lothian Wildlife Park, where it isn't the animals who are the only ones that have claws.

Four stars!

DNF- 24% - I could just not get into this book, but I’m not really sure why. The quality of the writing is okay, although at times seemed a bit cheesy (to me), although that could possibly be a cultural thing. The premise sounded good, but by the time the love interests solved their “misunderstanding”, I was just not at all invested. Generally even a pretty good book can be like a movie in my head and this wasn’t. It was mostly just words on a page. One thing I will say that I really disliked about the mmc, was him getting angry with the fmc after trying to comfort her in the hospital (when they were still strangers). She was obviously going through something horrible and he took her somewhat abrupt rejection so badly. A decent person wouldn’t do that! They did sort things out pretty quickly, but it just gave me the ick.

Jess’s life comes crashing down when her brother has a stroke. She goes from her job as an events manager in Edinburgh to working in a small animal park. Her life seems to go from bad to worse, when she clashes with the arrogant head keeper, Nick, who is never happy with her. Jess thinks he is a lech whilst he can’t keep up with her drama-filled life. However, tension between them, soon turns to something more.
A sweet romance between two people, who at first seem at odds, but, have similar ideals. Whilst Nick is portrayed as the grumpy guy, but his past has made him who he is. With Jess, he is actually quite sweet as he does understand the challenges that she is faced with. Jess is a great character who whilst driven in her career, values her family and puts her brother ahead of everything.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

(Thank you NetGalley and Canelo Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Just Like that)

This book was just not it for me. I felt it was too drawn out and some of the errors (words and phrases typed twice) really bothered me. The FMC was hell bent on self destructing her own life. Jess was thrown off when her brother suffers a medical emergency and she becomes his main caregiver. She meets Nick through a work project and we follow their attempts at a relationship. I do appreciate the character development of both characters throughout the story. The last chapter was really enjoyable and I’m glad to see a happy ending.

This book has a simple plot and the writing style is also easy to read.
I really like the setting of the place in Edinburgh and also the conservation with the adorable animals. I also like the ideas the characters put into saving the conservation, I would’ve love to participate in some of them.

However, I’m having difficulties connecting with the main characters especially the FMC – Jess.
Even though I like how Jess finally redeem herself and accepting her situation, I feel frustrated with how she makes decisions for herself and other people for the most part of the story.

As for the romance, it felt forced to be honest. I don’t feel the spark connecting both main characters. They always argue after saying a few words but then in the middle of the story suddenly they decided to kiss and date.

Overall, this is a simple story. I do love the setting and the character development of Jess at the end, but other things still need development.
You can give it a try if you’re looking for a simple story with a career driven FMC and enemies to lovers trope.

I received an advanced review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

Overall, this book was just ok. I felt the relationship between Jess & Nick was way too rushed to the point where it almost didn't make any sense. Also, the fact that Jess & Seth's parents didn't drop everything when Seth had his stroke was extremely bizarre to me - do parents really do stuff like that in real life?

The animal aspect of this book was cute but the two MC's were both a little unlikeable and the whole thing just felt really rushed. However, if you're looking for a light read that you can breeze through, this may be a good one to read in-between books!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Nina Kaye for an arc of this in exchange for my honest review.

I loved One Night in Edinburgh by Nina Kaye so I knew I would love the next book she wrote just as much and I did.

Just Like That is such a good book and perfect for the summer months. Being Scottish I loved reading about places close to home. Jess's brother suffers from a stroke and she is left to care for him. Putting her much loved career in events management on hold so she can care for him she battles with loosing her clients as her boss puts her on a job to save a local Wildlife Park. There she meets Nick who makes her realise that this job is maybe what she needs.

I thought this book was so sweet and you could see the MC's struggle with trying to do everything for everyone but herself and I think that is defiantly a situation we have all been in.

Read it! You won't regret it.

*4.5

Jess and Nick were so cute!! I loved seeing him soften up as she got to know him more. The two of them with Raya were adorable. I also really enjoyed her relationship with her brother. I would however like a bonus scene with their proposal.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the plot was paced nicely. I would recommend this book to others and I would read another book by this author in the future. Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!

dnf @ 30%

I had a lot of expectations for this book, but in the first few chapters I was very confused by some lack of information, and as I read it, I just couldn't connect with the characters.

This cover is absolutely stunning. I enjoyed this sort of enemies to friends to lovers story. It had me hooked from the very beginning. I enjoyed the characters and felt like we got to know them very well.

Frustrated not quite enemies become friends and then lovers in this romance set largely in an Edinburgh animal park, Jess sees her assignment to work an event there as a comedown after she backed away from work a bit to care for her brother, Nick finds her annoying. Eventually they meet in the middle. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is trope-y to be sure but it's also a good read about family and commitment.

Read this all in one go so it definitely hooked me. I really enjoyed reading about this cast of characters, Nick and Jess's relationship felt really well paced and authentic. It did a good job of balancing the heavy life events going on with a fluffy romance. I did find the conflict a bit far-fetched, didn't quite feel true to life. But overall an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers story.

When I read that this book is set in a Wildlife Park I couldn't let it get away. I have a soft spot for animals so… Good story, well developed despite the book being quite short. Romance takes its time and therefore fails insta love (which often happens in short romances). I didn't particularly empathize with the protagonist, Jess. The book is told only from his pov. This poor girl's brain was going to three thousand 🤣 many times I found myself saying "please stop thinking, take a deep breath and try again" haha. I missed the male POV, especially as I fell so much in love with Nick through Jess's eyes . When he revealed his past I have to admit that some tears fell. It would have been nice to see everything through his eyes. A super cute romcom that I really enjoyed!

and just like that I finished this one lol I really enjoyed it and loved the characters. their story lines were complex while also staying light and fluffy. I would deff recommend.

Thankyou firstly to the publishers canelo fir this wonderful read .

I've never read a Nina Kaye book before and thought after others enjoying her book why not give it ago. And I can say I'm so glad I did .

I really enjoy the slow burn romance with the grumpy character and happy go lucky character. I also liked the part where she become career to her brother it really showed both Vulnerability and her caring nature you could see there was a special bond with her brother I did feel for them both I could really relate to them In the aspect.
I also enjoy the parts with the zoo which jess ends up working on with you company and the whole will they won't they love story in parts it did remind me of the book we brought a zoo. It was very heart warming and great cozy read .

I loved all the characters but most of all enjoyed reading how jess grows as a character.

Nine definitely put so much in to her writing flowed so well and really brought warmth to your hearts.

If you love a bit of ,grumpy sunshine love story and new beginnings this is for you definitely a wonderful cozy read .

I give this book 4 heart warming stars 🌟