In this novel, Josie is an Australian television news reporter. After suffering a panic attack during a live interview, she is relegated to a small town tv station in Newcastle. Fortunately, or possibly unfortunately, her estranged bestie Zac resides in Newcastle. This would be a great opportunity to reconnect and discover what actually happened with their relationship. The story is told in a dual timeline with flashbacks that reveal their backstory.

Josie’s struggle with health anxiety will cut close to home for many, I’m sure. Zac was a great friend, always wanting more but trying to protect himself from hurt. Both characters were likeable. A sweet and poignant friends-to-lovers story with some serious side topics. 3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this. I loved that it was set in Australia (Newcastle specifically).
I think the characters are both likeable and the second chance romance didn't seem forced. I actually liked the use of flashbacks too.
I have health anxiety and this book triggered it a little (as it tackles that subject). But, although a little triggered, I think it is definitely tackled realistically.
I have read the authors YA series but this was her first adult romance i've read and I think adult romance is her genre!

This was a great romance, that covered a lot of serious issues as well. Josie is a news reporter sent to a small town location after a slip up at her job trying hard to redeem herself. Josie is facing some potential health issues, and is struggling with some health anxiety. When she gets to New Castle she is mildly optimistic it will be the start of reconnecting with her former best friend Zac. Zac and Josie were close as could be growing up, but after the tragic death of Zac’s fiancé two years ago and Zac moving away they lost touch. When Josie gets to New Castle and meets Zac she is sad to find that her and Zac are not going to pick up where they left off. But as they get to know each other again, she realizes maybe there is a possibility for more. This story was a sweet friends to lovers romance with a beautiful connection, but with some dark topics thrown in. An interesting love story that has cancer, tragic loss, health anxiety, and mental health stories for those that wish to avoid those topics. I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

Thank You NetGalley for an advance E-book of Love, Just In by Natalie Murray in exchange of an honest review.
Love, Just in by Natalie Murray is a delightful friends-to-lovers rom-com that will sweep you off your feet. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Australia, this story follows Josie, a TV presenter who relocates to Newcastle after a work incident. When she reunites with her best friend Zac, whom she hasn't seen in two years, their friendship reignites and gradually transforms into a heartfelt romance. Murray's writing skillfully captures the slow-burn nature of their relationship, allowing readers to savor every moment of the budding romance.

While Josie's occasional bouts of immaturity can be a tad frustrating, it's worth noting that her behavior is grounded in her struggles with anxiety, adding depth and authenticity to her character. On the other hand, Zac emerges as a rock-solid source of support and understanding, further reinforcing the charm of their dynamic.

Murray's storytelling transports readers to the enchanting landscapes of Australia, depicting the city of Newcastle and its vibrant culture with vivid imagery. It's evident that the author has a deep connection to the setting, which enhances the overall reading experience.

Overall, Love, Just in is a delightful novel that combines humor, heart, and a touch of vulnerability. It's a refreshing take on the friends-to-lovers trope, with characters who feel like old friends. This was my first journey into Natalie Murray's writing, and I eagerly anticipate diving into more of her work."

I absolutely enjoyed this book! This is such a good, heartfelt, and emotional friends-to-lovers story, with some excellent mental health representation

Zac and Josie have been best friends for 14 years - nearly half their lives. After a horrible accident two years ago, the pair have hardly spoken.. Zac has left the city and seemingly moved on with his life, while Josie is left trying to find security in her job at a local news station. But after Joise has a panic attack on the air, she is shipped off to a smaller affiliate station for six months, which of course happens to be in the same small town as Zac. Will they be able to rekindle their friendship after two years apart, and what happens to their fragile friendship if they both end up wanting more?

This book was really wonderful.. Josie and Zac has such a meaningful relationship that I think felt really real in how close they were, and how they fell apart. Especially in the years after college/uni where people are pairing off and beginning their own lives, it can be hard to keep those friendships alive, and even more complicated when there is grief and unresolved feelings involved. I also enjoyed the alternating timelines of the book - we get the story in the present, and also glimpses of their relationship in the past, which I think really helped the reader understand their history and make sense of the present situation.

I also thought that the mental health representation in this book was really well done. The characters are dealing with some heavy topics, from grief to medical anxiety and panic attacks. As someone who suffers from anxiety, just getting through each day can be a challenge. Seeing how these characters struggle, and ultimately support each other in getting the help they need was wonderful and refreshing.

Thank you, Natalie Murray and Allen & Unwin for the eARC!

I liked the authors writing style and the issues addressed within, and that’s why I gave 4 stars.
I’m apparently not a friends-to-lover trope fan, Especially spanned so far apart, flash backs, and dating other people. But just because the trope is not my cup of tea, doesn’t diminish the quality of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for this ARC. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

I don’t think I’ve actually ever read a book based in Australia- but this perfectly captured it’s essence and what life is like here.

Zac was emotional and kind and dreamy, and Josie was fun and relatable and confident, Natalie Murray wrote such real and relatable protagonists who are living such normal lives. It was really refreshing.

It always lovely to read a book for the first time that focuses on something that you would never think to be addressed - health anxiety is so common and is such a barrier into so many taking care of themselves. I liked that is was uncensored anxiety - and that she created scenes that could be so realistic for someone living with it.

Being a journalist myself, it was interesting to see how she would approach Josie's work as a journalist, and what avenue she would take her down. I loved that I was able to see how tough and ruthless the media industry is from another lens, and how someone with trauma and anxious experiences like Josie pushes through them, to then ultimately find comfort and love in her work.

It was exciting and sweet and I loved both the protagonists, especially because they never gave up on each other.

This is such a solid friends-to-lovers romance! 4 stars.

Synopsis: Josie and Zac are 14-year best friends who have drifted apart in the past two years after the two both go through two difficult life experiences - Zac experienced the tragic loss of his girlfriend Tara, while Josie, who suffers from debilitating health anxiety after losing two family members to breast cancer, experiences a bit of an on-air freeze-up during a story filmed in a hospital. But Josie takes the chance to move to Newcastle for a reporting job, the town that Zac lives in, and despite a bit of an awkward reunion, the two eventually found their groove and their friendship fell back into place. Zac is dating one of Josie's coworkers, and Josie starts seeing Zac's arch-nemesis and former roommate Lindsay. So why are there lingering glances between these two best friends? Where is this chemistry and tension coming from?

What a heartwarming story between these two best friends turned lovers. I love the way they know each other so intimately, and how they know how to support each other in just the right ways as they both face their traumas head on - the health anxiety and Zac's loss of Tara. Their personalities as individuals and as a couple are so endearing, with some great banter and some spicy caliente scenes.

There were a few characters/storylines that I didn't feel were necessary - I kept forgetting who Lola was, and I don't feel like Ross was necessary either. But I loved the relationship between Christina and Josie - what a sweet example of female friendship. This is such a sweet story all around!

Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great read which has a little bit of everything. My heart ached, cried and stressed along with Josie. I could really connect with her. The ups and downs of love had me nodding my head along with the wins and the losses.

I could picture the characters and scenes in my head. I really enjoy reading when I am able to do this.

I loved the fact that this was an Australian author as I love supporting those from my country.

Love, Just In is a really sweet and emotional story of two childhood best friends who lose contact after tragedy and reconnect two years later. Josie and Zac’s connection is undeniable and runs so deep; their shared history lends itself to a really engaging story that is at times so fraught with emotion in the best way. Josie’s struggle with health anxiety is portrayed well in my opinion and I felt myself unable to put this book down, waiting to see what would happen while rooting for their happy ending. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I absolutely loved this book and stayed up until 4AM last night to finish it in one sitting.

This book follows two best friends (Josie and Zac) of 15 years who have been estranged for two years - ever since Zac's fiancee died in a car accident that he survived. Josie, a TV news reporter based in Sydney, gets relocated to the beachside town of Newcastle (where Zac just so happens to live) for six months following a panic attack mid-air. Throughout the book we watch as Josie and Zac navigate being back in each other's lives after two years of silence and Josie manage her way through her work struggles and medical anxieties, which the author does a great job of bringing to life.

✨ Single POV (minus the epilogue)
✨ Slow-Burn Friends to Lovers
✨ 4.5/5 stars

TY NetGalley for the eARC!

Love, Just In is a story about long time friends Zac and Josie. For whatever reason they haven’t talked in two years until Josie takes a job that’s close to Zac.

The timeline is a little wonky. One chapter will be present time then the next chapter will be a certain of years in the past. It was odd that the chapters going back in time were a little random. The event the past chapter details is hinted at before we dive in so that helped me somewhat keep up with the timeline. These chapters also really help get a better picture of Zac and Josie.

These characters are NOT perfect. They both have issues- some of them are a little annoying and some are relatable but I think it’s what makes them good characters.

I received a copy of Love, Just In via NetGalley to read and review.

This is a very incredible book that deals with illness anxiety. The story of Josie and Zac covers the topic with sensitive detail. Josie suffers from it and the effects have a huge impact on her life.
Zac has been Josie’s best friend for fourteen years even though a two year stretch of no contact happened. When she is transferred to his town they reconnect. As they get to know each other again, they find a deeper connection than before. Zac, a paramedic, wants to help Josie but her anxiety and her uncontrolled thoughts stifle her.
It is a very up and down tale that will make your heart ache at times, be joyous at others.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3 stars
2 chili peppers

Josie is a TV news reporter who battles health anxiety in secret. One day on live TV she suffers a panic attack and as punishment her boss sends her to Newcastle to be a reporter there for 6 months. Josie is determined to do well so she can secure a promotion back in Sydney. But she's also nervous to go to Newcastle for another reason - her best friend of over a decade, Zac, lives there and has ghosted her over the last two years after he tragically loses his fiancé in a car accident.

Josie and Zac reconnect and the story is about how they "navigate their neglected friendship and secret attraction to each other while struggling with their careers and mental health".

The book describes this as "Hilarious, sexy and heart-warming". While I found it sexy and heartwarming at times, I did not quite find it hilarious. The main characters battle a lot of health anxiety and grief and this book elicited more sadness and yearning than it did hilarity. Every few chapters there's a brief chapter of flashback moments in their friendship that jump around on timeline seemingly at random - was a bit confusing to follow but I loved the glimpses into their past. Although it made me more mad than anything because of how painfully obvious it was that they clearly liked each other and refused to act on it.

I found the writing style and mental health journey they went through to be done pretty accurately and well enough. However I felt the slow burn of the romance was dragged a bit more than necessary. I've never been a fan of the will they/won't they trope particularly when spanned over many years let alone decades. Other than the romance dragging on I thought the story was quite well done.

TW: Grief/Loss, Car accident, Breast Cancer, Health Anxiety

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review on Love, Just In by Natalie Murray. #LoveJustIn #NetGalley

I read this book in a day because I didn't want to put it down. I genuinely loved it. It's so cute. It also made me cry like 3 times, so I wouldn't recommend reading right before your period starts. Seriously, so cute.

My only criticisms are Zac's shirts. A personal pet peeve of mine is when the narrator changes for the epilogue, but that's just me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

Despite the plug for "if you like Emily Henry" in the summary and my love for Australia, this was not my cup of tea. It didn't grab me from the go, dragged too long to get to hero and heroine get-together and I just couldn't fully buy-in -- despite me having numerous breast cancer scares and immediate family with it, which leads me to constant worry for self and my children.

It wasn't terrible. It just wasn't written or structured in a way that resonated with me.

Sydney TV news reporter Josephine "Josie" Larsen is approaching 30 and coming dangerously close to failing at life. Lost in a vortex of other people's career milestones, engagement parties, and baby showers, Josie is perennially single, abandoned by her globetrotting family, and invisible to her boss - except for the one time he tuned in while she was mid-panic attack on live TV. As a punishment, Josie is shipped off to cover another reporter's six-month leave at a regional bureau in Newcastle.

But Josie has more waiting for her in Newcastle than yawn-inducing stories about bicycle lane protests. The city is also the domain of Zac Jameson – her best friend since high school. This should be a happy turn of events, but Zac has barely spoken to Josie for the past two years. Not since his fiancée tragically died in his arms in a car accident and he left Sydney to try and cope with his grief. Now thrown back into each other's lives, Josie and Zac have to navigate their neglected friendship and secret attraction to each other while struggling with their careers and mental health.

Oh, be still my heart. ❤️ Josie and Zac have such an endearing friendship, and watching them support each other and grow closer in ways neither expected was super emotional. This book hit me really hard, as I lost my fiancé in a car accident years ago. Fellow readers, know yourself and read responsibly. ❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Apparently , I’ve been on an Australian kick lately - I think this is my 3rd in a row where the plot has been set “down under” . “Love , Just In” is a cute, friends-to-lovers romcom that kept me fully engaged . Friends-to-Lovers is not my favorite trope , but , like Christina Lauren’s “Love & Other Words” and Emily Henry’s “People We Meet on Vacation” , I loved it ! But , fair warning , there are some trigger subjects such as cancer , medical anxiety , and trauma .
If you’re looking for a cute, HEA this one will be published in January 2024 and it deserves a spot on your TBR ! I give it 4⭐️.
Thank you @netgalley & @allenandunwin for this ARC . & THANK YOU @nataliemurrayauthor for covering such hard topics in a graceful , forgiving way !
#friendstolovers #friendstoloversromance #allenandunwin #netgalley #tbr #bookstagram #lovejustin #advancedreaderscopy #arc #breastcancerawareness #medicalanxiety #anxiety #trama #trope

Love, Just In by Natalie Murray was impossible to put down, with a rom-com grand gesture that left me grinning from ear-to-ear.
The characters were great. They were relatable, real and they certainly managed to steal my heart.
I loved the writing. It was catchy, fast paced and full of wonderfully funny and touching scenes.
I will be reading more from Natalie. This story was very entertaining, I could not put it down.
A sweet and funny friends-to-lovers rom-com.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

I was drawn to this book because of the title and cover. In practice I struggled to connect with the writing style. Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.