This is a great light hearted holiday read!
Autumn and Chloe's life is turned upside down which results in them moving in with their mum/gran Leanne - who was my favourite character. On moving day Autumn makes quite the impact to the quaint villagers. I found this story flowed easily, characters were likeable (the sourdough name made me have a wee laugh) I would like to have read a wee bit more about Chloe and Ollie (maybe a future book?!) Another great read form Phoebe MacLeod.

#Boldwoodbooktourreview

Autumn's life takes an unexpected twist when her boyfriend disappears with their savings, forcing her to move into her grandma's rural home in Kent. Despite facing challenges and becoming a local outcast, Autumn finds solace in helping the village baker, Jake, in his bakery. As they work together, sparks fly, and Autumn discovers there may be more to Jake than meets the eye. With its charming setting and delightful romance, this novel reminds us that sometimes life's detours lead to unexpected joys.

To be honest, I found this book very...simple. It's not a revolutionary book or one that has major events, but none of that stopped me from liking it, on the contrary, it was precisely because of this "simplicity" that I liked it. He is competent in everything he proposes, I really liked the development of the protagonist, I think that is the main point of the book, the novel doesn't have much focus, so maybe if you look for it for that, you won't like it, but I found it very cute and helped the narrative unfold. It was a very pleasant read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Having previously read and enjoyed several of MacLeod's other works I knew this one would be a winning read too.

It's a sweet, summery read and had so many of my favourite tropes - second chance romance, childhood sweethearts and friends to lovers - so obviously it was going to be a hit!

The pace of the book was perfect, and I was captivated from the first few pages. It was the perfect read for a sunny afternoon in the park, with a strawberry tart or two.

I found the characters to be very likeable and they were definitely relatable in places.

A highly enjoyable read by an author I wouldn't hesitate in recommending.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review…

When i first began reading the blurb for this book, the line that hooked me in and made me chuckle was ‘Jake is a lot more Paul Hollywood and a lot less Mr Kipling’ and after reading that i just knew that i had to read it and also knew that i would love it!!

My Not So Perfect Summer revolves around Autumn and her challenges with her new beginnings… there is a wonderful sense of community spirit too and family also plays a big part and it is romantic and heartwarming too.

It was just the book that i needed to read and i thoroughly enjoyed everything about it…..

I am a huge fan of Phoebe and her work and I have been for quite a while. By no means have I read everything that she has written but that is something that I hope to rectify in the not too distant future. I read the synopsis of 'My Not So Perfect Summer' and it certainly sounded like the sort of book I have come to expect from Phoebe - a fun, light hearted romantic comedy. Well it was all that and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'My Not So Perfect Summer' but more about that in a bit.

It took me next to no time to get into 'My Not So Perfect Summer'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first chapter, I knew that I wouldn't be doing anything other than reading for the rest of the day because I knew that I wouldn't be able to put the book down. I was spot on too. I picked the book up and didn't put it down again until after I had read the last word on the last page. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. Part of the reason why I enjoyed the book so much has to do with the main character of Autumn. She is just such a likeable young woman, who works hard and cares about those she loves. I could easily imagine putting the world to rights over a cup of tea with Autumn. I had to keep reading to see if things worked out for her and she got the 'happy ever after' that she so deserved. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I was so wrapped in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of 'My Not So Perfect Summer' and had to say goodbye to Autumn. I found 'My Not So Perfect Summer' to be a delight to read from start to finish with lots of life, love and laughter.

'My Not So Perfect Summer' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Phoebe MacLeod. Phoebe has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Phoebe's books often feels more like a chat between friends rather than a book. Phoebe's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. Phoebe makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. In fact, I ended up feeling as though Autumn had become a friend of mine and I so wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to give her a hug. I love the way in which Phoebe makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'My Not So Perfect Summer' and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers. 'My Not So Perfect Summer' is perfect escapist holiday reading. I hope to read much more of Phoebe's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Autumn and Marc, high school sweethearts, faced a life-altering event when Marc unexpectedly left, leaving behind a letter, half their savings, and his family. This sudden departure forced Autumn, who had just begun a new job as Deputy Head at a London school, to pick up the pieces and care for their nearly sixteen-year-old daughter, Chloe. To start anew, Autumn and Chloe moved to rural Kent to live with Autumn's mother. On their first day, Autumn accidentally hit a local baker with her car, sending him to the hospital. To make amends, she offered to help run his bakery during his recovery. As the summer unfolded, both Autumn and Chloe settled into village life, meeting quirky and eccentric locals. Autumn developed a bond with Jake, a steady presence in her life, while Chloe quickly adapted to the change, likely due to a recent breakup. Autumn's mother provided steady support throughout their journey, though the village's tight-knit community came with its share of gossip and misunderstandings. Despite Marc's betrayal, Autumn and Chloe found comfort in their new surroundings, but some readers felt Autumn's recovery from Marc's abandonment was too swift. Overall, the story was a heartwarming exploration of family, community, and rebuilding a life after unexpected challenges, appealing to fans of women's fiction with elements of romance and family.

I enjoyed reading My Not So Perfect Summer by Phoeby MacLeod. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I loved this and it’s definitely a great summer read for any romcom lovers. The characters really made the book and I loved them all, well except Marc of course. It also has one of my favourite lines I’ve heard in ages 😂
‘I’m the cake Jake do you want a slice or not!’

Overall this was a fun and quick read that will warm your heart and have you chuckling along as well.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This wonderful romance follows Autumn, who after succeeding in getting a promotion to Deputy Head thinks her life is soon to turn around.
She is dreaming of the future she may now have with her Husband and Daughter.

Suddenly her husband disappears, leaving a mysterious note leaving Autumn worried for his wellbeing. However, after discovering half of her savings are gone, she starts to realise that he has left for good.

Autumn decides to move in with her Mum whilst she decides what her future holds, but an accident on her arrival causes her to feel guilty for the cyclist Jake who broke his leg. She decides to help him out in his bakery, which leads to unexpected feelings.

Where did Autumn’s husband disappear to? Will Autumn find the life she desires?

This romance is a beautiful, and wonderful read. It is shocking when you discover her husband suddenly leaves, and this makes you feel for Autumn and her daughter. They must start their life all over again, and both find this difficult to work through.

The romance side of the storyline is cute, as both characters are scared to admit their feelings.

There is a large amount of family support and love towards Autumn, and maybe some meddling to get her to realise the feelings she may have.

Overall, a wonderful romance where a shocking discover leads a woman to the future she dreamed of.

A very entertaining & fun read! The book is filled with just the right amount of romance for all the characters. And I love how MacLeod makes everything fun & lighthearted ever when choosing themes of beginning over, finding & building new dreams & knowing that you are more capable than you think. MacLeod’s book is the perfect read for a weekend in!

I just loved this book! It was brilliant from start to finish and once I started reading I couldn’t put this book down. This book follows the life of Autumn, Chloe and Marc, Autumn was a teen when she had Chloe and Her and Marc stayed together until Marc has an early mid life crisis, which leaves Autumn and Chloe in a situation where they can’t afford to remain in London, they then head down to live with Autumn’s mum when Autumn has a car accident with a cyclist but she is not at fault. This then starts a love story between Autumn and the cyclist baker. The story continues on with Chloe and her new love of the countryside and Ollie. Autumn’s mum also gets a new love as well.

I loved this book as it shows that you can always start again as long as you have a family that loves you and good people who then become friends!

I would highly recommend reading this book as it’s heartwarming and just beautiful!

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early!

I have to admit that I’ve never read anything before by this author so as always with a new author to me I never know what to expect. Well in this instance I had nothing to fear as this was an absolute joy to read. My usual go to book genre is crime and psychological thrillers so this one being a romantic comedy was like a breath of fresh air. Right from the very start I could feel myself being pulled into the storyline and throughout the book there were plenty of laugh out loud moments. It’s a bit predictable at times but still a really enjoyable read with a great cast of characters.

My Not So Perfect Summer by Phoebe MacLeod was such a fun storyline, filled with the best characters.
Positively delightful. I smiled through this entire book and finished it in record time.
I just love MacLeod’s writing. It’s engaging and captivating.
My Not So Perfect Summer is a fun and feel-good page-turner from Phoebe Macleod perfect for romance addicts.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

My Not So Perfect Summer is charming and heartwarming and is sure to please bookworms looking for a small-town romance.

This book was an enjoyable read. I really love reading books set in small-towns, and I adore a charming romance. What made this book even more enjoyable was that one of the MCs has this fish out of water experience. What I mean, by fish out of water is when a character is placed or finds themselves in a situation that takes them out of their comfort zone or are in an environment that they never been in before. The result of this fish out of water trope is lots of funny moments and awkward situations. Autumn finds herself moving to a small-town after her long-time boyfriend up and leaves with no notice. Autumn finds herself in hot water when she accidently gets into a car accident with the local baker Jake. The local villagers blame Autumn for what happened. So, to help fix the situation, Autumn helps Jake out in the bakery until he can get back on his feet.
This story is really easy to read. The pacing is steady and there is lots to keep your attention. The small-town charm and quirky-ness was really well done. I thought all the town’s people added that extra layer of fabulous entertainment and humor. I loved watching the different family dynamics in this story. You have Autumn and her teenage daughter and then Autumn and her own mom. It was fascinating watching these three different generations of women interact with each other. Autumn is a likeable character, and she is very easy to connect with. You cannot help but want good and fabulous things for her. Autumn’s journey is centered around figuring out who she and learning to move on from the world-shattering betrayal that was done to her by her ex-boyfriend. The romance is sweet and fun. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Autumn and Jake. I loved watching them work together in the bakery and ate up those sweet and funny moments.
If you are in need to a quick and heartwarming pick-me-up romance than be sure to get your hands on My Not So Perfect Summer.

A pretty decent read. No real romance or comedy here though. Mostly drama and sadness. Lots of weird interpersonal communication issues. It was nice seeing a healthy mother daughter relationship though, two generations worth I suppose. The family support really made the story here. Would like to read a whole book about Joan to be honest.

A heartwarming summer escape, “My Not So Perfect Summer” by Phoebe MacLeod is a delightful friends-to-lovers romantic comedy that will whisk you away to the charming English countryside. MacLeod weaves a tale of unexpected love, second chances, and the magic of warm summer days.

Meet Autumn. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her long-term boyfriend vanishes with half their savings. Left with no choice, she moves into her grandma's rural home in Kent. But things go from bad to worse when Autumn is involved in an accident during the move, making her a local outcast before she's even unpacked her bags.

Meet Jake, the village's dashing new baker with a plaster cast and irresistible charm. Autumn offers to help Jake in the bakery over the summer holidays, and as they work side by side, sparks fly. Their chemistry sizzles in the kitchen, and suddenly, this summer isn't such a write-off after all.

MacLeod's writing is warm and engaging, painting vivid scenes of the picturesque village, mouthwatering pastries, and the slow-burning romance between Autumn and Jake. The banter between the characters is witty, and their emotional journeys feel authentic.

Autumn is a relatable protagonist. She is flawed, resilient, and endearing. Her vulnerability draws you in, and you'll root for her as she navigates life's unexpected twists. Jake, on the other hand, is the perfect mix of brooding and sweet. His passion for baking adds depth to his character, and you'll find yourself craving cinnamon rolls and strawberry tarts as you read.

The supporting cast of quirky villagers, nosy neighbours, and a disobedient dog, adds layers to the story. Grandma's wisdom and the picturesque Kent landscape provide a comforting backdrop for Autumn and Jake's romance.

“My Not So Perfect Summer” is a heartwarming escape and it’s a book to read while sipping iced tea on a sunny afternoon. MacLeod's storytelling captures the essence of summer: lazy days, unexpected connections, and the promise of love blooming like wildflowers. If you're looking for a feel-good read that will leave you smiling, you won't be disappointed in this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Autumn, with her teenage daughter Chloe, are force to leave London and her dream job when her partner disappears overnight, along with half their savings. Staying with her mother things get off to a bad start when she has an accident, causing the local baker to break his leg.
It was good watching Autumn and Chloe grow in their new environment, Chloe especially going against the city teenager being forced into the country mode, finding joy in helping on a small farm. Autumn also has to work out what she really wants in life, despite loving her previous job as a teacher. In summary a light read, but one that I did enjoy as a touch of escapism.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

My (Not So) Perfect Summer is the first book by Pheobe MacLeod I have reviewed. It sounded good from the synopsis. I was gripped by the first chapter and the pace was quick. I liked Autumn. Her relationship with Chloe was realistic. Autumn's mum was helpful, generous and caring. I really didn't like Sue and how she treated Autumn.

I identified with looking forward to summer, although my experience was from a student point of view.

I could identify with Marc and Autumn's wish to move on in life and try to move out of their apartment as well as trying to get by living in a big city with rising house prices (although I don't live in London). The concern over the flat search and the economic difficulties were very powerful for me.

Where is Marc? That was a mystery.

I did like Ollie, and would have liked to know Jake more. How he and Autunm met was shocking and realistic.

I was wondering how things would go and if Autumn and Chloe would be succesful in creating their new life.

I found the writing and plot predictable, and wanted character change and growth, but didn't get it. I did feel slightly sad for Autumn and Chloe, but the writing wasn't emotional enough and I feel it could have been and the characters could have been much more fleshed out.

Thanks to Phoebe MacLeod and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

3 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

I am a huge Phoebe Macleod fan, but this book unfortunately missed the mark for me. The main characters had no chemistry, most likely due to their lack of scenes together.

The title of the book is also misleading. Only 1/3 of the book actually took place during summer. The cover would’ve been better if it had contained the 3 female characters instead (autumn, Chloe and her mum) as they were much more prominent characters than Autumn’s love interest Jake.

The book itself was a quick, easy read and had so much potential.