Loved it! So happy for the new series and characters. I found Robyn to be hard to take at times. Her reactions can be over the top, especially when it comes to Fabian. Fabian's a lawyer, I'm pretty sure he doesn't always represent innocent clients. Whenever she's mad, she tries to make him feel bad about his life. I enjoyed Robyn more when she was back in Beddingfield helping her family. Sorrel was awful. She was a teenage demon. She had no discipline and did whatever she wanted. She would have been a great candidate for those outdoor camps for rebellious teens. I can understand why Jess needed help. She was left to handle everything by herself. Mason surprised me the most. He definitely wasn't the person I thought he was. I'm surprised how well Robyn and Jess turned out. Lisa, their mum, is constantly in the hospital. None of which is her fault. The girls were left to pick up the pieces. Jayden is definitely not the best father. He's hardly ever around for his girls or Lisa. Sorrel seemed to resent his absenteeism the most. i can't wait to see what's next for the Allen sisters. Will Grease gout on without a hitch? Will Robyn leave her teaching position? She's the best thing for the school and the kids really like her.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. Of course it had to end before Yorkshire Christmas TopChef final. Maybe Fabian and Jess will start a restaurant together. Hopefully, Robyn doesn't up and leave her family and go back to London. The sisters all seem so much happier together. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

EXCERPT: Having hoped to make notes on, and emulate, a woman barrister, I was disappointed to see the only female in the legal profession present was the judge and immediately wondered how i could extract myself from my seat to try my luck in another court. It was like being at the theatre when you're suddenly desperate for a pee but don't dare disturb the whole row, knowing each and every one will have to rise like a Mexican wave, dropping jackets and coats, tutting crossly while doing so.
Making the decision to count to ten before attempting to make my exit, I'd got to nine when I saw him.
'Fabian Mansfield Carrington, K.C.,' my neighbour informed me knowingly as I started to rise, before sitting back down, transfixed. 'One of the youngest - if not THE youngest - to become King's Counsel.'
'How on earth do you know that?' I whispered back, unable to take my eyes from the man in question.
'Oh, I know everything about MY boys,' she said importantly, exhaling a cloud of minty breath in my direction.
'Your boys?'
'Yes, been coming here for years. Know 'em all,' she boasted. 'I'll often manage to have a chat with them at some point.'
'Really?' I stared.
'Absolutely,' she whispered again. 'Fabian down there is set on becoming a top judge one day. 'Bit of all right, isn't he?' she added, surreptitiously offering me a polo mint as though it were an illegal Class A drug. 'He's my favorite at the moment; never miss one of his performances if I can help it. So, how do you know the defendant, then? Is he a loved one? Yor brother? Boyfriend?'
'No, no, nothing like that,' I laughed, to her obvious disappointment: I could see she'd have loved to have been offering a hanky or sympathetic hand if my 'loved one' was about to be sent down for ten years. 'I don't know him at all. I'm an actor. Out of work at the moment. Well, no, I do work - at Graphite. On Conduit Street in Mayfair?' I might not particularly enjoy the shifts I put in there three times a week, but I wasn't averse to a bit of showing off about the restaurant - it was, after all, listed in Time Out and Esquire as one of London's top ten restaurants.
'Fancy.' Minty breath sniffed, somewhat disdainfully. I'd bet any money that three hundred years ago, she'd have bagged a good seat, knitting in hand, at every public hanging at Tyburn Gallows.
'Right.' I dithered, probing with the tip of my tongue the hole in the mint, knowing I really should move to another court to observe a female barrister, but completely entranced by the man now standing in the well of the court. He paused, shuffling papers in front of him, and then bent to speak to a colleague who, catching his arm, was obviously determined to have his full attention. After a few seconds, Carrington turned slightly, his attention moving from those involved in the legal business of the day to those of us in the public gallery, idly surveying the audience to the drama that was about to unfold. As his eyes met mine, I felt myself utter an involuntary gasp: this man was quite devastating, but, after giving me can only be described as an incredibly intense stare, he looked away, taking no further interest in what he'd seen.
'Hard luck,' Minty Breath cackled, nudging me in the ribs. 'He almost makes love with those incredible eyes of his to hopeful girls who've come specially to watch him in action - I've seen it. You're obviously not his type.'

ABOUT 'A CLASS ACT': Robyn Allen is finally getting closer to her dream of West End stardom. And along with her role dancing in the latest hot musical, she’s being wined and dined by an equally hot man – the wildly successful and well-connected Fabian Carrington. But one slip up and her dreams are shattered, and Robyn has to hobble back to the Yorkshire village of Beddingfield, and the life she hoped she’d escaped.

Moving back into her mum’s house with her recalcitrant teenage sister Sorrel, next door to her older sister Jess who’s fed up with picking up the slack, is not how Robyn pictured her year. But there’s more to come. Sorrel needs a new school, and the school needs a new drama teacher. Despite having vowed never to teach again, Robyn knows she has to support her sister.

So together Sorrel and Robyn vow to take on St Mede’s – home to jokers, tearaways and trouble-makers, but with a hidden heartbeat ready to be inspired. And who knows, the kids might have something to teach Robyn about life too…

MY THOUGHTS: There's a lot going on in this book from the moment Robyn picks the wrong courtroom to observe a female barrister until the satisfying conclusion of this book. She's one of those characters you can immediately envisage, who takes whatever life throws at her, crumbles briefly, then gets up and just keeps on going. She's bolshy and opinionated but has the kindest heart.

Her life certainly is turning out even remotely how she'd envisaged it - but then no one in her family's life has. It must be hereditary! Her older sister Jess, instead of being a famous chef, is a carer in a rest home and singly parenting ten-year-old Lola; her younger sister Sorrel has been excluded from school; her mother has severe health issues and is frequently hospitalised; and her father's idea of parenting is to throw bundles of twenty pound notes at them as he dashes off to another part of the world on a gig.

I always enjoy Julie Houston's books and A Class Act is no exception. Julie has the knack of taking everyday frustrations and turning them into amusing anecdotes for the pleasure of her readers. It is impossible to be unhappy while reading one of her books. Nothing ever quite turns out as expected - well it may, but it takes the scenic route to get there - and the journey is always entertaining and most pleasurable.

If you haven't read a Julie Houston book yet, do yourself a favor and start with A Class Act, the first in a new series set in the Yorkshire village of Beddingfield. It doesn't disappoint!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#AClassAct #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Julie Houston is Yorkshire born and bred. She lives in Huddersfield where her novels are set and her only claims to fame are that she taught at ‘Bridget Jones’ author Helen Fielding’s old school, her neighbour is ‘Chocolat’ author Joanne Harris, and her friend is about to marry Tracy Emin’s cousin! Oh, and she was rescued by Frank Bough when, many years ago, she was ‘working as a waitress in a cocktail bar’ at the Kensington Hilton in London.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Class Act by Julie Houston for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

From the moment I encountered Robyn, I was captivated by her relentless determination to excel in everything she undertook. Her understandable cynicism, particularly when faced with the uber-wealthy Fabian Carrington, added depth to her character. Robyn was fiercely proud of her heritage, yet acutely aware of the intolerance that still pervades society, making her constantly mindful of others’ reactions.

Fabian epitomized the quintessential leading man—wealthy, successful, and strikingly handsome. Most importantly, he seemed utterly enchanted by Robyn. However, his inability to control his family’s behavior posed significant challenges for her.

The narrative takes an intriguing turn when the story shifts from London to Robyn’s family home in Yorkshire. It quickly becomes apparent that Robyn’s presence is vital at home, and Yorkshire holds a special place in the author’s heart. Robyn steps up to manage her younger sister’s welfare, even joining the teaching staff at her new school. I found myself rooting for the drama team at St. Mede’s school, hoping for their triumph.

Beddingfield skillfully introduces us to Robyn’s family, offering a clear understanding of her proud and resilient personality. Her unconventional childhood and the similar path she left for her sister are vividly portrayed. The more time spent with them, the more evident the family dynamic becomes, radiating warmth and understanding.

This is a remarkable story and a brilliant start to a new series. The characters are intricately drawn, and Beddingfield’s storytelling resonates with honesty and a commitment to integrity. Without giving away any spoilers, I highly recommend this delightful book.

This is a story centred around three sisters, and their wider family as they try to make sense of the life chances which they have been given, All three sisters are creative but need to find the courage to take a risk and go for what they want for their futures. Robyn is about to get her great break as a musical theatre performer. Her life in London is far removed from her Yorkshire roots. The price of her taste of freedom seems to have been the overwhelming circumstances that overtake her family back home.

When an accident forces Robyn to return home, she steps up to the plate and tries to understand her younger sister who seems in danger of going off the rails. The eldest sister feels that life has passed her by and is exhausted at trying to cope with her sister, child and ailing mother. There is plenty of detail in the story as the sisters navigate their lives. The men in the story seem to be at the periphery and what you see is not always what you get. With romance, some humour especially in Robyn's new career as a sink school teacher, and observations about racial prejudice delivered with a light touch, there is much to enjoy.

In short: new beginnings and second chance

Oh wow, what a brilliant and interesting contemporary romance story set in both London and Yorkshire. 28 year old Robyn Allen is trying to make it big in London as an actress and dancer while waiting tables at a posh London restaurant. One night after being the waitress of a particular table, she soon ends up getting to know one of the customers there. What starts out as a date soon becomes something more serious and with her career going well Robyn is happy with her life in London. But disaster soon strikes when she has an accident on stage followed by more disasters. Unable to perform and unable to cope with her now shattered future, Robyn decides to go back home to Beddingfield, a small town in Yorkshire, to try and piece back together her broken life. But with her family having their own problems, will Robyn be able to cope when she goes home?

This is a wonderful story which I enjoyed from the very start. The story follows Robyn as she narrates the tale which is split into three parts, beginning in London. I liked Robyn’s character right away, a struggling dancer and actress who is desperately trying to find her big break while also paying her rent and living in a small shared flat in Soho. Robyn was easy to like as a character and I love how her life soon starts to involve a particular and intersting man with a very contrasting life and background to Robyn’s. This first part set in London gives you an interesting back story to Robyn’s character and shows you just why she’s so determined to make it in London as a performer.

When Robyn moves back to Yorkshire to the town of Beddingfield she ends up struggling to deal with the accident that has forced her to stop dancing. On top of that we find out that the family has its own problems; Robyn’s older sister Jess is struggling to bring up her daughter while acting as carer for their mum and a parent to their younger sister Sorrel who is fifteen. The story unfolds at a good pace, every moment of the tale is interesting and I liked finding out more about the different family characters in this second part of the story. Robyn soon finds herself having to take up teaching in a local secondary school, and it isn’t without a lot of problems. As the story moves on though we find out more about new characters and secrets about certain people or circumstances are slowly revealed.

There’s something about Julie Houston’s writing that is so easy and compelling to read. The story really sucks you in and I loved getting to know Robyn, her family, and some of the other characters too. Although the whole story is from Robyn’s point of view, there’s a lot about her family and their struggles and lives too and I love the connection they all have with each other. I also enjoyed some of the other characters like Fabian and Mason and what happens in the story with both of them. Every moment of this book was so enjoyable, I couldn’t put this down. There are so many revelations and twists within the story and although I thought I would guess how things would go, I was pleasantly surprised by how I never did.

As the story builds up towards the ending it stays exciting and there are even bigger twists about some characters and what happens. The final ending is one I did not expect but I’m so glad the book finished in this way as it felt like the perfect ending for me! Throughout the whole book I like how this story, that’s filled with so many dramatic moments, also has some light-hearted and funnier ones too. The book has a very rare uses of the f and s swear words and has mentions of assault and drug use as well as showing some racist attitudes some characters have.

This is a wonderful romance story as well as a wonderful story about family and friendships and I love the connection Robyn and her family have with each other. The setting of Beddingfield, especially of the school St Medes is one I enjoyed and I loved getting to know so many of the characters and their lives. I can’t wait to read more about the Allen sisters in future books, as well as see more of the area of Beddingfield. A Class Act is a wonderful and heart-warming read and one I recommend!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 A Class Act marks the beginning of a fresh series based in Yorkshire, penned by the new-to-me author, Julie Houston.

Robyn's aspiration of gracing the West End stage with her presence takes a turn when she encounters the dashing Fabian, leading to a misstep that shatters her dreams and lands her back in Yorkshire.

The characters really are so relatable, they could be your next-door neighbours! I really needed this book right now - with its’ great sense of community and comedy.

Grab your copy and join the laughter - it's good for you!!!


#boldwoodbloggers #boldbookclub #netgalley#booksofinsta #bookreviewer #lovereading #lovebooks #instabooks #instabookreviewer #bookstagram

Robyn is a courageous and driven character who cares about others and wants to follow her dream. When her dream shatters, she returns home where needed and begins another chapter of her life. The story starts in London and moves to Yorkshire, exploring many contemporary issues through its characters. I like the vibrant characters, the family connections, and the emotional journey the story takes readers on. There are humorous and poignant moments and relatable struggles that immerse you in Robyn's life. I was hooked from the first pages by engaging characters and believable life events, and this was an entertaining first book in a new series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

When the world is so full of doom and gloom, we need more books like this. It was such a joyful book to read, and I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Robyn was a fabulous character. She is feisty, warm-hearted and funny. It has been delightful to become acquainted with her. The author brings her alive on the page and I was rooting for her every step of the way.

Largely set in Yorkshire where the author herself resides, it is easy to detect her love for her county through her words. Indeed, I've been lucky enough to visit a few times and it really is lovely.

Ms. Houston is a brilliant story teller. I would have loved to have settled in a gobbled this up in one sitting had opportunity presented itself. I am so pleased that this is the first in a planned series. I will definitely be at the front of the queue to get my hands on the second one when it is published.

Robyn has worked hard her whole life to get to this point, she feels successful and loves where her future is going. THEN, an injury sidelines her hopes and dreams. This is the back story to Julie Houston's new series featuring Robyn, her family, St Mede's school and the town of Beddingfield.

This first book in the series is a wonderful start to a heartwarming tale of a young woman who remakes her life in the face of adversity and responsibilities for her family. I loved it and by the look of the other reviews it's unanimous, A CLASS ACT is a 5 star winner.

So a heads up, this is book one of a new series by this author & I'm already looking forward to the next. Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book for my opinion in return. As usual with books from this author, she doesn't shy away from difficult topics. This story has a good mix of all emotions and is certainly entertaining. Another great book from Julie Houston.

The book is divided into two halves, with Robyn's life in London and then in Yorkshire. Initially, Robyn lives above a Soho kebab shop, working as a waitress while dreaming of a West End role. Her relationship with barrister Fabian introduces her to a new lifestyle but also exposes her to prejudice. Robyn's strong sense of right and wrong and pride in her heritage contrast with Fabian's moral ambiguities. The story then shifts to Yorkshire, where Robyn returns to help her struggling family, especially her troubled teenage sister Sorrel. She secures Sorrel a school place on the condition she teaches drama and dance. The narrative is filled with surprises, new relationships, and challenges, all set within a warmly depicted family dynamic. The author handles serious issues sensitively, blends humor, and develops romantic elements with unexpected twists. This heartwarming, well-told story makes a promising start to a new series.

A Class Act by Julie Houston

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

Blurb

Robyn Allen is finally getting closer to her dream of West End stardom. And along with her role dancing in the latest hot musical, she’s being wined and dined by an equally hot man – the wildly successful and well-connected Fabian Carrington. But one slip up and her dreams are shattered, and Robyn has to hobble back to the Yorkshire village of Beddingfield, and the life she hoped she’d escaped.

Moving back into her mum’s house with her recalcitrant teenage sister Sorrel, next door to her older sister Jess who’s fed up with picking up the slack, is not how Robyn pictured her year. But there’s more to come. Sorrel needs a new school, and the school needs a new drama teacher. Despite having vowed never to teach again, Robyn knows she has to support her sister.

So together Sorrel and Robyn vow to take on St Mede’s – home to jokers, tearaways and trouble-makers, but with a hidden heartbeat ready to be inspired. And who knows, the kids might have something to teach Robyn about life too…

My Opinion

When Robyn is forced to return home following an accident she does what she can to help out her family. This was such a lovely book to read, although A Class Act does get off to a slow start, it is worth sticking with. Even though this is the first time Julie Houston has written about these characters I felt an instant connection and found myself hoping that everything worked out for them.

Julie Houston has written a fun book with some great characters.

Rating 4/5

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

On first impressions, I found that the protagonist, Robyn, was humorous, and I liked how she articulated herself to the reader. Robyn is an actress and singer who aspires to be successful in the West End, and that was something that went to my heart while I was reading. I've always loved singing, and as a child, I took an interest in drama classes, but I have never had the confidence to pursue a career as a performer. For that reason, I really wanted Robyn to be successful.

Fabian struck me as a charismatic character, and I enjoyed his personality. I also found Sorrel to be quite a lovable character.

As I carried on reading, I appreciated Robyn's humour, but the thing that I enjoyed most was her attitude towards the other characters, how kind and supportive she was.

This was a fun read that sparked joy for me, and maybe it will for you too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

The start of a new series from Julie, and I hope the following books will be as good as this first one. I have been reading Julie's books as fast as they are published and have enjoyed every one.

Very much a book of two halves, with a bit of a gear change in the middle – but it was a structure that really worked, and a story I thoroughly enjoyed. A lot of that was down to Robyn, at first living above a Soho kebab shop, working as a waitress in a high-end restaurant to keep her head above water while pursuing her dream of a lead role in a West End show. She’s extremely likeable, and her passion for her chosen path is something it’s easy to share – along with her successes and her setbacks. Her relationship with highly successful (and rich) barrister Fabian introduces her to a lifestyle entirely outside her experience, but also finds her experiencing prejudice – both race and class based – from people who really should know better. She has a clear sense of right and wrong, and a pride about her heritage that she fiercely defends – and Fabian’s questionable moral choices where his career is concerned make things even more difficult.

And then, the story moves to Yorkshire – with Robyn unexpectedly back in the heart of her family. Her teenage sister Sorrel has rather gone off the rails, facing exclusion from school – her mother is unable to cope with life, her father dips into their lives only now and then (he’s quite impossible – but a character I rather loved!), and her usually capable older sister Jess is at her wits’ end. Robyn takes on the challenge – finding Sorrel a school place at St Mede’s, but only on condition that she joins the beleaguered staff as a teacher of drama and dance. And that’s where I really must stop telling the story – but there are plenty of surprises along the way, the possibility of a new relationship, considerable challenges to be faced up to, the occasional real triumph, all tied up with the daily issues faced by a family I entirely took to my heart.

This is the first in a series, and it really couldn’t have got off to a better start – those family dynamics are just wonderful, filled with warmth, every individual so well drawn, and with a few intriguing storylines to be picked up later and further developed. There are a number of serious issues unflinchingly and sensitively handled, some darker edges to the story, a few moments of particular poignancy – but also plenty of opportunities for the author’s trademark humour, often laugh-out-loud, especially during Robyn’s time at the school. The romantic elements of the story, along with their complications, are particularly well handled – with more than a few unexpected twists and turns. And much as I loved experiencing Robyn’s time in London – the very real depiction of her world, the obstacles to any kind of success – I particularly liked coming home to Yorkshire, and know I’m really going to enjoy my time in Beddingfield.

This was such a well told story, heartwarming and uplifting, with characters I really loved. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series – and I’d recommend this book really highly.

A great beginning to a new series. Loved this one it was so engaging. The sisters were great together. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I immediately took to Robyn and loved her determination to do well in everything that she applied herself to. She had an understandable level of cynicism, and she let that show as she encountered the uber-wealthy Fabian Carrington. Robyn was incredibly proud of her heritage but constantly aware that not all people are as tolerant as they should be. This kept her constantly aware of the reactions of others.
Fabian was the epitome of the ideal leading man. He was wealthy, successful, and drop-dead gorgeous. Most importantly, he seemed to fall for Robyn, hook, line, and sinker. However, he had no control over his family's behaviour, and that was a huge problem for Robyn.
This book gets a second start when the story leaves London and moves to Robyn’s family home in Yorkshire. It soon becomes obvious that Robyn is needed at home and that Yorkshire holds a special place in the author’s heart. Robyn takes control of her younger sister’s welfare, even joining the teaching staff at her new school. I found myself cheering for the success of the drama team at St Mede’s school.
Beddingfield introduced us to the rest of Robyn’s family and provided a clear understanding of her proud personality. She’d lived through a rather unconventional childhood and left her younger sister to the same fate. The more time we spent with them, the easier it became to understand the family dynamic and to feel the warmth that emanated from their relationships.
This is a terrific story and a glorious start to a new series. The characters are cleverly drawn, and it’s a credit to the author that I took Beddingfield to my heart. There’s a real honesty in the storytelling and a definite lean towards doing the right thing. No spoilers from me, but I hope you enjoy this terrific book.

The start of another very funny series from a favourite author!

Robyn Allen has worked long and hard at her career, and is finally beginning to feel as if she's made it as she dances in the hottest musical in town. One slip and her dreams disappear into the ether and she is left with no option but to limp back home to Yorkshire to her mother and sisters. It turns out that her older sister Jess is relieved to see her; teenager Sorrel has been playing up and she is almost at the end of her tether, happily handing over all responsibilty to Robyn. The first thing she has to do is get Sorrel enrolled in a new school but, with her history, it's not going to be so easy. However, the first choice is badly in need of a drama teacher and although Robyn is qualified she has sworn never to be in charge of a classroom again - but what will she do if it's a deal-breaker to getting Sorrel back into education?

There is a lot going on in this first in series and, as always with this author, I laughed and giggled my way through. I unfailingly swear to read Julie's books in small chunks but find myself racing through, chuckling all the way. Beautiful characterisation and well-written, this is one I urge everyone to read - it sparkles from first to last. 5*.

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

Julie Houston's latest novel, set in a fictional Yorkshire village, is a delightful mix of love, family, and dreams. It’s a heartwarming and humorous story that keeps readers engaged. However, it includes a grooming storyline that may be triggering for some. The abrupt ending is a shame, but the overall charm and warmth of the book leave readers hoping for a sequel. Houston's knack for creating relatable characters and engaging plots shines through once again.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Robyn’s life is just as she wanted it, she’s working in the job she’s dreamed about and in a relationship with Fabian, the man of her dreams.

But, when she’s had a bad accident doing her job, she’s heading back home, to her family to help her sister, whilst their mother is in hospital, to look after their younger sister Sorrell.

We read about the sisters’ lives and what their hopes and dreams are, their relationships with each other and new ones they form.

I can’t wait to see what comes next for these characters in the next book.

I highly recommend this book.