Oh my goodness this book was amazing! Honestly it drew me in so quickly and I absolutely demolished it - read the whole thing in just a few hours. Beautiful scenery and writing, amazing characters who you feel so connected with, and a totally unique plot - definitely one I’d recommend and an author I’ll keep a close eye on.

Like most books from this author this one was an absolute pleasure to read.
It's a well crafted story with great characters.

A cutesy romcom, sweet, charming if a little far fetched. If only communities like this island community really did exist we might all move there. A nice read.

Emmie has always felt satisfied with her life. It’s nothing if not predictable. Work every day in her pastry shop at the airport, spend her off days shopping and cooking and cleaning. She has a few work acquaintances but that’s all they are. And then she has a dream. A dream filled with colors and sounds and scents. Add that to the stack of letters from a mystery man she finds in her recently deceased mom's bedroom. Suddenly she’s not so satisfied with her life. On a whim, she jumps on a plane and heads off for an island adventure. She’s determined to find out more about her mother's past. But she’s also drawn to Pip, the hot farmer she’s only known as he comes to buy pastries at her airport shop. Could there be a future for her on the island? In a village where everyone knows everyone? This is a sweet story. I’m not a fan of super romancey stories…this one was just right for me.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

My new favourite Beth Moran book!
I knew from the very first chapter that this book had me in a chokehold.
I was gripped, and had an affinity with the main character that I hadn't felt in some time. To throw all your energy into your work but knowing it was killing you and you were struggling to live your life outside of that.
Then the intrigue started, when she finds a photo of her mother that is so different to how she remembered her, and I couldn't put it down. A truly fantastic read.

EXCERPT: Sometimes, the tiniest thing can kickstart a chain of events that changes everything. For me, that dull Sunday morning in June, it was the simple act of sleeping through my alarm. Or rather, sticking one arm into the chilly air outside my duvet, whacking the button so hard the clock bounced off my bedside table, and promptly falling straight back to sleep.

ABOUT 'HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY': One photo and a handful of letters can change everything.

Emmie Brown has always known she was adopted. Nellie Brown sacrificed everything to make their life together comfortable and, while not the most demonstrative or warm woman, Emmie never doubted her devotion. But, when Emmie finds a stash of letters and a hidden photo after her mother’s death, everything she has believed changes in an instant. And she won’t be able to rest until she finds the mysterious ‘G’ who sent the letters.

Emmie’s quest takes her to the breathtakingly beautiful Isle of Siskin and into the home of the gregarious, fiercely loyal Hawkins family. After an isolated and introverted life, the burst of colour and noise is overwhelming. But soon Emmie feels her heart begin to open, her mind begin to dream. And as her friendship with kind and gorgeous islander Pip Hawkins gets closer, endless possible futures draw into focus.

But the discovery of ‘G’s true identity will mean Emmie has to choose. One of her choices would mean revealing secrets hidden for decades, one could lead to happiness, but both will need Emmie to be braver than she’s ever been…

MY THOUGHTS: A lovely, sweet chic-lit story which needs the reader to somewhat suspend belief.

There is a romance, a very slow-burn one which I enjoyed. A romance where the two characters involved didn't immediately jump into bed together. There's definitely plenty of smoldering desire but no sex.

There's also a mystery concerning the past of Emmie's adoptive mum, and that I enjoyed greatly. This spills over into a family drama where accusations are made, lies told, and Emmie is the victim of a targeted campaign designed to discredit her and drive her off the island. And no, I didn't guess who was behind it. My thoughts were very much in tune with Emmie's on this.

Have I Told You Lately was working quite well for me until the end, when Blessing takes matters into her own hands. The ending felt forced and didn't sit well with me, particularly concerning Rosemary, Pip's mum and Blessing's interference. Mind you, I had quite lost patience with Emmie's stubbornness concerning her relationship, or should I say non-relationship, with Pip, but not enough that Blessing's solution seemed at all acceptable.

A mixed bag for me, but more enjoyable than not. I would have preferred a different route to the ending. I have read other books by this author that I prefer.

⭐⭐⭐.5

#HaveIToldYouLately #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Beth Moran initially worked as a biochemist and then taught antenatal classes before becoming an author. She loves to write contemporary women`s fiction set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she lives with her family.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Have I Told You Lately by Beth Moran for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I combined reading with listening to Have I Told You Lately written by Beth Moran, and superbly narrated by Rosalind Steele. Both formats were equally engaging.

Very good story that starts slowly and keeps you reading while the characters developed. There were parts that felt like a family tree that was hard to follow because of the step mother, cousin, aunt layers. Other than that confusing area the book was an enjoyable read that brought you a happy ending that felt right. Sometimes we do things because we always did them as we were told but know that you make your own choices and sometimes need to take risks. Emmie and Pip were very likeable and well developed characters. Will read more by Beth Moran. Recommend.

I have read several Beth Moran books and they have all touched me emotionally. This one was an exploration into discovering who you really are when what you’ve known all of your life is questioned. The characters are so well developed and I loved both Emmie and Blessing. And watching the relationship with Pip grow as she gets to know his family is heartwarming. There is a little bit of a mystery as Emmie tries to figure out who is “out to get her.” A lot of wonderful aspects to this story of love, loss, heartache, family, friendship, encouragement, and personal growth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

British Literature
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A brilliant read. Emotional, Heartwarming and much more. Beth's writing always sucks me in and I couldn't put this book down. Highly recommend

I don’t say this lightly but this may be my new favourite Beth Moran book. It has everything and I was so invested that I finished it in 2 days despite working full time!

Have I Told You Lately by Beth Moran is a book about choices you make in life and the consequences of them. Some times those choices are made by others and you just follow along. Emmie Brown was adopted by her "mom" Nellie Brown when she was only one month old. She always knew this and never really thought much of it. Nellie owned a food cart at the airport and sold homemade pasty's there. Her cart was very popular and people loved the food. She worked hard, never took time off, and taught Emmie to be the same way. Emmie helped her mom and worked hard preparing food since she was a little girl. When Nelle died, Emmie took over the cart and kept everything going as it had always been. She gets up at 4:30 every morning to get the food ready, loaded, and drives to the airport. She watches people come and go from amazing places each and every day. Emmie has never been anywhere as she's never had time off. On her one day off each week she does laundry, cleans, orders her food for the following week, and maybe gets a little reading in. Is this really what she wants her life to be?

Emmie has friends at the airport and that helps her to get through. She especially likes a student that drops by her cart quite regularly. His name is Pip and he's a farmer going to college in town to learn of new ways to help his family farm. Emmie looks forward to Pip's visits and he finds a way to see Emmie as often as he can. When he tells Emmie he's graduating and heading back to Siskin, an island a couple of hours away, she's immediately sad. Emmie decides to go to Siskin with Pip as she could use a vacation. She's also found a box of letters that her mom kept from a man signed by a man with the initial G. He is from Siskin and Emmie is hoping to track him down. From the letters it seems like Nelle and G were in love and possibly even married. Why didn't Emmie know anything about him?

When Emmie gets to Siskin there's no place for her to stay as they're all booked up. Pip tells Emmie she can stay at his sister's bed and breakfast that is due to open in a couple of weeks or so. His sister, Lily, is okay with this as Emmie can test things out and give her feedback. After being alone for 2 years since her mom died, being dropped in a bed and breakfast with a family is quite a change. Emmie comes to like it and pitches in to help cook, paint, and do other chores to help get the place ready. Will Pip and Emmie admit their feelings for one another while she's there? Will Emmie find out who the mysterious G is? Will Emmie be accepted by Pip's large family and friends? It seems like someone is out to get her, but why? Will Emmie go back to the airport at the end of her vacation? This is a fun book to read and you'll find yourself thinking the choices through as if you are making them. I rate Have I Told You Lately 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of Have I Told You Lately in exchange for a fair review. #HaveIToldYouLately

I was in such a reading slump when I picked this up, I absolutely devoured it! ( Well most of it! ) Made me feel so much better and happy about life! The only thing I can say is that for me it could have ended about 80% of the way through and I wouldn’t have minded. The ending did drag on slightly though however it was a perfectly good read and really did cheer me up. I have found though that romance books with third act breakups are becoming a little bit tedious for me and maybe that’s why I would have liked it to end sooner.
I have read some of Beth’s books in the past and honestly couldn’t tell you one that sticks out to me but I did enjoy them all.
I love the little who did it in the middle, also loved the character progression and their self improvement.
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Release Date - 24th January 2025

I really enjoyed reading Have I Told You Lately and following along with Emmie's journey. Thank you #netgalley

Emmie Brown has been running the pasty concession at the airport since her mum passed away. One day she oversleeps and she realises she’s just not happy. The lease is up on the business and Pip, and inslander who regularly flies back and forth, who she has a crush on is showing an interest. Emmie knows that her mum isn’t her real mum, but whilst clearing through her mum’s belongings she finds some letters from a mysterious ‘G’. A restless Emmie decides now is the time for her to take control of her destiny with a visit to the Island of Siskin.

Have I Told You Lately is a feel-good story of family, friendship and love from author Beth Moran. Emmie works hard in the small business her Mom created, She believes she's happy, but she's also beginning to discover that her world is quite small. So on a whim one day she books a ticket to the Isle of Siskin, following the friendly (and good looking) Pip whose visits as he passes through the airport she has come to look forward to.

Emmie is not only craving adventure and a change of pace in her life, but she also wants to track down some answers to the mysterious letters that she found in her mom's belongings after her death. She finds herself welcomed into the Hawkins family, but as she grows closer to Pip her presence threatens to challenge the very people who have shown her kindness. Will she follow her heart, or keep on pursuing the truth behind the secret?

Both Emmie and Pip were delightful as characters, and I enjoyed the family dynamic introduced by the siblings and extended family too. It's a sweet romance story that will leave you with a smile.

I found Emmie a little ditzy and all over the place. Granted her mum had died but she should have got herself together sooner as she had a business to run. This irritated me and I guessed the ending very quickly. I'm glad it ended well but, I didn't enjoy this one as much as her others. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A lovely book about finding oneself and the joy of second chances. Delightful characters, well written. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

Oh this book! First can I just say that I absolutely love the cozy way in which Beth Moran writes? It's so beautiful.

Emmie, the FMC, was such a character - she was loveable yet flawed which made her all the more realistic. She was adopted and found letters that led her on a journey to discover the mysteries around what her life could have been. It's a beautiful soul searching journey and just the journey and all of the women helping each other along the way is truly beautiful.

This book had it all - realistic characters, deep and emotional connections, romance, growth, travel, and the path to loving oneself. It was just a fantastic read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review

A hidden past, a windswept island, and a choice that could change everything—Emmie Brown’s journey is a gorgeous blend of mystery, romance, and self-discovery. As she unravels decades-old secrets, she finds more than just answers—she finds a life she never dared to dream of. With a swoon-worthy islander, a warm and chaotic found family, and the emotional punch of a long-buried truth, this novel is perfect for anyone who loves a heart-tugging, atmospheric escape.