This book was very nearly in my DNF pile but I stuck with it and wish I could say it got better. I found it very slow and the 2 main characters didn’t have much about them. It’s not a book a will be reaching for again

What an abolutely fantastic plot! I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I have recommended it to everyone I know!

I found this book had potential but there was just too many things that seemed unnecessary to me. I also expected to have more moments where I would laugh or find something funny and It sadly only happened twice during the whole book. I struggled to get into it and had to force myself to finish it. I also knew the ending would happen the way it did which of course everyone loves a happy ending but I just was a little let down about the fact that I knew it was coming the way it did.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Freya and Joe come to terms their marriage is ending. But when the reality of living and funding separate lives, not to mention sharing a daughter, they decide to stay in the family home.

Joe, down on his luck career wise, begins writing his real life mishaps onto the screen, and is quickly surprised to find interest in his life come to screen. Only drawback while making nice with Freya, he never cared to mention he is sharing all their secrets into his new show. Will this make or break them again, while they are slowly finding why they fell in love in the first place?

Overall a sweet read to breeze through.

I've never read a book by Rance before. I have no idea why not. I loved Not Moving Out, soI won't need much persuading to pick up his previous books!

Could you remain in a house with an ex? I don't think I could. All those annoying habits...

The story is told in alternating chapters from Freya and Joe across a six month period...for their daughter's sake 'apparently'. I was the voice in the background willing them back together in between wanting them to talk, then talk some more! So frustrating! Yet so relatable!

The relationship woes felt real, relatable and their characters played it off perfectly.

Entertaining and enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for the early copy of Not Moving Out. This story follows Joe and Freya, a couple in their 40s who are separating but still living together for their daughter’s sake. It’s a raw, honest look at a marriage strained by poor communication, panic attacks, and unspoken struggles, with Joe even turning their life into a sitcom script. The characters feel real and relatable, though I didn’t always connect with them, and the side characters add nice depth. It’s a thoughtful exploration of love, middle age, and the messy realities of relationships. I’d give it 3.5 stars.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. Joe and Freya were separating at the start of the book but will still be living together until their daughter moved out. This caused an awkward situation for them both and there were lots ups and downs for them during the books. I enjoyed Joe finding his passion for writing again and Freya having new hobbies and making more friends. I think it was important for the two characters to have time to grow on their own and be individuals and getting to see them do that was my favourite part of the book. I liked how their relationship with their daughter was portrayed as well. There were funny parts in the story too. Overall, I found this book entertaining and fast-paced. I thought the side characters were also amusing as well. I enjoyed reading this and watching the journey of Freya and Joe as they navigated their separation. I haven't read a romance with this sort of scenario and I think it gave a unique spin on the traditional second-chance romance. I would recommend this to people who enjoy romantic comedies.


Thank you to the author and Hera Books for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the raw and realness of this book. It has sobering moments, tears were shed, happiness and laughter. The topic is loudly relevant. I definitely recommend it.

Not Moving Out by Jon Rance

Is about a married couple and their daughter, Freya, Joe and Dolly. After 18 long months of losing Freya and Joe connection, passion, love. They move out of their shared room into separate bedrooms. They commit to living together until Dolly goes to uni and they will divorce.

Joe is a writer for sitcoms, who has struggled to have another successful series. He has a big personality and humor is not the only one. He is peeling layers off and seeing insecurities.

Freya is a partial solicitor, (lawyer). Is level headed, direct and is seeing herself in a different light with new and familiar people.

Joe creates a show that is premised his home life without asking Freya’s ok and things turn on a downward spiral. How many times can one be forgiven after losing each other from the beginning?

It had a beautiful ending with
seen through rose rimmed glasses.

The synopsis/premise of this story made it an immediate "want to read" for me, as someone who's been married for 15 years...

So much of what was going "wrong" with Joe & Freya felt relatable and was realistically portrayed: there are obviously times when routine and monotony of daily life just take over and you forget to really connect with family members- whether it's your spouse or kid(s).

I think Dolly's character arc was done well - that there is more to her than just a child of separation, she has her own trials that she is struggling with aside from her parent's being split up. There was a nostalgic moment that Freya had looking at old pictures of Dolly that really got me in the feels!

There were SO MANY mentions of "the last 18 months" and how rough the last 18 months had been without really giving much more information than that...this maybe could have benefited from a dual-timeline or flashback style chapter set up. At one point I thought I didn't feel as connected to Freya as I wanted to (as a real-life wife) but then felt myself being angry at Joe multiple times and thought maybe I was actually connecting with her...ha...

I'm giving this a solid 3/5 stars, it was an enjoyable read with some humorous scenarios, heightened emotions surrounding anger at a spouse and watching your kid grow up, and also included highly relatable situations for a married person.

Okay but… I was not expecting a romantic comedy to read like this and hit this hard??? 👀

This book is about Freya and Joe, a couple in their 40s who decide to separate after nearly 20 years together—without some massive scandal or cheating. Just years of quiet disconnect, misunderstandings, and growing apart. And honestly? That premise alone had me intrigued, because I usually read romances with book boyfriends, banter, and people figuring life out in their 20s or 30s. This felt like stepping into a whole new world—and I loved it.

It’s funny, but also so thoughtful. The kind of story that holds up a mirror, not in a dramatic, tear-your-heart-out way, but in a softer, “hey, relationships are complicated and messy and sometimes loving someone isn’t enough” kind of way. 💭

I genuinely didn’t know where this was going until the very end. I kept swinging back and forth—do I want them to end up together? Or go their separate ways? And JUST when I’d made up my mind? BAM. I changed it again. THREE TIMES. IN THE LAST 20%. 😭

What really stood out for me? The writing. It’s sharp, witty, real. Every side character had weight. Every little subplot added something. And even though this isn't my typical romance zone, it still gave me all the emotional chaos I live for—just in a quieter, more grounded way.

You don’t need to be in your 40s or going through a crisis to relate to this book. You just need a heart and maybe a soft spot for stories that are honest, a little messy, and unexpectedly moving. 💔💫

New Review - Not Moving Out by Jon Rance

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Not Moving Out by @jonranceauthor is "a relatable second-chance romcom". This book follows the breakdown of Freya and Joe's marriage who despite agreeing to separate, decide to stay living together for 6 months due to having a daughter about to go to university and financial pressures. Each chapter is written in from either Freya or Joe's view point which I really like.

I enjoyed this book, it was an easy read and a good pageturner. The story was relatable and funny covering the ups and downs of life. There are moments of entertainment, heartbreak, sadness and joy. I personally didn't like the character of Freya. I unfortunately felt like all the blame for the breakdown of the marriage was being attributed to Joe and Freya acted like she was blameless. I also didn't like the way she treated Joe for getting individual counselling despite refusing to get marriage counselling.

Definitely worth a read. Due to be published on 15th May 2025. Thank you to @jonranceauthor and @hera_books for letting me read this book.

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #newreview #newbook #review #reviewer #bookreview #bookreview #books #bookstagram #lovereading #lovebooks #notmovingout #bookworm

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.

I read half the book and could not get into it. The story had places where humor or witty banter would have helped. I couldn't buy into the characters or really caring about the storyline.

Are you married? Do you have kids? Have you experienced the ups and downs of life? Have you wondered if it would be better to separate from your spouse and start over but don't have the finances?

If so, then this second chance romance is right up your alley.

Freya and Joe are 100% relatable. They had a marvelous marriage (at one point), a smart daughter about to leave for university, but with only one real income, they don't have the money to do anything about it....right now. So naturally, they separate waiting to dissolve their marriage until Dolly leaves for university the caveat is that they're still living together. This really makes you question, can you remain friends with your (soon-to-be) ex spouse?

This is a book I will happily re-read for years to come. It makes you truly think that a struggling marriage can bounce back from the lies and deceit. I am so thankful that the reason for their "downs" was not infidelity. Not every marriage has someone that cheats, but love is a job. You have to work at it to make it work. That is exactly what this book shows. It makes you realize that eventually you're going to hit those lows in your marriage, in your life, and you truly have to want it for it to last.

If anything, this book shows beautifully that even if it's storming today, there could be a miraculous rainbow tomorrow.

Thank you to the author/publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early. This was my first Jon Rance novel and I will *definitely* be diving into more of his work!

Freya and Joe’s marriage is hanging by a thread. They’re trying to figure out if they should stick it out or go their separate ways, all while keeping things as normal as possible for their daughter, Dolly, until she heads off to university.

What I liked about this book is how real it felt. Instead of an idealized romance, the story explores the ups and downs of a long-term relationship, the way people slowly lose themselves, lose their spark, and the tough choices that come with it. Freya and Joe must weigh the benefits and drawbacks of staying together or going their separate ways. Should they fight for the love they once had and the future they might build, or accept that their time together has run its course?

The back-and-forth struggle felt super relatable, like something a lot of couples go through. There weren’t any standout moments that blew me away, but the story as a whole was enjoyable.

I got this book from NetGallery. This is my honest review.

The book is about Freya and Joe. They decide to separate but for financial reasons and to support their daughter in her final year of school they decide to keep living together for six months. Joe decides to write a book about the situations that arise but he doesn't tell her.

The book is about the struggles they encounter along the way.
Despite a somewhat heavy subject I found it an entertaining book to read. You read from both sides how they experience things or why they do something. I really liked that. I thought it would be a standard ending but I was wrong.

I just thought that writing a book would be a bit more in the foreground but that is more of a background story. Not bad in itself but I had different expectations.

I thought it was a nice book to read. Thank you for letting me read it.

If I were judging this book by its cover, this wouldn’t be my first pick, however, I’m glad I didn’t. Not Moving Out gave a realistic depiction of navigating through life when your marriage has come to an end. The idea that a lot of times happiness in a marriage to some men equates to being able to provide for their family. The reality that for some women, they are so wrapped up in being a wife and mother, they forget who they are and what they want. How do you move on when you have a child? This story touched on these realities and much more. I thoroughly enjoyed the realness in this story and would highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

this was a really great book. it was refreshing to see such realness no matter how brutal that can sometimes feel. the ages were also a good change with the main characters being in their 40s. and whilst we might not be in this couples exact position i felt we could all feel the relatable themes and struggles. and or have seen the point of view from at least one of the characters in volved.
the other cast of characters in this books felt like they were all just as important to the plot which was a real great move. i like it when side characters feel like they have meaning and not just tick box or fluff characters that flit in and out with no real reasoning.
this is a couple who over time has started to untether from each other. nothing huge or harrowing happened, just over the time and certainly recently things just got one thing after another until they just werent " together" in this marriage anymore. mostly as with most thing it was the communication issue.
so separation feels the only option. best for both of them. but they have a daughter who is ready for uni so decide they must stay living together until that happens. what could go wrong? or right?
the whole way through this book i was pushed and pulled with my own opinions on whether these two should actually separate. i love how as we got to know them i got to see different sides to them individually and together as a couple. by the end i new what I wanted to happen, or thought should but i love how even then i was still kind of not certain of where the author would take this.
its an original one because usually with a love story or romance you are rooting for the pair arent you? with this one it felt realistic because not all people should or want to stay together. sadly yes this is the reality of life. but we dont usually follow that set of decisions in this way where it really is on the line.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 rounded up)

The Setup

This is my first foray into John Rance’s writing, and Not Moving Out offers a refreshing twist on the usual contemporary romance. Freya and Joe, a couple in their late forties, are separating—but still living together to provide stability for their daughter Dolly, who’s off to uni in a few months. It’s an intriguing premise with just enough emotional messiness to reel you in.

Realism Over Romance

Freya and Joe aren’t your typical starry-eyed lovers; they’re realistic, sometimes resigned, and undeniably relatable. The love hasn’t vanished completely—it’s just evolved into something more complicated and less easily labelled. Their emotional distance has grown over 18 months, and while their decision to part ways feels mature, it’s also quietly heartbreaking.

A Strong Cast

The side characters—Freya’s mother, Jo’e’s father, and others—form an ensemble that gives the story depth and a sort of gentle, lived-in warmth. Everyone felt like someone you might bump into at the local pub or family dinner (for better or worse).

More Grounded Than Sweeping

Here’s the thing: while I appreciated the realism and the fact that the protagonists are smack in my age group (finally!), I found myself emotionally detached. Odd, given the fraught situation. Maybe it’s the restraint, or maybe it’s just that their mature handling of things didn’t quite scratch my escapist-romance itch.

It’s definitely well-written, thoughtful, and more reflective than swoony. A solid read, just maybe not what I needed at the time.

Final Thoughts

A slow-burning, emotionally grounded story about love, change, and the quiet complexity of starting over—just don’t come expecting butterflies. Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book showed the heartbreaking reality of what it's like when a couple falls apart. The characters were very relatable for me. However, all the miscommunication felt entirely juvenile so I had a hard time not rolling my eyes. There was a lot of promise but this book was not my favorite due to the ridiculous miscommunication.