Tess thought she had it all, the perfect family and home. Then her husband Charles tells her he has found another love and she is now alone to figure out what should have been their retirement years.
I so enjoyed this book and seeing how Tess comes through it all and finds her own place in the world. She has wonderful friends to assist her as well as her mother and daughter. Then she finds a new friend Rob and things start looking up. There is sorrow and laughing through the tears. What a lovely read this was!

An enjoyable read. Loved the main characters and how the main character Tess adapted and grew into her changing circumstances. Would recommend this book

This is the first book I have read by Jill steeples and it won’t be the last.
Hollyhocks cottage is so well described I could have been sat in the summer house enjoying the garden with Barney on my lap.
Tess’s husband has left her for a younger work colleague, her hopes of early retirement are dashed. That until she takes matters into her own hands and decides she is going to air bnb the summerhouse. By chance she meets Rob who needs a place to stay. Is this a second chance at love or a risky move having a stranger stay.? Will love blossom between Tess and Nico a ex college of her husband.?
Every bit is so well written and descriptive. Looking forward to reading more by Jill Steeples

Tess's controlling husband has left her for a younger woman, her daughter is off on a gap year, she doesn't know what to do with herself, until she meets Rob and offers him temporary shelter. with the help of her friends, she starts a new life.

This is a lovely feel good read that’s the first book in this new series. Jess and her husband live in a lovely cottage in the Cotswold, but Charles is having an affair. Meanwhile their daughter is in Australia having a gap year. This read left a smile on my face, lovely characters, lovely scenery and beautifully written. I can’t wait to read the next one in this series,. A feel good,, happy 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

This was a real feel good book. I was so pleased it ended the way it did. Lots of people go through break ups and every one deals with them differently. But the way Tess dealt with what Charles had done was admirable. Also dealing with Hannah on the other side of the world.

Great book. Good strong female characters and lots of friendship and support. Perfect holiday book and really enjoyable. Tess should be reaping the rewards of bringing her daughter up now and entering her golden years with her husband charles, however he has had a classic mid life crisis and sought the arms of a much younger woman. Her friends rally around her and she draws strength from new friendships too.
I would love to see this a series where we can dip in and catch up on Tess. This was lovely. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

A charming, comfortable read that left me feeling hopeful about my world. Lovely escape!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital galley from Boldwood Books via NetGalley.
Pub Date Jun 19 2025
#TheForeverCottage #LowerLeapingBk1 by @jill.steeples @theboldbookclub #NetGalley
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This was a sweet read, one I could relate to a lot in parts, so I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in it. It helped make me feel empowered!
The setting of the small village & cottage had me dreaming of cottage life. It definitely sounded idyllic. I love how Tess chose to move onwards & upwards after what happened to her. I loved her moments of newfound confidence, friendship & independence.
All the relationships, both old & and new, made me smile. I'm glad Tess had her friends & I enjoyed her getting to know Rob.
Of course one of the biggest reasons I chose this
book was for Barney! I couldn't resist a book with a beagle. I definitely recommend it.

This was a fabulous read.

Life is all change for Tess, her controlling husband has left her for a younger model, her daughter is away on a gap year and her mother is getting older.

Lost in all the changes Tess is lost, but galvanised after her ex still trying to continue controlling behaviour she turns his summer house office into a craft annexe and started making her own decisions.

Whilst shopping she meets Rob another man on a journey back from some major life changes. So when she realised he is sleeping in a tent it makes sense for her to offer up the annexe as temporary shelter.

Slowly Tess throws off the shackles on her old life and looks to the future.

I really liked this book, the characters are very well written and you really get to know each of the characters, I did enjoy the fact the characters took time to reach the end of their story, it made it more believable.

A definite recommended read.

This was a great read. Overcoming an unexpected relationship breakdown. Negotiating a life you weren’t expecting but how joy can be found in unexpected places. I loved this.

This is the first book I have read by Jill Steeples but it won’t be my last as I really enjoyed this book.

Tess’s life suddenly changes and she finds herself alone after her husband leaves her. Her daughter is away travelling and the only thing getting her through the day is Barney her little dog.

However as the book progresses Tess begins to blossom and find true happiness while seeing things that were maybe in front of her all along. She begins to focus more on herself and her interests and what makes her happy rather than the needs of her soon to be ex husband.

The setting was beautiful and Tess’s garden sounded just beautiful.

The characters in the story were great and I loved her neighbour Dilly and Tess’s two best friends. I enjoyed seeing the friendships blossom and strengthen.

This is book is the first of a new series and I can’t wait to read the next instalment and hopefully hear more about Dilly and Hannah.

A brilliant book of friendship, family and romance in a beautiful setting.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jill Steeples and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

It was good to follow Tess' character development, as she carved herself a new life after her husband had left her. She found not only new friends, but also a nem love interest. If not with an explicit happy ending, the story ends on a hopeful note. I can recommend it to readers who like romantic stories about second chances.

I so enjoyed this read. It was a gentle, sweet story about Tess learning to be single again after her husband walks out, making her own decisions, making new friends and being supported by old friends. About taking a chance befriending someone who was really down on his luck, and standing up to her husband. Tess shows strength and determination but never loses her kindness towards others. Wonderful!
Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Jill Steeples for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

Jill's book are always like a opening something familar. A gorgeously written book with characters that you can connect with expect that didn't happen. I don't know but it felt for the first time something was missing from and the ending was a total let down. The story is written really well with likeable characters but I wanted to know more about what happened especially as Charles, Tess' husband is such a nasty piece of work. I feel like it was incomplete so maybe the second book will answer some of the questions I've got.

Thank you for the early access to this new book and series by Jill.

The book starts strong with the split between Charles and Tess as Charles is having an affair with a younger woman. Charles is a bit of a cliche and is the perfect person to resent for his boorish behaviour and poor choices. Tess and her friends are lovely. They are kind, they look after each other and are each other’s person. There is romance in the air which is told gently and with feeling which makes it all the more real and possible. The star of the show is Barney the dog who know who the good and bad people are and adds a comic edge to this great read.

I absolutely loved this book and so pleased it’s the first in a new series. A pure escapism read with wonderful characters in a beautiful setting. I cannot wait to return to Hollyhocks Cottage and Tess to see what’s in store next.
Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review. It was a pleasure.

A very cozy read about families and life. Life after divorce, lovely relationships with mothers and daughters, new relationships forming all in a beautiful Cotswolds setting. I got a bit bored in places and found myself skimming through chapters so not really the book for me however if you like a cutesy “life after divorce” and can overlook the unlikely hood of some of the events ie - bumping into a total, slightly dubious stranger, buying him breakfast for no good reason and striking up a relationship with him, then you’ll love this book. I might just be being a tad cynical though!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

A good enjoyable read. You can make a life after your husband leaves. Best friends are essential and a lovely dog. Nice money did not lead the story. The house and the village in the Cotswolds sounded lovely. Mother and daughter love was perfect. A nice feel good read. Perfect for a sunny Saturday afternoon read.. Good neat ending.

This was such a lovely comforting cozy read, but I must admit there were moments when I shared a tear you absolutely love the ending. You won’t be able to put this book down and you won’t regret reading it.