Set in a beautiful part of England, the Cotswolds. Tells a beautifully woven story of Tess and her dog Barney. Highly recommend.

The Forever Cottage by Jill Steele, book one in The Lower Leaping series, is a heartfelt and heartwarming story about rediscovering oneself following the collapse of a marriage; turning one’s world upside down. Tess’s life suddenly changes as she finds herself alone after 30 years of marriage, when her husband leaves her for a younger woman. Her daughter is away travelling and the only thing getting her through the day is Barney her little dog.

Determined to overcome her grief, Tess decides to decorate her beautiful garden office, transforming it into a personal retreat. However, a chance meeting with the charming yet struggling Rob Temple disrupts her plans, as she offers him the space to stay, sensing a kindred spirit. With the support of her long-time friends, Gina and Suzy, Tess must venture outside her comfort zone and embrace a new way of life filled with secrets, opportunities, and second chances if she is willing to seize them.

As Tess begins to blossom and find true happiness, she begins to see things that were possibly in front of her all along. She starts to focus more on herself, her interests and what makes her happy rather than the needs of her soon to be ex husband. Along the journey not only does Tess find herself, true happiness, and seeing an improvement of her life, but she also realizes the importance of friendship, family and romance, set in a beautiful setting.

This delightful read might be the first book I have read by Jill Steeples but it won’t be my last as I really enjoyed this book; with its picturesque setting of a charming Cotswold village and the enchanting Forever Cottage makes it an inviting escape. It is evident that this marks the beginning of a series, and while the story concluded somewhat abruptly, it leaves one eager to discover if Tess attains her happy ending, what happens with her daughter and her unusual situation.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#Boldwood #NetGalley #TheForeverCottage

I am sorry to say I was a little disappointed with this book. It was easy to read, nice enough characters and an uplifting storyline but I felt that the story lacked substance.
Charles and Tess have been married for some 30 years until Charles decides to leave his comfortable marriage and move in with a younger colleague.
As Tess puts her life together again, friends new and old rally round.
What I did not understand was the relevance of the title. As the cottage forms part of the divorce settlement, which had not been agreed, how could it definitely be called “forever”.
Apart from that niggle, this was a lighthearted read with scope for a sequel.

Jill Steeples is one of my go to authors. She writes stories that will touch your heart.
The Forever Cottage is the first book in the new series Lower Leaping.
Tess’s husband after 30 years of marriage decided he was leaving her for a younger woman. Instead of letting her life fall completely apart Tess decides she wants to go back to who she had been before.
Her family and friends rally around her and this all gives the book a beautiful feeling. This is the perfect book for a beach read.
Thank you NetGalley, Jill Steeples and Boldwood Books for the copy of The Forever Cottage. This is my personal review.

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

Tess loved the life she was living, but now it’s not a happy one as her husband has left her.

She now has to start to think about herself and what she wants to do with her life, which isn’t easy for her. I loved how she begins to put what’s happened behind her and flourish with the help of her friends she found out what she enjoys doing and how to make that happen.

I also loved Dilly, her neighbour who becomes more of a friend to her. I loved the descriptions of the garden and Barney, Tess’s beautiful dog.

I highly recommend this book.

When Tess’s husband leaves her after 30 years, she’s is shattered but determined to get through her grief by redoing her garden office into a retreat for her to do art and such in. However, life seems to have other plans as she meets a man named Rob who’s down on his luck, and wanting to help, she offers to let him stay there while he gets back on his feet. Tess soon has to adapt to a whole new life, and along with her best friends Gina and Suzy she steps out of her comfort zone and soon finds a second life filled with secrets and opportunities if they are willing to take a chance. I really liked the neighbor Dilly and of course the dog Barney :)
Thus was a quick read and the setting of the Cotswolds is always a favorite of mine. It was just getting into some of the juicy bits towards the end, which leads me to beg the author to release the next books soon so I can see what happens with Tess and her family!
Thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Tess and particularly loved her independence, which she didn’t ask for but was embracing. Her slimeball husband had created an impossible situation when he cheated on her with his colleague, and Tess was determined to rise above and come through this latest hiccup without any regrets. What she doesn’t envisage is meeting Rob Templeton and then revisiting her friendship with her ex's colleague, Nico Brunswick.
She was left with a fractured relationship with her nosy neighbour, Dilly, since Tess and her ex had excluded her from their social circle for years. Her beloved dog, Barney, who was the apple of her eye, and her daughter, Hannah, who was enjoying life in Australia, as she had taken off on a gap year adventure before enrolling on her university course. However, on hand, she had the unwavering support of her two best friends, Gina and Suzy.
I loved how Jill created a new community which immediately felt like old friends. She imagined the best of people and didn’t treat Charles very well. In honesty, he didn’t deserve any better. As Tess emerged from the shadow of her former life, she was able to spread her wings and discover her identity as a woman rather than as a wife and mother. The whole transformation was reaffirming.
I’m hopeful that this will be the start of a new series, as I would love to revisit Lower Leaping and learn more about Dilly, Gina and Suzy. Each character is perfectly imagined and relatable. I’d be delighted to read and review them all.

This is a heartfelt story about rediscovering oneself following the collapse of a marriage. The protagonist, Tess, is shattered when her husband, Charles announces he is leaving her for a younger woman after 30 years of marriage. Determined to navigate her grief, Tess resolves to decorate her beautiful garden office, transforming it into a personal retreat. However, a chance meeting with the charming yet struggling Rob Temple disrupts plans, as she offers him the space to stay, sensing a kindred spirit. With the support of her long-time friends, Gina and Suzy, Tess must venture outside her comfort zone and embrace a new way of life filled with secrets, opportunities, and second chances if she is willing to seize them.

This is a delightful read, ideal for a cozy afternoon spent curled up on the sofa. The picturesque setting of a charming Cotswold village and the enchanting Forever Cottage makes it an inviting escape. It is evident that this marks the beginning of a series, and while the story concluded somewhat abruptly, it leaves one eager to discover if Tess attains her happy ending. With thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2 ⭐️ The Forever Cottage by: Jill Steeples is Publishing June 19, 2025 with Boldwood Books

This one was a miss for me. It felt long and that it dragged on. I did enjoy the growth with some characters but also some I found to be irritating which is good as it fit with the story for the individual. I loved the small village scene and vibe brought to mind some personal memories for me with a few similar. I did find it harder to read though. In the end this one wasn’t my cup of tea. Even though I personal don’t think it was the best book I believe it could be a fantastic tv show.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read before publishing and shares my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well written and very relatable, it kept me wanting to read more and it was more than the typical romances you can get, it’s a wonderful summer treat

The first book of what is set to be a charmingly heartwarming series. Tess has suddenly found her life has been turned upside down and she is all alone without a husband. What I really appreciated was watching Tess thrive and flourish on her own, as she became her own person and discovered what she really enjoyed and doing what she wanted without being influenced by someone else. I particularly liked Dilly who is Tess's neighbour and I am hoping to see more of Dilly in future instalments of the series. The garden sounds absolutely beautiful and I could easily picture myself curled up with a book amongst the flowers and of course the gorgeous dog Barney curled up by my side. The plot is simple and easy to follow while getting to know the characters. It is the perfect blend of women's fiction and anyone can enjoy it anywhere.

A charming story. Tess is devastated when her husband Charles leaves her she thought they were happy in their beautiful idyllic cottage but with the help of two close friends and a neighbour she didn't have much to do with when Charles was around she suddenly starts to get her life back on track. She transforms the garden office into a Beautiful retreat which she decides she might rent out in the future but when she runs into the charming Rob who is practically homeless she puts her faith in him and tells him he can move in until he gets himself sorted out, It's a lovely easy reading book, a story of friendships family and love full if warmth and charm but also finding an inner strength to finally search for the happiness she deserves. A really enjoyable read

Pleasant easy read, I enjoyed it even though it's not the usual genre I read
I've not read this author before but will look out for more books

A perfectly nice, gentle book. Everything is a bit predictable but sometimes that is just what you need. It isn’t ground breaking but it is a good break from your own reality.

it makes me quite emotional when certain authors find there way to me. this new book from Jill gave me all those tingly feelings again. certain authors also have my whole heart. and Jill is right up there on that list. there are no stars or justice i could give them on just how superb her books are. they are delight. they are everything you could ever ever want or need. the only problem is when they have to end.
this book gives us wonderful Tess. she thought she had it all. she was at the time of life where life seems to have found it place for her. that is until her husband tells her and makes it all so very very different and completely pulls the rug from under her.
and so her husband leaves. and she is left feeling ever so alone in the world. oh apart from her dog. and of course we adore the dog!
so Tess can either bend, fall and not get up. or she can find who Tess is once again. she can think about what will make Tess happy right now.
she's not alone though. as once again the friendships in this book are just beyond lovely. they are there for her. they are all characters of their own which i loved getting to know more of.
so Tess starts to find her fun and interests again. she starts to feel stronger perhaps even like she might be beginning to blossom again?
Lower Leaping is a wonderful place to immerse myself into for this book. and Tess's house and garden has me all in a fizz with the descriptions of it.
of course we also have a chance meeting one day. which will lead Tess in perhaps an altogether new direction. but one that could bring her all the joy back to her life too. watching as these two interact is just gorgeous.
this book is so much about love. of all kinds. for ones self, for others, for the heart. and i loved every second of this.

The Forever Cottage by Jill Steeples

Tess is in her 50s and living alone for the first time - her husband Charles has left to go and live with the woman he'd been having an affair with, and her daughter Hannah is travelling in Australia before she starts her teacher training. As Tess negotiates this new phase in her life with the help of friends new and old, and her beloved dog Barney, she gradually begins to enjoy her independence and look to the future.

What a lovely book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. A beautiful setting in a Cotswolds village, great characters, and a heartwarming story - I was cheering Tess on all the way! Very highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Started thinking of it as a 4 ⭐️ but I might bump it to 5⭐️ since it’s the start of a series and I’m genuinely looking forward to the next books. Whatever comes next imo determines this one.

At times it felt a bit of slow pace but given the characters maturity, life experience, etc. I thought it was best probably for the story line for it to be more slowly paced than the ‘average romance’ we see on booktok etc.

Nice read!

This is my first book by Jill Steeples, and it was a lovely read. As I was finishing it, I kept thinking, I would love to read more about these characters. And when I looked at the book’s description again, discovered it’s the beginning of a new series. Tess is a woman in her 50’s that’s been happily married for about a 30 years when her world is turned upside down by her husband leaving her. Tess has a grown daughter Hannah (who’s off on a gap year trip), a sweet mother, and two longtime best friends. The setting is a picture perfect cottage (surrounded by a garden) in the village of Lower Leaping in the Cotswolds, (Not sure if this is a real or fictional village).

I don’t typically read books featuring the break up of a a marriage but this was very well done, It felt true to life, but didn’t focus on her failed marriage but on the new life Tess was creating for herself and the old and new friends who support her along the way. There were some unexpected happenings that added to the fun of the book. It is a perfect summer read, It takes you along for a lovely ride and you’ll wish you were living in the annex in Tess’s garden and part of her group of friends. If you’re longing for a getaway to the Cotswolds or a girls’ night out, this is the next best thing.
I’ll definitely be reading more books by Jill Steeples. I’m always glad to find a new author who writes well and whose stories feel authentic.

#TheForeverCottage #NetGalley

What a lovely start to a new series. When Tess Alexander finds herself and the life she has known for the past three decades completely changed she decides to reconnect with who she once was. She transforms the home office at the end of her garden and starts to embrace her new found freedom and single life. A chance meeting in a coffee shop with Rob then sends her new life in another direction. One thing I really liked was how the main characters were slightly older and had had plenty of life experience. I loved how husband Charles is portrayed and think the way the relationship between Tess and him is brilliantly written. This is such a heartwarming story and there is enough background information about those who are in Tess’s support network to give an overall insight into Tess’s life. Really looking forward to reading the next one in the series. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

This is a heartwarming, uplifting tale of new beginnings, personal growth, and the quiet power of friendship. When Tess’s husband unexpectedly leaves her and her daughter is off travelling, she finds herself suddenly alone—save for the comforting presence of her loyal dog, Barney. What follows is a beautifully written journey of rediscovery. Tess begins to shift her focus from the needs of her ex to her own passions, interests, and the life she wants to build for herself. As she tends to her charming garden—described in such vivid, serene detail you can almost smell the flowers—Tess also nurtures something deeper: self-worth and happiness on her own terms.

The supporting characters are a delight, particularly her neighbour Dilly and her two best friends, who bring warmth, humour, and authenticity to the story. Their evolving friendships add real heart to the narrative, reminding readers of the importance of a strong support network during life’s upheavals. Set in a picturesque village that feels like a character in its own right, this book is the perfect escape read.