High school teacher has a one night stand with Beau, next thing you know he’s a new teacher at the school she works at. All the while she’s working on her to do list, while dealing with her former mother-in-law not coping that she’s split from her ex-husband and trying not to fall in love. While at times Makayla was frustrating, she became more likeable the further the story went on. Beau was delightful. Cece tried to be a great best friend and Agnes grew on me as the story flowed. Overall a great story.

This is a fun and zesty romance that also has a few worthwhile things to say about life in general. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I think most romance readers would agree.

Makayla married her high school boyfriend far too young, and took a decade to admit it was a ghastly mistake. Now divorced and eyeing the rapid advance of her 30th birthday, Makayla sets out to discover some of the things she missed by marrying young.

But when her one night stand turns up again in a most unexpected way, Makayla finds herself with some decisions to make. She doesn’t want to risk missing out on something good, but she also sees the importance of knowing herself a bit better before she gets involved with someone again.

This is a romance, and so some of the plot beats are pretty predictable. But there’s a fresh energy to this novel, and a zip and enthusiasm which infects the reader and makes it a lot of fun. I laughed often.

Brunnbauer invests the novel with just enough seriousness to make this feel like a real story – her main focus seems to be on helping the reader (and Makayla) have some fun.

I enjoyed Makayla’s voyage of self discovery, and also her wry voice. The characters are strong and appealing, and quite a few will hit a note of recognition with readers.

Highly recommended for readers who want something light and humorous, with just enough reality to keep it grounded.

Not what I was expecting but a pleasant read with some funny parts that made me laugh out loud.

As it is written in third person limited past tense I found it a little hard to get into at first but reading more it gets easier although I’m not a fan of that style.

Overall an enjoyable story that I’m sure will be loved by many.

Congratulations on your debut novel Holly.

A big thank you Netgalley, Harper Collins and Holly Brunnbauer for allowing me a chance to read an advanced copy!

Firstly, do not read this immediately after finishing Love Overdue- you will confuse yourself between schools and supporting characters 😂- maybe thats just my mum brain haha

Makayla is our FMC. This is a woman who has been with the same man since she was 16, she never got to ‘find herself’ in her 20’s, she never got to sow her oats… after a quick divorce and approaching her 30th birthday, she is setting herself a list.

I think initially I didn’t like Makayla as a character, i thought she was selfish and a bit of a dick- especially towards Beau. But reading on and understanding her back story, its clearly a defence mechanism and she needs to grow into the new her.

The character of Beau. Oh my god. He is perfection. I adored him, truely so patient and caring- The perfect book boyfriend!

I enjoyed reading the development and maturity of our main character. But also found the supporting characters integral to the story.

Also justice for Agnes… shes a bad ass 💁‍♀️

A wonderful debut, if you love a romcom you will enjoy this read. Another win for aussie fiction!

Gosh I love a good rom com but boy am I proud when an Aussie author belts out such a brilliant story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I can see @ being a really big name in the Aussie romance scene. Think Clare Fletcher and Karina May.

Makayla is newly divorced, about to turn 30 and sets herself a challenge of completing her newly single wish list. Her first daring act, finds her entwined with the perfect guy who falls in to her lap at simply the worst time. Despite her efforts to resist him and continue on her new single trajectory, he keeps popping up and reminding her time and again what she’s missing out on. She is her own biggest obstacle. Riddled with complicated and unresolved feelings Makayla keeps everyone at arms length, including Beau. Will she work up the courage to face her past and open her heart again?

This is so much more than a rom com. This book explores many deeper issues including traumatic pregnancy loss, friendship changes, abusive parents and being heart broken. This book also combats these issues with found family, humour and the perfect guy all women dream of (with out him being her saviour 👌🏻). What really stood out to me was that Makayla’s problems were her own to solve and that felt really healthy. She wasn’t a damsel and she cared deeply for others even when her life was falling apart. It was really lovely to see her character grow and find closure.

This was such a heartwarming rom com book!
My normal go to is dark spicy romance but sometimes I like to shake it up and I’m so glad I did with this one!
Makayla was such a sassy badass but gentle soul who just needed to take the time to let people in
Beau was suchhhh a sweet heart and I’d have loved him to be my teacher 🤣
I love how real and honest this book was!
Definitely a trigger warning to pregnancy loss but it is handled so beautifully!
If you need a light refreshing Aussie love story - definitely pick this one up!

I absolutely adored this debut novel from Holly Brunnbauer. It had me feeling all the emotions, and as a teacher it had me hooked from the start. Makayla is a slightly flawed character and makes some questionable decisions, however even though I wanted to scream at her at times many aspects of her personality made sense as the story progressed. Beau was absolutely perfect in my eyes though! What a catch. He was upfront about feelings, created boundaries and communicated well. It was quite refreshing to read a romance with a male character who is just a good guy.

Everyone has their own preferences with romance novels and spicy scenes, and I personally hate cutsie nicknames or repetitive language in the spicier scenes. I really enjoyed reading a book that just seemed like something relatable and not overly dramatic.

I will be pouncing on any books that Holly writes in the future! Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC to review.

There is something super exciting about following an author and hearing them talking about their upcoming book and then finally being able to read that book. What Did I Miss? did not disappoint. Lots of fun banter, a cast of great characters and the perfect amount of spice! The supporting characters were all memorable and played a role. Makayla is the perfect female lead - any wonder Beau fell for her! This is an incredible debut and I can't wait to see what Holly writes next.,

Incredibly hilarious. When I talk about Aussie humour, this is exactly what I mean - Brunnbauer effortlessly drops iconic one-liners that have you constantly laughing.

Makayla is recently divorced and about to turn 30. Feeling like she's missed out on life, she creates a checklist of things to do... And starts off with a one night stand.

Mak is written perfectly. She's fiesty and stubborn with the biggest heart. And Beau, ugh, he's a dreamboat! I love that although he wears his heart on his sleeve and is an eager beaver, he maintains boundaries as needed.

You can't help but love the side characters and cherish the moments with them, and that's due to Brunnbauer's attention to detail. It makes them all feel so real (which includes their emotions too, so have some tissues handy!).

Did I mention that it's actually really funny?

This book completely pulled me in with its sharp humour, emotional honesty, and a main character I absolutely loved. Makayla was easily my favorite—funny, flawed, self-aware, and trying so hard to reclaim the years she felt she'd lost. Watching her stumble, reflect, and slowly piece herself back together felt both entertaining and deeply relatable. Her inner voice was so sharp and vulnerable that I couldn’t help but connect with her, and her growth throughout the story left me feeling both proud and a little emotional. The plot struck that rare balance between lighthearted chaos and real emotional weight—it made me laugh, but also had moments that genuinely hit home. By the end, I felt like I’d been on a journey with a friend who reminded me that it’s okay to start over, no matter where you are in life.

Makayla's story was fun and witty with a good mix of friends and co-workers that bring the story to life. A solid debut novel from a new Australian author.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Australia for the arc to review.