To find true love, first you have to truly love yourself…
Fleur French does not have the best of luck when it comes to life and love, and her current boyfriend Jasper is yet another person who only seems to like Fleur when she moulds herself into his idea of the perfect partner. So, when she finds herself single, jobless and homeless, Fleur has to decide if she’s ready to finally be herself – if only she knew who that was.
Matt Morgan saw things he’ll never forget when he was deployed in the military, but now back home in Wales, the recuperative powers of the stunning countryside are working their magic. And when Fleur takes a job at his mother’s hotel, Matt senses she could benefit from that same magic – if only Fleur realised it too.
It’s hard to be yourself, when you’ve never felt you quite fitted in. But with new days come new opportunities, and as Fleur begins to flourish and find out who she really is, her luck in love might be about to change too.
‘Read yourself happy’ with Maxine Morrey’s latest feel-good, unforgettable and utterly uplifting love story, guaranteed to make you smile. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella.
Maxine has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember and wrote her first (very short) book for school when she was ten. Coming in first, she won a handful of book tokens – perfect for a bookworm!
As years went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal’ work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a book on Brighton for a Local History publisher. However, novels are what she loves writing the most. After self publishing her first novel when a contract fell through, thanks to the recession, she continued to look for opportunities.
In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas’ competition with her romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale’.
Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read sew and listen to podcasts. As she also likes cake she can also be found either walking or doing something vaguely physical at the gym.
Loved the setting here and the friendships were nice but something about the romance just didn’t work for me. Fleur was very immature and just going along with whatever anyone said or told her to do, kind of annoying. The ending felt forced and unnatural after her whining about Matt.
What a frustrating book. It was clearly going to be corny and predictable from the off but l was initially prepared to go with that for a beach holiday read. There were some insightful passages and good writing but what l really hated was the dialogue between Matt and Fleur. As their relationship developed, some of their conversations were horrendous. Trite, boring and banal, unlikely, repetitive.
The attempts to show us Fleur’s character via that dialogue were grindingly repetitive too, as if constantly weaving references into their discussions would hammer it home so we understood her. But in fact she was a main character l didn’t like, relate to or empathise with.
I ended up skim reading just to get it finished and didn’t miss out on anything significant by doing so - whole passages were irrelevant and added nothing so l didn’t feel as if l’d missed out on anything worthwhile. l didn’t skim that much to miss the appalling plot error of the Matt-parent meeting either.
I hate writing negatives reviews about what someone has clearly enjoyed writing but l’m sorry, it wasn’t my cup of tea at all and although “guaranteed to make you smile”, it didn’t.
Very nearly did not finish The start of the book was enticing and good storyline but the middle just felt very flat and dragged out for it only to pick up right at the end
I am so disappointed with how this book progressed! It started ok, but there was no chemistry, no pleasent characters. Fleur apologising every other row of text. I just got very bored with it. Ended up skimming through and when I got to the end, it didn't feel like I skipped anything. The character I felt the strongest about was ironically Jasper. He was very well written, the rest seemed overly repetitive
Really unusual book. Both MC’s were extremely hard work, borderline insufferable to be honest. Their relationship was completely bizarre, all they did was argue. Lots of miscommunication, very little connection and a third act break up that made me want to launch the book into space.
I think if she pushed Jasper off the cliff at the start I might have given it an extra star, however this just didn’t work for me at all.
This was silly and cute but idk it also wasn’t very good. The writing was not the best and I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the characters besides they were both good looking. Also it was really hard to get a sense of time bc it would randomly jump a few months ahead sometimes. Idk, it also felt rushed to me and there were some plot holes.
Fleur is on a hiking weekend away in the hills of Wales with her boyfriend Jasper when everything goes wrong-he ends their relationship, which in turn leaves her without a job or a place to live as he was very controlling and made her give up her apartment and her job when they got together. Now Fleur is left wondering what she will do next and where she will go, but she couldn’t be in a more perfect place to sort herself out-she’s made friends with the tour guide, Matt, and his family after Jasper acted like a spoiled child on one of their hikes, and they’ve taken her under their wings while she figures out what she wants to do next. And for Fleur, family is something she has never had, as she was abandoned at a care home as a baby and always felt like she was never wanted-thus the terrible relationships she’s been in-especially Jasper. Then one customer comes into the motel diner where she’s working and changes everything. It was lovely to see her slowly blossoming and opening up to Matt and his family even though at times I felt like she was a bit too much of a whiner. Lots of strong supporting characters showing what relationships should really look like. Cozy little read. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
This book starts with a woman getting out of a controlling relationship and being offered a place to stay with a handsome mountain guide and his family. With a bonus backdrop of a small town in Wales. From there, we get some character development from our female main character and some romance.
Let's start with what I liked about the book. I enjoyed seeing Fleur begin to find herself with help from the people she had met along the way. I especially liked her friendship with Anna. I found the moments when she realised maybe she didn't need a man to make her happy refreshing in the storyline. Matt is a military man and was very protective of her, and it was nice to see a healthier portrayal of that after the controlling boyfriend.
But unfortunately, the romance just didn't work for me. For starters, he kept making jokes about liking her better before she started finding herself after her previous relationship, and it just didn't sit right with me. The way they got together didn't really fit with how insecure she was, and the relationship had so much drama given how late in the book they got together.
I decided to give it 2.5 stars rounded to 3 for netgalley and goodreads. The potential was there, and part of me wishes the romance was taken out so we could get a more fleshed out journey for fleur.
I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, Maxine Morrey, and the publisher for the opportunity to read the book.
In general, Maxine Morrey, is an auto-read author for me, and this did not disappoint!
I hate spoilers so I’m trying to be discreet:
Fleur really started out down on her luck in this romcom, as she finds herself single, homeless and jobless all on the same day! Throughout this story, she really learns who she is (rather than what she perceives as what others want her to be), and embraces her natural and true personality. She learns to stand up for herself, go after what she wants, and not put up with nonsense if it doesn’t make her happy.
I love how issues were tackled head on, even though there were quite a few surprises along the way. 😳 I also love a grumpy MMC so Matt was pretty great, even though he had some flaws.
Spice: 🌶️ (fade to black)
Tropes: Opposites attract Grumpy x Sunshine Different worlds Slow burn
CW: Toxic relationship (gaslighting) Abandonment Medical Trauma PTSD
Cute setting but damn that male character had serious personality disorder and the people didn’t even notice. At first he is good at reading the room and it’s commented on, but suddenly he has no tact and everyone says he never had tact, then suddenly he has trauma and is brooding and everyone knew…
There are so many holes in this story, he meets her parents and then add the end he asks to meet her parents as if he had never met them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow! This is a fabulous book. A slow burn rom-com but with a really beautiful story of a character with a complicated past who finds herself and love. I laughed and cried in this one. There is also a beautiful set of friendships in the story. It reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine but with more romance and a less heavy storyline.
You’ve Got This - Maxine Morrey. Poor Fleur, she’s had a rough time of things in many ways. Being dumped by the odious Jasper feels like the end of the world, but gives Fleur the platform to rebuild herself. In the beauty of the Welsh hills, tour guide Matt and his family take Fleur under their wing and set about rebuilding this broken little soul.
This was the first book that I’ve read by Maxine Morrey and I thourghly enjoyed it.
The setting of this book is stunning. The Welsh hills and surrounding countryside are breathtaking. Being Welsh I’m maybe a little biased, but I love reading books that are set in Wales. There is always something special about them. A magic and charm that only Wales can offer.
I enjoyed the characters that Maxine Morrey created. They are a wonderful mix. Fleur is sweet and vulnerable. She goes on quite a journey, where she begins to find who she really is. Matt is a solid character. Sometimes a little blunt, but fair and kind. He is also dealing with his own demons from the past.
Largely this book doesn’t deliver any major shocks. There is a nice little twist, but I think generally it’s clear where the story is heading. That isn’t a bad thing though. The journey to the end is well written and enjoyable.
You’ve Got This, is an easy, pleasant and charming read. This book is a perfect way to lose yourself for a few hours. Feel good and heartwarming. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for a digital arc of this title.
I have a lot of feelings about this one! There were things I liked quite a bit and things that didn't work that well for me.
I think both the dialog and characterization was underbaked. Many conversations felt inhuman and repetitive. And a number of characters really lacked depth and were walking caricatures - Jasper, I'm looking at you. At no point was it demonstrated that jasper was a good partner or that she ever thought he was a good person.
I think several of the side plots - with her birth parents and with her job prospects at the end were entirely too tidy but cozy in their way.
I liked things about their dynamic. I liked Matt as a character. Fleur was hard to take sometimes. She was very immature. Both the initial "get together" moment and the third act break up did not have good communication.
I liked the premise but I think it had untapped potential.
As it won the RNA for Best Romantic Comedy I think I'm being extra critical
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Although there were some laugh out loud moments, early in the story, my heart broke for Fleur through most of her journey.
She was a baby when abandoned, by her 17 year old mother, while in a hospital for burns to her face and head. After years in foster care, she ends up with a couple of sleazy boyfriends, that she did everything to please. Fleur believed that if her own parents didn't want her, then no one else would either.
Jasper was the worst. Fleur allowed him to take over her life. She ended up unemployed, homeless and humiliated in front of a restaurant full of people.
And then she met Matt and his family. Could this be the happy ending she had been hoping for? Or more of the same old, same old????
I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this story, it was such an easy read and after i had finished reading it i was left with a warm and happy heart.
I have read a few books by this author and have never been disappointed and this one was no exception either.
I absolutely loved the character of Fleur, she was wonderful, interesting and resilient and i really enjoyed being with her on her life’s journey.
You’ve Got This was a slow burn trope, which i really enjoyed and it had just the right amount of romance and emotion and was the most perfect escapist read…….
Fleur was orphaned as a child, had no family or a place to call ‘home’, has gone from one bad relationship to another & been left to pick up the pieces of her life (mostly) alone time & time again. Here she is left jobless & homeless, but the kindness of almost strangers starts her on a journey of self discovery. I adored the way her character developed, figuring out who she really is, what she really likes, what she wants in life & learning that she deserves happiness. It really resonated with my inner people pleaser & there is definitely a lesson I can take from it. Then there is Matt, a swoon worthy outdoors man who has been on his own journey of self discovery following his time in the military. The friendship & connection they form was both funny & refreshing. A tale of self-discovery, friendship & found family, all set in the beautiful Welsh countryside (I’m always a sucker for links to Wales in a book!).
This book could have been a 5 star for me, but I was a little disappointed by the last few chapters 😢 otherwise I adored the book.
This was ok but the pace of the story was a little strange. It had a tendency to drag on quite a bit at the start, the conversations between the Fleur and Matt just seemed to be on repeat and getting nowhere. But the story would then jump to the next phase without much of a story to link it. The end was similarly disjointed. This is my second book from this author and I didn’t love the first one, this was better, and overall I enjoyed it but I didn’t feel like the story overall was well planned.
K, this was such a cute read! It’s giving Hallmark! It was guns a blazing from the first page. I was hooked right away. Maxine is a really great writer! I just added her to her books to my TBR. If you like cute, rom-com, hallmark vibes this is such a good read!
A lovely rom-com. I enjoyed the characters and description of the location in Wales. Fleur was sometimes annoying with her inability to convey her true feelings about anything, but as the book progressed she got better and came out of her shell, thanks to all the people who befriended her.
You’ve Got This is a wonderfully poignant book. It is a book of self-discovery, of family, and love. Fleur is a fascinating character. Having been abandoned as a child, her fear of being left behind again has led her to a life where she doesn’t stand up for herself, she goes along with what everyone else wants, and she is constantly apologizing. All of that changes when she meets Matt, a hiking guide in Wales, who pushes her to be honest and brave. It was quite a journey to watch her gain her voice and her confidence, and all at a time when she’s actually very lost. I cried real tears for Fleur, but I was mostly cheering her on every step of the way!
Copying and pasting my rant to a friend about this one:
I really liked the plot premise, and the cozy vibe was great. I liked that figuring out her personal style was an important part of her figuring out herself, that was fun. And I also liked that he was kinda blunt, direct sort of awkwardly tactless person that was relatable. But I agree the dialog was stiff and I was rolling my eyes how EVERYTHING just works out including her getting the perfect parent situation. Long lost parents, (together!) who live near her and are perfect. How she gets handed a job and beautiful home literally an hour after she loses both (and Jasper is an unforgivable asshole, like... that's a lot on you babe for being with him and making such dumb decisions especially when your ONE bestie tells you how bad he is). Matt keeps talking about how strong she is and I was like well she literally didn't have to struggle at all to get back on her feet, and she didn't seem sad about the breakup. So it was way too easy and convenient and fell pretty flat for me. Also I was so bugged how the main drama was based on such bad communication--she was pretty immature as a character. Him taking the job was annoying for sure and definitely worth a fight but like, you're not gonna talk about it? And the kiss? You're not gonna ask for (or give) an explanation ever?? You're just done that's it, especially when in the end it turns out (of course it does) the situation was out of his control . And her turning into a designer when she just barely is starting to have an opinion at all about style was the last tiny detail that made me roll my eyes. So not very relatable, too easy and convenient and predictable. But cozy!
This story begins set in Wales with Fleur going on vacation with her jerk of a boyfriend Jasper but they quickly break up. Enter Matt, the hiking tour guide along with his lovely family who offer her a job and apartment and fresh start. Fleur has a complicated background and feels broken and rejected. It was nice to see her accepted and watch her grow.
I adored Matt. While he was blunt he was also honest and patient and kind. The friendships that formed were so nice. This reminds me of a second chance at life and love.
As for what I didn’t like— the pacing was really off kilter in my opinion. It either felt rushed or slow. It was really quite maddening at times. It was hard to feel any relationship working with Fleur because she was a doormat for so much of the book. She needed more time to develop individually. Then the twist happens with her family and it was rushed. I did have a little difficulty adjusting to some of the language differences between America and Wales.
Review posted to NetGalley and GoodReads Special thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books Publishing and Author Maxine Morrey for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy novel. #NetGalley #YouveGotThis
The book starts off okay and with potential but plummets fast. It was a chore to finish. The main character is not likeable. Her character arc and development is not realistic (complete personality u-turn in the space of a couple of months). She seems to leech on to the personality and hobbies of those she is around - hiking with Matt, interior design with her mum.
The plot is also inconsistent. SPOILERS Matt meets her parents when she first meets her dad yet at the end he asks to meet her parents as though for the first time.
fleur whines, as if it’s her day job, she’s so overly concerned about people liking her that she moulds herself into versions she thinks people want, her lack of a backbone was kindve endearing at first and then towards the end it kind of became a double edged sword
she leaves Jasper, and should’ve stayed single for a hell of a lot longer than she did. she basically wanted to jump matts bones from day dot and then when she did he became her whole personality
at least she found her parents i guess
i should’ve dnf’d it but momma didn’t raise a quitter
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Can't believe the high ratings for this book! It started out fine but got gradually more repetitive and long winded. I especially didn't like the manufactured drama towards the last third of the book. It feels like a Days of Our Lives/ Eastenders-style soap opera compressed into a book masquerading as a romance novel. The romance itself was barely there, and what there was, was strange. Don't make the mistake I did of picking it up just because it's free on Audible Plus.
I can count on one hand the number of books that I DNF. This was one of those. It was promoted as ‘a heartwarming, feel-good, romantic comedy’ which IMO it did not deliver. I did enjoy the supporting characters. It had potential for a good story line. Just fell short for me as main character was helpless and woe is me.