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My Not So Perfect Summer
Autumn’s summer is off to a smashing start… sort of.
Earlier this year, Autumn’s life looked she had a great relationship with her brilliant teenage daughter Chloe and from September she was all set to be Deputy Head at the London school where she works. And with a pay rise on the cards, she was excited for her and her long-term boyfriend Marc to buy their first home.
But Autumn’s barely opened the estate agent's website when Marc vanishes with half their savings, leaving her no choice but to move into grandma’s rural home in Kent. And things go from bad to worse when Autumn is involved in an accident during the move, leaving the village’s dashing new baker Jake in plaster cast, and making her a local outcast before she’s even unpacked her bags.
Determined to put things right, Autumn offers to help Jake in the bakery over the summer holidays. But as things heat up in the kitchen, Autumn can’t help noticing that Jake is a lot more Paul Hollywood and a lot less Mr Kipling than she originally thought.
Maybe this summer isn’t such a write off after all?
Earlier this year, Autumn’s life looked she had a great relationship with her brilliant teenage daughter Chloe and from September she was all set to be Deputy Head at the London school where she works. And with a pay rise on the cards, she was excited for her and her long-term boyfriend Marc to buy their first home.
But Autumn’s barely opened the estate agent's website when Marc vanishes with half their savings, leaving her no choice but to move into grandma’s rural home in Kent. And things go from bad to worse when Autumn is involved in an accident during the move, leaving the village’s dashing new baker Jake in plaster cast, and making her a local outcast before she’s even unpacked her bags.
Determined to put things right, Autumn offers to help Jake in the bakery over the summer holidays. But as things heat up in the kitchen, Autumn can’t help noticing that Jake is a lot more Paul Hollywood and a lot less Mr Kipling than she originally thought.
Maybe this summer isn’t such a write off after all?
254 pages, ebook
Published May 7, 2024
980 people are currently reading
925 people want to read
About the author
Phoebe MacLeod
16 books392 followersPhoebe MacLeod is married and lives just outside Sevenoaks in Kent. She has two grown-up sons at university, and a disobedient dog. She enjoys reading, cooking, playing the piano and walking the dog. She’s also keen on vintage and classic cars and can often be seen behind the wheel of her own classic - a 1928 Ford Model A.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
April 15, 2024
A sweet lil country romance with characters that were easy to like.
I'm notoriously bad at sticking with e-books, but this one was easy enough to hold my attention and allow me to finish it.
I'm not big on romance, but every now and then I don't mind a bit of fluff in my book diet and this just hit the spot nicely. Helps that the title was needed for a group challenge!
This sets up the city girl in the small town after her life is upended, and it's a trope that always works for me. In this instance, I found Autumn really easy to like, because instead of complaining and wallowing she just gets on with things.
The pace was fast and the story did feel like it was rushing moments sometimes - time passed very quickly - but I honestly didn't mind that at all. I wasn't looking for a great amount of depth from these characters, so what I got was enough.
It did feel a little too easy, and things just seemed to fall into place readily, but again, my standards were low so I wasn't too concerned. I was happy to just go along with things.
This ended up being a fun read that kept me invested and entertained. I'd recommend it for readers looking for some light 'chick lit' reading to pass the time.
With thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC
I'm notoriously bad at sticking with e-books, but this one was easy enough to hold my attention and allow me to finish it.
I'm not big on romance, but every now and then I don't mind a bit of fluff in my book diet and this just hit the spot nicely. Helps that the title was needed for a group challenge!
This sets up the city girl in the small town after her life is upended, and it's a trope that always works for me. In this instance, I found Autumn really easy to like, because instead of complaining and wallowing she just gets on with things.
The pace was fast and the story did feel like it was rushing moments sometimes - time passed very quickly - but I honestly didn't mind that at all. I wasn't looking for a great amount of depth from these characters, so what I got was enough.
It did feel a little too easy, and things just seemed to fall into place readily, but again, my standards were low so I wasn't too concerned. I was happy to just go along with things.
This ended up being a fun read that kept me invested and entertained. I'd recommend it for readers looking for some light 'chick lit' reading to pass the time.
With thanks to NetGalley for an e-ARC
July 22, 2024
The book seesawed too much for me. I just didn’t think parts were realistic. And I thought the grandmother character was off putting after a while. We do get a HEA though.
Full Review:
I honestly that this book just didn't work truly in the end. We follow 33 year old Autumn who is happily living with her long running partner of 18 years, Marc. Autumn and Marc have a 18 year old daughter named Chloe and though they got together very young (when Autumn became pregnant at 15) they see a light at the end of the tunnel with Autumn's new promotion at work which means they can finally find a place to buy. Things go south though when Marc disappears and leaves a note which results in Autumn and Chloe having to move in with Autumn's mother and realize that the best laid plans of mice and mice often go awry.
I don't know. The romance that Autumn wanted didn't feel organic. Just shoehorned in. And it felt like the last thing she cared about and it just didn't work since there were so many other bigger issues going on. I also thought there was a big hole with regards to Marc. There's no final resolution there in the epilogue. I think there should have been something mentioned.
I will say that MacLeod seems to love 18 months later epilogues that works for me though. I always call BS when there's a HEA after like 2 months.
Full Review:
I honestly that this book just didn't work truly in the end. We follow 33 year old Autumn who is happily living with her long running partner of 18 years, Marc. Autumn and Marc have a 18 year old daughter named Chloe and though they got together very young (when Autumn became pregnant at 15) they see a light at the end of the tunnel with Autumn's new promotion at work which means they can finally find a place to buy. Things go south though when Marc disappears and leaves a note which results in Autumn and Chloe having to move in with Autumn's mother and realize that the best laid plans of mice and mice often go awry.
I don't know. The romance that Autumn wanted didn't feel organic. Just shoehorned in. And it felt like the last thing she cared about and it just didn't work since there were so many other bigger issues going on. I also thought there was a big hole with regards to Marc. There's no final resolution there in the epilogue. I think there should have been something mentioned.
I will say that MacLeod seems to love 18 months later epilogues that works for me though. I always call BS when there's a HEA after like 2 months.
May 9, 2024
4.5 stars. Autumn and Marc had been high school sweethearts and became a couple early when she became pregnant. Chloe is almost sixteen and Autumn was beginning a new position of Deputy Head at the London school where she taught. She wants to buy a house and move out of the rental flat. Marc puts her off saying that they have to wait until she starts her new job. It's summer and one morning, when she gets up, she notices a letter by the front door addressed to her from Marc. He's gone, leaving behind everything except the clothes on his back, taking half of their savings. He felt trapped and needed to get away. This throws Autumn's and Chloe's life into turmoil. They end up moving in with her mother in rural Kent. The day they arrive, there is an accident and the local baker ends up in the hospital after riding his bike into Autumn's car. Trying to make amends, although it wasn't her fault, she offers to help in the bakery until he can run it himself. What happens next is a summer where both she and Chloe settle into the village. Can they find happiness in their new life?
This is a story of betrayal, family, new beginnings, community and romance. Everyone knows everyone's business in this village, but the gossip is like playing telephone. By the time everyone hears the news, it isn't anything like it was at the start. I really liked Autumn and Chloe. They have a great relationship, and although Chloe is a teenager, she didn't take out her father's abandonment on her mother. She wasn't happy about the move, but she moves on pretty quickly, perhaps because she had just ended a relationship in London. Jake was a character that had been through a lot and was pretty level headed. He was sure that any kind of relationship between him and Autumn had a lot of bumps and roadblocks they would need to get over. I loved Autumn's mom. I wish she had been my mom. She was refreshing, honest and not naïve in the least. As in any small town or village, there are a lot of quirky and eccentric secondary characters that add much to this story. As they all moved forward into a new beginning, I smiled and rooted for them to have a happy ending. The only thing that kept me from giving this one 5 stars is that Autumn moved on pretty quickly after being devastated by Marc's disappearance. An enjoyable story, with great characters, an engaging plot and an uplifting ending. If you enjoy women's fiction, romance and family stories, then I recommend this one to you.
This is a story of betrayal, family, new beginnings, community and romance. Everyone knows everyone's business in this village, but the gossip is like playing telephone. By the time everyone hears the news, it isn't anything like it was at the start. I really liked Autumn and Chloe. They have a great relationship, and although Chloe is a teenager, she didn't take out her father's abandonment on her mother. She wasn't happy about the move, but she moves on pretty quickly, perhaps because she had just ended a relationship in London. Jake was a character that had been through a lot and was pretty level headed. He was sure that any kind of relationship between him and Autumn had a lot of bumps and roadblocks they would need to get over. I loved Autumn's mom. I wish she had been my mom. She was refreshing, honest and not naïve in the least. As in any small town or village, there are a lot of quirky and eccentric secondary characters that add much to this story. As they all moved forward into a new beginning, I smiled and rooted for them to have a happy ending. The only thing that kept me from giving this one 5 stars is that Autumn moved on pretty quickly after being devastated by Marc's disappearance. An enjoyable story, with great characters, an engaging plot and an uplifting ending. If you enjoy women's fiction, romance and family stories, then I recommend this one to you.
August 10, 2024
Another quick and free kindle read. Read most of this in Richmond Park - my absolute fave place 🦌🌲
I really liked the start of this and the premise, I was like whaaaaat where’d he go?? But as the book went on, it lost me. I wasn’t convinced by the male lead, he never seemed keen on her at all and was full of excuses. (Where the strong confident male lead at??) Autumn was jumping through unrealistic hoops for him, when in reality your trust in people would be 0% after what happened to her.
Not my fave.
I really liked the start of this and the premise, I was like whaaaaat where’d he go?? But as the book went on, it lost me. I wasn’t convinced by the male lead, he never seemed keen on her at all and was full of excuses. (Where the strong confident male lead at??) Autumn was jumping through unrealistic hoops for him, when in reality your trust in people would be 0% after what happened to her.
Not my fave.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2024
The story was a bit hard to get through, just didn’t have much going for it. No chemistry between the characters and a flat ending.
May 25, 2024
A quick heart warming romance. The pacing is steady, and there was a lot to hold my attention. The small-town charm and quirkiness were really well done. I thought all the town’s people added an extra layer of fabulous entertainment and humour
March 17, 2024
I would like to thank NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I found this book to be quiet fast paced in my opinion.. I DIDNT really feel any emotional connection to either of the characters and I find the 2 mains had almost no chemistry at all.. everything just happened so fast.. they were very cute with each other at times but I just didn’t feel much of anything.
I found this book to be quiet fast paced in my opinion.. I DIDNT really feel any emotional connection to either of the characters and I find the 2 mains had almost no chemistry at all.. everything just happened so fast.. they were very cute with each other at times but I just didn’t feel much of anything.
August 15, 2024
2,5 stars … solid cheesy romance book but I didn't feel any tension between the main characters… maybe because they’re old idk 🤷♀️
March 16, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.
My Not So Perfect Summer was a cute read by Phoebe Macleod that had took me for a fun ride.
Autumn and her daughter Chloe are left by Marc as he suddenly realizes the life they were building is not the one he wants and have no option but to move back with Autumn’s mother to her sleepy little village. This isn’t a book where you’re tense about a rebuilding of relationships between Autumn and her mother, it just enhanced the overall book. Like a few romances in one story it was a joy to see how everything turns out for our characters.
I did wish the relationship between Autumn and her love interest, Jake, was further explored as I didn’t really get a chance to fully connect with Jake. Despite that I think this is a quick and easy read many will enjoy!
My Not So Perfect Summer was a cute read by Phoebe Macleod that had took me for a fun ride.
Autumn and her daughter Chloe are left by Marc as he suddenly realizes the life they were building is not the one he wants and have no option but to move back with Autumn’s mother to her sleepy little village. This isn’t a book where you’re tense about a rebuilding of relationships between Autumn and her mother, it just enhanced the overall book. Like a few romances in one story it was a joy to see how everything turns out for our characters.
I did wish the relationship between Autumn and her love interest, Jake, was further explored as I didn’t really get a chance to fully connect with Jake. Despite that I think this is a quick and easy read many will enjoy!
September 21, 2024
This is very cute.
After receiving a promotion that will make her able to buy a home in London, the h is left by her long-term boyfriend*(the father of her 15-year-old daughter) in a brutally selfish way that cost her her job, savings, and apartment.
She needs to re-build her life, something that includes a relocation from London to the country where she ends up living with her wonderfully supportive mom and daughter. She makes all the right decisions and when the boyfriend comes crawling back, she handles it just as she should.
This is charming, light, and sweet. It’s a fairly familiar plot, but this is an enjoyable little escape.
* The h is intelligent and not exactly naïve, but the fact that she didn’t see anything wrong with being in a 15+ year relationship with no commitment made me wonder if she had any friends. Someone should’ve clued her into the fact that he wasn’t committed to her in the truest way.
I know, I know, there are some couples that just don’t believe in marriage blah blah blah perfectly happy blah blah blah blah mutual respect blah blah blah marriage is just a piece of paper blah blah blah, but at least in my world, guys who will not marry you after a decade and a child are not worth having. I said what I said.
After receiving a promotion that will make her able to buy a home in London, the h is left by her long-term boyfriend*(the father of her 15-year-old daughter) in a brutally selfish way that cost her her job, savings, and apartment.
She needs to re-build her life, something that includes a relocation from London to the country where she ends up living with her wonderfully supportive mom and daughter. She makes all the right decisions and when the boyfriend comes crawling back, she handles it just as she should.
This is charming, light, and sweet. It’s a fairly familiar plot, but this is an enjoyable little escape.
* The h is intelligent and not exactly naïve, but the fact that she didn’t see anything wrong with being in a 15+ year relationship with no commitment made me wonder if she had any friends. Someone should’ve clued her into the fact that he wasn’t committed to her in the truest way.
I know, I know, there are some couples that just don’t believe in marriage blah blah blah perfectly happy blah blah blah blah mutual respect blah blah blah marriage is just a piece of paper blah blah blah, but at least in my world, guys who will not marry you after a decade and a child are not worth having. I said what I said.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2025
I enjoyed the audiobook of My (Not-So) Perfect Summer - it spent a bit of time showing what Autumn's normal life is like in central London, before Autumn's long-term boyfriend of 18 years, Marc, unexpectedly leaves her, taking half of their savings with him. This forces Autumn to give up her new promotion, resign from her job, and move herself and her daughter Chloe into her mum's new house in rural Kent.
When he did up and leave, I felt the shock that Autumn was feeling, even though I knew it was coming from the blurb. It was a massive betrayal, and premeditated to boot. After all of that, the story moved really quickly. Marc leaving his partner and teenage daughter without warning was a pretty harsh plot point, so the pivot to optimistic life-do-over was done really well. I'd say it was just as much about Autumn and her daughter Chloe finding out what they want in their new lives as it was about the new (no-spice) romance with baker Jake. It was a cute and really easy listen that I binged in one listening session on 3x speed.
When he did up and leave, I felt the shock that Autumn was feeling, even though I knew it was coming from the blurb. It was a massive betrayal, and premeditated to boot. After all of that, the story moved really quickly. Marc leaving his partner and teenage daughter without warning was a pretty harsh plot point, so the pivot to optimistic life-do-over was done really well. I'd say it was just as much about Autumn and her daughter Chloe finding out what they want in their new lives as it was about the new (no-spice) romance with baker Jake. It was a cute and really easy listen that I binged in one listening session on 3x speed.
January 8, 2025
Another cute one from Phoebe. I like the mother daughter relationship and allowing the daughter to grow. The dad needed someone to punch him. How could he not recognise he was in the wrong and did not deserve to come back wtf. I was fuming
July 23, 2024
Enjoyable
This book was quiet a story, I enjoyed reading it. I love where this book was set in London with a small town feel. The romance of this book was sweet and fun.
This book was quiet a story, I enjoyed reading it. I love where this book was set in London with a small town feel. The romance of this book was sweet and fun.
August 5, 2024
Fun summer read, worth reading. :)
August 29, 2024
Good holiday read
September 1, 2024
maybe 3.5 ⭐️’s? it was a cute wholesome little read that was easy and quick. defs not the best book i’ve ever read but it was nice
January 26, 2025
Really enjoyed this. Quite light-hearted. Will definitely give more of Phoebe’s books a go in between thrillers!
May 28, 2025
Predictable but quick and fun with likable characters! Perfect for a lighthearted summer read!
September 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. From the beginning I was pretty hooked and had to know what would happen as it progressed. I'm very happy how it all turned out and the characters were delightful! I loved the FMC and all the little things that happened. It was a cosy read during a difficult time <3
August 8, 2024
audiobook read - cute countryside romance that I have to say was a little cringeworthy and cliche at times. likeable concept with easy to like characters. if I’d have read it a few years ago I would have loved it but I feel as though I’ve read much better romances recently.
May 23, 2024
Autumns life partner up and leaves with half of their life savings, abandoning her and their teenage daughter. They had their child very early in life and it seems it became too much for him and he leaves without a hint or a word. Even though Autumn just received a new job title and a raise, she cannot afford to live in London on her income alone, so her and her daughter move to the country with her mother. She’s lost her love, her job and her home, how much worse can it get?
More of just a story, than a rom com or even rom, Autumn attempts to move onward in a new place after a big hurt. Nice female relationships between three generations of a family. The characters were all okay, they were good but just missing some sort of oomph to get me to fully love them. The timeline was also a little off, was it 6 weeks or 8? And had it been a few months or a year? So the title of the perfect summer was a little confusing. Predictable and just a little slow or my liking.
More of just a story, than a rom com or even rom, Autumn attempts to move onward in a new place after a big hurt. Nice female relationships between three generations of a family. The characters were all okay, they were good but just missing some sort of oomph to get me to fully love them. The timeline was also a little off, was it 6 weeks or 8? And had it been a few months or a year? So the title of the perfect summer was a little confusing. Predictable and just a little slow or my liking.
March 17, 2024
*Arc Review*
Thank you net galley and Pheobe Macleod for letting me read the arc copy.
This was a cute read that had some real life situations mixed in. Autumn and Marc being teen parents and Marc feeling like he missed many opportunities in life raising his child. Autumn having to figure out how she is going to make things financially work and moving back home with her mom.
I enjoyed reading the story plot and loved when she was working in the bakery with Jake. You could see their relationship blossoming. Once she left the bakery though, it was harder to see any connection going on. Despite it moving fast in the end, it was a cute small town bakery rom com and I believe people will enjoy it!
Thank you net galley and Pheobe Macleod for letting me read the arc copy.
This was a cute read that had some real life situations mixed in. Autumn and Marc being teen parents and Marc feeling like he missed many opportunities in life raising his child. Autumn having to figure out how she is going to make things financially work and moving back home with her mom.
I enjoyed reading the story plot and loved when she was working in the bakery with Jake. You could see their relationship blossoming. Once she left the bakery though, it was harder to see any connection going on. Despite it moving fast in the end, it was a cute small town bakery rom com and I believe people will enjoy it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2024
First, I want to sincerely thank NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
This book started off promising but quickly lost its footing. The characters lacked depth and growth. I formed no emotional attachment to them. I wanted to know more about Jake especially. I didn’t really see or feel the characters falling in love which was disappointing. It was a quick, easy read and had SO much potential but fell utterly flat.
This book started off promising but quickly lost its footing. The characters lacked depth and growth. I formed no emotional attachment to them. I wanted to know more about Jake especially. I didn’t really see or feel the characters falling in love which was disappointing. It was a quick, easy read and had SO much potential but fell utterly flat.
February 17, 2025
husband leaves, wife lives with mom and works at bakery
May 3, 2024
A heartwarming summer escape, “My Not So Perfect Summer” by Phoebe MacLeod is a delightful friends-to-lovers romantic comedy that will whisk you away to the charming English countryside. MacLeod weaves a tale of unexpected love, second chances, and the magic of warm summer days.
Meet Autumn. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her long-term boyfriend vanishes with half their savings. Left with no choice, she moves into her grandma's rural home in Kent. But things go from bad to worse when Autumn is involved in an accident during the move, making her a local outcast before she's even unpacked her bags.
Meet Jake, the village's dashing new baker with a plaster cast and irresistible charm. Autumn offers to help Jake in the bakery over the summer holidays, and as they work side by side, sparks fly. Their chemistry sizzles in the kitchen, and suddenly, this summer isn't such a write-off after all.
MacLeod's writing is warm and engaging, painting vivid scenes of the picturesque village, mouthwatering pastries, and the slow-burning romance between Autumn and Jake. The banter between the characters is witty, and their emotional journeys feel authentic.
Autumn is a relatable protagonist. She is flawed, resilient, and endearing. Her vulnerability draws you in, and you'll root for her as she navigates life's unexpected twists. Jake, on the other hand, is the perfect mix of brooding and sweet. His passion for baking adds depth to his character, and you'll find yourself craving cinnamon rolls and strawberry tarts as you read.
The supporting cast of quirky villagers, nosy neighbours, and a disobedient dog, adds layers to the story. Grandma's wisdom and the picturesque Kent landscape provide a comforting backdrop for Autumn and Jake's romance.
“My Not So Perfect Summer” is a heartwarming escape and it’s a book to read while sipping iced tea on a sunny afternoon. MacLeod's storytelling captures the essence of summer: lazy days, unexpected connections, and the promise of love blooming like wildflowers. If you're looking for a feel-good read that will leave you smiling, you won't be disappointed in this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Meet Autumn. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her long-term boyfriend vanishes with half their savings. Left with no choice, she moves into her grandma's rural home in Kent. But things go from bad to worse when Autumn is involved in an accident during the move, making her a local outcast before she's even unpacked her bags.
Meet Jake, the village's dashing new baker with a plaster cast and irresistible charm. Autumn offers to help Jake in the bakery over the summer holidays, and as they work side by side, sparks fly. Their chemistry sizzles in the kitchen, and suddenly, this summer isn't such a write-off after all.
MacLeod's writing is warm and engaging, painting vivid scenes of the picturesque village, mouthwatering pastries, and the slow-burning romance between Autumn and Jake. The banter between the characters is witty, and their emotional journeys feel authentic.
Autumn is a relatable protagonist. She is flawed, resilient, and endearing. Her vulnerability draws you in, and you'll root for her as she navigates life's unexpected twists. Jake, on the other hand, is the perfect mix of brooding and sweet. His passion for baking adds depth to his character, and you'll find yourself craving cinnamon rolls and strawberry tarts as you read.
The supporting cast of quirky villagers, nosy neighbours, and a disobedient dog, adds layers to the story. Grandma's wisdom and the picturesque Kent landscape provide a comforting backdrop for Autumn and Jake's romance.
“My Not So Perfect Summer” is a heartwarming escape and it’s a book to read while sipping iced tea on a sunny afternoon. MacLeod's storytelling captures the essence of summer: lazy days, unexpected connections, and the promise of love blooming like wildflowers. If you're looking for a feel-good read that will leave you smiling, you won't be disappointed in this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 11, 2024
My Not So Perfect Summer is charming and heartwarming and is sure to please bookworms looking for a small-town romance.
This book was an enjoyable read. I really love reading books set in small towns, and I adore charming romance novels. This book was even more enjoyable because one of the MCs has this fish-out-of-water experience. What I mean by fish out of water is when a character is placed or finds themselves in a situation that takes them out of their comfort zone or is in an environment that they have never been in before. The result of this fish-out-of-water trope is lots of funny moments and awkward situations. Autumn finds herself moving to a small town after her long-time boyfriend has arrived and leaves without notice. Autumn finds herself in hot water when she accidentally gets into a car accident with the local baker, Jake. The local villagers blame Autumn for what happened. So, to help fix the situation, Autumn helps Jake out in the bakery until he can get back on his feet.
This story is really easy to read. The pacing is steady, and there is a lot to keep your attention. The small-town charm and quirkiness were really well done. I thought all the town’s people added that extra layer of fabulous entertainment and humour. I loved watching the different family dynamics in this story. You have Autumn and her teenage daughter, and then Autumn and her own mom. Watching these three generations of women interact with each other was fascinating. Autumn is a likeable character, and she is very easy to connect with. You cannot help but want good and fabulous things for her. Autumn’s journey is centred around figuring out who she is and learning to move on from the world-shattering betrayal that was done to her by her ex-boyfriend. The romance is sweet and fun. I enjoyed the chemistry between Autumn and Jake. I loved watching them work together in the bakery and ate up those sweet and funny moments.
If you are in need of a quick and heartwarming pick-me-up romance, then be sure to get your hands on My Not So Perfect Summer.
Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
This book was an enjoyable read. I really love reading books set in small towns, and I adore charming romance novels. This book was even more enjoyable because one of the MCs has this fish-out-of-water experience. What I mean by fish out of water is when a character is placed or finds themselves in a situation that takes them out of their comfort zone or is in an environment that they have never been in before. The result of this fish-out-of-water trope is lots of funny moments and awkward situations. Autumn finds herself moving to a small town after her long-time boyfriend has arrived and leaves without notice. Autumn finds herself in hot water when she accidentally gets into a car accident with the local baker, Jake. The local villagers blame Autumn for what happened. So, to help fix the situation, Autumn helps Jake out in the bakery until he can get back on his feet.
This story is really easy to read. The pacing is steady, and there is a lot to keep your attention. The small-town charm and quirkiness were really well done. I thought all the town’s people added that extra layer of fabulous entertainment and humour. I loved watching the different family dynamics in this story. You have Autumn and her teenage daughter, and then Autumn and her own mom. Watching these three generations of women interact with each other was fascinating. Autumn is a likeable character, and she is very easy to connect with. You cannot help but want good and fabulous things for her. Autumn’s journey is centred around figuring out who she is and learning to move on from the world-shattering betrayal that was done to her by her ex-boyfriend. The romance is sweet and fun. I enjoyed the chemistry between Autumn and Jake. I loved watching them work together in the bakery and ate up those sweet and funny moments.
If you are in need of a quick and heartwarming pick-me-up romance, then be sure to get your hands on My Not So Perfect Summer.
Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
May 11, 2024
I have a number of complaints, but the book had its moments.
First off, I came for the romance novel and there was a rather negative amount of romance. The love storyline might have been happening to the FMC, I’m not denying it, it just wasn’t happening on the pages of this novel. In that sense the book is more about changing your life due to some unexpected circumstances and it wasn’t terrible overall.
I felt the lack of depth to any of the characters and didn’t connect emotionally to them. Even when something dramatic was happening, I saw more thinking process of what the characters logically were supposed to express rather than them actually going there and feeling it.
Don’t get me started on MMC (if you even can call him that). The guy is not capable of making a single decision in his life and just goes with whatever the world (and others) is doing to him pretending to be a victim in the process (pathetic to my liking but I guess whatever gets you going). There’s no character to him, he’s just there as a furniture (both in his life and in the novel).
In general the author tried to make the main characters (and when I say main characters I’m talking about grandma, mother and daughter) cool, chill and someone you wish you could be, but it felt forced and unrealistic due to that.
I also promised there were some things I liked about the book, and mainly they are the topics raised throughout the story - teenage pregnancy but not the whole drama in the peak moment but how it turned out 15 years down the line; the partner leaving after decades together out of the blue and getting over it and moving forward. The practical side of things.
It was okay in general and I was reading it fast but it gave me almost no emotions. And I’m not coming to the book world for mediocrity. Not going to my recommendations list.
First off, I came for the romance novel and there was a rather negative amount of romance. The love storyline might have been happening to the FMC, I’m not denying it, it just wasn’t happening on the pages of this novel. In that sense the book is more about changing your life due to some unexpected circumstances and it wasn’t terrible overall.
I felt the lack of depth to any of the characters and didn’t connect emotionally to them. Even when something dramatic was happening, I saw more thinking process of what the characters logically were supposed to express rather than them actually going there and feeling it.
Don’t get me started on MMC (if you even can call him that). The guy is not capable of making a single decision in his life and just goes with whatever the world (and others) is doing to him pretending to be a victim in the process (pathetic to my liking but I guess whatever gets you going). There’s no character to him, he’s just there as a furniture (both in his life and in the novel).
In general the author tried to make the main characters (and when I say main characters I’m talking about grandma, mother and daughter) cool, chill and someone you wish you could be, but it felt forced and unrealistic due to that.
I also promised there were some things I liked about the book, and mainly they are the topics raised throughout the story - teenage pregnancy but not the whole drama in the peak moment but how it turned out 15 years down the line; the partner leaving after decades together out of the blue and getting over it and moving forward. The practical side of things.
It was okay in general and I was reading it fast but it gave me almost no emotions. And I’m not coming to the book world for mediocrity. Not going to my recommendations list.
May 29, 2025
🥖🫶 My Not So Perfect Summer by Phoebe MacLeod 🫶🥖
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Length: 282 pages
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summary (copied from Amazon):
As spring flowers start to bloom in London, Autumn’s life is looking up! She has a great relationship with her brilliant teenage daughter Chloe and she’s on track to be Deputy Head at the London school where she works. And with a pay rise on the cards, she's excited for her and her long-term boyfriend Marc to buy their first home.
But Autumn’s barely opened the estate agent's website when Marc vanishes with half their savings, leaving her no choice but to move into grandma’s rural home in Kent. And things go from bad to worse when Autumn is involved in an accident during the move, leaving the village’s dashing new baker Jake in plaster cast, and making her a local outcast before she’s even unpacked her bags.
Determined to put things right, Autumn offers to help Jake in the bakery over the summer holidays. But as things heat up in the kitchen, Autumn can’t help noticing that Jake is a lot more Paul Hollywood and a lot less Mr Kipling than she originally thought.
Maybe this summer isn’t such a write off after all?
Opinion:
This was my first book by this author and I absolutely loved her writing! Phoebe's journey to find love again was such a heart-warming. I loved the three-generation relationship of Phoebe, Chloe, and her mom and how they all offered each other support and wisdom despite their age differences. This book was honestly just as much about family as it was about love, which makes it very relatable for me. The meet-cute of Jake and Phoebe was also very unique and humorous, and their romance was an extremely slow burn. Some tropes in this one are single mom, small town, and (kind of) workplace romance. If you're looking for a sweet love story that is on the non-spicy side, this is definitely for you!
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Length: 282 pages
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summary (copied from Amazon):
As spring flowers start to bloom in London, Autumn’s life is looking up! She has a great relationship with her brilliant teenage daughter Chloe and she’s on track to be Deputy Head at the London school where she works. And with a pay rise on the cards, she's excited for her and her long-term boyfriend Marc to buy their first home.
But Autumn’s barely opened the estate agent's website when Marc vanishes with half their savings, leaving her no choice but to move into grandma’s rural home in Kent. And things go from bad to worse when Autumn is involved in an accident during the move, leaving the village’s dashing new baker Jake in plaster cast, and making her a local outcast before she’s even unpacked her bags.
Determined to put things right, Autumn offers to help Jake in the bakery over the summer holidays. But as things heat up in the kitchen, Autumn can’t help noticing that Jake is a lot more Paul Hollywood and a lot less Mr Kipling than she originally thought.
Maybe this summer isn’t such a write off after all?
Opinion:
This was my first book by this author and I absolutely loved her writing! Phoebe's journey to find love again was such a heart-warming. I loved the three-generation relationship of Phoebe, Chloe, and her mom and how they all offered each other support and wisdom despite their age differences. This book was honestly just as much about family as it was about love, which makes it very relatable for me. The meet-cute of Jake and Phoebe was also very unique and humorous, and their romance was an extremely slow burn. Some tropes in this one are single mom, small town, and (kind of) workplace romance. If you're looking for a sweet love story that is on the non-spicy side, this is definitely for you!
May 21, 2024
Loved it
Recently I’ve read a few books which were promoted as heart-warming and uplifting which turned out to be neither; this one was described as a friends to lovers romantic comedy and it was exactly as described, plus heart warming and uplifting.It was so easy to read, I was sucked into Autumn and Chloe’s story almost immediately and I devoured it in a day.
Autumn was a teenage mum by seventeen, surprisingly the baby’s father, Marc, stuck by her and with lots of support from their parents, they made it work, sixteen years later they are still together. Autumn, now a teacher, is about to get promoted into a deputy head post and she is over the moon, the pay rise means that they should be able to buy a flat rather than continuing to rent. However, Marc doesn’t seem so keen and keeps trying to dissuade her. A few weeks later, it’s clear that he had other plans for their savings when he disappears, taking half their money and leaving a very ambiguous note. Autumn doesn’t understand where he’s gone or why, he left everything behind except for his passport and driving licence. Then reality hits, they can’t afford to live in London on one wage, the only alternative is to move in with her Mum. Chloe is not thrilled to be leaving London for a small village in Kent and for Autumn going back to live with her Mother seems like admitting failure, but needs must. The story is mostly about overcoming your problems and finding a way to move forward to be happy.
I loved this happy, upbeat story showing that life may not always be smooth sailing, but if you can keep moving forward and you can find the people and places who can bring joy back into your life.
Recently I’ve read a few books which were promoted as heart-warming and uplifting which turned out to be neither; this one was described as a friends to lovers romantic comedy and it was exactly as described, plus heart warming and uplifting.It was so easy to read, I was sucked into Autumn and Chloe’s story almost immediately and I devoured it in a day.
Autumn was a teenage mum by seventeen, surprisingly the baby’s father, Marc, stuck by her and with lots of support from their parents, they made it work, sixteen years later they are still together. Autumn, now a teacher, is about to get promoted into a deputy head post and she is over the moon, the pay rise means that they should be able to buy a flat rather than continuing to rent. However, Marc doesn’t seem so keen and keeps trying to dissuade her. A few weeks later, it’s clear that he had other plans for their savings when he disappears, taking half their money and leaving a very ambiguous note. Autumn doesn’t understand where he’s gone or why, he left everything behind except for his passport and driving licence. Then reality hits, they can’t afford to live in London on one wage, the only alternative is to move in with her Mum. Chloe is not thrilled to be leaving London for a small village in Kent and for Autumn going back to live with her Mother seems like admitting failure, but needs must. The story is mostly about overcoming your problems and finding a way to move forward to be happy.
I loved this happy, upbeat story showing that life may not always be smooth sailing, but if you can keep moving forward and you can find the people and places who can bring joy back into your life.
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