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You, As You Are
'She’s never fallen quite like this.’
Maisie Moss never expected that at twenty-nine, she’d be exchanging her busy London life to move in with her eccentric grandmother, even temporarily. Despite the charm of this quiet seaside town, Maisie’s social life screeches to a halt and she quickly finds herself homesick. But when an intervention thrusts her into joining grandma Vera’s hiking group of quirky retirees, one clumsy misstep lands her falling into the arms of a gruff, rugged local. Being drawn to the mountain man wasn’t in Maisie’s plans, but we can’t help who we fall for, can we?
After a turbulent two years restarting his life, Iain Howell now keeps to himself, preferring the solace of the Welsh hills and the company of his mischievous dog to the world around him. Stuck in a stagnant job with a wounded heart, Iain craves a new adventure but doesn’t know where to start. Falling in love again is certainly off of the cards, yet something about Maisie’s vibrant company might just be the lost key to warming up his locked away heart.
When their elderly friends begin to meddle in their dreary love lives, the polar opposite pair concoct a plan of their own to fake a romance and avoid the nosy ways of Vera and her allies. Though between awkward hikes, glamping mishaps, and unexpected set-ups, how long can ‘pretend’ truly last?
****
Content
This story is an open door romance intended for mature readers, containing sexually explicit and adult content. The following themes, in my best effort to be handled with care, are also endometriosis, infertility, loss of consciousness, discussions of parental verbal abuse and neurological disease.
Maisie Moss never expected that at twenty-nine, she’d be exchanging her busy London life to move in with her eccentric grandmother, even temporarily. Despite the charm of this quiet seaside town, Maisie’s social life screeches to a halt and she quickly finds herself homesick. But when an intervention thrusts her into joining grandma Vera’s hiking group of quirky retirees, one clumsy misstep lands her falling into the arms of a gruff, rugged local. Being drawn to the mountain man wasn’t in Maisie’s plans, but we can’t help who we fall for, can we?
After a turbulent two years restarting his life, Iain Howell now keeps to himself, preferring the solace of the Welsh hills and the company of his mischievous dog to the world around him. Stuck in a stagnant job with a wounded heart, Iain craves a new adventure but doesn’t know where to start. Falling in love again is certainly off of the cards, yet something about Maisie’s vibrant company might just be the lost key to warming up his locked away heart.
When their elderly friends begin to meddle in their dreary love lives, the polar opposite pair concoct a plan of their own to fake a romance and avoid the nosy ways of Vera and her allies. Though between awkward hikes, glamping mishaps, and unexpected set-ups, how long can ‘pretend’ truly last?
****
Content
This story is an open door romance intended for mature readers, containing sexually explicit and adult content. The following themes, in my best effort to be handled with care, are also endometriosis, infertility, loss of consciousness, discussions of parental verbal abuse and neurological disease.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2025
26 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
March 21, 2025
You, As You Are is a wholesome contemporary romance set in the Welsh countryside. This story features tropes such as fake dating, grumpy x sunshine and a slow burn romance with partial lived-experience endometriosis representation.
Emma’s writing pulled me in right away. The characters are layered, three dimensional and relatable—even a certain croissant-loving dog. It was easy to connect with the characters and feel immersed in the scenes—so much so that I may have teared up a few times (in a good way). I loved the Welsh language and Welsh folklore woven in—it really added to the story.
Maisie and Iain stole my heart! Their banter, humor and character arcs felt very natural, and I loved watching their romance slowly unfold. Iain left me laughing and swooning. He is thoughtful, has a way with words and takes such good care of Maisie—especially regarding her chronic illness. The caretaking & endometriosis representation was immaculately done.
I loved this book, and I highly recommend making You, As You Are one of your next reads!
Thank you so much to Emma Sewell for this eARC! I loved being on your ARC reader team!
Emma’s writing pulled me in right away. The characters are layered, three dimensional and relatable—even a certain croissant-loving dog. It was easy to connect with the characters and feel immersed in the scenes—so much so that I may have teared up a few times (in a good way). I loved the Welsh language and Welsh folklore woven in—it really added to the story.
Maisie and Iain stole my heart! Their banter, humor and character arcs felt very natural, and I loved watching their romance slowly unfold. Iain left me laughing and swooning. He is thoughtful, has a way with words and takes such good care of Maisie—especially regarding her chronic illness. The caretaking & endometriosis representation was immaculately done.
I loved this book, and I highly recommend making You, As You Are one of your next reads!
Thank you so much to Emma Sewell for this eARC! I loved being on your ARC reader team!
March 26, 2025
Thank you SO MUCH to Emma Sewell for a copy of this book before its release!!! Which happens to be in just a couple days! Everyone can get their copies in just 2 days from now! ❤️🔥
This book was amazing! This is book #2 in the Changing Seasons series. I was lucky enough to read Only Ever You, book #1 in this series, which is a Christmas themed book. So naturally I wanted to get a head start on the rest of the series!
I loved everything about our FMC, Maisie. She is such a sweet and kind soul, and this book does a great job of representing lots of different facets and communities in a way that is sensitive and charming. Maisie is a plus sized FMC who suffers from endometriosis - I have not yet come across another book that has endo rep in my adult years. While I do not personally have endometriosis and cannot speak to the specifics of the challenges it presents, I felt that the inclusion of Maisie’s endometriosis and the way it was written into this book was a really good way for people to learn more. Of course, google is free, but seeing someone on page suffer from something that should be a lot more normalized is very refreshing in my eyes.
Onto our MMC, Iain - he is nothing but a big softy! Not true, he is definitely the “grumpy” in our grumpy x sunshine pairing, but there’s always something more to that. Iain has suffered from a lot as well, but he has mostly suffered from emotional trauma and abuse. Again, I think that it is really refreshing to read from a male POV that has many conflicting and warring emotions for us to see on the page.
Maisie and Iain’s chemistry is 10/10, and the circumstances that bring them together are so hilarious and unique. When Maisie moves to Wales to be close to her grandmother, she in no way expects to meet someone who is so different to her but also complements her. The fake dating aspect is one of my favorite tropes and is very well done. The slow burn burns and is very satisfying when it comes to a head. Both of their reluctance to open up to another person is extremely relatable after what they have been through.
Overall, I loved this book! While it did take me a little bit longer to finish, I still enjoyed every minute of it and never felt lost (even with my small American brain trying to pronounce welsh words - there is a glossary to help!). I love this series so far and cannot wait for the next installation. The world is so cute and the friendships are enviable. Please do yourself a favor and get your hands on a copy of OEY or YAYA today!!!!!
This book was amazing! This is book #2 in the Changing Seasons series. I was lucky enough to read Only Ever You, book #1 in this series, which is a Christmas themed book. So naturally I wanted to get a head start on the rest of the series!
I loved everything about our FMC, Maisie. She is such a sweet and kind soul, and this book does a great job of representing lots of different facets and communities in a way that is sensitive and charming. Maisie is a plus sized FMC who suffers from endometriosis - I have not yet come across another book that has endo rep in my adult years. While I do not personally have endometriosis and cannot speak to the specifics of the challenges it presents, I felt that the inclusion of Maisie’s endometriosis and the way it was written into this book was a really good way for people to learn more. Of course, google is free, but seeing someone on page suffer from something that should be a lot more normalized is very refreshing in my eyes.
Onto our MMC, Iain - he is nothing but a big softy! Not true, he is definitely the “grumpy” in our grumpy x sunshine pairing, but there’s always something more to that. Iain has suffered from a lot as well, but he has mostly suffered from emotional trauma and abuse. Again, I think that it is really refreshing to read from a male POV that has many conflicting and warring emotions for us to see on the page.
Maisie and Iain’s chemistry is 10/10, and the circumstances that bring them together are so hilarious and unique. When Maisie moves to Wales to be close to her grandmother, she in no way expects to meet someone who is so different to her but also complements her. The fake dating aspect is one of my favorite tropes and is very well done. The slow burn burns and is very satisfying when it comes to a head. Both of their reluctance to open up to another person is extremely relatable after what they have been through.
Overall, I loved this book! While it did take me a little bit longer to finish, I still enjoyed every minute of it and never felt lost (even with my small American brain trying to pronounce welsh words - there is a glossary to help!). I love this series so far and cannot wait for the next installation. The world is so cute and the friendships are enviable. Please do yourself a favor and get your hands on a copy of OEY or YAYA today!!!!!
February 7, 2025
100/5 stars because holy moly is this a GREAT BOOK.
I loved Maisie, i loved Iain (thank you Dual POV), I loved Ted (my babyyy), I loved the meddling elders.
Reading this should be mandatory for romance readers, so that Emma gets the recognition she deserves. Kennedy, Henry, Jimenez, who?? Sewell is where it's at!!!
I know this book is loong and that might scare some of y'all (cowards *ehem*) but i beg you to give it a chance anyway, because there isn't a word that should've been cut or a sentence that is unnecessarily long. I don't know how the author did it, but the pacing is sooo well done, nothing drags on and you just travel along following Maisie and Iain's journey to find happiness.
Just a great read for spring time but also if you're just feeling like it. Also note that this is PART 2 of the Changing Seasons series but I feel like if you don't mind spoilers for the first book you can just as well read it as a standalone (i recommend you read both tho because Emma deserves all the love!!!)
💛🌻
I loved Maisie, i loved Iain (thank you Dual POV), I loved Ted (my babyyy), I loved the meddling elders.
Reading this should be mandatory for romance readers, so that Emma gets the recognition she deserves. Kennedy, Henry, Jimenez, who?? Sewell is where it's at!!!
I know this book is loong and that might scare some of y'all (cowards *ehem*) but i beg you to give it a chance anyway, because there isn't a word that should've been cut or a sentence that is unnecessarily long. I don't know how the author did it, but the pacing is sooo well done, nothing drags on and you just travel along following Maisie and Iain's journey to find happiness.
Just a great read for spring time but also if you're just feeling like it. Also note that this is PART 2 of the Changing Seasons series but I feel like if you don't mind spoilers for the first book you can just as well read it as a standalone (i recommend you read both tho because Emma deserves all the love!!!)
💛🌻
February 22, 2025
I was really excited for this book to come out as I enjoyed book 1 in this series (Only Ever You).
With that being said...I struggled with continuing at times and it took me longer to finish than books almost double its length. But, overall I mostly enjoyed the story.
What did I like?
- I'm a dog person through and through, so Ted stole my heart from the beginning.
- The overall message of not letting past circumstances control your future was heartfelt.
- our MCs healing from last traumas and choosing to move forward and take the steps towards a life they want and not living in the past.
- The dynamic of the elders looking out for our younger MCs (even though they were a little meddlesome, they had their hearts in the right place)
- I was invested in all the character's growths and the progression of their story lines. Seeing them all grow as individuals and watching Maisie and Iain grow to know and open up to each other made for some sweet moments.
What I did not like:
- multiple uses of the "gd" word (I absolutely despise this, it's an immediate turn off for me)
- there were a few uses of Jesus' name in an inappropriate manner.
These are a couple of my top turn offs in books and solely reflect my personal preferences.
Thank you to the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Tropes:
🥾 He takes care of her when she is sick
🌼 Fake dating
🥾 Strangers to lovers
🌼 Dog Dad
🥾 Opposites attract
🌼 City girl x country guy
With that being said...I struggled with continuing at times and it took me longer to finish than books almost double its length. But, overall I mostly enjoyed the story.
What did I like?
- I'm a dog person through and through, so Ted stole my heart from the beginning.
- The overall message of not letting past circumstances control your future was heartfelt.
- our MCs healing from last traumas and choosing to move forward and take the steps towards a life they want and not living in the past.
- The dynamic of the elders looking out for our younger MCs (even though they were a little meddlesome, they had their hearts in the right place)
- I was invested in all the character's growths and the progression of their story lines. Seeing them all grow as individuals and watching Maisie and Iain grow to know and open up to each other made for some sweet moments.
What I did not like:
- multiple uses of the "gd" word (I absolutely despise this, it's an immediate turn off for me)
- there were a few uses of Jesus' name in an inappropriate manner.
These are a couple of my top turn offs in books and solely reflect my personal preferences.
Thank you to the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Tropes:
🥾 He takes care of her when she is sick
🌼 Fake dating
🥾 Strangers to lovers
🌼 Dog Dad
🥾 Opposites attract
🌼 City girl x country guy
February 21, 2025
thankyou for the arc in exchange of honest review!!
STARS STARS INFINITY STARS!!!There's not a single aspect I didn't like in this book. All the heavy topics were expressed in a very realistic way that you actually understand it.
Maisie is such a sweet, kind soul. I loved her characterization and the way her insecurities about being plus sized, endometriosis were portrayed in a realistic manner. The way every man let her down and never prioritised her, but I loved her growth and how she started being more and more confident. Her quirky personality and empathetic nature just makes you fall in love with her.
And Iain, well, he is what every woman desires in her life. He appears as grumpy mountain man, and he is. But behind all this exterior lies a man who doesn't appreciate himself and thinks he is not enough. He has layers to himself that nobody cares to pass through and has stopped expressing himself. His family dynamics was so heartbreaking. I cried when he finally accepted he was enough amd started doing things he really wanted.
Them together? It was mixtures of emotions. They make you laugh, fall in love, break heart and patch it up in the best way possible. Slow burn is not my thing, but she does it in the way that you actually agree with them moving slowly. They are just so relatable, juggling with the dimensions of their relationships. He is so patient with her and is ready to move along her pace and actually understands the things she doesn't even say. I loved how he constantly assured her that he will never let her fall. Also the way she understood him and never gave up on him was everything. She believed in him wholeheartedly and saw him for who he was. How beautiful it is that somebody loves you for who you are and doesn't care about external stuff? My man deserves her, nothing less.
And I loved how the spice was handled in this book, it was very beautiful and well very spice.
The penguin reference and the meaning being his nickname for her was cherry on the top.
TED!!! He was really the baby of them for how he was constantly in their life. Also Vera!! I actually thought she was sick haha but her meddlesome nature really did magic for them.
This is a must read for people who love love.
STARS STARS INFINITY STARS!!!There's not a single aspect I didn't like in this book. All the heavy topics were expressed in a very realistic way that you actually understand it.
Maisie is such a sweet, kind soul. I loved her characterization and the way her insecurities about being plus sized, endometriosis were portrayed in a realistic manner. The way every man let her down and never prioritised her, but I loved her growth and how she started being more and more confident. Her quirky personality and empathetic nature just makes you fall in love with her.
And Iain, well, he is what every woman desires in her life. He appears as grumpy mountain man, and he is. But behind all this exterior lies a man who doesn't appreciate himself and thinks he is not enough. He has layers to himself that nobody cares to pass through and has stopped expressing himself. His family dynamics was so heartbreaking. I cried when he finally accepted he was enough amd started doing things he really wanted.
Them together? It was mixtures of emotions. They make you laugh, fall in love, break heart and patch it up in the best way possible. Slow burn is not my thing, but she does it in the way that you actually agree with them moving slowly. They are just so relatable, juggling with the dimensions of their relationships. He is so patient with her and is ready to move along her pace and actually understands the things she doesn't even say. I loved how he constantly assured her that he will never let her fall. Also the way she understood him and never gave up on him was everything. She believed in him wholeheartedly and saw him for who he was. How beautiful it is that somebody loves you for who you are and doesn't care about external stuff? My man deserves her, nothing less.
And I loved how the spice was handled in this book, it was very beautiful and well very spice.
The penguin reference and the meaning being his nickname for her was cherry on the top.
TED!!! He was really the baby of them for how he was constantly in their life. Also Vera!! I actually thought she was sick haha but her meddlesome nature really did magic for them.
This is a must read for people who love love.
February 20, 2025
What an incredible read of the second book to the Changing Seasons series! I am so thankful of the author for allowing me this opportunity to read this book in advanced 🫶 I usually don’t have the patience when it comes to slow burn romance but this one is truly exceptional! The story throughout has really built up the connection between the main characters and as a reader, it made us feel connected to them too. There is only a few spice scenes in this book as Maisie suffers from a condition called endometriosis which is very thoughtful of the author to have raised an awareness for it but the sexual content is definitely worth waiting for 😍
By the end of the book, I have came to love Maisie and Iain’s characters. How they both became so loving to one another and really understood each other is beautiful. The cute nickname that Iain has given her is adorable, I have been dying to know why he chose that nickname specifically and now I know!🥰 Also Ted the dog is just so cute, it’s always nice to have an animal as a companion 🐶 I also can’t forget about Maisie’s gran who tries to play cupid for them both, I absolutely applaud to her for trying😂
By the end of the book, I have came to love Maisie and Iain’s characters. How they both became so loving to one another and really understood each other is beautiful. The cute nickname that Iain has given her is adorable, I have been dying to know why he chose that nickname specifically and now I know!🥰 Also Ted the dog is just so cute, it’s always nice to have an animal as a companion 🐶 I also can’t forget about Maisie’s gran who tries to play cupid for them both, I absolutely applaud to her for trying😂
February 24, 2025
I received an ARC of this book (thank you Emma!) and I honestly LOVED it. I didn’t realize it was a series, and I did not read the first book, but I don’t feel like I missed much without it. But, I loved this book so much that I’ll definitely be going back to read the first book.
I had such a fun time reading this book. Maisie was written as someone who was very relatable. Her personal life as well as her health struggles were so well written that I felt like I really understood what she was going through, even if I can’t relate to those struggles myself.
The visuals in this book were perfectly described so that I felt like I was watching a movie of what was happening rather than just reading it. I loved that this was set in Wales and the addition of some Welsh words sprinkled throughout was a really nice touch.
I loved the fact that there was fake dating in a way you wouldn’t really expect. It’s definitely my favorite trope and this was done in a way that made it feel believable.
The representation of endometriosis was eye opening and the fact that Iain was willing to work through Maisie’s struggles was just so hot to me. We love an understanding king!
Overall I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read future releases!
I had such a fun time reading this book. Maisie was written as someone who was very relatable. Her personal life as well as her health struggles were so well written that I felt like I really understood what she was going through, even if I can’t relate to those struggles myself.
The visuals in this book were perfectly described so that I felt like I was watching a movie of what was happening rather than just reading it. I loved that this was set in Wales and the addition of some Welsh words sprinkled throughout was a really nice touch.
I loved the fact that there was fake dating in a way you wouldn’t really expect. It’s definitely my favorite trope and this was done in a way that made it feel believable.
The representation of endometriosis was eye opening and the fact that Iain was willing to work through Maisie’s struggles was just so hot to me. We love an understanding king!
Overall I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read future releases!
February 14, 2025
Thankyou Emma for the ARC!
This book was so cute. Emma has a really lovely way of writing, and I immediately loved Maisie the FMC. It's so nice to have a curvy lady as the main lead, and her having endometriosis is such a good representation.
I loved the emotional journey Maisie and Iain went on to fully realise their self-worth and what they deserve out of partners and life. Ted is a sweetheart, and I loved getting a glimpse into Bash and Faye's life again (Only Ever You, the first book of the series). Can we talk about the cheeky meddling pensioners?! Vera is a monkey and I LOVE it. I'm an absolute sucker for the fake dating trope too.
This book was so cute. Emma has a really lovely way of writing, and I immediately loved Maisie the FMC. It's so nice to have a curvy lady as the main lead, and her having endometriosis is such a good representation.
I loved the emotional journey Maisie and Iain went on to fully realise their self-worth and what they deserve out of partners and life. Ted is a sweetheart, and I loved getting a glimpse into Bash and Faye's life again (Only Ever You, the first book of the series). Can we talk about the cheeky meddling pensioners?! Vera is a monkey and I LOVE it. I'm an absolute sucker for the fake dating trope too.
April 5, 2025
4.5 stars
Iain was the sweetest, most patient, most caring book boyfriend ever (he was also a little grumpy but honestly I love him even more for that). The way he helped her with her business when she was sick, researched endometriosis so he knew how to take care of her, and was so quick to apologize when he messed up 😭😭
This was a sloowwww slow burn but the payoff was so worth it
Iain was the sweetest, most patient, most caring book boyfriend ever (he was also a little grumpy but honestly I love him even more for that). The way he helped her with her business when she was sick, researched endometriosis so he knew how to take care of her, and was so quick to apologize when he messed up 😭😭
This was a sloowwww slow burn but the payoff was so worth it
June 3, 2025
A sweet romance read ! Some good tropes !
December 28, 2025
Wow! Where do I begin?? I loved every single ounce of this book. It had everything I could possibly want in an adult romance book. I loved how vulnerable yet strong both Iain & Maisie were with each other and how both their lives of their past shaped who they were and who they became was so impactful I don’t think I’ll ever loose what this book means to me in a hurry.
- I loved that this book had so much rep inside and all the issues and topics were done so delicately yet in a meaningful way that it just felt right. There was no uncomfortable moments when dealing with the topics discussed either which in my book means it was done brilliantly.
I loved it. This is one book that will stay with me forever and live in my mind rent free. I will not stop recommending this series to anyone. Best yet easiest 5 star read of the year!
Thank you to Emma Sewell for allowing me to be part of your Advanced Reader Group it’s been a pleasure to read and review this Master piece. 🥰
I would also like to point out that Iain was written with such a vulnerability that we rarely get to see in romance books so for that, he’s a great male character I’ve ever read about without taking away his masculinity
- I loved that this book had so much rep inside and all the issues and topics were done so delicately yet in a meaningful way that it just felt right. There was no uncomfortable moments when dealing with the topics discussed either which in my book means it was done brilliantly.
I loved it. This is one book that will stay with me forever and live in my mind rent free. I will not stop recommending this series to anyone. Best yet easiest 5 star read of the year!
Thank you to Emma Sewell for allowing me to be part of your Advanced Reader Group it’s been a pleasure to read and review this Master piece. 🥰
I would also like to point out that Iain was written with such a vulnerability that we rarely get to see in romance books so for that, he’s a great male character I’ve ever read about without taking away his masculinity
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2025
I loved everything about this book so much. The characters, the locations, the whole story.
Emma, I really think you wrote about the sensitive topics in this book with such sensitivity and the way that they were portrayed with the characters were perfect, so well done.
I absolutely loved Maisy’s character and the fact that it was so well highlighted just how difficult it can be as a plus sized woman at times, not just socially but within yourself too and the impact it can have on relationships with everyone around you. Iain… where can we all get an Iain? 😭 what a man. I loved the two of them together and was seriously routing for them throughout the whole book.
Definitely a 5 star read for me & I can’t wait for it to be released so that everyone else can have the enjoyment of reading it. ❤️
Emma, I really think you wrote about the sensitive topics in this book with such sensitivity and the way that they were portrayed with the characters were perfect, so well done.
I absolutely loved Maisy’s character and the fact that it was so well highlighted just how difficult it can be as a plus sized woman at times, not just socially but within yourself too and the impact it can have on relationships with everyone around you. Iain… where can we all get an Iain? 😭 what a man. I loved the two of them together and was seriously routing for them throughout the whole book.
Definitely a 5 star read for me & I can’t wait for it to be released so that everyone else can have the enjoyment of reading it. ❤️
March 29, 2025
I absolutely LOVE the way in which Emma Sewell writes - she writes incredibly complex and relatable characters that are so easy to connect with. It's easy to be completely immersed in the scenes - whether you're feeling the balmy air, or smelling the salt of the sea - it's real and incredibly gripping. I had never really been entirely interested in Wales - but now? I want to go there, I want to see this incredible coast line, and I want to smell the air, speak with people and experience the Welsh language and culture so much that it truly just makes me crave it.
Maisie is such a beautiful character - both inside and out. The way in which she moves to care for her grandmother just shows the truth of who she is. She's willing to do what is needed in order to be there and when she get's lonely she takes action. She's funny, she's smart, she's talented, she's clumsy (oh so relatable!), and her struggle with having endometriosis was an absolute fantastic representation. I can't think of another book that had the representation like this - the pain, the emotions, it was all openly discussed and beautifully done.
Iain - oh my word Iain. He's a grumpy teddy bear but the emphasis is on teddy bear! He's got a huge heart and a history of intense pain - emotional trauma and abuse both, and reading about that from a male POV is so incredibly important. I loved how he just was so eager to be there, eager to show up and help - he took the time to really get to know Maisie and it showed.
The meddling elders just add such depth to the book and my goodness! They're a whole bunch of hilarious trouble makers and you just can't help but love them.
Ted is the sweetest of sweet dogs and my goodness - I just want to pick him up and squeeze him!
The banter in this book, the chemistry, the beautiful slow burn TENSION... so well done, and I just loved how all of the dynamics and situations came together and worked. The spice was also perfectly well done and enjoyable. The nicknames, the visuals, and just everything worked so well together and created one of the best books I've read.
Beyond thankful for Emma and so giddy to read her work! Grab this one, and the first novel - Only Ever You today!! They are both on KU and believe me when I say, if you're a romance lover that appreciates depth - you'll want to read these books.
Maisie is such a beautiful character - both inside and out. The way in which she moves to care for her grandmother just shows the truth of who she is. She's willing to do what is needed in order to be there and when she get's lonely she takes action. She's funny, she's smart, she's talented, she's clumsy (oh so relatable!), and her struggle with having endometriosis was an absolute fantastic representation. I can't think of another book that had the representation like this - the pain, the emotions, it was all openly discussed and beautifully done.
Iain - oh my word Iain. He's a grumpy teddy bear but the emphasis is on teddy bear! He's got a huge heart and a history of intense pain - emotional trauma and abuse both, and reading about that from a male POV is so incredibly important. I loved how he just was so eager to be there, eager to show up and help - he took the time to really get to know Maisie and it showed.
The meddling elders just add such depth to the book and my goodness! They're a whole bunch of hilarious trouble makers and you just can't help but love them.
Ted is the sweetest of sweet dogs and my goodness - I just want to pick him up and squeeze him!
The banter in this book, the chemistry, the beautiful slow burn TENSION... so well done, and I just loved how all of the dynamics and situations came together and worked. The spice was also perfectly well done and enjoyable. The nicknames, the visuals, and just everything worked so well together and created one of the best books I've read.
Beyond thankful for Emma and so giddy to read her work! Grab this one, and the first novel - Only Ever You today!! They are both on KU and believe me when I say, if you're a romance lover that appreciates depth - you'll want to read these books.
February 17, 2025
This is the story of a girl named Maisie who moves to the welsh countryside to be near her grandma.
Maisie’s there to keep an eye on her grandma but ends up roped into a hiking group where she meets our MMC Ian. Who’s a big mountain man with whom everyone in the group is convinced she needs to get with. Since they’re the only ones below the age of 60.
They end up spending a lot of time together and come up with this scheme to get all the hiking retirees off their backs. They decide to fake date. So the retirees will leave them alone.
But along the way what started out as something fake slowly turns into something more real.
Emma’s characterization is so top notch.
You learn so much about Maisie and her insecurities of being plus sized, having endometriosis, and just a lot of emotions that sometimes she doesn’t know what to do with. But she’s also just such an interesting character. Her quirky style and personality just flow off the page and make you fall in love with her. She’s so authentically herself.
You see her grow and gain more confidence and this man Ian just takes everything in stride. He is so caring, sweet and patient with her even when he has a bunch of problems of his own.
Ian puts up this front of being this grouchy, self deprecating, mountain man. As Maisie gets to know him you do too. He’s so much more layered than this front he puts out. They’re both so encouraging and patient with each other. They compliment each other so perfectly and that’s how the leads in romance books should always be.
If you like slow-burn, small town, plus size, only one bed tropes. You will love this book.
I can’t thank Emma enough for both writing this book and letting it be my first ARC copy ever. I feel like this book was written specifically for me. There were so many moments that had me tearing up with how vulnerable Maisie is. Because a lot of the things she struggles with are the things I also struggle with. It was a breath of fresh air to see a lead character dealing with those things and being told that it’s completely ok and normal even. I’ve never felt so seen in a piece of literature in my life. So thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Emma you definitely have a fan for life and I can’t wait for the next book!
Maisie’s there to keep an eye on her grandma but ends up roped into a hiking group where she meets our MMC Ian. Who’s a big mountain man with whom everyone in the group is convinced she needs to get with. Since they’re the only ones below the age of 60.
They end up spending a lot of time together and come up with this scheme to get all the hiking retirees off their backs. They decide to fake date. So the retirees will leave them alone.
But along the way what started out as something fake slowly turns into something more real.
Emma’s characterization is so top notch.
You learn so much about Maisie and her insecurities of being plus sized, having endometriosis, and just a lot of emotions that sometimes she doesn’t know what to do with. But she’s also just such an interesting character. Her quirky style and personality just flow off the page and make you fall in love with her. She’s so authentically herself.
You see her grow and gain more confidence and this man Ian just takes everything in stride. He is so caring, sweet and patient with her even when he has a bunch of problems of his own.
Ian puts up this front of being this grouchy, self deprecating, mountain man. As Maisie gets to know him you do too. He’s so much more layered than this front he puts out. They’re both so encouraging and patient with each other. They compliment each other so perfectly and that’s how the leads in romance books should always be.
If you like slow-burn, small town, plus size, only one bed tropes. You will love this book.
I can’t thank Emma enough for both writing this book and letting it be my first ARC copy ever. I feel like this book was written specifically for me. There were so many moments that had me tearing up with how vulnerable Maisie is. Because a lot of the things she struggles with are the things I also struggle with. It was a breath of fresh air to see a lead character dealing with those things and being told that it’s completely ok and normal even. I’ve never felt so seen in a piece of literature in my life. So thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Emma you definitely have a fan for life and I can’t wait for the next book!
February 18, 2025
What first drew me to the book was that endometriosis was incorporated into plot. This is personal to me as I suffer with stage 4 endo and adynomyosis. It's always nice to listen to related stories both fiction and non fiction, so those suffering know they're not alone.
That being said, there were a few moments that really resonated with me and even had me tearing up. Because I've been through this too. Endometriosis is no joke. It's painful and debilitating. And there's a whole web of other side effects it has on a body that are physical, psychological, and emotional. Emma Sewell took the topic seriously, did her research and really portrayed this disorder delicately.
As for the characters....
Iain and Maisie are probably one of my favourite couples yet. They're just so relatable and beautiful. They're so much like the average boy and girl and I loved getting to know them. Maisie is really hard on herself because of her weight, and as much as I thought "oh Maisie, stop! You're amazing!" I know that thats how she sees herself and that it's also the reality of any person who struggles with their weight.
Nain is a hoot. I absolutely love her character. I cackled so much throughout the entire book because of her. Just random chuckles. The comments were so cheeky and fun!
Im not much for slow burns. Not without some sort of action in the beginning to pull me in. Which is why I've typically been into fantasy and science fiction. However, the humor in this book alone, had me wanting to read sooner than I anticipated I would with a romance. And even though I didn't devour it in one sitting (life got busy) I feel like I definetly could have.
I want to thank Emma Sewell and BookFunnel for allowing me the opportunity to have an advanced copy.
This was my second arc read and she's set the bar very high. I highly recommend this book for the perfect HEA.
That being said, there were a few moments that really resonated with me and even had me tearing up. Because I've been through this too. Endometriosis is no joke. It's painful and debilitating. And there's a whole web of other side effects it has on a body that are physical, psychological, and emotional. Emma Sewell took the topic seriously, did her research and really portrayed this disorder delicately.
As for the characters....
Iain and Maisie are probably one of my favourite couples yet. They're just so relatable and beautiful. They're so much like the average boy and girl and I loved getting to know them. Maisie is really hard on herself because of her weight, and as much as I thought "oh Maisie, stop! You're amazing!" I know that thats how she sees herself and that it's also the reality of any person who struggles with their weight.
Nain is a hoot. I absolutely love her character. I cackled so much throughout the entire book because of her. Just random chuckles. The comments were so cheeky and fun!
Im not much for slow burns. Not without some sort of action in the beginning to pull me in. Which is why I've typically been into fantasy and science fiction. However, the humor in this book alone, had me wanting to read sooner than I anticipated I would with a romance. And even though I didn't devour it in one sitting (life got busy) I feel like I definetly could have.
I want to thank Emma Sewell and BookFunnel for allowing me the opportunity to have an advanced copy.
This was my second arc read and she's set the bar very high. I highly recommend this book for the perfect HEA.
March 19, 2025
(Excuse me while I go plan a trip to visit the Welsh countryside🧳✈️)
Both Maisie and Iain have come to Aberystwyth, uncertain of where their place is in the world.
Maisie had an established life living in big city London- but moved to be closer to her grandmother to look after her. Determined to find out what Vera is hiding, and get back to her big city life, she isn’t eager to start dating again. But she is forced to slow down and finds the small town of Aberystwyth to be the home she’s been longing for.
On the other side of things Iain has left behind not only his home, but his childhood, leaving him to try and make a new life for himself out of nothing. He doesn’t think he is worthy enough to be in a committed relationship- he doesn’t see how his life has value or what he can bring to a relationship.
Their meet-cute is probably one of my favourites that I have read in a LONG time! The added comedy of the elderly hiking group conspiring to get them together??? Their romance is a delicious slow burn with LOTS of built up tension, in the sweetest most enduring way!
I really related to Maisie, I loved her confidence, while also feeling like the best friend or side character. I also thought the Endometriosis rep in this book was well done (although I’m not an expert) it was great to see it portrayed in a very real and supportive way!
I LOVED getting Iain’s POV, and I think it was absolutely necessary to have his inner monologue. When he is seeing Maisie, he doesn’t simply “come around” to liking her the way she is. He sees her beauty, and the way he talks about her beauty with unabashed reverence was really sweet!
Maisie and her grandmother have a typical grandmother/granddaughter relationship dynamic. I actually found their dynamic very fun at times, but also realistic. Vera still see’s Maisie as her little granddaughter in some ways and doesn’t understand certain boundaries. They work through their differences and come out stronger for it!
I love a good book that has sweet romance but also deals with deeper topics, and this book was the perfect balance of both!
Both Maisie and Iain have come to Aberystwyth, uncertain of where their place is in the world.
Maisie had an established life living in big city London- but moved to be closer to her grandmother to look after her. Determined to find out what Vera is hiding, and get back to her big city life, she isn’t eager to start dating again. But she is forced to slow down and finds the small town of Aberystwyth to be the home she’s been longing for.
On the other side of things Iain has left behind not only his home, but his childhood, leaving him to try and make a new life for himself out of nothing. He doesn’t think he is worthy enough to be in a committed relationship- he doesn’t see how his life has value or what he can bring to a relationship.
Their meet-cute is probably one of my favourites that I have read in a LONG time! The added comedy of the elderly hiking group conspiring to get them together??? Their romance is a delicious slow burn with LOTS of built up tension, in the sweetest most enduring way!
I really related to Maisie, I loved her confidence, while also feeling like the best friend or side character. I also thought the Endometriosis rep in this book was well done (although I’m not an expert) it was great to see it portrayed in a very real and supportive way!
I LOVED getting Iain’s POV, and I think it was absolutely necessary to have his inner monologue. When he is seeing Maisie, he doesn’t simply “come around” to liking her the way she is. He sees her beauty, and the way he talks about her beauty with unabashed reverence was really sweet!
Maisie and her grandmother have a typical grandmother/granddaughter relationship dynamic. I actually found their dynamic very fun at times, but also realistic. Vera still see’s Maisie as her little granddaughter in some ways and doesn’t understand certain boundaries. They work through their differences and come out stronger for it!
I love a good book that has sweet romance but also deals with deeper topics, and this book was the perfect balance of both!
February 15, 2025
Well Emma has done it again. Another fabulous book that made me feel all the emotions. Emma’s characters are brilliant, they are so well-developed and have real depth - I really felt like I got to know Maisie and Iain and really cared about their story. Difficult issues were tackled well in a sensitive manner and I loved how these were covered, in a way that shared information and made you feel for the characters more deeply. The romance was amazing again, a real slow-burn story before the steamy scenes, with lots of will they won’t they throughout to really build up the tension. The characters were also funny, from Maisie and her running away after seeing a naked Iain, Iain’s banter, the funny old folk, to Ted and his judging - just lots of general humour spread throughout. I never expected to learn how to say “like a fart in a jam jar” when I picked this book up, so that definitely made me laugh. I can’t wait for more of Emma’s books as each one is amazing and deeper than a surface level romance. Thank you again to Emma and her team for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
Things I liked:
-the characters
-the character growth and development
-the story line and tropes - Fake Dating and One Bed *chef’s kiss*
-representation; plus-size, endo, self-esteem/self-worth, elder romance
-the setting and the use of Welsh translations to further set the scene
-the pronunciation guide - SO HELPFUL!
-Ted
Definitely definitely recommend this to romance readers! Also think how beautiful this book is going to look for your spring aesthetic 😍🌼💚
Things I liked:
-the characters
-the character growth and development
-the story line and tropes - Fake Dating and One Bed *chef’s kiss*
-representation; plus-size, endo, self-esteem/self-worth, elder romance
-the setting and the use of Welsh translations to further set the scene
-the pronunciation guide - SO HELPFUL!
-Ted
Definitely definitely recommend this to romance readers! Also think how beautiful this book is going to look for your spring aesthetic 😍🌼💚
April 19, 2025
I'm not really sure what I want to say about this book. Maisie moves to Wales to be close to her grandmother, who they suspect is possibly hiding something health related, but her and her meddling group of walking OAP friends, try to set her up with Iain, which neither of them expect.
I think this book is a tough one to review. I did really enjoy it, particularly the second half. I thought the first half was really quite slow, which made it a tougher read. It took about 30% of the novel on my Kindle to feel like I understood who the characters were and what their motivations were, but the second half had a much better pace and I enjoyed it much more as a result. This possibly was also due to the fact that it was written in third person: I haven't read anything in third person in a little while so it took me a bit to get used to.
It's a fantastic book for representation: Maisie is the main character is fantastic, she's plus size and has endometriosis, and this is tackled sensitively and accurately throughout the book. Iain is a love interest is really sweet, and his dog is fantastic!!
I grew up on the Welsh border, and honestly I really want to read more rom-coms set in the UK, knowing Aberystwyth as a place myself was really lovely and made this book so much more special as a result.
I think this book is a tough one to review. I did really enjoy it, particularly the second half. I thought the first half was really quite slow, which made it a tougher read. It took about 30% of the novel on my Kindle to feel like I understood who the characters were and what their motivations were, but the second half had a much better pace and I enjoyed it much more as a result. This possibly was also due to the fact that it was written in third person: I haven't read anything in third person in a little while so it took me a bit to get used to.
It's a fantastic book for representation: Maisie is the main character is fantastic, she's plus size and has endometriosis, and this is tackled sensitively and accurately throughout the book. Iain is a love interest is really sweet, and his dog is fantastic!!
I grew up on the Welsh border, and honestly I really want to read more rom-coms set in the UK, knowing Aberystwyth as a place myself was really lovely and made this book so much more special as a result.
March 2, 2025
Perfection!
This book was everything I didn’t know I needed. Emma beautifully detailed a tale of love between two completely glorious souls! I adored that this story was not about fresh faced youngsters finding love for the first time, but about two more mature adults who were finding the right love for the first time. Even if they did need a little help to get there (Calling out our Vera there!)
Emma developed the character of Iain so wonderfully. He’s a rugby playing, mountain of a man with the weight of past expectation, lost love & self deprecation weighing on him. Yet he has the gentlest soul, is caring beyond belief, loves wholeheartedly & deserves to be loved wholeheartedly back.
Maisie is self confident, unwaveringly caring of others & knows who she is. She hasn’t received the understanding she should & has never been given enough, when all she ever wanted is to be loved just as she is.
This couple will live rent free in my mind, I want the absolute world for them!!!
Also, we all know I love a link to Wales & with Maisie and Iain’s story being completely set in Wales my heart definitely felt fuller because of it!
It was an absolute pleasure & honour to receive this book as an ARC. I can’t wait to read more of Emma’s work!
This book was everything I didn’t know I needed. Emma beautifully detailed a tale of love between two completely glorious souls! I adored that this story was not about fresh faced youngsters finding love for the first time, but about two more mature adults who were finding the right love for the first time. Even if they did need a little help to get there (Calling out our Vera there!)
Emma developed the character of Iain so wonderfully. He’s a rugby playing, mountain of a man with the weight of past expectation, lost love & self deprecation weighing on him. Yet he has the gentlest soul, is caring beyond belief, loves wholeheartedly & deserves to be loved wholeheartedly back.
Maisie is self confident, unwaveringly caring of others & knows who she is. She hasn’t received the understanding she should & has never been given enough, when all she ever wanted is to be loved just as she is.
This couple will live rent free in my mind, I want the absolute world for them!!!
Also, we all know I love a link to Wales & with Maisie and Iain’s story being completely set in Wales my heart definitely felt fuller because of it!
It was an absolute pleasure & honour to receive this book as an ARC. I can’t wait to read more of Emma’s work!
March 8, 2025
⚠️TW - open door romance, endometriosis, infertility, loss of consciousness, discussion of parental verbal abuse and neurological disease ⚠️
🔥Spice Ahead (varying degrees)🔥
Chapter 33
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
You, As You Are is a cute fake dating, small town romance. Maisie moves to be closer to her grandmother and gets involved in a hiking group with her and her elderly friends. Iain lives in town and is the only young member of the hiking group. Maisie is a vibrant woman who isn't looking for romance and Iain is a grumpy man whose been scorned in his past.
I was looking forward to this book because I really enjoyed Only Ever You, but it took me a few chapters to feel connected to these characters. Honestly 20% into the book I was bored. At the start of the book Iain's grumpy standoffish attitude made him bland instead of the typical intrigue I feel about a grumpy MMC. But once he finally started opening up to Maisie he wasn't as bland anymore. The premise of the book had potential, I love the fake dating trope and the meddling elders was a nice touch. But unfortunately for me this book just fell flat. I'm not sure exactly what could have made it better for me, but I struggled to get through it. 3/5⭐
🔥Spice Ahead (varying degrees)🔥
Chapter 33
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
You, As You Are is a cute fake dating, small town romance. Maisie moves to be closer to her grandmother and gets involved in a hiking group with her and her elderly friends. Iain lives in town and is the only young member of the hiking group. Maisie is a vibrant woman who isn't looking for romance and Iain is a grumpy man whose been scorned in his past.
I was looking forward to this book because I really enjoyed Only Ever You, but it took me a few chapters to feel connected to these characters. Honestly 20% into the book I was bored. At the start of the book Iain's grumpy standoffish attitude made him bland instead of the typical intrigue I feel about a grumpy MMC. But once he finally started opening up to Maisie he wasn't as bland anymore. The premise of the book had potential, I love the fake dating trope and the meddling elders was a nice touch. But unfortunately for me this book just fell flat. I'm not sure exactly what could have made it better for me, but I struggled to get through it. 3/5⭐
April 7, 2025
What a interesting slow burn 😄romance, that I fell in love with. Firstly let me say to our lovely author Emma Sewell ✍🏻 throughout reading Maisie and Iain’s 📖 story each page highlighted their connection, and relationship foundation that kept being built and built after 🫂 each page and throughout their love story blossomed and my emotions and their dynamics had me blushing after each turn! 🤭 Let me discuss Maisie our fmc character who suffers through endometriosis, but not only is a warrior but she also has to deal with her battles and life loses and push through them and transition on. Even with the writing and with the author writing Maisie character, I felt so represented and the character highlighted struggles and strength as well as societal standards being pushed and pushing through those standards that are placed on you as well! Thank you! 🥺☺️ Now onto our mmc Iain our grumpy teddy bear 🧸 but learning about his emotional trauma and pain within his character personal however when he is getting to know Maisie we more of himself working through his trauma/and pain as well as seeing Iain’s sweet, and just in general himself showing up for her! Now onto Maisie and Iain's relationship. I loved them so much and the build up. Iain and Maisie banter was so cute and funny at times, the dynamics and relationship names and friendship before romance that took time was pure and I felt the stability which what made their romance work, also Ted 🐾 is such a sweetest animal! In conclusion, thank you so much for this amazing read, I totally recommend it and this novel was worth it!! 📖
Tropes:
🌻 Fake Dating
🥾 Coastal Town
🌻 Endometriosis Rep.
🥾 Meddling Elders
🌻 City Girl x Country Guy
🥾 Plus Size FMC
🌻 Welsh Setting
🥾 Opposites Attract
Thank you so much for gifting me this read 📖in exchange for an honest review! 😉✨While reading your second novel and all your books it made me feel scene and captured many experiences and well put stories and experiences that the characters went through that are inspiring to others!! I recommend this read to all💚✨
Tropes:
🌻 Fake Dating
🥾 Coastal Town
🌻 Endometriosis Rep.
🥾 Meddling Elders
🌻 City Girl x Country Guy
🥾 Plus Size FMC
🌻 Welsh Setting
🥾 Opposites Attract
Thank you so much for gifting me this read 📖in exchange for an honest review! 😉✨While reading your second novel and all your books it made me feel scene and captured many experiences and well put stories and experiences that the characters went through that are inspiring to others!! I recommend this read to all💚✨
March 6, 2025
This story was nearly 500 pages of pure joy. I felt really connected to the main characters right from the start and their chemistry was undeniable. They both had complex backstories that I would have loved to see explored further on page, but I still felt like I had a relatively complete understanding of their motives. This book had a good mix of heavy emotional scenes and laugh out loud moments to balance them out.
One of my favourite parts of this book was how immersive the setting was. The author brought the Welsh countryside to life and I felt like I could taste the salt in the air. I also felt like the casual inclusion of Welsh language in conversation was a clever tool to keep me anchored in the setting.
Plot-wise I did find some of the events in the story to occur a little abruptly. A large chunk of the action happens in the last fifty pages or so, but overall it was a sweet, funny read with feel-good vibes. This book pairs well with a bubble bath, a glass of refreshing white, and a bar of rich dark chocolate.
One of my favourite parts of this book was how immersive the setting was. The author brought the Welsh countryside to life and I felt like I could taste the salt in the air. I also felt like the casual inclusion of Welsh language in conversation was a clever tool to keep me anchored in the setting.
Plot-wise I did find some of the events in the story to occur a little abruptly. A large chunk of the action happens in the last fifty pages or so, but overall it was a sweet, funny read with feel-good vibes. This book pairs well with a bubble bath, a glass of refreshing white, and a bar of rich dark chocolate.
March 6, 2025
I have had the pleasure of reading another arc by Emma. You, as you are is the perfect romance to read this spring! Maisie fits into the definition of spring perfectly! She’s so bright and such a joy to be able to get to know!! Iain is every girls dream (if you know what I mean😉) he’s such a gentleman! Omg Ted.. I really want a Ted. He is the goodest boy and I definitely fell in love with him the most! I really enjoyed Vera’s character as well. Typical grandma trying to set her granddaughter up with someone nice.. (I think we’ve all been there)
I enjoyed the dual POV of this book. It wasn’t too repetitive.. I find with a lot of books like that, you have the same part of the story from the FMC pov in one chapter and then the MMC POV in the next and it gets frustrating, but with this, it skips to the next part of the story, which I loved and appreciated.
Thank you Emma for the opportunity to read this book before its release day! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and I can’t wait to see what you do next!
March 16, 2025
“Someone who stands up for what they want and chooses their own path isn’t a failure”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5
“My world was fucking black and grey until you came and painted all of your colours across it”
This was great book start to finish! Really tried to take my time reading it as I usually can get through a romance in a day or two but I did not want this one to end! It’s the perfect springtime read. I loved that it was based in Wales and now I want to book a trip up there in the summer! All the characters were so loveable from the meddling elders and especially Ted the dog!! Thank god it was a dual POV because the slow burn between Maisie and Iain was *chefs kiss*. I thought the heavier topics like Maisie’s endometriosis and the theme of self-worth were handled well throughout the book. Would definitely read another of Emma Sewell’s books in the future!
🌼 Fake Dating
🌼 Slow Burn
🌼 Sunshine City Girl x Grumpy Country Boy
🌼 One Bed
🌼 Coastal Setting
🌼 Plus Size FMC
🌼 Endometriosis Representation
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5
“My world was fucking black and grey until you came and painted all of your colours across it”
This was great book start to finish! Really tried to take my time reading it as I usually can get through a romance in a day or two but I did not want this one to end! It’s the perfect springtime read. I loved that it was based in Wales and now I want to book a trip up there in the summer! All the characters were so loveable from the meddling elders and especially Ted the dog!! Thank god it was a dual POV because the slow burn between Maisie and Iain was *chefs kiss*. I thought the heavier topics like Maisie’s endometriosis and the theme of self-worth were handled well throughout the book. Would definitely read another of Emma Sewell’s books in the future!
🌼 Fake Dating
🌼 Slow Burn
🌼 Sunshine City Girl x Grumpy Country Boy
🌼 One Bed
🌼 Coastal Setting
🌼 Plus Size FMC
🌼 Endometriosis Representation
March 18, 2025
Before I begin: I was chosen to be on the eARC team for this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was on IG a few weeks ago when I came across an ad for an eARC offer for this book, written by an indie author. I'd never heard of the novel or Emma Sewell, but I really liked the premise so I followed the author and applied for an eARC. To my surprise, I was selected and every day I sat down to read from this book, I felt very lucky about that. What Emma Sewell does on You, As You Are is something that I feel is lacking in many romance novels nowadays: it's a genuinely great slow burn. It allowed me to really sink into the story, the setting (I think I have to go to Wales now), spend time with the characters, unravel them as individuals and as a pairing (guys, seriously, you're going to adore Maisie and Iain). It helps that the author's writing style is witty and really showcases a balance between lighthearted and serious. Thanks to that ad coming across my feed, I now have another author whose books I'll keep coming back to :)
I was on IG a few weeks ago when I came across an ad for an eARC offer for this book, written by an indie author. I'd never heard of the novel or Emma Sewell, but I really liked the premise so I followed the author and applied for an eARC. To my surprise, I was selected and every day I sat down to read from this book, I felt very lucky about that. What Emma Sewell does on You, As You Are is something that I feel is lacking in many romance novels nowadays: it's a genuinely great slow burn. It allowed me to really sink into the story, the setting (I think I have to go to Wales now), spend time with the characters, unravel them as individuals and as a pairing (guys, seriously, you're going to adore Maisie and Iain). It helps that the author's writing style is witty and really showcases a balance between lighthearted and serious. Thanks to that ad coming across my feed, I now have another author whose books I'll keep coming back to :)
March 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a lovely book! This was my first book of the Changing Seasons series and I’m excited to go and read the first one.
I loved both Maisie and Iain as characters and loved how real their characters were. It was so beautifully written and I loved the dual POV as it gave us as readers great insight to each of their character’s individual insecurities and journeys. It was a slow burn romance that was definitely worth the wait. I also loved the endometriosis representation in this book and thought it was very well written for being such a sensitive subject.
I also enjoyed that it took place in Wales, and there was tons of Welsh throughout the book, as well as footnotes at the end of each chapter. I thought that was a beautiful backdrop to an already beautiful book.
Overall, I read this book very quickly and hope there is another book coming in the series.
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a lovely book! This was my first book of the Changing Seasons series and I’m excited to go and read the first one.
I loved both Maisie and Iain as characters and loved how real their characters were. It was so beautifully written and I loved the dual POV as it gave us as readers great insight to each of their character’s individual insecurities and journeys. It was a slow burn romance that was definitely worth the wait. I also loved the endometriosis representation in this book and thought it was very well written for being such a sensitive subject.
I also enjoyed that it took place in Wales, and there was tons of Welsh throughout the book, as well as footnotes at the end of each chapter. I thought that was a beautiful backdrop to an already beautiful book.
Overall, I read this book very quickly and hope there is another book coming in the series.
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2025
You, As You Are follows Maisie, a Londoner who moves to Wales to live with her grandmother who’s getting older and who, she and her family suspects, is hiding something from them. There, she meets grumpy mountain man Iain, and her grandma and her group of hiking friends try to push them to date. In order to counteract this, they decide to pretend to date so they’ll be left alone. However, obviously, they start to develop real feelings for each other.
This book was such a fun read that reminded me of Abby Jimenez and Liz Tomforde’s stories! Maisie and Iain both have their troubles and reasons for not wanting to date, but it was so fun to see them fall for each other anyway. It was also fun reading about her meddling grandma and group of friends. As well, I loved the small town setting, the outdoorsy feel, and how some of the characters speak Welsh!
I’d definitely recommend you pick this story up. 4⭐️s!
This book was such a fun read that reminded me of Abby Jimenez and Liz Tomforde’s stories! Maisie and Iain both have their troubles and reasons for not wanting to date, but it was so fun to see them fall for each other anyway. It was also fun reading about her meddling grandma and group of friends. As well, I loved the small town setting, the outdoorsy feel, and how some of the characters speak Welsh!
I’d definitely recommend you pick this story up. 4⭐️s!
February 18, 2025
I had to opportunity to read an early release copy of YAYA and I’m so grateful! I honestly enjoyed this book. If you’re a fan of slow burn, fake dating, and mutual falling in love, you’ll love this book!!
Maisie is an almost 30 year old who packs up her life and moves in with her grandma because the family was becoming increasingly worried especially since her grandma broke her wrist and was being vague during phone calls.
Iain is this big burly man that has been grumpy since his fiancee dipped out on him. He fell into the group of elderly hikers after one assisted him by walking his dog when he was sick.
Despite Iain thinking he can’t give maisie what she deserves, maisie proves she just wants Iain, just as he is.
Also, did you know the male penguins search beaches to find the perfect stone/pebble/rock for their female counterpart? 🥹
Maisie is an almost 30 year old who packs up her life and moves in with her grandma because the family was becoming increasingly worried especially since her grandma broke her wrist and was being vague during phone calls.
Iain is this big burly man that has been grumpy since his fiancee dipped out on him. He fell into the group of elderly hikers after one assisted him by walking his dog when he was sick.
Despite Iain thinking he can’t give maisie what she deserves, maisie proves she just wants Iain, just as he is.
Also, did you know the male penguins search beaches to find the perfect stone/pebble/rock for their female counterpart? 🥹
March 10, 2025
If comfort had a book form, You, As You Are would be it. Emma Sewell delivers a heartfelt, beautifully layered romance that feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day.
Iain and Maisie’s story is everything soft, emotional, and laced with just the right amount of banter and tension. Iain, with his quiet strength and love for his dog (Ted, I adore you), is the perfect balance to Maisie’s sunshine with a touch of storm energy. Their fake romance? Absolute chef’s kiss.
Loves their story tackles heavy topics with so much grace Endometriosis, and self worth are woven into the story in a way that’s both real and deeply moving i felt everything the laughter, the heartbreak, and that oh so satisfying ending
Iain and Maisie’s story is everything soft, emotional, and laced with just the right amount of banter and tension. Iain, with his quiet strength and love for his dog (Ted, I adore you), is the perfect balance to Maisie’s sunshine with a touch of storm energy. Their fake romance? Absolute chef’s kiss.
Loves their story tackles heavy topics with so much grace Endometriosis, and self worth are woven into the story in a way that’s both real and deeply moving i felt everything the laughter, the heartbreak, and that oh so satisfying ending
March 27, 2025
Dual POV, Low Spice, Age Gap, Fake Dating, Broken Boy, Plus Size FMC, One Bed, Country Guy x City Girl, Dog Dad, Slow Burn, Rugby Player MMC, Protective MMC, Endometriosis Rep
You, As You Are is a love letter to being accepted exactly the way you are and finding happiness on a path of your own choosing. Prepare for a slow burn romance with the ultimate emotional, swoony payout. Iain and Maisie are continuously set up by Maisie's grandmother and her hiking pals so the pair agree to fake date to stop all the meddling. As the pair spend time together they slowly share their traumas, emotional scars, hobbies, and eventually passion fueled kisses. Expect lots of hiking, meddling elders, star gazing date, care taking, and a broken man who slowly realizes he's enough.
You, As You Are is a love letter to being accepted exactly the way you are and finding happiness on a path of your own choosing. Prepare for a slow burn romance with the ultimate emotional, swoony payout. Iain and Maisie are continuously set up by Maisie's grandmother and her hiking pals so the pair agree to fake date to stop all the meddling. As the pair spend time together they slowly share their traumas, emotional scars, hobbies, and eventually passion fueled kisses. Expect lots of hiking, meddling elders, star gazing date, care taking, and a broken man who slowly realizes he's enough.
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