The Grown Up To-Do List

by Jennifer Joyce, Eleanor Sutton (Narrator)

A relatable, laugh-out-loud romcom

25-year-old Cleo is happy enough. She likes her job in the fish and chip shop in the North West seaside town where she grew up. But her world has become very small!

All her friends couldn’t wait to leave home and are off, apparently crushing life. They have shiny careers and creative side-hustles, while she is still living with her mum and dad. When she learns that her dream childhood boyfriend is coming back to town for a party in three months, she decides she needs to start adulting to win him.

But what does being a grown-up really mean? Can she become one in three months?

A funny, life-affirming romcom perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Beth O’Leary, and Mhairi McFarlane.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit

Audible Audio

Expected publication October 21, 2025

About the author

I'm a writer of romantic comedies who lives in Manchester with my husband and our two daughters. I've been scribbling down bits of stories for as long as I can remember, graduating from a pen to a typewriter and then an electronic typewriter. And I felt like the bee's knees typing on THAT. I now write my books on a laptop (which has a proper delete button and everything).

You can keep up to date with my books by subscribing to my newsletter. The newsletters are packed with book news, exclusive content and giveaways. Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/310b4ee4365f/jenni...

You can keep in touch with me on Twitter and Instagram (both @writer_jenn) or by liking my Facebook page www.facebook.com/jenniferjoycewrites

Reviews

[ItaPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Grown Up To-Do List was a pleasant, quick read.

When Cleo meets an old high school mate, she realizes how all her friends have matured chasing their dreams, while she is stuck in her teen life, still living with her parents in her little coastal town, and working at the fish & chips. So she decides to change her life, becoming a responsible and independent adult. She has only a few months to show her new self to her friend, so she starts a To Do List.

I have yet to decide if I liked or didn't like Cleo. At the beginning definitely not, because she is so immature to complain about her failing life without committing to change. Then I became her cheerleader when she makes an effort to grow up, learning to not rely on others for all things and taking responsibility for her actions.

I've appreciated Jennifer Joyce writing. The story is humorous, but still thought provoking.

I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.

[Patricia Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, life-affirming romcom perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Beth O’Leary and Mhairi McFarlane

🥰🥰I found this arc on Netgalley, which is nice because I know the author of the book. I want to give it a try and read this one. It turns out well at first. I thought it was slow-paced, and then I tried to read another chapter again.
 
25-year-old Cleo is happy enough. She likes her job in the fish and chip shop in the small town where she grew up. But her world has become very small—all her friends couldn’t wait to leave their small, seaside town and are off, apparently crushing life. They have shiny careers and creative side hustles, while she is still living with her mom and dad.
 
I think I like Cleo's personality because she is a funny or likable person. She works in the fish and chip shop at Clifton at sea, and one day, a stranger came into her grandmother's house. She thought it was a murderer, but her grandmother's assured her that it was a close friend of hers. I like the writing of the book, and it has been good so far. It was a kind of chick lit type of book, and it was totally a rom-com. I laughed a little bit at some of the chapters, and it was a fast-paced book. It also has short chapters, which I even liked to read more of. Overall, this book is good and nice, so I will give it 4 stars!⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Emma Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half? Dogshit. I don’t think I’ve ever hated a fmc so much. Second half? Yeah she kinda got me a bit giddy. Hate that James looks like Jesus but it was alright.

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

travelling book 1 done!!!!! lol

[Han ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️/5

• ARC REVIEW •

This was a short, quick and decent read overall! There were some parts of this book that made me laugh and felt relatable as a girl in their 20s. This book was cute and light, but really predictable and I just did not relate with Cleo at all. I honestly didn’t even really enjoy her as a main character and that made this book harder to get through and truly love.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and Hera publishing for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jordan Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit slow starting but it was an easy summer read with, what seemed, the correct ending.

[Aoife · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. Loved the way this was written! I can only sympathise with Cleo on what it must feel like to be in her situation, I understood her perspective completely. Now, her fascination with Paul is CRAZY, like girl, you have to chill outttttt. Now, I saw James coming from a mile away, and I was THRILLED it worked out. Loved the end.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleo, oh Cleo, what on earth are we going to do with you. You are fixated on a chance encounter from an old crush, and seem to think that when he is back in town in three months time that it will be the start of a whole new life with him - on the back of one conversation.

You gotta love a dreamer, and Cleo is definitely relatable. She in her attempts to be the person she claimed to be to Paul, decides she has a few months to get her life together and become what she believes is a grown up.

Now some of the things on her list I definitely agree, probably do need to be done, and her utter cluelessness about things are a mix of irritating and utterly charming. She has a certain naivety to her, and it is lovely to see.

Amongst other things she decides that she needs a "career" as all her friends from school have left her behind in the efforts of growing up and getting on with life., but she has no idea what she wants to do with her life, while its obvious she enjoys her current job in a fish and chip shop.

She wants to learn to drive, and some of her descriptions of early lessons I can definitely identify with from her early attempts. She also amongst other things wants to move out of her parents home, and feels like she might need things like a hobby too!

Now reading her growing "grown up to-do" list at the start of each chapter, I couldn't help by compare her 25 year old self, with myself and based on the majority of the entries - it's official at 40 years old I'm definitely not a grown up - ah well!

I loved getting to know her friends, colleagues and family, especially her gran, and James, her gran's new lodger. Only Cleo is rather suspicious of James, well she does have an overactive imagination!

This was a fun and light hearted story, that I was definitely entertained by.

Thank you to Hera and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Shona · Rating 4 out of 5]

25 year old Cleo is happy enough but with all her friends seemingly all winning at life, she worries she’s being left behind. She likes her job in the fish and chip shop in the North West seaside town where she grew up but feels her world has become very small - all her friends couldn’t wait to leave home and are off living their best lives with shiny careers and creative side-hustles, while Cleo is still living with her mum and dad. When she learns that her dream childhood boyfriend is coming back to town for a party in three months, she decides she needs to start adulting to win him. But what does being a grown-up really mean? And can she become one in three months?

Straight from the offset this sounded like a really good read and first impressions were right, what an enjoyable, funny, book! I read this in two sittings, the chapters keeping it a fast-paced read, broken up with various lists at the end of each one.

I had a little snigger at the mention of the Boyzone Greatest Hits CD Cleo’s mum had in the car (as a huge Boyzone fan back in the day this brought back some happy memories!) and I can’t help but not like a mention of my name in the book too! (Always nice to see your name in print after all!)

This comical, character reevaluating, romantic well-written story may have some predictable moments but it’s an enjoyable journey, with Cleo being a character that visibly develops as the book progresses. Many of us will have felt like we potentially didn’t have what others had and sometimes, the realisation that things can often be seen through rose-tinted glasses, is a nice reminder that life might not be quite so bad.

Also, I bet you never expected a book that made crochet as a hobby look cool and the way to find love? This is a light-hearted, heart-warming read that you can relate to at any age.

[Sydni · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever felt like you're not a real adult, don't worry, Cleo also doesn't feel like a real adult. When she bumps into her high school crush, Paul, on the street, she finds out her former friends have all done impressive, successful things and she doesn't measure up. She works in the same fish and chips shop, she still lives at home, and she doesn't know how to drive. But she has a plan: her grown-up to-do list! By the time she sees Paul again, she'll be a proper grown-up and they can live happily ever after! But it never works out just that easy does it?

I absolutely adored this story. Cleo was a hilarious main character, and I enjoyed going along with her on her adulting journey because I too am an learning to adult. She was relatable in trying to figure out how to plan her to-do list and finding out each entry has like 3 other steps before it lol I loved all of the side characters as well: James, Gran, Russell, Jed, Arlo, and Claire were all fantastic!
The only thing I was really disappointed with was that Cleo spent so much time thinking about Paul. But that's it. It annoyed me quite a bit though. I also didn't understand some of the British, but I'm definitely not British so...my fault.

Overall, if you enjoy books with lists, or great character development, or the TV show Baby Daddy (minus the baby, focusing on Ben Wheeler becoming responsible), you'll probably enjoy this one!
Thank you to Hera and NetGalley for the chance to read this! All opinions are my own :)

[Diah · Rating 3 out of 5]

digital arc was provided by Netgalley and Hera

Just finished this book, and it was a mixed bag. Cleo, the main character, is this super relatable 25-year-old who’s still living with her parents and working at a local fish and chip shop in her hometown. Her friends have all moved on to bigger and supposedly better things, and Cleo’s feeling a bit left behind.

When her old childhood crush comes back to town, Cleo decides it’s time to level up and do some “adulting.” She makes a list of things she thinks will make her more grown-up: learning to drive, quitting her job, and moving out from her parents’ house.

The start of the book is really charming, and you can totally see where Cleo’s coming from. But as the story goes on, it feels a bit predictable. The ending wasn’t much of a surprise, and Cleo’s journey, while cute, didn’t quite have the emotional punch I was hoping for.

The side characters, like her gran and the new lodger James, were lovely and added some nice depth. There’s a decent message about doing things for yourself rather than just because it’s what you think you should do. Overall, it’s a sweet read, but it didn’t exactly leave me buzzing.

If you’re into feel-good stories with a touch of self-discovery, you might enjoy it. Just don’t expect any big plot twists!

2.5 stars rounded up!

[Megan megmakestimetoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.
Cleo is stuck in the past after giving up her dream of travel to care for her ill grandpa. She is still in her high school job, loves at home, and relies on her mom to do her laundry. A chance encounter from her high school crush has her re-evaluate her life and take steps to becoming a grown-up. Does anyone ever feel like they are a grown-up?

This book was slow to start and a bit predictable. But over the course I started rooting for Cleo and hoped she would see that being true to herself was the most grown-up thing of all. Loved the secondary characters of Gran and Claire. Everyone at the chip shop was a laugh. I appreciated that you could really see Cleo grow, even if she couldn't see it. I really loved how multi-faceted James was. But, I could have used a bit more; more of James, more of the end, which felt like we smacked into a wall rather than concluded the book.

Argh, I so hated Paul. And the whole reunion with her best high school friends made me mad because they were so thoughtless.
You could really picture this seaside town and what lvijg there would feel like to a teenager and then a young adult. How seeing the town could shift as you age. This book really made me want fish and chips. I'm glad I read it as I never read anything of this author before.
Thanks to Net Galley and Hera Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

RomCom (New Adult?) novel set in NW ENGLAND

3.5*




This romcom (new adult?) novel is set in fictional Clinton On Sea, a coastal town in the North West of England.

Cleo is still at home living with her parents (at age 25) and she works in a fish and chip shop. She goes about her life quite happily until she bumps into a crush from school, Franko (aka Paul), who is back in town, a brief visit but it’s sufficient motivation for Cleo to move into adult overdrive in preparation for his next visit. Only she tells him a load of fibs about what she is doing and where she is living. She has three months to get her proverbial house in order, and setting up an Instagram account, so that she can communicate with her Adonis, simply won’t cut it.

Each chapter opens with a growing list of to-do things that will propel her into adulthood – she must learn to drive, she must open a savings account, she must choose a new career (should it be politician or diplomat?). One of the first steps in this colossal journey is when the owners of the fish and chip shop, where she works, ask her to take the helm for a short time whilst they are away….

Where will it all end?

A cheesy, easy-to-read and entertaining novel 😉

[Mae of Scotland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Grown-Up To Do List explores the definition of grown-up in the modern world through this cute rom-com after the protagonist, Cleo, who is 27 and living in a small seaside town with her parents, working at a job she loves, gets a blast from the past which makes her question her life and success as an adult. Her wake-up call comes in the form of a successful old-school pal who has her comparing her life to her school peers who have gone on to forge snazzy careers, flash houses/ cars /gyms, and possess picture-perfect families.

Jennifer Joyce's writing is charmingly funny, spinning a story about coming into your own and finding happiness. There are no massive plot twists, just a fun read about how sometimes the grass might look greener on the other side, but happiness can be simple with the right people and attitude in life.

The characters were a loveable, quirky bunch of relatable characters from all age groups and walks of life – a nice representative cast that showed everyone has problems, flaws, and needs a bit of support now and again. Cleo was a hilarious main character on her adulting journey – she has buckets of grit, tenacity, and a fantastic sense of humour comes across, especially in her amusing bullet journal entries pepper at the start of each chapter.

A feel-good, entertaining, and thoughtful rom-com read about the challenges of adulting, finding happiness, and coming of age isn't just for teenagers. I've never read anything by Jennifer Joyce before, but I will be looking out for more books by her in the future as I chuckled my way through this book. If you love stories with thoughtful themes like those spun by Emily Henry with humour and relatable characters facing their challenges, finding their spark, and their happy ending, The Grown-Up To Do list is one for your TBR!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up because this surprised me.

Cleo is 25 and is essentially an overgrown teenager, still living at home with her mum doing her washing. A chance meeting with an old high school crush becomes the catalyst for Cleo to grow up in anticipation of his return in three months time.

This was a delightful surprise because I found the first chapter a bit painful and thought it was going to go over-the-top with many cringey moments. Luckily it was not like that at all. I adored Cleo and her journey, from her bullet journal lists to her slowly creating a found family with her colleagues. She starts off as a bit immature, such as her irrational dislike and rudeness with James, her gran's lodger, but luckily her grow. I really loved their slow-burn friendship. With Cleo, James get a chance to be inspired to reclaim a bit of himself after having his first kid at 17 forced him to grow up fast.

This was a gentle, funny and charming story about Cleo coming into her own and realising that what she has is just as valid, and that what she thinks everyone has is an illusion. Cleo was such an endearing character I finished reading this book with a big smile on my face and left wanting more.

Thanks to Hera and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Ashly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness gracious this little jewel of a book has my heart smiling!

We follow Cleo as she bullet journals her way to “growing up”, even though it’s quite a few years past due, and it’s just adorable. She feels left behind by her mates that she grew up with who all seemed to have grown up from the day they parted ways after school. She runs into her decade-long crush and feels it’s time to grow up before he returns to town in three months.

The characters are so so lovable and I was able to relate to Cleo in the very end. She may just find out that all along, she had them all bested in the journey of “growing up” and learning not to base your successes on what others are doing.

A feel good, fiction book for all ages. And now I want to learn to crochet. Like actually.

[Jessica Wilczynski · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Hera for an advanced copy of The Grown-Up To Do List.

Cleo runs into her old high school crush Paul and while they are catching up she realizes that she feels stalled in her life. She wants to impress Paul and catch up to all of her old friends who have done so much more with their lives than she has. She makes a list of things to do to change her life before the next time Paul comes back to town. Slowly she starts making changes to her life but she still feels like she cannot figure out what she wants to do for her career. But is everything she wants right in front of her?

I was not a fan of the main character Cleo, she did not come off as relatable. The book was kind of predictable and fell flat for me.

[Helen Haythornthwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! It was a very entertaining read and a trip down memory lane with many ‘laugh out loud’ moments.

It’s a light-hearted story which follows Cleo as she tries to become more grown up. At the start of the story, she’s still living with her parents where her mum does her cooking, washing, tidies up after her and drives her around.

After meeting an old flame, she decides it’s time she started acting like an adult and draws up numerous lists in order to help her do this. The lists are dotted about the book, between the chapters, which works really well.

I enjoyed the way Cleo interacts with the other characters, especially the relationship she has with her grandma. The whole book has a ‘feel good’ vibe and it’s definitely one to read if you haven’t read it yet.

[Rona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleo meets an old school crush and realises that she is not living the life she wants or thinks she wants.
She constantly makes to do lists and she finds that her world seems to have shrunk and everyone she was at school with seems to be living a busy fulfilling life.
She is working in a fish and chip shop and she feels there is more to life what happened to her dreams?
But is everyone really living the life they say they are?
Cleo creates a grown up to do list to try and improve her life.
I found Cleo to be likeable and funny.
It is a quick read and I did enjoy it.
Thanks Netgalley and publisher.

[Jenn Webley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute comedy, if you are looking for an easy read this could be for you.

Cleo sees her peers with their so called adult life, marriage, kids and careers. She’s working at the chippy in her home town that’s she’s always work at. A chance encounter with a former crush sparks a desire to make changes and actually “grow up.”

This story is the funny ways Cleo tried to become more of a grown up, or what she believes will make her a grown up. Along the way she realises that maybe happiness isn’t doing what everyone else is and that following your own path/heart is what counts.

Funny with a splash of romance. Loved the character of Cordy!

[Noore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The grown up to do list was a quick, fun and very relatable story. However it was quite predictable as well as slow so i admit i felt a bit bored due these two reasons and i kept on waiting for the story to go somewhere. I do like the main characters as well as the little lists the story was filled with. Although i was slightly bored with it i did enjoy it overall and i did find multi scenes quite funny. So all in all it was a fun romcom read!

Thank you Netgalley for sharing a digital copy of this book with me in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never read anything by this author before but I have to say I really enjoyed this book! I didn’t love Cleo’s character to begin with, I felt she was quite whiny but then again I was probably the same at her age?? I loved her character development and all the side characters too! The only thing I would’ve changed is maybe about how quickly she realised she loved James, I maybe would’ve liked to have seen a bit more build up. A really quick and easy and fun read which I would recommend. Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

[eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feeling like she's stuck and falling behind, Cleo decides it's time to grow up, and she draws up a list to help her improve her life.

This was such a cute, lighthearted, very quick read. The characters were very easy to like, and the story was charming enough, even though it had its slow moments. It truly just has such a feel-good vibe to it, and it has a lot of heart and some incredibly funny moments. Truly just a cozy, warm read.

Many thanks to Canelo & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Emmajane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her friends are bossing life - is she being left behind?

Cleo is happy enough, living with her parents, a job she enjoys in the local chippy and comforted by the town she’s always lived in. One day all this changes though when she bumps into Paul, her crush from school, Cleo is embarrassed her life hasn’t moved on and she vows to change that before she meets Paul again.

A nice easy read which had parts in I can relate to and it made me want to be able to speak to Cleo and tell her she’s lovely just as she is!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheGrownUpToDoList
#JenniferJoyce

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, entertaining read. The more time I spent with Cleo the more I liked her and related to her. Her character development is fun to follow and see happen through out the course of the story. I enjoyed how she came to accept herself and her life. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Addie Motta · Rating 2 out of 5]

There should be a legal limit on the use of parentheses in a novel (it’s very distracting when every other thought the main character has is written like this). I did not like the narrative style of this book, nor did I like the main character. I think she felt very cringey and not relatable, but trying very hard to be. Just not my cup of tea at all.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel!

[Kirsty Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pleasant quick read. I must admit I found FMC Cleo to be immature and not particularly likeable at first. I’m very pleased the character develops well and she gets the proverbial kick up the ass needed to make the changes she needs in her life.

I found areas of the book quite relatable and the idea of being a real adult is really just that. Re-affirming that everyone is winging it out there.

Light-hearted, cute with areas of comedy.

[Opemipo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy and fun read. I lived the short chapters and the list at the end of all the chapters. For someone who doesn't read romance, I like how the romance wasn't overbearing or the total focus of the book.

I liked the main character and enjoyed reading her journey to 'growing up' although her motivation was definitely not ideal but it was fun to read. I enjoyed meeting everyone in the book. It felt like I was part of the community

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Grown-Up To Do List is perfect for fans of Bridget Jones. A perfect rom-com that is a very slow burn, I would have loved a little more of the history of Cleo and Paul. The characters are very realistic and relatable! Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the free advanced reader's copy. All opinions are my own.

[MG · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute, likable twentysomething coming of age book. I didn't always like Cleo's actions/decisions, but I thought she was a realistic protagonist worth rooting for. The lists were amusing and the book as a whole made me smile.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.