Take a Leap

by Marie Landry

She has wanderlust running through her veins. He has roots that are buried deep. Will love and a lifetime of history be enough to keep them together?

After traveling the world and living abroad for years, Fiona Murphy is returning to her hometown of Honeywell Hollow, Ontario. What should have been a joyous reunion with her family is instead full of heartache as she says a final goodbye to her beloved dad.

When Fiona decides to stay in town for a while after the funeral, a life-altering secret weighs heavily on her. She can’t return to London right away, but the secret she’s keeping could change the trajectory of her life forever. The last thing she needs is her ex’s animosity toward her making things more difficult…especially with unresolved feelings adding another layer of complication.

Fiona’s departure from Honeywell Hollow broke Nathan Holbrook’s heart, and memories of their life together have haunted him for years. When Fiona returns, Nathan knows it’s time to let go of old wounds, but his hostility toward her runs as deep as the roots he’s planted in their hometown.

Still, he calls a truce and suggests they find a way to be friends. The only problem? Nathan and Fiona were never meant to be just friends; there’s always been something much deeper between them. Nathan understands he’s setting himself up for heartbreak by letting Fiona back in, but it doesn’t take long for old sparks to rekindle their love, and a just-for-now fling is too tempting to resist.

When Fiona is suddenly forced to return to the UK, she and Nathan have to decide what the future holds for them. Is it possible to embark on a new life together—one that holds room for her wings and his roots—or are they doomed to fail again?

Take a Leap is a spicy small-town, second-chance, opposites-attract romance featuring strong elements of grief. It’s intended for an 18+ audience. Perfect for fans of Jessica Joyce, Emily Henry, and Hannah Bonam-Young.

Genres: Forced Proximity, Canada

ebook

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

Marie Landry lives and writes in a cozy apartment in Ontario, Canada, surrounded by books and Funko Pops. An avid reader from a young age, she loves getting lost in characters’ worlds, whether they’re of her own making or someone else’s. She particularly loves stories with as much of an emphasis on self-discovery and friendship as on romance...but don’t leave out the romance!

When not doing bookish things, you can often find her taking pictures, cooking, scrolling Instagram (find her at @marielandry.author), daydreaming about frolicking through the Scottish Highlands, or listening to the same music she's loved since the '90s. She's an unapologetic nerd and fangirl, and that, along with her mental health advocacy, is often woven into her books.


Stay up to date with new releases, sales, promos, and other news by signing up for Marie's newsletter and be sure to follow her on BookBub so you never miss a new release!

Reviews

[Marie]

💜NOW AVAILABLE IN KINDLE, KU, AND PAPERBACK💜

💜Second chance romance
🩷Opposites attract
💜Forced proximity
🩷All the yearning
💜Found family
🩷Grief rep
💜Open-door spice
🩷Set (mostly) in small-town Ontario, Canada

[Elize Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was extremely lucky to have the opportunity to ARC review Take A Leap by Marie Landry and have the chance to follow Fiona’s and Nathan’s story. It’s been such a pleasure reading this 🤭.

This read was an emotional rollercoaster and I’m here for it! This was such a beautiful story, with a second-chance childhood romance and loss/grief. It was so healing to read and see the perspectives of how grief impacts people differently. This was portrayed so beautifully throughout, it felt like I was grieving Seamus with them.

This second-chance romance was a slow burn and had me giggling and kicking my feet. It was gorgeous to see their character development throughout this book, not only Fiona and Nathan but the others too ♥️

If you like these tropes, this book is for you:

✨Slow Burn,
✨Second Chance Romance,
✨Small Town Romance,
✨Forced Proximity,
✨Yearning,
✨Found Family,
✨Grief,
✨Open-Door Spice.

Some of my favourite quotes:

♥️ “My gaze locks on a pair of familiar blue-grey eyes. Eyes I’ve looked into my entire life. Eyes I’ve seen express every emotion imaginable”
♥️ “You’re my firefly Fiona”
♥️ “Take a Leap”
♥️ “I think it is time for you to take a leap and fly”
♥️ “I know you’ll continue to soar, just like that big, beautiful heart of yours will keep you rooted to the people and places that matter most”.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy and these are my thoughts:

Marie Landry delivered yet another emotional and beautiful story. The main theme in this book is loss and grief, with a secondary plot, focusing on a second chance at love for the main characters.

The main theme might have been loss and grief, but Landry created a beautiful story about a family (blood ties and chosen members) and a small town community with a deep bond, which was heartwarming to read about. If you've experience the loss of an important person in your life, you will be able to closely relate to the suffering these characters go through. It was interesting to see how the different characters processed their grief and Landry does a good job of showcasing how everyone experiences grief in a different way. I strongly related to the scene where one of the characters wanted to "bottle" Seamus' scent so they would never forget it.

Fiona and Nathan are former childhood friends and sweethearts, who are somewhat, forced together after her father (Seamus) dies. Fiona had been living abroad for many years and even though she'd come back to her hometown to visit, she hadn't been there for her father's last moments. Fiona and Nathan had a lot to work through (especially him) in order to find their way back to each other. The slow burn was slow! But the rebuilding of their relationship was sweet and hard earned.

Even after he was gone, Seamus helped everyone move on and for some, even make life changing choices.

I adored the found family component to this story and the cosy small town of Honeywell Hollow, as well as the references to Ireland.

Even though there was an underlying sadness to this story, this book left me feeling hopeful.

[Spice: 2/5]

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst there was gut wrenching sadness and grief throughout this book, I couldn’t help but feel the pull between the main characters. I sobbed quite a few times but by the end, I’m left feeling warm and gooey!
Murph did his job in the end and it was glorious! I think that was my favourite bit, Fiona’s letter near the end from her dad 🩷

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful and heartfelt read by one of my favorite authors!

[Ashley McGillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a Leap by Marie Laundry is an easy, fluid read that draws you in with its natural storytelling and relatable characters. The writing feels smooth and effortless, making it a book you can easily settle into.

The story follows Fiona, a “citizen of the world” who has never truly felt at home in Honeywell Hollow, just outside of Toronto. “Townsfolk always said I had my head in the clouds and one foot out the door. A deep longing to see as much of the world as I could.” Working as a travel guide in London, UK, she’s always been driven by that same urge to keep moving, until life forces her to pause. After being suspended from her job and facing the loss of her father, Seamus “Smurph” Murphy, Fiona is pulled back into a life she’s kept at a distance.

Fiona’s relationship with her father adds an emotional layer to the story. Originally from Ireland, Seamus carried a deep sense of wanderlust that Fiona clearly inherited. His love of travel shaped who she became, making her constant need to explore feel both personal and deeply rooted in family. Small touches, like the use of Irish expressions such as “sláinte” (meaning “cheers”), bring warmth to their connection.

There’s also a subtle thread of mystery woven throughout the novel that keeps you intrigued, particularly the question of why Nathan was left Seamus’s prized cottage in Ireland, purchased after his second book became a bestseller. There is a quiet sense of anticipation that unfolds gradually as the story progresses and the lawyer reveals more underlying information.

The characters feel natural and well-connected, in the dynamic between Nathan and Liam, their banter “We’ll circle back to this some other time, yeah?” “Sure. How about two weeks from never?” shares a lightness to the heavier themes of grief and self-discovery.

One of the most memorable elements is the treehouse, a shared childhood space filled with books, blankets, fairy lights, and a cozy window nook. It stands as a symbol of friendship, comfort, and shared history, adding a nostalgic and heartfelt layer as the characters return to it in adulthood.

A touching detail is how the title itself ties back to Seamus. “Take a leap” is something Smurph would often say, and it’s meaningful to see that phrase carry through the story even after his passing. It reinforces how deeply his presence continues to shape the characters and their choices (even after he is gone).

Overall, Take a Leap is a character-driven novel that stands out for how effortlessly it reads. While the plot is gentle rather than complex, its strength lies in its heart, its relatability, emotional depth, and the quiet way it explores belonging, loss, and finding your way back to yourself.

[Melanie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s pub day for TAKE A LEAP by @marielandry.author 💜🥳 it’s available now on Amazon and wherever ebooks are sold!

This was my first 5 star of the month- I loved it that much!❤️

Take A Leap is an emotional, heavy (at times) second chance romance that is also filled with lots of love, laughter and small town cozy vibes. This book does focus heavily on grief and death of a loved one, so if that is something that you are also dealing with, take this into consideration before you pick it up to read. I lost my uncle in January, and even tho it was hard to read at some points, I actually really loved and appreciated how raw and emotional and vulnerable this book was. Grief is not linear and there is no time limit on it, and this book shows perfectly how you can be “doing okay” and one little thing can just set you off.

If you love a man who yearns, may I introduce you to Nathan Holbrook? Despite having his heartbroken by the love of his life, Fiona Murphy when she left to travel the world, he has never been able to get over her, try as he might. When she returns home when her dad passes, they are in close contact again (he lives close by and is very close with her family). While they are both healing and grieving, they also decide to put their issues aside and form a “truce” while she is home…. They learn to become friends again, but like Nathan told Fiona, they will never be “just friends”

I loved Fiona and Nathan’s story so much ❤️ While something tragic brought them back together, I like to think they would have found the rays back to each other eventually 🥰 I loved the cozy small town of Honeywell hollow, and the found family vibes in this book was nothing short of amazing. To use this kind of support when you lose a loved one is incredible and something everyone should get to have ❤️

I loved the messages of being brave and taking a leap that Fiona and Nathan both learned from her dad after he passed 💜

I’m so glad London, England and Ardmore, Ireland were included as setting in this book! While I have only seen London, my bucket list includes Ireland!

Highly recommend this book!

[Luisa Baudino · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I have been waiting for Nathan and Fiona for a long time seems like the understanding of the year, just see for yourself in the acknowledgements of this book! ahah I think maybe my reaching out to Marie enquiring about these two after reading Escaping Christmas was one of the first interactions I had with her, and I was invested in their story since the beginning.

Safe to say I was not disappointed in the least! If I fell in love with them when they were just secondary characters, I was both devastated and amazed by the force of their story when they took the full stage. Beware, this is not for the faint of heart, we have some deep grief (understandably so if you know Marie, and also knowing these characters) which is beautifully tackled, just as Marie can do. And we have some intense chemistry, yearning, and everything you could ask for in a second chance romance between two people who have known and loved each other their whole life but were separated by a number of things (most of them really good things, but still).

There is nothing I didn't love in this book: I loved the main characters, their emotional growth, their "becoming adults and letting go of the past", finding both roots and wings. I loved all the secondary characters we already met in Escaping Christmas and the new ones who felt like a wondeful addition to their tight knit group. I felt it all: I laughed, I cried, I rooted for them and got frustrated with them. This book has been a labour of love, and a long time in the making, and it shows: it's a powerful one.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was SO LUCKY to get an ARC of Take a Leap by Marie Landry. I have been interested in Fiona and Nathan since reading Escaping Christmas, and this book did not disappoint.

This book deals with grief, something I'm dealing with myself, so it hit a little close to home. Lots of tears. But I'm not sorry that I continued reading.

Life continues after we lose loved ones. This book showed this in the most beautiful way, through Fiona and Nathan's relationship. I loved how it showed the many facets of grief and how it brings people together.

It was inspiring that Fiona knew what she wanted out of life and had the parental support to go grab it. The judgment of the small town rang true to me. While Nathan chose a different path for his own reasons. I really liked that Fiona and Nathan were older characters and had life experience. This helped shape the people they are now, versus who they were when they dated in the past. And I love how Landry showed their growth as individuals.

I was so happy that this book gave me a chance to spend time with the characters that were introduced in Escaping Christmas again. And while most of this book is set during grief, as with real life, there were laughs.

This book shows the importance of support from our loved ones, especially during grief. Things will never be the same, and nor should they. But losing someone can help us see what's important. It made book Fiona and Nathan reconsider their life choices, not in judgment but more in reflection. This book was just the comfort I needed.

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Take a Leap, and I can’t put my thoughts into words, but I'll try. It’s always difficult for me to express myself when reading a book means so much to me or when I love the story. Both are true in this case.
This is a raw story, a story about grief but also about love, family, and taking chances. Fiona is such an interesting and complex character, as is Nathan. I really enjoyed how mature they were about everything. I truly adored the found family part with Liam, Rex, and Mae, and how kind everyone was. I also loved the depiction of friendship through Fiona and Mila, and it made me miss my best friend so much. She lives in Spain, and I don’t see her frequently, but our bond remains the same, just like Fiona and Mila’s.
The travel aspect was also very appealing, and it made me dream of working as a tour guide around the world. It also made me want to visit Ireland, a place that has been on my list for quite some time.
The writing is beautiful and powerful. It breaks my heart to know that Marie has experienced grief firsthand, and while I haven’t been through something similar, people close and dear to me have, and I think it helped me understand them a little better.
The ending was lovely, and overall, I think the story is heartfelt and compelling. Even when dealing with deep topics, it never felt heavy or too bleak; on the contrary, it was hopeful. I’m really glad that I got the chance to read this book, and I highly recommend it.

I received this DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda (amanda.always.reading) Magdic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't picked up a Marie Landry book I didn't like and Take a Leap is no exception. This one totally had some minor P.S I Love You vibes and I was here for it. Whilst it was primarily a second chance romance book it does deal quite heavily in grief and loss as well. As the author recently experienced her own loss, but that was what made it so tastefully done. And there was such a good balance of light and heavy.

The chemistry between Fiona and Nathan was undeniable. Even after so many years apart and with a rocky history. This one will pull at all your heart strings as you move through the mourning of Fiona's dad and the effect he left on all those close to him as well as their small town community. Even though he was gone before the book starts you feel like you know him. And Murph was easily one of my favorite characters. His quiet wisdom was a joy to read.

If you're looking for small town, second chance, found family with a kick or spice and all the feels you don't want to miss out on this one. This is book 2 in the Honeywell Hollow series but can be read as a stand alone.

TW's: grief, loss of a parent, long term illness, mild workplace power imbalance

Thank you to the author for my copy in return for an honest review.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Marie Landry novel. I read all the trigger warnings before I began, and yet this novel ended up being so cathartic, emotional and deeply healing for me. It’s been three years since my own father’s passing, and still, this novel wrought so many tears from my eyes. Such a lovely novel of family love, and reignited love. Another trigger warning should be added though, one for travel lust! I already posses that and this novel also magnifies what is already simmering. Thank you for the pleasure of reading this ARC.

[Emma Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely wonderful second chance romance! Easy to read, likeable characters and a beautiful story line! This book has me itching to go back to Ireland one day! Grateful for the opportunity to have received a digital ARC of this book, and I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANK YOU MARIE FOR THIS ARC COPY OF TAKE A LEAP- FULL REVIEW COMING SOON..
but i will say this... I LOVE THIS BOOOOOOOOK 🥹🫶🏼

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute treat of a book, and I enjoyed everything about it. I do enjoy a small-town romance, and Take a Leap certainly delivered on the romance front. With several of my favourite tropes, including second chance and forced proximity, I found myself turning the pages until way past my bedtime.

I instantly took Fiona to my heart. She was independent, successful, and determined. However, her world was crumbling around her as a result of losing her beloved Dad and facing issues with the job she loved. I instantly understood her challenges and found myself hoping for a happy outcome for her. As a character, her story arc was most satisfying, and I am already looking forward to hearing what happens next, because I just know I’ll be returning to Honeywell Hollow.

Nathan was pretty much perfect. Although he was incredibly grumpy to begin with, Marie Landry slowly peeled away his prickly exterior and gave us glimpses of what a wonderful guy he was. Again, his character was carefully and fully developed to the extent that I could feel myself falling for him.

However, beyond the romance, there is a deeper story of friendship, community, and family. All told with a warmth that reached my heart. The descriptions of the local area gave a real sense of place, and despite never having visited Canada, I felt immediately at home.

I am so pleased that I discovered Marie Landry’s books, I’ll be back for more.

[Alicia Polachek · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully told, emotional story. This one definitely pulls at the heart strings, in all the best ways (and yes, I cried multiple times). The characters, the depth of their relationships, the tension, the hope amidst the grief—it felt authentic, tender, respectful, and cathartic. It was so well done, and I loved it all!

It was my first time reading anything by Marie Landry, but I have become an instant fan after reading this book. I’ve already added the first Honeywell Hollow book to my TBR and will be checking out her other books soon too. I’m so incredibly thankful I was part of the arc team for this amazing story.