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Stella Is Starting Over
Stella's life is not going to plan. She'd never imagined ending up divorced in her early thirties with a young baby, zero dating experience and a house in desperate need of renovation.
To make up for lost time, she hatches a plan to date different 'types' of men in order to work out where on earth her love life is going. There's the Gentleman for elegant dinner dates. The Poet for deep conversation. And the No Strings Attached Guy for ... uncomplicated fun.
Dom doesn't quite fall into any of the categories, so ends up as The Friend instead, spending time with Stella and her daughter whenever they can. And then Stella meets her perfect guy, on paper. Things are finally all coming together. But when did love ever follow the rules?
To make up for lost time, she hatches a plan to date different 'types' of men in order to work out where on earth her love life is going. There's the Gentleman for elegant dinner dates. The Poet for deep conversation. And the No Strings Attached Guy for ... uncomplicated fun.
Dom doesn't quite fall into any of the categories, so ends up as The Friend instead, spending time with Stella and her daughter whenever they can. And then Stella meets her perfect guy, on paper. Things are finally all coming together. But when did love ever follow the rules?
- GenresAudiobook
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 10, 2026
I can’t explain how much I enjoyed this read!! it was so easygoing and fun, yet also deep and impactful 🩷
Stella has had the “perfect” life; married young, and just had a baby with her husband, everything just goes well for her - until it doesn’t. Her husband leaves her 6 short weeks after having their baby, and Stella is left to navigate motherhood alone
Following Stella’s journey of being a single mother, resenting (but still have to coparent) with her ex husband, and finding her love for herself again are some of the side plots of this story that meant a lot to me
Also, Stella navigating her single life and the “mantourage” was a lot of fun!!
I don’t want to spoil too much, but we do get a dual POV of Dominic - a single bachelor with commitment issues, who can’t help but break girls hearts but who also happens to be one of my favourite men i’ve read about 🥹
If you love these, then you’ll love this:
• single parent
• friends to lovers
• he falls first
• supportive sister
• FUCK rich men (lol)
Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Reid and the publishers for letting me have an ARC of this book 🥰
Stella has had the “perfect” life; married young, and just had a baby with her husband, everything just goes well for her - until it doesn’t. Her husband leaves her 6 short weeks after having their baby, and Stella is left to navigate motherhood alone
Following Stella’s journey of being a single mother, resenting (but still have to coparent) with her ex husband, and finding her love for herself again are some of the side plots of this story that meant a lot to me
Also, Stella navigating her single life and the “mantourage” was a lot of fun!!
I don’t want to spoil too much, but we do get a dual POV of Dominic - a single bachelor with commitment issues, who can’t help but break girls hearts but who also happens to be one of my favourite men i’ve read about 🥹
If you love these, then you’ll love this:
• single parent
• friends to lovers
• he falls first
• supportive sister
• FUCK rich men (lol)
Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Reid and the publishers for letting me have an ARC of this book 🥰
September 12, 2026
Tykkäsin tän dialogista mut jotenkin tästä jäi puuttumaan jotain. 3.25 tähtee
May 29, 2026
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
Stella Is Starting Over ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stella is a thirty-something new mum whose life takes an unexpected turn when her husband decides to leave her shortly after the birth of their baby to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian.
The story follows Stella as she navigates the realities of motherhood, balancing sleepless nights, changing friendships, and the challenge of holding on to her sense of self while adjusting to her new life. When she decides to dip her toe back into the dating pool, she’s met with a series of disastrous dates whilst meeting Dom.
Dom is divorced and convinced he’s a commitment-phobe. After a first date with Stella goes spectacularly wrong, the two build a genuinely lovely friendship. I absolutely loved watching their platonic connection develop and seeing how they supported each other through life’s ups and downs while continuing to date other people, neither of them quite realising that the person they were looking for had been right in front of them all along.
What I loved most about this book was how real it felt. Alongside plenty of humour, there was an honesty to Stella’s journey that made it incredibly relatable. Life doesn’t always go to plan, and this story captured that perfectly. After reading a lot of fantasy recently, this felt like a refreshing breath of reality.
As a woman in my 40s, I also found this romance much more relatable than many others I read. I still enjoy younger romance stories, but it was refreshing to spend time with characters navigating relationships, parenthood, and life experiences that felt much closer to my own stage of life.
My only complaint? I didn’t want it to end. No spoilers, but just as the slow burn was really paying off, I reached the final page. I was completely invested in these characters and would happily have read another hundred pages just to spend more time with them.
A warm, funny, realistic romance with characters you’ll genuinely care about.
Stella Is Starting Over ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stella is a thirty-something new mum whose life takes an unexpected turn when her husband decides to leave her shortly after the birth of their baby to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian.
The story follows Stella as she navigates the realities of motherhood, balancing sleepless nights, changing friendships, and the challenge of holding on to her sense of self while adjusting to her new life. When she decides to dip her toe back into the dating pool, she’s met with a series of disastrous dates whilst meeting Dom.
Dom is divorced and convinced he’s a commitment-phobe. After a first date with Stella goes spectacularly wrong, the two build a genuinely lovely friendship. I absolutely loved watching their platonic connection develop and seeing how they supported each other through life’s ups and downs while continuing to date other people, neither of them quite realising that the person they were looking for had been right in front of them all along.
What I loved most about this book was how real it felt. Alongside plenty of humour, there was an honesty to Stella’s journey that made it incredibly relatable. Life doesn’t always go to plan, and this story captured that perfectly. After reading a lot of fantasy recently, this felt like a refreshing breath of reality.
As a woman in my 40s, I also found this romance much more relatable than many others I read. I still enjoy younger romance stories, but it was refreshing to spend time with characters navigating relationships, parenthood, and life experiences that felt much closer to my own stage of life.
My only complaint? I didn’t want it to end. No spoilers, but just as the slow burn was really paying off, I reached the final page. I was completely invested in these characters and would happily have read another hundred pages just to spend more time with them.
A warm, funny, realistic romance with characters you’ll genuinely care about.
November 4, 2026
*copy gifted by Publisher - Honestly, it took me a while to get into Stella Is Starting Over because I found myself questioning why Stella was jumping back into dating just months after getting divorced and giving birth. I kept wondering whether she was emotionally ready, especially with a baby to consider.
But the further I got into the book, the harder it became to put down. I thought the alternating perspectives of Stella and Dom were incredibly spot-on in capturing the realities of modern dating in London.
Even if you don’t necessarily relate to their specific situations, chances are you’ve experienced some version of what they’re going through: dating feeling like a numbers game, people trying so hard to appear nonchalant and open-minded when perhaps their actual feelings are more complicated, or people putting themselves out there while still figuring out whether they’re emotionally ready to be someone’s partner.
What I particularly enjoyed was how the book explored these contradictions without making the characters feel completely unrelatable. Dating is messy, and sometimes we’re not even fully honest with ourselves about what we want or what we’re ready for.
I also really loved how the book ended. I started out questioning why Stella was so eager to date when her life was clearly still in transition. But by the end, I found myself questioning why we expect people to have everything figured out before they can start enjoying life again.
A slow start for me, but ultimately such an enjoyable and surprisingly thoughtful read about modern dating, expectations, and starting over.
But the further I got into the book, the harder it became to put down. I thought the alternating perspectives of Stella and Dom were incredibly spot-on in capturing the realities of modern dating in London.
Even if you don’t necessarily relate to their specific situations, chances are you’ve experienced some version of what they’re going through: dating feeling like a numbers game, people trying so hard to appear nonchalant and open-minded when perhaps their actual feelings are more complicated, or people putting themselves out there while still figuring out whether they’re emotionally ready to be someone’s partner.
What I particularly enjoyed was how the book explored these contradictions without making the characters feel completely unrelatable. Dating is messy, and sometimes we’re not even fully honest with ourselves about what we want or what we’re ready for.
I also really loved how the book ended. I started out questioning why Stella was so eager to date when her life was clearly still in transition. But by the end, I found myself questioning why we expect people to have everything figured out before they can start enjoying life again.
A slow start for me, but ultimately such an enjoyable and surprisingly thoughtful read about modern dating, expectations, and starting over.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Stella is Starting Over is a captivating, witty, and beautifully written novel.
At thirty, Stella is a new mother navigating the aftermath of a sudden divorce. With little experience of relationships, she finds herself thrown into the complexities of dating while balancing parenthood and the challenges of renovating her home.
I found this book completely absorbing. What began as a quick reading session turned into hours lost in the world of the characters and their journey. Stella and Dom are vividly portrayed, each bringing emotional depth and uplifting presence. Their dual perspectives create a sense of warmth, layered with both hope and miscommunication.
The writing strikes a wonderful balance—sharp and humorous while still feeling gentle and joyous. Moments like the ill-fated “Mormon wives” date are handled with tenderness and a light comedic touch.
I was fully invested in the characters within just a few pages, eager to see where their story would lead. Thoughtful and thoroughly engaging and enjoyable, this is an ideal choice for a summer read.
At thirty, Stella is a new mother navigating the aftermath of a sudden divorce. With little experience of relationships, she finds herself thrown into the complexities of dating while balancing parenthood and the challenges of renovating her home.
I found this book completely absorbing. What began as a quick reading session turned into hours lost in the world of the characters and their journey. Stella and Dom are vividly portrayed, each bringing emotional depth and uplifting presence. Their dual perspectives create a sense of warmth, layered with both hope and miscommunication.
The writing strikes a wonderful balance—sharp and humorous while still feeling gentle and joyous. Moments like the ill-fated “Mormon wives” date are handled with tenderness and a light comedic touch.
I was fully invested in the characters within just a few pages, eager to see where their story would lead. Thoughtful and thoroughly engaging and enjoyable, this is an ideal choice for a summer read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Stella finds herself in her early thirties, newly divorced, raising a young baby, and facing a house in desperate need of repair. To make up for lost time, she dates specific archetypes: the Gentleman for dinner, the Poet for deep talks, and the No Strings Attached Guy for fun. Dom acts as her supportive platonic friend, defying categories, until a "perfect on paper" match enters the picture and disrupts everything.
A dual-POV narrative worked perfectly for balancing sharp, laugh-out-loud comedy with tender emotional depth. Whilst Stella tries dating again, amongst all of the disastrous dates, she meets Dom, a commitment-phobe but great friend and support. Who knew that the perfect partner would be staring her in the face all along!
Stella and Dominic are deeply relatable and endearing as they navigate miscommunication and a slow-burn chemistry.
This is a witty, and ideal feel-good contemporary romance, which is great for a holiday read! I can’t wait to read another book from this author.
October 13, 2026
I don’t even know how to describe properly just how much I enjoyed this book but it was a lot.
Stella was so easy to love. She thought she had it all, perfect life, perfect husband and an adorable baby girl but just a few weeks after her baby is born she soon realises how not perfect everything is. Watching her navigate through her new normal has been very interesting. I loved her, I wanted all the good things for her because damn, she deserves all the good stuff.
Dom was such a sweetheart, he’s single and instantly becomes a friend to Stella, the kind of friend she needed.
I loved watching them interact, their back and forth was so funny. I just loved them.
I also love the whole idea of dating around the different men types to find the type you like because whilst it’s fun and a good idea, we all know that obviously wouldn’t go very well haha
This is my first read from this author and I am so thrilled it was this book that was my first. It was fun, easy going yet packed a few punches in it. Absolutely brilliant!
Stella was so easy to love. She thought she had it all, perfect life, perfect husband and an adorable baby girl but just a few weeks after her baby is born she soon realises how not perfect everything is. Watching her navigate through her new normal has been very interesting. I loved her, I wanted all the good things for her because damn, she deserves all the good stuff.
Dom was such a sweetheart, he’s single and instantly becomes a friend to Stella, the kind of friend she needed.
I loved watching them interact, their back and forth was so funny. I just loved them.
I also love the whole idea of dating around the different men types to find the type you like because whilst it’s fun and a good idea, we all know that obviously wouldn’t go very well haha
This is my first read from this author and I am so thrilled it was this book that was my first. It was fun, easy going yet packed a few punches in it. Absolutely brilliant!
August 13, 2026
Stella thought her life would look completely different in her thirties but no such luck. She is having a hard time and things are not going her way, with a baby and being single. Life could not get any more complicated but yes it does her house needs a renovation too. She needs to get her dating life back on track so compiles a list to date different types of men, but when one guy Dom does not hit the criteria she can't help asking herself if he is the one? I felt for Stella at the start of this journey, everything she has been through which I am sure women will be able to relate to, I found it tough to read. But I liked her way of thinking of getting back out there in the dating department and her lists made me laugh. It was an interesting concept to dating but I found it amusing to read and a really good idea. It was a brilliant and amusing story.
August 13, 2026
Stella has ended up divorced in her early thirties with a young baby, an unfinished house and zero dating experience. Encouraged by her younger sister, she decides to try dating again - trying different types of men to find the ideal future partner.
On her first date she meets Dom who does not quite fit any of the categories but becomes a friend. A friend who guides and supports her through her dating experiences.
We also hear about Dom’s experiences of relationships as a commitment phobe.
Eventually Stella decides to give up after a particularly toxic relationship and focus on her daughter, her career and making a home. Until challenged by her ex-husband to think about why she needs her life together before finding love.
A gentle, funny and real story.
On her first date she meets Dom who does not quite fit any of the categories but becomes a friend. A friend who guides and supports her through her dating experiences.
We also hear about Dom’s experiences of relationships as a commitment phobe.
Eventually Stella decides to give up after a particularly toxic relationship and focus on her daughter, her career and making a home. Until challenged by her ex-husband to think about why she needs her life together before finding love.
A gentle, funny and real story.
August 19, 2026
Maybe, objectively, not a four star book. I am generally sparse with my 4 and 5 stars, and strictly speaking this might be closer to a three. But, I am letting my gut and heart do some of the rating on this one.
The premisse and plot is very familiar, and that's probably why I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. It is also quite predictable, without that necessarily ruining anything. And there are quite a few bumps on the road, making it a little less obvious how things will turn out.
After just a few weeks as a mother, her husband leaves. And so a new life starts as she adjust to the reality of single motherhood. And on the the dating apps she goes. Getting back on the horse and all that. She does develop a friendship with one guy, and eventually relationship to another. But if course, it can't be so easy, can it?
No.
It cannot.
Not groundbreaking in any way, not very original either. But this is so well done. Character development, good balance of humor and some real emotion, friendships as well as love, well written without unnecessary details and explaining. No long back stories. And the author never goes off track with a bunch of baby-new-mother topics. The pacing is also excellent. Not rushed, and never boring. This is reflected in the length, as right under 300 pages, a complete story is told without unnecessary fluff.
Recommended for anyone wanting ...
- an enjoyable read with some depth, without being a sob story.
- A love story, but also a bit of:
- adapting to new life situations.
- Dual narrative, though with main focus on the FMC
The premisse and plot is very familiar, and that's probably why I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. It is also quite predictable, without that necessarily ruining anything. And there are quite a few bumps on the road, making it a little less obvious how things will turn out.
After just a few weeks as a mother, her husband leaves. And so a new life starts as she adjust to the reality of single motherhood. And on the the dating apps she goes. Getting back on the horse and all that. She does develop a friendship with one guy, and eventually relationship to another. But if course, it can't be so easy, can it?
No.
It cannot.
Not groundbreaking in any way, not very original either. But this is so well done. Character development, good balance of humor and some real emotion, friendships as well as love, well written without unnecessary details and explaining. No long back stories. And the author never goes off track with a bunch of baby-new-mother topics. The pacing is also excellent. Not rushed, and never boring. This is reflected in the length, as right under 300 pages, a complete story is told without unnecessary fluff.
Recommended for anyone wanting ...
- an enjoyable read with some depth, without being a sob story.
- A love story, but also a bit of:
- adapting to new life situations.
- Dual narrative, though with main focus on the FMC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Stella's husband leaves her not long after their first baby is born. She goes from anticipating the exact trajectory of her life to having to begin again.
I read this in two sittings. In Stella, Rebecca Reid manages to write a main character that exceeds her present circumstances, in a way that real people do. I don't want to do disservice to her work by using words like "brave" and "admirable" when she so beautifully shows how complicated and wonderful life can be when you take it as it comes. I found that the ending perfectly reflects all of this.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I read this in two sittings. In Stella, Rebecca Reid manages to write a main character that exceeds her present circumstances, in a way that real people do. I don't want to do disservice to her work by using words like "brave" and "admirable" when she so beautifully shows how complicated and wonderful life can be when you take it as it comes. I found that the ending perfectly reflects all of this.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2026
I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much as I did! Stella is 32 and starting over in life after her husband left her and their daughter. She's trying to fix up a house that is in bad shape and at the same time figure out who she is or who is her type. and so she starts going on lots of different dates, this is how she meets Dom who ends up not really fitting into any of her categories and so she deems him a friend instead. She then meets her perfect man on paper.......
So much fun and a thoughtful story of starting over again, really enjoyed it!
So much fun and a thoughtful story of starting over again, really enjoyed it!
August 14, 2026
4 ⭐️
I enjoyed this book. It’s well written and I loved the friendship between Stella and Dom. My main point of criticism is that it doesn’t read like a traditional romance, the tension and build up are there but there’s little to no pay off in the end, and the ending felt rushed. It was still and fun, easy read, but I would have preferred a more fully developed resolution.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. It’s well written and I loved the friendship between Stella and Dom. My main point of criticism is that it doesn’t read like a traditional romance, the tension and build up are there but there’s little to no pay off in the end, and the ending felt rushed. It was still and fun, easy read, but I would have preferred a more fully developed resolution.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Stella is Starting Over begins with Stella's husband leaving her as her newborn baby is just a few weeks old. What a git!
Encouraged by her friends, she decides to start dating again, specifically by trialling out different 'types' of men, so she can figure out what she really wants. An early date that goes awry is with Dom, our other viewpoint character. He's a commitment-phobe who has no idea what he's looking for. Dom and Stella decide to become just friends... and yes, you can sort of figure out what happens from there.
It's a slightly more adult take on a classic rom-com, with real work/parenting/life/sex problems cropping up on a regular basis. It's funny, too and at times surprising, even if you ultimately know where it's going.
It did end a little abruptly for me after all that build up, but overall a good fun read for the summer.
Encouraged by her friends, she decides to start dating again, specifically by trialling out different 'types' of men, so she can figure out what she really wants. An early date that goes awry is with Dom, our other viewpoint character. He's a commitment-phobe who has no idea what he's looking for. Dom and Stella decide to become just friends... and yes, you can sort of figure out what happens from there.
It's a slightly more adult take on a classic rom-com, with real work/parenting/life/sex problems cropping up on a regular basis. It's funny, too and at times surprising, even if you ultimately know where it's going.
It did end a little abruptly for me after all that build up, but overall a good fun read for the summer.
August 16, 2026
Absolutely loved. I had the best time reading this book and think everyone should read it. It’s such a perfect mix of life, dating, mistakes, lessons wrapped up in a delicious story. If I could read another 10 books about stella I would!!
October 14, 2026
This book is unputdownable. The story of first time online dating after divorce was fun - I loved Stella’s humour and her forthrightness. It was quite predictable, but in a comforting way, and I was disappointed with the end which seemed to fizzle out. I would definitely read more by this author.
November 1, 2026
Stella has decided to reevaluate her love life and hatches a plan to work her way through online dating. However as you can imagine things are not straightforward and do not go to plan. A witty read.
August 28, 2026
3.5. Cute
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews