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Where Happy Begins
When Emmeline Beaumont grows weary of her city career, she decides to make a huge change by taking a job as a gardener at the gorgeous stately home, Ashington House. Sure, she may have told a little white lie about having a horticultural degree, but this is her summer to embrace happiness.
Welcomed with open arms by the lady of the house, Emmy is looking forward to a season of flowers and sunshine. So she is flabbergasted when Lady Penelope, desperate to save face with a nightmare neighbour, announces that her son, Edward, the Lord of the Manor no less, and Emmeline are engaged.
Desperate to keep her job, Emmy agrees to keep up the pretence, but as the summer days draw longer and she spends more time with Edward, she realises she may have made a big mistake. Because under the veneer of a slightly awkward country gent is hidden a devastatingly handsome and heart-achingly kind man. How is Emmy meant to walk away when the summer draws to an end…
Welcomed with open arms by the lady of the house, Emmy is looking forward to a season of flowers and sunshine. So she is flabbergasted when Lady Penelope, desperate to save face with a nightmare neighbour, announces that her son, Edward, the Lord of the Manor no less, and Emmeline are engaged.
Desperate to keep her job, Emmy agrees to keep up the pretence, but as the summer days draw longer and she spends more time with Edward, she realises she may have made a big mistake. Because under the veneer of a slightly awkward country gent is hidden a devastatingly handsome and heart-achingly kind man. How is Emmy meant to walk away when the summer draws to an end…
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Maxine Morrey
52 books351 followersMaxine has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember and wrote her first (very short) book for school when she was ten. Coming in first, she won a handful of book tokens – perfect for a bookworm!
As years went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal’ work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a book on Brighton for a Local History publisher. However, novels are what she loves writing the most. After self publishing her first novel when a contract fell through, thanks to the recession, she continued to look for opportunities.
In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas’ competition with her romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale’.
Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read sew and listen to podcasts. As she also likes cake she can also be found either walking or doing something vaguely physical at the gym.
As years went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal’ work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a book on Brighton for a Local History publisher. However, novels are what she loves writing the most. After self publishing her first novel when a contract fell through, thanks to the recession, she continued to look for opportunities.
In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas’ competition with her romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale’.
Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read sew and listen to podcasts. As she also likes cake she can also be found either walking or doing something vaguely physical at the gym.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
May 18, 2026
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Pretty good, but the ending could have been better
Tired of her career in an advertising agency, Emmeline decides she needs a change. When the change happens before her planning, she ends up applying for the job of an undergardener at Ashington House in a lovely village.
Despite the not-so-positive initial interactions with her bosses, Emmeline is charmed by Lady Penelope, her boss’s mom. But even then, she doesn’t expect to end up as a fake fiancée to her boss, thanks to Penelope’s sudden burst of imagination in front of a rival. Now, she has to continue the ruse for a while, but maybe this was the change she needed—with flowers and interesting people.
The story comes in Emmeline’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
This is a lighthearted, feel-good, clean romance dealing with a couple of sad themes.
I wish we knew the exact ages of the characters. All we get is that the FMC is nearing 40 and the others are around that age (a few years older/younger/same). Not exactly a definite scale to determine if their actions match their ages.
Lady P is adorable and easily my favorite character, followed by Freddy, Barnaby, and the FMC’s dad. The MCs are pretty good, too, though I’d say the MMC gets more points this time.
In a way, it is realistic that the FMC has issues with ‘rich snobs’ based on her past, but she focuses too much on that to the extent that it makes her appear as prejudiced as they are (albeit in reverse).
Still, there are many lighthearted and funny moments. The darkish themes (death of loved one, death of parent, war/army-ptsd, etc.) are not explored in depth, so the overall vibe is pretty easy and sweet.
I also like that characters become good friends even as we have more than one romantic coupling. Friendship is pretty much the highlight, and I loved that. People need good friends across genders and ages.
While I knew the FMC would make an issue of things (she has her concerns), I didn’t particularly agree with how it was resolved. Instead of reforming a character, it should have been the FMC realizing what she wants and what she is willing to do for it. That is more empowering.
There’s a short epilogue, and I like the idea of gardening for veterans.
To summarize, Where Happy Begins is a steady-paced light read if you are in the mood for something cozy and heartwarming.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #WhereHappyBegins
One Liner: Pretty good, but the ending could have been better
Tired of her career in an advertising agency, Emmeline decides she needs a change. When the change happens before her planning, she ends up applying for the job of an undergardener at Ashington House in a lovely village.
Despite the not-so-positive initial interactions with her bosses, Emmeline is charmed by Lady Penelope, her boss’s mom. But even then, she doesn’t expect to end up as a fake fiancée to her boss, thanks to Penelope’s sudden burst of imagination in front of a rival. Now, she has to continue the ruse for a while, but maybe this was the change she needed—with flowers and interesting people.
The story comes in Emmeline’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
This is a lighthearted, feel-good, clean romance dealing with a couple of sad themes.
I wish we knew the exact ages of the characters. All we get is that the FMC is nearing 40 and the others are around that age (a few years older/younger/same). Not exactly a definite scale to determine if their actions match their ages.
Lady P is adorable and easily my favorite character, followed by Freddy, Barnaby, and the FMC’s dad. The MCs are pretty good, too, though I’d say the MMC gets more points this time.
In a way, it is realistic that the FMC has issues with ‘rich snobs’ based on her past, but she focuses too much on that to the extent that it makes her appear as prejudiced as they are (albeit in reverse).
Still, there are many lighthearted and funny moments. The darkish themes (death of loved one, death of parent, war/army-ptsd, etc.) are not explored in depth, so the overall vibe is pretty easy and sweet.
I also like that characters become good friends even as we have more than one romantic coupling. Friendship is pretty much the highlight, and I loved that. People need good friends across genders and ages.
While I knew the FMC would make an issue of things (she has her concerns), I didn’t particularly agree with how it was resolved. Instead of reforming a character, it should have been the FMC realizing what she wants and what she is willing to do for it. That is more empowering.
There’s a short epilogue, and I like the idea of gardening for veterans.
To summarize, Where Happy Begins is a steady-paced light read if you are in the mood for something cozy and heartwarming.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #WhereHappyBegins
June 4, 2026
Terrible ending ruined the book
Safe
Safe
June 10, 2026
The premise of the book is lovely. I really wanted to like it more however as the book went on the FMC became insufferable with her woe-is-me attitude. She makes her poor self confidence everyone else's problem.
May 30, 2026
Emmeline Buchanan's middle name is DAISY and not a single character commented on that? That's more unrealistic than being fake engaged to a Lord.
May 9, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of Where Happy Begins by Maxine Morrey
This was a very cute and feel good read! It was nice to see an older FMC for once (nearing 40)! Something that drew me to this book was the idea of her being a Gardner. I love plants! Some parts of this story are slightly predictable but nonetheless, still enjoyable. This is perfect for anyone wanting a cute, lighthearted romance. Would recommend!
This was a very cute and feel good read! It was nice to see an older FMC for once (nearing 40)! Something that drew me to this book was the idea of her being a Gardner. I love plants! Some parts of this story are slightly predictable but nonetheless, still enjoyable. This is perfect for anyone wanting a cute, lighthearted romance. Would recommend!
July 4, 2026
Woman gets engaged to the same man 3 times but has only kissed him once in her whole life.
June 4, 2026
ARC provided by NetGalley | 3.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🫑 no spice
I picked up this book because the synopsis sounded exactly like the kind of romance I usually enjoy: fake engagement, a charming countryside setting, and a grumpy-but-kind lord of the manor. On paper, it had all the ingredients of a perfect comfort read.
One of the book’s strengths is definitely its cast of characters. I particularly enjoyed Edward, whose initial grumpiness and kindness made him an easy character to root for. The novel also features several genuinely funny moments and charming side characters, while the backstories add welcome depth to the characters’ motivations and emotional struggles.
However, while I understood why Emmeline and Edward were drawn to one another, I never fully felt their love story develop in a way that emotionally convinced me. The fake engagement trope created plenty of tension, but after 340+ pages, the romantic payoff felt weaker than I had hoped.
Overall, a warm and entertaining romance with charming characters, but one that didn't resonate with me emotionally as much as I expected.
Tropes and vibe:
Fake Engagement
Opposites Attract
Small Town / Countryside Romance
Lord of the Manor MMC
Slow Burn
Found Family Vibes
My Rating: overall 3
Emotional impact: 3 Character Connection: 3 Setting & Atmosphere: 3.75 Plot: 3 Writing: 4 Romance: 3
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. As always, these thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
I picked up this book because the synopsis sounded exactly like the kind of romance I usually enjoy: fake engagement, a charming countryside setting, and a grumpy-but-kind lord of the manor. On paper, it had all the ingredients of a perfect comfort read.
One of the book’s strengths is definitely its cast of characters. I particularly enjoyed Edward, whose initial grumpiness and kindness made him an easy character to root for. The novel also features several genuinely funny moments and charming side characters, while the backstories add welcome depth to the characters’ motivations and emotional struggles.
However, while I understood why Emmeline and Edward were drawn to one another, I never fully felt their love story develop in a way that emotionally convinced me. The fake engagement trope created plenty of tension, but after 340+ pages, the romantic payoff felt weaker than I had hoped.
Overall, a warm and entertaining romance with charming characters, but one that didn't resonate with me emotionally as much as I expected.
Tropes and vibe:
Fake Engagement
Opposites Attract
Small Town / Countryside Romance
Lord of the Manor MMC
Slow Burn
Found Family Vibes
My Rating: overall 3
Emotional impact: 3 Character Connection: 3 Setting & Atmosphere: 3.75 Plot: 3 Writing: 4 Romance: 3
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. As always, these thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
May 7, 2026
I started Where Happy Begins with cautious optimism. I had enjoyed Morrey's 2024 Reach for the Stars but found that her 2025 release, Never Too Late, fell short for me.
I am happy to say that Where Happy Begins is the same quality as Reach for the Stars in my opinion.
It took me a tiny bit of time to get in to the idea that this was set in a stately manor house with a Lord and all that entails especially since it is set in present day. But then I found this very enjoyable. I loved the banter that our MFC provided for the story. Emmeline is a relatable main character.
This is what I would label a beach read. It is a fun rom-com that is closed door! Thank you very much. The only real downside to the story for me was that the tension of the storyline was resolved a little too neatly and a bit unrealistic I felt.
I received a ARC of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I am happy to say that Where Happy Begins is the same quality as Reach for the Stars in my opinion.
It took me a tiny bit of time to get in to the idea that this was set in a stately manor house with a Lord and all that entails especially since it is set in present day. But then I found this very enjoyable. I loved the banter that our MFC provided for the story. Emmeline is a relatable main character.
This is what I would label a beach read. It is a fun rom-com that is closed door! Thank you very much. The only real downside to the story for me was that the tension of the storyline was resolved a little too neatly and a bit unrealistic I felt.
I received a ARC of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
May 22, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wanting a change of scenery, Emmeline accepted a job that, quite literally, changed her life. Edward utterly swept her of her feet with his chivalrous and gentleman like behaviour. The story is easy to read, positive and full of funny banter and nice conversations, which I enjoyed. I was smiling through the whole book, only the epilogue felt a bit rushed.
Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
Wanting a change of scenery, Emmeline accepted a job that, quite literally, changed her life. Edward utterly swept her of her feet with his chivalrous and gentleman like behaviour. The story is easy to read, positive and full of funny banter and nice conversations, which I enjoyed. I was smiling through the whole book, only the epilogue felt a bit rushed.
Overall, I give this book 4 stars.
May 31, 2026
I love all of her books! This was no different. I enjoyed this story, but felt the ending was rushed.
August 22, 2026
It was 4 stars until literally the last 20 pages. The characters were cute, the writing was decent, I was enjoying the very fun tropey plot until the very end, and then I was annoyed. Unfortunately DNFing with 15 pages left is not allowed. I still enjoyed the rest of the book but man am I annoyed.
May 25, 2026
A quick and easy and TOTALLY UNREALISTIC fairy tale type of rom com. The characters are all nice (except Verity who has a late story turn). It’s so picture perfect that it’s rather silly but certainly if all your books are on hold and you just need something to keep your mind off the serious things in the world this might fit the bill. I’m curious about how old these characters are.. they acted a bit young for their career descriptions… not a bit of steam in this one it’s entirely super clean… and for that even more unrealistic.
May 25, 2026
Nothing was particularly wrong with this book, but the “I’m just POOR, he’s RICH, he could never love me or understand NORMAL people” got repetitive fast. The last 10% of the book was the best part and I enjoyed the pacing of that!
May 20, 2026
toooooo unrealistic
June 20, 2026
It was fine but nothing happened. There was no conflict. It was just boring.
May 16, 2026
Very well written Morrey book. All of the "clumsy" moments could have been left out, as they really bring down the quality. It's such a trite and over-used "cute" thing. Otherwise, very entertaining.
September 10, 2026
I'd give more than 5 stars if I could. This book was just absolutely adorable. Loved it!
September 16, 2026
3.5⭐️ I wish there was a little more than how it ended but overall a good read!
September 16, 2026
Nice light read. Unnecessarily long, but good feels. Pretty Woman meets Bridgerton.
September 16, 2026
What I liked most about this story:
1) That she wasn’t 18, it made the story more mature.
2) Her insecurities about their class differences were relatable.
3) I loved the slow burn 🔥and that the couple didn’t get together until the very end. That’s my favorite way to end a romance.
4) I loved the ex-husband and stepdaughter component and loved the realistic aspect of that.
1) That she wasn’t 18, it made the story more mature.
2) Her insecurities about their class differences were relatable.
3) I loved the slow burn 🔥and that the couple didn’t get together until the very end. That’s my favorite way to end a romance.
4) I loved the ex-husband and stepdaughter component and loved the realistic aspect of that.
October 24, 2026
A wholesome romance with playful banter, brought a constant smile to my face. It is a charming, low-stress contemporary romance that left me feeling incredibly happy and uplifted by the ending.😊🥰
July 29, 2026
Entertaining audiobook that had me laughing out loud often.
June 6, 2026
2.5. Meh.
August 20, 2026
🎧🎧 I really enjoyed this! It was a sweet story about fresh starts, grief, and unexpected love. However, I really would have enjoyed some chapters from Edward’s perspective!
October 16, 2026
A little too cutesy…..
August 5, 2026
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t do it for me. I never felt invested in the characters or their story. The whole thing felt a little… meh.
There were some sweet moments, but overall, I found myself struggling to connect with the story and just didn’t care enough about what happened. It wasn’t necessarily bad, it just wasn’t a book that grabbed me or left much of an impression.
There were some sweet moments, but overall, I found myself struggling to connect with the story and just didn’t care enough about what happened. It wasn’t necessarily bad, it just wasn’t a book that grabbed me or left much of an impression.
August 2, 2026
Ebook. Amazon
Pretty cute. I don't generally like a bunch of lying. The FMC begins by lying on her cv. Apparently all the boss types figure it out pretty quickly so it becomes a running joke. Still. I generally liked all the characters. The plot got silly and convoluted, but it was ok. There were some crazy moments of comic relief.
Pretty cute. I don't generally like a bunch of lying. The FMC begins by lying on her cv. Apparently all the boss types figure it out pretty quickly so it becomes a running joke. Still. I generally liked all the characters. The plot got silly and convoluted, but it was ok. There were some crazy moments of comic relief.
July 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of Where Happy Begins in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, this one was just okay for me. I had a hard time getting into the story, and while there were moments I enjoyed, I never felt fully invested in the characters or romance. The ending felt pretty predictable, and the third-act breakup did not feel as dramatic or impactful as I expected it to be.
I also found that some of the British vocabulary and cultural references didn’t fully translate for me as an American reader. It wasn’t a huge issue, but there were moments where I wished for a little more context so I could stay immersed in the story.
That said, this may still work well for readers who enjoy sweet, feel-good contemporary romance with a predictable comfort-read kind of ending. It just was not a standout for me.
Overall, this one was just okay for me. I had a hard time getting into the story, and while there were moments I enjoyed, I never felt fully invested in the characters or romance. The ending felt pretty predictable, and the third-act breakup did not feel as dramatic or impactful as I expected it to be.
I also found that some of the British vocabulary and cultural references didn’t fully translate for me as an American reader. It wasn’t a huge issue, but there were moments where I wished for a little more context so I could stay immersed in the story.
That said, this may still work well for readers who enjoy sweet, feel-good contemporary romance with a predictable comfort-read kind of ending. It just was not a standout for me.
July 7, 2026
This book was wonderfully written, very cute, but dear god, I hated the fmc. She was very rude half the book, and whiny the second half. Continuously reminding Edward that she didn’t really like him, and that she didn’t belong.
The only conclusion you receive is a short passage at the end of the book, where they admit they love each other.
It truly had such great potential, but it fell flat towards the end.
The only conclusion you receive is a short passage at the end of the book, where they admit they love each other.
It truly had such great potential, but it fell flat towards the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me this ARC!
Who doesn't love a good fake dating/fiance trope? I know I do, so when I read the description of this book I immediately requested it. Mix that with a "small town" romance, and a FMC looking for a change of scenery I was really excited to dive into this story.
It started off quite cute. We have our FMC, Emmeline, looking to make a change in her life after deciding advertising was no longer for her, and then our MMC, Edward, the Lord of Ashington Manor and Emmeline's new boss. As she begins her first days as the new under-gardener, she navigates her grumpy immediate boss, Isaac, and the manor's kindhearted and friendly family. During a visit to the manor one day, Lady Penelope (Edward's mother), declares that her son and Emmeline are engaged to be married in order to save face in front of her snooty frenemy, Fenella. That is where the plot really begins, as Emmy and Edward figure out what it means to be fake engaged and decide how long this ruse has to last.
Like I already said, I LOVE a good fake dating storyline. This, unfortunately, did absolutely nothing for me. I feel that the main characters lacked any chemistry and there was not really any romantic tension. Emmy spent the entire book (literally the entire book until the final chapter) trying to get out of the arrangement because she didn't feel like she belonged with such an aristocratic and wealthy family. She spends such a large chunk of the story talking about how snobby wealthy people are and how they look down on her, only do be doing the same thing to them the entire time and painting them all with the same brush. The Ashington's are perfectly normal and kind people, but Emmy is too far up her own arse to get off her own high horse. Her being upset that she can't flirt and date Krish halfway through the book because she is fake engaged was wild to me. Meanwhile Edward is pining over her and just about begging her to stay with him when the summer comes to an end. I swear Emmy was more attracted to the cars in this book than her supposed love interest.
On top of this, Emmeline was, in my opinion, an unlikeable character. She is such a pick me, "I'm not like other girls" character that I felt my eyes rolling often. She is very bland, and her defining characteristic is that she is insecure and is afraid of being perceived as a gold-digger. Which, valid given the circumstances, but that can't be the ONLY thing your character has going for them.
I felt like the epilogue was rushed, and it was basically a "and then they all lived happily every after. The end." I guess that's what was required though, considering 98% of the story was Emmeline trying to get away from Edward, so all those loose ends needed to be sorted out in a single chapter.
Who doesn't love a good fake dating/fiance trope? I know I do, so when I read the description of this book I immediately requested it. Mix that with a "small town" romance, and a FMC looking for a change of scenery I was really excited to dive into this story.
It started off quite cute. We have our FMC, Emmeline, looking to make a change in her life after deciding advertising was no longer for her, and then our MMC, Edward, the Lord of Ashington Manor and Emmeline's new boss. As she begins her first days as the new under-gardener, she navigates her grumpy immediate boss, Isaac, and the manor's kindhearted and friendly family. During a visit to the manor one day, Lady Penelope (Edward's mother), declares that her son and Emmeline are engaged to be married in order to save face in front of her snooty frenemy, Fenella. That is where the plot really begins, as Emmy and Edward figure out what it means to be fake engaged and decide how long this ruse has to last.
Like I already said, I LOVE a good fake dating storyline. This, unfortunately, did absolutely nothing for me. I feel that the main characters lacked any chemistry and there was not really any romantic tension. Emmy spent the entire book (literally the entire book until the final chapter) trying to get out of the arrangement because she didn't feel like she belonged with such an aristocratic and wealthy family. She spends such a large chunk of the story talking about how snobby wealthy people are and how they look down on her, only do be doing the same thing to them the entire time and painting them all with the same brush. The Ashington's are perfectly normal and kind people, but Emmy is too far up her own arse to get off her own high horse. Her being upset that she can't flirt and date Krish halfway through the book because she is fake engaged was wild to me. Meanwhile Edward is pining over her and just about begging her to stay with him when the summer comes to an end. I swear Emmy was more attracted to the cars in this book than her supposed love interest.
On top of this, Emmeline was, in my opinion, an unlikeable character. She is such a pick me, "I'm not like other girls" character that I felt my eyes rolling often. She is very bland, and her defining characteristic is that she is insecure and is afraid of being perceived as a gold-digger. Which, valid given the circumstances, but that can't be the ONLY thing your character has going for them.
I felt like the epilogue was rushed, and it was basically a "and then they all lived happily every after. The end." I guess that's what was required though, considering 98% of the story was Emmeline trying to get away from Edward, so all those loose ends needed to be sorted out in a single chapter.
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