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Just As You Are
You will LOVE this wonderfully warm-hearted and laugh-out-loud funny romantic comedy for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella.
Emma Londstown spent her twenties travelling, and now needs to make up for lost time. All her friends are married, having babies, and settling into domestic bliss. Determined to catch up, Emma plunges herself headfirst into the online dating world, and discovers single men in Sydney are one of three things; tossers, illiterate, or nerds that work in IT (she must be sending out subtle hints in binary code.)
This story, set in the bustling city of Sydney, is a humorous, light-hearted novel for every woman who has ever wanted to find The One. With a clear underlying message – be yourself.
Emma Londstown spent her twenties travelling, and now needs to make up for lost time. All her friends are married, having babies, and settling into domestic bliss. Determined to catch up, Emma plunges herself headfirst into the online dating world, and discovers single men in Sydney are one of three things; tossers, illiterate, or nerds that work in IT (she must be sending out subtle hints in binary code.)
This story, set in the bustling city of Sydney, is a humorous, light-hearted novel for every woman who has ever wanted to find The One. With a clear underlying message – be yourself.
193 pages, ebook
First published January 20, 2020
139 people are currently reading
715 people want to read
About the author
Kate R. Mathieson
7 books23 followersKate discovered she wanted to be a writer at the age of 8, when her love of Nancy Drew novels inspired her to start writing.
In 2009, she took a one-way ticket to Africa, re-wilding herself. Her story would become her breakthrough memoir, Ways to Come Home – a finalist for the 2017 Finch Memoir Prize.
She is currently a writer-in-residence working on her first romantic comedy fiction book, and loving every minute of the juicy details.
A contemporary writer, naturalist and poet, Kate is happiest with the wind on her face and leaves in her hair. She is a cheese lover, whiskey enthusiast and loves walking in the rain, with her one-eyed rescue dog, Maximus.
In 2009, she took a one-way ticket to Africa, re-wilding herself. Her story would become her breakthrough memoir, Ways to Come Home – a finalist for the 2017 Finch Memoir Prize.
She is currently a writer-in-residence working on her first romantic comedy fiction book, and loving every minute of the juicy details.
A contemporary writer, naturalist and poet, Kate is happiest with the wind on her face and leaves in her hair. She is a cheese lover, whiskey enthusiast and loves walking in the rain, with her one-eyed rescue dog, Maximus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
April 13, 2020
This novel's main character reminded me of a combination between Sophie Kinsella's Becky Bloomwood and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones. If you liked either of those series, maybe give this book a try.
Although this novel is romance, the story felt more than just that. It was more of a story about the character discovering herself and I think the romance took a backseat to that. The romance aspect was 'okay' but I wouldn't say that I fully loved the couple. I actually didn't know who the main character was going to end up with because I didn't feel any obvious chemistry between any of the males in the story. In fact, I actually predicted a different love interest that was a character only featured in one scene.
It was an okay, mediocre read but there was nothing spectacular about it.
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Although this novel is romance, the story felt more than just that. It was more of a story about the character discovering herself and I think the romance took a backseat to that. The romance aspect was 'okay' but I wouldn't say that I fully loved the couple. I actually didn't know who the main character was going to end up with because I didn't feel any obvious chemistry between any of the males in the story. In fact, I actually predicted a different love interest that was a character only featured in one scene.
It was an okay, mediocre read but there was nothing spectacular about it.
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
October 27, 2019
I really liked this book. This book starts with Emma a girl who was left at the alter by her ex who has been single for many years since. Her mom is constantly trying to get her dates. Emmas priorities at this point are to travel and explore rather than settle as she had such a bad experience. She ends up going to Fiji prior to returning to Australia. While at Fiji she meets Nick at at bar. They end up having a steamy night. Nick leaves her his number but she ends up throwing it away when she is back in Australia. She finds that he is on her mind a lot by didnt know his last name to facebook stalk him. She ends up starting at a new PR firm and finds that her new boss is Nick. I love Their relationship and how spontaneous they are.
Do they end up together? Read this book and find out. This book had me laugh at so many parts and it kept me up past my bed time. I really liked it
Do they end up together? Read this book and find out. This book had me laugh at so many parts and it kept me up past my bed time. I really liked it
January 10, 2020
This is a light & funny chick-lit book. It is a perfect beach read.
It is a book you will enjoy reading but will soon forget all about it.
No drama, whimsical heroine, some misunderstanding, "don't have time to confess the truth" plotline.
So, is that a read you are looking for? This book is for you.
As long as you know what you are getting. It is an okay read.
Cute cover!
Thanks to Netgalley & to the publisher for the copy of the book for an honest review.
It is a book you will enjoy reading but will soon forget all about it.
No drama, whimsical heroine, some misunderstanding, "don't have time to confess the truth" plotline.
So, is that a read you are looking for? This book is for you.
As long as you know what you are getting. It is an okay read.
Cute cover!
Thanks to Netgalley & to the publisher for the copy of the book for an honest review.
December 20, 2019
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Well that was a slog and a half. Fair warning, the book takes a while to get going. I started to lose interest after the first sex scene and my interest dwindled from there. There are some bright parts of the book though (hence the 3 stars) but not enough to actually get me that invested in reading something from this author again anytime soon. Not a bad romance, just needs to be more tightly edited.
"Just As You Are" is about Emma Londstown who finally returns home to settle down (get married, get a home, have kids) like all of her friends have done. However, she meets a man along the way who may derail her plans.
Emma could have been interesting, but the first part of the book just flits around with her traveling the world for 7 years and then returning home to Australia. I think I would have liked the book more if we got to see her in those places. When she stops for a quick trip before heading home she meets a man named Nick and the romance felt ham-fisted to me from the word go. Most of the book is about her new job and reading about someone's job is not that exciting.
This book takes place in Sydney, but it felt too "American" to me by and large and I kept forgetting that Emma was supposed to be Australian.
Well that was a slog and a half. Fair warning, the book takes a while to get going. I started to lose interest after the first sex scene and my interest dwindled from there. There are some bright parts of the book though (hence the 3 stars) but not enough to actually get me that invested in reading something from this author again anytime soon. Not a bad romance, just needs to be more tightly edited.
"Just As You Are" is about Emma Londstown who finally returns home to settle down (get married, get a home, have kids) like all of her friends have done. However, she meets a man along the way who may derail her plans.
Emma could have been interesting, but the first part of the book just flits around with her traveling the world for 7 years and then returning home to Australia. I think I would have liked the book more if we got to see her in those places. When she stops for a quick trip before heading home she meets a man named Nick and the romance felt ham-fisted to me from the word go. Most of the book is about her new job and reading about someone's job is not that exciting.
This book takes place in Sydney, but it felt too "American" to me by and large and I kept forgetting that Emma was supposed to be Australian.
November 27, 2019
4 stars, after a bit of a rocky start.
I really enjoyed the journey that Emma took in this story. Great characters and a fun storyline, even if the beginning was a little hard to get into.
I really enjoyed the journey that Emma took in this story. Great characters and a fun storyline, even if the beginning was a little hard to get into.
November 26, 2019
***Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads, and Kate Mathieson for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***
Just As You Are, by Kate Mathieson, was not what I was expecting. The summary described it as a world traveler deciding to settle down and jumping headfirst into the world of online dating. There were only a handful of dates that didn’t take more than a few pages at most to describe. Emma ran away from Australia after a trauma and ended up staying abroad for 7 years. Now she’s back with a list of goals: a job, a house and someone to share her life with. Unfortunately, her job becomes her life. Fate throws a man into her path that she could see a life with, one she has a history with, but they can’t seem to get their timing right, not to mention a relationship between them is more complicated than average.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. The positives? I could feel the connection between Emma and Nick when they met. I think the busyness and tireless aspects of Emma’s job were well represented. Nick was lovely, albeit a little secretive about parts of his life. Emma had good friends who checked in with her and tried to be supportive.
The negatives? For me the story was very slow in the setup (like 43% setup before things took shape). I struggled to get through it and considered not finishing the book at all. The initial sex scene was not my cup of tea in regard to the way it was written. It was really hard to see Emma as professional given how she was doing her job. Her job took up the majority of the plot, and while it had interesting moments, it was setup as a house of cards so I spent most of the story waiting for it to come crashing down. I found Emma hard to relate to and even like at times. I was expecting romance and got very little, so the book felt more like chick lit than romance. And perhaps the biggest negative for me was that the reader spends so much time in Emma’s head with her what-ifs and ‘what is he thinking’ and those sorts of things. It was too much supposition, too much telling instead of showing.
I really liked the ending. It was definitely the strongest part of the book. I think perhaps I’m just a mismatch with this author.
Just As You Are, by Kate Mathieson, was not what I was expecting. The summary described it as a world traveler deciding to settle down and jumping headfirst into the world of online dating. There were only a handful of dates that didn’t take more than a few pages at most to describe. Emma ran away from Australia after a trauma and ended up staying abroad for 7 years. Now she’s back with a list of goals: a job, a house and someone to share her life with. Unfortunately, her job becomes her life. Fate throws a man into her path that she could see a life with, one she has a history with, but they can’t seem to get their timing right, not to mention a relationship between them is more complicated than average.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. The positives? I could feel the connection between Emma and Nick when they met. I think the busyness and tireless aspects of Emma’s job were well represented. Nick was lovely, albeit a little secretive about parts of his life. Emma had good friends who checked in with her and tried to be supportive.
The negatives? For me the story was very slow in the setup (like 43% setup before things took shape). I struggled to get through it and considered not finishing the book at all. The initial sex scene was not my cup of tea in regard to the way it was written. It was really hard to see Emma as professional given how she was doing her job. Her job took up the majority of the plot, and while it had interesting moments, it was setup as a house of cards so I spent most of the story waiting for it to come crashing down. I found Emma hard to relate to and even like at times. I was expecting romance and got very little, so the book felt more like chick lit than romance. And perhaps the biggest negative for me was that the reader spends so much time in Emma’s head with her what-ifs and ‘what is he thinking’ and those sorts of things. It was too much supposition, too much telling instead of showing.
I really liked the ending. It was definitely the strongest part of the book. I think perhaps I’m just a mismatch with this author.
October 26, 2019
This is a fun lighthearted romantic storyline. Yes it is a little predictable, but it’s great non the less.
March 1, 2020
As you can possibly guess from the title, Just As You Are is a little bit of an homage to Bridget Jones Diary. It's a warm and funny story about working out what you want from life, accepting who you are and following your dreams. It took me a little while to warm up to this story but once I did I found it a laugh out loud funny and enjoyable read.
I do think the synopsis is a little bit misleading as this isn't really a light and fluffy read full of funny stories about online dating (there isn't actually any online dating at all) but instead goes much wider than that. Main character Emma Londstown is returning to Sydney after years spent travelling the globe. After much nagging from her Mum and feeling left out by her friends who are all married with children she decides it's time to settle down. She comes up with a three part plan, 1) get a job, 2) find a house, 3) meet the guy she'll spend the rest of her life with.
Parts 1 and 2 of her plan come together quite quickly as, after a great deal of creativity with her CV, she lands a job at a top PR firm and her mother finds her a cheap (albeit dingy and damp) place to live. Part 3 however proves more difficult as the crazy hours she ends up working and limited options in the Sydney dating scene make finding Mr Right seem like an impossible task. Emma starts to wonder if she made a mistake in throwing away the number of the guy she spent an incredible night with in Fiji.
There is definitely something very Bridget Jones like about Emma. She's constantly worrying over her weight, her clothes, her makeup. She feels left behind and lonely as her friends all seem to be focused on their own families and they can't hang out the way they used to. She drinks too much has a terrible diet and is killing herself trying to pretend that she's something she's not (confident, qualified career woman who knows what she's doing). It's tough to read at times and incredibly frustrating as a lot of her problems are those of her own making. She's lied her way into a job she's in no way qualified for and keeps on lying even when well out of her depth.
Despite this, there is something relateable and likeable about her. Yes, she blunders about, says and does the wrong thing but her heart is in the right place and when it comes down to it she's willing to work and to fix her mistakes. She's funny and loyal and trying to be what everyone thinks she should be. I may have been frustrated with her but I did want her to succeed.
I also very much wanted her to get together with Nick as it's clear from the start that they're absolutely perfect for each other. Even in that one night in Fiji they have an instant connection and the scenes where they were together were the highlight of the book for me. I loved the banter between them and the awkwardness and the sparks.
So why you may be asking if I loved this so much did I only give three stars, well, in addition to there being a lot to love there were things I thought could have been better. Firstly it's pretty slow to get going, for the first third of the book not very much happens.
I also felt like much more could have been made of the secondary characters. Other than Emma and Nick the others feel a little stereotyped and don't make much of an impression. There's the overbearing mother and under the thumb father, the maneating coworker, the gay best friend and the overly demanding boss. I don't necessarily mind a stereotype but it also seemed like many of these characters had a big part then disappeared never to be seen again. Emma's parents for example disappear as soon as she moves out of the family home. I found it odd too that Emma doesn't spend any time with her best friend's families.
Finally I think the story could have gone a bit deeper and had a little more emotion. Yes it made me laugh but instead of spending so much time on Emma's job it could have dug a little more into why she felt like she had to conform. It is obvious that she's lonely, she admits it herself, but I didn't feel it.
Anyway, overall I thought this was a really fun read and I'd recommend to anyone looking for a light holiday (or rainy afternoon) read.
I received an advance copy of this from the publisher via Netgalley
I do think the synopsis is a little bit misleading as this isn't really a light and fluffy read full of funny stories about online dating (there isn't actually any online dating at all) but instead goes much wider than that. Main character Emma Londstown is returning to Sydney after years spent travelling the globe. After much nagging from her Mum and feeling left out by her friends who are all married with children she decides it's time to settle down. She comes up with a three part plan, 1) get a job, 2) find a house, 3) meet the guy she'll spend the rest of her life with.
Parts 1 and 2 of her plan come together quite quickly as, after a great deal of creativity with her CV, she lands a job at a top PR firm and her mother finds her a cheap (albeit dingy and damp) place to live. Part 3 however proves more difficult as the crazy hours she ends up working and limited options in the Sydney dating scene make finding Mr Right seem like an impossible task. Emma starts to wonder if she made a mistake in throwing away the number of the guy she spent an incredible night with in Fiji.
There is definitely something very Bridget Jones like about Emma. She's constantly worrying over her weight, her clothes, her makeup. She feels left behind and lonely as her friends all seem to be focused on their own families and they can't hang out the way they used to. She drinks too much has a terrible diet and is killing herself trying to pretend that she's something she's not (confident, qualified career woman who knows what she's doing). It's tough to read at times and incredibly frustrating as a lot of her problems are those of her own making. She's lied her way into a job she's in no way qualified for and keeps on lying even when well out of her depth.
Despite this, there is something relateable and likeable about her. Yes, she blunders about, says and does the wrong thing but her heart is in the right place and when it comes down to it she's willing to work and to fix her mistakes. She's funny and loyal and trying to be what everyone thinks she should be. I may have been frustrated with her but I did want her to succeed.
I also very much wanted her to get together with Nick as it's clear from the start that they're absolutely perfect for each other. Even in that one night in Fiji they have an instant connection and the scenes where they were together were the highlight of the book for me. I loved the banter between them and the awkwardness and the sparks.
So why you may be asking if I loved this so much did I only give three stars, well, in addition to there being a lot to love there were things I thought could have been better. Firstly it's pretty slow to get going, for the first third of the book not very much happens.
I also felt like much more could have been made of the secondary characters. Other than Emma and Nick the others feel a little stereotyped and don't make much of an impression. There's the overbearing mother and under the thumb father, the maneating coworker, the gay best friend and the overly demanding boss. I don't necessarily mind a stereotype but it also seemed like many of these characters had a big part then disappeared never to be seen again. Emma's parents for example disappear as soon as she moves out of the family home. I found it odd too that Emma doesn't spend any time with her best friend's families.
Finally I think the story could have gone a bit deeper and had a little more emotion. Yes it made me laugh but instead of spending so much time on Emma's job it could have dug a little more into why she felt like she had to conform. It is obvious that she's lonely, she admits it herself, but I didn't feel it.
Anyway, overall I thought this was a really fun read and I'd recommend to anyone looking for a light holiday (or rainy afternoon) read.
I received an advance copy of this from the publisher via Netgalley
December 2, 2019
Just As You Are is a hilarious, light-hearted, sweet and sexy as hell romantic comedy that everyone can relate with. Great story, fabulous writing with all the feels and all around a great book that I know people are going to love. Pick up copy today. Happy reading!!
January 14, 2020
Just As You Are by Kate Mathieson is a delightfully funny contemporary romance novel. Emma Londstown set off on a journey around the world after being left standing at the altar and seven years later tired of waitressing in a Mexican restaurant in London, decides to head home to Sydney, Australia and figure out what she wants to do with her life. A brief stop in Fiji on her way home leads to a wonderfully sexy one night stand and although he gives her his number and asks to see her again her fears make her think that he’s too good to be true and decides to save herself some heartache by deleting his number from her phone. Back in Sydney living in a tiny flat, going on lousy dates and working in a job at Maker PR agency that she got with some audacious tweaking of her CV Emma is feeling out of place and in way over her head when she arrives at work to find out her new boss is Nicholas Taylor naked swim guy from Fiji. Nick’s head is spinning the woman he’s pretty sure he fell in love with on Fiji doesn’t appear to be the same person who is his new employee and the major event she’s been working on seems to have all the makings of a disaster for the firm. This is a perfect story to curl up with on a cold, gloomy day for a comfort read. I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Medium Steam. Publishing Date January 20, 2020, #NetGalley #JustAsYouAre #KateMathieson #ContemporaryRomance #HarperImpulse #OneMoreChapter #HarperCollinsCanada #bookstagram
November 6, 2019
As the title suggests, this book is somewhat of an homage to Bridget Jones Diary. If you liked Bridget and Mark Darcy’s antics, you’ll might also enjoy this occasionally fun “coming of age in your mid thirties tale.”
Emma’s been running around the world trying to forget the embarrassment she suffered when she was left at the altar by Murray, a perfectly vanilla computer studies major who used to tutor her in statistics. After seven years of globetrotting and making ends meet through a variety of dead end jobs, she’s decided to come home to Sydney and grow up. She has a three part plan: get a job, get a man, get a house.
On her way home, she opts for one last romp in Fiji, to hopefully get some sun and wash off the rain and dust from living in the UK. It seems like it’s nothing but couples as far as the eye can see, until she falls on her ass in the hotel bar and is helped up by an extremely handsome gentleman named Nick. The talk, they laugh, they skinny dip in the ocean, build a fire on the beach, and go home together. And the next day, Emma blows Nick off for a basket weaving class before getting on the flight to Australia and her new life.
Despite the fact that Emma *really* likes Nick and he *also* lives in Sydney, she literally throws his number in the garbage and decides to be set up by her married friends on a series of dates ranging from comical to disastrous. Her parents are so fed up with her living at home with seemingly no prospects (despite being thrilled that she’s come back from her travels) that they move her into a damp studio while she’s out shopping for a wardrobe for a job she’s drastically exaggerated her qualifications for.
Turns out being a PR person is a bit more difficult than she assumed, and she’s quickly overwhelmed at work. When her nightmare boss quits in the middle of a huge project, who is tapped to fill her shoes but Nick. From Fiji.
They flirt, they don’t communicate well, Emma continues to not be up front about her work experience or the status of the project, and things do not go well for her personally or professionally. Emma’s inability to honestly assess her own wants, skills, desirability made me so incredibly frustrated. She wants a man, an incredibly handsome and funny and into her man appears, and she tosses his info because they didn’t meet at a cafe like she imagined it? Wild.
The ending was nice. I appreciated that Emma finally took some accountability for her behavior at work and fixed the problem she created for herself. I love that she finally worked her network and found a job that satisfied her passions instead of what she thought everyone expected of her. I was underwhelmed by her as a character, and honestly found it hard to root for her at some points. I know that romance and rom coms are built on tropes, but unfortunately nothing about this book set it apart for me.
Thank you to Kate Mathieson, NetGalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for the ARC. This is my honest review.
2.5 stars
Emma’s been running around the world trying to forget the embarrassment she suffered when she was left at the altar by Murray, a perfectly vanilla computer studies major who used to tutor her in statistics. After seven years of globetrotting and making ends meet through a variety of dead end jobs, she’s decided to come home to Sydney and grow up. She has a three part plan: get a job, get a man, get a house.
On her way home, she opts for one last romp in Fiji, to hopefully get some sun and wash off the rain and dust from living in the UK. It seems like it’s nothing but couples as far as the eye can see, until she falls on her ass in the hotel bar and is helped up by an extremely handsome gentleman named Nick. The talk, they laugh, they skinny dip in the ocean, build a fire on the beach, and go home together. And the next day, Emma blows Nick off for a basket weaving class before getting on the flight to Australia and her new life.
Despite the fact that Emma *really* likes Nick and he *also* lives in Sydney, she literally throws his number in the garbage and decides to be set up by her married friends on a series of dates ranging from comical to disastrous. Her parents are so fed up with her living at home with seemingly no prospects (despite being thrilled that she’s come back from her travels) that they move her into a damp studio while she’s out shopping for a wardrobe for a job she’s drastically exaggerated her qualifications for.
Turns out being a PR person is a bit more difficult than she assumed, and she’s quickly overwhelmed at work. When her nightmare boss quits in the middle of a huge project, who is tapped to fill her shoes but Nick. From Fiji.
They flirt, they don’t communicate well, Emma continues to not be up front about her work experience or the status of the project, and things do not go well for her personally or professionally. Emma’s inability to honestly assess her own wants, skills, desirability made me so incredibly frustrated. She wants a man, an incredibly handsome and funny and into her man appears, and she tosses his info because they didn’t meet at a cafe like she imagined it? Wild.
The ending was nice. I appreciated that Emma finally took some accountability for her behavior at work and fixed the problem she created for herself. I love that she finally worked her network and found a job that satisfied her passions instead of what she thought everyone expected of her. I was underwhelmed by her as a character, and honestly found it hard to root for her at some points. I know that romance and rom coms are built on tropes, but unfortunately nothing about this book set it apart for me.
Thank you to Kate Mathieson, NetGalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for the ARC. This is my honest review.
2.5 stars
January 5, 2020
Just As You Are is a romantic comedy you need in your life. It's funny, light-hearted, and flirty. Kate Mathieson created a heroine that many readers will be able to relate to. Emma spent her twenties living life the way she wanted and now that she is in her thirties she is beginning to feel the pressure to settle down and find the one.
When Emma travels to Fiji, she meets a charming man named Nick. They spend an amazing night together but she knows it won't go anywhere. When she returns home to Sydney, she gets a new job in PR. She has no experience but she is going to fake it till she makes it.
Nick and Emma meet again in Sydney. Turns out he's her boss. As the story goes on, it is so fun to see them deal with the awkwardness of seeing each other again and catching one another in little white lies. Their chemistry is sweet and fiery.
Will they be able to keep things professional? That is the big question that you will know when you read it!
I give Just As You Are 4 stars. It is a fun romantic comedy about the fun and unexpected journey of finding the one!! It was funny, spicy, and easy to read!
When Emma travels to Fiji, she meets a charming man named Nick. They spend an amazing night together but she knows it won't go anywhere. When she returns home to Sydney, she gets a new job in PR. She has no experience but she is going to fake it till she makes it.
Nick and Emma meet again in Sydney. Turns out he's her boss. As the story goes on, it is so fun to see them deal with the awkwardness of seeing each other again and catching one another in little white lies. Their chemistry is sweet and fiery.
Will they be able to keep things professional? That is the big question that you will know when you read it!
I give Just As You Are 4 stars. It is a fun romantic comedy about the fun and unexpected journey of finding the one!! It was funny, spicy, and easy to read!
January 26, 2020
***I received a copy through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
I really enjoyed this read! It was light, humorous, and kept me entertained. I wish there would have been more development in Nick and Emma’s relationship, it felt a bit forced. The ending was rushed, but still was enjoyable. I think the description of the book is a bit misleading, seeing as Emma didn’t do much dating and the focus was really on her reinventing herself and her life. Despite all of that, I really loved the banter that Nick and Emma had, I only wish there was more of it.
I really enjoyed this read! It was light, humorous, and kept me entertained. I wish there would have been more development in Nick and Emma’s relationship, it felt a bit forced. The ending was rushed, but still was enjoyable. I think the description of the book is a bit misleading, seeing as Emma didn’t do much dating and the focus was really on her reinventing herself and her life. Despite all of that, I really loved the banter that Nick and Emma had, I only wish there was more of it.
January 29, 2020
Just As You Are, started off light, fluffy, romantic and juicy.. then it kind of just fell flat? The mid and end sections just felt like a different book. At the start there was chemistry, even when the two were just talking, then it just fizzled and felt like different people. Not my favourite.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2020
This was such a fun read! I love reading romcoms. This is such a relatable book. Women are choosing to travel and get married and have kids later in life and sometimes feel like their behind. This was a super cute and heartwarming take into that!
November 25, 2019
Absolutely loved this novel! The writer has a beautiful and seamlessly flowing narrating style and I literally could jot put the book down.
November 18, 2019
It took a few chapters for me to be into the book, but once I was I couldn't wait to see what happened. I liked Emma and Nick from the beginning. There wasn't a lot of online dating that was mentioned in the blub, but I think the story was good without it.
Thank you to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and NetGalley for the arc. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and NetGalley for the arc. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 12, 2023
A fun read, with a happy ending.
November 3, 2019
Pretty enjoyable , funny romance. I liked Emma and her journey to figuring herself out and what made her happy, Thought Nick was great from the start and really wanted them to find their back after Fiji. Worth a read.
October 24, 2019
So I started this book and by the 2nd chapter I just though ugh, really, this again? I skim read a few pages up until around chapter 5 and then I was hooked. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, I cheered.
I think that Emma is one of my most favourite heroines, it helps that she's not your usual skinny Minnie and she knows her flaws but still finds her way to what she wants. Nick is like the yummiest thing ever and will be added to my literary heartthrobs.
Ive never read anything by this author before but I definitely want to now and can't wait to, honestly.
Definitely a must-read, don't let the first few chapters out you off - this is not the same as the rest!
4 stars (still not entirely over my first person narrative hate)
I think that Emma is one of my most favourite heroines, it helps that she's not your usual skinny Minnie and she knows her flaws but still finds her way to what she wants. Nick is like the yummiest thing ever and will be added to my literary heartthrobs.
Ive never read anything by this author before but I definitely want to now and can't wait to, honestly.
Definitely a must-read, don't let the first few chapters out you off - this is not the same as the rest!
4 stars (still not entirely over my first person narrative hate)
March 8, 2020
I read this in a single weekend. There is plenty to delight lovers of lighthearted rom coms: Emma, the funny, observant heroine; Nick the hot hero delivering suitably hot encounters and some surprises; a dramatic turn at the end in an iconic setting that’s perfect for this heroine.
Having spent several years travelling, Emma formulates ‘The Plan’ to get a stable job, lay down roots and put an end to her singledom. She immediately attracts opportunity and then a series of comic disasters.
This is what I particularly enjoyed:
The heroine stands apart from what’s typically in this genre. Emma is in her mid 30s, she does not possess super model looks and has few accomplishments to list on her CV. However she is resourceful and rather desperate.
Emma lies her way into a major PR agency and her experience of the horrors of drudgery and overwork (echoes of Devil Wears Prada) and the fake corporate culture are genuinely funny.
The descriptions of her emotional states -especially embarrassment, indignation and outrage are entertaining. Especially when an unexpected character throws The Plan into further chaos. Add her self reflection and this delivers a believable engaging heroine.
I picked up this book because I enjoyed a another book by this author ‘Ways to Come Home’ and was curious to read a work in an entirely different genre. I wasn’t disappointed.
Having spent several years travelling, Emma formulates ‘The Plan’ to get a stable job, lay down roots and put an end to her singledom. She immediately attracts opportunity and then a series of comic disasters.
This is what I particularly enjoyed:
The heroine stands apart from what’s typically in this genre. Emma is in her mid 30s, she does not possess super model looks and has few accomplishments to list on her CV. However she is resourceful and rather desperate.
Emma lies her way into a major PR agency and her experience of the horrors of drudgery and overwork (echoes of Devil Wears Prada) and the fake corporate culture are genuinely funny.
The descriptions of her emotional states -especially embarrassment, indignation and outrage are entertaining. Especially when an unexpected character throws The Plan into further chaos. Add her self reflection and this delivers a believable engaging heroine.
I picked up this book because I enjoyed a another book by this author ‘Ways to Come Home’ and was curious to read a work in an entirely different genre. I wasn’t disappointed.
October 13, 2020
*3,5 stars
I really liked this story. The backstory to Emma was well explained.
I liked how she just did what she wanted, and 'just lived life'.
Going back home, I thought she would adjust slowly and would have some difficulties, but it felt like she could handle it all pretty well. Her mom was pretty annoying as a character, but I guess it was written that way. It felt very much how a mom would be, if her daughter was 30-something and was still living at home/without a job. The story with Nick was also interesting, and I could see why Emma reacted certain ways to things, though she sometimes reacted like a teenager haha.
In the end what I really liked was how Emma discovered that she could be who she wanted to be, and not what other people want her to be. I know everyone get's pressured into doing things, and I guess it's a learning process as an adult to just let go and be yourself.
I really liked this story. The backstory to Emma was well explained.
I liked how she just did what she wanted, and 'just lived life'.
Going back home, I thought she would adjust slowly and would have some difficulties, but it felt like she could handle it all pretty well. Her mom was pretty annoying as a character, but I guess it was written that way. It felt very much how a mom would be, if her daughter was 30-something and was still living at home/without a job. The story with Nick was also interesting, and I could see why Emma reacted certain ways to things, though she sometimes reacted like a teenager haha.
In the end what I really liked was how Emma discovered that she could be who she wanted to be, and not what other people want her to be. I know everyone get's pressured into doing things, and I guess it's a learning process as an adult to just let go and be yourself.
January 9, 2020
This book started out just okay for me, but did get better by the end. I found it funny that it referenced Bridget Jones several times, as it reminded me of that a great deal. This book basically is about a woman named Emma in her thirties who, prior to where the book begins, has spent years traveling after disappointments in her love life and career. She then decides that she needs to settle down in the city, get a job, a house and a husband. So, she takes a job at a PR firm and tries to fit into the same cookie cutter role as the women she works with. However, she can’t seem to get the husband part sorted out. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I will just say that as the title suggests, she has to learn that she is wonderful just as she is.
***This review is based on an electronic advance reader copy provided to me by the publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***
***This review is based on an electronic advance reader copy provided to me by the publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***
December 8, 2019
This book was a lot of fun to read! It was easy to put yourself into the shoes of the book’s main character. I would definitely recommend this book!
March 1, 2020
First of all, thank you to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and to Netgalley for sharing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a light read about a woman in her thirties, Emma, who has spent the past seven years travelling the world after being left at the altar. Actually the travel was really something she wanted but the trigger was being left at the altar. So after seven years, she decides it's time to come home and starts travelling back to Sydney with a short stopover in Fiji. It's here she meets Nick and has one of the best nights of her life. She decides it's a one-night stand that must remain that way and never uses the phone number he's given her.
Once she gets home, she has three main goal in life: Get a job, Get a place to live, and find somebody to spend her life with. With a CV that's fully padded out, she gets herself a job with a major PR firm. Her mum finds her a place of her own to live, tiny though it may be. Goal number three is the hard one. She's set up on lots of dates but never gets past the first. She's still thinking of Nick in Fiji weeks later when he reappears in her life.
I'll say no more about it but it's an interesting path their connection takes from here. I thought it was a pretty good sort of rom-com book, with a few nods to Bridget Jones along the way. Yes, it's a romance but the main theme of the book is being yourself instead of pretending to be someone else. There are a few lessons learned along the way but she works this out by the end.
A slight niggling point I will make from earlier in the book is the reference to a swimsuit as a swimming costume. This wasn't once but several times within a chapter or two. I've not heard this used before in the time I've lived in Australia (over 25 years) so wondered if it's a regionalism. But funnily enough after saying this so many times, bathing suit is used once.
This was a cute romance although it got a bit sickly sweet at the end. I give it 3.5 stars overall.
This was a light read about a woman in her thirties, Emma, who has spent the past seven years travelling the world after being left at the altar. Actually the travel was really something she wanted but the trigger was being left at the altar. So after seven years, she decides it's time to come home and starts travelling back to Sydney with a short stopover in Fiji. It's here she meets Nick and has one of the best nights of her life. She decides it's a one-night stand that must remain that way and never uses the phone number he's given her.
Once she gets home, she has three main goal in life: Get a job, Get a place to live, and find somebody to spend her life with. With a CV that's fully padded out, she gets herself a job with a major PR firm. Her mum finds her a place of her own to live, tiny though it may be. Goal number three is the hard one. She's set up on lots of dates but never gets past the first. She's still thinking of Nick in Fiji weeks later when he reappears in her life.
I'll say no more about it but it's an interesting path their connection takes from here. I thought it was a pretty good sort of rom-com book, with a few nods to Bridget Jones along the way. Yes, it's a romance but the main theme of the book is being yourself instead of pretending to be someone else. There are a few lessons learned along the way but she works this out by the end.
A slight niggling point I will make from earlier in the book is the reference to a swimsuit as a swimming costume. This wasn't once but several times within a chapter or two. I've not heard this used before in the time I've lived in Australia (over 25 years) so wondered if it's a regionalism. But funnily enough after saying this so many times, bathing suit is used once.
This was a cute romance although it got a bit sickly sweet at the end. I give it 3.5 stars overall.
December 7, 2019
This definitely had its moments but unfortunately they were few and far between. A story about accepting yourself for who you are, it takes awhile to work itself into anything more than over the top comedy, and I’d already disconnected from the story at that point. There is some fun banter and a lively, unpredictable heroine, but that’s sort of all that worked for me.
The story follows Emma, a woman in her thirties who fled home after being left at the altar. She’s never quite fit the typical mold of what a woman “should” be like, so she’s spent the last 7 years traveling and avoiding any commitments. Deciding it’s time to get serious and return to the real world, she has one last wild night with Nick, a sexy stranger. They connect in a way she hasn’t with anyone else, and upon returning home, Emma looks back on their night with increasing fondness.
I will say that the book is funny - sometimes in a cringeworthy way, but it’s a huge part of the story. The problem lies with Emma and her guy. Emma’s not all that easy to like (she lies, self-deprecates, and is blind to what’s in front of her), while her guy is easy to like but not at all easy to read. This is told exclusively from Emma’s perspective, so we never get a real sense of who her guy is, and trouble lurks around every corner. It’s more a comedy of errors than a true romance, and then ending was cute but wholly unsatisfying. If you’re looking for a laugh but don’t need a heavy element of romance, this might work better for you - and it does improve along the way - but don’t expect to connect to the love story beneath it all. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story follows Emma, a woman in her thirties who fled home after being left at the altar. She’s never quite fit the typical mold of what a woman “should” be like, so she’s spent the last 7 years traveling and avoiding any commitments. Deciding it’s time to get serious and return to the real world, she has one last wild night with Nick, a sexy stranger. They connect in a way she hasn’t with anyone else, and upon returning home, Emma looks back on their night with increasing fondness.
I will say that the book is funny - sometimes in a cringeworthy way, but it’s a huge part of the story. The problem lies with Emma and her guy. Emma’s not all that easy to like (she lies, self-deprecates, and is blind to what’s in front of her), while her guy is easy to like but not at all easy to read. This is told exclusively from Emma’s perspective, so we never get a real sense of who her guy is, and trouble lurks around every corner. It’s more a comedy of errors than a true romance, and then ending was cute but wholly unsatisfying. If you’re looking for a laugh but don’t need a heavy element of romance, this might work better for you - and it does improve along the way - but don’t expect to connect to the love story beneath it all. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 23, 2020
I am happy that I stuck with this book. I have to admit I almost gave up early on. Emma is 34 years old and has been traveling for the last 7 years after an event that didn't go as planned (I don't want to spoil it, so no more details). She has finally decided to come home. She spends a few days in Fiji and has a one night stand. This is where I almost stopped- it was pretty explicit and pretty early in the book and made me think it was representative of the rest of the book. I am glad I persevered because the book did go in a different direction. I enjoyed the flow of the middle of the book best. Emma got an interesting job, and is trying to conform to the life she thinks she should have.
I wish I had a better sense of Emma. I have to say I was never sure if I really liked her and sometimes found her kind of annoying. I didn't really dislike her, but wasn't really rooting for her. I also would have liked more detail of her job and how she did it. Emma had a lot of strengths that I didn't feel I got to connect to because they weren't the focus of the story; I think if I'd been able to see her doing well, I would have liked her better and it might have balanced out the soul-searching parts. It is coming of age story, and I am sure some people will connect to it.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins One More Chapter Publishers for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wish I had a better sense of Emma. I have to say I was never sure if I really liked her and sometimes found her kind of annoying. I didn't really dislike her, but wasn't really rooting for her. I also would have liked more detail of her job and how she did it. Emma had a lot of strengths that I didn't feel I got to connect to because they weren't the focus of the story; I think if I'd been able to see her doing well, I would have liked her better and it might have balanced out the soul-searching parts. It is coming of age story, and I am sure some people will connect to it.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins One More Chapter Publishers for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2020
Emma is a free spirit. She has spent the last 7 years traveling the world and has finally decided to go back home to Sydney. On her way there, she makes a pitstop in Fiji. There she meets the handsome Nick. Right away they have great banter and there is an attraction. She figures she is never going to see him again, so why not have a fling? After a great night, he writes down his phone number and they agree to meet up for lunch one last time before they each go their separate ways. He, back to a corporate job in London, she - continuing her travels, maybe to Alaska. He's late to lunch. She texts him, and no response. She calls him and it's disconnected. The bastard gave her a fake number! He stood her up, just like her ex did 7 years ago on their wedding day.
Emma ends up in Sydney, lies about her work experience to get an entry level job at the hottest PR company. Her first big assignment is to throw a gala and in the midst of it, her boss leaves and a new guy is brought in. Guess who? It's Nick! She's in way over her head both at work and in her personal life. Cue the miscommunication, throw in a hot young starlet and another mysterious woman that is constantly texting Nick.
It's all a bit predictable, but aren't they all? This was a quick read and not unenjoyable. A great vacation read.
Thanks, NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
Emma ends up in Sydney, lies about her work experience to get an entry level job at the hottest PR company. Her first big assignment is to throw a gala and in the midst of it, her boss leaves and a new guy is brought in. Guess who? It's Nick! She's in way over her head both at work and in her personal life. Cue the miscommunication, throw in a hot young starlet and another mysterious woman that is constantly texting Nick.
It's all a bit predictable, but aren't they all? This was a quick read and not unenjoyable. A great vacation read.
Thanks, NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
July 10, 2020
Sometimes you pick up a book because they say things along the lines of "if you liked Bridget Jones (enter book title)"... "for fans of Sophie Kinsella (enter author name)"... and you think "yes, those were kind of fun and I guess I'll read this during shelter-in-place." Then, you don't even get through the 1st chapter and begin doubting your taste in books with "boy is this book terrible, I've been suckered!"
This certainly was tough to get through at the beginning. I had a difficult time getting to know and liking heroine. She was all implied cliche and no character building. I also had a difficult time getting on board with her and hero chemistry. Author took broad strokes at typical Bridget Jones structure but it was v. not good. Ironic that she played up how large heroine was but the overall ebook was so light on story depth that I had a hard time fully connecting with the goal of the book -- to get the guy. There were plenty times I was exasperated with the on-page shenanigans. To a certain extent, that includes the stereotypical gay office mate flapping his arms to express his stress.
I did stick it through, though, and felt the end was a ridiculous attempt at a bad movie HEA. It was rushed and inelegant. Tough to believe a sensible hero would drop everything for this. 1.5 stars
This certainly was tough to get through at the beginning. I had a difficult time getting to know and liking heroine. She was all implied cliche and no character building. I also had a difficult time getting on board with her and hero chemistry. Author took broad strokes at typical Bridget Jones structure but it was v. not good. Ironic that she played up how large heroine was but the overall ebook was so light on story depth that I had a hard time fully connecting with the goal of the book -- to get the guy. There were plenty times I was exasperated with the on-page shenanigans. To a certain extent, that includes the stereotypical gay office mate flapping his arms to express his stress.
I did stick it through, though, and felt the end was a ridiculous attempt at a bad movie HEA. It was rushed and inelegant. Tough to believe a sensible hero would drop everything for this. 1.5 stars
August 30, 2022
Although this novel is romance, the story felt more than just that. It was more of a story about the character discovering herself and I think the romance took a backseat to that.
There is something relateable and likeable about the main character Emma. Yes, she blunders about, says and does the wrong thing but her heart is in the right place and when it comes down to it she's willing to work and to fix her mistakes. She's funny and loyal and trying to be what everyone thinks she should be. I may have been frustrated with her but I did want her to succeed.
I also very much wanted her to get together with Nick as it's clear from the start that they're absolutely perfect for each other. Even in that one night in Fiji they have an instant connection and the scenes where they were together were the highlight of the book for me. I loved the banter between them and the awkwardness and the sparks.
But it definitely wasn’t the easy going romance we hoped for, with the twists and turns, I was expecting romance and got very little. It was a slow SLOW burn.
I think the story could have gone a bit deeper and had a little more emotion. It is obvious that she's lonely, she admits it herself, but I didn't feel it.
I really liked the ending. It was definitely the strongest part of the book.
There is something relateable and likeable about the main character Emma. Yes, she blunders about, says and does the wrong thing but her heart is in the right place and when it comes down to it she's willing to work and to fix her mistakes. She's funny and loyal and trying to be what everyone thinks she should be. I may have been frustrated with her but I did want her to succeed.
I also very much wanted her to get together with Nick as it's clear from the start that they're absolutely perfect for each other. Even in that one night in Fiji they have an instant connection and the scenes where they were together were the highlight of the book for me. I loved the banter between them and the awkwardness and the sparks.
But it definitely wasn’t the easy going romance we hoped for, with the twists and turns, I was expecting romance and got very little. It was a slow SLOW burn.
I think the story could have gone a bit deeper and had a little more emotion. It is obvious that she's lonely, she admits it herself, but I didn't feel it.
I really liked the ending. It was definitely the strongest part of the book.
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