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A Change Would Do You Good
Janie desperately needs a change, and she needs it yesterday.
Ever since her boyfriend died and their mutual best friends moved to Canada, she’s been lost and unable to enjoy life.
So she gets a new wardrobe, job, car, and place. In another city.
The new job and apartment are great, but her colorful neighbors will be a challenge to get used to:
Agoraphobic Michelle and her car-crash happy son who is obsessed with curing his mom,
Part-time model/fashion designer Ben who seems to be competing for the worst boyfriend award and his miserable girlfriend Linda who hates her career,
Goth metal chick Ashley who loves drugs, guns, and weird parties,
Lackluster cops Sam and Tom who want a more exciting life.
Luckily Janie has met Greg, a handsome therapist who might be the best friend a person can have. And her downstairs neighbor Kevin, a pro surfer with the looks of a Norse god, seems fun and friendly enough.
With all the antics and chaos going on, only one thing seems certain: Her neighbors provide her with more distraction and change than she was ever ready for, including an epic romance…
Ever since her boyfriend died and their mutual best friends moved to Canada, she’s been lost and unable to enjoy life.
So she gets a new wardrobe, job, car, and place. In another city.
The new job and apartment are great, but her colorful neighbors will be a challenge to get used to:
Agoraphobic Michelle and her car-crash happy son who is obsessed with curing his mom,
Part-time model/fashion designer Ben who seems to be competing for the worst boyfriend award and his miserable girlfriend Linda who hates her career,
Goth metal chick Ashley who loves drugs, guns, and weird parties,
Lackluster cops Sam and Tom who want a more exciting life.
Luckily Janie has met Greg, a handsome therapist who might be the best friend a person can have. And her downstairs neighbor Kevin, a pro surfer with the looks of a Norse god, seems fun and friendly enough.
With all the antics and chaos going on, only one thing seems certain: Her neighbors provide her with more distraction and change than she was ever ready for, including an epic romance…
255 pages, ebook
Published March 18, 2021
6 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 17, 2022
A heartwarming rom-com novel that´s just perfect for breezy summer evenings!
Lenny, Janie, Sarah and Andy - they sure used to be a great circle of two couples till Lenny´s sudden death.
A Change Would Do You Good! In the endeavor to overcome her grief over her boyfriend, Janie decisively packs her suitcases, gets in her red Chevrolet Camaro and moves from LA to San Diego. Her circle is completely broken with Sarah and Andy moving to Canada anyway.
It is in San Diego that Janie starts a new adventure with a job at a fashion design firm, a new apartment with wicked neighbors, like Ben and Linda who are in a complete dysfunctional relationship or Ashley Harrison, who supposedly poses a danger to her whole environment. It is the time of her life, when she will throw housewarming parties promising fun nights, create her successful fashion shows, and make friends for life.
I loved Janie opening up to explore new avenues in life, whilst she made herself emotionally available as well. Kudos go to Kevin who finally won Janie’s heart❣️
The author of this amazing rom-com novel, Pinar Tarhan, did a great job elaborating all characters, also dipping into delicate topics such as agoraphobia. At the same time, she managed to convey the lifestyle and work scenes of San Diego as truthfully as possible.
Definitely recommending as a summer read! So, don’t forget to toss this into your beach bag! 🏖
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Lenny, Janie, Sarah and Andy - they sure used to be a great circle of two couples till Lenny´s sudden death.
A Change Would Do You Good! In the endeavor to overcome her grief over her boyfriend, Janie decisively packs her suitcases, gets in her red Chevrolet Camaro and moves from LA to San Diego. Her circle is completely broken with Sarah and Andy moving to Canada anyway.
It is in San Diego that Janie starts a new adventure with a job at a fashion design firm, a new apartment with wicked neighbors, like Ben and Linda who are in a complete dysfunctional relationship or Ashley Harrison, who supposedly poses a danger to her whole environment. It is the time of her life, when she will throw housewarming parties promising fun nights, create her successful fashion shows, and make friends for life.
I loved Janie opening up to explore new avenues in life, whilst she made herself emotionally available as well. Kudos go to Kevin who finally won Janie’s heart❣️
The author of this amazing rom-com novel, Pinar Tarhan, did a great job elaborating all characters, also dipping into delicate topics such as agoraphobia. At the same time, she managed to convey the lifestyle and work scenes of San Diego as truthfully as possible.
Definitely recommending as a summer read! So, don’t forget to toss this into your beach bag! 🏖
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 2, 2021
This is an interesting approach to a character’s interaction with a diverse group of people. When Janie’s dies and her support group of friends leave, she feels lost and in need of a change. She starts with the things she can control: new car, new wardrobe, new job, and ultimately a new apartment in a new city!
But it doesn’t seem to be enough. She gets to know all the neighbors, everyone with different issues and problems, two of them more positive types. And the wide variety she interacts with makes her realize that she has more distraction and friendship here than she ever realized. Perhaps it really is true that a change could do you good! It seems to be doing something positive for them too. It may be just the way you look at the situation that makes all the difference!
Grab your copy and get to meet her neighbors who totally needed that touch of change in their own lives: a therapist, a surfer, an agoraphobic with a car-crashing son, model/fashion designer, Goth metal “chick”, lackluster cops. And each one has a story to delve into! This might be just what you’re looking for – for a change!
But it doesn’t seem to be enough. She gets to know all the neighbors, everyone with different issues and problems, two of them more positive types. And the wide variety she interacts with makes her realize that she has more distraction and friendship here than she ever realized. Perhaps it really is true that a change could do you good! It seems to be doing something positive for them too. It may be just the way you look at the situation that makes all the difference!
Grab your copy and get to meet her neighbors who totally needed that touch of change in their own lives: a therapist, a surfer, an agoraphobic with a car-crashing son, model/fashion designer, Goth metal “chick”, lackluster cops. And each one has a story to delve into! This might be just what you’re looking for – for a change!
March 1, 2021
A Change Would Do You Good is a fun, engaging story spanning multiple characters but all revolving around Janie who lost her boyfriend (and best friend) 10 months ago. Among the cast you have a recovering agoraphobic with a teenage son, a surfer boy, and an office worker chained to her desk in her soulless job. They all are in need of change and do they get that. A Change Would Do You Good is a real page-turner, always leaving you wanting to know more about what will happen to the characters. And it won't leave you alone until you're done."
July 16, 2021
It's a light and fun book. It portrays several characters who connect to each other in some way. The chapters are divided into little sections — always from a different point of view — so the reading is very dynamic and you never get tired of following someone's story. Many of the characters are certainly charming and you wish they solve their problems to get their deserved happy ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 23, 2021
I loved this story and all of the wonderful characters in it. The author has given them all such unique personalities and the way that they interact with each other in this tiny apartment complex will have readers laughing until they cry. With so many great people, it is hard to know who is going to be a favorite or who to root for more. The story has a happy ending but will leave the reader wanting more stories from this fascinating dwelling place. I almost want to live there myself! Such a hoot.
May 7, 2021
A Fun Romp - Melrose Place Moves to the San Diego Beach
This is a fun book with a lot of inter-connected characters - mostly connected by living in or knowing someone who lives in the same apartment building near the beach in San Diego. It is a fun book although there is a serious side to their development and unlike a "soap" they are good people who you root for. There is a happy ending although I would definitely love to see what is in store for more of there futures! A fun read I could not put down!
This is a fun book with a lot of inter-connected characters - mostly connected by living in or knowing someone who lives in the same apartment building near the beach in San Diego. It is a fun book although there is a serious side to their development and unlike a "soap" they are good people who you root for. There is a happy ending although I would definitely love to see what is in store for more of there futures! A fun read I could not put down!
May 21, 2021
Nice story with compelling subplots.
The author quotes dialog in a clear and believable fashion. There’s humor and real emotion to the characters.
The romance is well written without being too easy or obvious.
The setting is a place I’d love to visit to experience for myself.
Recommended reading for a nice escape.
The author quotes dialog in a clear and believable fashion. There’s humor and real emotion to the characters.
The romance is well written without being too easy or obvious.
The setting is a place I’d love to visit to experience for myself.
Recommended reading for a nice escape.
May 17, 2021
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily
Well I mostly enjoyed this story quite a different take on romance
Loss and grief very well expressed
However the ending was too abrupt finding out Kevin had children and then nothing the end bit disappointing
Well I mostly enjoyed this story quite a different take on romance
Loss and grief very well expressed
However the ending was too abrupt finding out Kevin had children and then nothing the end bit disappointing
November 4, 2025
A Change Would Do You Good is an uplifting, funny, and emotionally layered story about grief, renewal, and the unexpected connections that can reshape a life. Pinar Tarhan creates a cast of vivid, eccentric, and charmingly imperfect characters who remind readers that starting over doesn’t mean erasing your past it means growing through it.
At the heart of the novel is Janie, a woman reeling from loss and loneliness who decides to completely reinvent her life new job, new apartment, new city, and hopefully, a new outlook. What she doesn’t expect is that her new neighbors will become an unpredictable, chaotic, and ultimately healing force. From the agoraphobic Michelle and her accident-prone son, to the self-sabotaging fashion designer couple and the lovable surfer-next-door Kevin, every character is drawn with humor, heart, and surprising depth.
Tarhan strikes a perfect balance between romantic comedy and emotional realism. The romance between Janie and her downstairs neighbor Kevin feels organic and genuine, but what makes this book stand out is its celebration of change as a courageous act. The writing sparkles with wit and warmth, while also exploring mental health, friendship, and the human craving for connection after loss.
Fans of romantic dramedies like Bridget Jones’s Diary or feel-good contemporary fiction in the spirit of Marian Keyes will adore this story. A Change Would Do You Good lives up to its title it’s a refreshingly honest and heart-reviving reminder that sometimes, the biggest messes lead to the most meaningful new beginnings.
At the heart of the novel is Janie, a woman reeling from loss and loneliness who decides to completely reinvent her life new job, new apartment, new city, and hopefully, a new outlook. What she doesn’t expect is that her new neighbors will become an unpredictable, chaotic, and ultimately healing force. From the agoraphobic Michelle and her accident-prone son, to the self-sabotaging fashion designer couple and the lovable surfer-next-door Kevin, every character is drawn with humor, heart, and surprising depth.
Tarhan strikes a perfect balance between romantic comedy and emotional realism. The romance between Janie and her downstairs neighbor Kevin feels organic and genuine, but what makes this book stand out is its celebration of change as a courageous act. The writing sparkles with wit and warmth, while also exploring mental health, friendship, and the human craving for connection after loss.
Fans of romantic dramedies like Bridget Jones’s Diary or feel-good contemporary fiction in the spirit of Marian Keyes will adore this story. A Change Would Do You Good lives up to its title it’s a refreshingly honest and heart-reviving reminder that sometimes, the biggest messes lead to the most meaningful new beginnings.
January 3, 2023
Hard work
I struggled with this book. It's as though the writer has watched many multipul pov movies and thought that's a great idea, I'll write like that. Trouble is when you write multiple pov's, you have to be able to distinguish the characters, otherwise it becomes I really confusing and irritating. No ones story was stuck with long enough to cement the foundations in your head, you knew no more about them and then you were switched to the next one. Each person could have said the next person's line, so you couldn't register who's story you were picking up quickly enough to enjoy it, almost like scanning through tik tok and enjoying bits and peices rather than a full story. The relationships were a bit bizarre, and never really well explained so you're just left feeling a little lost. Unfortunately the characters all seemed to just intermingle and never really pulled me in.
I struggled with this book. It's as though the writer has watched many multipul pov movies and thought that's a great idea, I'll write like that. Trouble is when you write multiple pov's, you have to be able to distinguish the characters, otherwise it becomes I really confusing and irritating. No ones story was stuck with long enough to cement the foundations in your head, you knew no more about them and then you were switched to the next one. Each person could have said the next person's line, so you couldn't register who's story you were picking up quickly enough to enjoy it, almost like scanning through tik tok and enjoying bits and peices rather than a full story. The relationships were a bit bizarre, and never really well explained so you're just left feeling a little lost. Unfortunately the characters all seemed to just intermingle and never really pulled me in.
September 7, 2022
A Change did do me good.
The story begins with a hard hit to the face of our MC, when her boy friend dies and the rest of her tight group of friends moves off to Canada. It becomes Depeche Mode at that point for two beats, and then she's blasting AC/DC and moving to San Diego to restart.
In San Diego she moves into an apartment complex near the beach, which is home to another tight group of people who all live there and have known each other for years. She finds her way in however and from there the story grows in depth and interest.
This is, so far, the best I've read by this author, and I'm hoping she's just getting started.
The story begins with a hard hit to the face of our MC, when her boy friend dies and the rest of her tight group of friends moves off to Canada. It becomes Depeche Mode at that point for two beats, and then she's blasting AC/DC and moving to San Diego to restart.
In San Diego she moves into an apartment complex near the beach, which is home to another tight group of people who all live there and have known each other for years. She finds her way in however and from there the story grows in depth and interest.
This is, so far, the best I've read by this author, and I'm hoping she's just getting started.
August 4, 2023
This book is about the difficulties people have to make changes - either small or big ones - and to keep moving on through life. Some battle with the loss of a loved one, others with the loss of a job, but until they learn how to change their hearts, their lives remain unchanged.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 10, 2023
It was a quick read, but was well written. I felt that it handled topics such as love and grief very well indeed!
May 27, 2021
I'm rating this book a 3 as I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It was pitched as a book about Janie and I felt I read very little about her and her story. The other characters were interesting enough but that just wasn't who I wanted to read about.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews