What do you think?
Rate this book
We Belong Together
Eleanor Sharpley has been living a lie…
Needing to escape her London life quickly, Eleanor throws her things into the back of her car, and heads to her erstwhile best friend Charlie’s family farm.
But Charlie isn’t there. Instead she finds Charlie’s grieving brother Daniel, her eight-month old daughter Hope (a daughter Eleanor had known nothing about), and a crumbling and unloved Damson Farm.
Damson Farm lies at the edge of the village of Ferrington, with the river Maddon flowing at its heart. But Ferrington is a village divided by more than just a river – it is split in two by an age-old feud – between the Old Side and the New Side. Eleanor has run from her problems, straight into a family and a world that has problems of its own.
But Damson Farm has magic too, and as winter gives way to spring, the old farm starts to come to life under Eleanor’s love and care. The orchard starts to blossom with daffodils and bluebells, and the sound of bees busy in their hives fills the warming air. Can Eleanor bring Daniel and the feuding village of Ferrington back to life too, or will her secrets catch up with her first?
Needing to escape her London life quickly, Eleanor throws her things into the back of her car, and heads to her erstwhile best friend Charlie’s family farm.
But Charlie isn’t there. Instead she finds Charlie’s grieving brother Daniel, her eight-month old daughter Hope (a daughter Eleanor had known nothing about), and a crumbling and unloved Damson Farm.
Damson Farm lies at the edge of the village of Ferrington, with the river Maddon flowing at its heart. But Ferrington is a village divided by more than just a river – it is split in two by an age-old feud – between the Old Side and the New Side. Eleanor has run from her problems, straight into a family and a world that has problems of its own.
But Damson Farm has magic too, and as winter gives way to spring, the old farm starts to come to life under Eleanor’s love and care. The orchard starts to blossom with daffodils and bluebells, and the sound of bees busy in their hives fills the warming air. Can Eleanor bring Daniel and the feuding village of Ferrington back to life too, or will her secrets catch up with her first?
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2021
904 people are currently reading
1094 people want to read
About the author
Beth Moran
24 books950 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Beth Moran initially worked as a biochemist and then taught antenatal classes before becoming an author. She loves to write contemporary women`s fiction set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she lives with her family
Beth Moran initially worked as a biochemist and then taught antenatal classes before becoming an author. She loves to write contemporary women`s fiction set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she lives with her family
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
August 25, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
After an initial glance in the mirror I had to steel myself before I could face a closer inspection… if you could find a foundation to match this skin-tone it would have been called ‘hint of corpse’.
Kathy deigned to glance across at me. ‘That hair tone is upsetting. I didn’t think they sold such dismal shades outside Eastern Europe.’ ‘This is my natural hair colour!’
I could feel him smiling against my hair. How could one moment be so full of horror and so deliciously lovely all at the same time?
My heart was flapping like a demented chicken.
My Review:
Oh, happy, day! I have a new author to fangirl and add to my favorites list. Beth Moran was found treasure and I have entered her entire Goodreads listing to my TBR. Her characters were exceptionally endearing while her writing style was easy to fall into, shrewdly paced, engaging, and poignant. But it was her well-crafted storylines that ticked all my boxes, as they were relatable, realistic, and unfailingly entertaining while touching on several prickly social issues with generous servings of wry levity, internal tension, perceptive inner musings, clever humor, a blossoming romance, and a bit of peril and intrigue to round out all the feels. I enjoyed her uniquely quirky villagers as they waged a decades-old and pointless feud but I reveled in Eleanor finding her footing while also helping everyone she met find theirs as well.
After an initial glance in the mirror I had to steel myself before I could face a closer inspection… if you could find a foundation to match this skin-tone it would have been called ‘hint of corpse’.
Kathy deigned to glance across at me. ‘That hair tone is upsetting. I didn’t think they sold such dismal shades outside Eastern Europe.’ ‘This is my natural hair colour!’
I could feel him smiling against my hair. How could one moment be so full of horror and so deliciously lovely all at the same time?
My heart was flapping like a demented chicken.
My Review:
Oh, happy, day! I have a new author to fangirl and add to my favorites list. Beth Moran was found treasure and I have entered her entire Goodreads listing to my TBR. Her characters were exceptionally endearing while her writing style was easy to fall into, shrewdly paced, engaging, and poignant. But it was her well-crafted storylines that ticked all my boxes, as they were relatable, realistic, and unfailingly entertaining while touching on several prickly social issues with generous servings of wry levity, internal tension, perceptive inner musings, clever humor, a blossoming romance, and a bit of peril and intrigue to round out all the feels. I enjoyed her uniquely quirky villagers as they waged a decades-old and pointless feud but I reveled in Eleanor finding her footing while also helping everyone she met find theirs as well.
August 15, 2021
I fell so completely in love with this story. It is told in first person from Eleanor’s perspective and I genuinely felt like I was experiencing everything with her. Though she is running from her own demons and is definitely flawed, I couldn’t help but love her and want the best for her. I really loved Daniel’s character as well and watching the relationship grow between him and Eleanor was so precious. I loved the friendships Eleanor made and the way she kept trying to do good in spite of the secrets she was hiding made her come across so real and so human.
The added stalker element within a love story was genius and it kept me on edge until the very end.
Honestly, I thought this story was beautiful, it was incredibly moving and heart-warming and I wouldn’t hesitate to pick it up again.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-ARC.
The added stalker element within a love story was genius and it kept me on edge until the very end.
Honestly, I thought this story was beautiful, it was incredibly moving and heart-warming and I wouldn’t hesitate to pick it up again.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-ARC.
June 27, 2024
*Secrets*
Eleanor Sharpley is hiding a secret, she is living a lie and is living a life where she goes to different establishments often writing scathing reviews. The very same reviews that people have hung off her every word. She goes under the pseudonym of Nora Sharp and tried to add balance by adding positive reviews but that was not what was required. She gained quite a following and at the same time losing herself in the process. Although some pushback was expected, things change when she receives a gruesome package delivered to her door, someone knows where she lives.
Eleanor decides to head off to see her best friend Charlie who lives at Damson’s Farm based in the village of Ferrington with the hope of staying for a few days.
When she arrives she is unprepared for meeting not only Daniel Charlie’s brother but her eight month daughter. To her shame she had not even known about her friend’s pregnancy or her passing.
With Daniels’s blessing and offer to stay as long as she likes, Eleanor decides to lovingly look after and renovate the cottage.
The village seems to be split two halves. The Old Side and The New Side. There is so much tension between the two sides due to a Feud and past events and tragedies.
Eleanor aims to unite both sides to much animosity, will Eleanor manage to unite both sides? Is there a budding romance forming and will the secret she is so desperate to keep finally catch up to her.
Eleanor Sharpley is hiding a secret, she is living a lie and is living a life where she goes to different establishments often writing scathing reviews. The very same reviews that people have hung off her every word. She goes under the pseudonym of Nora Sharp and tried to add balance by adding positive reviews but that was not what was required. She gained quite a following and at the same time losing herself in the process. Although some pushback was expected, things change when she receives a gruesome package delivered to her door, someone knows where she lives.
Eleanor decides to head off to see her best friend Charlie who lives at Damson’s Farm based in the village of Ferrington with the hope of staying for a few days.
When she arrives she is unprepared for meeting not only Daniel Charlie’s brother but her eight month daughter. To her shame she had not even known about her friend’s pregnancy or her passing.
With Daniels’s blessing and offer to stay as long as she likes, Eleanor decides to lovingly look after and renovate the cottage.
The village seems to be split two halves. The Old Side and The New Side. There is so much tension between the two sides due to a Feud and past events and tragedies.
Eleanor aims to unite both sides to much animosity, will Eleanor manage to unite both sides? Is there a budding romance forming and will the secret she is so desperate to keep finally catch up to her.
September 16, 2023
Quite dull and a bit silly. Also went on too long.
January 1, 2023
I’m 4 chapters from the end and it’s been painful. This book is boring we get to read minute by minute about h’s not very interesting days for like 3 months. To spice things up we get to live in the head of a truly self centered, liar, dishonest woman, without mentioning coward. She goes on and on and on about what a dreadful person she is and she is, I whole heartedly agree.
Don’t get me started with the “feud” it’s ridiculous. She gets to play Gandhi. I guess that this endeavor will wash away all her past nastiness and spinelessness.
The chemistry between H and h is like watching paint dry.I skipped whole chapters but I’m sticking with it until the bitter end.
Well I finished this nightmare. The stalker is who you think it’s. No surprises here. So besides pathetic, h is an idiot. Using her own words :
...it was my own idiotic fault I’d lost it all. No more than I deserved. No less than the hurt I had done to countless others
Aannnnd it has one chapter too many: It was way better without an unsurprising and bland HEA.
Don’t get me started with the “feud” it’s ridiculous. She gets to play Gandhi. I guess that this endeavor will wash away all her past nastiness and spinelessness.
The chemistry between H and h is like watching paint dry.I skipped whole chapters but I’m sticking with it until the bitter end.
Well I finished this nightmare. The stalker is who you think it’s. No surprises here. So besides pathetic, h is an idiot. Using her own words :
...it was my own idiotic fault I’d lost it all. No more than I deserved. No less than the hurt I had done to countless others
Aannnnd it has one chapter too many: It was way better without an unsurprising and bland HEA.
November 27, 2022
Lovely, with just one complaint. I really do not like the whole, "I'm not ready to tell him my secret yet, I'll do it tomorrow" trope because that never works out. And you KNOW that it is not going to work out, and then it gets frustrating. It's okay once or twice, but the big secret in this book was held back way too long for dramatic effective.
But everything else I loved!
But everything else I loved!
August 20, 2021
A tucked away rural village, a down-on-her-luck-protagonist, a broody hero and a twinge of mystery… yes please! We Belong Together provided more than I bargained for! By the way, Daniel is just the sweetest (for the most part)!
I loved our heroine, Eleanor, She’s made a living for herself in a very difficult industry. It may go against her very character and she’s not proud of it but underneath that, she knows she has to do better and wants to do better.
As she journeys towards becoming a better person, she has to deal with past actions which can disrupt the future she wants to build. Hopefully that future can contain her best friend’s older brother and his very charming baby niece.
Although the story is told from Eleanor’s perspective, the author does an excellent job of showing Daniel’s development too. What he says, how he speaks, his interactions with all the characters and the descriptions of his expressions and emotions, all combine to reveal a strong and sensitive man determined to do right by his family and village. Although, his less than stellar behaviour towards the end left me a bit peeved. Lol.
It’s all good though, as Eleanor sees through to the root of it all and finds a way to forgive herself and those who have hurt her. Her journey from scared and broken to strong and more secure is a delicious one to witness as the pages turn.
Admittedly, I’m not a fan of ‘the secret’. The secret that lurks in the periphery and tinges every major action because, if revealed, it could totally change things. In this case, the Nora secret really prevented me from fully enjoying Eleanor and Daniel’s fall into love. Every time I felt about to be immersed in their romance… Wham… Reminder that she had a ‘secret’. Couldn’t the secret have come out earlier so we could have enjoyed the tumble into love?
Here’s where an epilogue would have been wonderful. It would have given a little extension on the romance and tied up a few more loose ends e.g. about the village’s progress or about Becky and Alice. I felt that nice rounded end would have fully tied it all up.
On another note, I wondered how the author planned to create a village feud in this modern day and age. I loved what she did. Capturing the spirit of a few decades’ old mining town rivalry, we definitely understand why even a generation later, folks still harbour negative feelings for their neighbours on the opposite side of the river. I also loved how Becky and Luke’s relationship played around it. The story and events around bridging the divide is sweet and believable.
The surprise mystery element! From reading the blurb I had no idea we’d be trying to solve a bit of mystery. There was definitely a sense of suspense built up as a particular element of Eleanor’s past was catching up with her. I found this added just the right kick to this otherwise sweet story.
Overall, I fully enjoyed my second book by Beth Moran. We Belong Together is a cosy romance starring charming protagonists and set in a village with a juicy history.
I loved our heroine, Eleanor, She’s made a living for herself in a very difficult industry. It may go against her very character and she’s not proud of it but underneath that, she knows she has to do better and wants to do better.
As she journeys towards becoming a better person, she has to deal with past actions which can disrupt the future she wants to build. Hopefully that future can contain her best friend’s older brother and his very charming baby niece.
Although the story is told from Eleanor’s perspective, the author does an excellent job of showing Daniel’s development too. What he says, how he speaks, his interactions with all the characters and the descriptions of his expressions and emotions, all combine to reveal a strong and sensitive man determined to do right by his family and village. Although, his less than stellar behaviour towards the end left me a bit peeved. Lol.
It’s all good though, as Eleanor sees through to the root of it all and finds a way to forgive herself and those who have hurt her. Her journey from scared and broken to strong and more secure is a delicious one to witness as the pages turn.
Admittedly, I’m not a fan of ‘the secret’. The secret that lurks in the periphery and tinges every major action because, if revealed, it could totally change things. In this case, the Nora secret really prevented me from fully enjoying Eleanor and Daniel’s fall into love. Every time I felt about to be immersed in their romance… Wham… Reminder that she had a ‘secret’. Couldn’t the secret have come out earlier so we could have enjoyed the tumble into love?
Here’s where an epilogue would have been wonderful. It would have given a little extension on the romance and tied up a few more loose ends e.g. about the village’s progress or about Becky and Alice. I felt that nice rounded end would have fully tied it all up.
On another note, I wondered how the author planned to create a village feud in this modern day and age. I loved what she did. Capturing the spirit of a few decades’ old mining town rivalry, we definitely understand why even a generation later, folks still harbour negative feelings for their neighbours on the opposite side of the river. I also loved how Becky and Luke’s relationship played around it. The story and events around bridging the divide is sweet and believable.
The surprise mystery element! From reading the blurb I had no idea we’d be trying to solve a bit of mystery. There was definitely a sense of suspense built up as a particular element of Eleanor’s past was catching up with her. I found this added just the right kick to this otherwise sweet story.
Overall, I fully enjoyed my second book by Beth Moran. We Belong Together is a cosy romance starring charming protagonists and set in a village with a juicy history.
January 3, 2023
This book was so frustrating to read because everything other than the protagonist is lovely. It's not so much that Eleanor is a flawed character, but that she is self- centred to the point of annoyance. She has a 'secret' that she keeps from the people closest to her and literally jeopardises their lives (including a baby's) because she is selfish and won't be honest. Even when she feels guilty, she lets herself off the hook, making excuses and convincing herself that it's not a big deal. She's either really stupid or delusional.
Ugh, I'm so disappointed because I enjoyed Let It Snow and Christmas Every Day by Beth Moran. They had flawed characters who were real. This one is a miss.
Ugh, I'm so disappointed because I enjoyed Let It Snow and Christmas Every Day by Beth Moran. They had flawed characters who were real. This one is a miss.
October 22, 2021
3.5*
i thought this was a really cute story. i love books with small towns as the setting, and thought this one delivered that nicely. it was really cozy, and sweet and i loved the friendships the main character made that felt very genuine and heartwarming. this wasn’t so much of a romance, but i didn’t really mind as the plot was very interesting.
one thing i didn’t like was how long eleanor’s secret was dragged out. i understood her reasons for keeping it, but there were so many moments where she could’ve confined in either her two best friends, or her boyfriend. it really, really took out the pleasure of this book because i hate stories based on a lie, that oftentimes snowballs into an even bigger one. the anticipation of when the reveal would be is underwhelming, which made me not appreciate the story, or the romance as much.
this a pretty cute read, with beautiful visuals, writing and message. the relationship eleanor had with daniel, and hope was super cute. but the lying part made me not enjoy it to the fullest, and that was disappointing.
i thought this was a really cute story. i love books with small towns as the setting, and thought this one delivered that nicely. it was really cozy, and sweet and i loved the friendships the main character made that felt very genuine and heartwarming. this wasn’t so much of a romance, but i didn’t really mind as the plot was very interesting.
one thing i didn’t like was how long eleanor’s secret was dragged out. i understood her reasons for keeping it, but there were so many moments where she could’ve confined in either her two best friends, or her boyfriend. it really, really took out the pleasure of this book because i hate stories based on a lie, that oftentimes snowballs into an even bigger one. the anticipation of when the reveal would be is underwhelming, which made me not appreciate the story, or the romance as much.
this a pretty cute read, with beautiful visuals, writing and message. the relationship eleanor had with daniel, and hope was super cute. but the lying part made me not enjoy it to the fullest, and that was disappointing.
February 27, 2022
Happy times. I loved seeing the story from Eleanor's POV as both the main characters developed over the pages.
The emotions seeped into the words which evoked mine. And I liked all the feelings the book gave me.
Eleanor's character development as she worked hard to become better than what she was. Fear to strength, she went through it all. Daniel too captured my heart soon down the pages, though my eyes were riveted to Eleanor.
Humor was interspersed with social issues. I liked how Eleanor endeavored to find a solution.
The ambiance of the small town to capture the rivalry was well done. There were so many tiny bits that fitted together.
Eleanor's secret dragged the story down as the author kept prolonging it. After some time, I was not too interested in the secret, but more involved in the love story.
A sweet read about family and love and smoothing the age-old crisis of a small town.
The emotions seeped into the words which evoked mine. And I liked all the feelings the book gave me.
Eleanor's character development as she worked hard to become better than what she was. Fear to strength, she went through it all. Daniel too captured my heart soon down the pages, though my eyes were riveted to Eleanor.
Humor was interspersed with social issues. I liked how Eleanor endeavored to find a solution.
The ambiance of the small town to capture the rivalry was well done. There were so many tiny bits that fitted together.
Eleanor's secret dragged the story down as the author kept prolonging it. After some time, I was not too interested in the secret, but more involved in the love story.
A sweet read about family and love and smoothing the age-old crisis of a small town.
August 26, 2021
I absolutely adored reading this book ! It was just what I needed in my life, the type of book that just kind of makes you feel all warm inside .
In this book we meet Eleanor Sharpley , who ill be honest I instantly fell in love with her character , she is so fun to read about and absolute pleasure ! She escapes her London life to go spend time at her best friends family farm but little does she know what lies in wait for her there ... 2 feuding villages , a grief stricken brother and a falling apart farm.
The farm is described vividly so that as you are reading it you can picture it so clearly in your mind you can imagine yourself their with the characters. It is expertly written and keeps you wanting to read more and more. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most certainly won't be the last one !! Loved it
In this book we meet Eleanor Sharpley , who ill be honest I instantly fell in love with her character , she is so fun to read about and absolute pleasure ! She escapes her London life to go spend time at her best friends family farm but little does she know what lies in wait for her there ... 2 feuding villages , a grief stricken brother and a falling apart farm.
The farm is described vividly so that as you are reading it you can picture it so clearly in your mind you can imagine yourself their with the characters. It is expertly written and keeps you wanting to read more and more. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most certainly won't be the last one !! Loved it
August 5, 2021
This was my first book by this author, but after finishing it I've bought her Take a Chance on Me and can't wait to read that as well.
So yes, We Belong Together was a very enjoyable read. It's a good mixture of mystery and rom-com and keeps you engaged on both sides: both because you want to know who's behind Nora's stalker and solve the mystery that surrounds her hasty escape from her previous life, and because you need to see how her new life, with new friends and a new family is going to evolve.
Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So yes, We Belong Together was a very enjoyable read. It's a good mixture of mystery and rom-com and keeps you engaged on both sides: both because you want to know who's behind Nora's stalker and solve the mystery that surrounds her hasty escape from her previous life, and because you need to see how her new life, with new friends and a new family is going to evolve.
Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2021
A charming story about forgiveness and doing the right thing.
This story is told from Eleanor’s perspective and shows us a flawed but human character who needs to learn to forgive herself as she moves on in her life putting things right. Damson Farm and the village of Farringdon sounded idyllic and I loved how the farm and her new friendships helped Eleanor find herself again.
This story is told from Eleanor’s perspective and shows us a flawed but human character who needs to learn to forgive herself as she moves on in her life putting things right. Damson Farm and the village of Farringdon sounded idyllic and I loved how the farm and her new friendships helped Eleanor find herself again.
June 20, 2023
This one was more of a 3.5-4 for me.
August 26, 2021
I genuinely enjoyed this very sweet book. It’s not a typical romance novel, though there is a romantic aspect. It’s not a typical mystery novel, though there is a bit of suspense. It’s more a character study, and a really charming one at that.
October 1, 2021
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
While I did enjoy the writing in this book and the overall plot but it did feel like there was an attempt to be too many things at once. I really liked the character development and the development of the relationships in this book and specifically loved how the author took the time necessary to make them feel realistic and genuine.
I really enjoyed the plot line of the rivalling sides of town and I specifically loved that this was based on something that really happened. I also loved how slow burn the romance in this book was especially since there is a child involved. Considering the living conditions of the characters, this could have very easily been rushed and I really appreciate the author taking the time to do it properly.
I'm going to talk a bit about what I liked about the book and what didn't work as well for me so if you want to go in completely blind don't read the rest of this review:
I kind of wish that we could have gotten more about Charlie. Most of what we get about her character is the same descriptions repeated over and over again which felt pretty "telling" instead of showing. There was one scene that was a flashback to the beginning of their friendship and I wish we got more of that. I just felt kind of hard to believe they really were as close friends as is described because we hear so little about their relationship. I also think this would have been a really great opportunity to explore issues of post partum depression.
The weakest part of this book for me was the mystery/ thriller sections. It felt over the top and unrealistic. I found the MC's reactions to what was happening to make no sense- on the one hand she keeps on being freaked out by what is happening but completely refuses to turn to the police. Seriously, I think she could be held at gun point and would still find a reason not to turn to call the police if handed a phone. I was also not surprised at all by the reveal of who her stalker is. There were a number of things that gave it away for me super early on in the book.
While I did enjoy the writing in this book and the overall plot but it did feel like there was an attempt to be too many things at once. I really liked the character development and the development of the relationships in this book and specifically loved how the author took the time necessary to make them feel realistic and genuine.
I really enjoyed the plot line of the rivalling sides of town and I specifically loved that this was based on something that really happened. I also loved how slow burn the romance in this book was especially since there is a child involved. Considering the living conditions of the characters, this could have very easily been rushed and I really appreciate the author taking the time to do it properly.
I'm going to talk a bit about what I liked about the book and what didn't work as well for me so if you want to go in completely blind don't read the rest of this review:
I kind of wish that we could have gotten more about Charlie. Most of what we get about her character is the same descriptions repeated over and over again which felt pretty "telling" instead of showing. There was one scene that was a flashback to the beginning of their friendship and I wish we got more of that. I just felt kind of hard to believe they really were as close friends as is described because we hear so little about their relationship. I also think this would have been a really great opportunity to explore issues of post partum depression.
The weakest part of this book for me was the mystery/ thriller sections. It felt over the top and unrealistic. I found the MC's reactions to what was happening to make no sense- on the one hand she keeps on being freaked out by what is happening but completely refuses to turn to the police. Seriously, I think she could be held at gun point and would still find a reason not to turn to call the police if handed a phone. I was also not surprised at all by the reveal of who her stalker is. There were a number of things that gave it away for me super early on in the book.
August 24, 2021
Okay. I have another book boyfriend crush to add to my list. Daniel Perry is so selfless (he adopted his dead sister's baby for heaven's sake), he's smart (he is a numbers guy for an energy company), he's supportive (he's 100 percent behind Eleanor's idea to make his home a retreat), and he's an open book. If only the woman he's falling for would reveal her secrets...
Eleanor is hiding. She's hiding from her nasty review critic alter ego on social media, she's hiding from her true feelings for Daniel, and she's hiding from a creepy stalker. The question isn't whether her secrets will catch up to her, the question is when.
I understand Eleanor's fear and shame of revealing herself to her friends, but she is an adult and knew what she was doing. As for the stalker, well no one could have predicted that. If only Eleanor would have been honest with everyone from the start she would have saved herself a mess of worry, stress, and danger. Don't get me wrong. I like Eleanor. She is a hard worker and a fantastic friend to take Charlie's dreams and make them come alive. In fact, her idea for building a peace bridge to stop the Ferrington Feud between the Old Side and New Side due to a mining dispute decades ago is a brilliant idea. It is so natural for her to be with Daniel. Their mutual love for Hope, Charlie's daughter, and their dreams to make Damson Farm thrive again, just make me smile.
I want to add that I loved Eleanor's friends, Alice from the New Side and Becky from the Old Side. They are both silly and endearing and have their own lovely backstories to follow.
I was captivated by this fun romantic comedy with a touch of menace and danger. The setting is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the people of Ferrington are lovely. Give this delightful book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Moran for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Eleanor is hiding. She's hiding from her nasty review critic alter ego on social media, she's hiding from her true feelings for Daniel, and she's hiding from a creepy stalker. The question isn't whether her secrets will catch up to her, the question is when.
I understand Eleanor's fear and shame of revealing herself to her friends, but she is an adult and knew what she was doing. As for the stalker, well no one could have predicted that. If only Eleanor would have been honest with everyone from the start she would have saved herself a mess of worry, stress, and danger. Don't get me wrong. I like Eleanor. She is a hard worker and a fantastic friend to take Charlie's dreams and make them come alive. In fact, her idea for building a peace bridge to stop the Ferrington Feud between the Old Side and New Side due to a mining dispute decades ago is a brilliant idea. It is so natural for her to be with Daniel. Their mutual love for Hope, Charlie's daughter, and their dreams to make Damson Farm thrive again, just make me smile.
I want to add that I loved Eleanor's friends, Alice from the New Side and Becky from the Old Side. They are both silly and endearing and have their own lovely backstories to follow.
I was captivated by this fun romantic comedy with a touch of menace and danger. The setting is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the people of Ferrington are lovely. Give this delightful book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Moran for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
August 28, 2022
I didn't expect this book at all! I thought it would be one of those cheesy and lovey-dovey contemporary romances, but boy I was completely wrong.
for a romance enthusiast, I actually liked how the book wasn't entirely focused on Daniel & Eleanor's love story. There was more to it than meets the eye. The soul searching, rebuilding of a neglected farmhouse, reconciling a divided town, newfound family, forgiveness, acceptance, and healing were incredible concepts. I also liked the thrown in suspense & mystery. Not to mention all the loveable side characters who provide a sort of anchor for the mcs as they restart in life. everything about this book is magic. I'd love to visit Damson Farm and experience the "lifestyle reconfiguration retreat" too!
💯 RECOMMENDED!
for a romance enthusiast, I actually liked how the book wasn't entirely focused on Daniel & Eleanor's love story. There was more to it than meets the eye. The soul searching, rebuilding of a neglected farmhouse, reconciling a divided town, newfound family, forgiveness, acceptance, and healing were incredible concepts. I also liked the thrown in suspense & mystery. Not to mention all the loveable side characters who provide a sort of anchor for the mcs as they restart in life. everything about this book is magic. I'd love to visit Damson Farm and experience the "lifestyle reconfiguration retreat" too!
💯 RECOMMENDED!
August 21, 2021
It’s not very often that I take to Twitter as soon as I finish a book to share how much I enjoyed it, but with this book I just had to. I loved everything about this really original and well-told story – characters, setting, friendships, romance, the mystery, the humour – and was so delighted to discover that Beth Moran’s writing just gets better and better.
Fleeing London and her high-flying life, Eleanor hopes to find refuge with her friend Charlie at Damson Farm – but instead she finds Charlie’s grieving brother Daniel, caring as well as he can for Charlie’s small daughter Hope, and the farm in a very poor state of repair. They develop a friendship, and Eleanor sets about turning the farm into a cared-for home while giving Daniel some respite in his duty of care – and when she discovers a notebook setting out Charlie’s vision for the home she loved, it gives her fresh purpose and a target to achieve.
But there’s more that needs repairing than their broken hearts and the down-at-heel property, with Ferrington a village divided by more than the bridge-less River Madden, the Old Side and New Side at odds, with long and bitter memories of the miners’ strike. As Eleanor begins her mission to bring the community together, there are new friendships, and some wonderful small storylines – but then her former life begins to catch up with her, a stalker that threatens everything around her new life, with a real edge of threat and danger.
This book really did have a bit of everything I love about a book – wonderful storytelling, the perfect emotional touch when dealing with grief and loss but also with the romance and moments of joy, the kind of friendships that totally warm your heart, and a light humour running through that never failed to make me smile. The whole premise for the stalker storyline was quite inspired – their identity might not have been such a surprise, but that certainly didn’t lessen the way it made the pages turn even faster than they already were, and that whole edge of threat and danger was exceptionally well handled. The slow-burn romance between Eleanor and Daniel was everything I wanted it to be – first an uneasy friendship, then that lovely spark that always warms the heart, and I loved both characters. The story is told by Eleanor in the first person, and she has a clear and distinctive voice – but we find out enough about Daniel and his thoughts and feelings to make him a fully-rounded character too.
The book’s sense of place and all the supporting characters are simply wonderful – the friendships she makes, the way she brings people together, all those small wins along the path to healing the yawning rift in the village. We do get to meet Eleanor’s parents and grandmother too, running their guest house in the Lakes – they’re a rich source of humour, but the relationship between them all is beautifully done too.
The book promised to be heartwarming and feel-good, and it really knocked it out of the park – it made me laugh, it made me cry, I fell in love with the characters, and the whole story was exceptionally original and so well handled. Beth Moran is now on my “must read” list for everything she does – I really loved this one, and recommend it most highly.
Fleeing London and her high-flying life, Eleanor hopes to find refuge with her friend Charlie at Damson Farm – but instead she finds Charlie’s grieving brother Daniel, caring as well as he can for Charlie’s small daughter Hope, and the farm in a very poor state of repair. They develop a friendship, and Eleanor sets about turning the farm into a cared-for home while giving Daniel some respite in his duty of care – and when she discovers a notebook setting out Charlie’s vision for the home she loved, it gives her fresh purpose and a target to achieve.
But there’s more that needs repairing than their broken hearts and the down-at-heel property, with Ferrington a village divided by more than the bridge-less River Madden, the Old Side and New Side at odds, with long and bitter memories of the miners’ strike. As Eleanor begins her mission to bring the community together, there are new friendships, and some wonderful small storylines – but then her former life begins to catch up with her, a stalker that threatens everything around her new life, with a real edge of threat and danger.
This book really did have a bit of everything I love about a book – wonderful storytelling, the perfect emotional touch when dealing with grief and loss but also with the romance and moments of joy, the kind of friendships that totally warm your heart, and a light humour running through that never failed to make me smile. The whole premise for the stalker storyline was quite inspired – their identity might not have been such a surprise, but that certainly didn’t lessen the way it made the pages turn even faster than they already were, and that whole edge of threat and danger was exceptionally well handled. The slow-burn romance between Eleanor and Daniel was everything I wanted it to be – first an uneasy friendship, then that lovely spark that always warms the heart, and I loved both characters. The story is told by Eleanor in the first person, and she has a clear and distinctive voice – but we find out enough about Daniel and his thoughts and feelings to make him a fully-rounded character too.
The book’s sense of place and all the supporting characters are simply wonderful – the friendships she makes, the way she brings people together, all those small wins along the path to healing the yawning rift in the village. We do get to meet Eleanor’s parents and grandmother too, running their guest house in the Lakes – they’re a rich source of humour, but the relationship between them all is beautifully done too.
The book promised to be heartwarming and feel-good, and it really knocked it out of the park – it made me laugh, it made me cry, I fell in love with the characters, and the whole story was exceptionally original and so well handled. Beth Moran is now on my “must read” list for everything she does – I really loved this one, and recommend it most highly.
December 16, 2021
Eleanor Sharpley has reached the end of her tether. Her position as an online influencer and restaurant critic has become toxic; she no longer wants this life. Feeling threatened and vulnerable, she packs up her stuff and runs to the one person she knows will understand. She has not been able to reach her friend Charlie recently, and is shocked to find out about her death several months before. She finds solace in staying on at Damson Farm, helping Charlie’s brother Daniel look after her daughter Hope, and trying to bring Charlie’s vision for the farm to fruition.
Based loosely on a real life story, the nearby village of Ferrington in Nottinghamshire has been split in two since the Miner’s Strike in the 80s – Old Main Street and New Main Street – with neither side able to compromise. Eleanor makes friends on both sides of the river and would dearly love to heal the rift, but is this even possible?
We see the world solely through Eleanor’s eyes, and her character does evolve as the story progresses and she tries to make amends for her past behaviour. Daniel is also a solid believable character, despite none of the story being told from his point of view. However, I did not feel that Charlie was fleshed out well enough, and would have liked a few more flashbacks to get a better sense of who she was.
Some elements of We Belong Together reminded me of Katie Fforde’s novels, especially the old buildings in need of renovation so that they can run Damson Farm as some kind of business. I particularly enjoyed Eleanor’s visit to her family’s guesthouse in the Lake District, where they still did everything the old-fashioned way. Her family were wonderfully ‘strange’ and very entertaining.
It was also good that the romance between Eleanor and Daniel was given time to develop in a realistic fashion despite their living in close proximity; they were allowed to become friends first of all, but I would have liked an epilogue just to see how everything worked out.
We Belong Together is a heartwarming story of the importance of community spirit and second chances. It also highlights the darkness at the heart of social media. The characters are well drawn and relatable, and the Nottinghamshire countryside is vividly evoked. I have not read any other books by Beth Moran, but will definitely be adding them to my list in the future as I thoroughly enjoyed reading We Belong Together. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
Based loosely on a real life story, the nearby village of Ferrington in Nottinghamshire has been split in two since the Miner’s Strike in the 80s – Old Main Street and New Main Street – with neither side able to compromise. Eleanor makes friends on both sides of the river and would dearly love to heal the rift, but is this even possible?
We see the world solely through Eleanor’s eyes, and her character does evolve as the story progresses and she tries to make amends for her past behaviour. Daniel is also a solid believable character, despite none of the story being told from his point of view. However, I did not feel that Charlie was fleshed out well enough, and would have liked a few more flashbacks to get a better sense of who she was.
Some elements of We Belong Together reminded me of Katie Fforde’s novels, especially the old buildings in need of renovation so that they can run Damson Farm as some kind of business. I particularly enjoyed Eleanor’s visit to her family’s guesthouse in the Lake District, where they still did everything the old-fashioned way. Her family were wonderfully ‘strange’ and very entertaining.
It was also good that the romance between Eleanor and Daniel was given time to develop in a realistic fashion despite their living in close proximity; they were allowed to become friends first of all, but I would have liked an epilogue just to see how everything worked out.
We Belong Together is a heartwarming story of the importance of community spirit and second chances. It also highlights the darkness at the heart of social media. The characters are well drawn and relatable, and the Nottinghamshire countryside is vividly evoked. I have not read any other books by Beth Moran, but will definitely be adding them to my list in the future as I thoroughly enjoyed reading We Belong Together. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
August 21, 2021
Beth Moran just makes me fall completely in love with her leading characters and Eleanor was no different. I just wanted to be her best friend, her sounding board and give her the biggest cuddles over a bottle of wine despite not always making the best life choices.
For personal reasons (that are revealed as you read through the narrative), Eleanor flees her party, high flying life in the big city to go and hide out at her best friend’s farm (who she hasn’t seem for a while). After a nasty accident and some devastating news she finds comfort in her friend’ home and the solitude of small village life and develops an ambition to make her friend’s dreams into reality and to bring solidarity to the two sides of the river.
I adored the rural setting and the comfort of a cottage. Many books feature high end homes or cosy little shabby chic nooks, but Damson Farm felt like a home, with all its faults and everydayness. It feels like a home (albeit a little run down to begin with), and a place to be cosy and at your worst/best.
The developing friendship between Daniel and Eleanor was charming and lovely to be part of. They were such a huge impact on each other without even realising and both exactly where they needed to be to heal and recover.
The mild mystery aspect of the stalker also brough an extra dimension to the plot. I liked that it added a little light tension and drama and it balanced out the character development and relationship aspects well.
I adored this novel and found it heart-warming and uplifting but also emotional in places. Eleanor and Daniel are real and they worked their way into my hearts very quickly. Once again, Beth has written a wonderful novel. That is just perfect.
For personal reasons (that are revealed as you read through the narrative), Eleanor flees her party, high flying life in the big city to go and hide out at her best friend’s farm (who she hasn’t seem for a while). After a nasty accident and some devastating news she finds comfort in her friend’ home and the solitude of small village life and develops an ambition to make her friend’s dreams into reality and to bring solidarity to the two sides of the river.
I adored the rural setting and the comfort of a cottage. Many books feature high end homes or cosy little shabby chic nooks, but Damson Farm felt like a home, with all its faults and everydayness. It feels like a home (albeit a little run down to begin with), and a place to be cosy and at your worst/best.
The developing friendship between Daniel and Eleanor was charming and lovely to be part of. They were such a huge impact on each other without even realising and both exactly where they needed to be to heal and recover.
The mild mystery aspect of the stalker also brough an extra dimension to the plot. I liked that it added a little light tension and drama and it balanced out the character development and relationship aspects well.
I adored this novel and found it heart-warming and uplifting but also emotional in places. Eleanor and Daniel are real and they worked their way into my hearts very quickly. Once again, Beth has written a wonderful novel. That is just perfect.
September 4, 2021
I loved this book, it just had me grinning from ear to ear most of the time. I loved seeing the relationship between Eleanor and Daniel grow and blossom into something truly special. And I also loved the transformative nature of the book - it reminded me a little of Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain although with a few less animals.
Even though we never meet Charlie, I feel like I really got to know her through her visions of the farm and the little snippets that we get from El and Daniel. She seems like a character who would have been such a bubbly presence, bursting with ideas and raring to go.
There is much more to this book than El, Daniel and the farm though, we learn about the feud between the Old Side and the New Side and the stalker who caused El to flee from London. I did have my guesses at who this was but it was a nice contrast to have a bit of drama intertwined with the story.
Eleanor herself is such a down to earth, realistic character who I would love to have as a friend - and not just because of her fantastic cooking skills! Even though she isn't proud of her past she seems determined to make up for all of the bad things and really wants to make a fresh start as the real her. Although with most things the truth does come out eventually...
Beth has created the warmest, loveliest bunch of characters and I’m now even more determined to pick up Take A Chance on Me by her which I have had sitting on my kindle for a while 🙈🙈
Even though we never meet Charlie, I feel like I really got to know her through her visions of the farm and the little snippets that we get from El and Daniel. She seems like a character who would have been such a bubbly presence, bursting with ideas and raring to go.
There is much more to this book than El, Daniel and the farm though, we learn about the feud between the Old Side and the New Side and the stalker who caused El to flee from London. I did have my guesses at who this was but it was a nice contrast to have a bit of drama intertwined with the story.
Eleanor herself is such a down to earth, realistic character who I would love to have as a friend - and not just because of her fantastic cooking skills! Even though she isn't proud of her past she seems determined to make up for all of the bad things and really wants to make a fresh start as the real her. Although with most things the truth does come out eventually...
Beth has created the warmest, loveliest bunch of characters and I’m now even more determined to pick up Take A Chance on Me by her which I have had sitting on my kindle for a while 🙈🙈
August 24, 2021
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley, too
For my copy of this book, here’s my honest review:
This is a contemporary romance that starts with a crash
As away from her home and job, Eleanor makes a dash.
She’s a journalist who writes with a pseudonym or two
About places she visits or dines in a witty, pointed review.
She’s grabbed some things and driven away
Planning with Charlie, her long term friend to stay.
However, there are shocks for Eleanor in store
As Charlie isn’t there any more.
As events from the past are revealed
Her reasons for running she keeps concealed.
But as she gets to know Daniel, Charlie’s brother
They grow close to one another.
With notebooks sharing Charlie’s dreams
Eleanor makes plans and sorts out schemes.
Can she help make them all come true
That’s what she’s hoping with friends to do.
But all is not plain sailing for anyone
As Eleanor’s reasons for running haven’t gone.
There’s also an age-old feud, dividing the village in two,
Can she help bring them together? What can she do?
This is a story of making mistakes but then
Being prepared to start a fresh again.
Of daring to be true to yourself, letting go the past
Being honest with others and yourself at last.
There’s romance and mystery
References to miners and eighties history,
This is an inspirational, heartwarming romance
That I highly recommend you give a chance!
For my copy of this book, here’s my honest review:
This is a contemporary romance that starts with a crash
As away from her home and job, Eleanor makes a dash.
She’s a journalist who writes with a pseudonym or two
About places she visits or dines in a witty, pointed review.
She’s grabbed some things and driven away
Planning with Charlie, her long term friend to stay.
However, there are shocks for Eleanor in store
As Charlie isn’t there any more.
As events from the past are revealed
Her reasons for running she keeps concealed.
But as she gets to know Daniel, Charlie’s brother
They grow close to one another.
With notebooks sharing Charlie’s dreams
Eleanor makes plans and sorts out schemes.
Can she help make them all come true
That’s what she’s hoping with friends to do.
But all is not plain sailing for anyone
As Eleanor’s reasons for running haven’t gone.
There’s also an age-old feud, dividing the village in two,
Can she help bring them together? What can she do?
This is a story of making mistakes but then
Being prepared to start a fresh again.
Of daring to be true to yourself, letting go the past
Being honest with others and yourself at last.
There’s romance and mystery
References to miners and eighties history,
This is an inspirational, heartwarming romance
That I highly recommend you give a chance!
July 29, 2021
This is my first book by this author and I have to say I was hooked from the very start. Within the first handful of chapters I’d experienced pretty much every emotion; the crash, the rescue, the sexual attraction, the safety of the farm, the heartbreaking news and the offer of hope. I loved watching the friendship develop between Eleanor and Daniel and how baby Hope was included in all of it. The heartbreak that was never shied away from from both of them as they tried to move on from Charlie. It was beautifully written and the added twist of the stalker and her secret past just added to enjoyment.
Watching the friendships grow with Becky and Alice and reuniting the two sides of the town was a mammoth task and Eleanor certainly didn’t shy away from it, she embraced everything trying to see the good in everyone and everything.
Watching the friendships grow with Becky and Alice and reuniting the two sides of the town was a mammoth task and Eleanor certainly didn’t shy away from it, she embraced everything trying to see the good in everyone and everything.
May 28, 2022
Beth Moran’s novels are humorous and quirky and endearingly romantic while also bringing tears and pulling on your heart strings. This one was a emotional rollercoaster with a great message at its heart and surprisingly the town feud was inspired by history. A great read!
October 2, 2022
I absolutely loved this story! The characters were fun, the plot interesting, and the ending perfect. While there were times when I was frustrated with the main character, I found Eleanor to be very endearing and feel like she is a real-life friend. I liked the twists and turns the author threw in, keeping me on my toes. This was a phenomenal audiobook and I can’t wait to read my next Beth Moran!
September 1, 2023
4.5*
I really enjoyed this audio book. It was unique and engaging with endearing characters.
I really enjoyed this audio book. It was unique and engaging with endearing characters.
September 16, 2025
I felt it was very drawn out and very wordy. I liked the story, but it was very over the top and predictable.
August 17, 2021
A lovely romance – with plenty going on!
Eleanor and Charlie have been friends since childhood and no matter how long it’s been, they are always there for each other so when Eleanor throws some things in her car and heads off into the night, it’s no surprise that she’s heading to Charlie’s. However, she finds Charlie’s grieving brother and her baby daughter at Damson Farm along with the refuge she needs at this particular time in her life. With a village split in two, a farmhouse in need of TLC, a baby and her uncle seeking solace, Eleanor quickly settles into the quiet life but how long will that last??
An entertaining story with so much happening! Nicely paced so that the tale unfolds in a timely manner – not divulging all it’s secrets at once. Cleverly woven bringing all the different threads together in a tightly woven pattern, always keeping the reader’s attention and with something happening right up to the very end. Beth Moran is an experienced author now – and it shows! An accomplished, appealing novel with a bit of humour thrown in too; highly enjoyable, worth recommending and I’m giving this one 4.5*.
Eleanor and Charlie have been friends since childhood and no matter how long it’s been, they are always there for each other so when Eleanor throws some things in her car and heads off into the night, it’s no surprise that she’s heading to Charlie’s. However, she finds Charlie’s grieving brother and her baby daughter at Damson Farm along with the refuge she needs at this particular time in her life. With a village split in two, a farmhouse in need of TLC, a baby and her uncle seeking solace, Eleanor quickly settles into the quiet life but how long will that last??
An entertaining story with so much happening! Nicely paced so that the tale unfolds in a timely manner – not divulging all it’s secrets at once. Cleverly woven bringing all the different threads together in a tightly woven pattern, always keeping the reader’s attention and with something happening right up to the very end. Beth Moran is an experienced author now – and it shows! An accomplished, appealing novel with a bit of humour thrown in too; highly enjoyable, worth recommending and I’m giving this one 4.5*.
December 5, 2024
Zajímavý příběh inspirovaný sporem horníků ve městech, s vhledem do novinářského života, s novým začátkem a s příjemnou romantickou linkou. Moc hezky se to četlo
Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews