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Stone Broke Heiress

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Six months ago, I was the heiress to a soup empire worth millions. Now, I’m standing in a giant dumpster.

Bella Whittington’s caviar-and-Cristal life comes crashing down when she walks in on her fiancé and best friend tangled up in page 34 of the Kama Sutra, limbs everywhere. But her plan to dull the pain with Daddy’s credit card is totalled by the news that they’ve lost the family business. Suddenly Bella’s both single and completely broke.

Shivering in her dingy new studio apartment after a traumatic incident with a homemade turmeric face mask (Hello Tangerina Jolie!), Bella realises she must pull up her Gucci socks and get a job, fast. But Dan, the gorgeous grumpy owner of the local soup kitchen, hates the Whittingtons, so a teensy lie about her surname gets Bella through the door, and set loose on the stove… Minestrone with a side of melted spatula, anyone?

When Bella’s ex returns with a golden ticket back to her glitzy old life, should she accept? Because that would mean no more box wine and frozen pizza nights with Dan. No more singalongs to the crackly kitchen radio. No more my-heart-is-as-melted-as-that-spatula moments when he finally cracks a reluctant smile… But if Dan finds out the truth about who she really is, will she even have the choice?

An absolutely hilarious, feel-good rom com that will have you snorting with laughter. The new must-read for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Schitt’s Creek!

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 21, 2022

393 people are currently reading
778 people want to read

About the author

Danielle Owen-Jones

3 books64 followers

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5 stars
582 (41%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
Profile Image for Mark.
1,721 reviews
March 16, 2022
Billed as ‘ completely laugh out loud’ I stoically and grumpily approached this book pretty sure it wouldn’t be…and it wasn’t….however what it was was ‘almost completely chuckling with a few laugh out loud’s’ and you know what at this present time in the world that was just perfect 😊
The story revolves around Bella and how she goes from ‘riches’ to almost ‘rags’ and the journey of self discovery this takes her on, previously her main worry was if she had enough Louboutin’s….now her only worry is how she will cook enough soup at the soup kitchen in Toxteth she has had to get a job in
Bella is fab, I couldn’t help but adore her and her ways/thoughts and the pickles she got herself in and of course the realisation ( when it came ) of what is important in life was touching and emotive
A grand pick me up that will cheer and
please and make you think ( not uncomfortably ) about priorities and life and all with a big grin on you’re face

9/10
5 Stars
Profile Image for AvidReader.
1,495 reviews341 followers
March 8, 2022
This book was delightful. In the first half I felt so much for Bella. But above all she was a fighter. Everything she knew crumpled around her and she still didn’t loose hope or stop fighting. I just wanted to hug her.
When she started to slowly build her career and life once more I was simultaneously rooting and cheering for her. But then at one point I got so mad at her for some of her decisions. She was rather naive at that moment. But later she realised her mistakes and righted it and save the day.
She truly was selfless, egoless and sweet.
I would say this Bella’s story of self discovery and growth.
Hero Dan was wonderful. I liked him but the romance angle was a little weak and felt more like YA.
Loved the colourful bunch of secondary characters. And I’m glad the villain got their comeuppance.
Profile Image for Rozberry🍓.
303 reviews132 followers
March 25, 2022
2.5-.75 stars


Stone Broke Heiress: A Completely Laugh-Out-Loud Romantic Comedy


That’s what the ARC file title reads. To that I have to ask, really? I think I snickered at Bella(h)’s mom’s antics a time or two maybe & that was about it 🤔 .

Mostly the author’s basic concepts for the plot were pretty solid, par for the course as far as rom-coms go. I do see the potential in Ms. Owen-Jones’ writing(the ideas are there) & maybe after she has a few more books under her belt, I’ll consider giving one of hers another try.

The problem here is I thought SBH was a better guide through & around Liverpool(the setting) at times than the book was developing & fleshing out the characters & the story. i.e. A little too much telling instead of showing & giving dimension. I didn’t really get grumpy from Dan(H) for the whole grumpy/sunshine trope. If Bella hadn’t kept telling me he was grumpy, idk at best I probably would’ve viewed him as briefly disinterested 🤷🏻‍♀️. When things like this happen & I can’t get past the disconnect, the story just tends to really drag along for me, unfortunately.
description

In a nutshell - SBH was okay-ish, but didn’t pique my curiosity to see what was gonna happen next. Just not my cuppa.

**This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Profile Image for Olivia.
483 reviews
March 4, 2022
2.5☆

So, I didn't like this. I thought I would like it from the premise: grumpy x sunshine romance. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. Although it was a cute romance with a nice message, and a cute little dog, there were just too many things that I didn't like.

Predictable

I predicted most, if not every single plot twist and the direction the book went in. There was nothing that surprised me.

Stressful to Read

Fun fact: I have always hated Mr. Bean movies because they give me anxiety. Why do I mention this? Well, because this book gave me the exact level of anxiety as Mr. Bean. Especially the scene where she cooks soup for the first time in Dan's kitchen. I had to put the book down several times to calm down.

Miscommunication Trope

Do I even need to elaborate? I just don't like it and I hate it in every single situation.

Bella

Speaking of our main character, Bella was the most infuriating character for about 80% of the book. Not being able to do anything, brand-name-dropping every chance she can, being just dumb in general. I cannot. In the last 20% of the book, she goes through a little development which made her much less aggravating, but by then I just didn't care about her.

Romance

Bella and Dan's romance was lackluster, it felt like there wasn't really any chemistry. It needed some more development in my opinion.

Overall, it was meh, I honestly think it was just a personal issue.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Yvonne (It's All About Books).
2,746 reviews318 followers
March 5, 2022

Finished reading: March 4th 2022


"The whiff of his aftershave, combined with a tinge of smelly bin juice, fills the air as we roll away into the night, like a budget Bonnie and Clyde."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***



P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
Profile Image for Christie Guillory.
488 reviews44 followers
February 13, 2022
I was drawn to this book by its cover (what's not to love about it?!) and the summary intrigued me. Overall I'm giving this one 3.8 stars and rounding up to four. Athough Bella (the former heiress) took a while to endear herself to me, I eventually came to love her for her tenacity and personal growth. She's definitely got the Legally Blond trope going on at the start, which is what took me a hot minute.The book is a bit romcom in a Hallmark kind of way and a whole lot of learning to keep going when the chips are down. I also enjoyed the book's setting and its vernacular. Which, to be honest, always draws me in to a story. Not a bad start at all for this debut author. I'm looking forward to checking out her next book later in 2022.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
Profile Image for direadsomebooks.
236 reviews12 followers
April 7, 2022
“Recent events had taught me that eyeliners were like men; good ones, the ones with staying power, were rare. And the bad ones left a smudgy, tear-stained mess.”

I was in need of a RomCom and this was the one! The cover is quite appealing and the synopsis even more so, I couldn't not request this book on NetGalley.
It was overall a good read with a plot although predictable quite light and enjoyable. But the funny parts of this novel are, at times, too forced and unnatural ending up not being as funny as they should be and losing the essence and outcome that should be felt by the reader. The characters are poorly developed while the surroundings are sometimes overly described, something I would prefer to see reversed because, especially in the romance genre, I find it more relevant to deepen the characters in favor of the surroundings which can be something more secondary just used to better explore the story. This was something I felt particularly with Dan, the main male character, who falls quite short in that role and which I felt very sorry for as I can see the potential that was not explored. The main female character Bella, on the other hand, is a well explored character with an amazing evolution throughout the narrative that I loved to follow, her redemption was one of my favorite parts! But then the romance between these two ended up disappointing me a lot... Too rushed especially in the first impact, I feel there was no tension, no gradual unfolding of the relationship, it seems like something that just came out of nowhere, which is due to the small temporal jumps that are happening. And so, we jump almost directly to the typical final drama which, although it is also a bit predictable, is quite satisfying both in its essence and in the way it was handled and overcome.
Despite all that, and considering it's the first book by this author, it's a read I recommend to those who like the genre and books that portray the redemption of a character as the main focus with a well-structured and fluid writing. It's worth the opportunity and I will definitely keep an eye out for the author's next books!

Plot | ⭐⭐⭐
Characters | ⭐⭐⭐
Enjoyment | ⭐⭐⭐
Quality of Audio | ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall | ⭐⭐⭐,25
Profile Image for Shannon.
8,642 reviews430 followers
April 8, 2023
This was just an okay read for me. A British riches to rags sort of story that sees a wealthy Soup heiress forced to start over when her father gets ousted from the family company. Not knowing what to do with her life and needing to find a job to keep her busy and provide her with a source of income, Bella finds herself working for a grumpy soup kitchen owner, where she helps turn things around and discovers a new calling. I didn't love the audio narration, which may have affected my feelings on this one but overall it was still cute and entertaining, just not a super standout read/listen for me.
Profile Image for Carolina.
178 reviews52 followers
March 25, 2022
I have to say that overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, quick read about someone used to spend money without second-guessing it, until her world is turned upside down and they quickly come to the conclusion they need to relearn how to live her life (almost) like everyone else and see things from a new perspective.

I really liked Bella's character growth throughout the book but I have to say that I didn't particularly feel anything about Dan, given that we hardly saw them interact until he became a love interest. We were told they spent time together but we barely got to see it, so despite his interesting background I didn't really see his appeal. I think he gave her too much too soon. I would like to see their relationship progress as we were reading, not read a couple pages and find out he was already taking her to his sacred place after barely knowing her. I was honestly more interested in reading about Susie and Elsie, as they were fantastic side characters.

One thing I think should have been better developed was when they found out about Bella's true identity. For me it seemed like they didn't properly talk about it and things were resolved too soon. I don't know, I guess it would be more interesting to see Bella fight for the ones she loves, after messing it up big time.

I also enjoyed reading about all the drama surrounding Whittington Soup and the way it all ended, giving us the perspective that we don't really know what life has in store for us.

I have to say this book peaked my interest to read more work from the author. If you're looking for an enjoyable romance, this is your book!

I received this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture!
Profile Image for Nisha Joshi (swamped, will review whenever possible).
537 reviews59 followers
April 8, 2022
Bella Whittington is the heiress of the Whittington Soup Empire. Until, one day, she isn't. Her super-rich parents move to France and she is left high and dry in Liverpool (gasp!).

How she picks up her Manolo Blahniks and gets on with life is the story.

I don't know how to feel about this book. For one, it reminded me too much of The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella which I absolutely love. The love angle in that book felt much more natural than this one. In one scene, Dan is all grumpy and then Bella cooks soup and he is all smiles. Nope. Didn't work.

Bella's transformation into a rags girl from a rich one also seems rushed. In one scene, she is using public transport for the first time and worrying about her dress and shoes and a couple of pages later, she is cleaning and packing herself. She often mentions her shopping addiction but she doesn't buy anything at all - not even furniture.

Also, the problems seem too contrived and the solutions come too easily.

I so wanted to love this book because look at that cover. Sigh.

I have to say that it was a super-quick read, though and I finished it in a day.

2.5 stars.
Profile Image for Paige Haas.
56 reviews2 followers
February 9, 2022
This book has big Hallmark Christmas movie energy. It’s comforting, makes you laugh, and leaves with you with a warm fuzzy happy feeling at the end. I’d classify it as a PG romantic comedy. It’s appropriate for everyone from your sister to your grandmother and you’re sure to find yourself giggling and smiling throughout.

I’m grateful to the publisher and NetGalley to have had the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for kinereads.
124 reviews27 followers
March 6, 2022

I received an ARC of this book, and I was so excited to read this. All my opinions are my honest thoughts.

I didn’t want to put it down, because I truly enjoyed it from start to finish
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
2,035 reviews147 followers
March 22, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Stone Broke Heiress' by Danielle Owen-Jones.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Danielle Owen-Jones, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 21st March 2022.

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also her debut novel.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'The new must-read for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and Schitt’s Creek!' I am a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 37 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Liverpool, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I actually visited Liverpool a few years ago so am intrigued to see if recognise any of the settings.

This book is written in first person perspective and the protagonist is Bella Whittington. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.

OMG!!! ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS BOOK.

This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene for you. I could hear the Scouse accents, feel the love and smell the soup all throughout this absolutely stunning page turner. The cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

The storyline is absolutely hilarious as well as heartwarming. It is the most feel good book I have read for a long time. Instead of your typical tags to riches storyline this is a unique riches to rags one. It is filled with laughter, soup, love, deceit, soup, friendship, heartbreak, soup, community and did I mention soup? I became absolutely absorbed into the storyline and couldn't stop turning the pages from beginning to end. There were moments I laughed, was almost in tears and was shouting at a few of the characters. It really felt like I was walking or dump diving next to Bella throughout the story. It also highlights the differences between the rich and poor and how the amount that one person spends on a pair of boots could feed another for at least a month which is really quite tragic. I believe that this book will help to open people's eyes more to the plight of others and for them to help where they can whether by volunteering with the homeless or donating to a food bank which is a fantastic achievement for a book. I loved exploring Liverpool again and the atmosphere was perfect.

This book would make an absolutely stunning movie which I would love to see!!!

DO NOT START THIS BOOK UNTIL YOU CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!

It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

I was completely invested in the characters who were all strong and realistic. I was intrigued watching Bella's transformation from designer Queen to bargain hunter and watching her character change and develop throughout, for the better may I add. I really liked her from the start but I absolutely adored her by the end. I loved seeing her relationship with her parents and how close she was with them and most definitely watching her relationship with Dan grow and develop. Dan is an absolute sweetheart who I was really find of and I think that they would make a perfect couple. I would love to meet them both again in a future book. It wasn't just Dan and Bella I grew to enjoy a fondness with but also Susie and Elsie who were both larger than life characters and one of my favourites the absolutely adorable Herbie!!! I adore meeting pets in books and Herbie is definitely a firm favourite of mine. An absolutely amazing group of characters who worked perfectly well to make an absolutely stunning storyline.

Congratulations Danielle on absolutely STUNNING novel, one that will stay with me for a long time. If I didn't know this was your debut I would never have guessed, you have done an amazing job and I cannot wait to read your next success 🥂

Welcome to my favourite author club. If I'm ever looking for a book that makes me feel warm inside I will be hunting yours down!!!

Overall an absolutely gorgeous laugh out loud romance that will have you devouring it in one sitting!!


Genres covered in this book include Romance Fiction, Humorous Fiction and Contemporary Romance amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk, Schitt’s Creek, Bridget Jones and anyone who is looking for a stunning pick me up!!!



309 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Profile Image for ThianeJansen.
759 reviews94 followers
July 24, 2022

Highly entertaining from riches to rags story that screams holiday Hallmark movie. It was a fun and quick read, as we follow Bella whose whole life was just turned upside down as one day she has everything- money, the perfect fiance- and the next day there is nothing left.
You will howl laugh at this journey of self-discovery and building yourself from the ground up, and the character development in Bella is astoundingly well written.

Its one of those books that remind you money can’t buy happiness, and I absolutely loved it. It was funny, cute and really heart-warming with a side of woman empowerment.

Will be looking out for more of this author in the future.
Profile Image for Stephanie Little.
170 reviews16 followers
August 21, 2022
A great read with a riches to rags trope which is beautifully written. It makes you realise that wealth doesn’t bring you happiness, love and friendships. It is who you have in your life that really matters.
There were points where laughed and it is one of those books that help you escape from reality. Looking forward to reading more from the author.
Profile Image for Jen | jenreadsx.
449 reviews251 followers
March 14, 2022
I imagined so many character in this novel as characters from Schitt’s Creek (the mother could be the perfect twin of Moira! ) This is honestly the perfect quirky, from riches to rags romance!

It’s lightweight but full of detail, each character has been very thought out and each have their own importance to the story, it flows beautifully! Bella has some amazing character growth which we love to see!

I also love how quirky it is! A book centred around soup! Of all things! But it shows how soup can help so many in need

For a debut author this really is a hit and I would definitely read more from Danielle in the future

It’s an addictive read, I couldn’t put it down! Perfect if you’re looking for something to read on holiday, a rainy day, a summers day or just want to escape reality for a bit

Big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this novel
Profile Image for Krishika ( Dramatic Booknerd ).
488 reviews12 followers
February 12, 2022
4.5 ⭐

This was so so cute!! I absolutely loved the whole premise of the story. From Riches to Rags, is a trope I really like and this one was done so beautifully.

Arabella was so sassy, so good and her self discovery journey was so great so read. Dan was a sweetheart and don't get me started on Herbie. He was SO SO CUTE!! aaahh!!!

The romance and whole story and writing was so so good!! I can't wait to read more from the author 😍😍❤️❤️
Profile Image for Nicola “Shortbookthyme”.
2,417 reviews135 followers
March 15, 2022
My feelings are pretty mixed upon finishing Stone Broke Heiress.
Most of the humor just seemed way over the top to me and unrealistic.
Funny moments for sure.
Light reading for sure.
Quirkiness for sure.
It was a ok read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Profile Image for Anjitha.
161 reviews7 followers
March 5, 2022
"When Life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
This book reminded me of this quote.
The book follows Bella Whittington, who was leading a luxurious posh. Until one day, everything comes crashing down. She is jobless and forced to move to a poor neighbourhood. She doesn't even know to do the basic routines. So at first, she had a hard time adjusting to this life. Slowly, slowly she comes to terms with it. Dan, at first I felt as if he is a tough guy. Towards the ending, I realised that underneath all that layers was sweetness. Character formation was good whereas I was not a huge fan of the plot formation. I felt as it's just a simple rom-com book, was neither interesting nor good. I felt as if it was an okay/ time-pass read. The story didn't hold any so interesting for me. The writing was simple and easy to understand.

Thanks to the publishers for providing me an ARC through netgallery.>
Profile Image for Carla.
7,753 reviews178 followers
March 20, 2022
I am not a fan of rich, over spending, influencers or reality stars who flaunt their wealth, so when I started reading this book, I was a bit worried, but I didn't need to. Bella Whittington is an heiress to the Whittington Soup Empire. She lives a life of luxury, until a disastrous soup convention, leaked emails and stories of excessive spending get her father and herself, turfed out of the company. Not only that, but she catches her fiance in bed with her bestfriend. Her parents sell their home and move to property they own in Italy. Bella insists she is fine, has a new job and will remain in England. Well, she has no job and very little money. She ends up living in a studio apartment in Toxteth and gets a job at a local soup kitchen because she can make a mean pot of soup. She begins to feel at home with a new BFF, a possible boyfriend, and a job she loves. She hates her old life and is finally happy. But, things happen that blow her new happiness out of the water.

As the story begins, I didn't like Bella very much, but as she goes from riches to rags, she changes. There is a lot of humour in her downfall such as her first experience make soup at the soup kitchen, DIY facemasks and more. Dan, Susie and Elsie are all great characters. They are caring, generous, funny, able to make things out of seemingly nothing. Dan is grumpy and gruff, but only to protect himself. Elsie, his grandmother, brings out the real Dan. Keeping secrets is bound to cause problems, but you will have to read this one to find out what happens. This book has themes of excess, homelessness, addiction, ruthless business people, problems with media, self-reflection, friendship, picking yourself up, honesty and community. It was more than I was expecting and I will be watching for Danielle Owen-Jones next book.
Profile Image for Laura..devouring books like crumpets.
1,960 reviews110 followers
March 21, 2022


Wow what an Amazing Read i Absolutely Loved it... Never been to Liverpool but my Best friend is a scouser, if shes been on the booze i cant understand a word she says.... Im so recommending this book to her or any Liverpudlian!

Bella After getting A awful surprise from her fiance, and an even worse surprise from his father falls from Riches to Rags as she learns whats really important in life.

🍲 Has Christmas Vibes.... Bitta festive thrown in there!

🍲 Can you really be so far from reality to Mop a carpet? These fall from Grace Moments were so Funny!

🍲Dan The Duke..... Yummy! Vs Francis the Fu!*wit

🍲 Make sure you have eaten before reading this those soups sound delicious!!!! Recipes Please!

🍲 I so want a Herbie Dog!

🍲 Brings to Light important Matters....

So a Huge 5 star I loved it the side characters were amazing, the story was so sweet , feel good And Funny As Bella and Dan find a way to work together in a soup kitchen!
Profile Image for Lopke.
469 reviews33 followers
February 16, 2022
3.5 ⭐

Stone Broke Heiress is a riches to rags, romantic comedy that follows Bella Whittington, as she loses her job, friends and fiancé, while now having to start new, fresh and all on her own

this story definitely played off like a chick flick - think Material Girls and From Prada to Nada (obviously...) - as Bella literally goes from designer things and being spoiled to now having to learn how to use a mop properly aswell as get used to dumpster diving

i have to say that i really enjoyed the story. it was really easy to get through, some fun writing with some great characters. i also adored the friendship between Bella and Susie!
i got a bit frustrated with the heroine being so naive and all even though i knew it played the part of the story ... but she definitely matured and i ended up loving her character

it was lighthearted and entertaining that turned into a sweet ending which i found to be absolutely perfect for Bella and Dan

*𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯-𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸*
Profile Image for Cee.
188 reviews14 followers
March 22, 2022
From riches to rags! This book is all about one being content with the life they have and being kind to others.

To be honest, I loved Bella. I loved her growth and how she was open to seeing things from a different perspective. This was a good rom-com with a touch of social issues like homelessness.

Despite the choices Bella made, one thing was certain: she was willing to learn and grow. She didn't mind working in a soup kitchen for someone who once had everything.

Thank you Bookouture for this lovely story!
Profile Image for Leighton.
1,058 reviews12 followers
February 13, 2022
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Stone Broke Heiress by Danielle Owen-Jones is a light-hearted rom-com that will appeal to fans of Sophie Kinsella and Melissa Ferguson. The story revolves around Bella Whittington, heiress to the Whittington soup company. She's used to the high life, including glamorous fashion, jewelry, and vacations. Suddenly, her dad loses his business, and she goes from millionaire to broke. She realizes that she must get a job, so why not start working at a soup kitchen?

Here is a hilarious excerpt from Chapter 1, which is a flash-forward:

"It’s hard to believe that six months ago, I was the heiress to a multimillion-pound soup empire. Now, I’m standing in a giant bin. A Super Saver supermarket bin, to be precise. My limited edition Hunter wellies, that once graced Glastonbury’s VIP area and the idyllic fields of Cheshire for my horse riding lessons, are stained by rotting rubbish.
I’m manically rummaging around for any food worth saving. Packs of tomatoes emblazoned with today’s expiry date? They’ll do. Wonky celery sticks? Golden. A battered bag of potatoes? Jackpot.
...
Never in my life did I imagine I would be looking at a bin bag with the same desire that I usually reserved for an Hermès Birkin."

Overall, Stone Broke Heiress is an absolutely adorable rom-com that reminded me of rich-to-broke movies like Material Girls or Cowbelles. One highlight of this book is the romance that develops between Bella and a guy that I won't say too much about to avoid spoilers. I thought that the plot was well-executed, especially how Bella has to keep her former life as an heiress a secret from her new man. I did take off 1 star, because I sometimes found it hard to sympathize with Bella. I know that she's supposed to be an heiress, but some of her statements felt more tone-deaf than funny to me. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of rom-coms in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!
Profile Image for Brihana.
182 reviews13 followers
March 23, 2022
Genre: Rom-Com

📝Short Summary:
From riches to rags! Six months ago, Bella Whittington used to be the heiress of a soup empire worth millions, now she’s jobless, homeless, and fianceless after catching her Fiancé and her best friend in a … might I say very compromising position. Having to suddenly experience ordinary life, Bella quickly realizes that a life of luxury may not be what she wants.

💭Thoughts:
Thank you @Danielle Owen-Jones @netgalley and @bookouture for this e-arc! This book was such a cute and funny read, the perfect pick-me-up! Danielle Owen-Jones had me cracking up! I saw a lot of other reviewers compare this to a chick-flick, and I couldn’t have said it better myself! The characters are all so loveable. I adored Bella, her sassiness, and braveness. It was nice seeing her journey to self-discovery and, seeing her grow as a person. I adored her relationship with Dan and how much impact he had on Bella’s growth. I wished we got to see more of them together. I loved Bella and Susie’s friendship! And let’s not forget Herby, love your Herb’s! This book is predictable but very easy to follow and, I recommend it if you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud rom-com! For a debut, Danielle Owen Jones killed it!
Profile Image for Nikki Brooks.
3,586 reviews55 followers
November 12, 2022
Another new to me author and well worth a read! I really hoped that Bella wouldn't be all posh princess and that I'd find something redeemable about her and I wasn't disappointed.

She may be the pampered princess but her world can implode just like everyone else and I think sometimes that's what makes these riches-to-rags stories funnier, cos rich folk tend to have less common sense and struggle to survive than when it's someone who suddenly comes into money. Bella and her family have to quickly learn to sink or swim in their new reality and even though she's completely out of her element she does give the soup kitchen her all - eventually!

Dan was kind of less grumpy and more distractedly disinterested if i'm honest but he and Bella did spark off each other well. It would have been nice to see more of their interactions rather than just be told about them.

Susie Elsie are some of the best secondary characters in the book. The tour of Liverpool and its environs I could enjoy as I know some of them from my nephew who goes to Uni in Liverpool so I didn't feel too lost.

I'd happily read another book from this author!
Profile Image for Louise H's Book Thoughts.
2,042 reviews316 followers
March 25, 2022
A pleasant, fun but not quite a “wow” read. It was a somewhat entertaining way to pass a few hours, and I did like the heroine Bella. The pace is good and there are some excellent supporting characters to add flavour to the story. The dialogue felt natural, I knew who was speaking and the writing flowed smoothly.


Whilst the author's voice was pleasant enough the humour was a little too... obvious. Like an over told joke, you could see the punchline approaching from quite a distance. It felt as though the "funny" parts should be accompanied by some 70's canned laughter. Yes there was plenty of humour, and the book did make me smile, but it didn't quite manage to grow organically within the prose. This needed some genuine serious moments, emotional moments and reflective moments to help balance the crazy.


The author had researched (or knows) Liverpool well, and I enjoyed how the city was almost a character in itself. If you want a fun, nicely written, easy-to-read rom-com then this is very much worth trying.
Profile Image for Bethany.
496 reviews1,997 followers
dnf
May 30, 2022
dnf @ Chapter 9

Nine chapters and almost a quarter in and we still haven't met the love interest, the inciting incident hasn't really happened (or I guess it is happening but it's dragging), and it's just info dumping all this irrelevant information that I simply do not care about. Just not a writing style I personally enjoy.

Also sorry but no one is this naive, my suspension of disbelief only goes so far.
Profile Image for Derryn Shaw.
23 reviews5 followers
December 28, 2022
I absolutely adored this book, especially for the way it showcases Liverpool. There’s not much media that shows Liverpool in a positive way but this book did it so well. Even more so, the portrayal of scousers and our community is the most accurate I have seen and made it all the more enjoyable to read.
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