Working It Out

by Jo Platt, Imogen Comrie (Narrator)

Her new colleague is about to shake things up...

When her love life crashed down around her, Edie turned to work for solace. But office life goes downhill with the departure of her work wife, Ruby, and the arrival of new guy Cameron - a chauvinist, a womaniser and the very opposite of a team player. But is Cameron the bad guy he seems to be?

When a best-forgotten ex decides to get back in touch, Edie's work life, love life and home life are on a collision course. Exactly what she will be able to salvage from the twisted wreckage, is anybody's guess.

A funny and feel-good romance for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Jo Watson.

Genres: Chick Lit, Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

Audiobook

Published February 3, 2022

Reviews

[mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a honest review)

A lot of confusion and "huh" in my head for this book, should have napped instead after my workout.

『• • • PLOT• • •』
Edie went to work for consolation as her love life crumbled around her. After her close friend and colleague Ruby resigned, her days in the office turn worse with the appearance of new guy, Cameron. Who is always grumpy, sarcastic and antisocial. But is he really who she thinks he is?

Edie's professional and personal lives get all messy when a long-forgotten ex decides to reconnect. What will she do now to get out of this mess?

『• • • THOUGHTS• • •』

I was bored, from the start to the end. The plot wasn't moving and the main characters weren't growing. There was tooooooo much focus (I can't emphasise this) on other characters and events. It felt like the main characters were actually just paid actors who blended well in the crowd. I tried to find any reason to like it, even a simple one but I couldn't. Edie was a grown woman who should be in full control of herself and Cameron is a grown man who' should know better than assuming. This book is big on the miscommunication trope, that I got really sick of. There was no buildup and there was no room to guess what was going to happen because it was obvious. The plot felt typical and the delivery of the book was just not it for me. It was draggy and unnecessary. I just kept on reading because I thought there would be something different or something good but really there wasn't. It is not my intention to be negative but I really can't say anything about this book.

Actually I just realised at the end of the book, Edie is spelt not with a double d. That's how much I skimmed through the book.

[Kimberly Carrington-Fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

[Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the ebook. This review is my honest opinion but just another opinion, you should read this book and judge it by yourself]

Creo que jamás he leído un libro que no me gusta tan rápido, habrán sido las ganas de quitármelo de encima.
Un gran NO para mí. Una chick-lit (o chick lit, nunca sé cómo se escribe) que no ves qué te quiere contar y a la que no le ves sentido. No es graciosa, no es dramática, no es entretenida, no tiene amor... No tiene "ná". El maromo es el único apañadete y solo le ves coger algo de protagonismo en la parte final (y tampoco gran cosa).
Salvo este personaje, todos los que tienen cierto protagonismo me han caído mal, la protagonista la que más, lo que es un verdadero problema cuando todo el libro es la vida de la protagonista y sus relaciones personales y laborales. Ah, bueno, también hay mucho vecindario lleno de viejecitos encantadores que me han importado entre nada y cero.
En fin, que una y no más con esta escritora. Me alegro las que disfruten esta historia pero yo no soy una de ellas.

[biblioglee · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley and canelo for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

despite the cover suggesting otherwise, i wouldn't say this is a true romance. the story is more about edie's journey through trusting the wrong people, learning how to grow stronger through mistakes made, and ultimately figuring herself out through a series of events that has a very slow burn love story intertwined within the narrative.

it was only after taking the romance notion out of mind that you see this is a character driven story about what constitutes a true friendship. through a work relationship with a manipulative co-worker, edith finds how taxing it can be when that person exits your life after detonating a bomb that could threaten more than your career, as it impacts her personality and how she views others around her. it's only through the truth and how those implode, that she begins to climb out of the debris left behind.

i think going into this without the romance in mind is the best way to read the book. i wouldn't even necessarily call it a slow burn, as a good percentage of the book is spent on her friendships with others rather than looking for love. the latter half is on repair and forgiveness, with a very minute part of the book dedicated to growing a love story. i did enjoy the final chapter, almost wishing that it continued from that point forward for at least a few more, but all said and done, it was a good journey to take with a character that has flaws, but you feel for despite them.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edie is an architect and works in a close , small team. That is until Ruby, her friend, leaves and another architect, Cameron, joins the team. Ruby has had a problem with Cameron, which colours the feelings Edie has for him. Feels a bit like school .... you would have thought that an adult women was capable of making her own mind up about some one. This was, though, the only criticism I had about this book, after he misunderstandings were sorted out, it did get better. It was at times quite funny
All in all a light and entertaining read , mostly about friendships . I liked the characters and although the storyline was fairly predictable it was OK.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read about a workplace romance. Edie and Cameron, initially, don’t have a lot in common, but they eventually work out common grounds. As the book progressed I wasn’t sure if they would ever get it together, even at the end I was left in doubt. So read it for yourself to see if they work it out. Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the advance read.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edie loves her job as an architect. She loves her work, her colleagues, and how both supported her after her heartbreak. But when her work wife Ruby leaves, she is replaced by her worst nightmare: Cameron. Edie hears that Cameron is a chauvinist and a womanizer, and once they meet she’s sure it’s true. But when Edie’s personal life and her safe space at work start to fall apart, she starts to question whether some of her perceptions and tightly held opinions are as true as she once believed. And when she does, will she be able to rebuild her life and relationships?

I enjoyed this book! I was slow to warm up to it, but I thought it had some really great things to say about first impressions, trust, friendship, and good communication. Edie is a really relatable and sympathetic character, which helped when she was messing up her life and relationships in the beginning. Plus I loved that there was never any question that she was great at her job and had earned her reputation with her coworkers. She was well rounded and flawed, and I had a great time watching her grow.

What tricked me a bit was this adorable cover! This is definitely women’s fiction, not a romance. However, there are two romantic plots, both of which I enjoyed! There’s a romance between two side characters which genuinely made me squee as they bumbled around their feelings. And Edie has what I consider a slow-and-low-burn romance which had a great payoff, but no 🌶. I really enjoy this kind of women’s fiction, similar to Mhairi McFarlane, but I just wish I had known how small the romantic subplot would be before reading.

From about 40% on, I loved this book. Although the romance devotee in me wishes the beginning had been quicker so I could have spent more time with the romance at the end, I do appreciate how all of the seeds planted had a great payoff by the end. Platt created really vivid characters and atmosphere, from the best step-cousin Giles to the multitudes of nosy neighbors on the avenue. This was my first read from her and I look forward to reading more!
3.5 stars

Thank you to lovebookstours for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working It Out by Jo Platt is a great contemporary romcom that kept me entertained and chuckling from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed this romance between Cameron and Edie. Misinterpretation and miscommunications add to obstacles that the characters must face at first before things can evolve and change. I enjoyed the growth, progression, and actual change between the main characters. Both deserved a second chance in life, love, and from one another.

I thought the dialogue was quick, the little comments/one-liners/banter that was sprinkled throughout the book in perfect balance to some of the more serious subject matter. I would find myself literally laughing out loud at certain moments.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Canelo Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 2/3/22.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

**audiobook version**

Narrator 5 stars

Story 3 stars
This book is very mellow and just keeps chugging along. The characters were likeable. The situations were funny and awkward. I did feel though it just kind of ended very quickly.

[Sara Islam · Rating 1 out of 5]

This could have easily been a short story of no more than 5k words.

[Ioana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a romance book. Must have been the Jane Austen influence I had in my 20s, but this kind of reminded me of Price and Prejudice. But in a modern setting.
👩‍💻
My favourite character wasn't Edie, the woman suddenly faced with a breakup, finding solace in her work for an architectural firm, but her step-cousin, Giles. He gives her a sanctuary to retreat (his own home). The way the author describes his character made me an instant "friend" of his.
As her own best friend is leaving the firm, Edie finds herself facing a new arrival, Cameron.
🚶‍♂️
The twists and misunderstandings along the way really made it hard for me to put down in the second half. Despite the slow start for me and what felt like too much dialogue in the beginning, I enjoyed seeing the characters build up through their words and actions. I would have loved to read more about Cameron's relationships and his thoughts and feelings, but the story is told from Edie's perspective.
I was a bit confused at the end, which made me re-read some parts just to make sure I got it right.
All in all, a relaxing read and something to take with you on holiday.

[Bleu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of Edie's life is crumbling around her but she's always been able to find solace in her work as an architect. That is until her friend and colleague Ruby, just before she leaves the company, tells Edie about the chauvinist womaniser in the office that is Cameron. Ruby has allegations against him that would surely paint him as a terrible person so why is it that everyone else seems to idolise him?

When Edie moves in with her cousin Giles, becoming assimilated into avenue life, and a best-forgotten ex gets in touch, she finds herself learning more about Cameron and learning that not everyone is as nice as her.

To describe this book as a romance is to set unrealistic expectations. The romance, whilst an element of the story, is not the focus, nor does it feature for most of the book. As such, anyone reading this looking for the relationship aspects to progress will be disappointed.

What it does, it does well, but it doesn't do romance.

The whole story feels uncomfortable (a good thing- the subject matter is unsettling) as, although I didn't care for the characters (whether they're okay etcetera), I did care about their actions. I cared about the consequences on each of them and was intrigued to see how they would each react or respond. Similar to a few other books I've read, I'd describe this as one that's 'more interesting to think about'. It presents these scenarios clearly and welcomes you to mull over them: considerations of women's power and abuse of that power and the implications this can have on those around them- all very interesting and topically relevant. However, I found I did this at a different pace from the book.

My issue here was that, as with many in the genre, there's a problem that has to be rectified for the couple to get together. Yet, the problem in this feels like such an obstacle to overcome. The first 40-ish% left a strange taste in my mouth as I was sure there were only one of two ways to fix the problem, neither of which felt good: either the man would be forgiven or the woman was mistaken/wrong. Ultimately, the problem was remedied well, with tact and respect, but it created such a distance between the main characters that it was unsurprising that they couldn't get to the romantic dynamic until the epilogue. Speaking of which, the epilogue was pretty good; it's written cleverly and provides a satisfying conclusion to Edie's story.

The humour in here is fab and feels very British; it's self-deprecating, sarcastic and blunt. This is seen well in the supporting characters, especially Giles and Kerry. The repartee Edie has with them is a highlight for the whole book and I found myself regularly laughing at their exchanges. Nonetheless, while the humour is good, it's exclusive to these side characters. As such, from an enjoyment viewpoint, Edie is bleak. Much of the story is her struggling and coming to terms with new circumstances, with just light moments of relief. Again, this is fine as a story but not when it's described as and compared to fluffier, more light-hearted contemporary romances.

I did appreciate that while Edie and Cameron are described as attractive people, they are not gushed over making that part of their relationship feel normal as they seem like real people.

Just a few (very!) minor bothers:
- Edie is regularly talking about working but seems to get very little done at work.
- The repeated phrase of saluting someone with a glass/cup/beer.

[Pattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the publisher:

Her new colleague is about to shake things up...

When her love life crashed down around her, Edie found solace in work. But her job rapidly goes from uplifting to unbearable, with the departure of her work wife, Ruby, and the arrival in the office of new guy, Cameron - a chauvinist, a womaniser, and the very opposite of a team player.

And just as things start to go downhill at work, Edie’s personal life takes a downturn too, when her ex, Jason, decides that right now would be the perfect moment to get back in touch and deliver some devastating news.

Edie's increasingly miserable work life and her complicated personal life are suddenly on a collision course. The big question is, will she be able to salvage anything from the wreckage?

A tender uplit novel of one woman’s accidental rediscovery of the perfect work-life balance. Ideal for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Sophie Kinsella and Beth O’Leary.

My Review:

I'm a longtime fan of British women's fiction, so this is not an unfamiliar genre for me. I enjoy romantic comedies. However, while this novel was definitely thought-provoking and was a slow burn on the romance front, "Working it Out" was not quite as amusing as I expected. There were some details that seemed as if they were missing, particularly in the prologue and definitely with Edie's job. I would have really enjoyed hearing more about why she likes her work, and what she specifically wants to do with her work projects.

That being said, I'll admit that the rest of the book had a lot to offer. The relationship between Edie and Ruby as "work friends" was well done. It is not always easy to know whom to trust, and competition between and among women is often pretty fierce and sometimes one-sided. This felt very real to me. Additionally, the whole mix-up with the neighbor and the coworker was done pretty well, too, but I can't discuss it without spoilers. Suffice it to say, nicknames can be confusing. :)

In the end, there is happiness and love, although it might or might not be who you think it will be at the beginning. No spoilers!

Overall I will give this novel 3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4.

Thank you to Love Books Tours, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to have a review copy of this novel here in the USA.

[Raluca (hedonicbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for providing a digital ARC of this book.

Well, damn! I really liked this. I actually went in blind, with no expectations and no idea what this book was about. There are so many things I liked about it that I don't even know where to begin.

The book tells the story of Edie, a 35 year old architect that's having a hard time at work: her friend is leaving for another job and she's left to deal with a new co-worker that doesn't seem to be the person he pretends to be. This is a character driven narrative, there's not much of a plot, but I actually loved this particular aspect.

Here's the thing, 50% of the book is actually kind of based on miscommunication and misinformation, which I normally dislike. But the writing was so good, that I easily overlooked that part. The writing is so clever and funny, the dialogue quite entertaining.

I absolutely loved the office dynamics. Every single character in that particular setting was brilliantly crafted. Edie's relationship with Luke is particularly adorable, I couldn't stop smiling and laughing at their banter.
Actually, I think Edie is such a lovely person and that reflects on all her relationships, including the ones she forms with her new neighbors. She's so incredibly close to her step-cousin, Giles, you can easily see how beautiful their connection is based on their interactions. There were many instances when I laughed out loud at their word exchange.

There is a bit of romance in this book, but it's definitely not a major part of it. I loved how it played out in the end, it's really really slow burn and very subtle, but I was absolutely thrilled with how it ended. However, the main focus of the story is Edie's journey, trying to juggle the effects of manipulation, mistrust, betrayal and adapting to a new life.

I'm debating between 3 and 4 stars. I'm leaning towards 3.5 stars, I think.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

The premise of this book showed a lot of promise, and I went into it expecting a quickly workplace romance. What I got was a quintessentially British, VERY slow burn book full of miscommunication…. And little to no romance.

Edie is a successful architect who has been trying to juggle her friendships, her incessant ex-boyfriend, and her professional life. Upon returning from holiday, she meets the new coworker in her office and is immediately turned off after seeing him as cold and hearing some not-so-great things from her best friend in the office. Shortly after, she decides to move in with her (step) cousin, and finds friendship with the woman next door… who just so happens to be friends with the new coworker Edie can’t stand.

Even though this was a slow starter for me, I really enjoyed most of the characters and the descriptive language Jo Platt uses to tell the story. She makes Edie a relatable character even in the face of rampant miscommunication and a little bit of chaos. The two subplots were very obvious to me, and I was so frustrated with the lack of romance until the last 1/6 of the book - Edie was just completely oblivious until all of a sudden she was obsessed? There could have been so much more lead up that would have made that relationship more fulfilling and rounded out the book. I’m a little bit confused by the publisher designation as a romance because there truly is little-to-none in this book.

I’m giving it 3 stars because I was able to read it quickly - I enjoyed the characters and the promise of romance enough to keep me going! I don’t love the miscommunication trope (especially when it’s only one POV), so that definitely impacted my overall feelings about the book.

[Janell Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

We always have our work best friends back. Right?
A book where you wish you could tell the main character what is really going on! Edie was away from work for a short time her best work friend, Ruby, filled her in when she got back. Now, they both hate the new guy. But, Ruby is leaving and Edie is stuck in the same office as him! Plus, Edie's ex-husband keeps messaging her and she feels alone at work. When her cousin (kind of) Giles offers to let her move in with him, she's excited about it! Plus she thinks she might be making a new friend in Kerry, the neighbor next door. But who is Kerry's friend?

The Blurb:
Her new colleague is about to shake things up...
When her love life crashed down around her, Edie found solace in work. But her job rapidly goes from uplifting to unbearable, with the departure of her work wife, Ruby, and the arrival in the office of new guy, Cameron - a chauvinist, a womaniser, and the very opposite of a team player.
And just as things start to go downhill at work, Edie’s personal life takes a downturn too, when her ex, Jason, decides that right now would be the perfect moment to get back in touch and deliver some devastating news.

Edie's increasingly miserable work life and her complicated personal life are suddenly on a collision course. The big question is, will she be able to salvage anything from the wreckage?

A tender uplit novel of one woman’s accidental rediscovery of the perfect work-life balance. Ideal for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Sophie Kinsella and Beth O’Leary.

"Well-written, with likeable but misunderstood characters, you might question your thoughts about your co-workers after reading Working It Out!"-Books and Pens on Green Gables

[Bookish.Caterpillar · Rating 4 out of 5]

🗓The book follows Edie, an architect by profession working for Alison Gerrard Ltd. Her life turns upside down when her best friend at work Ruby decides to leave and a new guy Cameron enters in her place. But is Cameron really a womaniser and harasser as Ruby claims him to be? Or is there a different side to him too? And what will happen when Edie’s ex will start trying to come back in her life? Will Adie be able to keep her work and personal life separate?

🗓 Workplace love: ✔️
Slow burn romance: ✔️ (a little bit)
Haters to lovers: ✔️ (sort of)

🗓 I went into this book totally blind didn’t expecting much but unexpectedly I ended up actually enjoying it. At times it did felt dragged but still it didn’t kept me from getting engrossed in the book. It wasn’t a typical romance book. Romance was a little part of it. The story focused more on workplace relationships and miscommunications. I loved Edie’s workplace colleagues and the conversations they shared. And I simply adored the characters of Kerry and Giles.

🗓 This was my first book by the author and I simply loved her writing style and look at this cover. Isn’t it beautiful? This wasn’t my usual genre but I loved it and by the time I finished reading there was a big smile on my face. And yes I would definitely like to read more by the author. The only thing missing from this romance book was the romance itself. I wanted to see more of Adie and Cameron’s relationship.

🗓 Thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edie finds solace in her work as an architect and she loves all her co-workers. That is, until new guy, Cameron shows up and her best work friend, Ruby quits that the dynamics begin to change.

With an ex-boyfriend determined to attone for his mistakes, a lying friend and having to move in with her step-cousin, Edie finds her life up in the air and struggling to work things out.

I feel angry with Ruby on Edie's behalf for telling her about Cameron being a womanizer. I think maybe Ruby thought what she was doing was right or that it was easy because she was leaving, but all she did was create an atmosphere at work for poor Edie. To me, this makes Ruby a bad friend and it made me really dislike her character. I think it was unnecessary to unload that information onto her friend when Edie still had to work with him.

However, talking of friends, new neighbour Kerry is the epitome of a true friend and I'm so glad for Edie that things "worked out" in the end for these two friends. I also liked Edie and Cameron's relationship - the hatred, the awkwardness of trying to patch things up and eventual friendship made for a good story.

I felt like the story abruptly jumped from one day to the following week with no real in-between, so it sometimes felt like I'd missed out on something. I also wasn't overly keen on the ending. However, I do love the cover - as a fellow reader mentioned, it is reminiscent of Pixar which is awesome.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Working It Out by Jo Platt

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @canelo_co & @lovebookstours for my gifted copy for a honest review.

Blurb 
Her new colleague is about to shake things up...
When her love life crashed down around her, Edie found solace in work.  But her job rapidly goes from uplifting to unbearable, with the departure of her work wife, Ruby, and the arrival in the office of new guy, Cameron - a chauvinist, a womaniser, and the very opposite of a team player.  
And just as things start to go downhill at work, Edie’s personal life takes a downturn too, when her ex, Jason, decides that right now would be the perfect moment to get back in touch and deliver some devastating news.
Edie's increasingly miserable work life and her complicated personal life are suddenly on a collision course.  The big question is, will she be able to salvage anything from the wreckage?  
A tender uplit novel of one woman’s accidental rediscovery of the perfect work-life balance. Ideal for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Sophie Kinsella and Beth O’Leary.

My thoughts: I truly was so hopeful for a bit more enemies to lovers/slow burn romance but I feel like it was a little slow in the beginning and then rushed the ending a bit. ❤️😉
Otherwise, it was a delightful read of funny characters in the corporate world and their strained interactions. I recommend you pick this one up! 🙌🏻

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story
Edie (Edith) is a thirty-something architect living in Bristol. She broke up with her ex two years ago after finding out about his serial cheating. Her best friend Ruby, a colleague, is leaving to live in Bath, but before she leaves, she tells Edie that she was sexually harassed by their new colleague, Cameron. When the truth comes out after several months of Edie giving Cameron the cold shoulder, it has a ripple effect in her friendships, her home life that she shared with her cousin and the work relationships.

My thoughts
This story is told in measured thoughts, and rational emotions. It’s a gentle dealing with the complications, Edie being honest with those she has hurt, albeit unintentionally. I loved the supporting characters of her step-cousin who takes her into his home, his welcoming neighbours and her guy friends in her office who support and care for her. I loved that despite this measured and controlled vibe that lasts throughout the story, Edie in fact wears what she likes, mostly very colourful and bold outfits. It’s a goodie!

I read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

[Natalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second book by Jo Platt, and I have to add that the first one even with the anguish it gave me between misunderstandings and unclear conversations is was a good reading but this one leaves the essential out
.
In this book it was difficult for me to keep the thread of the love story, I felt that it was more a story of growing up, finding one's own path and seeing others clearly
.
The book follows the point of view of Edie, a young architect who becomes a bit disoriented after losing her co-worker who is also her best friend and who keeps her up to date with everything that happens in the office and gives opinions almost getting into her life. Losing her company, Edie begins to see the world through her own eyes and realizes that everything she knew could be misunderstood, including her old relationships and her co-workers, including the new one architect ,the reserved serious Cameron
.
I really liked the last chapters because they seemed to have a faster dynamic and I liked how the relationship developed but it still leaves you wanting to keep reading more about them. It's has great characters and funny situation but is more a contemporary Fiction than a romance for me
.
.
.
.
Thanks to Jo Platt and Canelo for give me this great book in exchange for my honest opinion

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first time read for me by this author and I enjoyed it. This is a lovely story about personal growth and becoming a stronger person by learning from your mistakes instead of letting them bring you down, and trusting your own opinions and instincts. Edie works with a small group and when her best friend Ruby leaves, she doesn't necessarily like the new guy, Cameron. Not because she has any issue with him, but she let's Ruby's issues with him initially affect her own views. As the story progresses, they are faced with misunderstandings and miscommunications and must work through those before they can reach a happy resolution. I enjoyed seeing both of these characters grow and evolve. The story had a good balance of seriousness and humor and lightheartedness, and the dialogue between the characters was witty and entertaining. Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining book and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Agi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was like January this year, felt as if it had 74 days, soooo long. It was an average, mediocre read, with average characters and average plot. Sure, it had its funny moments, some more funny, some less but altogether I kept reading for the sake of it. I wasn't invested in the characters, the thing with Ruby was OBVIOUS right from the beginning. The plot wasn't moving forward, I had a feeling I'm turning in circles and, well, I am still not sure what the author wanted us to take from this book in the end.
The best characters were probably Giles and, especially, Kerry and her little son, giving us a bit of fresh air there and some fun and brilliant one - liners, so that's something. The romance aspect is also not too well exectued in my opinion. Well, it wasn't there at all, until it was - in the last few chapters, when Edie started to behave a bit too obsessive.
It was not a bad book, maybe I've been expecting too much from it? Not sure. It was simply not what I was expecting and hoping for.

[dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

The cover is definitely quite misleading as I felt this was more of a character driven book rather than a romance, so don’t go into it expecting that. I enjoyed reading about Edie’s journey of navigating through awful friends, learning from mistakes and trusting people.

I think I started to enjoy this more once I took the romance notion out and began to appreciate Edith’s attempts at patching up issues after the exit of a manipulative coworker. The characters were interesting, but I wouldn’t say I felt quite attracted to them as I was to the main character. I found Kerry and Edith’s friendship quite fun.

I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a slow burn romance, as Edith spends most of the book with friends and focusing on her career rather than looking for love. The final chapter was my favourite and I wish there was a continuation but I’m really happy with the ending.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working it Out by Jo Platt

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and W.F. Howes Ltd and I am leaving this review voluntarily

When her love life crashed down around her, Edie turned to work for solace. But office life goes downhill with the departure of her work wife, Ruby, and the arrival of new guy Cameron - a chauvinist, a womaniser and the very opposite of a team player. But is Cameron the bad guy he seems to be?

When a best-forgotten ex decides to get back in touch, Edie's work life, love life and home life are on a collision course. Exactly what she will be able to salvage from the twisted wreckage, is anybody's guess.

I listened to this as an audiobook and went into the story completely unaware of what it was about. It is a lovely story about personal growth and learning from past mistakes. I can't quite put my finger on what it was about this book that kept me intrigued. Overall, it is an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Rating 4/5

[Vanessa Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A contemporary romance set in the workplace, I just love how the author wrote characters with quirky and distinct personalities that makes this book enjoyable. And the development of romance between Edie, our main character, and Cameron, the love interest, was very organic.

On the flip side though, being introduced to all these interesting people, together with their lives and stories, I find myself more interested in them rather than Edie. I was even rooting more to the repressed romance of one of the minor characters rather than our main one.

But just the same, this book did not only give us romance but also confronted the readers with issues that might resonate with some like: workplace politics, betrayal, intentional self improvement, therapy and clearing up misunderstanding.

Overall, this is a light, feel good romance novel that I would recommend. Plus, it’s quite a quick read too.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Jo Platt’s ‘Working It Out’, architect Edie learns the hard way that all is not what it seems after her ‘work wife’ Ruby departs and a new architect - Cameron joins the firm.

This book explores how lies and trusting the wrong person in the workplace can lead to not only misunderstandings but potential damage for the recipient. It’s clear to the reader that Edie is trusting the wrong people and should not be poisoned by others. Platt slowly builds the tension here as you wait to see when Edie will discover the truth.

Luckily Platt breaks up the growing workplace tension with Edie’s homelife, having moved in with her cousin Giles. Their relationship was a joy to read (along with the neighbourhood characters they encounter.

If you like your romances to be slow burn, and another take on ones pride and prejudice (to steal a Jane Austen title), this book is worth adding to your reading list.

[Lucie Dickinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edie’s work and social life all seem to come crashing down at once, her best work friend is leaving the company, her rent has skyrocketed forcing her to move in with her cousin and her ex wants to make amends for the awful way he treated her last year. To top it off, her new colleague who she is told on her return from her holiday is an absolute pig!

This wasn’t as much as a romance novel as it is portrayed, it is more of a contemporary fiction with a smidge of romance at the end. Romance throughout would of added a bit more substance to the ending as I felt it all just happened quickly in the last 20 or so pages!!

The book itself had some lovable characters - Giles was too cute! And some not so loveable characters (Ruby..)! Some elements of the book were fairly predictable and I did find Edie’s way of dealing with things quite frustrating and she buries her head in the sand instead of confronting the problem head on!

I can’t say too much about the plot without ruining it but overall it was an easy read including office drama and village problems! I do prefer books with a bit more depth and found it didn’t really grab my attention but it��s definitely the sort of book to get you out of a reading slump!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was gifted this by @lovebooktours. However this is my honest opinion.

Going into this book I wasn’t too sure as office romance books are not usually the type I pick up. However I found this book to be more about friendships and work colleague relationships than the romance. Due to this I really enjoyed reading it.
I found myself preferring the minor characters of Giles and Kerry more than the main character Edie. But I think it was because I shipped them from the start.
The way that Jo writes office relationships is brilliant as all the different colleagues were different and you could see how the misunderstanding occurred. The way that it was not immediately resolved as well made it more enjoyable as it was more realistic of a life situation.

Overall it was a very good contemporary novel with a bit of romance on the side.

[Gail Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but do have some mixed feelings about it. While it’s partially categorized as a romance, I would just call it women’s fiction. The romance really doesn’t begin until more than 80% of the way through the book and even then, there’s not much of it. The writing is good, but so much of the story happens because of a misunderstanding/lie told to the main character. I wish the pacing had been a bit different, with the main character finding out the truth earlier on and more of her and the love interest getting to know each other.
I like that the main character is extremely likeable, even though she acts under misconceptions for a good portion of the book. The cast of characters was fun, and the villain was suitably unlikeable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

[Hobart · Rating 2 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick-takes catch-up post, emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
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Platt's voice is great. All the characters were great (well, maybe all but one of them were). But the story just fell flat for me over and over again. The resolution just made me mad. The behavior of the protagonist was supposed to be cute and endearing--but it only served to annoy me. If you take this cast of characters, mature the protagonist a degree, and put them in the service of a better novel, I'd have loved it. But...bah. It was an okay way to burn some time in a hospital waiting room (which is where I was), but that's about it.