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Just Say Yes
Wedding planner Madeleine lives in a picture-perfect thatched cottage, in a picture-perfect English country village.
There’s only one problem - dream cottages take a lot of work, and with a leaking roof, and not enough money to pay for it, what Maddie needs now is a big wedding to plan.
So she’s delighted when she takes on the wedding of Californian heiress Peyton, to all-round good guy Patrick. She’s less delighted to find out that she's going to have help – from the admittedly gorgeous, but equally maddening, tall, dark and handsome best man Lorcan.
The wedding is set to take place in a castle in rural Ireland, and so, in no time, Maddie and Lorcan are on their way to Ballalee. Life hasn’t always been easy for Maddie, and work has become her refuge. But soon the warmth and humour of Lorcan’s Irish family and friends start to chip away at Maddie’s walls. And as the big day approaches, it might be time for Maddie to focus less on her clients’ love life and more on her own…
‘Read yourself happy’ with Maxine Morrey’s latest feel-good and utterly uplifting love story, guaranteed to make you smile. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella.
Praise for Maxine Morrey:
'An uplifting read that stops you in your tracks and makes you wonder "....but what if?" Absorbing, funny and oh-so-romantic, I loved every page!' Rachel Burton
'A super sweet read, guaranteed to warm any winter evening' Samantha Tonge
'A lovely story that kept me turning the pages' Jules Wake
‘A stunning, perfect novel – it literally took my breath away.’ The Writing Garnet, 5 stars
‘A warm hug of a book.’ Rachel’s Random Reads, 5 stars
There’s only one problem - dream cottages take a lot of work, and with a leaking roof, and not enough money to pay for it, what Maddie needs now is a big wedding to plan.
So she’s delighted when she takes on the wedding of Californian heiress Peyton, to all-round good guy Patrick. She’s less delighted to find out that she's going to have help – from the admittedly gorgeous, but equally maddening, tall, dark and handsome best man Lorcan.
The wedding is set to take place in a castle in rural Ireland, and so, in no time, Maddie and Lorcan are on their way to Ballalee. Life hasn’t always been easy for Maddie, and work has become her refuge. But soon the warmth and humour of Lorcan’s Irish family and friends start to chip away at Maddie’s walls. And as the big day approaches, it might be time for Maddie to focus less on her clients’ love life and more on her own…
‘Read yourself happy’ with Maxine Morrey’s latest feel-good and utterly uplifting love story, guaranteed to make you smile. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Kinsella.
Praise for Maxine Morrey:
'An uplifting read that stops you in your tracks and makes you wonder "....but what if?" Absorbing, funny and oh-so-romantic, I loved every page!' Rachel Burton
'A super sweet read, guaranteed to warm any winter evening' Samantha Tonge
'A lovely story that kept me turning the pages' Jules Wake
‘A stunning, perfect novel – it literally took my breath away.’ The Writing Garnet, 5 stars
‘A warm hug of a book.’ Rachel’s Random Reads, 5 stars
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2022
732 people are currently reading
1114 people want to read
About the author
Maxine Morrey
37 books308 followersMaxine has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember and wrote her first (very short) book for school when she was ten. Coming in first, she won a handful of book tokens – perfect for a bookworm!
As years went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal’ work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a book on Brighton for a Local History publisher. However, novels are what she loves writing the most. After self publishing her first novel when a contract fell through, thanks to the recession, she continued to look for opportunities.
In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas’ competition with her romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale’.
Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read sew and listen to podcasts. As she also likes cake she can also be found either walking or doing something vaguely physical at the gym.
As years went by, she continued to write, but ‘normal’ work often got in the way. She has written articles on a variety of subjects, as well as a book on Brighton for a Local History publisher. However, novels are what she loves writing the most. After self publishing her first novel when a contract fell through, thanks to the recession, she continued to look for opportunities.
In August 2015, she won Harper Collins/Carina UK’s ‘Write Christmas’ competition with her romantic comedy, ‘Winter’s Fairytale’.
Maxine lives on the south coast of England, and when not wrangling with words loves to read sew and listen to podcasts. As she also likes cake she can also be found either walking or doing something vaguely physical at the gym.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
March 5, 2023
Middling
Not a bad romance, just utterly boring. I didn't care about either leads and the forced closeness didn't help with blah chemistry.
"Just Say Yes" follows wedding planner, Madeline. Madeline was forced to change her career up a bit after COVID and is still dealing with a money issue due to her older house that needs tons of repairs. When Madeline takes on a celebrity wedding, she finds out that the bride to be needs her and the best man, Lorcan to decide on things related to the castle she and the groom will get married in, in Ireland.
Madeline was bland. Lorcan was bland. I get I was supposed to root for them, but they were boring. There's no heat there. And I got really tired of Madeline constantly going how inappropriate it be to be with Lorcan and I was like, eh do you even like him, or is he just tall? Cause she kept going on about tall how he was. I just didn't buy their interests in each other. And considering most of the book was them being thrown together it just started to read as tedious to me after a while. There was a hint of another romance for Madeline, but Morrey tossed that one aside too quickly.
The writing was fine, but the flow was not. The book just took ages to finish.
The Irish setting was interesting, but somehow bland. I don't know. I think that the book was overly long, but there wasn't enough detail provided which drove me up the wall. We would have nothing happening for pages and pages and then Madeline would reveal something to Lorcan out of the blue. I was really tired of it.
The ending just felt very false. Sorry, I didn't buy it and then the epilogue had me going what a few times.
Not a bad romance, just utterly boring. I didn't care about either leads and the forced closeness didn't help with blah chemistry.
"Just Say Yes" follows wedding planner, Madeline. Madeline was forced to change her career up a bit after COVID and is still dealing with a money issue due to her older house that needs tons of repairs. When Madeline takes on a celebrity wedding, she finds out that the bride to be needs her and the best man, Lorcan to decide on things related to the castle she and the groom will get married in, in Ireland.
Madeline was bland. Lorcan was bland. I get I was supposed to root for them, but they were boring. There's no heat there. And I got really tired of Madeline constantly going how inappropriate it be to be with Lorcan and I was like, eh do you even like him, or is he just tall? Cause she kept going on about tall how he was. I just didn't buy their interests in each other. And considering most of the book was them being thrown together it just started to read as tedious to me after a while. There was a hint of another romance for Madeline, but Morrey tossed that one aside too quickly.
The writing was fine, but the flow was not. The book just took ages to finish.
The Irish setting was interesting, but somehow bland. I don't know. I think that the book was overly long, but there wasn't enough detail provided which drove me up the wall. We would have nothing happening for pages and pages and then Madeline would reveal something to Lorcan out of the blue. I was really tired of it.
The ending just felt very false. Sorry, I didn't buy it and then the epilogue had me going what a few times.
November 27, 2022
I have to say I didn’t enjoy this book much. There was a lot of swearing and very silly dialogue in it which I found tedious. I struggled through this and was relieved when I reached the end. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
April 15, 2023
This is a great read for anyone who enjoys a good romance. The book did drag on a bit towards the end, but I did overall enjoy it.
July 19, 2023
I did not enjoy this story as much I had anticipated. I had high hopes for this narrative but found it to be quite slow and the characters too obvious.
I was desperate to see the two protagonists, Lorcan and Maddie, get together so I could see some proper romance. Yet, Morrey leaves readers waiting until the very end for this to happen. Instead, this book is all about Maddie planning a wedding for Lorcan’s best friend, the groom, and Lorcan is the best man. Like many stories I have read in the past, Lorcan and Maddie constantly bicker about what is best for the bride and groom, with Maddie being maddened by Lorcan’s anti-wedding beliefs. To see a warring duo that will inevitably be romantically attached is, well, a little bit over-used and this was one of the main reasons why I fell out of love with this story.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the smouldering Lorcan and the fact that he is Irish added another level of charm to his character! With the wedding taking place in the Irish countryside, Morrey takes readers to this beautiful place and I felt like I was discovering this gem with Maddie. Maddie is warmly received by the local, small community and I especially liked seeing the affectionate welcome she receives from Lorcan’s family. Using many local businesses to help shape the wedding of Patrick and Peyton, it seems like Maddie has everything in control – no surprise when she is such a control freak.
But I think I wanted to see more romance rather than sparring in this tale. The wedding is actually glossed over in the end and I felt a bit bereft as, after all, the whole novel is building up to this main event. I would have liked to have seen Maddie in her element on the big day, as well as further interactions with Lorcan – especially as by this point she realises she cannot deny her growing attachment to this hunk of an Irishman. Instead, it is all glossed over as Morrey moves the narrative forwards to its final climax.
Overall, I thought this was quite a slow burner. The Irish setting, the characters and the general concept behind the story were all really appealing. However, I wanted a more pacy narrative that fizzed with more excitement and romance. Instead, seeing the couple at loggerheads and disagreeing throughout felt like something I have seen too many times already.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was desperate to see the two protagonists, Lorcan and Maddie, get together so I could see some proper romance. Yet, Morrey leaves readers waiting until the very end for this to happen. Instead, this book is all about Maddie planning a wedding for Lorcan’s best friend, the groom, and Lorcan is the best man. Like many stories I have read in the past, Lorcan and Maddie constantly bicker about what is best for the bride and groom, with Maddie being maddened by Lorcan’s anti-wedding beliefs. To see a warring duo that will inevitably be romantically attached is, well, a little bit over-used and this was one of the main reasons why I fell out of love with this story.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved the smouldering Lorcan and the fact that he is Irish added another level of charm to his character! With the wedding taking place in the Irish countryside, Morrey takes readers to this beautiful place and I felt like I was discovering this gem with Maddie. Maddie is warmly received by the local, small community and I especially liked seeing the affectionate welcome she receives from Lorcan’s family. Using many local businesses to help shape the wedding of Patrick and Peyton, it seems like Maddie has everything in control – no surprise when she is such a control freak.
But I think I wanted to see more romance rather than sparring in this tale. The wedding is actually glossed over in the end and I felt a bit bereft as, after all, the whole novel is building up to this main event. I would have liked to have seen Maddie in her element on the big day, as well as further interactions with Lorcan – especially as by this point she realises she cannot deny her growing attachment to this hunk of an Irishman. Instead, it is all glossed over as Morrey moves the narrative forwards to its final climax.
Overall, I thought this was quite a slow burner. The Irish setting, the characters and the general concept behind the story were all really appealing. However, I wanted a more pacy narrative that fizzed with more excitement and romance. Instead, seeing the couple at loggerheads and disagreeing throughout felt like something I have seen too many times already.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2022
This book starts off interesting enough, I liked the story but it’s maybe too long. It seems to go on and on and on.
The two main characters don’t seem to have a lot in common. Maddie is consumed with her wedding planning job and her lists. Lorcan is against everything wedding even tho he’s the best man.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
The two main characters don’t seem to have a lot in common. Maddie is consumed with her wedding planning job and her lists. Lorcan is against everything wedding even tho he’s the best man.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
April 28, 2024
Jeigu kartais noriu, kad kai kurios knygos tęstusi ir niekada nesibaigtų, šioji man buvo net labai per ilga🙈 atsibodo jos klausyti… ir, žinoma, gale įdėtas nesusikalbėjimas tarp pagrindinių veikėjų mane suerzino… žodžiu, man knyga buvo nuobodi, per ilga ir neįdomi🙈 gal prieš porą metų ji mane būtų labiau sužavėjus🤷♀️
January 4, 2024
Irish fella was fit, not much of a storyline though
March 18, 2024
This book was badly written and the dialogue sucked but it was kinda enjoyable to read, even if it was hard to root for the characters (other than the dog)
November 7, 2022
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book was adorable. I loved Lorcan, and I thought the two MCs had great chemistry. The concept sucked me in right away, but the writing kept me engaged until the last page. It was fluffy and sweet, the perfect weekend novel. I had no trouble devouring this book, and I am definitely going to be looking for more from this author!
This book was adorable. I loved Lorcan, and I thought the two MCs had great chemistry. The concept sucked me in right away, but the writing kept me engaged until the last page. It was fluffy and sweet, the perfect weekend novel. I had no trouble devouring this book, and I am definitely going to be looking for more from this author!
November 15, 2022
Just Say Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/8/22
Author: Maxine Morrey
Publisher: Boldwood Books
GR: 4.20
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: I loved that this was set in Ireland and focused on the aspect of wedding planning. I have read other books from this author and loved them, this one was no exception. Morrey just has this writing style about her that makes you comfortable reading, almost like a chat between friends and does so well with the characters and setting the tone, that you feel like you are there in Ireland, going along this journey. Morrey really does the miscommunication trope well, and while sometimes I am yelling at the characters with the miscommunication, it did not happen here, it was seamless. Madeline is a strong, focused, and determined character, who thrives on structured routine. Coming out of the pandemic, she is struggling, barely getting by, and putting everything into her new business. Lorcan was described expertly well, your tall, handsome hero that is also caring, laid back, and compassionate. This was really just a fun, lighthearted romance that I enjoyed. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, great chemistry, and creatively built up. The author’s writing style is one of my favorites, flowed well, funny, swoon-worthy, and kept me engaged from cover to cover. The plot was built well and the story had a sweet HEA. This book is already out, as well as the audiobook, I would highly recommend picking up today!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/8/22
Author: Maxine Morrey
Publisher: Boldwood Books
GR: 4.20
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
My Thoughts: I loved that this was set in Ireland and focused on the aspect of wedding planning. I have read other books from this author and loved them, this one was no exception. Morrey just has this writing style about her that makes you comfortable reading, almost like a chat between friends and does so well with the characters and setting the tone, that you feel like you are there in Ireland, going along this journey. Morrey really does the miscommunication trope well, and while sometimes I am yelling at the characters with the miscommunication, it did not happen here, it was seamless. Madeline is a strong, focused, and determined character, who thrives on structured routine. Coming out of the pandemic, she is struggling, barely getting by, and putting everything into her new business. Lorcan was described expertly well, your tall, handsome hero that is also caring, laid back, and compassionate. This was really just a fun, lighthearted romance that I enjoyed. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, great chemistry, and creatively built up. The author’s writing style is one of my favorites, flowed well, funny, swoon-worthy, and kept me engaged from cover to cover. The plot was built well and the story had a sweet HEA. This book is already out, as well as the audiobook, I would highly recommend picking up today!
October 25, 2022
Just Say Yes by Maxine Morrey
Earc:NetGalley
Publisher:Boldwood Books
Publication Date: 8th November
Genre: Women's Fiction
Madeline is a British wedding planner in charge of Patrick and Peyton's wedding. Since the couple will be in the US until the wedding, Lorcan, the best man, is hired to help with the details of the wedding. Since the wedding will take place in Ireland and will take place in Patrick and Locan's hometown, Locan shows Maddie around and helps her get in touch about the services needed for the wedding, although Maddie is attracted to Locan. , does not want to mix her business and pleasure. They get to know each other before the wedding. Lorcan is always by his side, spending time with Maddy. Back in Ireland for her wedding, Maddie Lorcan reveals her deepest secret to no one. They meet as soon as the wedding is over. The next morning at her family's breakfast, Maddie misunderstands the conversation between Lorcan and his sister and she feels betrayed and leaves. Arrange a meeting with At this meeting, he tells Maddie why he opposed the marriage. I feel like she had a somewhat forced charm that went back and forth between dislikes and likes. I wish the two main characters had sparked sooner, but I liked the irreverence to the end of the contract.
#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #womensfiction #justsayyes
Earc:NetGalley
Publisher:Boldwood Books
Publication Date: 8th November
Genre: Women's Fiction
Madeline is a British wedding planner in charge of Patrick and Peyton's wedding. Since the couple will be in the US until the wedding, Lorcan, the best man, is hired to help with the details of the wedding. Since the wedding will take place in Ireland and will take place in Patrick and Locan's hometown, Locan shows Maddie around and helps her get in touch about the services needed for the wedding, although Maddie is attracted to Locan. , does not want to mix her business and pleasure. They get to know each other before the wedding. Lorcan is always by his side, spending time with Maddy. Back in Ireland for her wedding, Maddie Lorcan reveals her deepest secret to no one. They meet as soon as the wedding is over. The next morning at her family's breakfast, Maddie misunderstands the conversation between Lorcan and his sister and she feels betrayed and leaves. Arrange a meeting with At this meeting, he tells Maddie why he opposed the marriage. I feel like she had a somewhat forced charm that went back and forth between dislikes and likes. I wish the two main characters had sparked sooner, but I liked the irreverence to the end of the contract.
#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #womensfiction #justsayyes
October 17, 2022
Just Say Yes was the first novel I read by this author. While both main characters are likeable in their own right, I found the chemistry between them to fall flat, it felt rather forced between them. For me, the constant ‘I hate you, I don’t hate you’ aspect of every single conversation they had was exhausting. It started out cute, but by the time I was a third of the way through I was already skipping huge chunks of their dialogue just to get to the point.
Despite the fact that the pandemic was included in the novel (I prefer to read romance novels that take me away from the reality of life) I did like the wedding planner aspect, and the fact it was set in Ireland was a nice change from the usual larger cities.
Would I read more by this author? Unlikely.
Thank you to @netgalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
Despite the fact that the pandemic was included in the novel (I prefer to read romance novels that take me away from the reality of life) I did like the wedding planner aspect, and the fact it was set in Ireland was a nice change from the usual larger cities.
Would I read more by this author? Unlikely.
Thank you to @netgalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
February 27, 2024
this book was just a bit disappointing tbh. conversations felt so fake and awkward, and almost formal at times? the emotions in this book felt so fake, one minute the two main characters would get along then one would make a joke and the other would get so pissed or cry for no reason and then they'd apologise and be like 'what's wrong?'.. it was a cycle of unbelievable emotions and stilted conversations
the plot itself was awful as well. there was no ups and downs, she planned a wedding with the best man and there wasn't even a scene with the actual wedding?? the wedding itself was barely touched on?? also the main character was weirdly obsessed with calories and being skinny and it just made me feel really uncomfortable. the characters all felt the same and they didn't feel *real*, you could tell that they were characters.
the plot itself was awful as well. there was no ups and downs, she planned a wedding with the best man and there wasn't even a scene with the actual wedding?? the wedding itself was barely touched on?? also the main character was weirdly obsessed with calories and being skinny and it just made me feel really uncomfortable. the characters all felt the same and they didn't feel *real*, you could tell that they were characters.
January 25, 2025
if i had to describe this book in one word, it would be ‘fine.’ the plot was fine, most of the characters were fine, with the exception of madeleine (the fmc) who i just found to be so whiny all of the time. lorcan would often make a light-hearted joke and he wouldn’t hear the end of it for the next few chapters!! i thought this made her quite unlikeable, and consequently, i wasn’t really invested in whether her and the mmc would end up together. i did like the setting, and the irish banter between other characters, just a shame that madeleine didn’t get on board too. 😐
November 3, 2023
Super cute clean read, I think the main characters had great chemistry and had me squealing with their banter. It bugged me that they had secrets that they kept from each other the whole book… but I guess that had to be part of the book. I loved all the Irish characters and this book made me want to go explore a castle in Ireland. Anyways I had some laughs and tears.(and of course I’m a sucker for a happy ending) Overall I really liked it ❤️.
November 23, 2024
this was such a lovely read. took me a minute to get into it at first but then the lovable nature of Lorcan and Maddie came out and I loved it. personally, the end felt a tad rushed and i would have loved a longer final scene but i still very much enjoyed it. very emotional and some lovely flirty banter!
February 6, 2023
3.5⭐️ enjoyed!
April 5, 2023
Super cute read! I love the way Maxine writes- this book had me feeling ALL THE FEELS.
April 13, 2025
4 ✨ it’s fun, it’s lighthearted & it’s so cute! Love a squishy little romance in the middle of my other hard hitting books
October 31, 2025
Loved this book so much. An easy happy read.
February 13, 2025
Was a bit wishy washy, like the whole book they spoke about these secrets that made them who they are today and then the secrets were revealed in like the last few chapters and, mainly for the girl, didn’t massively tie into the way that they were now. There was a lot of build up for a bit of a crap ending I’m not gonna lie. Classic slow burn romance tbh
June 9, 2024
Enjoyed it, abit slow in places but overall good, will be looking for more of her books
February 16, 2023
This was a sweet story with some glaring flaws. The lack of exposition was jarring, I felt completely dropped in the middle of things with no idea how we got to that point. Then there’s the issue of the wedding, which we spent the entirety of the story leading up to and never saw. I was so confused when we went from wedding prep to wedding over in the span of a sentence. I generally liked the characters and the setting was fabulous, but there was too much lacking for me to love it.
March 8, 2023
Meh. It's a light romance, in a cute Irish setting, but the best man did a lot of planning and the wedding planner a lot of complaining ... I liked Morgan's character, Maddie a little less... And the story went on and on, I found myself skipping through a few places. The really concerning / most annoying part of it was really the diet culture every 2 pages going on ans on about weight, calories, dessert, exercising whatever they eat and juice cleanses. It was heavy and insignificant.
January 11, 2023
good but could be great
This book was a sloooow burn. I love a good slow burn. However , i personally believe that if a book has a slow burn when the MCs finally get together there should be a decent level of spice . The spice level was a 0.5. There was nothing to it . It was like the author rushed to wrap up the ending of the story .
This book was a sloooow burn. I love a good slow burn. However , i personally believe that if a book has a slow burn when the MCs finally get together there should be a decent level of spice . The spice level was a 0.5. There was nothing to it . It was like the author rushed to wrap up the ending of the story .
May 23, 2025
Low-angst romance
This is a pleasant, opposites-attract, slow-burn, closed-bedroom-door romance.
I listened to the audiobook version via Hoopla. The narrator is the same one who narrates all of this author's books, and she always does an excellent job. I especially enjoyed her renditions of the Irish characters in this novel.
This is a pleasant, opposites-attract, slow-burn, closed-bedroom-door romance.
I listened to the audiobook version via Hoopla. The narrator is the same one who narrates all of this author's books, and she always does an excellent job. I especially enjoyed her renditions of the Irish characters in this novel.
June 6, 2023
Honestly... it was a book, it exists, and that's all I really have to say about it.
December 5, 2022
Just Say Yes is a fun, lighthearted rom-com that you will want to read again and again.
Maxine has become one of my favourite rom-com writers. When I think I couldn’t like her writing more, she comes out with a new book that completely charms the romantic socks right off my feet. I literally devoured, Just Say Yes in one sitting. Did I have a book hangover afterwards? Yes, I did. Was it worth it? Hell, yes, it was. For those who haven’t read one of Maxine’s books before, I always think of her books as charming romances without all that “cheesiness.” Her stories are fun and romantic, with delightful, quirky characters who often have surprising depth.
Now, let’s talk about Just Say Yes and why I found it so darn amazing. First, this book’s setting is split between a quaint English cottage community and Ballalee, a rural village in Ireland (with a castle in it, of course). Maxine’s lush and vivid descriptions of both places made me feel like I was there. I loved going to Ireland (which was a first for me) and exploring its beautiful countryside with Lorcan and Madeline. Both settings have that small community feel to them, where everyone knows everyone else’s business, which can sometimes be a bad thing. But that sense of community and coming together was woven throughout the story and added to its charm.
It was really easy to get engrossed in this story. It felt like the world around me had just disappeared, and all I cared about was reading this love story between Madeline and Lorcan. I always enjoy Maxine’s books because they have a fun and interesting plot, and she throws in enough drama to keep me entertained. The dialogue in this book is smart and witty. There are plenty of easy, breezy, fun moments between the characters that will leave you smiling. And between those lighter moments are conversations that touch upon more challenging topics, such as losing a loved one and dealing with grief.
Madeline is one of my favourite romance heroines that Maxine has created. I loved her need to organize and colour code everything, something I wish I could do in my life. It was a charming characteristic and something Lorcan constantly teased her about. Madeline is used to being self-reliant and never having anyone take care of her. The reasons for this are explained in the book, but I’m not going to spoil them for you. Madeline is not used to anyone trying to get past those walls she built around her heart. It was sweet and heartwarming watching her interact with the villagers of Ballalee. Then there is Lorcan, who gave me those warm, fluttery feelings in my stomach. Maxine knows how to create those book boyfriends that leave you feeling oh so swoony. Lorcan is sweet, charming, funny, and caring. Underneath those rugged Irish good looks is someone dealing with his emotional baggage and trying to figure out how to move past it.
As you can imagine, I LOVED Madeline and Lorcan as a couple. They have this wonderful opposites attract, slow burn feel to their relationship. There are plenty of witty and teasing moments between these two that are often fueled because their personalities are so different. The slow burn part of their relationship stems from the fact that Madeline doesn’t have relationships with work clients, which means that for most of this book, you get this glorious build-up of their relationship. There are plenty of swoony moments that tease that romantic relationship line without crossing it. I devoured every moment of it and couldn’t get enough.
If you are looking for a book that will leave you feeling happy and very satisfied, then you need to pick up Just Say Yes.
Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
Maxine has become one of my favourite rom-com writers. When I think I couldn’t like her writing more, she comes out with a new book that completely charms the romantic socks right off my feet. I literally devoured, Just Say Yes in one sitting. Did I have a book hangover afterwards? Yes, I did. Was it worth it? Hell, yes, it was. For those who haven’t read one of Maxine’s books before, I always think of her books as charming romances without all that “cheesiness.” Her stories are fun and romantic, with delightful, quirky characters who often have surprising depth.
Now, let’s talk about Just Say Yes and why I found it so darn amazing. First, this book’s setting is split between a quaint English cottage community and Ballalee, a rural village in Ireland (with a castle in it, of course). Maxine’s lush and vivid descriptions of both places made me feel like I was there. I loved going to Ireland (which was a first for me) and exploring its beautiful countryside with Lorcan and Madeline. Both settings have that small community feel to them, where everyone knows everyone else’s business, which can sometimes be a bad thing. But that sense of community and coming together was woven throughout the story and added to its charm.
It was really easy to get engrossed in this story. It felt like the world around me had just disappeared, and all I cared about was reading this love story between Madeline and Lorcan. I always enjoy Maxine’s books because they have a fun and interesting plot, and she throws in enough drama to keep me entertained. The dialogue in this book is smart and witty. There are plenty of easy, breezy, fun moments between the characters that will leave you smiling. And between those lighter moments are conversations that touch upon more challenging topics, such as losing a loved one and dealing with grief.
Madeline is one of my favourite romance heroines that Maxine has created. I loved her need to organize and colour code everything, something I wish I could do in my life. It was a charming characteristic and something Lorcan constantly teased her about. Madeline is used to being self-reliant and never having anyone take care of her. The reasons for this are explained in the book, but I’m not going to spoil them for you. Madeline is not used to anyone trying to get past those walls she built around her heart. It was sweet and heartwarming watching her interact with the villagers of Ballalee. Then there is Lorcan, who gave me those warm, fluttery feelings in my stomach. Maxine knows how to create those book boyfriends that leave you feeling oh so swoony. Lorcan is sweet, charming, funny, and caring. Underneath those rugged Irish good looks is someone dealing with his emotional baggage and trying to figure out how to move past it.
As you can imagine, I LOVED Madeline and Lorcan as a couple. They have this wonderful opposites attract, slow burn feel to their relationship. There are plenty of witty and teasing moments between these two that are often fueled because their personalities are so different. The slow burn part of their relationship stems from the fact that Madeline doesn’t have relationships with work clients, which means that for most of this book, you get this glorious build-up of their relationship. There are plenty of swoony moments that tease that romantic relationship line without crossing it. I devoured every moment of it and couldn’t get enough.
If you are looking for a book that will leave you feeling happy and very satisfied, then you need to pick up Just Say Yes.
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April 25, 2025
Finished!!! Just Say Yes was the perfect rebound read after the emotional hurricane that was Forever, Interrupted. I knew I couldn’t dive straight into another heartbreak-fest, so I picked this hoping for something lighter, and honestly? I chose well. 👏 This was the cozy, slow-paced, healing romcom energy I needed—and while I did NOT sign up for a SLOW burn (I repeat: slow with a capital S), I still ate it up like it was a warm croissant on a rainy morning. ☕🥐
Okay, let’s get one thing out of the way: YES, the pacing dragged in parts. And YES, the plot was kind of just... vibes. Not a lot happened. But also? I didn’t mind??? If I didn’t have a 9-5, I would’ve inhaled this book in one sitting, no question. It felt like taking a long scenic walk through the Irish countryside—soft, peaceful, slightly uneventful but you’re too busy admiring the view to care. 🌿
Also! Fun little fact: this is the second book I’ve read this month where the FMC works in weddings. Coincidence? Fate? The universe telling me I should quit my job and become a wedding planner?? Who’s to say.
Set in Ireland (which automatically gives the book +10 cozy points), this book taught me a very important new word: eejit. 😂 And now I shall be using it liberally. Also, our MMC—Lorcan. Yes, Lorcan. A name so rare and unique it practically screams “I live in a castle,” which... he does. Like sir, are you a romance trope in human form?? Rich, reserved, emotionally guarded, castle-owning eldest son who’s secretly soft? HELLO??? 🏰
I’m still having second thoughts about adding him to my book boyfriend list, though. Not because he’s lacking—he’s very much boyfriend material—but because he didn’t give me butterflies. He fell first and HARD (we love that), he’s incredibly sweet with his family (the eldest son softness gets me every time 😭), AND he has a toy poodle. A TOY POODLE. Like?? Sir, are you trying to kill me with domestic adorableness???
But the chemistry? It took forever to ignite. They kissed at page 313 out of 332. And I checked, it's 94% NINETY. FOUR. PERCENT. I screamed. I lost my mind. I kept checking the pages like “SURELY this isn’t going to be the slowest of slow burns???” And it WAS. But when they finally kissed? I literally screamed. I don’t care if it wasn’t butterfly-inducing—I lived for the moment. Slow burn girlies, this one’s for YOU.
Overall? I adored this book. Did it have a super strong storyline? No. Did it change my life? No. Did I get a book hangover? Nope—I immediately grabbed another book from my shelf. But did I enjoy every page? ABSOLUTELY. Because this wasn’t one of those reads that sweeps you off your feet—it was the kind that sits next to you, holds your hand, and says “let’s just enjoy the moment.” ☁️
It felt like one of those stories you don’t expect much from, but by the end, you're like “Huh. That was exactly what I needed.” We just found each other at the right place, at the right time. 💚
Okay, let’s get one thing out of the way: YES, the pacing dragged in parts. And YES, the plot was kind of just... vibes. Not a lot happened. But also? I didn’t mind??? If I didn’t have a 9-5, I would’ve inhaled this book in one sitting, no question. It felt like taking a long scenic walk through the Irish countryside—soft, peaceful, slightly uneventful but you’re too busy admiring the view to care. 🌿
Also! Fun little fact: this is the second book I’ve read this month where the FMC works in weddings. Coincidence? Fate? The universe telling me I should quit my job and become a wedding planner?? Who’s to say.
Set in Ireland (which automatically gives the book +10 cozy points), this book taught me a very important new word: eejit. 😂 And now I shall be using it liberally. Also, our MMC—Lorcan. Yes, Lorcan. A name so rare and unique it practically screams “I live in a castle,” which... he does. Like sir, are you a romance trope in human form?? Rich, reserved, emotionally guarded, castle-owning eldest son who’s secretly soft? HELLO??? 🏰
I’m still having second thoughts about adding him to my book boyfriend list, though. Not because he’s lacking—he’s very much boyfriend material—but because he didn’t give me butterflies. He fell first and HARD (we love that), he’s incredibly sweet with his family (the eldest son softness gets me every time 😭), AND he has a toy poodle. A TOY POODLE. Like?? Sir, are you trying to kill me with domestic adorableness???
But the chemistry? It took forever to ignite. They kissed at page 313 out of 332. And I checked, it's 94% NINETY. FOUR. PERCENT. I screamed. I lost my mind. I kept checking the pages like “SURELY this isn’t going to be the slowest of slow burns???” And it WAS. But when they finally kissed? I literally screamed. I don’t care if it wasn’t butterfly-inducing—I lived for the moment. Slow burn girlies, this one’s for YOU.
Overall? I adored this book. Did it have a super strong storyline? No. Did it change my life? No. Did I get a book hangover? Nope—I immediately grabbed another book from my shelf. But did I enjoy every page? ABSOLUTELY. Because this wasn’t one of those reads that sweeps you off your feet—it was the kind that sits next to you, holds your hand, and says “let’s just enjoy the moment.” ☁️
It felt like one of those stories you don’t expect much from, but by the end, you're like “Huh. That was exactly what I needed.” We just found each other at the right place, at the right time. 💚
November 12, 2022
I have been a fan of Maxine's work for a while now. I have read and loved every book that she has written to date. When I read the synopsis for 'Just Say Yes', it certainly sounded like the sort of book I have come to expect from Maxine - a funny, light hearted and ultimately uplifting romantic comedy. Well it was certainly that and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Just Say Yes' but more about that in a bit.
'Just Say Yes' came along at the right time for me. I was feeling a bit fed up and in need of a tonic and this lovely story was that tonic. As soon as I started reading, I knew that I was reading something special and that I would be doing nothing but reading for the rest of the afternoon. To say that reading 'Just Say Yes' become addictive is a wee bit of an understatement. Initially I had picked the book up only intending to read a chapter or two to say that I had made a start but I ended up becoming so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I was still sat there reading several chapters and an hour or so later. From then on, I just didn't put the book down. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I loved the characters and I loved the storylines. I found 'Just Say Yes' to be a joy to read from start to finish and it did more to cheer me up in one afternoon than anything else could have done.
'Just Say Yes' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Maxine Morrey. Maxine has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Maxine's books more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a steady pace throughout. Maxine clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. Through Maxine's descriptions of them, I grew to love the characters and I cared about them. I love the way in which Maxine combines the drama with the humour. I started laughing at the start of the story and I ended up chuckling my way through the book. I love the way in which Maxine makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.
In short, I adored reading 'Just Say Yes' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Maxine's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
'Just Say Yes' came along at the right time for me. I was feeling a bit fed up and in need of a tonic and this lovely story was that tonic. As soon as I started reading, I knew that I was reading something special and that I would be doing nothing but reading for the rest of the afternoon. To say that reading 'Just Say Yes' become addictive is a wee bit of an understatement. Initially I had picked the book up only intending to read a chapter or two to say that I had made a start but I ended up becoming so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the different characters that I was still sat there reading several chapters and an hour or so later. From then on, I just didn't put the book down. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. I loved the characters and I loved the storylines. I found 'Just Say Yes' to be a joy to read from start to finish and it did more to cheer me up in one afternoon than anything else could have done.
'Just Say Yes' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Maxine Morrey. Maxine has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Maxine's books more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a steady pace throughout. Maxine clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. Through Maxine's descriptions of them, I grew to love the characters and I cared about them. I love the way in which Maxine combines the drama with the humour. I started laughing at the start of the story and I ended up chuckling my way through the book. I love the way in which Maxine makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That's how I felt anyway.
In short, I adored reading 'Just Say Yes' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Maxine's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
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