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All My Love
Sometimes love can be staring you in the face . . . and you don’t even know it
By day, Archie works tirelessly as assistant to the editor of a local newspaper.
By night, Esther works after hours cleaning the rows of office desks with the help of her trusty sidekick, Fred the trolley.
Their paths never would have crossed, until one discarded Post-it note unexpectedly brings them together.
Because they share one thing in common . . . they’re both secretly in love with someone else.
And they might just be the two people who can help each other find the courage to confess their feelings and write the perfect love letter.
But what if they’re falling for the wrong person?
By day, Archie works tirelessly as assistant to the editor of a local newspaper.
By night, Esther works after hours cleaning the rows of office desks with the help of her trusty sidekick, Fred the trolley.
Their paths never would have crossed, until one discarded Post-it note unexpectedly brings them together.
Because they share one thing in common . . . they’re both secretly in love with someone else.
And they might just be the two people who can help each other find the courage to confess their feelings and write the perfect love letter.
But what if they’re falling for the wrong person?
416 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2023
52 people are currently reading
695 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Dickinson
28 books662 followersMiranda Dickinson has always had a head full of stories. Coming from a creative family where stories and songs were always present, it was perhaps inevitable that she would end up adoring words. A songwriter for over 15 years, Miranda has successfully penned over thirty songs, delivering both live and recorded performances in a range of venues across the UK and Europe. Her first solo project album, About Time is due for release this year. To hear her music, visit www.mirandadickinson.com - and be sure to leave a message if you like it!
Miranda began writing in earnest four years ago with her first novel, Coffee at Kowalski's - a romantic comedy set in New York's Upper West Side. This was spotted on HarperCollins' site for unpublished authors, Authonomy.com at the end of 2008 and was released by Avon (part of HC) as Fairytale of New York on 12th November 2009. She has also written several short stories, scripts and novel excerpts, many of which are published on Helium.com. Miranda is also a regular contributor for www.myvillage.com writing a range of local interest articles for the Birmingham area and national film and festival reviews.
Miranda began writing in earnest four years ago with her first novel, Coffee at Kowalski's - a romantic comedy set in New York's Upper West Side. This was spotted on HarperCollins' site for unpublished authors, Authonomy.com at the end of 2008 and was released by Avon (part of HC) as Fairytale of New York on 12th November 2009. She has also written several short stories, scripts and novel excerpts, many of which are published on Helium.com. Miranda is also a regular contributor for www.myvillage.com writing a range of local interest articles for the Birmingham area and national film and festival reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
May 16, 2023
—1.5 stars—
*taps mic*
Hello and welcome to the rant.
Now, I know I don’t normally write full reviews for the shitty romcoms I find on Libby, but I need to get this out somewhere.
This book was like watching a kid try and ride a bicycle.
And the kid falls off.
Over and over and over and over until you’re so fucking sick of them and their stupid face.
Ok, maybe that’s a weird analogy, but I’m pissed and my words aren’t working.
One day, I will learn how to dnf instead of just clinging to the hope that it will get better.
It will not.
It actually got worse.
I was thinking maybe like a 2.5 for the first half of the book, yes it was far too fucking ✨quirky✨, but I’m not here for high literature.
But then I got to the half way point.
And I realised I was only halfway though,
And then I gave up inside a little.
I wanted to shake these stupid people, and tell them HOW FUCKING STUPID THEY ARE.
Because, the plot of the book is basically: Archie wants to express his love to his colleague, but he can’t get it together.
So he recruits Ester, who is busy moping about her new job, the fact that her ex left her, and her lack of a brain.
Together, they start writing a love letter to Jessie, Archie’s crush.
And as they write the letter they get ✨closer✨
(This is about the halfway point)
And then BECAUSE THEY CANT EVEN FUCKING COMMUNICATE, Archie gets together with Jessie, and Ester gets back with her ex.
Cue more moping, only now over each other.
And then of course they leave their partners to find ✨each other✨
But y’know fuck that.
The entire plot was so fucking predicable, and BORING.
NOTHING FUCKING HAPPENED, THIS DIDN’T NEED TO BE ALMOST 400 PAGES.
I WISH I HAD THE FOUR HOURS OF MY LIFE BACK.
and the cover is as ugly as hell—who the fuck thought those colours and JUST ALL OF IT goes together???
Please go back to graphics school ty byeee.
Reading my review, I’ve discovered that I swear a lot when I’m mad.
And if I was actually saying this, my accent would be fucking STRONG, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I’M PISSED.
thank you for reading these odd brain thoughts/rant.❤️
(I promise I’m not drunk)
*taps mic*
Hello and welcome to the rant.
Now, I know I don’t normally write full reviews for the shitty romcoms I find on Libby, but I need to get this out somewhere.
This book was like watching a kid try and ride a bicycle.
And the kid falls off.
Over and over and over and over until you’re so fucking sick of them and their stupid face.
Ok, maybe that’s a weird analogy, but I’m pissed and my words aren’t working.
One day, I will learn how to dnf instead of just clinging to the hope that it will get better.
It will not.
It actually got worse.
I was thinking maybe like a 2.5 for the first half of the book, yes it was far too fucking ✨quirky✨, but I’m not here for high literature.
But then I got to the half way point.
And I realised I was only halfway though,
And then I gave up inside a little.
I wanted to shake these stupid people, and tell them HOW FUCKING STUPID THEY ARE.
Because, the plot of the book is basically: Archie wants to express his love to his colleague, but he can’t get it together.
So he recruits Ester, who is busy moping about her new job, the fact that her ex left her, and her lack of a brain.
Together, they start writing a love letter to Jessie, Archie’s crush.
And as they write the letter they get ✨closer✨
(This is about the halfway point)
And then BECAUSE THEY CANT EVEN FUCKING COMMUNICATE, Archie gets together with Jessie, and Ester gets back with her ex.
Cue more moping, only now over each other.
And then of course they leave their partners to find ✨each other✨
But y’know fuck that.
The entire plot was so fucking predicable, and BORING.
NOTHING FUCKING HAPPENED, THIS DIDN’T NEED TO BE ALMOST 400 PAGES.
I WISH I HAD THE FOUR HOURS OF MY LIFE BACK.
and the cover is as ugly as hell—who the fuck thought those colours and JUST ALL OF IT goes together???
Please go back to graphics school ty byeee.
Reading my review, I’ve discovered that I swear a lot when I’m mad.
And if I was actually saying this, my accent would be fucking STRONG, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I’M PISSED.
thank you for reading these odd brain thoughts/rant.❤️
(I promise I’m not drunk)
December 21, 2025
I really tried with this book but it's not that captivating. The characters' dialogues and decisions are all wrong...
March 27, 2023
Voto 4,5
.
Giusy - per RFS
.
Siete amanti delle commedie romantiche, quelle ricche di equivoci, amici che si scoprono innamorati e famiglie impiccione e spassosissime? Se la risposta è sì, allora Con tutto il mio cuore, il nuovo attesissimo romanzo di Miranda Dickinson è perfetto per voi. La storia mi ha catturata sin dalle prime battute: l’incipit narrativo non è particolarmente originale è vero, con il bravo ragazzo innamorato perso della bellissima collega che non lo degna di uno sguardo ma, il pretesto della lettera d’amore trovata per caso nel cestino della carta straccia dalla nuova addetta alle pulizie del giornale è molto intrigante. Tra Esther e Archie la simpatia è immediata e la ragazza decide di aiutare il giovane giornalista a scrivere la lettera d’amore perfetta che gli consenta di conquistare finalmente Jessie, la sua vicina di scrivania, della quale è innamorato da tre anni e che non lo considera affatto.
Per Esther questo è un modo per esorcizzare il passato, per mettere un punto a una pagina dolorosa della sua vita: il suo migliore amico Matt, a cui non ha mai avuto il coraggio di confessare il proprio amore, mesi prima ha sposato un’altra spezzandole il cuore. Non vuole che succeda lo stesso a Archie, quindi decide di aiutarlo a fare innamorare Jessie con una lettera nella quale il ragazzo metterà a nudo i sentimenti che non riesce a esprimere.
“Da quando io e Archie ci siamo conosciuti, un sacco di cose nella mia vita mi appaiono improvvisamente più semplici. È come se tutto ciò che si trova nelle immediate vicinanze di Archie si rilassasse e si adeguasse al suo ritmo.”
Le ricerche per scrivere la lettera d’amore perfetta porteranno i due ragazzi a trascorrere molto tempo insieme, imparando a conoscersi, a sorrideree a vivere momenti di grande intensità emotiva, perché a nessuno dei due era mai capitato di riuscire ad aprirsi, a scherzare e a essere così sinceri con un’altra persona. Trasparenza che viene meno quando si tratta di confessare, soprattutto a loro stessi, cosa stanno cominciando a provare veramente l’uno per l’altra.
“Ma ci stiamo avvicinando alla conclusione della lettera e adesso ho iniziato a pensarci: a quel punto che ne sarà di noi? Penso, spero, che rimarremo amici per molto tempo. Esther è già molto avanti rispetto a qualsiasi altra mia amicizia. Ci siamo trovati al momento giusto, questonon si può negare. Ma se riusciamo ad avere successo con la lettera, come cambieranno le cose tra noi?”
La narrazione è molto brillante, grazie anche ai personaggi secondari che danno brio e spessore alla storia. Un particolare plauso al nonno di Archie che è un vero peperino, capace di captare i sussulti del cuore del suo impacciato nipote, molto prima che questi riesca ad aprire gli occhi su ciò che realmente agita i suoi sentimenti più profondi. Anche tutta l’esuberante combriccola degli Old Guys, il fantastico gruppo musicale di cui Archie fa parte insieme al nonno e altri scalmanati vecchietti, ha dato alla storia momenti divertenti e irresistibili.
Con tutto il mio cuore è il romanzo adatto a chi cerca un comfort book, capace di donare emozioni, romanticismo e perché no, anche risate travolgenti. Narrato con scrittura coinvolgente e scorrevole, con i pov alternati dei due protagonisti, entrambi alla ricerca di un posto nel mondo, sia dal punto di vista sentimentale che lavorativo, mentre cercano di realizzare, finalmente, sogni e ambizioni.Troviamo pagine che parlano al cuore, che ci mostrano un sentimento che cresce piano piano e si nutre di confidenza, supporto e coinvolgimento emotivo.
“…sempre e per sempre, qualunque cosa accada. Siamo noi. Non importa cos’altro succederà o chi altri entrerà nelle nostre vite, voglio che rimarremo così. Qualunque cosa accada.”
.
Giusy - per RFS
.
Siete amanti delle commedie romantiche, quelle ricche di equivoci, amici che si scoprono innamorati e famiglie impiccione e spassosissime? Se la risposta è sì, allora Con tutto il mio cuore, il nuovo attesissimo romanzo di Miranda Dickinson è perfetto per voi. La storia mi ha catturata sin dalle prime battute: l’incipit narrativo non è particolarmente originale è vero, con il bravo ragazzo innamorato perso della bellissima collega che non lo degna di uno sguardo ma, il pretesto della lettera d’amore trovata per caso nel cestino della carta straccia dalla nuova addetta alle pulizie del giornale è molto intrigante. Tra Esther e Archie la simpatia è immediata e la ragazza decide di aiutare il giovane giornalista a scrivere la lettera d’amore perfetta che gli consenta di conquistare finalmente Jessie, la sua vicina di scrivania, della quale è innamorato da tre anni e che non lo considera affatto.
Per Esther questo è un modo per esorcizzare il passato, per mettere un punto a una pagina dolorosa della sua vita: il suo migliore amico Matt, a cui non ha mai avuto il coraggio di confessare il proprio amore, mesi prima ha sposato un’altra spezzandole il cuore. Non vuole che succeda lo stesso a Archie, quindi decide di aiutarlo a fare innamorare Jessie con una lettera nella quale il ragazzo metterà a nudo i sentimenti che non riesce a esprimere.
“Da quando io e Archie ci siamo conosciuti, un sacco di cose nella mia vita mi appaiono improvvisamente più semplici. È come se tutto ciò che si trova nelle immediate vicinanze di Archie si rilassasse e si adeguasse al suo ritmo.”
Le ricerche per scrivere la lettera d’amore perfetta porteranno i due ragazzi a trascorrere molto tempo insieme, imparando a conoscersi, a sorrideree a vivere momenti di grande intensità emotiva, perché a nessuno dei due era mai capitato di riuscire ad aprirsi, a scherzare e a essere così sinceri con un’altra persona. Trasparenza che viene meno quando si tratta di confessare, soprattutto a loro stessi, cosa stanno cominciando a provare veramente l’uno per l’altra.
“Ma ci stiamo avvicinando alla conclusione della lettera e adesso ho iniziato a pensarci: a quel punto che ne sarà di noi? Penso, spero, che rimarremo amici per molto tempo. Esther è già molto avanti rispetto a qualsiasi altra mia amicizia. Ci siamo trovati al momento giusto, questonon si può negare. Ma se riusciamo ad avere successo con la lettera, come cambieranno le cose tra noi?”
La narrazione è molto brillante, grazie anche ai personaggi secondari che danno brio e spessore alla storia. Un particolare plauso al nonno di Archie che è un vero peperino, capace di captare i sussulti del cuore del suo impacciato nipote, molto prima che questi riesca ad aprire gli occhi su ciò che realmente agita i suoi sentimenti più profondi. Anche tutta l’esuberante combriccola degli Old Guys, il fantastico gruppo musicale di cui Archie fa parte insieme al nonno e altri scalmanati vecchietti, ha dato alla storia momenti divertenti e irresistibili.
Con tutto il mio cuore è il romanzo adatto a chi cerca un comfort book, capace di donare emozioni, romanticismo e perché no, anche risate travolgenti. Narrato con scrittura coinvolgente e scorrevole, con i pov alternati dei due protagonisti, entrambi alla ricerca di un posto nel mondo, sia dal punto di vista sentimentale che lavorativo, mentre cercano di realizzare, finalmente, sogni e ambizioni.Troviamo pagine che parlano al cuore, che ci mostrano un sentimento che cresce piano piano e si nutre di confidenza, supporto e coinvolgimento emotivo.
“…sempre e per sempre, qualunque cosa accada. Siamo noi. Non importa cos’altro succederà o chi altri entrerà nelle nostre vite, voglio che rimarremo così. Qualunque cosa accada.”
February 10, 2023
Review to follow
September 1, 2023
Voto libro: 2.5
Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...
Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...
April 5, 2023
I usually am a big lover of Miranda Dickinson’s novels, however I wasn’t the biggest fan of this one. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what it was that I wasn’t as keen on, but I think the main thing for me was that the relationship between the two main characters just wasn’t believable.
Esther has just got a job as a night cleaner at The Herald offices. During the day, Archie works there and is fighting for his chance to become a respected journalist, despite his awful boss. I found it hard to believe that any boss would really treat their employees the way Callaghan treated Archie…making him wash his car and Archie just accepting it really frustrated me!
Archie is ‘in love’ with his colleague Jessie (despite clearly knowing nothing about her). It’s probably more an infatuation based on surface level attraction if I’m honest, but we are supposed to believe that it’s love. He is trying to write her a letter to explain how he feels but is struggling to find the right words. His scrunched up attempts on post it notes end up in the bin under his desk which Esther happens to find when she accidentally knocks over the bin. She feels compelled to write back to Archie telling him that he must finish the letter and tell the one he loves how he feels, as she knows all too well what happens when you let the one you love get away.
From there they develop a friendship and ultimately, feelings for each other. For me, it was all a bit quick and they were embedded into each other’s lives without any hesitation. I found the dialogue between them to be slightly awkward and unrealistic at times. It was very ‘cutesy’ but not in a way that I could appreciate 🙈
There was a lot I did like. Seeing their individual relationships with their families, The Old Guys, seeing Esther FINALLY realise her worth and stand up for herself!! But unfortunately, this book wasn’t quite what I hoped it would be and isn’t on par with Miranda’s other novels in my opinion.
Esther has just got a job as a night cleaner at The Herald offices. During the day, Archie works there and is fighting for his chance to become a respected journalist, despite his awful boss. I found it hard to believe that any boss would really treat their employees the way Callaghan treated Archie…making him wash his car and Archie just accepting it really frustrated me!
Archie is ‘in love’ with his colleague Jessie (despite clearly knowing nothing about her). It’s probably more an infatuation based on surface level attraction if I’m honest, but we are supposed to believe that it’s love. He is trying to write her a letter to explain how he feels but is struggling to find the right words. His scrunched up attempts on post it notes end up in the bin under his desk which Esther happens to find when she accidentally knocks over the bin. She feels compelled to write back to Archie telling him that he must finish the letter and tell the one he loves how he feels, as she knows all too well what happens when you let the one you love get away.
From there they develop a friendship and ultimately, feelings for each other. For me, it was all a bit quick and they were embedded into each other’s lives without any hesitation. I found the dialogue between them to be slightly awkward and unrealistic at times. It was very ‘cutesy’ but not in a way that I could appreciate 🙈
There was a lot I did like. Seeing their individual relationships with their families, The Old Guys, seeing Esther FINALLY realise her worth and stand up for herself!! But unfortunately, this book wasn’t quite what I hoped it would be and isn’t on par with Miranda’s other novels in my opinion.
January 21, 2023
This was a thoroughly lovely book from the first page. I loved the main characters, Esther and Archie and the supporting characters were in the main lovely. The story is a real will they won't they love story and you can't help but root for them. Lovely read in between physiological thrillers
April 16, 2023
Leggendo la trama ero abbastanza sicura che mi sarebbe piaciuto ma poi capitolo dopo capitolo alcune tematiche, e come sono state affrontate, mi hanno urtata non poco. Il problema non è comunque nella trama che è molto dolce (troppo) ma si è rivelato semplicemente un romanzo molto lontano dal genere di romance che piace a me e ho trovato troppe cose esagerate.
May 5, 2023
Recensione sulla mia pagina Bookstagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr2xAEpIZ...
⭐⭐⭐⭐, 5
Archie ed Esther sono innamorati segretamente di qualcuno che non lo sa. Entrambi impacciati e un tantino timidi, non hanno il coraggio di dichiararsi alla persona amata, così escogitano un piano per aiutarsi a vicenda e far sapere ai diretti interessati che li desiderano.
Ma la vita è imprevedibile e giocherà loro un brutto scherzo. O forse no!
🖋️Un romanzo che delinea quel tipo di amore che si vive in maniera romantica e frizzante, e che mette in risalto valori come la famiglia e l’amicizia.
Una storia senza particolari drammi che scorre in modo veloce ma coinvolgente.
I protagonisti hanno delle fragilità e insicurezze che li portano a sentirsi inadeguati in molti aspetti della loro vita, ma insieme riusciranno a fortificare l’autostima e a comprendere che, a volte, non è necessario inseguire sogni impossibili perché la felicità è sotto i nostri occhi.
*Ringrazio la CE per la copia cartacea e la collaborazione
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr2xAEpIZ...
⭐⭐⭐⭐, 5
Archie ed Esther sono innamorati segretamente di qualcuno che non lo sa. Entrambi impacciati e un tantino timidi, non hanno il coraggio di dichiararsi alla persona amata, così escogitano un piano per aiutarsi a vicenda e far sapere ai diretti interessati che li desiderano.
Ma la vita è imprevedibile e giocherà loro un brutto scherzo. O forse no!
🖋️Un romanzo che delinea quel tipo di amore che si vive in maniera romantica e frizzante, e che mette in risalto valori come la famiglia e l’amicizia.
Una storia senza particolari drammi che scorre in modo veloce ma coinvolgente.
I protagonisti hanno delle fragilità e insicurezze che li portano a sentirsi inadeguati in molti aspetti della loro vita, ma insieme riusciranno a fortificare l’autostima e a comprendere che, a volte, non è necessario inseguire sogni impossibili perché la felicità è sotto i nostri occhi.
*Ringrazio la CE per la copia cartacea e la collaborazione
January 20, 2023
4.5/5 stars! Oh my gosh!!! First of all, I love Miranda Dickinson. This book was yet another major success story. This is a contemporary romance with warmth, sweetness, and kindness towards the main characters as they grow and find their way to each other. This is like "The Lake House" and honestly that's how I pictured the characters because Keanu and Sandra are couple goals. The author did a great job of making the characters 3-dimensional and making us fall for them.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
March 6, 2023
This book is like a breeze. Light and easy to read. Quite romantic with cute characters.
The plot is simple but interesting and it doesn’t exaggerate on the events as it’s common in the genre.
I really liked the idea of the band and the communication through post-its.
I totally recommend it if you’re up for a romance!
The plot is simple but interesting and it doesn’t exaggerate on the events as it’s common in the genre.
I really liked the idea of the band and the communication through post-its.
I totally recommend it if you’re up for a romance!
February 2, 2023
I’m a huge fan of Miranda Dickinson’s writing. With a beautiful slow build romance, great characters and an imaginative setting, All My Love has all the components needed for a brilliant story.
Archie and Esther were two characters easy to fall for, and I was willing them to find the right moment and person for their future happiness.
Their friendship was real, warm and supportive after only a short time and I loved their opening communications.
Archie and Esther were two characters easy to fall for, and I was willing them to find the right moment and person for their future happiness.
Their friendship was real, warm and supportive after only a short time and I loved their opening communications.
September 14, 2024
It’s a 3.5. From the beginning you know what’s going to happen. It’s obvious and follows the standard will they/ won’t they of all romcoms like this. The main characters were both a bit too ‘quirky nice’ for my taste but I still enjoyed the book.
April 2, 2023
Miranda is such a lovely lady & her story writing is reflected in this!
Loved Archie & Esther’s story 🥰
Loved Archie & Esther’s story 🥰
January 2, 2024
An unfortunate start to the year. The writing style, characters, and plot just weren’t it for me. This book was mildly fun to read, but it lost its charm when it felt 50% too long. One star.
February 4, 2025
just a whole bunch of adults acting like children. If i were capable of DNF’ing a book, this would’ve been one to. Took me weeks to get through.
January 30, 2023
This is only the second Miranda Dickinson book I read, but her books have already been added to my list of comfort reads.
"All my love" was different enough from "The start of something", yet it had that common factor of our main protagonists getting in contact through some type of more old-school messaging. I liked that in this novel, the process is a bit quicker and we get interactions between the characters sooner.
As much as I don't love using this word, the book felt very wholesome. Both Esther and Archie felt that way and their families (maybe more Archie's) were no exception. That created an interesting contrast with the rest of the characters. But that doesn't mean that the book didn't cover some deeper topics. It's just that most of it was good wholesome fun. And sometimes we need that.
The romance was really fun to follow and it was done in a structure I didn't expect when I first read the book, so that was exciting. There were a couple of twists that I did not anticipate and even though I didn't love when they first happened, I know they were necessary for the book to have a proper conclusion.
So yeah, overall, a good fun romance. It was definitely what I needed to start the year off.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for providing me with an early copy of the book.
"All my love" was different enough from "The start of something", yet it had that common factor of our main protagonists getting in contact through some type of more old-school messaging. I liked that in this novel, the process is a bit quicker and we get interactions between the characters sooner.
As much as I don't love using this word, the book felt very wholesome. Both Esther and Archie felt that way and their families (maybe more Archie's) were no exception. That created an interesting contrast with the rest of the characters. But that doesn't mean that the book didn't cover some deeper topics. It's just that most of it was good wholesome fun. And sometimes we need that.
The romance was really fun to follow and it was done in a structure I didn't expect when I first read the book, so that was exciting. There were a couple of twists that I did not anticipate and even though I didn't love when they first happened, I know they were necessary for the book to have a proper conclusion.
So yeah, overall, a good fun romance. It was definitely what I needed to start the year off.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for providing me with an early copy of the book.
April 29, 2023
The use of the word snog dropped it from 5* to 4*
February 5, 2023
Review to follow
March 22, 2023
All My Love is a heartwarming story that sees the Main Characters working hard to reach their goals and finding love in the most unusual of circumstances.
Esther is such a great character as she has had a rough time but still pulls herself up and carries on going despite negativity around her and seems to find positives in everything - Fred the Trolley being one example!
My Top 5 things from this book:
•Post it Notes
•Love Letters
•A Love Story
•Fred the Trolley
•Friends to Lovers Trope
Esther is such a great character as she has had a rough time but still pulls herself up and carries on going despite negativity around her and seems to find positives in everything - Fred the Trolley being one example!
My Top 5 things from this book:
•Post it Notes
•Love Letters
•A Love Story
•Fred the Trolley
•Friends to Lovers Trope
May 31, 2023
⭐3.4⭐
✿ Friends to lovers; slow burn.
"All my love" è una storia d'amore incredibilmente tenera!
✿ Friends to lovers; slow burn.
"All my love" è una storia d'amore incredibilmente tenera!
March 5, 2023
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
After Reading Miranda Dickinson’ recent book The Start of Something, the publishers sent me this gem!
Esther is living with her sister and her family after the love of her life -her best friend- got married and ghosted her, her job made her redundant and she had to sell the house. She takes on a cleaning job at the local newspaper the Herald, whilst there she spies a love letter thrown in the bin and decides to help the author out.
Now this book is 100% the miscommunication trope but I still really loved it, because what is more Human than miscommunication…
This story is endearing, about personal growth, healing from the past, belonging and family and friends.
Set with the backdrop of the city of Manchester, this book is at tones frustrating but also beautiful. I really enjoyed the story, the growth and healing and learning journey the main characters go on. I liked the relationships and ‘found family’ aspect of the old guys band and loved how much support there was.
Just a really good feel good story… albeit with some tears. But I think I’m sold on whatever Miranda writes next now!
After Reading Miranda Dickinson’ recent book The Start of Something, the publishers sent me this gem!
Esther is living with her sister and her family after the love of her life -her best friend- got married and ghosted her, her job made her redundant and she had to sell the house. She takes on a cleaning job at the local newspaper the Herald, whilst there she spies a love letter thrown in the bin and decides to help the author out.
Now this book is 100% the miscommunication trope but I still really loved it, because what is more Human than miscommunication…
This story is endearing, about personal growth, healing from the past, belonging and family and friends.
Set with the backdrop of the city of Manchester, this book is at tones frustrating but also beautiful. I really enjoyed the story, the growth and healing and learning journey the main characters go on. I liked the relationships and ‘found family’ aspect of the old guys band and loved how much support there was.
Just a really good feel good story… albeit with some tears. But I think I’m sold on whatever Miranda writes next now!
March 4, 2023
Miranda Dickinson is a genius, yet another fantastic read! A great contemporary romance that is packed with heart, kindness, compassion and hope. Creating characters that are down on their luck in one way or another and turning them into the hero/heroines they deserve to me. Making us readers take these characters to heart and root for them every step of the way.
As a reader we know our two main characters deserve each other, they completely match but just don’t see it, or want to see it until it’s too late. My heart was breaking and then bursting all in one rollercoaster of a story.
Archie and Esther are probably two of my favourite characters in a long time. I desperately wanted them both to be happy. I loved reading how their friendship developed, it felt genuine, warm and you could see how they clicked from the start – even when they didn’t actually know who the other person was.
I loved the band, the group contained so many wonderful characters, just adding to a brilliant story. Adding some fun, yet some truly heartfelt moments. Glorious.
I couldn’t recommend this enough, I wish we could have a peak into how all their lives are progressing.
Another smash from Miranda.
As a reader we know our two main characters deserve each other, they completely match but just don’t see it, or want to see it until it’s too late. My heart was breaking and then bursting all in one rollercoaster of a story.
Archie and Esther are probably two of my favourite characters in a long time. I desperately wanted them both to be happy. I loved reading how their friendship developed, it felt genuine, warm and you could see how they clicked from the start – even when they didn’t actually know who the other person was.
I loved the band, the group contained so many wonderful characters, just adding to a brilliant story. Adding some fun, yet some truly heartfelt moments. Glorious.
I couldn’t recommend this enough, I wish we could have a peak into how all their lives are progressing.
Another smash from Miranda.
January 31, 2023
What a lovely story about friendship and self discovery. Archie and Esther make such great friends, I loved how they saw each other properly straight away and accepted each other warts and all. Watching their friendship grow and develop was great, they were destined for each other but had to get there in their own time and totally put their past firmly in the past.
Their families were great too, each supporting and loving them, the Quinn family seem like a fantastic family and I would love to see more of them, so fun and loving.
The Old Guys music group was fab, I loved how they rescued their instruments and how they brought hope to each other, the friendship and self worth so much more important than the music.
A lovely, heart warming and uplifting read.
November 20, 2022
I just loved reading the friendship of Esther and Archie as they navigate their own stories of unrequited love and heartache and try to help each other tick off their ultimate goals. What they find is much more than they bargained for. This is such a warm & comforting book that focuses on the power of friendship, self-belief, and family that has your back no matter what.
May 8, 2023
I enjoyed this sweet, quirky story. Esther has had a difficult few years. Her boyfriend Matt, the love of her life, suddenly announced that he had met the love of his life, and would like Essie to be his Best Woman at his wedding. Then, while she is still grieving - she is made redundant from her much loved job as an account manager. Things get worse for her, without a good job she can no longer afford her apartment, and is forced to rely on the benevolence of her sister … not so benevolent really as she has to look after her sister’s three children, do the school runs, the laundry, and pretty much anything else her sister thinks of so that she is left free to concentrate on her business from her office in the garden.
Essie at last finds a job, and one that fits in with the demands of her sister’s household, she becomes a night cleaner in an office block. Her entire family think this is beneath her, they are horrified, but Essie finds that she thoroughly enjoys it. She imagines what the people are like from the state of their desks, and sees it as a way to start saving to be able to leave her sister’s house and get her own life back.
Archie Quinn works as an assistant to the editor of the Herald, the local free newspaper, but he is desperate to become a reporter. He is also desperately in love with Jessie Edmonds, who has the desk next to him. He writes love letters to her, which he throws way as being hopeless. Essie likes the way he organises is desk, she has made up stories about everyone in the office from the state of their desks. One night while emptying the waste bins she comes across Archie’s latest love note, and thinks it is quite good. She leaves it on his desk with a little note of encouragement.
And so begins a friendship, made up entirely of post-it note messages, until an amusing incident leaves Essie hiding in the stationery cupboard all night, and Archie finds her there next morning. They start meeting occasionally outside the office, all to help him find the words he needs for the love-letter. They become close friends, without realising their friendship is becoming something much stronger. He invites her to join The Old Guys, a band of awful musicians who have to have ‘rescued’ their instrument. He finds her a battered old ukulele in a scruffy charity shop, and revamps it with bright paint for her. She loves it, and works hard to learn to play it, she loves the band, and they love her in return. Their friendship goes from strength to strength, they are thinking about each other, and texting all the time. Essie has enabled Archie to have all the confidence he needs, and suddenly he is able to write the long-awaited love-letter to Jessie … and it apparently works. But Jessie is jealous of his relationship with Essie, and Essie has problems of her own to contend with!
Suddenly there are a lot of issues for both of them, and they need each other’s help to sort some of them out. They also have to own up to how important they are to each other. This is much more a story about the value of friendship. It is a lovely story with many unexpected twists and turns, and very much worth reading.
Essie at last finds a job, and one that fits in with the demands of her sister’s household, she becomes a night cleaner in an office block. Her entire family think this is beneath her, they are horrified, but Essie finds that she thoroughly enjoys it. She imagines what the people are like from the state of their desks, and sees it as a way to start saving to be able to leave her sister’s house and get her own life back.
Archie Quinn works as an assistant to the editor of the Herald, the local free newspaper, but he is desperate to become a reporter. He is also desperately in love with Jessie Edmonds, who has the desk next to him. He writes love letters to her, which he throws way as being hopeless. Essie likes the way he organises is desk, she has made up stories about everyone in the office from the state of their desks. One night while emptying the waste bins she comes across Archie’s latest love note, and thinks it is quite good. She leaves it on his desk with a little note of encouragement.
And so begins a friendship, made up entirely of post-it note messages, until an amusing incident leaves Essie hiding in the stationery cupboard all night, and Archie finds her there next morning. They start meeting occasionally outside the office, all to help him find the words he needs for the love-letter. They become close friends, without realising their friendship is becoming something much stronger. He invites her to join The Old Guys, a band of awful musicians who have to have ‘rescued’ their instrument. He finds her a battered old ukulele in a scruffy charity shop, and revamps it with bright paint for her. She loves it, and works hard to learn to play it, she loves the band, and they love her in return. Their friendship goes from strength to strength, they are thinking about each other, and texting all the time. Essie has enabled Archie to have all the confidence he needs, and suddenly he is able to write the long-awaited love-letter to Jessie … and it apparently works. But Jessie is jealous of his relationship with Essie, and Essie has problems of her own to contend with!
Suddenly there are a lot of issues for both of them, and they need each other’s help to sort some of them out. They also have to own up to how important they are to each other. This is much more a story about the value of friendship. It is a lovely story with many unexpected twists and turns, and very much worth reading.
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April 5, 2023recensione a cura del blog “Libri Magnetici" by Meghan
La speranza è un’arma potente ed è quello che è rimasto ad Esther, che dopo aver perso il lavoro, l’appartamento e aver visto l’uomo di cui era stata sempre innamorata sposare un’altra.
Non si è arresa Esther, e ha ricominciato con un lavoro umile e dignitoso, facendo le pulizie; e così ha iniziato a crearsi una sorta di mondo tutto suo, dove il carrello delle pulizie ha un nome, Fred, e dove può immaginare la storia di quei cestini pieni di carte, o di quelle scrivanie disordinate.
Le è toccato anche vivere da sua sorella perché a Manchester gli affitti sono inavvicinabili, se non hai un lavoro ben pagato; le manca la sua vecchia vita, ma le sue piccole nipotine la aiutano a vedere quanto c’è ancora di bello nella vita.
Una sera, durante un turno di lavoro, scopre un post-it/lettera d’amore, che la farà conoscere Archie, un aspirante giornalista innamorato da sempre di una sua collega.
La loro è un amicizia che potremmo dire nasce dal fatto che entrambi hanno un amore non corrisposto, in quel rispecchiarsi nel rifiuto cieco di non accettare il rifiuto dell’altro, ma anche da una confidenza nella ricerca delle parole per esprimere quello che si prova.
«E’ come se ci fossimo sentiti subito a nostro agio, cosa che normalmente deriva da anni di amicizia.»
Ma la loro non è una storia, poiché se da una parte entrambi arrivano a quell’amore che inseguivano, si renderanno anche conto che quella era un’idealizzazione, perché nessuno dei due li ha visti davvero per tutto quel tempo.
E’ un’amicizia vera quella che nasce tra Archie ed Esther, fatta di confidenze e di supporto, di parole condivise, quelle stesse parole che li allontaneranno e poi li faranno riavvicinare
«Se lui non avesse avuto bisogno di parole per esprimersi, forse non ci saremmo mai incontrati.»
La trama non è scontata e anzi ci sono dei passaggi che ci spiazzano un po', ma che riprendono i fili della storia; i POV sono alternati, con la giusta dose di monologhi, e per questo la lettura risulta anche molto scorrevole.
Imperdibili il gruppo degli Old Guys, che con le loro battute, le risate e la loro musica stonata sono un perfetto cerchio nel quale si muovono i nostri protagonisti.
Miranda Dickinson ci racconta dunque che nella vita bisogna trarre il massimo da tutto ciò che ci capita, perché le cose possono sempre migliorare, poiché la speranza è quello che ci aiuta a vivere.
Quattro petali e mezzo.
La speranza è un’arma potente ed è quello che è rimasto ad Esther, che dopo aver perso il lavoro, l’appartamento e aver visto l’uomo di cui era stata sempre innamorata sposare un’altra.
Non si è arresa Esther, e ha ricominciato con un lavoro umile e dignitoso, facendo le pulizie; e così ha iniziato a crearsi una sorta di mondo tutto suo, dove il carrello delle pulizie ha un nome, Fred, e dove può immaginare la storia di quei cestini pieni di carte, o di quelle scrivanie disordinate.
Le è toccato anche vivere da sua sorella perché a Manchester gli affitti sono inavvicinabili, se non hai un lavoro ben pagato; le manca la sua vecchia vita, ma le sue piccole nipotine la aiutano a vedere quanto c’è ancora di bello nella vita.
Una sera, durante un turno di lavoro, scopre un post-it/lettera d’amore, che la farà conoscere Archie, un aspirante giornalista innamorato da sempre di una sua collega.
La loro è un amicizia che potremmo dire nasce dal fatto che entrambi hanno un amore non corrisposto, in quel rispecchiarsi nel rifiuto cieco di non accettare il rifiuto dell’altro, ma anche da una confidenza nella ricerca delle parole per esprimere quello che si prova.
«E’ come se ci fossimo sentiti subito a nostro agio, cosa che normalmente deriva da anni di amicizia.»
Ma la loro non è una storia, poiché se da una parte entrambi arrivano a quell’amore che inseguivano, si renderanno anche conto che quella era un’idealizzazione, perché nessuno dei due li ha visti davvero per tutto quel tempo.
E’ un’amicizia vera quella che nasce tra Archie ed Esther, fatta di confidenze e di supporto, di parole condivise, quelle stesse parole che li allontaneranno e poi li faranno riavvicinare
«Se lui non avesse avuto bisogno di parole per esprimersi, forse non ci saremmo mai incontrati.»
La trama non è scontata e anzi ci sono dei passaggi che ci spiazzano un po', ma che riprendono i fili della storia; i POV sono alternati, con la giusta dose di monologhi, e per questo la lettura risulta anche molto scorrevole.
Imperdibili il gruppo degli Old Guys, che con le loro battute, le risate e la loro musica stonata sono un perfetto cerchio nel quale si muovono i nostri protagonisti.
Miranda Dickinson ci racconta dunque che nella vita bisogna trarre il massimo da tutto ciò che ci capita, perché le cose possono sempre migliorare, poiché la speranza è quello che ci aiuta a vivere.
Quattro petali e mezzo.
January 29, 2023
Review: the way this book starts...it just hooks you in and you are instantly connected to these 2 characters, you want to know them, you want them to know each other and you are just so drawn into their stories, separately and the thing that ties them together. I love any kind of dual narrative when I'm reading, but one that starts in post-its back and forth. It was giving me flatshare vibes and it was giving me Jojo Moyes Cecelia Ahern vibes. I just loved this book from the word go.
Archie and Esther are two very different people, they are on different tracks in life and yet somehow they very tenuous share the same workspace and this is what connects them. The other thing that connects them though is their love for love. Romantic love and family love and I just loved that about them. Both our main characters are at a bit of a crossroads both personally and professionally and so they have this in common too but they feel very differently about their own personal crossroads. I love Esther's spirit, she doesn't let anything break her, She has her goals in mind and she will do what it takes to get there. Archie on the other hand is very malleable and soft-centred and so definitely needs a push in the right direction to assert himself in any areas of his life.
One thing that Miiranda Dickinson always has in her novels is music, particularly live music and this book is no exception. There is a playlist at the end of the book but most importantly there is also a band. A band made up of mostly old men. A band who are not very good at playing music but form the heart of this book. This band is so pivotal to so many major scenes in this book. It has heart and it is the grounding force for both Archie and eventually Esther too and so make sure you pay close attention when the band of the old guys comes up because you know that something is about to be revealed or some drama is going to unfold!
There is such heart and such love in this book I could literally feel it warming my heart. I wanted to keep turning the pages right from the beginning and I loved getting to know Archie, Esther, their workmates, their families and of course, the band, so much over the course of the book. It's one of those books that you didn't want to end and the only thing I can hope for now is a sequel or at the very least, a novella of an epilogue!
Archie and Esther are two very different people, they are on different tracks in life and yet somehow they very tenuous share the same workspace and this is what connects them. The other thing that connects them though is their love for love. Romantic love and family love and I just loved that about them. Both our main characters are at a bit of a crossroads both personally and professionally and so they have this in common too but they feel very differently about their own personal crossroads. I love Esther's spirit, she doesn't let anything break her, She has her goals in mind and she will do what it takes to get there. Archie on the other hand is very malleable and soft-centred and so definitely needs a push in the right direction to assert himself in any areas of his life.
One thing that Miiranda Dickinson always has in her novels is music, particularly live music and this book is no exception. There is a playlist at the end of the book but most importantly there is also a band. A band made up of mostly old men. A band who are not very good at playing music but form the heart of this book. This band is so pivotal to so many major scenes in this book. It has heart and it is the grounding force for both Archie and eventually Esther too and so make sure you pay close attention when the band of the old guys comes up because you know that something is about to be revealed or some drama is going to unfold!
There is such heart and such love in this book I could literally feel it warming my heart. I wanted to keep turning the pages right from the beginning and I loved getting to know Archie, Esther, their workmates, their families and of course, the band, so much over the course of the book. It's one of those books that you didn't want to end and the only thing I can hope for now is a sequel or at the very least, a novella of an epilogue!
March 22, 2023
I can always rely on Miranda Dickinson to capture my attention with the most beautiful stories, that’s why I have read quite a few books by Miranda Dickinson, and I totally loved All My Love as I found it was a refreshing, and unusual, page-turner.
My heart went out to Esther as she has her troubles where Esther was an account manager at a pr company but she lost her job, consequently without having enough money she had to give up the place lived in. Then she was once in love with Matt but he married someone else.
I felt really sorry for Esther losing her job, and her home. I think this part of the story reflects on what’s happening today with people losing their job and their home.
Without Esther having any money after losing her place she doesn’t have anywhere to go, the only thing Esther can do is to move in with her sister and her family, temporarily, until she can find a job and can afford a place of her own again.
Esther has a plan.
My Get My Life Back List:
1. Find a job.
2 Save money like a BOSS.
3 Find a new flat.
4. Leave Naomi’s place.
5. Stop thinking about M
6. Move on.
As I used to do evening cleaning, so I connected with Esther who finds an evening job cleaning in an office for The Hearld.
Archie Quinn is an assistant to the Editor at The Herald, who has been madly in love with Jessie Edmonds for three years who works at the desk next to him.
Archie secretly writes letters to tell Jessie she has his heart, but never gives his letters to her.
While Esther is cleaning Archie’s desk Esther finds the notes. Esther starts leaving post-it notes on Archie’s desk to say Don’t stop writing this. You’re almost there.
This is a lovely story where Archie and Esther finally met under strange circumstances.
I definitely recommend reading All My Love as it’s one those romantic novels that is hard to stop reading once you have started!
April 22, 2023
Recensione sul blog Romantic Fairies
Una storia dolce e delicata, che racconta di come alle volte le cose che desideriamo sono sotto i nostri occhi, ma siamo così persi ad inseguire il sogno che abbiamo in testa da perderci la realtà.
Archie ed Esther si conoscono per caso, in circostanze molto particolari. Timidi e riservati, buoni e insicuri, diventano l’uno la spalla dell’altra, trovando quel supporto disinteressato, costante, quella fiducia nelle loro capacità che loro stessi non avevano.
“Da soli abbiamo già fallito. Ma insieme magari riusciremo a cambiare le cose…”
E tutto finalmente sembra andare bene.
Tranne che raggiunte le mete sperate non sembrano comunque aver trovato la felicità. Perché a rendere felice Archie era Esther e viceversa.
Un romanzo davvero molto delicato, in cui viene data voce alla solitudine delle persone anziane, soprattutto quando perdono il compagno o la compagna di viaggio, e i figli sono lontani.
Vi riempirà il cuore il gruppo degli Old Guys, che presenta la particolarità che ogni strumento è stato recuperato da cassonetti dei rifiuti, negozi di beneficienza, soffitte di famiglie, mercatini dell’usato, sgomberi di case.
“Ciò che conta è come ci si sente quando suoniamo insieme. Perché non importa quanto ci sentiamo malconci o rotti: insieme avviene la magia”
Dolcissima anche la famiglia di Archie, con il nonno in prima linea.
La scrittura della Dickinson è molto delicata, scivola con un linguaggio educato, con una storia semplice e lineare, in sintonia con i personaggi di Archie e Esther. Una storia e una lettura che a me sono piaciute molto, anche se un po’ in controtendenza con la letteratura rosa del momento, che punta molto sullo spicy, un linguaggio forte e spinto e molte descrizioni di rapporti fra i due personaggi. Per questo alcune lettrici potrebbero trovare il ritmo della narrazione un po’ lento.
Una lettura che consiglio alle romantiche a cui piace leggere della magia dell’innamorarsi.
Una storia dolce e delicata, che racconta di come alle volte le cose che desideriamo sono sotto i nostri occhi, ma siamo così persi ad inseguire il sogno che abbiamo in testa da perderci la realtà.
Archie ed Esther si conoscono per caso, in circostanze molto particolari. Timidi e riservati, buoni e insicuri, diventano l’uno la spalla dell’altra, trovando quel supporto disinteressato, costante, quella fiducia nelle loro capacità che loro stessi non avevano.
“Da soli abbiamo già fallito. Ma insieme magari riusciremo a cambiare le cose…”
E tutto finalmente sembra andare bene.
Tranne che raggiunte le mete sperate non sembrano comunque aver trovato la felicità. Perché a rendere felice Archie era Esther e viceversa.
Un romanzo davvero molto delicato, in cui viene data voce alla solitudine delle persone anziane, soprattutto quando perdono il compagno o la compagna di viaggio, e i figli sono lontani.
Vi riempirà il cuore il gruppo degli Old Guys, che presenta la particolarità che ogni strumento è stato recuperato da cassonetti dei rifiuti, negozi di beneficienza, soffitte di famiglie, mercatini dell’usato, sgomberi di case.
“Ciò che conta è come ci si sente quando suoniamo insieme. Perché non importa quanto ci sentiamo malconci o rotti: insieme avviene la magia”
Dolcissima anche la famiglia di Archie, con il nonno in prima linea.
La scrittura della Dickinson è molto delicata, scivola con un linguaggio educato, con una storia semplice e lineare, in sintonia con i personaggi di Archie e Esther. Una storia e una lettura che a me sono piaciute molto, anche se un po’ in controtendenza con la letteratura rosa del momento, che punta molto sullo spicy, un linguaggio forte e spinto e molte descrizioni di rapporti fra i due personaggi. Per questo alcune lettrici potrebbero trovare il ritmo della narrazione un po’ lento.
Una lettura che consiglio alle romantiche a cui piace leggere della magia dell’innamorarsi.
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