Same Paige

Last Orders #1

by Hannah Jay

One night – one drunken mistake – could change everything.

History teacher and Most Boring Man Alive™, Keshava Patel, is having a thoroughly underwhelming thirtieth birthday. Until he sees her. Or rather, hears her. Paige is loud and funny, fascinating and easy on the eye. And Kesh is… interested. It’s been such a long time since he was interested. Tonight could be the start of something, he thinks. Yet the morning after, he can’t even look her in the eye. He doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to look at her again.

Sunny, sentimental Paige McAllister has a big bod, a big mouth, and an even bigger heart. In a small-town English pub, she runs into Kesh, someone she met once, a lifetime ago. He’s her opposite: sweet and laid back. And he’s gorgeous, even if he’s kind of moody. What was that? Is he flirting with me? Paige wakes the next morning groggy but giddy in his bed. But he’s acting strange. As last night starts to come back to her, she realises that something isn’t right… She’s forgetting something… What happened last night?

A few weeks later, when Paige’s car breaks down and she accidentally calls Kesh in a panic, he comes to her rescue. They strike a deal. Kesh will drive Paige to and from work until her car is fixed, if Paige helps him clear out and pack up a friend's house. And so, they begin to spend time together. Just as friends… Because that’s what we are now… just friends… right?

Genres: Romance

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2022

About the author

HANNAH JAY is two monkeys in a trench coat. Given infinite time, these monkeys could have produced the entire work of William Shakespeare. Unfortunately, time is finite.

Hannah is a bookseller in Staffordshire, where she lives with her well-loved husband and just as, if not more, well-loved cats.

Find Hannah on Instagram: @librarygoblin

Reviews

[Hannah Jay]

I wrote this book 🕺🕺🕺

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Great friend to lovers romance. Fade to black sex scenes. Cried more about the amazing body positivity than the love story but the love story had me shedding a tear too. Well done Hannah! Great debut!

[Priyesh Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid first book. Easy to read. Great characters.

[Tilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I was a little nervous about reading this book as I know the author through bookstagram. However I had ZERO reasons to be nervous as this is such a charming, addictive and loveable book.

There is a very cute and charming plot to this book but I suggest going in blind as I just loved not having any preconceived ideas about how it would go. So I'm staying shhhh on the plot. All I will say is that it was wonderfully british, not over the top and had me hooked from the start.
I would say this book sits in the NA to Adult section as it is definitely has main adult characters but because the romance is more cute and less smut (although there is a little), I would place it more in NA.

The characters...WOW. I was instantly obsessed with lead female Paige and lead male Kesh.
Paige is such a loving, caring woman who goes out of her way to help others. She doesn't quite have her life together and she struggles with body confidence thanks to past comments from ex boyfriends and her rather nasty mother. I wanted the best for Paige as I felt so connected to her.
Kesh is an absolute GEM of a lead male. He is possibly the kindest lead male I've ever read. He has a real soft side, adores his family and treats Paige so well. That being said, he isn't a pushover!
The side characters were so well done and I know the 2nd book in this series is about Kesh's best friend. I just hope we get a book about Paige's best friend too!

Hannah Jay is a brilliant author. I would never have thought this was her debut, nor that it is an indie book. I have read romance books that are published that don't have half the emotions or humour that this book has. And boy does it have those. The humour is such wonderful british humour which I ADORED. And I felt literally every emotion reading this book because I was connected with it.

The only reason this isn't 5 stars is that there was one moment I was a little confused about and also I wish we had had full smut as I think it would have suited this book.

I genuinely cannot recommend this debut book more. If you love books by Lia Louis, Mhairi McFarlane and Emily Henry, then I think this book will be for you.
I cannot wait for the second book, and so I'm not going to!!!
Go add this one to your TBR's!!

Ps. For those of you with KU, this is on there now so go grab it!!

[Eva vs The World · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

What a FANTASTIC first read of the year. This book felt like a massive warm hug and I cried many many times when reading it. Absolutely loved both Paige and Kesh and their relationship, with all of its ups and downs. The secondary characters were also absolutely fantastic. Paige is such a relatable character - I couldn’t help but feel like Hannah Jay has beautifully captured the lives of many women. Being fat, judged for the way we look, and simply trying to be happy in this world. Kesh was a swoon worthy cinnamon roll kind of book boyfriend and I love him to bits. The book also touched upon the topic of having narcissistic and toxic family members. Overall this was such a lovely, heartwarming read. I am very much looking forward to Hannah’s next book!

[Gigi ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book gave me a range of emotions, i laughed, i blushed, it frustrated me, made me angry but i enjoyed it nonetheless!

It highlights a couple of difficult issues that aren't that much talked, such as alcoholism, fat shaming, self doubt, verbal abuse. please check Trigger Warnings!!!!!

I can relate to Paige, i can feel her fears, her self doubt her breakdowns! I am Paige in a way and all i wanted to do while reading her POVs was to give her a hug and tell her that she's beautiful inside and out!!!!

Kesh made me frustrated a few times with his overthinking but i loved how he was by Paige's side, how he supported her and was protective of her!

Loved their chemistry!

As Far As Tropes Go:
• Plus Size FMC
• Body Positivity
• Friends to Lovers
• Found Family
• Sunshine Heroine/Cinnamon Roll Hero

Hannah did an amazing job in this book! A solid Debut!🤍

[KelsBookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely am smitten with this rom com and it's exactly what i needed. I stumbled across this and immediately jumped this to read and i devoured this little beuaty.

Their journey is captured in way that enables you to connect with the characters and feel their lust, attraction and love grow. It was nurturing and emotional in places. For me this book is one of the REALEST reads I've read in a long time.

The body positively in this enables you to relate and trust me i felt her pain and vunerability but in the same breath the growth is effortlessy fulfilling.
Kesh and Paige's relationship is perfection and real and i was swooning at places for them to realise.

This has definately jumped to my top 5 books of all time. The author slayed this!!

[Bryony Liddon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never written a book review before and I am not very eloquent but I LOVED this book so much that I'm going to do my best anyway.
Same Paige had me hooked from the beginning, which is virtually unheard of for me but from the very first page (or should I say Paige?) I was compelled to keep reading.
This book felt like a warm hug. I loved the characters like they were lifelong friends I was rooting for. I really felt that giddy spark between them.
There are so many beautiful messages within this book, about healthy relationships, choosing your family, setting boundaries, learning to love your body and more that I've probably forgotten. It was incredibly refreshing and affirming to read. Can I say I loved it again? Because I really did love it.

[Miranda [hangryforfiction] · Rating 5 out of 5]

To know Paige is to love her. Paige is just massively relatable. She's a little bit of a mess, but she has the biggest heart and loves so ferociously. She's hilarious and loud and outspoken and a little bit silly. Kesh is endlessly kind, sometimes a little too serious, but just straight up dreamy. Their story is rich and sweet and they're accompanied by a cast of characters that are all terribly lovable and remarkable. This book is a cozy rainy day sitting by the fire✨️

[L T · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is extremely picky with their romance— this book didn’t let me down in the slightest.

A gorgeous story about funny little coincidences, “Same Paige” is a delight. Hannah writes authentic, down to earth dialogue that made me giggle OUT LOUD on public transport; painfully relatable character backstories and those gorgeous moments of romance that I adore— all the trepidation , hesitancy and building of tension paid off tenfold in the climax of the book.

Truthfully, I finished this book several days ago and I’ve been yammering on about how good it is to everyone since. I’ve been trying to think up a review that’ll give this book justice, but in the most eloquent way— this is one of those rom-coms that just GETS it.

It doesn’t make you feel like you’re peering into the window of an elaborate play where you can evidently see the author smushing dolls ceramic faces together to try and get them in the same room. Hannah writes it like it is, and allows organic growth and decline. It’s a treat to feel so seen and represented in a genre that, right now, is ruled by people who can only perceive romance worthy to the same kind of cut and paste hero and heroine— which is my hesitation with most romance at the moment.

But then a book like this comes along and spoils all my anxiety! Thanks for that! I’m so mad! Ah! Oh no!

Yes, you should read this. Even if just for Kesh. Do it.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Paige and her strength.

Love Kesh and his vulnerability.

Just loved it!

[katherinareads · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you're looking for an easy rom-com with predictable plot that briefly tackles serious issues such as fat phobia & regaining confidence, alcohol abuse & overcoming addiction then this is the book the for you.

however, while loving the fact that the author touched on these subjects - the book was written quite poorly. ✍️🏻

•in the beginning of the book I couldn't quite figure out where the characters were situated, to the point where the male MC (Kesh) would just randomly appear in places. there was a clear lack of spacial awareness and while it did get better as the book progressed, at times the scenes would change abruptly instead of there being a smoother transition.

•another thing I didn't quite like about the book was the use in 2023 of the "...and then I woke up". can we leave this in 2014 where it belongs? it's such a confusing plot device, especially in this book - i kept thinking it will be cleared up till the end of the book if the female MC (Paige) did indeed do *that* thing, but nope. considering her self-imagine issues I definitely don't believe she *spoiler alert* had a one-night stand.

•about the ending - the last chapter of the book was 3 pages long and somehow that was enough for Kesh to confess his love for Paige and also wrap-up the story? nope, of course it wasn't. plus he didn't even say it to her face. 🥴 also the epilogue gave us nothing because none of the events were tied up, let alone offer us an insight into what the future will be like.

~ overall rating: 2 stars ✨️ (the bad really outweighed the good in this one)

[Emily Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tw: Alcohol, fat phobia, verbal abuse
Same Paige is incredible. It shot so fast to the number one romance I read this year with EASE! We have two characters that are practically the sweetest cinnamon rolls in the entire world, one with a couple barbs and the other with a dark and stormy past. Paige and Kesh will make your heart MELT! They are both thoughtful and kind but the author still gives them room to have flaws and make mistakes but they make it back to each other with HEALTHY communication ( omg who thought it was possible in the genre????) The characters are amazing but what made this book so important to me personally is the discussion of fat phobia, self deprecation and parental abuse. While the discussion of alcohol dependence was so important and well fleshed out, it was the way Paiges mother ridiculed and lashed out at her daughter that reminded me of my own relationship with my body and my mother. When Paige finally put her foot down reminded me so much how I also did the same thing in the last couple of years and it made my heart sing! This book also has hilarious banter between ALL the characters and the writing is incredible, I truly have no complaints. This book deserves so much more praise than its getting, it’s truly on par or better than so many traditionally published romances and I’m so grateful it was written 💖🥰

[Allie Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a well done debut, for sure!! The author placed a LOT of heavy in here, yet it definitely still read as a rom com at the core. While I didn’t personally connect much with either, I liked both protagonists. I liked their flaws! I enjoyed the humor. I liked the teacher, McFlurry, and Princess Bride commentary. I liked Paige’s journey with her job SO much, Things that threw me off: I didn’t feel as if there was much closure on the initial conflict in the book. (Paige and Fraser.) I still have questions there. The writing and format, while addressed right off the bat in an author’s note, was a bit hard to get used to. But I think that’s also due to me not loving books that take place in the UK. This author’s vocabulary and many spellings had me trying to adjust, too. (But that’s a me thing, not a true fault of the novel.) I think I’d have LOVED it if I connected with Paige on a more personal level. I can’t help that I didn’t, but it *does* make me eager to read the next novel Jay writes so I can possibly relate more to another character in this universe!

[Lyndsay Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looooooved this book! 🥰

This book had me hooked from the very beginning and had me staying up WAY too late on a school night so I could keep reading. The book was so easy to read and so sweet and heartwarming and funny.
The characters were so lovable, but not without their flaws, which made me love them all the more. Even the supporting characters were loveable - well, some of them (not Jackie 😏).
Paige has my whole heart. 💕 For me, she was so relatable and there were so many times I just wanted to give her a hug. The way her self-esteem and body image is written about was so sensitively and brilliantly done, which is a big reason as to why I think Paige is a relatable character and 'say thank you' had me in tears. To be honest, I cried at quite a few bits in this book. It was just too cute! 😭

There's so much more I could say, I just really really loved this book and I'm excited to read what Hannah writes next.

[Holly (honestly.holly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this! I'm not usually a romance reader, at all, but I loved this duo. I really related to Paige's body hang-ups and loved her personality. Also Kesh may be the only book character that I've fancied?? Like... damn.

I don't usually enjoy rom-coms because I just want to the pair to COMMUNICATE and it would solve literally all their problems. But I LOVED that this one didn't have the miscommunication trope! They were so cute!!!! I want to go to an aquarium and be perved on by a fish!!!!!

I haven't been reading quickly recently because of uni, but I finished this in two days because I kept wanting to pick it up and read. I realised I might have a problem when I was straining my eyes trying to read this as my reading light faded and flickered and ran out of battery.

[Danielle Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story

Dear Hannah Jay:
I went into this book not knowing what to expect.
Paige is so real. I love the internal monologs that Paige and Kesh have throughout the book. I love the realness of loving someone with anxiety. I love the writing style.
I love Paige and Marnie's relationship. I love Paige's journey to finding herself and her boundaries.
I love Kesh and his kind heart and fight to be the better person. I love Fraser and how, even though he is struggling, he is still there for Kesh. I even love Paige and Jackie's relationship for how real it is.

I love the not-so-cute meet cute. I love the friends-to-friends-to-more. I love Walt and Joe and even Johnny. I love that I found this book at this time in my life, I love that you took a risk and wrote this book. I can't wait to see what comes next.
Love, Me

[Venezia Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rocky road to romance

From the get go I rooted for Kesh and Paige who make a lovely couple, so I was surprised when came an unexpected ‘oh, no!!’ moment that derailed the whole thing.
Then obstacles kept on coming and left me every time on tenter hooks, tempted to skip ahead to reassure myself things would turn out well.
I particularly liked the whole cast of characters, main and secondary, that were well fleshed out and interesting. (Apart from Jackie… I did not like Jackie!)
A well-written closed-door, relatable romance with a lot of heart, and quite a lot of angst too.
Perfect to curl up with a cuppa.

[Hetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sweetest most heartwarming funny and joyful read! I adored this!

Kesh and Paige had my heart, their chemistry was palpable and their love so genuine and beautifully (and realistically) written. I loved their characters and their quirks and flaws as individuals as much as I loved their relationship. The supporting characters - Walt, God bless you, sir - were also so wholly and vividly painted and made for such a lovely world to immerse yourself in.

This one had me laughing, my heart swelling, my feet kicking and my smile stretched wide.

An absolute delight!!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up Same Paige and couldn’t put it down. I found myself reading into the wee hours of morning. Paige and Kesh had a rough start *cringe* but managed to bounce back. It was obvious to everyone that they were a perfect match. This book was more than a romance. It was about 2 people trying to be their best self while still growing. I’m so excited to read Hannah Jay’s new book because I definitely need to know more about Fraser! Hopefully there’s a Marnie book in the works. Seriously I want a book about all the characters. This book was perfect!

[Fayelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the heart eyes

Oh heavens, this was so good! I'm so particular about rom coms and this was *chef's kiss*. The character development is extensive and wonderful, the plot moves along withoit dragging or rushing, and I know I will be thinking about Kesh and Paige for some time to come. They feel like my friends a bit. I hated who they hated and loved who they loved. I wanna hang out with them and all the mates. It's just a fantastic book, I'm so glad I read it.

[Rebecca M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I thought the characters were really relatable and the story felt real. I liked the main characters a lot even the side characters. I liked that the Ciara Tera had real struggles and realistic family dynamics they overcame so the story wasn’t just fluff. I also liked the romance between the main characters because it felt real and I’m a sucker for dual point of view. I loved hearing Kesha’s thoughts too. Overall great read!

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same Paige is a friends-to-lovers rom com that is lovely, witty and cute. This was a cozy read that I couldn’t put down.
Kesh and Paige are wonderfully flawed characters who you just can’t help but root for. Marnie, Lou and Walt are wonderful side characters who add extra fun. I love them all.

I’m sure this is going to be a book I come back to again and again.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This is a debut novel and while there were some giveaways of this, overall it was really good. The banter between characters was super witty and the author did a great job of creating characters you could root for (and ones you loved to hate)! I will say I feel like the first 4-5 chapters could have been condensed down to one, and there were a few other small things that took me out of the story for a moment, but I am definitely excited to read the next in the series!

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such lovable and relatable characters! I flew through the book and now I’m sad that I don’t get to spend any more time with Paige, Kesh, and their friends/families.

[Kasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Gwyneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just an absolute delight.

[EG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, gently funny romance with some deftly handled exploration of body image issues and intergenerational trauma.

[Yara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Paige is very relatable, making this a very touching book.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars