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Last Orders #2
Olive Branch
Olive Cooper has come to terms with her infertility, but dating is proving hard. The only man she's really interested in is fictional detective, Hercule Poirot. She’s certainly not interested in her bookshop co-worker, Fraser, who only hangs on to his job because he's the boss's son. He’s work-shy, cocky, and chronically posh. She knows his type. With his effortless charm and knicker-dropping grin, he has everyone eating out of the palm of his hand. Except Olive… The only reason Olive would take her knickers off in his presence would be to strangle him with them.
Fraser Stapleton works at his Mum’s bookshop with the most annoying woman in the world, Olive Cooper. With Olive, not for her, not that you’d know given the way she bosses him about. She doesn't even pretend to like him. A forced smile for everyone but him, and he knows it’s forced because he’s acting at being sociable and likeable too. He’s loved by his friends who don’t mind that underneath the bravado, he’s anxious and fussy, but if other people saw that side or him? He couldn’t stand it.
When the two are forced together by Fraser’s meddling mother (Olive’s meddling boss), they find that inside Olive’s crabby shell, and beyond Fraser’s tom cat façade, are two deeply soft centres. Two people seeking comfort and affection. Maybe even love? If they can look past their differences, and worse, their similarities, will they find it in each other? And if they do… will they be able to keep it?
Fraser Stapleton works at his Mum’s bookshop with the most annoying woman in the world, Olive Cooper. With Olive, not for her, not that you’d know given the way she bosses him about. She doesn't even pretend to like him. A forced smile for everyone but him, and he knows it’s forced because he’s acting at being sociable and likeable too. He’s loved by his friends who don’t mind that underneath the bravado, he’s anxious and fussy, but if other people saw that side or him? He couldn’t stand it.
When the two are forced together by Fraser’s meddling mother (Olive’s meddling boss), they find that inside Olive’s crabby shell, and beyond Fraser’s tom cat façade, are two deeply soft centres. Two people seeking comfort and affection. Maybe even love? If they can look past their differences, and worse, their similarities, will they find it in each other? And if they do… will they be able to keep it?
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2023
3 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Jay
2 books116 followersHANNAH 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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April 24, 2023I wrote this 💖
January 9, 2024
this book perfectly towed the line between light hearted + real. I think there were some important discussions on mental health + infertility, but the book still had that rom-com feel to it! Fraser + Olive were both so fun + I loved their banter. also this was my first bookstore romance + it will not be my last!
August 6, 2023
Such a joyous read 🥹 I have such love for these characters and their love story!!
May 1, 2023
I read the first book of this series, Same Paige, at the start of the year and looooooved it. This one was even better!
This book made my heart swell so many times for so many reasons. It has everything you want and expect from a rom-com book and despite discussing some difficult themes, it was still somewhat light-hearted and heartwarming.
I loved the dual POV - I thought it was a great way of showing the characters' vulnerabilities and worries which made them so so relatable.
The characters were so lovable too. I don't even know where to start when describing why I loved Olive so much but I think the fact she was a tea-drinker, book-lover and worked in a bookshop gave her big points in my books. As for Fraser, I wasn't his biggest fan in Same Paige but after reading this, I totally had him misunderstood and found myself wondering how I could ever think badly of this character. 😂
The relationship between the two was also so sweet and funny!
I'm really loving these books and I would recommend this one a lot! Even though these books are part of a series, they can be read as standalones.
I'm excited to read what comes next! 😁
This book made my heart swell so many times for so many reasons. It has everything you want and expect from a rom-com book and despite discussing some difficult themes, it was still somewhat light-hearted and heartwarming.
I loved the dual POV - I thought it was a great way of showing the characters' vulnerabilities and worries which made them so so relatable.
The characters were so lovable too. I don't even know where to start when describing why I loved Olive so much but I think the fact she was a tea-drinker, book-lover and worked in a bookshop gave her big points in my books. As for Fraser, I wasn't his biggest fan in Same Paige but after reading this, I totally had him misunderstood and found myself wondering how I could ever think badly of this character. 😂
The relationship between the two was also so sweet and funny!
I'm really loving these books and I would recommend this one a lot! Even though these books are part of a series, they can be read as standalones.
I'm excited to read what comes next! 😁
April 5, 2023
Somehow even better than Same Paige.
Hannah i love you and i love this book.
Hannah i love you and i love this book.
July 30, 2023
5 Stars
I was so excited for this book after loving the first book in this series Same Paige. I still however wasn't expecting it to blow me away the way Olive Branch did.
The story is a romance based around our lead female Olive, a 32 year old book seller with a love for her cat Thursday, wearing black and having quirky decor. Olive suffers from severe period pains and infertility which broke up her last long term relationship. The lead male is Fraser, a colleague of Olive and his mum owns the bookshop they work in. He and Olive don't see eye to eye, however when they are pushed together by his Mum to work more closely, they realise things aren't quite as they has seemed and start to see the real people behind their emotonal walls.
The lead characters are perfect and I was worried after not liking Fraser in book 1 but I loved him in this book. Fraser suffers from OCD and anxiety and this is written so realistically. I found that seeing how Fraser struggles really opened up his character to new depths, which his relationship with Olive helped bring out. He is a cinnamon bun beneath his cranky exterior and I love how he treats Olive.
Meanwhile Olive is a new favourite female character. She suffers from severe gynaecological issues and hasn't had any help from doctors despite begging for help for years. I have suffered from endometriosis and adenomyosis for 18 years and 7 of those years I was desperately trying to get a diagnosis, so I really clicked with her character. I think Hannah Jay did a really good job of showing how serious these issues are and how they impact on so many parts of your life. Although Olive doesn't have a diagnosis, that almost makes it more realistic as so many women live with these terrible problems with minimal help and no diagnosis. Her infertility really struck a nerve for me and it was well executed and carefully done. Hannah obviously wanted to highlight these issues and did that in an understanding and caring way.
But it isn't all serious! The humour in this book was utterly brilliant. I adore the British humour that is included and I properly laughed multiple times.
I also loved the romance. It was cute and fun but also sexy. There was a little more smut in this book and it was so well done and really suited the book. It was also so realistic with Olive's health issues and I think Hannah Jay for this.
I genuinely cannot sing the praises enough for this book. I was addicted from start to finish and loved every second. The mix of emotion, humour, romance, challenging themes and lighthearted moments meant it was a perfectly balanced book.
I cannot recommend this series more and really hope lots of you pick up this brilliant indie romance book.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited for this book after loving the first book in this series Same Paige. I still however wasn't expecting it to blow me away the way Olive Branch did.
The story is a romance based around our lead female Olive, a 32 year old book seller with a love for her cat Thursday, wearing black and having quirky decor. Olive suffers from severe period pains and infertility which broke up her last long term relationship. The lead male is Fraser, a colleague of Olive and his mum owns the bookshop they work in. He and Olive don't see eye to eye, however when they are pushed together by his Mum to work more closely, they realise things aren't quite as they has seemed and start to see the real people behind their emotonal walls.
The lead characters are perfect and I was worried after not liking Fraser in book 1 but I loved him in this book. Fraser suffers from OCD and anxiety and this is written so realistically. I found that seeing how Fraser struggles really opened up his character to new depths, which his relationship with Olive helped bring out. He is a cinnamon bun beneath his cranky exterior and I love how he treats Olive.
Meanwhile Olive is a new favourite female character. She suffers from severe gynaecological issues and hasn't had any help from doctors despite begging for help for years. I have suffered from endometriosis and adenomyosis for 18 years and 7 of those years I was desperately trying to get a diagnosis, so I really clicked with her character. I think Hannah Jay did a really good job of showing how serious these issues are and how they impact on so many parts of your life. Although Olive doesn't have a diagnosis, that almost makes it more realistic as so many women live with these terrible problems with minimal help and no diagnosis. Her infertility really struck a nerve for me and it was well executed and carefully done. Hannah obviously wanted to highlight these issues and did that in an understanding and caring way.
But it isn't all serious! The humour in this book was utterly brilliant. I adore the British humour that is included and I properly laughed multiple times.
I also loved the romance. It was cute and fun but also sexy. There was a little more smut in this book and it was so well done and really suited the book. It was also so realistic with Olive's health issues and I think Hannah Jay for this.
I genuinely cannot sing the praises enough for this book. I was addicted from start to finish and loved every second. The mix of emotion, humour, romance, challenging themes and lighthearted moments meant it was a perfectly balanced book.
I cannot recommend this series more and really hope lots of you pick up this brilliant indie romance book.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2024
I don’t even know where to start with this review, there are infinite reasons why I loved this book and it will always be very special to me!
The story follows Olive the seemingly grumpy bookseller and her irritating co-worker Fraser and follows them on the most wholesome and real journey I have found in a romance novel.
Hannah addresses some huge topics with such care and realism you can’t help but either relate or feel for her characters. As someone who suffers with infertility and a few chronic menstrual issues myself I have never felt so understood and represented before. She also discusses anxiety and how this can effect someones life and relationships.
While the book itself had some heavy topics it is still the cutest, cosiest romance read that will have you giggling, crying and swooning all at the same time.
You certainly don’t have to relate to the characters struggles to love this book but if you do I can guarantee you will feel seen.
Hannah doesn’t give Olive & Fraser the ending many authors would have done and I love this book all the more for it! And the choice of character for the epilogue, just genius, loved it!
I was kindly gifted my copy by the Author herself who I can assure you is just as kind and funny as you would imagine after reading this beautiful story 🤍
BRB running to Amazon to order her other book Same Paige
Thank you again Hannah 💗
The story follows Olive the seemingly grumpy bookseller and her irritating co-worker Fraser and follows them on the most wholesome and real journey I have found in a romance novel.
Hannah addresses some huge topics with such care and realism you can’t help but either relate or feel for her characters. As someone who suffers with infertility and a few chronic menstrual issues myself I have never felt so understood and represented before. She also discusses anxiety and how this can effect someones life and relationships.
While the book itself had some heavy topics it is still the cutest, cosiest romance read that will have you giggling, crying and swooning all at the same time.
You certainly don’t have to relate to the characters struggles to love this book but if you do I can guarantee you will feel seen.
Hannah doesn’t give Olive & Fraser the ending many authors would have done and I love this book all the more for it! And the choice of character for the epilogue, just genius, loved it!
I was kindly gifted my copy by the Author herself who I can assure you is just as kind and funny as you would imagine after reading this beautiful story 🤍
BRB running to Amazon to order her other book Same Paige
Thank you again Hannah 💗
June 6, 2023
3.75 stars. “Charming” is not a word that is often in my vocabulary but it’s exactly the right word for this book. Everything was nicely balanced, just the right amount of angst, the ‘drama’ wasn’t too dramatic, the flow was just right. That said, charming does also border on ‘twee’ at times but I can forgive it.
I thought the epilogue didn’t quite fit with the rest of the book, it was a risk but for me it didn’t pay off. It felt a bit love bomby at times and I would have liked to know if olive found an acceptable treatment for her medical issues. Other than that a nice little book that I enjoyed reading, it wasn’t life changing but it was entertaining and I did laugh out loud a few times which is very rare for me.
I thought the epilogue didn’t quite fit with the rest of the book, it was a risk but for me it didn’t pay off. It felt a bit love bomby at times and I would have liked to know if olive found an acceptable treatment for her medical issues. Other than that a nice little book that I enjoyed reading, it wasn’t life changing but it was entertaining and I did laugh out loud a few times which is very rare for me.
May 7, 2023
Oh how I love these characters.
Hannah and Fraser are just perfect together. We’ve got an amazing case of grump falls in love with sunshine but turns out sunshine is a grump sometimes and grump is almost pure sunshine wrapped in granny curtains? Amazing.
The writing is well paced and allows for true relationship development that is so often missed in romance that you have high hopes for.
Olive branch doesn’t have a extraordinarily crazy third act break up that drags out with no purpose, the disagreement is talked about understood between the characters maturely!?!?!? Who would have thought folks. Personally made me love it even more.💖
This is a PERFECT cosy ready, half set in a bookstore and an old cottage, 100% worth a schedule clear on your day off to step into a cheery world that doesn’t shy away from showing the clouds as well.
Hannah and Fraser are just perfect together. We’ve got an amazing case of grump falls in love with sunshine but turns out sunshine is a grump sometimes and grump is almost pure sunshine wrapped in granny curtains? Amazing.
The writing is well paced and allows for true relationship development that is so often missed in romance that you have high hopes for.
Olive branch doesn’t have a extraordinarily crazy third act break up that drags out with no purpose, the disagreement is talked about understood between the characters maturely!?!?!? Who would have thought folks. Personally made me love it even more.💖
This is a PERFECT cosy ready, half set in a bookstore and an old cottage, 100% worth a schedule clear on your day off to step into a cheery world that doesn’t shy away from showing the clouds as well.
November 9, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
The way Hannah was able to accurately depict the absolutely isolating and gutted feeling of infertility was so truthful and raw. She was able to put into words what thousands of us face. Thank you for weaving all of our feelings and fears into Olive and providing us with a voice that we are sometimes scared to use.
Watching Olive and Fraser’s love unfold was an absolute joy. A wake up on an easy Sunday morning kind of love. I cannot recommend this book enough.
The way Hannah was able to accurately depict the absolutely isolating and gutted feeling of infertility was so truthful and raw. She was able to put into words what thousands of us face. Thank you for weaving all of our feelings and fears into Olive and providing us with a voice that we are sometimes scared to use.
Watching Olive and Fraser’s love unfold was an absolute joy. A wake up on an easy Sunday morning kind of love. I cannot recommend this book enough.
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August 19, 2023was it the best book I've ever read? likely not. but I wanted a cute easy read and I got a cute easy read. also nice that the characters weren't like 22 and still had problems to deal with but tried to get through them with a bit of maturity. plus the epilogue
February 28, 2025
I loved Same Paige and I loved Olive Branch just as much. I really didn't think you could make me like Fraser and yet I am converted. Such a wonderfully easy read that manages to be funny, sad and sweet.
May 7, 2023
Such a pleasure to read. I love the Last Orders world that Hannah Jay has created and look forward to what she writes next.
July 13, 2023
Solid "cosy" read. Finished it in an afternoon. Really enjoyed the character development.
March 15, 2024
3.5 Stars
August 1, 2024
I dove straight into this after reading Same Paige, another book with cosy, easy-to-love characters. It also touches on important topics that so many struggle with! Really good easy read.
December 1, 2023
Oh my heart! Hannah Jay is so talented at writing beautiful and honest love stories, infused with important issues. Anyone with menstrual disorders, infertility struggles, OCD, or anxiety should read this book - you will feel so seen. I absolutely adore Olive and Fraser, and I was so sad their story was ending when I got to the epilogue. Highly recommend this charming rom-com in the Last Orders series! Can’t wait for the next one!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews