Much Ado About You by Samantha Young

SYNOPSIS

At thirty-three-years old Evangeline Starling's life in Chicago is missing that special something. And when she's passed over for promotion at work, Evie realizes she needs to make a change. Some time away to regain perspective might be just the thing. In a burst of impulsivity, she plans a holiday in a quaint English village. The holiday package comes with a temporary position at Much Ado About Books, the bookstore located beneath her rental apartment. There's no better dream vacation for the bookish Evie, a life-long Shakespeare lover.

​Not only is Evie swept up in running the delightful store as soon as she arrives, she's drawn into the lives, loves and drama of the friendly villagers. 

Including Roane Robson, the charismatic and sexy farmer who tempts Evie every day with his friendly flirtations. ​Evie is determined to keep him at bay because a holiday romance can only end in heartbreak, right? But Evie can't deny their connection and longs to trust in her handsome farmer that their whirlwind romance could turn in to the forever kind of love. 

Synopsis from Goodreads

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PERSONAL REVIEW

Is there a better time to read romance novels than in the dreary early days of February? February is honestly the worst month - it's cold, wet, and it feels like the next holiday is ages away! (We're actually lucky in Ontario that we have a long weekend in February, which was added precisely because there was no break between New Year's Day and March Break/Easter. It gets rough here in the winter months...) Love is timeless, but definitely a needed addition in a month where lockdowns are still happening and the cold weather literally forces us to be indoors all the time. So without more ado, here are my thoughts on Much Ado About You.

Love the Premise 
A vacation where you pay to manage a bookstore? This might not be everyone's idea of a restful time, but sign me up! I feel like a lot of book lovers would also jump on the chance to run a bookstore (or am I only one who has always dreamed on spending my days reading, selling, and talking about books?) so the book premise completely made sense to me. Plus, it all takes place in a small village in England. Seriously, sign me up already. Evie is easy to connect with and I loved watching her find her place in Northumberland. Going to the pub every night, developing friendships, meddling in peoples lives (to help, I promise) all makes for a wonderful book and a great background to a love story.

Secondary Characters are Lovely 
I was as much invested in the secondary characters finding their happiness as I was in Evie finding hers, and I love when that happens! I always feel like a book feels more realistic when the secondary characters have more personality and drama than simply revolving around the primary characters. In this case, we get plenty of secondary drama in the form of Caroline, Viola, Lucas, Annie, etc, etc. And I love it! This is a small English village (can anyone else hear the accents while reading?) so it only makes sense that Evie would be involved in lives of those around her. And of course Evie meddles in their lives, but that's super in tune with her character and makes for a more interesting story. Why read about one happy ending when you can read about numerous ones? :)

Wish They Got Together Faster
The biggest drag was how long it took for Evie to finally get together with Roane. It's clear that he adores her and is willing to simply wait for her to make her choice, but man does she really make him (and us!) wait. While I completely agree that it is everyone's prerogative whether or not they want to pursue a relationship with another person, Evie basically acts like a jealous girlfriend while also loudly telling people that she and Roane are just friends. We read about her depressing history with men, but there's not enough texture there for me to completely sympathize with how long it takes her to finally jump Roane. Better late than never, but I would've loved to see them together as a couple a bit longer before the inevitable fight happens. 

Overall, this was such a fun read! I flew through this book and think it was the perfect way to break up a cold and dreary February week. I'd recommend Much Ado About You to anyone who enjoys lighthearted romance novels, those who are fans of Samantha Young, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, or Lori Foster, or anyone looking for a fun read during this month of love. This was my first adult novel by Samantha Young but I'm definitely going to go find more from her!

FINAL RATING: 4/5

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