Member Reviews

What a super story,  you just have to love a book that leaves you with that warm glowing feeling, and at this moment in time I could light up a small village. Wherever this place is I want to live there and be part of it. What lovely full bodied characters there are. Evie, although she had the roughest of starts finally became foster child of Irene and they were just perfect for each other. Although Evie is a young woman now and got her own place, she and her foster mum had even worked together at the library until Irene retired and they still went to book events together. It was like Irene was the common sense factor in Evie’s life, the one that taught her that not all the world is a bad place.
One of my favourite characters though has to be Evie’s newly acquired house mate, Clara. Clara was already Evie’s best friend and works with her at the library but she is more the good fun factor in Evie’s life, or to put it bluntly, the bad influence but in the best possible way. Just loved these two together.
Christie Barlow has not only created an abundance of romantic threads in this story that are all so very different, she has woven into these a couple of mysteries to be solved too. It all makes for a very exciting and heart warming read.  This is a super book for any chic lit lovers and book lovers too. You will find that you probably have quite a lot in common with the main characters, I certainly did. It is always  such a delight when this happens, the characters feel more real and you understand their line of thought.
Now the men in this book, well what can I say other than I really would like to live there. Seriously they are super characters that have their own insecurities too, crossed lines and misunderstanding. It all makes for a super read. A Lovely book, with a big recommend to buy.

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In need of a light, charming story? This one is for you. Evie went through the foster system, but ended up with Irene, a surrogate mother. As a librarian, Irene taught Evie to enjoy reading and Evie also becomes a librarian. As she researches her birth mother, Evie has her best friend, Clara, move in with her. Many unrealistic coincidences, but a nice escapist read.

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A light easy read with some likeable characters and good plot ideas just slightly spoiled for me by one too many coincidences to exist in reality.
I loved the setting of the characters centered around a Library and book club which I think was a unique and special back drop. It could just be worked better to me by being a bit more gritty and a little more relatable

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I have to start by mentioning that absolutely beautiful cover, all of Barlow’s covers are so pretty, but this one makes me want to climb on that bench next to Evie and read a book, it’s so cute! Evie is quite the adorable character as well, she’s a twenty three year old librarian, so this story is a book lovers dream. Besides plenty of scenes inside the library, I could totally relate to Evie and her best friend Clara’s obsession with authors, I may fangirl myself from time to time. Especially when one of my favorites follows me on Twitter. There may be squealing and giggle. Maybe. Moving on, Evie hasn’t had the easiest upbringing, she was taken into foster care as soon as she was born and didn’t find any real connection until she came into contact with Irene, her adoptive mother. These two have the loveliest bond, it was special and beautiful. Now Evie has decided to try and find her birth mother and though she’s scared, it’s time for her to start taking some risks.

When I read a romantic comedy I’m not really expecting that many twists but I was pleasantly surprised by how many turns this book took! It was a real emotional roller coaster as I vacillated from laughter, to sadness, then I was smiling through my tears. Barlow really knows how to craft authentic characters and besides the wonderful Evie I loved many more that were part of this charming story. Aiden is her new coworker, a single father with an adorably charming son, Theo, then there’s Wilson, the UPS man, and Noah an author who Evie admires. All of these men were likable and lovely, I couldn’t get enough of them. When you want to befriend every character in a book you know the author has done a wonderful job.

This was a sweet, uplifting read about what happens when you step outside of your comfort zone, totally feel good and gorgeous, but with some surprises along the way.

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O…M…G! Christie Barlow has made me sob like a baby with her latest book! I was an emotional wreck by the end of it and I just wanted to stay with all the wonderful characters in Evie’s world-saying goodbye to them was a real wrench for me which doesn’t happen very often. But everything about Evie and her family and friends felt incredibly real to me and even now, a full 24 hours later, I feel so invested in them, I am unable to start a new book.

Evie has my dream job of working in a library. She gets to meet authors who visit and that’s how she first meets Noah Jones, whom she’s still thinking about months later. On her birthday she is surprised to receive a personally signed copy of a book by her favourite author, Sam Stone, which “magically” appears for her at work. This is the catalyst for Evie to make some major decisions about her life and so starts a year that Evie will never forget.

I loved everything about this book. All the characters were relatable and likeable. The plot was both humorous and heart wrenching in equal measures and the way the strands came together was just so cleverly woven together. I became totally engrossed right from the beginning, Evie just had a natural charisma that made me feel very maternal towards her especially as she was the same age as my daughters. And I desperately wanted that Happy Ever After for her, both romantically and personally. At one point in particular, I cried my eyes out out which put me in a highly emotional state for the rest of the book. You would think at my age I would be much more cynical about romance and life, wouldn’t you?! But Evie’s Year of Taking Chances just seemed to bury itself deep into my heart and I adored every minute of it. I also want to mention the book club attended by the characters here which is based on the real-life Mims cafe and book club in Staffordshire. It’s a place I have heard so much about on Social media and am desperate to visit, even more so now!

I have enjoyed all of Christie’s previous books but for me this is her best so far and my absolute favourite. I thoroughly recommend it for fans of romantic comedy. Just make sure you have a HUGE box of tissues and (unlike me!!) waterproof mascara on just to be on the safe side! An irresistible book about finding love but more importantly, finding yourself.

Thank you to Bookouture for my review copy of Evie’s Year of Taking Chances which I have chosen to read and review.

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I've said it before and will probably say it many times in the future but Bookouture really do the best covers for all of their wonderful authors. This new book from Christie Barlow is no exception and the cover for Evie's Year of Taking Chances is simply stunning. It's simple yet does the job it sets out to do which is make you want to reach for this book from the shelves and dive in. The colours are eye catching and make this such a beautiful cover and thankfully within the bright, inviting cover is a lovely, heart warming and emotional story waiting to be read. Once you pick up this book you will find it increasingly hard to put down. I would have read it all in one sitting only work and general ongoings in life got in the way.

I only started reading Christie's books last year when I read and adored Kitty's Countryside Dream. Christie has such a lovely flow to her writing and although one would think her books could be typical of the chick lit genre I find beneath all the sweetness and light that definitely needs to be in a book of this genre is quite often a story with lots of hidden messages and many things for the reader to take from what they have just read. The story of Evie and her decision to take to grab life by the horns was a joy to read and I really didn't want it to end so caught up was I in all the goings on.

Evie right from chapter one was an instantly likeable character that the more you read through the story, the more you wanted a positive outcome for her and one that you knew she would find happiness and that it would last forever. What also drew me so much to Evie was that she worked in a library and adored books just like many of the people who will probably pick up this book. I mean who doesn't love a book featuring books and libraries, it's a bookworms dream. The bookish chat and camaraderie in the library was just so lovely to read about and it was evident Evie was very happy in this aspect of her life. If only all the other sections could fall into place one could say she leads a life of perfection. Even better was a Mim's bookclub which featured and in books you often wished places like this existed and it was a delight to discover that this was actually the case.

Evie has just turned 22 and lives in Marbury. She is independent and stands on her own two feet, living in her own home and enjoying her job. Yet life has not always been plain sailing for Evie and even now there is that niggling feeling of discontentment ever present at the back of her heart and mind. When she was younger she had spent many years in and out of the foster system pulled and pushed from pillar to post until finally settling with Irene who became like her birth mother. A deep connection was forged between the pair which remained evident throughout the story. At any point in time that Evie needed advice or if she wasn't seeking help from the simply brilliant character of best friend and co-worker Clara then it was Irene she turned to. Even though Irene herself had recently retired from the library at all times she was there for Evie. Not once was Irene pushy or in your face instead she was a character who was utilised to perfection, there with the right words of comfort or advice when needed or else bubbling away in the background with her own little lovely storyline.

With her birthday Evie makes a decision, all the questions regarding her birth mother need answering. She feels she can't go on not knowing the truth of her birth and the ever supportive Irene backs her all the way. Clara does too and I loved how forthright and honest she was whilst at the same time retained such a sense of fun and humour as she battled on a daily basis with her love life problems. But this was all done with such wit and warmth that it didn't take from Evie's problems instead it provided laugh out loud moments and a nice balance to what Evie was experiencing. Evie decides to contact the Salvation Army who can set the wheels in motion to locate her birth mother and from then she juggles many balls while waiting for confirmation.

What make this book such a wonderful, engaging read was that there were many little sub plots working away and none of them ever became too shoved upon the reader. Instead they slipped in and out at just the appropriate time and one never dominated over the other. The entire focus of the story could have been on this big, big search to find her birth mother instead it felt so realistic that Evie began her quest but at the same she had to continue to lead her normal life as answers don't just appear immediately and we have to keep going on a daily basis even though a million thoughts and emotions are constantly running through our mind and at times driving us crazy.

This wouldn't have been such a great read without the inclusion of some romance and the introduction of new librarian Aiden, with his young son and author Noah Jones – whom Evie has the biggest crush on, added some sparkle to the story and counteracted the seriousness of what Evie was going through outside of the library as she waited for news which would inevitably change her life. I never could decide just how things would work out for everybody regarding any of the given situations explored throughout the story although there was something gnawing away at me regarding one particular character but I couldn't establish the connections.

The story as a whole moved along at just the right pace nothing felt forced or rushed or out of place and my love for the characters grew the deeper I got into the story. There was a great mystery element to the story not just surrounding the location and identity of Evie's birth mother but also who exactly the author Sam Stone was and why certain mysterious and unexpected things happened to Evie? The author kept me guessing regarding everything until the very end and that's what a good book should do. Evie is seeking closure in more ways than one and in order to discover whether she achieves this I strongly suggest you pick up a copy of Evie's Year of Taking Chances as soon as you can. It's a little gem of a book with such a brilliant, feel good factor.

I really hope Christie will provide her readers with another book this year, I just can't seem to get enough of her writing and would happily sit all day and read her excellent books.

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Well, what a wonderful story this is!
Having read and loved Lizzie's Christmas Escape in December, I jumped at the chance to read Evie's Year of Taking Chances and I am so glad I did. It's a lovely story which made me smile often and cry also. It's a very emotional read and one I am sure many will relate to in some way.
I loved that Mim's cafe is featured. I haven't visited the real one, but have heard so many good things about it.
Evie hasn't had the happiest of childhoods, but since being fostered by Irene life has been better. Irene has always treated her as her own and she loves her dearly for it. They have a lovely relationship. Evie loves her job as a librarian and she has her own little two up two down which she loves. She has always wondered about her birth mother though. As she celebrates another Birthday she decides it's time to take the plunge and start a search. She has no idea if her mother will want to be found or even if she is still alive, but she must try.
As she waits for news, half expecting there not to be any, she learns that handsome author, Noah Jones, will be in town for a book signing soon. She had met Noah some months ago and he had been on her mind ever since. Her best friend, Clara, encourages her to follow him on Twitter and it seems he hasn't forgotten her either. Could this be the start of a beautiful romance?
It isn't long before The Salvation Army get in touch with Evie. They have found her mother and she's written her a letter. Nothing could prepare Evie for what had happened though or who in fact her mother actually is! She experiences a roller-coaster of emotions as she uncovers the truth.
Evie's Year of Taking Chances is a completely compelling story, full of the most wonderful characters with heart-warming and sometimes heart-breaking stories to tell. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them all! It's full of surprises and I do love a happy ending. I highly recommend to anyone looking for an uplifting story with characters you'll fall in love with.
Many thanks, as always, to Bookouture for my auto-approval status on Netgalley and to Kim Nash for inviting me to be a part of the blog tour :-)

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Overall, I enjoyed this quick easy read. It was fun to get to know Evie and her friends and see where life took them. However, I'm left a bit confused by the title. The events of the story took place over the course of maybe a couple months, with the majority focused around the couple weeks after her birthday. It definitely didn't cover a year of her life.

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The beginning of the book sets things up brilliantly as you are introduced to Evie and her friend Clara. I got a great feeling for both Evie's character and personality. With her love of books making me instantly like her. You really can feel Evie's love of books and reading jumping out from the pages. So as a bookworm myself it is so easy to feel a kinship with her. All of the characters that feature in this story are well rounded with distinct personalities. They all had a great story to share and it felt at times as if I had become a part of their world.

Evie's Year Of Taking Chances is such an enjoyable book especially as it felt so down to earth and natural to read. I really felt as if the characters could be people I knew, along with the fact that some if the personality traits were similar to my own.

I have to mention that as soon as I got to the bit about fish finger sandwiches I was off into the kitchen to make some for myself, yum!

There were some emotionally charged moments within this book but they were sensitively handled. My heart almost broke for Evie on occasion and I have to say I shed a tear or two. The best thing was how well the transition from any sad moments to more light hearted moments was. The story flowed effortlessly and I really didn't want to put the book down.

I love that Christie Barlow writes such wonderful characters that I always find myself attached to. This book is a perfect example with engaging characters and a heart felt story.

Emotional at times but beautifully written and filled with love, friendship and feel good moments.

Five big, big stars from me!

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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This was such a lovely book, with the ups and downs of Evie's life brilliantly described.

The characters in this book were warm and relatable and I found myself holding my breath a couple of times and wondering how things were going to work out!

There are more coincidences in this book than you can poke a stick at but somehow the author makes it all work and I was swept along by the story and thinking that I would really like all these people if I met them in real life.

Highly recommended from me :)

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture.

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A charming chick lit story of Evie, a young woman who learns to come to terms with a difficult past. who has found her niche as a librarian and although her home is small and shabby round the edges, it's her own and she loves it.

The other characters, such as Clara her best friend who is always the optimist and stops her falling into melancholy, Aiden her work colleague with problems of his own, Irene who has always been a mother to her, Elle, Josh and Wilson etc. all of whom to the library and Evie herself, but something is missing. Evie was abandoned as a baby and wants to know who her birth mother is. But does she have the courage to go looking for her?

I felt the story was very slow to get going as the first chapters consisted of Evie's journey to work, her day at the library, lunch with Clara, going home to her cottage and making her tea etc etc. However the plot does gather pace as it goes on and lovers of chick lit will certainly enjoy this gentle story, sweet emotions and the satisfactory ending, thus it deserves the good rating despite the fact there are a couple of implausible coincidences in the plot - but then life is full of them.

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This was a well written, easy to read book. I was so engaged and lost in the story that I only took two days to finish it! I highly recommend this book. The characters are relatable and interesting. There is so much drama, romance and suspense packed into each page, yet it is not overwhelming and flows well. I can not wait to check out more from this author!

So happy to have the opportunity to read this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

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Another excellent book from Christie. I enjoyed the fact it involved books as well.

Some very interesting twists and turns in this feel good romance and I read for half an hour longer than I intended so I could finish it before bed time.

(Where can I find my own Noah)? ;)

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Lovely feelgood book. great characters and an interesting story

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loved this book from beginning to end.

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As a book lover myself I was drawn to Evie, who is a librarian. She happily spends her day surrounded by books, dreaming of a man she has a secret crush on. With a fun, loyal best friend, and a foster mum she loves dearly, her life seems pretty good, yet Evie feels that something is missing. Until the age of 15 she had a sad childhood, passed from one foster home to another, never feeling loved or secure. Despite having a wonderful foster mum, on her 23rd birthday she decides to find her birth mother and that is where her emotional journey begins.
This book is an easy, girly read that has has a bit of everything, romance, emotion, friendship and secrets, and I was sucked into it very easily. It is a positive story about taking chances and never knowing what is around the next corner – and there are a lot of surprises in store for Evie, both good and bad. Towards the end things are resolved with more than a few happy coincidences as things fall into place but if you want a light, uplifting story this would be perfect. 3.5*

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This is written in a very pleasant way and I loved Evie, but it seemed the story was never taking off. This was actually not my cup of tea, but I certainly can see the charm of it and think it will be highly rated by lovers of chick lit.

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Evie's Year of Taking Chances,  Christie Barlow

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction

I really, really wanted to like this book, loved the sound of it,loved the cover and was confinced it would be a story I'd enjoy.
I thought it would be one of those reads that are light and funny, but which have periods of depth and some solid romance.  

Everyone seems to love Evie, so why didn’t I?
I didn’t dislike her, but somehow I didn’t particularly like her either, there wasn’t anything special that made me feel “this girl deserves.....” Her story was sad but then few of us lead the perfect life.
I need to really “feel” a person, to read them as if they are real, would be a friend in real life, someone I want good things to happen to. with Evie I just felt like an onlooker to her life, not someone there in the story with her.

 Noah gets mentioned a few times in passing as an author, and given she only interacted very briefly with him at an afternoon event she’s wound an extraordinary amount of feelings about him into her fantasies.
If we’d actually got to meet him but...I’m almost at the halfway mark, and we still haven’t actually met him in person, all we have is a few random tweets aimed at Evie. And what feels like some teen fangirling by Evie and her friend...
I just don’t like the story enough to continue waiting for him, and the mystery that’s going to come out.

Its a well written story, there are some fun characters here and I can see its a book others love, so you may also.
Its one of those cases where its not the book its me, we just don’t gel, it wasn’t what I was expecting. Maybe I’ll come back to it another time and feel differently but for now I'm just not in the right mind-set, am not enjoying it enough to finish it.

Stars: Two, a good book, just not one for me.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

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I really enjoyed Evie's Year of Taking Chances. Christie Barlow's latest offering fills you with warmth and it's such a lovely story to read.

Following her latest birthday, Evie begins a year of finding love, friendship and living life to the full. From mysterious parcels being left on her desk at work to meeting a handsome author, this book will draw you into the lives of the characters. Beautifully written I was engrossed in the story from the first page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Christie Barlow for the chance to review.

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading Evie's Year of. Taking Chances, I loved everything about it, perfect, likeable characters, sad but a lovely read all at the same time!

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