I really wanted to love this book because I could relate to many of the issues involved in the story but sadly I found myself reading further to become more immersed in the story.

Emma Forsyth is searching for a new life and happiness after having her heart broken. At forty she leaves her stewardess job to try to become an actress something she has always longed for.

I found the start of the book a bit disjointed and was confused with new characters who seemed to join and leave the story without much involvement. The theatre scenes were a bit overdone in my opinion.

The second half of the book I really enjoyed, Emma’s second chance was inspirational and a great message of self care and following dreams at any age was brilliantly portrayed in the book

This overall was a gentle feel good read .

They’re calling it “a fantastically feel-good romantic comedy” – and so it is, but this is a book that will win the heart of every woman who has ever dreamed that their life could be different, a joyful affirmation that it’s never too late for a new start. Emily won my heart from the very beginning as she walked away from her former life (and love-rat Nigel), into her new home amid a landlady’s eccentric collection of knick-knacks, trying to make ends meet while attending the glorious Portia’s acting classes.

There’s a massive cast of characters in this book, as Emily moves from her first small pub stage, through a season in rep, then onto other things – and every single character is a delight, perfectly drawn, with their own little backstory, so cleverly done. Friends, employers, fellow actors – I particularly loved the young security guard who agrees to bring an enthusiastic audience to one of her early performances in exchange for taking her for a meal, and the elderly couple (her parents in On Golden Pond) who find some unexpected joy in their later life. There are lots of little side-stories woven into the plot, beautifully handled – while Emily continued to cycle through the rain into an uncertain future, and the pages turn faster as you hope things will finally work out for her. The romantic thread is also perfect – I lost my heart to Francesco too, but I was already feeling a bit emotional because of the support Emily had from everyone involved in that gorgeous Italian restaurant.

It really is a great story, filled with love and the most wonderful supportive friendships – but this is a “romantic comedy”, so it’s also very, very funny. The humour comes from the situations in which Emily finds herself, and some of the stories from her time in rep had me laughing out loud in a way I rarely do – a sequence of perfectly described little scenes, always with an essence of authenticity and a well-handled feel for the ridiculous. Other than the book’s opening few pages with their lists and slightly quirky feel (which did, I’ll admit, put me off a little, so don’t let them the same for you), the writing is excellent – it hits its stride into a lovely blend of strong story-telling and wry humour, with a heroine at its centre who becomes your new very best friend. And those times when Emily finds herself amid beautifully described mountain scenery and wants to twirl like Maria in The Sound of Music? I wanted to dance along with her…

Knowing the author’s own story, this book has to be the strongest argument ever for “write what you know” – and she’s done it quite superbly, with a joyous and uplifting read that so many will love every bit as much as I did. Just wonderful.

The Start of Something Wonderful has some lovely moments, and some funny ones as well. But it mostly feels like a collection of anecdotes instead of a novel. The plot (if it can be called that) is all over the place and more than once I was a little confused about where we were all of a sudden or who all those people were. It just didn’t flow in any way.
The subtitle calls The Start of Something Wonderful a romantic comedy. I don’t think it’s funny enough to be a comedy. It also isn’t particularly romantic. There’s a romantic subplot but it has no depth whatsoever. I’ve got no idea why they’re even attracted to each other. I thought the ending was strange and disappointing, but I guess it might be the set up for a sequel.
I thought the story might be one of self-discovery but that’s not quite right either. Emily does seem to find her way from giving up her job as a flight attendant to becoming a professional actress, but again we stay pretty much on the surface. We read about the events but not about the emotions.
While the book clearly lacks focus, it isn’t bad. Lots of the scenes are fun and it’s interesting to see how the stage world works. I just feel there was so much more potential.
3 stars

I read the synopsis for this book and I immediately knew that I just had to read ‘The Start Of Something Wonderful’ as it sounded just my kind of read. Not only that but it would give me hope for my own career/ life as I am fast approaching the age of *whispers quietly* 40 and I have dreams of my own. I was not to be disappointed on both fronts. I absolutely loved ‘The Start Of Something Wonderful’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me a short while to warm to Emily Forsyth, as her initial manner isn’t exactly what you might call warm and welcoming. She can actually be quite cutting. However, warm to her I did and I found that she is actually a woman with a huge heart but she is almost crippled by self doubt and a lack of self confidence, which isn’t helped by the fact that her other half dumps her. For example when anybody pays her a compliment, she bats it back by being critical of herself. I get the impression that she has been badly hurt in the past and this has understandably knocked her confidence. When she goes to follow her dreams, she is initially reluctant to do so because it means going out of her comfort zone but she knows that if she wants to have a stab at her dream career, she needs to put herself out there and get out of her comfort zone. It’s far too easy to stay within your comfort zone, where it’s safe and you don’t put yourself at risk of upset and heartache. This made total sense to me as it is something that I have been told many times during my pain clinic therapy sessions. In a way, I admired Emily for having the guts to go after her dream career as it gave me hope for my own life. Okay so to start with things didn’t go well but she persevered and finally she got her much deserved success and found happiness. If you don’t try, then you will never know what might have been, as the saying goes. Emily certainly went on a journey of self discovery and she discovered what really is important in life and all the things she thought were important in her previous life as an air hostess have no meaning for her anymore and are rather superficial. Friends, family, health, happiness and doing what makes you happy are just some of the things that are more important to Emily no. Emily also has a tendency to get herself into some scrapes but she soon gets herself out of them again. On more than one occasion I found myself chuckling along at the next mess she got herself into. In the end I was rooting for her and I began to almost see her as a friend.
Once I picked up ‘The Start Of Something Wonderful’ I found that I just couldn’t put the book down and before I knew it, I had read 20%. The writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn into the story and reading this book then becomes seriously addictive. I didn’t notice how quickly the pages flew past as I was so into the story and so desperate to find out what happened next. It was almost as if the book was glued to my hand as it came everywhere with me. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case, as I managed to just focus on the book and shut out all other noise.
The book has a serious message but manages to convey the message using drama and humour. The message being that it is never too late to follow your dreams and if this means having to go outside your comfort zone then just do it. As I alluded to before this is something I have been told many times, but I have never put it into practice until now. I really did feel as though I had been on an emotional rollercoaster ride after I had finished this book because I empathised so much with Emily, that when she felt sad, happy, had feelings of despair, had feelings of hope etc, so did I.
In short, I absolutely loved this heart warming, funny and feel good book and I sincerely hope that there is a sequel in the offing because I need to know what happens next. I would recommend this book to others. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved, easy 5* out of 5*

What now?  When forty-year-old Emily Forsyth's pilot boyfriend, Nigel, dumps her it seems that her life as a glamorous, jet setting flight attendant is lacking.  Why not follow her dream of becoming an actress?  She did put her life on hold after she met Nigel, but there is nothing or no one holding her back now.   With no job, no money and no home, she adapts to her new life with humor, courage and determination.

Who needs therapy or self-help books to mend a broken heart? All you need do is follow these three easy steps: a) Give up your well-paid, secure, and interesting job. b) Sell your comfortable home and move into someone’s poky back room, complete with resident psychocat. c) Forgo all luxuries and live from hand to mouth doing menial jobs.

Emily's exploits are hilarious from a short-term job as a jewelry sales person to a presenter for a shopping channel and a commercial tryout of eating cold pasta with gusto ("think When Harry Met Sally, think ... think ... orgasmic!").

When she finally finds her steady niche job as a waitress in an Italian restaurant and meets the attractive and very Italian Francesco, Emily's life starts looking up.  Her acting jobs start to increase and become more promising, but her time with Francesco becomes fewer and farther between.  She has worked so hard to get to this point.  Is she ready to give up her dream again?

Though this is a work of fiction, I have to wonder if some of these experiences were pulled from her life as a "cabin crew" member and actor.  Emily's adventures are exciting and funny and her journey to discover herself and be happy with her life choices is nothing to be scoffed at.  As a woman "of a certain age", I can relate to Emily's circumstances and thought processes.  This is a great read and Lambert's humor and sincerity are a breath of fresh air.  If you like humorous women's fiction,  you'll enjoy this debut novel.

The Start of Something Wonderful was previously published as Learning to Fly.

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Jane Lambert and I believe she will be one to watch in the romcom literary world!

Emily Forsyth is in her early 40's and has been an air stewardess for as long as she can remember.  She loves the lifestyle that this occupation brought with it but following the break-up of her long standing relationship with her pilot boyfriend Emily decides to dry her tear-stained eyes, dust herself down and pursue a dream she's held for a long time.  A dream of acting.  Moving jobs, moving house, changing her relationship status can be a stressful time but Emily doesn't hold back now she has the momentum to change.  Enrolling in an acting course is the start but she can't live off her meagre savings for long.  So Emily needs to find a part-time job to fit it and around her classes.

We follow Emily on her quest to fulfil her dreams but will life run smoothly for her?

Jane Lambert has created such a great character in Emily; she is warm and funny and has a new passion to change her life.  I also loved all the sub-characters that blended in perfectly around Emily's new lifestyle.  We were treated  to some fabulously funny scenes and also some beautiful tender romantic moments.  But the ending OMG! ...  I am chuffed to bits to hear that there will be a sequel to this novel as I can't wait to read how Emily's life is fairing now.  A fabulously funny heartwarming romance.

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
The Start of Something Wonderful is a lovely novel that shows it is never too late to follow a dream. When Emily’s boyfriend breaks up with her it makes her realise that the job she had wasn’t what she wanted, despite giving her an often glamorous lifestyle. She decides to train to become an actress and this novel shows how hard but how rewarding her journey was.
At first she struggled, taking acting jobs that could be humiliating but were also well-paying. And she also had to do jobs that would supplement her income. It is from one of these jobs that she finds somebody that she starts to have feelings for.
I found parts of the novel to be very amusing, especially her accounts of working in rep, a scene that involves a bicycle and her memories of the not as glam as you think life as an air stewardess.
I wanted her to find love again, and to be happy. Not to feel that she was letting people down and to give herself a break. And I wanted her dream to become a reality. I wasn’t sure if I felt happy or sad at the end. I’m sure there will be others who feel the same.
A heart warming novel for a miserable January day.

3.5☆ Mishaps and Mayhem, Starting Over!

The Start of Something wonderful is a book about starting over, new careers, friendship, finding potential romance.

Emily was an air hostess, well that was until she quit her job because of Nigel her ex pilot boyfriend.

Now jobless, homeless, no other job experience she sets out to find a temporary Job whilst trying to make it in the acting world.

It's a cut throat world In the acting business so Emily is on the look out for anything.

Emily isn't necessarily lucky in the job front. With no experience we follow Emily on her Crazy adventures to find a job and fit in.
The one place she truly feels happy is at
Il Mulino a quaint Italian restaurant.
Especially when Francesco starts working there. His Italian Charm sweeps Emily off her feet. But how long will it last for?

I adored the dynamics of Emily and her friends, Wendy, Céline, Rachel and Faye, they are all so very different but their bond and friendship is amazing.Truly heart warming!

There are some fabulous comedy moments, that had me laughing out loud.
I was swept away with the Italian language used within the restaurant although I am so grateful for the translate button on the kindle app as I have always wanted to learn the language of love!

The only reason I didn't give a 4☆ rating was purely for the fact the acting scenes were somewhat long and a little confusing where it jumped from different  scenes.
I thought some of the play dialogue, although relevant to the storyline, I felt it could of been cut down.
It was a little too much.

I completely understand the job interviews, disatourous tv jobs, having an insight into the other aspect of plays like costumes, scenery, sounds etc..  I enjoyed those bits very much.

Jane has researched all about the acting world very thoroughly.
However it would of been great to read more about Emily's experiences as an actress in her 40s, with no experience breaking into the acting scene.
Rather than acting out the actual plays.

I would of loved to have seen more of her relationships with the girls. They were fantastic characters and their backstories were so intriguing I would of loved more.

Overall a great read if you a looking for a fun read with some fab laugh out loud moments and are interested in drama and acting, Then this is Definetly the book for you!

I really enjoyed this story, I loved that Emily was 40 and had a lot of life experience behind her - there are a lot of books in this genre that feature younger leads so this one was a refreshing change for me (and Emily is more my age)!

I thought that the story was great and I really enjoyed it, it is an impressive debut and I am definitely going to be looking put for more from this author after reading this, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and it really helped bring the characters to life. It was a really nice read - and a lovely way for me to pass an afternoon - 4 stars from me!

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I loved the sound of this book from the start, because it includes theatre, the West End and much more.


The main character is Emma Forsyth, who is a forty-year-old stewardess, has everything and is happy with her pilot boyfriend. However, he breakes up with her and that’s when everything changes. She gets into a big crisis and needs a change. She finally follows her dreams and wants to become a successful actress, hopefully on the West End.

She goes from casting to audition and tries out for various roles, whether it’s for a TV series, play or musical. I loved getting inside into this industry and I really wanted her to land a dream role. To actually afford living, she starts working at an Italian restaurant, where she meets some great people. They become a big part of her life and also help her along the way.

I really liked the idea behind this book, but the plot moved way to fast for my taste. There were big jumps and therefore also gaps in the storyline. I felt that it got messy at times and details were missing.

Tghe message behind it is very clear though and I think Emma is a great main character and I loved following her around. She takes a second chance at life and learns a lot. Of course the riomance part is very important to mention as well, let me just say: Italian charm.

A very sweet and adorable read, not more unfortunately.

Rating: 3.5/5

Now when I first read the blurb for this book I knew it was going to be a cheesy, contemporary story. Honestly, it was and it didn't disappoint. The cover of the book is also very eye-catching and one of the things that drew me to the book after a little research. 

The story revolves around Emily, who is a forty-year-old woman who decides is not too late to follow her dreams. Therefore she completely changes her life and tries to pursue an acting career. She's a great character and has some really good personality points which make you instantly like her. 

There's also a great cast of characters who are entertaining and will have you laughing along as you read the book. I really got on with the humour in this story. 

Lambert's writing style is a breeze to read and really sucks you into the story. I really liked that the heroine wasn't a young whippersnapper of nineteen or twenty. There's a theme of hope and encouragement throughout this novel and it really makes one want to strive for their dreams. 

Overall, this was a fun and well-written story and that I would highly recommend.

Emily Forsyth worked for Amy Air for most of her life, she had the beautiful apartment, flash car, enough designer items to open her own shop and a pilot boyfriend, Nigel, who she loved dearly.

When Nigel announces that he’s leaving, Emily takes the news badly. After some pet talking from her friends she realises that it’s the perfect time to follow her heart and have a go at being an actress, a job she has always wanted to do, before it’s too late, or is 40 too late already?

There has to be some sacrifices, though to becoming an actress including living in someones backroom instead of the swanky apartment, riding a bike not a flashy car and doing lots of low paid jobs just to bring some money in.

Was Emily right to quit her job and follow her heart? Time will tell.

The Start of Something Wonderful is pure chick-lit and a real joy to read. Emily is a lovely character, far stronger than she thinks she is. I mean, how many of us would have the bottle to change careers at 40? Especially if it meant giving up a life of luxury and stepping into the unknown – not many I would guess.

From the opening chapter to the final page I was captivated by this book. It has that ‘just one more chapter’ pull, although my only crumble is that the chapters are really long, so that one more chapter could see me sat for another 20 minutes reading, although, that’s not something to really complain about!

The plot is filled with lots of amusing scenes, weaved within uplifting, thought-provoking, heartwarming scenes. If you take anything away from this book, it is that it is never too late to follow your dream.

You can tell from the writing that Ms. Lambert has first hand experience of Emily’s situation and if this book is anything to go by, as well as acting, she is also a brilliant novelist.

I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Lambert, and especially more about Emily.

Emily is a glamorous 40 year old air stewardess who has everything - a beautiful home, an amazing lifestyle, a wardrobe any woman would be jealous of and a rather lovely pilot boyfriend.  What more could she possibly want?  Unfortunately she is forced to seriously consider this when that lovely pilot boyfriend blindsides her and dumps her.

At 40 years old she expected to be married with children.  Instead, she finds herself single and at a crossroads in her life.  What does she really want?  Whilst dealing with her heartbreak Emily thinks back over the dreams she has had that have passed her by as she has got on with her life.  She realises that what she has in front of her is a world of opportunity, and the possibility of reclaiming those dreams for herself.  So she quits her job, joins an acting class and seeks to become the actress that she never thought she would be.

Firstly I loved that this novel wasn't about some twenty-something beautiful young woman who has life handed to her on a plate.  Emily is relatable because she is a normal woman who has dreams, just like the rest of us, that often get pushed to one side due to the bills we have to pay as well as the influence of our friends and family.  Finding herself at a crossroads in her life, I found myself rooting for her as she decided to completely change her life in pursuit of a dream she thought was long forgotten. 

I liked the fact that acting wasn't easy for her, and that she didn't just walk into major acting roles.  She has to work at it (sometimes whilst scrubbing toilets in her spare time!) in order to gain her next role, not even knowing if that acting role would enable her to pay her bills.  The portrayal of this is important in this novel, and makes it all the more relatable because life and dreams are not easy, there are always obstacles thrown in our way.

The interactions between Emily, Luigi and everyone at Il Mulino are really lovely and were a highlight for me.  It really is a family run restaurant, a family that wholeheartedly embraces and supports Emily as she pushes forward to forge a career in an incredibly difficult business.  My only disappointment surrounding Il Mulino was the relationship between Emily and Francesco.  I do love a bit of romance in my novels, and whilst I wanted to see Emily grab some romantic happiness I also did not want to see her acting dreams oppressed by the addition of a relationship.  I am pleased to confirm that this did not happen, however I never really felt invested in the relationship between Emily and Francesco.  Instead, I found myself anticipating things going wrong between them.  Maybe it was the regular distance between them, or maybe it was the fact that I just wanted to see Emily succeed in her acting career without any distractions, but this was one relationship that I just struggled to relate to.

Do not let my analysis of this one relationship put you off though.  Beyond this, I really enjoyed following Emily's story as she dealt with the ups and downs of such a significant life change.  It really does leave you feeing that anything is possible if you really are willing to work for it.  If you are looking for an inspiring novel about female determination, this is a novel for you!

This is a book many women will identify with - at forty something Emily Forsyth is at a crossroads and determined to make it as an actress. Her mother just wants her to settle down but fortunately her friends are supportive. I loved the route she took to get to where she wanted to be, even if it wasn't the most direct, she didn't let setbacks stop her and her career in rep is brilliantly funny. The story is told in a simple way but the themes are far-reaching. A really thought-provoking read that will hopefully encourage others to grab life by the shirt tails and make of it what they can - no more waiting for missed opportunities.

Wouldn't we all like to start over. To have the nerve and gumption to let go of the past and follow our dreams? Go on. You can admit it. I do. This is exactly what happens in The Start of Something Wonderful. We join unlucky in love Emily Forsyth just as she is about to leave behind her career with an international airline to follow her life long dream of appearing on the stage. It won't be easy and Emily knows that her dreams are stardom are as distant as a long haul flight to Melbourne, but it doesn't stop her. And what ensues is romantic, funny, heart warming and a little inspiring. If only we could all be so brave.

From the early days in drama school, to a problem ridden rep season in the north of England and a one woman show in the safe confines of the Italian restaurant Emily works in to pay the bills, she has the grit and determination to succeed if only she can find the nerve and the right agent. Given only the roles which others turn down, can she turn her early disasters into success or will a possible romance with chef and part time Italian tutor Francesco derail all her plans?

I love a bit of theatre, I really do, and so the whole premise of this book appealed to me. Not necessarily because I have designs on a life on the stage. I tried that as a child and boy am I not suited. Not suited at all. But I can kind of identify with Emily. Not the being jilted by a two timing boyfriend bit. I'm not that daft. But being the forty something woman with a kind of hankering after reinventing herself, or at least following her dreams, I can understand that sentiment for sure. Unlike Emily, I have literally no idea what that dream may be, but hey. This isn't about me now, is it?

I think readers young and old will identify with Emily. With her hopes and dreams. You can certainly admire her tenacity. So many times when it would have been easier to turn back and not follow her chosen path and yet she doesn't perhaps the benefit of experience but perhaps also something more. It certainly makes her very likeable and there I found myself nodding along with her, recognising her doubts and her struggles. So many times she made me smile, I really wanted to see her succeed.

Jane Lambert has done a great job in creating character in this novel. Not only do you have a really interesting and well rounded character in Emily, but her friends and family are also believable and endearing. Especially Luigi, Francesco and the team at the Italian restaurant, Emily's former co-workers from the airline and her fellow thesps from the Austrian production. I really liked them all. There were quite a lot of people to get to grips with, the nature of Emily's chosen career and the start stop nature of some acting jobs meaning that the cast changed regularly, bit this flowed well and suited the story. Emily didn't have a particularly easy rise to the top, trying to start an acting career at forty plus having its natural disadvantages. They say there's a lack fo decent roles for the more mature (i.e. over 30 something) actress, but Emily seemed to find enough.

As much fun as it was to see Emily's career take off, the comedic elements of some of the early acting disasters providing some truly chucklesome moments, especially during the Rep season, there are some beautiful moments too, notably where Emily finally gets the approval of her parents for her acting, but also in the blossoming romance with Francesco. It's not easy making a long distance relationship work and yet this seems credible with an almost innocent air to it, despite the chemistry which leaps from the page. I love the way in which the author explored this, not forcing anything too quickly or cutting it off completely each time Emily left for a job. The delay, the element of will they won't they made the romantic element all the more appealing. Not too much, not too saccharin. Just right.

I really enjoyed this foray into Emily's world, a perfect antidote to all the bad things in the world. Nice to see someone succeeding, if only in fiction, in realising their dreams. A really great book and I look forward to seeing what Jane Lambert has to offer us all next.

This story is all about second chances, taking a leap of faith and following your dreams which I loved. Emily has her dreams but they have always taken a back seat so when her future plans fall apart she decides to make new ones and take a big step into the unknown world of acting. Here follows some ups and downs that make one fantastic adventure for Emily and for the reader to experience with her. Will everything turn out okay in the end though?

Emily was so brave to start afresh I'm sure that we all have dreams whether they be big or little that we may have put to one side or even forgotten all about. This story shows you that it should never be too late to try and achieve your dreams. The Start of Something Wonderful moves at a good pace showing some of the highs and lows of Emily's new life it felt realistic and Jane Lambert shows the reader the joy that can come from achieving even just the minor things in life. With some lovely supporting characters from old friends to new friends who all help to encourage Emily and provide some lighter moments too.

The Start of Something Wonderful is a witty and hopeful story with some lovely fun and light hearted moments throughout!

Four stars from me!

With thanks to Jane Lambert, HQ Digital and Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Forty-something Emily has decided to quit as a flight attendant to see if she can make it in the acting world. With no partner and no children, what has she got to lose? Enrolling in a drama course and making ends meet by working as a waitress, Emily hits the audition circuit. Has she made the right decision?
Originally published as Learning to Fly in 2015, this tale about overcoming obstacles to chase your dreams was an enjoyable, uplifting read. With myraid interesting scenes involving auditions and acting roles – made all the more authentic due to the character mirroring the author’s own career change - it did, however, feel as if the book lacked a bit of cohesion in terms of the overall plot.

This was such a refreshing read, maybe because the heroine isn’t your typical twenty something chick lit lead or maybe it was Lambert’s easy, flowy writing style, but whatever it is I wholeheartedly enjoyed this one and found it to be uplifting, inspiring and full of heart.

Emily is a forty year woman who decides it’s never too late to follow your dreams so she flips her life upside down to pursue an acting career. I really liked Em, she’s bright and bubbly and is willing to take risks, a quality I always admire in a person as I am not the risk taking type. There is a colorful and entertaining cast of characters that add humor cheer to the story and I genuinely laughed out loud several times while reading this delightful book.

You can tell Lambert has a personal connection to the story, it shines through and is heartfelt and honest. I loved the overall message of hope and encouragement that it really is never too late to start over, it’s a lovely thought and quite meaningful for such a fun loving book.

Emily Forsyth thought she had everything a woman could wish - she was a Flight Attendant, had a great boyfriend and did lots of traveling. But when she loses her boyfriend, she quits her job. She decides to follow her dream of being an actress. But can a forty-year-old woman break into the business?
It is a little farfetched that she could get parts - she had been away from the business for a long time. But the book was good. It did need a some editing but all in all a good book. Thank you, Net Galley.

There's something sweet about this book and the tone. It's about taking second chances and finding yourself no matter the age. It was a cute, fast read but I just didn't love it. I found the storyline and writing to be a bit messy. I couldn't connect with the character at all.