I really really wanted to love this story but something didn't quite hit the spot. I love the premise. I've often thought - what happens if someone recognizes themself and writes back, what would be the result ... But this wasn't as fast paced and as funny as I'd hoped. I give it 3.5 stars

The story of Nadia and Daniel. I loved this book!

I liked how it is told from each of their points of view, and just hoped that they would actually end up meeting!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.

What a brilliant book. This book has a fantastic story line, excellent characters and is just wonderful. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and I enjoyed it immensely.

A really sweet story for anyone that wants to believe in the power of random meetings. It reminded me a lot of One Day in December, but with a different spin on it.

Likable characters and enjoyable plot


I received an advance copy, all thoughts are my own.

Nadia has recently come out of a bad relationship with Awful Ben, which hurt her more than she realised. Daniel has recently lost his Dad and started a new job. He starts to see the same 'devastatingly cute' girl around where he works and on the 7:30am Northern line train from Angel. Realising he missed his chance to speak with the blond a number of times, Daniel decides to take an advert out in the Missed Connections lonely hearts column in the Metro. When Nadia sees it, the cat and mouse game begins ...

A large part of this book (and my basic pragmatic issue with it) is that the Tube is efficient or irregular enough to make it possible to get the exact same train, at the exact same time, every day. Let's try and suspend our disbelief for a moment and assume that, rush hour crowding, delays and everything else aside, it is possible. On with the story...

Daniel is everything - he enjoys romance films, he's emotionally damaged but has come through therapy and learnt to be strong. He's very in touch with his emotions. He's there for his mother and has a strong group of friends. He's nice to 'working people' ie the service industry. There's a whole near-rape set up which allows him to prove that he understands consent. He has feminist dialectic, morning stubble and well-muscled arms. He also secretly enjoys watching the Lust Villa - this book's equivalent of Love Island (which apparently can't be named, although plenty of other things can). What. A. Guy.

Nadia is cute, clumsy, insecure, confident, lonely, strong-willed and intelligent. Did we mention she's intelligent? She is. But not as intelligent as her friend. But still intelligent in her own right. And she's eye-catchingly glamourous when she feels self-confident. And she's there for her friends, despite this entire book orbiting around her own love-life.

(Am I being too harsh on the whole romance genre? I might be. But damn it, I just wanted some friction!)

The idea of spotting someone on a train but never getting to have that 'meet-cute' moment was a great idea, and once the story itself progressed then this worked really nicely. However, it all dragged on for longer than it needed to, with all of Nadia and Daniel's missed in-person connections adding to a building sense of frustration for the reader that they just needed to jolly well get on with it. When they did finally meet (spoiler alert) everything is rainbows and sunshine and trumpeting angels - and that was great - it just took so long to get there!

Disappointingly, there was also a burgeoning LGBT relationship (hooray!) that was all background (boo). To be quite honest, that budding romance was the kind of story I was looking to read, rather than the 'fireworks when we finally see each other afer 80% of the story' that I actually got.

And my final structural complaint - why, in a story that is written from two POV characters (Nadia and Daniel) is there suddenly a single chapter for a new male POV that never reappears (except in Nadia's own narrative). Don't introduce someone if they're not significant. Especially when that chapter was just to justify Nadia's own feelings and actions. It just felt clumsy.

All in all, a frothy summer read that is nicely written with some cute moments. However, be aware that there is a recent bereavement (which in itself feels like a plot device) and situation involving near rape/no consent that serves no purpose other than to show that the male MC is a consent-aware gent. Great.

I should make this clear, though. This book is not badly written. It's a nice story, and the eventual get-together is great. It was just missing any kind of spark.

I have always been obsessed with those “Seen Once” ads and would daydream about the people involved in the mini-commuter-romances.

This book is sweet, romantic, smart and exactly what I needed to see me through a sad day. Perfect.

This is a light romance. Cute and funny. The main characters, Nadia and Daniel, are relatable and infinitely lovable. They each have great friends and it is fun to read their conversations. Daniel is a romantic guy and really into his family and there for his mom, especially since his father recently passed away. He sees Nadia in the park, talking with her ex-boyfriend and is instantly attracted to her, they sometimes take the same train and he writes into a Missed Connections column in the London newspaper. There are a lot of near misses to them meeting and they spend time writing back and forth through the newspaper. I found this frustrating because you have no idea if they will even hit it off when they do finally meet.

This was a light fun rom com chick lit quick read everything Everything I am looking for in a book was in this book I loved Daniel and Nadia and I think everyone that likes books like this will also love it

2.5 Stars

Thanks to #netgalley #avonbooks for a free digital copy of #ourstop by Laura Jane Williams in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I'm rounding up to 3 stars because rom-com is not my preferred genre and others who love the genre may appreciate it more.

What worked: I liked the premise of the story that is loosely based on You've Got Mail. I liked the honesty, transparency, and kindness of Daniel's character. I thought the anonymous online communications between Daniel and Nadia were the best part of the story ... I wish there had been more of that. I liked the romantic dynamics of the first date (Daniel's thoughtful and creative planning and follow through). There were some instances of snappy dialogue and humor.

***the next paragraph may contain small spoilers***

What I wished had been better: I think readers who don't mind some profanity and crass language might enjoy the story more than I could. Some of the crassness was cringe worthy and unnecessary in my opinion. I wish that Daniel and Nadia had been able to make a connection earlier in the story so that we could see how that would play out. Even 50% in would have been ok, but 82% was way too long to wait. I found myself skimming from 50%-82% to get to the dramatic moment. I was disappointed in Nadia's choices after the failed bar meet up. It seemed out of character and didn't endear her to me. There is at least one heavy handed lesson in the story (the very specific reminder that the lack of a "no" is not a "yes" when it comes to a woman's consent). Even though this is an important point, it felt pedantic and like a lesson that we were taking a time out from the story to receive. Some characters and issues didn't seem critical to the story line, but a lot of filler is needed before that 82% mark. It caused me to question the author's intentions in writing the story....is the writing really about the story or about agendas?

This story has a great deal of potential and others have loved it, so please check out other reviews before making your reading choice! The reader who referred me to this story awarded it 5 stars. This shows that no two readers read the same story.

I absolutely loved reading Our Stop. From the witty writing to the highly likeable characters, you need to read this book this summer. Our Stop focuses on Nadia and Daniel, and is told from both their perspectives. Daniel admires Nadia from afar before writing a message to her via the Missed Connections section of the newspaper. What follows is messages back and forth and many near misses. In the end I couldn't put down this book because I needed to know when and how they'd eventually meet. If you're a fan of Sally Thorne and Christina Lauren, pick up a copy of Our Stop.

Perfect chick lit! I loved the premise and the characters were well developed! I recommend this for anyone looking for a light and fun read!

Totally adored this heart warming tale of destiny and fate. The story has lots of clever plots and a variety of interesting characters. A great holiday read that could easily be adapted for the big screen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows the lives of Nadia and Daniel. Nadia aims to get the 7:30 train from Angel every morning, so long as she hasn’t overslept or had a late night out with her best friend Emma drinking wine. Daniel always gets the 7:30 train every morning because he hasn’t been sleeping properly since his dad died.

One Monday morning Nadia receives a text message from Emma with a picture of the newspaper’s Missed Connections section. The post that has caught their eyes seems like it’s aimed at Nadia, who instantly shoots it down but can’t help but feel a little bit excited at the prospect of it.

After drinking too much wine with Emma, the two start to write a draft message back with Nadia having no plans to send it. She’s recently come out of an emotionally abusive relationship and is unsure whether she’s ready to get back into the dating game. Emma, being the great friend she is, sends the message off. This then starts of a chain of messages, near-misses and nail-biting scenes.

This book is so much more that I expected it to be. I was hooked from the very beginning and found myself loving these characters.

I loved that the story was told by both Nadia and Daniel. It was interesting to get both sides of the story even if it made me cringe so badly when they were so close to bumping into each other! I found myself becoming so emotionally invested in their lives and this relationship.

I really loved the side characters as well. Gaby (Nadia’s work BFF) and Emma were the supportive friends that every girl wishes they had in their lives. They helped picked Nadia up in her lowest and were there to re-affirm to her that she deserved to be loved.

Romeo was so sweet and just the perfect friend for Daniel! The constant support he gave Daniel made me want to just hug him! From the first day that the two met Romeo was helping Daniel pick up the pieces without asking questions. Romeo didn’t care, he’s just a kind-hearted person.

The only thing I disliked in the book was that one chapter was written in someone else’s perspective (I’m trying to be vague so that I don’t spoil anything!) it just seemed so out of place and weird to me when I had gotten used to reading from either Nadia and Daniel’s perspectives.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I love the idea of the missed communication section in the newspaper and when I used to travel everyday, I always found myself reading them, wondering if I could watch a romance like this blossom before my very own eyes. The characters were written beautiful and Laura Jane Williams has a way of just completely submerging you into the world she’s created. I also love books that are based in London, it just makes it more realistic for me because these are all places I’ve been to.

I recommend this book to people who are looking for a light-hearted, on the edge of your seat romance book this summer!

A real feel good, happy tale. I loved this from the very beginning. It had me in tears (both laughter and sadness) but overall such a feeling of happiness. It’s such a cute and funny romcom, you need to pick this up

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This book follows the perspective of Daniel and Nadia as they try navigate their way through dating in your late 20s/early 30s. If you've been single during that age range, you can completely relate to this book. Once you reach a certain age the date pool has emptied a bit and most of your friends are married. You stop attending weddings and your time is now spent at baby showers and kids birthdays. You see happy couples everywhere and start to wonder why it hasn't happened for you. Nadia is no exception and wants that happy ending she sees everywhere. She loves watching novellas and reading the Missed Connection section of the paper, so she's excited when a missed connection post may be about her. She tries not to get to excited, but she loves love. They start communicating back and forth through the paper and soon all of London is reading along. When they keep missing each other, you start to wonder is they will ever meet in person.

This book was such a fun romcom that had me laughing, crying, and left me with a smile at the end. It's a will they/won't they story line and has you invested as their love story unfolds. The author's characters are pretty great. The book is chalked full of intelligent, independent, and strong female characters that are both relatable and likable. While there are a few Male characters that will make you cringe, most are quite swoon worthy.

This book tackled some tough dating situations and there was a bit of every kind of relationship (love is love and that point is made in this book). I can't really go into it much without spoilers, but I think those parts were well written. Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great love story.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I read it in an evening as it sucked me right in.

A lovely, feel good story of love that’s meant to be. Our Stop has likeable characters and a totally believable storyline. Lots of humour that had me howling with laughter. This would make a great film.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Our Stop
by Laura Jane Williams

Kindle Edition, 368 pages
Published June 13th 2019 by Avon



Goodreads synopsis:
Laura Jane Williams combines sharp, relatable wit and bold, joyful sincerity’ Dolly Alderton
‘The love story you need in your suitcase this summer!’ Red
‘LJ’s honesty and voice are unique’ Stylist
What if you almost missed the love of your life?
Nadia gets the 7.30 train every morning without fail. Well, except if she oversleeps or wakes up at her friend Emma’s after too much wine.
Daniel really does get the 7.30 train every morning, which is easy because he hasn’t been able to sleep properly since his dad died.
One morning, Nadia’s eye catches sight of a post in the daily paper:
To the cute girl with the coffee stains on her dress. I’m the guy who’s always standing near the doors… Drink sometime?
So begins a not-quite-romance of near-misses, true love, and the power of the written word.


***

2.5 Stars

I wanted to like this book. It had all the bones to be a good one. I liked the whole concept of seeing someone on the train everyday, not knowing them yet wanting to meet them. If you have ever ridden a train like the MetroLink in St. Louis or the L (stands for elevated) in Chicago you know how charging it can be to connect eyes with a stranger on the train and wonder “what if.”

This was a hard book to get through and I had to do a lot of skimming to do it. Daniel had put an advert in the Missed Connections section of the newspaper and Nadia thought it might be for her. But somehow time after time she didn’t make it to the train at the right time in order to meet him. Fate seemed to be trying to throw them together but they screwed it up each time.

It is hard to have a good romantic comedy if the two main characters never meet each other. This build up took too long. I lost interest quite early when it seemed like the two would never meet. I felt like it was a waste of my time and I wasn’t sure their actual meeting would be enough to save this book for me.

This book was just okay for me. Pick it up if rom-coms are your jam but otherwise I would give it a pass. 2.5 is actually an average rating out of a 5. Middle of the road good. It had the potential to be great but I think it deserved more.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

The premise was good but The female character and other characters were so crass and vulgar in their view, dialogue and teatment of sex, it ruined the romance.

There was no conflict and very minimal tension that I skipped through the pages.

The twist of her two best friends left a bad taste in he mouth as did the “romance” of Michelle and Barack Obama as her yardstick for love. Ick. if I wanted to read Michelle Obama’s biography, i would have checked it out at the library. There are better classical lovers that have left a higher standard.
.
The novel was anticlimatic. The end became redundant as the two were explaining things the reader already knew. The epiloque was unnecessary and just added to the sappiness.

2.5

"'We both know falling in love isn't a happy ending – it's just the beginning.'"

I was really into the idea for this story and usually, this type would be read in one sitting, but the way it was executed was disappointing, and I didn't feel like picking it up again after leaving it aside.

I love a good slow-burn romance but this was sooo slow, I wanted to pull my hair at times.
For people at the beginning of their 30s, both of the main characters seemed very, very whiny to me. Especially Nadia. Her monologues made me cringe at times. Her character wasn't well developed, she seemed stump considering she works in artificial intelligence. Her job came up a few times but there was no exploration on that that all the mentionings seemed irrelevant. Daniel was more likable, someone I would even fancy. I loved his friendship with Romeo, the way he handles the situation with his mom, and flatmate. His concerns and insecurities were well portrayed. The exchange through the newspaper was absolutely fun and charming, I probably would've been following along with their hashtag as well.

The many times of missed moments and misunderstandings was so frustrating, that the filler content of unimportant background info on their families and friends felt even more unnecessary. The was little focus on their budding romance, as attempts on feminism, political statements and consent were small topics as well. The writing style was okay although sounded very millennial-cliche to me, pretentious even, as if the author was trying too hard. There was lots of over-explaining, references to other pop cultures, Instagram and in general too many things at the same time. It read like preach by someone who read one Buzzfeed article or tweet too many, and I don't want that in a fun romance story.

After the many missed encounters, they finally meet at the end, which was sweet but not satisfying after all the buildup. The whole story was dragging, lacking depth and left too many plot holes. It has potential but really needs to cut off a few story lines and serious editing.

I was indecisive about what rate I should give this book since I really liked it and I was so excited with the premise. It all started well and this boy meets girl in such an unusual but romantic way was really inventive. I was all giddy and couldn't put the book down while reading about their nearly encounters and all those crazy plans to finally meet each other.

However, all those nearly encounters, which was something so appreciated at the beginning, started to get really annoying and frustrating. C'mom, they had so many opportunities to just end that and just get together and see where that would lead them. And what the heck was this thing with Nadia tardiness ALL THE FREAKING TIME? I couldn't stop asking where was her boss or some kind of authority that never noticed an employee getting late at her desk everyday!!!

As characters though, and apart from Nadia's issue with mornings, I liked them quite well and could connect with them both. All those fears and insecurities were real and added a nice tone to the story. And let me give a huge thank you to Laura Jane Williams for creating a character who had pimples in adulthood. I almost cried when I read that Nadia, a woman who was almost thirty years old, was still suffering from those nasty breakouts. I suffer with that too and I know how it sometimes lows your self-esteem, so I really appreciated reading that in a book.

All in all, even though things took to long to happen, it's a nice chick lit and worth reading it!!!