Such a cute, sweet fun read!! Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams a five-star read that will make you stop whatever you are doing to read. I had read some of the reviews for this one and wasn’t sure so put it off and read something else, then had a random convo about a tube station insta story about a meet cute with a friend and this novel popped into my head, it was like a sign and one I am so glad I acted on as I loved this novel so hard!! So many what ifs and missed connections kept me hooked and reading to the point I ignored everyone and everything. This was so sublime I want to take an ad out in the paper telling everyone to buy it!! I plan on buying a bunch of paperbacks just to give out to people waiting on the train tracks because more people need this story in their lives, they need the inspiration and power that the written word brings to life in these pages, more people need to hear the passion is Nadia’s voice as she talks to her boss, and the heart break she feels at different points in the story. There are so many near misses in this story, will they ever get their happily ever after? Go read the book and find out as I can’t tell you as its all part of the bigger story.

What an absolutely fab book!

If you believe in destiny, then this book is filled with it.

And... who knew the London Underground could be so romantic!

Nadia is a feisty, successful 20-something Londoner, going about her life, ricochetting between bad relationships, wondering when her time will come. She loves sensitive men, who aren't scared to show their emotions.
Daniel is a sensitive, successful 20-something Londoner, recovering from the shock of his father's death, looking for someone to share life, and reality TV with. He loves feisty women, who are clumsy with their coffee.

But how will their paths ever cross?

Cue the Underground and Missing Connections.

Daniel sees Nadia and just knows there is something about her. But, how to approach?

Using a series of messages in the local commuters newspaper, these two slowly get sucked into a will they/won't they situation.

We can see they are perfect for each other. Their friends can sense they are perfect for each other. Why can't they just meet and see if they hit it off?

With a series of twists and turns, we see the story of Nadia and Daniel develop, and I can say, hand on heart, that I finished this book with a gooey smile on my face!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an adorable read! Nadia is not in a relationship and neither is Daniel. They both get on the same train to work, (if Nadia can get herself out of bed on time!) but they don't know this. Daniel spots Nadia and finds an unusual way to try and capture her attention and heart via Missing Connections, a section of a newspaper where commuters can place adverts to try and connect with someone they've 'met' but don't know. The will they-won't they scenario between the two is very well done. It is comical, endearing and very frustrating! The two are thwarted by Fate time and time again and it makes you realise just how many different lives and relationships we could have had, had we spoken to someone, or turned a different corner or realised the perfect match was in the same place but hidden deep within a crowd of others.
When a romantic read works well I always want to meet someone like the central character and this book is no exception because I want to meet a real-life Daniel! The book does take a look at other relationships too, mainly that of Nadia's two best girl friends and the flatmate Daniel shares a place with. Some will argue that heterosexual love dominates romantic novels and even if there are gay couples in the books they are never the central characters. Our Stop follows this format but even so I loved the characters, the plot, the humour and thought the epilogue was cleverly crafted.
A perfect light-hearted read that will leave you smiling, wistful and in search of true love!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I don't tend to pick up a lot of romance books, because when I do, I tend to NOT enjoy them. However, this book make me believe in the genre again! I absolutely loved it! :) It was so romantic and it kept me on the edge of my seat every time they were SO close to meeting. If you're looking for a good book to read this summer, I highly recommend this one!

3.5 Stars

Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams is a book that has such a fun concept. The idea of two people finding true love through a post in a newspaper is romantic and enjoyable to read about. Nadia and Daniel are both likeable characters and it is easy to root for both of them. This is a perfect book for those who enjoy a great rom-com.

If there is one thing that I love, it is a fantastic rom-com. Our Stop has a Sex in the City vibe and lots of interesting and diverse characters. The way that Laura Jane Williams has written this novel is a lovely tribute to other books and films about love by chance, such as You’ve Got Mail. There are lots of wonderful references to other similar works in the book that make it so much fun. However, the plot does move a bit too slow for my liking, which is a shame because there is so much to enjoy here.

Nadia and Daniel are characters that readers will instantly enjoy. Nadia is a smart woman who is super quirky and full of personality. I love how she is trying to make small changes in her life to help improve herself, including catching the early train. Daniel. on the other hand, is also a lovely character. He has a real soft side and isn’t afraid to take chances. It is easy to realize that the two characters are destined for one another.

Fans of the genre will want to add Our Stop to their beach bags this summer. It is a quick read that will satisfy those who enjoy a love story that is fun and has interesting characters. Perfect for your summer TBR.

Oh such a lovely book! Fell in love with the characters, such serendipity. Left me with a smile on my face.

Cute story in both her and his point of view in the stpry. It was . Well written and kept me interested till the end.

SO MUCH SWOON. I'm a sucker for notes and the back and forth on Missed Connections was just pure gold in my book (teehee). Daniel's pining for Nadia was so cute, I was tearing through the book, dying to get to the part where they actually meet! I did enjoy the various "almosts" meetings, gahh. The friend side drama was an added bonus but I was definitely too caught up in Daniel and Nadia to care too much (which I suppose was fine). Loved this one. I want a sequel :)

This book is exactly my (guilty) cup of tea! As a London commuter myself, this ‘missed connections’ storyline is that bit of idealistic escapism we all long for.

But.

The characters were NOTHING. Utterly interchangeable female ‘aspirational’ bloggers and instafamous restaurant critics, ‘quirky’ STEM ‘feminists’ who supposedly break the mould, and a variety of lads, blokes and geezers in interchangeable shades of emotional repression.

The plot didn’t get good until 60% of the way in. And when I say good, I mean it stopped dragging and making me want to throw my kindle across the room. After that, it just got ridiculously cheesy.

I was lucky enough to have an ARCA from NetGalley, but unfortunately it was riddled with spelling and grammar errors.

This book could and should be good, but it needs a lot more work.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, quick read about a "meet cute" that consistently went wrong - lots of opportunities to meet that *just barely* failed to work out. And of course, with a happy end. Both the main characters are well-drawn and extremely likeable, and I liked the fact that both of their circle of friends were an intrinsic part of the story. I would have liked a bit more time with the two main characters though, once they finally met.

My only criticism is the length of time it took the story to really get going (lots of backstory, not all of which was necessary), and a bit toomuch with political leanings. I mean, I lean the same way, but do I need this in this type of book? Not really.

Goodreads review here (direct link not possible): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2805730434

This book could easily have been named Missed Connections because the two main characters consistently come just this close to meeting each other throughout the novel, which builds great tension and frustration. I thought this was slightly reminiscent of One Day in December, but possibly just because it was set in the UK and had something to do with public transportation and lots of "when will they get together already?" I liked the character development, though some details felt too obvious — the main characters liking the exact same TV show and ordering the same thing at a restaurant. Also, the author made darn certain you knew our man Daniel wasn't just not a creep but was a super standup guy.

Romeo, the security guy in Daniel's office building who becomes his cheerleader and sounding board was, by far, the best part of the book. If he got his own story, I would be all for that.

The one part of the book that really bugged me was, without spoiling too much, a relationship that is revealed toward the end of the book. I saw it from pretty much the first reference early in the book. Honestly, a flashing neon sign is more subtle than that foreshadowing.

All in all a fun romance, though I wanted more time with the two main characters together.

Romantic comedies are not my usual cup of tea, but I enjoy following Laura Jane Williams on social media and it's been interesting to see the whole process of writing a book. As such, I was pleased to be approved to read this book. It's ultimately a love story between Nadia and Daniel, but I was more interested in the relationships they had with their friends, as I thought these were very well observed and written. A quick, fun read, ideal for a summery day.

Our Stop was a great comedic romance. I liked both of the main characters and found myself flying through this book. A solid addition to the British chick-lit cannon. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!

A great summer read and a funny, charming love story. I read this book quickly and loved the pace of it - missed opportunities and coincidences but nothing that felt too over the top. I found the characters well written (apart, perhaps, from Lorenzo) and I sped through the last chapters to find out what would happen. I did find the use of Rainforest as the company where Nadia works (a massive organisation from which you can buy practically everything online) and Lust Island (a reality tv programme) a little bit lacking in imagination, but luckily they are not essential parts of the plot.

[Excerpt]:

These British comedic romances have become a favorite of mine (“The Hating Game,” most Sophie Kinsella novels, “Big Little Lies” by Australian author Liane Moriarty, but it’s in the same genre), and they also seem to be flooding the market at the moment (no complaints here). I requested this title, along with quite a few other romances, because I’m always up for some laughs and some genuine workplace/UK romance.

Overall, I enjoyed the story for the most part. I thought the story flowed, the writing was well-done, the relationships well-established, and the dialogue very fun and believable. I thought the numerous near-misses were frustrating for the readers, but that was kind of the point. I read through “Our Stop” fairly quickly – I wanted Daniel and Nadia to meet so badly, and I was in such anticipation for that! The hashtag was also adorable, and I can for sure see something like that happening in the real world (in fact, I’d be surprised if it hasn’t already happened somewhere). This novel is definitely very contemporary and very relevant.

[Full review on my blog!]

3.75 Stars

Our stop is a very sweet modern romance. If you’ve ever been on the London tube you definitely can relate to Daniel. We’ve all been there, we’ve all seen a nice person and fantasize a little bit about it. I just want to warn you and say that this book definitely portrays a slow-burn romance. At times it can be infuriating because of all the missed chances at meeting Daniel and Nadia have but it’s all worth it. In the end it all comes together in such a nice way and I think the author did a fantastic job in describing their first IRL conversations, they were a bit awkward but also very caring and sweet from the very beginning. If you’re looking for a cute romance I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel!

This was a cute romance about two people riding the same train and who start a relationship via "Missed Connections" in the newspaper. A modern romance, it was a little long at parts and with all the near misses between the two main characters, you were VERY anxious by the end to have them meet one another.

A perfect vacation or beach read!

Our Stop is basically a millennial You’ve Got Mail - the author’s inspiration is evident even before the obvious references from Nadia. I love You’ve Got Mail. I thought I would love Our Stop. I wanted to love it so badly. The idea is wonderful - I was so excited about a weird pen pal relationship through the newspaper between two people whose lives keep intersecting without them knowing. I am a sucker for a good romcom, and I am a millennial -- I am the prime target! But man, I did NOT like this book.

My main problem is that Our Stop is *too* millennial. It’s millennial catnip: the tale of a sexually liberated and chronically irresponsible Girl who has a tech-y job (yay women in STEM) and a romantic mama’s Boy who is in touch with his feelings, sees a therapist, and most importantly, is very WOKE. There are constant references to millennial “things” - social media, diet and exercise trends, dating apps...it’s all a bit much. The writing is too millennial to the point of distraction. Why were there so many Random Titles and Capitalization and way-too-many-hyphenated-things? It felt like a Buzzfeed article in book form.

But none of that compares to the outright PREACHINESS. Like I get it, you’re liberal, you’re woke, you’re a feminist. Every page had some sort of lesson in consent, Brexit, emotional vulnerability, gender fluidity - I mean chill out. If someone like me, who generally agrees with the author, was turned off by all of this, I cannot imagine how difficult this book will be for less “woke” people.

Aside from the writing style, it just took way too long for Nadia and Daniel to meet. I was literally skimming pages after about 85% through thinking, “Hurry it up already.” Not a good sign.

Despite my strong distaste for the style of this book, I want to say again that the idea of the story is so entertaining and so good. And I think a lot of millennial women will disagree with my harsh analysis and love this summer read. While I personally can’t give this book more than 2 stars, I am sure I am in the minority and it will do just fine.

This book is cute, funny and sweet.
A light perfect read suitable for the summer.
However it took too long to get going.
Also the references to anti brexit and anti Tory was unnecessary
The characters were ok but nothing special.
This book could have been so much better .