Member Reviews
I very much enjoyed this book. The Do Over is a slow burn romance. 15 years ago Bella went to school with cheerleader Easton Evans who was part of a group that bullied her. Easton is not that person now. They meet again when Easton’s Company sends all their managers to a conflict resolution class. Easton has no idea who Bella is. Instant chemistry. Talk about angst. Bella was conflicted as to tell Easton who she is.
Easton Evans is recently divorced, mother of a seven year old girl, and successful businesswoman. When her company takes over another, there is friction at work and her boss sends all the managers to a conflict resolution class. The instructor, Bella Hunt, is gorgeous and she acts on a whim to ask her out, dipping her toe back into the dating pool. Bella, on her side, recognizes Easton immediately as the girl she had a crush on in high school, and the girl who, with all her friends, teased her in high school. Easton is different now, and doesn't recognize Bella, but the secret looms over them. Will the secret from the past destroy the present?
I enjoyed this book a lot - it was a really quick and fun read. I couldn't put it down! I think my only complaint is that it was almost too quick, because the writing was too simple. There was a lot of italics and "insert sarcasm here" styles - it felt more like I was reading tumblr. I felt it lost a little of the emotional depth this way, but if you're looking for something simple and fun to read, this is definitely a perfect read.
Beers is a master at writing the most adorable and sweet romances, but she doesn't skimp on chemistry. Her characters are heartwarming and endearing, but realistically flawed. The dialogue is always so perfect - fast paced and fun. I love all the animals rescued from Junebug farms, its a special little touch that just keeps on giving.
I look forward to the next book by this Georgia Beers as always.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You know where you are with a Georgia Beers book as she always delivers a well written story with charming characters. This one adds another plus to her canon. Sure I’ve read the plot line before and there are no surprises, but that didn’t matter as I read the book with a smile on my face and was happy with the ending. A nice light romance for the evening.
This was a terrific book by Ms Beers. Easton is a great example of most teenagers who are mildly popular yet confused and for some reason or the other happen to assist bullying. It's not great but it is what it is. Doesn't make them bad, just kids.
Unfortunately no matter what the intent, damage is damage and bullying does that to a person and they will suffer for it. This book takes care of this sensitive subject really well. And the romance is an additional bonus. It is very well done and in true fashion, leaves the reader wanting more. 5 stars for sure
I never hesitate to read a new title by Georgia Beers. Once again, I was not disappointed.
The Do-Over is about two women who are 300 miles and 15 years away from the place where they went to high school together. Bella, who fled the place where she was bullied, is confronted with complicated emotions when one of the girls who bullied her turns up as a student in her conflict resolution class. Meanwhile, Easton is coming to terms with her recently finalised divorce, her sexuality, and a resentful staff. Can you start over when the past was so rough?
As always, Beers builds a relationship over time, and has both the steamy and sweet elements of any new relationship to keep you hooked. One of my biggest complaints is that when I get to the end, I wish there was more.
Bella and Easton meet again. Although Easton has no recollection of Bella, with whom she attended high school and took part in bullying her. Years later Bella is still attracted to Easton. She finds herself getting to know Easton but doesn't reveal they know each other.
The whole book felt like Bella getting to know Easton and coming to the big reveal. I thought the reveal could have been sooner instead of till the end of the book. It felt rushed. I also felt that Bella never really comes to terms with her past and her parents. Not a bad book, but for me, it lacked a bit more depths.
Over the last year or so Georgia Beers has become one of my go to authors. While The Do-Over didn't thrill me as much as some of her others, it is still a well done story. It is kind of ascon chance sorry for both characters in different ways. I got mad at Bella a few times, but overall both characters are relatable and you'll really root for them.
2.5 Stars. I wanted to enjoy this book, but it was just okay. Bella Hunt, a therapist is teaching a new conflict resolution class for managers for a company who overtook a smaller one. In her class, she sees Easton Evans, Bella went to high school with Easton, a town Bella wants to stay far away from. Easton does not recognize her and Bella takes advantage of that. Easton seems different 15 years later, and Bella wants to get to know her better. Easton is blond, attractive, and Bella can't help but say yes to coffee with her to get to know her better. As long as Easton doesn't recognize her, Bella can pretend to not be the girl from high school.
This book could have been a little bit more fleshed out. Easton has a daughter and she was barely a plot point in the book. It seems like this book was a little sloppily written and I feel like it was not a great story. I love Georgia Beers and I did not think this was her best work. I recommended this already to my friends. It is a solid novel, but not up to the same standard I have come to expect with Georgia Beers.
Although nicely written with likeable characters, this book was lacklustre. It never really got off the ground and there wasn't enough action to hold my interest. The main characters were all American girls. Ugly duckling becomes a swan and blonde cheerleader, both very beautiful but stereotypical. The chemistry between them is palpable and well written, but overall the story was a bit bland.
I've read other books by this author which are really good, so would still read more.
Absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down - the two leads are genuine and likeable, their chemistry is palpable. I really connected with Easton and rooted for her the whole time. The romance builds up slowly and naturally, and the angst level is just right. The supporting characters are equally well developed. Don't miss this one!
Sometimes a Georgia Beers book is just what I need for a comforting, escapist read.
Easton Evans (I don’t like this woman’s silly name, it sounds like Easter eggs) and Bella Hunt went to high school together, but only one of them remembers the fact. Bella (real name Isabella, once known as Izzy) was bullied by the popular clique Easton belonged to, and though Easton wasn’t the worst of them she was undeniably complicit. When they meet again as adults - and are instantly attracted to each other - Bella remembers their shared history only too well, but Easton has no memory of it at all. And Bella isn’t keen to remind her....
Can they transcend the past in order to move on to a shared future? Well, the answer will be no huge surprise, but it’s enjoyable to get there.
I always like the women in Beers’ books, who are usually intelligent adults with careers (and sometimes dogs. Bella has two, Lucy and Ethel.) Easton’s seven year old daughter Emma doesn’t emerge particularly clearly, which is a shame, but Bella’s best friends Amy and Heather are a lot of fun.
I was a bit confused by Bella’s assertion that she was bullied at school “before bullying was a thing”. Um, school bullies were around for a long time before 2003, Bella!
All in all, a lovely read.
This was a cute book, with a nicely-told story that leads to an eventual happy ending. I always enjoy reading this author's books, and this one did not disappoint. I'd rank it as a book I'd like to read again, and would definitely recommend to others. The characters were believable, likable, and charming.
The Do-Over is a shining example of the brilliance of Georgia Beers as a contemporary romance author. With this novel she has created a moving story about two women, both successful in their present day careers, but who share a dark past from their high school days. What is worse, only one woman, Bella Hunt, remembers this past. Easton Evans doesn’t remember Bella at all.
This book has it all. The reader will find well-developed characters, both main and secondary. You will also find attraction and romance. Angst runs through most of the story, usually as an undercurrent in the plot, though it explodes out into the open near the end of the tale. The ending to this story is just perfect. Of course we can’t forget Lucy and Ethel, Bella’s dogs. The animals in a story are always my favorite characters.
The plot itself is one of the best I’ve read in a while. I believe this story is relevant to the reader considering the prevalence of bullying in our society.
I can highly recommend this book to all who love a great romance.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
Not bad, I enjoyed it.
I liked the whole concept of a romance with the girl you once were crushing hard on in high school, and that she has no idea who you are.
Like it's often the case with Geogias stories it doesn't have a lot of conflicts and it's very low on drama. Just the way i like it.
This book is for anyone that had a crush in high school and that crush didn't even acknowledge your existence. We all had that, but in this book that crush is part of a bully group that is horrible to her and incessant. The main characters, Bella and Easton, are real and the dialogue is authentic. The flow of the story is pleasant from beginning to end. If you want to settle down for a wonderful romance, check out this book. It is certainly that! Highly recommend! Brava Ms. Beers!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
This story is so much fun to read. the emotions are felt,I loved how some sentence were written. very enjoyable read and highly recommended. well written book
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ok, first up, I’ll explain the rating, which I usually leave til the end. I’d give this 3.5, but am rounding up to four, because I liked enough of this to rate it more than 3. I liked a lot of this book, it has engaging MCs, good secondary characters, and cute dialogue. But it also has some pitfalls.
Ok, good stuff first, both MCs are lovely (well, in the present anyway), Bella is a therapist who teaches a conflict resolution course and Easton is taking the course because her boss demands it. They both like each other, and have a series of dates/meet ups that are cute and sweet. They also both have great best friends, and I was relieved that Easton’s ex-husband Connor was not written as a dick, but was a nice guy. Easton learning more about herself and coming to terms with what she wanted was handled well, and I liked that Bella was not put off by anything Easton revealed (though in all honesty, it would have raised several red flags for me).
So the two meet up through work, but they’ve met before, in high school, where Easton was not so great. The back story between Easton and Bella was heartbreaking, and more so because of the lack of impact it had on Easton, which unfortunately for me, tainted my feelings about her the longer the book went on. I can tell you I would not have been able to get past it the way Bella did. It was also worse because even when Easton remembered, she didn’t really <i>remember</i> and if I was Bella, I’d have followed my friend’s advice and just walked the hell away.
The other problem was knowing that Bella was keeping the secret of them knowing each other, because in books with secrets, you’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop, and here it dragged on for way too long, which bogged down the pacing. It also meant the resolution was too rushed. I think it would have been better to have this reveal earlier, and left a bit more time for them to show how they overcame it. There’s also next to no scenes with Bella and Easton’s daughter and I’d like to have seen them relate within the relationship, they also don’t meet each other’s families or friends in any real way, and I would have preferred to have explored that too.
The present relationship and side stories with the besties were enough for me to enjoy probably 80% of the book, but a few tweaks could have had this higher. And in all honesty, this seemed more like a HFN, than a HEA, it’s one of those times I’ve gotten to the end of a book and not been sure the couple was right for each other.
This story is about Bella hunt who at this point in her life is a successful therapist with money to buy wood she wants it has a group of very helpful and supportive friends. She is also very comfortable in her life as a lesbian. However this was not the case 15 years ago when she was in high School and was tormented and bullied by some very mean girls because she was poor or secondhand clothes and had no friends. She was struggling to come to terms with her sexuality and was tormented brutally as a result. Upon graduation from high school she moved on to college and then a career choice to move several hours away from her hometown and start a new life.
The other character is Easton Evans who is recently divorced and she has custody of her daughter with her ex-husband. She is also a high- end manager of a company and is learning to live her life as a lesbian. Her new job takes her several hours away from her hometown. When she was in high school she came from a very wealthy family, had everything she wanted, with the star of the football team as her boyfriend and hung around with the biggest bullies in the school .
Imagine the sparks that fly when these two people meet now especially when Bella recognizes Easton as one of the people who tormented her and bullied her about her sexuality . Easton does not remember or recognize Bella as someone from her past since she views her as a Very interesting and beautiful woman who she like to get to know better and possibly date. As the two women become very attracted to one another and start to date you just know when Easton realizes who Bella is the whole foundation of her new found relationship will come tumbling down. Or will it?
Beers develop these two characters in such away that you want to be friends with either of them and hope that a long last the two of them can find happiness and love. The character development in this story is beautifully written. Like all of Beers stories. I highly recommend this book because it is an excellent read.
3.75 Stars. This was a solid romance that I think most Beers’ fans will enjoy. I have to be honest that it’s not my favorite by her, but it is still a quality book that is worth the read.
What if fifteen years after high school you run into a woman who helped make school miserable for you. The woman doesn’t even recognize you, but would you confront her after all this time? And even more important, what if you started to develop feelings for her? It’s a great premise and one I was hooked into instantly.
Beers did a great job of weaving a few flashbacks in with the current timeline to really put you in the headspace of both characters. I’m not a flashback fan, but this was the perfect example of the kind of way flashbacks should be used. They were all important to the story and never used just for filler.
Something I also enjoyed was the chemistry. I thought the chemistry was really well written in this book. You could see the characters connecting right in front of your eyes and it was really enjoyable.
My one slight complaint was I felt the “secret” took a little long to get too. The book slowed down a little for me and I felt like saying just get it over with already. I didn’t like the feeling of the “secret” hanging over my head and I just wanted to move on. In the grand scheme of things it’s not a huge deal, but it may be why I didn’t love this book like many other have so far.
I also want to mention that I really enjoyed the ending. I found myself tearing up and bit and I was happy with how Beers wrapped everything up. Even having a few small complaints, this book was absolutely worth the read. If you are a Beers fan or just a lesfic romance fan, this is one to grab.
Not bad. I enjoyed the conflict but I felt sort of stressed out throughout the story. I also do not really "get" being into Easton. Maybe I needed a bit more squirming on her part.