I didnt expect to love this as much as I did. Full of family drama, secrets, summers of love, beautiful countryside, fabulous characters and feel good vibes.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters, they're written so well by Catherine Isaacs but the book in general was written beautifully, it kept me engaged until the very end. I thought I had everything figured out but was pleasantly kept on my toes.

This book was very enjoyable and I loved reading it! The characters were well written about and so was the story! I liked how there was also a mystery underlying and the journey was taken to understand it all.

Thanks NetGalley for the chance to read this book. I really enjoyed going on a journey to Italy with these characters and fell in love with them. I will definitely be looking out for more by this author, this was a fun and easy read which drew me in to the background family intrigue and the current day relationships between the characters.

Thank you Net Gallery for sending me an ARC of this book. I haven't read anything by Catherine Issac (pseudonym Jane Costello) before but have heard lots of good things about You, Me, Everything and thought the synopsis of this one also sounded fab!

I really enjoyed this book, and the story did not follow the plot I expected, which meant I was left wondering and guessing until near the very end which I liked!

The book tells the story of Allie, a workaholic who sadly lost her mum when she was very young but subsequently became super close to her dad and Grandparents, and Ed, the inspirational business man with the 'perfect' married life. 

When Allie finds a note in her Grandmothers room that opens up a whole host of questions about her mothers past she is determined to find answers. Even if this means going to Italy alone to find the writer of the note, whilst telling her family she is taking a singles holiday in Portugal. 

Meanwhile Ed is going through his own problems and on a whim decides to accompany his longest oldest friend to Italy, since he can speak Italian, which she can't and so might be of use. 

This story was told from three different perspectives, mainly Allie but also from the point of view of Ed and Allies Grandma which means that you learn a lot about Allies mother and also get a good understanding of what is going on. I did find it a little confusing that Eds point of view was not told in the first person, as the other two but I got over it!

I really liked how all the characters were portrayed in this book and that there was substance to them all, even small parts which made them seem like real people! I also enjoyed the roller coaster of emotions which occurs through this book, happiness, sadness, laughter, anger, horror etc. Catherine Issac really did capture them all!

I would definitely recommend this book if you like women fiction or romance, definitely an adult read rather than a children's or YA book. I read this whilst on holiday in Spain which I felt was perfect since a lot of it is set in sunny Italy (it may have been less enjoyable to read in the rainy highlands!) 

*Review to follow on my blog (highlandbookfairy.home.blog) nearer to the publication date*

This is a lovely book which I really enjoyed.
It spans the generations and develops the characters, which are so believable and easy to identify with. It is a lovely story linking all the generations and the different types of love between mothers, lovers, and friends.and has a lovely ending.
I would recommend this as a relaxing read to escape to.

I devoured this book in a couple of days, a really good read with some great variations on tried and tested themes. Fantastic settings in Liverpool and Italy and some very thought provoking issues.

Thanks for allowing me to review this book

Messy Wonderful Us is a beautifully written engaging story, part mystery,part romance but above all a page turning journey of two people with some heart stopping moments.
Allie a scientist finds a photo and a letter in her Grandmothers house that leads her to think her father is a different man to the one she has known all her life. Her mother having died when she was a child and her grandmother refusing o answer her questions she decides to go to Italy , where the man on the photo lives to find out the truth. Joining her on this journey is her best friend since childhood Ed, he is having marriage difficulties and needs to get away to sort things out in his head.
The descriptive writing brings to life the scenery, heat and smells of Italy.
A journey of discovery with host of wonderful characters, brilliantly executed moving seamlessly from the past to to present this was a book I really didn’t want to end.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the ARC and opportunity to review this book honestly.

This is such a gem of a book! Love the mystery, the characters, the layers, it was such a pleasant read but with such depth too

Allie Culpepper sets off on a road trip through Italy, to unravel a mystery from her past, accompanied by her best friend, Ed, who needs time to make a decision about his future. This emotional story is told mostly from Allie’s perspective, but is given added depth by occasional input from Ed and Grandma Peggy. The past is gradually revealed through a series of flashbacks and the story that emerges is heartbreaking. The main characters are believable and likeable, with the exception of Ed’s wife, Julia – no spoilers, you’ll have to read it for yourself! The descriptions of the Italian scenery are breathtaking; definitely one for the bucket list. I really loved Messy, Wonderful Us and want to read more by Catherine Isaac. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I simply adored this book and finished it in two sittings. You have Dr Allie who is highly successful in her field of work who comes across a newspaper cutting at her grandparents house of a man who looks just like her. Her mum passed away when she was young so there is a connection there that she wants to explore. Her grandmother asks her to not think about this anymore.

Allie's curiosity takes her to Italy to find this man in the picture and her best friend Ed comes along, he also has his secrets especially whilst he is separated from his wife.

There is also another point of view story being told from another person from the past who helps to link the story together.

The story was a bit of a slow burner however once Allie and Ed were in Italy and they were having to face a few challenges along the way. The story really came alive for me and the rich tapestry of life which can be messy and wonderful at times. I am also not ashamed to say that I also cried a few times towards the end.

Just wonderful.

Thank you to NetGally and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns, laugh out loud moments and heartbreaking ones. I loved the characters and the development of them. Just a really enjoyable book and i would definitely recommend to others.

I was hooked on this one from the first chapter. We meet Allie, she's single, early thirties and you're soaked onto her family life from the get go. Then a few chapters in...the mystery starts.

A variety of subjects are covered - including adoption, teenage relationships, loss and guilt especially. We travel through time with flashbacks and different character perspectives and the story develops quickly. I was invested in the love story with Ed but could kind of see where it was going. They had a relationship I could relate too and brought out the best in each other.

There were a few unexpected twists which I enjoyed and I loved that the author made a point of giving Allie an 'out of the norm' job as a Doctor in the physiology field.
Overall, it is a solid read with some emotional subjects covered.
Thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the chance to review.

Released on 5th March 2020.

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This is one of those books that will leave you with a heart-warming smile on your face.

It's a slow-burning story, paced over a short period of time, but with all the memories from the past mixed in with the current events, it makes absolutely perfect and addicting read.

All those unfolding secrets and twists in this book kept me on the edge and made me yearn for more. Lovable characters, beautiful writing style and ability to "show" rather than only "tell" the story makes this book that bit more special and I really recommend you to pick it up and read it.

Allie is off to Italy to find some answers to the questions she can't get from anyone at home. The last-minute, her childhood friend Ed joins her on this trip and together they embark on this journey that will change their and their loved ones lives forever.

This is a story about self-discovery, family relationships, loyalties, support, understanding, commitment, grief and second chances.

Lovely summer read about secrets and family. It was written very well and was full of lovely descriptions including a lot of the incredible Italian setting. Would recommend.

This was an engaging and thoughtful story with a touching central romance. I enjoyed the friends-to-lovers progression of the relationship, and the gradual unveiling of the backstory mysteries.

A family drama with a romance tucked away. I really enjoyed the two main characters and their friendship, it rang true to reAlity. There were two/ three stories interwoven and I think at times it wasn’t always immediately clear on the approach or style the author was taking when the thread of the story or main character was narrating changed but overall it was a good read that built up pace and ended perfectly (in my opinion, I shan’t give anything away)

A great story with a lot of hidden secrets to discover throughout the pages. A journey of finding ones past so she can live her future.
I enjoyed this book a lot, with it’s flawed characters and a great friendship that many people might not understand at times but overall everything felt so real and although it’s angsty, the feels good feeling was perfect delivered by the author.

I really loved this book, the setting in Italy was glorious, the characters were well written and I felt genuinely engaged when it appeared catastrophe had struck! Really life affirming and enjoyable - thank you.

i love a novel about family secrets and romance so this was a great read for me. Well drawn characters, beautiful settings and an uplifting story.

I really enjoyed this book, it was hugely uplifting and mysterious all at the same time. Highly recommend this book