I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis held so much promise, but the book failed to deliver as much as I hoped for from it. I enjoyed it well enough, but with a few tweaks it could have been an even more enjoyable read.

My second book by this author and I really enjoy her stories and her writing style.

There were a lot of funny bits in this book that made me laugh out loud sometimes. I loved the banter between the characters and they were all very likeable.

Sometimes you meet someone and it's like lightning struck you. You are totally in love, but you are afraid too. You are not the most extrovert person and what if you put yourself on the line and that other person does not feel the same? So you categorise your feelings as being a crush. Nothing more, nothing less and you settle for friendship, a very good friendship at that.

And you were right, weren’t you? She does not love you. Well, she does, but as a friend, like she does her best friend. Everything is better than not having in her life, right?

The bond grows stronger and everybody see things, but is there anything to see?

Until that day someone tells her something about your future and that’s when hell breaks loose. Everything comes tumbling down. Is there a way to build it up again?

I loved this story. 5 stars

Thank you

Laugh out loud rom-com, with the most wonderful characters! Would highly recommend, as it is a light read and a great way to escape all that is happening in the world.

This book just wasn’t for me. I felt it started out good, but by half way and throughout the rest it just felt pointless. I felt the story definitely could have done without basically some of the drama and fluff to make it longer. I liked Libby well enough, and Charlie was ok, but goodness gracious their relationship was slow. Just not a book for me, felt like a time waster.

I am a big fan of Maxine Morrey - I have already read and reviewed Around the World with My Ex, The Christmas Project, Winter’s Fairytale, Second Chance at the Ranch, No Place Like Home and Coming Home to Wishington Bay (wow, I didn't realise she'd written so many!) so of course I was going to read #No Filter. 

Libby Cartwright is a popular lifestyle blogger who doesn't really know where to start when it comes to organising the financial side of her business.  Recognising her own weakness in this area she very happily accepts the help of her friends brother, Charlie.  A corporate accountant, shy Charlie offers his assistance in his spare time to help her get her business into order.  Spending time together means their friendship blossoms, but they are from different worlds - having dated a corporate man before she knows it could never work with Charlie.

Charlie is a handsome, unassuming accountant who is very successful at what he does.  In fact, he couldn't be more different from the outgoing, bubbly Libby.  However when he finds himself helping Libby professionally as a favour, he can't help but want to spend time with her.

When I first picked up this novel I wasn't sure.  Bloggers and influencers are the new normal in society, but as someone that rarely wears makeup, definitely does not have the most immaculate home and does not have the most up to date gadgets, its a little outside of my own life sphere.  However, because I love Maxine's writing I was happy to give #No Filter a shot!  Libby is not at all who I thought she would be.  She clearly works very hard on her own brand, and is choosy about which labels and brands she will work with.  She certainly does not aspire to be perfect, although I can see why she may come across that way.  I really grew to love her character as she learnt more about herself, the kind of person she wants to be, and how she wants to be portrayed to the public.  Charlie is an integral part to her learning these things.  Whilst they both make mistakes (don't we all!), they are each able to teach the other things about themselves that they wouldn't necessarily have discovered for themselves.  There are times when you just want to knock their heads together, but ultimately their blossoming friendship is a pleasure to follow, and you really root for them both, individually and as a couple.

This is yet another Maxine Morrey novel that I am more than happy to recommend.  So in these strange times where staying in is the new going out, grab yourself a copy of #No Filter, a glass of wine and settle in for a good reading session!

I liked this book in general. The protagonist were really likeable but the story itself was really easy to predict. It followed the usual ways of a romance novel, which is okay but I expect a bit more from romance novel these days

If you like a slow burn romance, then this is the book for you! In fact, the whole story (apart from towards the end) was taken at a slow, rather sedate pace, with not a great deal of emotion from any of the characters, however, when things started to go wrong, the pace and the passion ramped up a good few notches, and the last quarter of the book was its saving grace. It takes a long time to get to the interesting stuff that the blurb uses to hook the reader with.

Still, it's a nice story, and although I felt Libby was a really cold fish at the start and I had difficulty liking her initially, by the time the end came I was really rooting for her.

There was one thing that kept throwing me out of the story though, and that was the tone. There was something about it that made me think it was set in the US (despite the mostly UK spellings). Maybe it was written that way to appeal to readers on both sides of the Atlantic, but it did gave me pause on more than a few occasions early on as I tried to work out whether Brighton was Brighton UK or Brighton Beach, USA.

It was a very cute and heartwarming story. i liked the characters, the story. I think it was a very predictable story but it was fun anyway.

I really enjoyed both Libby and Charlie’s characters, but it took them wayyyyyy too long to actually get together. I love slow burns, but it was so annoying that they wouldn’t even admit to themselves that they clearly liked each other for most of the book. Then, they didn’t really get together until like the last chapter. So, while I enjoyed parts of this, I’m just left feeling annoyed. #sorrynotsorry

I do love a book featuring a blogger, and I really enjoyed getting to know Libby and her lifestyle blog.

She is a bubbly person, whose mouth often lands her in trouble, not to mention she is just slightly clumsy!

It is clear though instantly that to my eyes that there should be something going on between her and Charlie.

Alas being fictional characters it meant a large amount of wanting to knock some sense into them from this reader, before either of them may see the light.

My one bugbear with this book though is actually the blurb, I kept waiting for things to happen thinking that the bits mentioned in the blurb are huge plot points... and well it was all things happening towards the end.

So my advice to you, is don't even read the blurb, go in completely blind and fresh and you will have a much more enjoyable reading experience.

Libby, Tilly, Amy, Marcus, Charlie and Alex are the main characters in this, and I loved the way they all interacted.

It's an entertaining story and I'm glad I finally sat down and read it.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[ I received a copy on Netgalley in return for an honest review.]

'#No Filter' follows the main character Libby, and her popular lifestyle blog on Instagram. Through assisting her with her blog, she meets Charlie Richmond, a shy but handsome accountant, and their friendship soon turns to something more.

This book was such a warm, bubbly and heartwarming comedy. I loved pretty much every character and I really liked how the story actually showed the behind-the-scenes of being a blogger instead of skipping over it. I always find that aspect so interesting to read!

You could see the two main characters, Libby and Charlie, were made for each other from the very beginning. From the moment they met in fact! And it was absolutely adorable. I loved their easy banter and how respectful and supportive they were to each other.

The main character herself was a smart and proactive woman and I honestly found that so inspiring and motivational!

Overall, I really enjoyed Maxine Morrey's writing style, and I would love to check out more of her books in the future! Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a short, comedic romance!


Rating: 4/5

I'm a big Maxine Morrey fan, she writes such delicious characters and the chemistry between hero and heroine is always just perfect. This book was no exception and I absolutely adored Charlie. A lovely gentle story that kept me turning the pages.

I enjoyed this story of Libby and Charlie. The author has a nice writing style which kept me engaged. The storyline was slightly predictable, but I’d be shocked if it wasn’t (being in the romance genre!)
Thank you NetGalley for my advanced read.

Libby runs a fashion / beauty / lifestyle blog and needs some help with her taxes. Her friend calls in a favour with Charlie who agrees to help Libby out .

Libby and Charlie get on so well from the off and Libby is obviously attracted to Charlie but she has convinced herself that she's not his type, so instead they just become really, really good friends.
To be honest, it ended up frustrating the hell out of me. It was obvious that both Libby and Charlie were ideal for each other and in the end, someone else popped up to throw a spanner in the works, which I could see coming a mile off and coming between Libby and Charlie.

So although this book was very predictable, I really enjoyed the way that the author went about things and that the friendship and relationship between Libby and Charlie wasn't perfect all the way through.

Very heartwarming and highly recommended.

Libby is a great main character, she was so likeable. Her friendship with Charlie is really sweet, they support each other and are a great match. I think the romance seemed a bit forced, but it was overall a good read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Libby and Charlie were such likable characters and I loved watching their relationship develop. My only complaint is that it didn’t wrap up quite as neatly as I’d have liked. I desperately needed an epilogue...just to answer a few questions. Even so, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic comedy. It was a fast and enjoyable read and I hope to read more from this author in the future.

I received an advance digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a really good read: lots of laugh-out-loud moments but with lots going on outwith that.

Libby is a lifestyle blogger. Having worked hard on her blog she is beginning to reap the rewards, with larger companies looking to get into a sponsorship with her. She can cope with the planning, photos, videos and everything else to do with her small business but falls apart at the seams when faced with the paperwork for the taxman. Enter Charlie - a friend of a friend who agrees to sort it all out as a favour. He's not Libby's type at all; far too serious about his career but they strike up a good friendship - and that's where Libby is happy for it to stay.

A fun read, this is packed with both giggly and 'oh, no!' moments thanks to Libby's habit of speaking first and thinking later - it's easy to see where the title came from! It's a peek into the blogging world that was new to me, and an enjoyable book to read. The story flows beautifully with a wide cast of characters and packed with very believable events, and the ending is just perfect. If you enjoy a good rom-com, then add this one to your list! Definitely, worth the four stars, I'm giving it.

In an Instagram world, can you find love just by being yourself…

Popular lifestyle blogger, Libby Cartwright, is being boggled by business when help shows up in the shape of gorgeous but shy, Charlie Richmond. Libby’s determined to keep it at ‘just good friends’ – she’s dated someone from ‘Corporate Land’ before and it didn’t end well. As she and Charlie begin spending more time together, Libby is starting to waver – until she discovers something which makes her question if she’s ready for love.

Still reeling, she suffers another blow as her blog is attacked in a national newspaper, for promoting unachievable perfection. Libby knows it’s not true – but the only way to prove that is to strip off the armour she’s been wearing for years.

Is she brave enough to show the world she’s far from perfect? And will Charlie be by her side if she does…

Review: 3/5 Unicorns
Cute but forgettable. Had moments of charm thanks to Charlie and Libby's adorable nephews! A semi-typical rom com in the modern world of everything being online for everyone to see. Readers get to see both sides of the internet coin, which provides depth to #No Filter. If you are looking for magic, keep looking but if you want a beach read pick this pretty-in-pink cover.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I could not finish this book. It just couldn’t get into the characters. As I did not finish I won’t post a public review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is one of my new favourite books- Maxine Morrey has a wonderful voice, and has created some fantastic characters. I wasn't overly surprised by this book, but I don't really want to be surprised when I'm reading a cozy book like this. It is a bit of a slower moving plot, but I fell into a hole and read it in an afternoon! It is the perfect escape when you've had a hard day or week, and I will absolutely be giving this to friends as a gift. I will be finding more of Morrey's books to enjoy over the holidays!