I get incredibly excited whenever Maxine Morrey has a new book out. I absolutely adore all her books and eagerly anticipate getting lost in the world's and characters she creates. 'No Filter' certainly grabbed at my attention; with the pretty cover and the concept of getting rid of today's filters and being accepted and loved for who we are, I knew it would be a must read.
What can I say? Maxine Morrey has done it again. I was fully immersed in Libby and Charlie's world when reading this gorgeous book and struggled to put it down. Maxine just has a way of making you fall in love with her characters and transporting you to different places like no one else, I really didn't want the book to end.



Our leading lady Libby is wonderful. She has this lovable manner about her and is so sweet and kind to everyone. But I adore the fact that she has built up her own business, is strong and independent and can take care of herself. It was lovely being in her world of snapping photos for her blog and organizing blogs posts as you get to see a peek inside what it all takes to make blogs and social media happen. I loved that though she had a popular blog and YouTube channel, she remained down to earth, kind and considerate of everyone around her. I thoroughly enjoyed the moments where it was just her and her assistant Tilly making tea and going through plans for pictures and posts. There was just something about these moments where you feel like you're there organizing and planning alongside them. Their relationship was really sweet and relatable.



I really don't know where to start with Charlie Richmond. He legitimately just attacked me out of nowhere with this book. There was just this absolutely beautiful build in Libby and Charlie's relationship that floored me. Again, like Libby, he was simply this lovely, lovely, lovely, (because I just can't find the words) character. His manner was so gentle and I adored the banter between the two of them. I loved so much that they created this solid friendship and how that was the backdrop to them realizing they might possibly want more (read the book to find out). They were so at ease and in tune with each other that I just couldn't stop grinning. The security, contentment, kindness and consideration they gave to each other was wonderful, and don't get me started on Charlie being there for her nephews, I melted- and quite literally too, I was reading 'No Filter' while sat on my Auntie's balcony in Italy and it was sweltering hot. I fell head over heals for them both!



Honest to goodness, you won't be able to get enough of these two and their adventures. Libby's best friend, Amy, and Charlie's brother Marcus were also wonderful and such enjoyable characters to get to know, in addition to Charlie's family and Libby's family too. Honestly, I truly felt like I knew them all, they were all so inviting, heartwarming and endearing.



If you're looking for a thoroughly enjoyable 'will they, won't they' read that keeps you hooked, I highly recommend this gorgeous read from Maxine; she's the best!!

A romance story by Maxine Morrey is a fun read with heart, well-developed and likable characters and plenty of bubbling dialogue and humor. Libby is the delightful heroine of #No Filter and she is a lifestyle blogger from Brighton. She started her blog for a sweet, personal reason but now she is becoming a successful influencer as she blogs about how she creates certain makeup looks and promotes sustainable products. She spent time learning how to make appealing video tutorials and how to manage a blog, and now she has a fun career, playing with clothes and make up on her popular site.

What is Libby like? She’s kinda clutzy, she wears her heart on her sleeve and is a dreamer, and she’s fun, positive and a chatter box. Who else is in Libby’s world? Well, she has a best friend, Amy and a blog assistant, Tilly. She has a close-knit family. All of these characters are likable and memorable.
What’s missing from her life? A boyfriend. Until, she makes friends, just friends, with Charlie. He is an intelligent rising corporate businessman and he’s rated as extremely good-looking by every woman who meets him, including Libby. And then there’s Alex.

Will Libby and Charlie get together? Or will it be Libby and Alex? This is the slowest of slow burn stories, so when you read this book, just enjoy the funny scenes and don’t expect much action. Did I like this book? Yes, Libby is delightful, her blog life is fun, she lives in a pretty place and Charlie is just as nice and endearing as Libby.

But something confused me about the title as well as the book description- “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 (armor) 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…”

I assumed from this blurb that the transformation to “no filter” would be a major part of the plot and I was keen to read the story of a big transformation. . Libby doesn’t really make a life change with repercussions, as she always seemed to be a down to earth girl, it’s more like she makes a decision to change the focus of her blog. All in all though, it’s a good read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for a review copy. This is my honest review.

A comical slow burn love story. I have to admit I did start to want to bash the two main characters heads together in the end. However I really enjoyed the insight into blogging and particularly the theme of social media vs reality. A light fuzzy read

I was looking forward to this book but sadly I had to DNF. I found the writing and conversation really stilted and very fake and forced. It didn't flow and I couldn't continue the read.

This book started out with SO MUCH promise. I don't mind a slow burn, but this book definitely pushed that to the limit. Neither character will admit they are more than just really close friends until literally the last moment. Like I am talking the last few chapters.

A slow burning story of friends-to-lovers that is sweet and enjoyable. #No Filter brings Libby and Charlie, two polar opposites, together as friends but the universe has different plans for them. Though different people, Libby and Charlie value their differences and their friendship and soon something more begins to spark between them. A solid and enjoyable read with engaging and funny characters.

The story of Libby and Charlie. You want them to end up together but will they have a chance?

I enjoyed the book, but would have liked more of an epilogue to see what happened to them next.

Libby Cartwright is a fashion blogger social media influencer (dream job anyone?). A victim of her own success, she soon finds herself in need of a good accountant. Little does Libby know, Charlie soon becomes a good friend who supports her in more than just her accounts.

There’s no doubt about it, Maxine Morrey writes a good chicklit and #NoFilter is #NoException to the rule. Morrey keeps her lively writing style going throughout the novel but also manages to slot in some wonderfully emotional, heartfelt and sometimes philosophical scenes too.

No filter is the perfect cosy read for autumn.

#No Filter is a must read for anyone who is social-media trained, literate, or looking for an inside peek of what it’s like to be involved in one of the biggest up-and-coming industries in the world. Especially if you like to be entertained and enjoy a great romantic comedy!

Maxine Morrey does an exceptional job of creating characters that were well-developed and easy to fall in love with. Libby Cartwright, aka: Libs, an extremely popular blogger by accident. After starting a personal blog just to capture her feelings, Libby found the blog grew and grew until she was able to make a living by turning it into a lifestyle blog.

After procrastinating on her taxes until the 23rd hour, Libby meets Charlie upon a recommendation from her best friend. Yes, Charlie is tall and cute. Yes, they end up spending a few more times together after their initial meeting because, after all, he is the brother of her best friend’s boyfriend. But to Libby, Charlie is just a friend.

Throughout this book you will read the story of Libby and Charlie’s friendship and how they managed to stay friends through the best and worst of times. How Libby’s personal circumstances gave little hope of a happily ever after for her much to Charlie’s dismay. And how Charlie continues to be in the right place at the right time, still saving the day for Libby, knowing that a great friendship is better than nothing at all.

#No Filter is now at the top of my “Favorite Books of 2019” list!

Typically, I am a total sucker for slow-burn romances. That anticipation gets me and the pay-off has me squeeing. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here.

I liked Libby well enough, but she also felt almost TOO plucky at times, like she was trying too hard. Betas/nice guys are usually my favorites when it comes to leading men, and I did like Charlie a lot from the get-go. The two balanced each other out quite well.

BUT I wanted to beat them over the head for half of the darn book. Then, the ending was a bit sudden and almost anti-climactic.

Some funny scenes and a surprising amount of heart, but just didn't quite hit the notes I had hoped it would.

So this was a very sweet book. Libby was very kind, Charlie awkwardly sweet and they both just like to help out. It instantly makes you want to root for them unlike in some rom coms.

It is a little bit of a slow ready but if you can muddle through it you'll be warmed right through.

I was looking forward to reading this one after reading the blurb however I found it lacking in content and quite wishy washy. I didn’t warm to any of the characters either.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really love that at least the first 2-3 chapters could pass the Bechdel test. That drew me in right away as being different from so many other books slated as romance novels. I love a solid female friendship, and a strong main character.

I enjoyed Libby quite a bit. She really did have no filter, and was very blunt, which made for some funny scenarios. She's a British blogger/ influencer, which I don't love reading about as a career, necessarily, but once she revealed how her blog started, I thought it was sweet.

Charlie enters the book as someone pulled in to help Libby with her taxes, initially. They hit it off and become best friends. He is kind, intelligent, hard-working, but also quite shy. Libby initially worries that he will think she is dumb or shallow, but Charlie never treats her as such. He genuinely seems to value their differences.

They keep their relationship platonic, although almost everyone else keeps pushing them to become more. There are so many sweet scenes showing their relationship grow and flourish. They seem to bring out the best in each other.

All that being said, it's obvious that eventually SOMETHING has to happen between Libby and Charlie. I felt like the book took a bit too long to get to that point in the story. There's only so many times that Libby can tell another character "no really, we're JUST friends". I felt like it took so long to get to that part of the plot, that then the end seemed rather abrupt.

Overall, I would give this 3.5 stars. Excellent use of British slang, sweet characters, but just a bit off with the timing of the plot.

Libby Cartwright is an effervescent lifestyle blogger who is more than a little bit accident-prone. Charlie Richmond is a reserved corporate suit who seems to have everything figured out. As their unexpected friendship grows, the real question becomes whether or not opposites attract.

Maxine Morrey’s ‘#No Filter’ has a lot of funny moments; it’s light and fizzy like the bubbles in champagne. There are parts of the novel that really work, and parts that really don’t. I didn’t like that Libby was always falling over something or being otherwise accident prone; the constant use of this device made it feel overwrought in places. There are some interesting topics that are addressed (such as dealing with the loss of a loved one, and whether or not the curated images we share via social media are helpful or harmful) and they’re handled in an authentic, if not slightly superficial way. However, I appreciate the dialogue that Morrey is trying to engage with.

I found myself becoming mired in some of the slower parts of the novel, and I had a difficult time believing that both protagonists were oblivious to their feelings for each other for such a long time. I do appreciate the slow burn of chemistry between Libby and Charlie, and that theirs is a romantic relationship that is built on a substantive friendship. But, in my opinion, the ending is quite abrupt and is in desperate need of an epilogue.

**I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. **

Libby Cartwright is a fashion blogger, and her business is really taking off. She is having some trouble sorting out her taxes though, and Charlie Richmond comes to the rescue. They become instant friends and start to spend a lot of time together.

Libby is exuberant and lively and a very fun character to read. She is able to make fun of herself and what she sees as her shortcomings. She really loves her job. Charlie is more reserved, but Libby manages to coax him out of his shell. He cares a great deal about the people in his life, and he is not afraid to show it.

I enjoyed the witty banter between all the characters, but especially between Charlie and Libby. They are both great characters and both had to make big decisions about themselves and each other as their friendship progressed.

I would definitely recommend this as a light, romantic read. A lovely diversion on any day.

I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Maxine Morrey novels. They're fun and easy to read and to me you can't get any more perfect than that! I adore her style of writing, the characters are really relatable and overall they're really enjoyable to read.

I liked reading about Libby and Charlie's romance, even though at some points it seemed a little slow, it was still nice to read about them coming together in the end for their Happy Ever After.

Maxine Morrey has easily become one of my favorite authors. I love the characters she creates in her books. I really appreciate that her main characters are so relatable. The insecurities that Libby felt are all ones that we can relate to. I adore the friendship that develops between Charlie and Libby. There are so many authors that speed the romance along and then there is nothing to develop, which is why Maxine's books are so refreshing! This is another great book and I look forward to reading many more!!!

I really enjoyed the bright and quirky personality of Libby in this, and she was a breath of fresh air. I also laughed out loud a couple of times at her clumsy antics! Meanwhile Charlie was calming and patient, and the two of them balanced each other out so well! My only complaint, which took this down a star for me, was that it took them so long to get together.

I'm someone who LOVES slow burns, but I wish we had been able to see more of them as a couple, rather than it ending before their relationship really even began. There were definitely parts that were agonizing because it was so. bloody. obvious. that they liked one another, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was really possible for two people to be so oblivious (when he took care of her while she was sick, I literally yelled at my phone "Come ON, Libby, this man so obviously loves you!").

After such a long stand-off in which they refused to admit their feelings even to themselves, let alone to one another, it then felt a bit anticlimactic for them to profess they were in love with one another in pretty much the last chapter. If they had just communicated about their feelings a bit earlier, and we had seen them together as an actual couple, then this would've easily been a 4, or possibly even 5, star read for me.

But I still really enjoyed this, and it was such a feel good novel that it put a huge smile on my face when I finished it! I just wish we had a chance to see more of them in a romantic light, rather than only seeing their friendship with the tiniest glimpse of romance at the end.

*This ARC was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

A well written, funny book with a slow (sometimes frustrating) burn romance between the two leads Libby and Charlie. I would have liked if they had gotten together a little earlier and a resolution/epilogue on what happened once they did get together would have been nice. Lots of good secondary characters in this as well (loved bff Amy). Worth a read.

I really enjoyed this book! As someone who is constantly scrolling Instagram, I felt as if I already knew Libby. I could imagine her Insta-worthy lifestyle and how she has to become vulnerable in order to show the world the real her. If you love following your influencers on Insta, I think you will enjoy this book and the glimpse behind the no-filter world.