I didn't love this. I can't put my finger on exactly why but it just wasn't The One.

As always, Dickinson's writing is flawless and the story and characters are well thought out and written but I just wasn't into it

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC of this novel.

Otty is an independent woman, not following what others say, she's determined to get the dream that she's always longed for. But then she gets evicted and things aren't looking quite as promising as she first thought.

Joe is a man who seems to be permanently on edge, trying hard to keep his job as a script writer as newbies descend on the job and to top it off his room mate just upped and left in the middle of the night leaving him short for rent this month.

Fate seems to step in at the perfect moment.

Otty happens to be one of those newbies in the building and she overhears Joe's lodging problems.

Can these two live and work together without trouble? Only time will tell.

As the story progresses we get to see a beautiful friendship blossoming, and as the reader I was hoping for something more.

Stepping into the world of TV script writing, we get to see the pressures that come with trying to juggle the work home life balance, especially when you happen to take your work home most nights. I adored the progression in this book. I loved the awkwardness that came from Joe and Otty, it felt more real because it wasn't perfect.

Not your typical love story.

Yes, it was predictable at certain moments but the characters and the way they conversed kept me turning the pages. I found myself really hoping for that happy ending.

The reason I marked Our Story down by one star was because of the ending. It just seemed to end so abruptly, it was well written how it appeared to come back full circle from the beginning of the book but I guess I wanted just that little more insight into where Otty and Joe's lives were heading after all was said and done.

A nice romance that took you gently through O-Joes trials and tribulations to get the point they should have been without a mis interpretation of a significant event. Well written and insightful

I loved this. Brilliant characters you really care about, a great storyline and a really satisfying ending. Left me with a grin on my face.

A good read . When Otti gets her dream job of writing for a TV show it's all she's ever wanted and she immediately makes a good impression. Finding herself suddenly becoming homeless she takes rents a room from Joe a fellow writer and they instantly gel when they work together on story lines but can they do both or will it get too complicated. A good mix of iteresting characters who work well together but thought it was just a bit too drawn out but still enjoyed it

Firstly a big thank you to hq for my copy to review on netgalley. Im a massive fan of Miranda’s! You always know your eyes and heart are in for a treat. Our story didnt dissapoint.

What a beautiful tale that is fresh,modern,witty and relatable .

Absolutly loved and adored otty and joe . Especially otty who isnt afraid to step out of her comfort zone.

Uplifting and guaranteed to make you smile.

Published 25th August

Our Story by Miranda Dickinson a five-star read that sucks you into their story. This is a slow burn so don’t go in an expect everything in the first few pages as it will disappoint, but if you give it time to work its way in you wont want to put it down. I adored this story and not only because the characters say things that remind me of my bestie, who will deny being a Brummie as she is from a couple of miles outside of Birmingham, but still I class her as my fave Brummie. When you throw in the creative aspect of a writers room and you have me wanting to sink my teeth in, the will they wont they had me hooked and I wont give the game away, as you need to read the story but when you do I promise you will be invested in it. There are some amazing secondary characters, and one or two that I could have done without, but that was just me I’m sure. Pick this up as you won’t be disappointed, Miranda Dickenson once again proves what a talented author they are.

A great summer easy read.

As always beautifully written by Miranda Dickinson.

A heartwarming story.
Otty lands her dream job screen writing and finds herself house sharing and working with Joe Carter, they make a great team.
What will follow in the story.

Really enjoyed the book. Funny, lighthearted loved it

Beautifully written story, however this didn’t grab me and I struggled to finish it. As much as I liked the characters, I found their behaviour somewhat frustrating at times!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

Words cannot convey how much I loved this book. I’ve just finished reading it and would happily go back to the beginning and start again. Joe and Otty’s story was utterly captivating; brave, warm, witty - and above all full of heart. I know I will miss these two flawed and very human characters, and hope that Miranda revisits them again one day.

The background of TV scriptwriting was absolutely fascinating, especially as I’m an author myself so love anything to do with writing. I really enjoyed immersing myself in the world of TV shows, and the writing team and show-runner Russell were gloriously well rounded. Fraser was an interesting character too, and I liked the interplay between him and Joe.

I have to say that I really wasn’t sure how Our Story was going to end (and won’t put any spoilers here) but the last quarter of the book had me hooked, and I finished it in tears.

A very easy 5 stars, and a book I’ll be recommending whenever and wherever I can.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

'Just You and I'
A brilliant song and a wonderful story. I loved Otty and Joe and willed them to see what we could all see from the beginning - that they were meant to be together.
As usual, a heartbreaking and heartwarming story from Miranda Dickinson. Her characters draw you into their emotional story, and take you on every high and low of their journey. Just beautiful.

Otty and Joe’s story is a beautiful grown up romance, of mistakes and regrets getting in the way of love. I was hooked from the start of Our Story and my heart was beating all the way until the end when it burst with happiness. There is so much of Miranda in this book too - it’s beautiful, real and compelling, just like the author.

I struggled to connect with this book. I found it very slow and predictable. It felt like the story was also a little lost at times and going round in circles. The end was very rushed and ended all too abruptly. This one wasn't for me.

Wow! This is my favourite of 2020 so far. This is a very well written and emotional love story, with a very modern feel to it. I loved the way it was told from the perspective of both the main characters; Otty and Joe. This book kept me guessing right to the very end.

This is a faultless story with two solid main characters whom I both loved although in fairness I think Otty is a more rounded character than Joe. The chemistry that runs through this is excellent and the story is fresh with plenty of action and twists. I enjoyed reading both Otty and Joe’s perspectives although there were occasions I felt like yelling at them both! This is definitely a book that lingers in your mind long after the end and I definitely plan on looking for more Miranda Dickinson books after reading this gem.

Really enjoyed this book! Trademark Miranda Dickinson as it had humour, love, romance, heartache and a storyline which keeps the reader enthralled.

Miranda Dickinson is one of my favourite authors and this new book did not disappoint. I loved the characters. It was a 'can't put down' book for me and I would definitely recommend. Take it on holiday with you if you're lucky enough to be going somewhere.

It's not often we see a novel set in the Brummie area (Birmingham) of England and now I don't understand why it hasn't really been done on this scale before. It's nice to see a story based in the midlands, rather than it being London-centric or Americentric. These are working-class and middle-class characters mixing not because of what they have in their pocket, but rather what intelligence and go-getting attitude that they all possess. Maybe now people will come to realise that the midlands is not Area 51 or something stupid and along those lines, which makes me happy to see.

Otty is a new-starter writer who has just been given the opportunity to write for a well-known show-runner, Russell Styles who has fired many other writers in the past, just because he believed that they were not good enough. But Otty is different from the rest, due to her working-class background and her cest for making every piece just as risk-worthy as the last, rather than safe and easy. But she hasn't been without struggles. With nearly selling her soul to write, it seems like there are still some people who would rather keep her back rather than see her talent for her passion.

But it seems like Otty however, has landed on a sour patch when she is told she has to vacate her residence at a moments notice. This does not help with the fact that she is due to start the writing job of her dreams at Ensign. Although, all is not lost, when it seems the other protagonist, Joe, is in similar circumstances to her own. The only difference is that he now has a room free and not enough money to be able to pay for the rent.

I think that if you have a lot of time to invest, this book can be seen as being a slow-burner. Not like there is anything wrong about any of that because there isn't. I have seen quite a few reviews from people not really liking the idea of the will-they or won't-they. But isn't this a part of real life anyway? It doesn't even make a ounce of sense to make someone simply fall-in-love after one specific encounter. Sometimes it just can't happen. Personalities are different and situations make us all villains in our own story. Maybe this is what makes the book more interesting to read? Love is not something that is just handed to you. You have to get it first and then work at it and even though it can just as easily slip through your fingers. That is what makes it the exciting part; the leap of faith into the unknown.

There are some occasions which the plot reminds me of a certain rom-com (Made of Honor) even though there are many major differences in the storyline itself. So, if you have already watched that film and liked some of the elements to it, maybe this would be the book for you. In general it felt very reminiscent of a rom-com and how the certain tropes would seem to pan out throughout. But somehow I didn't mind this. It seemed to be well-thought out and was interesting in terms of how it would work in a setting such as a writing office. Knowing full well that these are some people who would not be strangers to writing the next trope for their production.

Would I recommend this to other readers? Yes I would, but only those who have a willingness for patience and are used to this type of writing. On the whole, I have given on this occasion four stars.

A great read! Perfect for a beach holiday or just taking your mind of life as it is at the moment. Our heroine Otty has just landed the job of her dreams but has found herself homeless, the hero of the story needs a flatmate and coincidentally works on the writing team Otty has just started working with. He's not working at his best, she is the new blood in the team that gets him writing so much better again. So...will they? Won't they? They work well together, they live together and all the stars seem aligned. You need to read on to find out all the reasons why not but you just find yourself caring so much for them both that you want a happy ending. Lovely, lovely story!

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

I love Miranda Dickinson books and was really excited to receive an ARC through Netgalley. In this one we meet Otty, hired as a new scriptwriter by Birmingham based Ensign Media, and Joe, the slightly jaded experienced writer on the same team. A fortunate coincidence means that Joe needs a housemate on the same day as Otty is evicted by her unscrupulous landlord and so a connection between the two is formed. When they are then paired together by their high pressure boss everything hangs on them managing their increasingly tangled relationship.
This was an interesting insight into the high pressure world of TV scriptwriting and I loved the changing power balance between the two as experience and 'a fresh eye' jostle in their relationship. I loved their relationship but wasn't always convinced by the chemistry between them even though we see things through both their perspectives. It was also great to explore Otty's complicated situation with her dad, Sheila and Creepy Chris, her ex-fiance. However, what I really did welcome was Miranda Dickinson, as a local girl, returning to Birmingham as a setting. I loved the fact that I knew exactly where she was describing and the scenes set at Edgbaston Cricket Ground were particularly welcome. Overall a great read.