**spoiler alert**
Found this one a bit of a downer and not the feel-good tale the blurb and especially the cover indicated. A third of the way into this (long) story, the main protagonists hadn't even crossed paths, but I was all set to enjoy the slow burn until the heroine took her cheating, lying d-bag of fiancé back! Totally lost my respect and sympathy there, and it was then a slog to continue, unfortunately

Jenna meets Sam when she schedules a meeting to talk about her mother’s health issues. Sam is a lifesaver to Jenna. They both are grieving over lost relationships and their friendship is just the thing they need to move on. Will they stay friends forever or realize they are falling for each other?

I loved this story of Jenna and Sam! They have great chemistry and work great as a team. They are so comfortable with each other that their conversations are open and honest. Their relationship is an emotional rollercoaster which can be a little frustrating sometimes, but it all works out in the end. My favorite part of the book is the poem Sam writes for Jenna. It made me tear up. If you love a charming romance, you will enjoy this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book. Love this author

I really loved the seaside setting here, which really added to the book for me. This book deals with a lot of trauma experienced by the main character and I feel it was dealt with respectfully.

I really enjoyed this book and am excited for more of Jessica's work.

All You Need is Love

by Jessica Redland

Boy meets girl, but everything after that is a complication in All You Need is Love. Some of the characters you’ll love, and some you’ll want to send packing. Jemma lives in London with three flatmates; the four are devoted friends. Due to her mom’s health problems, Jemma feels compelled to return to her hometown of Whitsborough Bay. Scott, who travels a lot for his job, and Jemma have a chance encounter and are immediately drawn into a relationship. Sam, a neurologist, has recently moved to London to escape memories of his much beloved Nikki.

The plot is much more interesting than it sounds in a skeletal summary, but almost anything above the basics would give away too much and ruin the reading experience. There are huge issues of secrets and trust. Grief and how to deal with it is another major theme. There are certainly happy moments in the book, but it deals with a number of hard challenges too. Often characters in this book respond to these difficulties by blunting the pain with alcohol which, not surprisingly, makes situations worse rather than better. The characters have moral decisions to make. One, in particular, involves adultery which one character proclaims she would never knowingly do to another woman and her family. Yet, she did take the offender back for a second chance. Either the author or the character is inconsistent in this one instance. Although I did not like the way the author jumped around in time and between characters prior to uniting the two plot lines, in general, it was an interesting read. As a bonus, if you like teddy bears, you’ll get warm fuzzies from the setting.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction

Notes: There are a lot of casual vulgarisms—both British and American—in this standalone novel.

Publication: March 11, 2021—Boldwood Books

Memorable Lines:

She seemed to move from anger and frustration to listless disinterest in the space of a day, and back again. It was like having a hormonal teenager in the house, lashing out at anyone and everything.

Time seemed to slow down. The chatter, laughter and clinks of glasses faded into the background and it felt like there were just the two of us in a bubble on our own as he waited for my reaction, an expression of hope tinged with fear in his eyes.

How funny that we were from the same small seaside town yet we’d found each other in the third largest city in Europe.

This is my first Jessica Redland novel and it will not be my last. I loved this trip to Whitsborough Bay. This is the perfect spring into summer novel that is equal parts uplifting and entertaining.
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I really appreciated the representation of neurodivergence in this book. It was clear that Redland researched it well and she wrote about it well.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Another brilliant book by one of my favourite authors. As always full of love and warmth that draws you in from the first pages, great characters, friendships and community are always a big part and sensitively dealing with difficult matters. Highly recommended as are all of her books

Absolutely loved this book. As always amacing chatacters & a heart warming story. Deals with trauma in A sensitive way, another amazing read. Love Jessica Redlands books she is fast becoming a favourite author of mine .

This story was gripping from the start and immediately drew me into the story. What followed kept me there.

In this book Ms Redland deals with some serious issues, but she does so in a sensitive way, especially when it came to the main character's mother being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. The after effects of grief features strongly in the story, too, but it is the way the characters deal with all these issues and learn to live with them that makes this story so warm.

This truly is a book about love, and I don’t just mean romance.

I am always so happy when I get a new Jessica Redlands book, I just know I. Going to enter those pages and feel better when I leave. Jessica’s books are stuffed full of interesting and well written characters, great plots full of emotion, family, friends and community, a brilliant sense of humour and wit. I loved this book, it was so heartmelting and so touching at times, and that ending I loved it. An uplifting and emotional read, one you feel better for reading

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I enjoyed returning to Whitsborough Bay.The new characters who are introduced have complicated pasts and both of the main characters, Jemma and Sam, are trying to deal with grief and disappointed dreams. They have both lost important people in their past and are struggling to move on.

There is also a varied and colourful cast of secondary characters. It is not easy to work out whether all of them can be trusted but in the main, they are caring and offer friendship and a sense of family. There are issues of bereavement for both Jemma and Sam to work through. It is striking how much they both have in common. There are some complicated sub-plots to unravel and some light-hearted moments to set against some much more serious themes. At its heart, is a romance but there is certainly more to it than that, as Sam and Jemma come to terms with what they want for the future and appreciate what is important to them.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

In short: Another delightful trip to Whitsborough Bay.

I enjoyed reading this book even though the storyline did seem very idealised and beyond the realm of something that might actually happen.
Despite this, it was readable and I enjoyed reading and being carried along to see how it all turned out in the end. The seaside setting helped as I always tend to love books set by the seaside.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for the ARC to review.

Scott is everything to Jemma... until one day he isn't. As Jemma tries to take stock of her life with the support of her family and friends she hopes she has the courage to move on. Sam has it all, his amazing fiancée, a great career and a gorgeous home. But then tragedy strikes... When Sam and Jemma meet by chance will they be able to find happiness again?

Packed with interesting and vivid characters, this was a beautifully written story of love, friendship, dreams, trust, sadness and hope with snippets of humour. Jemma and Sam have had very happy relationships but for very different reasons are both now single and devastated. The story unfolds from both of their points of view. Jemma’s mother owns a teddy bear shop called 'Bear With Me' and was a catalyst that directed her career as a museum curator working in London. Sam Jones is a doctor in a London hospital and both are originally from Whitsborough Bay, Northern England. I have read a couple of Jessica Redland's other novels set in Whitsborough Bay. As Jemma and Sam become friends it was lovely to be a fly on the wall and watch their relationship form and develop through the author's lovely writing. In Jessica's compelling tale complicated and painful family relationships played a large part and were realistically portrayed and there were dramatic moments as well as touching scenes. One of the highlights of All You Need Is Love was its fabulous ending. All in all, this is an uplifting, heartwarming and emotional novel that I have no hesitation in recommending. I look forward to reading more from Jessica Redland.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Jessica’s books are so heartwarming.
This one is about Jemma who finds out the man she is to marry is not the man she thought he was.
And Sam who’s world is turned upside down by a tragedy.
Jemma is also worrying about her mums health conditions.
A friend of Jemma’s get her to meet Sam who is a hospital consultant to talk about what is happening with her mum.
Can they both get over their unhappiness to each have a happy ever after?
Loved this book.
Thanks NetGalley

I am here to recommend a wonderful book by Jessica Redland called All you need is Love.:)

I have read it in two days. 🙈 It is so beautifully written and Jessica has this incredible gift of portraying characters as if they are your best friends and you can see and feel all they see and feel and go through.

The story of two people with sad and indredible things happening to them, that somehow everyone can picture quite vivedly and want to help them (I as a reader wanted that :) ) is a perfect story that transcends age, nationality, race, place and time.

It transported me to a lovely seaside town, it got me rooting for Jemma and Sam, I followed their story very intently and I wanted all the best for them.
Jessica Redland 'makes' you read the book as if you are watching a series that you never want to end and she perfectly transports you to the heart and soul of the characters and place.

I recommend this book so, so much ! ❤️

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This was one of those serious subject romances. Not exactly cosy but the friendships and relationships were well done, so I’d call it comfortable rather than cosy.

Both of the intertwined stories were quite sad in ways, but also uplifting. It was nice to find a story that includes characters with Parkinson’s. More fiction should incorporate these real life dilemmas.
Also good to read about Jemma and Julie’s work with teddy bears, I love when stories focus on less popular career choices.

All in all a quick and satisfying read.

This was a great read. Jemma and Sam have both been through a traumatic time, just when they thought their lives were perfect. It explores when you may feel ready to move on, and what could stop you or make you feel guilty for allowing the past to settle.
Added to that Jemma is worried about her mum, who runs a wonderful sounding bear shop. She makes special bears, and values other collections. Is she trying to cope with too much?
It deals sensitively with traumatic events, relationships, family and friends and dealing with serious health concerns and the arrow of love trying to find it's target.

I've never read a Jessica Redland book before, not have I heard of her Whitsborough Bay series. But now that I've read this book, I think she'll be one author whose work I'll keep in mind for whenever I'm in the mood for a light-hearted and yet captivating read.

All You Need Is Love sounds like a typical cheesy love story. But it is not. The book covers a whole gamut of emotions through its story and though it is almost 400 pages long, the writing is such that you can maintain your pace easily.

The story is told to us from two perspectives: those of Jemma and Sam. A greater proportion of the book is from Jemma's pov. Having recently discovered that her fiancé Scott was not exactly what he claimed to be, she has lost her trust in love. Adding to the heartbreak is her mom's recent diagnosis of Parkinson's. Jemma's luck lies in the abundance of good friends she has around her. From her work colleagues to her roommates, every character is so nicely depicted that it makes you value the good friends in your life even more.

Sam's story is similar. He has his life planned out: family, career, fiancée... One fine day, everything goes for a toss and he finds himself struggling to deal with the pain and uncertain future. Sam's character is written in a way that will make you feel for him. Unlike the typical macho man portrayal of women's fiction, Sam isn't afraid to grieve, shows his emotions honestly, and doesn't manipulate his partner emotionally. Add the fact that he is said to look like Chris Hemsworth and that's the icing on the cake. New fictional character crush alert!

The story is a little confusing initially with the plethora of characters in both Jemma's and Sam's lives but very soon, you get into the groove and figure out all the who's who. Every character is portrayed in a way that you can understand why they behave the way they do. The relationships, both platonic and romantic, are as real as can be.

Much, much recommended if you are in the mood for an emotional romance that focuses more on cerebral rather than physical connections between people.

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

An emotional and heartfelt page-turner, Jessica Redland’s All You Need is Love is a tale of hope, second chances and starting over guaranteed to move and delight.

Jenna’s future seemed bright and idyllic. In Scott she had found the man of her dreams and she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him. Everything was all planned out for their future together – until a shocking revelation shatters and destroys every single fragment of Jenna’s life and leaves her reeling. Heartbroken, inconsolable and shocked to her very core, Jenna does not know how she is going to have the courage to put one foot in front of the other after what she has suffered. Will her friends and family manage to give Jenna the strength and courage she needs to move on from this terrible tragedy? Or will Jemma’s whole future continue to be blighted by this terrible tragedy?

Sam has his whole life planned out. His career is going great guns, he has a lovely home and the most amazing fiancée. Sam has the world at this feet – until he loses everything and finds himself alone, grief-stricken and with nobody and nowhere to turn to. Running away from his life seems like the most sensible and practical solution. But did he make the right choice in turning his back on those who have his best interests at heart? Can Sam rebuild the fragmented pieces of his life? Or will he end up crumbling under all the pressure and pain he is suffering?

Both Jenna and Sam have suffered more in the last few weeks than some people have in a lifetime, but when fate brings them together, they begin to trust and lean on one another. As their feelings for one another deepen, can Jenna and Sam move on from the past? Or will they be forever condemned to a lifetime of loneliness and regret because of all the obstacles standing in their way?

Jessica Redland aims for the heart and does not miss with All You Need is Love. A beautifully written tale about loss, resilience and courage best read with an industrial sized box of tissues, All You Need is Love might be a tear-jerker, but it is by no means a sad or depressing read rather it’s honest, life-affirming and so uplifting you will be laughing and crying in equal measure.

A dazzling novel you won’t easily forget, Jessica Redland’s All You Need is Love hits all the right notes and ticks all the right boxes.