This is a great easy read. The story of two lost souls who end up living opposite each other and writing messages that they put in their windows. From this they create a bond which they both want to take further but both have issues that appear to be stopping them.

All in all an easy chick lit read that you can just lose yourself in.

Read in August 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this lovely book.

Well, I really liked this one! What a nice premise of meeting in such a way over notes in a window. The main characters were good people who both had a lot on their plates and life hadn't dealt them the kindest of cards.

Bethan is likeable, strong and kind, clearly with a good heart and friendly nature so she's easy to follow on her journey.

Lachie is frustratingly stubborn but he has that gem inside that provokes that first move. It's lovely to see the relationship develop over their notes. I think the only thing stopping me from believing this and giving it a full 5 stars is not believing that in this modern world, that they'd not exchange numbers? Also, the through the hedge meetings after the first time I'm not sure how I could envisage this being ok when it would take a few steps to be face to face. Maybe I'm trying too hard to put myself into that but I couldn't relate to it.

The drama with the hearing (hated Adam from the get go) and with Hattie and the missing money. I knew it was Darren without needing any hints there. He's written as the stereotypical bad guy so of course it was him. However during this and their estrangement from each other I actually felt nervous for them, tense and on edge! I was there with them the whole way!

Lastly, I'd of liked a little more of the relationship build up face to face, it ended too soon for me in that regard. All the build up and a few sentences to cover it at the end.

Overall really enjoyed, just tiny wee niggles or it would have been 5*.0

This is the first book I’ve read from Miranda Dickinson and it won’t be my last. The Start of Something centres on Bethan and Lachlan. Bethan is a single mother to a lovely little boy and Lachlan is a soldier, currently stuck at home due to his rehabilitation following an accident. Their flats each have a window that allows them to see into the other’s. One day Lachlan leaves a note in his window, asking Bethan the name of the flowers she had placed by her own window, and with that it is the start of something new and much needed for each of them.

This is a beautifully written slow burn romance. It is a story that deals with the consuming nature of loneliness and how important it is to feel seen and heard by others. Both Bethan and Lachlan are dealing with things that they worry define them in others peoples’ eyes, they both want to be seen for who they are beyond this, and that is what they do for each other. I thought Bethan and Lachlan were beautifully written and with a lot of depth to each of their characters. I especially loved Bethan’s positive attitude and her attempts to find the joy in every day.

Owing to the nature of their early communication, Bethan and Lachlan’s story is very much like an old fashioned courtship. Though this is a romance it also feels like a character driven story. We learn so much about Bethan and Lachlan, what makes them who they are and who they want to be.

There were also some excellent secondary characters, particularly Bethan’s colleagues at the nursery, with the exception of dastardly Darren of course. What Bethan achieved at the nursery was just heart warming.

This was a lovely book, filled with warmth and heart. It is a slower story, but one worth luxuriating in rather than feeling the need to rush.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

The premise of this book looked good and although not my usual preferred genre I thought I might like this book. I wasn’t wrong. This is my first read by this author and it won’t be my last. I found this to be a wonderful, light hearted and heartwarming read that was beautifully written. The book flowed really well and I really liked the two main characters who both had good back stories. They live in opposite flats and when one reaches out to the other through a window message a unlikely rapport begins. The author grabbed my attention and interest right from the start and held it all the way through this book. I loved the glimpses into Lachie’s and Bethan’s personal, home and work lives and enjoyed reading of their developing friendship via their messaging, Both are keeping secrets and when these are revealed will their relationship survive? The book is about adult loneliness, family relationships, hope, community spirit, friendship, trust and lies. For me, this was a very uplifting and feel good read, it definitely hit the mark and I would highly recommend this. I enjoyed it much more than I expected to.

Just the book I needed to read. I was craving easy enjoyable read with some humor and feelings. 100 percent delivered, thank you. Wonderful read and finished in under 2 days, coudlnt put it down or stop thinking about it when I had to. Now I'm off to look for more books by this author.

Having been away from reading for a while, I decided The Start of Something would be just the sort of book to get me back into reading again, and I wasn’t wrong. The two main characters, Bethan and Lachie were both so likeable that I was willing them to get together and hated it when misunderstandings looked to be about to scupper their blossoming relationship. I didn’t want to put the book down as I really wanted to see whether all turned out alright for them in the end. The peripheral characters and storyline were intriguing and entertaining, with the baddies getting their comeuppance and the goodies winning through. All the elements of a perfect story!

This book was such a delightful surprise. Based on the premise, I expected it to just be a cute romance. However, it was more than that.

In this novel, we meet Bethan and Lachlan, two neighbours who are going through difficult moments in their lives. Their situations are vastly different, yet they both find comfort in each other through messages they put on their windows. I found this to be a really cute idea and it allowed for the romance to be slower without it being boring. Each time a new message was posted, there was a lot of excitement to see how it will affect their relationship. It was more of an innocent type of romance, with flirty banter, and I found myself very drawn to it.

The romance was obviously one of the main plotlines but there was more to the book, which is what I loved. Their individual stories were not just a thought in the background, they were the key to how they behaved throughout the novel. I enjoyed how it helped us learn about each character.

I'm usually not a fan of the miscommunication trope being used to create conflict, however, this was a rare instance when I didn't mind it too much. I had the feeling that the conflict was being stretched for too long but it made total sense once I finished the book. It made the ending more powerful.

Overall, this was a great contemporary romance that I recommend to anyone looking for this type of read.

It’s not easy trusting a stranger, but sometimes there is a tiny spark that gives you hope. Hope that you can step out of the boundaries in your life and find the person that makes you want to soar. Bethany and Lachlan have a connection via their flirty window messages, however neither is brave enough to be fully honest about their lives.

The idea of getting to know someone via notes in a window is a joyous twist on the meet cute concept and seemed like a fresh way to approach a budding romance. The flirty messages show the charismatic sides to both Bethany & Lachlan and is a charming counterpoint to the baggage in their lives that they are fighting against. Some aspects of their unravelling backstories was slightly predictable, but this didn’t spoil the overall effect.

A slow burner that burrows its way into your heart and wraps you up in a literary big hug.

A really heartwarming book with a good narrative. It starts with a slow burn which builds gently into something wonderful. The sadness behind the two characters is palpable and has a marked affect on how they both develop relationships but in the end …….. well you will have to read it to find out

A charming romantic comedy about two lonely people reaching out to each other through messages to one another in the windows of their flats, which are opposite one another. Why they read the messages and how they managed to work out that the messages were intended for them is a bit unclear, but when you get over that, the story has a lot of charm and romance and a few obstacles and misunderstandings along the way. If Rear Window was a romantic comedy rather than a Hitchcock thriller, this would be it.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy.

Miranda is one of my favourite authors and once again she didn't disappoint. Don't think that you are just picking up another love story, this book has so much depth. Made me laugh out loud and there were tears as well.
0/10 recommendation from me - I loved it.

This story has an interesting premise, and the boy- meets- girl romantic aspect is related in an unusual and almost old fashioned way. The placing of notes in each of their windows, by Lachie, the injured soldier, and Bethan, the struggling single mum to little Noah, is a novel way to connect initially. However, the notes, and the individual agonising over what each should write/ ask/ respond is dragged out for far too long. The only thing that kept me reading was the interesting back stories and struggles each protagonist is dealing with.
There is a great deal of introspection from both parties, which seems to be the current style of writing, and a large amount of irrelevant detail, about what is worn, eaten, etc. The minutiae of their daily lives becomes very wearing, and much less would have sufficed, as it added nothing to the story.
The scenes with little Noah are well written, and humorous, the writer clearly knows and understands about living with small children.
A pleasant enough story, though my urge to shake some sense into these two individuals became almost overwhelming, and wanting to yell at them to ‘ go knock on his/her door and speak, for heaven’s sake.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

I loved this book as it has restored my faith in love and people. This is not just a love story but also a book about finding yourself again and accepting yourself for what you are and being your own cheerleader for that. You are enough and you are doing a great job never forget that.

I couldn’t get into this book - felt I was missing something from the beginning - like starting a book halfway through

This is a very enjoyable book, as Miranda Dickenson books tend to be. It’s a rom com and it doesn’t really hold any surprises, but it’s a really good read all the same.
Bethan and Lachlan are likeable, believable characters and their story is one that you can really get into. This is the sort of book that you just keep reading until you’ve finished it. It has really sweet moments and it leaves you feeling good.

This was a slow burner of a book for me. It took a few chapters to get into it but then I was hooked on Lachlan and Bathan

Well!! What can I say about this book apart from I loved it!! The plot was so perfect, it had me with all the feels. I’ve already heard a lot about this book so I was really excited to read it!!! Miranda Dickinson already has a name for herself as a fabulous writer and this latest book did not disappoint

I enjoyed this book but felt the ending without giving any spoilers away was too predictable

With thanks to netgalley & publisher for sending me arc of this book

Such a heart warming, fuzzy read.

Really enjoyed this one. Perfect to read with a glass of wine and a tub of ice cream

I was kindly gifted a preview copy via netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book and particularly Lachlan's story and journey. I found this book to really relate to his experience in the Army and the impact this had for him. In some ways i was probably more intrigued and kept reading to see the outcome and ending for Lachlan alone than Lachlan and Bethan. It felt that some real resrach had been done to understand the impact of Army life and it related well to real life for me. I enjoyed their individual stories as well as their story that brought them together.

This book will take you through lots of emotions, laughter, sadness, frustration, all mixed feelings about the different characters and the impact they have. For me this just shows how well they were portrayed for me to dislike Riggsy, laugh at the dog and cat etc.

This book is a definite for anyone looking for some light hearted reading, perfect easy read chic lit. Fans of Sarah Morgan, Paige Toon, Mhairi McFarlane are likely to enjoy this.