This is the first book of Miranda’s that I have read, and it was quite enjoyable. I felt I could engage with the characters, although at times they really frustrated me as well!!

I did question why in this day and age, the two characters didn’t text or What’s App each other after a while and so the “notes” in the window became a bit laborious after a while. I know that there were reasons why they didn’t want to meet up sooner but hiding behind a hedge and chatting was a bit far-fetched for me.

With every love story, there is always an element of jeopardy where someone misinterprets a situation (usually seeing their love interest in the pub with another man/woman who turns out to be the brother/sister/cousin/friend) but this situation was so limp it was like a wet paper bag – that part of the story I felt could have been stronger.

Both characters had a back story which when you get into is brilliant, and I loved that part of the book and wish we had got into it sooner.

I will look out for more books by this author.

I really enjoyed this read, it had a lovely story and great pace.
The garden centre saviour was a bit far fetched but i guess you have to find a way of creating a rainbow.

The rest of the story was just lovely. The characters were not showy and felt more relatable than most in this book genre.

Lovely book.

New neighbours connect by leaving messages in the windows and become friends. But both are keeping the the full picture of their circumstances from the other one.
Working life intrudes on the friendship and misunderstandings and hurt feelings abound.
Can they sort out both work issues and the friendship?
Make a drink, find a comfortable chair and escape in to the story, it will delight and enchant you with the characters and their tale.

Unfortunately, I struggled with this. I loved the idea of the story and was all in, but unfortunately I didn’t love it.

Miranda Dickinson has done it again! This is such a heartwarming story that will stay with me and I’ll be highly recommending

I absolutely adored the premise. I was rooting for a Lachie and Bethan throughout and loved the way they left notes for each other in the window!

Thank you to the author, HQ and NetGalley
for providing me with an ARC of this book in an exchange for an honest review.

This was an quick, enjoyable book. The writing style was easy to get on with and I thought the pacing was great.

This is one of those books that pull at your heart strings, it's super cute and has you smiling throughout and really rooting for the characters.

A fantastic book that, 2 weeks after finishing, has stuck with me. I would rate this as one of the best books I have read so far this year!

Dickinson creates two characters with lives that are both as intriguing as each other; both have depth and you are truly rooting for each of the characters. I found that the reason I loved this book so much was the development of the characters and their relationship, alongside the intricacies of their own life unfolding. Who would think something as deep could start from a simple message in a window?

For people who want to read a book that delivers on romance, humour, and a heart-wrenching gamut of emotions that you experience when you truly care about a character… well, this is the book for you.

The most beautiful literary characters are within the pages of this book. I’m sure that they’ll both be firm favourites in 2022 as others start to read this. I felt the emotionally raw situation of both Bethan and Lockie’s situations - the authenticity of their characters and the characteristics that make them both very unique.

The storyline itself is as individual as the characters that make it work. Without going into anymore detail than the blurb gives away, the idea of striking up a conversation through letters in the window feels traditional, cosy and yet ‘different.’

Miranda’s books are a real treat because it’s easy to fall in love with every single one and yet each time another book comes out she’s developed her style and voice even further. I particularly love the music links in this book that Miranda references at the end - the soundtrack that inspired her to write. I had some of these songs in my head when reading, even before knowing what the list involved. I put it into a playlist and listened whilst writing my review too. It brought the book to life having a soundtrack and I really think that this book will translate extremely well to the big screen!

The Start of Something is a brilliant new addition to the chick lit genre!

A heartwarming, beautiful romance that I loved. Took me a few chapters to become really engrossed, however after that I was in love!

Characters are well written and not stereotypical at all. I loved where the story went and it had me rooting for them almost the entire time.

Very much enjoyed it!

This was a cute story. Bethan and Lachie are very likeable characters and the romance was very sweet.

I did feel that the story dragged a little however and the misunderstandings on both sides could’ve been more swiftly resolved.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

A really lovely book about trying to escape from your past and people's perceptions. How to start a relationship without all the baggage you think people see around you - but then life is never that simple. The characters are endearing and you just keep wanting thinks to finally go right for them, hopefully, fingers crossed!

This isn’t my usual type of read but it sounded so cute that I couldn’t resist giving it a go - and it really is lovely and uplifting if you’re looking for a positive and light read! Bethan has just moved into a new flat after a huge struggle to lift out of a bad situation - the new flat has lots of large windows, one of which looks towards the flats in the next building over. The flat opposite is owned by Lachlan, who has been stuck at home ever since being in a car accident several months ago, leading him to require physio to try and recover his leg muscles. When Lachlan sees some beautiful flowers in Bethan’s window, he can’t resist taping a sign in his window asking “what are those flowers called?” Thus starts a conversation by window signs between new neighbours Bethan and Lachlan, both of whom are struggling with different difficulties and in need of a friend. The window messages quickly become a favourite part of each of their days, leading them to wonder where this is going…

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher HQ for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Start of Something’ is such a lovely, and yet powerful story, dealing with quite serious topics, but essentially having the human connection at the heart of the story.

Lachlan and Beth start communicating via the messages in the windows when Beth moves into the area, and the friendship and feeling quickly grow between those two characters even though they both have reasons to be cautious.

I have enjoyed Miranda Dickinson’s ‘The Start of Something’ more than her previous books. It was moving and sweet at moments, and a really good read overall.

Took me a bit to get into this story line, probably because it is not my usual genre that I normally read. Once into it I thoroughly enjoyed it and all the characters were mainly likeable and I found it to be well written.

I can definitely recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and HQ Publishers for allowing me to read this book.

A different type of romance between two people. Leaving notes for each other. Easy read and a well written love story!

The Start of Something is gorgeous from start to finish.

Two souls longing for connection.

Their story begins with notes pinned to their windows.

Their connection fills their days with joy.

Lachie and Bethan pluck up the courage to meet in person. But each is hiding something from the other.

Misunderstandings threaten to end their relationship before it's begun.

But love finds a way.

I felt every emotion these two wonderful characters felt and that is a testament to the skill of the writer.

I fell in love.

I hope you do too.

Bethan has just rented a new flat and is decorating prior to moving in with her three-year-old son, Noah, when Lachlan sees her from his window opposite. He is an army officer stuck at home recovering from an accident and, feeling a bit isolated, he reaches out to her with a note in his window.
I had not read anything by Miranda Dickinson for many years, since Fairytale of New York, but thought I’d give The Start of Something a try and I was not disappointed, though I did have some reservations. I thought the ‘notes in the window’ was an interesting premise for a romance novel, but here it did not develop in the direction I was expecting it to. Although the main characters were well written and fully developed, there was not enough interaction between them for me to believe in their fledgling romance.
The story is told in alternate chapters by Bethan and Lachlan, so we get a rounded picture of what is going on in their lives. They are both hiding something about themselves that they think the other will judge them for, and this leads to some really strange behaviour. Their backstories are gradually revealed, layer by layer, until the full horror of what each of them has been through comes to light.
I liked that there was more going on here than just the notes in the window. Noah was delightful, as were Ernie and Bert, Lachlan’s cat and dog. Bethan’s colleagues at the garden centre were (mostly) lovely, and I enjoyed reading about what they managed to accomplish there. As for the investigation into the accident Lachlan was involved in, I simply couldn’t understand why it took him so long to see his ‘friend’ for what he really was.
Overall, I enjoyed The Start of Something and look forward to the next book by Miranda Dickinson. Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

This is the first book that I have read from Miranda Dickinson but it certainly won't be my last.
Straight away, I really enjoyed the overall concept of this book.
I also liked the way in which the chapters alternated POVs. I always find that that adds a lot to stories like this and it definitely did in this case.
It's the kind of romance that builds and for that reason you really do get swept up in it all.
The fact that everything isn't laid out for you from the very beginning, in terms of their back stories, keeps you intrigued and wanting to keep reading to find out more.
The way that it was written was also impressive.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books from Miranda Dickinson going forward, as I really enjoyed this one.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this so much. Such a great idea for a storyline and wonderfully written and told. The characters are just so real and leap off the page and you really care about them and what happens to them. Brilliant book and I was just sad when it ended.

A lovely romance where two vulnerable people get together after one posts a cheeky note in their window. All their insecurities come to the fore but they are both bolstered by their relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the advance copy of this book.