Ollie Tennyson is a character who needs to take back her life from her nosy and manipulative mother. She moves out, and tries to learn who she is, with some excellent neighbors. This was nice, cute, and something I loved reading.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley!

I thought this was great, it such had positive messages within the book.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Just the Way You Are is the story of a journey of self discovery, and while there is romance it is not the main focus of the narrative. Twenty-nine years old and still living with her self-obsessed and manipulative mother, Ollie is at the end of her tether. She hatches a plan to escape and moves to a cottage on the edge of Sherwood Forest, close to the library where she will meet her new clients (she works for the adult literacy charity ReadUp). She plans to enjoy the freedom of living on her own for the first time, and work through her ‘Dream List’. She made this list when she was sixteen, but life did not turn out as she imagined it would.
Beth Moran presents us with a wonderful cast of well-written and totally believable characters, though some of them are quite hard to like. The story involves some fairly serious issues – extreme poverty, domestic violence, toxic family relationships, drug use and illiteracy – but handles them with sensitivity. There is humour and there is sadness; what follows is by turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, but Ollie learns to stand on her own two feet (with the help of her new friends) and works out what it takes for her to be happy. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

A slow burn romance , maybe ?
A feel good read ? Yes as Ollie tries to change her life and get away from an overbearing mother. Lots of interesting characters and a good plot . A well written read which I enjoyed reading
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Beth Moran for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

A really great read full of wonderful characters, some flawed ,…aren’t we all if we’re honest ….but true to life I thought. I loved Ollie , and the Readup folk. As a novel it was heart wrenching at times ,heart warming at others , and I would highly recommend it.

I have mentioned before that there are certain relationship issues that do not appear as realistic as I would want them to in fiction. One primary one is women who are in a very fraught mother-daughter standoff of sorts. A couple of authors whose works I otherwise enjoy did not make me believe in the complexity of the toxicity. This is probably one of the times that it actually made sense.
Our leading lady has been the sole emotional support for her mother. The dependence does not become evident till she starts to build a life of her own. On the one hand, Ollie knows it's beyond time that she sets some boundaries, but her mother is very subtle in putting her foot in before the door shuts. This does not diminish Ollie's love for her mother (and vice versa).
With the help of a very good friend and an aunt with patience to spare, Ollie decides to move out and put some distance. She is trying to do all the things that she has always wanted to. She has a 'Dream List' that is crucial to the changes she is trying. Change is not easy, however, and every step into the unknown is hard. The neighbours, townsfolk and their eccentricities are quite enticing, and it kept me involved, and I almost read it in one sitting. I really enjoyed another book by the author, and it made me confident going into this one. I felt amply rewarded for that trust.
It borders on uplit, with very average characters who lead simple lives with minor setbacks that they learn to overcome (with help from people who care). Some of the stories of the supporting cast were more emotional than others, but overall I chuckled quite a few times while imagining some of the situations.
I would definitely recommend this book to people who like this genre.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, but my review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and a previous work by the same author.

Ollie has an overbearing mother. She really can’t live with her anymore but her mum isn't going to let her go easily. Ollie hatches a plan with her aunt and best friend and she finds somewhere to move to. This is the story of Ollie Les ring to stand on her own two feet, making a life for herself and learning what a real relationship with her mum should look like. Along the way she makes new friends and learns what it is she really needs to make herself happy.

This book is a must-read! Heart-wrenching at times and beautifully sweet at others, it had the perfect blend of humor and drama. I instantly fell in love with the ReadUp crew! It is an important cause to draw attention to as well; I love the way the book portrayed this. There were so many lovely characters in this book that I couldn't stop reading! Sam and Ollie make the perfect friendship pairing and Irene and Ebenezer couldn't help but grow on you after a while, despite their outward grouchiness. Leanne and Joan's story added so much to this book, I would love to see a sequel to find out what the characters are up to next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute and heart warming story. I really liked Ollie. She was true to herself and finishing a wish list she started as a teenager. However, at times I felt this list was immature and silly, and not sure that a 29 year old would really do all of the things on the list.

I have been a fan of Beth’s work for a while now. I love the way in which she writes such fun and feel good stories. I read the synopsis for ‘Just The Way You Are’ and it certainly sounded like it was going to be an amazing read. I was spot on too because it was an amazing read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single minute of it, but more about that in a bit.
I loved the character of Olivia (Ollie) Tennyson and I warmed to her from the very start. In fact it didn’t take long for me to feel as though she had become a friend of mine and I felt all protective of her. Ollie has a job that she loves, a few close friends but she doesn’t have much of a social life. Oh and an overbearing mother, who quite frankly could do with a slap across the face with a wet flip flop. I won’t go too far into detail as to what happens or how she behaves but needless to say that you will see what I mean as you read more of the story. Ollie makes the break and embarks on a new, if at times daunting, adventure. I was keeping everything crossed that Ollie got the happy ever after ending that she so deserved. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I was drawn into this story from the very start. As soon as I started to read, I knew that I was reading something special and that I would find it very difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. My Kindle travelled well whilst I was reading the book because my Kindle went everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the beautiful story. I had warmed to most of the characters and I had to keep reading to see if the story concluded in the way I suspected it would. I couldn’t turn the pages of the book quickly enough as I galloped through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Just The Way You Are’ and I had to say goodbye to Ollie and the rest of the characters. I found ‘Just The Way You Are’ to be a joy to read from start to finish and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.
‘Just The Way You Are’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Beth Moran. Beth has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Beth’s books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. The story hit the ground running and maintained a gentle pace throughout, which suited the tale that Beth is telling. Beth clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid way in which she describes them. She describes them so realistically that they seem just as real as you and I. I love the way in which Beth makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action. That’s how I felt anyway.
In short, I adored reading ‘Just The Way You Are’ and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Beth’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Loved the story! A slow burn romance with lots of real, struggling and at times dysfunctional people who are sharing their lives with us. I loved Sam, he was just my type of boyfriend. I also enjoyed Ollie and her journey to start living again. I thought her to be a wonderful friend. And I struggle with a lot of the same things. I think I’m going to make my own dream list. I loved the writing and I highly recommend it. 4.5 stars, rounded down.

Just The Way You Are by Beth Moran

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily

A novel about friendship, romance and learning to love yourself - just the way you are.

When Olivia Tennyson – or Ollie to her friends – was sixteen, she wrote a Dream List of all the things she wanted for her life, including a happy marriage and a family. But at twenty-nine, Ollie is single, living at home with her over-protective and manipulative mother, and is feeling like her dreams are getting further out of reach.

It’s time for a change.

It’s time to take matters into her own hands.

We are introduced to Ollie whilst she is living with her controlling and manipulative mother - and we follow her as she takes the plunge, moving out of her mother's house. A book focuses on Ollie as she discovers herself and takes control of her own destiny. An emotional and uplifting read - even if in places it is predictable. Do not pick this book up if you are wanting to read a romance novel - there is a small amount of romance but the book is about so much more.

Rating 3/5

Really enjoyed this one! The main character was so likeable however I couldn't stand her mom! The town the story was set in sounded lovely I would have loved to have gone and visited there and all in all a lovely easy read. Would rate 8/10 and my lobrary would purchase this book.

Such a gorgeous feel good read. I must have needed this sort of book because I devoured it and couldn't put it down, finishing the final page with a smile on my face.

I always enjoy Beth Moran's novels, and this one was no different!

4.5 stars

Just the Way You Are by Beth Moran is a fun romance about finding love a little later than expected, told in the eyes of a journalist who is investigating how couples first met. I found the characterization in this book to be quite profound, especially for this genre. The main character and her relationship with her mother was extremely well written. Overall, this was a fantastic book and I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

4.5/5 Stars!

I enjoyed this. I expected it to have a larger focus on the romance, but I was able to related to Ollie as she tried to figure out how to live and be successful on her own. A lot of Ollie’s feelings really resonated with me. Overall I really enjoyed this and would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC!

Olivia Tennyson – or Ollie to her friends is 29 years old and still living with her mum. She basically takes care of her and whenever she plans things for herself (i.e. a date, meeting a new friend) her mother has an attack of some sort. This has basically kept Ollie a prisoner. She has just gotten a new job and found the perfect cottage to move into, which she buys without telling her mum, and she is finally ready to start her own life. She finds a woman to be a carer for her mum and with the help of her aunt, she puts a plan in place. Ollie had written a list when she was 16, her Dream List of all the things she wanted for her life and is now ready to complete it. As she works her way through her list with the help of her BFF and new friends and acquaintances, she finds herself and love along the way.

I really enjoyed Just the Way You Are. Ollie was such a wonderful character. She was so loyal, caring and helpful. She was dedicated to her mom and I was happy to see her realize that her mom was using her health issues to control her. Even her job of teaching people to read was a job that required caring and compassion, things she had in buckets. The characters she meets in Bigely Bottom all impact her life in some way. I absolutely loved Diamante Butterfly Brown, aka Joan. The young girl who basically takes care of herself as her mom, Leanne, works a lot of hours and sleeps when she gets home. Joan is extremely protective of her mom, but really wants to be friends with Ollie. Leanne is a very private, independent mom who won't ask for help, even if she needs it. Then there is Irene, the strict librarian who I disliked a the beginning. I loved how Ollie worked around her to get her to loosen up and I actually liked her by the end. Sam was a swoon worthy romantic interest, but it took them awhile to act on their feelings toward one another. I can't forget Nesbit, the sweet but misbehaving dog that Joan and Ollie share. This is a book full of self-discovery, friendship, uplifting moments and romance. I loved this story and read it in one day, reading long after I should have been in bed. I recommend this story to those who enjoy uplifting, heartwarming stories of self-discovery with some romance as well.

This book took some time to get into . I liked the overall message of following your dreams and not caring what others thin.k. A good read.