I received an ARC of, Living Your Best Life, by Maxine Morrey. I liked the chemistry between Bee and Luca. This is a nice story about finding love, and dating a lot of frogs, before getting her prince.

Maxine Morrey has written several romance novels that I really enjoyed, so I was excited to see that she had a new book coming out! In "Living Your Best Life", friends Bee and Luca make a bet: one of them will find true love on a dating app by Christmas. Dates take place, and mischief occurs. However, unbeknownst to Bee, Luca has been in love with her for years and is desperate for her to see him as anything more than a friend. I really enjoyed Luca: he is kind, patient, and loving. However, Bee was not an enjoyable character. She's constantly sarcastic and cynical, and she takes offense to everything Luca says. I understand she has some deep-seated issues because of her parents and her difficult childhood, but I really wish the author had included her going to therapy and working on herself, because that's what she really needs. I'm glad Luca is happy at the end of the book because he deserves it, but I don't like how the author implies that all Bee really needs is a happy relationship to be a better person. The constant arguments (like every chapter!) got frustrating to read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Bee always feels invisible in her life because she doesn't feel that others really see her. This tends to hold her back in her relationships. She does have a core group of friends, including Luca, who she has known since they were younger. Neither have found the "One" and when a friend challenges them to try by using online dating, both explore relationships with others and also the one between them.

I have a love/dislike relationship with this book. I loved the idea of the friendship between Bee and Luca. I knew before I even started that this would probably be a friends to lovers trope. Also, Luca is forever telling Bee to believe in herself and that she is so much better than she thinks she is. He is always there for her and when he tries to look out for her, she always assumes he has ulterior motives. This leads me to my dislike of the book, which are the interactions between Bee and Luca. Most of them consist of Luca telling Bee over and over that she is too hard on herself and how great she is. The rest of them are Bee telling Luca how goodlooking he is and what kind of women he always dates.

I do recommend giving this book a read. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advanced copy!

Well written easy read with likeable characters but a really obvious story line letting it down, wish there had been a bit more to it with at least one twist

Full transparency, I read this while eating lunch at my desk. I accidentally got the chipotle chicken salad sandwich instead of the regular and it was very spicy so I was crying as I read this book, but I did genuinely cry when Bee’s backstory is revealed. She was put through the ringer by her parents, and especially her mother, who should’ve never had children. However, the book relies far too much on her really bad childhood to excuse away Bee being annoying and obnoxious and constantly bad talking herself in front of others. It felt like false humility at some points, which is just another form of pride, but in disguise.
Luca was honestly a great friend and I enjoyed him as a character. I also really, really liked the angsty dialogue, especially when Luca and Bree begin fighting. The dialogue was so just so painful, but I loved it.
The resolution did feel a bit rushed and I hated how quickly the epilogue happened and it felt like, I, the reader got kicked off the cliff, instead of a gentle easing into it.
That being said, It wasn’t terrible, but for as angsty and slow burning as it was, the romance felt bland when it did happen and unfulfilling. I wish we had gotten a bit more on that end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this early via an ARC in exchange for my review!

2.5/5
i had already read another book by this author (things are looking up) and liked it so i was happy when i got approved for this one. i enjoyed especially the beginning, but continuing reading, it felt like the story was getting dragged on more than it should, and that kind of annoyed me (especially the whole adrian situation). luca was a good friend who clearly cared a lot about bee (and liked her not in a platonic way and it was painfully obvious) but sometimes he came off as a mainsplainer as he was always telling bee what her issues were (though i have to admit he was usually correct). some of bee's thoughts and descriptions quickly got repetitive (luca has dark chocolate eyes, he's big and he's italian, we get it) and sometimes i really wanted to shake some sense into her even though i could understand her way of thinking, especially given her past with her parents. i wish we could have seen more of bee's journey towards believing in herself and her abilities instead of the whole adrian part of the story (that's mostly the reason why my rating is low).
overall, i have to say this book managed to keep me reading and wanting to know how it would all develop and end. i have quite conflicting feelings about this book, but i am sure that other people will probably enjoy it more than i have.

Heartwarming and Hilarious the Perfect Combo!

Bree is stuck in a dead end. job, small flat on the outskirts of London and single. On the contrary her handsome best friend since she was five has his own successful business and swanky flat however he is also still single.

Tia one of their close friends challenges them to use online dating to find the one. Luca who is finally ready to settle down welcomes the challenge, Bree on the other hand doesn’t think you can find the one online.

I love that the relationship between the two is complex and real. You feel you know the characters and become wholly invested in their story. I found myself both weeping and laughing, sometimes simultaneously.

This book can easily be devoured in a day with a cup of tea and a huge box of chocolates.

I've never been a huge fan of the best friends-to-perfect couple stories but I thought the premise to this one sounded a bit more interesting than others. I liked Bee right from the beginning because she was such a normal person and so easy to relate to. I wish there had been a little more about how she started to gain confidence and learn to stand up for herself though. I also would have loved to have gotten to know what she said to her boss before she quit - I'm not sure why this scene wasn't there, we get to see Bee yell at other people (mostly Luca) so why not at someone we hate on her behalf? My last wish as far as story was that Adrian had been a perfectly nice guy but that Bee just realized he wasn't the one for her - I think it would have been better had she realized how she felt about Luca and how that differed from how she felt about him. Instead we got the douchebag that we knew was wrong for her right from the start. I did like Luca but didn't like how he made it all Bee's fault that they hadn't gotten together sooner. He accuses her of being a coward but he never stepped up and told her how he felt. This idea that she should have just known was dumb because (as Bee points out) he only ever dated model-types that were the complete opposite from her, so why would she have ever thought he was attracted to her? Also, I hated that after he got injured he didn't want his mom to call Bee (until after he heard her "you're right, I love you" voicemail). She didn't reciprocate your feelings right away so you weren't going to tell her you were okay? Jerk move. I also agreed with Bee on how she felt hurt by the fact that her friends seemed to think so little of her - even though they might not realize it, they did think she was a little weak duckling who couldn't possibly take care of herself. I realize they were trying to help give her a push in the right direction, but they could be a little condescending at times.

All the right ingredients present here for an entertaining and fiery book that also has a big heart.
The characters in this book are exceptional, really well written and reminded me of quite a few people! I loved the friendship group that Bee, our main protagonist, is a part of, they're supportive, encouraging and funny, especially Tia and her easygoing fiance Jono. Tia's deliberate stirring by setting the dating app challenge between the only two singles of the group, Bee and her childhood pal Luca, plots a course of major drama, change and conflict within the group, which is very much the antithesis of the fundamental core of Bee's "play it safe" approach to life.
I don't think it will be a surprise to many from the blurb that Bee and Luca are perfect for each other and yet both are seemingly oblivious to it throughout the plot, with only you, as the observer, realising what is going on, which I loved; it wasn't so much an obvious reveal but rather something that throughout the book positioned the reader as the one seeing the obvious whilst the characters continue to build the simmering tension and make assumptions and mistakes.
Underneath the humour, I found it both heartbreaking and hopeful that Bee's self esteem was so impacted by her feckless parents and yet she bravely embarks on a mission to push her comfort zone and starts to recognise how some self belief and confidence can alter what the universe can reveal.

Bee and Luca have been best friends since Infants School when he puller her pigtail then held her hand to stop her crying. Fast forward twenty-something years and Luca is a handsome, highly successful businessman, with a amazing home, who dates models while Bee is stuck in a job she hates, underpaid, undervalued, and living in a tiny flat. Yet they are still best friends.

Bee's friends love her just as she is (but they want to change her) but they are sad that she seems happy to be single for the rest of her life, so when Luca announces that he wants to find 'The One' to spend the rest of his life with, their friends challenge them to both join a dating website. Bee and Luca have a bet, she that the website is a waste of time, and he that one of them will find love through the site by Christmas.

I think it is fairly obvious to anyone who has read a romance that Bee and Luca are made for each other, and that Luca is in love with Bee, but because of the (perceived) disparity in their looks Bee has never thought of him like that. Part of Bee's lack of self-esteem comes from her parents who were totally absorbed in each other to the exclusion of everyone else, it also comes from not having a degree because she had to care for her mother after her father's sudden death - hence why she stays working for a company she hates.

Predictably most of Bees dates are a disaster, but they do start to give her confidence to change things in her life, starting small and moving upwards. All of that I really liked.

What brought this down from a four star review for me was a pet peeve in this type of book. (view spoiler)Luca came across as a sanctimonious mansplainer who spent a lot of time telling Bee what her problem was - its interesting that authors think this is okay from the hero but it's a red flag in every other relationship.

Overall, an enjoyable, if rather formulaic and predictable, friends-to-lovers romance let down by the hero's behaviour for me.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

It is no surprise to anyone who knows me that friends to lovers is my favorite trope - and BFF to lovers is even better because that is my real life love story too. Bee and Luca have been friends for decades, but a bet from a friend puts all of that on the line. Challenged to prove (or disprove) that one can find true love via online dating, Luca and Bee dive into the dating pool of London. Luca's type: tall, beautiful magazine model ready to settle down...or so Bee thinks. Bee's type: anyone who shows an interest that isn't a complete jerk. Fueled by decades of family and personal issues it takes Bee a bit to realize her value to her friends, and one in particular.

Morrey brings to life an utterly adorable love story that had me tingling with the anticipation of the big reveal and the dread of how much trouble our main characters would find themselves in before the event. You will find yourself sympathizing with Bee and wanting to be her friend while going all heart-eye emoji over Luca. At one point I was gushing to my own bff-now-husband about what I thought was going to happen to this destined duo. Ladies, find you a man that knows your Tube (or subway, car, bike, whatever) route and makes sure you get home with no trouble - this fact alone had me yelling at Bee "Just MARRY this man!"

This book is based in London and some of the terminology was different than our American slang so I tried to figure it out as best I could from context. It lends itself to authenticity of the story and I'm sure British readers would be even more into the story with all those references. I was looking for a book that I could cheer the characters along without the whole world having to go to crap in the process and this was a perfect fit for that. Just the right amount of drama to keep it interesting but without devastating the main characters beyond repair or recognition. Overall, I thought this book was really cute and refreshing.

The story
Bee is single, living alone in London. She has a cramped flat near the railway line and a soul destroying IT job but is surrounded by supportive friends, even if most are pairing off and having children. Her best friend is the handsome and successful Luca Donato. When her friend Tia suggests an online dating contest to prove that it can be successful, Bee isn’t keen and Luca thinks it is the way to go. But all along, it seems that the friendship between Luca and Bee is something more than friends, even if neither want to admit it!

My thoughts
I felt sad that Bee doesn’t value herself in any way similar to how her friends see her. Her upbringing and disinterested parents prepared her for inadequacy. Luca is warm and generous with his affection, although at times he can also be really insensitive to Bee. I was totally rooting for her when she quit her horrible job, and really wanted her to admit her feelings for Luca were more than what she realised. This is a sweet story, although I wish the characters could have communicated better with each other.

I really liked this, I found the main character relatable and there were bits that made me swoon a little. Felt a little bit much at times though.

a friends to lovers story with charm. modern and cute and relatable.

great comedic elements throughout and a gripping story till the end.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Thank you so much for this advance copy for my honest review.

I enjoyed the story it was such a delight. The characters Bee & Luca were written with such care that you instantly wish this friends to lovers romance would just get to that romance part. While you're waiting to see when Bee will realize she isn't having any luck with love because her love is in front of her you realize that Luca is frustrating you with his "matches". I recommend!

I love a good friends to lovers Rom-com. This book was easy to read and really enjoyable just like other books I’ve read by Maxine. It’s highly recommended from me.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Living Your Best Life by Maxine Morrey is a lovely friends-to-lovers rom-com that will appeal to fans of Sophie Kinsella and Anna Bell. The story revolves around Bee, who often feels invisible. Even though her life looks perfect on the outside, she years for someone who can really see her and know her. She makes a bet with her long-time friend, the handsome Luca, and they both embark on an online dating adventure. Bee bets that she won't be able to find anyone on online dating. Meanwhile, Luca is getting matches left and right. But will they find that their perfect partner was right in front of them all along?

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1, which is from Bee's point of view:

"I often met up with just Luca for a quick drink or a meal after work as we both worked in the same area of town, which generally took the edge off a long, tiring day. We’d been friends forever. Well, since we were five anyway. I’d been standing at the back of my first class at primary school, taking it all in and wondering whether anyone would notice if I snuck back out of the door. As I pondered my escape, one of my neatly plaited pigtails was yanked and followed by a giggle. A boy with hair as black as pitch stood next to me, still grinning. His smile faded as I stepped back towards the wall, my bottom lip beginning to wobble. Big, expressive eyes the colour of chocolate widened as a tear plopped onto my cheek. Suddenly I was enveloped in a huge hug.
‘I didn’t mean to make you cry,’ he said as he pulled away. ‘I’m sorry.’
I nodded and let him take my hand as he confidently crossed the classroom and found us both a seat. From that day on, we were almost inseparable. Even on the days we yelled at each other, it hadn’t taken long before we were hugging and playing again. This group were my people and they got me. But I knew Luca got me just that little bit more."

Overall, Living Your Best Life is an adorable rom-com that will appeal to anyone looking for a friends-to-lovers romance. One highlight of this book is the interesting storyline. Unlike a lot of rom-coms that start to bore me midway through, I never lost interest in this book. I ended up reading through the entire book in a day, because I was that interested in the plot and seeing what would happen to the two main characters. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that Bee's character is a bit too wimpy and self-deprecating, but I'm sure many readers won't mind that very human aspect of Bee. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of rom-coms in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Boldwood Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


A page turner best enjoyed with your favorite drink, a blanket, curled up on a night in. A wonderfully simple, enjoyable, sweet read.

Bee and Luca, close friends since five-year-olds at primary. Thirty years later and they’re the only singles in their close group of friends. So when one of their friends challenges them to find love via online dating they both agreed, albeit begrudgingly for Bee.

Both main characters are well written, Bee is lacking self esteem and oblivious to any potential romance with Luca. This is a sweet friends to more romance, one I really enjoyed. I was rooting for both characters throughout.

Living Your Best Life is the perfect book to curl up in bed all Sunday long. I read it in just a few hours and loved every part of it!