This book was so heartfelt and lovely! It's based in a small village and the characters are extremely loveable. Maxine did a fantastic job of drawing me straight into the book. I felt like I was part of the story and I always appreciate when an author can manage that! This story also didn't just feel like a straight up sweet romance. There are themes of self discovery, family, taking the opportunities your presented in life.

This book was a tonic and exactly what I needed. I loved it!

Lily has been a recluse for years following the sudden death of her husband. Except, thanks to her brother organising a lodger, she now has to adjust to sharing her very large living space with the gorgeous Jack. Lily and Jack have known each other for years, which helps when Lily tries to avoid interacting with people. Yet, over time, she starts to realise she enjoys the company, especially Jack’s, and cannot imagine a life without him.

Having all the typical features of a romance story, I loved the easy nature of the read. I easily slipped into the narrative, instantly warming to the protagonists. Lily had a crush on Jack when she was a teenager and I loved seeing how these feeling resurface, as well as a thirst for enjoying life again. The grief that Lily has experienced for so long has held her back and it is Jack’s arrival that sees her realise how much she has missed.

I enjoyed how Morrey creates Jack’s character in the sense that he comes a very fancy background! Despite the heir to a massive estate and title, Jack has shunned this for a simpler way of life. After living in New Zealand for many years, his return home means he needs to patch things up with his parents and I was entertained by the upper class stereotypes that Morrey includes.

A lot of the plot builds up to Lily attending a film premiere and I was curious to know how she would handle being out in public with nowhere to hide. I warmed to how solid and supportive Jack was for Lily, offering that emotional help when Lily was stepping so far out of her comfort zone. I knew the two characters would eventually become a couple, but I think it was from this point that I really grew frustrated that they were not acknowledging their feelings anytime soon!

A sweet read with pleasant characters and a lovable dog. I enjoyed the warmth of this romance and seeing the main character evolve from being hidden away, suffocated by grief, to realising she does enjoy company. Lily is like her namesake, blossoming like a flower to appreciate life once more.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, only got about 50% of the way through this and sometimes folks pick books based on covers and I thought they was super cute with the dog, although I felt a little bit flat on the romcom romance part of it

this one lacked A LOT of romance...which I expect to find in a romance novel. It was very slow and so much of it was very unrealistic. For about half the book, it felt like the mc's were talking about the same thing.. It was still an easy read, but lacked the substance I needed.

"You Only Live Once" by Maxine Morrey is a heartwarming and poignant novel that explores themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of taking risks. With its engaging characters and a narrative that encourages stepping outside one's comfort zone, the book earns a well-deserved four-star rating for its emotional resonance and uplifting storytelling.

The story revolves around Lily, who, after the death of her husband, seeks solace in the tranquility of a tiny village. Her solitary life becomes a safe haven, with her only real companionship coming from her brother and his family. The arrival of Jack, her brother's oldest friend, as a lodger brings an unexpected change to Lily's routine.

Maxine Morrey skillfully captures the nuances of grief and the slow process of healing as Lily navigates her new reality. The character development is a strong suit of the novel, with Lily's journey serving as the focal point. The evolution of her relationship with Jack becomes a catalyst for personal growth, encouraging her to step outside the boundaries of her safe space.

The dynamics between Lily and Jack are portrayed with authenticity, and the gradual development of their connection adds depth to the narrative. Jack's encouragement pushes Lily to take risks and embrace a more fulfilling life. The author beautifully explores the themes of second chances and the importance of being brave in the pursuit of happiness.

The setting of the tiny village adds charm to the story, creating a backdrop that complements the overall warmth of the narrative. The supporting characters, including Lily's brother and his family, contribute to the sense of community and family ties, enhancing the emotional resonance of the novel.

While the plot follows some familiar romance novel tropes, the execution is heartfelt and genuine. The pacing of the story allows for the gradual unfolding of Lily's emotional journey, and the prose is both engaging and accessible.

In conclusion, "You Only Live Once" is a touching and uplifting novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of taking risks. Maxine Morrey's storytelling is infused with emotion, making this book a recommended read for those who enjoy heartwarming romance with relatable characters and a message of hope. This novel reminds readers that, indeed, you only live once, and embracing new opportunities can lead to unexpected joy and second chances at love.

I love the cover and I laughed so hard throughout this book! I look forward to reading more by Morrey in the future.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide me review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

This gave me a warm feeling and had me finish with a smile! Absolutely loved this laugh out loud romcom with all my heart. Yet, it wasn’t outstanding in the genre, but I bet every romance lover will eat this up (just like I did)

This was much too slow-paced for my tastes, but the premise and characters were endearing. I think my favorite element was the dog though.

you only live once and it was a good read. enjoyed this story every bit of it. I found this author from this site and was super happy to review the book. Glad to do and will find more books when they come out. Liked this a lot.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Tragedy struck and her beloved husband was killed,
Lily felt her life was over, too, and everything stilled.
She moved to an isolated property where
She could live undisturbed except by others who care.

A decade later and she hasn't moved on
She's built virtual walls to keep hurt and pain gone.
She's shocked when her brother suggests his best friend, Jack,
Should stay with her till he settles back.

She had a crush on him as a young teen
But he never reciprocated and didn't seem keen.
Now he's forthright and speaks his mind
But through it all he's really kind.

Being cruel to be kind
Can he help her to find
That even though a loved one has gone
Life really does go on?

Getting her to leave her comfort zone,
Supporting her, not leaving her alone,
A gorgeous dog to help, too
Will it help her make her way through?

Get ready for an emotive read,
One where grief isn't all that you need.
It is a story where love, family and romance
Are, once more, perhaps to be given a chance.

After all, whatever you do
You only live once is very true
So making the most of opportunities and life
Is the way to go even if it brings some strife.

A moving story, with great characters, too,
I have no hesitation in highly recommending to you.
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Put simply, I really loved this book. It was set in a pleasant countryside setting, with a beautiful house, some great characters, and a happy ending.

The subject of Lily's grief and how she handled it (or didn't), and really closed herself up was handled well, and it was delightful to meet the breath of fresh air that is Jack.

It was lovely to see how Jack helped Lily with her healing and to see her emotional growth throughout the story.

Also, there's a dog, prominently featured, so that always gets an extra thumbs up from me! 😉

This is a book that will tug on your heart strings.

This is a story about life after loss and learning to find yourself again. Lily is widowed after a freak accident took her husband's life a decade ago. She hasn't really ventured out into the world and regained her life since the tragedy; but that all changes when her brother's friend needs a place to stay and finds a place with her for temporary purposes.

This is a book written with dual timelines. The characters were easy to understand and really feel for. You could truly feel the connection between Jack and Lily and feel how much he cared about her honest to goodness well being and what was best for her. When a book makes you feel like you personally know the characters, it takes it to the next level.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. I truly enjoyed this heartwarming story.

Lily is dealing with the tragic loss of her husband, isolating herself and becoming stuck in her grief. And then along comes Jack and a beautiful friendship is formed. I always find books like this quite difficult to read, I couldn't imagine losing my husband and so I felt so empathetic towards Lily. But allowing Jack into her home and life has a positive effect and we watch Lily begin to blossom again which is beautiful. Gave me lots of warmth in my tummy and was an engaging read!

Lily and Jack's story was sweet and realistically slower-paced than most romances. Strangely, I did feel as if it were missing a chapter or several pages at one point in the plot. I won't go into detail of where that was in the book, as I don't want to provide any spoilers; however, I think that missing part could have been quite good. It was still a solid and enjoyable story and well worth the time to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was kind of sweet and maybe too much for my tastes but I can understand the need for solitude for Lily and so when she has Jack come to stay I am a little frustrated that it all seems to happen so quickly for someone who has become almost a recluse.
I dont think the chemistry between Lily and Jack necessarily hit the mark and for either I couldn't really get a handle on them or their desire / motivation.
The background for Lily and her demons to overcome were really well put across though and you really felt for her and her heartbreak. Because it was truly so sweet I was happy she got her second chance at life as well as love.

You Only Live Once was just what I needed – an uplifting story but one that wasn’t afraid to explore the darker, sadder side of life as solitary Lily, still getting over the death of her husband, reluctantly takes on a lodger, her brother’s oldest friend Jack.

I really enjoyed Maxine Morrey’s writing style, along with the family dynamics and the themes explored in the book. Add into the mix a dog and heart-warming romance and I was happily swept up in Lily’s story of second chance love. Sweet, satisfying and uplifting!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This book is advertised as a 'laugh-out-loud, feel-good romantic comedy' by one of this country's contemporary authors. It was well-written, and a joy to read a book that is set in this country filled with English spellings! The plotline was good and the behaviour of the characters was realistic, albeit that Lily's reclusive behaviour pattern and mourning period of 10 years was rather over-long, I wondered why her family had not encouraged her to undertake some grief counselling. Setting that aside, I thought the novel was enjoyable and upbeat, even though I did not laugh out loud, and the predictability was not a negative for me because I like a happy ending to my romcoms! The final few chapters of the book occurred over a longer period of time and I thought this was not conveyed particularly well, with little detail of how Lily had managed with this change, it seemed a little rushed.
This would make a nice, enjoyable read at any time of year.

The story was fine, but a bit predictable. Felt very formulaic at times, and I wasn't very invested in any of the characters.

Having lost my husband just over 5 years ago, I was instantly intrigued by this book. This line in the synopsis, "When Lily’s husband dies, she moves to the edge of a tiny village, settling into a solitary life, her only real company her brother and his family. A quiet life becomes her safe space, with no risk of getting hurt." is one I totally understand. Although Lily is still dealing with grief, there is so much more to this story and a lot to love. Lily is an author, who writes under a pseudonym. When one of her books is made into a movie, it forces her out of her comfort zone. Meanwhile, her brother's childhood friend, Jack, who is also from a family with a title, moves into her home as a lodger, while he looks for a place to live. So, we have forced proximity, a family who doesn't think she is good enough, and a man who has been hurt, but wants to help Lily. All this comes together in an uplifting and sweet story.

I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Jack and Lily develop. Even though they had known each other most of their lives, Jack left the country when he married. Returning after his marriage ended, he was hurt. He understood Lily had to deal with her grief in her own way, and never made her feel uncomfortable when talking about him. Their banter was fun, they seemed to know how to push each other's buttons. As much as Jack supported Lily, she did the same for him, especially when it came to seeing his family. I didn't like his mother at all, she was a big snob and so rude to Lily. I loved how both of them had to deal with their families who thought they knew what was best. As the story progressed there were hints about a situation when they were younger and their feelings toward each other, but I would have liked more about their past. This is a heartwarming and sweet read, with great characters, especially, Clive the dog. If you want to know more about him, you have to read the book.