This was your standard chick lit, easy going romance and these type of books are my palate cleansers. They are easy to get through, no major angst, all light hearted topics and make me relax - easy to get through them.

This book was exactly the kind of book I’d read, but unfortunately it didn’t hit the mark for me. Stella, the main character, was… gullible. I think that’s the right word. She was naive, and silly, and immature, and so desperate for love that she really did reek of desperation. I love a romantic as much as the next girl with issues, but this was too much. She was unrealistic, so much so that she became cringey and awkward to read about.

The topics of life threatening illnesses and infidelity ate spoken about in this book, which made me give it 3 stars because they are handled perfectly. They aren’t minimised, or blown out of proportion, or treated without care. They were handled respectfully and for that, I thank the author. I just wish that the author had made the main character more. Just more, that’s what I needed.

Very entertaining read, easy to get into, with a cast of likeable characters. This book is very reminiscent of a good old Jilly Cooper novel from my youth with maybe a touch of Bridget Jones, too. The story is a little predictable at times, but this does not spoil the appeal - all in all an enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed Looking Out For Love.

Stella Shakespeare is the main protagonist. She’s in her 30s and thinks she’s living her best life – she has a lovely home curtesy of her father and lives with her best friend however all is not rosy!

She has no job, she’s been cut off from her father and she’s been dumped!

Stella has some serious growing up to do as her best friend Billie starts a healthcare battle and needs Stella to be her rock.

She needs to get out of the pub and stranger’s beds and get into the real world pronto.

Through a series of strangely unlinked events that end up coming together, she finds herself a job, a man, another admirer, an unexpected new friend, and a lot of new drama on her plate.

This is an easy and enjoyable read with some laugh out loud moments.

I found myself being frustrated with Stella – I wanted to reach through the pages grab her shoulders and give her a shake!

There’s a few trigger warnings – infidelity and cancer but lots of laughs too.

With thanks to to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At the very start I wasn't sure whether Stella was a character I would get invested in, yet I soon found myself immersed. Loved the work bits (was picturing a slightly younger version of Miriam Margolyes) and the mix of humour and emotion. Great characters. A book to make you laugh and to tug at the heartstrings. Throroughly enjoyed.

I was hooked on this story right from the start, (reminded me of my younger 20 something self) it took a while to get going, but once it did, the characters shone and brought this book to life! Would be a great holiday read!

Being on holiday, I had tried three other books before settling on this and then couldn't put it down. Its light, entertaining, has hidden depths and will completely charm you . . . even if you have holiday brain!

Despite coming from wealth, Stella is a romantic. She has been burned a few times but continues to hope in meeting the "one". It doesn't help that she is pressured by her family to settle down. Luckily she has the support of her best friend - who keeps her grounded and sane and proves that there is more than "romantic" love.

We are taken on the journey of Stella finding herself. Stella is hilarious and charming and embracing the growth. I won't want to ruin the fun by revealing anymore, but there are a lot more escapades and depth crammed into this one book. Its guaranteed to keep you entertained and left light-hearted.

I really wanted to write a positive review of Looking Out for Love by Sophie Money-Coutts. The setting felt real and the story arc was strong. But the main character, Stella Shakespeare, was awful. Entitled, selfish and immature, I just couldn't find any point of sympathy with her, to the extent that I gave up on the book before the end.

Stella Shakespeare is keen for love, but after her latest breakup she's struggling to find a man worth more than just a one night stand. In addition, she's currently jobless and her best friend in the world is ill - things are not going well.

What follows is a not very funny and not very romantic rom com. It felt needlessly long with a predictable plot, and characters that I couldn't connect to. Unfortunately not a book for me!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First thing’s first, this is not a traditional romance novel and I wouldn’t class it as a romance although there is love to be found within. That being said, it had some heartfelt messages that I’ve taken away from it about love and priorities and self-awareness, as well as generosity and kindness and finding friendships in unexpected places. Whilst I can’t like Stella as a character, I did at times empathise with her - a woman knocked by some setbacks in life and dealing with the baggage that her family have given her. She’s careless, perpetually late, irresponsible and, what really frustrated me, has the wrong priorities when her best friend truly needs her. This story had a bit of a character arc for Stella, and she did realise some of her errors and is perhaps aware of the emotions behind her behaviour. In the end, she’s coming into her own as she finds her purpose and shapes a life for herself.

There are some difficult topics in this book, particularly illness and affairs, but I did like the way in which both of these were approached. The first was particularly informative and honest and the latter opened up to some interesting thoughts on love and marriage, and what’s right for different couples.

It’s safe to say this book wasn’t what I was expecting but I do feel there were things to take away from this - and not just envy at the closeness of Stella and her best friend, Billie. There was a lovely community formed in this book and it was inspiring to see!

This started off so slowly. But after getting into it, it flowed and was entertaining.

Stella seemed so flakey, beautiful yet insecure. Sleeping with random men to fill the void left in her by her rich but inattentive parents.

Billie is her best friend and the only relationship in her life that's actually good and healthy...with a hint of codependency.

Fitz was supposedly "the one" but he was just too fake from the get go. His attitude, the way he spoke and acted screamed SCAMMER! I think if he was less out there, we would've liked him n gotten misled together. I just kept expecting him to empty her father's bank accounts through info gotten from Stellz herself!

Sam was nice. Little too nice but I liked him.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I loved the characters and the plot of the story, I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Despite her disfunctional family, Stella is looking for love. But after she is dumped by her long term boyfriend, and her father decides to cut her off, she doesn't have time to look for love, as she has to find a job. However, when she meets a handsome man in a pub in Notting Hill, she thinks she has found the One.
But when her best friend and roommate gets bad news, life becomes more complicated.
This was a fun read. I liked Stella and her friends.

A funny feel good book that I have come to expect from this author. Well written and the characters and their dialogue are fun to be around. The main character Stella is quite lovable despite all her flaws and in the end I guess most are hoping to see a happy ending.

This was an easy, enjoyable read.

Unfortunately I found the main character [Stella] to be very frustrating, in the fact that she was very gullible and so desperate to find Love.

It really did seem that she did not know what true Love is all about.

Could have been 4 stars if she had been more believable.

I can always guarantee that a new Sophia Money-Coutts books will put a smile on my face and this latest book proved to be no exception!

In ‘Looking Out For Love’ we meet Stella Shakespeare who is rapidly reaching 30 and is worrying that time is running out to meet the love of her life after way too many wrong dating encounters. When a chance encounter in a bar sees her meeting the suave and sophisticated Fitz, she is instantly swept away and believes this could indeed be the love she has been waiting for. Being treated to fancy restaurant dinners, hotel stays and luxury presents, this is all heading in the right direction so could be the guy that will sweep her off her feet and stop her family nagging her all the time. But is she really looking in the right place for love, or is love hidden in the most unlikely of places?

As always the writing style from Money-Coutts is captivating, light hearted and comical, at various points you will laugh out loud at the relatable content. Although a little predictable at times it is a lovely, easy going read that has you connecting with the characters and rooting for the good guy. This ticks all the romcom boxes and is thoroughly enjoyable, a definite one to read.

This book felt, sometimes, like it was setting you up to dislike the main character. She's flaky, thoughtless, and coasting by on daddy's money - even if daddy cut off her credit card, the fact that she lives in Notting Hill in a two-bed flat that's paid off is no small thing. But despite that, I still enjoyed this story of friendship, love, hardship, and how sometimes the person you're looking out for is definitely not the person you might think. I've read several of Sophia Money-Coutts' previous books, and I think this is one of her weakest, simply because it's so hard to like the main character - and when you're spending the whole book inside her head, that does drag things down a bit. But the weakest SMC book I've read is still a very enjoyable book, with some wholesome moments and a very sweet downstairs neighbour, so overall this was a win for me.

This is the first book I’ve read by the author and would definitely read more by her now. I loved the story, the characters, the drama, the twist… I just would have loved a bit more from the ending! Sam seemed like such a sweet and perfect guy, I wanted to see more of him in the end. I wish there had been an epilogue.

She's done it again, another fantastic romance. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Thank you for this advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This was my first book by Sophia Money-Coutts and it certainly won’t be the last. I really enjoyed this cute romcom and I look forward to reading more by this author.
The book follows Stella as she has a sort of coming of age period in her life with a new job, relationship and navigating difficult situations. I like how this book focuses on the supporting relationships and friendships in Stella’s life rather than just the main love interest. There are some great side characters in this book which kept me entertained, particularly Harold.
Overall this is an enjoyable easy to read romance!

Wow, what an endearing character Stella is, a true hopeless romantic. Loved how the story involved so many different characters from lovable old folk to dear close friends. Stella did her best for all her nearest and dearest as well as trying to find Mr Right. It was emotional, funny and addictive, all the things i love in a book. It won’t be the last book i read by this author.