Always a pleasure to read a new Carmen Reid, and I really did enjoy this one.

It was interesting to see how Jen changed over the course of the book, as the moves back to her childhood home, and tries to recover from an injury, a break up and needing a new job. She is barely on good terms with her sister and although staying with her dad, she doesn't have the easiest relationship with him.

I especially loved Rory, who is such a great friend, despite it being clear he has deeper feelings. And seeing Jen start to come into her own, with her new job is good to see.

It was good to learn just why Jen and sister Isla have such a bad relationship. And I also enjoyed some of Jen's dating attempts.

This is a good book, not my favourite from the author but then again I'm a massive Personal Shopper fan, but still an enjoyable way to spend my time.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Jen leaves London, after a romantic breakup with her boss who turns out to be married, and runs home to her dad in St Andrews Scotland.
There she reconnects with friends, and has to deal with a dad who has an exciting new life , and an estranged sister !
A brilliant read, funny, be,ievable and very well written- loved it
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Carmen Reid for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

When Jennifer’s life takes a turn for the worst after finding out her boyfriend who is also her boss isn’t just married but is expecting twins with his wife she decides to go back home to Scotland and her dad
Can she restart her life in the place she couldn’t wait to leave when she was younger ?

An absolute belter of book! The perfect mix of tear jerking, romance and fun. I loved this from start to finish, it has a sprinkling of magic throughout making you never want to finish it as you cannot bear to say goodbye. I’m truly going to miss these characters. Fabulous read.

Thank you Netgalley

This revolves around Jennifer, a young go-getter living in London and working as a paralegal for a prominent barrister. Unbeknownst to her, she's also his mistress, dreaming of a glamorous life with a beautiful flat, theater outings, and social events. However, her perceptions shatter when the barrister's wife calls, revealing he's back with his family. Furious, Jennifer confronts him, leading to a comical argument and a mishap that results in a broken knee and emergency surgery. Opting for a fresh start, she heads back to Saint Andrews, Scotland, initially distant from her father but finding unexpected comfort in her hometown. Reconnecting with old friends and experiencing the genuine, non-Instagram life, Jennifer discovers a new perspective and, perhaps, a chance at love. This book offers a blend of humor and heartfelt moments, making it a delightful and quick read.

Jennifer McAndrew is on a journey of self-discovery and healing after her seemingly perfect life in London shatters due to a painful secret. Fleeing to her childhood home in Scotland, she seeks solace with her father, only to find that he's changed, preoccupied with his new life.

Jen's reconnection with her old school friends, Alison and Rory, offers a glimpse into the joys and challenges of their own lives, including parenthood. As she spends time with Rory and his daughters, Jen begins to wonder if something essential is missing from her life. However, the prospect of returning to a small-town existence and reconciling with her estranged sister, Isla, is daunting.

The novel skillfully explores themes of forgiveness, friendship, and the possibility of love evolving from a strong friendship. It poses the question of whether Jen will confront her problems or choose to run from them once again.

A heartwarming tale of rediscovery and second chances, with a touch of humour and relatable characters who navigate the complexities of life's unexpected twists.

Carmen Reid has a humourous but relatable writing style and I really enoyed this book.

When Jen's relationship breaks down (with her boss!)  she spontaneously decides to take a break from life in London and goes back to her home town of St Andrews in Scotland. 

However, going home is not as simple as she thinks, she needs to reconnect with  Dad and she hasn't spokento her sister since an argument following their Mums funeral. She also realises that she needs to build bridges with friends that she has neglected in  her pursuit of a high flying lifestyle in the city.

An enjoyable light read!

All of carmens books that I have read have been extremely enjoyable to read, this is no exception! Great story and characters to get stuck into!

Jennifer moves back home after leaving her London life behind. A page turning book with likeable characters, this is a great read. Being back in her home town with old friends and her Dad, Jennifer must make some decisions, reconnect with people from before she ran to London. Highly recommend this book, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jen is pretty happy with her life in London with a good job and romantic relationship with her boss. Until she gets a call from her boss' wife who tells her she is pregnant with twins. Jen realises Jono has been lying to her for months and runs home to Scotland to escape her job and lover...
The Woman Who Ran For The Hills is a warmly written book about fresh starts.
I really felt for Jen as her happy life crumbles. She truly believed Jono's lies that he was separated from his wife so the news that he is about to become a father again is devastating. It also means she has to leave her job too as he was her boss. Jen travels home to her dad in Scotland but finds that she has other issues to deal with such as her estranged sister. She reconnects with old friends who are eager for her to heal her heart by finding love again.
The book is written in the first person so we see Jen's heartache and emotional journey. I really wanted her to find happiness so she can forget about Jono's betrayal and face the future. She also has to swallow her pride, confront the past and make an effort to reconcile with her sister. None of this is easy but the light hearted tone of the narration and the gentle humour makes this a positive and uplifting read.
The Woman Who Ran For The Hills was a richly emotional book and I fully engaged with Jen's story.

Laugh out loud funny, relatable and hugely enjoyable, The Woman Who Ran For the Hills is the latest page-turner by Carmen Reid.

Jennifer McAndrew has a life most people would give their right arm for. She lives it up in London with a man who adores her and has a job she absolutely loves. With no other ties or commitments, Jennifer’s life is free of stress and worry – but the scales quickly fall from her eyes when she uncovers the secret her Prince Charming is hiding. Shocked, devastated and desperate to run away from her problems, she heads back to her childhood home in Scotland and the safety of her dad. Only she doesn’t get the homecoming she had been expecting…

Her father barely has any time for her as he has got a new girlfriend and his life is one exhausting whirl of golf, socialising and gin and tonics. Having severed ties with her sister Isla, Jennifer is floundering in Scotland – until she meets her old school pals, Alison and Rory, who quickly make her feel welcome and help to set her up on some dates. However, the more time she spends with single dad Rory, the more Jennifer wonders whether her happy ending might have been under her nose all along!

Is Jennifer ready to give up on her London life? Is she prepared to fight for her happy ending? Or will events from her past end up derailing her entire future?

Carmen Reid’s The Woman Who Ran For The Hills is such a brilliant read. Witty, believable and immensely entertaining, The Woman Who Ran For The Hills is a fun tale about starting over, going home and finding happiness written with style, flair and so much brio readers will be left with a spring in their step and a great big smile on their face.

I think the question to be asked is that did Jennifer really run for the hills to run away for something or to what she always really wanted and deserved? I get that she hoped that her relationship with Jono would be the solution to the love she sought and the answer to the issue that her relationships only lasted two years; however, did she really have him? When someone is slotting you into their lives that is all they are doing. Yes, it was devastating emotionally and I can see why she saw herself moving back into her childhood bedroom as a setback but she learned who she was and what made her happy versus what she hoped the other person was happy with. Her life expanded because of Allison, Isla, Dad and Joan and of course Rory. We all deserve a Rory who looked at her like he was the luckiest person alive that she chose him. In moving forward and finding herself, that is the best way to live.

Chick lit with a little more substance. Jennifer is lving in London and working as a legal secretary when she discovers that her boss , who is also her lover, is about to become father for the third time, with his supposedly ex-wife. Jennifer storms out of work and unfortunately trips and damages her knee badly. In a bad situation, she leaves her job and flat for St Andrews in Scotland, where she grew up. Staying with her widowed father, she slowly picks up her life again, running into friends from her schooldays with whom she has little to no contact with in the last 10 years or so.
Really the best part of this book is that Jenn comes to the realisation of what is important in life as she renews contact with her family and friends and starts to live her life in St Andrews. That she had cut most ties in her hometown seemed to stretch the bounds of credibility for me. I could understand that she had little in London apart from her relationship, but that could have done with a little more information about her social life and contacts. I did like the exploration of grief and family relationships.
A great read though and my thanks go out to NET galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

After what turns out to be a disaster, Jennifer packs her bags and heads to Scotland to the safety of her father. His life has changed and he hasn't go time for her. Re-kindling with schoolfriends she sees that life can be so different to her own. What should she do? 4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I found this to be a thoroughly entertaining read, with some interesting characters and a lovely setting up in St Andrews, in the north of Scotland. You got a real feel for the place and I could unf=derstand whi so many of Jennifer's friends had decided to settle there. Jennifer's relationship with her sister has been a complicated one and she finds that now is the time to work through some issues she has carried with her for years.

Family and friendship are central themes and you realise how Jennifer has cut herself off from both when she moved to London. Rory's family are very entertaining and bring out different aspects of Jennifer's character. There were some hilarious moments in Jennifer's dates which Rory arranges for her and some real laugh out loud moments. This is a well paced story which takes you along for an enjoyable time.

In short: Starting over

Favorite Quotes:

And by the way, Jen, if you’re going to start dating again and having a whole Exciting Sexy Life with Multiple New Men, don’t expect to turn up here and be able to go on about it. Staying married is hard enough without the single friends bragging about last night with Mr Musical Fingers they found on Tinder.

‘Alison, there is not going to be any dating yet, I can promise you that,’ I tell her truthfully. ‘Too soon?’ she asks. ‘Definitely too soon,’ I confirm. ‘I’m burned… it could be years before I play with those matches again.’

‘You need to take care of yourself, my girl…’ ‘Yes, thanks, Wattie, I’m trying to do that.’ ‘I’ve seen it so many times before with the sows…’ ‘The sows?!’ Alison says, astonished. ‘This is not the same! Wattie, please stop talking.’ ‘Well, no.’ Wattie rubs his chin, deep in thought. He hasn’t taken off his hat, which I suspect is not actually a hat but a knitted and very battered tea cosy. ‘But the sows,’ he goes on, ‘when their piglets go, they can get moody, even ferocious. I’ve even seen them attack other mothers and eat their young. Not nice. So you must be careful, Jennifer, you don’t want to let that happen to you.’ I nod solemnly. Maybe I should feel offended, but it’s too funny. ‘Wattie, I promise, I will not eat your children. OK?’

I’m already loving Elaine. She is beautifully dressed in 1950s vintage. Her orangey hair is even rolled up at the front into one of those 1950s dos. She looks like a wonderful mix of Doris Day, doll and alien space lady.

We kissed… and it was a bit weird,’ he says. ‘I mean the kissing itself wasn’t weird, that was really quite nice. It was the fact that we were kissing. It’s all been so long. I’ve forgotten how to do even snogging. I’m like a thirteen-year-old. I might need to practise on my hand. Like in primary school…

My Review:

I giggle-snorted, smirked, and hooted with glee while reading this delightfully witty tale. I have a new favorite author and her name is Carmen Reid. Her writing sparkled with clever and amusing inner musings as well as insightful revelations and observations. Her humorous descriptions pulled vivid visuals to my mind's eye that had me barking a laugh more than once.

Nice uplifting book once you get past the cringing beginning, go out with a married man get what you deserve. Interesting characters, well written. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

The Woman Who Ran For The Hills - Carmen Reid.

Poor Jennifer, her world has crashed around her. So the obvious thing to do is to run to the hills. For Jennifer, that means heading home to Scotland.

Failing to get much support from her family. Jennifer turns to a couple of old school friends, who really do come up trumps for her. There is even the potential for something that Jennifer hadn’t been expecting.

I really did enjoy this book. It’s a light hearted, fun read.

There are some fabulous characters who definitely give the story life and colour.

Carmen Reid is a gifted writer. She has the ability to draw the reader straight into her stories and charm them all the way to the end.

#TheWomanWhoRanForTheHills is a must read. It’s funny and sweet and will not fail to leave you with a big smile on your face and warmth in your heart.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books for a digital arc of this title.

I tend to approach this kind of book with a little trepidation - written well they are an absolute pleasure to read, but some can be a little bit, well, cringey. So, I went in with an open mind and was hugely rewarded. Written in the first person from the pov of Jennifer, a legal secretary in London, there's a series of events that lead to her re-evaluating her life choices. With her tail between her legs she heads back to Scotland, to the home that she's been keen to distance herself from. Jennifer is a well-developed, relatable character with a strong independent (stubborn?) streak. The author writes characters well and I loved Rory - I think we all need a Rory in our lives! The descriptions were great and I could really imagine the scenery and buildings. Mr Munro's office made me shudder and I loved mentally walking round Rory's shop and flat. This is a hugely uplifting book. I really cared about the characters and the story had depth, with themes of relationship breakdown, Bereavement, injury, betrayal, estrangement as well as friendship, self reflection, personal growth and family. I really felt for Jennifer and although she had her flaws she picked herself up and kept going. I loved reading this book and didn't want it to end. The story arc and ending were very satisfying and I would love a sequel...😊. I'll definitely be looking out for more books by the author. I recommend this if you like heartwarming, uplifting, cosy books and for fans of Jenny Colgan, Libby Page and Bella Osborne. Another Boldwood beauty!

Jennifer McAndrew left St Andrews for London , never looking back until she has her heart broken, she returns to her childhood home only to find her family relationships changed. She reconnects instead with old friends to heal her heart and her knee, finding the right relationships never let you down, hurt you and are always there.

This story was hilarious. I needed tissues from my tears at one point, but not because I was crying tears of sadness which is usually why I need to tissues when reading a book, fromso much humour. This is just so funny, even the heartbreak at the beginning, yes, you’re angry at the way she’s been played, but you can’t help laugh at the whisper argument. This book is very realistic throughout, the relationships, the characters, the fact there is humour to be found in what can sometimes be the worst of a situation it’s real life.

I always do you love a book about fresh starts and new beginnings, but I guess this one is kind of fresh starts and returning home to find that you have a new perspective on a home you thought you couldn’t wait to escape to. But there are many other things going on in this story some twists and turns i really wasn’t expecting and I really love this.

I have read a couple of Carmen Reid books now and I am definitely adding her to my list of autobuy authors, her books manage to make me feel so much joy, you get lots of other emotions along the journey, but I always come out feeling better for the read. Definitely uplifting books. The Woman Who Ran for the Hills is o exception to this and I can wholeheartedly recommend this as such an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable read.

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