I always love a Jessica redland book and this is no exception.
Though I didn't enjoy this as much as Healing hearts at bumblebee farm I love the friends to lovers and the one that got away story. Another fantastic story and the cover is beautiful too

Oh my word!! Where to begin with a brand new series from the talented Jessica Redland. I am actually absolutely devastated to have finished this book.

Autumn is a bit lost after losing the most important person in her life, her grandad. Her parents live in Paris so growing up she split her time between Sutton with her grandad and Paris with her parents. Her pen pal of twenty four years, Rosie convinces her to visit the lovely Lake District. Can Autumn figure out who she is after some major life changes?

I just adored the setting of the Lake District. It's only a few hours drive from where I live and I've never been, however especially after reading this book I really want to go. In this piece of writing it's clearly a place close to Jessica's heart.

The plot and characters have so much depth I felt like I could just hop into my car, drive to the Lake District and visit Autumn, Rosie, Rosie's endearing mum and Dane.

I am so excited this is just the beginning of a brand new series by this million plus copy selling author! She has been one of my favourite authors for a long while now so I just had to read 'The Start of Something Wonderful' as soon as possible. This story just gave me all the feels and it was the perfect escapism whilst I recovered.
I've read all of Jessica Redland's books and 'The Start of Something Wonderful' is my favourite.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Jessica Redland for an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley.

Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

A very emotional story about old and new loves , inspiration and new begginings. Autumn after taking care of her sick grandpa she has no inspiration for her illustrations on the card company she works for . So when she gets fired and her grandpa dies she decides to finally meet in real life with her penpal Rosie which she shares 24 years of friendship but they never met . Rosie lives in Lake District the place where her heroine Beatrix Potter lived and created her heroes . There not only she finds back her inspiration but a new man Dane is making her realise that the feelings and love she had for Ettiene is nothing like how she feels now .
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .

I do love Jessica Redland books. This one does not disappoint. Welcome to the first book set in the Lake District and the story of Dane and Autumn. The story explores lost loves and questions first loves but also how it takes courage to pick yourself up and move on to new chapters. We meet Rosie who plays a pivotal role with Autumn and she will be the main character in the next book so there is a lot more to her story. I cannot wait for the next one in this series and hopefully there will be many more. Really recommend this book. A great summer read and it makes me want to go to the Lake District and visit the haunts of Beatrix Potter.

If this book does make you want to visit the Lake District I don't know what will! A beautifully written book with wonderful characters you find an instant connection with. The descriptions of the scenery and the connections to Beatrix Potter were wonderful. Heartwarming ans adorable.

This book made me want to book a trip to the Lake District. The descriptions of the area were beautiful and the links with Beatrix Potter were lovely. It’s the perfect book to escape with - it’s an easy feel good read that makes you really warm to the characters and their stories. The is definitely my favourite book by this author.

Jessica’s books have always been one of my first choices for a quick escape and this one is my favorite so far. A new world awaits Autumn as she leaves all she knows and heads out to find herself and her missing mojo. I love the way the location and the characters come to life in this book. I hope it is just the start of a new series.

Oh Jessica, this was indeed the start of something wonderful following the story of Autumn and Dane in the gorgeous setting of the Lake District and I really hope we can visit Willowbridge again soon

I loved everything about this! The cozy lake, characters, the feeling of hope, and that romance! This was such a beautiful and warm story.

I am thrilled there is a whole new series from Jessica Redland, set in the Lake District, in which this is the first book.
Anyone who is a fan of the lakes, Beatrix Potter, or illustration will love this story of two people recovering from heartbreak and desperately trying to find their inspiration and self-belief again.
Heartwarming, inspiring, hopeful and sweet, this is a wonderful story

Oh my days Jessica you have done it again. I have fallen in love with this book. I never wanted it to end. It is amazing autumn's journey to get to where she is reads like real life. Some parts made me cry and some made me feel loved. I want to say this is your best book so far but I love them all. I really hope we get more of autumn's and Danes story.
When you explan how the creatures look in autumn's pictures I can see them in my mind like a good book does. I hope you turn this into a series.

Jessica Redland is back in a book that so different - unputdownble. I'm a huge fan of hers and I was so excited to be granted early access and so happy I was because this is her at her best. Did I mention this is the start of a brand new series.

From the streets of Paris to the stunning Lake District, this book has a beautiful inside and out heroine, handsome hero's, animals, ambitions bascially I could rave about this book all day long but won't. I challenge you not to fall in love with Autum, and did I mention Beatrix Potter?

Jessica you've done it again! This is a must read for 2023!

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

I'm very easily pleased: just give me a new Jessica Redland book, set in the Lake District, and I'm yours.

I am so glad she has started a new series. The Starfish Café series was one of the best I've read and I was feeling a little lost without another on the horizon, and then this one popped up in my inbox.

For me, this is my favourite of her books so far, and her best written. Obviously if you've read my other reviews you'll know I think the world of her books and writing, and so this isn't a poo-poo on her previous books, but there was just something in this, an extra layer, a spark, that just spoke to my heart. I was either smiling or crying, sometimes both. It's absolutely gorgeous.

I think she has perfectly captured the wonder and attraction and beauty of the Lake District; anyone who has been there knows how stunning it is and I completely understand why anyone would want to live there - I certainly would, given half the chance.

I also love the focus on art and illustration. I like to think of myself as a failed artist, but not because I didn't take my chances, but because I have very little artistic talent, but I still love to do it, so it was nice to live through Autumn in that sense. And just that ibn combination with the Lakes...oh it's just picture perfect.

Speaking of Autumn, I absolutely loved her, wholeheartedly. There wasn't a single thing about her I disliked. She was genuine and lovable and caring and honest and so familiar, like you could climb into her world and you'd instantly be best friends. But she wasn't a simple character. She's not a 2D character. She's well rounded and you can see her development from the beginning to the end. I also very much loved Dane....if I could have one of him in my life I would be very happy!

I now have the urge to read all of Beatrix Potter's books again, if only to look at her wonderful illustrations, they still delight now, for new generations and old, which is quite the achievement for a woman who has been dead for 80 years! She was such a special talent and I love that she lives on in this book. It shows how wide reaching she was and I'm glad her story is still continuing.

What I love about Jessica's books is that whilst it's clearly what I call a happily-ever-after book, it's romantic, funny, and tender - she doesn't hide away from the serious real life stuff that her readers will have experienced, things like illness, injury, mental health, death, grief, job losses, divorce, relationship troubles, pregnancy difficulties etc. It just makes the high points even higher and feel more tangible. And whilst I go to books for escapism, it is nice to have a story that you can grab hold of.

In her acknowledgements, Jessica has stated that se hopes this will be book one of her longest series yet, and that fills me with such glee. I cannot wait. It's just sunshine in a book! I've been lucky that I've been gifted all of the Jessica Redland books I've read digitally by the publisher. But I think it may be time to start buying the physical copies and giving her her own dedicated book shelf.

This is a start of a new series from Jessica Redland and wow wow wow .Set in the Lake District with a bit of Paris thrown in. Absolutely stunning descriptions of the Lake District.A beautiful story with some Jessica’s twists. A really fantastic read.. I loved it

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read The Start of Something Wonderful. This was a sweet story. I liked Autumn and loved our visit to the Lake District.

This was a lovely, meandering visit to England’s Lake District. Autumn visits her longtime pen pal, Rosie and looks for her lost spark.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.