I actually enjoyed this story more than I thought I would at the start. The beginning was rather slow with lots of characters and situations being introduced. I nearly gave up after a third but glad I carried on as it certainly picks up and turns into a lovely entertaining romcom. Set in New York and told from two stressed out voices, cleaner Ashleigh and advertiser George whose characters really developed as their lives change, along with some quirky side ones. Mrs Lundy, call me Hilde, was an absolute delight. Fun and funny.

3.5 stars rounded up. Ashleigh and George are both trying to find their way in New York and struggling for different reasons - not that either of them really wants to admit it. When circumstances bring them into each other's orbit, it's the catalyst for change.
There's a lot to like here, particularly the strong individual voices of George and Ashleigh, and some memorable supporting characters (I especially liked Oz and "call me Hildy"). The second half of the book was much stronger than the first, mainly due to pacing issues: it seemed to take far too long for the main characters to be on the page together and when they were, a vital chunk of George's story was suddenly told, rather than shown, after it actually occurred. But once they were together I liked how they supported each other through grief and anxiety, and used that support to work out important truths about themselves.

A very quirky romcom! Ashleigh and George meet in the most unlikely of ways and form a friendship that proves to withstand the test of life!

They both go through so much and they are there helping each other out in anyway they can. Both have a lot to learn and a lot to figure out but love becomes their guide!

Ashleigh for me is so relatable because she is unapologetically her. She makes choices that shock those around her but she makes them for her own being and I loved the heck out of that. I love how she took charge when needed.

So many great characters within the pages of this book and one that should be picked up and enjoyed.

The story is cleverly woven with themes of self-discovery and second chances, making the protagonist’s journey relatable and deeply moving. What I loved most about this book was its ability to blend humor with heartfelt moments, creating a perfect balance that kept me engaged throughout. The authors writing is fluid and expressive, capable of capturing the subtle complexities of relationships and the magic that comes when you least expect it. Her characters are well-developed and genuinely likable, which made me invest emotionally in their happiness and root for their love story.

In search of comfort and a sense of control Ashleigh tries to cope with her grief by finding a job as a cleaner. When she walks into George’s flat to clean it and finds it spotless, she can’t help but feel intrigued by its owner. George, on the other hand, knows nothing about the woman who cleans his place other than their shared love of crossword puzzles. And so their friendship begins, with notes and crossword clues left for each other.

The premise of the book sounded intriguing and reminiscent of ‘The Flatshare’ by Beth O’Leary. I have to admit, it’s far from that. The characters don’t meet until halfway through the book, but I actually enjoyed that part. Yes, it was a bit repetitive but it was also engaging to get glimpses of their interactions and experience a sense of eagerness for them to finally meet. And when they do, that is where the whole thing actually starts to fall apart, as their interactions felt faux-deep, with unnatural dialogue and little to none chemistry. And when you take out the chemistry and your romance goggles off, the whole premise then loses its appeal and actually becomes borderline problematic and a tad stalkerish.

Many thanks to NetGalley UK and the publishers for this ARC.

I thought this was a really cute book! I thought the use of crossword puzzles as their “meet cute” was really creative and such a unique way to have Ashleigh and George bond! It’s definitely a slow burn since the two of them don’t officially meet until almost half way through the book! I felt the side character of Oscar and Carlos were fleshed out and helped bring the story to life! I liked how the two first became friends and supported each other before becoming a couple!

Thank you so much for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! My Goodreads review is linked and I will add my Instagram link to my review when it is live!

This is a romantic comedy with both main characters dealing with anxiety and loss, and panic and depression, which is dealt with compassion and sensitivity. The novel is a bit slow at the beginning, but the pacing picks up when Ashleigh, who has moved to a new city and is seeking friends and connections, opens herself up to new friends Hildy, Carlos, and Oz. Getting the main characters to connect via their love of crosswords was genius. I loved the characters. Even “Robert Plant” of Led Zeppelin makes an appearance. I recommend this book.

Ashleigh and Devon meet when she starts completing his crosswords when she cleans his apartment and a friendship blooms.

This book is essentially a romance but deeper than this it is about not letting past experience hold you back and to make those difficult choices that can completely transform the way your life is heading if you are stuck in a rut.

I really loved this book.

Contemporary romance dual point of view slow burn. I liked the premise but the writing didn't flow for me. I never became invested in the main characters or their relationship. I would give this 3.5 stars.

Abolutley loved this book from Eve Devon.
Ashleigh cleans apartments for a living after taking on a new one which doesn't really look like it ever needs cleaning she finds the owners love of crosswords like she does. He seems to be struggling to finish them and ashleigh starts to finish them for him leaving little cryptic clues of her own for him to solve.
After a few weeks they eventually bump into each other and become friends.
Asheighs best friends like to hook her up with dates with no look so far until one which seems to be going ok until he stands her up when she needs him most . She needs a back up and George comes to the rescue.

Cute and lighter read despite some heavier themes. Ashleigh was once a magazine proofreader now working as a cleaner. George works in advertising, meets Ashleigh when she is assigned to clean his apartment. They're sweet, and the crossword puzzles were a nice meet-cute vehicle. I liked the touches of humor and Ashleigh had a nice level of snark. I was a little mixed on them as they were getting together initially, their face-to-face chemistry seemed clunky and it was almost as if their personalities were better expressed before they met in person. It did even out a bit after that, but I almost enjoyed their characters better when they were apart. Great supporting cast! Be warned that both characters struggle with anxiety issues, although for very different reasons, and there are a lot of instances of them dealing with and describing their anxiety and panic attacks. Their experiences with controlling their anxiety seems realistic, although the means to them resolving their anxiety issues felt a bit too formulaic (but realistic, I guess, for a rom-com). Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this story, this is my objective opinion.

The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love is a charming, slow burn romance, perfect for fans of authors such as Beth O’Leary.

Ashleigh and George had great chemistry, and I loved the premise of being united by a love of crosswords and messaging via crosswords before meeting. They meet relatively late in the book, but in addition to the dual POV it meant we really got to know them well individually, before as a couple. I enjoyed the trials and tribulations of the side cast of characters, my favourite was Hildy and her quiet meddling on the side!

I found the pacing of the book a little sporadic, but this didn’t take me out of the story too much. I really thought the author did a wonderful job of capturing the intrusive and spiralling nature of anxiety and panic. Sensitively woven through Ashleigh and George’s experiences of grief and loss, panic and anxiety was their strength in their ability to support and empathise with one another due to their lived experience.

Thank you HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Well this was just a very delightful read. This is the first book I’ve read by Eve Devon, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading George and Ashleigh’s story. While the book definitely has moments that made my heart swoon (the crossword puzzles, the “cheesy dates”, and the loose friends to lovers trope) it also dealt with some heavy issues too (anxiety and loss of a loved one). Overall, the book was very enjoyable and would be perfect for fans of The Flatshare.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Eve Devon and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

Now this is what I call a slow burn!

Ashleigh and Sean don’t directly meet but interact through Crosswords.

I loved that the characters felt real because I could relate to them. I had some difficulties reading some bits because of that relatability.

The premise of this book was intriguing and I enjoyed how sweet all of the characters were.

However, the main character's stream of consciousness dialogue was so hard to pay attention to. There was so much of it that I felt myself skimming over the text to the point of the story/scene. I think this book could be more interesting with editing and some dialogue removed.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the gradual introduction of the characters via crosswords and note, before meeting and seeing the relationship develop.
Sensitive handling of anxiety that whilst being taken seriously doesn't detract from the overall light hearted spirit of the book.

The first half of the book was really great, but also unique because our characters didn’t met until almost half way through the book. The last half was great and I’m glad I read it, it just felt slightly off compared to the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love, in exchange for an honest review.
Eve Devon's 'The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love' is a charming and well-crafted romance that explores the complexities of love and recovery.

The story centers around Ashleigh, a high-end house cleaner, and George, an advertising executive. Both characters are navigating the aftermath of trauma: George struggles with panic attacks stemming from a childhood heart condition, while Ashleigh is still reeling from the sudden death of her best friend.

Devon skillfully weaves these difficult topics into the narrative, but she does so with a light touch that keeps the tone upbeat and enjoyable. The result is a rom-com that doesn't shy away from real-world issues but still manages to provide a delightful escape.

One of the strengths of the book lies in the character development. Ashleigh and George are both relatable and well-drawn. Their struggles are believable, and their journey towards healing is both heartwarming and inspiring.

However, the book's focus on maintaining a light tone does come at a slight expense. While the characters grapple with their issues, their resulting actions sometimes feel arbitrary or underdeveloped. This is particularly true in the first half of the book, where George's panic attacks are presented as a significant obstacle but then seem to resolve relatively easily.

Despite this minor flaw, 'The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love' remains a charming and enjoyable read. Devon's writing is engaging, and her characters are easy to root for. The book offers a reminder that even in the darkest of times, love and healing are possible.

Overall, 'The Life-Changing Magic of Falling in Love' is a well-written and entertaining romance that explores the complexities of love, recovery, and the power of human connection. This was a solid 3.90 Star read for me!

Dnf’d after the first page:/ I could tell immediately that this book just wasn’t for me just by 1- the first person pov and seemingly changes through the book, and 2- the way that our character’s “inner monologue” I suppose you could call it, is talking. Maybe I’ll give this one another go after it’s release

Fantastic! I liked most everything in this and about this book. I liked Ashleigh. I thought having Ashleigh clean houses was such a smart move! I am tired of reading about overachieving overachievers and I like so much that Ashleigh is who she is without explanation. That is such a good reminder to all of us no matter what age- especially as a woman!!!! I found Zach to be irritating and I wish the slow burn was a touch faster. I think it could have been about 15 pages shorter in that area and would have been totally great. George was more than just what you saw which is always the case isn’t it? But what I liked was them together ! Great book. Fun summer read!! Can’t wait to listen to the audiobook as well. I hope it is in duet!