The queen of romance reclaims her crown!
I don't pretend to know much of the Bard's work, but through the wonderful writing of the author, I at last feel confident enough to brush up my Shakespeare. This is purely down to the skill of Ms Dickinson in creating a set of pure characters, especially in the main two protagonist's, Luci and Theo. Chemistry, drama, romance, this novel has them all.
My thanks to HQ and Netgalley for the reading copy.

This was the book of the year for me! I found myself smiling and laughing along with the very well written characters that flowed from the page, and the Shakespeare inspired ice cream was absolute genius, bravo, Lucie and Theo!

I’ve read several of Miranda Dickinson’s previous books so was excited to receive this one from Net Galley. thanks to them and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The book is set in Stratford upon Avon and has a great Shakespearian back story. The two protagonists are actors, one more successful than the other. They are both talented and sparks fly when they act out various love scenes for tourists from well-known Shakespeare plays e.g. Romeo and Juliet and Taming of the Shrew. However the course of true love doesn’t run smooth in the present day and the story is told in alternate chapters from each of their perspectives ; something that really added to my enjoyment of this book.

I was excited to read this advance copy. It took some getting into. It is a love story with a lot of Shakespeare quotes. Set in Stratford upon Avon which I know well. It takes you into the world of Theo and Lucie . It is told through the two of them in alternating chapters.Some great other characters that I liked I .. Theo is a disgraced Hollywood star and Lucie holds down 3 jobs trying to make and she is held back by an arrogant man. Lots of twists in the story and a bit of political correctness . I found it slow to grab me. But Miranda Dickson is a great story teller.

I really enjoyed this book which is about hard up actress Lucie Hart and star actor Theo Larkin.
I enjoyed the way the book was written from both of their perspectives as I felt this really added to the romantic tension and made the reader see things from both of their points of view.
The chemistry between the two of them was evident from the beginning and I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story. I felt the ending was perfect and this was a great romantic read which I would recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley, Miranda Dickinson and HQ for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I'm a huge admirer of Miranda's previous works, and her latest offering certainly lived up to expectations.

The inclusion of snippets from Shakespeare's plays, the dynamic between the protagonists, Lucie and Theo, and their engaging internal dialogues and exchanges, rendered the Bard's works approachable and made me adore the narrative.
The depiction of Stratford-upon-Avon is enchanting, and experiencing it through the perspectives of both Lucie and Theo gave me the sensation of being there.
The connection between Theo and Lucie was palpable from their initial encounter and grew increasingly profound. This deepening bond drew me into their romance.
The unexpected turns and dramatic moments culminated in a delightful and memorable finale to this captivating and endearing romantic tale.

While I am a huge fan of Miranda Dickinson's novel, I approached this book with caution as I know nothing about Shakespeare apart from being overwhelmed by his reputation and the use of old English. I shouldn't have worried, while there are snippets of the plays in there, the dynamics between the leading stars, Lucie and Theo, their internal dialogue and the banter made the Bard's plays accessible and made me fall in love with the story.
The setting of Stratford-upon-Avon is beautiful and seeing it through both Lucie and Theo's eyes made me feel I was there with them and I longed to try a Titania's Dream gelato sundae.
The chemistry between Theo and Lucie was there from their first meeting and only became more intense. It made me invested in their relationship though it was Theo who captured most of my emotional attachment and I wanted to protect him from heartbreak.
I loved the twists and drama that led to a wonderful, unforgettable conclusion in this entertaining and heartwarming romance. Stratford-upon-Avon is now firmly on my place to visit wishlist and I need to listen to the audio version because I imagine it would be perfect with the right narration.